sea lawyer

American

noun

Nautical Slang.

a sailor inclined to question or complain about the orders given.

sea lawyer British

noun

slang nautical a contentious seaman

"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

Etymology

Origin of sea lawyer

First recorded in 1805–15

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"My kid," Hambro said, "filibustering against going to bed. A real sea lawyer, that kid."

From Literature

Never allow soreheads—‘sea lawyers’ we call them on board ship—to make you discontented on board.

From Project Gutenberg

I didn’t think you such a smart sea lawyer,” said the old Admiral, rather grimly, not over-pleased, I think, at Dad’s taking up the burthen of his grievances.

From Project Gutenberg

He was one of those men who do a great deal of mischief on board a ship, and are generally known by the name of “a sea lawyer.”

From Project Gutenberg

Old Jos, as he was called, was somewhat of a sea lawyer in his way, though not the less superstitious on that account.

From Project Gutenberg

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023