/bow"sprit, boh"-/ , n. Naut.
a spar projecting from the upper end of the bow of a sailing vessel, for holding the tacks of various jibs or stays and often supporting a jib boom.
[ 1300-50; ME bouspret bochspret (c. D boegsprit ) ( boch BOW 3 + spret pole, c. OE spreot ) ]