patrolman orig. U.S.
(pəˈtrəʊlmən)
Also patrolsman.
A man who is on patrol. spec. a. A police constable attached to a particular beat or district of a city or town.
| 1879 in Webster Suppl. 1880 Scribner's Mag. Jan. 323 At the beginning of each watch two men set out from the station on patrol duty and follow their beats to the right and left respectively until they meet the patrol-men from the adjacent stations. 1893 Stead If Christ came to Chicago (1894) 266 The nearest patrolman who sees it [a fire] hastens to his patrol-box and sends in a fire alarm. 1902 Chambers's Jrnl. Oct. 673/2 Nor is this all. He is well off, even if he never rises beyond the grade of patrol⁓man. 1955 W. Gaddis Recognitions ii. vii. 644 The patrolman turned his attention to his charge. 1970 P. Laurie Scotland Yard iii. 70 Very occasionally a patrolman meets crime in progress. 1974 Anderson (S. Carolina) Independent 20 Apr. 1B/4 Participating in the investigation and arrests were..Patrolmen Jerry Gambrell and Jimmy McKinney of the Anderson police. 1977 ‘J. Fraser’ Hearts Ease ii. 12 The two police patrolmen were..directing traffic. |
b. A man told off to watch and inspect a line of electric wires, etc., to insure their continuing in good order.
| 18.. Electric Rev. (U.S.) XVI. 16 (Cent.) The chief line⁓man should..also have charge of the carbon-setters and arc-patrolmen. |
c. In general senses.
| 1867 J. M. Crawford Mosby 330 [They] captured five patrolmen, from whom..they succeeded in obtaining the countersign. 1878 Harper's Mag. Feb. 331/2 Each patrol⁓man will carry a beach lantern. 1900 J. London Let. 31 Jan. (1966) 86, I was..a fish patrolman, a longshoreman, and a general sort of bay-faring adventurer. 1945 Seafarers' Log 22 June 6/1 The SS Prospector of the Alcoa SS Company, paid off here in an Army Base, and two Patrol⁓men managed to get aboard her. 1959 Times 14 Aug. 15/2 A beach patrolman said, [etc.]. 1965 M. Spark Mandelbaum Gate iii. 69 The hill road to the Potter's Field bordered on disputed territory, and wanderers in the area were likely to be shot at by the patrolmen of either country. 1966 R. & D. Morris Men & Pandas v. 90 An exhausted zoo patrolman. 1974 Country Life 5 Dec. 1772/3 All AA patrolmen carry a copy. |