/ · 1894 Brewer’s · B · Boatswain
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The officer who has charge of the boats, sails, rigging, anchors, cordage, cables, and colours. Swain is the Saxon swein (a boy, servant), Swedish sven. Hence, a shepherd is a swain, and a sweetheart is a woman’s servant or swain.
Boatswain. The name of Byron’s favourite dog, buried in Newstead Abbey garden.
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Entry taken from Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, edited by the Rev. E. Cobham Brewer, LL.D. and revised in 1895.
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