Definition of "boatswains" [boatswains]

• Plural form of boatswain. (noun)

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• "We saw several tropical birds, which the sailors call boatswains, in consequence of their having one long feather for a tail, which they term a marlin-spike — an iron instrument sharp at one end and knobbed at the other, used in splicing ropes, etc."
• "The birds seen by our people were many brent-geese and ptarmigans, several golden plovers, one or two "boatswains," and abundance of snow-buntings."
• "He could drink ten Navy boatswains under the table."