bowsprit

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

bowsprit
    n 1: a spar projecting from the bow of a vessel

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

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.
   [1913 Webster]