shopman

The shopman arranges fresh fruit in the store window.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A person who works in a shop: "shopman" refers to a man employed to serve customers or assist in a retail establishment.
   • A shop owner: In historical or British usage, "shopman" can also mean a man who owns or manages a small shop.

Usage Examples

• As an employee:
  • The shopman helped me find the right size of shoes. (A male sales assistant in a store.)
• As an owner:
  • The local shopman knew all his customers by name. (The owner of a small neighbourhood shop.)

Advanced Usage

• "shopman" in historical contexts: The term was more common in the 19th and early 20th centuries, often implying a skilled assistant in a specialist shop (e.g., a chemist's shopman or a draper's shopman).
  • The chemist's shopman prepared the prescription with care. (A male assistant in a pharmacy.)

Variants and Related Words

• Shopwoman (n): a woman who works in or owns a shop.
  • The shopwoman greeted each customer warmly. (A female shop assistant or owner.)
• Shop assistant (n): a more common modern term for a person who serves customers in a shop.
  • The shop assistant recommended a different brand. (A male or female employee in a store.)
• Shopkeeper (n): a person who owns or manages a shop, regardless of gender.
  • The shopkeeper closed the store at six o'clock. (The owner of the shop.)

Synonyms

• Salesman: a man whose job is to sell goods in a shop or to customers.
• Clerk: a person who works in an office or shop, handling sales or records.
• Assistant: a person who helps in a shop, especially serving customers.

Related Idioms

• "shopman" is not commonly used in idioms. However, the concept appears in phrases like:
  • "The shopman's word": an informal expression meaning a seller's guarantee or promise.

    • He took the shopman's word that the watch was genuine. (He trusted the seller's claim.)