Definition of the word houseman

The term "houseman" originated in the 19th century as a designation for a doctor who had completed his initial medical training, known as a medical student or an apprentice, and was undergoing a one- or two-year residency program in a hospital or a surgeon's household. The word "house" referred to the location where the houseman worked, which was often a private residence where the surgeon resided. The purpose of the residency program, also known as a house job or a house appointment, was to provide the houseman with practical clinical experience and to prepare him for independent medical practice as a fully-fledged doctor. Today, the term "resident" has replaced "houseman" in modern medical education, but the concept and purpose of the residency program remain the same.