Dictionary

placeman en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˈpleɪsmən/ (UK)
• /ˈpleɪsman/ (UK)

Etymology

Etymology tree English place Proto-Indo-European *mon- Proto-Germanic *mann- Proto-West Germanic *mann Old English mann Middle English man Middle English -man English -man English placeman From place + -man.

Meanings

1. (UK, derogatory) One appointed to an office, especially in government, as a reward for political or other support; an appointee, a yes-man.
   • Predictably, the brow-beaten Clement in the end submitted to Philip's demands that the papal commission, which was eventually convened in November 1309, should consist predominantly of clerics who were known to be royal placemen. 2007, Edwin Mullins, The Popes of Avignon, Blue Bridge, published 2008, page 32:
   • Plus, contrary to hysterical prediction and uninformed innuendo, Bryant Lemuel's influence did not fill this pilot project with compliant placemen, instead leaving all appointments to the university science faculty. 2007, Christopher Brookmyre, Attack of the Unsinkable Rubber Ducks, →ISBN, page 183:

Forms

Deriveds

placemanship