matey

[ mey-tee ]

/ ˈmeɪ ti /

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noun, plural mate·ys.Chiefly British Informal.

comrade; chum; buddy.

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Origin of matey

First recorded in 1825–35; mate¹ + -y²

Words nearby matey

maternity benefit, maternity leave, Mater Turrita, mateship, mate's rates, matey, mat grass, math, mathematical, mathematical expectation, mathematical induction

Other definitions for matey (2 of 2)

matey²

[ mey-tee ]

/ ˈmeɪ ti /

adjective Chiefly British Informal.

sociable; friendly: a matey chat.

Origin of matey

First recorded in 1910–15; mate¹ + -y¹

OTHER WORDS FROM matey

mate·y·ness, mat·i·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use matey in a sentence

She appeared undisturbed when Matey, wearing his holiday white ducks, and all aglow, entered the booth.
Lord Ormont and his Aminta, Complete|George Meredith
Matey was good at lessons, too—liked them; liked Latin and Greek; would help a poor stumbler.
Lord Ormont and his Aminta, Complete|George Meredith
She had a nice mouth, ready for a smile at the corners, or so it was before Matey let her see that she was his mark.
Lord Ormont and his Aminta, Complete|George Meredith
But Browny's feeling naturally was, that all this advantage for the boys came of Matey Weyburn's lead.
Lord Ormont and his Aminta, Complete|George Meredith

Matey listened to him there; he became grave; he nodded like a man saying, "I suppose we must examine it in earnest."
Lord Ormont and his Aminta, Complete|George Meredith

British Dictionary definitions for matey

matey

maty

British informal

adjective

friendly or intimate; on good terms

noun

friend or fellow: usually used in direct address

Derived forms of matey

mateyness or matiness, noun

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

matey

Origin of matey

Words nearby matey

Other definitions for matey (2 of 2)

Origin of matey

OTHER WORDS FROM matey

Words related to matey

How to use matey in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for matey

maty

Derived forms of matey