Man v. t. [imp. & p. p. Manned p. pr. & vb. n. Manning.]
1. To supply with men; to furnish with a sufficient force or complement of men, as for management, service, defense, or the like; to guard; as, to man a ship, boat, or fort.
See how the surly Warwick mans the wall ! --Shak.
They man their boats, and all their young men arm. --Waller.
2. To furnish with strength for action; to prepare for efficiency; to fortify. “Theodosius having manned his soul with proper reflections.”
3. To tame, as a hawk. [R.]
4. To furnish with a servant or servants. [Obs.]
5. To wait on as a manservant. [Obs.]
Note: ☞ In “Othello,” V. ii. 270, the meaning is uncertain, being, perhaps: To point, to aim, or to manage.
To man a yard Naut., to send men upon a yard, as for furling or reefing a sail.
To man the yards Naut., to station men on the yards as a salute or mark of respect.
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