unservicelike

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Jump to navigation Jump to search

English[edit]

Etymology[edit]

un- +‎ servicelike

Adjective[edit]

unservicelike (comparative more unservicelike, superlative most unservicelike)

  1. Not characteristic of the naval service; unseamanlike.
    • 1846, Jack's Life at Sea: By an Old Irish Captain of the Head, page 41:
      The mate's unservicelike style of acquiescence — "With much pleasure sir," rather surprised, if it did not actually disconcert our 'gallant post,' who for a few seconds stared at him with all his eyes, open mouthed to boot, []
    • 1847, Sir Henry Keppel, The Expedition to Borneo of H.M.S. Dido for the Suppression of Piracy, page 156:
      The Borneons, in fighting, wear a quilted jacket or spencer, which reaches over the hips, and from its size has a most unservicelike appearance: the bare legs and arms sticking out from under this puffed-out coat, like the sticks which support the garments of a scarecrow.
    • 2008, John Frayn Turner, Periscope Patrol: The Saga of the Malta Force Submarines:
      Malta could offer no replacements, so that many submariners with a natural pride in their uniform did not 'go ashore' when they could, because they looked so unservicelike.