highwayman

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English

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English Wikipedia has an article on:
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Etymology

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From highway +‎ man.

Pronunciation

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Noun

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highwayman (plural highwaymen)

  1. (historical) A person, usually mounted on horseback, who robbed travelers on public roads.
    Synonyms: see Thesaurus:highwayman
    • 1726 October 28, [Jonathan Swift], “The Author’s Oeconomy and Happy Life among the Houyhnhnms. []”, in Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World. [] [Gulliver’s Travels], volume II, London: [] Benj[amin] Motte, [], →OCLC, part IV (A Voyage to the Houyhnhnms), page 301:
      [] here were no Gibers, Cenſurers, Backbiters, Pick-pockets, Highwaymen, Houſebreakers, Attorneys, Bawds, Buffoons, Gameſters, Politicians, Wits, ſplenetick tedious Talkers, Controvertiſts, Raviſhers, Murderers, Robbers, Virtuoſo's; []
    • 1906 August, Alfred Noyes, “The Highwayman”, in Poems, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., published October 1906, →OCLC, part 1, stanza I, page 45:
      And the highwayman came riding— / Riding—riding— / The highwayman came riding, up to the old inn-door.
    • 1977, Jimmy Webb, Highwayman:
      I was a highwayman / Across the coach roads I did ride / With sword and pistol by my side.

Translations

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See also

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