fireman — English Dictionary

Noun

1. Someone (especially male) who is skilled in the work of fighting fire.

   Synonyms

   firefightersmoke eater

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   By February 1944 there were over two thousand women employed at the Alabama Dry Dock and Shipbuilding Company [...]. There were also female firemen on almost every shipyard crane [...].

   For firemen everywhere rescuing cats from trees has been as much a part of the job as tackling blazing buildings.

2. A person (originally a man) who keeps the fire going underneath a steam boiler (originally, shoveling coal by hand), particularly on a railroad locomotive or steamship.

   Synonyms

   stokerbakehead

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   He looked around his cab at his black greasy fireman, saying 'shovel on a little more coal, and when we cross that White Oak Mountain, you can watch Old 97 roll'.

   No grass grew under a train when the engineer let Fireman McLash take the throttle.

   More examples (2)

   A few keen enginemen, such as Driver Rosewarne of York, could coax good work out of them when engaged in heavy East Coast express service, but to most footplate crews, especially firemen, they were rather heartbreaking and backbreaking machines, and gradually were relegated to secondary or fast goods duties.

   Driver G. A. Rowett, of the North Eastern Region's Neville Hill shed, now joined the locomotive as pilotman, and actually took over the regulator, Fireman Wheddon continuing to fire.

   I was elated to pass because there were times when I did not think I was physically capable. It is quite rare for a woman to become a fireman.

   More examples (3)

   The driver remained at his post, while telling fireman Jim Nightall to get down on the track and run back to uncouple the burning wagon from the rest.

   (the latter is informal)

   The fireman's job was about to get very interesting; they had just run out of coal!

3. An assistant on any locomotive, whether steam-powered or not.

   Usage

   • broadly

   Broader terms

   footplateman

4. A relief pitcher (reflecting the figurative analogy of rescuing the situation).

5. A safety inspector in coal mines.

   Usage

   • Historical

Noun

1. play in which children pretend to put out a fire

   Broader terms

   playchild's play

2. a male laborer who tends fires (as on a coal-fired train or steamship)

   Broader terms

   stokermanadult male

3. a male member of a fire department who tries to extinguish fires

   Broader terms

   firefighterfire fighterfire-eatermanadult male

4. a male pitcher who does not start the game

   Broader terms

   relieverrelief pitchermanadult male