1
a pitman
pitman 是可数名词，指矿工，尤指煤矿工人；前面用 a 表示‘一名’。
He was a pitman who spent his whole life in the coal mines.
他是一名矿工，一辈子都在煤矿度过。
皮特曼
pitmans — plural of pitman
先理解核心含义，再看它在真实句子里的用法。
皮特曼
English educator who invented a system of phonetic shorthand (1813–1897)
He was a pitman who spent his whole life in the coal mines.
他是一名矿工，一辈子都在煤矿度过。
指英国教育家艾萨克·皮特曼；用作人名时首字母常大写。
在坑中工作的人,如采矿、锯木等。
One who works in a pit, as in mining, in sawing timber, etc.
机械中的连杆,尤指锯木厂中的。
A connecting rod in machinery, especially in a sawmill.
The oldest pitman in the village told stories about working underground.
村里最年长的矿工讲述了在地下工作的故事。
Every morning the pitmen walked together to the colliery gate.
每天早晨，矿工们一起走向煤矿大门。
My uncle was a pitman for twenty years before he moved to the city.
我叔叔搬到城里之前当了二十年矿工。
pitman 是可数名词，指矿工，尤指煤矿工人；前面用 a 表示‘一名’。
He was a pitman who spent his whole life in the coal mines.
他是一名矿工，一辈子都在煤矿度过。
复数是特殊的 pitmen；变体 pitmans 也可使用。
The pitmen demanded better safety equipment.
矿工们要求更好的安全设备。
pitman 还指机械中的‘连杆’。
In an engine, the pitman connects the piston to the crankshaft.
在发动机中，连杆将活塞与曲轴连接起来。
Not this
My father is pitman.
Use this
My father is a pitman.
pitman 是单数可数名词，作表语时前面必须加冠词 a；汉语没有冠词，所以容易漏掉。
Not this
There are many pitman in the coal mine.
Use this
There are many pitmen in the coal mine.
pitman 的复数是不规则形式 pitmen，而不是保持原形；表示“许多矿工”时要用 pitmen。
Focus on the distinctions below. Other candidates are kept compact until a reliable usage note is available.
转向垂臂
The mechanic replaced the worn pitman arm.
机械师更换了磨损的转向垂臂。
转向垂臂轴
The pitman shaft connects the steering gear to the pitman arm.
转向垂臂轴将转向器与转向垂臂连接起来。
皮特曼速记法
She learned Pitman shorthand in secretarial school.
她在文秘学校学习了皮特曼速记法。
Use pitmans naturally, then get feedback on meaning, tone, grammar, and phrasing.
Revisit a common error or keep this word in your review list.
把pit想成矿井坑，man是人，站在坑里的人就是矿工。
语域：mixed 常见场景：矿业行业、历史叙述、新闻报道 pitman 作“矿工”解时，语体随场景变化：在矿业、历史或书面报道中较常见，属于较正式/行业用语；日常口语中通常直接用 miner。
注意：作“矿工/煤矿工”或“连杆”解时为可数名词，复数形式为 pitmen（亦写作 pitmans）；指教育家 Isaac Pitman 时是专有名词。
Dictionary facts from ECDICT, WIKTIONARY.