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) RHIOT A CCG Course that teaches advanced Boat handling techniques for FRC taught using the Zodiac 733 rigid Hull inflatable	Actions The things sailors do (8 terms) Over-haul 1. To slack a tackle and thereby increase the distance apart of the blocks in that tackle by manually running the Rope backwards through the sheaves. 2. The action of passing another vessel. 3. Sometimes used to refer to a refit of a vessel - inspecting and repaiting propulsion and mechanical systems on Board.
Directions Why say back when you can say aft instead! (20 terms) Abrest Along side or at right angles to the fore-and-aft Line.	Expressions Common sayings and expressions from maritime lore (149 terms) Keel stepped A Mast that is stepped (placed) on the Keel at the bottom of the Boat rather than on the Deck. Keel stepped masts are considered sturdier than Deck stepped masts. The majority of masts on large wooden vessels are steeepd in this manner.
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) Weaver´s Knot So named because it was the fastest way to join a broken yarn in a loom. Sailors use this Knot to tie two ropes of unequal thickness together, in whihc case it is know as the Sheet Bend.
Life aboard Bits and bobs from life aboard ship (5 terms) Scrimshaw A sailor´s carving or etching wood, on bones, teeth, tusks or shells. Frequently used as a way to pass the time on long voyages then to be traded or sold on shore.	Maneuvers Specific sailing maneuvers (33 terms) Tack 1) (n) The lower Forward corner of the sail 2) (n) For sailing vessels: the Current side of the vessel that the wind is crossing first (Port or Starboard) v) The act of turning a sailing vessel´s Bow across the direction (eye) of the wind and changing from one ´tack´ (n) to the other.
Navigation The points of sail and seamanship (76 terms) Zulu-time The Americam military name for UTC indicating the time at the prime meridian. The standard time used in all shipboard Log entries and radio communication.	Parts The parts of ships (131 terms) Kedge 1. To use an Anchor to move a Boat by hauling on the Anchor rode 2. A basic type of Anchor.
People Important people and/or their positions in nautical history (14 terms) Boatswain Also Bosun, bos´n, bo´s´n, and bo´sun, all of which are pronounced Bosun. A crew member responsible for keeping the Hull, Rigging and sails in good repair.	Places Key locations of the maritime world (20 terms) V-berth Usually the Forward Berth of a smaller Boat, located in the Bow - so named because it has the same "V" shape as the Bow itself.
Rigging Rigging components and terms (104 terms) Spreaders Small spars between the Mast and shrouds used to "spread" the shrouds apart and provide better stability for the Mast.	Sails Sails, their parts and materials (30 terms) Fully battened A Sail having battens that run the full horizontal length of the Sail.
Ships Types of vessels and some famous examples (22 terms) Barquentine 3 Masted vessel: Square rigged on Fore Mast only.	Spars The various spars used aboard ship (6 terms) Jibboom A Spar Forward of Bowsprit that supports the Forward most staysails.
Tools The tools of the trade (27 terms) Boat hook A short shaft with a fitting at one end shaped to facilitate putting a Line over a piling, recovering an object dropped Overboard, or in pushing or fending off.	unsorted terms awaiting clasification (36 terms) none found
Weather Meteorology and its relationship to sailing (7 terms) Beaufort Scale A system for clasifying wind strengths and sea conditions: 1 Light Air Or just sufficient to give steerage way.   2 Light Breeze Or that in which a man-of-war with all Sail set, and clean full would go in smooth water from. 1 to 2 knots 3 Gentle Breeze 3 to 4 knots 4 Moderate Breeze 5 to 6 knots 5 Fresh Breeze Or that to which a well-conditioned man-of-war could just carry in chase, full and by. Royals. 6 Strong Breeze Single-reefed topsails and top-gal. Sail 7 Moderate Ga...

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