foreman
noun/ˈfɔː(ɹ).mən/
Etymology From Middle English foremon, forman. Compare West Frisian foarman, Dutch voorman, German Vormann, Danish formand, Swedish förman, Icelandic formaður. By surface analysis, fore- + man.
› A workplace leader.
1
Management The leader of a work crew.
- Since we’re getting too friendly, Ephraim Winslow, tell me, what’s a timber man want with being a wickie? Not enough quiet for ye up north? Sawdust itching yer nethers? Foreman found ye too high-tempered for carrying an axe?2019, Robert Eggers, Max Eggers, The Lighthouse (motion picture), spoken by Thomas Wake (Willem Dafoe):
2
Management The boss or manager of a particular workplace or section of a workplace, particularly a factory.
- factory foreman
3
Law The member of a jury who presides over it and speaks on its behalf.
4
US, Historical A slave assistant to the white overseer who managed field hands.
- Derived terms
- foremanship, subforeman
- Related terms
- forepeople, foreperson, forewoman