Table of Contents

- Preface

- A

- B

- C

- D

- E

- F

- G

- H

- I

- J

- K

- L

- M

- N

- O

- P

- Q

- R

- S

- T

- U

- V

- W

- Y

- Z

Preface

The definitions given here are specific to their use in the old documents on the Fateful Voyage website and many are therefore incomplete as other meanings are omitted. For example, 'stout' is defined as 'stalwart, dependable.' It obviously has other meanings, and the meaning given is no longer much used, but that is how Bligh uses it. The nautical terms are specific to the 18th century, however many if not most have retained their meaning to the present day.

Order

Multi word entries are alphabetized by the first word: 'on the bow' will be found under O. There are links to the phrase under other significant words, in this case under 'bow'.

Links

Entries in the glossary are interlinked, however, only the first use of a term in an entry is linked. Terms whose entry is in close proximity are not linked.

There is a code page for every letter of the alphabet that has entries. All entries on the code page are listed at the top, clicking there will take you to the page it's on. Clicking the defined word for any entry will take you back to the top of the code page. There are links to all pages at the top and bottom of each code page.

Sources

My four main sources were Wiktionary, The Free Dictionary, Bowditch, and Falconer. Definitions for which no source is given either come from my own knowledge or have been pieced them together from multiple sources.

- A: Answers.com (http://www.answers.com/)

- B: The American Practical Navigator, Nathaniel Bowditch, 1780

- BQ:; Brainy Quote (http://www.brainyquote.com/)

- D: Dictionary.com (http://dictionary.reference.com/)

- d: define.com (http://define.com/)

- E: Encyclopedia.com (http://www.encyclopedia.com/)

- F: William Falconer's Dictionary of the Marine (http://southseas.nla.gov.au/refs/falc/title.html)

- GB: Google Books (http://books.google.com/)

- GS: Global Security.org (http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/sail.htm)

- JOLC: Junior Officer Leadership Course - Sea (Canada)

(http://cms.cadets.gc.ca/rcis/atl/content-contenu.aspx?id=21531&terms=junior+officer+leadership+course)

- MW: Mirriam-Webster (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/)

- PISC: Pitcairn Island Study Center (http://library.puc.edu/pitcairn/index.shtml)

- ST: SeaTalk (http://www.seatalk.info/)

- SB: The Ship-Builders Assistant, London, 1740

- TFD: The Free Dictionary (http://www.thefreedictionary.com/)

- TS: Text-Book of Seamanship, S. B. Luce, 1891

- W: Wiktionary (http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Wiktionary:Main_Page)

- w: wordnik (http://www.wordnik.com/)

- W13: Webster's Dictionary (1913)

- WN: WordNet (http://wordnet.princeton.edu/)

- WP: Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page)

A

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

aback, abaft, abeam, able seaman, AB, Ab, aboard, about, abreast, acorn, admiral, Admiralty, adrift, afloat, afore, aft, after, after the fair, aftersails, aground, ahead, ahull, alee, all in the wind, aloft, alongside, aloof, amai, amain, amidships, an end, anchor, anchor ground, anker, apeak, armourer, arrack, arii, ashore, astern, athwart, athwart hawse, athwartships, athwart the fore foot, atrip, ava, avast, auger, aweigh, awning, azimuth, azimuth compass,

aback

W: Backward against the mast; said of the sails when pressed by the wind from the "wrong" (forward) side.

F: the situation of the sails when their surfaces are slatted against the masts by the force of the wind. The sails are said to be taken aback, when they are brought into this situation, either by a sudden change of the wind, or by an alteration in the ship's course. They are laid aback, to effect an immediate retreat, without turning to the right or left; or, in the sea phrase, to give the ship sternway, in order to avoid some danger discovered before her in a narrow channel; or when she has advanced beyond her station in the line of battle, or otherwise. The sails are placed in this position by slackening their lee braces, and hauling in the weather ones; so that the whole effort of the wind is exerted on the forepart of their surface, which readily pushes the ship astern, unless she is restrained by some counteracting force.

taken aback

abaft

W: Behind; toward the stern relative to some other object or position; aft of

F: the hinder part of a ship, or all those parts both within and without, which lie towards the stern, in opposition to afore. Abaft is also used as a preposition, and signifies further aft, or nearer the stern; as, the barricade stands abaft the mainmast, i. e. behind it, or nearer the stern.

abeam

W: On the beam; at a right angle to the centerline or keel of a vessel; being at a bearing approximately 090 Degrees or 270 Degrees relative.

able seaman, AB, Ab

WP: a seaman with at least two years' experience at sea. Seamen with less experience were referred to as landmen or ordinary seamen. Also able-bodied seaman.

aboard

W: 1. On board; into or within a ship or boat, 2. Alongside

F: the inside of a ship: hence any person who enters a ship is said to go aboard: but when an enemy enters in the time of battle, he is said to board. A phrase which always, implies hostility.

fall aboard

about

W: On the opposite tack

TFD: to a reversed position, or direction

F: the situation of a ship immediately after she has tacked or changed her course by going about, and standing on the other tack

heave about

put about

abreast

W: Side by side; also, opposite; over against; on a line with the vessel's beam; - with of.

TFD: alongside each other and facing in the same direction

B: The situation of two or more ships lying with their sides parallel, and their heads equally advanced; in which case they are abreast of each other.

acorn

W: A cone-shaped piece of wood on the point of the spindle above the vane, on the masthead.

F: a little ornamental piece of wood, fashioned like a cone, and fixed on the uppermost point of the spindle, above the vane, on the masthead. It is used to keep the vane from being blown off from the spindle in a whirlwind, or when the ship leans much to one side under sail.

admiral

F: an officer of the first rank and command in the fleet, and who is distinguished by a flag displayed at his main topmast head. Also an officer who superintends the naval forces of a nation, and who is authorised to determine in all maritime causes.

Lord High Admiral

Admiralty

TFD: The department of the British government that once had control over all naval affairs.

F: the office of Lord High Admiral, whether discharged by one single person, or by joint commissioners, called Lords of the Admiralty (this important and high office has seldom been entrusted to any single person, except princes of the blood; or to some nobleman meriting such distinction for his eminent services. In general the crown appoints five or seven commissioners, under the title of Lords Commissioners for executing the Office of Lord High Admiral of Great Britain, &c. All maritime affairs are entrusted to their jurisdiction. They govern and direct the whole royal navy, with power decisive in all marine cases, civil, military, and criminal, transacted upon or beyond sea, in harbors, on coasts, and upon all rivers below the first bridge seaward.

Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty

adrift

TFD: Drifting or floating freely; not anchored.

B: The state of a ship broken from her moorings, and drifting about without control.

afloat

F: floating on the surface of the water; a ship is said to be afloat when there is a volume of water under her bottom of sufficient depth to buoy her up from the ground.

afore

W: 1. Before, 2. In the fore part of a ship.

B: All that part of a ship which lies forward or near the stem. It also signifies further forward.

aft

W: At, near, or towards the stern of a vessel (with the frame of reference within the vessel).

F: behind, or near the stern of the ship; being opposed to fore; as, run out the guns fore and aft! i. e. from one end of the ship to the other.

after

W: (where the frame of reference is within the ship) At or towards the stern of a ship

TFD: further aft; sternwards

B: A phrase applied to any object in the hinder part of the ship, as the after hatchway, the after sails, &c.

after the fair

TFD: Too late.

aftersails

TFD: The sails on the mizenmast, or on the stays between the mainmast and mizenmast.

F: The aftersails usually comprehend all those which are extended on the mizenmast, and on the stays between the mizen and mainmast. They are opposed to the headsails, which include all those that are spread on the foremast and bowsprit; and both, by their mutual operation on the opposite ends of the ship, duly balance her when under sail,

aground

TFD: on or onto the ground or bottom, as in shallow water

B: The situation of a ship when her bottom or any part of it rests on the ground.

ahead

B: Any thing which is situated on that point of the compass to which a ship's stem is directed, is said to be ahead of her.

F: further onward than the ship, or at any distance before her, lying immediately on that point of the compass to which her stem is directed. It is used in opposition to astern, which expresses the situation of any object behind the ship.

ahull

TFD: With the sails furled, and the helm lashed alee; - applied to ships in a storm.

F: the situation of a ship when all her sails are furled on account of the violence of the storm, and, when having lashed her helm on the lee-side, she lies nearly with her side to the wind and sea, her head being somewhat inclined to the direction of the wind.

alee

W: On the lee side of a ship; to leeward.

F: the situation of the helm when it is pushed down to the lee side of the ship, in order to put the Ship about, or to lay her head to the windward.

all in the wind

E: an expression used to describe the situation when a sailing vessel, in the process of tacking, is head to wind and all her sails are shivering.

F: the state of a ship's sails when they are parallel to the direction of the wind, so as to shake and shiver, by turning the Ship's head to windward, either by design, or neglect of the helmsman.

aloft

W: in the top, at the masthead, or on the higher yards or rigging.

F: up in the tops, at the mastheads, or any where about the higher yards or rigging.

alongside

F: side by side, or joined to a ship, wharf, &c. and lying parallel thereto.

aloof

B: is distance. Keep aloof, that is, keep at a distance.

F: this has frequently been mentioned as a sea term, but whether justly or not we shall not presume to determine; it is known in common discourse to imply at a distance; and the resemblance of the phrases, keep aloof, and keep a luff, or keep the luff, in all probability gave rise to this conjecture. If it was really a sea phrase originally, it seems to have referred to the dangers of a lee shore, in which situation the pilot might naturally apply it in the sense commonly understood, viz. keep all off, or quite off; it is, however, never expressed in that manner by seamen now.

amai

a hard close wood of a reddish color

amain

TFD: with great strength, speed, or haste

B: The old term for yield, used by a man of war to an enemy; but it now signifies any thing done suddenly, or at once, by a number of men.

F: 1. at once, suddenly; as, let go amain! i. e. let it run at once. This phrase is generally applied to any thing that is hoisted or lowered by a tackle, or complication of pullies. 2. yield, from a ship of war to an enemy. 3. lower your topsails.

amidships

W: In the middle of a ship, either longitudinally or laterally.

B: The middle of a ship, either with regard to her length or breadth.

an end

TFD: On end; upright; erect; endways.

F: the situation of any mast or boom, when erected perpendicularly on the plane of the deck, tops, &c. The topmasts are also said to be an end when they are hoisted up to their usual station, at the head of the lower masts.

anchor

W: 1. A tool used to moor a vessel to the bottom of a sea or river to resist movement.

TFD: A heavy object attached to a vessel by a cable or rope and cast overboard to keep the vessel in place either by its weight or by its flukes, which grip the bottom.

F: a heavy, strong, crooked instrument of iron, dropped from a ship into the bottom of the water, to retain her in a convenient station in a harbor, road, or river.

The most ancient anchors are laid to have been of stone, and sometimes of wood, to which a great quantity of lead was usually fixed. In some places baskets full of stones, and sacks filled with sand, were employed for the same use. All these were let down by cords into the sea, and by their weight stayed the course of the ship. Afterwards they were composed of iron, and furnished with teeth, which, being fastened to the bottom of the sea, preserved the vessel immoveable.

The anchors now made are contrived so as to sink into the ground as soon as they reach it, and to hold a great strain before they can be loosened or dislodged from their station. They are composed of a shank, a stock, a ring, and two arms with their flukes. The stock, which is a long piece of timber fixed across the thank, serves to guide the flukes in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the ground; so that one of them sinks into it by its own weight as soon as it falls, and is still preserved steadily in that position by the stock, which, together with the shank, lies flat on the bottom. In this situation it must necessarily sustain a great effort before it can be dragged through the earth horizontally. Indeed this can only be effected by the violence of the wind or tide, or of both of them, sometimes increased by the turbulence of the sea, and acting upon the ship so as to stretch the cable to it's utmost tension, which accordingly may dislodge the anchor from its bed, especially if the ground be soft and oozy or rocky. When the anchor is thus displaced, it is said, in the sea phrase, to come home.

Every ship has, or ought to have, three principal anchors, with a cable to each, viz. the sheet, the best bower, and small bower, so called from their usual situation on the ship's bows. There are besides smaller anchors, for removing a ship from place to place in a harbour or river, where there may not be room or wind for sailing; these are the stream anchor, the kedge and grappling, or grapnel, this last, however, is chiefly designed for boats.

cat the anchor

drag the anchor

fish the anchor

anchor ground

F: is a bottom which is neither too deep, too shallow, nor rocky; as in the first the cable bears too nearly perpendicular, and is thereby apt to jerk the anchor out of the ground: in the second, the ship's bottom is apt to strike at low water, or when the sea runs high, by which she is exposed to the danger of sinking; and in the third, the anchor is liable to hook the broken and pointed ends of rocks, and tear away it's flukes; whilst the cable, from the same cause, is constantly in danger of being cut through as it rubs on their edges.

anker

TFD: A liquid measure in various countries of Europe. The Dutch anker, formerly also used in England, contained about 10 of the old wine gallons, or 8½ imperial gallons.

apeak

TFD: In a vertical or almost vertical position or direction

B: Perpendicular to the anchor; the cable having been drawn so tight as to bring the ship directly over it. The anchor is then said to be apeak. heave apeak

armourer

GB: The armourer was yet another artificer appointed by Navy Board Warrant to all rated ships, and under the command of the gunner. He was the leading metal-worker of the ship, and often worked with the iron of the hull and rigging, as well as the armament. He was particularly concerned with the maintenance of the muskets of the crew and the marines. He was supplied with an elaborate set of tools, including a portable forge which could be set up on shore when the opportunity arose. He was paid at the same rate as the master at arms. He had two mates on third rates and above, and one on smaller vessels, including sloops which had no armourer as such.

arrack

TFD: A strong alcoholic drink of the Middle East and the Far East, usually distilled from fermented palm sap, rice, or molasses.

arii

chiefs, those of chiefly status (Tahiti)

ashore

B: On the shore, as opposed to aboard. It also means aground.

astern

TFD: 1. behind a vessel, 2. at or to the stern of a vessel, 3. with or having the stern foremost, backward.

B: Any distance behind a ship as opposed to ahead.

athwart

W: Across the line of a ship's course or across its deck.

F: when used in navigation, implies across the line of the course; as, we discovered a fleet at daybreak standing athwart us, i. e. steering across our way.

athwart hawse

TFD: across the stem of another vessel, whether in contact or at a small distance.

B: the situation of a ship when driven by accident across the fore part of another; whether they touch, or are at a small distance from each other, the transverse position of the former being principally understood.

athwartships

W: Across the vessel sideways, i.e. in a direction at right angles to the fore and aft line of the vessel.

TFD: across the ship from side to side, or in that direction; - opposed to fore and aft.

athwart the fore foot

B: when any object crosses the line of a ship's course, but ahead of her, it is said to be athwart the fore foot.

atrip

TFD: Just clear of the bottom. Used of an anchor.

B: When applied to an anchor, it means that the anchor is drawn out of the ground, and hangs in a perpendicular direction, by the cable or buoy rope. The topsails are said to be atrip, when they are hoisted up to the masthead, or to their utmost extent.

ava

See kava

avast

W: Hold fast!, cease; stop; desist; stay.

F: the order to stop, or pause, in any exercise.

auger

TFD: Any of various hand tools, typically having a threaded shank and cross handle, used for boring holes in wood or ice.

F: a wimble, carpenter's tool for boring.

aweigh

W: Just drawn out of the ground, and hanging perpendicularly; atrip; said of the anchor.

F: the state of the anchor when it is drawn out of the ground in a perpendicular direction, by the application of mechanical powers, as a capstan or windlass, to the cable within the ship; So that aweigh is synonimous to atrip.

awning

F: a canopy of canvass extending over the decks of a ship in hot weather, for the convenience of the officers and crew, and to preserve the decks from being cracked or split by the heat of the sun. The awning is supported by a range of light posts, called stanchions, which are erected along the ship's side on the right and left; it is also suspended in the middle by a complication of small cords, called a crowfoot.

azimuth

W: An arc of the horizon intercepted between the meridian of the place and a vertical circle passing through the center of any object

azimuth compass

TFD: a compass resembling the mariner's compass, but having the card divided into degrees instead of rhumbs, and having vertical sights; used for taking the magnetic azimuth of a heavenly body, in order to find, by comparison with the true azimuth, the variation of the needle.

F: an instrument employed to discover the magnetical azimuth or amplitude of any heavenly object. This operation is performed at sea, to find the exact variation of the magnetical needle. The compass will be described further below; it is, however, necessary here to explain the additional contrivance by which it is sited to take the magnetical azimuth, or amplitude, of the sun or stars, or the bearings of headlands, ships, and other objects at a distance.

The brass edge, originally designed to support the card, and throw the weight thereof as near the circumference as possible, is itself divided into degrees and halves; which may be easily estimated into smaller parts, if necessary. The divisions are determined by means of a catgut line stretched perpendicularly with the box, as near the brass edge as may be, that the parallax arising from a different position of the observer may be as little as possible.

There is also added an index at the top of the inner box, which may be fixed on or taken off at pleasure, and serves for all altitudes of the object. It consists of a bar, equal in length to the diameter of the inner box, each end being furnished with a perpendicular stile, with a slit parallel to the sides thereof; one of the slits is narrow, to which the eye is applied, and the other is wider, with a small catgut stretched up the middle of it, and from thence continued horizontally from the top of one stile to the top of the other. There is also a line drawn along the upper surface of the bar. These four, viz., the narrow slit, the horizontal catgut thread, the perpendicular one, and the line on the bar, are in the same plane, which disposes itself perpendicularly to the horizon when the inner-box is at rest and hangs free. This index does not move round, but is always placed on, so as to answer the same side of the box.

The sun's azimuth is known to be an angle contained between the meridian and the center of the sun. When this is required, and its rays are strong enough to cast a shadow, the box is turned about till the shadow of the horizontal thread, or, if the sun be too low, till that of the perpendicular thread, in one stile, or the slit through the other, falls upon the line in the index bar, or vibrates to an equal distance on each side of it, the box being gently touched if it vibrates too far; at the same time they observe the degree marked upon the brass edge of the catgut line. In counting the degree for the azimuth, or any other angle that is reckoned from the meridian, the outward circle of figures upon the brass edge is used; and the situation of the index, with respect to the card and needle, will always direct upon what quarter of the compass the object is placed. But if the sun does not shine out sufficiently strong, the eye is placed behind the narrow flit in one of the stiles, and the wooden box turned about till Some part of the horizontal or perpendicular thread appears to intersect the center of the sun, or vibrate to an equal distance on each side of it; smoked glass being used next the eye, if the sun's light is too strong. In this method another observer is necessary, to note the degree cut by the nonius, at the Same time the first gives notice that the thread appears to split the object.

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

B

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

back and fill, back astern, back of the post, back the anchor, back the sails, backstay, badge, bagpipe the mizen, balance, balance of the mizen, balance of the boom sail, ballast, banyan day, bank, bar, barbette, bare poles, barca-longa, barge, bark (barque), barnacle, barricadoe, barrico, basin, batten, batten down the hatches, beacon, beakhead, beam, beam-ends, beams, bear a hand, bear away, or bear up, bear down, bear in with, bear off, bear off from, bear to, bear up, bearing, beat, beating, Beaufort scale, becalm, becket, bed, before the beam, belay, belaying pin, belfry, bells, below, below decks, bend, bends, beneaped, berth, or birth, best bower, between decks, bight, bilbo, bilge, bilge water, bill, billboard, binnacle, birth, biscuit, bite, bit the cable, bitter, bitter end, bitts, block, blubber, board, board it up, boat, boat hook, boatswain, boatswain's pipe, bobstay, bold, bolsters, boltrope, boltsprit, bonito, bonnet, boom, boom iron, boom sail, boot-topping, borecole, bottom, bow, bow grace, bower, bowline, bowse, bowsprit, box-hauling, brab tree, brace, brace aback, brace about, brace sharp, brace the yards, brace to, brail, brail up, brake, bread room, breaker, breakers, bream, breastwork, brecco, breeches, breeve, breeze, bridle, brig, brigantine, bring by the lee, bring to, broach to, broad pendant, pennant, broadside, Brodie stove, broken-backed, brooming, bulkhead, bullace, bulwark, bumpkin, buoy, burgoo, burthen, burton, butt, buttock, by the board, by the head,

back and fill

TFD: adjust the sails so as to let the wind in and out of them in alteration.

back astern

B: In rowing, is to impel the boat with her stern foremost, by means of the oars.

F: is to manage the oars in a direction contrary to the usual method, so as that the boat, or vessel, impressed by their force, shall retreat, or move with her stern foremost, instead of advancing.

back of the post

F: The difficulty of procuring a sternpost of sufficient breadth in one piece, has introduced the practice of fixing an additional piece behind it, which is strongly bolted to the former. The hinges, which support the rudder, are accordingly fixed to this latter, which is also tenanted into the keel, and denominated the back of the post. It is half the breadth of the sternpost at the heel, but diminishes gradually towards the upper end, where it is one third narrower.

back the anchor

F: to carry out a small anchor, as the stream or kedge, ahead of the large one by which the ship usually rides, in order to support it, and prevent it from loosening, or coming home, in bad ground. In this situation the latter is confined by the former, in the same manner that the ship is restrained by the latter.

back the sails

F: is to arrange them in a situation that will occasion the ship to retreat or move astern. This operation is particularly necessary in narrow channels, when a ship is carried along sidewise by the strength of the tide or current, and it becomes requisite to avoid any object that may intercept her course, as shoals, or vessels under sail or at anchor.

backstay

TFD: a rope or shroud extending from the top of a mast aft to a ship's side or stern to help support the mast

F: from back and stay, long ropes reaching from the topmast heads to the starboard and larboard sides of the ship, where they are extended to the channels; they are used to support the topmasts, and second the efforts of the shrouds, when the mast is strained by a weight of sail in a fresh wind.

badge

F: in ship building, a sort of ornament, placed on the outside of small ships, very near the stern, containing either a window, for the convenience of the cabin, or the representation of it; it is commonly decorated with marine figures, martial instruments, or such like emblems.

bagpipe the mizen

F: to lay it aback, by bringing the sheet to the mizen shrouds.

balance

B: To contract a sail into a narrower compass, by folding up a part at one corner. Balancing is peculiar only to the mizen of a ship, and the mainsail of those vessels wherein it is extended by a boom.

balance of the mizen

F: is thus performed: the mizen yard is lowered a little, then a small portion of the sail is rolled up at the peak, or upper corner, and fastened to the yard about one fifth inward from the outer end, or yardarm, toward the mast.

balance of the boom sail

F: A boom mainsail is balanced, after all its reefs are taken in, by rolling up a similar portion of the hindmost or aftmost lower corner, called the clue, and fastening it strongly to the boom, having previously wrapped a piece of old canvas round the part (which is done in both cases) to prevent the sail from being fretted by the cord which fastens it.

ballast

TFD: any dense heavy material, such as lead or iron pigs, used to stabilize a vessel, esp. one that is not carrying cargo

B: is either pigs of iron, stones or gravel, which last is called shingle ballast; and its use is to bring the ship down to her bearings in the water, which her provisions and stores will not do.

F: a certain portion of stone, iron, gravel, or such like materials, deposited in a ship's hold, when she has either no cargo, or too little to bring her sufficiently low in the water. It is used to counterbalance the effort of the wind upon the masts, and give the ship a proper stability, that she may be enabled to carry sail without danger of oversetting.

freshen the ballast

trim the ballast

banyan day

W: In British naval tradition, this originally referred to a day of the week when galley kitchens served no meat on board ship.

F: a cant term among common sailors, denoting those days on which they have no flesh meat; it seems to be derived from the practice of a nation amongst the eastern Indians, who never eat flesh.

bank

TFD: A large elevated area of a sea floor. Often used in the plural.

F: an elevation of the ground, or bottom of the sea, which is often so high as to appear above the surface of the water, or at least so little beneath it, as to prevent a ship from floating over it; in this sense, bank amounts nearly to the same as shallows, flats, &c. The shelves that abound with rocks under water are distinguished by other names, as reefs, ridges, keys, &c.

bar

W: A ridge or succession of ridges of sand or other substance, especially a formation extending across the mouth of a river or harbor or off a beach, and which may obstruct navigation.

F: of a port or haven, a shoal or bank of sand, gravel, &c. thrown up by the surge of the sea, to the mouth of a river or harbour, so as to endanger, and sometimes totally prevent, the navigation.

barbette

TFD: A platform or mound of earth within a fort from which guns are fired over the parapet.

bare poles

B: When a ship has no sail set, she is under bare poles.

barca-longa

TFD: The barca longa was a two or three-masted lugger found on the coasts of Spain and Portugal as well as more widely in the Mediterranean Sea. They were used in Spain and Portugal for fishing but were employed by the Royal Navy in Mediterranean waters, for shore raids or as dispatch boats. In general, they were not in Royal Naval ownership.

F: a large Spanish tithing boat, navigated with lugsails, and having two or three masts; these are very common in the Mediterranean.

barge

W: 1. A large flat-bottomed towed or self-propelled boat used mainly for river and canal transport of heavy goods or bulk cargo, 2. A richly decorated ceremonial state vessel propelled by rowers for river processions 3. A large flat-bottomed coastal trading vessel having a large spritsail and jib-headed topsail, a fore staysail and a very small mizen, and having leeboards instead of a keel 4. One of the boats of a warship having fourteen oars

B: A carval built boat, that rows with ten or twelve oars.

F: a vessel or boat of state, furnished with elegant apartments, canopies, and cushions; equipped with a band of rowers, and decorated with flags and streamers; they are generally used for processions on the water, by noblemen, officers of state, or magistrates of great cities. Of this sort we may naturally suppose the famous barge or galley of Cleopatra... There are likewise other barges of a smaller kind, for the use of admirals and captains of ships of war. These are of a lighter frame, and may be easily hoisted into, and out of the ships to which they occasionally belong. Barge is also the name of a flat-bottomed vessel of burthen, for lading and discharging ships, and removing their cargoes from place to place in a harbour.

bark (barque)

barque W: A three-masted vessel, having her foremast and mainmast square-rigged, and her mizenmast schooner-rigged.

F: a general name given to small ships: it is however peculiarly appropriated by seamen to those which carry three masts without a mizen topsail. Our northern mariners, who are trained in the coal trade, apply this distinction to a broad-sterned ship, which carries no ornamental figure on the stem or prow.

barnacle

TFD: Any of various marine crustaceans of the subclass Cirripedia that in the adult stage form a hard shell and remain attached to submerged surfaces, such as rocks and ships' bottoms.

barricadoe

F: a strong wooden rail, supported by Several little pillars or stanchions, and extending, as a fence, across the foremost part of the quarterdeck. In a vessel of war, the intervals between the pillars are commonly filled with cork, junks of old cable, or matts of plaited cordage. In the upper part, there is a double rope-netting, supported by double cranes of iron, extending about a foot above the rail; and between the two parts of the netting are stuffed a number of hammocks, filled with the seamens bedding, to intercept and prevent the execution of small shot fired by swivel guns, carabines, or muskets, in the time of battle.

barrico

a small keg or cask to contain water

basin

TFD: any partially enclosed or sheltered area where vessels may be moored or docked

F: a place where the water is confined by double flood-gates, and thereby prevented from running out at the tide of ebb. The use of it is to contain ships whilst repairing, either before they enter, or after they come out of the dock. Basin also implies some part of a haven, which opens from a narrow channels into a wide and spacious reservoir for shipping.

batten

TFD: a. One of several flexible strips of wood or plastic placed in pockets at the outer edge of a sail to keep it flat. b. A narrow strip of wood used to fasten down the edges of the material that covers hatches in foul weather.

B: a thin piece of wood.

batten down the hatches

W: In the age of sail, to cover the hatches with tarpaulins and nail the edges down with battens, to prevent water getting below-decks in a storm.

B: is to lay battens upon the tarpaulins, which are over the hatches in bad weather, and nail them down that they may not be washed off.

beacon

W: A signal or conspicuous mark erected on an eminence near the shore, or moored in shoal water, as a guide to mariners. A post or buoy placed over a shoal or bank to warn vessels of danger; also a signal mark on land.

B: A post or stake erected over a shoal or sand bank, as a warning to seamen to keep at a distance. Also a signal placed at the top of hills, &c.

beakhead

W: A protruding part of the foremost section of a sailing ship.

F: a name given to a ship's head whose forecastle is square or oblong, a circumstance common to all vessels of war which have two or more decks of guns. In smaller ships, the forecastle is nearly shaped like a parabola, whose vertex, or angular point, lies immediately over the stem.

beam

W: 1. The maximum width of a vessel; as, one vessel is said to have more beam than another; also called breadth. 2. The side of a ship.

TFD: The breadth of a ship at the widest point.

before the beam

on the beam

beam-ends

W: The ends of the transverse beams of a ship.

Note: A ship is on her beam-ends when she has heeled over such that the beams are vertical and she cannot be brought back to an upright position.

beams

TFD: Transverse structural members of a ship's frame, used to support a deck and to brace the sides against stress.

B: Strong pieces of timber stretching across a ship's side to side, to support the decks, and retain the sides at their proper distance.

bear a hand

W: to make haste; to help quickly (used mostly in the imperative)

F: a phrase of the same import with make haste, dispatch, quick, &c.

bear away, or bear up

W: To sail close to the wind.

B: The act of changing the course of a ship, in order to make her run before the wind, after she had sailed sometime with a side wind, or close-hauled; it is generally performed to arrive at some port under the lee, or to avoid some imminent danger occasioned by a violent storm, leak, or enemy in sight.

F: in navigation, the act of changing the course of a ship, in order to make her run before the wind, after she had sailed some time with a side wind, or close hauled; it is generally performed to arrive at some port under the lee, or to avoid some imminent danger occasioned by a violent storm, leak, or an enemy in sight. This phrase, which is absurd enough, seems to have been derived from the motion of the helm, by which this effect is partly produced; as the helm is then borne up to the windward, or weather side of the ship. Otherwise, it is a direct contradiction in terms, to say that a ship bears up, when she goes before the wind; since the current of the wind, as well as that of a river, is always understood to determine the situation of objects or places within its limits. In the first sense we say, up to windward and down to leeward; as in the latter we say, up or down the river. This expression, however, although extremely improper, is commonly adopted in the general instructions of our navy, printed by authority, instead of bearing down, or bearing away.

bear down

W: To approach another vessel from windward

bear in with

W: To approach (a ship) nearer.

B: the land, is when a ship sails toward the shore

bear off

B: To thrust or keep off from the ship's side, &c. any weight when hoisting.

bear off from

W: To stand further off from (a ship)

bear to

B: is to sail into an harbour, &c

bear up

See bear away

bearing

W: The horizontal angle between the direction of an object and that of true north; subject to variation and deviation when taken by a magnetic compass

B: signifies the point of the compass which any two or more places bear from each other, or has any place bears from the ship by the compass; or it may be said to bear on the beam, abaft the beam, on the bow, the head or stern, &c.

F: an arch of the horizon intercepted between the nearest meridian and any distinct object, either discovered by the eye, or resulting from the sinical proportion; as in the first case, at 4 P. M. Cape Spado, in the isle of Candia, bore S by W. by the compass. In the second, the longitudes and latitudes of any two places being given, and consequently the difference of latitude and longitude between them, the bearing from one to the other is discovered by the following analogy: As the meridianal difference of latitude is to the difference of longitude; so is radius to the tangent bearing. These bearings, therefore, which may be called mechanical, are on the beam, before the beam, abaft the beam, on the bow, on the quarter, ahead, or astern. If the ship sails with a side wind, it alters the names of such bearings in some measure, since a distant object on the beam is then said to be to leeward, or to windward; on the lee quarter, or bow; and on the weather quarter or bow.

beat, beating

W: To sail to windward using a series of alternate tacks across the wind.

B: To make a progress against the direction of the wind, by steering alternately close hauled on the starboard and larboard tacks.

F: in navigation, the operation of making a progress at sea against the direction of the wind, in a zig-zag line, or traverse, like that in which we ascend a steep hill.

Beaufort scale

Although Francis Beaufort didn't enter his first scale into his logbook until 1806, he used terms in use by British naval officers and it may serve to give an idea of the relative strengths of the various descriptions.

0. Calm

1. Faint breeze, or just not a calm

2. Light air

3. Light breeze

4. Gentle breeze

5. Moderate breeze

6. Fresh breeze

7. Gentle, steady gale

8. Moderate gale

9. Brisk gale

10. Fresh gale

11. Hard gale

12. Hard gale with heavy gusts

13. Storm

becalm

W: To cut off the wind from a ship either by the proximity of land or by another vessel. A ship that is motionless due to the absence of wind is becalmed.

F: to intercept the current of the wind, in its passage to a ship, with any contiguous object, as a shore above her sails, a high sea behind, or some other ship. At this time the sails remain in a state of rest, and are consequently deprived of their power to govern the motion of the ship.

becket

TFD: A device, such as a looped rope, hook and eye, strap, or grommet, used to hold or fasten loose ropes, spars, or oars in position.

F: imply in general any thing used to confine loose ropes, tackles, oars, or spars, in a convenient place, where they may be disposed out of the way till they are wanted. Hence, beckets are either large hooks, or short pieces of rope, with a knot on one end and an eye in the ocher, or formed like a circular wreath; or they are wooden brackets; and, probably, from a corruption and misapplication of this last term, arose the word becket, which seems often to be confounded with bracket.

bed

F: a flat thick piece of timber, usually formed of the rough staves of casks, or such like materials, to be lodged under the quarters of casks containing any liquid and stowed in a ship's hold. The use of the beds is to support the cask, and keep the bilge, or middle part of it, from bearing against the ship's floor, or against the body upon which it rests, lest the staves should give way and break in the place where they are weakest; or lie in a wet place, so as to rot in the course of the voyage.

before the beam

B: denotes an arch of the horizon comprehended between the line of the beam (which is at right angles to the keel) and that point of the compass on which the ship stems. See bearing.

F: is an arch of the horizon comprehended between the line that crosses her length at right angles, and some object at a distance before it, or between the line of the beam and that point of the compass which she stems. Thus if a ship, steering west, discovers an island on the right, three points before the beam, the island must bear NW by N from the ship.

belay

W: 1. To make (a rope) fast by turning it round a cleat or belaying pin, 2. The general command to stop or cease.

F: to fasten a rope by winding it several times round a cleat, belaying pin, or kevel; this term is peculiar to small ropes, and chiefly the running rigging, there being several other expressions used for large ropes, as bitting, bending, making fast, stopping, &c.

belaying pin

TFD: A short, removable wooden or metal pin fitted in a hole in the rail of a boat and used for securing running gear.

belfry

w: the ornamental frame in which the ship's bell is hung.

bells

W: Ship's bells; the strokes on a ship's bell, every half hour, to mark the passage of time.

(from Wikipedia)

Number of bells

Bell Pattern

Middle

watch

Morning

watch

Forenoon

watch

Afternoon

watch

First

dog

watch

Last

dog

watch

First

watch

One bell

.

0:30

4:30

8:30

12:30

16:30

18:30*

20:30

Two bells

..

1:00

5:00

9:00

13:00

17:00

19:00*

21:00

Three bells

.. .

1:30

5:30

9:30

13:30

17:30

19:30*

21:30

Four bells

.. ..

2:00

6:00

10:00

14:00

18:00

22:00

Five bells

.. .. .

2:30

6:30

10:30

14:30

18:30

22:30

Six bells

.. .. ..

3:00

7:00

11:00

15:00

19:00

23:00

Seven bells

.. .. .. .

3:30

7:30

11:30

15:30

19:30

23:30

Eight bells

.. .. .. ..

4:00

8:00

12:00**

16:00

20:00

0:00

*British usage after the Nore mutiny

**Before the introduction of time zones noon was not struck by the glass, but when the captain or officer of the deck confirmed local noon by the sun, using a sextant

At midnight on New Year's Eve sixteen bells would be struck - eight bells for the old year and eight bells for the new.

Most of the crew of a ship would be divided up into between two and four groups called watches. Each watch would take its turn with the essential activities of manning the helm, navigating, trimming sails, and keeping a lookout.

The hours between 16:00 and 20:00 are so arranged because that watch (the 'dog watch') was divided into two. The odd number of watches aimed to give each man a different watch each day. It also allows the entire crew of a vessel to eat an evening meal, the normal time being at 1700 with First Dog watchmen eating at 1800.

below

TFD: on or to a lower deck

below decks

W: In any of the spaces below the the main deck of a vessel

bend

W: To tie, as in securing a line to a cleat; to shackle a chain to an anchor; make fast.

B: To apply to and fasten; as bend the sails, apply them to the yards and fasten them; unbend the sails, that is cast them off, and take them from the yards; her sails are unbent, she had none fixed; bend the cable, make it fast to the anchor.

F: to fasten one rope to another, of which there are several methods.

bends

W: The thickest and strongest planks in a wooden ship's side, wales.

beneaped

See neaped

berth, or birth

1. A space for a ship to dock or anchor, 2. a person's job or position aboard ship, 3. a built-in bed or bunk on a ship, 4. the place where a person sleeps aboard ship

B: A place; as the ship's birth, the place where she is moored; an officer's birth, his place in the ship to eat or sleep in; birth the ship's company that is, to allot them their plaes to mess in; birth the hammocks, point out where each man's hammock is to hang

F: the station in which a ship rides at anchor, either alone or in a fleet; or the distance between the ship and any adjacent object; comprehending the extent of the space in which the ranges at the length of her cables; as, she lies in a good birth, i. e. in a convenient situation, or at a proper distance from the shore and other vessels; and where there is good anchoring-ground, and shelter from the violence of the wind and sea. Also signifies the room or apartment where any particular number of the officers or ship's company usually mess and reside.

best bower

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

between decks

The space contained between any two decks of a ship.

bight

B: 1. The double part of a rope when it is folded, 2. A narrow inlet of the sea.

F: 1. the double part of a rope when it is folded, in contradistinction to the end; as, her anchor hooked the bight of our cable, i. e. caught any part of it between the ends. The bight of his cable has swept our anchor; that is, the double part of the cable of another ship, as she ranged about, has entangled itself under the stock or fluke of our anchor. 2. also a small bay between two points of land.

bilbo

TFD: An iron bar to which sliding fetters are attached, formerly used to shackle the feet of prisoners.

bilge

W: 1. The rounded portion of a ship's hull, forming a transition between the bottom and the sides, 2. the lowest inner part of a ship's hull, 3. to spring a leak in the bilge, 4. to break open the bilge(s) of

F: that part of the floor of a ship, on either side of the keel, which approaches nearer to an horizontal than to a perpendicular direction, and on which the ship would rest if laid on the ground; or more particularly, those parts of the bottom which are opposite to the heads of the floor timbers amidships on each side of the keel. Hence when a ship receives a fracture in this place, she is said to be bilged.

bilge water

W: Water which collects in the bilges of a ship.

B: is that which, by reason of the flatness of a ship's bottom, lies on her floor, and cannot go to the well of the pump.

bill

W: The extremity of the arm of an anchor; the point of or beyond the fluke.

F: the point or extremity of the fluke of an anchor.

billboard

TFD: A ledge on the bow of a ship on which the bill of an anchor rests when the anchor is secured to the cathead.

binnacle

W: The wooden housing for a ship's compass, with its corrector magnets and illuminating arrangements; the log and other equipment for measuring the ship's speed is also stowed there.

F: a wooden case or box, which contains the compasses, log glasses, watch glasses, and lights to shew the compass at night. The binnacle is furnished with three apartments, with sliding shutters; the two side ones have always a compass in each to direct the ship's way, while the middle division has a lamp or candle, with a pane of glass on either side to throw a light upon the compass in the night, whereby the man who steers may observe it in the darkest weather, as it stands immediately before the helm on the quarter-deck.

birth

See berth

biscuit

W: The "bread" formerly supplied to naval ships; made with very little water, kneaded into flat cakes and slowly baked; often infested with weevils.

bite

F: to hold fast in the ground; expressed of the anchor.

bit the cable

B: is to confine the cable to the bitts, by one turn under the cross piece, and another turn round the bitthead. In this position it may be either kept fixed, or it may be veered away.

bitter

B: The turn of the cable round the bitts.

bitter end

W: that part of an anchor cable which is abaft the bitts and thus remains onboard when a ship is riding at anchor.

B: that part of the cable which stays within board, round about the bitts, when the ship is at anchor.

bitts

W: A frame of strong oak timber bolted to the deck beams in the fore part of a ship to which are secured the cables when the ship rides to anchor

B: Very large pieces of timber in the fore part of a ship, round which the cables are fastened when the ship is at anchor. The after bitts are a smaller kind of bitts upon the quarterdeck, for belaying the running rigging to.

block

W: A case with one or more sheaves/pulleys, used with ropes to increase or redirect force, for example, as part of the rigging of a sailing ship.

F: a machine known in mechanics by the name of pulley, and used for various purposes in a ship, particularly to increase the mechanical power of the ropes employed in contracting, dilating, or traversing the sails. The ends of these ropes, being arranged in certain places upon the deck, may thus be readily found whenever they are wanted. The blocks, which are for these purposes disposed in various places upon the masts, yards, and sails, and amongst the rigging, are also of various sizes, shapes, and powers, according to the effect they are calculated to produce. They are single, double, or treble, being so denominated from the number of wheels they contain. There are even some of them five, fix, and seven fold, but these are only employed to raise or move some very weighty bodies, and are not used about the yards or sails.

blubber

TFD: a large sea nettle or medusa

medusa: the tentacled, usually bell-shaped, free-swimming sexual stage in the life cycle of a coelenterate, such as a jellyfish

board

W: 1. The side of a ship., 2. The distance a sailing vessel runs between tacks when working to windward

F: the space comprehended between any two places where the ship changes her course by tacking; or the line over which she runs between tack and tack, when she is turning to windward, or sailing against the direction of the wind.

by the board

make a board

make a good board

make a stern board

on board

board it up

B: to turn to windward

boat

TFD: A relatively small, usually open craft of a size that might be carried aboard a ship.

F: a small open vessel, conducted on the water by rowing or sailing. The construction, machinery, and even the names of boats, are very different, according to the various purposes for which they are calculated, and the services on which they are to be employed.

boat hook

TFD: A pole with a metal point and hook at one end used especially to maneuver logs, rafts, and boats.

F: an iron hook with a sharp point on the hinder part thereof, to stick into a piece of wood, a ship's side, &c. It is stuck upon a long pole or shaft, by the help of which a person in the boat may either hook any thing to confine the boat in a particular place, or push her off by the sharp point attached to the back of the hook.

boatswain

W: The officer (or warrant officer) in charge of sails, rigging, anchors, cables etc. and all work on deck of a sailing ship.

F: the officer who has the boats, sails, rigging, colours, anchors, and cables, committed to his charge. It is the duty of the boatswain particularly to direct whatever relates to the rigging of a ship, after she is equipped from a royal dock yard. Thus he is to observe that the masts are properly supported by their shrouds, stays, and back-stays, so that each of those ropes may sustain a proportional effort when the mast is strained by the violence of the wind, or the agitation of the ship. He ought also to take care that the blocks and running-ropes are regularly placed, so as to answer the purposes for which they are intended; and that the sails are properly fitted to their yards and stays, and well furled or reefed when occasion requires. It is likewise his office to summon the crew to their duty; to assist with his mates in the necessary business of the ship; and to relieve the watch when it expires. He ought frequently to examine the condition of the masts, sails, and rigging, and remove whatever may be judged unfit for service, or supply what is deficient; and he is ordered by his instructions to perform this duty with as little noise as possible.

boatswain's pipe

See call

bobstay

W: A strong rope or chain rigging running from the end of the bowsprit to the ship's stem or cutwater

F: a rope used to confine the bowsprit of a ship downward to the stem, or cut-water. It is fixed by thrusting one of it's ends through a hole bored in the fore-part of the cut-water for this purpose, and then splicing both ends together so as to make it two-fold, or like the link of a chain; a dead-eye is then seized into it, and a laniard passing through this, and communicating with another dead-eye upon the bowsprit, is drawn extremely tight by the help of mechanical powers. The use of the bobstay, is to draw down the bowsprit, and keep it steady; and to counteract the force of the stays of the foremast, which draw it upwards. The bowsprit is also fortified by shrouds from the bows on each side; which are all very necessary, as the foremast and the upper part of the mainmast are stayed and greatly supported by the bowsprit. For this reason, the bobstay is the first part of a ship's rigging which is drawn tight to support the masts. To perform this task more effectually, it is usual to suspend a boat, anchor, or other weighty body, at the bowsprit end, to press it downwards during this operation.

bold

TFD: Steep or abrupt in grade or terrain

B: A steep coast, permitting the close approach of shipping.

F: an epithet applied to the sea-coast, signifying steep, or abrupt, so as to admit the approach of shipping without exposing them to the danger of being run aground, or stranded.

bolsters

F: a sort of small cushions or bags, filled with tarred canvas, laid between the collars of the stays and the edge of some piece of wood on which they lie; they are used to preserve the stays from being chafed or galled by the motion of the masts, as the ship rolls or pitches at sea.

boltrope

W: Rope sewn around the edges of a sail to prevent it from fraying; placed slightly off-centre to assist orientation by feel in the dark.

B: The rope which goes round a sail, and to which the canvass is sewed. The side ropes are called leach ropes, that at the top the head rope, and that at the bottom the foot rope.

F: a rope to which the edges or skirts of the sails are sewed, to strengthen and prevent them from rending. Those parts of the bolt-rope, which are on the perpendicular or sloping edges, are called leech ropes; that at the bottom, the foot-rope; and that on the top or upper edge, the head-rope. Staysails, whose heads are formed like an acute angle, have no head-rope. To different parts of the bolt-rope are fastened all the ropes employed to contract or dilate the sails.

boltsprit

A corruption of bowsprit.

bonito

a sleek, fast-swimming fish in the tuna family

bonnet

W: A length of canvas attached to a fore-and-aft sail to increase the pulling power.

B: an additional piece of canvass put to the sail in moderate weather to hold more wind.

lase on the bonnet

shake off the bonnet

boom

W: A spar extending the foot of a sail; a spar rigged outboard from a ship's side to which boats are secured in harbour.

F: certain long poles run out from different places in the ship to extend the bottoms of particular sails. Of these there are several sorts; as the jib boom, studding sail booms, ring tail boom, driver boom, main boom, and square sail boom; the two last, however, are only appropriated to small ships of one or two masts.

boom iron

TFD: one of the iron rings on the yards through which the studding sail booms traverse.

F: is composed of two iron rings, formed into one piece. It is employed to connect two cylindrical pieces of wood together, when the one is used as a continuation of the other; such is the jib boom to the bowsprit; and such are the studding sail booms to the respective yards from whole extremities they are prolonged. The rims, or circles of the boom irons, are broad and flat; and one of them, which is firmly driven upon the main, or fore yardarm, is somewhat larger than the other. The studding sail boom usually rests in the small ring, through which it is occasionally thrust outwards from the yardarm, when the studding sail is to be set. Every boom of this kind has, or ought to have, two boom irons, one of which is fixed on the extremity of the yard, and the other further inward. The former of these is frequently framed of one ring only, which projects from the end of the yard, where it is fastened by a strong iron bar, opening into a sort of fork or crotch that hides upon the yard lengthways, where it is fastened by nails driven from above and below.

boom sail

F: any sail whose bottom is extended by a boom, the foreend of which is hooked to it's respective mast, so as to swing occasionally on either side of the vessel, describing an arch, of which the mast will be the center.

boot-topping

W: 1. The process of cleaning the upper part of a ship's underwater hull and daubing it with a protecting layer of antifouling substance. 2. Any substance used for boot-topping, especially a mixture of tallow, sulphur or lime and rosin, which was commonly used to paint the bottoms of wooden ships, as a deterrent against weeds and barnacles, and to reduce friction.

TFD: 1. the part of a ship's hull that is between the load line and the water line when the ship is not loaded 2. a coating applied to this part of a ship to remove marine growth

F: the act of cleaning the upper-part of a ship's bottom, or that part which lies immediately under the surface of the water, and daubing it over with tallow, or with a coat or mixture of tallow, sulphur, resin, &c. Boot-topping is chiefly performed where there is no dock, or other commodious situation for breaming or careening; or when the hurry of a voyage renders it inconvenient to have the whole bottom properly trimmed and cleansed from the filth which gathers to it in the course of a sea voyage. It is executed by making the ship lean to one side, as much as they can with safety, and then scraping off the grass, slime, shells, or other materials that adhere to the bottom, on the other side, which is elevated above the surface of the water for this purpose, and accordingly daubed with the coat of tallow and sulphur. Having thus finished one side, they make the ship lean to the other side, and perform the same operation, which not only preserves the bottom from the worm, but makes the ship slide smoothly through the water.

borecole

TFD: An edible plant (Brassica oleracea var. acephala) in the mustard family, having spreading crinkled leaves that do not form a compact head. (kale)

bottom

may refer either to the ship's bottom, the underside of the hull, or to the sea bottom, a sandy or oozy bottom

bow

TFD: the foremost point of the hull of a ship or boat

on the bow

bow grace

B: A frame of old rope or junk, laid out at the bows, stems, and sides of ships, to prevent them from being injured by flakes of ice.

bower

refers to the anchors carried in the bow, the small bower, and the best bower. The last so named because it was the largest anchor on the ship, and thus the last, best hope in an emergency.

bowline

TFD: A rope attached to the weather leech of a square sail to hold the leech forward when sailing close-hauled.

B: Line(s) made fast to the sides of the sails to haul them forward when upon a wind, which being hauled taut, enables the ship to come nearer to the wind.

bowse

TFD: To pull or hoist with a tackle.

F: to draw on any body with a tackle, or complication of pullies, in order to remove it, or otherwise alter it's state or situation; this is chiefly practised when such alteration or removal cannot be conveniently effected without the application of mechanical powers. This term is pronounced bowce.

bowsprit

TFD: A spar, extending forward from the stem of a ship, to which the stays of the foremast are fastened.

F: a large boom or mast, which projects over the stem, to carry sail forward, in order to govern the fore part of a ship, and counteract the force of the sails extended behind, or, in the after part. It is otherwise of great use, as being the principal support of the foremast, by confining the stays whereby it is secured and enabled to carry sail; these are great ropes stretching from the masthead to the middle of the bowsprit, where they are drawn tight.

box-hauling

TFD: Turning (a square-rigged ship) about on the heel by bracing the sails aback.

F: in navigation, a particular method of veering a ship, when the swell of the sea renders tacking impracticable. It is performed by putting the helm alee, to throw the head up to windward, where meeting with great resistance from the repeated shocks of the waves on the weather bow, it falls off, or turns to leeward, with a quicker effort, and without advancing. The aftermost sails are at this time diminished, or perhaps altogether deprived of their force of action, for a short time, because they would otherwise counteract the sails forward, and prevent the ship from turning. They are, however, extended as soon as the ship, in veering, brings the wind on the opposite quarter, as their effort then contributes to assist her motion of wheeling. Box-hauling is generally performed when the ship is too near the shore to have room for veering in the usual way.

brab tree

Palmyra Palm tree, or fan palm

brace

W: A rope reeved through a block at the end of a yard, by which the yard is moved horizontally; also, a rudder gudgeon.

F: a rope employed to wheel, or traverse the sails upon the mast, in a direction parallel to the horizon, when it is necessary to shift the sails, that they may correspond with the direction of the wind and the course of the ship. Braces are, for this purpose, fastened to the extremities of the yards, which are called the yardarms. All the braces of the yards are double, except those of the topgallant and spritsail [and] topsail yards. The mizen yard is furnished with fangs, or vangs, in the room of braces.

brace aback

W: to bring the wind onto the forward side of the sails to slow the ship

brace about

W: to brace the ship's yards on the opposite tack when going about

brace sharp

W: to bring the yards around to make the smallest possible angle with the fore and aft line when sailing close-hauled

B: to brace the yards to a position in which they will make the smallest possible angle with the keel, for the ship to have headway.

brace the yards

B: To move the yards, by means of the braces, to any direction required.

brace to

B: to ease off the lee braces, and round in the weather braces, to assist the motion of the ship's head in tacking.

brail

TFD: one of several lines fastened to the leech of a fore-and-aft sail to aid in furling it

F: certain rope(s) passing through pullies on the mizen mast, and afterwards fastened, in different places, on the hinder, or aftermost ridge of the sail, in order to truss it up to the mast, as occasion requires. Brails, is likewise a general name given to all the ropes which are employed to haul up, or collect to their yards, the bottoms, lower corners, and skirts of the other great sails, for the more ready furling them whenever it shall be necessary.

brail up

B: to haul up a sail by means of the brails, for the more readily furling it when necessary

brake

W: The handle, manned by up to six men, by which a ship's pump was worked

F: the handle, or lever, by which a common ship pump is usually managed. It operates by means of two iron bolts thrust through the inner end of it; one of which resting across two cheeks or ears, in the upper end of the pump, serves as a fulcrum for the brake, supporting it between the cheeks. The other bolt connects the extremity of the brake to the pump spear, which draws up the box, or piston, charged with the water in the tube.

bread room

TS: The storerooms in which are kept the ship's allowance of hard-bread, etc. Usually situated in the after orlop.

breaker

W: A small cask of water kept permanently in a ship's boat in case of shipwreck

TFD: A small water cask, often used in lifeboats.

breakers

W: wave breaking into foam against the shore, or against a sand bank, or a rock or reef near the surface, considered a useful warning to ships of an underwater hazard

F: a name given by sailors to those billows that break violently over rocks lying under the surface of the sea. They are distinguished both by their appearance and found, as they cover that part of the sea with a perpetual foam, and produce a hoarse and terrible roaring, very different from what the waves usually have in a deeper bottom. When a ship is unhappily driven amongst breakers, it is hardly possible to save her, as every billow that heaves her upwards serves to dash her down with additional force, when it breaks over the rocks or sands beneath it.

bream

TFD: To clean (a wooden ship's hull) by applying heat to soften the pitch and then scraping.

B: burning off the filth from a ship's bottom

breastwork

F: a sort of balustrade or fence, composed of rails or mouldings, and frequently decorated with sculpture. It is used to terminate the quarterdeck and poop at the foreends, and to inclose the forecastle both before and behind.

brecco

a jug

breeches

trousers

breeve

small cask or keg used to contain water

breeze

W: A gentle to moderate wind. See Beaufort scale.

bridle

TFD: A span of chain, wire, or rope that can be secured at both ends to an object and slung from its center point.

F: the upper-part of the moorings laid in the king's harbours to ride ships or vessels of war.

brig

W: A two-masted vessel, square-rigged on both foremast and mainmast

WP: two masts, both square-rigged with a spanker on the mainmast.

brigantine

W: a two-masted vessel, square-rigged on the foremast, but fore-and-aft-rigged on the mainmast

bring by the lee

See broach to

bring to

TFD: To cause (a ship) to turn into the wind or come to a stop.

B: To check the course of a ship when she is advancing, by arranging the sails in such a manner that they shall counteract each other, and prevent her from either retreating or advancing. See lie to.

broach to

B: To incline suddenly to windward of the ship's course, so as to present her side to the wind, and endanger her oversetting. The difference between broaching to and bringing by the lee may be thus defined: Suppose a ship under great sail is steering south, having the wind at NNW then west is the weather side, and east the lee side. If, by any accident, her head turns round to the westward, so that her sails are all taken aback on the weather side, she is said to broach to. If, on the contrary, her head declines so far eastward as to lay her sails aback on that side which was the lee side, it is called bringing by the lee.

broad pendant, pennant

WP: A broad pennant is a swallow-tailed tapering flag flown from the masthead of a ship to indicate the presence of a commodore on board.

B: A kind of flag terminating in a point used to distinguish the chief of a squadron.

broadside

WN: the whole side of a vessel from stem to stern

Brodie stove

Scotsman Alexander Brodie patented this stove in 1781 and it was used by the Royal Navy until 1810. The Brodie stove was used not only to prepare food, but to warm and dry the ship. When the logs say "fires were kept in all night," this is where they were kept. The scale at the bottom of the image is twelve feet, but of course the stoves were made in various sizes depending on the size of the ship. On the Bounty, the stove was in the forecastle, directly under the stovepipe. (Click image to see original.)

broken-backed

W: Drooping at each end because of a damaged spine

B: The state of a ship which is so loosened in her frame as to drop at each end.

brooming

burning and/or scraping off the slime that collects on the hull, inside or out

See also bream

bulkhead

TFD: any upright wall-like partition in a ship

F: certain partitions, or walls, built up in several places of a ship between two decks, either lengthwise or across, to form and separate the various apartments. Some of those which are built across the Ship are remarkably strong.

bullace

a purple or greenish yellow wild plum

WN: small wild or half-domesticated Eurasian plum bearing small ovoid fruit in clusters

bulwark

W: The planking or plating along the sides of a nautical vessel above her gunwale that reduces the likelihood of seas washing over the gunwales and people being washed overboard.

bumpkin

TFD: A short spar projecting from the deck of a ship, used to extend a sail or secure a block or stay.

F: a short boom or bar of timber, projecting from each bow of a ship, to extend the lower edge of the foresail to windward; for which purpose there is a large block fixed on it's outer end, through which the rope is passed that is fastened to the lower corner of the sail to windward, called the tack; and this being drawn tight down brings the corner of the sail close to the block, which being performed, the tack is said to be aboard. The bumpkin is secured by a strong rope which confines it downward to the ship's bow, to counteract the strain it bears from the foresail above, dragging it upwards.

buoy

W: A float moored in water to mark a location, warn of danger, or indicate a navigational channel.

B: A floating conical cask, moored upon shoals to show where the danger is; also used at anchors to show where they lie, in case the cable breaks.

F: a sort of closed cask, or block of wood, fastened by a rope to the anchor, to determine the place where the anchor is situated, that the ship may not come too near it, to entangle her cable about the stock, or the flukes of it.

cable buoy

can buoy

nun buoy

burgoo

(Serves 4)

2 cups oats

4 cups cold water

l level teaspoon salt

3 tablespoons butter

4 level teaspoons sugar

Gradually stir the oats into the water. Bring to the boil and simmer for 15 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from the heat and stir in the other ingredients.

burthen

W: 1. the tonnage of a ship based on the number of tuns of wine that she could carry in her holds. 2. Archaic spelling of burden.

F: the weight or measure of any species of merchandise that a ship will carry when fit for sea.

burton

TFD: A light tackle having double or single blocks, used to hoist or tighten rigging.

F: a sort of small tackle, formed by two blocks or pullies, till the rope becomes three or four fold, and acquires an additional power in proportion. It is generally employed to tighten the shrouds of the topmasts, but may be otherwise used to move or draw along any weighty body in the hold, or on the deck, as anchors, bales of goods, large casks, &c.

butt

cask: 1 hogshead = 1-1/3 puncheons = 2 butts; a hogshead of wine held 63 gallons, of beer, 54 gallons

WN: a large cask (especially one holding a volume equivalent to 2 hogsheads or 126 gallons

See table at puncheon

buttock

F: the convexity of a ship behind, under the stern; it is terminated by the counter above, and by the after part of the bilge below, by the rudder in the middle, and by the quarter on the side.

by the board

B: Over the ship's side.

by the head

D: so loaded as to draw more water forward than aft.

F: the state of a ship, which is laden deeper at the fore end than the after end

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C

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

cable, cable (length), cable buoy, cable tier, caboose, cackling, caliloo, call, calm, can buoy, cant, cant timbers, cap, capsicum, capstan, captain, careen, carlings, carpenter, carry away, cartouche, cast, carvel-built, casting, cat, cat block, cat o' nine tails, cat the anchor, cat-harpin, catfall, cathead, cat's-paw, caulk, cavally, centinel, chafe, chain wale, chains, chaldron, channel, chart, cheeks of the mast, chesstree, chime, chinse, chock, cholera morbus, clamps, cleat, clerk of the cheque, clew, clue, clew garnet(s), clew line(s), clew up, clue up, clews, close-hauled, clue, clyster, coach, coaming, coat, cockle, cockpit, coil, collar, collier, colours, come about, come home, come to, Commissioners of the Navy, commodore, companion, companionway, company, compass, complement, con, confused sea, cooper, cordage, corporal, corposant, cot, counter, course, courses, coxswain, craft, crank, crew, cringle, cross a yard, crossjack, crossjack yard, crosstrees, crowd, crowfoot, cuddy, cun, current, cutlass, cutter, cutwater, cwt,

cable

TFD: A heavy rope or chain for mooring or anchoring a ship.

F: a large, strong rope, of a considerable length, used to retain a ship at anchor in a road, bay, or haven. Cables are of various sorts and sizes. In Europe they are usually manufactured of hemp; in Africa they are more frequently composed of bass, which is a sort of long straw or rushes; and in Asia of a peculiar sort of Indian grass. Cables, of what thickness soever, are generally formed of three ropes twisted together, which are then called strands; each of these is composed of three smaller strands; and those last of a certain number of rope yarns. This number is therefore greater or smaller in proportion to the size of the cable required. There are some cables, however, manufactured of four strands; which are chiefly the production of Italy and Provence. All ships ought to be furnished with at least three good cables; the sheet cable, and the two bowers; best and small. All cables ought to be one hundred and twenty fathoms in length; for which purpose the threads or yarns must be one hundred and eighty fathoms; inasmuch as they are diminished one-third in length by twisting. Besides this length, it is necessary to splice at least two cables together, in order to double the length when a ship is obliged to anchor in deep water. For although it is not common to anchor in a greater depth than forty fathoms, yet if there is only one cable, and the ship rides in a storm and tempestuous sea, the anchor will of necessity sustain the whole weight and violent jerking of the ship, in a direction too nearly perpendicular. By this effort it will unavoidably be loosened from it's hold, and dragged by the ship, which, thus driven from her station, is in immediate danger of being wrecked on the nearest rocks or shallows; whereas it is evident, that if the cable, by it's great length, were to draw more horizontally on the anchor, it would bear a much greater force. The long cable is not so apt to break as the short one; because it will bear a great deal more stretching before it comes to the greatest strain; it therefore resembles a sort of spring, which may be very easily extended, and afterwards recovers its first state, as soon as the force which extended it is removed. Besides all this, a ship will ride much smoother with a long cable, and be less apt to pitch, or plunge deep in the water with her fore part. On the contrary, the short cable, being too nearly vertical to the anchor, cannot bear such a strain, because it is charged with a greater effort; and, as it will not bear stretching, may break at the first violent tug. The ship also rides with much greater difficulty, labours extremely, and often plunges all her fore part under water.

bit the cable

pay away the cable

serve the cable

stream cable

tier of the cable

cable (length)

TFD: 1. a unit of distance in navigation, equal to one tenth of a sea mile (about 600 feet) 2. Also called cable length, cable's length, a unit of length in nautical use that has various values, including 100 fathoms (600 feet).

cable buoy

TFD: an empty cask employed to buoy up the cable in rocky anchorage.

F: common casks employed to buoy up the cables in different places from any rocky ground. In the harbour of Alexandria, in Egypt, every ship is moored with at least three cables, and has three or four of these buoys on each cable for this purpose.

buoy

can buoy

nun buoy

cable tier

W13: That part of a vessel where the cables are stowed.

B: the space in the midst of a cable when it is coiled; also the place in which it is coiled.

caboose

W: A small galley or cookhouse on the deck of a (small) vessel.

cackling

cackling W: alternate ring hitching (kackling, keckling) is a type of Ringbolt hitching formed with a series of alternate left and right hitches made around a ring. Covering a ring in hitching can prevent damage if the ring is likely to chafe or strike against something, such as a mooring line or mast.

caliloo

the leaves of the dasheen, a variety of taro (a nutritious, potato-like vegetable)

call

TFD: boatswain's call (or bosun's whistle) is a pipe that is made of a tube (called the gun), that directs air over a grape-sized metal sphere (called the buoy) with a hole cut in the top. The player opens and closes the hand over the hole to change the pitch. The historical use of the boatswain's pipe was as a signaling device on a ship. Because of its high pitch, it could be heard over the activities of the crew and bad weather. Our phrase, 'pipe down,' comes from the boatswain's call of the same name which dismissed all hands not on watch.

F: a sort of whistle, or pipe, of silver or brass, used by the boatswain and his mates to summon the sailors to their duty, and direct them in the different employments of the ship. As the call can be sounded to various strains, each of them is appropriated to some particular exercise; such as hoisting, heaving, lowering, veering away, belaying, letting go a tackle, &c. The act of winding this instrument is called piping, which is as attentively observed by sailors, as the beat of the drum to march, retreat, rally, charge, &c. is obeyed by soldiers.

calm

TFD: A condition of no wind or a wind with a speed of less than 1 knot (1.15 miles per hour; 1.9 kilometers per hour), according to the Beaufort scale.

F: the state of rest which appears in the air and sea when there is no wind stirring. That tract of the Atlantic ocean, situated between the tropic of Cancer and the latitude of 29° north; or the space that lies between the trade and the variable winds, is frequently subject to calms of very long duration; and hence it has acquired, amongst seamen, the name of the Calm Latitudes. A long calm is often more fatal to a ship than the severest tempest, because if the ship is tight and in good condition, she may sustain the latter without much injury; whereas in a long calm, the provision and water may be entirely consumed, without any opportunity of obtaining a fresh supply. The surface of the sea in a continued calm is smooth and bright as a looking glass.

dead calm

can buoy

TFD: a buoy with a flat-topped cylindrical shape above water, marking the left side of a channel leading into a harbour; red in British waters but green (occasionally black) in US waters

F: Can Buoys are in the form of a cone, and of this construction are all the buoys which are floated over dangerous banks and shallows, as a warning to passing ships, that they may avoid them. They are extremely large, that they may be seen at a distance, and are fastened by strong chains to the anchors which are sunk for this purpose at such places.

buoy

cable buoy

nun buoy

cant

a slanted or oblique surface

cant timbers

W13: timber at the two ends of a ship, rising obliquely from the keel.

F: in ship building, those timbers which are situated at the two ends of a ship. They derive their name from being canted, or railed obliquely from the keel; in contradistinction to those whose planes are perpendicular to it. The upper ends of those on the bow, or fore part of the ship, are inclined to the stem; as those in the after, or hind part, incline to the stern post above.

cap

W13: A collar of iron or wood used in joining spars, as the mast and the topmast, the bowsprit and the jib boom; also, a covering of tarred canvas at the end of a rope.

F: a strong, thick block of wood, used to confine two masts together, when the one is erected at the head of the other, in order to lengthen it. It is for this purpose furnished with two holes perpendicular to its length and breadth, and parallel to its thickness; one of these is square, and the other round; the former being solidly fixed upon the upper end of the lower mast, whilst the latter receives the mast employed to lengthen it, and secures it in this position. The principal caps of a ship are those of the lower masts, which are fitted with a strong eye bolt on each side, wherein to hook the block by which the topmast is drawn up through the cap. The breadth of all caps is equal to twice the diameter of the topmast, and the length to twice the breadth. The thickness of the main and forecaps is half the diameter of their breadths; the mizen cap three-sevenths, and the topmast caps two-fifths of their respective breadths. In the same manner as the topmast slides up through the cap of the lower mast, the topgallant mast slides up through the cap of the topmast.

capsicum

peppers, either chili or sweet/bell

TFD: 1. Any of various tropical American pepper plants of the genus Capsicum, especially any of the numerous cultivated forms of the species C. annuum and C. frutescens. 2. The fruit of any of these plants, used as a vegetable or ground to produce a condiment.

capstan

W: A vertical cleated drum or cylinder, revolving on an upright spindle, and surmounted by a drumhead with sockets for bars or levers. It is much used, especially on shipboard, for moving or raising heavy weights or exerting great power by traction upon a rope or cable, passing around the drum. It is operated either by steam power or by a number of men walking around the capstan, each pushing on the end of a lever fixed in its socket.

B: An instrument by which the anchor is weighed out of the ground, used also for setting up the shrouds, and other work where a great purchase is required.

F: a strong massy column of timber, formed like a truncated cone, and having it's upper extremity pierced with a number of holes to receive the bars or levers. It is let down perpendicularly through the decks of a ship, and is fixed in such manner, that the men, by turning it horizontally with their bars, may perform any work which requires an extraordinary effort.

captain

F: the officer who commands a ship of the line of battle, or a frigate carrying twenty or more cannon. The charge of a captain in his Majesty's navy is very comprehensive, inasmuch as he is not only answerable for any bad conduct in the military government, navigation, and equipment of the ship he commands; but also for any neglect of duty, or ill management in his inferior officers, whose several charges he is appointed to superintend and regulate. On his first receiving information of the condition and quality of the ship he is appointed to command, he must attend her constantly, and hasten the necessary preparations to fit her for sea. So strict indeed are the injunctions laid on him by the lord high admiral, or commissioners of the admiralty, that he is forbid to lie out of his ship, from his arrival on board, till the day of his discharge, unless by particular leave from the admiralty, or his commander in chief. He is enjoined to shew a laudable example of honour and virtue to the officers and men, and to discountenance all dissolute, immoral, and disorderly practices, and such as are contrary to the rules of discipline and subordination, as well as to correct those who are guilty of such offences, as are punishable according to the usage of the sea. He is ordered particularly to survey all the military stores which are sent on board, and to return whatsoever is deemed unfit for service. His diligence and application are required to procure his complement of men; observing carefully to enter only such as are fit for the necessary duty, that the government may not be put to improper expence. When his ship is fully manned, he is expected to keep the established number of men complete, and superintend the muster himfelf, if there is no clerk of the check at the port.

careen

W: To heave a ship down on one side so as to expose the other, in order to clean it of barnacles and weed, or to repair it below the water line.

B: To incline a ship on one side so low down, by shifting the cargo or stores on one side, that her bottom on the other side may be cleaned by breaming.

F: the operation of heaving the ship down on one side, by the application of a strong purchase to her masts, which are properly supported for the occasion, to prevent them from breaking with so great a strain. Careening is used to heave one of the ship's sides so low in the water, as that her bottom, being elevated above its surface on the other side, may be cleansed from any filth, which adheres to it, by breaming.

carlings

TFD: the short timbers running fore and aft that connect the transverse beams supporting the deck of a ship.

F: short pieces of timber ranging fore and aft, from one of the deck beams to another, into which their ends are scored; they are used to sustain and fortify the smaller beams of the ship

carpenter

W: a senior rating in ships responsible for all the woodwork onboard; in the days of sail, a warrant officer responsible for the hull, masts, spars and boats of a ship, and whose responsibility was to sound the well to see if the ship was making water

F: an officer appointed to examine and keep in order the frame of the ship, together with her masts, yards, boats, and all other wooden machinery, and stores committed to him by indenture from the surveyor of the dock yard. It is his duty in particular to keep the Ship tight; for which purpose he ought frequently to review the decks and sides, and to caulk them when it is found necessary. In the time of battle he is to examine up and down, with all possible attention, in the lower apartments of the ship, to stop any holes that may have been made in the sides by shot, with wooden plugs provided, of several sizes, for that purpose.

carry away

W: (of a mast, or rigging) to break under sudden pressure of violent wind

B: To break—as a ship has carried away her bowsprit, that is has broken it off.

cartouche

TFD: (French) cartridge

cast

W: 1. To heave the lead and line in order to ascertain the depth of water. 2. To bring the bows of a sailing ship on to the required tack just as the anchor is weighed by use of the headsail; to bring (a ship) round.

carvel-built

WP: a method of constructing wooden boats and tall ships by fixing planks to a frame so that the planks butt up against each other, edge to edge, gaining support from the frame and forming a smooth hull. Such planking requires caulking between the joints over and above that needed by the clinker built technology, but gives a stronger hull capable of taking a variety of full-rigged sail plans, albeit one of greater weight.

casting

B: The motion of falling off, so as to bring the direction of the wind on either side of the ship after it had blown sometime right ahead. It is particularly applied to a ship about to weigh anchor.

F: in navigation, the motion of falling off, so as to bring the direction of the wind on either side of the ship after it had blown for some time right ahead. This term is particularly applied to a ship when her anchor first loosens from the ground, when she is about to depart from any place where the had anchored; and as the had probably rested at anchor with her head to windward, it is plain she must turn it off, so as to fill the sails before she can advance in her course, which operation is called casting. Hence she is said to cast the right way, or the wrong way.

cat

W: 1. A strong tackle used to hoist an anchor to the cathead of a ship. 2. Contraction of cat o' nine tails.

F: a sort of strong tackle, or complication of pullies, to hook and draw the anchor perpendicularly up to the cathead.

cat block

TFD: a heavy iron-strapped block with a large hook, part of the tackle used in drawing an anchor up to the cathead.

F: The cat block is employed to draw the anchor up to the cat-head.

cat o' nine tails

TFD: a whip used as an instrument of punishment consisting of nine pieces of knotted line or cord fastened to a handle; – formerly used to flog offenders on the bare back; – called also the cat. It was used in the British Navy to maintain discipline on board sailing ships.

cat the anchor

B: is to hook the cat block to the ring of the anchor, and haul it up close to the cathead.

cat-harpin

TFD: (a variant of cat-harping) describes one of the short ropes or iron cramps used to brace in the shrouds toward the masts so as to give a freer sweep to the yards.

F: a purchase of ropes employed to brace in the shrouds of the lower masts behind their yards, for the double purpose of making the shrouds more tight, and of affording room to draw the yards in more obliquely, to trim the sails for a side wind, when they are said to be close-hauled.

catfall

D: A rope used in hoisting the anchor to the cathead.

cathead

W: A heavy piece of timber projecting from each side of the bow of a ship for holding anchors which were fitted with a stock in position for letting go or for securing after weighing.

B: The timbers on ship's bows with sheaves in them, by which the anchor is hoisted after it has been hove up by the cable.

F: two strong short beams of timber, which project almost horizontally over the ship's bows, on each side of the bowsprit, being like two radii which extend from a center taken in the direction of the bowsprit. That part of the cathead which rests upon the forecastle is securely bolted to the beams; the other part projects like a crane, as above described, and carries in its extremity two or three small wheels, or sheaves, of brass, or strong wood, about which a rope called the catfall passes, and communicates with the cat block, which also contains three sheaves. The machine formed by this combination of pullies is called the cat, which serves to pull the anchor up to the cathead without tearing the ship's side with its flukes. The cat block is fitted with a large and strong hook, which catches the ring of the anchor when it is to be drawn up. The cathead also serves to suspend the anchor clear of the bow, when it is necessary to let it go; it is supported by a sort of knee, which is generally ornamented with sculpture.

cat's-paw

TFD: a pattern of ripples on the surface of water caused by a light wind

F: a light air of wind perceived at a distance in a calm, by the impression made on the surface of the sea, which it sweeps very lightly, and then decays.

caulk

W: To drive oakum into the seams of a ship's wooden deck or hull in order to make them watertight

F: to drive a quantity of oakum, or old ropes untwisted and drawn asunder, into the seams of the planks, or into the intervals where the planks are joined to each other in the ship's decks or sides, in order to prevent the entrance of water. After the oakum is driven very hard into these seams, it is covered with hot melted pitch or resin, to keep the water from rotting it. Amongst the ancients, the first who made use of pitch in calking, were the inhabitants of Phaeacia, afterwards called Corsica. Wax and resin appear to have been commonly used previous to that period; and the Poles at this time use a sort of unctuous clay for the same purpose, on their navigable rivers.

cavally

a kind of fish belonging to a family allied to the mackerels

centinel

archaic spelling of sentinel

chafe

W: To be worn by rubbing; as, a cable chafes.

F: is to rub or fret the surface of a cable, mast, or yard, whilst the ship is agitated by the motion of the sea, or otherwise.

chain wale

See channel

chains

D: the area outboard at the foot of the shrouds of a mast; the customary position of the leadsman in taking soundings.

B: A place built on the sides of the ship projecting out, and at which the shrouds are fastened, for the purpose of giving them greater angle than they could have if fastened to the ship's side, and of course giving them a greater power to secure the mast.

F: strong links or plates of iron, the lower ends of which are bolted through the ship's side to the timbers. They are placed at short distances from each other on the ship's outside, as being used to contain the blocks called deadeyes, by which the shrouds of the masts are extended.

chaldron

D: an English dry measure formerly used for coal, coke, lime, and the like, varying locally from 32 to 36 bushels or more.

channel

TFD: A wood or steel ledge projecting from a sailing ship's sides to spread the shrouds and keep them clear of the gunwales.

F: broad and thick planks projecting horizontally from the ship's outside, abreast of, and somewhat behind, the masts. They are formed to extend the shrouds from each other, and from the axis or middle line of the ship, so as to give a greater security and support to the masts, as well as to prevent the shrouds from damaging the gunwale, or being hurt by rubbing against it. Every mast has it's chain wales, which are either built above or below the second deck ports in a ship of the line; they are strongly connected to the side by knees, bolts, and standards, besides being confined thereto by the chains, whose upper ends pass through notches on the outer edge of the chain wales, so as to unite with the shrouds above.

chart

TFD: A map showing coastlines, water depths, or other information of use to navigators.

F: a marine map or draught, upon which are represented the coasts, isles, banks, rocks, and dangers of the sea, together with the rhombs of the wind, and the entrance of bays and rivers, whereby to shape and regulate the various courses of a ship in her voyage.

cheeks of the mast

TFD: the projection on each side of a mast, upon which the trestletrees rest.

F: the faces or projecting parts on each side of the masts, used to sustain the frame of the top, together with the topmast, which rests immediately upon them.

chesstree

TFD: A piece of oak bolted perpendicularly on the side of a vessel, to aid in drawing down and securing the clew of the mainsail.

F: two pieces of wood bolted perpendicularly, one on the starboard, and the other on the larboard side of the ship. They are used to confine the clue, or lower corners of the mainsail; for which purpose there is a hole in the upper part through which the rope passes that usually extends the clue of the sail to windward. The chesstrees are commonly placed as far before the mainmast as the length of the main beam.

chime

TFD: the projecting edge or rim of a cask or barrel

chinse

F: is to thrust oakum into a seam or chink with the point of a knife or chissel. This is chiefly used as a temporary expedient when caulking cannot be safely or conveniently performed.

chock

D: 1. a shaped support or cradle for a ship's boat, barrel, etc. 2. a small wooden piece or timber for filling a gap, reinforcing an angle, etc., in a wooden vessel.

cholera morbus

TFD: Acute gastroenteritis occurring in summer and autumn and marked by severe cramps, diarrhea, and vomiting. No longer in scientific use.

clamps

D: horizontal timbers in a wooden hull, secured to ribs to support deck beams and to provide longitudinal strength.

F: thick planks in a ship's side, used to sustain the ends of the beams. The clamps extend from the stem to the fashion-pieces of the stern, including the whole interior range of the side. They are placed close under each deck so as to be securely fayed to all the timbers, to which they are fastened by nails driven through the clamp, and penetrating two-thirds of the thickness of the timber. The clamps of the lower and second decks ought to be equal in thickness to half the corresponding timbers in that part, and as broad as can be procured. In their disposition it is essentially necessary to avoid their being wounded by the ports, as the strength and firmness of a ship greatly depend on the substance and solidity of those pieces which lie horizontally in her frame.

cleat

TFD: A piece of metal or wood having projecting arms or ends on which a rope can be wound or secured.

F: pieces of wood of different shapes, used occasionally to fasten ropes upon in a ship; some of them have one, and some two arms, others are hollowed in the middle, and have no arms at all, these are nailed to the deck or sides to fasten any thing to.

clerk of the cheque

F: an officer in the royal dockyards, who keeps a muster or register of all the men employed aboard his Majesty's ships and vessels, and also of all the artificers and others in the service of the navy at the port where he is settled.

clew, clue

W: The lower corner(s) of a sail to which a sheet is attached for trimming the sail (adjusting its position relative to the wind); the metal loop or cringle in the corner of the sail, to which the sheet is attached. On a triangular sail, the clew is the trailing corner relative to the wind direction.

TFD: 1. One of the two lower corners of a square sail. 2. The lower aft corner of a fore-and-aft sail. 3. A metal loop attached to the lower corner of a sail.

clew garnet(s)

TFD: one of the ropes by which the clews of the courses of square-rigged vessels are drawn up to the lower yards.

F: are a sort of tackles fastened to the clues, or lower corners of the mainsail and foresail, to truss them up to the yard as occasion requires, which is usually termed clueing up the sails.

clew line(s)

W: Outermost of the ropes with which a square sail is rolled up to the yard

TFD: A rope used to raise the clew of a sail up to the yard or mast.

B: are ropes which come down from the mast to the lower corners of the sails, and by which the corners or clues of the sails are hauled up.

F: are for the same purpose as clue garnets, only that the latter are confined to the courses, whereas the cluelines are common to all the square sails.

clew up, clue up

TFD: to furl (a square sail) by gathering its clews up to the yard by means of clew lines

B: To haul up the clues of a sail to its yard by means of the clue lines.

clews

W: The cords suspending a hammock.

close-hauled

W: with the sails trimmed as close to the wind as possible with all sails full and not shivering

TFD: with the sails flat, so as to sail as close to the wind as possible

F: in navigation, the general arrangement, or trim, of a ship's sails, when she endeavours to make a progress in the nearest direction possible towards that point of the compass from which the wind bloweth. In this manner of sailing the keel commonly makes an angle of six points with the line of the wind; but sloops, and some other small vessels, are said to sail almost a point nearer. All vessels, however, are supposed to make nearly a point of leeway, when close-hauled, even when they have the advantage of a good sailing breeze and smooth water. The angle of leeway, however, enlarges in proportion to the increase of the wind and sea. In this disposition of the sails, they are all extended sideways on the ship, so that the wind, as it crosses the ship obliquely towards the stern from forwards, may fill their cavities. But as the current of wind also enters the cavities of the sails, in an oblique direction, the effort of it, to make the the ship advance, is considerably diminished; she will, therefore, make the least progress when sailing in this manner. The ship is said to be close-hauled, because at this time her tacks, or lower corners of the principal sails, are drawn close down to her side to windward; the sheets hauled close aft; and all the bowlines drawn to their greatest extension, in order to keep the sails steady.

clue

See clew

clyster

TFD: An enema.

coach

D: an after cabin in a sailing ship, located beneath the poop deck, for use esp. by the commander of the ship.

F: a sort of chamber or apartment in a large ship of war near the stern. The floor of it is formed by the aftmost part of the quarterdeck, and the roof of it by the poop; it is generally the habitation of the captain.

coaming

upright frames around openings in the deck to prevent water from running below

TFD: A raised rim or border around an opening, as in a ship's deck, designed to keep out water.

F: certain raised borders about the edge of the hatches of a ship, to prevent the water which may flow in upon the deck at sea, from running down into the lower apartments.

coat

W: canvas painted with thick tar and secured round a mast or bowsprit to prevent water running down the sides into the hold (now made of rubber or leather)

F: a piece of tarred canvas nailed round that part of the masts and bowsprit which joins to the deck, or lies over the stem of a ship. It is used to prevent the water from running down into the hold, or between the decks. Besides those above mentioned, there is a coat for the rudder nailed round the hole where the rudder traverses in the ship's counter.

cockle

small mollusk with a rounded or heart-shaped shell in two parts

TFD: Any of various bivalve mollusks of the family Cardiidae, having rounded or heart-shaped shells with radiating ribs. 2. The shell of a cockle.

cockpit

MW: a compartment in a sailing warship used as quarters for junior officers and for treatment of the wounded in an engagement

F: the apartments of the surgeon and his mates, being the place where the wounded men are dressed in the time of battle, or otherwise. It is situated under the lower-deck.

coil

F: the manner in which all ropes are disposed aboard ships for the conveniency of stowage; because coiling implies a sort of serpentine winding of a cable or other rope, that it may occupy a small space in the ship. Each of the windings of this sort is called a fake, and one range of fakes upon the same line is called a tier; there are generally from five to seven fakes in a tier, and three or four tiers in the whole length of the cables. This, however, depends on the extent of the fakes. The smaller ropes employed about the sails are coiled upon cleats at sea, to prevent their being entangled amongst one another in traversing, contracting, or extending the sails.

collar

F: a name given to the lower part of any of the principal stays of the masts, or the part by which the stay is confined at it's lower end. Thus the collar of the mainstay connects the lower end of the stay to the ship's stem.

collier

W: A vessel carrying a bulk cargo of coal

F: certain vessels employed to carry coals from one port to another, chiefly from the northern parts of England to the capital, and more southerly parts, as well as to foreign markets. This trade is known to be an excellent nursery for seamen, although they are often found, from the constitution of their climate, to be not so well calculated for southern navigation.

colours

W: The national flag flown by a ship at sea.

F: the flags or banners which distinguish the ships of different nations.

come about

W: To tack; to change tack; to maneuver the bow of a sailing vessel across the wind so that the wind changes from one side of the vessel to the other; to position a boat with respect to the wind after tacking.

come home

(of an anchor) to begin to drag

come to

W: To stop a sailing vessel, especially by turning into the wind.

TFD: To bring the bow into the wind.

B: denotes the approach of a ship's head to the direction of the wind.

Commissioners of the Navy

F: certain officers appointed to superintend the affairs of the marine, under the direction of the Lord High Admiral, or Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty. The duty of these officers does not extend to the internal government of ships invested with a military command, either at sea or in the port. It is more immediately concerned in the building, docking, repairing, and cleaning of ships in the dock yards. In consideration of this, all ships of war are commissioned from a report of their qualities presented to the Admiralty by the Navy Board. They have also the appointment of some of the inferior sea officers, as surgeons and masters of ships. The principal officers and commissioners residing at the board, are, 1. The comptroler. 2. Two surveyors, who are shipwrights. 3. Clerk of the acts. 4. Comptroler of the treasurer's accounts. 5. Comptroler of the victualing accounts. 6. Comptroler of the storekeeper's accounts. 7. An extraordinary commissioner. Besides these, there are three resident commissioners, who manage the affairs of the dock yards at Chatham, Portsmouth, and Plymouth, under the direction of the board at the Navy Office.

commodore

W: A (temporary) commander over a collection of ships who is not an admiral.

TFD: Commodore is a rank of the Royal Navy above Captain and below Rear Admiral. It is equivalent to a 1 star rank and has a NATO ranking code of OF-6. The rank is equivalent to Brigadier in the British Army and Royal Marines and to Air Commodore in the Royal Air Force.

History

The appointment of Commodore dates to the mid-17th century: it was first used in the time of William III. There was a need for officers to command squadrons, but it was not deemed desirable to create new admirals (as Post-Captains were promoted to Rear-Admiral in order of seniority). Captains assigned squadron command were given the title of Commodore, but it was not an actual rank. The officer so designated kept his place on the list of Captains. In 1748 it was established that Captains serving as Commodores were equal to Brigadier-Generals in the Army.

Commodores could revert to the rank of Captain at the end of their posting (and Captains could be promoted directly to Rear-Admiral without ever having served as a Commodore).

The Royal Navy Commodore was eventually split into two classes. Those of the first class had a Captain under them to command their ship and were allocated one-eighth of all prize money earned by ships under their command. Those of the second class commanded their own ship as well as the squadron. In 1783, Commodores of the first class were allowed to wear the uniform of a Rear-Admiral, a distinction which continued with some variation until the two classes of Commodore were consolidated in 1958.

(Webmaster's note: In the logbook of the Assistant, the Armed Tender which accompanied Bligh in the Providence on the second breadfruit expedition, both he and his ship are often referred to as 'the Commodore.')

F: a general officer in the British marine, invested with the command of a detachment of ships of war destined on any particular enterprise; during which time he bears the rank of brigadier-general in the army, and is distinguished from the inferior ships of his squadron by a broad red pendent tapering towards the outer end, and sometimes forked. The word is corrupted from the Spanish comendador.

companion

W: 1. The framework on the quarterdeck of a sailing ship through which daylight entered the cabins below. 2. The covering of a hatchway on an upper deck which leads to the companionway; the stairs themselves.

companionway

W: a staircase or ladder from one deck to another on a ship

company

W: The entire crew of a ship.

compass

TFD: A device used to determine geographic direction, usually consisting of a magnetic needle or needles horizontally mounted or suspended and free to pivot until aligned with the earth's magnetic field.

F: an instrument employed to determine the ship's course at sea, and consisting of a card and two boxes. The card, which is calculated to represent the horizon, is a circle divided into thirty-two equal parts, by lines drawn from the center to the circumference, called points or rhumbs. The intervals between the points are also subdivided into equal parts called degrees, 360 of which complete the circle; and consequently the distance or angle comprehended between any two rhumbs is equal to 11°, 15′. The four principal rhumbs are called the cardinal points, deriving their names from the places to which they tend; viz. the two which extend themselves under the meridian, opposite to each other, pointing to the north and south, are called the north and south points. That which is towards the right hand as we look north is termed east, and it's opposite the west point. The names of all the inferior ones are compounded of these, according to their situation. Along the north and south line is fixed a steel needle, which being touched by the load-stone acquires a certain virtue that makes it hang nearly in the plane of the meridian, and consequently determine the direction of the other points toward the horizon.

complement

TFD: the officers and crew needed to man a ship

con

D: 1. To direct the steering of (a ship) 2. The station of the person who cons.

F: (conning) the art of directing the steersman to guide the ship in her proper course; the officer who performs this duty is either the pilot or quartermaster.

confused sea

TFD: A highly disturbed water surface without a single, well-defined direction of wave travel.

cooper

W: A craftsman who makes and repairs barrels and similar wooden vessels such as casks, buckets and tubs.

cordage

F: a general term for the running rigging of a ship, or all that part of her rigging which is employed to extend, contract, or traverse the sails; or which lies in reserve to supply the place of such as may be rendered unserviceable.

corporal

TFD: (in the Royal Navy) a petty officer who assists the master-at-arms

F: an officer under the master at arms, employed to teach the sailors the exercise of small arms, or musketry; to attend at the gangway, or entering-ports, and observe that no spirituous liquors are brought into the ship, unless by particular leave from the officers. He is also to extinguish the fire and candles at eight o'clock in winter, and nine in summer, when the evening gun is fired; and to walk frequently down in the lower decks in his watch, to see that there are no lights but such as are under the charge of proper centinels.

corposant

TFD: St. Elmo's fire – A visible electric discharge on a pointed object, such as the mast of a ship or the wing of an airplane, during an electrical storm.

F: a sort of volatile meteor, or ignis fatuus, often beheld in a dark and tempestuous night about the decks or rigging of a ship, but particularly at the extremities, as the mastheads, and yardarms; it is most frequent in heavy rain, accompanied with lightening. "They usually wander with uncertain motion from place to place, sometimes appearing to cleave close to the sails and masts; but they frequently leap up and down with intermission, affording an obscure flame, like that of a candle burning faintly. They are produced by some sulphureous and bituminous matter, which being beat down by the motion of the air above, and gathering together, is kindled by the agitation of the air, as butter is gathered together by the agitation of the cream. And from this appearance we infer that storms come from sulphureous spirits that rarify the air, and put it into a motion." Varenius.

cot

W: A wooden bed frame, slung by its corners from a beam, in which officers slept before the introduction of bunks.

F: a particular sort of bed frame, suspended from the beams of a ship, for the officers to sleep in between the decks. This contrivance is much more convenient at sea than either the hammocks or fixed cabins, being a large piece of canvas sewed into the form of a chest, about six feet long, one foot deep, and from two to three feet wide; it is extended by a square wooden frame with a canvas bottom, equal to its length and breadth, to retain it in an horizontal position.

counter

W: The overhanging stern of a vessel above the waterline.

D: the part of a stern that overhangs and projects aft of the sternpost of a vessel.

TFD: the portion of the stern of a boat or ship that overhangs the water aft of the rudder

course

W: The direction of movement of a vessel at any given moment.

TFD: A point on the compass, especially the one toward which a vehicle, such as a ship, is moving.

F: in navigation, the angle contained between the nearest meridian and that point of the compass upon which a ship sails in any particular direction.

courses

W: The lowest square sails in fully rigged masts, often named according to the mast.

TFD: The lowest sail on a mast of a square-rigged ship.

B: a ship's lower sails; as the foresail is the fore course, the mainsail the main course, &c.

F: a name by which the principal sails of a ship are usually distinguished, viz. the mainsail, foresail, and mizen; the mizen staysail and foresail are also sometimes comprehended in this denomination, as are the main staysails of all brigs and schooners.

under courses

coxswain

TFD: A person who usually steers a ship's boat and has charge of its crew.

F: the officer who manages and steers a boat, and has the command of the boat's crew. It is evidently compounded of the words cock and swain, the former of which was anciently used for a yawl or small boat, as appears by several authors; but it has now become obsolete, and is never used by our mariners.

craft

W: 1 Boats, especially of smaller size than ships. Historically primarily applied to vessels engaged in loading or unloading of other vessels, as lighters, hoys, and barges. 2. (British Royal Navy) Those vessels attendant on a fleet, such as cutters, schooners, and gun-boats, generally commanded by lieutenants.

F: a general name for all sorts of vessels employed to load or discharge merchant ships, or to carry alongside, or return the stores of men of war; such are lighters, hoys, barges, prames, &c.

crank

inclined to heel over easily under sail

W: A ship which, because of insufficient or poorly stowed ballast or cargo, is in danger of overturning

B: The ship is crank, that is, she has not a sufficient cargo or ballast to render her capable of bearing sail without being exposed to the danger of oversetting.

crew

W: A member of a ship's company who is not an officer

F: comprehends the officers, sailors, seamen, marines, ordinary men, servants and boys; but exclusive of the captain and lieutenants

cringle

TFD: A small ring or grommet of rope or metal fastened to the edge of a sail.

F: a small hole made in the bolt rope of a sail, by intertwisting one of the divisions of a rope, called a strand, alternately round itself and through the strands of the bolt rope, till it becomes threefold, and assumes the shape of a wreath or ring. The use of the cringle is generally to contain the end of some rope, which is fastened thereto, for the purpose of drawing up the sail to its yard, or of extending the skirts by the means of bridles to stand upon a side wind.

cross a yard

To bring a yard from its stored position (vertical) to its working position (horizontal)

crossjack

(Note: the 's' is silent, it is pronounced 'kraw-jik, or kroj-ik)

TFD: the lowermost sail on a mizzenmast, mizzen course

F: a sail extended on the lower yard of the mizenmast, which is hence called the crossjack yard. This sail, however, has generally been found of little service, and is therefore very seldom used.

(Note: It was the mizen course, only if used. The Bounty had no crossjack sail. See below.)

crossjack yard

W: The lower yard on the mizenmast of a square-rigged ship

E: the lower yard on the mizzen or aftermost mast of a ship-rigged sailing vessel to spread the sheets of the mizzen topsail. It was so called because the term mizzen yard was in use for the lateen sail which was later replaced by the trapezoidal spanker sail set under a gaff. From about 1800 some ships set a square sail called the crossjack from the crossjack yard but it had limited use because of the interference with the spanker.

crosstrees

W: Two horizontal beams at the top of the lower and topmasts, used to spread rigging and as a standing place for sailors.

TFD: Pieces of timber at a masthead, to which are attached the upper shrouds. At the head of lower masts in large vessels, they support a semicircular platform called the top.

F: certain pieces of timber supported by the cheeks and trestletrees, at the upper ends of the lower masts, athwart which they are laid, to sustain the frame of the top.

crowd

W: (of a square-rigged ship) To carry excessive sail

TFD: To spread a large amount of sail to increase speed.

F: to carry an extraordinary force of sail upon a ship, in order to accelerate her course on some important occasion, as in pursuit of, or flight from, an enemy; to escape any immediate danger, &c.

crowfoot

TFD: A set of small lines passed through holes of a batten or fitting to help support the backbone of an awning.

cuddy

TFD: A small cabin or the cook's galley on a ship.

cun

See con

current

W: (ocean) Any more or less permanent or continuous, directed movement of water that flows in one of the Earth's oceans.

F: in navigation, a certain progressive movement of the water of the sea, by which all bodies floating therein are compelled to alter their course, or velocity, or both, and submit to the laws imposed on them by the current. In the sea, currents are either natural and general, as arising from the diurnal rotation of the earth about its axis; or accidental and particular, caused by the waters being driven against promontories or into gulfs and streights; where, wanting room to spread, they are driven back, and thus disturb the ordinary flux of the sea. Currents are various, and directed towards different parts of the ocean, of which some are constant, and others periodical. The most extraordinary current of the sea is that by which part of the Atlantic or African ocean moves about Guinea from Cape Verde towards the curvature or bay of Africa, which they call Fernando Poo, viz. from west to east, contrary to the general motion. And such is the force of this current, that when ships approach too near the shore, it carries them violently towards that bay, and deceives the mariners in their reckoning. There is a great variety of shifting currents, which do not last, but return at certain periods; and these do, most of them, depend upon, and follow the anniversary winds or monsoons, which by blowing in one place may cause a current in another. At Java, in the streights of Sunda, when the monsoons blow from the west, viz. in the month of May, the currents let to the eastward, contrary to the general motion. Also between the island of Celebes and Madura, when the western monsoons let in, viz. in December, January, and February, or when the winds blow from the N. W. or between the north and west, the currents let to the S. E. or between the south and east. At Ceylon, from the middle of March to October, the currents let to the southward, and in the other parts of the year to the northward; because at this time the southern monsoons blow, and at the other, the northern. Between Cochin, China, and Malacca, when the western monsoons blow, viz. from April to August, the currents set eastward against the general motion, but the rest of the year set westward; the monsoon conspiring with the general motion. They run so strongly in these seas, that unexperienced sailors mistake them for waves that beat upon the rocks known by the name of breakers.

cutlass

TFD: A short heavy sword with a curved single-edged blade, once used as a weapon by sailors.

cutter

cutter W: 1. A single-masted, fore-and-aft rigged, sailing vessel with at least two headsails, and a mast set further aft than that of a sloop. 2. A ship's boat, used for transport ship-to-ship or ship-to-shore.

F: a small vessel commonly navigated in the channel of England; it is furnished with one mast, and rigged as a sloop. Many of these vessels are used on an illicit trade, and others employed by the government to seize them; the latter of which are either under the direction of the Admiralty or Custom-house. Cutter is also a small boat used by ships of war.

cutwater

TFD: the forward part of the stem of a vessel, which cuts through the water

cwt

hundredweight

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

Glossary & Nautical Dictionary

D

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

dead calm, dead reckoning, dead water, dead wind, dead-eye, deadlight, deck, deep-waisted, demirep, depth of a sail, dirt, disabled, discharged, dismasted, division, dock, dockyard, dogvane, dogwatch, dolichos, Dolphin Bank, double, douse, dowse, downhaul, downhaul tackle, draft, drag sails, drag the anchor, draught, draw, dressing, drift, driftpiece, drive, driver, drop, drupe, ducat, ducatoon, ducking, dwars,

dead calm

W: A perfectly flat sea with no waves

TFD: no wind at all

dead reckoning

TFD: a method of establishing one's position using the distance and direction travelled rather than astronomical observations

F: in navigation, the judgment or estimation which is made of the place where a ship is situated, without any observation of the heavenly bodies. It is discovered by keeping an account of the distance she has run by the log, and of her course steered by the compass; and by rectifying these data by the usual allowances for drift, leeway, &c. according to the ship's known trim. This reckoning, however, is always to be corrected, as often as any good observation of the sun can be obtained.

dead water

W: The eddying water under a slow-moving ship's counter.

B: The eddy of water, which appears like whirlpools, closing in with the ship's stern as she sails on.

dead wind

TFD: a wind directly ahead, or opposed to the ship's course.

B: The wind right against the ship, or blowing from the very point to which she wants to go.

dead-eye

TFD: A round, flattish, wooden block, encircled by a rope, or an iron band, and pierced with three holes to receive the lanyard; used to extend the shrouds and stays, and for other purposes. Called also deadman's eye.

B: Blocks of wood through which the lanyards of the shrouds are reeved.

F: a sort of round, flattish, wooden block. It is usually encircled with the end of a rope, or with an iron band, and pierced with three holes through the flat, in order to receive the rope called a lanyard, which, corresponding with three holes in another dead-eye, creates a purchase employed for various uses, but chiefly to extend the shrouds and stays, otherwise called the standing rigging. In order to form this purchase, one of the dead-eyes is fastened in the lower-end of each shroud, and the opposite one in the upper link of each chain on the ship's side, which is made round to receive and encompass the hollowed outer edge of the dead-eye. After this the lanyard is passed alternately through the holes in the upper and lower dead-eyes till it becomes six-fold; and is then drawn tight by the application of mechanical powers. In merchant Ships they are generally fitted with iron plates in the room of chains. The dead-eyes used for the stays have only one hole, which, however, is large enough to receive ten or twelve turns of the lanyard; these are generally termed hearts. There are also dead-eyes of another form, employed for the crow-feet. These are long cylindrical blocks with a number of small holes in them, to receive the legs or lines of which the crow-foot is composed.

deadlight

TFD: A strong shutter or plate fastened over a ship's porthole or cabin window in stormy weather.

B: A kind of window shutter for the windows in the stern of a ship, used in very bad weather only.

F: certain wooden ports which are made to fasten into the cabin windows, to prevent the waves from gushing into a ship in a high sea. As they are made exactly to fit the windows, and are strong enough to resist the waves, they are always fixed in, on the approach of a storm, and the glass frames taken out, which might otherwise be shattered to pieces by the surges, and suffer great quantities of water to enter the vessel.

deck

W: The floorlike covering of the horizontal sections, or compartments, of a ship. Small vessels have only one deck; larger ships have two or three decks.

F: the planked floors of a ship, which connect the sides together, and serve as different platforms to support the artillery, and lodge the men, as also to preserve the cargo from the sea in merchant vessels. As all ships are broader at the lower deck than on the next above it, and as the cannon thereof are always heaviest, it is necessary that the frame of it should be much stronger than that of the others and, for the same reason, the second or middle deck ought to be stronger than the upper deck, or forecastle. Ships of the first and second rates are furnished with three whole decks, reaching from the stem to the stern, besides a forecastle and a quarterdeck, which extends from the stem [stern] to the mainmast, between which and the forecastle, a vacancy is left in the middle, opening to the upperdeck, and forming what is called the waist. There is yet another deck above the hinder or aftmost part of the quarter deck, called the poop, which also serves as a roof for the captain's cabin or couch. The inferior ships of the line of battle are equipped with two decks and a half, and frigates, sloops, &c. with one gun deck and a half, with a spar deck below to lodge the crew. The decks are formed and sustained by the beams, the clamps, the waterways, the carlings, the ledges, the knees, and two rows of small pillars, called stanchions, &c.

deep-waisted

TFD: Having a deep waist, as when, in a ship, the poop and forecastle are much elevated above the deck.

F: the distinguishing fabric of a ship's decks, when the quarterdeck and forecastle are elevated from four to six feet above the level of the upper deck, so as to leave a vacant space, called the waist, on the middle of the upper deck.

demirep

TFD: A person of doubtful reputation or respectability. Rare a woman of bad repute, esp a prostitute

depth of a sail

W13: the extent of a square sail from the head rope to the foot rope; the length of the after leech of a staysail or boom sail; -- commonly called the drop of a sail.

dirt

dirty weather, foggy or stormy weather

disabled

F: the state of a ship when, by the loss of her masts, sails, yards, or rigging; by springing a leak, or receiving some fracture in her hull, or other disaster; she is rendered incapable of prosecuting her voyage without great difficulty and danger.

discharged

F: When expressed of the officers, or crew, it implies to disband them from immediate service.

dismasted

F: the state of a ship which has lost her masts by boisterous weather, engagement, or other misfortune.

division

GB: According to the Admiralty Regulations and Instructions, the captain, aided by his officers, was to:

Divide the ship's company, exclusive of the marines, into as many divisions as there are lieutenants allowed to the ship; the divisions are to be equal in number to each other, and the men are to be taken equally from the different stations in which they are watched. A lieutenant is to command each division; he is to have under his orders as many master's mates and midshipman as the number on board, being equally divided, will admit; he is to sub-divide his division into as many sub-divisions as there are mates and midshipmen fit to command under his orders.

dock

F: a sort of broad and deep trench, formed on the side of a harbour, or on the banks of a river; and commodiously fitted either to build ships, or receive them to be repaired and breamed therein. These sorts of docks have generally strong floodgates, to prevent the flux of the tide from entering the dock while the ship is under repair. There are likewise docks of another kind, called wet docks, where a ship can only be cleaned during the recess of the tide, or in the interval between the time when the tide leaves her dry aground, and the period when it again reaches her by the return of the flood. Docks of the latter kind are not furnished with the usual flood gates.

dockyard

W: A place where ships are repaired or outfitted.

F: certain magazines containing all sorts of naval stores, and timber for shipbuilding. In England, the royal dockyards are at Chatham, Portsmouth, Plymouth, Deptford, Woolwich, and Sheerness. His Majesty's ships and vessels of war are generally moored at these ports, during the time of peace; and such as want repairing are taken into the docks, examined, and refitted for service. The principal dockyards are governed by a commissioner, resident at the port, who superintends all the musters of the officers, artificers, and labourers, employed in the dockyard, and ordinary. He also controls their payment therein; examines the accounts; contracts, and draws bills on the Navy office to supply the deficiency of stores; and, finally, regulates whatever belongs to the dockyard, maintaining due order in the respective offices. These yards are generally supplied from the northern crowns with hemp, pitch, tar, resin, canvas, oak plank, and several other species of stores. With regard to the masts, particularly those of the largest size, they are usually imported from New England.

dogvane

TFD: a light windvane consisting of a feather or a piece of cloth or yarn mounted on the side of a vessel

B: A small vane with feathers and cork, and placed on the ship's quarter, for the men at con and helm to see the course of wind by.

dogwatch

W: Aboard a ship, either of the two short two-hour watches that take place between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m.

B: The watches from four to six and from six to eight in the evening.

See also: watch, bells

dolichos

the beans of genus of chiefly tropical vines, here perhaps, Australian pea, a type of bean

Dolphin Bank

PISC: A reef off Point Venus on the northern coast of Tahiti, named after the ship Dolphin which carried the discoverer of Tahiti, Samuel Wallis, around the world.

double

W: To sail around (a headland or other point).

F: in navigation, the act of sailing round, or passing beyond a cape or promontory, so as that the cape or point of land separates the ship from her former situation, or lies between her and any distant observer.

douse, dowse

W: To strike or lower in haste; to slacken suddenly; as, douse the topsail.

F: to lower suddenly or slacken; expressed of a sail in a squall of wind, an extended hawser, &c.

downhaul

TFD: A rope or set of ropes for hauling down or securing a sail or spar.

F: a rope passing up along a stay through the rings of the staysail, and tied to the upper corner of the sail, to pull it down, when they are shortening sail.

downhaul tackle

F: a complication of pullies employed to pull down the main or foreyard in a tempest, in order to reef the sail. It is used at this time, because the violence of the wind prevents the weight of the yard from having it's natural effect, of descending, when the ropes by which it is suspended are slackened.

draft

American spelling, see draught, British spelling, below.

drag sails

W: An alternative term for a sea anchor.

drag the anchor

F: the act of trailing it along the bottom, after it is loosened from the ground, by the effort of the wind or current upon the ship, communicated to the cable.

draught

TFD: The draught of a ship's hull is the vertical distance between the waterline and the bottom of the hull ( keel), with the thickness of the hull included; in the case of not being included the draught outline would be obtained. draught determines the minimum depth of water a ship or boat can safely navigate. The draught can also be used to determine the weight of the cargo on board by calculating the total displacement of water and then using Archimedes' principle. A table made by the shipyard shows the water displacement for each draught. The density of the water (salt or fresh) and the content of the ship's bunkers has to be taken into account.

• The draught aft ( stern) is measured in the perpendicular of the stern.

• The draught forward ( bow) is measured in the perpendicular of the bow.

• The mean draught is obtained by calculating from the averaging of the stern and bow draughts, with correction for water level variation and value of the position of F with respect to the average perpendicular.

F: the depth of a body of water necessary to float a ship; hence a ship is said to draw so many feet of water, when she is borne up by a column of water of that particular depth. Thus, if it requires a body of water, whole depth is equal to twelve feet, to float or buoy up a ship on its surface, she is said to draw twelve feet water; and that this draught may be more readily known, the feet are marked on the stem and stern post, regularly from the keel upwards.

draw

B: When a sail is inflated by the wind, so as to advance the vessel in her course, the sail is said to draw; and so to keep all drawing is to inflate all sails.

dressing

F: the act of ornamenting a ship with a variety of colours; as ensigns, flags, pendents, &c. displayed from different parts of her masts and rigging on a day of festivity.

drift

W: 1. The angle which the line of a ship's motion makes with the meridian, in drifting. 2. The distance to which a vessel is carried off from her desired course by the wind, currents, or other causes. 3. The place in a deep-waisted vessel where the sheer is raised and the rail is cut off, and usually terminated with a scroll, or driftpiece.

F: in navigation, the angle which the line of a ship's motion makes with the nearest meridian, when she drives with her side to the wind and waves, and is not governed by the power of the helm; it also implies the distance which the ship drives on that line. A ship's way is only called drift in a storm; and then, when it blows so vehemently, as to prevent her from carrying any sail, or at least restrains her to such a portion of sail as may be necessary to keep her sufficiently inclined to one side, that she may not be dismasted by her violent labouring, produced by the turbulence of the sea.

driftpiece

TFD: An upright or curved piece of timber connecting the plank sheer with the gunwale; also, a scroll terminating a rail.

drive

B: The ship drives, that is, her anchor comes through the ground.

F: (to be) carried at random along the surface of the water, as impelled by a storm, or impetuous current; it is generally expressed of a ship when, accidentally, broke loose from her anchors or moorings.

driver

W: a kind of sail, smaller than a fore-and-aft spanker on a square-rigged ship, a driver is tied to the same spars.

B: A large sail set upon the mizen yards in light winds.

F: an oblong sail, occasionally hoisted to the mizen peak, when the wind is very fair. The lower corners of it are extended by a boom or pole, which is thrust out across the ship, and projects over the lee quarter.

drop

TFD: the midships height of a sail bent to a fixed yard

B: used sometimes to denote the depth of a sail; as the foretopsail drops twelve yards

drupe

TFD: A fleshy fruit, such as a peach, plum, or cherry, usually having a single hard stone that encloses a seed. Also called stone fruit.

ducat

TFD: Any of various gold coins formerly used in certain European countries.

ducatoon

TFD: A silver coin of several countries of Europe, and of different values.

ducking

F: a sort of marine punishment inflicted by the French on those who have been convicted of desertion, blasphemy, or exciting sedition. It is performed as follows: the criminal is placed astride of a short thick batten, fastened to the end of a rope, which passes through a block hanging at one of the yardarms. Thus fixed, he is hoisted suddenly up to the yard, and the rope being slackened at once, he is plunged into the sea. This chastisement is repeated several times, conformable to the purport of the sentence pronounced against the culprit, who has at that time several cannon-shot fastened to his feet during the punishment, which is rendered public by the firing of a gun, to advertise the other ships of the fleet thereof, that their crews may become spectators. Ducking is also a penalty which veteran sailors pretend to inflict on those, who, for the first time, pass the tropic of Cancer, the Equator, or the streights of Gibraltar, in consequence of their refusal or incapacity to pay the usual fine levied on this occasion, which would redeem them from the said penalty.

dwars

German (adv.) abeam

W: at right angles to the length of a ship

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

E

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

earing, ease, ease away, ease off, ease the ship, easting, ebb, ebb tide, eddy, edge away, edge in with, egg-bird, elbow in the hawse, elixir vitriol, embargo, embayed, end for end, end on, ensign, ephemeris, escutcheon, even keel, evil, exercise, eye of a stay, eyes of a ship,

earing

W: A line used to fasten the upper corners of a sail to the yard or gaff

F: certain small cords employed to fasten the upper corners of a sail to its respective yard; for which purpose one end of the earing is spliced to the cringle, fixed in that part of the sail; and the other end of it is passed six or seven times round the yardarm and through the cringle, thereby fastening the latter to the former. Two of the turns are intended to stretch the upper edge of the sail tight along the yard; and the rest to draw it close up to it. The former are therefore called outer, and the latter inner turns, as being passed without, or within the rigging, on the yardarms.

ease, ease away, ease off

F: to slacken gradually any single rope, or complication of ropes, formed into a tackle.

ease the ship

F: the command given by the pilot to the steersman, to put the helm close to the lee side, or, in the sea phrase, hard alee, when the ship is expected to pitch or plunge her fore part deep in the water, while close-hauled. The reason usually given for this practice is, that the sudden movement of the helm prevents the ship's head from falling with so much weight and rapidity into the hollow of the sea, as it would do otherwise; which is presuming that the flow and uncertain effect of the helm is sufficient to retard the certain and violent action of gravity; a position that necessarily infers a very singular theory of mechanics. We shall not endeavour to advance any argument in favour of this practice; only to remark, that it is most religiously observed, both in merchant ships and his Majesty's navy.

easting

W: A distance traveled eastward.

ebb

W: The receding movement of the tide.

F: the reflux of the tide, or the return of it into the sea after the highest of the flood, usually termed full sea, or high water.

ebb tide

W: The period between high tide and the next low tide in which the sea is receding.

eddy

TFD: A current, as of water or air, moving contrary to the direction of the main current, especially in a circular motion.

F: the water that, by some interruption in its course, runs contrary to the direction of any river, or current, and appears like the motion of a whirlpool.

edge away

B: To decline gradually from the shore or from the line of the course which the ship formerly held in order to go more large.

F: in navigation, to decline gradually from the shore, or from the line of the course which the ship formerly steered; it is particularly applied when a ship changes her course, by sailing nearer the direction of the wind; or, in the sea language, by sailing larger, or more afore the wind, than she had done before that operation.

edge in with

B: To advance gradually towards the shore, or any other object.

egg-bird

a species of tern, esp. the sooty tern (Sterna fuliginosa) of the West Indies. In the Bahama Islands the name is applied to the tropic bird, Phaethon flavirostris.

elbow in the hawse

TFD: the twisting together of two cables by which a vessel rides at anchor, caused by swinging completely round once.

B: Is when a ship, being moored, has gone round upon the shifting of the tides twice the wrong way, so as to lay the cables one over the other; having gone once wrong, she makes a cross in the hawse, and going three times wrong, she makes a round turn.

elixir vitriol

aromatic sulphuric acid, believed at the time to prevent/cure scurvy

Its use is thus described in The Family Doctor of 1909:

"Aromatic sulphuric acid is another name for this, which is often prescribed as an appetizer; sometimes also for diarrhoea, and occasionally for hemorrhages. Dose, ten to fifteen drops, in water; best taken through a glass tube, to prevent its touching the teeth; also, for the same reason, washing the mouth out well with water after it."

embargo

TFD: 1. A government order prohibiting the movement of merchant ships into or out of its ports. 2. A prohibition by a government on certain or all trade with a foreign nation.

F: in commerce, an arrest laid on ships or merchandise by public authority, or a prohibition of state, commonly issued on foreign ships, to prevent their putting to sea in time of war; and sometimes to prevent their coming in, and otherwise both to prevent their entrance and departure.

embayed

Pertaining to a vessel in a bay unable to put to sea or to put to sea safely because of wind, current, or sea.

F: the situation of a ship when she is inclosed between two capes or promontories. It is particularly applied when the wind, by blowing strongly into any bay or gulf, makes it extremely difficult, and perhaps impracticable for the vessel, thus enclosed, to claw off from the shore, so as to weather the capes and gain the offing.

end for end

B: A term used when a rope runs all out of a block, and is unreeved; or in coming to an anchor, if the stoppers are not well put on and the cable runs all out, it is said to have gone out end for end.

end on

B: When a ship advances to a shore, rock, &c. without an apparent possibility of preventing her, she is said go go end on for the shore, &c.

ensign

W: The principal flag or banner flown by a ship to indicate nationality.

B: the flag worn at the stern of the ship.

F: a large standard, or banner, hoisted on a long pole erected over the poop, and called the ensign staff. The ensign is used to distinguish the ships of different nations from each other, as also to characterise the different squadrons of the navy. The British ensign in ships of war is known by a double cross, viz. that of St. George and St. Andrew, formed into an union, upon a field which is either red, white, or blue.

ephemeris

ephemeris TFD: A table giving the coordinates of a celestial body at a number of specific times during a given period.

escutcheon

TFD: The plate on the stern of a ship inscribed with the ship's name.

F: a name sometimes given to the compartment for the name, or arms, of the owner, or of the person whose title the vessel assumes; it is usually fixed on the middle of the ship's stern, and is more peculiar to the French and other foreigners, than to English built vessels.

even keel

B: When the keel is parallel with the horizon, a ship is said to be upon an even keel.

evil

See king's evil

exercise

F: is the preparatory practice of managing the artillery and small arms, in order to make the ship's crew perfectly skilled therein, so as to direct its execution successfully in the time of battle. The exercise of the great guns has, till the late war, been very complicated, and abounding with superfluities, in our navy, as well as all others. The following method was then successfully introduced by an officer of distinguished abilities.

EXERCISE of the great guns.

1st. Silence.

2d. Cast loose your guns.

3d. Level your guns.

4th. Take out your tompions.

5th. Run out your guns.

6th. Prime.

7th. Point your guns.

8th. Fire.

eye of a stay

F: that part of a stay which is formed into a sort of collar to go round a masthead.

eyes of a ship

F: a name frequently given to those parts which lie near the hawse holes, particularly in the lower apartments within the vessel.

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F

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

fag end, fair, fairway, fake, fall, fall aboard, fall astern, fall calm, fall down, fall off, false fire, fathom, fay, fender, fetch, fetch way, fid, figurehead, fill, fish, fish the anchor, fish the mast, fishhook, fitting out, flat, flat aft, flat in, flat in forward, flaw (of wind), fleet, float, flood, flood tide, flowing, fluke, flux, fodder, following sea, foot, footrope, fore, fore and aft, fore shrouds, fore-and-aft, fore-and-aft-rigged, forebowline, forecastle, forefoot, foreland, foremast, foresail, forestay, foretop, forward, foul, founder, fox, frap, free, freebooter, fresh, freshen, freshen the ballast, freshen the hawse, fretted, frigate, full, full and by, full-rigged, furl, furling line, futtock, futtock shrouds, fwharra,

fag end

W: frayed end of a length of cloth or rope.

F: the end of any rope, or cord, which is become untwisted and loosened by frequent use. To prevent this effect, the ends of ropes are generally well fastened by winding a piece of small line, or packthread, around them, which operation is called whipping.

fair

TFD: (of the tide or wind) favourable to the passage of a vessel

F: a general term for the disposition of the wind, when it is favourable to a ship's course, in opposition to that which is contrary, or foul. This term, when applied to the wind, is much more comprehensive than large, since the former seems to include about eighteen points of the compass, or at least sixteen; whereas large is confined to the beam or quarter, that is, to a wind which crosses the keel at right angles, or obliquely from the stern, but never to one right astern.

fairway

TFD: 1. A navigable deep-water channel in a river or harbor or along a coastline. 2. The usual course taken by vessels through a harbor or coastal waters.

F: the path or channel of a narrow bay, river, or haven, in which ships usually advance in their passage up and down; so that if any vessels are anchored therein, they are said to lie in the fair way.

fake

W: One of the circles or windings of a cable or hawser, as it lies in a coil; a single turn or coil.

F: one of the circles, or windings, of a cable, or hawser, as it lies disposed in the coil. The fakes are greater or smaller in proportion to the extent of space which a cable is allowed to occupy where it lies.

fall

D: the part of the rope of a tackle to which the power is applied in hoisting.

F: the loose end of a tackle; or that part upon which the people pull, or hoist, to produce the required effect.

fall aboard

F: to strike or encounter another ship, when one or both are in motion; to be driven upon a ship by the force of the wind or current.

fall astern

F: to be driven backwards; to retreat with the stern foremost: expressed of the motion of a ship either under sail or at anchor.

fall calm

B: To become in a state of rest by a total cessation of the wind.

fall down

B: To sail or be towed down a river nearer towards its mouth.

F: in navigation, to sail, or be conducted from any part of a river, towards some other nearer to it's mouth or opening.

fall off

TFD: To change course to leeward.

B: denotes the motion of the ship's head from the direction of the wind. It is used in opposition to coming to.

F: the movement or direction of the ship's head to leeward of the point whither it was lately directed, particularly when she sails near the wind, or lies by. Falling off is also the angle contained between her nearest approach towards the source of the wind, and her furthest declination from it, when trying.

false fire

one of the signals at sea used at night during the days of sailing navies. A composition which burned with a blue flame was packed into a wooden tube and when ignited would burn for several minutes.

TFD: a combustible carried by vessels of war, chiefly for signaling, but sometimes burned for the purpose of deceiving an enemy; also, a light on shore for decoying a vessel to destruction.

fathom

a measure of 6 feet or 1.8288 meters

fay

TFD: To join or fit closely or tightly.

F: to fit any two pieces of wood so as to join close together. The plank is said to fay to the timbers, when it bears, or lies, close to all the timbers.

fender

TFD: a cushion-like device, such as a car tire hung over the side of a vessel to reduce damage resulting from accidental contact or collision

F: certain pieces of old cable, timber, faggots, or other materials, hung over the tide of a ship or vessel, to prevent it from striking or rubbing against a wharf, or key; as also to preserve the smaller vessel from being damaged by the larger ones.

fetch

W: To bring or get within reach by going; to reach; to arrive at; to attain; to reach by sailing.

fetch way

B: To be shaken or agitated from one side to another so as to loosen any thing which was before fixed.

F: to be shaken or agitated from one side to another. It is usually applied to a mast, bowsprit, &c. when it is not sufficiently wedged, being loose in the partners; it is also said of a cask, box, or such body which moves by the rolling of the ship at sea, as not being well secured and enclosed.

fid

W: 1. A square bar of wood or iron, with a shoulder at one end, to support the weight of the topmast. 2. A pointed tool without any sharp edges, used in weaving or knotwork to tighten and form up weaves or complex knots; used in sailing ships to open the strands of a rope before splicing.

B: 1. A square bar of wood or iron, with shoulders at one end, used to support the weight of the topmast, when erected at the head of a lower mast. 2. A large piece of wood of a conical figure; used to extend the strands and layers of cables in splicing.

F: a square bar of wood, or iron, with a shoulder at one end. It is used to support the weight of the topmast, when erected at the head of the lower mast, by passing through a mortise in the lower end of the former, and resting its ends on the trestle trees, which are sustained by the head of the latter. The fid, therefore, must be withdrawn every time the topmast is lowered. The topgallant mast is retained at the head of the topmast in the same manner.

figurehead

W: A carved figure on the prow of a sailing ship.

fill

TFD: 1. To cause a sail to swell. 2. To adjust a yard so that wind will cause a sail to swell.

B: To brace the sails so as to receive the wind in them, and advance the ship in her course, after they had been either shivering or braced aback.

F: to brace the sails in such a manner, as that the wind, entering their cavities from behind, dilates them so as to advance the ship in her course, after the sails had for some time been shivering, or braced aback.

fish

W: A makeshift overlapping longitudinal brace used to temporarily repair or extend a spar or mast of a ship.

D: 1. to secure (an anchor) by raising the flukes. 2. to reinforce (a mast or other spar) by fastening a spar, batten, metal bar, or the like, lengthwise over a weak place.

F: a machine employed to hoist or draw up the flukes of the ship's anchor towards the top of the bow in order to stow it, after having been heaved up by the cable. Fish is also a long piece of oak, convex on one side, and concave on the other. It is used to fasten upon the outside of the lower masts, either as an additional security, to strengthen them when it becomes necessary to carry an extraordinary pressure of sail, in pursuit of, or flight from, an enemy; or to reinforce them after they have received some damage in battle, tempestuous weather, &c. The fishes are also employed for the same purpose on any yard, which happens to be sprung or fractured. Thus their form, application, and utility are exactly like those of the splinters applied to a broken limb in surgery.

fish the anchor

B: To draw up the flukes of the anchor towards the top of the bow, in order to stow it, after having been catted.

fish the mast

B: apply a large piece of wood to it to strengthen it. (See fish above.)

fishhook

B: A large hook by which the anchor is received and brought to the cathead; and the tackle which is used for this purpose is called fish tackle.

fitting out

F: the act of providing a ship with a sufficient number of men, to navigate and arm her for attack or defence; also to furnish her with proper masts, sails, yards, ammunition, artillery, cordage, anchors, and other naval furniture; together with sufficient provisions for the ship's company.

flat

D: a marsh, shoal, or shallow.

F: a level ground lying at a small depth under the surface of the sea, and otherwise called a shoal or shallow.

flat aft

B: The situation of the sails when their surfaces are pressed aft against the mast by the force of the wind.

flat in

B: To draw in the aftermost lower corner, or clue, of a sail towards the middle of the ship, to give the sail a greater power to turn the vessel.

F: the action of drawing in the aftmost lower corner, or clue, of a sail towards the middle of the ship, to give the sail the greater power of turning the vessel. Thus if the mizen, or aftersails are flatted in, it is evident that the intention is to carry the stern to leeward, and turn the head nearer to the direction of the wind; and if the headsails are flatted in, the intention is accordingly to make the ship fall off, when by design or accident she has come so near the wind as to make the sails shiver.

flat in forward

B: To draw in the fore sheet, jib sheet, and fore staysail sheet, towards the middle of the ship.

F: is the order to draw in the fore sheet, jib sheet, and forestaysail sheet, towards the middle of the ship. This operation is seldom performed, except in light breezes of wind, when the helm has not sufficient government of the ship.

flaw (of wind)

W: A sudden burst or gust of wind of short duration.

F: a sudden breeze, or gull of wind.

fleet

W: To move up a rope, so as to haul to more advantage; esp. to draw apart the blocks of a tackle.

F: To chang the situation of a tackle, when the blocks are drawn together, or what is called block and block by sailors. The use of fleeting is accordingly to replace the mechanical powers into a state of action; the force by which they operated before being destroyed by the meeting of the blocks or pullies. Fleeting therefore is nearly similar to the winding up of a watch or clock.

float

TFD: A raft.

F: a raft, or quantity of timber fastened together across, to be wafted along a river with the tide or current.

flood

TFD: the rising of the tide from low to high water

flood tide

TFD: The incoming or rising tide; the period between low water and the succeeding high water.

flowing

B: The position of the sheets of the principal sails when they are loosened from the wind so as to receive it into the cavities more nearly perpendicular than when close-hauled, but more obliquely than when the ship sails before the wind. A ship going two or three points large has flowing sheets.

fluke

TFD: The triangular blade at the end of an arm of an anchor, designed to catch in the ground.

flux

TFD: The discharge of large quantities of fluid material from the body, especially the discharge of watery feces from the intestines.

fodder

A heavy sail, closely thrummed with yarn and oakum. drawn under a vessel's bottom, in order to stop a leak.

following sea

TFD: A "following sea" refers to tidal and wave direction in reference to the heading of the boat. For example, if the current and waves of the body of water are heading in the same direction as the sailor, then the water is "following" the sailor's boat. The word "sea" in this phrase is used regardless of whether or not the situation involves a seafaring vessel.

foot

W: The bottom edge of a sail

TFD: The lower edge of a sail

footrope

W: a rope attached to the lower part of a sail

F: the rope to which the foot of a sail is sewed.

fore

TFD: at or towards a ship's bow

B: that part of a ship's frame and machinery that lies near the stem.

fore and aft

TFD: 1. From the bow of a ship to the stern; lengthwise. 2. In, at, or toward both ends of a ship.

F: throughout the ship's whole length, or from end to end

fore shrouds

See shrouds.

fore-and-aft

W: (of the orientation of the sails of a ship) parallel with the keel, that is, going from bow to stern.

fore-and-aft-rigged

W: 1. (of a ship) having its main sails rigged onto spars or stays parallel to the keel 2. (of a sail) being rigged in this manner

forebowline

F: the bowline of the foresail.

forecastle

TFD: 1. The section of the upper deck of a ship located at the bow forward of the foremast. 2. the part of a vessel at the bow where the crew is quartered

D: 1. the forward part of the weather deck of a vessel, esp. that part forward of the foremast. 2. any sailors' quarters located in the forward part of a vessel, as a deckhouse.

forefoot

TFD: The part of a ship at which the prow joins the keel.

F: a piece of timber which terminates the keel at the foreend. It is connected by a scarf to the extremity of the keel, of which it makes a part, and the other end of it, which is incurvated upwards into a sort of knee or crotch, is attached to the lower end of the stem; of which it also makes a part, being also called the gripe. As the lower arm of the forefoot lies on the same level with the keel, so the upper one coincides with the middle line of the stem; it's breadth and thickness therefore correspond to the dimensions of those pieces, and the heel of the cutwater is scarfed to its upper end.

foreland

TFD: a headland, cape, or coastal promontory

F: a cape or promontory, projecting into the sea

foremast

the mast nearest the bow in all vessels having two or more masts.

foresail

the lowermost sail on the foremast. Also called the fore course.

forestay

W: A stay that extends from the top of the foremast to the bowsprit

foretop

W: A platform at the top of the foremast, supported by the trestle trees. See top.

forward

B: Towards the fore part of the ship.

foul

W: Having freedom of motion interfered with by collision or entanglement; entangled; -- opposed to clear

TFD: 1. entangled or impeded 2. (of the bottom of a vessel) covered with barnacles and other growth that slow forward motion

B: Is used in opposition both to clear and fair. As opposed to clear we say, foul weather, foul bottom, foul ground, foul anchor, foul hawse. As opposed to fair, we say foul wind.

F: as a sea term, is generally used in opposition to clear, and implies entangled, embarrassed, or contrary, in the following senses:

A ship ran foul of us in the river, i.e. entangled herself amongst our rigging.

Foul, when expressed of a ship's bottom, denotes that it is very dirty; as being covered with grass, seaweeds, shells, or other filth which gathers on it during the course of a long voyage. When understood of the ground or bottom of a road, bay, sea coast, or harbour it signifies rocky, or abounding with shallows, or otherwise dangerous.

When spoken of the hawse, it means that the cables are turned round each other, by the winding or turning about of the ship while she rides at anchor.

Foul, when applied to the wind, is used to express that it is unfavourable, or contrary to the ship's course, as opposed to large or fair.

founder

W: Fill with water and sink.

B: To sink at sea by filling with water.

fox

TFD: Small cordage made by twisting together two or more strands of tarred yarn.

F: a sort of strand, formed by twisting several rope yarns together, and used as a seizing, or to weave a mat or paunch, &c.

frap

TFD: 1. To make secure by lashing; frap a sail. 2. To take up the slack of; tighten.

F: (frapping) the act of crossing and drawing together the several parts of a tackle, or other complication of ropes, which had already been straightened to their utmost extent; in this sense, it exactly resembles the operation of bracing up a drum, &c. The frapping always increases the tension, and of course adds to the security acquired by the purchase. Hence the Catharpins are no other than frappings to the shrouds.

free

B: Pumping is said to free the ship when it discharges more water than leaks into her.

F: (freeing) the act of pumping, or otherwise throwing out the water which has leaked into a ship's bottom at sea, &c.

freebooter

TFD: A person who pillages and plunders, especially a pirate.

fresh

F: when applied to the wind, generally signifies strong, but not violent or dangerous; hence when the gale increases, it is said to freshen.

freshen

TFD: (of the wind) to increase

B: When a gale increases it is said to freshen.

freshen the ballast

B: Divide or separate it.

freshen the hawse

B: Veering out or heaving in a little cable to let another part of it endure the stress of the hawseholes. It is also applied to the act of renewing the service round the cable at the hawseholes.

F: to relieve that part of the cable which for some time has been exposed to the friction in one of the bawse holes, produced by the rolling and pitching of a ship as the rides at anchor in a high sea. When a Ship remains in such a situation, it is always necessary to wrap some old canvas, mat, leather, or such like material, round that part of the cable which rubs against the stem, &c. The matter used for this purpose is called service; but as the violent agitation of the ship, produced by the tempest, or sea, as she rides in an open road, must communicate a great friction to the cable; the service will consequently be soon worn through; it is necessary therefore to have it frequently renewed by a fresh application of the like materials, behind the former, for the preservation of the cable, on which everything depends; and this renewal of service is called freshening the hawse, a circumstance which cannot be too vigilantly observed.

fretted

worn, eroded

frigate

W: An obsolete type of sailing warship with a single continuous gun deck, typically used for patrolling, blockading, etc, but not in line of battle.

TFD: a medium-sized square-rigged warship of the 18th and 19th centuries

F: in the navy, a light nimble ship, built for the purposes of sailing swiftly. These vessels mount from twenty to thirty-eight guns, and are esteemed excellent cruizers.

full

TFD: (of sails, etc.) distended by wind

B: The situation of the sails, when they are kept distended by the wind.

full and by

W: Keeping the sails full and steering by the wind.

TFD: another term for close-hauled

B: The situation of a ship, with regard to the wind, when close-hauled and sailing, so as to steer neither too nigh the direction, nor to deviate to leeward.

F: the situation of a ship with regard to the wind, when she is close-hauled, and sailing in such a manner as neither to steer too nigh the direction of the wind, nor to deviate to leeward; both of which movements are unfavourable to her course, as in the former her sails will shiver, and render the effort of the wind precarious and ineffectual; and in the latter she will advance in a direction widely distant from her real course. Hence, keep her full! is the order from the pilot or other officer to the helmsman, not to incline too much to windward, and thereby shake the sails so as to retard the course.

full-rigged

full-rigged D: (of a sailing vessel) rigged as a ship; square-rigged on all of three or more masts.

furl

TFD: to gather in (a square sail)

B: To wrap or to roll a sail close up to the yard or stay to which it belongs, and winding a cord around it, to keep it flat.

F: (furling) the operation of wrapping or rolling a sail close up to the yard, stay, or mast to which it belongs, and winding a gasket or cord about it to fasten it thereto.

furling line

F: denotes a cord employed in this office; those which are used for the larger sails are generally flat, and are known by the name of gaskets.

futtock

TFD: One of the curved timbers that forms a rib in the frame of a ship.

futtock shrouds

the shrouds which connect the lower and topmast rigging together

fwharra

pandanus, prickly palm

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G

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gaff, gaff rig, gage of the ship, gain the wind, gale, gallant, galled, galleon, gallery, galley, gallows, gammon, gammon ring, gang, gangboard, gangway, garland, gasket, gauntlet, ghee, gee, gill, jill, gimbal, gimbleting, gimlet, gimblet, girt, gooseneck, goosewing, gore, goring, grain, grampus, grapnel, grapple, grating, great guns, gripe, grog, grommet, ground, ground tackle, groundswell, ground tier, gudgeon, gunner, gunroom, gunwale, gunnel, gut, gutt, guy, gybe,

gaff

TFD: A spar attached to the mast and used to extend the upper edge of a fore-and-aft sail.

F: a sort of boom or pole, frequently used in small ships, to extend the upper edge of the mizen; and always employed for the same purpose on those sails whose foremost edges are joined to the mast by hoops or laceings, and which are usually extended by a boom below. Such are the mainsails of all sloops, brigs, and schooners. The foremost, or inner extremity of the gaff, is furnished with two cheeks forming a semicircle, which inclose the after part of the mast so as to confine the gaff close to its respective mast whilst the sail is hoisting or lowering. It is further secured in this situation by a rope passing from one of the cheeks to the other on the foreside of the mast; and to prevent the friction of this rope upon the mast, by hoisting or lowering, several little wooden balls, called trucks, are hung upon it, in the same manner as the holy beads are hung upon a catholic's rosary.

gaff rig

W: a sailing rig that has a fore-and-aft sail supported by a spar called a gaff

gage of the ship

B: Her depth of water, or what water she draws.

gain the wind

B: To arrive on the weather side, or to windward of some ship or fleet in sight, when both are sailing as near the wind as possible.

gale

W: A very strong wind, more than a breeze, less than a storm See Beaufort scale.

gallant

Variant of topgallant

galled

F: the state of a mast, yard, cable, or other rope, when it is deprived of the surface, and chafed by friction. To preserve those articles from being damaged by this effect, it is therefore usual to cover them with skins, mats, canvas, or such materials, in the places where they are the most exposed to it by the rolling of the vessel.

galleon

W: A large, three masted, square-rigged sailing ship with at least two decks.

TFD: A large three-masted sailing ship with a square rig and usually two or more decks, used from the 15th to the 17th century especially by Spain as a merchant ship or warship.

F: a name formerly given to ships of war, furnished with three or four batteries of cannon. It is now retained only by the Spaniards, and applied to the largest size of their merchant ships, employed on West Indian voyages, and usually furnished with four decks. They likewise bestow the same name on those vessels, whether great or small, which proceed annually to La Vera Cruz. The Portugueze also have several ships which they send to India and the Brazils, nearly resembling the galleons, and by them called caragues.

gallery

TFD: A platform or balcony at the stern or quarters of some early sailing ships.

F: a balcony projecting from the stern or quarter of a ship of war, or large merchantmen. In the former, the stern gallery is usually decorated with a balustrade, extending from one side of the ship to the other; the forepart is limited by a partition called the screen bulkhead, in which are framed the cabin windows; and the roof of it is formed by a sort of vault, termed the cove, which is frequently ornamented with sculpture.

quarter gallery

galley

W: 1. A ship propelled primarily by oars, whether having masts and sails or not. 2. (British) A light, open boat used on the Thames by customhouse officers, press gangs, and also for pleasure. 3. One of the small boats carried by a man-of-war. 4. The cookroom or kitchen and cooking apparatus of a vessel.

gallows

w: on men-of-war, a pair of strong frames of oak made in the form of a gallows, fixed between the fore and main hatchways, with concave cross-beams called gallows-tops tenoned on to the uprights, to support spare topmasts, yards, booms, boats, etc. Also called gallows-bitts, gallows-frame, gallows-stanchions.

gammon

TFD: To fasten (a bowsprit) to the stem of a ship. (The rope used to do this.)

B: Secure the bowsprit by turns of a strong rope passed round it, and into the cutwater, to prevent it from having too much motion.

F: a rope used to bind the inner quarter of the bowsprit close down to the ship's stem, in order to enable it the better to support the stays of the foremast, and carry sail in the fore part of the vessel. Seven or eight turns of this rope are passed over the bowsprit, and through a large hole in the stem or knee of the head alternately; after all the turns are drawn as firm as possible, the opposite ones are braced together under the bowsprit by a fraping.

gammon ring

GB: The ring that secures a bowsprit to the stemhead.

gang

F: a select number of a ship's crew appointed on any particular service, and commanded by an officer suitable to the occasion.

gangboard

TFD: a temporary bridge for getting on and off a vessel at dockside.

F: a board or plank with several cleats or steps nailed upon it for the convenience of walking into, or out of, a boat upon the shore, where the water is not deep enough to float the boat close to the landing place.

gangway

W: 1. A passage along either side of a ship's upper deck. 2. A passage through the side of a ship or though a railing through which the ship may be boarded.

F: a narrow platform, or range of planks, laid horizontally along the upper part of a ship's side, from the quarterdeck to the forecastle, for the convenience of walking more expeditiously fore and aft, than by descending into the waist. This platform is therefore peculiar to ships which are deep waisted. It is fenced on the outside by several small iron pillars, and a rope extended from one to the other; and sometimes by a netting, to prevent any one from falling off into the sea when the ship is in motion. This is frequently called the gangboard in merchant vessels. Gangway is also that part of a ship's side, both within and without, by which the passengers enter and depart. It is for this purpose provided with a sufficient number of steps, or cleats, nailed upon the ship's side, nearly as low as the surface of the water; and sometimes furnished with a railed accommodation ladder, whose lower end projects from the ship's hide, being secured in this position by iron braces, so as to render the ascent and descent extremely convenient. Gangway is likewise used to signify a passage left in the hold, when a ship is laden, in order to arrive at any particular place therein, occasionally; as to examine the situation of the provisions or cargo; to discover and stop a leak; or to bring out any article required for service; &c. similarly, a gangway implies a thoroughfare, or narrow passage of any kind.

garland

F: a sort of net, whose opening is extended by a wooden hoop of sufficient size to admit a bowl or platter within it. It is accordingly used by the sailors as a locker or cupboard to contain their provisions, being hung up to the deck within the birth, where they commonly mess between decks.

gasket

TFD: A cord or canvas strap used to secure a furled sail to a yard boom or gaff.

B: The rope which is passed round the sail to bind it to the yard when it is furled.

gauntlet

F: a race which a criminal is sentenced to run in a vessel of war, as a punishment for felony, or some other heinous offence. It is executed in the following manner: the whole ship's crew is disposed in two rows, landing face to face on both hides of the deck, so as to form a lane, whereby to go forward on one side, and return aft on the other; each person being furnished with a small twisted cord, called a knittle, having two or three knots upon it. The delinquent is then stripped naked above the waist, and ordered to pass forward between the two rows of men, and aft on the other hide, a certain number of times, rarely exceeding three; during which every person gives him a stripe as he runs along. In his passage through this painful ordeal he is sometimes tripped up, and very severely handled while incapable of proceeding. This punishment, which is called running the gauntlet, is seldom inflicted except for such crimes as will naturally excite a general antipathy amongst the seamen; as on some occasions the culprit would pass without receiving a single blow, particularly in cases of mutiny or sedition, to the punishment of which our common sailors seem to have a constitutional aversion.

ghee, gee

butter made clear by heating and removing the sediment of milk solids, used in Indian cooking

gill, jill

TFD: A unit of volume or capacity in the U.S. Customary System, used in liquid measure, equal to 1/4 of a pint or four ounces (118 milliliters).

gimbal

TFD: A device consisting of two rings mounted on axes at right angles to each other so that an object, such as a ship's compass, will remain suspended in a horizontal plane between them regardless of any motion of its support. Often used in the plural. Also called gimbal ring.

F: the brass rings by which a sea compass is suspended in it's box that usually stands in the binacle.

gimbleting

F: a term particularly applied to the anchor, to denote the action of turning it round by the stock, so that the motion of the lock appears similar to that of the handle of a gimblet, when it is employed to turn the wire.

gimlet, gimblet

small auger turned with one hand that makes a round hole in wood

TFD: A small hand tool having a spiraled shank, a screw tip, and a cross handle and used for boring holes.

girt

F: the situation of a ship which is moored so strait by her cables, extending from the hawse to two distant anchors, as to be prevented from swinging or turning about, according to any change of the wind or tide, to the current of which her head would otherwise be directed.

gooseneck

TFD: a pivot between the forward end of a boom and a mast, to allow the boom to swing freely

F: a sort of iron hook fitted on the inner end of a boom, and introduced into a clamp of iron, or eye-bolt, which encircles the mast, or is fitted to some other place in the ship, so that it may be unhooked at pleasure.

goosewing

D: 1. the weather clew of a square sail, held taut when the lee side of the sail is furled. 2. either of the triangular areas of a square sail left exposed to the wind when the middle part is lashed to the yard during a gale. 3. a triangular studdingsail.

F: the clues or lower corners of a ship's mainsail, or foresail, when the middle part is furled or tied up to the yard. The goosewings are only used in a great storm to scud before the wind, when the sail at large, or even diminished by a reef, would be too great a pressure on the ship, in that situation.

gore

TFD: A triangular or tapering piece of cloth forming a part of something, as in a skirt or sail.

goring

D: the triangular area along a leech of a square sail, created by the presence of a gore.

F: that part of the skirts of a sail, where it gradually widens from the upper part or head, towards the bottom; the goring cloths are therefore those, which are cut obliquely, and added to the breadth.

grain

An iron fish spear with a number of points half-barbed inwardly

grampus

Could refer either to Risso's dolphin or the orca (killer whale), which is actually a member of the dolphin family.

grapnel

TFD: A small anchor with three or more flukes, especially one used for anchoring a small vessel. Also called grapple, grappling.

grapple

TFD: An iron shaft with claws at one end, usually thrown by a rope and used for grasping and holding, especially one for drawing and holding an enemy ship alongside. Also called grapnel, grappling,

grating

D: a fixed frame of bars or the like covering an opening to exclude persons, animals, coarse material, or objects while admitting light, air, or fine material.

F: a sort of open covers for the hatches, formed by several small laths or battens of wood, which cross each other at right angles, leaving a square interval between. They are formed to admit the air and light from above into the lower apartments of the ship, particularly when the turbulence of the sea or weather renders it necessary to shut the ports between decks; and also to let the smoke escape from the lower decks in the time of battle.

great guns

Cannon.

gripe

TFD: To have sharp pains in the bowels.

grog

W: an alcoholic beverage made with rum and water, especially that once issued to sailors of the Royal Navy

From Wikipedia

"Sailors require significant quantities of fresh water on extended voyages. Since distilling sea water was too slow and fuel intensive, fresh water was taken on board in casks but quickly developed algae and became slimy. Stagnant water was sweetened with beer or wine to make it palatable which involved more casks and was subject to spoilage. As longer voyages became more common, the task of stowage became more and more difficult and the sailors' then-daily ration of a gallon of beer began to add up.

"Following Britain's conquest of Jamaica in 1655, a half pint or "2 gills" of rum gradually replaced beer and brandy as the drink of choice. Given to the sailor straight, this caused additional problems, as some sailors would save up the rum rations for several days, then drink them all at once. Due to the subsequent illness and disciplinary problems, the rum was mixed with water. This both diluted its effects, and delayed its spoilage. A half pint (current American measurement; the larger British "Imperial" pint was not introduced until 1824), of rum mixed with one quart of water and issued in two servings, before noon and after the end of the working day, became part of the official regulations of the Royal Navy in 1756 and lasted for more than two centuries. This gives a ratio of 4:1 (water:rum).

"Citrus juice (usually lime or lemon juice) was added to the recipe to cut down on the water's foulness. Although they did not know the reason at the time, Admiral Edward Vernon's sailors were healthier than the rest of the navy, due to the daily doses of vitamin C that prevented disease (mainly scurvy). This custom, in time, got the British the nickname limeys for the limes they consumed.

"The name "grog" probably came from the nickname of Admiral Vernon, who was known as 'Old Grog' because he wore a grogram cloak. American Dialect Society member Stephen Goranson has shown that the term was in use by 1749, when Vernon was still alive. A biographer of Daniel Defoe has suggested that the derivation from 'Old Grog' is wrong because Defoe used the term in 1718, but this is based on a miscitation of Defoe's work, which actually used the word 'ginger.'"

grommet

TFD: A loop of rope or metal used for securing the edge of a sail to its stay.

B: A piece of rope laid into a circular form, and used for large boat's oars instead of rowlocks, and also for many other purposes.

F: a sort of small wreath, formed of a strand of rope, and used to fasten the upper edge of a staysail to its respective stay, in different places. By means of the grommets, the sail is accordingly hoisted or lowered, i.e. drawn up or down upon its stay, in the same manner as a curtain is extended or drawn along upon it's rod, by the assistance of rings.

ground

TFD: To run (a vessel) aground.

F: (grounding) the act of laying a ship ashore, in order to bream or repair her. It is also applied to running aground accidentally when under sail, or driving in a tempest.

ground tackle

W: equipment, such as anchors, cables, or windlasses, for mooring a vessel away from a pier or other fixed moorings.

F: a general name given to all sorts of ropes and furniture which belong to the anchors, or which are employed in mooring, or otherwise securing a ship in a road or harbour; as cables, hawsers, towlines, warps, and buoy ropes.

groundswell

W: A broad undulation of the open ocean, often as the result of a distant disturbance

ground tier

B: The tier of water casks which is lowest in the hold, and is among the shingle ballast.

gudgeon

socket for the pivot bolt of a rudder

W: Specifically, in a vessel with a stern-mounted rudder, the fitting into which the pintle of the rudder fits to allow the rudder to swing freely.

gunner

TFD: (formerly) a warrant officer responsible for the training of gun crews, their performance in action, and accounting for ammunition

F: an officer appointed to take charge of the artillery and ammunition aboard, to observe that the former are always kept in order, and properly fitted with tackles and other furniture, and to teach the sailors the exercise of the cannon.

quarter gunner

gunroom

W: Living quarters for junior officers and midshipmen on a warship (hence gunroom officers). In the past it was usually set in the forecastle.

B: A division of the lower deck abaft, enclosed with network, for the use of the gunner and his stores.

F: an appartment on the after end of the lower, or gun-deck, of a ship of war; generally defined for the use of the gunner in large ships, but in small ones, it is used by the lieutenants as a dining room, &c.

gunwale, gunnel

D: The upper edge of the side of a vessel. (So called because guns were mounted on it.)

W: the top edge of the hull of a nautical vessel, where it meets the deck.

gut

TFD: A narrow passage or channel.

gutt

(measure) a drop

guy

TFD: A rope, cord, or cable used to steady, guide, or secure something.

F: a rope used to keep steady any weighty body whilst it is hoisting or lowering, particularly when the ship is shaken by a tempestuous sea. Guy is likewise a large slack rope, extending from the head of the mainmast to the head of the foremast, and having two or three large blocks fastened to the middle of it. This is chiefly employed to sustain the tackle used to hoist in and out the cargo of a merchant ship, and is accordingly removed from the mastheads as soon as the vessel is laden or delivered.

gybe

W: To shift a fore-and-aft sail suddenly and forcefully from one side to the other, while sailing before the wind. (also jibe.)

TFD: to shift suddenly from one side of the vessel to the other when running before the wind, as the result of allowing the wind to catch the leech

F: (gybing) the act of shifting any boom sail from one side of the mast to the other. In order to understand this operation more clearly, it is necessary to remark, that by a boom sail is meant any sail whose bottom is extended by a boom, the foreend of which is hooked to it's respective mast, so as to swing occasionally on either side of the vessel, describing an arch, of which the mast will be the center. As the wind or the course changes, it also becomes frequently necessary to change the position of the boom, together with it's sail, which is accordingly shifted to the other side of the vessel as a door turns upon it's hinges. The boom is pushed out by the effort of the wind upon the sail, and is resrained in a proper situation by a strong tackle communicating with the vessel's stern, and called the sheet. It is also confined on the fore-part by another tackle, called the guy.

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H

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hail, hale, halyard, hamaco, hammock, hand, hard (by), hard alee, hard aweather, harping, harslet (haslet), hatch, hatchway, haul, haul the wind, hawse, hawsehole, hawser, head, head sea, head to wind, heading, headland, headmost, heads, headsails, headstay, headway, heave, heave about, heave ahead, heave apeak, heave astern, heave down, heave in stays, heave out, heave short, heave taut, heave the lead, heave the log, heave to, heel (n), heel (v), heiva, helm, helmsman, hhd, high and dry, high water, hitch, hogshead, hoist, hold, Hollands Geneva, home, Honi soit qui mal y pense, horse, hounds, hove, hoy, hulk, hull down, hull up,

hail

B: To call to another ship.

F: the salutation or accosting of a ship at a distance, either at sea or in a harbour.

hale

TFD: (archaic) To pull, draw, drag, or hoist.

halyard

TFD: A rope used to raise or lower a sail, flag, or yard.

F: (pl.) the ropes or tackles usually employed to hoist or lower any sail upon it's respective masts or stay.

hamaco

JOLC: The sailor's hammock was first introduced to the Old World by Christopher Columbus, who had discovered it in the West Indies in 1493. The recent name comes from the Spanish hamaca. The original English word was hamaco. The British first saw these at the Armada (1588) and they appeared in the English Navy in 1597. Hammocks were issued initially on a basis of one for every two sailors and for foreign service only. In 1693, they were noted as supplementary stores items for flagships only: 400 for the Admiral of the Red, 300 for the Blue and 200 for other flagships. They were listed under Boatswain's Stores as Hamacoes, swinging. Until well into the 19th century, bothe these and the sailors' trousers were made of heavy brown canvas from damaged sails. On clearing a ship for action, the lashed hammocks were placed in the netting along the upperdecdk bulwarks to protect exposed gun crews from musket fire.

hammock

TFD: a length of canvas, net, etc., suspended at the ends and used as a bed

F: a piece of canvas, six feet long and three feet wide, gathered or drawn together at the two ends, and hung horizontally under the deck, lengthways, for the sailors to sleep therein. There are usually from fourteen to twenty inches in breadth allowed between decks for every hammock in a ship of war; this space however must in some measure depend on the number of the crew, &c. in proportion to the room of the vessel.

See hamaco above.

hand

to roll up and secure a sail; furl

hard (by)

near, close

hard alee

TFD: an order to put the helm to the lee side

F: the situation of the helm when it is pushed close to the lee side of the ship, either to tack or keep her head to the wind, when lying by or trying; also the order to put the helm in this position.

hard aweather

F: the order to put the helm close to the weather or windward side of the ship, in order to bear away. It is likewise the position of the helm, in consequence of that order; being in both senses opposed to hard alee.

harping

W: The front part of the wales of a vessel, around the bow and fastened to the stem; used to provide protection from the seas.

D: any of several horizontal members at the ends of a vessel for holding cant frames in position until the shell planking or plating is attached.

F: (harpins) the fore parts of the wales which encompass the bow of a ship, and are fastened to the stem, being thicker than the after part of the wales, in order to reinforce the ship in this place, where she sustains the reatest shock of resistance in plunging into the sea, or dividing it, under great pressure of sail.

harslet (haslet)

heart and liver and other edible viscera especially of hogs; usually chopped and formed into a loaf and braised

hatch, hatchway

TFD: an opening in the deck of a vessel to provide access below

F: a square or oblong opening in the deck of a ship, of which there are several, forming the passages from one deck to another, and into the hold, or lower apartments. There are likewise hatches of a smaller kind, called scuttles. Hatch is also, although improperly, a name applied by sailors to the covers or lids of the hatchways.

haul

B: pull

F: an expression peculiar to seamen, implying to pull a single rope, without the assistance of blocks, or other mechanical powers; when a rope is otherwise pulled, as by the application of tackles, or the connection with blocks, &c. the term is changed into bowsing. See also bowse, hoist, and rowse.

haul the wind

B: To direct the ship's course nearer to the point from which the wind blows.

hawse

TFD: 1. The part of a ship where the hawseholes are located. 2. A hawsehole. 3. The space between the bows and anchors of an anchored ship. 4. The arrangement of a ship's anchor cables when both starboard and port anchors are secured.

F: is generally understood to imply the situation of the cables before the ship's stem, when she is moored with two anchors out from forward, viz. one on the starboard, and the other on the larboard bow. Hence it is usual to say, she has a clear hawse, or a foul hawse. It also denotes any small distance ahead of a ship, or between her head and the anchors employed to ride her; as, "He has anchored in our hawse; the brig fell athwart our hawse," &c. A ship is said to ride with a clear hawse, when the cables are directed to their anchors, without lying athwart the stem; or crossing, or being twisted round each other, by the ship's winding about, according to the change of the wind, tide, or current. A foul hawse, on the contrary, implies that the cables lie across the stem, or bear upon each other, so as to be rubbed and chafed by the motion of the vessel. The hawse accordingly is foul, by having either a cross, an elbow, or a round turn. If the larboard cable, lying across the stem, points out on the starboard side, while the starboard cable at the same time grows out on the larboard side, there is a cross in the hawse. If, after this, the ship, without returning to her former position, continues to wind about the same way, so as to perform an entire revolution, each of the cables will be twisted round the other, and then directed out from the opposite bow, forming what is called a round turn. An elbow is produced when the ship stops in the middle of that revolution, after having had a cross; or, in other words, if the rides with her head northward with a clear hawse, and afterwards turns quite round so as to direct her head northward again, she will have an elbow.

athwart hawse

open hawse

hawsehole

TFD: An opening in the bow of a ship through which a cable or hawser is passed.

F: certain cylindrical holes cut through the bows of a ship on each side of the stem, through which the cables pass in order to be drawn into, or let out of the vessel, as occasion requires.

hawser

W: a cable or heavy rope used to tow or moor a ship

F: a large rope which holds the middle degree between the cable and towline, in any ship whereto it belongs, being a size smaller than the former, and as much larger than the latter.

head

W: 1. The top of a sail, 2. The bow of a nautical vessel

TFD: 1. The forward part of a vessel, b. The top part or upper edge of a sail

head sea

TFD: a sea in which the waves run directly against the course of a ship

B: When the waves meet the head of a ship in her course, they are called a head sea. It is likewise applied to a single wave coming in that direction.

head to wind

W: Having the bow of a boat facing directly into the wind

F: the situation of a ship or boat, when her head is turned to windward.

heading

W: The direction into which a seagoing or airborne vessel's bow is pointing (apparent heading) and/or the direction into which it is actually moving relative to the ground (true heading)

headland

TFD: A point of land, usually high and with a sheer drop, extending out into a body of water; a promontory.

F: a name frequently given to a cape, or promontory.

headmost

D: most advanced; foremost.

B: The situation of any ship or ships which are the most advanced in a fleet.

heads

W: That part of older sailing ships forward of the forecastle and around the beakhead, used by the crew as their lavatory; still used as the word for toilets on a ship.

headsails

W: Any sail (of a sailing vessel) set forward of the foremost mast.

F: a general name for all those sails which are extended on the foremast and bowsprit, and employed to command the fore part of the ship; such are the foresail, fore topsail, fore topgallant sail, jib, fore staysail, and the spritsail with it's topsail. This term is used in opposition to aftersails.

headstay

D: a stay leading forward from the head of the foremost mast to the stem head or the end of the bowsprit.

headway

TFD: Forward movement or the rate of forward movement, especially of a ship.

B: The motion of advancing, used in opposition to sternway.

F: the motion of advancing at sea. It is generally used when a ship first begins to advance; or in calm weather, when it is doubtful whether she is in a state of rest or motion. It is in both senses opposed to retreating, or moving with the stern foremost.

heave

TFD: To push at a capstan bar or lever.

B: To turn about a capstan, or other machine of the like kind, by means of bars, handspikes, &c.

heave about

To change or cause to change direction or go or cause to go from one tack to another suddenly.

heave ahead

W13: To force from, or into, any position; to cause to move; also, to throw off; -- mostly used in certain nautical phrases; as, to heave the ship ahead.

B: to advance the ship by heaving in the cable or other rope fastened to an anchor at some distance before her.

F: is advancing the ship by heaving in the cable, or other rope, which is fastened to an anchor at some distance before her. To heave astern is therefore to draw the ship backwards by the same operation.

heave apeak

B: to heave in the cable, till the anchor is apeak.

heave astern

B: to move a ship backwards by an operation similar to that of heaving ahead

heave down

B: careen

heave in stays

B: to bring a ship's head to the wind, by a management of the sails and rudder, in order to get on the other tack.

heave out

B: to unfurl or loosen a sail; more particularly applied to the staysails; thus we say, loose the topsails and heave out the staysails.

F: the act of unfurling and throwing loose a sail from the place where it had been rolled and fastened. This phrase is more particularly applied to the staysails; thus we say, "Loose the topsails, and heave out the staysails!" which is accordingly done, either to set or dry them.

heave short

W13: to haul in cable till the ship is almost perpendicularly above the anchor.

B: to draw so much of the cable into the ship, as that she will be almost perpendicularly over her anchor.

F: is the drawing so much of the cable into the ship, by means of the capstan or windlass, as that by advancing, she will be almost perpendicularly above the anchor, and in a proper situation to set sail.

heave taut

B: to turn the capstan round till the rope or cable becomes straightened.

F: the act of heaving about the capstan, till the rope applied thereto becomes straight and ready for action.

heave the lead

The lead was cast out in the direction of the ship's course and when it became perpendicular the depth would be read from the markings on the line. The nature of the bottom would be determined from bits that adhered to the tallow which was applied to the lead.

W13: to take soundings with lead and line.

B: to throw the lead overboard, in order to find the depth of water

heave the log

W13: to cast the log chip into the water; also, the whole process of ascertaining a vessel's speed by the log.

B: to throw the log overboard, in order to calculate the velocity of the ship's way.

heave to

W: 1. To stop (a seagoing vessel). 2. To back-wind the jib and luff the main to hold a position especially in heavy seas.

TFD: To turn a sailing ship so that its bow heads into the wind and the ship lies motionless except for drifting, in order to meet a storm

heel (n)

TFD: 1. The lower end of a mast. 2. The after end of a ship's keel.

F: the lower end, which is diminished into the frustum of a pyramid, so as to sink immoveably into a hole of the same shape, cut in the step, which is attached to the ship's keel.

heel (v)

TFD: (of a vessel) to lean over; list

B: She heels to port, that is, inclines or lays down upon her larboard or left side.

F: to stoop or incline to either side. It is usually applied to a ship when she is forced into this position by the wind acting upon her sails, while braced obliquely across her; or by being ballasted so as to lean more to one side than the other.

heiva

Polynesian festival with singing and dancing

helm

W: The steering apparatus of a ship, especially the tiller or wheel.

F: a long and flat piece of timber, or an assemblage of several pieces, suspended along the hind part of a ship's sternpost, where it turns upon hinges to the right or left, serving to direct the course of the vessel, as the tail of a fish guides the body. The helm is usually composed of three parts, viz. the rudder, the tiller, and the wheel, except in small vessels, where the wheel is unnecessary.

helmsman

W: A member of a ship's crew who is responsible for steering.

hhd

See hogshead

high and dry

B: The situation when so far run aground as to be seen dry upon the strand.

high water

TFD: another name for high tide

F: the greatest height of the flood tide.

hitch

F: a sort of knot or noose, by which one rope is fastened to another, or to some other object, as a post, ring, timberhead, mast, &c. Hence we say an half hitch, a clove hitch, a rolling hitch, &c.

hogshead

a hogshead was 63 wine gallons, or 54 gallons of ale or beer

(Note: In many definitions, you will see references to Imperial gallons, however, at the time of the Bounty both the United States and Great Britain used U. S. customary units, as the Imperial system was enacted in 1824.)

hoist

TFD: to raise or lift up, esp. by mechanical means

B: to haul , sway, or lift up.

F: (hoisting) the operation of drawing up any body by the assistance of one or more tackles, according to the weight intended to be raised. The act of pulling up any body, by the help of a single block only, is never expressed by the term hoisting, if we except the exercise of extending the sails, by drawing them upwards along the masts or stays, to which it is invariably applied.

hold

W: The cargo area of a ship.

B: is the space between the lower deck and the bottom of the ship, where her stores, &c. lie.

F: the whole interior cavity or belly of a ship, or all that part of her inside, which is comprehended between the floor and the lower deck, throughout her whole length. This capacious apartment usually contains the ballast, provisions, and stores of a ship of war, and the principal part of the cargo in a merchantman. ... that the places where the ballast, water, provisions, and liquors are stowed, are known by the general name of the hold. The several storerooms are separated from each other by bulkheads, and are denominated according to the articles which they contain, the sailroom, the breadroom, the fishroom, the spiritroom, &c.

Hollands Geneva

Gin. In fact the English word Gin comes from the first syllable of the second word and is often capitalized because it was assumed Geneva referred to the city in Switzerland. Not so. It comes from the Dutch jenever or genever, from Old French genevre, from Latin iuniperus, juniper tree, because the brew was flavored with juniper berries.

home

B: implies the proper situation of any object

F: when spoken of the anchor, seems to imply the station of the ship with regard to her anchor; which is accordingly said to come home when it loosens from the ground, by the effort of the cable, and approaches the place where the ship floated, at the length of her moorings.

Honi soit qui mal y pense

'Evil be to him who evil thinks' is the motto of the English chivalric Order of the Garter. According to Bligh, James Morrison had it tattooed around his left leg, along with a garter.

horse

F: a rope reaching from the middle of a yard to it's extremity, or what is called the yardarm, and depending about two or three feet under the yard, for the sailors to tread upon, whilst they are loofing [luffing], reefing or furling the sails, rigging out the studding sail booms, &c. In order therefore to keep the horse more parallel to the yard, it is usually suspended thereto, at proper distances, by certain ropes called stirrups, which hang about two feet under the yard, having an eye in their lower ends through which the horse passes. Horse is also a thick rope, extended in a perpendicular direction near the fore or after side of a mast, for the purpose of hoisting or extending some sail thereon. When it is fixed before a mast, it is calculated for the use of a sail called the square sail, whose yard being attached to the horse, by means of a traveller, or bull's-eye, which slides up and down occasionally, is retained in a steady position, either when the sail is set, or whilst it is hoisting or lowering. When the horse is placed abaft or behind a mast, it is intended for the trysail of a snow, and is accordingly very rarely fixed in this position, except in those sloops of war which occasionally assume the form of snows, in order to deceive the enemy.

hounds

E: wooden shoulders bolted below the masthead to either side of a wooden mast of a sailing vessel which originally supported the trestle-trees. In smaller vessels without trestle-trees hounds were used to support the shrouds by which the mast was stayed laterally. In the days of large sailing ships the hounds of the lower masts were more properly known as cheeks.

F: a name given to those parts of a masthead, which gradually project on the right and left side, beyond the cylindrical or conical surface, which it preserves from the partners upwards. The hounds, whole upper parts are also called cheeks, are used as shoulders to support the frame of the top, together with the topmast and the rigging of the lower mast.

hove

past tense of heave

hoy

TFD: 1. A small sloop-rigged coasting ship. 2. A heavy barge used for freight.

F: a small vessel, chiefly used in coasting, or carrying goods to or from a ship, in a road or bay, where the ordinary lighters cannot be managed with safety or convenience.

hulk

a ship that is afloat, but incapable of going to sea. They were used for many purposes: as cranes, for hoisting masts in other ships; for accommodation, to house sailors when there was a lack of accommodation ashore; for receiving, to house newly recruited sailors until they were assigned to a crew; for storage, holding a ship's stores while it was being refitted, and as prisons.

hull down

describes the situation where a ship is so far off, that her hull is hidden by the horizon

hull up

describes the situation where a ship is near enough, that her hull is visible above the horizon

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I

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idler, in, in forma dupla, in irons, Indiaman, ironbound, irons, ironwork, issue,

idler

TFD: a ship's crew member, such as a carpenter, sailmaker, etc., whose duties do not include standing regular watches

in

F: the state of any of a ship's sails, when they are furled or stowed. It is used in this sense also in opposition to out, which implies that they are set, or extended to assist the ship's course.

in forma dupla

in duplicate

in irons

to be shackled

Indiaman

TFD: A large merchant ship formerly used on trade routes to India.

ironbound

D: (of a coast) bound with rocks and cliffs

irons

WN: metal shackles; for hands or legs

ironwork

F: a general name for all the pieces of iron, of whatsoever figure or size, which are used in the construction of a ship: as bolts, boom irons, nails, spikes, chains and chain plates, block strops, cranks, pintles, and googings [gudgeons].

issue

TFD: 1. A discharge, as of blood or pus. 2. A lesion, wound, or ulcer producing such a discharge.

J

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jack, jackstaff, jalap, jeer, jetty, jib, jib boom, jib-headed, jibe, jill, gill, journal, junk, jury-rig, jurymast,

jack

W: 1. A small flag at the bow of a ship. 2. A naval ensign flag flown from the main mast, mizzen mast, or the aft-most major mast of (especially) British sailing warships; Union Jack.

F: a sort of flag or colours, displayed from a mast erected on the outer end of a ship's bowsprit. In the British navy the jack is nothing more than a small union flag, composed of the intersection of the red and white crosses; but in merchant ships this union is bordered with a red field.

jackstaff

W: A short spar, at the bows of a ship, that serves as a flagpole to fly a flag (a jack)

jalap

a cathartic, used to accelerate defecation

jeer

D: any of various combinations of tackles for raising or lowering heavy yards.

B: The ropes by which the lower yards are suspended.

F: (pl.) an assemblage of tackles, by which the lower yards of a ship are hoisted up along the mast to their usual station, or lowered from thence as occasion requires; the former of which operations is called swaying, and the latter, striking.

jetty

TFD: A structure, such as a pier, that projects into a body of water to influence the current or tide or to protect a harbor or shoreline from storms or erosion.

jib

W: A triangular staysail set forward of the foremast.

B: The foremost sail of a ship, set upon a boom which runs out upon the bowsprit.

F: the foremost sail of a ship, being a large staysail extended from the outer end of the bowsprit, prolonged by the jib boom, towards the fore topmast head. The jib is a sail of great command with any side wind, but especially when the ship is close-hauled, or has the wind upon her beam; and its effort in casting the ship, or turning her head to leeward is very powerful, and of great utility, particularly when the ship is working through a narrow channel.

jib boom

W: A spar attached to the outboard end of a bowsprit or flying jib boom with an additional stay to increase sail area.

F: a boom run out from the extremity of the bowsprit, parallel to its length, and serving to extend the bottom of the jib, and the stay of the fore topgallant mast. This boom, which is nothing more than a continuation of the bowsprit forward, to which it may be considered as a topmast, is usually attached to the bowsprit by means of two large boom irons, or by one boom iron, and a cap on the outer end of the bowsprit; or, similarly, by the cap without, and a strong lashing within, instead of a boom iron; which is generally the method of securing it in small merchant ships. It may therefore be drawn in upon the bowsprit as occasion requires, which is usually practised when the ship enters a harbour, where it might very soon be broke, or carried away, by the vessels which are moored therein, or passing by under sail.

jib-headed

w: Having, as a sail, its head shaped like that of a jib, namely, pyramidal or like an inverted V. All headsails and gaff topsails are jib-headed, with the exception of the English style of square-headed gaff topsail.

jibe

See gybe

jill, gill

TFD: A unit of volume or capacity in the U.S. Customary System, used in liquid measure, equal to 1/4 of a pint or four ounces (118 milliliters).

journal

F: in navigation, a sort of diary, or daily register of the ship's course, winds, and weather; together with a general account of whatever is material to be remarked in the period of a sea voyage. In all sea journals, the day, or what is called the 24 hours, terminates at noon, because the errors of the dead reckoning are at that period generally corrected by a solar observation. The daily compact usually contains the state of the weather, the variation, increase, or diminution of the wind and the suitable shifting, reducing, or enlarging the quantity of sail extended; as also the most material incidents of the voyage, and the condition of the ship and her crew; together with the discovery of other ships or fleets, land, shoals, breakers, foundings, &c. The form of keeping journals is very different in merchant ships; but one method appears to be invariably pursued in the navy, which nevertheless is certainly capable of improvement, because no form can be properly called perfect, that leave as great a space for one day's work, the matter of which may be contained in very few lines, as for another that abounds with important incidents, so as to occupy ten times the space. If therefore there be any such thing as propriety of method on this occasion, it seems to imply, that the space containing should conform to the matter contained, which will necessarily be greater or less, according to circumstances.

junk

Old cables and cordage. Our use of junk for trash came from this earlier meaning.

F: a name given to any remnants or pieces of old cable, which is usually cut into small portions for the purpose of making points, mats, gaskets, sennit, &c. working up junk

jury-rig

W: To make an improvised rigging or assembly from whatever is available.

jurymast

W: A temporary mast constructed when a vessel has been dismasted, usually in heavy weather.

F: a temporary or occasional mast, erected in a ship to supply the place of one which has been carried away by tempest, battle, or the labouring of ship in a turbulent sea.

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K

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kava, keckle, keckling, kedge, keel, keelson, kelson, keep the luff, ketch, kevel, key, kicker, kicking strap, killick, king's evil, kittereen, knee, knittle, knot,

kava

W: 1. A plant from the South Pacific, Piper methysticum. 2. An intoxicating beverage made from the kava plant.

keckle

TFD: To wind old rope around, as a cable, to preserve its surface from being fretted

keckling

TFD: Old rope or iron chains wound around a cable.

F: a name given to any old ropes, which are wound about a cable, with a small interval between the turns, and used to preserve the surface of the cable from being fretted, when it rubs against the ship's bow, or forefoot.

kedge

W: A small anchor used for warping a vessel

B: A small anchor with an iron stock.

F: a small anchor used to keep a ship steady whilst she rides in a harbour or river, particularly at the turn of the tide, when she might otherwise drive over her principal anchor, and entangle the stock or flukes with her slack cable, so as to loosen it from the ground. This is accordingly prevented by a kedge rope that restrains her from approaching it. The kedges are also particularly useful in transporting a ship, i.e. removing her from one part of the harbour to another, by means of ropes, which are fastened to these anchors. They are generally furnished with an iron stock, which is easily displaced, for the convenience of stowing them.

keel

W: A large beam along the underside of a ship’s hull from bow to stern.

B: The principal piece of timber in a ship, which is usually first laid on the blocks in building.

keelson, kelson

TFD: A timber or girder fastened above and parallel to the keel of a ship or boat for additional strength.

B: A piece of timber forming the interior of the keel; being laid on the middle of the floor timbers immediately over the keel, and serving to unite the former to the latter.

keep the luff

F: to continue close to the wind, i.e. sailing with a course inclined to the direction of the wind, as much as possible, without deviating to leeward.

ketch

ketch TFD: A two-masted fore-and-aft-rigged sailing vessel with a mizzenmast stepped aft of a taller mainmast but forward of the rudder.

F: a vessel equipped with two masts, viz. the mainmast and mizenmast, and usually from 100 to 250 tons burthen.

kevel

TFD: A sturdy belaying pin for the heavier cables of a ship.

key

A small, low island composed largely of coral or sand.

F: a long wharf, usually built of stone, by the side of a harbour or river, and having several store houses for the convenience of lading and discharging merchant ships. It is accordingly furnished with posts and rings, whereby they are secured; together with cranes, capstans, and other engines, to lift the goods into, or out of, the vessels which lie alongside.

kicker, kicking strap

W: A piece of rope that connects the lower end of the mast and the boom in order to provide a means for exerting downward force on the boom and thus controlling the shape of the sail.

killick

TFD: A small anchor, especially one made of a stone in a wooden frame.

king's evil

WN: scrofula: a form of tuberculosis characterized by swellings of the lymphatic glands

kittereen

carriage, conveyance

knee

WP: a curved piece of load-bearing wood that is often used to connect adjacent members at approximately right angles to one another. Knees are often used in the construction of wooden boats and ships, particularly as natural angle brackets to fasten the deck to the hull and to reinforce critical structural locations.

F: a crooked piece of timber, having two branches, or arms, and generally used to connect the beams of a ship with her sides or timbers. The branches of the knees form an angle of greater or smaller extent, according to the mutual situation of the pieces which they are designed to unite. One branch is securely bolted to one of the deck beams, whilst the other is in the same manner attached to a corresponding timber in the ship's side. Besides the great utility of knees in connecting the beams and timbers into one compact frame, they contribute greatly to the strength and solidity of the ship, in the different parts of her frame to which they are bolted, and thereby enable her, with greater firmness, to resist the effects of a turbulent sea. In fixing of these pieces, it is occasionally necessary to give an oblique direction to the vertical, or side branch, in order to avoid the range of an adjacent gun port, or, because the knee may be so shaped as to require this disposition; it being sometimes difficult to procure so great a variety of knees as may be necessary in the construction of a number of ships of war.

knittle

F: a small line, which is either plaited or twisted, and used for various purposes at sea; as to fasten the service on the cable, to reef the sails by the bottom, and to hang the hammocks between decks; this name is also given to the loops or buttons of a bonnet.

knot

W: 1. A looping of a piece of string or of any other long, flexible material that cannot be untangled without passing one or both ends of the material through its loops. 2. A unit of speed, equal to one nautical mile per hour. (Which is equal to exactly 1.852 km/h and approximately 1.151 mph.)

B: A division of the log line, answering in the calculation of the ship's velocity, to one mile.

F: a large knob formed on the extremity of a rope, by untwisting the ends thereof, and interweaving them regularly amongst each other. There are several sorts of knots, which differ in their form and size, according to the uses for which they are designed; the principal of these are the diamond knot, the rose knot, the wall knot, or walnut, some of which are single, and others double. The knots are generally used to fasten one rope to another, by means of a small cord attached to the neck of the knot, called the lanyard, which is firmly tied about both ropes. They are also designed to prevent the end of a rope from sliding through an eye, which the knot is intended to confine in a particular situation.

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L

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labour, ladder, laden, landlubber, lanthorn, lanyard, laniard, larboard, larboard watch, large, lase on the bonnet, lash, lashing, lateen, launch, lay the land, lead, lee, lee shore, lee side, leech, leeward, leeway, length overall, lie along, lie to, lie by, lieutenant, lift, lighter, lightroom, line, log, log board, log line, logbook, loose, Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, Lord High Admiral, lubber, lues, luff, luffng, lugsail,

labour

D: to roll or pitch heavily, as a ship.

F: s a sea term, implies to roll or pitch heavily in a turbulent sea; an effect, by which the masts and hull of the ship are greatly endangered, because by the rolling motion the masts strain upon their shrouds with an effort, which increases as the sine of their obliquity: and the continual agitation of the vessel gradually loosens her joints, and often makes her extremely leaky.

ladder

there are no stairways aboard ship, everything is a ladder

WN: steps consisting of two parallel members connected by rungs; for climbing up or down

F: a well-known convenience, of which there are a great number in a ship, formed of two pieces of plank joined together by cross pieces, which serve as steps, whereby to mount or descend from one deck to another. The ladders derive their names from the several hatchways, or other parts of a ship, wherein they are situated.

laden

TFD: Weighed down with a load; heavy

F: the state of a ship when she is charged with a weight or quantity of any sort of merchandizes, or other materials, equal to her tonnage or burthen. If the cargo with which she is laden is extremely heavy, her burthen is determined by the weight of the goods; and if it is light, she carries as much as she can stow, to be fit for the purposes of navigation. As a ton in measure is generally estimated at 2000 lb. in weight, a vessel of 200 tons ought accordingly to carry a weight equal to 400,000 lb. when the matter of which the cargo is composed is specifically heavier than the water in which she floats; or, in other words, when the cargo is so heavy that she cannot float high enough, with so great a quantity of it, as her hold will contain.

landlubber

TFD: A person unfamiliar with the sea or seamanship.

lanthorn

a lantern

F: a well-known machine, of which there are many used in a ship, particularly for the purpose of directing the course of other ships in a fleet or convoy; such are the poop and top-lanthorns, &c.

lanyard, laniard

TFD: a line used for extending or fastening rigging on ships

B: of the shrouds, are the small ropes at the ends of them, by which they are hove taut or tight.

F: a short piece of cord or line, fastened to several machines in a ship, and serving to secure them in a particular place, or to manage them more conveniently. Such are the lanyards of the gun-ports, the lanyard of the buoy, the lanyard of the cathook, &c. The principal lanyards used in a ship, however, are those employed to extend the shrouds and stays of the masts, by their communication with the dead-eyes, so as to form a sort of mechanical power, resembling that of a tackle. These lanyards, are fixed in the dead-eyes as follows: One end of the lanyard is thrust through one of the holes in the upper dead-eye, and then knotted, to prevent it from drawing out; the other end is then passed through one of the holes in the lower dead-eye, whence, returning upward, it is inserted through the second hole in the upper dead-eye, and next through the second in the lower dead-eye, and smally through the third holes in both dead-eyes. The end of the lanyard, being then directed upwards from the lowest dead-eye, is stretched as stiff as possible by the application of tackles and that the several parts of it may slide with more facility through the holes in the dead-eyes, it is well smeared with hog's lard or tallow, so that the strain is immediately communicated to all the turns at once.

larboard

the left hand side of the ship, facing forward toward the bow

F: a name given by seamen to the left side of a ship, wherein the right and left are apparently determined by the analogy of a ship's position, on the water, to that of a fish.

larboard watch

The name was a convenience, it could just as well been 'north'. See watch and bells.

large

D: 1. (of a wind) nearly on the quarter, so that a sailing vessel may sail free. 2. with the wind free or abaft the beam so that all sails draw fully.

F: a phrase applied to the wind, when it crosses the line of a ship's course in a favourable direction, particularly on the beam or quarter; for instance, if a ship is steering west, the wind, in any point of the compass to the eastward of the south or north, may be called large, unless it is direct east, and then it is said to be right aft. To sail large is therefore to advance with a large wind, so as that the sheets are slackened and flowing, and the bowlines entirely disused. This phrase is generally opposed to sailing close-hauled, or with a scant wind, in which situation the sheets and bowlines are extended as much as possible.

lase on the bonnet

B: fasten the bonnet to the sail

lash

TFD: To secure or bind, as with a rope

F: the act of fastening or securing any thing by means of the rope used for this purpose.

lashing

TFD: rope, cord, etc., used for binding or securing

F: a piece of rope employed to fallen or secure any moveable body in a ship, or about her masts, sails, and rigging

lateen

TFD: Being, relating to, or rigged with a triangular sail hung on a long yard that is attached at an angle to the top of a short mast.

launch

W: The boat of the largest size and/or of most importance belonging to a ship of war

lay the land

B: A ship which increases her distance from the coast, so as to make it appear lower and smaller, is said to lay the land.

F: in navigation, the state of motion which increases the distance from the coast, so as to make it appear lower and smaller; a circumstance which evidently arises from the intervening convexity of the surface of the lea. It is used in contradistinction to raising the land, which is produced by the opposite motion of approach towards it.

lead

a lead weight fitted with tallow and a line with markings for determining the depth of water under a vessel.

heave the lead

lee

TFD: The side away from the direction from which the wind blows.

B: That part of the hemisphere to which the wind is directed, to distinguish it from the other part which is called to windward.

F: an epithet used by seamen to distinguish that part of the hemisphere to which the wind is directed, from the other part whence it arises; which latter is accordingly called to windward. This expression is chiefly used when the wind crosses the line of a ship's course, so that all on one side of her is called to windward, and all on the opposite side, to leeward.

lee shore

W: a shore, towards which the wind is blowing, and to which there is the danger of being driven

B: that shore upon which the wind blows.

lee side

TFD: the side of something that is sheltered from the wind

B: that half of a ship lengthwise, which lies between a line drawn through the middle of her length and the side which is farthest from the point of wind.

F: all that part of a ship or boat which lies between the mast, and the side furthest from the direction of the wind; or otherwise, the half of a ship, which is pressed down towards the water by the effort of the sails, as separated from the other half, by a line drawn through the middle of her length. That part of the ship, which lies to windward of this line, is accordingly called the weather side. Thus admit a ship to be sailing southward, with the wind at east, then is her starboard, or right side, the lee side; and the larboard, or left, the weather side.

leech

TFD: 1. Either vertical edge of a square sail. 2. The after edge of a fore-and-aft sail.

F: (pl.) the borders or edges of a sail, which are either sloping or perpendicular. The leeches of all sails, whose tops and bottoms are parallel to the deck, or at right angles with them all, are denominated from the ship's side, and the sail to which they belong; as the starboard leech of the mainsail, the lee leech of the fore topsail, &c. but the sails which are fixed obliquely upon the masts, have their leeches named from their situation with respect to the Ship's length; as the fore leech of the mizen, the after leech of the jib, or fore staysail, &c.

leeward

TFD: On or toward the side to which the wind is blowing.

F: towards that part of the horizon which lies under the lee, or whither the wind bloweth.

to leeward

leeway

TFD: The drift of a ship or an aircraft to leeward of the course being steered.

B: The lateral movement of a ship to leeward of her course; or the angle which the line of her way makes with a line in the direction of her keel.

F: is the lateral movement of a ship to leeward of her course, or the angle which the line of her way makes with the keel when the is close-hauled. This movement is produced by the mutual effort of the wind and sea upon her side, forcing her to leeward of the line upon which She appears to sail; and in this situation her course is necessarily a compound of the two motions by which she is impelled, of which the one presses forward, according to the line of her keel, whilst the other pushes her to leeward of the course, with a motion which is usually in proportion to the force of the wind, and the rate of her velocity.

length overall

W: length of a ship from bow to stern

lie along

F: the state of being pressed down sideways by a weight of sail in a fresh wind that crosses the Ship's course either directly or obliquely.

lie to, lie by

TFD: To remain stationary while facing the wind.

F: the situation of a ship when she is retarded in her course, by arranging the sails in such a manner as to counteract each other with nearly an equal effort, and render the ship almost immoveable, with respect to her progressive motion, or headway. A ship is usually brought to by the main and fore topsails, one of which is laid aback, whilst the other is full; so that the latter pushes the ship forward, whilst the former resists this impulse, by forcing her astern. This is particularly practised in a general engagement, when the hostile fleets are drawn up in two lines of battle opposite each other. It is also used to wait for some other ship, either approaching or expected; or to avoid pursuing a dangerous course, especially in dark or foggy weather, &c.

lieutenant

F: of a ship of war, the officer next in rank and power to the captain, in whose absence he is accordingly charged with the command of the ship; as also the execution of whatever orders he may have received from the commander relating to the king's service. The lieutenant, who commands the watch at sea, keeps a list of all the officers and men thereto belonging, in order to muster them, when he judges it expedient, and report to the captain the names of those who are absent from their duty. During the night watch, he occasionally visits the lower decks or sends thither a careful officer, to see that the proper centinels are at their their duty, and that there is no disorder amongst the men; no tobacco smoked between decks, nor any fire or candles burning there, except the lights which are in lanthorns, under the care of a proper watch, for particular purposes. He is expected to be always upon deck in his watch, as well to give the necessary orders, with regard to trimming the sails and superintending the navigation, as to prevent any noise or confusion; but he is never to change the ship's course without the captain's directions, unless to avoid an immediate danger. The lieutenant, in time of battle, is particularly to see that all the men are present at their quarters, where they have been previously stationed according to the regulations made by the captain. He orders and exhorts them every where to perform their duty, and acquaints the captain at all other times of the misbehaviour of any persons in the ship, and of whatever else concerns the service or discipline. The youngest lieutenant of the ship, who is also styled lieutenant at arms, besides his common duty, is particularly ordered, by his instructions, to train the seamen to the use of small arms, and frequently to exercise and discipline them therein. Accordingly his office, in time of battle, is chiefly to direct and attend them, and at all other times to have a due regard to the preservation of the small arms, that they be not lost or embezzled, and that they are kept clean and in good condition for service.

lift

d: A rope leading from the masthead to the extremity of a yard below; -- used for raising or supporting the end of the yard.

B: (pl.) the ropes which come to the ends of the yards from the mastheads, and by which they are suspended when lowered down.

F: (pl.) certain ropes, descending from the cap and masthead, to the opposite extremities of the yard immediately under; where, passing through a block or pulley, they become double. They are used to keep the yard in equilibrio; or to pull one of its extremities higher than the other as occasion requires; but particularly to support the weight of it, when a number of seamen are employed thereon, to furl or reef the sail. The lifts of the topsail yards, called the topsail lifts, are also used as sheets to extend the bottom of the topgallant sail above. The yards are said to be squared by the lifts, when they hang at right angles with the mast; that is to say, parallel to the horizon, when the vessel is upright upon the water.

lighter

TFD: A large flatbottom barge, especially one used to deliver or unload goods to or from a cargo ship or transport goods over short distances.

lightroom

TFD: A small room from which the magazine of a naval vessel is lighted, being separated from the magazine by heavy glass windows.

F: a small apartment, inclosed with glass windows, near the magazine of a ship of war. It is used to contain the lights by which the gunner, and his assistants, are enabled to fill the cartridges with powder, to be ready for action.

line

TFD: A rope used aboard a ship.

log

TFD: A device trailed from a ship to determine its speed through the water.

F: a machine used to measure the ship's headway, or the rate of her velocity as she advances through the sea. It is composed of a reel and line, to which is fixed a small piece of wood, forming the quadrant of a circle. The term log however is more particularly applied to the latter.

log board

TFD: a board consisting of two parts shutting together like a book, with columns in which are entered the direction of the wind, course of the ship, etc., during each hour of the day and night. These entries are transferred to the log book.

F: a sort of table, divided into several columns, containing the hours of the day and night, the direction of the winds, the course of the ship, and all the material occurrences that happen during the twenty-four hours, or from noon to noon; together with the latitude by observation. From this table the different officers of the ship are furnished with materials to compile their journals, wherein they likewise insert whatever may have been omitted; or reject what may appear superfluous in the log board.

log line

TFD: The line by which the log is trailed from a ship to determine its speed.

logbook

d: a book in which is entered the daily progress of a ship at sea, as indicated by the log, with notes on the weather and incidents of the voyage; the contents of the log board.

F: a book into which the contents of the log board is daily copied at noon, together with every circumstance deserving notice, that may happen to the ship, or within her cognizance, either at sea or in a harbour, &c. The intermediate divisions or watches of the logbook, containing four hours each, are usually signed by the commanding officer thereof, in ships of war or East Indiamen.

[Falconer's description of a journal better fits the description of logbook, and explains why it ran from noon to noon.]

loose

D: to set free from fastening or attachment

F: to unfurl or cast loose any sail, in order to be set, or dried, after rainy weather.

Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty

TFD: The Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty were the members of the Board of Admiralty, which exercised command over the Royal Navy. Officially known as the Commissioners for Exercising the Office of Lord High Admiral of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland &c. (or of England, Great Britain or the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, depending on the period), the Lords Commissioners only existed when the office of Lord High Admiral was in commission, i.e. not held by a single person. During the periods when an individual Lord High Admiral was appointed, there was a Council of the Lord High Admiral which assisted the Lord High Admiral and effectively performed many of the duties of the Board of Admiralty.

Lord High Admiral

The title of the person in command of the Royal Navy, when that command was held by a single person.

lubber

See landlubber

lues

an old name for syphilis, a sexually transmitted disease that has been around for centuries

luff

W: The vertical edge of a sail that is closest to the direction of the wind.

B: The order to the steersmam to put the helm towards the lee side of the ship in order to sail nearer to the wind.

luffng

WP: refers to when a sailing vessel is steered far enough toward the direction of the wind ("windward"), or the sheet controlling a sail is eased so far past optimal trim, that airflow over the surfaces of the sail is disrupted and the sail begins to "flap" or "luff" (the luff of the sail is usually where this first becomes evident). This is not always done in error; for example, the sails will luff when the bow of the boat passes through the direction of the wind as the sailboat is tacked.

lugsail

TFD: A quadrilateral sail that lacks a boom, has the foot larger than the head, and is bent to a yard hanging obliquely on the mast.

F: a square sail, hoisted occasionally on the mast of a boat, or small vessel, upon a yard which hangs nearly at right angles with the mast.

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

M

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

magazine, mahi, mahee, mainland, mainmast, mainsail, mainstay, maintop, mainyard, make a board, make a good board, make a stern board, make foul water, make sail, make sternway, make the land, make water, make way, marline, marlinspike, maroon, martingale, mast, masted, master, master's mate, master-at-arms, masthead, mat, mate, mattock, medusa, mend the service, meridian, mess, messenger, messmate, meteor, midshipman, midships, mizen, mizen course, mizen peak, mizenmast, mizzle, moiety, monsoon, moor, moorings, morai, musketoon, muster,

magazine

D: a room or place for keeping gunpowder and other explosives, as in a fort or on a warship.

F: a close room or store-house, built in the fore, or after part of a ship's hold, to contain the gunpowder used in battle, &c. This apartment is strongly secured against fire, and no person is suffered to enter it with a lamp or candle; it is therefore lighted, as occasion requires, by means of the candles or lamps which are fixed in the lightroom contiguous to it.

mahi, mahee

paste made of pulp of fruits and edible roots, mainly bread-fruit and taro (Tahiti)

mainland

TFD: the main part of a land mass as opposed to an island or peninsula

mainmast

D: 1. The principal mast of a sailing vessel. 2. The taller mast, whether forward or aft, of a two-masted sailing vessel. 3. The second mast aft of a sailing ship with three or more masts.

mainsail

TFD: the largest and lowermost sail on the mainmast

mainstay

W: A stabilising rope ( stay) from the top of the mainmast to the bottom of the foremast.

maintop

W: A platform at the top of a square-rigged vessel's mainmast; used for observation and for the attachment of rigging. See top.

mainyard

W: The yard of the mainmast, from which the mainsail is hung

make a board

B: making a stretch upon any tack when a ship is working upon a wind

make a good board

F: sails nearly upon a straight line, without deviating to leeward when close-hauled.

make a stern board

B: that is, when she loses ground in working upon a wind.

make foul water

B: to muddy the water, by running in shallow places, so that the ship's keel disturbs the mud at the bottom.

make sail

F: is to increase the quantity of sail already extended, either by letting out the reefs, and by hoisting an additional number of small sails, or by performing either of those exercises separately.

make sternway

B: to retreat or move with the stern foremost

make the land

F: is to discover it from a distant situation, in consequence of approaching it after a sea voyage

make water

To leak.

make way

W: (of a vessel) to progress through the water

marline

TFD: a light rope, usually tarred, made of two strands laid left-handed

marlinspike

W: A pointed metal spike, used to separate strands of rope or wire in splicing.

F: an iron pin, tapering, to a point, and furnished with a large round head. It is principally used to penetrate the twists, or strands of a rope, in order to introduce the ends of some other through the intervals, in the act of knotting or splicing. It is also used as a lever, on many other occasions, about the rigging, particularly in fixing the seizings upon the shrouds, block strops, clues of the sails, &c.

maroon

W: To abandon in a remote, desolate place, as on a deserted island.

martingale

TFD: Any of several parts of standing rigging strengthening the bowsprit and jib boom against the force of the head stays.

mast

F: a long round piece of timber, elevated perpendicularly upon the keel of a ship, to which are attached the yards, the sails, and the rigging.

fish the mast

masted

TFD: Furnished with a mast or masts; - chiefly in composition; as, a three-masted schooner.

B: Having all her sails complete.

master

WP: The master, or sailing master, was a historic term for a naval officer trained in and responsible for the navigation of a sailing vessel. The rank can be equated to a professional seaman and specialist in navigation, rather than as a military commander. In the British Royal Navy, the master was a rank of warrant officer who ranked with, but after, the lieutenants.

F: an officer appointed by the commissioners of the navy to assist in fitting, and to take charge of the navigating and conducting a ship from port to port, under the direction of the captain, or other his superior officer. The management and disposition of the sails, the working of the ship into her station in the order of battle, and the direction of her movements in the time of action, and in the other circumstances of danger, are also more particularly under his inspection. He is to be careful that the rigging, sails, and stores, be duly preserved; to see that the log and logbook be regularly and correctly kept; accurately to observe the appearances of coasts, rocks, and shoals, with their depths of water and bearings, noting them in his journal. He is to keep the hawser clear when the ship is at anchor, and to provide himself with proper instruments, maps, and books of navigation. It is likewise his duty to examine the provisions, and accordingly to admit none into the ship but such as are sound, sweet, and wholesome. He is moreover charged with the stowage, or disposition of these materials in the ship's hold. And when she shall be laid up, he is to deposit a copy of the logbook and journal with the commissioners of the navy. And to enable him the better to perform these services, he is allowed several assistants, who are properly termed mates and quartermasters.

master's mate

WP: Originally, a master's mate was an experienced petty officer, who assisted the master, but was not in line for promotion to lieutenant. By the mid-eighteenth century, he was far more likely to be a superior midshipman, still waiting to pass his examination for lieutenant or to receive his commission, but taking rather more responsibility aboard ship.

master-at-arms

D: a petty officer who has various duties, such as keeping order on the ship, taking charge of prisoners, etc.

F: an officer appointed by warrant from the board of admiralty, to teach the officers and crew of a Ship of war the exercise of small arms; to confine and plant centinels over the prisoners, and superintend whatever relates to them during their confinement. He is also, as soon as the evening gun shall be fired, to see all the fires and lights extinguished, except such as shall be permitted by proper authority, or under the inspection of centinels. It is likewise his duty to attend the gangway, when any boats arrive aboard, and search them carefully, together with their rowers, that no spirituous liquors may be conveyed into the ship, unless by permission of the commanding officer. He is to see that the small arms be kept in proper order. He is to visit all vessels coming to or going from the ship, and prevent the crew from going from the ship without leave. He is also to acquaint the officer of the watch with all irregularities in the ship which shall come to his knowledge. In these several duties he is assisted with proper attendants, called his corporals, who also relieve the centinels, and one another, at certain periods.

masthead

W: The top of a mast.

mat

F: a sort of thick web or texture, formed of spun yarn, or of a variety of strands, or separate parts of a small rope; or of a number of rope yarns twilled into foxes. The foxes are therefore larger or smaller, as containing a greater or lesser number of rope yarns, in proportion to the thickness of the mat intended to be woven. Mats are commonly used to fasten upon the outside of such parts of the standing rigging as are exposed to the friction of other ropes, in extending, shifting, or trussing up the sails, particularly the lower ones. The largest and strongest sort of these mats are called paunches.

mate

D: an assistant to a warrant officer or other functionary on a ship. As master's mate, gunner's mate, carpenter's mate.

F: of a ship of war, an officer under the direction of the master, by whose choice he is generally appointed, to assist him in the several branches of his duty. Accordingly he is to be particularly attentive to the navigation in his watch, &c. to keep the log regularly, and examine the line and glasses by which the ship's course is measured, and to adjust the sails to the wind in the fore part of the ship. He is also to have a diligent attention to the cables, seeing that they are well coiled and kept clean when laid in the tier, and sufficiently served when employed to ride the ship. Finally, he is to superintend and assist at the stowage of the hold, taking especial care that all the ballast and provisions are properly stowed therein.

mattock

mattock TFD: a type of large pick that has one end of its blade shaped like an adze, used for loosening soil, cutting roots, etc.

medusa

TFD: The tentacled, usually bell-shaped, free-swimming sexual stage in the life cycle of a coelenterate, such as a jellyfish.

mend the service

B: Put on more service.

meridian

TFD: A great circle passing through the two poles of the celestial sphere and the zenith of a given observer.

mess

F: a particular company of the officers or crew of a ship, who eat, drink, and associate together.

messenger

W: A light line with which a heavier line may be hauled e.g. from the deck of a ship to the pier.

B: A small kind of cable, which being brought to the capstan, and the cable by which the ship rides made fast to it, it purchases the anchor.

messmate

W: an associate with whom one shares a mess (eating place) on a ship

meteor

TFD: The streaks of light we sometimes see in the night sky and call meteors were not identified as interplanetary rocks until the 19th century. Before then, the streaks of light were considered only one of a variety of atmospheric phenomena, all of which bore the name meteor. Rain was an aqueous meteor, winds and storms were airy meteors, and streaks of light in the sky were fiery meteors. This general use of meteor survives in our word meteorology, the study of the weather and atmospheric phenomena.

midshipman

W: An officer of the lowest rank in several navies; especially, a trainee officer.

F: a sort of naval cadet, appointed by the captain of a ship of war, to second the orders of the superior officers, and assist in the necessary business of the vessel, either aboard or ashore.

The number of midshipmen, like that of several other officers, is always in proportion to the size of the ship to which they belong. Thus a first-rate man of war has twenty-four, and the inferior, rates a suitable number in proportion. No person can be appointed lieutenant, without having previously served two years in the royal navy in this capacity, or in that of mate, besides having been at least four years in actual service at sea, either in merchant ships, or in the royal navy.

Midshipman is accordingly the station in which a young volunteer is trained in the several exercises, necessary to attain a sufficient knowledge of the machinery, discipline, movements, and military operations of a ship, to qualify him for a sea officer.

As the chief object of our attention has been to facilitate the acquisition of this intelligence, we have endeavoured to treat those subjects at large, in the different parts of this work, according to their importance. We have also sketched the general outlines of the respective charges of all the superior officers, which, in conformity to the plan of this work, become previous to this article. Thus the duties of the admiral, the captain, the lieutenant, and the master, are already explained in their proper places; and whatever intelligence appears necessary to discharge those offices, is also, in a high degree, essential to the midshipman. Those officers indeed, as well as many others, are furnished with suitable instructions to regulate their conduct; but the midshipman, being invested with no particular charge from the government, is by consequence omitted in those official regulations. In a work of this kind, however, the importance of the subject is not always determined by the superiority of rank or station. If our province is to communicate instruction, those who are the least informed are certainly the principal objects thereof, and to them our attention is more peculiarly directed. Hence the extent of our design comprehends many circumstances which would be immaterial in general orders and regulations; and hence abundance of particular directions to respective officers, inserted in those general regulations, are rejected here as foreign to our purpose. Averse as we are, on other occasions, to offend the rigid nicety of a critic, by introducing moral reflections, in a performance dedicated to scientifical description, we must for once be indulged with a short deviation from the plan hitherto invariably followed. Happy if our efforts may in any degree operate to produce the effects for which they were calculated.

On his first entrance in a ship of war, every midshipman has several disadvantageous circumstances to encounter. These are partly occasioned by the nature of the sea service, and partly by the mistaken prejudices of people in general, respecting naval discipline, and the genius of sailors and their officers. No character, in their opinion, is more excellent than that of the common sailor, whom they generally suppose to be treated with great severity by his officers, drawing a comparison between them not very advantageous to the latter. The midshipman usually comes aboard tinctured with these prejudices, especially if his education has been amongst the higher rank of people; and if the officers happen to answer his opinion, he conceives an early disgust to the service, from a very partial and incompetent view of its operations. Blinded by these prepossessions, he is thrown off his guard, and very soon surprized to find, amongst those honest sailors, a crew of abandoned miscreants, ripe for any mischief or villainy. Perhaps, after a little observation, many of them will appear to him equally destitute of gratitude, shame, or justice, and only deterred from the commission of any crimes by the terror of severe punishment. He will discover, that the pernicious example of a few of the vilest in a ship of war is too often apt to poison the principles of the greatest number, especially if the reins of discipline are too much relaxed, so as to foster that idleness and dissipation, which engender sloth, diseases, and an utter profligacy of manners. If the midshipman, on many occasions, is obliged to mix with these, particularly in the exercises of extending or reducing the sails in the tops, he ought resolutely to guard against this contagion, with which the morals of his inferiors may be infected. He should however avail himself of their knowledge, and acquire their expertness in managing and fixing the sails and rigging, and never suffer himself to be excelled by an inferior. He will probably find a virtue in almost every private sailor, which is entirely unknown to many of his officers; that virtue is emulation, which is not indeed mentioned amongst their qualities by the gentlemen of terra firma, by whom their characters are often copiously described with very little judgment. There is hardly a common tar who is not envious of superior skill in his fellows, and jealous on all occasions to be outdone in what he considers as a branch of his duty! Nor is he more afraid of the dreadful consequences of whistling in a storm, than of being stigmatized with the opprobrious epithet of lubber. Fortified against this scandal, by a thorough knowledge of his business, the sailor will sometimes sneer in private, at the execution of orders, which to him appear awkward, improper, or unlike a seaman. Nay, he will perhaps be malicious enough to suppress his own judgment, and by a punctual obedience to command, execute whatever is to be performed, in a manner which he knows to be improper, in order to expose the person commanding to disgrace and ridicule. Little skilled in the method of the schools, he considers the officer who cons his lesson by rote as very ill qualified for his station, because particular situations might render it necessary for the said officer to assist at putting his own orders in practice. An ignorance in this practical knowledge will therefore necessarily be thought an unpardonable deficiency by those who are to follow his directions. Hence the midshipman, who associates with these sailors in the tops, till he has acquired a competent skill in the service of extending or reducing the sails, &c. will be often entertained with a number of scurrilous jests, at the expence of his superiors. Hence also he will learn, that a timely application to those exercises can only prevent him from appearing in the same despicable point of view, which must certainly be a cruel mortification to a man of the smallest sensibility.

midships

See amidships

mizen

W: 1. Mizzenmast. 2. A fore-and-aft sail set on the mizzenmast.

F: the aftermost or hindmost of the fixed sails of a ship, extended sometimes by a gaff, and sometimes by a yard which crosses the mast obliquely; the fore-end reaching almost down to the deck, and the after-end being peaked up as high above the middle of the yard, where it is attached to the mast. The figure of the mizen is accordingly a trapezia, or a parallelogram, one of whose corners is cut off by a diagonal, extended from one of its sides to the opposite corner, which becomes the peak of the mizen.

mizen course

The lowest sail on the mizzenmast.

mizen peak

the top of the mizen mast

mizenmast

W: The aftmost mast on a ship having three or more masts

F: the mast upon which the mizen and its topsail and staysails are supported, besides other sails, which are set occasionally, as the driver, ring tail &c.

mizzle

TFD: To rain in fine, mistlike droplets; drizzle.

moiety

W: Half; A share or portion

monsoon

TFD: 1. A wind system that influences large climatic regions and reverses direction seasonally. 2. a. A wind from the southwest or south that brings heavy rainfall to southern Asia in the summer. b. The rain that accompanies this wind.

F: a name given to the periodical or trade winds, which blow regularly in certain latitudes of the Indian ocean. They continue five or six months invariably in one direction, and then alter their course, and blow, during an equal space of time, from a different point of the compass with the same uniformity.

moor

W: To fix or secure, as a vessel, in a particular place by casting anchor, or by fastening with cables or chains

B: is to secure a ship with two anchors.

F: the act of confining and securing a ship in a particular station, by chains or cables, which are either fastened to the adjacent shore, or to anchors in the bottom. A ship may be either moored by the head, or by the head and stern; that is to lay, she may be secured by anchors before her, without any behind; or the may have anchors out, both before and behind her; or her cables may be attached to posts, rings, or moorings, which answer the same purpose. When a ship is moored by the head with her own anchors, they are disposed according to the circumstances of the place where she lies, and the time she is to continue therein. Thus wherever a tide ebbs and flows, it is usual to carry one anchor out towards the flood, and another towards the ebb, particularly where there is little room to range about; and the anchors are laid in the same manner, if the vessel is moored head and stern in the same place. The situation of the anchors, in a road or bay, is usually opposed to the reigning winds, or those which are most dangerous; so that the ship rides therein with the effort of both her cables. Thus if the rides in a bay, or road, which is exposed to a northerly wind and heavy sea from the same quarter, the anchors passing from the opposite bows ought to lie east and west from each other; hence both the cables will retain the ship in her station with equal effort against the action of the wind and sea.

moorings

W: A place or places where a vessel may be made fast

F: are usually an assemblage of anchors, chains, and bridles, laid athwart the bottom of the river, or haven, to ride the shipping contained therein. The anchors, employed on this occasion, have rarely more than one fluke, which is sunk in the river near low-water mark. Two anchors, being fixed, in this manner, on the opposite sides of the river, are furnished with a chain, extending across from one to the other. In the middle of the chain is a large square link, whose lower end terminates in a swivel, which turns round in the chain as about an axis, whenever the ship veers about with the change of the tide. To this swivel-link are attached the bridles, which are short pieces of cable, well served, whose upper ends are drawn into the ship, at the mooring-ports, and afterwards fastened to the masts, or cable-bits. A great number of moorings, of this sort, are fixed in the royal ports, or the harbours adjacent to the king's dockyards, as Deptford, Chatham, Portsmouth, Plymouth, &c.

morai

"The Morai is a kind of funeral altar, which the people of Otaheite raise to the memory of their deceased friends. They bring to it a daily tribute of fruits, flowers, and the plumage of birds. The chief mourner wanders around it in a state of apparent distraction, shrieking furiously, and striking at intervals a shark’s tooth into her head. All people fly her, as she aims at wounding not only herself, but others."

Anna Seward, note to Elegy for Captain Cook (1780)

musketoon

a short barreled musket

muster

F: the act of calling over a list of the whole ship's company, or any particular detachment thereof, who are accordingly summoned to answer by their names on the occasion. Also the list.

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N

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

Nanking cloth, Nankeen, narrows, navigation, Navy Board, neap tide, neaped, netting, New Holland, nipper, no man's land, northing, nun buoy,

Nanking cloth, Nankeen

A kind of cotton cloth, originally made at Nanking, China, from a yellow variety of cotton. Nankeen may also refer to a (pale) yellow or buff color.

narrows

D: a narrow part of a strait, river, ocean current, etc.

B: A small passage between two lands.

navigation

F: the art of directing the movements of a ship by the action of the wind upon the sails. Navigation is then applied, with equal propriety, to the arrangement of the sails, according to the state of the wind and to the directing and measuring a ship's course by the laws of geometry; or it may comprehend both, being then considered as the theory and practice thereof. Since every sea officer is presumed to be furnished with books of navigation, in which that science is copiously described, it would be superfluous to enter into a particular detail of it in this place. As it would also be a fruitless talk to those who are entirely ignorant of the rules of trigonometry, and those who are versed in that science generally understand the principles of navigation already, it appears not to come within the limits of our design. It suffices to say, that the course of a ship, and the distance she has run thereon, are measured by the angles and sides of a right-angled plain triangle, in which the hypothenuse is converted into the distance; the perpendicular, into the difference of latitude; the base, into the departure from the meridian; the angle, formed by the perpendicular and hypothenuse, into the course; and the opposite angle, contained between the hypothenuse and base, into its complement of the course. The course of the ship is determined by the compass; and the log line, or a solar observation, ascertains the distance. Hence the hypothenuse and angles are given, to find the base and perpendicular; a problem well known in trigonometry. That part of navigation, which regards the piloting or conducting a ship along the sea coast, can only be acquired by a thorough knowledge of that particular coast, after repeated voyages. The bearings and distances from various parts of the shore are generally ascertained in the night, either by lighthouses, or by the different depths of the water, and the various sorts of ground at the bottom; as shells of different sizes and colours, sand, gravel, clay, stones, ooze, or shingle. In the day the ship's place is known by the appearance of the land, which is set by the compass, whilst the distance is estimated by the master or pilot.

Navy Board

WP: (Royal Navy) ... From 1546 to 1831, the Navy Board was also the name of a body separate from the Admiralty, originally called Council of the Marine and presided over by the Lieutenant of the Admiralty, which was responsible for the administrative affairs of the naval service, including the building and repair of and supplies to naval ships. However their armament was the responsibility of an independent body, the Board of Ordnance. In the 18th century, the Navy Board had subsidiary organisations such as the Sick and Hurt Commissioners (responsible for naval medical services) and the Victualling Commissioners (responsible for feeding the navy).

neap tide

TFD: A tide that occurs when the difference between high and low tide is least; the lowest level of high tide. Neap tide comes twice a month, in the first and third quarters of the moon.

B: (pl.) The tides in the first and last quarter of the moon, and are not either so high, so low, or so rapid as spring tides.

neaped

TFD: Left aground on the height of a spring tide, so that it will not float till the next spring tide; - called also beneaped.

netting

F: a sort of fence, formed of an assemblage of ropes, fastened across each other, so as to leave uniform intervals between. These are usually stretched along the upper part of a ship's quarter, and secured in this position by rails and stanchions.

New Holland

WP: New Holland is a historic name for the island continent of Australia. The name was first applied to Australia in 1644 by the Dutch seafarer Abel Tasman as Nova Hollandia, naming it after the Dutch province of Holland, and remained in use for 180 years.

nipper

D: a short rope for seizing an anchor cable to a messenger from a capstan.

F: (pl.) certain pieces of flat braided cordage, used to fasten the cable to the voyal in a ship of war, when the former is drawn into the ship by mechanical powers applied to the latter. These nippers are usually six or eight feet in length, according to the size of the cable; and five or six of them are commonly fastened about the cable and voyal at once, in order to be heaved in by the capstan. Those which are furthest aft are always taken off, as the cable approaches the main hatchway; and others are at the same time fastened on, in the fore-part of the ship, to supply their places. The persons employed to bind the nippers about the cable and voyal, are called nipper-men; they are assisted in this office by the boys of the ship, who always supply them with nippers, and receive the ends of those which are fastened, to walk aft with them, and take them off at the proper place, in order to return them to the nipper-men.

no man's land

F: a space between the after part of the belfrey and the fore-part of a ship's boat, when the said boat is stowed upon the booms, as in a deep-waisted vessel. These booms are laid from the forecastle nearly to the quarterdeck, where their after ends are usually sustained by a frame called the gallows, which consists of two strong posts, about six feet high, with a cross piece, reaching from one to the other, athwartships, and serving to support the ends of those booms, masts, and yards, which lie in reserve to supply the place of others carried away, &c. The space called No man's land is used to contain any blocks, ropes, tackles, &c. which may be necessary on the forecastle. It probably derives this name from its situation, as being neither on the starboard nor larboard side of the ship, nor on the waist or forecastle; but, being situated in the middle, partakes equally of all those places.

northing

W: A distance traveled northward.

nun buoy

TFD: a buoy, conical at the top, marking the right side of a channel leading into a harbour: green in British waters but red in US waters

F: are shaped like the middle frustum of two cones, abutting upon one common base, being casks, which are large in the middle, and tapering, nearly to a point, at each end.

buoy

cable buoy

can buoy

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O

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

oakum, observation, ochre, off, off and on, offing, on board, on the beam, on the bow, on the quarter, open, open hawse, ordinary seaman, orlop, Otaheite, out, out of trim, overhaul, overset,

oakum

TFD: loose fibre obtained by unravelling old rope, used esp. for caulking seams in wooden ships

F: the substance into which old ropes are reduced, when they are untwisted, loosened, and drawn asunder. It is principally used to drive into the seams, or intervals, between the planks of a ship, to prevent the water from entering.

observation

TFD: 1. a sight taken with an instrument to determine the position of an observer relative to that of a given heavenly body 2. the data so taken

F: the art of measuring the altitude of the sun or a star, in order to determine the latitude, or the sun's azimuth, &c.

ochre

TFD: Any of several earthy mineral oxides of iron occurring in yellow, brown, or red and used as pigments.

off

TFD: Farthest from the shore; seaward; to seaward of.

D: away from the land, a ship, the wind, etc.; at some distance to seaward of

F: an expression applied to the movement of a ship, when she sails out from the shore towards the distant sea.

off and on

d: On different tacks, now toward, and now away from, the land.

B: When a ship is beating to windward, so that by one board she approaches towards the shore, and by the other stands out to sea, she is said to stand off and on shore.

offing

W: The area of the sea in which a ship can be seen in the distance from land, excluding the parts nearest the shore, and beyond the anchoring ground.

F: implies out at sea; or at a competent distance from the shore, and generally out of anchor-ground.

on board

W: On or in a means of transportation.

B: Within the ship, as, he is come on board.

on the beam

TFD: in a line with the beams, or at right angles with the keel.

F: implies any distance from the ship on a line with the beams, or at right angles with the keel; thus, if the ship steers or points northward, any object lying east or west, is said to be on her starboard or larboard beam.

on the bow

TFD: on that part of the horizon within 45° on either side of the line ahead.

B: An arch of the horizon, comprehending about four points of the compass on each side of that point to which the ship's head is directed. Thus, they say, the ship in sight bears three points on the starboard bow; that is, three points towards the right hand, from that part of the horizon which is right ahead.

on the quarter

TFD: in a direction between abeam and astern; opposite, or nearly opposite, a vessel's quarter.

B: An arch of the horizon, comprehending about four points of the compass on each side of that point to which the ship's stern is directed.

open

F: the situation of a place which is exposed to the wind and sea, with little or no shelter for shipping to anchor therein. Open is also expressed of any distant object, to which the light or passage is not intercepted by something lying, or coming between. Thus, to be open with any place, is to be opposite to it; as the entry of a port, road, or haven.

open hawse

TFD: a hawse in which the cables are parallel or slightly divergent.

B: When the cables of a ship at her moorings lead straight to their respective anchors, without crossing, she is said to ride with an open hawse.

ordinary seaman

TFD: a seaman of the lowest rank, being insufficiently experienced to be an able-bodied seaman

orlop

WP: The orlop is the lowest deck in a ship (except for very old ships). It is the deck or part of a deck where the cables are stowed, usually below the water line.

B: The deck on which the cables are stowed.

F: a platform of planks laid over the beams, in the hold of a ship of war, whereon the cables are usually coiled, and the several officers storerooms contained.

Otaheite

W: Tahiti. Recorded by Samuel Wallis on encountering the island in 1767. But Johann Forster and Georg Forster on Captain Cook's second voyage to the island in 1773 were accomplished comparative linguists and realized the O was an article in the Tahitian language and not properly part of the name.

[Note: I wish they had passed the word around. Bligh and others continued tacking on the O for years afterwards. If you happen to be looking for any of these words, first remove the O, then simplify the spelling: Oparre - Pare, Otoo - Tu, Otootooillah - Tutuila.]

out

F: an expression frequently used at sea, implying the situation of the sails when they are set, or extended, to assist the ship's course; as opposed to in; which is also applied, in the contrary sense, to signify that such sails are furled.

out of trim

F: the state of a ship when she is not properly balanced for the purposes of navigation; which is either occasioned by the size, or position of her masts and sails; or by the comparative quantity, or arrangement of her cargo and ballast in the hold.

overhaul

TFD: To slacken (a line) or to release and separate the blocks of (a tackle).

B: To clear away and disentangle any rope; also to come up with the chase; as we overhaul her, that is, we gain ground of her.

F: the act of opening and extending the several parts of a tackle, or other assemblage of ropes, communicating with blocks or dead-eyes. It is used to remove those blocks to a sufficient distance from each other, that they may be again placed in a state of action, so as to produce the effect required.

overset

B: A ship is overset when her keel turns upward.

F: the act of turning any thing upside down also the movement of a ship when she overturns so that the keel becomes above the water, and the masts under the surface.

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P

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packet, painter, palm, panada, parbuckle, parcel, parcel a rope, parcel a seam, parrel, Parry, William, partner, paunch, pay, pay away the cable, pay off, pay out, peak, pendant, pendent, pennant, petty officer, piazza, picol, pilot, pinnace, pintle, piracy, pirate, pitch, plain sail, plaise, plaice, plat, plum duff, plummet, plunder, point, pointing, points, poop, poop deck, pooping, port, port sills, portable soup, porter, Portuguese man of war, preventer, prow, public house, pudding, puddening, pumice stone, pump, pumpion, puncheon, purau, purchase, purser, put about, puttock,

packet

W: Originally, a vessel employed by government to convey dispatches or mails; hence, a vessel employed in conveying dispatches, mails, passengers, and goods, and having fixed days of sailing; a mail boat. Packet boat, ship, vessel.

F: a vessel appointed by the government to carry the mail of letters, packets, and,expresses from one kingdom to another by sea, in the most expeditious manner. Thus the packet-boats, under the direction of the post-master-general of Great Britain, carry the mails from Dover to Calais, from Falmouth to Lisbon, from Harwich to Helvoetsluys, and from Parkgate to Dublin.

painter

W: A rope connected to the bow of a boat, used to attach it to, e.g. a jetty or another boat.

F: a rope employed to fasten a boat either alongside of the ship to which the belongs, or to some wharf, key, &c. as occasion requires.

palm

TFD: A metal shield worn by sailmakers over the palm of the hand and used to force a needle through heavy canvas.

F: an implement used instead of a thimble in the exercise of making and mending sails. It is formed of a piece of leather or canvas, on the middle of which is fixed a round plate of iron, of an inch in diameter, whole surface is pierced with a number of small holes, to catch the head of the sail needle. The leather is formed so as to encircle the hand, and button on the back thereof, while the iron remains in the palm; so that the whole strength of the hand may be exerted to thrust the needle through the canvas, when it is stiff and difficult to be penetrated in sewing.

panada

TFD: a mixture of flour, water, etc., or of breadcrumbs soaked in milk, used as a thickening

parbuckle

TFD: A sling for raising or lowering an object vertically.

F: a contrivance used by sailors to lower a cask or bale from any height, as the top of a wharf or key, into a boat or lighter, which lies alongside, being chiefly employed where there is no crane or tackle. It is formed by fastening the bight of a rope to a post, or ring, upon the wharf, and thence pulling the two parts of the rope under the two quarters of the cast, and bringing them back again over it; so that when the two lower parts remain firmly attached to the post, the two upper parts are gradually slackened together, and the barrel, or bale, suffered to roll easily downward to that place where it is received below. This method is also frequently used used by masons, in lifting up or letting down large stones, when they are employed in building; and from them it has probably been adopted by seamen.

parcel

TFD: To wind protective strips of canvas around (rope).

F: certain long narrow ships of canvas, daubed with tar, and frequently bound about a rope, in the same manner as bandages are applied to a broken limb in surgery.

parcel a rope

B: Is to put a quantity of old canvass upon it before the service is put on.

F: This is chiefly practised when the said rope is intended to be served, at which time the parceling is laid in spiral turns, as smoothly upon the surface as possible, that the rope may not become uneven and full of ridges.

parcel a seam

B: Is to lay a narrow piece of canvass over it after it is caulked, before it is payed.

F: Parceling a seam, is laying a spred of canvas upon it, and daubing it over with melted pitch, both above and below the canvas.

parrel

W: A sliding loop of rope or metal, around the mast of a ship, to which a yard or gaff is fitted

F: a machine used to fasten the sail yards of a ship to the masts, in such a manner as that they may be easily hoisted and lowered thereon, as occasion requires.

Parry, William

Willaim Parry (1743-1791) was a Welsh artist who is not well-known today. When the Bounty left Tahiti, Tynah gave four of Parry's paintings as gifts; two to the King and two to Bligh.

partner

D: a framework of timber round a hole in a ship's deck, to support a mast, capstan, pump, etc.

F: certain pieces of plank nailed round the several scuttles, or holes, in a ship's deck, wherein are contained the masts and capstans. They are used to strengthen the deck where it is weakened by those breaches, but particularly to support it when the mast leans against it; as impressed by a weight of sail, or when the capstan bears forcibly upon it whilst charged with a great effort. Partners is also a name given occasionally to the scuttles themselves, wherein the masts and capstan are fixed.

paunch

TFD: a thick mat that prevents chafing

F: a sort of thick and strong mat, or texture, formed by interweaving twists of rope yarn, as close as possible. It is chiefly used to fasten on the outside of the yards, or rigging, to prevent their surfaces from being rubbed by the friction of some other contiguous object, particularly when the vessel is rocked by a tempestuous sea.

pay

D: to coat or cover (seams, a ship's bottom, etc.) with pitch, tar, or the like.

B: To daub or cover the surface of any body with pitch, tar, &c. in order to prevent it from the injuries of the weather.

F: as a naval term, implies to daub or anoint the surface of any body, in order to preserve it from the injuries of the water, weather, &c. Thus the bottom of a ship is paid with a composition of tallow, sulphur, resin, &c. The sides of a ship are usually paid with tar, turpentine, or resin; or by a composition of tar and oil, to which is sometimes added red ocher, &c. to protect the planks thereof from being split by the sun or wind. The lower masts are, for the same reasons, paid with materials of the same sort, if we except those, along which their respective sails are frequently hoisted and lowered; such are the masts of sloops and schooners, which are always paid with tallow for this purpose; for the same reason all topmasts and topgallant masts are also paid with hog's lard, butter, or tallow.

pay away the cable

F: slacken it, that it may run out of the ship. This phrase is the same with veer away the cable.

pay off

TFD: To turn or cause to turn (a vessel) to leeward.

F: (paying off) the movement by which a ship's head falls to leeward of the point whither it was previously directed; particularly when, by neglect of the helmsman, she had inclined to windward of her course, so as to make the headsails shiver in the wind, and retard her velocity.

Paying off is likewise used to signify the payment of the ship's officers and crew, and the discharge of the ship from service, in order to be laid up at the moorings.

pay out

TFD: to release (a rope) gradually, hand over hand

B: To slacken a cable or other rope, so as to let it run out for some particular purpose.

peak

TFD: 1. The narrow portion of a ship's hull at the bow or stern. 2. The upper after corner of a fore-and-aft sail. 3. The outermost end of a gaff.

F: a name given to the upper corner of all those sails which are extended by a gaff, or by a yard which crosses the mast obliquely, as the mizen yard of a ship, the mainyard of a bilander [small merchant ship with two masts], &c. The upper extremity of those yards and gaffs are also denominated the peak.

pendant, pendent

TFD: (pendent) Hanging down; dangling; suspended. (Usual meaning in the various texts on this site.)

D: (pennant) a long, tapering flag or burgee of distinctive form and special significance, borne on naval or other vessels and used in signaling or for identification.

B: The long narrow flag worn at the masthead by all ships of the navy.

F: (pendent) a sort of long narrow banner, displayed from the masthead of a ship of war, and usually terminating in two ends or points. Pendent is also a short piece of rope, fixed under the shrouds, upon the head of the mainmast and foremast, from which it depends as low as the cat-harpins, having an eye in the lower end, which is armed with an iron thimble, to prevent the eye from being fretted by the hooks of the main and fore tackles, &c. There are, besides, many other pendents of the latter kind, which are generally single or double ropes, to whose lower extremities is attached a block, or tackle; such are the fish pendent, the yard tackle pendents, the reef tackle pendents, &c. all of which are employed to transmit the effort of their respective tackles to some distant object.

broad pendant

pennant

See broad pendant

petty officer

WP: Petty officers rank between naval officers (both commissioned and warrant) and most enlisted sailors. These were men with some claim to officer rank, sufficient to distinguish them from ordinary ratings without raising them so high as the sea officers. Several were warrant officers, in the literal sense of being appointed by warrant, and like the warrant sea officers, their superiors, they were usually among the specialists of the ships's company.

Two of the petty officer's rates, midshipman and master's mate, were a superior petty officer with a more general authority, but they remained no more than ratings. However, it was quite possible for a warrant officer, such as the armourer, to be court-martialed for striking a midshipman as his superior officer. The reason why was both were regarded as future sea officers, with the all-important social distinction of the right to walk the quarterdeck. Midshipmen wore distinctive uniforms, master's mates dressed respectably, and both behaved like officers. Master's mates evolved into the rank of sub-lieutenant, and midshipmen evolved into a naval cadet.

piazza

British: an arcade or covered walk or gallery

picol

a picul, a unit of weight used in some parts of Asia; approximately equal to 133 pounds (the load a grown man can carry)

pilot

W: A person who knows well the depths and currents of a harbor or coastal area, who is hired by a vessel to help navigate the harbor or coast.

F: the officer who superintends the navigation, either upon the seacoast or on the main ocean. It is, however, more particularly applied by our mariners to the person charged with the direction of a ship's course, on, or near the seacoast, and into the roads, bays, rivers, havens, &c. within his respective district.

pinnace

W: A light boat, traditionally propelled by sails, but may also be a rowboat. Pinnaces are usually messenger boats, carrying messages among the larger ships of a fleet.

F: a small vessel, navigated with oars and sails, and having generally two masts, which are rigged like those of a schooner. Pinnace is also a boat, usually rowed with eight oars.

pintle

W: A pin or bolt, usually vertical, which acts as a pivot for a hinge or a rudder.

F: certain pins or hooks, fastened upon the back part of the rudder, with their points downwards, in order to enter into, and rest upon the googings [ gudgeons], fixed on the stern post to hang the rudder.

piracy

D: robbery or illegal violence at sea.

pirate

D: a person who robs or commits illegal violence at sea or on the shores of the sea.

pitch

TFD: To dip bow and stern alternately.

B: (pitching) The movement of a ship, by which she plunges her head and after part alternately in the hollow of the sea.

plain sail

GS: The square sails, i.e., the courses, topsails, topgallants and royals

plaise, plaice

TFD: A large edible marine flatfish (Pleuronectes platessa) of western European waters.

plat

D: a plait or braid.

F: a sort of braided cordage, formed of several strands of old rope yarn, twisted into foxes. It is used to wind about that part of the cable which lies in the hawsehole, or against the fore part of the ship, where it would otherwise be greatly injured by the continual friction, produced by the agitation of the ship in stormy weather.

plum duff

(Serves 8)

4 pounds plain flour

2 pounds grated pork fat

1 cup sugar

1¾ pints (UK), 2 pints (US) water

1½ cups raisins or currants

Mix all the ingredients together and knead thoroughly (adding extra water if necessary) to make a stiff dough. Divide dough into eight portions, tie each snugly in a floured pudding bag or cloth, and serve with custard. For Double-shotted duff, double the 'plums'.

plummet

D: Also called plumb bob, a piece of lead or some other weight attached to a line, used for determining perpendicularity, for sounding, etc.

plunder

TFD: Property stolen by fraud or force; booty.

F: a name given to the effects of the officers or crew of a prize, which are pillaged by the captors.

point

One of 32 divisions, 11.25 degrees, of the compass rose, used for describing sailing directions, judging the wind direction or approximating bearings of distant objects at sea or ashore.

pointing

F: the operation of tapering the end of a rope, and weaving a sort of mat, or close texture, about the diminished part of it, so as to thrust it more easily through any hole, and prevent it from being readily untwisted. Thus the end of a reef line is pointed so, that, being stiffer, it may more readily penetrate the eyelet holes of the reef; and the ends of the strands of a cable are occasionally pointed, for the greater conveniency of splicing it to another cable, especially when this task is frequently performed. The extremities of the splice of a cable are also pointed, that it may pass with more facility through the hawseholes.

points

B: A number of platted ropes made fast to the sails for the purpose of reefing.

F: short flat pieces of braided cordage, tapering from the middle towards each end, and used to reef the courses and topsails of a ship.

poop, poop deck

W: A high, exposed deck at the stern of a ship, with cabins below.

B: The highest and aftermost deck of a ship.

pooping

W: The act of a wave (or other vessel) striking the stern of a vessel.

F: the shock of a high and heavy sea, upon the stern or quarter of a ship, when she scuds before the wind in a tempest. This circumstance is extremely dangerous to the vessel, which is thereby exposed to the risk of having her whole stern beat inwards, by which she would be immediately laid open to the entrance of the sea, and of course founder or be torn to pieces.

port

W: 1. A place on the coast at which ships can shelter, or dock to load and unload cargo or passengers. 2. A town or city containing such a place. 3. The left-hand side of a vessel when one is facing the front.

B: A name given on some occasions to the larboard side of the ship; as, the ship heels to port, &c. also a harbour or haven

port sills

the bottom framing of a port hole to which the lower half-port or shutter is hinged, also the frame to which the upper half-port is attached

E: the name given to the lengths of timber used for lining the top and bottom edges of the gunports in sailing men-of-war.

portable soup

TFD: Portable soup was a kind of dehydrated food used in the 18th and 19th centuries. It was a precursor of the later meat extract and bouillon cubes, and of industrially dehydrated food. It is also known as pocket soop or veal glew. It is a cousin of the glace de viande of French cooking. It was long a staple of seamen and explorers, for it would keep for many months or even years. In this context, however, it was a filling and nutritious, but frequently revolting, dish.

porter

a very dark sweet ale brewed from roasted unmalted barley

W: A strong, dark ale, originally favored by porters, similar to a stout but less strong.

Portuguese man of war

W: A floating colony of hydrozoans (Physalia physalis) attached to a float; it superficially resembles a jellyfish.

preventer

D: any of various lines set up to reinforce or relieve ordinary running or standing rigging.

B: An additional rope employed at times to support any other, when the latter suffers an unusual strain, particularly when blowing fresh, or in a gale of wind.

prow

Used sometimes (as a corruption of proa, prau, to refer to a type of boat.

W: The fore part of a vessel; the bow; the stem.

public house

W: (chiefly British) An establishment licensed to sell alcoholic beverages to be consumed on or off the premises; they often provide meals and sometimes accommodation.

pudding, puddening

E: a thick matting made of yarns, oakum, etc., which was used during the days of sail in places where there was a danger of chafing. Another form of puddening was fastened round the main and foremasts of square-rigged sailing warships directly below the trusses of the yards, both to guard against undue chafe and to prevent the yards from falling if the lifts were shot away in battle. It was made by taking a length of rope twice the circumference of the mast and splicing the two ends together to form a strop, thus doubling it in thickness. A thimble was then seized into each end and the doubled rope was parcelled and served to an extent where it was thickest in the middle, tapering to each end. It was then laced to the mast by lacing a lanyard between the two thimbles. As an extra precaution to prevent it slipping under the weight of the yard if the lifts or sling were shot away, a garland was passed over it to bind it even more securely to the mast. In general, puddening was used in all places where undue chafe was likely. In the old days of sail, when anchor cables were made of hemp, the rings of anchors were protected with it to stop chafe in the cables.

pumice stone

light-colored volcanic rock containing so many trapped bubbles it often floats on water

pump

F: a well-known machine, used to discharge the water from the ship's bottom into the sea.

pumpion

pumpkin

puncheon

TFD: 1. a large cask of variable capacity, usually between 70 and 120 gallons 2. the volume of such a cask used as a liquid measure

The gallons in the table below are pre-Imperial system, which did not come into force until 1824, and apply to both the United States and Britain.

tun

pipe, butt

firkin, puncheon, tertian

hogshead

tierce

barrel

rundlet

gallon

tun

1

pipes, butts

2

1

firkins, puncheons, tertians

3

1½

1

hogsheads

4

2

1 1/3

1

tierces

6

3

2

1½

1

barrels

8

4

2 2/3

2

1 1/3

1

rundlets

14

7

4 2/3

3½

2 1/3

1¾

1

gallons

252

126

84

63

42

31½

18

1

liters

953.92

476.96

317.97

238.48

158.99

119.24

68.14

3.79

purau

a tender and light wood, easily worked, widespread in the high islands of Polynesia

TFD: shrubby tree widely distributed along tropical shores; yields a light tough wood used for canoe outriggers and a fiber used for cordage and caulk; often cultivated for ornament

purchase

TFD: to draw, haul, or lift (a load) with the aid of mechanical apparatus

F: a name given by sailors to any sort of mechanical power employed in raising or removing heavy bodies, or in fixing or extending the ship's rigging. Such are the tackles, windlasses, capstans, screws, and handspikes.

purser

F: an officer appointed by the lords of the admiralty, to take charge of the provisions of a ship of war, and to see that they are carefully distributed to the officers and crew, according to the instructions which he has received from the commissioners of the navy for that purpose.

put about

To change or cause to change direction; go or cause to go from one tack to another.

puttock

TFD: variant of futtock One of the curved timbers that forms a rib in the frame of a ship.

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

Q

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

quadrant, quarter, quarter board, quarter gallery, quarter gunner, quarter pieces, quarterdeck, quartermaster, quay, quickwork, quid,

quadrant

TFD: An early instrument for measuring altitude of celestial bodies, consisting of a 90° graduated arc with a movable radius for measuring angles.

F: an instrument used to take the altitude of the sun or stars at sea, in order to determine the latitude of the place; or the sun's azimuth, so as to ascertain the magnetical variation. These instruments are variously constructed, and by consequence the apparatus of each kind is somewhat different from those of the others, according to the improvements they have at different times received from several ingenious artists. As all the different kinds of quadrants are circumstantially described, either in printed directions to use them, or in other books, a particular account of them here might reasonably be esteemed superfluous. It suffices to say that the most useful, as well as the most general, for taking observations at sea is the octant, originally invented by Sir Isaac Newton, and since that time improved and brought into practice by Mess. Godfrey and Hadley. It may not however be unnecessary to remark, that the back-observation, which, in many situations, is certainly more accurate and useful than that which is taken in front, is almost totally neglected by our observers, under pretence of its being more uncertain, or more liable to error; but really because it is somewhat more difficult to learn. We may venture to affirm however, that no artist, who thoroughly understands the operation, will ever advance so absurd an objection, unless we should doubt the testimony of a multitude of experiments.

quarter

TFD: 1. The general direction on either side of a ship located 45° off the stern. 2. The upper portion of the after side of a ship, usually between the aftermost mast and the stern.

F: that part of a ship's side which lies towards the stern; or which is comprehended between the aftmost end of the main chains and the sides of the stern, where it is terminated by the quarter pieces. Although the lines by which the quarter and bow of a ship, with respect to her length, are only imaginary, yet experience appears sufficiently to have ascertained their limits; so that if we were to divide the ship's sides into five equal portions, the names of each space would be readily enough expressed. Thus the first, from the stern, would be the quarter; the second, abaft the midships; the third, the midships; the fourth, before the midships; and the fifth, the bow. Whether these divisions, which in reality are somewhat arbitrary, are altogether improper, may be readily discovered by referring to the mutual situation or approach of two adjacent vessels. The enemy boarded us on the larboard side! Whereabouts? Abaft the midships, before the midships, &c.

on the quarter

quarter board

w: One of a set of thin boards forming an additional height to the bulwarks of the after part of a vessel. They are also called topgallant bulwarks.

quarter gallery

TFD: a balcony on the quarter of a ship.

F: a sort of small balcony, with or without ballustrades, on the quarter of a ship. The gallery on the quarter generally communicates with that on the stern, by means of a door passing from one to the other.

quarter gunner

TFD: a petty officer who assists the gunner.

F: an inferior officer under the direction of the gunner of a ship of war, whom he is to assist in every branch of his duty; as keeping the guns and their carriages in proper order, and duly furnished with whatever is necessary; filling the powder into cartridges; scaling the guns, and keeping them always in a condition for service. The number of quarter gunners in any ship is always in proportion to the number of her artillery, one quarter gunner being allowed to every four cannon.

quarter pieces

TFD: several pieces of timber at the after-part of the quarter gallery, near the taffrail.

quarterdeck

WP: In sailing ships, the quarterdeck was that part of the main deck abaft the mainmast. The captain or master commanded the ship from the quarterdeck, as there was no bridge to serve this purpose. The quarterdeck was traditionally the place where the captain walked when on deck, usually on the windward side. The navigator also used it when taking his sights when fixing the vessel's position. On most ships, it was customary that only officers could use the quarterdeck, others being allowed there only when assigned for specific duties.

quartermaster

D: a petty officer having charge of signals, navigating apparatus, etc.

F: an inferior officer appointed by the master of a ship of war to assist the mates in their several duties; as stowing the ballast and provisions in the hold, coiling the cables on their platforms, overlooking the steerage of the ship, and keeping the time by the watch-glasses.

quay

TFD: a wharf, typically one built parallel to the shoreline

quickwork

D: A term somewhat loosely used to denote: (a) All the submerged section of a vessel's planking. (b) The planking between the spirketing and the clamps. (c) The short planks between the portholes.

F: a general name given to all that part of a ship which is under the surface of the water when she is laden fit for a sea voyage. It is also applied, occasionally, to that part of the side which is above the sheer-rail, and which is usually painted with trophies, &c. on the outside.

quid

TFD: A pound sterling.

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

R

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

raft, rails, raise, rake, range, ratlines, ratlings, reach, rattah, reck, reef (n), reef (v), reeve, refitting, regimentals, rendering, rendezvous, ribband, ride, ride athwart, rigging, rigging out a boom, ringtail, rix-dollar, road, roband, robins, rockweed, roll, rolling, roller, rope, rope yarn, ropeband, roundhouse, rounding, rounding in, rounding up, rouse, rover, royal, rudder, run, run out a warp, running rigging, rupee,

raft

TFD: a buoyant platform of logs, planks, etc., used as a vessel or moored platform

F: a sort of float, formed by an assemblage of various planks, or pieces of timber, fastened together side by side, so as to be conveyed more commodiously, to any short distance in a harbour or road, than if they were separate. The timber and plank, with which merchant Ships are laden, in the different parts of the Baltic sea, are attached together in this manner, in order to float them off to the shipping.

rails

d: (a) The stout, narrow plank that forms the top of the bulwarks. (b) The light, fencelike structures of wood or metal at the break of the deck, and elsewhere where such protection is needed.

F: are narrow planks, generally of fir, upon which there is a moulding stuck. They are for ornament, and are nailed across the stern, above the wing transom and counters, &c. They are likewise nailed upon several planks along the side; one in particular is called the sheer rail, which limits the height of the side from the forecastle to the quarterdeck, and runs aft to the stern, and forward to the cathead; the wales are nearly parallel to this.

raise

TFD: To bring into sight by approaching nearer:

B: To elevaste any distant object at sea by approaching it; thus, to raise the land is used in opposition to lay the land.

F: to elevate any distant object at sea, by a gradual approach towards it from the place whence it was formerly observed. This effect is known to be occasioned by the convexity of the surface of the sea, which previously intercepted the view, when directed towards the lower parts of the said object.

rake

An obtuse angle, such as the stem and sternpost make with the keel.

TFD: the degree to which an object, such as a ship's mast, inclines from the perpendicular, esp. towards the stern

F: the projection of the upper parts of a ship at the height of the stem and stern beyond the extremities of the keel. Thus if a plummet be hung from the top of a ship's stern, so as to be level with the continuation of the keel, the distance between the after end of the keel and the plummet will be the length of the rake abaft, or the rake of the stern.

range

TFD: To uncoil (an anchor cable) on deck so the anchor may descend easily.

F: a sufficient length of the cable, drawn up on the deck, before the anchor is cast loose from the bow, to let it sink to the bottom, without being interrupted, that the flukes may be forced the deeper into the ground, by the additional weight which the anchor acquires in sinking. For this reason the range, which is drawn up out of the tier, ought to be equal in length, to the depth of the water where the ship anchors.

ratlines, ratlings

TFD: Any of the small ropes fastened horizontally to the shrouds of a ship and forming a ladder for going aloft.

F: certain small lines which traverse the shrouds of a ship horizontally, at regular distances from the deck upwards, and forming a variety of ladders, whereby to climb to any of the mastheads, or descend from them. In order to prevent the ratling from slipping down by the weight of the sailors, they are firmly attached by a knot, called a clove hitch, to all the shrouds, except the foremost or aftmost; where one of the ends, being fitted with an eye splice, is previously fastened with twine or packthread.

reach

W: An extended portion of land or water; a stretch; a straight portion of a stream or river, as from one turn to another; a level stretch, as between locks in a canal; an arm of the sea extending up into the land.

B: The distance between any two points on the banks of a river, wherein the current flows in an uninterrupted course.

rattah

similar to a chestnut

reck

TFD: To take heed of or to have caution.

reef (n)

W: 1. A portion of a sail rolled and tied down to lessen the area exposed in a high wind. 2. A chain or range of rocks, sand, or coral lying at or near the surface of the water.

F: a certain portion of a sail, comprehended between the top or bottom, and a row of eyelet-holes parallel thereto. The intention of the reef is to reduce the surface of the sail in proportion to the increase of the wind; for which reason there are several reefs parallel to each other in the superior sails, whereby they may be still further diminished, in order to correspond with the several degrees of the gale. Thus the topsails of ships are usually furnished with three reefs parallel to the yard; and there are always three or four reefs, parallel to the bottom on those mainsails and foresails, which are extended upon booms; a circumstance common to many of the small vessels. Reef also implies a chain of rocks, lying near the surface of the water.

reef (v)

W: To take in part of a sail in order to adapt the size of the sail to the force of the wind.

F: the operation of reducing a sail, by taking in one or more of the reefs, which is either performed by lines, points, or knittles. Thus the topsails are always, and the courses generally, reefed with points, which are flat braided pieces of cordage, whose lengths are nearly double the circumference of the yard. These being inserted in the eyelet holes, are fixed in the sail by means of two knots in the middle, one of which is before, and the other behind the reef band. In order to reef the topsails with more facility and expedition, they are lowered down and made to shiver in the wind, which considerably relaxes their tension. The extremities of the reef are then drawn up to the yardarms by an assemblage of pullies communicating with the deck, termed the reef tackle; and they are securely fastened to the yardarms by small cords, called earings. The space of sail, comprehended in the reef, is then laid smoothly over the yard, in several folds or doubles; and the whole is completed by tying the points about the yard, so as to bind the reef close up to it. The courses of large ships are either reefed with points or small cords, which are thence called reef lines. In the latter case, the line is passed spirally through the eyelet-holes of the reef, and over the head of the sail alternately, and afterwards strained as tight as possible. It must be observed, however, that the reef line is sometimes passed round the yard, and sometimes only round the head of the sail; and each of these methods have their advocates, with arguments more or less convincing. But if it should appear essential to prevent the friction by which a sail is galled between the line and the yard; and as the ropebands are sufficient to sustain the effort of the sail, it is certainly much better to pass the line only round the sail, provided that the turns are inserted through the roband legs; a circumstance which is carefully practised by every skilful sailor. The same reason may be alledged, with equal propriety, in favour of tying the points of the courses in the same manner; that is to say, the after end of the point should be thrust forward between the head of the sail and the yard; and the foreleg of the said point should come aft over the head of the sail, and also under the yard; and thus crossed over the head of the sail, the point should be extended, and the two ends brought over the yard, and tied on the upper side of it as strait as possible. When a sail is reefed at the bottom, it is done by knittles, which being thrust through the eyelet-holes thereof, are tied firmly about the space of canvas of which the reef is composed, and knotted on the lower side of the boltrope. These knittles are accordingly removed as soon as the reef is let out.

reeve

W: To pass a rope through a hole or opening, especially so as to fasten it.

B: To pass the end of a rope through any hole, as the channel of a block, the cavity of a thimble, &c.

refitting

TFD: a repair or re-equipping, as of a ship, for further use

F: is generally understood to imply the repairing any damages, which a ship may have sustained in her sails or rigging, by battle or tempestuous weather; but more particularly by the former.

regimentals

WN: the military uniform and insignia of a regiment

rendering

TFD: 1. to reeve (a line) 2. to slacken (a rope, etc.)

F: as a sea-term, is generally understood to be the effect of yielding, or giving way, without resistance, to the efforts of some mechanical power. It is usually expressed of a complicated tackle, lanyard, or lashing when the effect of the power applied is communicated with facility to all the parts, without being interrupted in its passage. It is therefore used in contra-distinction to sticking or jamming.

rendezvous

F: the port, or place of destination, where the several ships of a fleet or squadron are appointed to rejoin the whole, in case of a separation, occasioned by tempestuous weather, or other unforeseen accident.

ribband

TFD: A length of flexible wood or metal used to hold the ribs of a ship in place while the exterior planking or plating is being applied.

F: (pl.) in naval architecture, long narrow flexible pieces of timber, nailed upon the outside of the ribs, from the stem to the stern post, so as to envelop the ship lengthways, and appear on her side and bottom like the meridians on the surface of the globe.

ride

TFD: To lie at anchor.

F: (riding) when expressed of a ship, is the state of being retained in a particular station, by means of one or more cables with their anchors, which are for this purpose sunk into the bottom of the sea, &c. in order to prevent the vessel from being driven at the mercy of the wind or current.

ride athwart

B: is to ride with the ship's side to the tide.

F: the position of a ship which lies across the direction of the wind and tide, when the former is so strong as to prevent her from falling into the current of the latter.

rigging

W: The system of ropes, chains, and tackle used to support and control the masts, sails, and yards of a ship

F: a general name given to all the ropes employed to support the mast; and to extend or reduce the sails, or arrange them to the disposition of the wind. The former, which are used to sustain the masts, remain usually in a fixed position, and are called standing rigging; such are the shrouds, stays, and backstays. The latter, whose office is to manage the sails, by communicating with various blocks, or pullies, situated in different places of the masts, yards, shrouds, &c. are comprehended in the general term of running rigging. Such are the braces, sheets, halyards, clue lines, brails, &c. In rigging a mast, the first thing usually fixed upon its head, is a circular wreath or rope, called the grommet, or collar, which is firmly beat down upon the top of the hounds. The intent of this is to prevent the shrouds from being fretted or worn by the trestletrees, or shoulders of the mast; after this are laid on the two pendents, from whose lower ends the main, or fore tackles are suspended and next, the shrouds of the starboard and larboard side, in pairs, alternately. The whole is covered by the stays, which are the largest ropes of the rigging. When a yard is to be rigged, a grommet is also driven first on each of its extremities; next to this are fitted on the horses, the braces; and, lastly, the lifts, or topsail sheet blocks. The principal objects to be considered in rigging a ship appear to be strength, convenience, and simplicity; or the properties of affording sufficient security to the mast, yards, and sails; of arranging the whole machinery in the most advantageous manner, to sustain the masts, and facilitate the management of the sails; and of avoiding perplexity, and rejecting whatever is superfluous or unnecessary. The persection of this art then consists in retaining all those qualities, and in preserving a judicious medium between them.

rigging out a boom

F: the operation of running out a pole upon the end of a yard, or bowsprit, to extend the foot of a sail. These booms are confined in those places by double rings, formed like a figure of 8, one part of which is fastened to the respective yardarm, or bowsprit end, and the other receives the boom, which is occasionally rigged out, or drawn in through it.

ringtail

D: a narrow studdingsail set abaft a gaff sail, esp. a spanker, upon spears extending beyond the gaff and boom.

F: a small triangular sail, extended on a little mast, which is occasionally erected for that purpose on the top of a ship's stern. The lower part of this sail is stretched out by a boom, which projects from the stern horizontally. This sail is only used in light and favourable winds, particularly in the Atlantic ocean. Ringtail is also a name given to a sort of studding sail, hoisted beyond the after edge or skirt of those mainsails which are extended by a boom and gaff; as in all sloops, brigs, and schooners this ringtail is accordingly of the same depth with that part of the mainsail upon which it borders.

rix-dollar

Dutch: rijksdaalder, an 18th century Dutch coin worth 2-1/2 gulden. Today, 2-1/2 gulden are worth a little more than 1 euro (2007)

W: 1. A silver coin and money of account in use from the late-16th to the mid-19th centuries in the European Teutonic countries and their imperial trading networks. 2. A unit of currency introduced into certain former European colonies such as Cape Province and Ceylon.

road

W: (often plural) a partly sheltered area of water near a shore in which vessels may ride at anchor.

F: a bay, or place of anchorage, at some distance from the shore, on the seacoast, whither ships or vessels occasionally repair to receive intelligence, orders, or necessary supplies; or to wait for a fair wind, &c. The excellence of a road consists chiefly in its being protected from the reigning winds, and the swell of the sea; in having a good anchoring ground, and being at a competent distance from the shore. Those which are not sufficiently inclosed are termed open roads.

roband

See ropeband

robins

See ropeband

rockweed

any of several coarse, brownish seaweeds of the genera Fucus and Ascophyllum that grow on rocks in coastal areas; thus seeing it on the water could be an indication of land

roll, rolling

W: when a nautical vessel rotates on its fore-and-aft axis, causing its sides to go up and down. Compare with pitch.

F: the motion by which a ship rocks from side to side like a cradle, occasioned by the agitation of the waves. Rolling, therefore, is a sort of revolution about an imaginary axis, passing through the center of gravity of a ship; so that the nearer the center of gravity is to the keel, the more violent will be the rolling motion; because the center about which the vibrations are made, is placed so low in the bottom, that the resistance made by the keel to the volume of water which it displaces in rolling, bears very little proportion to the force of the vibration above the center of gravity, the radius of which extends as high as the mastheads. But if the center of gravity is placed higher above the keel, the radius of vibration will not only be diminished, but an additional force to oppose the motion of rolling will be communicated to that part of the ship's bottom, which is below the center of gravity.

roller

F: a cylindrical piece of timber, fixed either horizontally or perpendicularly above a ship's deck, so as to revolve about an axis. It is used to prevent the cables, hawsers, &c. from being chafed by the friction which their surfaces would otherwise encounter, from bearing against that part of the ship, where the roller is placed, whilst they are drawn into the ship, &c. by mechanical powers. Rollers are also moveable pieces of wood, of the same figure, which are occasionally placed under planks, or long pieces of timber, in order to move them with greater facility either in the dockyards, or in lading and delivering merchant ships.

rope

W: Cordage of at least 1 inch in diameter, or a length of such cordage.

F: a general name given to all sorts of cordage, above one inch in circumference, used in the rigging a ship. See cable, hawser, towline, and warp.

Ropes are either cable-laid or hawser-laid; the former are composed of nine strands, viz. three great strands, each of which is composed of three smaller strands; and the latter is made with three strands, each of which contains a certain number of rope yarns, in proportion to the size of the rope required.

rope yarn

TFD: the strands out of which ropes are made

F: the smallest and simplest part of any rope, being one of the threads of which a strand is composed; so that the size of the latter, and of the rope into which it is twisted, is determined by the number of rope yarns.

ropeband

TFD: A small piece of spun yarn or marline, used to fasten the head of the sail to the spar.

B: (pl.) Short flat pieces of plaited rope, having an eye worked at one end; they are used in pairs to tie the upper edges of the square sails to their respective yards.

F: (pl.) pronounced roebins, certain pieces of small rope, or braided cordage, used to tie the upper edges of the great sails to their respective yards. They are inserted through the eyelet holes in the head of the sail, being generally of a sufficient length to pass two or three times about the said yard.

roundhouse

TFD: A cabin on the after part of the quarterdeck of a ship.

F: a name given,, in East Indiamen, and other large merchant ships, to a cabin or apartment built in the after part of the quarterdeck, and having the poop for its roof. The apartment is usually called the coach in our ships of war.

rounding

d: Small rope, or strands of rope, or spun yarn, wound round a rope to keep it from chafing; -- called also service.

B: Old ropes fastened on the cable, near the anchor, to keep it from chafing.

F: certain old ropes wound firmly and closely about that part of a cable which lies in the hawse, or under the ship's bow, or athwart the stern. It is used to prevent the surface of the cable from being chafed or fretted in those places.

rounding in

B: The pulling upon any rope which passes through one or more blocks in a direction nearly horizontal; as, round in the weather braces.

F: generally implies the act of pulling upon any rope which passes through one or more blocks, in a direction nearly horizontal; as, round in the weather braces! &c. It is apparently derived from the circular motion of the rope about the sheave or pulley through which it passes.

rounding up

B: Similar to rounding in, except that is applied to ropes and blocks which act in a perpendicular direction.

rouse

W: To pull by main strength; to haul

B: (rowsing) Pulling up a cable or rope without the assistance of tackles.

F: (rowsing) the act of pulling together upon a cable, hawser, &c. without the assistance of tackles, capstans, or other mechanical powers. It is particularly used in the exercise of removing a ship from one place to another, by means of ropes and anchors.

rover

TFD: 1. A pirate. 2. A pirate vessel.

F: a pirate or freebooter.

royal

W: In large sailing ships, of a mast right above the topgallant mast and its sails, royal mast, royal sail

F: a name given to the highest sail which is extended in any ship, it is spread immediately above the topgallant sail, to whose yardarms the lower corners of it are attached. This sail is never used but in light and favourable breezes.

rudder

W: An underwater vane used to steer a vessel. The rudder is controlled by means of a wheel, tiller or other apparatus

run

W: The stern of the underwater body of a ship from where it begins to curve upward and inward.

B: The aftermost of a ship's bottom, where it grows extremely narrow as the stern approaches the stern post. Run is also the distance sailed by a ship; and is likewise used by sailors to imply the agreement to work a single passage from one place to another.

run out a warp

B: To carry the end of a rope out from a ship, in a boat, and fasten it to some distant object, so that by it the ship may be removed by pulling it. See warp.

running rigging

All the lines and blocks, or pulleys, used to control and manipulate the yards and sails.

F: all that part of a ship's rigging which passes through the blocks, to dilate, contract, or traverse the sails.

rupee

Indian unit of currency

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S

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sabandar, sail, sail room, salute, santapee, scarf, schooner, scorbutic, scud, scupper, scuttle, sea, sea anchor, sea boat, sea egg, sea nettle, sea room, seize, sennit, service, serve the cable, serve, service, set sail, shaddock, shake, shake off the bonnet, shallop, shank, shank painter, shape a course, sheave, shieve, sheer, sheer hulk, sheer off, sheers, sheerwater, sheet, sheets, shelf, shew, shingle, shivering, shorten sail, shroud, sill, simple, sinnett, skiff, slack water, sloe, sloop, sloop of war, slops, small bower, snatch block, snow, snub, sound, southing, span, spanker, spar, spell, spill, spindle, spirit room, spirketing, split, spring, spring stay, spring tide, sprit, spritsail, spun yarn, squall, squally, square-rigged, square sail, staff, stanchion, stand off and on, standing, standing rigging, starboard, stay, staysail, stem, stemhead, steerage, steerageway, step, stern, stern fast, stern sheets, sternpost, sternway, steward, stiff, stiver, stock, stocks, stopper, storekeeper, storeroom, stores, stout, stow, stowage, strait, strake, strand, stream anchor, stream cable, stretching, strike, strop, studding sails, stuff, supercargo, survey, swab, sway, sweep, sweet wort, swell, swing, swivel gun,

sabandar

port master

sail

TFD: A piece of fabric sewn together and fitted to the spars and rigging of a vessel so as to convert the force of the wind into forward motion of the vessel.

F: an assemblage of several breadths of canvas, or other texture, sewed together, and extended on, or between the masts, to receive the wind, and carry the vessel along the water. The edges of the cloths, or pieces, of which a sail is composed, are generally sewed together with a double seam; and the whole is skirted round at the edges with a cord, called the boltrope.

Although the form of sails is extremely different, they are all nevertheless triangular or quadrilateral figures; or, in other words, their surfaces are contained either between three or four sides. The former of these are sometimes spread by a yard, as lateen sails; and otherwise by a stay, as staysails; or by a mast, as shoulder-of-mutton sails; in all which cases the foremost leech or edge is attached to the said yard, mast, or stay, throughout its whole length. The latter, or those which are four-sided, are either extended by yards, as the principal sails of a ship; or by yards and booms, as the studding sails, drivers, ringtails, and all those sails which are set occasionally; or by gaffs and booms, as the mainsails of sloops and brigantines. The principal sails of a ship are the courses or lower sails, the topsails, which are next in order above the courses; and the topgallant sails, which are expanded above the topsails.

The courses are the mainsail, foresail, and mizen, main staysail, fore staysail and mizen staysail; but more particularly the three first.

N.B. The main staysail is rarely used except in small vessels.

In all quadrangular sails the upper edge is called the head; the sides or skirts are called leeches; and the bottom or lower edge is termed the foot. If the head is parallel to the foot, the two lower corners are denominated clues, and the upper corners earings. In all triangular sails, and in those four-sided sails wherein the head is not parallel to the foot, the foremost corner at the foot is called the tack; and the after lower corner the clue; the foremost perpendicular or sloping edge is called the fore leech, and the hindmost the after leech. The heads of all four-sided sails, and the fore-leeches of lateen sails, are attached to their respective yard or gaff by a number of small cords called robands; and the extremities are tied to the yardarms, or to the peek of the gaff, by earings. The staysails are extended upon stays between the masts, whereon they are drawn up or down occasionally, as a curtain slides upon its rod, and their lower parts are stretched out by a tack and sheet. The clues of a topsail are drawn out to the extremities of the lower yard, by two large ropes called the topsail sheets; and the clues of the topgallant sails are in like manner extended upon the topsail yardarms.

make sail

set sail

shorten sail

sail room

TS: Storage-room for spare sails, hammocks, and sailmaker's stores.

salute

F: a testimony of deference or homage rendered by the ships of one nation to another; or by ships of the same nation to a superior or equal. This ceremony is variously performed, according to the circumstances, rank, or situation of the parties. It consists in firing a certain number of cannon, or vollies of small arms; in striking the colours or topsails; or in one or more general shouts of the whole ship's crew, mounted on the masts or rigging for that purpose.

The principal regulations with regard to salutes in the royal navy are as follow:

"When a flag officer salutes the admiral and commander in chief of the fleet, he is to give him fifteen guns; but when captains salute him, they are to give him, seventeen guns. The admiral or commander in chief of the fleet is to return two guns less to flag officers, and four less to captains. Flag officers saluting their superior or senior officer, are to give him thirteen guns. Flag officers are to return an equal number of guns to flag officers bearing their flags on the same mast, and two guns less to the rest, as also to captains.

"When a captain salutes an admiral of the white or blue, he is to give him fifteen guns; but to vice and rear admirals, thirteen guns. When a flag officer is saluted by two or more of his Majesty's ships, he is not to return the salute till all have finished, and then to do it with such a reasonable number of guns as he shall judge proper.

"In case of the meeting of two squadrons, the two chiefs only are to exchange salutes. And if single ships meet a squadron consisting of more than one flag, the principal flag only is to be saluted. No salutes shall be repeated by the same ships, unless there has been a separation of six months at least.

"None of his Majesty's ships of war, commanded only by captains, shall give or receive salutes from one another, in whatsoever part of the world they meet.

"A flag officer commanding in chief shall be saluted, upon his first hoisting his flag, by all the ships present, with such a number of guns as is allowed by the first, third, or fifth articles."

santapee

centipede

scarf

TFD: 1. A joint made by cutting or notching the ends of two pieces correspondingly and strapping or bolting them together. Also called scarf joint. 2. Either of the correspondingly cut or notched ends that fit together to form such a joint. 3. To join by means of a scarf. 4. To cut a scarf in.

F: a particular method of uniting two pieces of timber together by the extremities. When two pieces of timber are joined together, so that the end of one goes over the end of the other, being tapered so that the one may be set into the other, and become even, they are said to be scarfed; such are the keel pieces. But when the ends of the two pieces are cut square, and put together, they are laid to butt to one another; and when another piece is laid upon, and fastened to both, as is the case in all the frame timbers, this is called scarfing the timbers; and half the piece which fastens the two timbers together is reckoned the length of the scarf.

schooner

schooner TFD: a sailing vessel with at least two masts, with all lower sails rigged fore-and-aft, and with the main mast stepped aft

F: a small vessel with two masts, whose mainsail and foresail are suspended from gaffs reaching from the mast towards the stern; and stretched out below by booms, whose foremost ends are hooked to an iron, which clasps the mast so as to turn therein as upon an axis, when the after ends are swung from one side of the vessel to the other.

scorbutic

of, relating to, having or resembling scurvy

scud

TFD: To run before a gale with little or no sail set.

F: the movement by which a ship is carried precipitately before a tempest. As a ship flies with amazing rapidity through the water, whenever this expedient is put in practice, it is never attempted in a contrary wind, unless when her condition renders her incapable of sustaining the mutual effort of the wind and waves any longer on her side, without being exposed to the most imminent danger. A ship either scuds with a sail extended on her foremast, or, if the storm is excessive, without any sail, which in the sea phrase is called scudding under bare poles. In sloops and schooners, and other small vessels, the sail employed for this purpose is called the square sail. In large ships, it is either the foresail, at large, reefed, or with its goosewings extended, according to the degree of the tempest; or it is the fore topsail close reefed, and lowered on the cap; which last is particularly used when the sea runs so high as to becalm the foresail occasionally; a circumstance which exposes the ship to the danger of broaching to. The principal hazards incident to scudding are generally, a pooping sea; the difficulty of steering, which exposes the vessel perpetually to the risk of broaching to; and the want of sufficient sea room. A sea striking the ship violently on the stern may dash it inwards, by which the must inevitably founder. In broaching to suddenly, she is threatened with being immediately overset; and, for want of sea room, she is endangered by shipwreck on a lee shore; a circumstance too dreadful to require explanation!

scupper

TFD: drain that allows water on the deck of a vessel to flow overboard

F: certain channels cut through the waterways and sides of a ship at proper distances, and lined with plated lead, in order to carry the water off from the deck into the sea. The scuppers of the lower deck of a ship of war are usually furnished with a leathern pipe, called the scupper hose, which hangs downward from the mouth or opening of the scupper. The intent of this is to prevent the water from entering when the ship inclines under a weight of sail.

scuttle

TFD: 1. A small opening or hatch with a movable lid in the deck or hull of a ship 2. The lid or hatch of such an opening. 3. To cut or open a hole or holes in (a ship's hull). 4. To sink (a ship) by this means.

F: a small hatchway cut for some particular purpose through a ship's deck, or through the coverings of her hatchways, and furnished with a lid which firmly incloses it whenever necessary. (scuttling) the act of cutting large holes. through the bottom or sides of a ship, either when she is stranded or overset, and continues to float on the surface. The design of this expedient is usually to take out the whole or a part of the cargo, provisions, stores, &c. with all possible expedition.

sea

B: A large wave is so called. Thus they say, a heavy sea. It implies likewise the agitation of the ocean, as, a great sea. It expresses the direction of the waves, as, a head sea. A long sea means a uniform and steady motion of long and extensive waves; a short sea, on the contrary, is when they run irregularly, broken, and interrupted.

F: is known to be a great congregation of waters, which is either universal or local; as surrounding the whole earth, or flowing on the coast of some particular country. This term, however, is variously applied by sailors, to a single wave; to the agitation produced by a multitude of waves in a tempest; or to their particular progress or direction. Thus they say, a heavy sea broke over our quarter, or we shipped a heavy sea; there is a great sea in the offing; the sea sets to the southward. Hence a ship is said to head the sea, when her course is opposed to the setting or direction of the surges. A long sea implies an uniform and steady motion of long and extensive waves; on the contrary, a short sea is when they run irregularly, broken, and interrupted; so as frequently to burst over a vessel's side or quarter.

sea anchor

TFD: A drag, usually a canvas-covered conical frame, floating behind a vessel to prevent drifting or to maintain a heading into the wind.

sea boat

F: a vessel that bears the sea firmly, without labouring heavily, or straining her masts and rigging.

sea egg

TFD: A sea urchin.

sea nettle

a stinging jellyfish

sea room

TFD: Unobstructed space at sea adequate for maneuvering a ship.

B: A sufficient distance from the coast or any dangerous rocks, &c. so that a ship may perform all nautical operations without danger of shipwreck.

F: implies a sufficient distance from the coast, as well as from any rocks or shallows, whereby a ship may drive or scud without danger of shipwreck.

seize

W: to bind, lash or make fast, with several turns of small rope, cord, or small line

F: (seizing) the operation of fastening any two ropes, or different parts of one rope together, with a small line or cord; also the cord which fastens them.

sennit

TFD: Braided cordage formed by plaiting several strands of rope fiber or similar material.

F: a sort of flat braided cordage, formed by plaiting five or seven rope yarns together.

service

TFD: a length of tarred marline or small stuff used in serving

serve the cable

F: is to bind it round with ropes, leather, or other materials, to prevent it from being galled, or fretted in the hawse by friction.

serve, service

F: winding any thing round a rope, to prevent it from being rubbed. The materials used for this purpose, and which are accordingly called service, are generally small lines, leather, plat canvas, &c.

set sail

B: To unfurl and expand the sails to the wind, in order to give motion to the ship.

shaddock

pomelo (Citrus maxima) citrus fruit, larger than a grapefruit, with sweet flesh and thick spongy rind. The grapefruit is a hybrid between the pomelo and the orange

TFD: A tropical southeast Asian tree (Citrus maxima) closely related to the grapefruit and having very large round fruit with thick rinds and coarse-grained pulp.

shake

W13: (a cask) to knock a cask to pieces and pack the staves.

shake off the bonnet

B: take the bonnet off the sail

shallop

TFD: 1. A large heavy boat, usually having two masts and carrying fore-and-aft or lugsails. 2. A small open boat fitted with oars or sails, or both, and used primarily in shallow waters.

F: a sort of large boat with two masts, and usually rigged like a schooner.

shank

TFD: The stem of an anchor.

B: The beam or shaft of an anchor.

shank painter

TFD: a short rope or chain which holds the shank of an anchor against the side of a vessel when it is secured for a voyage.

B: The rope by which the shank of the anchor is held up to the ship's side; is also made fast to a piece of iron chain, in which the shank of the anchor lodges.

F: a short rope and chain which hangs the shank and flukes of the anchor up to the ship's side, as the stopper fastens the ring and stock to the cathead.

shape a course

B: To direct or appoint the track of a ship, in order to prosecute a voyage.

sheave, shieve

TFD: A wheel or disk with a grooved rim, especially one used as a pulley.

F: a solid cylindrical wheel, fixed in a channel, and moveable about an axis, as being used to raise or increase the mechanical powers applied to remove any body. The sheaves are either fixed in blocks, or in channels cut through the masts, caps, catheads, or sides of a ship.

sheer

W: 1. The curve of the main deck or gunwale from bow to stern. 2. An abrupt swerve from the course of a ship.

F: 1. the longitudinal curve of a ship's deck or sides. 2. in navigation, the act of deviating or straying from the line of the course, either to the right or left, so as to form a crooked and irregular path through the water. It is commonly occasioned by the ship's being difficult to steer, but very often from the negligence or incapacity of the helmsman.

sheer hulk

TFD: an old ship fitted with an apparatus to fix or take out the masts of a ship.

[The apparatus was the masts of the old ship which were specially rigged for the purpose and were called sheers or shears.)

sheer off

B: To remove to a greater distance.

sheers

B: are spars lashed together and raised up for the purpose of getting out or in a mast.

sheerwater

sp. shearwater

WP: Shearwaters are medium-sized long-winged seabirds. There are more than 30 species of shearwaters, a few larger ones in the genus Calonectris and many smaller species in the genus Puffinus.

sheet

TFD: A rope or chain attached to one or both of the lower corners of a sail, serving to move or extend it.

B: A rope fastened to one or both of the lower corners of a sail, in order to extend and retain it in a particular situation. When a ship sails with a side wind, the lower corner of the main and foresails are fastened by a tack and a sheet, the former being to windward, and the latter to leeward; the tack is, however, only disused with a stern wind, whereas the sail is never spread without the assistance of one or both of the sheets; the staysails and studding sails have only one tack and one sheet each; the staysail tacks are fastened forward, and the sheets drawn aft, but the studding sail tacks draw the outer corner of the sail to the extremity of the boom, while the sheet is employed to extend the inner corner.

sheets

TFD: The spaces at either end of an open boat in front of and behind the seats.

shelf

W: A reef, shoal or sandbar.

F: a general name given to any dangerous shallows, sand banks, or rocks lying immediately under the surface of the water, so as to intercept any ship in her passage, and expose her to destruction.

shew

an archaic spelling of show

shingle

TFD: coarse gravel, esp. the pebbles found on beaches

shivering

F: the state of a sail when it shakes or flutters in the wind, as being neither full nor aback, but in a middle degree between both, as well with regard to its absolute position, as to its relative effect on the vessel.

shorten sail

TFD: To take in (a sail) so that less canvas is exposed to the wind, thereby reducing speed.

B: Used in opposition to make sail.

F: is to reduce or take in part of the sails, with an intention to diminish the ship's velocity.

shroud

TFD: One of a set of ropes or wire cables stretched from the masthead to the sides of a vessel to support the mast.

F: a range of large ropes extended from the mastheads to the right and left side of the ship, to support the masts, and enable them to carry sail, &c. The shrouds are always divided into pairs or couples; that is to say, one piece of rope is doubled and the two parts fastened together at a small distance from the middle, so as to leave a sort of noose or collar to fix upon the masthead. This collar being fixed in its place, viz. close down upon the trestle trees a pair of shrouds depend from it, whose lower ends ought to reach down to the deck. The lower ends of these shrouds are set up or extended to the channel on the outside of the ship, by the application of mechanical powers. The shrouds as well as the sails are denominated from the masts to which they belong. Thus they are the main, fore, and mizen shrouds, the main topmast, fore topmast, or mizen topmast shrouds, and the main topgallant, fore topgallant, or mizen topgallant shrouds. The number of shrouds by which a mast is sustained, as well as the size of rope of which they are formed, is always in proportion to the size of the mast, and the weight of sail it is intended to carry. The two foremost shrouds on the starboard and larboard side of the ship are always fitted first upon the masthead and then the second on the starboard and the second on the larboard, and so on till the whole number is fixed. The intention of this arrangement is to brace the yards with greater facility when the sails are close-hauled, which could not be performed without great difficulty if the foremost shrouds were last fitted on the masthead, because the angle which they would make with the mast would then be greatly increased. The topmast shrouds are extended from the topmast heads to the edges of the tops. The lower dead-eye, employed for this purpose, is fitted with an iron band, called the foot hook plate, which passes thro' a hole in the edge of the top, and communicates with a rope called the foot hook shroud, whose lower end is attached to the shrouds of the lower mast. The upper ends of the foot hook shrouds are furnished with an iron hook, which enters a hole in the lower end of the foot hook plate, so that when the topmast shrouds are extended to secure the mast, the foot hook shrouds necessarily acquire an equal tension by means of the foot hook plate, which, passing through the top, transmits the effort of the mechanical powers to the foot hook shrouds below. The shrouds of the topgallant masts are extended to the crosstrees.

sill

W: A horizontal member bearing the upright portion of a frame.

simple

WN: any herbaceous plant having medicinal properties

sinnett

See sennit

skiff

TFD: A flatbottom open boat of shallow draft, having a pointed bow and a square stern and propelled by oars, sail, or motor.

F: a small boat resembling a yawl, also a wherry without masts or sails, usually employed to pass a river.

slack water

TFD: A period of cessation in the strong flow of a current of water, especially at high or low tide.

F: the interval between the flux and reflux of the tide; or between the last of the ebb and the first of the flood, during which the current is interrupted; and the water apparently remains in a state of rest.

sloe

a small tart plum

sloop

sloop TFD: A single-masted, fore-and-aft-rigged sailing boat with a short standing bowsprit or none at all and a single headsail set from the forestay.

F: a small vessel furnished with one mast, the mainsail of which is attached to a gaff above, to the mast on its foremost edge, and to a long boom below; by which it is occasionally shifted to either quarter.

sloop of war

TFD: a small fast sailing warship mounting some 10 to 30 small calibre guns on one deck

F: a name given to the smallest vessels of war, except cutters. They are either rigged as ships or as snows.

slops

TFD: Articles of clothing and bedding issued or sold to sailors.

small bower

The smaller of two anchors carried in the bow, the other being the best bower.

snatch block

TFD: A block that can be opened on one side to receive the looped part of a rope.

F: a block having an opening in one of its sides, wherein to fix the bight of rope occasionally.

snow

BQ: A square-rigged vessel, differing from a brig only in that she has a trysail mast close abaft the mainmast, on which a large trysail is hoisted.

F: is generally the largest of all two-masted vessels employed by Europeans, and the most convenient for navigation. The sails and rigging on the mainmast and foremast of a snow, are exactly similar to those on the same masts in a ship only that there is a final mast behind the mainmast, of the former, which carries a sail nearly resembling the mizen of a ship. The foot of this mast is fixed in a block of wood on the quarterdeck abaft the mainmast; and the head of it is attached to the after part of the maintop. The sail, which is called the trysail, is extended from its mast towards the stern of the vessel. When the sloops of war are rigged as snows, they are furnished with a horse, which answers the purpose of the trysail mast, the fore part of the sail being attached by rings to the said horse, in different parts of its height.

snub

TFD: 1. To check the movement of (a rope or cable running out) by turning it quickly about a post or cleat. 2. To secure (a vessel, for example) in this manner.

sound

TFD: To measure the depth of (water), especially by means of a weighted line; fathom.

F: (sounding) the operation of trying the depth of the water, and the quality of the ground, by means of a plummet sunk from a ship to the bottom. There are two plummets used for this purpose in navigation; one of which is called the hand lead, weighing about 8 or 9 pounds; and the other the deep sea lead, which weighs from 25 to 30 pounds, and both are shaped like the frustum of a cone, or pyramid. The former is used in shallow waters, and the latter at a great distance from the shore; particularly on approaching the land, after a sea voyage. Accordingly the lines employed for this purpose are called the deep sea lead line, and the hand lead line. The hand lead line, which is usually 20 fathoms in length, is marked at every 2 or 3 fathoms; so that the depth of the water may be ascertained either in the day or night. At the depth of 2 and 3 fathoms, there are marks of black leather; at 5 fathom, there is a white rag; at 7, a red rag; at 10, black leather; at 13, black leather; at 15, a white rag; and at 1, a red ditto. Sounding with the hand lead, which is called heaving the lead by seamen, is. generally performed by a man who stands in the main chains to windward. Having the line all ready to run out, without interruption, he holds it nearly at the distance of a fathom from the plummet, and having swung the latter backwards and forwards three or four times, in order to acquire the greater velocity, he swings it round his head,, and thence, as far forward as is necessary; so that, by the lead's sinking whilst the ship advances, the line may be almost perpendicular when it reaches the bottom. The person sounding then proclaims the depth of the water in a kind of song resembling the cries of hawkers in a city. Thus, if the mark of fathoms is close to the surface of the water, he calls 'By the mark five!' and as there is no mark, at 4, 6, 8, &c. he estimates those numbers, and calls, 'By the dip four,' &c. If he judges it to be a quarter, or an half more than any particular number, he calls, 'And a quarter five! and a half four,' &c. If he conceives the depth to be quarters more than a particular number, he calls it a quarter less than the next; thus, at four fathom and ¾, he calls 'A quarter less five!' and so on.

The deep sea lead is marked with two knots at 20 fathom, 3 at 30, 4 at 40, and so on to the end. It is also marked with a single knot in the middle of each interval, as at 25, 35, 45 fathoms, &c. To use this lead more effectually at sea, or in deep water on the sea coast, it is usual previously to bring to the ship, in order to retard her course; the lead is then thrown as far as possible from the ship on the line of her drift, so that, as it sinks, the ship drives more perpendicularly over it. The pilot, feeling the lead strike the bottom, readily discovers the depth of the water by the mark on the line nearest its surface. The bottom of the lead being also well rubbed over with tallow, retains the distinguishing marks of the bottom, as shells, ooze, gravel, &c. which naturally adhere to it. The depth of the water, and the nature of the ground, which is called the soundings, are carefully marked in the logbook, as well to determine the distance of the place from the shore, as to correct the observations of former pilots.

southing

W: A distance traveled southward.

span

TFD: The distance from the tip of the thumb to the tip of the little finger when the hand is fully extended, formerly used as a unit of measure equal to about nine inches

spanker

TFD: a fore-and-aft sail or a mast that is aftermost in a sailing vessel

spar

W: A general term denoting any linear object used as a mast, sprit, yard, boom, pole or gaff.

spell

TFD: 1. One's turn at work. 2. A period of work; a shift.

F: the period wherein a sailor, or gang of sailors, is employed in a particular exercise, from which they are relieved as soon as the limited time expires. Such are the spells, to the hand lead in sounding; to the pump; to look out on the masthead, &c. and to steer the ship; which last, however, is generally called the trick. Spell also implies the relief, or the return of duty to those services: Thus we lay, spell the pump, spell the lead, &c.

spill

TFD: 1. To relieve the pressure of wind on (a sail). 2. To cause or allow (wind) to be lost from a sail.

F: to discharge the wind out of the cavity or belly of a sail when it is drawn up in the brails in order to furl or reef it. This is either performed by collecting the sail together, or by bracing its edge to the wind, so as to shiver or be laid aback.

spindle

F: a sort of iron pin tapering at the upper end to the point. It is used to stick into the upper end of the topgallant mast, so as to carry a vane, which, turning thereon horizontally, will show the direction of the wind. It is usually crowned with a globular or conical piece of wood called the acorn, which prevents the vane from being blown off.

Spindle is also the lower end or foot of the capstan, which is shod with iron, and becomes the pivot or axis upon which it turns in the saucer.

spirit room

TS: A name formerly given to the paymaster's storeroom in the after part of the after hold, reserved for stowage of spirits. The name applies at present to the paymaster's storeroom for dry provisions.

spirketing

TFD: 1. deck planking near the bulwarks 2. the interior lining between ports and the overhead interior surface of the cabin

F: that range of planks which lies between the waterways and the lower edge of the gun ports within the side of a ship of war.

split

F: the state of a sail which is rent asunder by the violence of a tempest, or by sustaining a greater effort on one part of its surface than the rest. Split, when applied to a ship, is also the state of being stranded and bilge on a rock or shore.

spring

B: To crack a mast, yard, &c. by means of straining in blowing weather, so that it is rendered unsafe for use.

F: a crack or breach running transversely or obliquely through any part of a mast or yard, so as to render it unsafe to carry the usual quantity of sail thereon.

spring stay

TFD: a preventer stay, to assist the regular one.

B: (pl.) are rather smaller than the stays, and placed above them, and intended to answer the purpose of the stay, if it should be shot away, &c.

spring tide

TFD: The exceptionally high and low tides that occur at the time of the new moon or the full moon when the sun, moon, and earth are approximately aligned.

B: (pl.) are the tides at new and full moon, which flow highest and ebb lowest.

sprit

TFD: A pole that extends diagonally across a fore-and-aft sail from the lower part of the mast to the peak of the sail.

spritsail

d: A sail formerly hung under the bowsprit, from the spritsail yard.

F: a sail attached to a yard which hangs under the bowsprit. It is furnished with a large hole in each of its lower corners, to evacuate the water with which the cavity or belly of it is frequently filled, by the surge of the sea, when the ship pitches.

spun yarn

TFD: A lightweight line made of several rope yarns loosely wound together, used for seizings onboard ship.

F: a small line or cord formed of two or three rope yarns twisted together by a winch. The yarns, of which it is usually made at sea, are drawn out of the strands of old cables or other ropes, and are knotted together and tarred. It is employed for several purposes particularly to fasten one rope to another, to seize block strops to the shrouds, and to serve ropes which are liable to be chafed by rubbing one against another, &c.

squall

TFD: A brief sudden violent windstorm, often accompanied by rain or snow.

squally

TFD: characterized by brief periods of violent wind or rain or both

square-rigged

W: Having square sails rigged onto spars perpendicular to the keel.

square sail

square sail TFD: a four-sided sail set beneath a horizontal yard suspended at the middle from a mast

F: is a sail extended to a yard, which hangs parallel to the horizon, as distinguished from the other sails which are extended by booms and stays placed obliquely. This sail is only used in fair winds, or to scud under in a tempest. In the former case, it is furnished with a large additional part called the bonnet, which is then attached to its bottom, and removed when it is necessary to scud.

staff

flagstaff

F: a light pole erected in different parts of a ship, whereon to hoist and display the colours. The principal of these is reared immediately over the stern, to display the ensign; another is fixed on the bowsprit, to extend the jack; three more are erected at the three mastheads, or formed by their upper ends, to show the flag or pendent of the respective squadron or division to which the ship is appropriated.

stanchion

d: an upright bar, beam, post, or support, as in a window, stall, ship, etc.

F: a sort of small pillar of wood or iron used for various purposes in a ship; as to support the decks, the quarter rails, the nettings, the awnings, &c. The first of these are two ranges of small columns, fixed under the beams, throughout the ship's length between decks; one range being on the starboard, and the other on the larboard side of the hatchways. They are chiefly intended to support the weight of the artillery.

stand off and on

to remain near a coast by alternately sailing toward land and away from it

standing

TFD: taking or holding a particular course or direction

F: the movement by which a ship advances towards a certain object, or departs from it; as the enemy stands in-shore; the English fleet are standing off; at daybreak we discovered three sail standing to the northward, &c.

standing rigging

TFD: On a sailing boat, standing rigging generally refers to lines, wires, or rods which are more or less fixed in position while the boat is under sail. This term is used in contrast to running rigging, which represents elements of rigging which move and change fairly often while under sail. Standing rigging is placed under tension to keep the various spars ( mast, bowsprit) securely in position and adequately braced to handle loads induced by sails.

starboard

M: the right hand side of the ship, facing forward

stay

WN: brace consisting of a heavy rope or wire cable used as a support for a mast or spar

F: a large strong rope employed to support the mast on the fore part, by extending from its upper end towards the fore part of the ship, as the shrouds are extended to the right and left, and backstays behind it. The stay of the foremast, which is called the forestay, reaches from the masthead towards the bowsprit end; the mainstay, extends over the forecastle to the ship's stem; and the mizen stay is stretched down to that part of the mainmast which lies immediately above the quarterdeck; the fore topmast stay, comes also to the end of the bowsprit, a little beyond, the forestay; the main topmast stay, is attached to the head or hounds of the foremast; and the mizen topmast stay comes also to the hounds of the mainmast; the fore topgallant stay comes to the outer end of the jib boom; and the main topgallant stay is extended to the head of the fore topmast.

staysail

D: any sail set on a stay, as a triangular sail between two masts.

stem

W: The vertical or nearly vertical forward extension of the keel, to which the forward ends of the planks or strakes are attached.

TFD: The curved upright beam at the fore of a vessel into which the hull timbers are scarfed to form the prow.

F: a circular piece of timber, into which the two sides of a ship are united at the fore end; the lower end of it is scarfed to the keel and the bowsprit rests upon its upper end. The stem is formed of one or two pieces, according to the size of the vessel; and as it terminates the ship forward, the ends of the wales and planks of the sides and bottom are let into a groove or channel, in the middle of its surface, from the top to the bottom; which operation is called rabbeting. The out side of the stem is usually marked with a scale, or division of feet, according to its perpendicular height from the keel. The intention of this, is to ascertain the draught of water at the fore part, when the ship is in preparation for a sea voyage, &c. The item at its lower end is of equal breadth and thickness with the keel, but it grows proportionally broader and thicker towards its upper extremity.

stemhead

GB: The top of the stem.

steerage

F: an apartment without the great cabin of a ship, from which it is separated by a thin partition. In large ships of war it is used as a hall through which it is necessary to pass, to arrive at, or depart from the great cabin. Steerage is also used to express the effort of the helm

steerageway

TFD: The minimum rate of motion required for a ship or boat to be maneuvered by the helm.

F: is that degree of progressive motion communicated to a ship, by which the becomes susceptible of the effects of the helm to govern her course.

step

TFD: The block in which the heel of a mast is fixed.

F: a block of wood fixed on the decks or bottom of a ship, and having a hole in its upper side fitted to receive the heel of a mast or capstan. The steps of the main and foremasts of every ship rest upon the kelson, to which they are firmly secured by knees, bolts, or spike-nails. The step of the mizen mast usually rests upon the lower deck.

stern

W: The rear part or after end of a ship or vessel.

F: the posterior face of ship; or that part which is presented to the view of a spectator, placed on the continuation of the keel behind

stern fast

TFD: a rope used to confine the stern of a ship or other vessel, as to a wharf or buoy.

F: a rope used to confine the stern of a ship or boat to any wharf or jetty head, &c.

stern sheets

MW: the space in the stern of an open boat not occupied by the thwarts

D: the after part of an open boat, occupied by the person in command or by passengers.

F: that part of a boat which is contained between the stern and the aftmost, or hindmost, seat of the rowers. It is generally furnished with benches to accommodate the passengers.

sternpost

TFD: The principal upright post at the stern of a vessel, usually serving to support the rudder.

F: a long straight piece of timber erected on the extremity of the keel, to sustain the rudder, and terminate the ship behind.

sternway

W: a backwards motion of a vessel

B: The motion by which a ship falls back with her stern foremost.

steward

F: an officer in a ship of war, appointed by the purser, to distribute the different species of provisions to the officers and crew; for which purpose he is furnished with a mate and proper assistants.

stiff

D: (of a vessel) having a high resistance to rolling; stable (opposed to crank).

B: The condition of a ship when she will casrry a great quantity of sail without hazard of oversetting. It is used in opposition to crank.

stiver

TFD: a former Dutch coin worth one twentieth of a guilder

stock

W: 1. A bar going through an anchor, perpendicular to the flukes. 2. The axle attached to the rudder, which transfers the movement of the helm to the rudder.

TFD: A crosspiece at the end of the shank of an anchor.

stocks

TFD: The timber frame that supports a ship during construction.

F: a frame erected on the shore of a river, or harbour, whereon to build shipping. It generally consists of a number of wooden blocks, ranged parallel to each other, at convenient distances, and with a gradual declivity towards the water.

stopper

WP: In nautical settings a stopper may refer to a length of rope that is belayed at one end with the other end attached to a tensioned line using a friction hitch in order to slacken a portion of the tensioned line. For example if a sheet becomes jammed on a winch while under sail, a "stopper" can be used to temporarily take the strain off the winch while the riding turn is cleared.

F: certain short pieces of rope, which are usually knotted at one, or both ends, according to the purpose for which they are calculated. They are either used to suspend any weighty body, or to retain a cable, shroud, &c. in a fixed position. Thus, the anchors, when first hoisted up from the ground, are hung to the cathead, by a stopper attached to the latter, which, passing through the anchor ring, is afterwards fastened to the timber head, and the same rope serves to fasten it on the bow at sea; or to suspend it by the ring, when it is to be sunk from the ship to the bottom. The stoppers of the cables have a large knot, and a lanyard at one end, and are fastened to a ring bolt in the deck, by the other. They are attached to the cable, by the lanyard, which is fastened securely round both by several turns passed behind the knot, or about the neck of the stopper; by which means the cable is restrained from running out of the ship, when the rides at anchor. The stoppers of the shrouds have a knot and a lanyard at each end. They are used only when the shrouds are cut asunder in battle, or disabled by tempestuous weather; at which time they are lashed, in the same manner as those of the cables, to the separated parts of the shroud, which are thereby reunited, so as to be fit for immediate service. This, however, is only a temporary expedient, applied when there is not time or opportunity to refit them, by a more complete operation.

storekeeper

F: an officer in the royal dockyards, invested with the charge of the principal naval stores; as the sails, anchors, cordage, &c.

storeroom

F: an apartment, or place of reserve, of which there are several in a ship, to contain the provisions, or stores of a ship, together with those of her officers, during a sea voyage.

stores

TFD: the victuals and provisions collected together for the subsistence of a ship's company, of a camp, and the like.

stout

WN: stalwart, dependable

stow

TFD: to pack or put away (cargo, sails and other gear, etc.)

B: To arrange and dispose a ship's cargo.

stowage

F: the general disposition of the several materials contained in a ship's hold, with regard to their figure, magnitude, or solidity. In the stowage of different articles, as ballast, casks, cases, bales, and boxes, there are several general rules to be observed, according to the circumstances or qualities of those materials. The casks, which contain any liquid, are,according to the sea phrase, to be bung up and bilge free, i.e. closely wedged up, in an horizontal position, and resting on their quarters; so that the bilges, where they are thickest, being entirely free all round, cannot rub against each other, by the motion of the vessel. Dry goods, or such as may be damaged by the water, are to be carefully inclosed in casks, bales, cases, or wrappers; and wedged off from the bottom and sides of the ship, as well as from the bows, masts, and pump well. Due attention must likewise be had to their disposition, with regard to each other, and to the trim and center of gravity of the ship; so that the heaviest may always be nearest the keel, and the lightest gradually above them.

strait

TFD: A narrow channel joining two larger bodies of water. Often used in the plural with a singular verb.

F: a narrow channel, or arm of the sea, contained between two opposite shores; as the straits of Gibraltar; the straits of Sunda; the straits of Dover, &c.

strake

W: A continuous line of plates or planks running from bow to stern that contributes to a vessel's skin.

F: (pl.) the uniform ranges of planks on the bottom and sides of a ship; or the continuation of planks joined to the end of each other, and reaching from the stem, which limits the vessel forward, to the stern post, and fashion pieces, which terminate her length abaft. The lowest of these, which is called the garboard streak, is let into the keel below, and into the stern and sternpost.

strand

TFD: 1. A complex of fibers or filaments that have been twisted together to form a cable, rope, thread, or yarn. 2. The land bordering a body of water; a beach.

F: 1. one of the twists, or divisions, of which a rope is composed. 2. the sea beach; hence a ship is said to be stranded when the has run aground on the seashore.

stream anchor

A: An anchor used in narrow channels to prevent the stern of the vessel moving with the tide.

stream cable

TFD: a hawser or rope, smaller than the bower cables, to moor a ship in a place sheltered from wind and heavy seas.

F: a Hawser, or rope, something smaller than the bowers, and used to moor the ship in a river or haven, sheltered from the wind and sea, &c.

stretching

F: in navigation, is generally understood to imply the progression of a ship under a great surface of sail, when close-hauled. The difference between this phrase and standing, is apparently in the quantity of sail, which, in the latter, may be very moderate, but in stretching, generally signifies excess as, we saw the enemy at daybreak stretching to the southward, under a crowd of sail, &c.

strike

W: To haul down, or lower a mast, a flag or cargo, etc.

F: implies to lower or let down any thing; as an ensign, or topsail, in saluting; or, as the yards and topmasts in tempestuous weather.

strop

D: 1. a rope or a band of metal surrounding and supporting a block, deadeye, etc. 2. a metal band surrounding the pulley of a block to transmit the load on the pulley to its hook or shackle. 3. a rope sling, as for handling cargo. 4. a ring or grommet of rope.

F: a piece of rope spliced into a circular wreath, and used to surround the body of a block so that the latter may be hung to any particular station about the mast, yards, or rigging. Strops are also used occasionally to fasten upon any large rope, for the purpose of hooking a tackle to the eye, or double part of the strop; in order to extend, or pull with redoubled effort, upon the same rope; as in setting up the rigging, where one hook of the tackle is fixed in a strop applied to the particular shroud, and the other to its lanyard.

studding sails

W: Sails attached to the side of another in a square-rigged ship to increase the speed of the vessel

F: certain light sails extended, in moderate and steady breezes, beyond the skirts of the principal sails, where they appear as wings upon the yardarms.

stuff

F: any composition, or melted mass, used to smear or daub the masts, sides, or bottom of a ship. That which is chiefly used for the lower masts is simply turpentine, resin, or varnish of pine; for the topmasts, tallow or butter; for the sides, turpentine, varnish of pine, tar and oil, or tar mixed with oil and red oker; and for the bottom, a mixture of tallow, sulphur, and resin, or tar; whale oil and broken glass; or any part of these ingredients: and this application is called giving a new coat of stuff to the masts, sides, &c.

supercargo

TFD: An officer on a merchant ship who has charge of the cargo and its sale and purchase.

F: an officer charged with the accounts of the cargo, and all other commercial affairs in a merchant ship.

survey

to dispose of after determining that something is no longer useful for its intended purpose

swab

F: a sort of mop formed of a large bunch of old rope yarns, and used to clean the decks and cabins of a ship hence the person who uses it is called the swabber.

sway

W: To hoist (a mast or yard) into position.

sweep

TFD: A long oar used to propel a boat.

sweet wort

WP: "Wort is the liquid extracted from the mashing process during the brewing of beer or whisky. Wort contains the sugars that will be fermented by the brewing yeast to produce alcohol.

"The first step in wort production is to make malt from dried, sprouted barley. Grain adjuncts are then added and the malt is ground into grist. The grist is mashed, that is, mixed with hot water and steeped, a complex and slow heating process that enables enzymes to convert the starch in the malt into sugars."

As best I understand it, at this point drain the liquid off and you have sweet wort.

swell

F: generally denotes an heavy and continued agitation of the waves, according to a particular direction; as there is a great swell setting into the bay. It is, however, more particularly applied to the fluctuating motion of the sea, which remains after the expiration of a storm; as also, to that which breaks on the sea shore; or upon rocks, or shallows.

swing

F: to turn round the anchors, or moorings, at the change of the wind, or tide; it is usually expressed of a ship, either when she is moored by the head, or riding at a single anchor.

swivel gun

TFD: A gun mounted on a pedestal so that it can be turned from side to side or up and down.

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tack, tacking, tackle, tafferel, taffrail, taken aback, taking in, tamarind, tapa, tapu, tar, taro, tarpaulin, taunt, tender, tenesmus, thimble, thrum, thrumb a sail, thwart, thwartships, tier, tier of the cable, tierce, tiller, timber, to (too), to leeward, toa tree, toey, tompion, top, topgallant, topgallant mast, topgallant sail, topman, topmast, topsail, Torrid Zone, touchhole, touching at, tow, towline, trade, trade winds, transom, traveller, travellings, treenail, trestle tree, trick, trim, trip, trim the ballast, trowsers, truck, trunnel, trunnion, truss, trussel tree, try, trysail, tucker, tun, turtle peg, tutelary, tye,

tack

F: a rope used to confine the foremost lower corners of the courses and stay sails in a fixed position, when the wind crosses the ship's course obliquely. The same name is also given to the rope employed to pull out the lower corner of a studding sail or driver to the extremity of its boom. The mainsail and foresail of a ship are furnished with a tack on each side, which is formed of a thick rope tapering to the end, and having a knot wrought upon the largest end, by which it is firmly retained in the clue of the sail. By this means one tack is always fastened to windward, at the same time that the sheet extends the sail to leeward.

A ship is said to be on the starboard or larboard tack, when she is close-hauled, with the wind upon the starboard or larboard side; and in this sense the distance which the sails in that position is considered as the length of the tack; although this is more frequently called a board.

Tack is also applied, by analogy, to that part of any sail to which the tack is usually fastened.

tacking

W: The maneuver by which a sailing vessel turns its bow through the wind so that the wind changes from one side to the other.

F: changing the course from one board to another, or turn the ship about from the starboard to the larboard tack, in a contrary wind

tackle

W: A system of ropes and blocks used to increase the force applied to the free end of the rope.

F: a machine formed by the communication of a rope with an assemblage of blocks, and known in mechanics by the name of pulley. Tackles are used in a ship to raise, remove, or secure weighty bodies; to support the masts; or to extend the sails and rigging. They are either moveable, as communicating with a runner; or fixed, as being hooked in an immoveable station; and they are more or less complicated, in proportion to the effects which they are intended to produce.

ground tackle

tafferel

W: 1. A carved panel 2. The flat upper part of a ship's stern above the transom, often decorated with carvings 3. The taffrail

F: the upper part of a ship's stern, being a curved piece of wood and usually ornamented, with sculpture.

taffrail

W: 1. The curved wooden top of the stern of a sailing man-of-war or East Indiaman, usually carved or decorated. 2. The rail around the stern of a ship. 3. The deck area at the stern of a vessel.

taken aback

W: Of a ship: to catch it with the sails aback suddenly.

taking in

B: The act of furling the sails. Used in opposition to set.

F: the act of brailing up and furling the sails at sea, particularly when the wind increases. It is generally used in opposition to setting.

tamarind

WN: large tropical seed pod with very tangy pulp that is eaten fresh or cooked with rice and fish or preserved for curries and chutneys

tapa

cloth made from the bark of the paper-mulberry tree, Broussonetia papyriferi

tapu

restricted, forbidden, set apart, sacred (taboo)

tar

Please note that the tar used aboard ship was pine tar (from North Carolina), not coal tar.

W: A dark viscous substance obtained from the destructive distillation of pine wood.

F: a sort of liquid gum of a blackish hue, which distils from pines or fir trees, either naturally or by incision; and being prepared by boiling, is used to pay the sides of ships and boats, and their rigging, in order to preserve them from the effects of the weather, by which they would otherwise soon become cracked, split, or rotten.

taro

tropical plant (Colocasia esculenta) of the arum family with tuberous root used as food, especially in the Pacific islands

tarpaulin

W: Canvas waterproofed with tar, used as a cover.

F: a broad piece of canvas well daubed with tar, and used to cover the hatchways of a ship at sea, to prevent the penetration of the rain, or sea water, which may occasionally rush over the decks.

taunt

TFD: Unusually tall. Used of masts.

B: High or tall. Particularly applied to masts of extraordinary length.

tender

TFD: A vessel attendant on other vessels, especially one that ferries supplies between ship and shore.

F: a small vessel employed in the King's service, on various occasions; as, to receive volunteers and impressed men, and convey them to a distant place; to attend on ships of war or squadrons; and to carry intelligence or orders from one place to another, &c.

tenesmus

TFD: A painfully urgent but ineffectual attempt to urinate or defecate.

thimble

W: A ring of metal or rope used in a ship's rigging; it is a protection against chafing.

F: a sort of iron ring, whose outer surface is hollowed throughout its whole circumference, in order to contain, in the channel or cavity, a rope which is spliced about it, and by which it may be hung in any particular station. It is used to guide the direction of some running rope, which passes through it, from one place to another.

thrum

TFD: To sew short bits of rope yarn into canvas to roughen the surface.

thrumb a sail

GB: a process by which canvas is turned into a mat

thwart

W: A seat across a boat on which a rower may sit.

F: the seat or bench of a boat whereon the rowers sit to manage the oars.

thwartships

ST: Describing any feature that lies from side to side across the deck or rigging.

F: across the ship

athwartships

tier

B: A row; as a tier of guns, a tier of casks, a tier of ships, &c.

F: a name given to the range of cannon mounted on one tide of a ship's deck.

tier of the cable

W13: A coil of a cable.

F: is a range of the fakes or windings of the cable, which are laid within one another in an horizontal position, so as that the last becomes the innermost.

tierce

TFD: A measure of liquid capacity, equal to a third of a pipe, or 42 gallons (159 liters).

See table at puncheon.

tiller

TFD: A lever used to turn a rudder and steer a boat.

F: the bar or lever employed to turn the rudder in steering.

timber

TFD: A rib in a ship's frame.

F: the ribs of a ship, or the incurvated pieces of wood, branching outward from the keel in a vertical direction, so as to give strength, figure, and solidity to the whole fabric.

to (too)

TFD: Into the wind.

to leeward

B: towards that part of the horizon to which the wind blows

toa tree

ironwood tree

toey

an adz TFD: An axlike tool with a curved blade at right angles to the handle, used for shaping wood.

tompion

TFD: (tampion) A plug or cover for the muzzle of a cannon or gun to keep out dust and moisture.

F: a sort of bung or cork tiled to stop the mouth of a cannon. At sea this is carefully encircled with tallow or putty, to prevent the penetration of the water into the bore, whereby the powder contained in the chamber might be damaged. or rendered incapable of service.

top

W: A framework at the top of a ship's mast to which rigging is attached

F: a sort of platform, surrounding the lower masthead, from which it projects on all sides like a scaffold. The principal intention of the top is to extend the topmast shrouds, so as to form a greater angle with the mast, and thereby give additional support to the latter. It is sustained by certain timbers fixed across the hounds or shoulders of the mast, and called the trestle trees and crosstrees. Besides the use above mentioned, the top is otherwise extremely convenient to contain the materials necessary for extending the small sails, and for fixing or repairing the rigging and machinery, with more facility and expedition. In ships of war it is used as a kind of redoubt, and is accordingly fortified for attack or defence, being furnished with swivels, musketry, and other firearms; and guarded by a thick fence of corded hammocks. Finally, it is employed as a place for looking out, either in the day or night. The frame of the top is either close-planked like a platform, or open like a grating. The former kind is generally stronger and more convenient; but the latter is much better in tempestuous weather, as presenting a smaller surface to the wind when the ship leans over to one side, and by consequence being less exposed to its efforts. In all ships of war, and in the largest merchantmen, the top is fenced on the aft side by a rail of about three feet high, stretching across, and supported by stanchions, between which a netting is usually constructed. The outside of this netting is generally covered with red bayze or red painted canvas, which is extended from the rail down to the edge of the top, and called the top-armour. By this name it seems to have been considered as a sort of blind, behind which the men may conceal themselves from the aims of the enemy's firearms in time of action, whilst they are charging their own muskets, carabines, or swivels. The dimensions of tops in the royal navy are as follow. The breadth of the top athwart ships is one third of the length of its corresponding topmast. The length of all tops, from the foremost to the after edge equal to three fourths of their breadth athwart; and the square hole in the middle is five inches to a foot of those dimensions. The trestle trees and crosstrees extend nearly to the edge of the tops.

topgallant

TFD: 1. Of, relating to, or being the mast above the topmast, its sails, or its rigging. 2. Raised above adjacent parts or structures.

topgallant mast

TFD: a mast fixed to the head of a topmast on a square-rigged vessel

topgallant sail

TFD: a sail set on a yard of a topgallant mast

topman

TFD: (topmen) The man (men) stationed in the top.

topmast

D: the mast next above a lower mast, usually formed as a separate spar from the lower mast and used to support the yards or rigging of a topsail or topsails.

F: the second division of a mast; or that part which lands between the upper and lower pieces.

topsail

W: A sail or either of the two sails rigged just above the course sail and supported by the topmast on a square-rigged sailing ship.

F: (pl.) certain large sails extended across the topmasts, by the topsail yard above, and by the yard attached to the lower mast beneath; being fastened to the former by robands, and to the latter by means of two great blocks fixed on its extremities, through which the topsail sheets are inserted, passing from thence to two other blocks fixed on the inner part of the yard close by the mast; and from these latter the sheets lead downwards to the deck, where they may be slackened or extended at pleafure. N.B. The topgallant sails are expanded above the topsail yard, in the same manner as the latter are extended above the lower yard.

Torrid Zone

TFD: The central latitude zone of the earth, between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn.

touchhole

D: the vent in the breech of an early firearm or cannon through which the charge was ignited.

touching at

F: implies the circumstance of stopping, or anchoring occasionally, at some intermediate port, in the course of a voyage.

tow

B: To draw a ship in the water by a rope, fixed to a boat or other ship which is rowing or sailing on.

F: to draw a ship forward in the water, by means of a rope attached to another vessel or boat, which advances by the effort of rowing or sailing. Towing is either practised when a ship is disabled, and rendered incapable of carrying sail at sea; or when her sails are not fixed upon the masts, as in a harbour; or when they are deprived of their force of action by a cessation of the wind. When a ship of war is dismasted, or otherwise disabled from carrying sail at sea, she is usually towed by a cable reaching from her bow to another ship ahead. In a harbour towing is practiced by one or more boats, wherein all the force of the oars are exerted to make her advance.

towline

A line used for connecting two boats for towing.

F: a small hawser generally used to remove a ship from one part of an harbour or road to another, by means of anchors, capstans, &c. It is also employed occasionally to moor a small vessel in a harbour, conveniently sheltered from the wind and sea.

trade

TFD: The trade winds. Often used in the plural with the.

trade winds

TFD: Winds that blow steadily from east to west and toward the equator over most of the Torrid Zone. The trade winds are caused by hot air rising at the equator, with cool air moving in to take its place from the north and from the south. The winds are deflected westward because of the Earth's west-to-east rotation.

F: certain regular winds blowing within or near the tropics, and being either periodical or perpetual. Thus, in the Indian ocean, they blow alternately from different points of the compass, during a limited season; and, in the Atlantic ocean, continue almost without intermission in the same direction. They are accordingly called trade winds, from their great utility in navigation and commerce.

transom

TFD: Any of several transverse beams affixed to the sternpost of a wooden ship and forming part of the stern.

F: certain beams or timbers extended across the sternpost of a ship, to fortify her after part and give it the figure most suitable to the service for which she is calculated. Transoms are here defined as beams or timbers, because they partake equally of the form and purpose of those pieces. Thus the deck transom is the aftmost or hindmost beam of the lower deck, whereon all the deck planks are rabbeted; and all the transoms are fixed athwart the sternpost, in the same manner as the floor timbers are laid upon the keel. As the floor timbers also, with regard to their general form and arrangement, have a rising, by which the bottom becomes narrower as it ascends towards the extremities; so the arms of the transoms, being gradually closer in proportion to their distance from the wing transom downwards, give a similar figure to that part of the ship, which accordingly becomes extremely narrow, from the counter towards the keel; and this general figure or curve is called the flight of the transoms. Although these pieces are therefore extremely different in their figures, according to the extent of the angles formed by their branches or horns, each of them has nevertheless a double curve, which is partly vertical, and partly horizontal, with regard to its situation in the ship. The former of these is called, by the artificers, the round-up, and the latter the round-aft. As the transoms fill up the whole space comprehended between the head of the sternpost above, and the aftmost floor timbers below, it is necessary to distinguish them by particular names. Thus the highest is called the wing transom the next, the deck transom; and afterwards follow the first, second, and third transoms; together with the intermediate ones.

traveller, travellings

TFD: a metal ring that moves freely back and forth on a rope, rod, or spar.

F: a sort of thimble, whole diameter is much longer, in proportion to the breadth of its surface, than the common ones. It is furnished with a tail formed of a piece of rope, about three feet in length, one end of which encircles the ring, to which it is spliced. These machines are principally intended to facilitate the hoisting or towering of the top gallant yards at sea: for which purpose two of them are fixed on each backstay, whereon they slide upwards and downwards, like the ring of a curtain upon its rod; being thus attached to the extremities of the top gallant yard, they prevent it from swinging backwards and forwards, by the agitation of the ship, whilst the yard is hoisting or lowering at sea.

treenail

TFD: A wooden peg that swells when wet and is used to fasten timbers, especially in shipbuilding.

B: Long wooden pins employed to connect the planks of the ship's side and bottom to the corresponding timbers.

F: certain long cylindrical wooden pins, employed to connect the planks of a ship's side and bottom to the corresponding timbers. The treenails are justly esteemed superior to spike-nails or bolts, which are liable to rust, and loosen, as well as to rot the timber; but it is necessary that the oak of which they are formed should be solid, close, and replete with gum, to prevent them from breaking and rotting in the ship's frame. They ought also to be well dried, so as to fill their holes when they are swelled with moisture. They have usually one inch in thickness to 100 feet in the vessel's length; so that the treenails of a ship of 100 feet long, are one inch in diameter; and one inch and a half for a ship of 150 feet.

trestle tree

W: A structure attached to a mast to support the top and the heel of a topmast.

F: two strong bars of timber fixed horizontally on the opposite sides of the lower masthead, to support the frame of the top, and the weight of the topmast.

trick

TFD: A period or turn of duty, as at the helm of a ship.

trim

W: The fore-and-aft angle of the vessel to the water, with reference to the cargo and ballast; the manner in which a vessel floats on the water, whether on an even keel or down by the head or stern

trip

D: 1. to break out (an anchor) by turning over or lifting from the bottom by a line (tripping line) attached to the anchor's crown. 2. to tip or turn (a yard) from a horizontal to a vertical position. 3. to lift (an upper mast) before lowering.

F: the movement by which an anchor is loosened from the bottom by its cable or buoy ropes.

atrip

trim the ballast

B: spread it about and lay it even

trowsers

F: a sort of loose breeches of canvas worn by common sailors.

truck

W: On a wooden mast, a circular disc (or sometimes a rectangle) of wood near or at the top of the mast, usually with holes or sheaves to reeve signal halyards; also a temporary or emergency place for a lookout. "Main" refers to the mainmast, whereas a truck on another mast may be called (on the mizzenmast, for example) "mizzen-truck".

F: a piece of wood, which is either conical, cylindrical, spherical, or spheroidical. Thus the trucks fixed on the spindle of a masthead, and which are otherwise called acorns, are in the form of a cone; and those which are employed as wheels to the gun carriages are cylinders. The trucks of the parrels assume the figure of a globe; and, lastly, those of the flagstaffs resemble an oblate spheroid. Trucks of the shrouds are nearly similar to those of the parrels; they are fastened to the shrouds about twelve or fourteen feet above the deck, the hole in the middle being placed perpendicularly to contain some rope which passes through it. The intention of these is to guide the sailors to the particular rope, which might otherwise be easily mistaken for some other of the same size, especially in the night.

trunnel

treenail

trunnion

TFD: A pin or gudgeon, especially either of two small cylindrical projections on a cannon forming an axis on which it pivots.

F: the two knobs or arms which project from the opposite sides of a piece of artillery, and serve to support it in the carriage.

truss

TFD: An iron fitting by which a lower yard is secured to a mast.

F: a machine employed to pull a yard home to its respective mast, and retain it firmly in that position. As the truss is generally used instead of a parrel, it is rarely employed, except in flying topgallant sails, which are never furnished with parrels. It is no other than a ring or traveller, which encircles the mast, and has a rope fastened to its after part, leading downward to the top or decks; by means of which the truss may be straitened or slackened at pleasure. The halyards of the topgallant sail being passed through this ring; and the sail being hoisted up to its utmost extent; it is evident, that the yard will be drawn close to the mast, by pulling down the truss close to the upper part of the sail. For, without the truss, the sail and its yard would be blown from the mast, so as to swing about, by the action of the wind, and the rolling of the vessel; unless the yard were hoisted close up to the pulley wherein the halyards run; which seldom is the case in flying topgallant sails, because they are usually much shallower than those which are fixed or standing.

trussel tree

trestle tree

try

W: To lie to in heavy weather under just sufficient sail to head into the wind.

F: (trying) the situation in which a ship lies nearly in the trough or hollow of the sea in a tempest, particularly when it blows contrary to her course. In trying, as well as in scudding, the sails are always reduced in proportion to the increase of the storm. Thus, in the former state, a ship may lie by the wind under a whole mainsail, a whole foresail, or a whole mizen; or under any of those sails, when diminished by the reef or balance. As the least possible quantity of sail used in scudding are the goosewings of the foresail; so in trying, the smallest portion is generally the mizen staysail or main staysail; and in either state, if the storm is excessive, she may lie with all the sails furled, or, according to the sea phrase, under bare poles. The intent of spreading a sail at this time is to keep the ship more steady, and, by pressing her side down in the water, to prevent her from rolling violently; and also to turn her bow towards the direction of the wind, so that the shock of the waves may fall more obliquely on her flank, than when she lies along the trough of the sea. While she remains in this situation, the helm is fastened close to the lee side, or, in the sea language, hard alee, to prevent her as much as possible from falling off. But as the ship is not then kept in equilibrium by the effort of her sails, which at other times counterbalance each other at the head and stern, she is moved by a slow but continual vibration, which turns her head alternately to windward and to leeward, forming an angle of three or four points in the interval. That part where she stops, in approaching the direction of the wind, is called her coming to, and the contrary excels of the angle to leeward is termed her falling off.

trysail

W: A small, strong 3-sided sail sometimes set in place of the mainsail in heavy weather.

tucker

WN: a detachable yoke of linen or lace worn over the breast of a low-cut dress.

tun

TFD: A measure of liquid capacity, especially one equivalent to approximately 252 gallons (954 liters).

See table at puncheon.

turtle peg

W: A spike attached to a cord or rod, used for catching sea turtles.

tutelary

guardian angel

W: A guardian or protector

tye

TFD: A chain or rope, one end of which passes through the mast, and is made fast to the center of a yard; the other end is attached to a tackle, by means of which the yard is hoisted or lowered.

F: a sort of runner or thick rope, used to transmit the effort of a tackle to any yard or gaff, which extends the upper part of a sail. The tye is either passed through a block fixed to the masthead, and afterwards through another block moveable upon the yard or gaff intended to be hoisted; or the end of it is simply fastened to the said yard or gaff, after communicating with the block at the masthead.

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U

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

unballast, unbend, unbit, under bare poles, under courses, under foot, under sail, under the lee, under the rose, under way, unmoor, unreeve, unrig, unship, upper deck, upper works,

unballast

TFD: To free from ballast; to discharge ballast from.

B: To discharge the ballast out of a ship.

unbend

B: to take the sails off from their yards and stays. To cast loose the anchor from the cable. To untie two ropes.

unbit

B: To remove the turns of a cable from off the bits.

under bare poles

F: the situation of a ship at sea when all her sails are furled, particularly in a tempest.

under courses

Signifies the foresail, mainsail, and mizen are set

under foot

B: is expressed of an anchor that is directly under the ship.

under sail

F: the state of a ship when she is loosened from her moorings, and under the government of her sails and rudder.

under the lee

TFD: to the leeward; as, under the lee of the land.

under the rose

TFD: in secret; privately; in a manner that forbids disclosure; - the rose being among the ancients the symbol of secrecy, and hung up at entertainments as a token that nothing there said was to be divulged.

under way

W: moving through the water; not anchored, moored, aground, or beached

unmoor

TFD: To release (a ship) from all but one anchor.

F: is to reduce a ship to the state of riding by a single anchor and cable, after she has been moored or fastened by two or more cables.

unreeve

TFD: to withdraw (a rope) from a block, thimble, etc.

F: the act of withdrawing or taking out a rope from any channel through which it had formerly passed; as in a block, thimble, deadeye, &c.

unrig

TFD: to strip (a vessel) of standing and running rigging

unship

W: To remove an oar or mast from its normal position

TFD: To remove (a piece of gear) from its proper place; detach

upper deck

F: the highest of those decks which are continued throughout the whole of a ship of war, or merchantman, without any interruption, of steps or irregular ascents.

upper works

TFD: the parts of a vessel above the waterline when fully laden

F: a general name given to all that part of a ship which is above the surface of the water when she is properly balanced for a sea voyage

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V

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

vane, vang, variation, vee, veer, veer and haul, veer away, vial, voyal,

vane

F: a thin strip of bunting hung to the masthead, or some other conspicuous place in the ship, to show the direction of the wind. It is commonly sewed upon a wooden frame called the stock, which contains two holes whereby to slip over the spindle, upon which it turns about as the wind changes.

vang

W: A line extended down from the end of a yard or a gaff, used to regulate its position

variation

W: The angular difference at the vessel between the direction of true north and magnetic north. Also called magnetic declination.

F: the angle contained between the true meridian and the magnetic meridian;

After the discovery of that most useful property of the magnet, or loadstone, namely, the giving hardened iron and steel a polarity, the compass was for many years used without knowing that its direction in any ways deviated from the poles of the world; and about the middle of the 16th century, so certain were some of its inflexibly pointing to the north, that they treated with contempt the notion of the variation, which about that time began to be suspected. Mr. Robertson, librarian of the Royal Society, favoured the author with an inspection of several curious remarks concerning the history of modern navigation; in which it appears, that the most early discoveries with regard to the magnetical variation were made about the year 1570. Mr. Robert Norman, from a variety of observations made by him nearly at that time, ascertains it to have been 11° 15′ easterly, or one point of the compass. However, careful observations soon discovered, that in England, and its neighbourhood, the needle pointed to the eastward of the true north; but the quantity of this deviation being known, mariners became as well satisfied as if the compass had none; because they imagined that the true course could be obtained by making allowance for the true variation. From successive observations made afterwards, it was found, that the deviation of the needle from the north was not a constant quantity; but that it gradually diminished, and at last, and about the year 1660, it was found at London that the needle pointed due north, and has ever since been getting to the westward, and now the variation is more than 20 degrees to the westward of the north; so that in any one place it may be suspected the variation has a kind of libratory motion, traversing through the north to unknown limits eastward and westward. But the settling of this point must be left to time. "During the time of the said observations it was also discovered, that the variation of the needle was different in different parts of the world, it being west in some places when it was east in others; and in places where the variation was of the same name, yet the quantity of it greatly differed. It was therefore found necessary, that mariners should every day, or as often as they had opportunity, make, during their voyage, proper observations for an amplitude or azimuth; whereby they might be enabled to find the variation of the compass in their present place, and thence correct their courses."

vee

ambarella, golden apple, or otaheite apple grows on tropical tree native to polynesia, related to mango

veer

(of the wind) shift aft; to change direction into the wind, to wear ship; to let out, veer away the cable

F: the operation by which a ship, in changing her course from one board to the other, turns her stern to windward. Hence it is used in opposition to tacking, wherein the head is turned to the wind, and the stern to leeward.

veer and haul

TFD: 1. to vary the course or direction; - said of the wind, which veers aft and hauls forward. The wind is also said to veer when it shifts with the sun. 2. to pull tight and slacken alternately.

F: 1. The wind is said to veer and haul when it alters its direction, and becomes more or less fair. Thus it is said to veer aft and to haul forward. 2. to pull a rope tight, by drawing it in and slackening it alternately, till the body to which it is applied acsuires an additional motion, like the increased vibrations of a pendulum, so that the rope is straitened to a greater tension with more facility and dispatch. This method is particularly used in hauling the bowlines.

veer away

TFD: to let out; to slacken and let run; to pay out; as, to veer away the cable; to veer out a rope.

vial

a vial or phial is a glass vessel or bottle, especially a small bottle used to store medicines

voyal

A large rope, used to unmoor, or heave up the anchor, by communicating the effect of the capstan to the cable.

W13: The block through which a messenger passes.

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W

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

wad, waft, waist, waist boards, wake, wales, warp, warrant officer, washboard, watch, watch and watch, water sail, water spout, waterlogged, waterway, way, wear, weather, weather cloth, weigh, well, westing, wharf, wheel, wherry, whistle, white, windlass, windsail, windward, wing, work, working up junk, worming, woulding,

wad

TFD: A plug, as of cloth or paper, used to retain a powder charge in a muzzleloading gun or cannon.

F: a quantity of old rope yarns, hay, &c. rolled firmly together into the form of a ball, and used to confine the shot or shell, together with its charge of powder, in the breech of a piece of artillery. M. Le Blond observes, in his Elements of war, that the wad is necessary to retain the charge closely in the chamber of the cannon, so that it may not, when fired, be dilated around the sides of the ball, by its windage as it passes through the chace; a circumstance which would considerably diminish the effort of the powder. But as the wad cannot be fastened to the sides of the bore, it is carried away in the same instant when the charge is inflamed, and that with so little resistance, that it cannot, in any degree, retard the explosion, or give time for the entire inflammation of the powder. This reasoning may with equal propriety be applied to the wad that covers the bullet; which, nevertheless, is absolutely requisite, to prevent it from rolling out when the piece is fired horizontally or pointed downwards. Both are therefore peculiarly necessary in naval engagements, because, without being thus retained in its chamber, the shot would instantly roll out of the chace by the agitation of the vessel.

waft

W: a flag, (also called a waif or wheft), used to indicate wind direction or, with a knot tied in the center, as a signal

F: a signal displayed from the stern of a ship for some particular purpose, by hoisting the ensign, furled up together into a long roll, to the head of its staff. It is particularly used to summon the boats off from the shore to the ship whereto they belong; or as a signal for a pilot to repair aboard.

waist

W: That part of the upper deck of a ship between the quarterdeck and the forecastle.

F: that part of a ship which is contained between the quarterdeck and forecastle, being usually a hollow space, with an ascent of several steps to either of those places.

waist boards

W: The planking made to fit into a vessel's gangway on either side.

wake

TFD: The visible track of turbulence left by something moving through water

F: the print or track impressed by the course of a ship on the surface of the water. It is formed by the reunion of the body of water, which was separated by the ship's bottom whilst moving through it; and may be seen to a considerable distance behind the stern, as smoother than the rest of the sea. Hence it is usually observed by the compass, to discover the angle of leeway. A ship is said to be in the wake of another, when the follows her on the same track, or on a line supposed to be formed on the continuation of her keel.

wales

D: the heavy planks or strakes extending along the sides of a wooden ship.

F: an assemblage of strong planks extending along a ship's side, throughout her whole length, at different heights, and serving to reinforce the decks, and form the curves by which the vessel appears light and graceful on the water. As the wales are framed of planks broader and thicker than the rest, they resemble ranges of hoops encircling the sides and bows. They are usually distinguished into the main wale and the channel wale. The situation of the wales, being ascertained by no invariable rule, is generally submitted to the fancy and judgment of the builder. The position of the gun ports and scuppers ought, however, to be particularly considered on this occasion, that the wales may not be wounded by too many breaches.

warp

W: 1. A line or cable used in warping a ship. 2. To move a vessel by hauling on a line or cable that is fastened to an anchor or pier; especially to move a sailing ship through a restricted place such as a harbour.

F: a small rope employed occasionally to remove a ship from one place to another, in a port, road, or river. And hence, To warp is to change the situation of a ship, by pulling her from one part of a harbour, &c. to some other, by means of warps, which are attached to buoys; to anchors sunk in the bottom; or to certain stations upon the shore, as posts, rings, trees, &c. The ship is accordingly drawn forwards to those stations, either by pulling on the warps by hand, or by the application of some purchase, as a tackle, windlass, or capstan, upon her deck. When this operation is performed by the ship's lesser anchors, these machines, together with their warps, are carried out in the boats alternately towards the place where the ship is endeavouring to arrive; so that when she is drawn up close to one anchor, the other is carried out to a competent distance before her, and being sunk, serves to fix the other warp by which the is further advanced. Warping is generally used when the sails are unbent, or when they cannot be successfully employed, which may either arise from the unfavourable state of the wind, the opposition of the tide, or the narrow limits of the channel.

warrant officer

WP: an officer in a military organization who is designated an officer by a warrant, as distinguished from a commissioned officer who is designated an officer by a commission, or non-commissioned officer who is designated an officer by virtue of seniority.

The warrant officer corps began in the 13th century in the nascent English Royal Navy. At that time, noblemen with military experience took command of the new Navy, adopting the military ranks of lieutenant and captain. These officers often had no knowledge of life on board a ship – let alone how to navigate such a vessel – and relied on the expertise of the ship's Master and other seamen who tended to the technical aspects of running the ship. As cannon came into use, the officers also required gunnery experts.

Originally, warrant officers were specialist professionals whose expertise and authority demanded formal recognition. They eventually developed into four categories:

- Wardroom warrant officers

- Gunroom warrant officers

- Standing warrant officers

- Lower-grade warrant officers

Literacy was one thing that all warrant officers had in common, and this distinguished them from the common seamen. According to the Admiralty Regulations, "No person shall be appointed to any station in which he is to have charge of stores, unless he can read and write, and is sufficiently skilled in arithmetic to keep an account of them correctly". Since all warrant officers had responsibility for stores, this was enough to debar the illiterate.

washboard

TFD: a vertical planklike shield fastened to the gunwales of a boat to prevent water from splashing over the side

F: a broad thin plank fixed occasionally on the top of a boat's side, so as to continue the height thereof, and be removed at pleasure. It is used to prevent the sea from breaking into the vessel, particularly when the surface is rough, as in tempestuous weather.

watch

WP:

A 2-Section Dogged Watch

Name

Time

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

First watch

2000-0000

Team 1

Team 2

Team 1

Middle watch

0000-0400

Team 2

Team 1

Team 2

Morning watch

0400-0800

Team 1

Team 2

Team 1

Forenoon watch

0800-1200

Team 2

Team 1

Team 2

Afternoon watch

1200-1600

Team 1

Team 2

Team 1

First dog watch

1600-1800

Team 2

Team 1

Team 2

Last dog watch

1800-2000

Team 1

Team 2

Team 1

The watches kept on sailing ships-the square-rigged barques or windjammers of the late 19th century and in the British Royal Navy—consisted of 5 four-hour periods and 2 two-hour periods. Those members of the crew whose work must be done at all times of the day were assigned to one of two divisions: the Starboard or the Port (Larboard) division. These two groups of personnel alternated in working the following watches:

This pattern allowed the two watches, known as the 'port' and 'starboard' watches, to alternate from day to day, so that the port watch had the night watch one night and the starboard watch had it the next night.

A similar system can also be used with a crew divided into three, giving each sailor more time off-duty. Names for the three watches-instead of Port and Starboard-vary between ships; "Foremast", "Mainmast" and "Mizzen" and "Red", "White" and "Blue" are common.

See also: bells.

F: the space of time wherein one division of a ship's crew remains upon deck, to perform the necessary services, whilst the rest are relieved from duty, either when the vessel is under sail or at anchor. The length of the sea watch is not equal in the shipping of different nations. It is always kept four hours by our British seamen, if we except the dog watch between four and eight in the evening, that contains two reliefs, each of which are only two hours on deck. The intent of this is to change the period of the night watch every twenty-four hours; so that the party watching from eight till twelve in one night, shall watch from midnight till four in the morning on the succeeding one. In France the duration of the watch is extremely different, being in some places six hours, and in others feven or eight; and in Turkey and Barbary it is usually five or six hours. A ship's company is usually classed into two parties; one of which is called the starboard and the other the larboard watch. It is, however, occasionally separated into three divisions, as in a road, or in particular voyages. In a ship of war the watch is generally commanded by a lieutenant, and in merchant ships by one of the mates; so that if there are four mates in the latter, there are two in each watch; the first and third being in the larboard, and the second and fourth in the starboard watch; but in the navy the officers who command the watch usually divide themselves into three parts, in order to lighten their duty.

watch and watch

TFD: the regular alternation in being on watch and off watch of the two watches into which a ship's crew is commonly divided.

water sail

TFD: A small sail sometimes set under a studding sail or under a driver boom, and reaching nearly to the water.

F: a small sail spread occasionally under the lower studding sail, or driver-boom, in a fair wind, and smooth sea.

water spout

TFD: A tornado or lesser whirlwind occurring over water and resulting in a funnel-shaped whirling column of air and spray.

F: an extraordinary and dangerous meteor, consisting of a large mass of water, collected into a sort of column by the force of a whirlwind, and moved with rapidity along the surface of the sea. A variety of authors have written on the cause and effects of these meteors, with different degrees of accuracy and probability. As it would be superfluous to enter minutely into their various conjectures, which are frequently grounded on erroneous principles, we shall content ourselves with selecting a few of the latest remarks; and which are apparently supported by philosophical reasoning.

Dr. Franklin, in his physical and meteorological observations, supposes a water-spout and a whirlwind to proceed from the same cause, their only difference being, that the latter passes over the land, and the former over the water. This opinion is coroborated by M. de la Pryme, in the Philosophical Transactions; where he describes two spouts observed at different times in Yorkshire, whole appearances in the air were exactly like those of the spouts at sea; and their effects the same as those of real whirlwinds. Whirlwinds have generally a progressive as well as a circular motion; so had what is called the spout at Topham, described in the Transactions; and this also by its effects appears to have been a real whirlwind. Water-spouts have also a progressive motion, which is more or less rapid; being in some violent, and in others barely perceptible. Whirlwinds generally rise after calms and great heats; the same is observed of water-spouts, which are therefore most frequent in the warm latitudes. The wind blows every way from a large surrounding space to a whirlwind. Three vessels, employed in the whale fishery, happening to be becalmed, lay in fight of each other, at about a league distance, and in the form of a triangle. After some time a water-spout appeared near the middle of the triangle; when a brisk gale arose, and every vessel made sail. It then appeared to them all by the trimming of their sails, and the course of each vessel, that the spout was to leeward of every one of them; and this observation was further confirmed by the comparing of accounts, when the different observers afterwards conferred about the subject. Hence whirlwinds and water-spouts agree in this particular likewise. But if the same meteor, which appears a water-spout at sea, should, in its progressive motion, encounter and pass over land, and there produce all the phaenomena and effects of a whirlwind, it would afford a stronger conviction that a whirlwind and a water-spout are the same thing. An ingenious correspondent of Dr. Franklin gives one instance of this that fell within his own observation:

"I had often seen water-spouts at a distance, and heard many strange stories of them, but never knew any thing satisfactory of their nature or cause, until that which I saw at Antigua; which convinced me that a water-spout is a whirlwind, which becomes visible in all its dimensions by the water it carries up with it."

waterlogged

TFD: Heavy and sluggish in the water because of flooding, as in the hold

B: The state of a ship become heavy and inactive on the sea, from the great quantity of water leaked into her.

F: the state of a ship when, by receiving a great quantity of water into her hold, by leaking, &c. she has become heavy and inactive upon the sea, so as to yield without resistance to the efforts of every wave rushing over her decks. As, in this dangerous situation, the center of gravity is no longer fixed, but fluctuating from place to place, the stability of the ship is utterly lost; she is therefore almost totally deprived of the use of her sails, which would operate to overset her, or press the head under water. Hence there is no resource for the crew, except to free her by the pumps, or to abandon her by the boats as soon as possible.

waterway

TFD: A channel at the edge of a ship's deck to drain away water.

F: a long piece of timber serving to connect the sides of a ship to her decks, and form a sort of channel to carry off the water from the latter by means of scuppers. The convexity of the decks necessarily carries the water towards the sides, where this piece is fixed, which is principally designed to prevent the water from lodging in the seams, so as to rot the wood and oakum contained therein. The waterways are therefore hollowed in the middle lengthways, so as to form a kind of gutter or channel, one side of which lies almost horizontally, making part of the deck, whilst the other rises upwards, and corresponds with the side, of which it likewise makes a part. They are scored down about an inch and a half, or two inches, upon the beams, and rest upon lodging knees or carlings. They are secured by bolts driven from without through the planks, timbers, and waterways, and clinched upon rings on the inside of the latter. The scuppers, which are holes by which the water escapes from off the deck, are accordingly cut through the waterways.

way

F: the course or progress which the makes on the water under sail. Thus, when she begins her motion, she is said to be under way; and when that motion increases, she is said to have fresh way through the water. Hence also she is said to have headway or sternway.

wear

W: To bring (a sailing vessel) onto the other tack by bringing the wind around the stern (as opposed to tacking when the wind is brought around the bow); to come round on another tack by turning away from the wind.

TFD: turn away from the wind

weather

B: To weather any thing is to get to windward of it. Synonymous with windward.

F: Weather is also used as an adjective, applied by mariners to every thing lying to windward of a particular situation. Thus a ship is said to have the weather gage of another, when the is further to windward. Thus also, when a ship under sail presents either of her sides to the wind, it is then called the weather side; and all the rigging and furniture situated thereon are distinguished by the same epithet; as, the weather shrouds, the weather lifts, the weather braces, &c.

weather cloth

TFD: a long piece of canvas of tarpaulin used to preserve the hammocks from injury by the weather when stowed in the nettings.

weigh

W: To raise an anchor free of the seabed.

F: denotes in general to heave up the anchor of a ship from the ground, in order to prepare her for sailing.

well

W: A vertical, cylindrical trunk in a ship, reaching down to the lowest part of the hull, through which the bilge pumps operate.

F: an apartment formed in the middle of a ship's hold to inclose the pumps, from the bottom to the lower deck. It is used as a barrier to preserve those machines from being damaged by the friction or compression of the materials contained in the hold, and particularly to prevent the entrance of ballast, &c. by which the tubes would presently be choaked, and the pumps rendered incapable of service. By means of this inclosure, the artificers may likewise more readily descend into the hold, in order to examine the state of the pumps, and repair them, as occasion requires.

westing

W: A distance travelled westward

wharf

TFD: A landing place or pier where ships may tie up and load or unload.

wheel

D: a circular frame with an axle connecting to the rudder of a ship, for steering

wherry

TFD: any of certain kinds of half-decked commercial boats, such as barges, used in Britain

whistle

See call

white

white spirit, a solvent

windlass

W: Any of various forms of winch, in which a rope or cable is wound around a cylinder, used for lifting heavy weights

windsail

TFD: a sail rigged as an air scoop over a hatch or companionway to catch breezes and divert them below

F: a sort of wide tube or funnel of canvas, employed to convey a stream of fresh air downward into the lower apartments of a ship. This machine is usually extended by large hoops situated in different parts of its height. It is set down perpendicularly through the hatches, being expanded at the lower end like the base of a cone; and having its upper part open on the side which is placed to windward, so as to receive the full current of the wind; which, entering the cavity, fills the tube, and rushes downwards into the lower regions of the ship. There are generally three or four of these in our capital ships of war, which, together with the ventilators, contribute greatly to preserve the health of the crew.

windward

F: towards that part of the horizon from whence the wind bloweth.

wing

TFD: the side of a hold alongside a ship's hull

F: a name given to those parts of a ship's hold which are nearest to the sides, or furthest removed from the middle of her breadth. This term is particularly used in the stowage of the several materials contained in the hold; as, Stow the large casks amidships, and the smaller barrels in the wings.

work

F: to direct the movements of a ship, by adapting the sails to the force and direction of the wind. A ship is also said to work, when she strains and labours heavily in a tempestuous sea, so as to loosen her joints or timbers.

working up junk

Spinning yarns obtained from old cordage, cables, etc. (junk), to make fenders, reef points, gaskets, and other items.

worming

F: the act of winding a rope spirally about a cable, so as to lie close along the interval between every two strands. It is generally designed to support and strengthen the cable, that it may be enabled to sustain a greater effort when the ship rides at anchor, and also to preserve the surface of the cable, where it lies flat upon the ground, near the station of the anchor; particularly in moderate weather.

woulding

SB: the binding about a Mast, or the like, with Ropes.

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Y

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yard, yardarm, yava, yaw, yawl, ye, yeoman,

yard

W: A long tapered timber hung on a mast to which is bent a sail, and may be further qualified as a square, lateen, or lug yard. The first is hung at right angles to the mast, the latter two hang obliquely.

F: a long piece of timber suspended upon the masts of a ship, to extend the sails to the wind.

brace the yards

yardarm

TFD: Either end of a yard of a square sail.

yava

See kava

yaw

W: A vessel's motion rotating about the vertical axis, so the bow yaws from side to side; a characteristic of unsteadiness.

F: a name given by seamen to the movement by which a ship deviates from the line of her course towards the right or left in steering.

yawl

yawl W: 1. A small ship's boat, usually rowed by four or six oars. 2. A fore and aft rigged sailing vessel with two masts, main and mizzen, the mizzen stepped abaft the rudder post.

F: a wherry or small ship's boat, usually rowed by four or six oars.

ye

TFD: The. Misreading of ye, from Middle English þe, spelling of the, the (using the letter thorn).

Usage Note: In an attempt to seem quaint or old-fashioned, many store signs such as "Ye Olde Coffee Shoppe" use spellings that are no longer current. The word ye in such signs looks identical to the archaic second plural pronoun ye, but it is in fact not the same word. Ye in "Ye Olde Coffee Shoppe" is just an older spelling of the definite article the. The y in this ye was never pronounced (y) but was rather the result of improvisation by early printers. In Old English and early Middle English, the sound (th) was represented by the letter thorn (þ). When printing presses were first set up in England in the 1470s, the type and the typesetters all came from Continental Europe, where this letter was not in use. The letter y was used instead because in the handwriting of the day the thorn was very similar to y. Thus we see such spellings as ye for the, yt or yat for that, and so on well into the 19th century. However, the modern revival of the archaic spelling of the has not been accompanied by a revival of the knowledge of how it was pronounced, with the result that (yee) is the usual pronunciation today.

[Note: In the handwriting of documents on the Fateful Voyage website 'ye' is generally written 'ye' the same as abbreviations like 'Modt for Moderate, but as I have stated elsewhere, except in the official Bounty Logbook, I have omitted all these superscripts, both to save myself some time and because it does not add to readability.]

yeoman

W: In a vessel of war, the person in charge of the storeroom.

F: an officer under the boatswain or gunner of a ship of war, usually charged with the stowage, account, and distribution of their respective stores.

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Z

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zenith

W: 1. The point in the sky vertically above a given position or observer 2. The highest point in the sky reached by a celestial body. 3. Highest point or state; peak.