What does highman mean?
Highman is a rare noun for a man who holds a particularly elevated social, political, or local position. It usually implies not merely that the person is respected or influential, but that he stands out from those around him as a figure of rank or authority. The word consequently has an old-fashioned, occasionally deferential quality and is more likely to occur in historical prose, biographical writing, or deliberately traditional language than in modern conversation. It can describe a prominent member of a community, such as a local leader, dignitary, or chief negotiator, but it is not a general term for any successful or wealthy man. Because highman emphasizes elevated status, phrases such as “the town's highman” often carry a sense of local importance, distinction, or command. Today the word is chiefly encountered in older texts, although its straightforward meaning remains clear: a man of high standing.
nounA man of high rank, distinction, or social or political prominence.
- A man of high rank, distinction, or social or political prominence.
"Accounts of the period described him as the town's highman because of his influence over local affairs."
"The newspaper portrayed him as the region's highman and chief negotiator."
"In an old account, the steward was named as the manor highman."
The plural is highmen, though the headword itself is rare.
"The town's leading highmen gathered to discuss the dispute."
The rare word highman compresses an entire social hierarchy into two words: one person occupies a lofty position.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of highman
Highman is an English compound formed from the adjective high and the noun man. Unlike words inherited from Latin, French, or Greek, it was created by combining existing English elements to express the idea of a man of high rank or distinction.
How highman is actually used
This is a rare, somewhat archaic or literary term. It is more characteristic of older writing and historical narrative than of contemporary everyday speech.