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) AIS A system for tracking commercial shipping. Ships broadcast digital information regarding their name, home Port, cargo, destination, and other particulars which can then be displayed as an overlay on RADAR when tracking them as a target vessel. Used largely in VTS systems and by Coast Guard stations. Form more see our AIS Information page: http://www.bosunsmate.org/ais/	Actions 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.
Directions Why say back when you can say aft instead! (20 terms) Forward Toward the Bow of the Boat.	Expressions Common sayings and expressions from maritime lore (149 terms) Fake 1. One circle of a Coil or Rope. 2. To Coil or arrange a Rope with each Fake flat, or almost flat, on the Deck, usually in a circle or figure-of-eight pattern - used to ensure a Rope (such as the Anchor hawser) can Pay out quickly without runnign fowl.
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) Sheetbend A Knot used to tie two ropes of unequal thickness together. Also known as the weaver´s knot
Life aboard Bits and bobs from life aboard ship (5 terms) Skylarking Playing by climbing around in the Rigging. Especially when done as high as possible.	Maneuvers Specific sailing maneuvers (33 terms) Adrift Floating free with the wind and currents.
Navigation The points of sail and seamanship (76 terms) Give-way-vessel A term, from the Navigational Rules, used to describe the vessel which must yield in meeting, crossing, or overtaking situations.	Parts The parts of ships (131 terms) King spoke Marked top spoke on a wheel when the Rudder is centered. Provided as a way to indicate when the Rudder was Amidships and to assist in counting turns of thr wheel so that the Helmsman would know when the wheel was hard to Starboard or Port. The mark would frequently be in the form of a turks-head or other decorative Knot tied around this spoke.
People Important people and/or their positions in nautical history (14 terms) Limey 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.	Places Key locations of the maritime world (20 terms) Quay A wharf used to discharge cargo
Rigging Rigging components and terms (104 terms) Chain plate A steel plate or Bar by which the standing Rigging is attached to the Hull.	Sails Sails, their parts and materials (30 terms) Batten Pockets Pockets in a Sail where battens can be placed to stiffen the Sail.
Ships Types of vessels and some famous examples (22 terms) Yacht A sailboat or powerboat used for pleasure; ie: not a working Boat.	Spars The various spars used aboard ship (6 terms) Jigger-mast After mast  the 4th Mast on a five or 6 masted Schooner or sailing Ship carrying a spanker, or the mizzen Mast of a Yawl or a Ketch.
Tools The tools of the trade (27 terms) Daymark A signboard attached to a Daybeacon to convey navigational information presenting one of several standard shapes and Colors. Daymarks usually have reflective material indicating the shape, but may also be lighted.	unsorted terms awaiting clasification (36 terms) none found
Weather Meteorology and its relationship to sailing (7 terms) Hurricane A strong tropical revolving storm of force 12(65 mph) or higher in the northern hemisphere. Hurricanes revolve in a clockwise direction.

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