highwayman

Everyday

In the old days, a robber on horseback who stopped travellers on the road and took their money. tree →

In the lessons

Found in history lessons, old stories, poems and plays: highwaymen shouted «Stand and deliver!» and robbed coaches. In stories the word tells the reader the setting is long ago, with horses and coaches. It is a story word, not used for modern robbers.

Examples

• The highwayman stopped the coach on the dark road. tree →
• «Stand and deliver!» cried the highwayman. tree →
• The poem tells of a highwayman and the landlord's daughter. tree →
• Travellers were afraid of highwaymen on the lonely heath. tree →
• The highwayman wore a mask and a three-cornered hat. tree →
• In the play, I was the highwayman. tree →
• Some highwaymen became famous in songs. tree →

Note

Plural: highwaymen. Compound of highway + man. Only for the past; today we say robber, mugger or thief. Not a woman's word, though stories sometimes have a «highwaywoman».