Standard Lemma guide

deckhand

noun · verb · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • General-American: /ˈdɛkˌhænd/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A member of the crew of a merchant ship who performs manual labour.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: nautical, transport

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A stagehand.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: entertainment, lifestyle, theater

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To work on a boat as a deckhand; crew.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

a member of a ship's crew who performs manual labor

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: roustabout

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: mariner, seaman, tar, Jack-tar, Jack, old salt, seafarer, gob, sea dog

History

Etymology

From deck + hand.

Across languages

Translations

12 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: матрос (matros) — a member of the crew
  • Dutch: dekknecht — a member of the crew
  • Finnish: kansimies — a member of the crew
  • Icelandic: háseti — a member of the crew
  • Ingrian: alustrenki — a member of the crew
  • Manx: marrinagh — a member of the crew
  • Māori: kaimahi kāraho — a member of the crew
  • Polish: majtek — a member of the crew
  • Polish: marynarz pokładowy — a member of the crew
  • Turkish: tayfa — a member of the crew
  • Turkish: deniz eri — a member of the crew
  • Turkish: miço — a member of the crew