conn
The duty of directing a ship, usually used with the verb to have or to take and accompanied by the article "the."
Noun
- The duty of directing a ship, usually used with the verb to have or to take and accompanied by the article "the."
- The officer of the deck has the conn of the vessel; the captain took the conn when he reached the bridge.
Origin
Variant of cond, from Middle English conduen, condien, from Anglo-Norman conduire, from Latin condūcō (“lead, bring or draw together”), from con- (“with, together”) + dūcō (“lead”). Doublet of conduce.
Forms
Derived
Verb
- To direct a ship; to superintend the steering of (a vessel); to watch the course of (a vessel) and direct the helmsman how to steer (especially through a channel, etc, rather than steer a compass direction).
- The pilot conned the ship safely into the harbor.
- “Ay,” says I, “you’ll allow me to steer, that is, hold the helm, but you’ll conn the ship, as they call it; that is, as at sea, a boy serves to stand at the helm, but he that gives him the orders is pilot.” - 1724,...