bagman

See also: bag man

English

Alternative forms

• bag man

Etymology

bag +‎ -man

Pronunciation

• Audio (AU)

  (file)

Noun

bagman (plural bagmen)

1. (US, Australia, New Zealand, informal) A person who collects, transports, or distributes illicit money, especially for the purpose of bribery, extortion, or the making of other improper payments.
   • 2006 September 15, James Graff, “In France, a Vintage Chirac Scandal is Uncorked”, in Time:

     The accused are only the latest in a string of alleged bagmen, vote-riggers and ward-heelers charged with wrongdoing.

2. (golf) A caddy.
3. (British, dated) A staff assistant to a senior police officer (such as a Detective Sergeant for a Detective Inspector).
4. (British) A secretary of (and keeper of equipment for) a Morris dancing side.
5. (Australia, slang) A bookmaker.
6. (Australia, dated, slang) A tramp, hobo.

   Synonyms: vagrant, tramp, bum, hobo, (Australia; dated) swagman

7. (UK, dated, slang) A travelling salesman.
8. (US, politics, slang) An officer assigned to travel with the president and carry the "nuclear football".
   • 1968, Newsweek, volume 72, numbers 10-18, page 28:

     […] in a locked metal suitcase carried on the President's travels by a warrant officer irreverently known as "the bagman."

   • 2013, Richard Doyle, Executive Action:

     The bagman clutching the nuclear football like an undertaker at a wedding. Cameras flashed and clicked, recording the scene. 'Good morning, Mr President,' they chorused.

9. (Canada, politics, informal) A prominent fundraiser for a political party or similar cause
   • 2016, David Akin, "Tory 'bagman' boasts about party's bank account, Toronto Sun, 28 May,

     Proud to call himself the "bagman" of the Conservative Party, former senator Irving Gerstein boasted about the financial health of his party Friday.

Anagrams

• man bag, man-bag, manbag