What does trawlermen mean?
Trawlermen are fishermen who work with trawl nets, large nets towed through the water from a vessel. The method allows a crew to catch fish across a broad area and is especially associated with commercial fisheries in the British Isles and elsewhere in northern Europe, though it is also used in the United States. The word can refer to the workers collectively, as in "the trawlermen returned with a full catch," or to individual members of a trawler crew. In British usage, the term often carries a strong maritime and occupational association, evoking coastal communities, working boats, and the physical demands of net fishing. Trawlermen are distinguished from trawlers themselves, which are the vessels that pull the nets. The term also appears in discussions of fishing regulations, fleet decline, working conditions, and changes in the catches available in coastal waters.
nounTrawlermen are fishermen who catch fish using a trawl net, a large net dragged through the water, usually from behind a boat. The term can refer collectively to people engaged in this form of fishing.
- Fishermen who use a trawl net to catch fish or other marine animals.
"The trawlermen returned to port before dawn with a catch of haddock and prawns."
"The trawlermen worked through the night to secure the day's catch."
"Local historians interviewed former trawlermen about the decline of the fleet."
The standard plural of "trawlerman," used for one or more fishermen who work with trawl nets.
"Several trawlermen joined the crew for the winter fishing season."
Trawlermen turn the sea into a moving net: the trawl is hauled aboard, and the catch is separated from everything that entered it by mistake.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does trawlermen come from?
The word is an English compound formed from "trawl" and "man." The noun "trawl" was borrowed from Dutch and refers to a fishing net towed through the water. The compound developed alongside the European practice of commercial trawl fishing, and "trawler" is a closely related vessel name while "trawl net" names the equipment used in the occupation.
Related word forms
How trawlermen is actually used
The word is occupational and generally neutral. It is used especially in accounts of commercial fishing, and "trawlermen" is the standard plural of "trawlerman."
Easily confused with trawlermen
Trawlermen are the fishermen who work aboard trawlers, whereas trawlers are the vessels that pull the nets.