bowsprit
English
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0c/Falls_of_Clyde_bowsprit.jpg/220px-Falls_of_Clyde_bowsprit.jpg)
Etymology
First attested in late 13th century. Probably borrowed from Middle Low German bochspret, from boch (“bow of a ship”) + spret (“pole”) (related to Old English spreot).
Pronunciation
Noun
bowsprit (plural bowsprits)
- (nautical) A spar projecting over the prow of a sailing vessel to provide the means of adding sail surface.
Alternative forms
Translations
spar projecting over the prow of a sailing vessel
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