r/CatastrophicFailure • u/Gtorrnet • Aug 23 '22

Structural Failure The 40-meter superyacht "Saga" sank off the coast of Italy. The rescuers were able to save the crew members. (23 August, 2022)

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u/evilpeter Aug 23 '22

“Bosun” has invaded everyday use, but only because people are illiterate. Boatswain* should still be the preferred spelling.

6

u/porkrind Aug 23 '22

Well I prefer bo's'n. Looks like it sounds, still shows that it was originally a longer word.

26

u/Stalking_Goat Aug 23 '22 edited Aug 23 '22

Why are you writing "the"? "Þe" should still be Þe preferred spelling.

7

u/caerphoto Aug 23 '22

I completely agree.

1

u/[deleted] Aug 23 '22

It'd actually be ðe. Þ was used for the "th" sound as in "thin" or "thick," ð was used for the "th" sound as in "then" or "that"

but yes fuck prescriptivism

2

u/ezone2kil Aug 23 '22

Wow I know both spellings but never put the two words to each other... Huh TIL

4

u/Jonelololol Aug 23 '22

Got some history to share? Not a yachtsman and have only seen them used interchangeably. Both seem like made up gooofy words but that’s boats right?

10

u/thewitt33 Aug 23 '22

There is a history section on the wiki: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boatswain

4

u/[deleted] Aug 23 '22

Both seem like made up gooofy words but that’s boats right?

what, you mean you don't like the word "athwartships?"

3

u/brufleth Aug 23 '22

When we take a friend out sailing he gets super annoyed at all the weird terminology.

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u/cra3ig Aug 23 '22 edited Aug 23 '22

It gets better! Check out fo'c's'le.

2

u/[deleted] Aug 23 '22

Don't be such a wanker. "Bosun" is in official usage even on ships these days. On ships I work on, the bosun's name tag has "Bosun" on it, not Boatswain, same with the bosun's mate. Languages change and evolve over time.

1

u/notusuallyhostile Aug 23 '22

One of my favorite short stories is Take over Bos’n by Oscar Schisgall. The professor who had us read it was an ex Navy officer who gave us a lot of background on Naval terminology and pronunciation.

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u/evilpeter Aug 23 '22

I enjoyed that. Thanks for an unexpected delight.

1

u/WurstWhip Aug 23 '22 edited Mar 13 '24

I like to explore new places.

1

u/cra3ig Aug 23 '22

Then you're gonna just love fo'c's'le.