sanman

See also: sǎnmàn and sànmàn

English

Etymology

Shortening of sanitation + man.

Noun

sanman (plural sanmen)

1. (New York City) A New York City sanitation department worker: a garbage collector. [since the 1970s]
   • 1978, The New Yorker, volume 54, part 3, page 28:

     Sanmen get more on-the-job injuries than either policemen or firemen. Many of them strain their backs, undramatically but painfully, because, being so strong, they may forget to bend their knees when they're hoisting a garbage can.

   • 1984, Ms. Magazine, volume 12/13, page 32:

     Ukeles has been shocked at the number of insults endured by the sanmen, and saddened by the shame some of them feel.

   • 2008, Anne Pasternak, Creative Time: The Book, page 129:

     Then I walk some of the thousands of curb miles with the sanmen (at that time still an all-male workforce).

Anagrams

• Amanns