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 The device that enables remote detection of "electromagneticly conspicous" objects through its ability to transmit radio signals and detect their return after being reflected from an object.
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The things sailors do
contains 8 terms Playing by climbing around in the Rigging. Especially when done as high as possible.
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Why say back when you can say aft instead!
contains 20 terms 1. Away from the direction from which the wind is blowing.
2. Sheltered from the wind. |
Common sayings and expressions from maritime lore
contains 149 terms The hauling part of a tackle. The Rope to which power is applied.
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The foods of the sea
contains 2 terms A favorite dish for the crew of tall ships. It could consist of almost anything, but the propper dish consisted of layers of meat, vegetables, and fish alternating with crusts of bread and/or broken biscuit - affectionately referred to as a Two or Three decker based on the number of layers.
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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 1. A speed of one Nautical mile per hour. (6076 feet) per hour.
2. A method of making a Line Fast to an object, another Line, itself, or for ornament. |
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Bits and bobs from life aboard ship
contains 5 terms All yellow signal flag meaning "My vessel is healthy and I request free passage.
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Specific sailing maneuvers
contains 33 terms A vessel is said to be Nipped or beset when caught between ice-flows in Antarctic or Arctic waters.
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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 mate (assistant) to the Bosun
2) One of the world's foremost nautical web sites http://www.bosunsmate.org (you had to know we would do this) |
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Rigging components and terms
contains 104 terms & 10 images |
Sails, their parts and materials
contains 30 terms |
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Types of vessels and some famous examples
contains 22 terms & 8 images 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.
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The various spars used aboard ship
contains 6 terms |
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The tools of the trade
contains 27 terms A small bag, typically made from scraps of canvas, for carrying or stowing personal articles or tools.
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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 sudden violent blast of wind.
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The Nautical Terms Glossary contains 539 terms and 14 images, viewed 725675 times
