BOATSWAIN
boatswain, bos'n, bo's'n, bosun, bo'sun
(noun) a petty officer on a merchant ship who controls the work of other seamen
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Noun
boatswain (plural boatswains)
The officer (or warrant officer) in charge of sails, rigging, anchors, cables etc. and all work on deck of a sailing ship.
The petty officer of a merchant ship who controls the work of other seamen.
A kind of gull, the jaeger.
The tropicbird.
Source: Wiktionary
Boat"swain, n. Etym: [Boat + swain.]
1. (Naut.)
Definition: An officer who has charge of the boats, sails, rigging, colors,
anchors, cables, cordage, etc., of a ship, and who also summons the
crew, and performs other duties.
2. (Zoöl.)
(a) The jager gull.
(b) The tropic bird. Boatswain's mate, an assistant of the boatswain.
Totten.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition