Waterman

Origin

From water + man.

Full definition of waterman

Noun

1. (obsolete) A seaman, a sailor.
2. A man who lives or works on the water; a boatman.
3. Someone who distributes or supplies water for a living; a water-carrier.
• 1974, Lawrence Durrell, Monsieur, Faber & Faber 1992, p. 105:An elderly sheik shared this little ceremony with us, and afterwards benignly gave the waterman a coin and made him spurt scented water on his face and beard.
4. (dated) Specifically, an attendant on cab stands who supplies water to the horses.
5. (surfing) A man skilled in multiple aquatic sports disciplines, such as surfing, bodysurfing, undersea diving, canoe paddling, fishing, etc.

Usage notes

Describing someone as a waterman is the highest honour in the surfing community, reserved for those with long-standing and indisputably significant all-round achievements.

Related terms

• waterwoman