steelman

/ˈstilˌmæn/
noun
  1. A person who works in the steel industry, especially in making or shaping steel.
    • My grandfather was a steelman at the local mill for forty years.
    • The union represents thousands of steelmen across the country.
    • The steelman carefully monitored the temperature of the molten metal.
  2. In debate or argument, a technique of presenting the strongest possible version of an opponent's argument before responding to it.
    • Instead of attacking a weak point, try a steelman to show you understand their view.
    • A good steelman makes the discussion more productive and fair.
    • She used a steelman of his position to clarify the real disagreement.
Synonyms
What does "steelman" mean? | whatsthatwordmean | whatsthatwordmean