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Definition of coxswain
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
From the M-W Editors
Recent Examples of coxswain from the Web
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In danger of swamping, coxswain Jim Bartlett quickly handed emergency buckets to the four oarsmen in the stern of the boat.
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Jessie Rapoza of St. Joseph High; Josie Flohr of Mater Dei; and the twins Rachel and Jacqueline Taeubel of Mater Dei – and a coxswain (Ryan shouts the instructions to her team) were one race away from repeating as champions in their division.
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The boat is made up of Nate Tennesen, Anthony Coelho, Jack Solecki, Joe Comas, and coxswain Jack Gosse.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'coxswain'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of coxswain
Middle English cokswayne, from cok cockboat (a small boat) + swain servant
coxswain
Definition of coxswain
transitive verb
: to direct as coxswain
intransitive verb
: to act as coxswain
First Known Use of coxswain
1928
COXSWAIN Defined for English Language Learners
coxswain
playDefinition of coxswain for English Language Learners
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: a person who is in charge of and usually steers a boat (such as a ship's lifeboat)
COXSWAIN Defined for Kids
coxswain
playDefinition of coxswain for Students
: the person who steers or directs the rowers of a boat
Learn More about coxswain
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See words that rhyme with coxswain Spanish Central: Translation of coxswain Nglish: Translation of coxswain for Spanish speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about coxswain
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