sanman

English

Etymology

Shortening of sanitation + man.

Noun

sanman (plural sanmen)

  1. (New York City) A New York City sanitation department worker: a garbage collector. [since the 1970s]
    • 1978, The New Yorker, volume 54, part 3, page 28:
      Sanmen get more on-the-job injuries than either policemen or firemen. Many of them strain their backs, undramatically but painfully, because, being so strong, they may forget to bend their knees when they're hoisting a garbage can.
    • 1984, Ms. Magazine, volume 12/13, page 32:
      Ukeles has been shocked at the number of insults endured by the sanmen, and saddened by the shame some of them feel.
    • 2008, Anne Pasternak, Creative Time: The Book, page 129:
      Then I walk some of the thousands of curb miles with the sanmen (at that time still an all-male workforce).

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