DictionaryRoot: man
English
man
a person; later especially an adult male
Forms
- man
- men — An inherited changed-vowel plural.
Origin
From Old English mann, which could refer to a human being as well as a male person.
Note
Some inherited compounds preserve the broader human meaning.
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noun
midshipman
A marine fish known for making humming sounds.
Etymology
The fish-name compares its rows of light-producing spots with buttons on a midshipman's uniform. The naval appearance, rather than its humming, explains the name.