cox·swain I. noun alsocock·swain\ˈkäksən also -ˌswān\ (-s) Etymology: Middle English cokswayne, from cok, a kind of boat + swayne servant — more at cock, swain 1.: a sailor who has charge of a ship's boat and its crew and who usually steers 2.: a steersman of a racing shell who usually directs the crew II. verb (-ed/-ing/-s) transitive verb : to steer or direct as coxswain intransitive verb : to act as coxswain