[1655–65, Amer.; whale1 + -man]This word is first recorded in the period 1655–65. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: chassis, flip-flop, grille, intensity, mechanism-man is a combining form, used in the formation of compound words indicating a man ofa certain type or with a certain job. Other words that use the affix -man include: chairman, fireman, lineman, marksman, ombudsman