Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
noun
- a warrant officer on a warship, or a petty officer on a merchant vessel, in charge of rigging, anchors, cables, etc.
noun
- a petty officer on a merchant ship or a warrant officer on a warship who is responsible for the maintenance of the ship and its equipment
mid-15c., from late Old English batswegen, from bat “boat” (see boat (n.)) + Old Norse sveinn “boy” (see swain). Phonetic spelling bo’sun is attested from 1840.