[1840–50; mess + -man]This word is first recorded in the period 1840–50. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: colloid, creationism, flan, set piece, warmup-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: floorman, liveryman, marksman, midshipman, ombudsman