deck hand

noun

Nautical. a sailor whose duties are performed on deck.

Nearby words

deck bridge, deck chair, deck crane, deck department, deck gang, deck hand, deck hook, deck lid, deck light, deck load, deck log

Origin of deck hand

An Americanism dating back to 1835–45

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

Examples from the Web for deckhand

He said to the deckhand: "Can I clean the lady and myself up?"
The Syndic|C.M. Kornbluth
With him came a deckhand, who, under Cotton's orders, had stove in a barrel of sulphur.
The Dreadnought of the Air|Percy F. Westerman
He hastily wrote a line on a slip of paper and gave it to a deckhand to deliver.
The Cruise of the "Lively Bee"|John De Morgan
"Fire," he bawled as the Maggie rested an instant in the trough of the sea—and a deckhand jerked the lanyard.
Captain Scraggs|Peter B. Kyne

"Well, he doesn't seem to know no more about his boat than he did about that hoss," was the deckhand's comment.
Randy of the River|Horatio Alger Jr.

British Dictionary definitions for deckhand

deck hand

noun

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

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