midshipman

[ mid-ship-muhn, mid-ship- ]

noun

, plural mid·ship·men.

1. a student, as at the U.S. Naval Academy, in training for commission as ensign in the Navy or second lieutenant in the Marine Corps. Compare cadet ( def 2 ).
2. British Navy.
   1. an officer of the rank held by young men immediately upon graduating from the government naval schools.
   2. (initial capital letter) the title and rank of such a graduate.
   3. (formerly) one of a class of boys or young men who formed the group from which officers were chosen.
3. Also called singingfish. any toadfish of the genus Porichthys, having many small luminous organs on the underside and producing a buzzing sound with its air bladder.

midshipman

/ ˈmɪdˌʃɪpmən /

noun

1. a probationary rank held by young naval officers under training, or an officer holding such a rank
2. any of several American toadfishes of the genus Porichthys, having small light-producing organs on the undersurface of their bodies

Word History and Origins

Origin of midshipman¹

First recorded in 1620–30; midship + -man

Example Sentences

After the climb is complete, they’re called fourth class midshipmen, not plebes.

From Seattle Times

With cadets and midshipmen drawn from across the United States, students at West Point and other service academies are aware of the national mood and the potential for political divisions to seep into the military.

From Seattle Times

It’s not just that midshipman fish are easier to capture than actual sailors.

From Salon

For talkative midshipman fish -- sometimes called the "California singing fish" -- the midbrain plays a robust role in initiating and patterning of sounds used in vocal communication.

From Science Daily

It is something he has done for most of his adult life, including as a midshipman at the U.S.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• student
• youth