boatswain

/ˈboʊsn/

Other forms: boatswains

A boatswain is a petty officer on a ship. The boatswain supervises the crew.

A swain was someone who attended to the needs of a medieval knight. Similarly, a boatswain attends to the needs of a boat by being in charge of the crew and making sure they get work done. The captain is in charge of the boat, but the boatswain is in charge of work done on the boat, just as the cook is in charge of the kitchen. The boatswain is also responsible for equipment on the boat.

Definitions of boatswain

1. noun

   a petty officer on a merchant ship who controls the work of other seamen
   synonyms: bo's'n, bo'sun, bos'n, bosun

   type of:

   Jack, Jack-tar, gob, mariner, old salt, sea dog, seafarer, seaman, tar

   a man who serves as a sailor