▪ I. ˈlinkman1
A man employed to carry a torch.
| 1716 Gay Trivia iii. 139 Though thou art tempted by the link-man's Call Yet trust him not along the lonely Wall. 1762 Gentl. Mag. 596 A remarkable robbery was committed near Moor-fields by a linkman. 1851 D. Jerrold St. Giles v. 44 A ballad-singer may hold his head up with a linkman any day. 1881 Census Instr. (1885) 31 Linkman. 1898 Daily Tel. 13 Jan. 7/3 To receive two and six each for acting as linkmen at a wedding. |
▪ II. ˈlinkman2
Also link man.
[f. link n.2 + man n.1]
A person serving as a link between groups of people, etc.
Quot. 1909 prob. represents an extended use of linkman1.
| 1909 J. R. Ware Passing Eng. 168 Linkman (W. London), general servant about kitchen or yard. 1918 Linkman Apr. 1 (title) The Linkman—a literary and artistic quarterly review of congenial interests. 1969 Guardian 29 July 5/5 He is to..run an advice centre for residents, acting as a day-to-day ‘link man’ between the people and the available social and welfare services. 1972 Where May/June 150/3 We need a scheme which..makes Governors better linkmen between the school and their community. 1972 Oxford Times 20 Oct. 24/4 (heading) Social services Linkman. Ibid., He will act as linkman between the department and volunteers. 1973 Times 20 Oct. 2/3 Mr Heaton, in his closing speech, claimed the prosecution had changed their allegations concerning his role in the burglary from perpetrator of the crime to link man and alibi for Miss Dugdale. |
b. spec. (a) a commissionaire; (b) in Broadcasting, a person providing continuity in a radio or television programme consisting of several items; (c) in Hockey and Association Football, a player in any of the mid-field positions.
Sense (a) is probably an extended use of linkman1.
| 1939 H. Hodge Cab, Sir? xv. 222 A commissionaire is still a linkman to us. 1947 Gloss. Technical Theatr. Terms (Strand Electr. & Engin. Co.) 20 Link men, staff engaged at the Entrances and Exits of the theatre to pass the public to and from the street. 1960 Listener 23 June 1114/1, I must enter a protest against commentators, interviewers, announcers, link-men..and all the glorious company of contemporary communications. 1963 Times 25 May 3/6 McLintock is a foil and Gibson the link man. 1965 Daily Express 13 Aug. 15/5 Linkmen. ‘They have to sort out the initial problems in defence,’ said Wade, ‘and then offer themselves as the focus for a pass from defence before going forward in supporting roles to the attack.’ 1966 Observer 16 Oct. 23/5 There will be little change of format in the 26-week run. No chat, no singing, no dancing. No ‘linkman’ saying ‘good evening’ and ‘goodnight’. 1968 K. Bird Smash Glass Image v. 59 One of my qualities as newsreader and linkman was that I remained cool in a crisis. 1968 Listener 10 Oct. 469/3 They seemed much more like linkmen waiting for tips outside an expensive hotel than dangerous and purposeful revolutionaries. 1970 F.A. News Apr. 340/1 In the days before ‘sweepers’ and ‘link men’, Clayton was the ideal old-type ‘dual-purpose’ wing half. 1974 Listener 10 Jan. 58/3 ‘Well..can you answer very briefly..is Britain really on the edge of disaster?’.. Timings, for linkmen, are of course inexorable. |