B2 adjective Littéraire

bowsprit

/ˈboʊ.sprɪt/

A strong pole or spar that projects forward from the stem (the front) of a sailing vessel. It is primarily used to extend the forestays and provide an anchor point for headsails like the jib.

Exemples

3 sur 5
1

The captain stood near the front of the ship, looking out past the wooden bowsprit.

The captain stood near the front of the ship, looking out past the wooden bowsprit.

2

Specifications for the vessel's restoration require a new bowsprit crafted from seasoned oak.

Specifications for the vessel's restoration require a new bowsprit crafted from seasoned oak.

3

Check out that massive bowsprit; it must be twenty feet long!

Check out that massive bowsprit; it must be twenty feet long!

Famille de mots

Nom
bowsprit
Adjectif
bowsprit-rigged
Apparenté
bow
💡

Astuce mémo

Think of the 'bow' (front of the ship) and a 'sprit' (like a sprout). The bowsprit 'sprouts' out of the front of the bow.

Quiz rapide

The sailor climbed out onto the ______ to adjust the lines for the jib sail.

Correct !

La bonne réponse est : bowsprit

Exemples

1

The captain stood near the front of the ship, looking out past the wooden bowsprit.

everyday

The captain stood near the front of the ship, looking out past the wooden bowsprit.

2

Specifications for the vessel's restoration require a new bowsprit crafted from seasoned oak.

formal

Specifications for the vessel's restoration require a new bowsprit crafted from seasoned oak.

3

Check out that massive bowsprit; it must be twenty feet long!

informal

Check out that massive bowsprit; it must be twenty feet long!

4

The structural integrity of the bowsprit is essential for maintaining the tension of the forestay rigging.

academic

The structural integrity of the bowsprit is essential for maintaining the tension of the forestay rigging.

5

Our marine supply company offers custom carbon-fiber bowsprit extensions for modern racing yachts.

business

Our marine supply company offers custom carbon-fiber bowsprit extensions for modern racing yachts.

Famille de mots

Nom
bowsprit
Adjectif
bowsprit-rigged
Apparenté
bow

Collocations courantes

wooden bowsprit wooden bowsprit
extend from the bowsprit extend from the bowsprit
bowsprit rigging bowsprit rigging
retractable bowsprit retractable bowsprit
shattered bowsprit shattered bowsprit

Phrases Courantes

over the bowsprit

over the bowsprit

lashed to the bowsprit

lashed to the bowsprit

the tip of the bowsprit

the tip of the bowsprit

Souvent confondu avec

bowsprit vs bow

The bow is the entire front section of a ship, while the bowsprit is specifically the pole sticking out from it.

bowsprit vs figurehead

A figurehead is a decorative statue located just below the bowsprit.

📝

Notes d'usage

The word is highly specific to nautical contexts. It is used when describing historical sailing ships or modern racing yachts that use extensions for large sails.

⚠️

Erreurs courantes

Learners often misspell it as 'bowspirit' because they associate it with the 'spirit' of the ship, but the correct ending is 'sprit'.

💡

Astuce mémo

Think of the 'bow' (front of the ship) and a 'sprit' (like a sprout). The bowsprit 'sprouts' out of the front of the bow.

📖

Origine du mot

Derived from the Middle Dutch word 'boegspriet', where 'boeg' means bow and 'spriet' means a spear or pole.

Modèles grammaticaux

Countable noun Often used with definite articles (the bowsprit) Plural: bowsprits
🌍

Contexte culturel

The bowsprit is a classic image in pirate literature and 18th-century maritime history, often being the place where the figurehead was mounted.

Quiz rapide

The sailor climbed out onto the ______ to adjust the lines for the jib sail.

Correct !

La bonne réponse est : bowsprit

Mots lis

unknown

A1

A person or thing that is not known, recognized, or familiar. It often refers to a mysterious situation or a person who has not yet achieved fame or success.

turn

A1

To move your body or an object so that it faces a different direction. It also means to change the direction you are moving, such as when walking or driving.

play

A1

To engage in activity for enjoyment and recreation rather than for a serious or practical purpose. It is also used to describe participating in a sport or performing music on an instrument.

live

A1

To have your home in a particular place or to exist as a living being. It is commonly used to describe where someone resides or the state of being alive.

happen

A1

To take place or occur, often without being planned or by chance. It describes an event or situation that comes into existence at a particular time.

lose

A1

To be unable to find something that you previously had or owned. It also means to fail to win a game, competition, or argument.

include

A1

To make someone or something part of a larger group, set, or list. It describes when one thing contains another thing as a component or member.

change

A1

To make someone or something different or to become different. It can also mean to stop using one thing and start using another, such as putting on different clothes.

watch

A1

To look at something for a period of time, especially something that is moving or changing. It implies paying attention to what is happening or waiting for something to occur.

speak

A1

To use your voice to say words or have a conversation with another person. It also refers to the ability to communicate using a specific language.

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