Dictionary of Old Occupations
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Definitions of jobs Plaicher - Poldave Worker
Plaicher: alternate spelling of Pleacher, who trained trees to grow as hedges.
Plain Worker: performed 'plain needpework', i.e. sewing, hemming, stitching, felling and running.
Plaisterer: alternate spelling for a Plasterer.
Plaiter: wove straw into plaits, which were subsequently used in hat making.
Planker: worked in hat making, responsible for dipping felt into solution in order to stiffen it.
Plasher: alternate name for a Pleacher, who trained trees to grow as hedges.
Plasterer: a tradesman who worked with plaster, typically on ceilings and walls.
Platcher: alternate name for a Pleacher, who trained trees to grow as hedges.
Plate Maker: a potter who produced plates by hand.
Platelayer: maintains and inspects rail tracks. The US term for this occupation is Trackman.
Playderer: made pleated or plaid cloth.
Pleacher: trained trees to grow as hedges with interlaced branches growing together. In Europe the practice dates back to medieval times.
Plomer: alternate spelling of Plumber.
Ploughboy: an agricultural worker who ploughed fields. This occupation appears to have inspired song writers.
Ploughwright: a workman who repaired or made ploughs. (In the US plough is spelt plow).
Plumassier: sold decorative feather plumes.
Plumber: worked with lead. Lead sheets were commonly used in roofing as for waterproofing. During the 19th century lead was gradually replaced by iron / zinc which provided a lighter, rust proof material for roofing. Lead piping remained in use for water, hence the evolution of the occupation title into modern use meaning a person who installs piping.
Plumbium Worker: skilled worker who worked with lead.
Plumer: alternate name for a Plumassier, who sold decorative feather plumes.
Copyright: Jane Hewitt. This dictionary is authorised for use on www.familyresearcher.co.uk only.
Pluralist: a member of the clergy who had income (benefice) from more than one Parish.
Podiatrist: this occupational title came into use in the early 20th century meaning a medical professional specialising in feet, ankles and related structures in the leg. Performed surgery.
Point Man: alternative name for a Pointmaker, who made the tips of shoe and boot laces.
Poetaster: derogatory term dating back to the early 1600s. Refers to a poor quality poet.
Pointer: in medieval times a pointer was a tiler who 'pointed' layers of roof tiles, i.e. rendered them in mortar. Later on the occupation of pointer referred to the person who sharpened pins and needles during the manufacturing process. It is also an abbreviation for a Pointmaker, a person who made the points of shoe and boot laces.
Pointmaker: made the tips of shoe and boot laces.
Pointsman: a railway signaller or signalman. Worked in a signal box, in charge of operating points and signals.
Poldave Worker: dozens of online resources list this as a person who made a course fabric called Poldave. I have yet to find evidence to confirm this.
This dictionary is my own work, and copyright Jane Hewitt. I sometimes find unauthorised (i.e. stolen) copies of my website content appearing on other people's websites. If you should read a group of identical glossary definitions elsewhere on the web, consider whether such sites are reputable or not.
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