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tally clerk

tally clerk

8.0
A person who counts and writes down the number or weight of goods
  • noun
  • /ˈtæli klɜrk/
translation icon : contador
  • The tally clerk was responsible for ensuring every shipment was accurately recorded in the logbook.

Examples

  • The tally clerk counted the boxes carefully.

  • The warehouse hired an additional tally clerk during the busy holiday season.

  • As a tally clerk, she checked the cargo and matched it to the delivery paperwork.

  • Many tally clerks work during the holiday season.

  • As a tally clerk, she checked the cargo and matched it to the delivery paperwork.

  • The tally clerk was responsible for ensuring every shipment was accurately recorded in the logbook.

  • The warehouse hired an additional tally clerk during the busy holiday season.

Synonyms

counter
vstally clerk
  • Specialized
75 3.4

A person or machine that keeps a total of items

is a specialized person who counts and records business goods or weights
enumerator
vstally clerk
2 7.0

A person who visits homes to count people and record information for a survey like a census

counts physical goods rather than survey or census data
tallyman
vstally clerk
  • Archaic
1 8.9

A person who counts and records items like votes or goods

has identical meaning but uses a neutral or general label
tallywoman
vstally clerk
9.8

A woman who counts and writes down numbers for work

has identical meaning but uses a neutral or general label
stock-taker
vstally clerk
  • UK
4.8

A person who counts and records goods in a shop or warehouse

counts goods mainly when produced, shipped, or received
stocktaker
vstally clerk
  • UK
6.3

A person who counts and records the goods in a shop or warehouse

counts goods mainly when produced, shipped, or received
countian
vstally clerk
  • Archaic
8.9

A person who counts things, for example votes or goods

focuses on counting commercial goods by weight or shipment

Surface Forms

tally clerk singular
tally clerks plural

Morphology

tally + clerk

The meaning 'a person responsible for counting and recording quantities' is directly and transparently derived from 'tally' (to count or record) combined with 'clerk' (an employee who maintains records). This is a regular English compound/agentive pattern, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Tally clerk may come from the old way of counting with a tally, a stick or sheet with marks, and clerk meaning the worker who kept the record. So a tally clerk was the person who counted and wrote down numbers, which is why today it means 'a person who records the quantity of goods'.