Meaning & use
bosun
Last updated
UK/ˈbəʊsn/
US/ˈboʊsn/
Meaning
nouncountablespecialist
The crew member on a ship who looks after the deck equipment and directs the sailors who work on deck.
Grammar: Spelled bosun or boatswain, both said the same way.
Patterns
- the bosun of a ship
The bosun shouted orders to the deck crew.
A bosun checks the ropes before every voyage.
She trained for years to become bosun of the ship.
Word forms
| plural | bosuns |
|---|
Common combinations
- ship's bosun
- The ship's bosun inspected the anchor.
- bosun's whistle
- The bosun's whistle sounded across the deck.
- chief bosun
- The chief bosun trained the new sailors.
- bosun's chair
- A sailor in a bosun's chair painted the mast.
- call the bosun
- Call the bosun to repair the rope.
Synonyms and how they differ
- boatswain
- Boatswain is the standard written spelling of the same word.
- deck officer
- Deck officer is a broader term for any officer in charge of deck work.
- petty officer
- Petty officer is a naval rank and not limited to deck duties.
Word family
Commonly confused: bosun or coxswain?
bosun vs coxswain
A coxswain steers a small boat or rowing crew, while a bosun supervises deck work on a ship.
Practice
Who on a merchant ship is responsible for the deck crew and the rigging?
Choose one answer.
The bosun supervises deck equipment and crew. The cook, purser and navigator have different duties.
Make it your own
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