\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. compa[~n]a 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.