The Bosunīs Mate Glossary of Terms
The Bosunīs 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 sailorīs knots to the sailors themselves, and from ships to the weather patterns of the seas they ply.
Random terms, by category
Abbreviations and Acronyms
(41 terms)
LWL
The length of a vessel at itīs waterline
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The things sailors do
(8 terms)
Skylarking
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!
(20 terms)
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Common sayings and expressions from maritime lore
(149 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.
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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"
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Various knots both functional and ornamental from the nautical to the ornamental and with both historic and present day value.
(12 terms)
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Bits and bobs from life aboard ship
(5 terms)
Skylarking
Playing by climbing around in the Rigging. Especially when done as high as possible.
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Specific sailing maneuvers
(33 terms)
Collision Regulations
A detailed series of rules and laws that describe:
1) steering and sailing rules for vessels 2) lights and shapes rules for different type of vessels 3) sound and light signals |
The points of sail and seamanship
(76 terms)
Give-way-vessel
A term, from the Navigational Rules, used to describe the vessel which must yield in meeting, crossing, or overtaking situations.
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The parts of ships
(131 terms)
Hard chine
The intersection of the bottom and/or sides of a flat or v-bottomed Boat.
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Important people and/or their positions in nautical history
(14 terms)
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Key locations of the maritime world
(20 terms)
Caught between the devil and the deep blue sea
With the straightforward meaning of being in a troublesome spot, the interesting thing is the origin of this expression.
The deep blue sea part is obvious - but in this case the "devil" is not the scary guy with horns but the Hull plank closest to the waterline where barnacles and marine growth gather the heaviest. The crew on long voyages would always spend time maintaining the Ship and scraping the growth off this area was one of the nastiest of jobs. Both due to the fact t... |
Rigging components and terms
(104 terms)
Jigger
1. Aft Sail set on the jigger-mast
2. After mast (4th Mast) on Schooner or sailing Ship carrying a spanker, or the mizzen Mast of a Yawl or a Ketch. 3. A light tackle of one single and one double Block rendering four times Purchase when rove to advantage. It was initially designed to Hold the Cable as it was being hove on Board and as a temporaty stopper when weighing Anchor by hand. A Jigger tackle is also used on fore-and-aft rigged vessels as a standing part of the throat and... |
Sails, their parts and materials
(30 terms)
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Types of vessels and some famous examples
(22 terms)
Sloop
A single-masted fore-and-aft-rigged sailing vessel with a single headsail set from the forestay.
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The various spars used aboard ship
(6 terms)
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The tools of the trade
(27 terms)
Planing-hull
A type of Hull shaped to glide easily across the top of the water at high speed.
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terms awaiting clasification
(36 terms)
none found |
Meteorology and its relationship to sailing
(7 terms)
Quartering Sea
When the wind, and thus the waves, are falling on a boatīs quarter.
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