bos'n

Our ship's captain was having some private breakdown so had locked himself in the only cabin, where he remained out of sight; the bos'n kept schmoozing Helena, and the helmsman was half-blind.

See Delphi and Die Davis, Lindsey 2005

Presbyterian and Republican, and the bos'n he was for Women's Rights, and there was a man named Simms, who was strong on Predestination and had a theory of trade winds, but he got to arguing once with a man in

The Belted Seas Arthur Willis Colton

I then seated myself on a corner of the chest near Chips to make myself easy, during which time the bos'n had gained sufficient ground to enforce silence upon his adversary, and relinquish the subject of anchors.

Mr. Trunnell, Mate of the Ship "Pirate"

Seeing himself out of the talk, and having completely growled down the quartermaster, the bos'n started another subject.

Mr. Trunnell, Mate of the Ship "Pirate"

The bos'n was holding forth in full swing in an argument with one of the quartermasters, and Jim, the fellow I noticed in the morning, was listening.

Mr. Trunnell, Mate of the Ship "Pirate"

They went on that way till it made my head ache, and before I knew it I was arguing hard against the bos'n, the captain egging me on.

The Belted Seas Arthur Willis Colton

"That's a tart argiment, Captain Clyde," says the bos'n.

The Belted Seas Arthur Willis Colton

"We did," said the bos'n; "we asked the old man, but he wouldn't hear of it, and Trunnell is with him."

Mr. Trunnell, Mate of the Ship "Pirate"

Clyde and the bos'n with the Bible between them, arguing over it by the hour.

The Belted Seas Arthur Willis Colton

"It's no use, he never would --" Before we could continue the discussion further the bells struck out loudly, and the bos'n and I went on deck for our watch.

Mr. Trunnell, Mate of the Ship "Pirate"