Tradesmen

/ˈtreɪdzmən/ noun

Definition

Skilled workers who do specialized jobs like plumbing, carpentry, or electrical work, typically after apprenticeships.

Etymology

Compound of 'trade' (from Middle Dutch 'trade' meaning path or way) and 'man.' Emerged in Middle English to describe people who followed a specific trade or craft.

Kelly Says

Tradesmen historically formed powerful guilds that controlled who could work in their fields—these guilds invented the apprenticeship system we still use today, basically the original training programs for jobs that required real expertise.

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