One who accompanies or is in company with another for a longer or shorter period, either from choice or casually; one who is much in the company of, or is associated with, another or others; an associate; a comrade; a consort; a partner. The companions of his fall. Milton. The companion of fools shall smart for it. Prov. xiii. 20 (Rev. Ver. ) Here are your sons again; and I must lose Two of the sweetest companions in the world. Shak. A companion is one with whom we share our bread; a messmate. Trench.
A knight of the lowest rank in certain orders; as, a companion of the Bath.
A fellow; -- in contempt. [Obs.] Shak.
A skylight on an upper deck with frames and sashes of various shapes, to admit light to a cabin or lower deck.
A wooden hood or penthouse covering the companion way; a companion hatch. Companion hatch (Naut.), a wooden porch over the entrance or staircase of the cabin. -- Companion ladder (Naut.), the ladder by which officers ascend to, or descend from, the quarter-deck. Totten. -- Companion way (Naut.), a staircase leading to the cabin. -- Knights companions, in certain honorary orders, the members of the lowest grades as distinguished from knights commanders, knights grand cross, and the like.
To be a companion to; to attend on; to accompany. [R.] Ruskin.
To qualify as a companion; to make equal. [Obs.] Companion me with my mistress. Shak.
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