yardman

[ yahrd-muhn ]

/ ˈyɑrd mən /

a sailor assigned to the yards of a vessel.

QUIZZES

It’d be a real faux pas to miss this quiz on the words from August 3–9, 2020!

Question 1 of 7

What does “vacillate” mean?

First recorded in 1885–90; yard¹ + -man

yardman²

[ yahrd-muhn ]

/ ˈyɑrd mən /

a person who works in a railroad yard, boatyard, lumberyard, or the like.

a person employed to care for the yard of a house, public building, etc., as by mowing the lawn and trimming shrubbery.

First recorded in 1815–25; yard² + -man

Another young fellow brought out a typewriting machine; he is now yardman at a Suva hotel.
The Call Of The South|Louis Becke
Did the yardman tell you where he thought the noise came from?
Warren Commission (7 of 26): Hearings Vol. VII (of 15)|The President's Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy
"The town's been full of 'em since noon yesterday," said a yardman to Ben, in answer to his question.
To The Front|Charles King
The remark had come from the yardman, not Mr. Carmichael himself, who had appeared too stunned to think of anything but his son.
The Spinner's Book of Fiction|Various

I asked a yardman if he had seen or heard anything during the passing of the President.
Warren Commission (7 of 26): Hearings Vol. VII (of 15)|The President's Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy