English

Noun

fisherman ‎(plural fishermen)

1. A fisher, a person engaged in fishing:
   1. Any person who attempts to catch fish.

      The fisherman cast his line.‎

      • 1922, Michael Arlen, chapter 3/19/2, in “Piracy”: A Romantic Chronicle of These Days:

        Ivor had acquired more than a mile of fishing rights with the house ; he was not at all a good fisherman, but one must do something ; one generally, however, banged a ball with a squash-racket against a wall.

   2. A person whose profession is catching fish.

      He is a fisherman, out on a trawler for days at a time.‎

2. A boat used for commercial fishing.
   • 1938, Cecil Ernest Lucas Phillips, Cromwell's Captains, page 196:

     They tortured and put to death English factors in the Spice Islands; they descended upon the fisheries of the North Sea in huge fleets escorted by men-of-war that attacked and sank the fishermen of other nations

   • 1987, John Rousmaniere, ‎Cruising Club of America. Technical Committee, Desirable and Undesirable Characteristics of Offshore Yachts, page 26:

     Such boats should not have been fast, but the better fishermen — particularly John Alden's designs - […] won a big share of the offshore and coastwise races

Usage notes

Formerly the more common term, "fisherman" is now often replaced by the older fisher, to be more inclusive of female catchers of fish.

Synonyms

• See fisher

Related terms

• See fisher

Translations