1775-85;bush1 + man1, modeled on Afrikaansboschjesman literally, man of the bush
Examples from the web for bushmen
Children had no duties besides to play, and leisure was very important to the bushmen.
British Dictionary definitions for bushmen
bushman
/ˈbʊʃmən/
noun (pl) -men
1.
(Austral & NZ) a person who lives or travels in the bush, esp one versed in bush lore
Bushman
/ˈbʊʃmən/
noun (pl) -man, -men
1.
a member of a hunting and gathering people of southern Africa, esp the Kalahari region, typically having leathery yellowish skin, short stature, and prominent buttocks
2.
any language of this people, belonging to the Khoisan family
Word Origin
C18: from Afrikaans boschjesman
Word Origin and History for bushmen
Bushman
n.
1785, from South African Dutch boschjesman, literally "man of the bush," from boschje, from Dutch bosje, diminutive of bosch, bos (see bush (n.)).