Boatswain

Pronunciation: /ˈboʊsən/

Definitions of boatswain

noun a warrant officer or petty officer on a merchant ship or a naval vessel responsible for the maintenance of the ship and its equipment

Example Sentences

A1 The boatswain helped secure the ropes on the ship.

A2 The boatswain gave orders to the crew to prepare for docking.

B1 The boatswain is responsible for maintenance and repairs on the ship.

B2 The boatswain oversees the loading and unloading of cargo on the vessel.

C1 The boatswain's expertise in navigation and seamanship is invaluable to the crew.

C2 The boatswain's leadership and experience ensure the smooth operation of the entire ship.

Examples of boatswain in a Sentence

formal The boatswain is responsible for the maintenance and repair of the ship's rigging and sails.

informal The boatswain is the one who keeps the ship in tip-top shape.

slang The boatswain is like the ship's handyman, fixing things up as needed.

figurative In a way, the boatswain is like the captain of the ship's maintenance crew.

Grammatical Forms of boatswain

• past tense: boatswained
• plural: boatswains
• comparative: more boatswain
• superlative: most boatswain
• present tense: boatswains
• future tense: will boatswain
• perfect tense: have boatswained
• continuous tense: is boatswaining
• singular: boatswain
• positive degree: boatswain
• infinitive: to boatswain
• gerund: boatswaining
• participle: boatswained

Origin and Evolution of boatswain

First Known Use: 1400 year

Language of Origin: Middle English

Story behind the word: The word 'boatswain' originated from Middle English 'botswein', which came from Old English 'bātswein', meaning 'boat servant'.

Evolution of the word: Over time, the term 'boatswain' has evolved to refer to the officer in charge of a ship's equipment and crew, responsible for maintenance and repair tasks.