bosun
Definition
Noun: A bosun (also spelled boatswain) is a petty officer on a merchant ship or a warship who is in charge of the deck crew, the maintenance of the ship's hull and rigging, and the operation of the ship's boats and related equipment.
Usage
The word bosun is used to refer to a specific supervisory role among the crew of a ship. It denotes a position of authority and practical skill.
Examples: * The bosun directed the sailors to secure the cargo before the storm. * A good bosun must be knowledgeable about knots, ropes, and deck machinery. * The captain relied on the bosun's report about the condition of the lifeboats.
Advanced Usage
- "Bosun's call" or "Bosun's pipe": A high-pitched whistle or pipe used by the bosun to issue commands and signals to the crew. The sound carries well over wind and noise.
- The ceremony began with a blast from the bosun's call.
Variants and Related Words
- Boatswain: The traditional and formal spelling of the word, pronounced the same as "bosun."
- Bosun's chair: A piece of equipment, like a harness or a short plank, used to suspend a person over the side of a ship to work on the hull or superstructure.
- The sailor was lowered in the bosun's chair to paint the ship's name.
Synonyms
- Petty officer: A general term for a naval non-commissioned officer; a bosun is a type of petty officer.
- Deck foreman: A less common term emphasizing the supervisory role over deck operations.
Related Phrases
- To pipe (someone) aboard: A ceremonial greeting on naval ships where a bosun uses the bosun's call to signal the arrival of an important person.
- The visiting admiral was piped aboard with full honors.
Noun
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a petty officer on a merchant ship who controls the work of other seamen
