deck hand

noun

Nautical. a sailor whose duties are performed on deck.

Nearby words

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

Word Origin and History for deckhand

deckhand

1844, American English, from deck (n.) + hand (n.).