-man

Suffix

-man (noun-forming suffix, plural -men, feminine -woman)

1. Someone (possibly implied male) who is an expert in an area or who takes part in an activity.
   • horse + -man → horseman
   • sports + -man → sportsman
2. Someone (possibly implied male) who is employed or holds a position in an area.
   • law + -man → lawman
   • news + -man → newsman
3. Someone (possibly implied male) who has special characteristics relating to a topic or area.
   • free + -man → freeman
   • ice + -man → iceman
4. Someone (possibly implied male) who has a particular nationality.
   • Scots + -man → Scotsman
   • Dutch + -man → Dutchman
5. A man whose name begins with the preceding letter.
   • H + -man → H-man (“man whose name starts with H, e.g. Harry”)
   • J + -man → J-man (“man whose name starts with an J”)
6. A ship which has special characteristics relating to a trade or area.
   • Guinea + -man → Guineaman (“ship of the West African slave trade”)
   • East India + -man → East Indiaman