letterman en · NOUN
Etymology
Etymology tree English letter Proto-Indo-European *mon- Proto-Germanic *mann- Proto-West Germanic *mann Old English mann Middle English man Middle English -man English -man English letterman From letter + -man.
Meanings
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(US) A student who has attained a specified level of participation in a sporting or other activity, and is awarded a cloth “letter” to be affixed to an item of clothing.
The children seem to catch their enthusiasm from the energetic instructors, ten of them former lettermen at Kansas universities.
1967, United States Office of Education, Stepping Up with PACE, page 12:Cousins told the students of their responsibility emphasizing that the sweaters were given them in recognition by the school that they were the “best in the field.” Coach Smith distributed the dark blue slip over sweaters with a gold block T on the front to the lettermen.
2000, Cecilia Aros Hunter, Leslie Gene Hunter, Texas A&M University Kingsville, Arcadia Publishing, →ISBN, page 62:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| lettermen | Number=Plur | lexicographic |