Dictionary

nautic en · ADJ

Etymology

A borrowing from Middle French nautique (“of or relating to sailors or navigation”) and a learned borrowing from its etymon, Classical Latin nauticus (“of or relating to ships, seafaring”), from Ancient Greek ναυτικός (nautikós), from ναύτης (naútēs, “sailor”) + -ικός (-ikós, adjectival suffix). Compare earlier nautical (likewise also used as a noun; compare Classical Latin nauticus (“sailor”)).

Meanings

1. (archaic, literary, not-comparable, poetic) Synonym of nautical.

Deriveds

nautics

Synonyms

nautical

nautic en · NOUN

Etymology

A borrowing from Middle French nautique (“of or relating to sailors or navigation”) and a learned borrowing from its etymon, Classical Latin nauticus (“of or relating to ships, seafaring”), from Ancient Greek ναυτικός (nautikós), from ναύτης (naútēs, “sailor”) + -ικός (-ikós, adjectival suffix). Compare earlier nautical (likewise also used as a noun; compare Classical Latin nauticus (“sailor”)).

Meanings

1. (colloquial) A sailor, especially one in the Royal Navy.
   • A complete reversal of policy was now thrust upon an eager company of flying nautics. 1943, B[ernard] J[ohn] Hurren, “The Mantle of Hathor”, in Eastern Med: A Personal Narrative, London: Frederick Muller […], →OCLC, page 76:
   • [T]hat did not deter a certain dynamic personality at Bomber Command from grunting with deep satisfaction to one of his subordinates when he heard the Tirpitz was sunk, “That’s one in the eye for the Nautics!” [1951], Paul Brickhill, “The Naked Battleship”, in The Dam Busters, London: Companion Book Club, published 1952, →OCLC, page 274:
   • “Nautics” love the spray of the waves more than they do the dust of the roads, and the inland mariner the wash of the river rather than the splash of mud, […] 1909 June 3, J. O., “Motors and Motoring. Notes and Comments.”, in The Westminster Gazette, late extra edition, volume XXXIII, number 5,016, London: […] Edward Lloyd, […], →OCLC, page 4, column 2:

Forms