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) RADAR 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.	Actions The things sailors do (8 terms) Wake A disturbed column of water around and behind a pleasure craft as it makes its way through the water. It includes both the charastic "V" shaped wave pattern and the turbulent wated thrown Back by the propellers. A detailed look: http://www.madsci.org/posts/archives/jul2001/994688283.Ph.r.html
Directions Why say back when you can say aft instead! (20 terms) Bearing The direction of an object expressed as an agnle in degrees or Compass points from the vessel´s meridian, or , sometimes, from the direction of the Bow, Stern, or Beam. An answer to the question "Where Away"	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) 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 Up To steer closer to the wind, shore or an object.
Navigation The points of sail and seamanship (76 terms) Heave-to To lay a sailing vessel into the wind with her Helm a-lee and her sails shortened and trimmed so that she will naturally come up into the wind and then Fall off again, thus making virtually no Headway. A mechanically powered vessel will Heave-to by bringing her bows up into the sea and using just sufficient propulsion to Hold position. The practise of heaving-to is to ensure the wind remains on the weather Bow in heavy seas and Hold the Ship in that position - where any vessel will ride mo...	Parts The parts of ships (131 terms) Galley The kitchen of a Ship.
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) Inboard 1. Within the confines of a vessels Hull - above or Below decks 2. Towards the sides of the Hull when referring to an object on the Outboard side. 3. A motor fitted inside the Boat.
Rigging Rigging components and terms (104 terms) Sailing-rig The collection of all equipment used to Sail a bost, including sails, booms and gaffs, Lines and blocks.	Sails Sails, their parts and materials (30 terms) Reef Points 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.
Ships Types of vessels and some famous examples (22 terms) Monohull A Boat with a single Hull as opposed to a multi-hull vessel.	Spars The various spars used aboard ship (6 terms) Bowsprit A Spar running Forward from the Bow of a vessel. It functions as a horizontal Mast for the spritsail, fore-topmast staysail and, in conjunction with the Jibboom, the Jib.
Tools The tools of the trade (27 terms) Barograph An instrument used to keep a printed record of atmospheric pressure, such as on a paper drum.	unsorted terms awaiting clasification (36 terms) none found
Weather Meteorology and its relationship to sailing (7 terms) Hurricane A strong tropical revolving storm of force 12(65 mph) or higher in the northern hemisphere. Hurricanes revolve in a clockwise direction.

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