mateship
(countable, whaling, obsolete) A type of contract between ships to cooperate and share the proceeds of an expedition.
Definitions
(countable, whaling, obsolete) A type of contract between ships to cooperate and share the proceeds of an expedition.
Comments
(countable, and, uncountable, nautical) The post of mate on a ship; a posting as mate.
Mateship means: The post of mate on a ship; a posting as mate.. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.
mateship means: The post of mate on a ship; a posting as mate.. Register: neutral, standard English. A common learner mistake is using the word in a register it does not fit, or assuming a single global meaning; native speakers immediately notice when slang appears in formal contexts, so always check the surrounding register before producing it yourself. A formal-English equivalent (a synonym or descriptive phrase) is usually safer in writing. When in doubt, paraphrase rather than reuse the slang form.
Comments
(uncountable) Fellowship; companionship.
“youtu.be/n8MvnxDO-B0?.... #News #Auspol #NSW #FairgoAustralia #Mateship”
— Bluesky· May 2026
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