Obs. Forms: 4–5 crafti man, 4–6 crafty man, 5 craftiman, craftyman. [The phrase crafty man, subseq. written as one word.]
1. One who pursues a handicraft; a craftsman.
c. 1350. Will. Palerne, 1681. In þe kechene … arn crafti men manye.
1362. Langl., P. Pl., A. III. 218. Craftes men [v.r. crafty men] craueþ Meede for heore prentys.
1382. Wyclif, 1 Kings vii. 14. A crafti man of metal … to doo al werk of metal.
c. 1450. Voc., in Wr.-Wülcker, 565/42. Artificialis, a craftiman.
1488. Act 4 Hen. VII., c. 9 § 1. Certeyn craftymen named Hatmakers and Kapmakers.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 23. The plowman, and generally euery crafty man.
1550. J. Coke, Eng. & Fr. Heralds, § 70 (1877), 80. Lynen wevers and handy craftesmen of Gaunte … fought a great battayle … no lytell honour to the crafty men of Gaunte.
2. fig. Artificer.
1382. Wyclif, Heb. xi. 10. A cite … whos crafty man and maker is God.
