Paul's man

noun

Someone who hangs around in the nave of St Paul's Cathedral, exchanging gossip or wasting time; (hence), an idler, a gossipmonger.

Similar
Paul's-walker
First used 17th c.
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Meanings

nounPaul's man (plural Paul's men)

plural Paul's men

  1. archaichistoricalSomeone who hangs around in the nave of St Paul's Cathedral, exchanging gossip or wasting time; (hence), an idler, a gossipmonger.First known use 17th c.

    Cap. Bobadill, A Paules-man.

    1616, Ben Jonson, Every Man in his Humour
    1 more example

    To tell the truth he was mean in fortunes and for the most part hankered about the coffeehouses and low taverns with crimps, ostlers, bookies, Paul's men, runners, flatcaps, waistcoateers, ladies of the bagnio and other rogues of the game […].

    1922 February 2, James Joyce, “[Episode 14: Oxen of the Sun]”, in Ulysses, Paris: Shakespeare and Company […], →OCLC, part II [Odyssey], page 380

    Synonyms: Paul's-walker

Synonyms & antonyms

nounSomeone who hangs around in the nave of St Paul's Cathedral, exchanging gossip or wasting time; (hence), an idler, a gossipmonger.

Similar
Paul's-walker
Cite this entry
APA

Paul's man. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Paul's%20man

MLA

“Paul's man.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Paul's%20man. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Paul's man,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Paul's%20man.

Source: Paul's man on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.