Definition
A stagehand who operates the ropes and pulleys controlling scenery that 'flies' in and out above a theater stage.
Etymology
Compound of 'fly' (in the theatrical sense of moving scenery via overhead rigging) and 'man.' The term emerged in the 17th century with the development of sophisticated theater stagecraft. It represents the occupational suffix pattern common in English.
Kelly Says
A skilled flyman is invisible to the audience but absolutely crucial—one mistimed rope release can ruin a dramatic reveal or send a set crashing down! Top flymen in prestigious theaters spend years learning the complex physics of counterweights and timing.
Translations
AMአማርኛ
እንስሳ አይነት
in-sisa a-y-net
ARالعربية
رجل ذباب
rij-al dhab-ab
CACatalà
home-mosca
ho-me-mos-ca
CSČeština
muškář
mu-ska-ř
DADansk
flugman
flu-g-man
DEDeutsch
Fliegenmann
flie-gen-mann
ELΕλληνικά
άνθρωπος-μύγα
an-thro-pos-my-ga
ESEspañol
hombre mosca
om-bre mos-ka
FAفارسی
مرد بال
mard ba-l
FISuomi
hyttys mies
hyt-tys mies
FRFrançais
homme-mouche
om-mu-sh
HEעברית
אדם-צפרדע
a-dam-tz-fa-re-de
HIहिन्दी
मक्खी वाला आदमी
mak-khi wa-la a-da-mi
HUMagyar
legy-ember
le-gy-em-ber
IDBahasa Indonesia
pria lalat
pri-a la-lat
ITItaliano
uomo mosca
oo-mo mos-ka
KMKM
ប្រភេទ មាន
pra-phe-te ma-an
KO한국어
날개 달린 남자
nal-gae dal-rin nam-ja
MSBahasa Melayu
pria lalat
pri-a la-lat
MYမြန်မာ
ကျောက်မြောင်း
chaw-kwe-myan-g
NLNederlands
vliegman
vlieg-man
PLPolski
człowiek-mucha
chlo-wie-k-mucha
PTPortuguês
homem-mosca
ho-mem-mos-ka
RORomână
omul-musca
om-ul-mus-ca
RUРусский
человек-муха
che-lo-vek-mu-kha
SVSvenska
fliegenman
flie-gen-man
SWKiswahili
mtu-nondo
m-tu-n-ondo
THไทย
ชายผีเสื้อ
chai phi-seu
TLTL
lalaw na tao
la-law na tao
TRTürkçe
böcek adamı
bo-cek a-da-mi
UKУкраїнська
чоловік-муха
cho-lo-vik-mu-kha
URاردو
مگس آدمی
mag-s a-da-mi
VITiếng Việt
người đàn ông muỗi
nguoi dan ong muoi
Ethical Language Guidance
Gender History
Historical theater jargon where 'man' was default for all technicians. Modern context includes all genders in role but term persists from male-default era.
Inclusive Usage
Use 'fly technician' or 'fly rigger' to include all genders; 'flyman' remains acceptable in historical/traditional contexts if speaker clarifies.
Inclusive Alternatives
["fly technician","fly rigger","flies operator"]