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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

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