shearman
(ˈʃɪəmən)
Forms: 3 sermon, 3–6 scher-, 4–7 shere-, 5–6 s(c)har-, 5–7 sher-, (6 shier-), 6–7 sheare-, 6–8 sheer-, (7 sheere-, share-), 6– shearman.
[f. shear v. + man n.]
1. One who shears woollen cloth. Now Hist.
| c 1275 in Shropsh. Archæol. Soc. Trans. Ser. iii. (1901) I. 130 Rogerius le sermon. 1297 Placita coram Rege m. 13 (1897) 83 Adam le Scherman. 1379 Poll-tax W. Riding in Yorks. Archæol. Jrnl. V. 25 Johannes Wykir & Agnes vx. ejus, Shereman. 1415 Nottingham Rec. II. 98 Willelmus, filius Thomae Sherman, de Notyngham,..sherman. 1530 in Archæologia XXV. 503 The sharman of Snettsham. 1551 T. Wilson Logic V. iv, His cote somwhat araied..was dressed at the Shermans [1580 Shiermans], not past two or thre dayes before. 1593 Shakes. 2 Hen. VI, iv. ii. 141 Villaine, thy Father was a Playsterer, And thou thy selfe a Sheareman, art thou not? 1687 Lond. Gaz. No. 2224/4 A Sheerman by Trade. 1798 W. Hutton Family of Hutton 97 My great grandfather, was a shearman. |
| Comb. 1463 Cal. City Lond. Let.-bk. L. 27 That now person enfraunchesed..take vpon hym to grynde any mennes sheres except Sheremen sherys. 1894 R. S. Ferguson Hist. Westmorland 165 The shearmen-dyers. |
2. One who conducts the process of shearing metal.
| 1881 Instr. Census Clerks (1885) 93 Wrought Iron Manufacture..Shearer or Shearman. 1892 Labour Commission Gloss., Shear men, men who put iron or steel into the shears..and square it and cut it into the required lengths. |