A historic contract miner who bid on a specific section of a mine, agreeing to extract the ore in exchange for a percentage of its sale price. They absorbed the risk of the vein pinching out or dropping in grade, but stood to make significant money if they hit a rich pocket. They usually paid for their own tools, explosives, and candles out of their earnings.
Heard on the job
The tributers are refusing to work that heading unless the manager increases their percentage on the tin.
Also heard as
- tributor