Definition

Noun: 1. A ship's officer in charge of equipment and the crew: On a merchant ship or a sailing warship, the boatswain (often pronounced /ˈboʊsən/) is a senior petty officer. This person is responsible for supervising the maintenance of the ship's hull, rigging, sails, anchors, and cables, and for directing the deck crew in their duties.

Usage

The term "boatswain" is used to refer to a specific, traditional rank on ships. It denotes a position of practical authority and expertise. * The boatswain piped the crew to their stations. * All repairs to the rigging must be reported to the boatswain. * He worked his way up from an ordinary seaman to become the boatswain.

Advanced Usage

• Boatswain's call (or bosun's whistle): A high-pitched whistle or pipe used by the boatswain to issue commands to the crew. The different sounds and melodies convey specific orders.
  • The ceremony began with a call from the boatswain's pipe.
• Boatswain's chair: A simple seat, often made of a plank and ropes, used to hoist a person aloft to work on the ship's masts or side.
  • The sailor was secured in the boatswain's chair to paint the funnel.

Variants and Related Words

• Bosun (or bo's'n / bo'sun): Common phonetic spellings and pronunciations of "boatswain." These variants are frequently used in modern maritime contexts.
  • Ask the bosun for a new coil of rope.
• Boatswainmate: A naval rating who assists the boatswain (chiefly historical or in specific naval contexts).

Synonyms

• Petty officer: A general term for a naval non-commissioned officer; a boatswain is a type of petty officer.
• Deck foreman: A less traditional term suggesting a supervisory role on the ship's deck.

Noun

1. a petty officer on a merchant ship who controls the work of other seamen