surfaceman

English

Etymology

surface +‎ -man

Noun

surfaceman (plural surfacemen)

1. (mining) A miner who works in the open air, rather than underground.
2. (Scotland) A platelayer; one who maintains a railway track.
   • 1915, Leon Wilson, Ruggles of Red Gap:

     To this I might have paid less heed but for its disquieting confirmation on a later day at a psychic parlour in Edgware Road. Proceeding there in company with my eldest brother-in-law, a plate-layer and surfaceman on the Northern.