Etymology Map
Back to all words

Bowsprit

2 stages from Middle Low German to English.

Today it means a spar projecting from the bow of a sailing ship

Where does the word "bowsprit" come from? It comes from Middle Low German boegspriet, adopted directly into English (1300s).

1
Stage 1 of 2
boegspriet
Middle Low German · medieval
"bow pole"
'boeg', bow of a ship, plus 'spriet', pole
2
Stage 2 of 2
bowsprit
English · 1300s
"a forward-projecting spar"
used for the spar projecting forward from a ship's bow
Drag to pan · scroll to zoom
Read the full story

Bowsprit’s story begins in Middle Low German: boegspriet meant “bow pole.” 'boeg', bow of a ship, plus 'spriet', pole. It reached English by 1300s as bowsprit. Used for the spar projecting forward from a ship's bow. Today, bowsprit means a spar projecting from the bow of a sailing ship.