draughtsman
(ˈdrɑːftsmən, -æ-)
Pl. -men. See also draftsman.
[f. draught's, genitive of draught n. + man.]
1. One whose profession is to make drawings, plans, or sketches; a man employed or skilled in drawing or designing.
| 1663 [see draftsman 1]. 1715 Leoni Palladio's Archit. (1742) I. 59 One of the best draughtsmen of our time. 1875 Dawson Dawn of Life iii. 41 The..drawings were executed by Mr. H. S. Smith, the..draughtsman of the Survey. 1888 Burgon Lives 12 Gd. Men I. iii. 345 Though he was no draughtsman, he was the author of a large portfolio of portraits. |
2. One who draws up, or makes a draft of, a writing or document; one whose office it is to draw up legal or official documents. Now more usually draftsman, q.v. 2.
| 1759 [see draftsman 2]. 1825 T. Jefferson Autobiog. Wks. 1859 I. 40 The laws of which I was myself the mover and draughtsman. 1878 Seeley Stein I. 457 Jurist and parliamentary draughtsman. 1887 Spectator 4 June 762/1 The actual draughtsman of the Report. |
3. A man employed in drawing or pulling something. rare. Also draftsman.
| 1795 A. Anderson Narr. China in Morse Amer. Geog. (1796) II. 509 Fastening one rope to the mast..the draftsmen take the rope on shore along with them. |
4. One of the ‘men’ or pieces used in the game of Draughts; also draughtman, q.v. 1.
| 1894 ‘Chequerist’ (R. A. Williams) How to play Draughts well 8 The writer recommends the ‘Royal’ Draughtsmen of the British Chess Company, as retaining the upper man when a King is made. |