noun
- A sailor who works on the foretop, the platform at the head of the foremast on a ship.
Usage: nautical; archaic; historical
Examples
- The foretopman climbed the rigging to adjust the sails during the storm.
- In the age of sail, a foretopman needed strength and fearlessness to work at such heights.
- The captain called for the foretopmen to secure the lines before the wind picked up.
- Young sailors often began their careers as foretopmen, learning the trade from experienced crew members.