mate
UK[meɪt]US[meɪt]
n
A friend or companion.
n
One of a pair, especially of a breeding pair of animals.
n
An officer on a merchant ship subordinate to the master.
v
To come together for breeding; to pair.
Etymology
The word 'mate' entered English in the late Middle English period from Middle Low German 'māt(e)', meaning 'comrade' or 'associate', which itself is related to the Old High German 'gimazzo', meaning 'messmate' or 'one who shares food'. This Germanic root is thought to derive from the Proto-Germanic 'ga-maton', implying a sense of 'one who eats together', built from 'ga-' (a collective prefix) and 'mat-' (food). The core concept of companionship and partnership, originating from the literal act of sharing a meal, evolved to encompass broader meanings of friendship, a paired counterpart, and a fellow worker, particularly in nautical contexts.
Analysis
The word is a simplex loanword from Middle Low German. It does not contain separable morphemes in its modern English form.
Examples
He's been my best mate since school.
The male bird searches for a new mate each spring.
The captain ordered the first mate to change course.