Chanteys

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A type of work song traditionally sung by sailors to synchronize their labor during tasks
2. An engaging musical form characterized by repetitive, energetic melodies used to boost morale on ships
3. A lively form of folk music that narrates stories of seafaring life, often involving call-and-response patterns among crew members

Etymology: "Chanteys" is the plural of "chantey," a word for the work songs sailors sang to keep heavy labor in rhythm, such as hauling ropes and pumping ships. The singular form comes from the French verb "chanter," to sing, which reached English as a sailing term. Spelling variants such as "shanty" and "chanty" exist alongside "chantey," and the plural simply adds an s to whichever spelling is used.

Synonyms: sea shanties, sailor songs