ordinary seaman

Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Seaman \Sea"man\, n.; pl. Seamen. [AS. saeman.] One whose occupation is to assist in the management of ships at sea; a mariner; a sailor; -- applied both to officers and common mariners, but especially to the latter. Opposed to landman, or landsman. [1913 Webster]

Able seaman, a sailor who is practically conversant with all the duties of common seamanship.

Ordinary seaman. See Ordinary. [1913 Webster]

Ordinary \Or"di*na*ry\, a. [L. ordinarius, fr. ordo, ordinis, order: cf. F. ordinaire. See Order.]

1.According to established order; methodical; settled; regular. "The ordinary forms of law." --Addison. [1913 Webster]

2.Common; customary; usual. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

Method is not less requisite in ordinary conversation that in writing.— Addison.[1913 Webster]

3.Of common rank, quality, or ability; not distinguished by superior excellence or beauty; hence, not distinguished in any way; commonplace; inferior; of little merit; as, men of ordinary judgment; an ordinary book. [1913 Webster]

An ordinary lad would have acquired little or no useful knowledge in such a way.— Macaulay.[1913 Webster]

Ordinary seaman (Naut.), one not expert or fully skilled, and hence ranking below an able seaman. [1913 Webster]

Syn: Normal; common; usual; customary.

Usage: See Normal. -- Ordinary, Common. A thing is common in which many persons share or partake; as, a common practice. A thing is ordinary when it is apt to come round in the regular common order or succession of events. [1913 Webster]