The plural form of herdman; multiple men who tend to herds of livestock.
Archaic or poetic plural of herdman, using the -men suffix (from Old English -men, plural of man) rather than the modern standard -s pluralization.
Old English and Middle English allowed creative pluralization—herdmen, oxmen, craftmen—which is why modern English still has irregular plurals like 'men' and 'children' rather than 'mans' and 'childs.'
Plural masculine form used generically for mixed-gender groups of herders. This genericization obscures women's participation in pastoral economies.
Use 'herders' or 'herd workers' when referring to groups of mixed or unspecified gender.
["herders","herd workers","pastoral workers"]
The masculine plural perpetuates historical erasure of women herders; inclusive plurals restore acknowledgment of their labor.
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