n. & v.
--n.
1. a person who steers, esp. in a rowing-boat.
2 the senior petty officer in a small ship.
--v.
1. intr. act as a coxswain.
2 tr. act as a coxswain of.
Derivatives:
coxswainship n.
Etymology: ME f. cock (see COCKBOAT) + SWAIN: cf. BOATSWAIN