flagman

[ flag-muhn ]

noun

, plural flag·men.

1. a person who signals with a flag or lantern, as at a railroad crossing.
2. a person who has charge of or carries a flag.

flagman

/ ˈflæɡmən /

noun

1. a person who has charge of, carries, or signals with a flag, esp a railway employee

Word History and Origins

Origin of flagman¹

First recorded in 1660–70; flag ¹ + -man

Example Sentences

He was working as a flagman near Zabriskie Point, where road repairs require traffic control.

From Los Angeles Times

The track owner at the time, Tony Hulman, widened the pit lane entrance, eliminated the angled inside wall in the fourth turn and moved the flagman from the inside near the front of pit road to a starter’s stand above the cars and the outside wall, where it remains today.

From Washington Times

Smith had surged into the lead as the flagman threw the white to signify one lap to go, but it was at the exact moment an 18-truck crash behind him triggered the yellow caution light.

From Seattle Times

If the one-lane construction zone was too long for the flagmen to see each other, one handed a flag to the last driver permitted through to give to the other flagman.

From Washington Post

But after hearing recent cases that included a flagman — positioned at a station platform to warn train operators that a work zone was ahead — falling asleep, alternate Commissioner Robert Lauby questioned whether Metro could wait months or a year for revised safety rules and said the commission should work with Metro to expedite the changes.

From Washington Post

Related Words

• caretaker
• custodian
• patrolman
• policeman
• warden