bowsman

A sailor who works in the bow of a vessel.

Being the savage's bowsman, that is, the person who pulled the bow-oar in his boat (the second one from forward), it was my cheerful duty to attend upon him while taking that hard-scrabble scramble upon the dead whale's back.

An archer.

Whether from natural ailment, or disease engendered by the place he dwelt in, his strength had for many months past ebbed away, till at last he could no longer take his axe from the ingle nook, nor his bow from its crocks over the chimney. The best axeman and best bowsman on Avon side had become helpless as a puling infant.

The Des Moines archery club returned from Chicago a few weeks ago laden with trophies won in a contest with the Chicago bowsmen and bowswomen.