The spelling of the term "legman women" can be explained through its phonetic transcription in IPA. The first word, "legman," is pronounced as /ˈlɛɡ.mæn/, with the stress on the first syllable. This refers to a male journalist covering events on foot or traveling by foot to gather news. The second word, "women," is pronounced as /ˈwɪmɪn/, with the stress on the first syllable. This refers to multiple female individuals. Together, "legman women" refers to female journalists who cover events on foot.
The term "legman" refers to a male journalist or reporter who specializes in covering stories related to the entertainment industry, specifically focusing on celebrities and their public appearances. The word originated in the early 20th century and combines the word "leg" (referring to a woman's leg) and "man" (indicating a male person).
The term "legman" gained popularity during a time when newspapers would send photographers to capture images of famous actresses, with a specific emphasis on showcasing their legs. It was the legman's responsibility to write captions or stories describing the women's legs to accompany the photographs. As such, the word became associated with journalists who covered show business events and played up the glamour and physical appearances of female celebrities.
However, it is important to note that the term "legman" is considered outdated and has fallen out of usage due to its objectifying nature.