| Boatswain |
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A boatswain, often Phonetically Spelled and pronounced '''bosun''', is a Warrant Officer or Petty Officer in charge of a Ship 's Anchors , Cordage , Colors , deck Crew and the ship's Boats . The word boatswain, recorded in English since the fifteenth century, is derived from boat and Swain meaning a young man, a follower, Retainer or Servant - compare Mate . Onboard a Sailing Ship such as a Man-of-war or a Galleon , the boatswain would also be in charge of the Rigging while the ship was in Dock . It was his duty to summon the crew to work by a boatswain's pipe. In the Royal Navy , in so far as that task didn't fall to the Master At Arms or to the Marines corporal, he would also administer Physical Punishment s, both informally with his Boatswain's Cane on the boys or with a Rope's End on the adult sailors, either on an officer's instructions or at his own accord, and formally on deck on captain's or court martial's orders, usually Birching or wielding the Cat O' Nine Tails ; in a large crew he could delegate this to one or more boatswain's mate(s), who might alternate after each dozen of lashes. Onboard U.S. Navy vessels, boatswain's mates comprise and lead the Deck Department .
In the realm of literature, among the more famous boatswain characters is Bill Bobstay, the "bos'un" in Gilbert & Sullivan's musical comedy, "H.M.S. Pinafore" which premiered in London in 1878. By tradition and superstition, only the boatswain is allowed to whistle while on board, lest an unwitting sailor "whistle up the wind." Hence the phrase, "Only fools and boatswains..." SOURCES AND REFERENCES |
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