noun
- people who regularly eat meals together, especially in military or naval settings
Usage: nautical; military
Examples
- The sailors and their messmates gathered for dinner in the ship’s mess hall.
- As messmates, they shared not only meals but also stories from their hometowns.
- The new recruit was quickly accepted by his messmates.
- During the long voyage, the messmates became close friends.
- The captain occasionally joined the crew as one of their messmates.
- Military messmates often develop lifelong bonds through shared experiences.