Crew List - what does 'AB' mean?

[velly]

Hello - I'm sure there is an exceedingly obvious answer to this, but what does the term 'AB' mean on a ship's crew list?

Thank you.

Vickki

[danuslave]

Able Seaman??

[velly]

Thank you.  I was thinking that it would be something like that as there are the following on the (short) crew list:
- Master
- Mate
- 2nd Mate
- Cook & AB
- AB
- AB
- AB
- OS
- AB
- AB

Vickki

[judb]

According to Wikipedia
Able seaman was originally entered using the abbreviation AB instead of the more obvious AS in ships' muster books or articles. Such an entry was likely to avoid confusion with ordinary seaman (OS). Later the abbreviation began to be written as A.B., leading to the folk-etymological able-bodied seaman. The correct term, able seaman, remains in use in legal documents, in seaman's papers, and aboard ship.

Cheers, Judith

[velly]

Ahhh, the definitive answer!  Thanks so much Judith.  That's one mystery solved.   

[John Johnston]

AB stands for "Able Bodied Seaman".

John

[sparrett]

Hi John,
Well Judith in Reply #3 does not agree with you
Did you read her posting?


 ....leading to the folk-etymological able-bodied seaman. .....
JUDITH

Sue

[tropicalj]

folk-lore to one side

I just  looked at my dad's Australian Navy Records

and it clearly show  Able Bodied Seaman

first off though  he was an ordinary seamn
than an AB
a leading AB

I  feel  sure it was a widely excepted term  that no  doubt was stepped in maritime folklore.
 
Jenn

[judb]

'Tis not MY opinion - Wikipedia is to blame LOL 

I asked my husband who is of the RN (past) and he says it was the first level after Ordinary Seaman and it actually meant that you were able to do all tasks on deck (under the direction of a Petty Oficer) so you knew how to manage rigging, cables, splicing, anchors etc.


Didn't apply to washing dishes or cleaning the floor etc LOL LOL
 
Judith