Word for boarding a ship

Please enjoy this nautical glossary of sailing terms. Some are ones that we use in everyday language — now you can know the origins.

Sailing Terms starting with …

• A
• B
• C
• D
• E
• F
• G
• H
• I
• J
• K
• L
• M
• N
• O
• P
• Q
• R
• S
• T
• U
• W
• Y

A

Above board

On or above the deck, in plain view, not hiding anything.

Abaft

Toward the stern, relative to some object («abaft the fore hatch»).

Abaft the beam

A relative bearing of greater than 90 degrees from the bow. e.g. «two points abaft the port beam.»

Abandon Ship

An imperative to leave the vessel immediately, usually in the face of some imminent danger.

Abeam

«On the beam», a relative bearing at right angles to the centerline of the ship’s keel.

Aboard

On or in a vessel. Close aboard means near a ship.

Accommodation ladder

A portable flight of steps down a ship’s side.

Admiral

Senior naval officer of Flag rank. In ascending order of seniority, Rear Admiral, Vice Admiral, Admiral and Admiral of the Fleet (Royal Navy). Derivation reputedly Arabic, from «Emir al Bath» («Ruler of the waters»).

Admiralty law

Body of law that deals with maritime cases. In UK administered by the Probate, Divorce and Admiralty Division of the High Court of Justice.

Adrift

Afloat and unattached in any way to the shore or seabed. It may also imply that a vessel is not anchored and not under control, therefore goes where the wind and current take her, (loose from moorings, or out of place). Also refers to any gear not fastened down or put away properly. It can also be used to mean «absent without leave».

Aft

Towards the stern (of the vessel).

Aground

Resting on or touching the ground or bottom.

Ahead

Forward of the bow.

Ahoy

A cry to draw attention. Term used to hail a boat or a ship, as «Boat ahoy!».

Aid to Navigation

(ATON) Any device external to a vessel or aircraft specifically intended to assist navigators in determining their position or safe course, or to warn them of dangers or obstructions to navigation.

All hands

Entire ship’s company, both officers and enlisted personnel.

Aloft

Above the ship’s uppermost solid structure; overhead or high above.

Alongside

By the side of a ship or pier.

Amidships (or midships)

In the middle portion of ship, along the line of the keel.

Anchor

An object designed to prevent or slow the drift of a ship, attached to the ship by a line or chain; typically a metal, hook like, object designed to grip the bottom under the body of water.

Anchorage

A suitable place for a ship to anchor. Area of a port or harbor.

Anchor’s aweigh

Said of an anchor when just clear of the bottom.

Anchor ball

Black shape hoisted in forepart of a ship to show that ship is anchored in a fairway.

Anchor buoy

A small buoy secured by a light line to anchor to indicate position of anchor on bottom.

Anchor chain or cable

Chain connecting the ship to the anchor.

Anchor detail

Group of men who handle ground tackle when the ship is anchoring or getting underway.

Anchor light

White light displayed by a ship at anchor. Two such lights are displayed by a ship over 150 feet (46 m) in length.

Anchor watch

Making sure that the anchor is holding and the vessel is not drifting. Important during rough weather and at night. Most marine GPS units have an Anchor Watch alarm capability.

Armament

A ship’s weapons.

Ashore

On the beach, shore or land.

Astern

Toward the stern; an object or vessel that is abaft another vessel or object.

Asylum Harbor

A harbor used to provide shelter from a storm.

ASW

Anti-submarine warfare.

Athwart, athwartships

At right angles to the fore and aft or centerline of a ship.

ATON

See Aid to Navigation above and associated image.

Avast

Stop! Cease or desist from whatever is being done.

Awash

So low in the water that the water is constantly washing across the surface.

Aweigh

Position of an anchor just clear of the bottom.

Aye, aye

Reply to an order or command to indicate that it, firstly, is heard; and, secondly, is understood and will be carried out. («Aye, aye, sir» to officers).

Azimuth compass

An instrument employed for ascertaining position of the sun with respect to magnetic north. The azimuth of an object is its bearing from the observer measured as an angle clockwise from true north.

Azimuth circle

Instrument used to take bearings of celestial objects.

B — [Back to top]

Back and fill

To use the advantage of the tide being with you when the wind is not.

Backstays

Long lines or cables, reaching from the rear of the vessel to the mast heads, used to support the mast.

Baggywrinkle

A soft covering for cables (or any other obstructions) that prevents sail chafing from occurring.

Bank (sea floor)

A large area of elevated sea floor.

Banyan

Traditional Royal Navy term for a day or shorter period of rest and relaxation.

Bar

Large mass of sand or earth, formed by the surge of the sea. They are mostly found at the entrances of great rivers or havens, and often render navigation extremely dangerous, but confer tranquility once inside. See also: Touch and go, grounding. Alfred Lord Tennyson’s poem ‘Crossing the bar’ an allegory for death.

Barrelman

A sailor that was stationed in the crow’s nest.

Bar pilot

A bar pilot guides ships over the dangerous sandbars at the mouth of rivers and bays.

Beacon

A lighted or unlighted fixed aid to navigation attached directly to the earth’s surface. (Lights and daybeacons both constitute beacons).

Beam

The beam of a ship is its width at the widest point, or a point alongside the ship at the mid-point of its length.

Beam ends

The sides of a ship. «On her beam ends» may mean the vessel is literally on her side and possibly about to capsize; more often, the phrase means the vessel is listing 45 degrees or more.

Bear away

Turn away from the wind, often with reference to a transit.

Bear down

Turn away from the wind, often with reference to a transit.

Bearing

The horizontal direction of a line of sight between two objects on the surface of the earth.

Before the mast

Literally, the area of a ship before the foremast (the forecastle). Most often used to describe men whose living quarters are located here, officers being housed behind (abaft) the mast and enlisted men before the mast. This was because the midships area where the officers were berthed is more stable, being closer to the center of gravity, and thus more comfortable. It is less subject to the up and down movement resulting from the ship’s pitching.

Belaying pins

Bars of iron or hard wood to which running rigging may be secured, or belayed.

Berth

A bed on a boat, or a space in a port or harbour where a vessel can be tied up.

Best bower (anchor)

The larger of two anchors carried in the bow; so named as it was the last, best hope.

Bilge

The bilge is the compartment at the bottom of the hull of a ship or boat where water collects so that it may be pumped out of the vessel at a later time.

Bilged on her anchor

A ship that has run upon her own anchor.

Bimini

Weather-resistant fabric stretched over a stainless steel frame, fastened above the cockpit of a sailboat or flybridge of a power yacht which serves as a rain or sun shade.

Bimmy

A punitive instrument.

Binnacle

The stand on which the ship’s compass is mounted.

Binnacle list

A ship’s sick list. The list of men unable to report for duty was given to the officer or mate of the watch by the ship’s surgeon. The list was kept at the binnacle.

Bitt, plural Bitts

Posts mounted on the ship’s bow, merely comprising two wooden uprights supporting a crossbar, for fastening ropes or cables; also used on various ships to tie boys over for painful (posterior) discipline, more informally than kissing the gunner’s daughter.

Bitter end

The anchor cable is tied to the bitts, when the cable is fully paid out, the bitter end has been reached. The last part of a rope or cable.

Bloody

An intensive derived from the substantive ‘blood’, a name applied to the Bucks, Scrowers, and Mohocks of the seventeenth centuries.

Blue Peter

A blue and white flag hoisted at the foretrucks of ships about to sail.

Boat

A craft or vessel designed to float on, and provide transport over, water.

Boatswain or bosun

A non-commissioned officer responsible for the sails, ropes and boats on a ship who issues «piped» commands to seamen.

Bollard

From «bol» or «bole», the round trunk of a tree. A substantial vertical pillar to which lines may be made fast. Generally on the quayside rather than the ship.

Booby

A type of bird that has little fear and therefore is particularly easy to catch, hence booby prize.

Booby hatch

A sliding hatch or cover.

Boom

A spar used to extend the foot of a for-and-aft sail.

Booms

Masts or yards, lying on board in reserve.

Boom vang (vang)

A sail control that lets one apply downward tension on the boom, countering the upward tension provided by the mainsail. The boom vang adds an element of control to mainsail shape when the mainsheet is let out enough that it no longer pulls the boom down. Boom vang tension helps control leech twist, a primary component of sail power.

Bottomry

Pledging a ship as security in a financial transaction.

Buoy

A floating object of defined shape and color, which is anchored at a given position and serves as an aid to navigation.

Bow

The front of a ship.

Bow-chaser, chase or chase-piece

A long gun with a relatively small bore, placed in the bow-port to fire directly ahead. Used especially while chasing an enemy vessel to damage its sails and rigging. (quoted from A Sea of Words).

Bowline

A type of knot, producing a strong loop of a fixed size, topologically similar to a sheet bend. Also a rope attached to the side of a sail to pull it towards the bow (for keeping the windward edge of the sail steady).

Bowse

To pull or hoist.

Bowsprit

A spar projecting from the bow used as an anchor for the forestay and other rigging.

Brail

To furl or truss a sail by pulling it in towards the mast, or the ropes used to do so.

Brass monkeys or brass monkey weather

Very cold weather, origin from the cannon balls being stored on a wheeled platform (monkey) made of brass. If the weather was so cold as to cause cannon balls to fall off the brass monkey due to different shrinkage rates of the dissimilar metals it was termed to be cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey.

Bridge

A structure above the weather deck, extending the full width of the vessel, which houses a command centre, itself called by association, the bridge.

Bring to

Cause a ship to be stationary by arranging the sails.

Broaching-to

A sudden movement in navigation, when the ship, while scudding before the wind, accidentally turns her leeward side to windward, also use to describe the point when water starts to come over the gunwhale due to this turn.

Buffer

The chief bosun’s mate (in the Royal Navy), responsible for discipline.

Bulkhead

An upright wall within the hull of a ship. Particularly a load bearing wall.

Bulwark

The extension of the ship’s side above the level of the weather deck.

Bumboat

A private boat selling goods.

Bumpkin

An iron bar (projecting out-board from a ship’s side) to which the lower and topsail brace blocks are sometimes hooked. Chains supporting/stabilising the bowsprit.

Buntline

One of the lines tied to the bottom of a square sail and used to haul it up to the yard when furling.

Bunting Tosser

A signalman who prepares and flies flag hoists. Also known in the American Navy as a skivvy waver.

Buoyed Up

Lifted by a buoy, especially a cable that has been lifted to prevent it from trailing on the bottom.

By and Large

By means into the wind, while large means with the wind. By and large is used to indicate all possible situations «the ship handles well both by and large».

By the board

Anything that has gone overboard.

C — [Back to top]

Cabin

an enclosed room on a deck or flat.

Cabin boy

attendant on passengers and crew.

Cable

A large rope; also a measure of length or distance. Equivalent to (UK) 1/10 nautical mile, approx. 600 feet; (USA) 120 fathoms, 720 feet (219 m); other countries use different values.

Canister

a type of anti personnel cannon load in which lead balls or other loose metallic items were enclosed in a tin or iron shell. On firing the shell would disintegrate releasing the smaller metal objects.

Cape Horn fever

The name of the fake illness a malingerer is pretending to suffer from.

Capsize

When a ship or boat lists too far and rolls over, exposing the keel. On large vessels, this often results in the sinking of the ship.

Capstan

A huge rotating hub (wheel) mounted vertically and provided with horizontal holes to take up the capstan bars (when manually rotated), used to wind in anchors or other heavy objects; and sometimes to administer flogging over.

Captain’s daughter

The cat o’ nine tails, which in principle is only used on board on the captain’s (or a court martial’s) personal orders.

Careening

Cause the ship to tilt on its side, usually to clean or repair the hull below the water line.

Cat

1. To prepare an anchor, after raising it by lifting it with a tackle to the Cat Head, prior to securing (fishing) it alongside for sea. (An anchor raised to the Cat Head is said to be catted).
2. The Cat o’ Nine Tails (see below).
3. A cat-rigged boat or catboat.

Catamaran

A vessel with two hulls.

Catboat

A cat-rigged vessel with only one sail, usually on a gaff.

Cat o’ nine tails

A short nine-tailed whip kept by the bosun’s mate to flog sailors (and soldiers in the Army). When not in use, the cat was kept in a baize bag, hence the term «cat out of the bag». «Not enough room to swing a cat» also derives from this.

Cat Head

A beam extending out from the hull used to support an anchor when raised in order to secure or «fish» it.

Centreboard

A removable keel used to resist leeway.

Chafing

Wear on line or sail caused by constant rubbing against another surface.

Chafing Gear

Material applied to a line or spar to prevent or reduce chafing. See Baggywrinkle.

Chain shot

Cannon balls linked with chain used to damage rigging and masts.

Chain-wale or channel

A broad, thick plank that projects horizontally from each of a ship’s sides abreast a mast, distinguished as the fore, main, or mizzen channel accordingly, serving to extend the base for the shrouds, which supports the mast.

Chase guns

Cannons mounted on the bow or stern. Those on the bow could be used to fire upon a ship ahead, while those on the rear could be used to ward off pursuing vessels.

Chine

A relatively sharp angle in the hull, as compared to the rounded bottoms of most traditional boat hulls.

Chock-a-block

Rigging blocks that are so tight against one another that they cannot be further tightened.

Civil Red Ensign

The British Naval Ensign or Flag of the British Merchant Navy, a red flag with the Union Flag in the upper left corner.

Clean bill of health

A certificate issued by a port indicating that the ship carries no infectious diseases.

Clean slate

At the helm, the watch keeper would record details of speed, distances, headings, etc. on a slate. At the beginning of a new watch the slate would be wiped clean.

Cleat

A stationary device used to secure a rope aboard a vessel.

Clew-lines

Used to truss up the clews, the lower corners of square sails.

Club

hauling The ship drops one of its anchors at high speed to turn abruptly. This was sometimes used as a means to get a good firing angle on a pursuing vessel.

Coaming

The raised edge of a hatchway used to help keep out water.

Companionway

A raised and windowed hatchway in the ship’s deck, with a ladder leading below and the hooded entrance-hatch to the main cabins.

Compass

Navigational instrument that revolutionised travel.

Corrector

a device to correct the ship’s compass.

Courses

The mainsail, foresail, and the mizzen.

Coxswain or cockswain

The helmsman or crew member in command of a boat.

As the crow flies

A direct line between two points (which might cross land) which is the way crows travel rather than ships which must go around land.

Crow’s nest

Specifically a masthead constructed with sides and sometimes a roof to shelter the lookouts from the weather, generally by whaling vessels, this term has become a generic term for what is properly called masthead. See masthead.

Cuddy

A small cabin in a boat.

Cunningham

A line invented by Briggs Cunningham, used to control the shape of a sail.

Cut splice

A join between two lines, similar to an eye-splice, where each rope end is joined to the other a short distance along, making an opening which closes under tension.

Cutline

The «valley» between the strands of a rope or cable.

Cut and run

When wanting to make a quick escape, a ship might cut lashings to sails or cables for anchors, causing damage to the rigging, or losing an anchor, but shortening the time needed to make ready by bypassing the proper procedures.

Cut of his jib

The «cut» of a sail refers to its shape. Since this would vary between ships, it could be used both to identify a familiar vessel at a distance, and to judge the possible sailing qualities of an unknown one.

D — [Back to top]

Daggerboard

A type of centerboard that is removed vertically.

Davy Jones (Locker)

An idiom for the bottom of the sea.

Daybeacon

An unlighted fixed structure which is equipped with a dayboard for daytime identification.

Dayboard

The daytime identifier of an aid to navigation presenting one of several standard shapes (square, triangle, rectangle) and colors (red, green, white, orange, yellow, or black).

Deadeye

A round wooden plank which serves a similar purpose to a block in the standing rigging of large sailing vessels.

Deadrise

The design angle between the keel (q.v.) and horizontal.

Decks

the structures forming the approximately horizontal surfaces in the ship’s general structure. Unlike flats, they are a structural part of the ship.

Deck hand

A person whose job involves aiding the deck supervisor in (un)mooring, anchoring, maintenance, and general evolutions on deck.

Deck supervisor

The person in charge of all evolutions and maintenance on deck; sometimes split into two groups: forward deck supervisor, aft deck supervisor.

Deckhead

The under-side of the deck above. Sometimes paneled over to hide the pipe work. This paneling, like that lining the bottom and sides of the holds, is the ceiling.

Derrick

A lifting device composed of one mast or pole and a boom or jib which is hinged freely at the bottom.

Devil seam

The curved seam in the hull planking closest to the waterline when the ship is level. The seam between these two planks, set at a nominal right angle to each other, is the devil seam. This seam is particularly difficult to pay (and caulk) because there is little support in the direction of the compression created during caulking and expansion of the wood when wet. Hence, this seam «works» a lot. A sailor sealing this seam must first cause the ship to list (lean) toward the side opposite of the seam. This allows the sailor access to the seam by hanging below it, «between the Devil and the deep blue sea».

Devil to pay (or Devil to pay, and no pitch hot)

«Paying» the Devil is sealing the devil seam. It is a difficult and unpleasant job (with no resources) because of the shape of the seam (closest to the waterline) and because you are positioned below the natural waterline.

Directional light

A light illuminating a sector or very narrow angle and intended to mark a direction to be followed.

Disrate

To reduce in rank or rating; demote.

Dog watch

A short watch period, generally half the usual time (e.g. a two hour watch between two four hour ones). Such a watch might be included in order to slowly rotate the system over several days for fairness, or to allow both watches to eat their meals at approximately normal times.

Dolphin

A structure consisting of a number of piles driven into the seabed or riverbed in a circular pattern and drawn together with wire rope.

Downhaul

A line used to control either a mobile spar, or the shape of a sail.

Draft

The depth of a ship’s keel below the waterline.

Draught

See draft.

Dressing down

Treating old sails with oil or wax to renew them, or a verbal reprimand.

Driver

The large sail flown from the mizzen gaff.

Driver-mast

The fifth mast of a six-masted barquentine or gaff schooner. It is preceded by the jigger mast and followed by the spanker mast. The sixth mast of the only seven-masted vessel, the gaff schooner Thomas W. Lawson, was normally called the pusher-mast.

Dunnage

Loose packing material used to protect a ship’s cargo from damage during transport. Personal baggage.

E — [Back to top]

Earrings

Small lines, by which the uppermost corners of the largest sails are secured to the yardarms.

Embayed

The condition where a sailing vessel is confined between two capes or headlands, typically where the wind is blowing directly onshore.

Extremis (also known as “in extremis”)

The point under International Rules of the Road (Navigation Rules) at which the privileged (or stand-on) vessel on collision course with a burdened (or give-way) vessel determines it must maneuver to avoid a collision. Prior to extremis, the privileged vessel must maintain course and speed and the burdened vessel must maneuver to avoid collision.

F — [Back to top]

Fathom

A unit of length equal to 6 feet (1.8 m), roughly measured as the distance between a man’s outstretched hands.

Fender

An air or foam filled bumper used in boating to keep boats from banging into docks or each other.

Figurehead

Symbolic image at the head of a traditional sailing ship or early steamer.

Fireship

A ship loaded with flammable materials and explosives and sailed into an enemy port or fleet either already burning or ready to be set alight by its crew (who would then abandon it) in order to collide with and set fire to enemy ships.

First rate

The classification for the largest sailing warships of the 17th through 19th centuries. They had 3 masts, 850+ crew and 100+ guns.

Fish

1. To repair a mast or spar with a fillet of wood.
2. To secure an anchor on the side of the ship for sea (otherwise known as «catting».)

First Lieutenant

In the Royal Navy, the senior lieutenant on board; responsible to the Commander for the domestic affairs of the ship’s company. Also known as ‘Jimmy the One’ or ‘Number One’. Removes his cap when visiting the mess decks as token of respect for the privacy of the crew in those quarters. Officer i/c cables on the forecastle. In the U.S. Navy the senior person in charge of all Deck hands.

First Mate

The Second in command of a ship.

Flag hoist

A number of signal flags strung together to convey a message, e.g. «England expects…».

Flank

The maximum speed of a ship. Faster than «full speed».

Flatback

A Great Lakes slang term for a vessel without any self unloading equipment.

Flemish Coil

A line coiled around itself to neaten the decks or dock.

Flog

To beat, to punish.

Fluke

The wedge-shaped part of an anchor’s arms that digs into the bottom.

Fly by night

A large sail used only for sailing downwind, requiring little attention.

Following sea

Wave or tidal movement going in the same direction as a ship.

Foot

The bottom of a sail.

Footloose

If the foot of a sail is not secured properly, it is footloose, blowing around in the wind.

Footrope

Each yard on a square rigged sailing ship is equipped with a footrope for sailors to stand on while setting or stowing the sails.

Forecastle

A partial deck, above the upper deck and at the head of the vessel; traditionally the sailors living quarters. Pronounced «focsle». The name is derived from the castle fitted to bear archers in time of war.

Founder

To fill with water and sink → Wiktionary.

Fore

Towards the bow (of the vessel).

Forefoot

The lower part of the stem of a ship.

Foremast jack

An enlisted sailor, one who is housed before the foremast.

Forestays

Long lines or cables, reaching from the front of the vessel to the mast heads, used to support the mast.

Freeboard

The height of a ship’s hull (excluding superstructure) above the waterline. The vertical distance from the current waterline to the lowest point on the highest continuous watertight deck. This usually varies from one part to another.

Full and by

Sailing into the wind (by), but not as close-hauled as might be possible, so as to make sure the sails are kept full. This provides a margin for error to avoid being taken aback (a serious risk for square-rigged vessels) in a tricky sea. Figuratively it implies getting on with the job but in a steady, relaxed way, without undue urgency or strain.

Furl

To roll or wrap a sail around the mast or spar to which it is attached.

G — [Back to top]

Gaff

The spar that holds the upper edge of a fore-and-aft or gaff sail. Also a long hook with a sharp point to haul fish in.

Galley

The kitchen of the ship.

Gangplank

A movable bridge used in boarding or leaving a ship at a pier; also known as a «brow».

Garbled

Garbling was the (illegal) practice of mixing cargo with garbage.

Garboard

The strake closest to the keel (from Dutch gaarboard).

Global Positioning System (GPS)

A satellite based radionavigation system providing continuous worldwide coverage. It provides navigation, position, and timing information to air, marine, and land users.

Grapeshot

Small balls of lead fired from a cannon, similar to shotgun shot on a larger scale. Used to hurt people, rather than cause structural damage.

Grog

Watered-down pusser’s rum consisting of half a gill with equal part of water, issued to all seamen over twenty. (CPOs and POs were issued with neat rum) From the British Admiral Vernon who, in 1740, ordered the men’s ration of rum to be watered down. He was called «Old Grogram» because he often wore a grogram coat), and the watered rum came to be called ‘grog’. Often used (illegally) as currency in exchange for favours in quantities prescribed as ‘sippers’ and ‘gulpers’. Additional issues of grog were made on the command ‘splice the mainbrace’ for celebrations or as a reward for performing especially onerous duties. The RN discontinued the practice of issuing rum in 1970. A sailor might repay a colleague for a favour by giving him part or all of his grog ration, ranging from «sippers» (a small amount) via «gulpers» (a larger quantity) to «grounders» (the entire tot).

Groggy

Drunk from having consumed a lot of grog.

Gunner’s daughter

See Kissing the G.’s D.

Gunwhale

Upper edge of the hull.

H — [Back to top]

Halyard or Halliard

Originally, ropes used for hoisting a spar with a sail attached; today, a line used to raise the head of any sail.

Hammock

Canvas sheets, slung from the deckhead in messdecks, in which seamen slept. «Lash up and stow» a piped command to tie up hammocks and stow them (typically) in racks inboard of the ship’s side to protect crew from splinters from shot and provide a ready means of preventing flooding caused by damage.

Hand Bomber

A ship using coal-fired boilers shoveled in by hand.

Hand over fist

To climb steadily upwards, from the motion of a sailor climbing shrouds on a sailing ship (originally «hand over hand»).

Handsomely

With a slow even motion, as when hauling on a line «handsomely.»

Hank

A fastener attached to the luff of the headsail that attaches the headsail to the forestay. Typical designs include a bronze or plastic hook with a spring-operated gate, or a strip of cloth webbing with a snap fastener.

Harbor

A harbor or harbour, or haven, is a place where ships may shelter from the weather or are stored. Harbours can be man-made or natural.

Haul wind

To point the ship so as to be heading in the same direction as the wind, generally not the fastest point of travel on a sailing vessel.

Hawse-hole

A hole in a ship’s bow for a cable or chain, such as for an anchor, to pass through.

Hawsepiper

An informal maritime industry term used to refer to a merchant ship’s officer who began his or her career as an unlicensed merchant seaman and did not attend a traditional maritime college/academy to earn the officer license.

Head

The toilet or latrine of a vessel, which for sailing ships projected from the bows.

Head of navigation

A term used to describe the farthest point above the mouth of a river that can be navigated by ships.

Headsail

Any sail flown in front of the most forward mast.

Heave

A vessel’s transient up-and-down motion.

Heaving to

To stop a sailing vessel by lashing the helm in opposition to the sails. The vessel will gradually drift to leeward, the speed of the drift depending on the vessel’s design.

Heave down

Turn a ship on its side (for cleaning).

Heeling

Heeling is the lean caused by the wind’s force on the sails of a sailing vessel.

Helmsman

A person who steers a ship.

Hogging or hog

The distortion of the hull where the ends of the keel are lower than the center.

Hold

In earlier use, below the orlop deck, the lower part of the interior of a ship’s hull, especially when considered as storage space, as for cargo. In later merchant vessels it extended up through the decks to the underside of the weather deck.

Holiday

A gap in the coverage of newly applied paint, slush, tar or other preservative.

Holystone

A chunk of sandstone used to scrub the decks. The name comes from both the kneeling position sailors adopt to scrub the deck (reminiscent of genuflection for prayer), and the stone itself (which resembled a Bible in shape and size).

Horn

A sound signal which uses electricity or compressed air to vibrate a disc diaphragm.

Horse

Attachment of sheets to deck of vessel (Main-sheet horse).

Hounds

Attachments of stays to masts.

Hull

The shell and framework of the basic flotation-oriented part of a ship.

Hydrofoil

A boat with wing-like foils mounted on struts below the hull.

I — [Back to top]

Icing

A serious hazard where cold temperatures (below about -10°C) combined with high wind speed (typically force 8 or above on the Beaufort scale) result in spray blown off the sea freezing immediately on contact with the ship.

Idlers

Members of a ship’s company not required to serve watches. These were in general specialist tradesmen such as the carpenter and the sailmaker.

In Irons

When the bow of a sailboat is headed into the wind and the boat has stalled and is unable to maneuver.

In the offing

In the water visible from on board a ship, now used to mean something imminent.

Inboard-Outboard drive system

A larger Power Boating alternative drive system to transom mounted outboard motors.

J — [Back to top]

Jack

Either a flag, or a sailor. Typically the flag was talked about as if it were a member of the crew. Strictly speaking, a flag is only a «jack» if it is worn at the jackstaff at the bow of a ship.

Jacklines or Jack Stays

Lines, often steel wire with a plastic jacket, from the bow to the stern on both port and starboard. The Jack Lines are used to clip on the safety harness to secure the crew to the vessel while giving them the freedom to walk on the deck.

Jack Tar

A sailor dressed in ‘square rig’ with square collar. Formerly with a tarred pigtail.

Jib

A triangular staysail at the front of a ship.

Jigger-mast

The fourth mast, although ships with four or more masts were uncommon, or the aft most mast where it is smallest on vessels of less than four masts.

Jollies

Traditional Royal Navy nickname for the Royal Marines.

Junk

Old cordage past its useful service life as lines aboard ship. The strands of old junk were teased apart in the process called picking oakum.

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Killick

A small anchor. A fouled killick is the substantive badge of non-commissioned officers in the RN. Seamen promoted to the first step in the promotion ladder are called «Killick». The badge signifies that here is an Able Seaman skilled to cope with the awkward job of dealing with a fouled anchor.

Keel

The central structural basis of the hull.

Keelhauling

Maritime punishment: to punish by dragging under the keel of a ship.

Kelson

The timber immediately above the keel of a wooden ship.

Kissing the gunner’s daughter

bend over the barrel of a gun for punitive spanking with a cane or cat.

Know the ropes

A sailor who ‘knows the ropes’ is familiar with the miles of cordage and ropes involved in running a ship.

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Ladder

On board a ship, all «stairs» are called ladders, except for literal staircases aboard passenger ships. Most «stairs» on a ship are narrow and nearly vertical, hence the name. Believed to be from the Anglo-Saxon word hiaeder, meaning ladder.

Laker

Great Lakes slang for a vessel who spends all its time on the 5 Great Lakes.

Land lubber

A person unfamiliar with being on the sea.

Lanyard

A rope that ties something off.

Larboard

The left side of the ship (archaic, see port). cf. starboard. Derived from the old ‘lay-board’ providing access between a ship and a quay.

Large

See By and large.

Lateral System

A system of aids to navigation in which characteristics of buoys and beacons indicate the sides of the channel or route relative to a conventional direction of buoyage (usually upstream).

Lay

To come and go, used in giving orders to the crew, such as «lay forward» or «lay aloft». To direct the course of vessel. Also, to twist the strands of a rope together.

Lay down

To lay a ship down is to begin construction in a shipyard.

League

A unit of length, normally equal to three nautical miles.

Leech

The aft or trailing edge of a fore-and-aft sail; the leeward edge of a spinnaker; a vertical edge of a square sail. The leech is susceptible to twist, which is controlled by the boom vang and mainsheet.

Leehelm

If the helm was centered, the boat would turn away from the wind (to the lee). Consequently, the tiller must be pushed to the lee side of the boat in order to make the boat sail in a straight line. See weatherhelm.

Lee side

The side of a ship sheltered from the wind (opposite the weather side or windward side).

Lee shore

A shore downwind of a ship. A ship which cannot sail well to windward risks being blown onto a lee shore and grounded.

Leeway

The angle that a ship is blown leeward by the wind. See also weatherly.

Leeward

In the direction that the wind is blowing towards.

Let go and haul

An order indicating that the ship is in line with the wind.

Letter of marque and reprisal

A warrant granted to a privateer condoning specific acts of piracy against a target as a redress for grievances.

Lifeboat

A small steel or wood boat located near the stern of a vessel. Used to get the crew to safety if something happens to the mothership.

Line

The correct nautical term for the majority of the cordage or «ropes» used on a vessel. A line will always have a more specific name, such as mizzen topsail halyard, which describes its use.

Liner

Ship of The Line: a major warship capable of taking its place in the main (battle) line of fighting ships. Hence modern term for most prestigious passenger vessel: Liner.

List

The vessel’s angle of lean or tilt to one side, in the direction called roll.

Loaded to the gunwales

Literally, having cargo loaded as high as the ship’s rail; also means extremely drunk.

Loggerhead

An iron ball attached to a long handle, used for driving caulking into seams and (occasionally) in a fight. Hence: «at loggerheads».

Lubber’s line

A vertical line inside a compass case indicating the direction of the ship’s head.

Luff

1. The forward edge of a sail.
2. To head a sailing vessel more towards the direction of the wind.

Luffing

1. When a sailing vessel is steered far enough to windward that the sail is no longer completely filled with wind (the luff of the sail is usually where this first becomes evident).
2. Loosening a sheet so far past optimal trim that the sail is no longer completely filled with wind.
3. The flapping of the sail(s) which results from having no wind in the sail at all.

Lying ahull

Waiting out a storm by dousing all sails and simply letting the boat drift.

M — [Back to top]

Mainbrace

The brace attached to the mainmast.

Mainmast (or Main)

The tallest mast on a ship.

Mainsheet

Sail control line that allows the most obvious effect on mainsail trim. Primarily used to control the angle of the boom, and thereby the mainsail, this control can also increase or decrease downward tension on the boom while sailing upwind, significantly affecting sail shape. For more control over downward tension on the boom, use a boom vang.

Man of war

A warship from the age of sail.

Man overboard!

A cry let out when a seaman has gone overboard.

Marina

A docking facility for small ships and yachts.

Marines Soldiers afloat

Royal Marines formed as the Duke of York and Albany’s Maritime Regiment of Foot in 1664 with many and varied duties including providing guard to ship’s officers should there be mutiny aboard. Sometimes thought by seamen to be rather gullible, hence the phrase «tell it to the marines».

Mast

A vertical pole on a ship which supports sails or rigging.

Masthead

A small platform partway up the mast, just above the height of the mast’s main yard. A lookout is stationed here, and men who are working on the main yard will embark from here. See also Crow’s Nest.

Master

Either the commander of commercial vessel, or a senior officer of a naval sailing ship in charge of routine seamanship and navigation but not in command during combat.

Master-at-Arms

A non-commissioned officer responsible for discipline on a naval ship. Standing between the officers and the crew, commonly known in the Royal Navy as «the Buffer».

Matelot

A traditional Royal Navy term for an ordinary sailor.

Mess

An eating place aboard ship. A group of crew who live and feed together.

Mess deck catering

A system of catering in which a standard ration is issued to a mess supplemented by a money allowance which may be used by the mess to buy additional victuals from the pusser’s stores or elsewhere. Each mess was autonomous and self-regulating. Seaman cooks, often members of the mess, prepared the meals and took them, in a tin canteen, to the galley to be cooked by the ship’s cooks. As distinct from «cafeteria messing» where food is issued to the individual hand, which now the general practice.

Midshipman

A non-commissioned officer below the rank of Lieutenant. Usually regarded as being «in training» to some degree. Also known as «Snotty». ‘The lowest form of animal life in the Royal Navy’ where he has authority over and responsibility for more junior ranks, yet, at the same time, relying on their experience and learning his trade from them.

Mizzenmast (or Mizzen)

The third mast on a ship.

Mizzen staysail

Sail on a ketch or yawl, usually lightweight, set from, and forward of, the mizzen mast while reaching in light to moderate air.

Monkey fist

A ball woven out of line used to provide heft to heave the line to another location. The monkey fist and other heaving-line knots were sometimes weighted with lead (easily available in the form of foil used to seal e.g. tea chests from dampness) although Clifford W. Ashley notes that there was a «definite sporting limit» to the weight thus added.

Moor

To attach a boat to a mooring buoy or post. Also, to a dock a ship.

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Navigation rules

Rules of the road that provide guidance on how to avoid collision and also used to assign blame when a collision does occur.

Nipper

Short rope used to bind a cable to the «messenger» (a moving line propelled by the capstan) so that the cable is dragged along too (Used because the cable is too large to be wrapped round the capstan itself). During the raising of an anchor the nippers were attached and detached from the (endless) messenger by the ship’s boys. Hence the term for small boys: «nippers».

No room to swing a cat

The entire ship’s company was expected to witness floggings, assembled on deck. If it was very crowded, the bosun might not have room to swing the «cat o’ nine tails» (the whip).

O — [Back to top]

Oilskin

Foul-weather gear worn by sailors.

Oreboat

Great Lakes Term for a vessel primarily used in the transport of iron ore.

Orlop deck

The lowest deck of a ship of the line. The deck covering in the hold.

Outhaul

A line used to control the shape of a sail.

Outward bound

To leave the safety of port, heading for the open ocean.

Overbear

To sail downwind directly at another ship, stealing the wind from its sails.

Overfall

Dangerously steep and breaking seas due to opposing currents and wind in a shallow area.

Overhaul

Hauling the buntline ropes over the sails to prevent them from chaffing.

Overhead

The «ceiling,» or, essentially, the bottom of the deck above you.

Overreach

When tacking, to hold a course too long.

Over the barrel

Adult sailors were flogged on the back or shoulders while tied to a grating, but boys were beaten instead on the posterior (often bared), with a cane or cat, while bending, often tied down, over the barrel of a gun, known as (kissing) the gunner’s daughter.

Overwhelmed

Capsized or foundered.

Owner

Traditional Royal Navy term for the Captain, a survival from the days when privately-owned ships were often hired for naval service.

Ox-Eye

A cloud or other weather phenomenon that may be indicative of an upcoming storm.

P — [Back to top]

Parrel

A movable loop, used to fasten the yard to its respective mast.

Part brass rags

Fall out with a friend. From the days when cleaning materials were shared between sailors.

Pay

Fill a seam (with caulking or pitch), or to lubricate the running rigging; pay with slush (q.v.), or protect from the weather by covering with slush. See also: The Devil to pay. (French from paix, pitch).

Paymaster

The officer responsible for all money matters in RN ships including the paying and provisioning of the crew, all stores, tools and spare parts. See also: purser.

Pier-head jump

When a sailor is drafted to a warship at the last minute, just before she sails.

Pilot

Navigator. A specially knowledgeable person qualified to navigate a vessel through difficult waters, e.g. harbour pilot etc.

Pipe (Bos’n’s), or a Bos’n’s Call

A whistle used by Boatswains (bosuns or bos’ns) to issue commands. Consisting of a metal tube which directs the breath over an aperture on the top of a hollow ball to produce high pitched notes. The pitch of the notes can be changed by partly covering the aperture with the finger of the hand in which the pipe is held. The shape of the instrument is similar to that of a smoking pipe.

Pipe down

A signal on the bosun’s pipe to signal the end of the day, requiring lights (and smoking pipes) to be extinguished and silence from the crew.

Piping the side

A salute on the bos’n’s pipe(s) performed in the company of the deck watch on the starboard side of the quarterdeck or at the head of the gangway, to welcome or bid farewell to the ship’s Captain, senior officers and honoured visitors.

Pitch

A vessel’s motion, rotating about the beam axis, so the bow pitches up and down.

Pitchpole

To capsize a boat end over end, rather than by rolling over.

Pontoon

A flat-bottomed vessel used as a ferry or a barge or float moored alongside a jetty or a ship to facilitate boarding.

Poop deck

A high deck on the aft superstructure of a ship.

Pooped

1. Swamped by a high, following sea.
2. Exhausted.

Port

Towards the left-hand side of the ship facing forward (formerly Larboard). Denoted with a red light at night.

Press gang

Formed body of personnel from a ship of the Royal Navy (either a ship seeking personnel for its own crew or from a «press tender» seeking men for a number of ships) that would identify and force (press) men, usually merchant sailors into service on naval ships usually against their will.

Preventer (Gybe preventer, Jibe preventer)

A sail control line originating at some point on the boom leading to a fixed point on the boat’s deck or rail (usually a cleat or pad eye) used to prevent or moderate the effects of an accidental jibe.

Privateer

A privately-owned ship authorised by a national power (by means of a Letter of Marque) to conduct hostilities against an enemy. Also called a private man of war.

Propeller walk or prop walk

Tendency for a propeller to push the stern sideways. In theory a right hand propeller in reverse will walk the stern to port.

Prow

A poetical alternative term for bows.

Pusser

Purser, the one who is buys, stores and sells all stores on board ships, including victuals, rum and tobacco. Originally a private merchant, latterly a warrant officer. Also, in modern use, a term for the Navy in general (pussers) or a sailor in particular (a pusser).

Principal Warfare Officer

PWO, one of a number of Warfare branch specialist officers.

Q — [Back to top]

Queen’s (King’s) Regulations

The standing orders governing the Royal Navy of UK issued in the name of the current Monarch.

Quarterdeck

The aftermost deck of a warship. In the age of sail, the quarterdeck was the preserve of the ship’s officers.

Quayside

Refers to the dock or platform used to fasten a vessel to.

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Radar

Acronym for RAdio Detection And Ranging. An electronic system designed to transmit radio signals and receive reflected images of those signals from a «target» in order to determine the bearing and distance to the «target».

Radar reflector

A special fixture fitted to a vessel or incorporated into the design of certain aids to navigation to enhance their ability to reflect radar energy. In general, these fixtures will materially improve the visibility for use by vessels with radar.

Range lights

Two lights associated to form a range (a line formed by the extension of a line connecting two charted points) which often, but not necessarily, indicates the channel centerline. The front range light is the lower of the two, and nearer to the mariner using the range. The rear light is higher and further from the mariner.

Ratlines

Rope ladders permanently rigged from bulwarks and tops to the mast to enable access to top masts and yards. Also serve to provide lateral stability to the masts.

Reach

A point of sail from about 60° to about 160° off the wind. Reaching consists of «close reaching» (about 60° to 80°), «beam reaching» (about 90°) and «broad reaching» (about 120° to 160°).

Red Duster

Traditional nickname for the Civil Red Ensign.

Reduced cat

A light version on the cat o’nine tails for use on boys; also called «boys’ pussy».

Reef

1. Reef: To temporarily reduce the area of a sail exposed to the wind, usually to guard against adverse effects of strong wind or to slow the vessel.
2. Reef: Rock or coral, possibly only revealed at low tide, shallow enough that the vessel will at least touch if not go aground.

Reef points

Small lengths of cord attached to a sail, used to secure the excess fabric after reefing.

Reef-bands

Long pieces of rough canvas sewed across the sails to give them additional strength.

Reef-tackles

Ropes employed in the operation of reefing.

Rigging

The system of masts and lines on ships and other sailing vessels.

Righting couple

The force which tends to restore a ship to equilibrium once a heel has altered the relationship between her centre of buoyancy and her centre of gravity.

Rigol

The rim or ‘eyebrow’ above a port-hole or scuttle.

Roll

A vessel’s motion rotating from side to side, about the fore-aft axis. List (qv) is a lasting tilt in the roll direction.

Rolling-tackle

A number of pulleys, engaged to confine the yard to the weather side of the mast; this tackle is much used in a rough sea.

The Ropes

Refers to the lines in the rigging.

Rope’s end

A summary punishment device.

Rummage sale

A sale of damaged cargo (from French arrimage).

Running rigging

Rigging used to manipulate sails, spars, etc. in order to control the movement of the ship. Cf. standing rigging.

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Sagging

When a trough of a wave is amidship.

Sail-plan

A set of drawings showing various sail combinations recommended for use in various situations.

Sailing Certification

An acknowledgement of a sailing competence from an established sailing educational body (like NauticEd).

Saltie

Great Lakes term for a vessel that sails the oceans.

Sampson post

A strong vertical post used to support a ship’s windlass and the heel of a ship’s bowsprit.

Scandalize

To reduce the area of a sail by expedient means (slacking the peak and tricing up the tack) without properly reefing it.

Scud

A name given by sailors to the lowest clouds, which are mostly observed in squally weather.

Scudding

A term applied to a vessel when carried furiously along by a tempest.

Scuppers

An opening on the side rail that allows water to run off the deck.

Scuttle

A small opening, or lid thereof, in a ship’s deck or hull. To cut a hole in, or sink something.

Scuttlebutt

A barrel with a hole in used to hold water that sailors would drink from. Also: gossip.

Sea anchor

A stabilizer deployed in the water for heaving to in heavy weather. It acts as a brake and keeps the hull in line with the wind and perpendicular to waves.

Sea chest

A valve on the hull of the ship to allow water in for ballast purposes.

Seaman

Generic term for sailor, or (part of) a low naval rank.

Seaworthy

Certified for, and capable of, safely sailing at sea.

Self-Unloader

Great Lakes slang term for a vessel with a conveyor or some other method of unloading the cargo without shoreside equipment.

Sennet whip

A summary punitive implement.

Shakes

Pieces of barrels or casks broken down to save space. They are worth very little, leading to the phrase «no great shakes».

Sheer

The upward curve of a vessel’s longitudinal lines as viewed from the side.

Sheet

A rope used to control the setting of a sail in relation to the direction of the wind.

Ship

Strictly, a three-masted vessel square-rigged on all three masts, though generally used to describe most medium or large vessels. Derived from the Anglo-Saxon word «scip».

Ship’s bell

Striking the ship’s bell is the traditional method of marking time and regulating the crew’s watches.

Ship’s company

The crew of a ship.

Shoal

Shallow water that is a hazard to navigation.

Shrouds

Standing rigging running from a mast to the sides of a ships.

Sick bay

The compartment reserved for medical purposes.

Siren

A sound signal which uses electricity or compressed air to actuate either a disc or a cup shaped rotor.

Skipper

The captain of a ship.

Skysail

A sail set very high, above the royals. Only carried by a few ships.

Skyscraper

A small, triangular sail, above the skysail. Used in light winds on a few ships.

Slop chest

A ship’s store of merchandise, such as clothing, tobacco, etc., maintained aboard merchant ships for sale to the crew.

Slush

Greasy substance obtained by boiling or scraping the fat from empty salted meat storage barrels, or the floating fat residue after boiling the crew’s meal. In the Royal Navy the perquisite of the cook who could sell it or exchange it (usually for alcohol) with other members of the crew. Used for greasing parts of the running rigging of the ship and therefore valuable to the master and bosun.

Slush fund

The money obtained by the cook selling slush ashore. Used for the benefit of the crew (or the cook).

Small bower (anchor)

The smaller of two anchors carried in the bow.

Son of a gun

The space between the guns was used as a semi-private place for trysts with prostitutes and wives, which sometimes led to birth of children with disputed parentage. Another claim is that the origin the term resulted from firing a ship’s guns to hasten a difficult birth.

Sonar

A sound-based device used to detect and range underwater targets and obstacles. Formerly known as ASDIC.

Spanker

A fore-and-aft or gaff-rigged sail on the aft-most mast of a square-rigged vessel and the main fore-and-aft sail (spanker sail) on the aft-most mast of a (partially) fore-and-aft rigged vessel such as a schooner, a barquentine, and a barque.

Spanker-mast

The aft-most mast of a fore-and-aft or gaff-rigged vessel such as schooners, barquentines, and barques. A full-rigged ship has a spanker sail but not a spanker-mast (see Jigger-mast).

Spar

A wooden, in later years also iron or steel pole used to support various pieces of rigging and sails. The big five-masted full-rigged tall ship Preussen (German spelling: Preußen) had crossed 30 steel yards, but only one wooden spar — the little gaff of its spanker sail.

Spindrift

Finely-divided water swept from crest of waves by strong winds.

Spinnaker

A large sail flown in front of the vessel while heading downwind.

Spinnaker pole

A spar used to help control a spinnaker or other headsail.

Splice

To join lines (ropes, cables etc.) by unravelling their ends and intertwining them to form a continuous line. To form an eye or a knot by splicing.

Square meal

A sufficient quantity of food. Meals on board ship were served to the crew on a square wooden plate in harbor or at sea in good weather. Food in the Royal Navy was invariably better or at least in greater quantity than that available to the average landsman. However, while square wooden plates were indeed used on board ship, there is no established link between them and this particular term. The OED gives the earliest reference from the U.S. in the mid 19th century.

Squared away

Yards held rigidly perpendicular to their masts and parallel to the deck. This was rarely the best trim of the yards for efficiency but made a pretty sight for inspections and in harbor. The term is applied to situations and to people figuratively to mean that all difficulties have been resolved or that the person is performing well and is mentally and physically prepared.

Squat effect

Is the phenomenon by which a vessel moving quickly through shallow water creates an area of lowered pressure under its keel that reduces the ship’s buoyancy, particularly at the bow. The reduced buoyancy causes the ship to «squat» lower in the water than would ordinarily be expected.

Standing rigging

Rigging which is used to support masts and spars, and is not normally manipulated during normal operations. Cf. running rigging.

Starboard

Towards the right-hand side of a vessel facing forward. Denoted with a green light at night. Derived from the old steering oar or ‘steerboard’ which preceded the invention of the rudder.

Starter

A rope used as a punitive device. See teazer, togey.

Stay

Rigging running fore (forestay) and aft (backstay) from a mast to the hull.

Staysail

A sail whose luff is attached to a forestay.

Steering oar or steering board

A long, flat board or oar that went from the stern to well underwater, used to control the vessel in the absence of a rudder.

Stem

The extension of keel at the forward of a ship.

Stern

The rear part of a ship, technically defined as the area built up over the sternpost, extending upwards from the counter to the taffrail.

Stern tube

The tube under the hull to bear the tailshaft for propulsion (usually at stern).

Stonnacky

A punitive device.

Strake

One of the overlapping boards in a clinker built hull.

Studding-sails (pronounced «stunsail»)

Long and narrow sails, used only in fine weather, on the outside of the large square sails.

Surge

A vessel’s transient motion in a fore and aft direction.

Sway

A vessel’s motion from side to side. Also used as a verb meaning to hoist. «Sway up my dunnage.»

Swigging

To take up the last bit of slack on a line such as a halyard, anchor line or dockline by taking a single turn round a cleat and alternately heaving on the rope above and below the cleat while keeping the tension on the tail.

Swinging the compass

Measuring the accuracy in a ship’s magnetic compass so its readings can be adjusted – often by turning the ship and taking bearings on reference points.

Swinging the lamp

Telling sea stories. Referring to lamps slung from the deckhead which swing while at sea. Often used to indicate that the story teller is exaggerating.

Swinging the lead

Measuring the depth of water beneath a ship using a lead-weighted sounding line. A sailor who was feigning illness etc to avoid a hard job was said to be «swinging the lead».

T — [Back to top]

Tailshaft

A kind of metallic shafting (a rod of metal) to hold the propeller and connected to the power engine. When the tailshaft is moved, the propeller may also be moved for propulsion.

Taken aback

An inattentive helmsmen might allow the dangerous situation to arise where the wind is blowing into the sails «backwards», causing a sudden (and possibly dangerous) shift in the position of the sails.

Taking the wind out of his sails

To sail in a way that steals the wind from another ship. cf. overbear.

Tally

The operation of hauling aft the sheets, or drawing them in the direction of the ship’s stern.

Teazer

A rope used as a punitive device.

Three sheets to the wind

On a three-masted ship, having the sheets of the three lower courses loose will result in the ship meandering aimlessly downwind. Also, a sailor who has drunk strong spirits beyond his capacity.

Timoneer

From the French timonnier, is a name given, on particular occasions, to the steersman of a ship.

Toe the line or Toe the mark

At parade, sailors and soldiers were required to stand in line, their toes in line with a seam of the deck.

Togey

A rope used as a punitive device.

Topmast

The second section of the mast above the deck; formerly the upper mast, later surmounted by the topgallant mast; carrying the topsails.

Topgallant

The mast or sails above the tops.

Topsail

The second sail (counting from the bottom) up a mast. These may be either square sails or fore-and-aft ones, in which case they often «fill in» between the mast and the gaff of the sail below.

Topsides

The part of the hull between the waterline and the deck. Also, Above-water hull.

Touch and go

The bottom of the ship touching the bottom, but not grounding.

Towing

The operation of drawing a vessel forward by means of long lines.

TrackLink

NauticEds GPS Tracking App for students logbooks.

Travellers

Small fittings that slide on a rod or line. The most common use is for the inboard end of the mainsheet; a more esoteric form of traveller consists of «slight iron rings, encircling the backstays, which are used for hoisting the top-gallant yards, and confining them to the backstays».

Traffic Separation Scheme

Shipping corridors marked by buoys which separate incoming from outgoing vessels. Improperly called Sea Lanes.

Transom

A more or less flat surface across the stern of a vessel.

Trick

A period of time spent at the wheel («my trick’s over»).

Trim

Relationship of ship’s hull to waterline.

Turtling

When a sailboat (in particular a dinghy) capsizes to a point where the mast is pointed straight down and the hull is on the surface resembling a turtle shell.

U — [Back to top]

Under the weather

Serving a watch on the weather side of the ship, exposed to wind and spray.

Under way

A vessel that is not at anchor, or made fast to the shore, or aground.

Underwater hull or underwater ship

The underwater section of a vessel beneath the waterline, normally not visible except when in drydock.

Upper-yardmen

Specially selected personnel destined for high office.

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Vanishing angle

The maximum degree of heel after which a vessel becomes unable to return to an upright position.

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Wake

Turbulence behind a ship.

Wales

A number of strong and thick planks running length-wise along the ship, covering the lower part of the ship’s side.

Watch

A period of time during which a part of the crew is on duty. Changes of watch are marked by strokes on the ship’s bell.

Watercraft

Water transport vessels. Ships, boats, personal water craft.

Weather gage

Favorable position over another sailing vessel to with respect to the wind.

Weatherhelm

If the helm was centered, the boat would turn towards the wind (weather). Consequently, the tiller must be pulled to the windward side of the boat in order to make the boat sail in a straight line. See leehelm.

Weather deck

Whichever deck is that exposed to the weather – usually either the main deck or, in larger vessels, the upper deck.

Weather side

The weather side of a ship is the side exposed to the wind.

Weatherly

A ship that is easily sailed and maneuvered; makes little leeway when sailing to windward.

Weigh anchor

To heave up (an anchor) preparatory to sailing.

Wells

Places in the ship’s hold for the pumps.

White Horses

Waves in wind strong enough to produce foam or spray on the wave tops.

Wheelhouse

Location on a ship where the steering wheel is located, often interchanged with pilothouse and bridge.

Wide berth

To leave room between two ships moored (berthed) to allow space for maneuver.

Windage

Wind resistance of the boat.

Windbound

A condition wherein the ship is detained in one particular station by contrary winds.

Windward

In the direction that the wind is coming from.

Windlass

A winch mechanism, usually with a horizontal axis. Used where mechanical advantage greater than that obtainable by block and tackle was needed (such as raising the anchor on small ships). Modern sailboats use an electric «Windlass» to raise the anchor.

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Yard

The horizontal spar from which a square sail is suspended.

Yardarm

The very end of a yard. Often mistaken for a «yard», which refers to the entire spar. As in to hang «from the yardarm» and the sun being «over the yardarm» (late enough to have a drink).

Yarr

Acknowledgement of an order, or agreement.

Yaw

A vessel’s motion rotating about the vertical axis, so the bow yaws from side to side.

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