Argonaut

[ahr-guh-nawt, -not]

noun

Classical Mythology. a member of the band of men who sailed to Colchis with Jason in the ship Argo in search of the Golden Fleece.

(sometimes lowercase) a person in quest of something dangerous but rewarding; adventurer.

a person who moved to California during the gold rush of 1849.

(lowercase) paper nautilus.

Origin of Argonaut

< Latin Argonauta < Greek Argonaútēs crewman of the ship Argo; see nautical

Related formsAr·go·nau·tic, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for argonaut

The Argonaut was built to run on the surface or on the bottom; she was not designed to navigate half-way between.
Stories of Inventors|Russell Doubleday
This experience caused me to apply to the Argonaut a further improvement, for which I had already applied for a patent.
The Submarine in War and Peace|Simon Lake
All first experiences, however, have not been so pleasant as that of the Argonaut's trial.
The Submarine in War and Peace|Simon Lake
This type of engine, with but slight modifications, was installed in six other boats built subsequent to the Argonaut.
The Submarine in War and Peace|Simon Lake

I remember the time when it was first decided to give a public exhibition of the Argonaut in 1897.
The Submarine in War and Peace|Simon Lake

British Dictionary definitions for argonaut

Argonaut

noun

Greek myth one of the heroes who sailed with Jason in quest of the Golden Fleece

a person who took part in the Californian gold rush of 1849

another name for the paper nautilus

Derived FormsArgonautic, adjective

Word Origin for Argonaut

C16: from Greek Argonautēs, from Argō the name of Jason's ship + nautēs sailor

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for argonaut

Argonaut

"sailor of the Argo," 1580s (implied in argonautic), from Argo + Greek nautes "sailor" (see naval). Adventurers in the California Gold Rush of 1848 were called argonauts (because they sought the golden fleece) by those who stayed home.