ポイントマン

ポ

イ

ン

ト

マ

ン

Meanings

1

noun

pointsman; switchman

A rail transport worker who manually operated railway switches (points). This term is now largely historical, as modern railways use automated systems. The Japanese term 転轍手 (てんてつしゅ) is a native equivalent.

Related words

転てん轍てつ手しゅ
転轍手 is the native Japanese term for a pointsman/switchman, while ポイントマン is a loanword from English. Both refer to the same historical occupation.

Built from

ポイント+マン

Etymology

Borrowed from English 'pointsman', a compound of 'points' (railway switch) and 'man'.