brakeman

English

Santa Fe Railway brakeman atop a train that has paused at Cajon siding to cool its brakes after descending Cajon Pass in March 1943

Etymology

From brake +‎ -man.

Pronunciation

• Audio (US):

  (file)

Noun

brakeman (plural brakemen)

1. (US, rail transport) A railroad employee responsible for a train's brakes, couplings etc.
2. (mining, historical) A person employed to work the steam engine or other machinery that raises the coal from the mine.
3. (sports) A person who pulls the brake lever in the sport of bobsleigh.

Synonyms

• brakesman

Translations

railroad employee

• Czech: brzdař m
• German: Bremser (de) m
• Portuguese: guarda-freio m or f

See also

• (bobsledder): brakewoman

Anagrams

• breakman