goodman

See also: Goodman and good man

English

Alternative forms

• gomman (dialectal)
• gudeman

Etymology

From Middle English godeman, equivalent to good +‎ man.

Noun

goodman (plural goodmen)

1. (now rare, chiefly Scotland) A familiar appellation of civility for a man. [from 10th c.]
2. (now Scotland or historical) A husband; the master of a house or family. [from 13th c.]
   • 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Proverbs 7:18-19:

     Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning: let us solace ourselves with loves. For the goodman is not at home, he is gone a long journey.

   • 1863, Anthony Trollope, Rachel Ray:

     ‘The gudeman,—he's done with t' paper, and you'll keep it for good and all.’

References

• “goodman”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.