noun. One of a gun's crew on board a man-of-war whose duty it is to pass shells for loading.

"-- Heave up with the roller handspike under the end of the bracket on the side on which the truck is to be removed; handspikemen pass inside the breeching and place their handspikes under the axletree as near the truck as possible, and, assisted by 5 and 6, lift the gun while the shellman removes the old truck and side-tackleman puts on new one."

Elman  Hellman  bellman