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) COLREGS Short for "Collision Regulations"	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) Starboard Right side of the Ship when facing Forward. Named as such after a contraction called a Steering Board, from ancient ships. This was a Rudder like contraption that was situated on the right side of the vessel (as the left or Port side of the vessel needed to be kept free for tieing up to the Dock)	Expressions Common sayings and expressions from maritime lore (149 terms) Aback A Sail is ´Aback´ when sheeted to Windward, or when the wind comes on what should be its Lee side
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) 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) Q flag All yellow signal flag meaning "My vessel is healthy and I request free passage.	Maneuvers Specific sailing maneuvers (33 terms) Bear away To put up the Helm to Windward so that the vessel turns further away from the wind.
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) Courtesy ensign The national flag of a country (usually smaller then the ships colours) displayed when crusing in the waters of that foreign country.
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) Quay A wharf used to discharge cargo
Rigging Rigging components and terms (104 terms) Raffees The small light sails set above the skysails on square-rigged masts in light winds.	Sails Sails, their parts and materials (30 terms) Headboard A small wooden batten inserted at the Head of a bermuda Mainsail.
Ships Types of vessels and some famous examples (22 terms) Ship 1. A specific sailing rig consisting of a vessel with three masts with square sails on all three masts. 2. Possive: "The Ship" to refer to a vessel by here crew - this will sometimes apply to not only the vessel by includes her crew, Gear, and stores as well. 3. May refer to any Boat.	Spars The various spars used aboard ship (6 terms) Mainmast 1. The tallest Mast of the Ship, on a Schooner, the Mast furthest Aft.
Tools The tools of the trade (27 terms) Hackle In Rope-making: A process in which fibers are drawn through hackle-boards in order to get them all lying straight prior to spinning into strands suring rope-making.	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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