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
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Abbreviations and Acronyms
(41 terms)
SOS
1) Save Our Souls
2) Save Our Ship |
The things sailors do
(8 terms)
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Why say back when you can say aft instead!
(20 terms)
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Common sayings and expressions from maritime lore
(149 terms)
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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.
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Various knots both functional and ornamental from the nautical to the ornamental and with both historic and present day value.
(12 terms)
Sheepshank
A shortening Knot, which enables a Rope to be shortened through a doubling along the length. The Sheepshank will easily untie if tension is not maintained.
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Bits and bobs from life aboard ship
(5 terms)
Skylarking
Playing by climbing around in the Rigging. Especially when done as high as possible.
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Specific sailing maneuvers
(33 terms)
Hike
To lean out over the side of a smaller sailing vessel to balance it against the force of the wind. In some vessels an apparatus is rigged to assist in leaning our further called a trapeze.
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The points of sail and seamanship
(76 terms)
Latitude
A graduation of the surface of the earth measured north or south of the equator and expressed in degrees with the equator being 0° and the poles being 90°.
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The parts of ships
(131 terms)
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Important people and/or their positions in nautical history
(14 terms)
Nippers
1. Short lengths of Rope marled or braded and used when weighing the Anchor to bind the Cable to the Messenger or Viol. The (usually hemp) Cable was too thick to be brought around the capstain directly, and as such would be bound by the Nippers to the messanger which in turn was taken around the capstain.
2. The Boys or men responsible for working the Nippers were also referred to as Nippers themselves 3. Slings used when hoisting yards that were wet and slippery. 4. A lashed hammock wi... |
Key locations of the maritime world
(20 terms)
Caught between the devil and the deep blue sea
With the straightforward meaning of being in a troublesome spot, the interesting thing is the origin of this expression.
The deep blue sea part is obvious - but in this case the "devil" is not the scary guy with horns but the Hull plank closest to the waterline where barnacles and marine growth gather the heaviest. The crew on long voyages would always spend time maintaining the Ship and scraping the growth off this area was one of the nastiest of jobs. Both due to the fact t... |
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Rigging components and terms
(104 terms)
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Sails, their parts and materials
(30 terms)
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Types of vessels and some famous examples
(22 terms)
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The various spars used aboard ship
(6 terms)
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The tools of the trade
(27 terms)
Caulking
Material used to seal the seams in a wooden vessel, making it watertight
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terms awaiting clasification
(36 terms)
none found |
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Meteorology and its relationship to sailing
(7 terms)
Quartering Sea
When the wind, and thus the waves, are falling on a boatīs quarter.
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Total Terms: 539 Total Views: 2118058
