bandsman

plural bandsmen

1. entertainmentA player in a musical band, especially a military or brass band.

   It was military bandsmen, their uniform coats unbuttoned, who supplied the merry tune, from a clarinet, a tuba, a fife.

   2005, E. L. Doctorow, The March, New York: Random House, Part One, p. 28

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   If the reader finds a certain monotony in the words chosen by the translator I hope he will realize that the bandsman has to operate within the limits of his instrument.

   1973, Cecil Parrott, transl., The Good Soldier Švejk, London: William Heinemann, translation of original by Jaroslav Hašek, Translator's introduction, page xxi

   ‘Honourable’ bandsman Thomas James will feature in display at National Army Museum highlighting service of black soldiers in Napoleonic wars[.]

   2025 October 21, Donna Ferguson, “London museum identifies black Waterloo veteran in rare 1821 painting”, in The Guardian, →ISSN

2. historicalbusinessA labourer (loader) working with a band of men.