fireman

UK: /ˈfaɪə^rmən/ US: /ˈfaɪrmən/ ,(fī^ər′mən)

Inflections of 'fireman' (n): npl: firemen

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

fire•man /ˈfaɪrmən/   n. [countable] , pl. -men. 

1. a firefighter.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

fire•man  (fī^ər′mən), n., pl. -men. 

1. a person employed to extinguish or prevent fires;
   firefighter.
2. a person employed to tend fires;
   stoker.
3. [Railroads.]
   • Rail Transport a person employed to fire and lubricate a steam locomotive.
   • Rail Transport a person employed to assist the engineer of a diesel or electric locomotive.
4. Naval Terms [U.S. Navy.] an enlisted person assigned to the care and operation of a ship's machinery.
5. Mining [Brit. Mining.] See fire boss. 
6. Sport [Baseball.] See relief pitcher. 

• fire + -man 1620–30 for sense "gunner''

Usage

See -man. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

fireman / ˈfaɪəmən/ noun ( -men)

1. a man who fights fires, usually a public employee or trained volunteer
   Gender-neutral form: firefighter
2. (on steam locomotives) the man who stokes the fire and controls the injectors feeding water to the boiler
3. (on diesel and electric locomotives) the driver's assistant
4. a man who tends furnaces; stoker

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

fire′ boss′, [Mining.]

1. Mining a person who inspects a mine for the presence of noxious gases, dangerous roofs, and other hazards. Also called gasman*  [Brit.,] fireman. Cf. mine examiner.

• 1880–85, American.