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Glite Dictionary
oysterman

oysterman

1 4.8
A person who gathers, grows, or sells oysters
  • noun
  • /ˈɔɪstərˌmæn/
translation icon : ostrero

Examples

  • From $5 to $8 per week, therefore, is an oysterman's wages when working.

    Academic text (1996)

  • A record kept by one Crisfield oysterman showed that during the 1901-02 oystering season, there were 203 legal working days.

    Academic text (1996)

  • PHOTO (BLACK & WHITE): Figure 7. A Maryland oysterman empties oysters from his tongs, ca. 1960s. Photo by Ray J. Baudel, courtesy of The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum.

    Academic text (1996)

  • The oysterman skillfully navigated the boat to gather oysters from their beds.

  • Every morning, the oysterman checks his traps to see how many oysters he has caught.

  • The local restaurant buys fresh oysters directly from the oysterman at the docks.

Synonyms

fisherman
vsoysterman
186 1.0

A person who catches fish for a living

works with oysters and not primarily with fish
fisher
vsoysterman
45 2.7

A person who catches fish for a living

works with oysters rather than catching fish
tonger
vsoysterman
  • Archaic
9.9

A person who collects oysters from shallow water using long-handled tongs

handles oysters in various ways including farming and selling

Surface Forms

oysterman singular
oystermen plural

Morphology

oysterman = oyster + man (transparent) = oyster + man

Clear compound of 'oyster' + 'man' meaning a person associated with oysters; straightforward for learners who know both components.

Etymology

The word oysterman is made from oyster and man, so it pictures a man who works with oysters. Picture someone rowing to oyster beds to 'gather' or 'sell' shellfish, and you see why it means a person whose job is to gather, farm, or sell oysters.