First mate

First mate
First First (f[~e]rst), a. [OE. first, furst, AS. fyrst; akin to Icel. fyrstr, Sw. & Dan. f["o]rste, OHG. furist, G. f["u]rst prince; a superlatiye form of E. for, fore. See {For}, {Fore}, and cf. {Formeer}, {Foremost}.] 1. Preceding all others of a series or kind; the ordinal of one; earliest; as, the first day of a month; the first year of a reign. [1913 Webster]

2. Foremost; in front of, or in advance of, all others. [1913 Webster]

3. Most eminent or exalted; most excellent; chief; highest; as, Demosthenes was the first orator of Greece. [1913 Webster]

{At first blush}. See under {Blush}.

{At first hand}, from the first or original source; without the intervention of any agent. [1913 Webster]

It is the intention of the person to reveal it at first hand, by way of mouth, to yourself. --Dickens.

{First coat} (Plastering), the solid foundation of coarse stuff, on which the rest is placed; it is thick, and crossed with lines, so as to give a bond for the next coat.

{First day}, Sunday; -- so called by the Friends.

{First floor}. (a) The ground floor. [U.S.] (b) The floor next above the ground floor. [Eng.]

{First fruit} or {First fruits}. (a) The fruits of the season earliest gathered. (b) (Feudal Law) One year's profits of lands belonging to the king on the death of a tenant who held directly from him. (c) (Eng. Eccl. Law) The first year's whole profits of a benefice or spiritual living. (d) The earliest effects or results. [1913 Webster]

See, Father, what first fruits on earth are sprung From thy implanted grace in man! --Milton.

{First mate}, an officer in a merchant vessel next in rank to the captain.

{First name}, same as {Christian name}. See under {Name}, n.

{First officer} (Naut.), in the merchant service, same as {First mate} (above).

{First sergeant} (Mil.), the ranking non-commissioned officer in a company; the orderly sergeant. --Farrow.

{First watch} (Naut.), the watch from eight to twelve at midnight; also, the men on duty during that time.

{First water}, the highest quality or purest luster; -- said of gems, especially of diamond and pearls.

Syn: Primary; primordial; primitive; primeval; pristine; highest; chief; principal; foremost. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • first mate — first′ mate′ n. naut. navig. the officer of a merchant vessel ranking next below the captain Also called first officer,mate I, 6), a) …   From formal English to slang

  • first mate — also first officer n an officer who has the rank just below captain on a ship that is not a military ship …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • first mate — n. a merchant ship s officer next in rank below the captain: also first officer …   English World dictionary

  • first mate — noun count an officer of high rank on a ship that is not part of the navy …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • first mate — ► NOUN ▪ the officer second in command to the master of a merchant ship …   English terms dictionary

  • first mate — noun the officer below the master on a commercial ship • Syn: ↑mate • Hypernyms: ↑officer, ↑ship s officer * * * the officer of a merchant vessel next in command beneath the captain. Also called chief mate, chief officer, first officer, mate. * * …   Useful english dictionary

  • first mate — UK / US noun [countable] Word forms first mate : singular first mate plural first mates an officer of high rank on a ship that is not part of the navy …   English dictionary

  • first mate — the officer of a merchant vessel next in command beneath the captain. Also called chief mate, chief officer, first officer, mate. * * * …   Universalium

  • first mate — noun An officer on a merchant ship next in rank to the captain and responsible to the captain for the safety and security of the ship. Syn: chief officer, chief mate, first officer …   Wiktionary

  • first mate — officer next in rank below the captain (on a ship) …   English contemporary dictionary

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