shipmate

Everyday

1. A shipmate is a person who sails on the same ship as you, especially another sailor in the crew. tree →
2. (old, friendly) Sailors sometimes call any fellow sailor «shipmate» as a friendly way of speaking to him. tree →

In the lessons

In sea stories and pirate tales a shipmate is someone you share work, danger and food with on a voyage, so the word tells the reader of loyalty and trust between sailors. In The Wind in the Willows the Sea Rat talks of his old voyages and the men he sailed with. Phrases: «old shipmate», «my shipmates».

Examples

• The two old sailors had been shipmates for twenty years. tree →
• «Ahoy there, shipmate!» called the man on the dock. tree →
• Long John Silver pretended to be a good shipmate to the boys. tree →
• On the school trip to the tall ship, every pupil had a shipmate to work with. tree →
• The Sea Rat told stories of his shipmates in faraway ports. tree →
• She waved goodbye to her shipmates when the cruise ended. tree →
• A good shipmate shares the work and keeps watch. tree →

Note

Countable: one shipmate, two shipmates. Made of «ship» + «mate» (friend). Mostly used in stories and by sailors; on land we say «classmate» or «teammate» for the same idea.