old man
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
In American merchant ships, the master. The phrase is becoming common in English ships.
Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)
Where it’s used:
Origin
British & Irish English
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “old man” mean?
In American merchant ships, the master. The phrase is becoming common in English ships.
Is “old man” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.