sailor

• sailour (obsolete)

Alteration of earlier sailer, from Middle English sailer, sayler, saylere, equivalent to sail +‎ -or. Cognate with German Segler (“sailor”). Eclipsed non-native Middle English marinel, marynell (“sailor”) borrowed from Old French marinel (“sailor”). See mariner.

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈseɪ.lɚ/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈseɪ.lə/
• Hyphenation: sail‧or

• Audio (US):

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• Audio (UK):

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• Rhymes: -eɪlə(ɹ)

sailor (plural sailors)

1. A person who sails; one whose occupation is sailing or navigating ships or other waterborne craft.

   Synonyms: seafarer, seaman, mariner

   He's a talented sailor and has spent many years at sea.

   1. In particular, a member of the crew of a (civilian or military) vessel, as opposed to a captain, admiral, etc.; a mariner; a common seaman.
      • 1873, Jules Verne, chapter I, in [anonymous], transl., Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Seas; […], James R. Osgood edition, Boston, Mass.: Geo[rge] M[urray] Smith & Co., →OCLC, part I, page 3:

        Merchants, common sailors, captains of vessels, skippers, […] naval officers of all countries, and the Governments of several states on the two continents, were deeply interested in the matter.

      • 2008, Cécile Corbel (lyrics and music), “Mary”, in Songbook vol. 2‎^[1] (CD), performed by Cécile Corbel, Brittany: Keltia Musique:

        Mary is a sailor
        dreaming of northern shores
        lost galleons on the sea
        Mary ever on her way

   2. A person who sails sailing boats (as opposed to boats powered by other means) as a sport or recreation.

      Coordinate term: yachtsman

2. Any of various nymphalid butterflies of the genera Neptis, Pseudoneptis and Phaedyma, having white markings on a dark base and commonly flying by gliding.
3. A stiff straw hat with a flat, circular brim and a low, flat crown.
   • 1909, Albert E. Edgar, How to Advertise a Retail Store, Including Mail Order Advertising and General Advertising: A Complete and Comprehensive Manual for Promoting Publicity, page 332:

     Straw Sailors. Children's large-leaf straw sailors, in new shapes, smooth or rough straw . Sizes 6 to 64. 80c, $1.00, $1.50 and $2.00. Milan sailors in new, large shapes, with white or cream ribbon.

   • 2023 October 20, Harry Inwards, Straw Hats: Their history and manufacture, Good Press:

     […] the trade that was done for some year in sailors for ladies. […] Developments of a fancifu nature in the brim formation in the direction of what is known as a "Breton" sailor, of which the characteristic is a slightly upturned edge, were the first to be made, […] But to-day, with the exception of straw sailors for girls and young ladies at school, there is very little demand for hats of this description.

4. A brick, for example in a course of brickwork, that is laid vertically on its shortest end (smallest face), with its widest face facing the outside of the wall.

• See Thesaurus:sailor

• sailor on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
• lascar

• Lorias, Losari, Solari

Unadapted borrowing from English sailor. First attested in 1957^[1].

sailor c

1. (colloquial) a sailor (especially from an English speaking country)
   • 1928, Harry Martinson, “Vid Kap Hatteras”, in Dikter och prosa ur Sjömannen, page V:

     Det blåser upp, / det friskar i / kring Hatteras i natt. / Hoy, yankeeschoone, / håll din kurs; / klar, sailor vid din ratt.

     The wind picks up, / it freshens up / around Hatteras tonight. / Hoy, Yankee schooner, / hold your course; / steady, sailor at your helm.

   • 1939, Rudolf Värnlund, U 39, page 71:

     Jag kommer ihåg en gammal sailor, som när han var på det humöret brukade kalla sjön för djävulens galla. Men jag tror fan spytt ut mera av gallan över landbacken på sista tiden —

     I remember an old sailor who, when in the mood, used to call the sea the devil’s bile. But I think the devil has spewed out more of that bile over dry land lately —

   • 1946, Lasse Dahlquist (lyrics and music), “Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy!”:

     Jo, engelska flottan har siktats vid Vinga, oh boy, oh boy, oh boy, / Tusen små sailors som vi sk'a betvinga, oh boy, oh boy, oh boy. / I berg och dalbanan får man dem så nära må ni tro,

     Yes, the English fleet has been sighted near Vinga, oh boy, oh boy, oh boy, / A thousand little sailors for us to subdue, oh boy, oh boy, oh boy. / In the roller coaster, you'll get them so near, don’t you know,

   Synonym: sjöman