Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A public executioner: so called because one of his dues was a lock or ladleful of meal from every caskful exposed for sale in the market.
  • noun An officer in the Isle of Man who executes the orders of the governor, much like an under-sheriff.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun Scot. A public executioner.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun Scotland, archaic A public executioner.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a worker in charge of a lock (on a canal)

Etymologies

Sorry, no etymologies found.

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Examples

  • “Just the post of under-turnkey, for I understand there’s a vacancy,” said the prisoner; “I wadna think of asking the lockman’s place ower his head; it wadna suit me sae weel as ither folk, for I never could put a beast out o’ the way, much less deal wi’ a man.”

    The Heart of Mid-Lothian 2007

  • There is another, called the Speech and dying words of John Dalgleish, lockman alias hangman of Edinburgh, containing these lines: -- -- Death, I've a Favour for to beg, That ye wad only gie a Fleg, And spare my Life; As I did to ill-hanged Megg, The Webster's Wife.

    The Heart of Mid-Lothian 1822

  • Stephen Smotherwell, if it like your honour, lockman of this Fair City. I marvel your knighthood knows him not.

    The Fair Maid of Perth 2008

  • All parties agreed there should be some delegation of authority between the national and provincial levels, and even down to lockman (ANC) said there was a need for national standards applicable to all levels.

    ANC Daily News Briefing 1995

  • There is another, called the Speech and dying words of John Dalgleish, lockman

    The Heart of Mid-Lothian, Complete Walter Scott 1801

  • There is another, called the Speech and dying words of John Dalgleish, lockman

    The Heart of Mid-Lothian, Volume 1 Walter Scott 1801

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