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able seaman

American  
[ay-buhl see-muhn] / ˈeɪ bəl ˈsi mən /

noun

  1. Also called able-bodied seaman. an experienced deck-department seaman qualified to perform routine sea duties.

  2. (in the British Navy and on British and U.S. merchant ships) a rating between ordinary seaman and leading seaman or boatswain's mate. A.B., AB


Etymology

Origin of able seaman

First recorded in 1695–1705


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.

See Examples For:

Twenty lives were lost, including that of the ship's commander and a young able seaman from Wrexham.

From BBC ● Sep. 27, 2022

Historians said the able seaman had come from a wealthy grazing family and trained as an accountant.

From BBC ● Nov. 18, 2021

I found Joshua Maloka, a twenty-six-year-old able seaman, in the base’s chapel.

From The New Yorker ● Feb. 21, 2017

He had taken his tricks at the wheel with the best of them, was pronounced "able seaman" by his commander.

From Time Magazine Archive

That evening an unfortunate accident befell an able seaman who had crewed the rigging on the Heart of a Dream.

From "Stardust" by Neil Gaiman

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