fogman en · NOUN
Etymology
From fog + man.
Meanings
-
(historical) A railwayman who placed fog signals (detonators) on the track at distant signals during thick fogs (and falling snow) to warn train drivers.
As against this, really bad fogs have been experienced and on one occasion the 7.35 p.m. from Victoria crawled into Herne Bay 95 min. late, having halted at every stop signal between Gillingham and Whitstable. The explanation? Not a single fogman had turned out for duty between Gillingham and Ramsgate.
1959 April, P. Ransome-Wallis, “The Southern in Trouble on the Kent Coast”, in Trains Illustrated, London: Ian Allan Publishing, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 216:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| fogmen | Number=Plur | lexicographic |