GOODMAN

Goodman, Benny Goodman, Benjamin David Goodman, King of Swing

(noun) United States clarinetist who in 1934 formed a big band (including black as well as white musicians) and introduced a kind of jazz known as swing (1909-1986)

Source: WordNet® 3.1

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Proper noun

Goodman

A surname.

Etymology

Noun

goodman (plural goodmen)

(now, rare, chiefly, Scotland) A familiar appellation of civility. [from 10th c.]

(now, Scotland or historical) A husband; the master of a house or family. [from 13th c.]

Source: Wiktionary

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Good"man, n. Etym: [Good + man]

1. A familiar appellation of civility, equivalent to "My friend", "Good sir", "Mister;" -- sometimes used ironically. [Obs.] With you, goodman boy, an you please. Shak.

2. A husband; the master of a house or family; -- often used in speaking familiarly. [Archaic] Chaucer. Say ye to the goodman of the house, . . . Where is the guest-chamber Mark xiv. 14.

Note: In the early colonial records of New England, the term goodman is frequently used as a title of designation, sometimes in a respectful manner, to denote a person whose first name was not known, or when it was not desired to use that name; in this use it was nearly equivalent to Mr. This use was doubtless brought with the first settlers from England.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition

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