diff --git a/fish/config.fish b/fish/config.fish
index ddf79fd..bd62ded 100644
--- a/fish/config.fish
+++ b/fish/config.fish
@@ -63,15 +63,6 @@ if status --is-interactive
     set -g __fish_git_prompt_color_stashstate cyan
     set -g __fish_git_prompt_color_untrackedfiles cyan
     set -g __fish_git_prompt_color_upstream yellow
-
-    # Termcap colors for less and manpages
-    set -x LESS_TERMCAP_mb (set_color brmagenta)
-    set -x LESS_TERMCAP_md (set_color brred)
-    set -x LESS_TERMCAP_me (set_color normal)
-    set -x LESS_TERMCAP_se (set_color normal)
-    set -x LESS_TERMCAP_so (set_color -b blue black)
-    set -x LESS_TERMCAP_ue (set_color normal)
-    set -x LESS_TERMCAP_us (set_color brgreen)
 end
 
 if not set -q __universals_initialized
diff --git a/fish/functions/man.fish b/fish/functions/man.fish
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..657af2e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/fish/functions/man.fish
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+function man --wraps man -d "Colorized man pages"
+    # descriptions from `man terminfo`
+    set -lx LESS_TERMCAP_mb (set_color brmagenta)     # turn on blinking
+    set -lx LESS_TERMCAP_md (set_color brred)         # turn on bold (extra bright)
+    set -lx LESS_TERMCAP_us (set_color brgreen)       # turn on underline
+    set -lx LESS_TERMCAP_so (set_color -b blue black) # turn on standout (reverse)
+    set -lx LESS_TERMCAP_me (set_color normal)        # turn off all attributes
+    set -lx LESS_TERMCAP_ue (set_color normal)        # turn off underline
+    set -lx LESS_TERMCAP_se (set_color normal)        # turn off standout (reverse)
+
+    # debug setting to print the capability tags being used
+    #set -lx LESS_TERMCAP_DEBUG on
+
+    command man $argv
+end