Dictionary

goodman en · NOUN

Etymology

From Middle English godeman, equivalent to good + man.

Meanings

1. (Scotland, archaic) A familiar appellation of civility for a man.
2. (Scotland, historical) A husband; the master of a house or family.
   • Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning: let us solace ourselves with loves. For the goodman is not at home, he is gone a long journey. 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Proverbs 7:18-19:
   • The centre of the kitchen was the well-caumed fireside, the saut girnel in the jambs, the goodman's seat between the lowe and the candle, and pussy bawdrons not far from the warmth of the ace. 1899, Proceedings of the Royal Philosophical Society of Glasgow, page 55:
   • ‘The gudeman,—he's done with t' paper, and you'll keep it for good and all.’ 1863, Anthony Trollope, Rachel Ray:

Forms