Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

coxswain

/ˈkɑk.s(ə)n/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.16 in modern English

Syllables
coxswain
IPA
/ˈkɑk.s(ə)n/
20
Scrabble Score
8
Letters
1
Syllables
8
Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

In a ship's boat, the helmsman given charge of the boat's crew.

noun

The member of a crew who steers the shell and coordinates the power and rhythm of the rowers.

noun

The second or third mate of a vessel, in charge of the master's barge.

Archaic

noun

A rank or position.

verb

To act as coxswain for.

Intransitive verb; Transitive verb

Example Sentences

Etymology

From Middle English cokswain, equivalent to cock (“small boat”) + swain (“boy, servant”).

Origin

Word Breakdown

Regional Pronunciation

  • American English: /ˈkɑk.s(ə)n/
  • British English: /ˈkɒk.s(ə)n/

Usage

Inflected Forms

Derived Forms

cox

Synonyms

Rhymes With

Questions

How do you pronounce coxswain?
The recorded pronunciation is /ˈkɑk.s(ə)n/.
What does coxswain mean?
In a ship's boat, the helmsman given charge of the boat's crew.
Where does coxswain come from?
It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce coxswain

  1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “coxswain”.
  2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈkɑk.s(ə)n/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
  3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “coxswain”.
  4. Repeat and practice — Say “coxswain” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.