Definition of: midshipman

(mid′ship′mən) noun plural ·men (-mən)
1. A student training at the United States Naval Academy for commissioning as an officer.
2. Brit. In the Royal Navy: a An officer ranking between a naval cadet and the lowest commissioned officer. b Formerly, one of a class of youths performing minor duties on shipboard as training for commissioning as officers. [<amidshipman; so called from being amidships when on duty]