san man

san man
 n.— «The impetus came from Ms. Nagle, who has long been fascinated by the Sanitation Department.…One of Ms. Nagle’s main concerns is the invisibility of “san men” as they are called, the ways in which people look past them, almost straining to ignore their work. » —“Nothing’s Wasted, Especially Garbage” by Edward Rothstein New York Times Mar. 31, 2008. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)

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Further reading

Punny Names From 1916

In 1916, a small-town newspaper in Pennsylvania printed a fanciful item about a local gathering with a guest list that included, among others, Miss Ella Vader, Mr. Ray Zor, and other punny names. This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of...

Bumbershoot, A Canopy of Silk

Although some people assume that bumbershoot is a Briticism for “umbrella,” this term actually originated in the U.S. It’s likely a combination of umbrella and parachute. A parachute, like an umbrella, is a canopy of silk or silk-like material. This...