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Added 10 October 2026

coxswain

/ˈkɒk.s(ə)n/ noun

noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about coxswain at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

In a ship's boat, the helmsman given charge of the boat's crew.
The member of a crew who steers the shell and coordinates the power and rhythm of the rowers.
The second or third mate of a vessel, in charge of the master's barge.

verb

To act as coxswain for.
to coxswain for a college rowing team

Origin

From Middle English cokswain, equivalent to cock (“small boat”) + swain (“boy, servant”).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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