bowsprit

What is another word for bowsprit? Here is its meaning, with related words and examples.

Noun — A spar that sticks out beyond the front of a sailing ship to help carry extra sail.

We haven't recorded synonyms for bowsprit yet. You can still read its full definition, where it comes from, or words that rhyme with it.

How to use bowsprit

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

a long bowsprit rigged from the bowsprit the ship's bowsprit the tip of the bowsprit

It's a specialist nautical term, mostly used by sailors and in descriptions of ships.

Etymology

Bowsprit was first used in English in the late thirteenth century. It probably came from Middle Low German bochspret, formed from boch, meaning the bow of a ship, and spret, meaning a pole, a word related to English sprout.

Full origin of bowsprit →

Frequently asked questions

What is a bowsprit on a ship?

It is the spar that projects forward from the bow of a sailing vessel, giving extra room to rig sail.

Why do sailing ships have a bowsprit?

It lets the crew add more sail surface at the front of the vessel, which improves speed and balance under sail.

Where does the word bowsprit come from?

It probably comes from a Middle Low German word combining bow, for the front of a ship, and a word for a pole.

Nearby words

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