signalman

[ sig-nl-muhn ]

noun

, plural sig·nal·men.

1. a person whose occupation or duty is signaling, as on a railroad or in the army.

signalman

/ ˈsɪɡnəlmən /

noun

1. a railway employee in charge of the signals and points within a section
2. a man who sends and receives signals, esp in the navy

Other Words From

• under·signal·man noun plural undersignalmen

Word History and Origins

Origin of signalman¹

First recorded in 1730–40; signal + -man

Example Sentences

Jacobs was 17 when he joined the Navy in November 1944, after D-Day, and became a Navy signalman.

From Seattle Times

The Association of American Railroads trade group said in a statement that the new dispatcher and signalmen rules aren’t likely to make a significant improvement in safety because the railroads already train their employees.

From Seattle Times

The newlyweds originally met on a train eight years ago, and Ms Anderson's father, who gave her away, was a railway signalman for 51 years.

From BBC

Her father was a railway signalman, union official and former merchant seaman who claimed that her pram was crammed full of Labour literature during the campaign that led to Labour's 1945 landslide election victory.

From BBC

The first lady was one of those kids; she’s the daughter of a Navy signalman.

From Washington Times

Related Words

• caretaker
• custodian
• patrolman
• policeman
• warden