matross means an artilleryman next in rank to a gunner; a gunner's mate, especially one who assists the gunners in loading, firing, and sponging the guns. Lexicurio rates it Sui generis — a strength score of 87 out of 100.
matross is pronounced /məˈtɹɒs/.
Etymology
From Dutch matroos (“sailor, seaman”), essentially from French matelot (“seaman”), from Middle Dutch mattenoot. Compare German Matrose, Swedish matros, Danish matros, and Crimean Tatar matros. Doublet of matelot.
noun
- An artilleryman next in rank to a gunner; a gunner's mate, especially one who assists the gunners in loading, firing, and sponging the guns.“[T]he matrosses, in their annual gesture of amity, had torn the sky with the largest piece of ordnance in the Great Keep […].”
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