bowsman

noun bows·man \ ˈbau̇zmən \

Definition of bowsman

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

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Origin and Etymology of bowsman

by folk etymology (influence of ⁵bow) 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