Word Study
bowsprit
WORDNET DICTIONARY
Noun bowsprit has 1 sense
CIDE DICTIONARY
bowsprit, n. [Bow + sprit; akin to D. boegspriet; boeg bow of a ship + spriet, E. sprit, also Sw. bogspröt, G. bugspriet.].
A large boom or spar, which projects over the stem of a ship or other vessel, to carry sail forward. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
bowsprit, n. Naut. a spar running out from a ship's bow to which the forestays are fastened.
Etymology
ME f. Gmc (as BOW(3), SPRIT)
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