highwayman
/'haiweimən/
Definition
Noun: A highwayman is a robber, typically on horseback, who historically held up travelers on public roads, especially in past centuries. The term specifically refers to a person who commits theft by stopping vehicles or individuals on a highway.
Usage
The word "highwayman" is used to describe a specific type of historical criminal. It is a countable noun. - The primary usage is to identify the person committing the robbery. - It is often used in historical, literary, or storytelling contexts.
Examples
- The highwayman demanded that the coach driver halt and hand over all valuables.
- In the 18th century, a notorious highwayman terrorized travelers on this road.
- The legend of the masked highwayman has become a popular local tale.
Advanced Usage
- Archaic/Romanticized Usage: In literature and folklore, the figure of the highwayman is sometimes romanticized as a dashing or chivalrous rogue, despite being a criminal.
- The poem tells the tragic love story of a highwayman and an innkeeper's daughter.
Variants and Related Words
- Highwaywoman (noun): A female highway robber. (Less common, but used for historical accuracy).
- Bandit (noun): A more general term for a robber, often part of a gang, who attacks travelers. (Highwayman is a specific type of bandit).
- Brigand (noun): A bandit, especially one belonging to a gang operating in rural or mountainous areas.
Synonyms
- Robber: A person who commits robbery.
- Hold-up man: A person who commits a robbery by threatening the victim. (This is the core action of a highwayman).
- Footpad (noun, historical): A robber who operated on foot, as opposed to on horseback.
Related Phrases/Idioms
- "Stand and deliver!": This is the stereotypical command historically associated with highwaymen when ordering travelers to stop and surrender their goods. It is now a famous phrase evoking the image of a highwayman.
- The actor playing the villain shouted, "Stand and deliver!" just like a classic highwayman.
Noun
-
a holdup man who stops a vehicle and steals from it
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