Nautical Terms

Schooner Deliverance sailing “wing on wing.”

A

Abeam – At right angles to, or beside, the boat 
Aboard – On or in the boat 
Adrift - Afloat and unattached in any way to the shore or seabed. It may also imply that a vessel is not anchored and not under control, therefore goes where the wind and current take her, (loose from moorings, or out of place). Also refers to any gear not fastened down or put away properly. It can also be used to mean “absent without leave”.
Aft – towards the stern of the boat; to move aft is to move back 
Aground – When the hull or keel is against the ground 
Anchor – An object designed to grip the ground, under a body of water, to hold the boat in a selected area 
Anchorage - a place for anchoring 
Anchor light- White light displayed by a ship at anchor. Two such lights are displayed by a ship over 150 feet (46 m) in length.
Apparent wind - The perceived wind direction experienced on a moving boat. 
Astern – in the direction of, or behind, the stern
As the crow flies - A direct line between two points (which might cross land) which is the way crows travel rather than ships which must go around land.

B

Backstay - A wire support for the mast, usually running from the stern to the head of the mast. 
Backwinded - when the wind hits the leeward side of the sails 
Bail - to remove water from the boat 
Ballast - weight in the lower portion of a boat, used to add stability (In a multihull – useless crew on other boats.) 
Bareboat - sailing a yacht on your own. Then you either love sailing or not!
Barber Hauler - A line attached to the jib or jib sheet, used to adjust the angle of sheeting by pulling the sheet toward the centerline of the boat. 
Batten - A thin wooden or plastic strip inserted into a pocket on the back part (leech) of a sail, to assist in keeping its form 
Beam - the greatest width of the boat, usually in the middle. 
Beam reach - a point of sail where the boat is sailing at a right angle to the apparent wind. 
Bearing - a compass direction from one point to another 
Beating (Close Hauled, On the Wind) - Sailing toward the wind source, or against the wind, with the sails pulled in all the way, tacking as you go, to reach a destination upwind. 
Berth - sleeping bunk aboard the boat 
Bight - a loop in a rope -or- a bend in the shoreline 
Bilge - the lowest part of a boat, designed to collect water that enters the boat 
Binnacle - compass stand 
Bitter End - the final inboard end of chain or line 
Blanketing - a tactical maneuver whereby a boat uses its sails to blanket the competitor’s wind, slowing him down. 
Block - a pulley 
Bluewater Sailing - open ocean sailing, as opposed to being in a lake or sound 
Boat Hook - a device designed to catch a line when coming alongside a pier or mooring. 
Bobstay -  Wire stay underneath the bowsprit; helps to counteract the upward pull exerted by the forestay. 
Boom - the horizontal spar to which the foot of a sail is attached. 
Boom Gallows -  Piece of nice teak that is made into a board about the width of the cockpit of a sailboat that supports a boom when the sail is lowered.
Boom Vang - A system used to hold the boom down, particularly when boat is sailing downwind, so that the mainsail area facing the wind is kept to a maximum. Frequently extends from the boom to a location near the base of the mast. Usually tackle- or lever-operated. 
Boom - the horizontal spar on the bottom of the mainsail behind the mast. 
Boot Stripe - a different color strip of paint at the waterline 
Boot top - A stripe near the waterline. 
Bow - forward end of a boat 
Bowsprit - A short spar extending forward from the bow. Normally used to anchor the forestay. 
Breast line – a docking line going at approximately a right angle from the boat to the dock 
Bridge deck - The transverse partition between the cockpit and the cabin. 
Bridle - A short length of wire with a line attached at the midpoint. A bridle is used to distribute the load of the attached line. Often used as boom travelers and for spinnaker down hauls. 
Bright Work - varnished woodwork or polished metal 
Broach - a turning or swinging of the boat that puts the beam against the waves, creating a danger of swamping or capsize 
Broad Reach - a point of sail where the boat is sailing away from the wind, but not directly downwind 
Bulkhead - An interior partition commonly used to stiffen the hull that separates one part of the vessel from another. May be watertight. 
Bulwark - A vertical extension above the deck designed to keep water out and to assist in keeping people in. 
Bulwarks - ail around the deck 
Bunk - Sleeping accommodation
Buoy - An anchored float marking a position or for use as a mooring 
By the Lee -  Sailing downwind with the wind blowing over the leeward side of the boat, increasing the possibility of an unexpected jibe.

c

Cabin - Bedroom on a yacht
Cape Horn fever - The name of the fake illness a malingerer is pretending to suffer from.
Capsize - When a ship or boat lists too far and rolls over, exposing the keel. On large vessels, this often results in the sinking of the ship
Catamaran - A boat with two hulls
Chart -  The map on which you check your position and plan your next voyage
Cleat - A stationary device used to secure a rope aboard a vessel.
Crow’s Nest - A shelter or platform fixed at the masthead of a vessel as a place for a lookout to stand.
Cut of his jib - The “cut” of a sail refers to its shape. Since this would vary between ships, it could be used both to identify a familiar vessel at a distance, and to judge the possible sailing qualities of an unknown one.
Cutter - A single-masted boat, with two or more head sails.

D

Decks - the structures forming the approximately horizontal surfaces in the ship’s general structure. Unlike flats, they are a structural part of the ship.
Deck hand - A person whose job involves aiding the deck supervisor in (un)mooring, anchoring, maintenance, and general evolutions on deck.
Dinghy -  Designed for quick trips between ship and shore. The small inflatable boat attached to the yacht
Dog watch - A short watch period, generally half the usual time (e.g. a two hour watch between two four hour ones). Such a watch might be included in order to slowly rotate the system over several days for fairness, or to allow both watches to eat their meals at approximately normal times.
Draft - The minimum depth of water needed to float your boat.

E

Earings - Ropes used to fasten the corners of the heads of sails to the yards, by the cringles. The upper corners of sails are frequently termed earings.

Ears of a bolt - The lugs or upper projections of a bolt with a score in it, into which another part is fitted and held by a through pin so as to form a joint like that of a gooseneck.

Ease (away) - To let out a line while under full control; gradually releasing a line for a sheet or docking line.

Eating a vessel out of the wind - When two vessels are sailing in company, and if one soaks or settles out to windward of the other she is said to eat her out of the wind. In reality, to make less leeway.

Eating to windward - A vessel is said to eat to windward when she, apparently, soaks out to windward of her wake.

Ebb - A tidal current that flows towards the sea, usually from a river or narrow inlet.

Eddy - Water or currents of air apparently moving in circles. This can indicate underwater obstacles.

Edge away - To gradually keep a vessel more off a wind after sailing close hauled.

End for end - To shift a spar, rope, etc., by reversing the direction of the ends.

End on - Said of vessel when she has an object bearing in a line with the keel, directly ahead of the bow. On approaching a mark or buoy it is said to be end on if it is directly ahead of the vessel, the bowsprit will then point to the object, hence it is sometimes said that an object is "right on for the bowsprit end."

Ensign - The national flag; the flag of an organization, such as the Coast Guard Auxiliary.

Equipment - The complete outfit of a vessel including everything used in her handling, working, and accommodation. The inventory comprises the equipment.

Esnecca - A kind of yacht of the twelfth century known as "a sharp prowed ship."

Estimated position - Less precise than a "fix", it is a navigational point based on vessel speed, course run and other factors, such as wind & current drifts.

ETA (Estimated Time of Arrival) - The time of day of your arrival at a destination, based on your present speed and track (course).

ETE (Estimated Time Enroute) - The time left to your destination based on your present speed amd tracl.

Even keel - Said of a vessel when she is not heeled either to port or starboard, also when her keel is horizontal, that is when she is so trimmed that her draught forward is the same as aft.

Eyelet holes - Small holes worked in sails for lacings, etc., to be rove through.

Eye splice - A fixed loop in the end of a line.

F

Fathom - A unit of length equal to 6 feet (1.8 m), roughly measured as the distance between a man’s outstretched hands.
Fender - An air or foam filled bumper used in boating to keep boats from banging into docks or each other.
First Mate - The Second in command of a ship.
Fly by night - A large sail used only for sailing downwind, requiring little attention.
Following sea - Wave or tidal movement going in the same direction as a ship.
Foot - The bottom of a sail.
Footloose - If the foot of a sail is not secured properly, it is footloose, blowing around in the wind.
Foredeck - The deck at the forward part of the vessel. (see photo below “fore”)
Forestays - Long lines or cables, reaching from the front of the vessel to the mast heads, used to support the mast.
Foul-Weather Gear(aka foulies) - Protective garment that is intended to keep the sailor dry and warm in bad weather.
Furl - To roll or wrap a sail around the mast or spar to which it is attached.

G

Genoa - a large headsail in various sizes, which overlaps the mainsail and is hoisted in light to fresh winds on all points of sailing.

Gimbals - two concentric rings, pivoted at right angles which keeps objects horizontal despite the boats motion.

Global Positioning System (GPS) - A satellite based radio navigation system providing continuous worldwide coverage. It provides navigation, position, and timing information to air, marine, and land users.

GMDSS - Global Maritime Distress and Safety System.

GNSS - Global Navigation Satellite System.

Go about - to turn the boat through the eye of the wind to change tack.

Gooseneck - the fitting attaching the boom to the mast, allowing it to move in all directions.

Goosewing - to boom out the headsail to windward on a run by using a whisker pole to hold the sail on the opposite side to the mainsail.

GPS - Global Positioning System

Guard rail - a metal rail fitted around the boat to prevent the crew from falling overboard.

Guy - a steadying rope for a spar a spinnaker guy controls the fore-and-aft position of the spinnaker pole; the foreguy holds the spinnaker pole forward.

Gybe - to change from one tack to another by turning the stern through the wind.

H

Halyard - rope used to hoist and lower sails.

Hand over fist - To climb steadily upwards, from the motion of a sailor climbing shrouds on a sailing ship (originally “hand over hand”).

Hank - fitting used to attach the luff of a sail to a stay.

Harbor - A harbor or harbour, or haven, is a place where ships may shelter from the weather or are stored. Harbours can be man-made or natural.

HAT - Highest Astronomical Tide.

Hatch - an opening in the deck giving access to the interior.

Head-to-wind - when the bows are pointing right into the wind.

Headfoil - a streamlined surround to a forestay, with a groove into which a headsail luff slides.

Heads - toilets.

Headway - the forward movement of a boat through the water.

Heave-to - to back the jib and lash the tiller to leeward used in heavy weather to encourage the boat to lie quietly and to reduce headway.

Heel - to - lean over to one side.

Helmsman - A person who steers a ship.

Hogging or hog - the distortion of the hull where the ends of the keel are lower than the center.

Holiday - A gap in the coverage of newly applied paint, slush, tar, or other preservative.

Holystone - A piece of soft sandstone used for scouring the wooden decks of ships, usually with sand and seawater.

Hull - The shell and framework of the basic floatation oriented part of a ship.

I

Icing - A serious hazard where cold temperatures (below about -10°C) combined with high wind speed (typically force 8 or above on the Beaufort scale) result in spray blown off the sea freezing immediately on contact with the ship.

Idlers - Members of a ship's company not required to serve watches. These were in general specialist tradesmen such as the carpenter and the sailmaker.

In Irons - When the bow of a sailboat is headed into the wind and the boat has stalled and is unable to maneuver.

In the offing - In the water visible from on board a ship, now used to mean something imminent.

J

Jack - Either a flag, or a sailor. Typically the flag was talked about as if it were a member of the crew. Strictly speaking, a flag is only a "jack" if it is worn at the jackstaff at the bow of a ship.

Jacklines - Lines, often steel wire with a plastic jacket, from the bow to the stern on both port and starboard. The Jack Lines are used to clip on the safety harness to secure the crew to the vessel while giving them the freedom to walk on the deck.

Jack Tar - A sailor dressed in 'square rig' with square collar. Formerly with a tarred pigtail.

Jib - A triangular staysail at the front of a ship.

Jigger-mast - The fourth mast, although ships with four or more masts were uncommon, or the aft most mast where it is smallest on vessels of less than four masts.

Jollies - Traditional Royal Navy nickname for the Royal Marines.

Junk - Old cordage past its useful service life as lines aboard ship. The strands of old junk were teased apart in the process called picking oakum.

K

Killick - A small anchor. A fouled killick is the substantive badge of non-commissioned officers in the RN. Seamen promoted to the first step in the promotion ladder are called "Killick". The badge signifies that here is an Able Seaman skilled to cope with the awkward job of dealing with a fouled anchor.

Keel - The central structural basis of the hull.

Keelhauling - Maritime punishment: to punish by dragging under the keel of a ship.

Kelson - The timber immediately above the keel of a wooden ship.

Kissing the gunner's daughter - bend over the barrel of a gun for punitive spanking with a cane or cat.

Know the ropes - A sailor who 'knows the ropes' is familiar with the miles of cordage and ropes involved in running a ship.

L

Ladder - On board a ship, all "stairs" are called ladders, except for literal staircases aboard passenger ships. Most "stairs" on a ship are narrow and nearly vertical, hence the name. Believed to be from the Anglo-Saxon word hiaeder, meaning ladder.

Laker - Great Lakes slang for a vessel who spends all its time on the 5 Great Lakes.

Land lubber - A person unfamiliar with being on the sea.

Lanyard - A rope that ties something off.

Larboard - The left side of the ship (archaic, see port). cf. starboard. Derived from the old 'lay-board' providing access between a ship and a quay.

Lateral System - A system of aids to navigation in which characteristics of buoys and beacons indicate the sides of the channel or route relative to a conventional direction of buoyage (usually upstream).

Lay - To come and go, used in giving orders to the crew, such as "lay forward" or "lay aloft". To direct the course of vessel. Also, to twist the strands of a rope together.

Lay down - To lay a ship down is to begin construction in a shipyard.

League - A unit of length, normally equal to three nautical miles.

Leech - The aft or trailing edge of a fore-and-aft sail; the leeward edge of a spinnaker; a vertical edge of a square sail. The leech is susceptible to twist, which is controlled by the boom vang and mainsheet.

Leehelm - If the helm was centered, the boat would turn away from the wind (to the lee). Consequently, the tiller must be pushed to the lee side of the boat in order to make the boat sail in a straight line. See weatherhelm.

Lee side - The side of a ship sheltered from the wind (opposite the weather side or windward side).

Lee shore - A shore downwind of a ship. A ship which cannot sail well to windward risks being blown onto a lee shore and grounded.

Leeway - The angle that a ship is blown leeward by the wind.

Leeward - In the direction that the wind is blowing towards.

Let go and haul - An order indicating that the ship is in line with the wind.

Letter of marque and reprisal - A warrant granted to a privateer condoning specific acts of piracy against a target as a redress for grievances.

Lifeboat - A small steel or wood boat located near the stern of a vessel. Used to get the crew to safety if something happens to the mothership.

Line - The correct nautical term for the majority of the cordage or "ropes" used on a vessel. A line will always have a more specific name, such as mizzen topsail halyard, which describes its use.

Liner - Ship of The Line: a major warship capable of taking its place in the main (battle) line of fighting ships. Hence modern term for most prestigious passenger vessel: Liner.

List - The vessel's angle of lean or tilt to one side, in the direction called roll.

Loaded to the gunwales - Literally, having cargo loaded as high as the ship's rail; also means extremely drunk.

Loggerhead - An iron ball attached to a long handle, used for driving caulking into seams and (occasionally) in a fight. Hence: "at loggerheads".

Lubber's line - A vertical line inside a compass case indicating the direction of the ship's head.

Luff - The forward edge of a sail; to head a sailing vessel towards the direction of the wind.

Luffing - When a sailing vessel is steered far enough to windward that the sail is no longer completely filled with wind (the luff of the sail is usually where this first becomes evident).

Lying ahull - Waiting out a storm by dousing all sails and simply letting the boat drift.

M

Mainbrace - The brace attached to the mainmast.

Mainmast (or Main) - The tallest mast on a ship.

Mainsheet - Sail control line that allows the most obvious effect on mainsail trim. Primarily used to control the angle of the boom, and thereby the mainsail, this control can also increase or decrease downward tension on the boom while sailing upwind, significantly affecting sail shape. For more control over downward tension on the boom, use a boom vang.

Man of war - A warship from the age of sail.

Man overboard! - A cry let out when a seaman has gone overboard.

Marina - A docking facility for small ships and yachts.

Mast - A vertical pole on a ship which supports sails or rigging.

Masthead - A small platform partway up the mast, just above the height of the mast's main yard. A lookout is stationed here, and men who are working on the main yard will embark from here ; Also called “crows nest.”

Master - Either the commander of commercial vessel, or a senior officer of a naval sailing ship in charge of routine seamanship and navigation but not in command during combat.

Master-at-Arms - A non-commissioned officer responsible for discipline on a naval ship. Standing between the officers and the crew, commonly known in the Royal Navy as "the Buffer".

Matelot - A traditional Royal Navy term for an ordinary sailor.

Mess - An eating place aboard ship. A group of crew who live and feed together.

Mess deck catering - A system of catering in which a standard ration is issued to a mess supplemented by a money allowance which may be used by the mess to buy additional victuals from the pusser's stores or elsewhere. Each mess was autonomous and self-regulating. Seaman cooks, often members of the mess, prepared the meals and took them, in a tin canteen, to the galley to be cooked by the ship's cooks. As distinct from "cafeteria messing" where food is issued to the individual hand, which now the general practice.

Midshipman - A non-commissioned officer below the rank of Lieutenant. Usually regarded as being "in training" to some degree. Also known as "Snotty". 'The lowest form of animal life in the Royal Navy' where he has authority over and responsibility for more junior ranks, yet, at the same time, relying on their experience and learning his trade from them.

Mizzenmast (or Mizzen) - The third mast on a ship.

Mizzen staysail - Sail on a ketch or yawl, usually lightweight, set from, and forward of, the mizzen mast while reaching in light to moderate air.

Monkey fist - A ball woven out of line used to provide heft to heave the line to another location. The monkey fist and other heaving-line knots were sometimes weighted with lead (easily available in the form of foil used to seal e.g. tea chests from dampness) although Clifford W. Ashley notes that there was a "definite sporting limit" to the weight thus added.

Moor - To attach a boat to a mooring buoy or post. Also, to a dock a ship.

N

Navigation rules - Rules of the road that provide guidance on how to avoid collision and also used to assign blame when a collision does occur.

Nipper - Short rope used to bind a cable to the "messenger" (a moving line propelled by the capstan) so that the cable is dragged along too (Used because the cable is too large to be wrapped round the capstan itself). During the raising of an anchor the nippers were attached and detached from the (endless) messenger by the ship's boys. Hence the term for small boys: "nippers".

No room to swing a cat - The entire ship's company was expected to witness floggings, assembled on deck. If it was very crowded, the bosun might not have room to swing the "cat o' nine tails" (the whip).

O

Oilskin - Foul-weather gear worn by sailors.

Oreboat - Great Lakes Term for a vessel primarily used in the transport of iron ore.

Orlop deck - The lowest deck of a ship of the line. The deck covering in the hold.

Outhaul - A line used to control the shape of a sail.

Outward bound - To leave the safety of port, heading for the open ocean.

Overbear - To sail downwind directly at another ship, stealing the wind from its sails.

Overfall - Dangerously steep and breaking seas due to opposing currents and wind in a shallow area.

Overhaul - Hauling the buntline ropes over the sails to prevent them from chaffing.

Overhead - The "ceiling," or, essentially, the bottom of the deck above you.

Overreach - When tacking, to hold a course too long.

Over the barrel - Adult sailors were flogged on the back or shoulders while tied to a grating, but boys were beaten instead on the posterior (often bared), with a cane or cat, while bending, often tied down, over the barrel of a gun, known as (kissing) the gunner's daughter.

Overwhelmed - Capsized or foundered.

Ox-Eye - A cloud or other weather phenomenon that may be indicative of an upcoming storm.

P

Parrel - A movable loop, used to fasten the yard to its respective mast.

Part brass rags - Fall out with a friend. From the days when cleaning materials were shared between sailors.

Pay - Fill a seam (with caulking or pitch), or to lubricate the running rigging; pay with slush (q.v.), or protect from the weather by covering with slush.

Paymaster - The officer responsible for all money matters in RN ships including the paying and provisioning of the crew, all stores, tools and spare parts.

Pilot - Navigator. A specially knowledgeable person qualified to navigate a vessel through difficult waters, e.g. harbour pilot etc.

Pipe (Bos'n's) - A whistle used by Boatswains (bosuns or bos'ns) to issue commands. Consisting of a metal tube which directs the breath over an aperture on the top of a hollow ball to produce high pitched notes. The pitch of the notes can be changed by partly covering the aperture with the finger of the hand in which the pipe is held. The shape of the instrument is similar to that of a smoking pipe.

Pipe down - A signal on the bosun's pipe to signal the end of the day, requiring lights (and smoking pipes) to be extinguished and silence from the crew.

Piping the side - A salute on the bos'n's pipe(s) performed in the company of the deck watch on the starboard side of the quarterdeck or at the head of the gangway, to welcome or bid farewell to the ship's Captain, senior officers and honoured visitors.

Pitch - A vessel's motion, rotating about the beam axis, so the bow pitches up and down.

Pitchpole - To capsize a boat end over end, rather than by rolling over.

Pontoon - A flat-bottomed vessel used as a ferry or a barge or float moored alongside a jetty or a ship to facilitate boarding.

Poop deck - A high deck on the aft superstructure of a ship.

Pooped - exhausted by high following sea.

Port - Towards the left-hand side of the ship facing forward (formerly Larboard). Denoted with a red light at night.

Press gang - Formed body of personnel from a ship of the Royal Navy (either a ship seeking personnel for its own crew or from a "press tender" seeking men for a number of ships) that would identify and force (press) men, usually merchant sailors into service on naval ships usually against their will.

Preventer - A sail control line originating at some point on the boom leading to a fixed point on the boat's deck or rail (usually a cleat or pad eye) used to prevent or moderate the effects of an accidental jibe.

Privateer - A privately-owned ship authorised by a national power (by means of a Letter of Marque) to conduct hostilities against an enemy. Also called a private man of war.

prop walk - Tendency for a propeller to push the stern sideways. In theory a right hand propeller in reverse will walk the stern to port.

Prow - A poetical alternative term for bows.

Pusser - Purser, the one who is buys, stores and sells all stores on board ships, including victuals, rum and tobacco. Originally a private merchant, latterly a warrant officer. Also, in modern use, a term for the Navy in general (pussers) or a sailor in particular (a pusser).

Q

Quarterdeck - The aftermost deck of a warship. In the age of sail, the quarterdeck was the preserve of the ship's officers.

Quayside - Refers to the dock or platform used to fasten a vessel to.

R

Radar - An electronic system designed to transmit radio signals and receive reflected images of those signals from a "target" in order to determine the bearing and distance to the "target".

Radar reflector - A special fixture fitted to a vessel or incorporated into the design of certain aids to navigation to enhance their ability to reflect radar energy. In general, these fixtures will materially improve the visibility for use by vessels with radar.

Range lights - Two lights associated to form a range (a line formed by the extension of a line connecting two charted points) which often, but not necessarily, indicates the channel centerline. The front range light is the lower of the two, and nearer to the mariner using the range. The rear light is higher and further from the mariner.

Ratlines - Rope ladders permanently rigged from bulwarks and tops to the mast to enable access to top masts and yards. Also serve to provide lateral stability to the masts.

Reach - A point of sail from about 60° to about 160° off the wind. Reaching consists of "close reaching" (about 60° to 80°), "beam reaching" (about 90°) and "broad reaching" (about 120° to 160°).

Reef - to temporarily reduce the area of a sail exposed to the wind, usually to guard against the effects of a strong wind and/or to slow the vessel.

Reef points - Small lengths of cord attached to a sail, used to secure the excess fabric after reefing.

Reef-bands - Long pieces of rough canvas sewed across the sails to give them additional strength.

Reef-tackles - Ropes employed in the operation of reefing.

Rigging - The system of masts and lines on ships and other sailing vessels.

Righting couple - The force which tends to restore a ship to equilibrium once a heel has altered the relationship between her centre of buoyancy and her centre of gravity.

Rigol - The rim or 'eyebrow' above a port-hole or scuttle.

Roll - A vessel's motion rotating from side to side, about the fore-aft axis. List (qv) is a lasting tilt in the roll direction.

Rolling-tackle - A number of pulleys, engaged to confine the yard to the weather side of the mast; this tackle is much used in a rough sea.

The Ropes - Refers to the lines in the rigging.

Rope's end - A summary punishment device.

Rummage sale - A sale of damaged cargo (from French arrimage).

Running rigging - Rigging used to manipulate sails, spars, etc. in order to control the movement of the ship.

S

Sagging - When a trough of a wave is amidship.

Sail-plan - A set of drawings showing various sail combinations recommended for use in various situations.

Sampson post - A strong vertical post used to support a ship's windlass and the heel of a ship's bowsprit.

Scandalize - To reduce the area of a sail by expedient means (slacking the peak and tricing up the tack) without properly reefing it.

Schooner - A sailing ship with two or more masts, typically with the foremast smaller than the mainmast.

Scud - A name given by sailors to the lowest clouds, which are mostly observed in squally weather.

Scuppers - An opening on the side rail that allows water to run off the deck.

Scuttle - A small opening, or lid thereof, in a ship's deck or hull. To cut a hole in, or sink something.

Scuttlebutt - A barrel with a hole in used to hold water that sailors would drink from.

Sea anchor - A stabilizer deployed in the water for heaving to in heavy weather. It acts as a brake and keeps the hull in line with the wind and perpendicular to waves.

Sea chest - A valve on the hull of the ship to allow water in for ballast purposes.

Seaworthy - Certified for, and capable of, safely sailing at sea.

Shakes - Pieces of barrels or casks broken down to save space. They are worth very little, leading to the phrase "no great shakes".

Sheer - The upward curve of a vessel's longitudinal lines as viewed from the side.

Sheet - A rope used to control the setting of a sail in relation to the direction of the wind.

Ship - strictly, a three-masted vessel square-rigged on all three masts, though generally used to describe most medium or large vessels.

Ship's bell - Striking the ship's bell is the traditional method of marking time and regulating the crew's watches.

Ship's company - The crew of a ship.

Shoal - Shallow water that is a hazard to navigation.

Shrouds - Standing rigging running from a mast to the sides of a ships.

Sick bay - The compartment reserved for medical purposes.

Skipper - The captain of a ship.

Skysail - A sail set very high, above the royals. Only carried by a few ships.

Skyscraper - A small, triangular sail, above the skysail. Used in light winds on a few ships.

Slop chest - ship's store of merchandise, such as clothing, tobacco, etc., maintained aboard merchant ships for sale to the crew.

Slush - Greasy substance obtained by boiling or scraping the fat from empty salted meat storage barrels, or the floating fat residue after boiling the crew's meal. In the Royal Navy the perquisite of the cook who could sell it or exchange it (usually for alcohol) with other members of the crew. Used for greasing parts of the running rigging of the ship and therefore valuable to the master and bosun.

Slush fund - The money obtained by the cook selling slush ashore. Used for the benefit of the crew (or the cook).

Sonar - A sound-based device used to detect and range underwater targets and obstacles. Formerly known as ASDIC.

Spanker - A fore-and-aft or gaff-rigged sail on the aft-most mast of a square-rigged vessel and the main fore-and-aft sail (spanker sail) on the aft-most mast of a (partially) fore-and-aft rigged vessel such as a schooner, a barquentine, and a barque.

Spanker-mast - The aft-most mast of a fore-and-aft or gaff-rigged vessel such as schooners, barquentines, and barques. A full-rigged ship has a spanker sail but not a spanker-mast (see Jigger-mast).

Spar - A wooden, in later years also iron or steel pole used to support various pieces of rigging and sails. The big five-masted full-rigged tall ship Preussen (German spelling: Preußen) had crossed 30 steel yards, but only one wooden spar - the little gaff of its spanker sail.

Spindrift - Finely-divided water swept from crest of waves by strong winds.

Spinnaker - A large sail flown in front of the vessel while heading downwind.

Spinnaker pole - A spar used to help control a spinnaker or other headsail.

Splice - To join lines (ropes, cables etc.) by unravelling their ends and intertwining them to form a continuous line. To form an eye or a knot by splicing.

Standing rigging - Rigging which is used to support masts and spars, and is not normally manipulated during normal operations.

Starboard - Towards the right-hand side of a vessel facing forward. Denoted with a green light at night. Derived from the old steering oar or 'steerboard' which preceded the invention of the rudder.

Stay - Rigging running fore (forestay) and aft (backstay) from a mast to the hull.

Staysail - A sail whose luff is attached to a forestay.

Stem - The extension of keel at the forward of a ship.

Stern - The rear part of a ship.

Stern tube - The tube under the hull to bear the tailshaft for propulsion (usually at stern).

Surge - vessel's transient motion in a fore and aft direction.

Sway - A vessel's motion from side to side. Also used as a verb meaning to hoist.

Swigging - To take up the last bit of slack on a line such as a halyard, anchor line or dockline by taking a single turn round a cleat and alternately heaving on the rope above and below the cleat while keeping the tension on the tail.

Swinging the compass - Measuring the accuracy in a ship's magnetic compass so its readings can be adjusted – often by turning the ship and taking bearings on reference points.

Swinging the lamp - Telling sea stories. Referring to lamps slung from the deckhead which swing while at sea. Often used to indicate that the story teller is exaggerating.

Swinging the lead - Measuring the depth of water beneath a ship using a lead-weighted sounding line. A sailor who was feigning illness etc to avoid a hard job was said to be "swinging the lead".

T

Tack (verb) - a maneuver where the boat is turned so that the bow of the boat passes through an imaginary line to where the wind comes from. At some point during the turn, the boat will be pointing directly into the wind. Tacking is the act of perfoming a tack.

Tack (noun) - the lower forward corner of a sail.

Tack - a starboard tack or a port tack - The term "starboard tack" refers to sailboat sailing where the wind is coming from the starboard (right) side of the boat. The term "port tack" refers to sailboat sailing where the wind is coming from the port (left) side of the boat.

Taking the wind out of his sails - To sail in a way that steals the wind from another ship.

Tally - The operation of hauling aft the sheets, or drawing them in the direction of the ship's stern.

Three sheets to the wind - On a three-masted ship, having the sheets of the three lower courses loose will result in the ship meandering aimlessly downwind. Also, a sailor who has drunk strong spirits beyond his capacity.

Togey - A rope used as a punitive device.

Topmast - The second section of the mast above the deck; formerly the upper mast, later surmounted by the topgallant mast; carrying the topsails.

Topgallant - The mast or sails above the tops.

Topsail - The second sail (counting from the bottom) up a mast. These may be either square sails or fore-and-aft ones, in which case they often "fill in" between the mast and the gaff of the sail below.

Topsides - The part of the hull between the waterline and the deck. Also, Above-water hull.

Touch and go - The bottom of the ship touching the bottom, but not grounding.

Towing - The operation of drawing a vessel forward by means of long lines.

Travellers - Small fittings that slide on a rod or line. The most common use is for the inboard end of the mainsheet; a more esoteric form of traveller consists of "slight iron rings, encircling the backstays, which are used for hoisting the top-gallant yards, and confining them to the backstays".

Transom - A more or less flat surface across the stern of a vessel.

Trick - A period of time spent at the wheel ("my trick's over").

Trim - Relationship of ship's hull to waterline.

Turtling - When a sailboat (in particular a dinghy) capsizes to a point where the mast is pointed straight down and the hull is on the surface resembling a turtle shell.

U

Under the weather - Serving a watch on the weather side of the ship, exposed to wind and spray.

Under way - A vessel that is not at anchor, or made fast to the shore, or aground.

Underwater hull or underwater ship - The underwater section of a vessel beneath the waterline, normally not visible except when in drydock.

Upper-yardmen - Specially selected personnel destined for high office.

V

Vanishing angle - The maximum degree of heel after which a vessel becomes unable to return to an upright position.

W

Wake - Turbulence behind a ship.

Wales - A number of strong and thick planks running length-wise along the ship, covering the lower part of the ship's side.

Watch - A period of time during which a part of the crew is on duty. Changes of watch are marked by strokes on the ship's bell.

Watercraft - Water transport vessels. Ships, boats, personal water craft.

Weather gage - Favorable position over another sailing vessel to with respect to the wind.

Weather deck - Whichever deck is that exposed to the weather – usually either the main deck or, in larger vessels, the upper deck.

Weather side - The weather side of a ship is the side exposed to the wind.

Weatherly - A ship that is easily sailed and maneuvered; makes little leeway when sailing to windward.

Weigh anchor - To heave up (an anchor) preparatory to sailing.

Wells - Places in the ship's hold for the pumps.

White Horses - Waves in wind strong enough to produce foam or spray on the wave tops.

Wheelhouse - Location on a ship where the steering wheel is located, often interchanged with pilothouse and bridge. -

Wide berth - To leave room between two ships moored (berthed) to allow space for maneuver.

Windage - Wind resistance of the boat.

Windbound - A condition wherein the ship is detained in one particular station by contrary winds.

Windward - In the direction that the wind is coming from.

Windlass - A winch mechanism, usually with a horizontal axis. Used where mechanical advantage greater than that obtainable by block and tackle was needed (such as raising the anchor on small ships). Modern sailboats use an electric "Windlass" to raise the anchor.

Y

Yard - The horizontal spar from which a square sail is suspended.

Yardarm - The very end of a yard. Often mistaken for a "yard", which refers to the entire spar. As in to hang "from the yardarm" and the sun being "over the yardarm" (late enough to have a drink).

Yarr - Acknowledgement of an order, or agreement.

Yaw - A vessel's motion rotating about the vertical axis, so the bow yaws from side to side.