What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Bowsman vs Bossman - What's the difference?

bowsman | bossman |

As nouns the difference between bowsman and bossman

is that bowsman is (nautical) a sailor who works in the bow of a vessel while bossman is (vocative) someone whose name is unknown usually denotes that one is chary or extremely unfamiliar with the person being spoken to.

bowsman

English

Noun

(bowsmen)
  • (nautical) A sailor who works in the bow of a vessel.
    • 1851 , , Moby Dick , Chapter 72: “Being the savage's bowsman , that is, the person who pulled the bow-oar in his boat (the second one from forward), it was my cheerful duty to attend upon him while taking that hard-scrabble scramble upon the dead whale's back."

    bossman

    English

  • (, just too many things that need correcting - hasn't even got a proper definition)

    • Alternative forms

    * boss-man

    Noun

    (bossmen)
  • (vocative) Someone whose name is unknown. Usually denotes that one is chary or extremely unfamiliar with the person being spoken to.
    • :*: "You should watch what you say, bossman. " :*: "I don't know what to tell you, bossman... " 2. (vocative) Someone who appears stalwart and/or dauntless in both disposition and appearance. Not a term used between those who are close. Usually seen as complimentary. :*: "You really showed them, bossman. What's your name? " :*: "Hoy, bossman. It's been a while since you last travelled through here. Are there any new goings on? "

    Usage notes

    1. Neither of the two senses of this term are synonymous with the colloquial meanings of terms such as "boss", "chief" and "governor." 2. Not the same as "boss man" or "the boss man", an endearing term used to refer to one's employer. 3. Because this term is a vocative, the plural is seldom used.

    Synonyms

    (cautious) friend (colloquial, sarcastic sense) (admiring) no direct vocative synonyms, but compare non-vocative mensch (sense 1) and vocative or non-vocative the man (sense 2)