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pointsman

[ points-muhn ]

noun

, British.
, plural points·men.
  1. a railway switchman.
  2. a police officer who directs traffic, as at an intersection.


pointsman

/ -mən; ˈpɔɪntsˌmæn /

noun

  1. a person who operates railway points US and Canadian equivalentswitchman
  2. a policeman or traffic warden on point duty
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


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Word History and Origins

Origin of pointsman1

First recorded in 1840–50; point + -s 3 + man
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Example Sentences

The scenery of the Pointsman is sufficiently ingenious to satisfy the cravings for sensation of a typical British audience.

The Pointsman is likely to remain on the line of the Olympic bills for many a week to come.

The company says--he is--and the public says--he is; but I'm--a pointsman--and I know--better.

A pointsman's back straightened itself upright suddenly against a tramway standard by Mr Bloom's window.

In the meantime the pointsman had fled on foot to the next station, and telegraphed the startling news from there to Quetta.

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