The first thing a textbook will tell you about First Declension Nouns is that they all end in –a. The second thing is that they are nearly all Feminine. The exceptions usually given are the Masculine Nouns poeta poet agricola farmer and nauta sailor (hence the subject of this post). But there are many more than these. Just for fun, here are a few;
agripeta one who strives for the possession of land alipta master of a wresting school athleta athlete conviva a dinner guest coprea a low-class buffoon (I wonder what a high-class buffoon is called) faeniseca a resident of the countryside grammatista a teacher of grammar or languages hippotoxota an archer on horseback lanista owner or trainer in a gladiatorial school pirata a pirate umbraticola a lounger in the shade.
These words are all considered Masculine because in ancient Rome they were considered a man’s domain. I see no reason not to treat then as Common is Modern Latin i.e. the Gender is that of the actual individual. That would make a happy (female) lounger in the shade an umbraticola laeta while a happy (male) lounger in the shade would be an umbraticola laetus. Here are a few First Declension Nouns that the Romans did consider Common;
accola a resident advena a stranger amnicola a riverside dweller draconigena one born of a dragon (that’s pretty awesome) and incola a native inhabitant.
Meanwhile the sailor is approaching that room situated on the roof. Holding his suitcase with his right hand he gently knocks on the door.