Boatswain
As required by 17th Century law, British ships-of-war carried three
smaller boats, the boat, the cock-boat, and the skiff. The boat -
or gig - was usually used by the Captain to go ashore and was the
larger of the three. The cock-boat was a very small rowboat used as
the ship's tender. The skiff was a lightweight all-purpose vessel.
The suffix "swain" means keeper, thus the keepers of the boat,
cock, and skiff were called boatswain and cockswain (or
coxswain).
Boatswain's Pipe
No self-respecting boatswain's mate would dare admit he couldn't
blow his pipe in a manner above reproach. This pipe, which is the
emblem of the boatswain and his mates, has an ancient and
interesting history. On the ancient row-galleys, the boatswain used
his pipe to t;call the stroke;. Later because its shrill tune could
be heard above most of the activity on board, it was used to signal
various happenings such as knock-off and the boarding of officials.
So essential was this signaling device to the well-being of the
ship, that it became a badge of office and honor in the British and
American Navy of the sailing ships.
For a clearer understanding of Naval Terms, try visiting the
following sites:
http://www.goatlocker.org/trivia.htm
http://www.singapore-window.org/sw02/020530hr.htm
