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July 18th 2025 - 13:54

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)
ISAR
The International Search And Rescue compitition held annually (and alternately) in the US and Canada where teams from the US and Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary compete in various SAR events.

ISAR was last held in 2005 and there is no plan to continue it in favour of more direct joint training between the USA and Canada.

The things sailors do (8 terms)
Luff-up
To steer the Boat more into the wind, this could have the effect of causing the sails to flap or Luff.
Why say back when you can say aft instead! (20 terms)
Course
1.The Compass Heading of the direction of Forward motion of the vessel.

2. The angle of the vessel relative to the wind when sailing.

3. The largest square Sail on a Mast (called the Course because when sailing with the wind the Heading will be impacted by how best to keep the Course Sail full)

Common sayings and expressions from maritime lore (149 terms)
Windward
The direction into/towards the wind
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"
Various knots both functional and ornamental from the nautical to the ornamental and with both historic and present day value. (12 terms)
Weaverīs 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.
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)
Back water
To stop the progress of a Dinghy by pushing on the handles of the oars (forcing water opposite to the normal direction for rowing)
The points of sail and seamanship (76 terms)
Latitude
A graduation of the surface of the earth measured north or south of the equator and expressed in degrees with the equator being 0° and the poles being 90°.
The parts of ships (131 terms)
Foredeck
the Forward part of a boatīs main deck
Important people and/or their positions in nautical history (14 terms)
Yellow Admiral
A somewhat dirogatory term from the British navy that describes a post-captain that has been promoted to admiral on retirement such that they never served at that rank.

Before 1864 the British fleet was divided into Red, White, and Blue squadrons, with the admirals taking their rank from their squadronal colour. Blue being junior to white which was in turn junior to red.

A Yellow Admiral, therefore did not fit and thus had no real rank at all.

After the Napoleonic War (1803-1815) there ...
Key locations of the maritime world (20 terms)
Jetty
1. A man made structure projecting from, or along side the shore making up part of a Port or dockside, Alongside which vessels may tie-up.

2. A Breakwater protecting a Harbor entrance

Rigging components and terms (104 terms)
Sailing-rig
The collection of all equipment used to Sail a bost, including sails, booms and gaffs, Lines and blocks.
Sails, their parts and materials (30 terms)
Peak
Upper Aft corner of a Gaff Sail.
Types of vessels and some famous examples (22 terms)
Brig
Two-masted vessel with both masts square rigged. On the aftermost Mast,  there is also a Gaff sail
The various spars used aboard ship (6 terms)
Mainmast
1. The tallest Mast of the Ship, on a Schooner, the Mast furthest Aft.


The tools of the trade (27 terms)
Backstaff
A Navigation instrument used to measure the apparent height of a landmark whose actual height is known, such as the top of a lighthouse. From this information, the shipīs distance from that landmark can be calculated.
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
 
Total Terms: 539 Total Views: 2154215

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