Darkmans

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ˈdɑː(ɹ)kmÉ™nz/

Origin

From dark + man + 's.

Full definition of darkmans

Noun

1. (archaic, thieves' slang) The night.
• 1611, Thomas Middleton, The Roaring Girl, Edward Lumley 1840, p. 538:I have, by the salomon, a doxy that carries a kinchin mort in her slate at her back, besides my dell and my dainty wild dell, with all whom I'll tumble this next darkmans in the strommel ....
• 1815, Sir Walter Scott, Guy Mannering, Penguin 2003, p. 148:Men were men then, and fought other in the open field, and there was nae milling in the darkmans.
• 1828, Edward Bulwer-Lytton, Pelham, BiblioBazaar 2007, p. 481:Ah, Bess, my covess, strike me blind if my sees don't tout your bingo muns in spite of the darkmans.