coxswain

1 of 2

noun

cox·​swain ˈkäk-sən 

-ˌswān

1

: a sailor who has charge of a ship's boat and its crew and who usually steers

2

: a steersman of a racing shell who usually directs the rowers

coxswain

2 of 2

verb

coxswained; coxswaining; coxswains

transitive verb

: to direct as coxswain

intransitive verb

: to act as coxswain

Examples of coxswain in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Determined, Teagan bulldozes her way through the boathouse, eventually becoming the team’s coxswain, the only non-rowing member who is tasked with steering, managing the race plan and motivating the rest of the team. — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 10 Sep. 2026

At her new school, Teagan becomes the coxswain of a dysfunctional all-boys rowing team. — Katie Campione, Deadline, 12 Aug. 2026

Verb

In May 1971, his wife’s father, Henry Fletcher, enlisted in the Navy to become a riverine boat coxswain, and in June 1975, his wife, Bobbie, enlisted in the Navy as a cryptologic technician. — Julie Gallant, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 June 2026

Watching her granddaughter Hannah pitch through a tough inning of softball or her granddaughter Lily coxswain for the rowing team was a marvel. — Cecile Richards, Glamour, 11 May 2018

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English cokswayne, from cok cockboat (a small boat) + swain servant

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1873, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Rhymes for coxswain

• abstain
• airplane
• alkane
• arcane
• arraign
• attain
• backplane
• betaine
• biplane
• blockchain
• butane
• campaign

Kids Definition

coxswain

noun

cox·​swain

ˈkäk-sən, 

-ˌswān

1

: a sailor who has charge of a ship's boat and its crew

2

: a person who steers a racing shell