A person whose job is to deliver milk and dairy products to homes and businesses, usually early in the morning.
Compound of 'milk' (from Old English 'meolc') and 'man.' The profession became widespread in the late 1800s and early 1900s when refrigeration made regular milk delivery practical and common.
The milkman was once one of the most trusted people in neighborhoods—they had keys to houses and came daily—and milk bottles on doorsteps became an iconic image of suburban life. Now almost extinct, the milkman job shows how completely automation and supermarkets have reshaped daily life.
Occupational term defaulting to masculine despite women's historical participation in dairy delivery. Mid-20th century relied on gendered labor assumptions.
Use 'dairy delivery worker' or 'milk delivery professional' for inclusive reference.
["dairy delivery worker","milk delivery professional","delivery person"]
Women worked in dairy delivery systems; occupational naming erasure reflects linguistic convention, not historical fact.
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