deck hand

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

deck′ hand′, 

1. Naut. a sailor whose duties are performed on deck.

• 1835–45, American.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

deck hand, deckhand / ˈdɛkˌhænd/ noun

1. a seaman assigned various duties, such as mooring and cargo handling, on the deck of a ship
2. (in Britain) a seaman over 17 years of age who has seen sea duty for at least one year
3. a helper aboard a yacht