weighman: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Technical/Historical/Industrial
Quick answer
What does “weighman” mean?
An official, especially in mining or agriculture, responsible for weighing goods (like coal, grain, or livestock).
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An official, especially in mining or agriculture, responsible for weighing goods (like coal, grain, or livestock).
A person whose job is to weigh, check, and record the weight of goods, often for the purpose of trade, quality control, or legal compliance.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is equally rare and specialized in both varieties. British usage is more historically associated with the mining and agricultural sectors. American usage might also appear in contexts like livestock auctions and grain elevators.
Connotations
Connotes a blue-collar, industrial, or historical job role. It suggests precision and official responsibility.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both varieties. Mostly found in historical texts, technical documentation, or within specific industries.
Grammar
How to Use “weighman” in a Sentence
The weighman + verb (recorded, checked, certified)Weighman + of + [material] (of coal, of grain)Weighman + at + [location] (at the mine, at the dock)Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
A role in commodity trading or quality assurance, ensuring correct weight for pricing.
Academic
Appears in economic history, labor history, or industrial archaeology texts.
Everyday
Virtually never used in everyday conversation.
Technical
Specific job title within mining, agriculture, scrap metal, or freight industries.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “weighman”
- Misspelling as 'weightman' or 'wayman'. Using it as a general term for someone who is heavy (confusion with 'weighs a lot').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is largely historical or used only in very specific industrial contexts. Modern equivalents are 'weigher', 'scale operator', or 'quality control technician'.
There is no traditional feminine form. Modern usage would use the gender-neutral 'weigher' or specify 'woman weighman' in historical description, though 'weighwoman' is attested but very rare.
No, the role typically involves recording weights, issuing tickets or certificates, and sometimes calculating value based on weight, making it an official administrative function.
Very rarely. It might be used poetically or metaphorically for someone who assesses the value or 'weight' of abstract things, but this is not standard usage.
An official, especially in mining or agriculture, responsible for weighing goods (like coal, grain, or livestock).
Weighman is usually technical/historical/industrial in register.
Weighman: in British English it is pronounced /ˈweɪmən/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈweɪmən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “As honest as a weighman (rare, proverbial)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a MAN at the WEIGHbridge or WEIGHing scales.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE GUARDIAN OF TRUE MEASURE (a person who ensures fairness and accuracy in transactions).
Practice
Quiz
In which historical industry was a 'weighman' most commonly employed?