seafarer

Meanings

1. Someone whose occupation is operating a ship or boat at sea, for either civilian or military purposes.
2. Anyone who travels by sea.

Etymology

From Middle English *se-farere (suggested by se-farende, sa farinde (“sea-faring”)) equivalent to sea + farer (“traveler”) and to seafare + -er. Cognate with Middle Dutch seevarer, whence Modern Dutch zeevaarder (“seafarer”), West Frisian seefarder (“seafarer”), German Seefahrer (“seafarer”), Swedish sjöfarare (“seafarer”).