lockman

1. (Scotland, archaic) A public executioner.Examples: "In 1780 James Alexander, lockman of Edinburgh, was by the city chamberlain paid for service at an execution 13s. 4d., with a fee of 2s. 6d. for the use of his rope."; "At his back, the lockman reached up to grasp the noose dangling from the beam."; "In contrast, Spanish hangmen had their houses painted bright red, and in France, Italy, and the Netherlands executioners' homes were located as far as possible from the main population and significant political spaces, most often being placed outside of city walls. Here, in the Scottish capital, however, the lockman was purposefully lodged just meters from the burgh's civic, spiritual, and political heart of the mercat cross, St Giles' Cathedral, and Parliament House."Scotlandarchaic

2. (Isle of Man) An officer who acts as a kind of undersheriff to the governor.Examples: "the defendent must be summoned by the Coronor or his deputy (a lockman) to appear at the next court day, when the action is called in rotation."; "I have gone down to vote for a clerk or a lockman; we have pressing letters to go down and vote for a lockman sometimes."; "A lockman is appointed for each parish, and acts as deputy or assistant to the coroner."