Definition of boatswain Boatswain
/bowˈtswejn/ - [bowtsweyn] - boat•swain
We found 13 definitions of boatswain from 8 different sources.
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What does boatswain mean?
WordNet
Wiktionary 
- boatswain (Noun)
The officer or warrant officer in charge of sails, rigging, anchors, cables etc. and all work on deck of a sailing ship. - boatswain (Noun)
The petty officer of a merchant ship who controls the work of other seamen. - boatswain (Noun)
A kind of gull, the jaeger. - boatswain (Noun)
The tropicbird.
Webster DictionaryWebster's Unabridged Dictionary 📘
- boatswain (n.)
An officer who has charge of the boats, sails, rigging, colors, anchors, cables, cordage, etc., of a ship, and who also summons the crew, and performs other duties. - boatswain (n.)
The jager gull. - boatswain (n.)
The tropic bird.
OmegaWiki DictionaryOmegaWiki Dictionary Ω
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boatswain
A petty officer on a ship, responsible for the ship's equipment and for controlling the work of the crew.
Chambers DictionaryChamber's 20th Century Dictionary 📕
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boatswain
bōt′swān (colloq. bō′sn), n. a petty officer on board ship who looks after the boats, rigging, &c., and calls the seamen to duty with a whistle. [Boat, and swain, Scand. sveinn, a boy.]
Marine DictionaryUniversal Dictionary of the Marine ⚓️
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boatswain
Contre-maitre, the officer who has the boats, sails, rigging, colours, anchors, and cables committed to his charge.It is the duty of the boatswain particularly to direct whatever relates to the rigging of a ship, after she is equipped from a royal dock-yard. Thus he is to observe that the masts are properly supported by their shrouds, stays, and back-stays, so that each of those ropes may sustain a proportional effort when the mast is strained by the violence of the wind, or the agitation of the ship. He ought also to take care that the blocks and running-ropes are regularly placed, so as to answer the purposes for which they are intended; and that the sails are properly fitted to their yards and stays, and well furled or reefed when occasion requires.It is likewise his office to summon the crew to their duty; to assist with his mates in the necessary business of the ship; and to relieve the watch when it expires. He ought frequently to examine the condition of the masts, sails, and rigging, and remove whatever may be judged unfit for service, or supply what is deficient: and he is ordered by his instructions to perform this duty with as little noise as possible.
Sailor's Word-BookThe Sailor's Word-Book ⛵
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boatswain
The officer who superintends the boat-sails, ship's-sails, rigging, canvas, colours, anchors, cables and cordage, committed to his charge. He ought also to take care that the blocks and running ropes are regularly placed to answer the purposes for which they are intended, and that the sails are properly fitted to their yards and stays, and well-furled or reefed when occasion requires. He pipes the hands to their several duties, seeing that they attend his call, and ought to be in every way a thorough seaman. Although termed boatswain, the boats are not in his charge. They, with the spars, &c., and stores for repair, belong to the carpenter. The boatswain is the officer of the first lieutenant; he gives no order, but reports defects, and carries out the will of his superior.
Part of speech
🔤- boatswain, noun, singular of boatswains.
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