first mate

noun

1. the officer of a merchant vessel next in command beneath the captain.

first mate

noun

1. an officer second in command to the captain of a merchant ship Also calledfirst officer

Example Sentences

As captain and first mate, they say piloting their 75-foot schooner has only strengthened their brotherly bond, with their small expedition team serving as an adoptive family.

From BBC

"We saw a red flare, so my first mate and I went to the position, and we found this life raft drifting," he told Reuters.

From BBC

He shared his experience of sailing rough seas and passion for fishing with his only child, Jake, who served as the Reels of Fortune’s first mate.

From Los Angeles Times

As the Arlington began to take on water, its first mate, Junis Macksey, gave orders to hug the northern shore, hoping for protection from the wind and waves.

From New York Times

The door opened suddenly and the first mate slipped out, a long leather pouch clutched in his hand.

From Literature