wiremann.
/ˈwʌɪəman/, U.S. /ˈwaɪ(ə)rˌmæn/ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > worker > workers according to type of work > manual or industrial worker > workers with specific materials > metalworker > [noun] > wire-maker or worker
wire-drawer1265
wireman1548
wire-worker1670
velvet wire drawer1883
1548 in A. Feuillerat Documents Office of Revels Edward VI (1914) 31 To Iohn west wyerman for ixlb of wyer.
1616 B. Jonson Love Restored 124 in Wks. I Fortie other deuices I had, of Wyre-men, and the Chandry, and I know not what else.
1668 in J. Nichols Illustr. Antient Times Eng. (1797) 70 To Christopher Davison, wyreman, for covering the vestry windows with wyre.
2.
a. An installer or repairer of electric wires or systems.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > worker > workers according to type of work > manual or industrial worker > utility service workers > [noun] > electrician > involved in specific task
wireman?1881
bonder1903
?1881 Census Eng. & Wales: Instr. Clerks classifying Occupations & Ages (?1885) 47 Electrical Apparatus Maker... Telegraph Insulator Manufacturer, Telegraph Fitter, Wireman.
1902 F. C. Raphael ‘Electrician’ Wireman's Pocket Bk. Ed. Note Such..Memoranda as would be useful to the Electric Light Wireman in his work.
1939 Times 9 Oct. 5/4 In the late War..a number of men..who, being competent for minor electrical maintenance duties, were able to release seamen torpedomen [sic] for deck and torpedo work: they were rated ‘wiremen’.
1976 Evening Post (Nottingham) 15 Dec. 3/8 (advt.) Electrical control panel wireman-woman required.
2000 Star-Ledger (Newark, New Jersey) 13 Feb. 32 He was a wire man for Western Electric in Kearny for 35 years, retiring in 1980.
b. colloquial. A wiretapper.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > enquiry > investigation, inspection > secret observation, spying > electronic espionage > [noun] > device > person operating
wiretapper1891
plumber1972
wireman1973
sound-thief1977
1973 Telegraph (Brisbane) 24 May 12/4 Watergate conspirator James McCord was one of the best ‘wiremen’ in the eavesdropping game.
1977 Time 21 Feb. 19 He had been one of the most sought-after ‘wiremen’, or electronic eavesdroppers, in the East, supplying bugging and recording devices to clients on both sides of the law.
1999 L. O'Connell Still Life, Still Death 49 Billy Long was the best wireman, and the one making the most money.
3. A journalist working for a telegraphic news agency; a reporter whose job is to telegraph stories to a newspaper. Now chiefly historical.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > journalism > journalist > [noun] > news agency journalist
wireman1951
1951 B. Fine Educ. Publicity (rev. ed.) xv. 322 The publicity director might line up a number of potential stories with national angles which could be suggested to the wire man.
a1954 G. Rice Tumult & Shouting (1956) x. 116 Due to the rain it was impossible to use a typewriter. I dictated the description of the fight to my wire man.
1977 ‘J. le Carré’ Honourable Schoolboy xv. 338 Keller was..a wireman..and Jerry knew him from other wars.
1999 W. A. Harper How you played Game xvi. 419 He dictated his description, round by round, to his wire man, who telegraphed it to the paper.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2009; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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n.1548