Boatswain is the seniormost rate of the deck department. Boatswain or bosun may also refer to: Occupations Boatswain's mate (United States Navy), a job classification in the United States Navy Boatswain's mate (United States Coast Guard), a job classification in the United States Coast Guard Boatswain, a position on yacht racing crews Boatswain, the highest petty officer in Sea Scouting Animals Boatswain (bird), any species of gull of the genus Stercorarius Boatswain Bird Island, a small uninhabited island and nature reserve home to many endemic species of bird off the coast of Ascension Island Equipment Bosun, the NATO reporting name for the Soviet Tupolev Tu-14 bomber Bosun (dinghy), a type of sailing dinghy Bosun's chair, a type of harness that allows a crewmember to climb into the rigging and work safely on the sails, halyards, or other rigging Boatswain's call, a pipe or whistle used to issue commands on board ship The arts The Boatswain, a minor character in Shakespeare's The Tempest Boatswain, a Newfoundland dog kept by Lord Byron, who honored him by the poem "Epitaph to a Dog" Surname Jacqueline Boatswain (born 1962), English actress Quinton Boatswain (born 1990), Montserratian cricketer