Midshipman
/ˈmɪdˌʃɪpmən/noun
A naval officer in training or a junior commissioned officer in some navies.
Did you know?The word originally referred to a sailor stationed amidships, and only later became a rank for naval trainees, showing how a ship’s physical center turned into a title of authority.
Etymological Timeline
Old English
OE
mid
“the middle; in the middle of”
Old English
OE
scip
“ship”
Late Middle English
English
midship
“the middle part of a ship”
17th Century
English
midshipman
“a sailor stationed amidships”
18th Century
English
midshipman
“a junior naval officer in training”
Modern English
English
midshipman
“a naval officer in training or a junior commissioned officer”