Adjacent Words

ordinary seaman definitions

	Tweet

Merriam Webster's

noun Date: 1702 a seaman of some experience but not as skilled as an able seaman

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Seaman Sea"man, n.; pl. Seamen. [AS. s[ae]man.] One whose occupation is to assist in the management of ships at sea; a mariner; a sailor; -- applied both to officers and common mariners, but especially to the latter. Opposed to landman, or landsman. Able seaman, a sailor who is practically conversant with all the duties of common seamanship. ordinary seaman. See Ordinary.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Ordinary Or"di*na*ry, a. [L. ordinarius, fr. ordo, ordinis, order: cf. F. ordinaire. See Order.] 1. According to established order; methodical; settled; regular. ``The ordinary forms of law.'' --Addison. 2. Common; customary; usual. --Shak. Method is not less reguisite in ordinary conversation that in writing. --Addison. 3. Of common rank, quality, or ability; not distinguished by superior excellence or beauty; hence, not distinguished in any way; commonplace; inferior; of little merit; as, men of ordinary judgment; an ordinary book. An ordinary lad would have acquired little or no useful knowledge in such a way. --Macaulay. Ordinary seaman (Naut.), one not expert or fully skilled, and hence ranking below an able seaman. Syn: Normal; common; usual; customary. Usage: See Normal. -- Ordinary, Common. A thing is common in which many persons share or partake; as, a common practice. A thing is ordinary when it is apt to come round in the regular common order or succession of events.