boatswain Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a petty officer on a merchant ship who controls the work of other seamen
    bo'sun; bosun; bo's'n; bos'n.

WordNet

Boat"swain noun
Etymology
Boat + swain.
Definitions
  1. (Naut.) 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.
  2. (Zoöl.) (a) The jager gull. (b) The tropic bird. Totten.

Webster 1913