α. 1500s (as a modifier)–1700s darkman, 1600s darkeman (as a modifier).
β. 1500s darkemans, 1500s–1800s darkmans, 1700s–1800s darkman's.
† darkmansn.
Criminals' slang. Obsolete.
Night. Cf. lightmans n.As a modifier in quot. ?1536.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > day and night > night > [noun]
nighteOE
nightertalec1300
darkc1400
nightertimec1425
night-timec1430
night-tidea1500
night-season1530
darkmans?1536
Nox1567
moonshine1652
darkie?1738
the watches of the night1826
nite1928
bat-flight1934
?1536 R. Copland Hye Way to Spyttell Hous sig. Eiijv Toure the patryng coue in the darkman cace.
1567 T. Harman Caueat for Commen Cursetors (new ed.) sig. Giiiv I couched a hogeshed in a Skypper this darkemans.
1611 T. Middleton & T. Dekker Roaring Girle sig. K4 With all whom I'le tumble this next darkmans in the strommel.
1737 Bacchus & Venus Canting Songs xviii Each Darkmans I pass in an old shady Grove.
1815 W. Scott Guy Mannering II. 97 Men were men then, and fought other in the open field, and there was nae milling in the darkmans.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2021; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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n.?1536