landsman

¹

[ landz-muhn ]

noun

, plural lands·men.

1. Also a person who lives or works on land.
2. an inexperienced sailor or one who has not been to sea before.

landsman

²

[ lahnts-muhn ]

noun

, Yiddish.

, plural lands·leit [lahnts, -lahyt], English lands·men.

1. a person from the same town, geographical area, region, etc., as another; compatriot.

landsman

¹

/ ˈlændzmən /

noun

1. a person who works or lives on land, as distinguished from a seaman
2. a person with no experience at sea

landsman

²

/ ˈlændzmən /

noun

1. a Jewish compatriot from the same area of origin as another

Gender Note

See -man.

Word History and Origins

Origin of landsman¹

before 1000 for sense “native”; Middle English landes man, londes man, Old English landes mann; land, 's ¹, -man

Word History and Origins

Origin of landsman¹

from Yiddish

Example Sentences

There is no landsman in the ship now exposed to its dangers.

From Project Gutenberg

And yet they paused and looked about in quickened perception, with the clutch at the throat that takes the landsman on big waters.

From Project Gutenberg

Helped by pluck, I thought to myself, as I tried with my landsman's fancy to conjure up that perilous scene.

From Project Gutenberg

The officers were most friendly and did everything possible to make things comfortable for a landsman in their limited quarters.

From Project Gutenberg

He trusted to his Pilot, like the landsman in a storm; to his Father, as an infant in the dark.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• compatriot