noun
headsman
Headsman (noun) means a chief person; a head man.
noun
1
A chief person; a head man
2
An executioner whose method of dispatching the condemned is decapitation.
3
A labourer in a colliery who transports the coal from the workings to the horseway, and who is oftentimes assisted by a younger worker called a foal.
4
One in command of a whaling vessel.
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Etymology
From Middle English heddysman, equivalent to head + -s- + -man. Cognate with Scots hedisman, heidisman (“head man; chief; commander”). Compare also Danish høvedsmand (“captain”), Swedish hövitsman (“captain”), Icelandic höfuðsmaður (“captain”), German Hauptmann (“captain”).
Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of headsman?
"headsman" (noun) means a chief person; a head man.
What are the different meanings of headsman?
"headsman" has 3 main meanings: 1. A chief person; a head man; 2. An executioner whose method of dispatching the condemned is decapitation; 3. A labourer in a colliery who transports the coal from the workings to the horseway, and who is oftentimes assisted by a younger worker called a foal.