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 Abbreviations and Acronyms (41 terms) RHIOT A CCG Course that teaches advanced Boat handling techniques for FRC taught using the Zodiac 733 rigid Hull inflatable	Actions The things sailors do (8 terms) Hike To lean out over the side of a smaller sailing vessel to balance it against the force of the wind. In some vessels an apparatus is rigged to assist in leaning our further called a trapeze.
Directions Why say back when you can say aft instead! (20 terms) Leeward The direction away from the wind.	Expressions Common sayings and expressions from maritime lore (149 terms) Ship 1. A specific sailing rig consisting of a vessel with three masts with square sails on all three masts. 2. Possive: "The Ship" to refer to a vessel by here crew - this will sometimes apply to not only the vessel by includes her crew, Gear, and stores as well. 3. May refer to any Boat.
Food The foods of the sea (2 terms) Scurvy 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"	Knots Various knots both functional and ornamental from the nautical to the ornamental and with both historic and present day value. (12 terms) Hitch A Knot used to Secure one Rope to another object or to another Rope, or to form a loop or a noose in a Rope. Hitches Fall into the general category of knots known as bends
Life aboard Bits and bobs from life aboard ship (5 terms) Scurvy 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"	Maneuvers Specific sailing maneuvers (33 terms) Bear away To put up the Helm to Windward so that the vessel turns further away from the wind.
Navigation The points of sail and seamanship (76 terms) Wash A specific component of the Wake consisting of loose and broken water. It includes water thrown Aft by the Propeller and the waves that roll off the side of the Boat.	Parts The parts of ships (131 terms) Stay 1) A Line or wire from the Mast to the Bow or Stern of a Ship, for support of the Mast (Fore, Back, running, and triadic stays). 2) To make something Fast - "Stay that ..."
People Important people and/or their positions in nautical history (14 terms) Bosun Also Boatswain, bos´n, bo´s´n, and bo´sun, all of which are pronounced Bosun. A crew member responsible for keeping the Hull, Rigging and sails in good repair.	Places Key locations of the maritime world (20 terms) Stern The Back or aftermost end of a vessel.
Rigging Rigging components and terms (104 terms) Bee-block A wooden Chock on the side of a Boom near its after end, used to take the standing part of a reef pendant.	Sails Sails, their parts and materials (30 terms) Headboard A small wooden batten inserted at the Head of a bermuda Mainsail.
Ships Types of vessels and some famous examples (22 terms) Sandbagger A type of broad shallow open or partly decked center-board sailing vessel which originated around the 1850. They carried tremendous Sail area for their size.	Spars The various spars used aboard ship (6 terms) Jigger-mast After mast  the 4th Mast on a five or 6 masted Schooner or sailing Ship carrying a spanker, or the mizzen Mast of a Yawl or a Ketch.
Tools The tools of the trade (27 terms) Boat hook A short shaft with a fitting at one end shaped to facilitate putting a Line over a piling, recovering an object dropped Overboard, or in pushing or fending off.	unsorted terms awaiting clasification (36 terms) none found
Weather Meteorology and its relationship to sailing (7 terms) Beaufort Scale 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 Ga...

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