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) CCGA Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary	Actions The things sailors do (8 terms) Avast! The command to stop, or cease, in any operation.
Directions Why say back when you can say aft instead! (20 terms) Windward The direction into/towards the wind	Expressions Common sayings and expressions from maritime lore (149 terms) Iron-Jib A toung in cheek term for an auxiliary engine on a sailing vessel.
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) Mathew Walker´s Knot If not the only, then one of the few knots named after a person. This is a perminant stopper (or button) Knot that can be tiew with three or more strands. It is oftin tied in the end of a three-lay Rope and can be used as an ornamental finishing for Rope handles or even bell Rope knots. There is a legend that goes with this Knot: supposidly... Mathew Walker was a sailor, convicted of some crime, and at his trial the judge offered him clemency if he could demonstrait a Knot that the judge c...
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) Back To Sheet the Clew of a Sail to Windward. The wind is said to Back when it changes its direction contrary to the movement of the sun.
Navigation The points of sail and seamanship (76 terms) Under-way A Vessel in motion, when not moored, at Anchor, or Aground. A vessel Adrift is not consdered Under-way.	Parts The parts of ships (131 terms) Yard A Spar usually fixed horizontally to a Mast that supports a Sail.
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) 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) Topmast A second Spar carried at the top of a Mast, used to fly more Sail.	Sails Sails, their parts and materials (30 terms) loofe (an older spelling for the word Luff) 1. (n) The leading edge of a Sail. 2. (v) The act of a Sail flapping in the wind. 3. (v) To bring the ship´s Head closer to the wind.
Ships Types of vessels and some famous examples (22 terms) Bark 3 Masted vessel: Square rigged on Fore and main Mast.	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) Messenger 1. A loop of Rope used to assist in weighing the Anchor. Led through two single blocks near the hawseholes and along the Deck running Alongside the Anchor Cable where it is held Fast with Nippers; Then looped around the Capstan and Back up to the Deck and along the Foredeck again. This was done because the hemp Anchor cables were too large to be brought around the capstain themselves. 2. A small Line used to pull a heavier Line or Cable.	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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