A crew comprises a body or a class of people who work at a common activity, generally in a structured or hierarchical organisation. The word has particular nautical resonances: the tasks involved in operating a ship, particularly a sailing ship, providing numerous specialities within a ship's crew, often organised with a chain of command. Traditional nautical usage strongly distinguishes officers from crew, though the two groups combined form the ship's company.
Occasionally, a crew may refer to a gang, especially if involved in some illicit activity.
For a specialist sporting usage, see sport rowing.
