seaman

From Middle English seeman, seman, from Old English sǣmann. Cognate with Saterland Frisian Seemon (“seaman, sailor”), West Frisian seeman (“seaman, sailor”), Dutch zeeman (“seaman, sailor”), German Low German Seemann (“seaman, sailor”), German Seemann (“seaman, sailor”), Swedish sjöman (“seaman, sailor”), Norwegian sjømann (“seaman, sailor”). Equivalent to sea +‎ -man.

• IPA^(key): /ˈsiːmən/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -iːmən
• Homophone: semen

seaman (plural seamen)

1. Synonym of sailor, particularly on a maritime vessel.
   • 2012 March, William E. Carter, Merri Sue Carter, “The British Longitude Act Reconsidered”, in American Scientist‎^[1], volume 100, number 2, page 87:

     But was it responsible governance to pass the Longitude Act without other efforts to protect British seamen? Or might it have been subterfuge—a disingenuous attempt to shift attention away from the realities of their life at sea.

2. (British, Navy) A person of the lowest rank in the Navy, below able seaman.
3. (US, Navy) An enlisted rate in the United States Navy and United States Coast Guard, ranking below petty officer third class and above seaman apprentice.
4. A merman; the male of the mermaid.
   • 1689 (indicated as 1690), [John Locke], An Essay Concerning Humane Understanding. […], London: […] Eliz[abeth] Holt, for Thomas Basset, […], →OCLC:
     , Book III

     not to mention what is confidently reported of mermaids, or sea-men

• seawoman (female); landman, landsman (opposed figure)

• AB

• seaman on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

• Samean, Semaan, amanse

sêaman

1. equative degree of aman: as safe as