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Skipper vs Mate - What's the difference?

skipper | mate |

In nautical terms the difference between skipper and mate

is that skipper is the master of a ship (literally, 'shipper') while mate is a first mate.

In transitive terms the difference between skipper and mate

is that skipper is to be the skipper of a ship while mate is to fit (objects) together without space between.

skipper

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) scipper, from scip. Compare German (m), (m), Old Norse (m); confer (m), (m).

Noun

(en noun)
  • (label) The master of a ship (literally, 'shipper').
  • *
    • , title=(The Celebrity), chapter=10 , passage=The skipper Mr. Cooke had hired at Far Harbor was a God-fearing man with a luke warm interest in his new billet and employer, and had only been prevailed upon to take charge of the yacht after the offer of an emolument equal to half a year's sea pay of an ensign in the navy.}}
  • A coach, director, or other leader.
  • (label) The captain of a sports team such as football, cricket, rugby or curling.
  • * {{quote-news, year=2010, date=December 29, author=Sam Sheringham, work=BBC
    • , title= Liverpool 0-1 Wolverhampton , passage=But even the return of skipper Steven Gerrard from a six-week injury layoff could not inspire Liverpool}}
    Synonyms
    * (nautical) master , captain

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To be the skipper of a ship

    • Etymology 2

    See to skip .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • one who skips.
  • A person who skips, or fails to attend class.
  • Any of various butterflies of the families Hesperiidae and its subfamily Megathyminae, having a hairy mothlike body, hooked tips on the antennae, and a darting flight pattern.
  • Any of several marine fishes that often leap above water, especially .
  • (obsolete) A young, thoughtless person.
    • (Shakespeare)
  • The , which leap to escape predators.
    • (Webster 1913)

    Anagrams

    * English terms with multiple etymologies English agent nouns

    mate

    English

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl), from (etyl) ). More at (l), (l).

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A fellow, comrade, colleague, partner or someone with whom something is shared, e.g. shipmate, classmate.
  • (especially of a non-human animal) A breeding partner.
  • (colloquial, British, Australia, New Zealand) A friend, usually of the same sex.
    • I'm going to the pub with a few mates .
    He's my best mate .
  • (colloquial, British, Australia, New Zealand) a colloquial "sir"; an informal and friendly term of address to a stranger, usually male
    • Excuse me, mate , have you got the time?
  • (nautical) In naval ranks, a non-commissioned officer or his subordinate (e.g. (w, Boatswain's Mate), (w, Gunner's Mate), Sailmaker's Mate, etc).
  • (nautical) A ship's officer, subordinate to the master on a commercial ship.
  • (nautical) A first mate.
  • A technical assistant in certain trades (e.g. gasfitter's mate'', ''plumber's mate ); sometimes an apprentice.
  • The other member of a matched pair of objects.
    • ''I found one of the socks I wanted to wear, but I couldn't find its mate .
  • A suitable companion; a match; an equal.
  • * Milton
    • Ye knew me once no mate / For you; there sitting where you durst not soar.
    Synonyms
    (checksyns) * fellow * friend * buddy * sir * partner * See also
    Derived terms
    (Derived terms) * bedmate * bunkmate * cellmate * classmate * crewmate * flatmate * floormate * housemate * mateship * office mate * roommate * shipmate * teammate * tourmate * workmate

    Verb

  • To match, fit together without space between.
    • The pieces of the puzzle mate perfectly.
  • To copulate.
  • To pair in order to raise offspring
  • To arrange in matched pairs.
  • To introduce (animals) together for the purpose of breeding.
  • To marry; to match (a person).
  • * Shakespeare
    • If she be mated with an equal husband.
  • To match oneself against; to oppose as equal; to compete with.
  • * Francis Bacon
    • There is no passion in the mind of man so weak but it mates and masters the fear of death.
  • * Shakespeare
    • I, / Dare mate a sounder man than Surrey can be.
  • To fit (objects) together without space between.
  • (aerospace) To move (a space shuttle orbiter) onto the back of an aircraft that can carry it.
    • Synonyms
    (checksyns) * couple * match * pair
    Antonyms
    * (aerospace) demate
    Derived terms
    * mating

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) verb maten, (etyl) mater, from (etyl) noun .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (chess) Short for checkmate.

    • Verb

  • To win a game of chess by putting the opponent in checkmate
  • To confuse; to confound.
    • (Shakespeare)

    Etymology 3

    See

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • ).
  • The abovementioned plant; the leaves and shoots used for the tea

    • Anagrams

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