gandy dancer

[ gan-dee ]
/ ˈgæn di /

noun Railroads Slang.

a member of a railroad section gang that lays or maintains track.

Origin of gandy dancer

1915–20; dancer apparently in reference to the rhythmic movements characteristic of such work; gandy is unexplained; the existence of a Gandy Manufacturing Company, which supposedly produced tools used by section gangs, has not been substantiated

Words nearby gandy dancer

British Dictionary definitions for gandy dancer

gandy dancer
/ (ˈɡændɪ) /

noun

slang a railway track maintenance worker

Word Origin for gandy dancer

C20: of uncertain origin