n.
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, probably from Middle Low German m ā t; akin to Old English gemetta guest at one's table, mete food ― more at MEAT
Date: 14th century
1 a (1) : ASSOCIATE , COMPANION (2) chiefly British : an assistant to a more skilled worker : HELPER (3) chiefly British : FRIEND , BUDDY ― often used as a familiar form of address b archaic : MATCH , PEER
2 : a deck officer on a merchant ship ranking below the captain
3 : one of a pair: as a : either member of a couple and especially a married couple b : either member of a breeding pair of animals c : either of two matched objects