1. A warrant officer or petty officer on a ship responsible for the maintenance of the hull, rigging, and equipment.
Usage: nautical; variant spelling of boatswain

Examples

• The bawsunt inspected the ship's rigging before departure.
• The captain ordered the bawsunt to prepare the crew for the storm.
• As bawsunt, he was responsible for all deck operations.
• The bawsunt's whistle signaled the sailors to assemble on deck.