Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A green hand on board a whaler, usually placed in the waist of the vessel until qualified for more responsible duties.
  • noun On a naval vessel, formerly, one of a class of old men who have been disabled or grown gray without rising in the service.

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

  • noun (Naut.) A seaman, usually a green hand or a broken-down man, stationed in the waist of a vessel of war.

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

  • noun nautical A seaman stationed in the waist of a warship.

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

waist +‎ -er

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Examples

  • They could not be got upon deck in the night, or if by dint of the rope's-end they were at length routed out of their hammocks, they immediately developed the worst symptoms of the "waister" -- seasickness and fear of that which is high.

    The Press-Gang Afloat and Ashore

  • What I like most about it is that it's not a shirt waister.

    Lustworthy Pockets - A Dress A Day 2006

  • Sally had grimaced with distaste when she had met her from the train, immediately condemning the beige shirt waister dress she was wearing as unbelievably frumpy and sexless.

    Lesson to Learn Jordan, Penny 1997

  • Sally had grimaced with distaste when she had met her from the train, immediately condemning the beige shirt waister dress she was wearing as unbelievably frumpy and sexless.

    Lesson To Learn Jordan, Penny 1997

  • Sally had grimaced with distaste when she had met her from the train, immediately condemning the beige shirt waister dress she was wearing as unbelievably frumpy and sexless.

    Lesson to Learn Jordan, Penny 1997

  • "No need I've got several thin tops with me, and I'll take the skirt and gi let There's the shirt - waister if it gets really warm."

    A Kind Of Magic Neels, Betty 1991

  • Her jersey shirt waister by no means new, but it went well with her brown tweed coat.

    Stormy Springtime Neels, Betty 1987

  • Rose finished her packing, showered and got into a cotton jersey shirt waister not high fashion, but very simple and suitable for a journey, then she went to phone her aunt.

    A Girl Named Rose Neels, Betty 1986

  • She was glad presently that she had taken such pains with her hair and her face and that she had kept on the jersey shirt waister.

    Last April Fair Neels, Betty 1980

  • He was made a waister, and, at furling sails stationed on the main yard.

    Rattlin the Reefer Edward Howard 1820

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