matey

1
[ mey-tee ]
See synonyms for matey on Thesaurus.com
noun,plural mate·ys.Chiefly British Informal.
  1. comrade; chum; buddy.

Origin of matey

1
First recorded in 1825–35; mate1 + -y2

Other definitions for matey (2 of 2)

matey2
[ mey-tee ]

adjectiveChiefly British Informal.
  1. sociable; friendly: a matey chat.

Origin of matey

2
First recorded in 1910–15; mate1 + -y1

Other words from matey

  • mate·y·ness, mat·i·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for matey

matey

adjective
  1. friendly or intimate; on good terms

noun
  1. friend or fellow: usually used in direct address

Derived forms of matey

  • mateyness or matiness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012