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Webster 1913 Edition

Bowsprit

Bow′spritˊ

,
Noun.
[
Bow
+
sprit
; akin to D.
boegspriet
;
boeg
bow of a ship +
spriet
, E.
sprit
, also Sw.
bogspröt
, G.
bugspriet
.]
(Naut.)
A large boom or spar, which projects over the stem of a ship or other vessel, to carry sail forward.

Webster 1828 Edition

Bowsprit

BOWSPRIT

,
Noun.
[bow and sprit.] A large boom or spar, which projects over the stem of a ship or other vessel, to carry sail forward. [This is probably the true orthography.]

Definition 2024

bowsprit

bowsprit

English

Bowsprit

Noun

bowsprit ‎(plural bowsprits)

  1. (nautical) A spar projecting over the prow of a sailing vessel to provide the means of adding sail surface.

Translations

Etymology

First attested in late XIII century. Probably a borrowing from Middle Low German bochspret, from boch ‎(“bow of a ship”) +‎ spret ‎(“pole”).

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