bowsman

noun

bows·​man

ˈbau̇zmən

plural bowsmen

: a crew member of a small boat who is usually stationed in the bow, not assigned to an oar, and usually has some supervisory status

Word History

Etymology

by folk etymology (influence of bow entry 5) from French bosseman, probably from obsolete Low German bossman, alteration of (assumed) Low German bootsman, from boots (genitive of boot boat, from Middle Low German, from Middle English) + man, from Old Saxon; akin to Old High German man

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