society > travel > travel by water > one who travels by water or sea > sailor > [noun] > position or class of sailor (3)
Chiefly Nautical. The position or class held by a person on a ship's books. Also in extended use: a person's position, status, or class.
Nautical. The class or rank of a member of a ship's crew; (also in plural) the members of a crew belonging to this class; = rating, n.1 2.