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) ARTE A team of members of the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary - Pacific that work to help the various units around the coast with their training and also evaluate members at higher levels - to help ensure that everyone is meeting the same standards.	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) Flower of the Winds A term for the engraving of the wind-rose on early charts and maps, extended after to include the compass-rose on later charts and maps.	Expressions Common sayings and expressions from maritime lore (149 terms) Weigh Anchor To raise an Anchor off the bottom.
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) Bowline A Knot used to form an eye or loop at the end of a Rope. It is very strong not does not easily jam.
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) Harden up To steer closer to the wind, usually by pulling in on the sheets
Navigation The points of sail and seamanship (76 terms) Sternway 1. Movement of a vessel going backwards over the ground.	Parts The parts of ships (131 terms) Flare 1. The outward curve of a vessel´s sides near the Bow. 2. A pyrotechnic distress signal
People Important people and/or their positions in nautical history (14 terms) Landlubber Stemming from ´Land Lover´ - this term is used by sailors to describe anyone lacking good seamanship or not sharing their love of the sea.	Places Key locations of the maritime world (20 terms) Starboard Right side of the Ship when facing Forward. Named as such after a contraction called a Steering Board, from ancient ships. This was a Rudder like contraption that was situated on the right side of the vessel (as the left or Port side of the vessel needed to be kept free for tieing up to the Dock)
Rigging Rigging components and terms (104 terms) Topping lift A Line or Cable attached to the end of the Boom used for lifting the Boom.	Sails Sails, their parts and materials (30 terms) Reef Points Short Lines through a Sail at the reef band to Secure the Foot of the Sail to the Boom or Yard and thus reduce it´s effective area.
Ships Types of vessels and some famous examples (22 terms) Catamaran 1. A twin hulled sailing vessel. 2. A raft used as a surf Boat in the East and West Indies consisting of two or more logs lashed togeather, including the much larger rafts made of balsa wood from the western coast of South America. 3. A raft made by lashing two vessels togeather, used on the St. Lawrence River. 4. An invention of the British Navy from the 1804 attack on the French flotilla at Boulogne. A 21´ long 3´ wide flat topped lead lined chest containing About 40 kegs of powder an...	Spars The various spars used aboard ship (6 terms) Mainmast 1. The tallest Mast of the Ship, on a Schooner, the Mast furthest Aft.
Tools The tools of the trade (27 terms) Caulking Material used to seal the seams in a wooden vessel, making it watertight	unsorted terms awaiting clasification (36 terms) none found
Weather Meteorology and its relationship to sailing (7 terms) Squall A sudden violent blast of wind.

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