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A journeyman is a tradesman or craftsman who has reached the second grade of accomplishment, between apprentice and master.
The word 'journeyman' comes from the French word 'journée', meaning the period of one day; this refers to his right to charge a fee for each day's work. He would normally be self-employed, and could not employ others. In contrast, an apprentice would be bound to a master, usually for a fixed term of seven years.
The grade of journeyman is subdivided into two: journeyman improver and journeyman proper.
The terms jack and knave are informal words for journeyman.
See also: guild, apprentice, master.
Journeyman (1935) is a novel by Erskine Caldwell about an itinerant preacher who upsets a small rural community.
Journeyman is a 1989 album by Eric Clapton.
A journeyman in professional sports played for many different teams within a short period of time, compared to players who stay with the same team for longer periods or their entire careers.