【man about town】 —(dated) a man who socializes in fashionable circles:

• A young man afraid of marriage may compensate by specializing in dating and courting, becoming a “ 【man about town】 .”

Note: The expression is not equivalent in meaning to the phrase man of the town—(arch.) one belonging to the shady or “fast” side of town life; a rake, a debauchee:

• Several of our men of the town … make use of the most coarse uncivilized words in our language.

【townman】 —(also: townsman)

1. an inhabitant of a town (as contrasted with a countryman):

• A 【townman】 would think the world slept, so great was the booming quietness.

2. a fellowinhabitant of a town:

• Mr. McClung continued to enjoy the confidence and esteem of his townmen and held public positions.