fjärdingsman

Compound of fjärding (“quarter”) +‎ -s- +‎ man (“man”), as each fjärdingsman was originally responsible for one quarter of their härad (“hundred”). Attested since 1510.

fjärdingsman c

1. from the 16th century a position of trust and from the 19th century a minor government part-time job (engaged in, among other things, tax collection, police tasks, and road inspections; abolished and incorporated into the police during the first half of the 20th century); an assistant to a länsman

   Synonym: fjärsman

   • 1667 February 3, Petrus Gyllenius, edited by Reinhold Hausen, Diarium Gyllenianum eller Petrus Magni Gyllenii dagbok 1622–1667‎, published 1822, page 355:

     [...] jagh sände straxt til Dye effter fierdingzmannen, och lätt arrestera honom [...]

     [...] I soon sent for Dye after the fierdingzman, and had him arrested [...]

   • 1843, Julius Axel Kiellman-Göranson, Miniaturer‎:

     Nu kom fjerdingsman med ett par handklofvar och två styfva bönder fattade genast mod och togo tag i armarna på henne.

     Now came the fjerdingsman with a pair of handcuffs and two able peasants immediately took courage and grabbed her arms.

2. (colloquial, dated, after c. 1950) a police

   Synonyms: (dated) fjärsman, polis

• länsman

• fjärdingsman in Svensk ordbok (SO)
• fjärdingsman in Svenska Akademiens ordlista (SAOL)