topsawyer

plural topsawyers

1. historicalA sawyer holding the upper handle of a pit saw and standing in the upper position above the saw pit.

   Well; she has married a topsawyer — I believe the ablest of them all, and probably the most unprincipled [...]

   1880, Disraeli, Benjamin, Earl of Beaconsfield, “LXIII.”, in Endymion, page 281

2. archaicidiomaticA highly skilled, prominent, or commanding leader.

   [...] nor had topsawyer's rocks by the stream Oconee exaggerated themselse [...]

   1939, James Joyce, Finnegans Wake, page 3

   2 more examples

   A fine colt. If Trevisco which won the Foal Stakes does not turn out a topsawyer I shall be greatly surprised [...]

   1896, Lexington, Ky., Record Pub. Co, The Thoroughbred Record, Vol. 88, No. 1, page 124

   What wonder, that Joe's judicious eye noted the good "points" in the sturdy little "Jack-in-the Water's" build and disposition, and that he befriended the boatman's orphan, patting his head as he warmed his chilled hands by the tap-room fire, where he dried his always damp and scanty clothing, and, as the Deaf'un himself has told us, saying, " You go straight. Jemmy, and well see if you won't be a topsawyer among 'em yet"?

   1906, Miles, Henry Downes, Pugilistica: the history of British boxing containing lives of the most celebrated pugilists; full reports of their battles from contemporary newspapers, with authentic portraits, personal anecdotes, and sketches of the principal patrons of the prize ring, forming a complete history of the ring from Fig and Broughton, 1719-40, to the last championship battle between King and Heenan, in December 1863, page 96

   Synonyms: top dog