motorman

[ moh-ter-muhn ]

noun

, plural mo·tor·men.

1. a person who operates or drives an electrically operated vehicle, as a streetcar or subway train.
2. a person who operates a motor.

motorman

/ ˈməʊtəmən /

noun

1. the driver of an electric train
2. the operator of a motor

Gender Note

See -man.

Word History and Origins

Origin of motorman¹

An Americanism dating back to 1885–90; motor + -man

Example Sentences

That train’s motorman was found at fault for alcohol intoxication and served 10 years in prison for manslaughter.

From Seattle Times

The conductor and motorman, not yet aboard, ran to catch the car, but its fender knocked Rene down, and she was seriously injured.

From Seattle Times

Her husband Milton Deoth has been a sailor for over two decades and works as a motorman on MT Heroic Idun.

From BBC

At the time, he was earning about $31.30 an hour as a motorman.

From New York Times

Born in New York less than a mile from Broadway, McCann’s father was a subway motorman and her mother was a housewife.

From Seattle Times