bowman

IPA/ˈbəʊmən/
KK[bˈomən]IPA/ˈbəʊmən/

bowman — noun

1. In rowing and some sailing teams, the crew member who works at the boat's forwar

1.nounC1
Definition

In rowing and some sailing teams, the crew member who works at the boat's forward end and deals with what is directly ahead.

Example

During the regatta, bowman Tendai leaned forward and watched for the next buoy.

bowman + watched for buoys

The bowman grabbed the dock line before Jin's racing boat hit the pier.

bowman + grabbed the dock line

Common collocations
  • experienced bowman
  • bowman on the yacht
  • team bowman
Synonyms
  • crew member

    Much broader; does not specifically mean the person at the front

  • oarsman

    Used for rowing rather than for sailing crews in general

  • paddler

    Usually refers to someone using a paddle, not this exact crew position

Grammar Patterns

bowman + on + [boat]

bowman + verb of watching or handling

Usage Note

Usually used in rowing and sailing crews. The role often includes watching the water ahead and handling ropes or lines near the bow.

Common Mistakes

The bowman steered from the back of the boat.
The bowman worked at the front of the boat.
A bowman is stationed at the bow, not at the stern.

2. A person who uses a bow to send arrows at a target, enemy, or animal.

2.nounC1
Definition

A person who uses a bow to send arrows at a target, enemy, or animal.

Example

At the summer fair, Wren won the youth archery contest as the best bowman.

bowman + won the contest

The king's bowman stood on the wall and aimed at the riders.

Common collocations
  • expert bowman
  • royal bowman
  • skilled bowman
Synonyms
  • archer

    The usual modern everyday word for someone who shoots arrows

  • longbowman

    More specific; refers to a person using a longbow

Grammar Patterns

bowman + with + [bow]

bowman + verb of aiming or shooting

Usage Note

More common in historical, literary, and fantasy settings than in everyday sports talk, where archer is the usual modern word.

Common Mistakes

The bowman fired his gun at the target.
The bowman shot an arrow at the target.
A bowman uses a bow and arrows, not a firearm.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

These words all describe people working on or moving a boat, but they point to different roles. A rower is anyone who moves a boat with oars, especially in racing. Oarsman is similar, though it sounds more traditional and is tied even more closely to rowing. Paddler is used for someone moving a canoe or similar boat with a paddle, so it does not fit most sailing crews. Deckhand is a general worker on a boat and can stand anywhere on deck. Bowman is narrower than all of these: it names the crew member working right at the front of the boat, where quick reactions to ropes, docks, or obstacles matter most.

roweroarsman ↗paddler ↗deckhand

Common collocations

Phrases

  • experienced bowman
  • skilled bowman

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

Bowman is an old compound built from bow and man. In English it came to name either a man working at the bow of a boat or a man using a bow as a weapon. Modern use keeps both meanings, though each now appears mainly in specialized settings such as rowing, sailing, history, and archery.

First known use

13th century

13th century, in the meaning defined above Noun (2)