bowsprit
pronunciation
How to pronounce bowsprit in British English:
UK ['bəʊsprɪt]
How to pronounce bowsprit in American English:
US ['boʊsprɪt]
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- Noun:
- a spar projecting from the bow of a vessel
Word Origin
- bowsprit (n.)
- "large spar extending from the bow of a ship with one or more sails of its own," late 13c., probably from Middle Low German bochspret, from boch "bow of a ship" (see bow (n.2)) + spret "pole" (compare Old English spreot "pole," Dutch spriet "spear;" see sprit). French beaupre is a Dutch loan word.
Example
- 1. A sloop with a simplified rig and no bowsprit .
- 2. A spar that extends the bowsprit .
- 3. Today her bowsprit points across the thames at another symbol of global britain : the glass towers of the canary wharf financial district , home to risk-takers from 100 nations .
- 4. And now I lost no time , crawled back along the bowsprit , and tumbled head foremost on the deck .