head beetler

plural head beetlers

1. UKarchaicdialectalThe leader of a group of workmen.

   Later Mattie, the 'head beetler' of my father's family, arrived wearing his customary tweed jacket.

   2016, Patrick Deeley, The Hurley Maker's Son

   1 more example

   The line of flunkies, like a rijiment of tin men workin' on strings, all together threw up their hands in horror, a look on their face like someone stole their last penny, and the head beetler of them, bowin' till his three ends met, said, […]

   1920, Seumas MacManus, Top o' the Mornin', page 161