boatswain

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a ship's officer responsible for the deck crew, rigging, anchors, and other deck equipment

   The boatswain inspected the rigging before assigning the morning's work to the deck crew.

From late Old English bātsweġen, literally 'boat servant': bāt, 'boat,' plus sweġen, a borrowing from Old Norse sveinn, 'boy or servant.' The contracted pronunciation is reflected in the spelling bosun.

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