n. & v.
n. 1 a friend or fellow worker. 2 colloq. a general form of address, esp. to another man. 3 a each of a pair, esp. of birds. b colloq. a partner in marriage. c (in comb.) a fellow member or joint occupant of (team-mate; room-mate). 4 Naut. an officer on a merchant ship subordinate to the master. 5 an assistant to a skilled worker (plumber's mate).
v. (often foll. by with) 1 a tr. bring (animals or birds) together for breeding. b intr. (of animals or birds) come together for breeding. 2 a tr. join (persons) in marriage. b intr. (of persons) be joined in marriage. 3 intr. Mech. fit well. mateless adj.
[ ME f. MLG mate f. gemate messmate f. WG, rel. to MEAT ]