matelot

American  

[mat-loh, mat-l-oh] / ˈmæt loʊ, ˈmæt lˌoʊ /

Or matelow

noun

British Slang.

1. a sailor.

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matelot British  

/ ˈmætləʊ /

noun

1. slang a sailor

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Etymology

Origin of matelot

1910–15; < French ≪ Middle Dutch mattenoot sailor, equivalent to matte mat ¹ + noot companion ( Dutch genoot )

Example Sentences

They were the only places you’d get French imported stuff from – the hipster trousers and matelot shirts – which we liked.

From The Guardian • May 17, 2015

On one occasion, one of them escaped into the plains, but returned three days after, very complacently heading a herd of hogs, of which his master and his matelot killed four.

From The Monarchs of the Main, Volume I (of 3) Or, Adventures of the Buccaneers by Thornbury, Walter

The Buccaneers, hunting in couples, called each other matelot, or shipmate: the word expresses their amphibious capacity.

From The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 10, No. 59, September, 1862 by Various

"I have been matelot to Jacques for almost three years, but I don't recall the pleasure of welcoming you before this evening."

From Caribbee by Hoover, Thomas

Everywhere Professors in straw hats and Heads of Colleges en matelot.

From The Casual Ward academic and other oddments by Godley, A. D. (Alfred Denis)