fellow

Etymology 1

From Middle English felowe, Early Middle English felage (“companion, good friend”) from Old English fēolaga, from Old Norse félagi, derived from félag (“joint venture; partnership”, literally “a laying together of property”), from fé (“livestock, property; money”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *peḱ- (“livestock; wealth”)) + lag (“something laid down; right position; arrangement; companionship, fellowship; partnership”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *legʰ- (“to lie down”)). cognates * Old Norse filaga, felaka (“partner”, accusative singular), from which the other terms are derived: * Danish fælle (“companion”) * Faroese felagi (“member; partner”) * Icelandic félagi (“companion, comrade, fellow; member; partner”) * Norwegian felle (“companion”) * Old Swedish fälaghi (modern Swedish felaga, felaha (“partner”, accusative singular)) * Scots falow, fallow, follow (“associate, companion, comrade”)

noun

1. (chiefly in the plural, also figurative) A companion; a comrade.
2. (chiefly in the plural) An animal which is a member of a breed or species, or a flock, herd, etc.
3. (chiefly in the plural) An object which is associated with another object; especially, as part of a set.
4. (also attributively) A person or thing comparable in characteristics with another person or thing; especially, as belonging to the same class or group.
   1. (chiefly in the negative) A person with abilities, achievements, skills, etc., equal to those of another person; a thing with characteristics, worth, etc., equal to those of another thing.
      to be without fellow    to have no fellows
   2. (chiefly in the plural) One in the same condition, or situation of need, as another.
   3. (archaic, chiefly in the plural)
      1. An equal in character, power, rank, etc.; a peer.
      2. A person living at the same time, or about the same age as another, especially when in the same field of study or work.
5. Often in the form Fellow: academic senses.
   1. Originally, one of a group of academics who make up a college or similar educational institution; now, a senior member of a college or similar educational institution involved in teaching, research, and management of the institution.
   2. An honorary title bestowed by a college or university upon a distinguished person (often an alumna or alumnus).
   3. A (senior) member of a learned or professional society.
      a Fellow of the Royal Society
      1. (specifically, Britain, historical) A senior member of an Inn of Court.
   4. (chiefly Britain) A scholar appointed to a fellowship, that is, a paid academic position held for a certain period which usually requires the scholar to conduct research.
   5. (Canada, US) A physician undergoing a fellowship (supervised subspecialty medical training) after having completed a residency (specialty training program).
   6. (US) A member of a college or university who manages its business interests.
   7. (US) A senior researcher or technician in a corporation, especially one engaged in research and development.
6. (informal) A male person; a bloke, a chap, a guy, a man; also, preceded by a modifying word, sometimes with a sense of mild reproach: used as a familiar term of address to a man.
   my dear fellow    old fellow
   ["For He's a Jolly Good Fellow"] For he's a jolly good fellow! / For he's a jolly good fellow!! / For he's a jolly good f-e-e-ell-ow!!! / Which nobody can deny! 1853, Cuthbert Bede [pseudonym; Edward Bradley], “Mr. Verdant Green’s Morning Reflections are Not so Pleasant as His Evening Diversions”, in The Adventures of Mr. Verdant Green, an Oxford Freshman, London: Nathaniel Cooke, (late Ingram, Cooke, and Co.)[…], →OCLC, page 70
7. (rare) Usually qualified by an adjective or used in the plural: an individual or person regardless of gender.
   Not that the girl on the couch, with closed eyes, was unrefined. But there was a wholesome air of good health about her that caused one to think of a "jolly good fellow," rather than a girl who needed to be helped on and off trolley cars. 1915, Laura Lee Hope [pseudonym], “The Great Marine Film”, in The Moving Picture Girls at Sea: Or A Pictured Shipwreck that Became Real, Cleveland, Oh., New York, N.Y.: The World Syndicate Publishing Co., →OCLC, page 3
   I had been studying the strange girl. […] / "What kind fellow this Mary?" I asked him. / Johnny Gorai shook his beflowered head vigorously. At the same time a crafty gleam crept into his faded eyes. / "What for Johnny Gorai know 'em good fellow Mary?" he asked in the bêche de mer which passed with him for English. / "Don't lie to me," I said. "You know 'em this fellow woman—or you've heard of her. Who is she?" 10 February 1919, H[arold] A[lbert] Lamb, “Call of the Caribbean”, in People’s Favorite Magazine, volume XXIX, number 4, New York, N.Y.: Street & Smith Corporation, →OCLC, chapter VI, page 97, column 2
8. (by extension, often humorous or ironic) An animal or object.
9. (archaic)
   1. One of a pair of things suited to each other or used together; a counterpart, a mate.
      1. Originally (obsolete), a person's partner (of either sex) in life or marriage; a spouse; also, the mate of an animal; now (dated), a person's male lover or partner; a boyfriend; a husband.
   2. (Australian Aboriginal) Alternative form of fella (“used as a general intensifier”)
10. (obsolete)
    1. A colleague or partner.
       1. (specifically, also figurative) An associate in the commission of a crime or other wrongful act; an accomplice.
    2. A close companion or friend; also, a companion or friend whom one eats or drinks with.
    3. Followed by of: one who participates in an activity; a participant.
    4. A man without good breeding or of lower social status; a common or ignoble man; also, used as a polite term of address to such a person.
    5. A person's servant or slave.
    6. (derogatory) A worthless person; a churl, a knave; also, used as a term of address to a person regarded as such.
    7. (UK, slang) Synonym of schoolmate (“a student at the same school”)
       Adrian thought it worth while to try out his new slang. ‘I say, you fellows, here's a rum go. Old Biffo was jolly odd this morning. He gave me a lot of pi-jaw about slacking and then invited me to tea. No rotting! He did really.’ 1991, Stephen Fry, chapter III, in The Liar, London: William Heinemann, page 26
    8. (chiefly Southern US, derogatory) A black man.

Etymology 2

From Middle English felauen, felow (“to join (someone) in companionship, friendship, partnership, etc.”) [and other forms], from felowe, felau, felawe (noun): see etymology 1.

verb

1. (transitive)
   1. (archaic) To address (someone) as "fellow", especially in an insulting manner (see noun sense 10.6).
   2. (chiefly passive, poetic, archaic) To equal">equal (someone or something); also, to cause or find someone or something to be equal">equal to (some other person or thing).
   3. (obsolete)
      1. To pair or suit (someone or something) with some other person or thing; also, to pair or suit someone or something with (some other person or thing); to arrange (things) in pairs.
      2. (also reflexive) Followed by to or with: to associate or join (oneself, someone, or something) with some other person or thing in companionship or a partnership.
      3. (chiefly passive, sometimes reflexive) Followed by to or with: to cause or portray (someone or something) to be equal to some other person or thing.
      4. (poetic) To associate or go together with (someone or something); to become a partner of (someone or something).
         Some fevv there vvere left all to follovv Him: / Eſteeming all to baſe to fellovv Him: / And joyfully receiv'd Him as their Lord, / Deriving their ſalvation from his VVord, […] 1628, I[oseph] F[letcher], “The Blessed Man, Setting-forth Mans Felicitie, in that His Regeneration is Procured”, in The Historie of the Perfect-Cursed-Blessed Man:[…], London: […] M[iles] Flesher,[…], →OCLC, page 57
2. (intransitive, poetic, obsolete) Followed by with: to associate or join with a person or thing in companionship or a partnership.