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 and Acronyms
contains 41 terms 1) Save Our Souls
2) Save Our Ship |
The things sailors do
contains 8 terms |
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Why say back when you can say aft instead!
contains 20 terms Towards the Stern; behind
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Common sayings and expressions from maritime lore
contains 149 terms A shoal at the mouth of a river or harbour.
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The foods of the sea
contains 2 terms 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.
contains 12 terms & 2 images |
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Bits and bobs from life aboard ship
contains 5 terms All yellow signal flag meaning "My vessel is healthy and I request free passage.
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Specific sailing maneuvers
contains 33 terms Closehauled to the wind (sailing on a Heading close to the Eye of the wind)
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The points of sail and seamanship
contains 76 terms 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 parts of ships
contains 131 terms |
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Important people and/or their positions in nautical history
contains 14 terms The crew member currently responsible for steering the vessel.
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Key locations of the maritime world
contains 20 terms |
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Rigging components and terms
contains 104 terms & 10 images |
Sails, their parts and materials
contains 30 terms |
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Types of vessels and some famous examples
contains 22 terms & 8 images |
The various spars used aboard ship
contains 6 terms |
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The tools of the trade
contains 27 terms A small bag, typically made from scraps of canvas, for carrying or stowing personal articles or tools.
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terms awaiting clasification
there are currently no viewable terms in this category
contains 36 terms |
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Meteorology and its relationship to sailing
contains 7 terms 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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The Nautical Terms Glossary contains 539 terms and 14 images, viewed 774096 times
