fireman

CEFRB1

/ˈfaɪɹmən/

noun

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

01
noun
A person trained to put out fires.
02
noun
Extra detail
A person (originally a man) who keeps the fire going underneath a steam boiler (originally, shoveling coal by hand), particularly on a railroad locomotive or steamship.

Examples

At a glance

Sits at B1 on the CEFR scale

Also pronounced

Deep Dive

Extra meanings

An assistant on any locomotive, whether steam-powered or not.
Someone (especially one who is male) who is skilled in the work of fighting fire.
Someone (especially male) who is skilled in the work of fighting fire.

In context

For firemen everywhere rescuing cats from trees has been as much a part of the job as tackling blazing buildings.
He looked around his cab at his black greasy fireman, saying 'shovel on a little more coal, and when we cross that White Oak Mountain, you can watch Old 97 roll'.
(the latter is informal)

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

The word in print, with each source given in full.

By February 1944 there were over two thousand women employed at the Alabama Dry Dock and Shipbuilding Company [...]. There were also female firemen on almost every shipyard crane [...].
1993, Nancy F. Cott, editor, History of Women in the United States. Historical Articles on Women's Lives and Activities. 15. Women and War, page 432
No grass grew under a train when the engineer let Fireman McLash take the throttle.
1938, Xavier Herbert, chapter IX, in Capricornia, page 140
A few keen enginemen, such as Driver Rosewarne of York, could coax good work out of them when engaged in heavy East Coast express service, but to most footplate crews, especially firemen, they were rather heartbreaking and backbreaking machines, and gradually were relegated to secondary or fast goods duties.
1949 May and June, R. A. H. Weight, “A Short-Lived Pacific Class”, in Railway Magazine, page 196
Driver G. A. Rowett, of the North Eastern Region's Neville Hill shed, now joined the locomotive as pilotman, and actually took over the regulator, Fireman Wheddon continuing to fire.
1958 December 26, Cecil J. Allen, “British Locomotive Practice and Performance”, in Railway Magazine, page 852
I was elated to pass because there were times when I did not think I was physically capable. It is quite rare for a woman to become a fireman.
2013 August 24, Sophie Wyllie, quoting Tina Pinney, “Volunteer Tina steams ahead and becomes qualified fireman on North Norfolk Railway”, in Eastern Daily Press, →ISSN

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From fire + -man.