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) SART A device that emits a responce in the band used by RADAR Transcievers when it detects a signal from the same. It creates a distinctive pattern on the receiving RADAR display which can be used to locate the object.	Actions The things sailors do (8 terms) Luff-up To steer the Boat more into the wind, this could have the effect of causing the sails to flap or Luff.
Directions Why say back when you can say aft instead! (20 terms) Ahead In front of, in the direction of the bow	Expressions Common sayings and expressions from maritime lore (149 terms) Navigation The skill of getting a vessel from one place to another.
Food The foods of the sea (2 terms) Sea-pie 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.	Knots Various knots both functional and ornamental from the nautical to the ornamental and with both historic and present day value. (12 terms) Cat´s Paw 1) A tiwsting Knot made in a Bight of a Line to Secure to a hook or pin. Ideal for use with a sling where neither free end of the Rope is available. 2) A name given to a slight ripple on the water caused by a breeze during a calm.
Life aboard Bits and bobs from life aboard ship (5 terms) Q flag All yellow signal flag meaning "My vessel is healthy and I request free passage.	Maneuvers Specific sailing maneuvers (33 terms) Yawing The motion of a Ship when she sways from to the right or left.
Navigation The points of sail and seamanship (76 terms) Jibe 1. To go from one Tack to the other when running with the wind coming over the Stern. 2. The moment when the Boom swings across the Hull while changing tacks in this manner. If handeled correctly a Fore and Aft rigged vessel should be able to Jibe safely regardless of wind strength. This is accomplished through easing Preventer tackle (if any) and by hauling in the main sheets so that there is less travel for the main Boom during the Jibe. An unintentional Jibe - which can be the result...	Parts The parts of ships (131 terms) Iron-Jib A toung in cheek term for an auxiliary engine on a sailing vessel.
People Important people and/or their positions in nautical history (14 terms) Landlubber Stemming from ´Land Lover´ - this term is used by sailors to describe anyone lacking good seamanship or not sharing their love of the sea.	Places Key locations of the maritime world (20 terms) Outboard 1. Outside the confines of the Hull. 2. Away from the side of the Hull when referring to an object that is on the Inboard side of the Hull. 3. A detachable engine mounted on a boat´s Stern.
Rigging Rigging components and terms (104 terms) Backstay A wire or tar coated Rope support leading Aft from a Mast to prevent it from bending (falling) Forward.	Sails Sails, their parts and materials (30 terms) Balloon Jib A large, light-weather headsail set in place of the working Jib; generally used for reaching, but rarely seen today.
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) Jibboom A Spar Forward of Bowsprit that supports the Forward most staysails.
Tools The tools of the trade (27 terms) Bible A large Holystone	unsorted terms awaiting clasification (36 terms) none found
Weather Meteorology and its relationship to sailing (7 terms) El Niño A warm inshore Current annually flowing south along the coast of Ecuador. About every seven to ten years it extends down the coast of Peru, where it has a devastating effect in that region and is oftin the cause of unusual weather patterns around the entire eastern Pacific Rim.

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