matelot

sailor (male), seaman

From Middle French matelot (“sailor”), from Old French matenot (“sailor, bunkmate”), most likely from Middle Dutch mattenoot (“bunk fellow”), corresponding to modern mat (“mat, rug, hammock”) + genoot (“companion”) or less likely Old Norse mǫtunautr (“food companion”) (from matr (“food”) + nautr (“companion”) << Proto-Germanic *ganautaz).