seafarer

Meaning

1. A sailor or mariner.
2. One who travels by sea.

Synonyms

seaman

mariner

sailor

navigator

tar

Jack

gob

Jack-tar

sea dog

old salt

Netscape

naval officer

navigation

sailer

voyager

boatman

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: *se-farere

Cognate with Middle Dutch: seevarer

Cognate with Dutch: zeevaarder

Cognate with Western Frisian: seefarder

Cognate with German: Seefahrer

Cognate with Swedish: sjöfarare

In summary

From Middle English *se-farere (suggested by se-farende, sa farinde (“sea-faring”)) equivalent to sea + farer (“traveler”). Cognate with Middle Dutch seevarer, whence Modern Dutch zeevaarder (“seafarer”), West Frisian seefarder (“seafarer”), German Seefahrer (“seafarer”), Swedish sjöfarare (“seafarer”).