[cox.swain] n [ME cokswayne, fr. cok cockboat + swain servant] (15c) 1: a sailor who has charge of a ship's boat and its crew and who usu. steers
2: a steersman of a racing shell who usu. directs the rowers
[2]coxswain vt (1928): to direct as coxswain ~ vi: to act as coxswain