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)
SOG
Used as the primary reference in most GPS receivers and Chart Plotters to indicate velocity. Since GPS estimates speed as a change in position over time the Speed over Ground is the only speed that can be calculated. IE: moving through a Current the SOG is based on speed over the bottom not the relative speed of the vessel through the water.
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The things sailors do
(8 terms)
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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)
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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.
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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)
Heart of Oak
A british naval song wirtten by David Garrick that starts:
īCome cheer up, my lads, ītis to glory we steer, To add something more to this wonderful yearī Set to music by Willian Boyce in 1759 and commerating that same year "the year of vistories" or "the wonderful year" as the song proclaims. This is based on the victories at Lagos, Quiberon Bay, and the capture of Quebec - which all occured in that year during the seven years war 1756-63. It was later a traditional... |
Specific sailing maneuvers
(33 terms)
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The points of sail and seamanship
(76 terms)
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The parts of ships
(131 terms)
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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)
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Rigging components and terms
(104 terms)
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Sails, their parts and materials
(30 terms)
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Types of vessels and some famous examples
(22 terms)
Sandbagger
A type of broad shallow open or partly decked center-board sailing vessel which originated around the 1850. They carried tremendous Sail area for their size.
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The various spars used aboard ship
(6 terms)
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The tools of the trade
(27 terms)
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terms awaiting clasification
(36 terms)
none found |
Meteorology and its relationship to sailing
(7 terms)
Force 8
Gale force wind on the Beaufort Wind Scale
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Total Terms: 539 Total Views: 2130152