Gasman

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. An individual who oversees the management of gas supply and distribution systems is often referred to as this term
2. A professional responsible for the operation and maintenance of gas infrastructure and services is known by this term
3. A person who works with the supply and distribution of gas to ensure proper operation and maintenance

Etymology: The word is a plain compound: "gas" plus "man". The "gas" half traces back to Dutch, where "gas" was coined in the 1600s by the Flemish chemist Jan Baptist van Helmont, who took it from the ancient Greek "khaos" (chaos), a term for the formless air or vapour. English borrowed the newer word, and it came to name the fuel that lit streets and homes. The "man" half is one of the oldest words in English, Old English "mann", with the same basic sense of a human being. Put together, the compound describes a person whose job is to look after the gas supply, a figure familiar from the days when town gas was piped to households and needed constant maintenance. Its meaning is literal, with no shift from the original parts.

Synonyms: gas technician, gas worker