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matelot

or mate·low

[mat-loh, mat-l-oh]
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noun British Slang.
  1. a sailor.
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Origin of matelot

1910–15; < French ≪ Middle Dutch mattenoot sailor, equivalent to matte mat1 + noot companion (Dutch genoot)
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for matelot

Historical Examples

  • I prove to you I am not; but a good, sound, safe, French matelot!

    Seven Frozen Sailors

    George Manville Fenn

  • He had been a matelot, he said,—made a long voyage, and once touched at an English port.

  • Finally a matelot advanced—a common sailor—a man before the mast.

  • The Buccaneers went in pairs, every hunter having his camerade or matelot (sailor), as well as his engags.

  • No excuse was allowed; and if illness prevented the man elected taking the office, his matelot, or companion, took his place.

British Dictionary definitions for matelot

matelot

matlo or matlow

noun
  1. slang, mainly British a sailor
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Word Origin

C20: from French
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