top-sawyern.
a. The sawyer who works the upper handle of a pit-saw; cf. topman n.1 4a, pit-sawyer (pit-sawyer n.), and saw pit n.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > worker > workers according to type of work > manual or industrial worker > workers with specific materials > woodworker > [noun] > sawyer > types of
pitman1678
topman1678
top-sawyer1823
whip-sawyer1881
cross-cutter1902
tailer-out1907
band-sawyer1909
1823 P. Egan Grose's Classical Dict. Vulgar Tongue (rev. ed.) Top-sawyer, signifies a man that is a master genius in any profession. It is a piece of Norfolk slang and took its rise from Norfolk being a great timber country, where the top sawyers get double the wages of those beneath them.
1836 E. Howard Rattlin ii The top-sawyer had been..pleased to toss his arms up and down over the pit.
b. figurative. One who holds a superior position; the best man.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > importance > [noun] > one who is important > one who is distinguished or notable
palma1525
somebodya1566
Dona1635
great gun1657
lion1715
bahadur1776
tyee1792
lioness1808
top-sawyer1826
roi soleil1880
the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > quality of being the best > [noun] > best person
bellman1617
optimate1635
prior1644
stang1808
top-sawyer1826
No. 11843
beyond-man1896
the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > reputation > fame or renown > famous or eminent person > [noun]
kingeOE
master-spiritc1175
douzepersc1330
sire1362
worthya1375
lantern1382
sira1400
greatc1400
noblec1400
persona1425
lightc1425
magnate?a1439
worthyman1439
personagec1460
giant1535
honourablec1540
triedc1540
magnifico1573
ornament1573
signor1583
hero1592
grandee1604
prominent1608
name1611
magnificent1612
choice spirita1616
illustricity1637
luminary1692
lion1715
swell1786
notable1796
top-sawyer1826
star1829
celebrity1831
notability1832
notoriety1841
mighty1853
tycoon1861
reputation1870
public figure1871
star turn1885
headliner1896
front-pager1899
legend1899
celeb1907
big name1909
big-timer1917
Hall of Famer1948
megastar1969
1826 Sporting Mag. 18 215 To ascertain which of two competitors is top-sawyer.
1869 R. D. Blackmore Lorna Doone II. viii. 91 ‘See-saw is the fashion of England always; and the Whigs will soon be the top-sawyers.’ ‘But,’ said I,..‘“the King is the top-sawyer”, according to our proverb. How then can the Whigs be?’
c. loosely. A first-rate hand at something; a distinguished person.
ΚΠ
1823 [see sense a].
1829 Sporting Mag. 23 412 Many a top-sawyer will speedily give me ‘the go by’.
1854 W. M. Thackeray Newcomes I. xv. 147 How he had paid the post-boys, and travelled with a servant, like a top-sawyer.
1880 B. Disraeli Endymion I. xxxiii. 308 There are some top-sawyers here to-day, Ferrars!
Derivatives
ˈtop-ˈsawing n. top-sawyer's work.
Π
1894 Times 11 Sept. 16/7 A decayed wheelwright who had done top-sawing in his young days.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1913; most recently modified version published online June 2019).
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n.1823- on a person's head
- on a person's heels
- on a person's part
- on a person's side
- on a person's top
- on a person's, the other side of the fence
- on a pin
- on a pinch
- on a plain
- on a plate
- on a platter
- on a price
- on a race
- on a rampage
- on a randy
- on a rank
- on a rash
- on a rate
- on a razor's edge
- on a rese
- on a rew
- on a river
- on a roar
- on a roll
- on a rout