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
MID-ship-mun/ˈmɪdʃɪpmən/
A student training to become a naval officer.
Etymology
A midshipman was originally an officer stationed in the middle of the ship while on duty. The modern cadet title preserves that connection to a shipboard position.