noun · verb · 6 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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Received-Pronunciation:/ˈkɒk.s(ə)n/
/ˈkɒkˌsweɪn/spelling pronunciation
General-American:/ˈkɑk.s(ə)n/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
rhymes with -ɒksən
1
noun
Meaning 1
In a ship's boat, the helmsman given charge of the boat's crew.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
The member of a crew who steers the shell and coordinates the power and rhythm of the rowers.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: hobbies, lifestyle, rowing, sports
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
The second or third mate of a vessel, in charge of the master's barge.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: archaic
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
noun
Meaning 4
A rank or position.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: government, military, naval, navy, politics, war
Examples
Canadian Navy Coxswain (or Capitaine d'Armes) is the senior non-commissioned officer aboard a ship
British Royal Navy Cadets Cadet Coxswain is the highest normal rank which may be achieved.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
verb
Meaning 5
To act as coxswain for.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive, transitive
Examples
to coxswain for a college rowing team
to coxswain a boat
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
6
noun
Meaning 6
the helmsman of a ship's boat or a racing crew
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: cox
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: helmsman, steersman, steerer
History
Etymology
From Middle English cokswain, equivalent to cock (“small boat”) + swain (“boy, servant”).
Across languages
Translations
32 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Bulgarian:
рулеви
(rulevi)
— crew member who helms a boat
Catalan:
timoner
— crew member who helms a boat
Czech:
kormidelník
— crew member who helms a boat
Galician:
temoneiro
— crew member who helms a boat
Galician:
timoeiro
— crew member who helms a boat
Galician:
rodista
— crew member who helms a boat
German:
Bootsführer
— crew member who helms a boat
Hebrew:
הַגַּאִי
(hagai)
— crew member who helms a boat
Italian:
timoniere
— crew member who helms a boat
Macedonian:
ко́рмилар
(kórmilar)
— crew member who helms a boat
Māori:
kaiurungi
— crew member who helms a boat
Old Norse:
vísi
— crew member who helms a boat
Polish:
sternik
— crew member who helms a boat
Portuguese:
timoneiro
— crew member who helms a boat
Portuguese:
timoneiros
— crew member who helms a boat
Spanish:
timonero
— crew member who helms a boat
Spanish:
timonel
— crew member who helms a boat
Bulgarian:
загребни
(zagrebni)
— a crew member in a rowing team who gives the rhythm
Czech:
kormidelník
— a crew member in a rowing team who gives the rhythm
Faroese:
róðursmaður
— a crew member in a rowing team who gives the rhythm
Galician:
temoneiro
— a crew member in a rowing team who gives the rhythm
Galician:
timoeiro
— a crew member in a rowing team who gives the rhythm
Galician:
rodista
— a crew member in a rowing team who gives the rhythm
German:
Steuermann
— a crew member in a rowing team who gives the rhythm
Italian:
nocchiere
— a crew member in a rowing team who gives the rhythm
Italian:
nocchiero
— a crew member in a rowing team who gives the rhythm
Italian:
timoniere
— a crew member in a rowing team who gives the rhythm
Māori:
kaituki
— a crew member in a rowing team who gives the rhythm
Māori:
kaihautū
— a crew member in a rowing team who gives the rhythm
Norwegian Bokmål:
styrmann
— a crew member in a rowing team who gives the rhythm
Norwegian Nynorsk:
styrmann
— a crew member in a rowing team who gives the rhythm
Polish:
sternik
— a crew member in a rowing team who gives the rhythm
