dial. and slang. Also Sc. taps-. [f. top’s, genitive of TOP sb.1 + MAN sb.1]
1. Sc. and north. dial. A head man, bailiff, principal servant; esp. the chief drover in charge of a herd of cattle on the road.
1825. Brockett, N. C. Words, Topsman, the head man or manager, the chief hind or bailiff.
1827. Scott, Two Drovers, i. Many large droves were about to set off for England, under the protection of their owners, or of the topsmen whom they employed.
1844. Stephens, Bk. Farm, II. 92. Some dealers’ top’s-men, that is, the men who take charge of their master’s lots after delivery.
2. slang. A hangman. Cf. TOP v.1 6, HEADSMAN.
1825. Celebrated Trials, IV. 171. R. Turpin … after speaking half an hour to the topsman, threw himself off the ladder, and expired in about five minutes.
1836. Milner, Turpin’s Ride to York, I. ii. (1885), 5/2. I shall never come to the scragging-post, unless you turn topsman.
1883. A. Dobson, Old World Idylls, 29. Waved to the crowd with his gold-laced hat; Talked to the Chaplain after that; Turned to the Topsman undismayed.
