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bluejacket

bluejacket

1 7.7
A sailor in the navy who is not an officer
  • noun
  • /ˈbluːˌdʒækɪt/
translation icon : marinero
  • The helicopter settled to within a foot of the ground, and three bluejackets jumped out and quickly closed on him.

Examples

  • The ship's crew, made up of skilled bluejackets, prepared for deployment at dawn.

  • One of them was a bluejacket, about my size and build.

    Fiction book (1995)
  • The bluejacket did not seem too pleased, but he followed me out into the street.

    Fiction book (1995)
  • It appears that the bluejackets are in an excellent position to protect the Committee of Safety.

    Academic text (1992)
  • The bluejackets scooped him up, not ungently, and half-led, half-dragged him toward the helicopter.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • The bluejacket stood at attention as the commanding officer entered the room.

  • During the ceremony, the bluejacket received a medal for his bravery in combat.

Synonyms

sailor
vsbluejacket
78 2.3

A person who works in the navy on a military ship

is the term that highlights enlisted naval service specifically
seaman
vsbluejacket
59 2.8

A person who works on a ship as a crew member below the officers

focuses on naval service broadly, not only shipboard rank
crewman
vsbluejacket
47 3.2

A person who works with others on a ship, aircraft, or vehicle

is limited to navy service while this term covers many vehicles
enlisted man
vsbluejacket
  • Specialized
16 4.9

A man who serves in the military but is not an officer

is specific to navy service rather than any armed forces branch
Jack
vsbluejacket
  • Archaic
7 8.6

A person who works on a ship doing basic jobs

is used as a general navy word but stresses enlisted character
navy man
vsbluejacket
4 2.3

A man who serves in the navy

emphasizes enlisted status in the navy rather than mere membership
sailor boy
vsbluejacket
1 3.9

A young man who serves in the navy

is applied to naval personnel generally rather than youth status
Jack-tar
vsbluejacket
  • Archaic
9.9

A person who works on a ship, often in the British navy

is the modern neutral label for the same enlisted naval person
sailor girl
vsbluejacket
4.6

A woman who works on a ship, often in the navy

normally denotes navy service in general rather than being gendered
shipman
vsbluejacket
  • Archaic
9.9

A sailor who works on a ship

is the modern neutral term for a naval enlisted person

Surface Forms

bluejacket singular
bluejackets plural

Morphology

bluejacket = blue + jacket (semi-transparent) = blue + jacket

The compound is clearly 'blue' + 'jacket' in form, but the specialized occupational meaning 'sailor' is lexicalized and not strictly predictable from the parts for all learners.

Etymology

Bluejacket comes from the blue jacket that sailors in the navy used to wear. That's why bluejacket means an enlisted 'sailor'.