boatswain

[ boh-suhn ]

noun
  1. a warrant officer on a warship, or a petty officer on a merchant vessel, in charge of rigging, anchors, cables, etc.

Origin of boatswain

1
First recorded in 1400–50, boatswain is from the late Middle English word bote-swayn.See boat, swain
  • Also bo's'n, bo·sun .

pronunciation note For boatswain

The spelling pronunciation [boht-sweyn] /ˈboʊtˌsweɪn/ is almost never used.

Words Nearby boatswain

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How to use boatswain in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for boatswain

boatswain

bosun or bo's'n

/ (ˈbəʊsən) /


noun
  1. a petty officer on a merchant ship or a warrant officer on a warship who is responsible for the maintenance of the ship and its equipment

Origin of boatswain

1
Old English bātswegen; see boat, swain

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