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.
| Find what you are looking for... | |
|---|---|
Search the Glossary |
Browse Terms alphabetically* # A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z |
|
View an item from the The Bosun's Mate Glossary of Terms selected at random... random term |
|
Browse Terms by category
a random term is displayed from each category below|
Abbreviations and Acronyms
contains 41 terms Search and Rescue Unit
|
The things sailors do
contains 8 terms The command to stop, or cease, in any operation.
|
|
Why say back when you can say aft instead!
contains 20 terms 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.
|
Common sayings and expressions from maritime lore
contains 149 terms |
|
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"
|
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 |
|
Bits and bobs from life aboard ship
contains 5 terms A british naval song wirtten by David Garrick that starts:
'Come cheer up, my lads, 'tis to glory we steer, To add something more to this wonderful year' 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 l... |
Specific sailing maneuvers
contains 33 terms 1. To go from one Tack to the other when running with the wind coming over the Stern.
2. The moment when the Boom swings across the Hull while changing tacks in this manner. If handeled correctly a Fore and Aft rigged vessel should be able to Jibe safely regardless of wind strength. This is accomplished through easing Preventer tackle (if any) and by hauling in the main sheets so that there is less travel for the main Boom during the Jibe. An unintentional Jibe - which can be the result... |
|
The points of sail and seamanship
contains 76 terms 1. That part of a body of water deep enough for Navigation through an area otherwise not suitable. It is usually marked by a single or double Line of buoys and sometimes by range markers.
2. The deepest part of a stream, bay, or strait. 3. A cut or groove in a piece of wood or metal 4. A VHF radio feqeuency or set of radio frequencies preselected for communications. |
The parts of ships
contains 131 terms A pole or a Beam. Masts, booms, and yards are all spars.
|
|
Important people and/or their positions in nautical history
contains 14 terms A nickname for British sailors coined by the Americans. It referrs to the British regulation that all registered ships had to cary a supply of lime juice and issue the same to the crew to prevent Scurvy.
|
Key locations of the maritime world
contains 20 terms The location from which the vseesl is controled.
On mechanically propelled vessels this usually is an elevated platform running Athwartships or may take the shape of a wheelhouse. Typically it is designed to afford a full view of shipboard activities and permit safe Navigation and lookout. In earlier vessels the Bridge would have been protected by a canvas dodger, and in hot weather an Awning. The Binnacle or main navigational cumpass is typically situated in the Bridge area. The term d... |
|
Rigging components and terms
contains 104 terms & 10 images |
Sails, their parts and materials
contains 30 terms 1. Aft Sail set on the jigger-mast
2. After mast (4th Mast) on Schooner or sailing Ship carrying a spanker, or the mizzen Mast of a Yawl or a Ketch. 3. A light tackle of one single and one double Block rendering four times Purchase when rove to advantage. It was initially designed to Hold the Cable as it was being hove on Board and as a temporaty stopper when weighing Anchor by hand. A Jigger tackle is also used on fore-and-aft rigged vessels as a standing part of the throat and peek haly... |
|
Types of vessels and some famous examples
contains 22 terms & 8 images |
The various spars used aboard ship
contains 6 terms |
|
The tools of the trade
contains 27 terms Tallow held in the recess of a sounding lead to bring up a sample of the sea bed
|
terms awaiting clasification
there are currently no viewable terms in this category
contains 36 terms |
|
Meteorology and its relationship to sailing
contains 7 terms A sudden violent blast of wind.
|
The Nautical Terms Glossary contains 539 terms and 14 images, viewed 404593 times
