gripman

[ grip-muhn ]

noun

, plural grip·men.

1. a worker on a cable car who operates the grip, which, by grasping or releasing the moving cable, starts or stops the car.

Word History and Origins

Origin of gripman¹

An Americanism dating back to 1880–85; grip + -man

Example Sentences

He said airlines wouldn’t hire him for flying jobs, and he supported his family as a trolley gripman.

From Washington Post

The gripman stands, center, in dark uniform.

From Seattle Times

An open “grip car” generated movement when a gripman pulled a handle to grasp a moving underground cable, while an unpowered, closed trailer car tagged along.

From Seattle Times

“He is that!” the driver returned, emphatically, as with a dextrous jerk he swung the ambulance just in front of a cable-car, to the sputtering disgust of the gripman.

From Project Gutenberg

"You'd better hang on; the gripman is mad tonight," Mary explained.

From Project Gutenberg