Dictionary

menfolk en · NOUN

Etymology

From men + folk.

Meanings

1. (plural, plural-only) Male people in general.
   • The old woman was surprised when the soldiers stopped to look at her camouflage quilts, since menfolk are rarely interested in needlework.
2. (plural, plural-only) The male members of a group.
   • At our family reunion, the menfolk generally have a ball game, while the womenfolk gossip and trade snapshots.
   • “I don't suppose a Russian convict under the knout is able to amuse the rest of his gang; and all our men-folk here are gilded convicts.” 1889, Rudyard Kipling, “The Education of Otis Yeere”, in Under the Deodars, Boston: The Greenock Press, published 1899, page 14:
   • […] when the pleasant time of night is come, and the stewardess is tucking up the ladies, and putting oranges and other goodies under their pillows, and the menfolk assemble in the capstan house to smoke their last cigar. 1877, Official Guide and Album of the Cunard Steamship Company, page 95:

Forms

Coordinates

womenfolk

Translations (16)

de Mannsbilder (men collectively — see also mankind) · nb på sverdsiden (men collectively — see also mankind) · izh meesrahvas (men collectively — see also mankind) · de Mannsvolk (men collectively — see also mankind) · nn mannfolk (men collectively — see also mankind) · nb mannfolk (adult male members of a community) · de Mannsleute (men collectively — see also mankind) · fi miesväki (men collectively — see also mankind) · pl mężczyźni (adult male members of a community) · izh meessuku (men collectively — see also mankind) · nb mannfolk (men collectively — see also mankind) · fi miesväki (adult male members of a community) · pl mężczyźni (men collectively — see also mankind) · nb karfolk (men collectively — see also mankind) · de Männer (men collectively — see also mankind) · nn karfolk (men collectively — see also mankind)