cox

¹ American  

[koks] / kɒks /

noun

1. coxswain.

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verb (used with object)

1. to act as coxswain to (a boat).

Cox ² American  

[koks] / kɒks /

noun

1. James Middleton, 1870–1957, U.S. journalist and politician.

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cox ¹ British  

/ kɒks /

noun

1. a coxswain, esp of a racing eight or four

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verb

1. to act as coxswain of (a boat)

Cox ² British  

/ kɒks /

noun

1. David. 1783–1859, English landscape painter

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Other Word Forms

• coxless adjective

Etymology

Origin of cox

First recorded in 1865–70; short form

Example Sentences

Cambridge, who won both male and female races, was also warned against throwing the cox into the water as is tradition.

From BBC • Mar. 30, 2024

German-Italian canoeist Josefa Idem retired after the 2012 Olympics and Canadian rowing cox Lesley Thompson-Willie moved into coaching since her last Olympic appearance in 2016.

From Washington Times • Mar. 26, 2020

Under pressure from the IOC, the sprinters would be expelled from the Olympics, but the Harvard rowers, with Hoffman serving as cox, still had a race ahead of them.

From Washington Post • Oct. 9, 2018

William and Catherine will cox opposing rowing teams in the race with crews from Cambridge and Heidelberg.

From BBC • Jul. 17, 2017

“Typical coxswain abuse,” one Washington cox later said, laughing.

From "The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics" by Daniel James Brown