bosun

[ boh-suhn ]

/ ˈboʊ sən /

Save This Word!

noun

a variant of boatswain.

QUIZ

SHALL WE PLAY A "SHALL" VS. "SHOULD" CHALLENGE?

Should you take this quiz on “shall” versus “should”? It should prove to be a quick challenge!

Question 1 of 6

Which form is used to state an obligation or duty someone has?

shall

should

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of bosun

First recorded in 1865–70

Words nearby bosun

Boston rocker, Boston's sign, Boston states, Boston Tea Party, Boston terrier, bosun, bosun bird, Boswash, Boswell, boswellize, Boswell, James

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use bosun in a sentence

Other faces appeared: Bevans, the steward, and Prass, the bosun.
Cursed|George Allan England
Then he turned to the bosun, and asked him how he had come by his wound.
Humphrey Bold|Herbert Strang
The bosun, who had crawled after me, whispered he was sure it was too short.
Humphrey Bold|Herbert Strang
I sprang up from Runnles' side, but the bosun from the bed beyond was before me.
Humphrey Bold|Herbert Strang

And the bosun, he's as strong as an ox, and might be a useful man.
Humphrey Bold|Herbert Strang

British Dictionary definitions for bosun

bosun

/ (ˈbəʊsən) /

noun

nautical a variant spelling of boatswain

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012