Pronunciation: [dɪskmˈan] (IPA) 
The word "discman" is commonly spelled with a "c", as in "discman", but it can also be spelled with a "k", as in "diskman". The spelling with a "c" is more common in American English, while the spelling with a "k" is more common in British English. In both cases, the stress is on the first syllable, /ˈdɪskmæn/. The word refers to a portable compact disc player that was popular in the 1990s.
A Discman is a portable electronic device designed for playing compact discs (CDs). It was first introduced by Sony in the late 1980s and became immensely popular as a portable music player during the 1990s.
The Discman typically consists of a sturdy casing that houses a CD player mechanism, audio control buttons, and a liquid crystal display (LCD) screen. It is designed to be lightweight and compact, making it convenient for users to carry it around while on the go. The device is powered by batteries or can be connected to a power source for extended playback.
To use a Discman, one inserts a standard-sized CD into the CD player compartment. The CD spins at a high speed inside the device, and the laser beam within the player scans the disc's surface, converting the physical pits and valleys on the disc into an electrical signal. This signal is then decoded and amplified to produce audio through the built-in headphones or speaker.
Discman revolutionized the way people listened to music, allowing them to enjoy their favorite CDs anywhere, whether during travel, exercise, or leisurely activities. However, advancements in technology and the advent of digital music formats, such as MP3 players and smartphones, rendered Discman obsolete over time. Despite its decline in popularity, the term "Discman" remains in use as a nostalgic reference to these portable CD players and their impact on the evolution of personal music consumption.
The word "Discman" is a portmanteau of two terms: "disc" and "man".
The term "disc" originated from the Latin word "discus", which referred to a round, flat object. In English, it came to represent a thin, flat circular object typically made of plastic or metal. It is commonly used to describe optical discs, such as compact discs (CDs), that store and play back audio or data.
The second part of the word, "man", is a generic term referring to a person. In this context, it was used to connote a portable and personal device primarily designed for individual use.
The combination of "disc" and "man" resulted in the term "Discman", which was used to describe a portable CD player manufactured and marketed by the Sony Corporation in the 1990s.
