English edit

Etymology edit

From donkey +‎ -man.

Noun edit

donkeyman (plural donkeymen)

  1. (nautical) The person in charge of a ship's engine room.
    • 1902 January–March, Joseph Conrad, “Typhoon”, in George R. Halkett, editor, The Pall Mall Magazine, volume XXVI, London: Printed by Hazell, Watson & Viney, →OCLC, chapter IV, page 226, column 2:
      One of the stokers was disabled, the others had given in, the second engineer and the donkey-man were firing-up. The third engineer was standing by the steam-valve. The engines were being tended by hand.