bowsprit Hear it!

bowsprit definition

bow·sprit (bo̵u′sprit′, bō′-)

noun

a large, tapered spar extending forward from the bow of a sailing vessel, to which stays for the masts are secured

Etymology: ME bouspret, prob. < MDu boegspriet < boeg, bow + spriet, sprit

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Comments
Improve this definition.
Do you have more to add? Share your linguistic knowledge or observation.
/Register to save your comments.