Where does “linkman” come from?

linkman (English) comes from English MAN, from English manual, from Middle English manuel, from Anglo-Norman manuel, from Old French manual, from Latin manuālis, from Latin manus, from Proto-Italic manus — human being; man; hand.

linkman (English): An adult linkboy; one bearing a torch or light; A...

Definitions

  1. An adult linkboy; one bearing a torch or light; A...

Ancestry of “linkman”, step by step

linkman traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English MAN

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishMANInitialism of Metropolitan Area Network
2EnglishmanualA handbook; A booklet that instructs on the usage...
3Middle Englishmanuel
4Anglo-Normanmanuelmanual; done with the hands; handle; manual;...
5Old Frenchmanual
6Latinmanuālishand
7Latinmanushand; bravery, valor; violence, fighting
8Proto-Italicmanushand
9Proto-Indo-Europeanman-human being; man; hand

via English link

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishlinkA connection between places, people, events,...
2Latinlinchinuscandle
3Latinlynchinus
4Ancient Greekλύχνοςlamp
5Proto-Indo-Europeanluk-s-nos
6Proto-Indo-Europeanlewk-bright; to shine; to see
Every word from Proto-Indo-European man-