Meanings
bellman1
plural bellmen
- A town crier.
On arriving in that town they took lodgings, and as was the custom at that time, hired the bellman to go round announcing their arrival, their qualifications, their fame, and their terms.
1850, Thomas Keightley, The Fairy Mythology, London: H.G. Bohn, page 387
Bellman2
plural Bellmans
- A surname originating as an occupation for a town crier.
Synonyms & antonyms
nouna man employed as an errand boy and luggage carrier around hotels
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- Middle Englishbelleman
- Englishbellman
From Middle English belleman, equivalent to bell + man.
More words from Middle English
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
bellman. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/bellman
“bellman.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/bellman. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “bellman,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/bellman.
Source: bellman on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.