townsman

[ tounz-muhn ]

noun

, plural towns·men.

1. a native or inhabitant of a town.
2. a native or inhabitant of one's own or the same town.
3. (in New England) a selectman.

townsman

/ ˈtaʊnzmən /

noun

1. an inhabitant of a town
2. a person from the same town as oneself

Gender Note

See -man.

Derived Forms

• ˈtownsˌwoman, noun:feminine

Word History and Origins

Origin of townsman¹

before 1000; Middle English; Old English tūnesman fellow member of a township. See town, 's ¹, man

Example Sentences

At one, the whistle would blow again to call the townsmen back to work.

From Washington Blade

"Look not in that direction, my child," answered sadly the townsman of Nantes, turning around to his daughter.

From Project Gutenberg

The townsman contemplated for a moment in silence the beloved features of his daughter.

From Project Gutenberg

Bezenecq the Rich had conformed to the usage, although that good and worthy townsman was of a nature little given to strife.

From Project Gutenberg

He quickly pointed out Bezenecq the Rich as a townsman from whom it would be easy to extract a big ransom.

From Project Gutenberg

He had come to Debenham years ago, while still young, and by a mere continuance of living had grown to be an adopted townsman.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• inhabitant
• national
• resident
• taxpayer