Glossary

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Abaft (Aft)
Near or toward the stern of the boat.
Adrift
Floating without mooring or direction, at a loss.
Alee
On or toward the side of a ship that is away from the wind (opp. windward).
Aloft
High above the deck of a ship.
Amidships
Halfway between the bow and stern of a ship.
Anchor
Shaped piece of iron attached to a chain or rope, and used to grip the sea bottom in order to hold a ship in place.
Anchorage
A place suitable for anchoring, considering the wind and sea bottom. It is usually an harbor area in which the ship may anchor.
Astern
At or toward the rear of a boat.
Athwart
Crosswise. Anything running across a ship, from side to side.
Aweigh
Raised off the bottom (for an anchor).

Backstay
Rope extending from the top of the mast to the ship’s side.
Beam
It’s the largest width of the boat (amidships).
Bimini
A rectangular shelter that protects the bridge and the helm area of an open boat, from sun and rain.
Binnacle
Box or stand that contains the ship’s compass. It is placed near the man who is steering.
Bobstay
Rope or chain to hold a bowsprit down.
Boom
Long spar used to extend the bottom of a sail. It’s linked and pivoting on the mast.
Bow
It’s the forward part of a boat.
Bowline
Rope to hold a sail steady when sailing into the wind.
Bowsprit
Spar projecting forward from the bow of a ship. Ropes from it help to steady sails and masts.
Bridge
The location from which a vessel is steered and controlled.
Bulwark
A ship’s side above the deck that prevent the crew or equipment from going overboard.
Bunk
Narrow bed set against a wall like e shelf.
Buoy
Floating object anchored in a certain place on the water to warn or guide. It marks positions on the water, hidden rocks or shallows, shows the safe part of the channel.

Fender
A buoy placed between boats, or between a boat and a pier, to prevent damage.
Fisherman
It is the staysail between the tow masts of a ketch or a schooner.
Fore and aft
Lengthwise on a ship, from bow to stern. At or toward both bow and stern.
Forecastle
The upper deck in front of the foremast.
Foremast
It’s the vertical spar located forward, nearest the bow of a ship.
Foresail
The main sail on the foremast of a schooner. It’s also the lowest sail on the foremast of a square-rigged ship.
Forestay
Rope or cable reaching from the the top of the foremast to the bowsprit or foredeck.
Forward
Towards the bow of the boat.
Freeboard
The height of the deck above the water.

Harbor
Place or shelter for ships.
Hatch
An opening in a ship’s deck through which a cargo is put in.
Hawsehole
Hole in a ship’s bow for a hawser to pass through.
Heel (to)
To lean over, when beating into the wind or with the wind abeam.
Helm
The wheel by which a ship is steered. By extension, it is also the position of control or guidance.
High tide
The normal level of the water.
Hull
The main structural body of a ship. This does not include the superstructure, the masts, sails and rigging.

Ketch
A fore-and-aft-rigged ship, with a large mainmast toward the bow and a smaller mast toward the stern. The type of mainsail defines if the ketch is Bermudan, gaff-rigged or marconi-rigged.
Knot
A unit of speed used on ships; one nautical mile per hour. One nautical mile = 6080.27 feet.

Latitude
Geographic distance north or south of the equator, measured in degrees.
Leeway
Side movement of a ship.
Longitude
Geographic distance east or west of the prime meridian (Greenwich),
measured in degrees.

Rigging
Ropes , chains, etc.used to support and work the masts, yards and sails on a ship.

Schooner
Ship with two or more masts and fore-and-aft sails.
Scupper
An opening in the side of a ship to let water run off the deck.
Scuttle
An opening in the deck or side of a ship, with a movable cover (that can be tightly closed if needed),
to let light and air run in.
Sheet
Rope that controls the angle at which a sail is set.
Sheets
Space at the bow or stern of an open boat.
Shrouds
Ropes from a mast to the side of a ship, to help support the mast.
Sloop
Sailboat having one mast, a mainsail, a jib, and sometimes other sails.
Spar
A stout pole used to support or extend the sails of a ship; mast, gaff, yard, boom, bowsprit, etc.
Standing rigging
Permanent rigging used to support the spars.
Starboard
The right side of the boat when you are facing the bow (opp. Port).
Stern
The hind part of the boat.
Swamp
Be overhelmed by water coming in over the deck and gunwales.

Tender
A small boat which attends a large yacht, used to transport people between the yacht and the pier.
Tide
The periodic rise and fall of the ocean, caused by the attraction of the moon and the sun.
Tiller
A bar or handle used to turn the rudder in a steering boat.
Topside
The upper part of a ship’s side, esp. the part above the waterline.
Trim
Adjustment of sails with reference to the wind and direction. It’s also the arrangement of weights in the ship, in order to get a correct draft at bow and stern. By extension, it is a set of equipment at the back of the boat controling of the lift-off.

Winch
A mechanical device used for lifting or pulling the ropes that support the sails, turned by a crank.
Windward
Toward the wind (opp. alee).

Yard
A long, slender beam or pole fastened across a mast, used to support a sail.
Yawl
Boat like a sloop with a second short mast set near the stern.