Where does “bosun” come from?
Bosun is an English contraction of boatswain, which derives from Middle English botswain, Old English bātsweġen (boat servant), from bāt (boat) and sweġen (servant), ultimately from Proto-Germanic baitaz and Proto-Indo-European bʰeyd-.
bosun (English): A warrant or petty officer on board a naval ship
Definitions
- A warrant or petty officer on board a naval ship
Ancestry of “bosun”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | boatswain | The officer in charge of sails, rigging,... |
| 2 | Middle English | botswain | — |
| 3 | Old English | bātsweġen | a boatman |
| 4 | Old English | bāt | that which can be bitten, food, bait; boat, ship,... |
| 5 | Proto-West Germanic | bait | boat, ship |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | baitaz | boat, ship |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰeyd- | to split |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰey- | bee |