boatswain

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Middle English botswain, botswein, bote-swayn, from late Old English bātsweġen, from bāt (boat) + sweġen (swain), the latter element a borrowing from Old Norse sveinn (boy); equivalent to boat + swain (boy, servant).[1]

Pronunciation

  • (UK) IPA(key): /ˈbəʊ.sən/; (spelling pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈbəʊt.sweɪn/
  • (file)
  • (US, Canada) IPA(key): /ˈboʊ.sən/
  • Rhymes: (UK) -əʊsən, (US, Canada) -oʊsən

Noun

boatswain (plural boatswains)

  1. The officer (or warrant officer) in charge of sails, rigging, anchors, cables etc. and all work on deck of a sailing ship.
  2. The petty officer of a merchant ship who controls the work of other seamen.
  3. A kind of gull, the jaeger.
  4. The tropicbird.

Quotations

Derived terms

Translations

References

  1. boatswain”, in OED Online Paid subscription required, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Oxford University Press, launched 2000.
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