different between foreman vs mechanic

English

Etymology

From fore- +? man. Compare West Frisian foarman, Dutch voorman, German Vormann, Danish formand, Swedish förman, Icelandic formaður.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?f??(?)m?n/
• Rhymes: -??(?)m?n

Noun

foreman (plural foremen)

1. (management) The leader of a work crew.
2. (law) The member of a jury who presides over it and speaks on its behalf.
3. (historical, US, during the era of slavery) A black (slave) assistant to the white overseer who managed field hands.

Derived terms

• foremanship

Related terms

• forepeople
• foreperson
• forewoman

Translations

Anagrams

• foramen, name for

English

Alternative forms

• mechanick (obsolete)

Etymology

From Middle English mechanike (“mechanic art”), from Old French mecanique, from Latin mechanicus (“of or belonging to machines or mechanics, inventive”), from Ancient Greek ????????? (m?khanikós, “pertaining to machines or contrivance, mechanic, ingenious, inventive”), from ?????? (m?khan?, “a machine, contrivance”); see machine.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation, General American) IPA^(key): /m??kæn?k/
• Rhymes: -æn?k
• Hyphenation: me?chan?ic

Adjective

mechanic

1. (archaic) mechanical; relating to the laws of motion in the art of constructing things

   • these mechanic philosophers
2. (obsolete) Of or relating to a mechanic or artificer, or to the class of artisans; hence, rude; common; vulgar; base.
   • 1654, Richard Whitlock, Zootomia; Or, Observations on the Present Manners of the English

     Authors both Sacred and Profane we see complain of the Level of Learning, with Mechanick Ignorance: [...]

Noun

mechanic (plural mechanics)

1. (now chiefly historical) A manual worker; a labourer or artisan. [from 16th c.]
2. Someone who builds or repairs machinery, a technician; now specifically, someone who works with and repairs the mechanical parts of a motor vehicle, aircraft or similar. [from 17th c.]
3. A device, command, or feature which allows someone to achieve a specific task. [from 20th c.]

4. A hit man. [from 20th c.]
   • 1972, The Mechanic (film title)
5. (gambling) A cheat who manipulates the cards or dice.

   Hyponyms: card mechanic, dice mechanic

Derived terms

• auto mechanic
• card mechanic
• dice mechanic

Related terms

Translations

Further reading

• mechanic in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• Douglas Harper (2001–2021) , “mechanic”, in Online Etymology Dictionary
• mechanic in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.