boatswain
English
Etymology
From late Old English bātsweġen, from bāt (“boat”) + Old Norse sveinn (“boy”), equivalent to boat + swain (“boy, servant”).[1]
Noun
boatswain (plural boatswains)
Related terms
- boatswain-bird
- boatswain's chair
- boatswain's mate
- boatswain's pipe
Translations
the officer (or warrant officer) in charge of sails, rigging, anchors, cables etc. and all work on deck of a sailing ship
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References
- “boatswain”, in OED Online
, Oxford: Oxford University Press, launched 2000.
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