Ordinary Seaman (rank)

Ordinary Seaman (rank)

In the Royal Navy in the middle of the 18th century, the term Ordinary Seaman was used to refer to a seaman with between one and two years' experience at sea. A seaman with less than a year's experience was referred to as a Landman, and one with more than two years' experience was referred to as an Able Seaman.

Later, the term was formalized as a rating for the lowest normal grade of seaman. They are not trained in any special task. They are required to work at physically hard tasks of great variety. One needs an Ordinary Seaman Certificate to obtain work. One can become an Able Seaman as a promotion from this position.

References

* N.A.M. Roger. "The Wooden World: An Anatomy of the Georgian Navy." W.W. Norton and Company, 1986.


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Ordinary Seaman (disambiguation) — Ordinary Seaman may refer to: *A civilian occupation: Ordinary Seaman (occupation), or *A military rank: Ordinary Seaman (rank) …   Wikipedia

  • Ordinary seaman — 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.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • ordinary seaman — n a low rank in the British Navy …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • Ordinary seaman — This article is about a civilian occupation. For a military rank, see ordinary seaman (rating). Ordinary seaman Ordinary seamen swabbing the deck. General Department&# …   Wikipedia

  • ordinary seaman — noun : a seaman of some experience but not as skilled as an able bodied seaman * * * ˌordinary ˈseaman [ordinary seaman] noun (abbr. OS) a sailor of the lowest rank in the British navy …   Useful english dictionary

  • ordinary seaman — UK / US noun [countable] Word forms ordinary seaman : singular ordinary seaman plural ordinary seamen a sailor of the lowest rank in the British navy …   English dictionary

  • Able Seaman (rank) — Royal NavyIn the Royal Navy in the middle of the 18th century, the term Able Seaman (abbreviated AB) referred to a seaman with at least two years experience at sea. Seamen with less experience were referred to as landmen or ordinary seamen.In… …   Wikipedia

  • ordinary seaman — n. OS, sailor of the lowest rank in the merchant marine; low rank seaman having little experience at sea (term used in the British Royal Navy)or·di·nar·y sea·man || É”rdnerɪ‚sɪːmÉ™n / ɔːdnrɪ …   English contemporary dictionary

  • ordinary seaman — noun the lowest rank of sailor in the Royal Navy, below able seaman …   English new terms dictionary

  • 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 …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”