The Bosun's Mate Glossary of Terms
The Bosun's Mate dictionary of Nautical Terms has been compiled from many sources and is constantly being augmented and revised in our attempt to capture as much of the rich yet complicated (and often conflicting) maritime termonology as possible.
You will find an extensive list of information about all sorts of nautical items from sailor's knots to the sailors themselves, and from ships to the weather patterns of the seas they ply.
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Abbreviations and Acronyms
contains 41 terms Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary
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The things sailors do
contains 8 terms |
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Why say back when you can say aft instead!
contains 20 terms The direction away from the wind.
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Common sayings and expressions from maritime lore
contains 149 terms |
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The foods of the sea
contains 2 terms A disease historically common to seaman, caused by lack of Vitamin C the British Navy started to fight it bu adding lime juice to their water - this was the origin of the slan "Limey"
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Various knots both functional and ornamental from the nautical to the ornamental and with both historic and present day value.
contains 12 terms & 2 images |
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Bits and bobs from life aboard ship
contains 5 terms A sailor's carving or etching wood, on bones, teeth, tusks or shells. Frequently used as a way to pass the time on long voyages then to be traded or sold on shore.
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Specific sailing maneuvers
contains 33 terms |
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The points of sail and seamanship
contains 76 terms |
The parts of ships
contains 131 terms |
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Important people and/or their positions in nautical history
contains 14 terms |
Key locations of the maritime world
contains 20 terms 1) The distance a vessel keeps from shore
2) The part of sea viewable in the distance from shore (beyone any Anchorage) any where vessels would navigate. |
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Rigging components and terms
contains 104 terms & 10 images |
Sails, their parts and materials
contains 30 terms A piece of cloth that catches the wind and so powers a vessel.
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Types of vessels and some famous examples
contains 22 terms & 8 images |
The various spars used aboard ship
contains 6 terms |
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The tools of the trade
contains 27 terms 1. A loop of Rope used to assist in weighing the Anchor. Led through two single blocks near the hawseholes and along the Deck running Alongside the Anchor Cable where it is held Fast with Nippers; Then looped around the Capstan and Back up to the Deck and along the Foredeck again. This was done because the hemp Anchor cables were too large to be brought around the capstain themselves.
2. A small Line used to pull a heavier Line or Cable. |
terms awaiting clasification
there are currently no viewable terms in this category
contains 36 terms |
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Meteorology and its relationship to sailing
contains 7 terms A system for clasifying wind strengths and sea conditions:
1 Light Air Or just sufficient to give steerage way. 2 Light Breeze Or that in which a man-of-war with all Sail set, and clean full would go in smooth water from. 1 to 2 knots 3 Gentle Breeze 3 to 4 knots 4 Moderate Breeze 5 to 6 knots 5 Fresh Breeze Or that to which a well-conditioned man-of-war could just carry in chase, full and by. Royals. 6 Strong Breeze Single-reefed topsails and top-gal. Sail 7 Moderate Gale Double ... |
The Nautical Terms Glossary contains 539 terms and 14 images, viewed 727680 times
