Com*pan"ion (?), n. [F.
compagnon, OF. compaing, fr. an assumed LL.
companio (cf. companium fellowship, a mess), fr. L.
com- + panis bread. See Pantry.]
1. 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.
2. A knight of the lowest rank in certain
orders; as, a companion of the Bath.
3. A fellow; -- in contempt. [Obs.]
Shak.
4. [Cf. OSp. compaña an
outhouse, office.] (Naut.) (a) A
skylight on an upper deck with frames and sashes of various
shapes, to admit light to a cabin or lower deck.
(b) 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.
Syn. -- Associate; comrade; mate; compeer; partner;
ally; confederate; coadjutor; accomplice.
Com*pan"ion, v. t.
1. To be a companion to; to attend on; to
accompany. [R.] Ruskin.
2. To qualify as a companion; to make
equal. [Obs.]
Companion me with my mistress.
Shak.
