seaman
/ˈsiːmən
/noun (plural seamen)
1A person who works as a sailor, especially one below the rank of officer: merchant seamen a seaman’s strike...
- But the former merchant seaman is not your average bum.
- The Yorkshire man was a former merchant navy seaman.
- ‘Make a goal and go for it’ was a motto that stuck with the former deck seaman.
Synonyms
sailor, seafarer, seafaring man, mariner, boatman, hand, crew member, rating
informal (old) salt, sea dog, bluejacket
British informal matelot, matlow, matlo
informal, dated tar, Jack Tar, hearty
(seamen) crew, complement
1.1The lowest rank in the US navy, below petty officer.All crew members, from captain to seaman recruit, eat the same food - but on different days.
1.2 [with adjective] A person regarded in terms of their ability to captain or crew a boat or ship: he’s the best seaman on the coast...
- Such an experienced seaman, still physically strong and able.
Derivatives
seamanlike
- For there to be some purpose to being out on the ocean, well, somehow it feels more seamanlike and very fitting.
- An optional gunter sloop rig makes for a very seamanlike rig, and one ideal for young people to learn to sail with.
- She has been maintained and equipped in a very seamanlike fashion and should bring her new owner many years of boating, and fishing, pleasure.
seamanly
- You're all great skippers and all it takes is a reasonable amount of seamanly skill and caution.
- The city has a seamanly tradition and invented the first turbine ship in the world.
- I cast a seamanly eye along the rail and let out a delighted whoop.
Origin
Old English sǣman (see sea, man).