what is a Bosun

[daylight]

love the idea of a pirate wanted to know what a Basun is anyone know ? please help if you can .

[groomporter]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boatswain

[Lady Mikayla of Phoenicia]

I thought the topic was "what is a Bosum"  um um I'll leave now.

[Capt Robertsgrave Thighbiter]

Bosun is a shortening of boat swain. Swain being an archaic term for husband, so bosun is the boats' husband.

Bosun is responsible for the the material of the ship; standing and running rigging, sails, sheets, masts, yards, stays, halyards, and the hundreds of other things needed to sail. The maintainence of same and seeing that they are set up properly.

If the horses need mousing, its the bosuns responsibility.

[Storm]

The Bosun (or Boatswain) was usually the most experienced/best sailor on board the ship. His expert knowledge of the rigging and sails could mean the difference between life and death. The daily maintenance of, and inventory of ships supplies, as it related to to the ship (IE...tar, tallow, sails, tackle, etc) was managed by him. He reported daily to the captain the condition of the ship. He also worked closely with the quartermaster as it pertained to these things. He was the foreman on the deck so to speak. The deck was his when it came to the sailing of the ship. He organized the crew to get things done and carry out the orders of the captain as it pertained to the sailing of the ship. He was also generally considered the 3rd or 4th mate in the pecking order of things. He was only behind the Captain, 1st mate and/or quartermaster (a lot of pirate ships didn't have both 1st mates and quartermasters. They had one or the other. And, generally it was a quartermaster).

The Bosun generally received 1 and 1/4 to 1 and 1/2 a share of any plunder too.

[anne of oaktower]

If the horses need mousing, its the bosuns responsibility.

I understood everything else you said, but...ummm...what exactly does that mean?   

[Capt Robertsgrave Thighbiter]

Horses are the ropes the sailors stood on, while out on the yard, working with the sails.
The horses are below the yards.
A mouse is a small bit of knot work, like a lump ( or mouse) on those ropes, to help the
sailors keep their footing way up there.