Definitions

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun nautical A sailor who works in the bow of a vessel.

Etymologies

Sorry, no etymologies found.

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word bowsman.

Examples

  • Being the savage's bowsman, that is, the person who pulled the bow-oar in his boat (the second one from forward), it was my cheerful duty to attend upon him while taking that hard-scrabble scramble upon the dead whale's back.

    Moby Dick, or, the whale Herman Melville 1855

  • Being the savage's bowsman, that is, the person who pulled the bow-oar in his boat (the second one from forward), it was my cheerful duty to attend upon him while taking that hard-scrabble scramble upon the dead whale's back.

    Moby Dick: or, the White Whale Herman Melville 1855

  • Being the savage's bowsman, that is, the person who pulled the bow-oar in his boat (the second one from forward), it was my cheerful duty to attend upon him while taking that hard - scrabble scramble upon the dead whale's back.

    Moby-Dick, or, The Whale 1851

  • Norman was "bowsman," and, of course, sat in the bow.

    Popular Adventure Tales Mayne Reid 1850

  • Norman was "bowsman," and, of course, sate in the bow.

    The Young Voyageurs Boy Hunters in the North Mayne Reid 1850

  • Being the savage’s bowsman, that is, the person who pulled the bow-oar in his boat (the second one from forward), it was my cheerful duty to attend upon him while taking that hard-scrabble scramble upon the dead whale’s back.

    Moby Dick; or the Whale 2002

  • “Haul in — haul in!” cried Stubb to the bowsman! and, facing round towards the whale, all hands began pulling the boat up to him, while yet the boat was being towed on.

    Moby Dick; or the Whale 2002

  • The mutineer was the bowsman of the mate, and when fast to

    Moby Dick; or the Whale 2002

  • Nothing loath, his bowsman hauled him up and up, through a blinding foam that blent two whitenesses together; till of a sudden the boat struck as against a sunken ledge, and keeling over, spilled out the standing mate.

    Moby Dick; or the Whale 2002

  • “Pull up — pull up!” he now cried to the bowsman, as the waning whale relaxed in his wrath.

    Moby Dick; or the Whale 2002

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.