Definition of "yardman"

A worker in any of several types of yard, as:

1. A worker in a railyard.  examples

2. (UK, historical) A farm worker assigned to the farmyard of a large farm, working at hostler duties (harnessing and hitching teams), loading and unloading wagons, feeding, and so on.  quotations

   Quotations

   • I asked the grizzled rustic who appeared to be in sole occupation of the farm buildings, and who was, in fact, the yardman, if he knew whereabouts I should find the [hunting] party. He said something I did not understand, but I followed his pointing arm. […] The yardman, with his lantern, was helping to back ponies into traps. Motor-engines murmured. […]

     1930, Adrian Bell, Corduroy, Faber and Faber

3. (chiefly Canada, US) A laborer hired to do outdoor work.  examples