sailor

sailor

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Pronunciation

The IPA phonetic spelling for "sailor" is /ˈseɪlər/.

Here's a breakdown of the sounds by syllable:

• First Syllable (/ˈseɪ/):

• /s/: voiceless alveolar fricative (like the "s" in "sun")

• /eɪ/: diphthong (like the "ay" in "say")

• /l/: alveolar lateral approximant (like the "l" in "light")

• Second Syllable (/lər/):

• /ər/: r-colored vowel (like the "er" in "butter" or "teacher")

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Word Form Variations

• Singular: sailor

• Plural: sailors

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Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms

Noun

1. Definition: A person who works on or navigates a ship, boat, or other watercraft, especially as a profession or a member of a navy.

• Synonyms: mariner, seafarer, navigator, boatman, yachtsman, naval personnel

• Antonyms: landlubber, civilian (in a naval context)

2. Definition: (Informal, historical) A broad-brimmed straw hat, typically worn by sailors.

• Synonyms: straw hat, boater

• Antonyms: (none readily applicable as it's a specific item)

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Examples of Use

• Books: "Captain Ahab, with his peg-leg and his insatiable quest, was the quintessential whaling sailor, driven by a singular purpose" (from Moby Dick by Herman Melville).

• Newspapers: "The Royal Navy welcomed its newest cohort of sailors into service during a ceremony at Portsmouth Naval Base" ( The Guardian, June 2024).

• Online Publications: "How to tie a perfect knot: essential skills for every aspiring sailor" ( Sailing Today website, May 2024).

• Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:

• Film: In the animated film Moana, the title character is depicted as a natural sailor with an innate connection to the ocean.

• Music: The song "Fiddler on the Roof" from the musical of the same name includes the line, "If I were a rich man, all the day long I'd biddy biddy bum..." with a reference to a "poor sailor" later in the lyrics.

• Video Games: In Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag, players take on the role of a pirate and skilled sailor, navigating the Caribbean seas.

• General Public Discourse: During a recent maritime festival, a young boy, dressed in a striped shirt and a captain's hat, exclaimed, "Look, Mom, I'm a sailor!"

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10 Quotes Using Sailor

1. "A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor." (English Proverb)

2. "The cure for anything is salt water: sweat, tears, or the sea." (Isak Dinesen, often attributed to a "wise old sailor")

3. "There is nothing more enticing, disenchanting, and enslaving than the life at sea." (Joseph Conrad, describing the sailor's life)

4. "I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky, And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by;" (John Masefield, capturing the spirit of a sailor)

5. "Any sailor can tell you that the difference between the land and the sea is that on land you are in the minority, but at sea you are not." (Thor Heyerdahl)

6. "Show me a man who is a good loser and I'll show you a man who is playing golf with his boss." (Attributed to various sources, often in a humorous context, a counter-quote might involve a competitive sailor)

7. "A good sailor is not made by smooth waters." (African Proverb)

8. "It is not the ship so much as the skillful sailing that assures a happy voyage." (George William Curtis, highlighting the sailor's role)

9. "The art of the sailor is to be always ready for anything." (Unknown)

10. "The sailor's life is a hard life, but it's the only life for me." (Traditional Sea Shanty Lyric)

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Etymology

The word "sailor" comes from a very old root meaning "to jump" or "to leap," which might seem a bit odd for someone on a boat! But stick with it.

It developed from the Old English word "segler" or "segliere," which meant "one who sails." This "seg-" part is related to the word "sail" itself, which comes from an even older Proto-Germanic word that referred to the cloth used on a ship to catch the wind.

So, the first known use and meaning of "sailor" was simply a person who uses sails to travel on water. It was pretty straightforward – someone who operates a sailing vessel. Over time, it broadened to include anyone who works on a ship, whether it uses sails or not, and especially those in the navy. The core idea, though, has always been about someone connected to ships and the sea.

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Phrases + Idioms Containing Sailor

• A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor. (Meaning: Challenges build character.)

• Swear like a sailor. (Meaning: To use very strong or offensive language.)

• Every sailor has his own wind. (Meaning: Everyone has their own good luck or opportunity.)

• The sailor's life is a hard life. (Meaning: A phrase acknowledging the difficulties of maritime work.)

• Old salts are the best sailors. (Meaning: Experienced mariners are the most capable.)

• Shipshape and Bristol fashion. (Meaning: In excellent order; originally referring to a well-maintained ship.)

• Full steam ahead. (Meaning: Proceeding with maximum speed or effort; though not exclusively "sailor," it evokes maritime propulsion.)

• All hands on deck. (Meaning: Everyone must help; an urgent call for everyone to assist.)

• A landlubber's life. (Meaning: A life on land, often contrasted with a sailor's life.)

• Anchor's aweigh. (Meaning: The anchor has been lifted and the ship is ready to sail.)

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Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA

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Source Information

Definition of sailor from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.

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