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sionnach has added 11291 words, 170 lists, 5116 comments, and 266 tags.

Defunct professions

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Economists like to cite "buggy whip maker" as an example of a profession whose career prospects were dimmed, and ultimately quenched, by the inexorable march of technological progress. This is a list for jobs which have become obsolete, for technological or other reasons.
Words 1 through 98 of 98
owler   has been listed 1 time with 1 comment
explorer   has been listed 5 times with 0 comments
gyrrwr   has been listed 1 time with 5 comments
jagger   has been listed 1 time with 0 comments
trenchpaine   has been listed 1 time with 0 comments
mediastine   has been listed 1 time with 0 comments
fewterer   has been listed 2 times with 1 comment
famulus   has been listed 8 times with 0 comments
topass   has been listed 1 time with 0 comments
quister   has been listed 1 time with 1 comment
phrenologist   has been listed 1 time with 0 comments
postillion   has been listed 3 times with 1 comment
nob thatcher   has been listed 1 time with 3 comments
luthier   has been listed 7 times with 0 comments
leightonward   has been listed 1 time with 1 comment
knockknobbler   has been listed 1 time with 1 comment
jerquer   has been listed 1 time with 1 comment
jakes-farmer   has been listed 1 time with 1 comment
honey dipper   has been listed 1 time with 0 comments
glimmerman   has been listed 1 time with 0 comments
gerund grinder   has been listed 1 time with 2 comments
fowler   has been listed 2 times with 1 comment
beadle   has been listed 8 times with 2 comments
quarrel picker   has been listed 1 time with 1 comment
skelper   has been listed 1 time with 1 comment
costermonger   has been listed 15 times with 0 comments
pardoner   has been listed 1 time with 0 comments
currier   has been listed 2 times with 0 comments
ostler   has been listed 4 times with 0 comments
chandler   has been listed 8 times with 1 comment
scrivener   has been listed 20 times with 7 comments
snobscat   has been listed 1 time with 1 comment
fletcher   has been listed 8 times with 1 comment
farrier   has been listed 6 times with 1 comment
alchemist   has been listed 14 times with 2 comments
wainwright   has been listed 3 times with 0 comments
van dyker   has been listed 1 time with 0 comments
pleacher   has been listed 1 time with 1 comment
huffler   has been listed 1 time with 0 comments
higgler   has been listed 4 times with 1 comment
botcher   has been listed 3 times with 1 comment
bodger   has been listed 3 times with 1 comment
alnager   has been listed 2 times with 1 comment
dialpainter   has been listed 1 time with 0 comments
leech collector   has been listed 1 time with 0 comments
groom of the stool   has been listed 2 times with 3 comments
toady   has been listed 18 times with 2 comments
featherie maker   has been listed 1 time with 1 comment
sin eater   has been listed 1 time with 1 comment
tweeny   has been listed 1 time with 1 comment
panter   has been listed 1 time with 0 comments
bus conductor   has been listed 1 time with 0 comments
hello girl   has been listed 1 time with 0 comments
girl friday   has been listed 3 times with 0 comments
rag-and-bone man   has been listed 1 time with 0 comments
harbinger   has been listed 81 times with 2 comments
greencoat   has been listed 1 time with 0 comments
burrgrailer   has been listed 1 time with 1 comment
gormer   has been listed 1 time with 0 comments
saggar maker's bottom knocker   has been listed 2 times with 1 comment
saggar maker   has been listed 1 time with 1 comment
gambrel maker   has been listed 1 time with 0 comments
spragger   has been listed 1 time with 0 comments
sprigger   has been listed 1 time with 0 comments
doctor maker   has been listed 1 time with 1 comment
faggot maker   has been listed 1 time with 1 comment
maiden maker   has been listed 1 time with 0 comments
link boy   has been listed 1 time with 1 comment
pugger   has been listed 1 time with 1 comment
water caddy   has been listed 1 time with 0 comments
steeplejack   has been listed 7 times with 0 comments
chaff-box boy   has been listed 1 time with 0 comments
legger   has been listed 1 time with 8 comments
knocker-up   has been listed 1 time with 2 comments
powder monkey   has been listed 9 times with 1 comment
loblolly boy   has been listed 5 times with 1 comment
castrato   has been listed 5 times with 1 comment
pure collector   has been listed 1 time with 6 comments
fluffer   has been listed 2 times with 5 comments
lighthouse keeper   has been listed 2 times with 0 comments
hurrier   has been listed 1 time with 1 comment
match girl   has been listed 1 time with 1 comment
buffer lass   has been listed 1 time with 0 comments
oakum picker   has been listed 1 time with 0 comments
mudlark   has been listed 4 times with 0 comments
child chimney sweep   has been listed 1 time with 2 comments
ratcatcher   has been listed 1 time with 0 comments
navvy   has been listed 10 times with 5 comments
wont catcher   has been listed 1 time with 0 comments
reddleman   has been listed 1 time with 0 comments
gut girl   has been listed 1 time with 0 comments
tanner   has been listed 3 times with 1 comment
purple maker   has been listed 1 time with 0 comments
fuller   has been listed 5 times with 3 comments
nettle string maker   has been listed 1 time with 1 comment
bog iron hunter   has been listed 1 time with 1 comment
guillemot egg collector   has been listed 1 time with 0 comments
buggy whip maker   has been listed 1 time with 0 comments
Words 1 through 98 of 98
comments for this list
(add comments for specific words on the word pages themselves)
about 1 month ago dontcry said:

Pro - Yes, but talk about a "glass ceiling.." Oy!

about 1 month ago Prolagus said:

Was "Wife of Henry VIII" a profession?

about 1 month ago Asativum said:

And which professions of today are most likely to go the way of the buggy-whip maker, or are already doing so? Perhaps another list.

about 1 month ago sionnach said:

Section 5 of Michael Quinion's "Gallimaufry" ,

as well as almost any episode of the BBC's awesome "Q.I." series.

about 1 month ago sionnach said:

A few resources for this list are:

Channel 4 'Worst Jobs in History' website

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