An archaic or obsolete nautical term, possibly relating to a boatswain or maritime equipment, with unclear modern definition.
Possibly derived from Dutch 'bootsman' or related to 'boatswain,' but the exact etymological path is uncertain. The word appears in historical maritime texts with varying spellings.
Nautical terms from the Dutch and German-speaking trade networks shaped English—words like this show the ocean as a highway of linguistic exchange, not just goods!
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.