letterman—(U.S.) a sportsman who has received some mark of distinction:
- He holds a Masters degree in Physical Education from the Citadel, where he was a three years letterman in football.
Note: The compound does not correlate in meaning with mailman—a person who delivers letters, etc. or collects them from the letter-boxes:
- Our mail was delivered by the mailman who drove his car to every mail box along his assigned route.
man of letters—(formal) a scholar; a writer:
- To listen to the discoursing of an accomplished man of letters is always a pleasure.