noun
Common
cox
koks
Cox (noun) means Short for coxswain: the person who steers a rowing boat and calls the stroke rate for the crew. Example: “The cox sat in the stern and steered the boat around the bend.”
noun
1
Short for coxswain: the person who steers a rowing boat and calls the stroke rate for the crew.
"The cox sat in the stern and steered the boat around the bend."
"Our smallest team member made the best cox because she was so light."
"The cox shouted instructions to keep the rowers in rhythm."
verb
1
To act as coxswain for a rowing crew.
"I coxed the lightweight 4+ yesterday."
"He coxed the boat to victory despite the strong headwind."
"I have never coxed before, so steering felt strange at first."
"The physicist Stephen Hawking used to cox for a college rowing team."
"She coxed the varsity eight during her final year at university."
How to use cox
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe person who steers and directs a rowing boat, or the act of doing that job.
Common pairings
cox the boat
coxed eight
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Word forms
- Plural
- coxes
- Third person singular
- coxes
- Past tense
- coxed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ sat in the stern and steered the boat around the bend.
Etymology
A shortened form of "coxswain."
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What does “cox” mean?
The word “cox” means short for coxswain: the person who steers a rowing boat and calls the stroke rate for the crew. In plain terms, the person who steers and directs a rowing boat, or the act of doing that job.
How do you pronounce “cox”?
“Cox” is pronounced koks (/kɑks/ in IPA).
How do you use “cox” in a sentence?
Here is “cox” used in a sentence: “The cox shouted instructions to keep the rowers in rhythm.”
What part of speech is “cox”?
Depending on how it is used, “cox” can be a noun and a verb.
Is “cox” a common word?
“Cox” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “cox” have?
“Cox” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: short for coxswain: the person who steers a rowing boat and calls the stroke rate for the crew.
What is the difference between a cox and a rower?
A cox steers the boat and calls the stroke rate but does not row. The rowers face backwards and pull the oars, while the cox faces forwards and directs the crew. A cox is a member of the crew who does not physically propel the boat.
What is the difference between 'cox' and 'coxswain'?
'Cox' is simply the short form of 'coxswain', and the two mean exactly the same thing. 'Coxswain' is the fuller, more formal term, while 'cox' is the everyday word used by rowers.
Does the cox face the same way as the rowers?
No, the cox usually faces forwards, in the direction the boat is travelling, while the rowers face backwards. This lets the cox see where the boat is going and steer safely while directing the crew.
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