lawman
/ˈlɔmæn/
Word Rarity
Very rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.47 in modern English
11
Scrabble Score
6
Letters
2
Syllables
5
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
A lawspeaker: a declarer of the law.
noun
One of 12 magistrates in certain Danish boroughs of England empowered with soc and sac over their own households.
noun
The presiding justice of the supreme court.
name
A surname.
Example Sentences
- "From the twelfth century Shetland had been administered directly by the Norwegian crown through the 'foud', rather than forming part of the patrimony of a great aristocratic estate. The foud appointed 'underfouds' and the Shetlands evolved their own elected officers, a 'lawman' and parish 'lawrightmen', who adjudicated and negotiated the collection of customary taxes and fines on behalf of the local population."
- ""Fill your hand, you sonuvabitch," the old lawman cries, clamping the reins of his horse between his teeth and filling his own hands with six-gun and repeater."
- "The two lawmen punched his ticket with four well-aimed rifle shots."
Etymology
From Middle English laweman, laȝaman (as a man's name, Laȝamon, Layamon), from Old English lahmann, borrowed from Old Norse lǫgmaðr. In present use as a law-enforcement officer, law + -man.
Origin
Word Breakdown
- Root: laweman, lahmann, lǫgmaðr
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˈlɔmæn/
- British English: /ˈlɔːmæn/
Usage
Subject
Wiktionary places this term in Law.