deck hand
Americannoun
noun
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a seaman assigned various duties, such as mooring and cargo handling, on the deck of a ship
-
(in Britain) a seaman over 17 years of age who has seen sea duty for at least one year
-
a helper aboard a yacht
Etymology
Origin of deck hand
An Americanism dating back to 1835–45
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
He works as a deck hand, helping to load coal onto river barges.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 29, 2025
The deck hand went onto the deck to close the yacht's windows.
From BBC ● May 14, 2025
A nine-year veteran deck hand for Washington State Ferries, she was a favorite of her colleagues for her smile and her kind demeanor.
From Seattle Times ● May 12, 2022
Huynh was hired as a deck hand but served as the vessel’s de facto captain, Dysart said.
From Washington Times ● Apr. 6, 2018
But Captain Sauder, muttering inarticulate things, seized the boat hook from the deck hand and sprang toward the stern, which was now opposite the cockpit of the launch.
From Four Afloat Being the Adventures of the Big Four on the Water by Ralph Henry Barbour
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
