I encountered this word in a book I was reading. I was not familiar with its definition as it was used in the book.
View as: Outline |Full entryQuotations:
Pronunciation: /ˈbætmən/ /ˈbɑːmən/
Etymology: < bat n.3 + man n.1
a. A man in charge of a bat-horse and its load; a military servant of a cavalry officer. Now generally, an officer’s servant.
]bât-horse n. (French cheval de bât) a sumpter-beast, a horse which carries the baggage of military officers, during a campaign; as bât-mule n. See also batman
Is this a very common usage today? The book I was reading was published in 1939