*** Quoting Danny Ceppa from a message to Carol Shenkenberger ***


 CS> Bo'sun actually, showing the contraction of nautical terms.  Otherwise

DC> It depends on the dictionary.  And, yes, I am more 
DC> familiar with the " ' " in the word.  My dictionary gives 
DC> both is slightly different sections.  

DC> The abreviation is used as a primary word.  However, 
DC> it is " bo's'n " im my dictitionary!  

Heheh ok!  I've seen Bo'sun, Bos'un, but not that version.  Pronounced for
¨those not used to speaking english, is 'Bow Sun' or for those not from the
¨'South' a faster speak of 'Bow sin'.

In old mariner documents you will find the following spellings:

Bosun, Bosin, Bosn

It is one of the oldest if not the oldest, US nautical rates for enlisted. 
It ¨was also either the first or one of the first rates to have 'Chief's'
is the US ¨Navy.

Unlike my old rate of 'Data Processing Technician' (DP) which was earlier a
MA ¨(Machine Accountant), this one has been around for a very long time.

The other really old rate, is QM for Quartermaster.  The job has shifted
over ¨time for that one and today it is very much a navigations related
job.  Next up ¨might be 'Master At Arms' but as an actual enlisted man's
rate, its a fairly ¨new one, wierd as that may sound!
                                       xxcarol

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