argonaut

noun

ar·​go·​naut ˈär-gə-ˌnȯt 

-ˌnät

1

a

capitalized : any of a band of heroes sailing with Jason in quest of the Golden Fleece

b

: an adventurer engaged in a quest

2

: paper nautilus

Examples of argonaut in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Scientists have long wondered about the purpose of the argonaut’s paper nautilus. —Ed Yong, Discover Magazine, 18 May 2010

In 1849, several thousand argonauts created a tent city in a South of Market area called Happy Valley. —Gary Kamiya, SFChronicle.com, 29 May 2020

Word History

Etymology

Latin Argonautes, from Greek Argonautēs, from Argō, ship in which the Argonauts sailed + nautēs sailor — more at nautical

First Known Use

1596, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

argonaut

noun

ar·​go·​naut ˈär-gə-ˌnȯt 

-ˌnät

1

capitalized : one of a band of heroes sailing with Jason in search of the Golden Fleece

2

: paper nautilus