Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A student training to be a commissioned naval officer, especially a student at a naval academy.
  • noun Any of various toadfishes of the genus Porichthys found in coastal waters of the Americas, having several rows of light-producing organs along the sides of their bodies.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A warrant officer in the British navy of the lowest grade of officers in the line of promotion.
  • noun In the United States navy, formerly, an officer of corresponding rank and duties whose designation is now naval cadet.
  • noun In ichthyology, a batrachoid fish, Porichthys margaritatus: so called from the rows of round luminous bodies along the belly, like the buttons of a naval cadet's coat.
  • noun In 1902, Congress abolished the title of naval cadet in the United States navy and restored the title of midshipman. These officers are not commissioned officers, but receive appointments on probation, on the nomination of the President of the United States, of senators, or of congressmen, and the passage of an entrance examination to the Naval Academy. The course of instruction at the Naval Academy lasts four years and is followed by two years at sea, after which midshipmen are promoted to ensigns or second lieutenants of marines upon passing a final examination.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun Formerly, a kind of naval cadet, in a ship of war, whose business was to carry orders, messages, reports, etc., between the officers of the quarter-deck and those of the forecastle, and render other services as required.
  • noun In the English naval service, the second rank attained by a combatant officer after a term of service as naval cadet. Having served three and a half years in this rank, and passed an examination, he is eligible to promotion to the rank of lieutenant.
  • noun In the United States navy, the lowest grade of officers in line of promotion, being students or graduates of the Naval Academy awaiting promotion to the rank of ensign.
  • noun (Zoöl.) An American marine fish of the genus Porichthys, allied to the toadfish; also called singingfish.
  • noun formerly a title distinguishing a cadet line officer from a cadet engineer at the U. S. Naval Academy. See under Cadet.
  • noun formerly, a naval cadet who had served his time, passed his examinations, and was awaiting promotion; -- now called, in the United States, midshipman; in England, sublieutenant.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun nautical An officer of the lowest rank in several navies; especially, a trainee officer.
  • noun nautical, uncountable This officer rank.
  • noun biology A midshipman fish.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a temporary rank held by young naval officers in training

Etymologies

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Examples

  • He did not take much notice of me; but soon afterwards Mr Bryan appeared and shook hands with me, and told him that I was a new midshipman, a friend of the captain's, and was very kind; and after a little time he called another midshipman, and desired him to take me down to the berth and to introduce me to our messmates.

    Marmaduke Merry A Tale of Naval Adventures in Bygone Days William Henry Giles Kingston 1847

  • He called a midshipman to show the boys to the cabin which was to be their quarters while on the Cumberland.

    The Boy Allies under Two Flags

  • "The Alliance is hauling off, sir!" called the midshipman of the mizzen-top.

    Project Gutenberg Complete Works of Winston Churchill Winston Churchill 1909

  • "The Alliance is hauling off, sir!" called the midshipman of the mizzen-top.

    Richard Carvel — Volume 08 Winston Churchill 1909

  • "The Alliance is hauling off, sir!" called the midshipman of the mizzen-top.

    Richard Carvel — Complete Winston Churchill 1909

  • Lieutenant Meade turned away with a shiver, and, calling a midshipman to take his place, he left the conning-tower, which was being struck continually by hissing splinters from bursting shells.

    Banzai! by Parabellum Ferdinand Heinrich Grautoff 1903

  • "The Alliance is hauling off, sir!" called the midshipman of the mizzen-top.

    Richard Carvel Churchill, Winston, 1871-1947 1899

  • In November he renewed his acquaintance with Prince William Henry, whom he had known as a midshipman in 1782, and who now came to the Leeward Islands a post-captain, in command of the frigate

    The Life of Nelson Mahan, A. T. 1897

  • November he renewed his acquaintance with Prince William Henry, whom he had known as a midshipman in 1782, and who now came to the Leeward

    The Life of Nelson, Volume 1 (of 2) The Embodiment of the Sea Power of Great Britain 1877

  • A midshipman was a being who traditionally had little but the exuberance of his spirits to make up for the discomforts of his lot.

    From Sail to Steam, Recollections of Naval Life 1877

Comments

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  • It's a fish that hums loud enough to be heard by humans.

    January 2, 2012