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Glite Dictionary
locksman

locksman

1 9.6
A person who opens and closes canal gates to move boats between water levels
  • noun
  • /ˈlɑksmən/
  • UK
: operador de esclusas
  • After checking the water levels, the locksman opened the lock for the waiting ship.

Examples

  • The locksman carefully adjusted the gate to let the boats pass through the canal.

  • The little procession proceeded to the center of the square, where the village locksman, one John MacRae, stepped out of the crowd to meet them.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • The crush of bodies around the pillory was so great that little of the miscreant could be seen, but the crowd drew back a bit to allow the locksman free movement for the ear-nailing.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • The locksman monitored the flow of water as he managed the canal's locks during the busy season.

Synonyms

lockmaster
vslocksman
  • US
1 8.2

A person who operates a lock on a canal to let boats pass

focuses more on hands-on operation and maintenance than on supervision
lockkeeper
vslocksman
1 8.0

A person who operates and looks after a lock on a canal or river

stresses technical operation and maintenance rather than simple caretaking
lockman
vslocksman
  • UK
9.9

A person who operates and cares for a canal lock

is the gender-neutral name for the same operating and maintenance role

How Responsible

lockmaster
  • US
1 8.2
lockkeeper
1 8.0
locksman
  • UK
1 9.6

Surface Forms

locksman singular
locksmen plural

Morphology

locksman = lock + man (transparent) = lock + man

A straightforward compound of 'lock' + 'man' meaning a person who works with canal locks, so the meaning is directly derivable.

Etymology

Locksman is simply lock + -sman, where lock means a 'gate that holds water' on a canal and -sman is like 'man' or 'worker'. So a locksman is the person who opens and closes those gates and looks after the water levels.