-man
suffix/mən/ · /mæn/
Etymology From Middle English -man, from the noun man.
1
Morpheme 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
Morpheme Someone (possibly implied male) who is employed or holds a position in an area.
- law + -man → lawman
- news + -man → newsman
3
Morpheme Someone (possibly implied male) who has special characteristics relating to a topic or area.
- free + -man → freeman
- ice + -man → iceman
1 more example
- super + -man → superman
4
Morpheme Someone (possibly implied male) who has a particular nationality.
- Scots + -man → Scotsman
- Dutch + -man → Dutchman
2 more examples
- China + -man → Chinaman
- Yorkshire + -man → Yorkshireman
5
Morpheme 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
Morpheme 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
3 more examples
- merchant + -man → merchantman
- Greenland + -man → Greenlandman (“a whaling ship”)
- China + -man → Chinaman (“sailing ship engaged in the Old China Trade”)