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machiniste

machinist, stage hand

noun mah-shee-NEEST Rare
People & Society Professions

Also means

bus or tram driver

Usage Note

Machiniste is common in two distinct professional contexts: in theatre and film it refers to a stagehand or grip who handles scenery and equipment, while in public transport it is the formal term for a bus or tram driver. The word is masculine or feminine depending on the person (un/une machiniste) and the grammatical gender follows natural gender.

Examples

"Le machiniste installe les décors."

Natural Translation

The stagehand sets up the scenery.

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