andrew
- 01 A1 Beginner
a common name for a man or boy.
a common male given name, derived from the Greek word for 'manly'.
Simple“My brother Andrew is starting university in London this September.”
In context“The name Andrew has remained a staple of English nomenclature for centuries, partly due to its association with the patron saint of Scotland.”
- 02 C2 Proficiency
a slang name used by sailors for the British Royal Navy.
a traditional slang term for the British Royal Navy, often used with the definite article.
Simple“He spent twenty years in the Andrew before retiring to the coast.”
In context“Life in the Andrew was rigorous, but it provided him with a sense of discipline that served him well in his later civilian career.”
UsageUsually used with the definite article: 'the Andrew'.
Teacher's tipThis is a very specific piece of naval slang; most English speakers will only know Andrew as a first name.
Synonymsroyal navy
From Ancient Greek Ἀνδρέας (Andréas), cognate with ἀνδρεῖος (andreîos, “manly”), both from ἀνήρ (anḗr, “man”). Doublet of André, Andreas, Andrei, and Andrey.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.