boatswain

Alternative forms

• bosun
• bo's'n

Etymology

From late Old English bātsweġen, from bāt (“boat”) + Old Norse sveinn (“boy”), equivalent to boat +‎ swain (“boy, servant”).^[1]

Pronunciation

• (US, Canada) IPA^(key): /ˈboʊ.sən/
• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈbəʊsn̩/

Noun

boatswain (plural boatswains)

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

References