What does trawlerman mean?
A trawlerman is a fisherman who works with a trawl net, a large net drawn through the water behind or alongside a vessel to catch fish and other seafood. The word is chiefly associated with British English and evokes the work and communities of commercial fishing, including ports and coastal settlements where trawlers were a familiar sight. Unlike an angler, who generally catches individual fish with a rod and line, a trawlerman uses equipment designed to collect larger quantities of seafood. The word can also carry a nostalgic or historical association, especially when describing earlier generations of trawlermen and their way of life. Its narrow occupational meaning distinguishes it from the broader “fisherman” and from “trawler,” which usually denotes the vessel rather than the person working aboard it. Understanding the distinction recognizes a once-common maritime occupation while clarifying the particular technique at the center of its work.
nounA fisherman who uses a trawl net, typically while working aboard a trawler to catch fish or other seafood.
- A person employed to fish with a trawl net, especially aboard a commercial trawler.
"The trawlerman adjusted the nets as the boat steamed toward the fishing grounds."
"A trawlerman from the harbour explained how the crew deployed their heavy nets."
"The novel portrays a close-knit fishing community and the hard life of a trawlerman."
The regular plural of trawlerman.
"The exhibition celebrated the lives of trawlermen and their families."
While an angler waits for a bite, a trawlerman brings the net to the fish.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does trawlerman come from?
Trawlerman is an English compound formed from “trawl” and the occupational suffix “-man.” The word “trawl” entered English from Dutch and refers both to the method of dragging a fishing net through the water and to the net used for that purpose. Related English forms include “trawler” and “trawling,” while “trawlerman” specifically identifies the person performing the work.
Related word forms
How trawlerman is actually used
Chiefly British and often traditional or historical in tone. It is a more specific occupational term than the general word “fisherman.”
Easily confused with trawlerman
A trawler usually refers to the fishing vessel, whereas a trawlerman is the person who works aboard it.
A trawl is the net or method of fishing, not the person who operates it.