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.

Find Terms

Browse Alphabetically:

* # A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Random terms, by category

Abbreviations Abbreviations and Acronyms (41 terms) DSC Digital Selective Calling	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) Aweather To Windward; towards the Windward or weather side of the vessel	Expressions Common sayings and expressions from maritime lore (149 terms) Fetch 1. The distance that wind and seas (waves) can travel toward land without being blocked. A ´good´ or ´far´ Fetch describes areas without obstructions, where the wind and seas can build to great strength, but in areas such as shelte
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) Sheepshank A shortening Knot, which enables a Rope to be shortened through a doubling along the length. The Sheepshank will easily untie if tension is not maintained.
Life aboard Bits and bobs from life aboard ship (5 terms) Skylarking Playing by climbing around in the Rigging. Especially when done as high as possible.	Maneuvers Specific sailing maneuvers (33 terms) Beat To Tack, that is, to make progress to Windward by a zigzag Course, with the wind first on one side of the vessel and then the other.
Navigation The points of sail and seamanship (76 terms) Fathom Measurement of six feet.	Parts The parts of ships (131 terms) Canoe stern A vessel with a pointed Stern, such as that of a canoe.
People Important people and/or their positions in nautical history (14 terms) Jack A name for the common British naval seaman - Jolly Jack Tar in full. the term is derived from tarpaulin (tared canvas) that was frequently worn by topman as protection against the weather. Initially this name was only applied to able seamen but it was relaxed over time to include all naval seamen.	Places Key locations of the maritime world (20 terms) Lazarette A storage compartment Below decks in the Stern of a vessel.
Rigging Rigging components and terms (104 terms) Topping lift A Line or Cable attached to the end of the Boom used for lifting the Boom.	Sails Sails, their parts and materials (30 terms) Belly The fullness or draught of a Sail.
Ships Types of vessels and some famous examples (22 terms) Brig Two-masted vessel with both masts square rigged. On the aftermost Mast,  there is also a Gaff sail	Spars The various spars used aboard ship (6 terms) Topmast A second Spar carried at the top of a Mast, used to fly more Sail.
Tools The tools of the trade (27 terms) Gyn A temporary derrick consisting of three spars with their heels spalyed out in a tripod configuration. Designed to lift heavier loads then a sheer-legs but limited in that it can only lift straight up and then not allowing for as much transverse movement.	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.

Total Terms: 539 Total Views: 1854347