Bowsprit
/ˈbaʊ.sprɪt/noun
A projecting beam on the bow of a ship.
Did you know?The term 'bowsprit' may connect to ancient seafaring rituals, where ships were often seen as vessels to the divine, bridging sea and sky.
Etymological Timeline
Middle English
English
bowe sprit
“A beam extending from the bow of a ship.”
Old French
Old French
esprit
“A pole or beam.”
Late Latin
Latin
spiritus
“Breath, spirit, or wind.”
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*spīr-
“To breathe, to blow.”