a contentious sailor, who habitually argues, questions orders and regulations, etc.
sea lawyer in American English
noun
Nautical slang
a sailor inclined to question or complain about the orders given
Word origin
[1805–15]This word is first recorded in the period 1805–15. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: Indo-European, diminishing returns, makeup, polarization, soufflé