noun
fireman
FEYE-uh-muhn
noun
1
Someone trained to fight fires (traditionally referring to a man).
"The fireman carried the child out of the smoke-filled building."
2
Someone who shovels coal to keep a steam engine or boiler burning, especially on a train or ship.
"On old steam locomotives, the fireman kept the firebox stoked while the driver controlled the throttle."
How to Use Fireman
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA person who fights fires, or historically, one who fed a steam engine's firebox.
When to use it
Firefighter is now the preferred gender-neutral term in most professional contexts; "fireman" persists in everyday speech and in the historical railway sense.
Common pairings
train fireman
volunteer fireman
Word Forms
firemen plural
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The _____ carried the child out of the smoke-filled building.
Etymology
From fire and man.