The men who shoveled coal into the boiler for the steam engine were called firemen.


>>>>In France they have the right idea. At the entrance to the supermarket there's an authentically-styled bar-tabac where the men slip off for a cognac, a coffee, a cig and a good gallic chin-wag with the other "chauffeurs" while the women do the shopping. The only men you get are English tourists in shorts, with the whole family. :-)
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>>>Ah... and which bill turns out larger - the bar tab or the cash register slip?
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>>>I'd probably fit in well in France, were it not for their impossible language :).
>>
>>Re "Meaning of Tingo": I just discovered from that book that the french word "chauffeur" comes from the time of steam engines, being the guy who shovelled in the coal ("Chauffer" is fr. for "to heat")
>
>Ah, the "ložač" - another word missing in English. Comes from verb "ložiti" - to add fuel to the fire. That's the driver's assistant on a locomotive. Or is there an English word for that?
>
>And, btw, happy new birthday :).