Bosun vs. Coxswain — What's the Difference?

Variant of boatswain.

The coxswain ( KOK-sən) is the person in charge of a boat, particularly its navigation and steering. The etymology of the word gives a literal meaning of "boat servant" since it comes from cock, a cockboat or other small vessel kept aboard a ship, and swain, an Old English term derived from the Old Norse sveinn meaning boy or servant.

Alt form of boatswain

The person who steers a ship's boat, racing boat, or other boat.

A petty officer on a merchant ship who controls the work of other seamen; a contraction of boatswain.

A person who usually steers a ship's boat and has charge of its crew.

A petty officer on a merchant ship who controls the work of other seamen

A person in a racing shell who usually directs the rest of the crew.

To act as coxswain or serve as coxswain for.

In a ship's boat, the helmsman given charge of the boat's crew.

(rowing) The member of a crew who steers the shell and coordinates the power and rhythm of the rowers.

(archaic) The second or third mate of a vessel, in charge of the master's barge.

(naval) A rank or position.

To act as coxswain for.

See Cockswain.

The helmsman of a ship's boat or a racing crew