tallyman

English

Etymology

tally +‎ -man

Noun

tallyman (plural tallymen)

  1. A person who keeps a tally of something.
    • 1960 July, G. Freeman Allen, “Margam yard - the most modern in Europe”, in Trains Illustrated, page 406, photo caption:
      Uncoupling a train into cuts in the reception sidings - as a shunter wields his pole, the tallyman reads off details of the train to the Traffic Office through his portable radio transmitter.
    • 2022 March 23, Paul Bigland, “HS2 is just 'passing through'”, in RAIL, number 953, page 41:
      At the prefab site entrance, we collect our breathing apparatus from the 'tallyman' who books people in and out of the tunnel.
  2. A man who conducts the tally trade
  3. (informal, regional, archaic) A man who cohabits (with someone) outside of marriage.
    • 1890, Thomas Ratcliffe, “Tally-woman”, in Notes and Queries‎, page 297:
      The term tally-man and tally-woman, indicating a man and woman living together without marriage, are used in mining districts, where such unions are far from uncommon.

See also

References
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