DCHP-1 Online
davy-man [< affidavit] 
n. N.S., Hist. a prisoner taken from a captured vessel and made to swear an affidavit before Admiralty Court that the vessel taken was legitimate prey for privateers.
- 1958 ". . . Cap'n, pick a good davy-man for the love o' truth, or we'll all be condemned as liars by our own wives, let alone the Admiralty Court."
- 1958 ". . . Cap'n, pick a good davy-man for the love o' truth, or we'll all be condemned as liars by our own wives, let alone the Admiralty Court."