noun
middy
An informal term for a midshipman.
The young middy studies navigation before reporting for duty on deck.
Etymology
Middy is an informal shortening of midshipman with the familiar ending -y. It keeps the naval role-name while giving it a more casual form.
More examples
- The captain asks a middy to check the chart.
- Two middies from the Naval Academy join us for dinner.
- As a middy, she learns how to lead a crew.
Forms
middy · middies
Similar words
- midshipman
- The standard naval term, without the informal tone.
- cadet
- A broader term for a military student, not necessarily naval.