pointsman

American  

[points-muhn] / ˈpɔɪnts mən /

noun

British.

plural

pointsmen

1. a railway switchman.

2. a police officer who directs traffic, as at an intersection.

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pointsman British  

/ -mən, ˈpɔɪntsˌmæn /

noun

1. US and Canadian equivalent: switchman.  a person who operates railway points

2. a policeman or traffic warden on point duty

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Etymology

Origin of pointsman

First recorded in 1840–50; point + -s ³ + man

Example Sentences

Pompeo had told Sergei Lavrov, his Russian counterpart, in a separate meeting in Helsinki that Russia’s pointsman for the Ukraine, Vladislav Surkov, needed to engage constructively with U.S. envoy Kurt Volker.

From Washington Post • Jul. 20, 2018

A pointsman will be expected to notice all signals and to obey them.

From Mr. Punch's Railway Book by Hammerton, John Alexander, Sir

Such a withered old face was the face of the pointsman at No. 11 point!

From From Sea to Sea Letters of Travel by Kipling, Rudyard

For though only a common pointsman, I've a father's feelings, too, So I sank down in a faint, sir, as my Polly was 'id from view.

From Successful Recitations by Miles, Alfred H. (Alfred Henry)

The pointsman lay asleep near his sentry box, and the sun was blazing full on his face.

From The Chorus Girl and Other Stories by Garnett, Constance