The Bosun´s Mate Glossary of Terms

1) Save Our Souls
2) Save Our Ship

To feed out Line, hand over hand - usually over the side of the vessel.

Toward the Bow of the Boat.

Said of an object that is secured to another.

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"

So named because it was the fastest way to join a broken yarn in a loom. Sailors use this Knot to tie two ropes of unequal thickness together, in whihc case it is know as the Sheet Bend.

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"

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.

A vessel is said to go, come, or put About when she alters Course from one Tack to the other

The Martingale that prevents the Boom from rising when it swings outwards helping to keep the Sail flat to the wind and thereby providing more driving power.

This term is typically used in small racing dinghys whereas a Line or tackle with the same function on modern boats is usually referred to as the boom-vang

1. Short lengths of Rope marled or braded and used when weighing the Anchor to bind the Cable to the Messenger or Viol. The (usually hemp) Cable was too thick to be brought around the capstain directly, and as such would be bound by the Nippers to the messanger which in turn was taken around the capstain.

2. The Boys or men responsible for working the Nippers were also referred to as Nippers themselves

3. Slings used when hoisting yards that were wet and slippery.

4. A lashed hammock wi...

With the straightforward meaning of being in a troublesome spot, the interesting thing is the origin of this expression.

The deep blue sea part is obvious - but in this case the "devil" is not the scary guy with horns but the Hull plank closest to the waterline where barnacles and marine growth gather the heaviest.

The crew on long voyages would always spend time maintaining the Ship and scraping the growth off this area was one of the nastiest of jobs.

Both due to the fact t...

Short Lines through a Sail at the reef band to Secure the Foot of the Sail to the Boom or Yard and thus reduce it´s effective area.

The small light sails set above the skysails on square-rigged masts in light winds.

1. A two masted sailing vessel with the after Mast shorter then the Fore and stepped Abaft the Rudder post.

2. A smaller powered Boat used to provide steerage-way when not under Sail.

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.

1. Rope used for various purposes Aboard Ship.

2. The design drawings of a vessel, normally consisting of three diagrams: the sheer plan: showing the longitudnal vertical section of the Ship; the body plan: showing the vertical cross sections; and the half-bredth plan: showing the longitudnal transverse section at the deckline.

3. A collective term referring to the design of the Ship "she has good lines"

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...