Landsman

A 'landsman' is a person, particularly a sailor, who is inexperienced at sea or lacks nautical skills. Historically, this term denoted someone from the land as opposed to a sailor with extensive maritime experience. The term often carried connotations of clumsiness or unfamiliarity with shipboard life. Landsmen were often assigned less demanding tasks aboard ships, learning the ropes alongside seasoned mariners. Their initial clumsiness was often met with good natured teasing, but expected as they had not yet learned the ways of the sea.

Landsman meaning with examples

• The captain, a grizzled veteran, watched the new landsman struggle with the rigging. 'He'll learn,' he muttered, 'but for now, he's more likely to tangle the ropes than to hoist the sails.' The other sailors chuckled, remembering their own initial awkwardness. They patiently showed him the ropes, knowing that the sea was a demanding teacher for every landsman who dared to challenge it. The new recruit, however, worked at learning what he could.
• During the storm, the landsman panicked, clutching the railing. The experienced sailors calmly continued their work; They knew how to respond to every squall the ocean offered. Despite his fear, he was determined to prove his worth and overcome his fear. He forced himself to observe how everyone else handled themselves, and committed it all to memory. When he was finally calmer, he got back to work and felt he had conquered some part of the day.
• The voyage was long, and it took some time for the landsman to find his sea legs. At first, he spent a great deal of time seasick and unable to keep any of his meals down. But with each passing day, his body started to adjust to the motion of the ship. Slowly he would take on more tasks that required him to move about, and he was able to find the pleasure in his new trade.
• After a successful few weeks aboard ship, the landsman was at last able to navigate without assistance. The other crew members seemed to accept him, and he had come to feel much more comfortable with them as a result. The crew all had a drink together on their last night at port, and toasted the landsman, who now was no longer seen as a 'landsman', but as a member of the crew.