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The Bosunīs Mate Glossary of Terms

The Bosunīs 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 sailorīs knots to the sailors themselves, and from ships to the weather patterns of the seas they ply.

Random terms, by category

Abbreviations and Acronyms (41 terms)
GRT
A measure of the internal volume, or closed-in spaces, of a vessel. One gross registered ton is equal to one hundred cubic feet. This is the measure used to classify vessels and it typically the measure used to classify limits for seafarers as well.
The things sailors do (8 terms)
Avast!
The command to stop, or cease, in any operation.
Why say back when you can say aft instead! (20 terms)
Lee
1. Away from the direction from which the wind is blowing.

2. Sheltered from the wind.

Common sayings and expressions from maritime lore (149 terms)
Abeam
At right angles to the fore-and-aft Line amidships
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.
Various knots both functional and ornamental from the nautical to the ornamental and with both historic and present day value. (12 terms)
Hitch
A Knot used to Secure one Rope to another object or to another Rope, or to form a loop or a noose in a Rope.

Hitches Fall into the general category of knots known as bends



Bits and bobs from life aboard ship (5 terms)
Scurvy
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"
Specific sailing maneuvers (33 terms)
Nipped
A vessel is said to be Nipped or beset when caught between ice-flows in Antarctic or Arctic waters.
The points of sail and seamanship (76 terms)
Log
1) A chronological record of courses or operations.
2) A Navigation instrument used to estimate a shipīs speed.

The parts of ships (131 terms)
Galley
The kitchen of a Ship.
Important people and/or their positions in nautical history (14 terms)
Boatswain
Also Bosun, bosīn, boīsīn, and boīsun, all of which are pronounced Bosun. A crew member responsible for keeping the Hull, Rigging and sails in good repair.
Key locations of the maritime world (20 terms)
Bridge
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 (104 terms)
Deadeye
A Block with three holes uses to receive the laniard of a Shroud or a Stay and provide some Purchase to adjust tension.
Sails, their parts and materials (30 terms)
loofe
(an older spelling for the word Luff)

1. (n) The leading edge of a Sail.

2. (v) The act of a Sail flapping in the wind.

3. (v) To bring the shipīs Head closer to the wind.

Types of vessels and some famous examples (22 terms)
Knockabout
A type of Schooner without a Bowsprit.
The various spars used aboard ship (6 terms)
Topmast
A second Spar carried at the top of a Mast, used to fly more Sail.
The tools of the trade (27 terms)
Viol
An older name for the Messenger used to assist in weighing the Anchor.
terms awaiting clasification (36 terms)
none found
Meteorology and its relationship to sailing (7 terms)
Quartering Sea
When the wind, and thus the waves, are falling on a boatīs quarter.
 
Total Terms: 539 Total Views: 2153282

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