Language of the Sea

From CruisersWiki

Revision as of 10:36, 31 March 2008

Language of the Sea (A Nautical Dictionary)

NOMENCLATURE AND TERMINOLGY OF THE SEA As provided by Seafarers throughout the ages.

ABAFT - Toward the rear (stern) of the boat. Behind.

ABEAM - At right angles to the keel of the boat, but not on the boat.

ABOARD - On or within the boat.

ABOARD MAIN TACK! - The order to draw the lower corner of the mainsail down to the chestree.

ABOUT - The situation of a vessel as soon as she has tacked.

ABOUT SHIP! - The order to prepare for tacking.

ABOVE DECK - On the deck (not over it - see ALOFT).

ABREAST - Off the side, level with the vessel.

ABYSS - All area of water lying 300 fathoms beneath the surface.

A-COCK BILL - Yards topped up at an angle with the deck. An anchor hanging from the cathead by a ring only.

ADRIFT - Broken from moorings. Afloat with no propulsion system in operation.

AFLOAT - Buoyed up by the water from the ground.

AFORE - Forward

AFT - Toward the stern of the boat.

AGAINST THE SUN - Anti-clockwise circular motion. Left-handed ropes are coiled against the sun.

AGROUND - Touching or fast to the bottom.

AHEAD - In a forward direction.

AHULL - Vessel lying alee with all sails furled.

AIDS TO NAVIGATION (A to N) - Artificial objects to supplement natural landmarks to indicate safe and unsafe waters.

ALOFT - Above the deck of the boat.

ALL-ABACK - All sails aback

ALL HANDS - The full crew

ALL IN THE WIND - When all sails are shaking. The state of a vessel's sails when they are parallel to the direction of the wind.

ALL HANDS HOAY! - The call by which all the ship's company are called up on deck.

ALONGSIDE - Side by side; joined to another vessel, pier, wharf, etc..

ALONG SHORE - Along the coast; A coast which is in sight, and nearly parallel with it.

ALOOF - At a distance

AMAIN - Suddenly. At once.

AMIDSHIPS - In or toward the center of the boat.

ANCHOR - A heavy metal device, fastened to a chain or line, to hold a vessel in position, partly because of its weight, but chiefly because the designed shape digs into the bottom.

ANCHOR ICE - Ice, of any form, that is aground in the sea.

ANCHOR-LOCKER - Storage space used for the anchor rode and anchor.

ANCHOR-WATCH - A small watch of one or two men, kept while in port.

AN-END - Mast being perpendicular to the deck.

ANCHORAGE - A place suitable for anchoring in relation to the wind, seas and bottom.

ANTIFOULING - Paint used on the bottom of the vessel to prevent barnacles and other organisms from attaching and propagating.

APPARENT WIND - The direction of the wind as is relative to the speed and direction of the boat.

A-PEEK - When a cable is hove taut so as to bring the vessel nearly over her anchor. The yards are a-peek when they are topped up by contrary winds.

APRON - A timber fixed behind the lower part of the stern just above the fore-end of the keel. A covering to the vent.

ARM. YARD-ARM - The extremity of a yard. Also, the lower part of an anchor, crossing the shank and terminating in the flukes.

ARMING - A piece of tallow put in the cavity and over the bottom of a lead-line.

ASHORE - On land.

ASTERN - In back of the boat, opposite of ahead.

ATHWART HAWSE - The situation of a ship when driven by accident across the fore-part of another, whether they touch or at a small distance from each other. The transverse position of the former is understood.

ATHWART THE FOREFOOT - When any object crosses the line of a ship's course, but ahead of her, it is said to be athwart her forefoot.

ATHWARTSHIPS - At right angles to the centerline of the boat; rowboat seats are generally athwartships.

A-TRIP - The anchor when it is raised clear of the ground. Same as a-weigh.

AVAST - An order to "stop".

AWASH - Deck of vessel overcome with waves.

A-WEATHER - The helm, when it is put in the direction from which the wind blows.

AWEIGH - Same as a-trip.

SADDLES -

Pieces of wood hollowed out to fit on the yards to which they are secured, having a hollow in the upper part for the boom to rest in.

SAG -

To sag to leeward is to drift off bodily to leeward.

SAILS -

Are of two kinds: square sails which hang from yards, their foot lying across the line of the keel, as the courses, topsails, etc.; and fore-and-aft sails which set upon gaffs, or on stays, their foot running with the line of the keel, as jib, spanker, etc..

SAIL-HO! -

The cry used when a sail is first discovered at sea.

SAILING ICE -

Mass of drift ice with waterways in which a vessel can maneuver in.

SALLYING -

To roll a vessel that is nearly ice-bound, to break her free.

SAVE-ALL -

A small sail sometimes set under the foot of a lower studdingsail.

SCANTLING -

A term applied to any piece of timber, with regards to its' breadth and thickness, when reduced to the standard size.

SCARF -

To join two pieces of timber at their ends by shaving them down and placing them overlapping.

SCHOONER -

A small vessel with two masts and no tops.

A fore-and-aft schooner has only fore-and-aft sails.

A topsail schooner carries a square fore topsail and, frequently, topgallant sail and royal.

A main-topsail schooner is one that carries square topsails, fore and aft.

SCOPE -

The ratio of the length of an anchor line, from a vessel's bow to the anchor, to the depth of the water.

SCORE -

A groove in a block or dead-eye.

SCOTCHMAN -

A large batten placed over the turnings-in of rigging.

SCRAPER -

A small, triangular instrument, with a handle fitted to its center, and used for scraping decks and masts.

SCREW -

A boat's propeller.

SCROWL -

A piece of timber bolted to the knees of the head, in place of a figurehead.

SCUD -

To drive before a gale, with no sail, or only enough to keep the vessel ahead of the sea.

Also, low, thin clouds that fly swiftly before the wind.

SCULL -

A short oar.

To scull, is to impel a boat by one oar at the stern.

SCUPPERS -

Holes cut in the waterways for the water to run from the decks.

SCUTTLE -

A hole cut in a vessel's deck, as, a hatchway.

Also, a hole cut in any part of a vessel.

To scuttle, is to cut or bore holes in a vessel to make her sink.

SCUTTLE BUTT -

Formerly, cask in which fresh water was carried.

SEA ANCHOR -

Any device used to reduce a boat's drift before the wind.

SEA BATTERY -

Assault upon a seaman, by Master, while at sea.

SEA CAPTAIN -

That certification acknowledging a person's qualifications to command a sea-going vessel.

SEA DOG -

Experienced sailor.

SEAFARER -

One who earns his living at sea.

SEAMANLIKE -

Term applied to those whose demeanor is practiced, methodical, dependable.

SEA SMOKE -

Vapor rising from seas' surface, caused by cold wind blowing over the top of it.

SEAMS -

The intervals between planks on a vessel's deck or side.

SECOND GREASER -

Nickname once given to second mate.

SECURE -

To make fast.

SEIZE -

To fasten ropes together by turns of smaller strands or yarn.

SEIZINGS -

The fastenings of ropes that are seized together.

SELVAGEE -

A skein of rope-yarns or spun yarn, marled together. Used as a neat strap

SEND -

When a ship's head or stern pitches suddenly and violently into the trough of the sea.

SENNIT -

A braid, formed by plaiting rope-yarns or spun yarn together.

SERVE -

To wind small stuff, as rope yarns and spun yarn, round a rope, to keep it from chafing. It is wound and hove taut by a serving-board or mallet.

SET -

To set up rigging is to tauten it by tackles. The seizings are then applied.

SHACKLE -

A "U" shaped connector with a pin or bolt across the open end.

SHAKES -

The staves of hogsheads taken apart.

SHALLOP -

Sloop.

Also, small fishing vessel with foresail, boom mainsail, and mizzen trysail.

Also, small boat for one or two rowers.

SHANK -

The main piece in an anchor, at one end of which the stock is made fast, and at the other the arms.

SHANK-PAINTER -

A strong rope by which the lower part of the shank of an anchor is secured to the ships' side.

SHARP-UP -

Said of yards when braced as near fore-and-aft as possible.

SHEATHING -

A casing or covering on a vessel's bottom.

SHEARS -

Two or more spars, raised at angles and lashed together near their upper ends, used for taking in masts.

SHEAR HULK -

An old vessel fitted with shears, and used for taking out and putting in masts on other vessels.

SHEAR PIN -

A safety device, used to fasten a propeller to its shaft; it breaks when the propeller hits a solid object, thus preventing further damage.

SHEATHING -

Covering of a ships bottom against toredo worms or ice.

SHEAVE -

The wheel in a block upon which the rope works.

Sheave-hole; the place cut in a block for the ropes to reeve through.

SHEEP-SHANK -

A kind of hitch or bend, used to shorten a rope temporarily.

SHEER or SHEER-STRAKE -

The line of plank on a vessel's side, running fore-and-aft under the gunwale.

Also, a vessel's position when riding by a single anchor.

SHEET -

A rope used in setting a sail, to keep the clew down to it's place. With square sails, thesheets run through each yard-arm. With boom sails, they haul the boom over one way and the other. They keep down the inner clew of a studdingsail and the after clew of a jib.

SHEET-ANCHOR -

A vessel's largest anchor; not carried at the bow.

SHEET BEND -

A knot used to join two ropes. Functionally different from a square knot in that it can be used between lines of different diameters.

SHELF-ICE -

Ice composed of layers of soil that has yet to become firm or glacial.

SHELL -

The case of a block.

SHELLBACK -

Old, experienced seaman.

Also, popular dinghy.

SHINGLE - See ( BALLAST )

SHIP -

A larger vessel usually used for ocean travel. A vessel able to carry a "boat" on board.

SHIPMASTER -

Any person proved competent to command a ship. A Master Mariner.

SHIVER -

To shake the wind out of a sail by bracing it so that the wind strikes upon the leech.

SHOAL -

An offshore hazard to navigation at a depth of 16 fathoms (30 meters or 96 feet) or less, composed of unconsolidated material.

SHOE -

A piece of wood used for the bill of an anchor to rest on, to save the vessel's side.

Also, for the heels of shears, etc..

SHOE-BLOCK -

A block with two sheaves, one above the other, one horizontal, the other perpendicular.

SHORE -

A prop or stanchion, placed under a beam. To shore, to prop up.

SHOT-LINE -

Accurately marked line with weighted end to measure depth.

SHROUDS -

A set of ropes reaching from the mastheads to the vessels sides, to support the masts.

SIGHTING BOTTOM -

Dry docking, beaching, or careening a vessel to provide for careful examination of the vesel's bottom.

SILLS -

Pieces of timber put in horizontally between the frames to form and secure any opening, such as ports, etc..

SINGLING UP -

Reducing all ropes unwanted, leaving only a minimum number required for casting off.

SISTER-BLOCK -

A long piece of wood with two sheaves in it, one above the other with a score between them for a seizing, and a groove around the block lengthwise.

SKEG -

Metal extension on outboard motor's leg to protect propeller.

SKIDS -

Pieces of timber placed up and down a vessel's side, to bear any articles off clear that are hoisted in.

SKIN -

The part of a sail which is outside and covers the rest when it is furled.

Also, the side of the hold, as, an article is said to be stowed next to the skin.

SKY-SAIL -

A light sail next above the royal.

SKY-SCRAPER -

A name given a skysail when it is triangular.

SLABLINE -

A small line used to haul up the foot of a course.

SLACK -

Not fastened; loose. Also, to loosen.

SLACKWATER -

Period when there is no horizontal motion of the water. Tidal current is running neither in nor out.

SLEEPERS -

The knees that connect the transoms to the after timbers on a ship's quarter.

SLING -

To set items in ropes, so as to hoist or lower it.

SLINGS -

The ropes used for securing the center of a yard to the mast.

Yard-slings are often made of metal.

SLIP -

To let a cable go and stand out to sea.

Also, a reserved space for docking.

SLIP-ROPE

A rope bent to the cable just outside the hawse-hole, and brought in on the weather quarter, for slipping.

SLOB ICE -

Small amounts of loose or broken ice.

SLOOP -

A single masted vessel with working sails (main and jib) set fore and aft.

SLOOP-OF-WAR -

A vessel of any rig, mounting between 18 and 32 guns.

SLOP CHEST -

Locker inwhich is stowed clothing for issuance to crew.

SLUE -

To turn anything round or over.

SMALL STUFF -

The term for spun yarn, marline, and the smallest kinds of rope, such as ratline-stuff.

SMELLING GROUND -

When vessel is close enough to water's bottom to nearly touch it.

SNAKE -

To pass small-stuff across a seizing, with marling hitches at the outer turn.

SNATCH-BLOCK -

A single block, with an opening in its side below the sheave, or at the bottom, to receive the bight of a rope.

SNOTTER -

A rope going over a yard-arm, with an eye, used to bend a tripping line to in sending down topgallant and royal yards in sloops of war.

SNOW -

A kind of brig, formerly used.

SNUB -

To check a rope suddenly.

SNYING -

A term for a circular piece of wood edgewise, to work in the bows of a vessel.

SO! -

An order to 'vast hauling upon anything when it has come to its right position.

SOFT TACK -

Fresh bread.

SOLE -

A piece of wood fastened to the foot of the rudder, to make it level with the false keel.

SON OF A GUN -

Seaman who was born aboard a warship.

SOUND -

To get the depth of the water with a lead and line.

SPAN -

A rope with both ends made fast, for a purchase to be hooked to its bight.

SPANKER -

The after sail of a ship or bark. It is a fore-and-aft sail, setting with a boom and gaff.

SPAR -

The general terms for all masts, yards, booms, gaffs.

SPEED-TIME-DISTANCE FORMULA-

Distance = Speed x Time

Speed - Distance/Time

Time = Distance/Speed

SPELL -

The common term for a portion of time given to any activity.

Spell ho! is a request or order given to relieve another from work.

SPENCER -

A fore-and-aft sail, set with a gaff and no boom, and hoisting from a small mast called a spencer-mast, just aft the fore and main masts.

SPINDRIFT -

Scudding spray at sea, mostly on high winds.

SPINNAKER -

A large, light sail used in downwind sailing.

SPILL -

To shake the wind out of a sail by bracing it so that the wind may strike its leech and shiver it.

SPILLING LINE -

A rope used for spilling a sail. Rove in bad weather.

SPINDLE -

An iron pin upon which the capstan moves.

Also, a piece of timber forming the diameter of the main mast.

SPIRKETING -

The planks from the waterways to the port sills.

SPLICE -

To permanently join two ropes by tucking their strands alternately over and under each other.

SPLICE THE MAIN BRACE -

To issue an extra ration of rum.

Also, literal, although splicing the main brace was seldom done.

SPOONING -

Running directly before the wind.

SPOON-DRIFT -

Water swept from the tops of the waves by the violence of the wind in a tempest, and driven along before it, covering the surface of the sea.

SPRAY -

An occasional sprinkling dashed from the top of a wave by the wind, or by its striking an object.

SPREADERS -

Struts used to hold the shrouds away from the mast.

SPRING -

To crack or split a mast.

To spring a luff, is to force a vessel close to the wind, in sailing.

SPRING LINE -

A pivot line used in docking, undocking, or to prevent the boat from moving forward or astern while made fast to a dock.

SPRING-STAY -

A preventer stay, to assist the regular one.

SPRING-TIDES -

The highest and lowest course of tides, occurring every new and full moon.

SPRIT -

A small boom or gaff, used with some sails in small boats. The lower end rests in a becket or snotter by the foot of a mast, and the other end spreads and raises the outer upper corner of the sail, crossing it diagonally. A sail so rigged in a boat is called a sprit-sail.

SPRIT-SAIL-YARD -

A yard lashed across the bow-sprit or knight-heads, and used to spread the guys of the jib and flying jib-boom.

SPUME -

Froth of sea-foam.

SPUNYARN -

A cord formed by twisting together two or three rope-yarns.

SPURLING LINE -

A line communicating between the tiller and tell-tale.

SPURS -

Pieces of timber fixed on the bilge-ways, their upper ends being bolted to the sides above the water.

Also, curved wood, serving as half beams, to support the decks where whole beams cannot be placed.

SPUR SHOES -

Large pieces of timber that come aft the pump-well.

SQUALL -

A sudden, violent wind often accompanied by rain.

SQUARE -

Yards are squared when they are horizontal and at right angles with the keel. Squaring by the lifts makes them horizontal; and by the braces, males them at right angles with the vesel's line.

Also, the proper term for the length of yards. A vessel has square yards whe her yards are unusually long. A sail is said to be very square on the head when it is long on the head.

To square a yard, means to bring it in square by the braces.

SQUARE KNOT -

A knot used to join two lines of similar size. Also called a reef knot.

SQUARE SAIL -

A temporary sail, set at the fore-mast of a schooner or sloop when going before the wind.

STABBER -

A pricker.

STAFF -

A pole or mast, used to hoist flags upon.

STAITH -

Elevated structure from which loose cargo, such as wheat, coal, can be loaded onto a ship.

STANCHIONS -

Upright posts, placed so as to support the beams of a vessel.

Also, upright pieces of timber along the sides of a vessel, to support the bulwarks and rail, and reching down to the bends, by the side of the timbers, to which they are bolted.

Also, any fixed, upright support; as to an awning, or for the man-ropes.

STAND BY! -

An order to be prepared.

STANDARD -

An inverted knee, placed above the deck instead of beneath it.

STAND OF THE TIDE -

Period when there is no vertical motion of the water..Top of high water time..Bottom of low water time.

STANDING RIGGING -

That part of a line which is made fast. The main part of a line as distinguished from the bight and the end.

STAND-ON VESSEL -

That vessel which continues its course in the same direction at the same speed during a crossing or overtaking situation, unless a collision appears imminent. (Was formerly called "the privileged vessel.")

STARBOARD -

The right side of a boat when looking forward.

STARBOARD TACK -

A course with the wind coming from starboard, and the boom on the port side.

STARBOWLINES -

Term for those on the starboard watch.

STAVE OFF -

To cast off with a pole or other object.

STAY -

To tack a vessel, or put her about, so that the wind, from being on one side, is brought upon the other, round the vessel's head.

To stay a mast, is to incline it forward or aft, or to one side or the other, by the stays or backstays.

Thus, a mast is said to be stayed too much fore or aft, or port, etc..

STAYS -

Large ropes, used to support masts, and leading from the head of some mast down to some other mast, or to some part of the vessel. Those which lead forward are called fore-and-aft stays, and those which lead down to the vessel's side are called backstays.

STAYSAIL -

A sail which hoists upon a stay.

STAYSAIL SCHOONER -

A schooner rigged with fore-and-aft sails only, most of them setting on stays.

STEADY! -

An order to keep the helm as it is.

STEERAGE -

That part of the between-decks which is just forward of the cabin.

STEEVE -

A bowsprit steeves, more or less, according to how it is raised from the horizontal

STEM -

A piece of timber reaching from the forward end of the keel, to which it is scarfed, up to the bowsprit,

and to which the two sides of the vessel are united.

STEMMING -

Maintaining position in a river.

Also, reporting ship's arrival to proper authorities.

STEMSON -

A piece of compass timber, fixed on the afterpart of the apron inside. The lower end is scarfed into the keelson, and receives the scarf of the stem, through which it is bolted.

STEP -

A block of wood secured to the keel, into which the heel of the mast is placed.

To step a mast, is to put it in its step.

STERN -

The after part (back) of the boat.

STERN-BOARD -

The motion of a vessel when going stern foremost.

STERN-FRAME -

The frame composed of the stern-post transom and the fashion-pieces.

STERN LINE -

A docking line leading away from the stern.

STERN-POST -

The aftermost timber in a ship, reaching from the afterend of the keel to the deck. The stem and stern-post are the two extremes of a vessel's frame.

Inner stern post. A post on the inside, corresponding to the stern-post.

STERN-SHEETS -

The after part of a boat, abaft the rowers, where the passengers sit.

STIFF -

The quality of a vessel which enables it to carry a great deal of sail without lying over too much on her side. The opposite being crank.

STIRRUPS -

Ropes with thimbles at their ends, through which the foot-ropes are rove, and by which they are kept under the yards.

STOCK -

A beam of wood, or bar of iron, secured to the upper end of the shank of an anchor, at right angles with the arms.

STOCKS -

The frame upon which a vessel is built.

STOCK ANCHOR -

The traditional anchor which has a fixed stock at right angles to the shank.

STOCKLESS ANCHOR -

An anchor in which the flukes can be folded and the shank hauled up into the hawse-pipe.

STOOLS -

Small channels for the dead-eyes of the backstays.

STOPPER -

A stout rope with a knot at one end, and sometimes a hook at the other, used for various purposes on deck.

STOPPER-BOLTS -

Ring bolts to which the deck stoppers are secured.

STOP -

A fastening of small stuff.

Also, small projections on the outside of the cheeks of a lower mast, at the upper parts of the hounds.

STORM BOUND -

Unable to proceed because of inclement weather.

STOW -

To pack or store away; especially, to pack in an orderly, compact manner.

STRAND -

A number of rope-yarns twisted together. Three, four or nine strands twisted together form a rope.

A rope is stranded when one of its strands is parted or broken by chafing or strain.

A vessel is stranded when she is driven ashore.

STRAP -

A piece of rope spliced around a block to keep its parts well together. Some blocks have iron straps, in which case they are called iron bound.

STREAK or STRAKE -

A range of planks running fore-and-aft on a vessel's side.

STREAM -

The stream anchor is one used for warping. Sometimes used as a light anchor to moor by, with a hawser. It is smaller than the bowers, and larger than the kedges.

STRETCH OFF THE LAND -

Old term for catching sleep.

STRETCHERS -

Pieces of wood placed across a boat's bottom, inside, for oarsmen to press their feet against when rowing.

Also, cross-pieces placed between a boat's sides to keep them apart when hoisted up and griped.

STRIKE -

To lower a sail or colors.

STUDDINGSAILS -

Light sails set outside the square sails, on booms rigged out for that purpose. They are only carried with a fair wind and in moderate weather.

SUED or SEWED -

The condition of a ship when she is high and dry on shore.

SUN OVER FOREYARD -

Slang for drinking time.

SUPPORTERS -

The knee-timbers under the cat-heads.

SURF -

The breaking of the sea upon the shore.

SURGE -

A large, swelling wave.

To surge a rope or cable, is to slack it up suddenly where it renders round a pin, or round the windlass of a capstan.

Surge Ho! The notice given when a cable is to be surged.

SWAB -

A mop, formed of old ropes, for cleaning decks.

SWALLOW THE ANCHOR -

To leave the sea once and for all.

SWAMP -

To fill with water, but not settle to the bottom.

SWEAT UP -

To haul up a line to the last possible inch.

SWEEP -

To drag the bottom for an anchor.

Also, large oars used in small vessels to force them ahead.

SWELL -

Succession of long, unbroken waves. Generally occurs due to far off winds.

SWIFT -

To bring two shrouds or stays close together by rope.

SWIFTER -

The forward shroud to a lower mast.

Also, ropes used to confine the capstan bars to their places when shipped.

SWIG -

Term used for hauling off upon the bight of a rope when its lower end is fast.

SWIVEL -

A long link of iron, used in chain cables, made so as to turn upon an axis and keep the turns out of the chains.

SYPHERING -

Lapping the edges of planks over each other for a bulkhead.

TABLING -

Letting one beam-piece into another.

Also, the broad hem on the border of sails, to which the bolt-rope is sewed.

TACK -

To put the ship about, so that from having the wind on one side, you bring it round on the other by the way of her head. The opposite is wearing.

A vessel is on the starboard tack, or has her starboard tacks on board, when she has the wind on her starboard side.

The rope or tackle by which the weather clew of a course is hauled forward and down to the deck.

The tack of a fore-and-aft sail is the rope that keeps down the lower forward clew; and of a studdingsail, the lower outer clew. The tack of the lower studdingsail is called the outhaul.

Also, that part of a sail in which the tack is attached.

TACKLE -

A combination of blocks and line to increase mechanical advantage.

TAFFRAIL or TAFFEREL -

The rail round a ships stern.

TAIL -

A rope spliced into the end of a block and used for making it fast to rigging or spars. Such a block is called a tail-block.

A ship is said to tail-up or down stream, when at anchor, according as her stern swings up or down with the tide; in opposition to heading one way or another, which is said of a vessel under way.

TAIL-TACKLE -

A watch-tackle.

TAIL ON! or TALLY ON!

An order given to take hold of a rope and pull.

TALLY BOARD -

Board bearing instructions to crew of wrecked vessel. Attached to a rocket line shot from rescue ship.

TANK -

An iron vessel placed in the hold to contain the vessel's water.

TAR -

A liquid gum, taken from pine and fir trees, and used for caulking, and to put upon yards in rope-making, and upon standing rigging, to protect it from the weather.

TARPAULIN -

A piece of canvass, covered with tar, used for covering hatches, boats, etc.

Also, the name commonly given to a sailor's hat when made of tarred or painted cloth.

TAUT -

Tight.

TAUNT -

High or tall. Commonly applied to a vessel's mast.

TELL-TALE -

A compass hanging from the beams of a cabin, by which the heading of a vessel may be known at any time.

Also, an instrument connected with the barrel of a wheel, a traversing so that the officer may see the position of the tiller.

TEND -

To watch a vessel at anchor at the turn of tides, and cast her by the helm, and some sail if necessary, so as to keep turns out of her cable.

TENDER -

A small boat used to transport crew, passengers and goods from shore to a larger boat.

TENON -

The heel of a mast, made to fit into the step.

TENTH WAVE -

Commonly believed to be higher than preceding nine waves. In some areas, the fifth wave is largest.

THICK-AND-THIN BLOCK -

A block having one sheave larger than the other. Sometimes used for quarter blocks.

THIMBLE -

An iron ring, having its rim concave on the outside for a rope or strap to fit snugly round.

THOLE-PINS -

Pins in the gunwale of a boat, between which an oar rests when pulling, instead of an oarlock.

THREE SHEETS TO THE WIND -

Said of a person who has had too much to drink. A ship with three sheets in the wind would stagger like a drunken man.

THROAT -

The inner end of a gaff, where it widens and hollows in to fit the mast.

Also, the hollow part of a knee.

The throat brails, halyards, etc. are those that hoist or haul up the gaff or sail near the throat.

Also, the angle where the arm of an anchor is joined to the shank.

THRUM -

To stick short strands of yarn through a mat or piece of canvass, to make a rough surface.

THWART -

A seat or brace running laterally across a boat.

TIDE -

The periodic rise and fall of water level in the oceans.

TIDE-RODE -

The situation of a vessel, at anchor, when she swings by the force of the tide. In opposition to wind-rode.

TIER -

A range of casks.

Also, the range of the fakes of a cable or hawser.

TILLER -

A bar or handle for turning a boat's rudder or an outboard motor.

TILLER-ROPES -

Ropes leading from the tiller-head round the barrel of the wheel, by which a vessel is steered.

TIMBER -

A general term for all large pieces of wood used in shipbuilding.

Also, more particuliarly, long pieces of wood in a curved form, bending outward, and running from the keel up, on each side, forming the ribs of the vessel. The keel, stem, stern-posts, and timbers form a vessel's outer frame.

TIMBER-HEADS -

The ends of the timbers that come above the decks. Used for belaying hawsers and large ropes.

TIMENOGUY -

A rope carried taut between different parts of the vessel, to prevent the sheet or tack of a course from getting foul, in working ship.

TOGGLE -

A pin placed through the bight or eye of a rope, block-strap, or bolt, to keep it in its place, or to put the bight or eye of another rope upon, and thus to secure them both together.

TONNAGE (types)

DEADWEIGHT -

The total weight of cargo and stores a vessel is capable of carrying when floating at it's waterline.

DISPLACEMENT -

The weight of the water displaced by the hull when the vessel is floating at its' load waterline.

GROSS TONNAGE -

The total internal volume of a vessel. 100 cubic feet = 1 ton.

NET TONNAGE -

The internal volume of a vessel available for cargo. Gross tonnage less engine, navigational equipment, etc.

TOP -

A platform, placed over the head of a lower mast, resting on the trestle-trees, to spread the rigging, and for the convenience of sailors' aloft.

To top up a yard or boom, is to raise up one end of it by hoisting on the lift.

TOP-BLOCK -

A large iron-bound block, hooked into a bolt under the lower cap, and used for the top-rope to reeve through in sending up and down topmasts.

TOP-LIGHT -

A signal lantern carried in the top.

TOP-LINING -

A lining on the afterpart of sails, to prevent them from chafing against the top-rim.

TOPMAST -

The second mast above the deck. Next above the lower mast.

TOPGALLANT MAST -

The third mast above the deck.

TOP-ROPE -

The rope used for sending topmasts up and down.

TOPSAIL -

The second sail above the deck.

TOPSAIL SCHOONER -

A schooner which sets one or more square-sails on the foremast above the gaff sail.

TOPGALLANT SAIL -

The third sail above the deck.

TOPPING LIFT -

A lift used for topping up the end of a boom.

Also, the line that controls the height of a spinnaker pole.

TOPSIDES -

The sides of a vessel between the waterline and the deck; sometimes referring to onto or above the deck.

TOP TIMBERS -

The highest timbers on a vessels' side, being above the futtocks.

TOSS -

To throw an oar out of the oarlock, raise it on its' end, and lay it down in the boat, blade forward.

TOUCH -

A sail is said to touch, when the wind strikes the leech so as to shake it a little.

Luff and touch her! The order to bring the vessel up and see how near she will go to the wind.

TOW -

To draw a vessel along by means of a rope.

TRAIN-TACKLE -

The tackle used for running guns in and out.

TRANSOM -

The stern cross-section of a square-sterned boat.

TRANSOM-KNEES -

Knees bolted to the transoms and after timbers.

TRAVELLER -

An iron ring, fitted so as to slip up and down a rope.

TREENAILS or TRUNNELS -

Long pins, used for nailing a plank to timber.

TREND -

The lower end of the shank of an anchor, being the same distance on the shank from the throat that the arm measures from the throat to the bill.

TRESTLE-TREES -

Two strong pieces of timber, placed horizontally and fore-and-aft on opposite sides of a mast-head, to support the cross-trees and top, and for the fid of the mast above to rest upon.

TRIATIC-STAY -

A rope secured at each end to the heads of the fore and main masts, with thimbles spliced into its bight, to hook the stay tackles to.

TRICE -

To haul up by means of a rope.

TRICK -

The time alotted to a person to stand at the helm.

TRIM -

Fore and aft balance of a boat.

TRIMARAN -

A boat with three hulls.

TRIP -

To raise an anchor clear of the bottom.

TRIPLINE -

A line fast to the crown of an anchor by means of which it can be hauled out when dug too deeply or fouled; a similar line used on a sea anchor to bring it aboard.

TRIREME -

A Greek galley with three banks of oars.

TRUCK -

A circular piece of wood, placed at the head of the highest mast of the ship. It has small holes or sheaves in it for signal halyards to be rove through.

Also, the wheel of a gun carriage.

TRUE NORTH POLE -

The north end of the earth's axis. Also called North Geographic Pole. The direction indicated by 000° (or 360°) on the true compass rose.

TRUE WIND -

The actual direction from which the wind is blowing.

TRUNNIONS -

The arms on each side of a cannon by which it rests upon the carriage, and on which, as an axis, it is elevated or depressed.

TRUSS -

The rope by which the center of a lower yard is kept in toward the mast.

TRYSAIL -

A fore-and-aft sail, set with a boom and gaff, and hoisting on a small mast abaft the lower mast, called the trysail-mast. This name is generally confined to the sail so carried at the mainmast of a full-rigged brig; those carried at the foremast and at the mainmast of a ship or bark being called spencers, and those that are at the mizzenmast of a ship or bark, spankers.

TUMBLING HOME -

Said of a ship's sides, when they fall in above the bends. The opposite of wall-sided.

TUNING -

The adjustments made to the standing rigging, the sails and the hull to balance the boat for optimum performance.

TURN -

Passing a rope once or twice round a pin or kevel, to keep it fast.

Also, two crosses in a cable.

TURNBUCKLE -

A threaded, adjustable rigging fitting, used for stays, lifelines and sometimes other rigging.

TYE -

A rope connected with a yard, to the other end of which a tackle is attached for hoisting.

UNBEND -

To cast off or untie.

UNDERWAY -

Vessel in motion, i.e., when not moored, at anchor, or aground.

UNION -

The upper inner corner of an ensign. The rest of the flag is called the fly. The union of the U.S. ensign is a blue field with white stars, and the fly is composed of alternate white and red stripes.

Union-down The appearance of the flag when it is hoisted upside down. Used as a distress signal.

Union-jack A small flag, containing only the union, without the fly, usually hoisted at the bowsprit cap.

VANE -

A fly worn at the mast-head, made of feathers or buntine, traversing on a spindle, to show the direction of the wind.

VANG -

A rope leading from the peak of the gaff of a fore-and-aft sail to the rail on each side, and used for steadying the gaff.

V BOTTOM -

A hull with the bottom section in the shape of a "V."

VARIATION -

The angular difference between the magnetic meridian and the geographic meridian at a particular location.

VEER -

Said of the wind when it changes.

Also, to slack a cable and let it out.

VIGIA -

Uncharted, and undocumented or verified, navigational hazard or danger.

VIOL or VOYAL -

A larger messenger sometimes used in weighing an anchor by a capstan.

Also, the block through which the messenger passes.

VHF RADIO -

A very high frequency electronic communications and direction finding system.

WAIST -

That part of the upper deck between the quarter-deck and the forecastle.

WAKE -

Moving waves, track or path that a boat leaves behind when moving across the waters.

WALES -

Strong planks in a vessel's sides running the entire length fore-and-aft.

WALL -

A knot put on the end of a rope.

WALL-SIDED -

A vessel is wall-sided when her sides run up perpendicularly from the bends. In opposwition to tumbling home or flaring out.

WARD ROOM -

The room in a vessel of war in which the commissioned officers live.

WARE or WEAR -

To turn a vessel round, so that, from having the wind on one side, you bring it upon the other, carrying her stern round by the wind. In tacking, the samse result is produced by carrying a vessel's head round by the wind.

WARP -

To move a vessel from one place to another by means of a rope made fast to some fixed object, or kedge.

WASHBOARDS -

Light pieces of board placed above the gunwale of a boat. Also to the companionway.

WATCH -

A division of time on board a ship. There are seven watches in a day, reckoning from 12 A.M., five of them being of four hours each, and the two others, called dog watches, of two hours each.

WATCH-ANDWATCH -

The arrangement by which the watches are alternated every other four hours. In distinction from keeping all hands during one or more watches.

WATCH HO! WATCH -

The cry of the man that heaves the deep-sea-lead.

WATCH TACKLE -

A small luff purchase with a short fall, the double block having a tail to it, and the single one a hook. Used for various purposes about deck.

WATERLINE -

A line painted on a hull which shows the point to which a boat sinks when it is properly trimmed.

WATER-SAIL -

A save-all, set under the swinging-boom.

WATER-WAYS -

Long pieces of timber, running fore-and-aft on both sides, connecting the deck with the vessel's sides. The scuppers are made through them to let the water off.

WAVESON -

Goods floating on the sea after a shipwreck.

WAY -

Movement of a vessel through the water, such as headway, sternway, or leeway.

WAY ENOUGH! -

Order given to a boat's crew when moving alongside. Boat has sufficient way and oars to be placed inside of boat.

WEATHER -

In the direction from which the wind blows.

A ship carries a weather helm when she tends to come up into the wind, requiring you to put the helm up.

Weather gage. A vessel has the weather gage of another when she is to windward to her.

A weatherly ship, is one that works well to windward, making but little leeway.

WEATHER-BITT -

To take an additional turn with a cable round the windlass-end.

WEATHER ROLL -

The roll which a ship makes windward.

WEATHER TIDE -

The wind and the tide run in opposite directions.

WEIGH -

To lift up, as, to weigh an anchor or a mast.

WELL FOUND -

Said of a vessel that is properly equipped with equipment, gear and stores.

WETDECK -

Hull is sealed or self-draining.

WHARF -

A man-made structure bonding the edge of a dock and built along or at an angle to the shoreline, used for loading, unloading, or tying up vessels.

WHARFINGER -

A person who owns or manages a wharf.

WHEEL -

The instrument by which a ship is steered; being a barrel (round which the tiller ropes go), and a wheel with spokes.

WHIP -

A purchase formed by a rope rove through a single block.

WHISKER POLE -

A light spar that holds the jib out when sailing downwind.

WHISTLING PSALMS TO THE TAFFRAIL -

Slang for giving good, yet unheeded, advice.

WHITE HORSES -

Fast running, foam-crested waves.

WINCH -

A device used to increase hauling power when raising or trimming sails.

WINDLASS -

The machine used to weigh the anchor by.

WIND-RODE -

The situation of a vessel at anchor when she swings and rides by the force of the wind, instead of the tide or current. See ( TIDE-RODE )

WINDWARD -

Toward the direction from which the wind is coming. Opposite of leeward.

WING -

That part of the hold or between-decks nearest the side of the vessel.

WING-AND-WING -

The situation of a fore-and-aft vessel when she is going dead before the wind, with her forsail hauled over on one side and her mainsail on the other.

WITHE or WYTHE -

An iron instrument fitted on the end of a boom or mast, with a ring attached to it, through which another boom or mast is rigged out and secured.

WOOLD -

To wind a piece of rope round a spar, or other thing.

YARDARM -

That part of the yard that lies between the lift and the outer edge.

YARN -

A sea tale.

YAW -

To swing off course, as when due to the impact of a following or quartering sea.

YAWL -

A two-masted sailboat with the small mizzen mast stepped abaft the rudder post.

Corrections, Additions & Clarifications - MMNETSEA