noun
lockman
Lockman (noun) means (archaic) A public executioner.
noun
1
(archaic) A public executioner.
"At his back, the lockman reached up to grasp the noose dangling from the beam."
— Douglas Skelton, An Honourable Thief (2022)
2
(archaic) An official who acted as a kind of deputy to the governor.
3
A criminal with skill in opening locks and defeating alarm systems.
"The other thing is, a lockman. We need somebody really good, to follow the schematics I got and shut down all the alarms without kicking them on instead."
— Donald E Westlake, Good Behavior (2011)
4
A person whose job is to work the lock gates on a canal or river.
"Lock operations required both the lockmaster and lockman, often supplemented by deckhands on a towboat."
— William E. Ellis, The Kentucky River (2021)
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Etymology
Formed from lock and man.
Rhymes for lockman
See all rhymes for lockman →Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of lockman?
"lockman" (noun) means (archaic) A public executioner.
What are the different meanings of lockman?
"lockman" has 3 main meanings: 1. (archaic) A public executioner; 2. (archaic) An official who acted as a kind of deputy to the governor; 3. A criminal with skill in opening locks and defeating alarm systems.
