Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A spar, extending forward from the stem of a ship, to which the stays of the foremast are fastened.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A large spar which projects forward from the stem of a ship or other vessel.
  • noun Beyond it extend the jib-boom and the flying-jib boom. The bowsprit is secured downward by the bobstays and the gammoning (which see), and at the sides by the bowsprit-shrouds, which are secured to the bows of the ship. From the outer end of the bowsprit a spar called the martingale or dolphin-striker projects downward to support the martingale-stays, and two smaller spars, called whiskers, project sidewise to support the jib-guys. On the foretopmast-stay, the jib-stay, and the flying-jib stay (which extend downward from the foretopmast-head and the foretop-gallantmast-head to the ends of the bowsprit, jib-boom, and flying-jib boom) are set the foretopmast-staysail, the jib, and the flying jib. Corruptly written boltsprit.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun (Naut.) A large boom or spar, which projects over the stem of a ship or other vessel, to carry sail forward.

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

  • noun nautical A spar projecting over the prow of a sailing vessel to provide the means of adding sail surface.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a spar projecting from the bow of a vessel

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Middle English bouspret, possibly from Middle Low German bōchsprēt : bōch, bow; see bheug- in Indo-European roots + sprēt, sprit; see sper- in Indo-European roots.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

First attested in late XIII century. Probably from M.L.G. bochspret: boch - "the bow of a ship" + spret - "pole".

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Examples

  • Adonis _Adonis_ apropos _apropo_ bowsprit _bowsprit_ brooch _broch_ not _broosh_ compromise _compromize_ jowl _jol_, not like _owl_ molecular _molecular_ ogle _ogle_ trow _tro_ vocable _vocable_ zoology _zoology_, not _zoo_

    Practical Grammar and Composition Thomas Wood

  • A bowsprit is a precarious bridge; the boarding party was on a virtual suicide mission.

    John Paul Jones 9781451603996 2003

  • A bowsprit is a precarious bridge; the boarding party was on a virtual suicide mission.

    John Paul Jones 9781451603996 2003

  • Rising from the calm surface of the sea beneath the bowsprit was a line of crabs.

    A Triumph of Souls Foster, Alan Dean, 1946- 2000

  • The broken spars dangling forlornly from the bowsprit were a bigger problem, but the icerigger could sail without them.

    The Deluge Drivers Foster, Alan Dean, 1946- 1987

  • There are three masts and the bowsprit, which is simply the old bowmast that has gradually increased its angle until it is now almost horizontal.

    Golden Days for Boys and Girls, Vol. XIII, Nov. 28, 1891 Various

  • The bowsprit is a strong conical piece of timber, projecting from the stem of a ship, and serving to support the fore-mast, and as a yard or boom on which certain sails are moveable.

    The Illustrated London Reading Book Various

  • Between it and the bowsprit are the _fore-stay-sail_, _jib_, and

    Man on the Ocean A Book about Boats and Ships R. [Illustrator] Richardson 1859

  • In a short time, the wind having fallen still more, I was able to board her; when I found that many of the French crew had attempted to escape and had been lost, and that those on the bowsprit were the only survivors.

    The South Sea Whaler William Henry Giles Kingston 1847

  • The afterpart, however, or stern-sheets, is sunk about four feet; and as the bowsprit is a mere stump, and the sheets of both foresail and jib lead aft, all the work may be done here when under snug sail.

    Impressions of America During the years 1833, 1834 and 1835. In Two Volumes, Volume I. Tyrone Power 1818

Comments

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  • This is one of the best nautical words ever.

    February 27, 2008