coxswain
Word family adjectivecoxedcoxlessnouncoxswain
cox·swain /ˈkɒksən, -sweɪn $ ˈkɑːk-/ noun [countableC] coxswain• Even so, he did his best, becoming an expert coxswain and taking up Olympic weight-lifting.• The boat turned back, and grounded near Challenger, who ran up and spoke urgently to the coxswain.• The coxswain and the quartermaster were killed at the wheel, and Nigel Tibbets took the helm. Origin coxswain (1300-1400) cock “small boat” ((14-18 centuries)) (from
Old French coque) +
swain “boy, servant” ((13-17 centuries)) (
→ SWAIN)