sandman

[ sand-man ]

noun

, plural sand·men.

1. the man who, in fairy tales or folklore, puts sand in the eyes of children to make them sleepy.

sandman

/ ˈsændˌmæn /

noun

1. (in folklore) a magical person supposed to put children to sleep by sprinkling sand in their eyes

Word History and Origins

Origin of sandman¹

First recorded in 1860–65; sand + man

Related Words

• coma
• dream
• hibernation
• slumber
• trance