Guest Posted January 17, 2011 Share Posted January 17, 2011 Can anyone confirm this? Bo'sun: In the 17th century, ships were required by law to carry three boats, which were named respectively (1) the BOAT, (2) the COCK, and (3) the SKIFF. The men in charge were rated BOATSWAIN, COCKSWAIN and SKIFFSWAIN. Swain meant lover or keeper. Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted January 17, 2011 Share Posted January 17, 2011 So Cockswain was cock-lover? and they were blokes .... Link to post Share on other sites
Atom Ant 0 Posted January 17, 2011 Share Posted January 17, 2011 So Cockswain was cock-lover? and they were blokes .... Gee Squid I bet you didn't see that one coming! Link to post Share on other sites
wheels 543 Posted January 17, 2011 Share Posted January 17, 2011 Not quite. First off it is spelt Cox and there is no meaning to the word Cox. It is actually Coxboat, which is a "small boat kept onboard". Swain means "Boy in Authority". So Coxswain meant Boy(because it was often a young Navel Cadet in training as an officer) in Authority of the small boat kept onboard the Ship. In the Royal Navy, it was the highest rank as a Cadet. Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted January 17, 2011 Share Posted January 17, 2011 So you don't think they may have changed the spelling so that non-Navy types didn't snigger at their pottymouth. Link to post Share on other sites
Murky 1 Posted January 17, 2011 Share Posted January 17, 2011 They have a tendency to start throwing punches whether you sniggered or were just considering a possible snigger. Can't see them changing their terminology and ruining all those good times. It is rowers I feel the most sorry for - they must get sick of the guffaws when they explain that they are in the coxless pairs or coxless fours. Link to post Share on other sites
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