Added 4 October 2026
sailor
/ˈseɪ.lɚ/ noun
In Latin: nauta, nāvita, marinarius Wiktionary
noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about sailor at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
-
A person who sails; one whose occupation is sailing or navigating ships or other waterborne craft.
He's a talented sailor and has spent many years at sea.
- 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.
- A person who sails sailing boats (as opposed to boats powered by other means) as a sport or recreation.
Origin
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.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)