ordinary seaman

noun

a seaman insufficiently skilled to be classified as an able-bodied seaman. Abbreviation: O.D., O.S., o.s.

Origin of ordinary seaman

First recorded in 1695–1705

Words nearby ordinary seaman

ordinary level, ordinary life insurance, ordinary point, ordinary rating, ordinary ray, ordinary seaman, ordinary share, ordinary shares, ordinary stock, ordinary wave, ordinary-language philosophy

Example sentences from the Web for ordinary seaman

  • For sailors are of three classes—able-seaman, ordinary-seaman, and boys; and they receive different wages according to their rank.

    Redburn. His First Voyage |Herman Melville

British Dictionary definitions for ordinary seaman

ordinary seaman

noun

a seaman of the lowest rank, being insufficiently experienced to be an able-bodied seaman