Bowsprit \Bow"sprit`\, n. [Bow + sprit; akin to D. boegspriet; boeg bow of a ship + spriet, E. sprit, also Sw. bogspr["o]t, G. bugspriet.]

(Naut.) A large boom or spar, which projects over the stem of a ship or other vessel, to carry sail forward.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)