Desperately Seeking a Word
Jul. 4th, 2010 05:18 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
desperanceOkay, people. The word we begin with is "journeyman", meaning in this context one whose apprenticeship is behind him. [Note to the curious: this usage derives from day-worker, not from traveller. Bear that in mind.]
Now, I am perfectly happy with "journeywoman" for the female of the species - but I need a gender-blind plural or collective noun, for the whole caste. "Journeyfolk" is too twee for me; "journeypeople" and "journeypersons" are beneath mention. "Journey-workers" is legitimate, but clumsy. I incline towards "journeyers", but that doesn't technically mean the same thing; a journeyer actually is a traveller, and a new use that only adds to the confusion is seldom a good thing.
All bright ideas will be gratefully received.
Now, I am perfectly happy with "journeywoman" for the female of the species - but I need a gender-blind plural or collective noun, for the whole caste. "Journeyfolk" is too twee for me; "journeypeople" and "journeypersons" are beneath mention. "Journey-workers" is legitimate, but clumsy. I incline towards "journeyers", but that doesn't technically mean the same thing; a journeyer actually is a traveller, and a new use that only adds to the confusion is seldom a good thing.
All bright ideas will be gratefully received.