can man

can man

English

Noun

can man (plural can men)

1. (informal) A firefighter whose task is to haul a fire extinguisher.
   • 2002 August 29, Jim Dwyer, "How the Fire Commissioner Saw It" [book review of Strong of Heart by Thomas Von Essen], The New York Times,

     Mr. Feehan would reflect on the role of the "can man," the raw young firefighter assigned to haul an extinguisher up the stairs.

   • 2004, Jodi Picoult, My Sister's Keeper, →ISBN, page 141:

     In ten seconds, I was dressed and walking out the door of my room at the station. . . . By the time two minutes passed,, Caesar was driving the engine onto the streets of Upper Darby; Paulie and Red were the can man and the hydrant man, riding behind.

   • 2006, Jim Dwyer, Kevin Flynn, 102 Minutes, →ISBN, page 199

     Douglas Oelschlager was the can man, bringing up extinguishers.

See also

• irons man
• chauffeur