landlubber

English

WOTD – 19 August 2009

Etymology

Extension (with land) of earlier lubber. Compare also landloper.

Pronunciation

  • (UK) IPA(key): /ˈlænd.lʌ.bə/
  • (US) IPA(key): /ˈlænd.lʌ.bɚ/
  • Audio (General Australian):(file)

Noun

landlubber (plural landlubbers)

  1. (nautical, derogatory) Someone unfamiliar with the sea or seamanship, especially a novice seaman.
    Synonym: lubber
    Coordinate term: landsman
    • 1935, S. Colum Gilfillan, The Sociology of Invention, page 84:
      [] the making of sheathing and ship's pumps. This last rather unmarine field included more than a third of the patents before 1800, which may be one explanation for the predominance of landlubbers in early marine patenting.

Derived terms

Translations