layman

layman
layman (n.) "non-cleric," early 15c., from LAY (Cf. lay) (adj.) + MAN (Cf. man) (n.). Meaning "outsider, non-expert" (especially in regards to law or medicine) is from late 15c. Related: Laymen.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Layman — Lay man .; pl. {Laymen}. [Lay, adj. + man.] 1. One of the people, in distinction from the clergy; one of the laity; sometimes, a man not belonging to some particular profession, in distinction from those who do. [1913 Webster] Being a layman, I… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • layman — I noun amateur, civilian, laic, nonprofessional, nonspecialist, one who has no specialized training, unskilled practitioner, untrained person associated concepts: lay witness II index amateur Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burto …   Law dictionary

  • layman — [lā′mən] n. pl. laymen [lā′mən] [ LAY3 + MAN] 1. a member of the laity; person not a member of the clergy 2. a person not belonging to or skilled in a given profession [a medical textbook not for the layman] …   English World dictionary

  • layman — (or layperson) ► NOUN 1) a non ordained member of a Church. 2) a person without professional or specialized knowledge …   English terms dictionary

  • layman — UK [ˈleɪmən] / US noun [countable] Word forms layman : singular layman plural laymen UK [ˈleɪmən] / US 1) someone who is not trained to a high or professional standard in a particular subject the layman (= all laymen as a group): a medical… …   English dictionary

  • layman — [[t]le͟ɪmən[/t]] laymen 1) N COUNT A layman is a person who is not trained, qualified, or experienced in a particular subject or activity. The mere mention of the words heart failure , can conjure up, to the layman, the prospect of imminent death …   English dictionary

  • layman — lay|man [ leımən ] (plural lay|men [ leımən ] ) noun count 1. ) someone who is not trained to a high or professional standard in a particular subject: the layman (=all laymen as a group): a medical dictionary for the layman in layman s terms (=in …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • layman — noun plural laymen, (C) 1 someone who is not trained in a particular subject or type of work, especially when they are being compared with someone who is: the layman (=laymen in general): technical terms not easily understood by the layman | in… …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • Layman — The term layman originated from the use of the term laity, but over the centuries, changed definition to mean a person who is a non expert in a given field of knowledge .The concept of describing something has come into wide use in the English… …   Wikipedia

  • Layman — Recorded in the spellings of Layman, Leyman, Lyman, and possibly Leman, this surname is of pre 7th century Anglo Saxon origin. It is topographical and describes a person who lived and worked a farm of meadows or grazing lands. The derivation is… …   Surnames reference

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”