[WAY sb.1]
† 1. A waywarden. Obs.
1570. in Toulmin Smith, Parish, vii. (1857), 509. Jhon Stone, Jhon Margorn, Waymen of West Ashton do give up their Accounts.
1630. in G. P. Scrope, Hist. Castle Combe (1852), 336. That every housekeeper within the parish which hath noe ploughe, doe com or send one to dige or picke stones one day before the aforesayd day, being warned by the way-men.
† 2. A traveller, wayfarer. Obs.
1638. Brathwait, Barnabees Jrnl., III. (1818), 83. Shew thy selfe a famous way-man.
1876. Whitby Gloss., Wayman, a journier.
3. A workman employed on the permanent way of a railway; a plate-layer.
1840. F. Whishaw, Railw. Gt. Brit. & Irel., 252. Waymen, who are paid by the contractors for keeping the permanent way in repair.
1885. Pall Mall Gaz., 7 Oct., 7/2. A party of waymen found that a wood and iron bridge … had been … destroyed by fire.
