DCHP-3

green man†

Esp. Nfld
DCHP-1 (pre-1967)

Entry from the DCHP-1 (pre-1967)

This entry may contain outdated or offensive information, terms, and examples.

See 1964 quote.

See: green hand(def. 2)

Quotations

1832
. . . one-third, or at least one-fourth, of the men employed . . . were "green men," or men who were never before at sea; and by this trade they [the French] bred up from 4000 to 6000 seamen annually.
1964
Youngster. An immigrant apprentice to the fishery, or "green man."
1965
An attempt was made by English ordinances in 1670 to enforce the long-standing custom of annually introducing "green men" to the [Newfoundland] fishery and ensuring their return to England where they would be available for the purposes of the navy.