IPA: /ˈɡrɪp.mən/
KK: /ˈɡrɪpˌmæn/
A person who operates or controls a grip, often in the context of cable cars or similar machinery.
The gripman skillfully maneuvered the cable car through the steep hills.
The word 'gripman' is formed from 'grip' (from Old English 'gripian', meaning to seize or grasp) and 'man' (from Old English 'mann', meaning a person). A gripman is a person who seizes or holds something, often referring to someone who operates a vehicle or a device that requires a firm hold.
Think of someone who 'grabs' or 'holds' ('grip') something firmly, and remember that a gripman is a person who does just that.