Shipmate
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A member of one's own ship's crew. Depending heavily on context, the term also takes on a sarcastically derogatory meaning when directed at familiars. The word deserves special merit because of its prevalence in modern maritime lexicon, particularly the U.S. Navy. Sometimes shortened and spoken "shippy" (typically only in the sarcastic usage).
[edit] Usage in Literature
Herman Melville's Moby Dick, certainly a canonical text, is laced with the term, although the narrator Ishmael seldom uses the word:
This man interested me at once; and since the sea-gods had ordained that he should soon become my shipmate (though but a sleeping partner one, so far as this narrative is concerned), I will here venture upon a little description of him.[citation needed]
[edit] Usage in Contemporary Maritime Dialogue
Used in the standard sense:
He and I were shipmates before reporting for duty here in Norfolk.
Following are some examples of the word used in its sarcastic sense, which is far more common:
-"Shipmate, how about helping me out with this?"
-"He spent 12 hours in the rack [bed/bunk]. Some shipmate."
-"Watch out for that steam pipe, shipmate. They just put that in yesterday."
-"Shipmate..." (used alone here to indicate disbelief, contempt, or anger)
-"Hey Jordan, what's up shippy?"
-"Shipmate...why are you hands in your pocket." Said the impotent old senior chief
Shipmate can also be used as a verb, as in:
"You got shipmated."
In this usage it typically refers to situation that while normally easy and straight forward will now require more effort due to the incompetence of the guy before you.
