Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun One of a gun's crew on board a man-of-war whose duty it is to pass shells for loading.

Etymologies

Sorry, no etymologies found.

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Examples

  • -- Heave up with the roller handspike under the end of the bracket on the side on which the truck is to be removed; handspikemen pass inside the breeching and place their handspikes under the axletree as near the truck as possible, and, assisted by 5 and 6, lift the gun while the shellman removes the old truck and side-tackleman puts on new one.

    Ordnance Instructions for the United States Navy. 1866. Fourth edition. United States. Navy Dept. Bureau of Ordnance

  • After the laugh had subsided, "Morrie," one of the Rochester detail, who acted as a shellman in the crew of Number Eight, said seriously:

    A Gunner Aboard the "Yankee" Russell Doubleday 1910

  • Numbers 2 and 3, respectively second captain and first loader and shellman, were directly behind the corporal.

    A Gunner Aboard the "Yankee" Russell Doubleday 1910

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