fireman

plural firemen

1. firefightingSomeone (especially male) who is skilled in the work of fighting fire.

   For firemen everywhere rescuing cats from trees has been as much a part of the job as tackling blazing buildings.

   30 June 2019', Don't call us for cats stuck in trees', Fire Brigade warns (Daily Telegraph)

   1 more example

   By February 1944 there were over two thousand women employed at the Alabama Dry Dock and Shipbuilding Company [...]. There were also female firemen on almost every shipyard crane [...].

   1993, Nancy F. Cott, editor, History of Women in the United States. Historical Articles on Women's Lives and Activities. 15. Women and War, page 432

   Synonyms: firefighter, smoke eater

2. nauticalA person (originally a man) who keeps the fire going underneath a steam boiler (originally, shoveling coal by hand), particularly on a railroad locomotive or steamship.

   No grass grew under a train when the engineer let Fireman McLash take the throttle.

   1938, Xavier Herbert, chapter IX, in Capricornia, page 140

   5 more examples

   He looked around his cab at his black greasy fireman, saying 'shovel on a little more coal, and when we cross that White Oak Mountain, you can watch Old 97 roll'.

   ca. 1913 The wreck of Old 97 [ballad, Blue Ridge Mountains], verse 3

   A few keen enginemen, such as Driver Rosewarne of York, could coax good work out of them when engaged in heavy East Coast express service, but to most footplate crews, especially firemen, they were rather heartbreaking and backbreaking machines, and gradually were relegated to secondary or fast goods duties.

   1949 May and June, R. A. H. Weight, “A Short-Lived Pacific Class”, in Railway Magazine, page 196

   Driver G. A. Rowett, of the North Eastern Region's Neville Hill shed, now joined the locomotive as pilotman, and actually took over the regulator, Fireman Wheddon continuing to fire.

   1958 December 28, Cecil J. Allen, “British Locomotive Practice and Performance”, in Railway Magazine, page 852

   I was elated to pass because there were times when I did not think I was physically capable. It is quite rare for a woman to become a fireman.

   2013 August 24, Sophie Wyllie, quoting Tina Pinney, “Volunteer Tina steams ahead and becomes qualified fireman on North Norfolk Railway”, in Eastern Daily Press, →ISSN

   The driver remained at his post, while telling fireman Jim Nightall to get down on the track and run back to uncouple the burning wagon from the rest.

   2022 January 12, Benedict le Vay, “The heroes of Soham...”, in RAIL, number 948

   Synonyms: stoker, bakehead

3. broadlyrail transportAn assistant on any locomotive, whether steam-powered or not.
4. ball gamesA relief pitcher (reflecting the figurative analogy of rescuing the situation).
5. historicalbusinessA safety inspector in coal mines.

1. A surname.