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                      Glossary of Nautical Terms
(Source: "The Bluejackets' Manual," 12th Edition, USNI Press, Annapolis)

The use of nautical terms in this fanfic may be confusing to some readers; 
a fact that was brought to my attention by our very own White Wolf. I have 
compiled this glossary of terms as a reference and as a source of useless 
but entertaining trivia. Many common expressions in the English language 
have their origins in the sea. Some of them may surprise you, and some 
of them may seem obvious. Unfortunately, some definitions offered simply 
use other terms that may be unfamiliar as well, and will require that 
you look up several definitions to understand them. 



ABAFT- Farther aft, as, "Abaft the mast."

ABEAM- On a relative bearing of 90 degrees (abeam to starboard) or 270 
degrees (abeam to port).

AFT- Towards the stern.

AFTER- That which is farthest aft.

AFTERMAST- The mast that is farthest aft on ships with four masts.

AHOY- A hail or demand for attention.

ALEE- In the direction toward which the wind is blowing; downwind.

AMIDSHIPS- An indefinite area midway between the bow and the stern. Rudder 
amidships means that the rudder is in line with the ship's centerline.

ASTERN- Directly behind a ship.

ATHWART- Across; at right angles to.

ARRRRR- Stereotypical expression of bloody buccaneers. Usually preceeds 
sentences of cliche'd nautical jargon or inane sea stories. (Note: arrrrr 
has been replaced with the expression "no shit, there I was..." in the 
modern parlance for preceeding an inane sea story.)

AVAST- Similar to "ARRRRR" above, except that this term actually means 
something: Stop, as in "Avast heaving."

AYE AYE- Reply to a command or order, meaning "I understand and will obey."

BATTEN DOWN- The act of applying battens to a hatch; extended to mean the 
closing of any watertight fixture.

BEAM- (1)The extreme breadth of a vessel. (2)A transverse frame supporting 
a deck.

BEAR- Not the animal but the act of being on a particular bearing.

BEAR A HAND- (1)Provide assistance. (2)Expedite.

BEARING- The direction of an object from an observer, measured in degrees 
clockwise from a reference point. (1)True bearing is the angular difference 
between lines drawn from the observer to true north and to the object. 
(2)Magnetic bearing is the direction of the object measured on a magnetic 
compass. (3)Relative bearing is the angle between the ship's bow and the 
object.

BELAY- (1)To secure a line to a fixed point. (2)Order to disregard a 
previous order or to stop an action.

BELAYING PIN- Small wooden or metal projection used as a point for tying 
down lines. Belaying pins were often removable from their mounts, and saw 
use as weapons of opportunity during boarding actions.

BERTH- (1)Sleeping area. (2)Location on a pier or quay where ships docked.

BIGHT- The middle part of the line or a loop in a line.

BILGE- Bottom of the hull near the keel. Usually full of foul water and 
drainage from the decks above. Also a popular location for punitive cleaning 
assignments.

BITTER END- Not the fanfic by Zen, but the free end of a rope or line. 
This is where the expression "the bitter end" comes from: you're at the 
end of your rope...

BOATSWAIN, BOSUN- Pronounced "boh-sun." Warrant officer in charge of deck 
work. 

BOW- The forward end of a ship or boat.

BRIGHT WORK- Bare metal that is kept highly polished rather than painted; 
partly for decorative purposes, but mostly to give sailors something 
pointless to do. Brass is the most common metal used in bright work. 

BROAD ON THE BOW(QUARTER)- Halfway between the bow(stern) and abeam.

BROADSIDE- (1)The act of firing all main battery guns to one side at once.
(2)Sideways.

BROW- Naval term for gangplank.

BUCCANEER- Bastardization of the French word "bouccanier," which described 
the feral hunters of Hispaniola, southern Cuba, and other carribean islands 
who made a living killing and butchering the wild cattle and pigs left by 
the Spanish. These men sold their "bouccan," or strips of smoked meat, to 
ships as provisions. Often they would join a privateering crew -where they 
enjoyed a reputation for being particularly fierce, bloody minded, and 
superlative marksmen. The term later became synonymous with pirates;
although the French privateers preferred to call themselves "fillibustiers,"
which eventually became "freebooters" in English.

BULKHEAD- Vertical partition in a ship. Also known as a wall for you 
landlubbers.

CAPSTAN- A cylinder turned by a group of men that acts as a winch for 
weighing anchor, and hauling on lines.

CENTERLINE- Imaginary line running along the keel through the long axis of a 
ship. Used as a reference direction.

CHAINSHOT- Cannon ammunition consisting of two cannon balls linked by a 
length of heavy chain. The purpose of chainshot was to clear decks of 
men and to damage the target vessel's masts and rigging.

CHANTER- Sailor who leads the chanty during heavy work. Good chanters were 
often excused from all other duties in order to come up with new songs. 
The term comes from the French word "chanter" which means "to sing."

CHANTY- Song used by sailors to maintain the rhythm required for 
coordinating heavy work among several men such as hauling loads, mooring 
lines, and other "heaving" tasks. Chanties were often led by a sailor whose 
only job was to sing, known as a chanter. "Blow the Man Down" is a chanty 
that has survived to some extent in the popular consciousness to this day. 
Chanties were also used for other tasks that required the sailors to 
maintain their timing, such as for saluting guns, which are fired at five 
second intervals.

CLOSE HAULED- A ship whose sails are arranged for sailing at an angle as 
close as possible to directly against the wind.

COLORS- A flag or national ensign.

CUMSHAW- (1)A gift. (2)Something procured (legally) without payment.

DAVITS- Strong arms by means of which a boat is hoisted in or out.

DEAD HORSE- An effigy of a horse made by sailors and cheerfully burned at 
sea at the point where they had worked off their debts to the ship from 
pay advances taken before the voyage. This is the origin of the expression 
"work off a dead horse."

DEVIL- The longest seam on the ship, located along the keel. The expression 
"the Devil to pay" comes from the onerous task of swabbing sealing pitch 
(pay) into the seam while the ship was drydocked, and entered into common 
usage as a term for any difficult or unpleasant task. This term was further 
modified over the years by ignorant landlubbers to become "Hell to pay."

DRAFT- The vertical distance from the keel to the waterline.

EBB- Ebb, ebb tide, and on the ebb all refer to a falling tide.

EYES- The most forward part of the forecastle.

FAKE, FAKE-OUT, FAKED- The act of storing line for ready use by laying it 
out in long flat lengths one alongside the other.

FAST- To hold something or someone in place.

FATHOM- Unit of depth equal to six feet.

FIREPOT- Incendiary hand grenade made of burning pitch in a lidded clay jar.

FIRESHIP- A vessel coated with flammable pitch and loaded with fuel, 
explosives, and other combustibles used as a suicide attack on enemy 
shipping. Fireships were often manned by the minimum number of sailors 
necessary to operate them. The crew was responsible for grappling with 
or ramming the target, lighting the fires, and then swimming for their 
lives. Fireships were very common weapons in the naval battles of the 16th 
and 17th Centuries. 

FOGY- A longevity pay increase. This is where the term "old fogy" comes 
from, as only sailors who had been in for a very long time qualified for 
the extra pay.

FOLLOWING SEA- Sea conditions where the waves push on the ship from 
directly aft.

FORE AND AFT- The entire length of the ship.

FORECASTLE, FOC'SLE- Pronounced "fOHk-sul." Forward section of the main 
deck, generally extending from the stem aft to just abaft the anchor 
windlass. On sailing ships, the foc'sle was where the crew was berthed.

FOREMAST -On ships with three or more masts, the foremast was the first 
mast aft of the bow.

FORWARD- Towards the bow.

FOUL- (1)Entangled. (2)Stormy.

GALLEY- (1)Space where food was prepared; also known as a kitchen to normal 
people. (2)Ancient vessel using banks of oars for primary propulsion.

GRAPESHOT- Cannon ammunition consisting of four to sixteen small cannonballs 
held together in a wooden and wire cage for ease in loading. The balls would 
fly apart after leaving the cannon, scattering with devastating effect 
against men.

GUNWALE- Pronounced "gunnel." That part of the ship's side that projects 
above the main deck of ships, or the topmost part of the sides of a boat.

HALYARD- A line used to hoist sails, flags, and pennants.

HANDSOMELY- Steadily and carefully, but not necessarily slowly.

HARD OVER- Condition of a rudder that has been turned to the maximum 
possible rudder angle.

HATCH- A square or rectangular access in a deck. Not to be confused with a 
door, which provides access through bulkheads.

HEAD- (1)The upper end of a lower mast boom. (2)Compartment containing 
toilet facilities. (3)The ship's bow.

HEADING- The direction toward which the ship is pointing at any instant.

HEAVE AROUND- (1)The act of hauling in a line, usually by means of a capstan 
or winch. (2)Polite way of saying "Get your ass in gear."

HEAVE IN- Take in line or cable.

HEAVE OUT AND LASH UP- Admonishment given at reveille to sailors ordering 
them to get out of their hammocks and lash them up (for day storage).

HEAVY SEA- Rough sea conditions characterized by large waves and high winds.

HELM- Mechanical device to position a rudder. A wheel aboard ship, and a 
lever on boats.

HITCH- (1)To bend a line to or around a ring or cylindrical object. (2)A 
common term for an enlistment.

HULL DOWN- Refers to a ship that is so far over the horizon that only its 
sails and rigging are visible. Conversely, hull up means a ship on the 
horizon that can be seen in its entirety.

INBOARD- Toward the centerline.

JACOB'S LADDER- A portable rope ladder.

KEEL- The ship's backbone; the lowest and largest longitudinal support 
member of the ship, running along the ship's centerline from stem to stern.

KNOT- Here refers to a term for speed. In the days of wooden ships and iron 
men, speed was determined by letting out a length of rope with knots tied 
in it at equal intervals. The faster the ship's speed, the more rope would 
pay out in its wake, and hence the greater number of knots that would get 
wet. In modern times a knot corresponds to one nautical mile (6076.12 feet) 
per hour, or about 1.15 statute miles per hour.

LARBOARD- To the left of the centerline when facing forward. This term 
became obsolete in the 19th Century, and was replaced with "Port." I have 
refrained from using the term, even though it is more accurate from a 
historical sense, to prevent confusion with "starboard," and because the 
term "port" is usually understood by most of the "nautically challenged."

LASH- To secure an object by turns of line, wire, or chain.

LAY- (1)Movement of a person, as in "Seaman Sample, lay aft." (2)To put 
something down, as in to lay tile. (3)The direction of twist of the strands 
in a line or wire.

LEE- An area sheltered from the wind; downwind.

LEEWARD- Pronounced "Loo-ard." Direction toward which the wind is blowing.

LIBERTY- Permission to be absent from a ship or station for a short period 
of time, and that which sailors hold most precious to them in the world.

LINE- Term applied to any non-metallic rope, which is of course the only 
kind of rope one would find in the 17th Century.

LIST- Transverse inclination of the ship. Or, how much it's tilting to one 
side.

LOG- (1)Book or ledger in which data or events that occured during a watch 
are recorded. (2)The act of recording such.

MAINMAST- The largest, strongest mast on a ship. On ships with two masts, 
the mainmast is the forward most mast. On ships with three or more masts, 
the mainmast is the first mast aft of the foremast. The mainmast was a 
common assembly point for musters, divine services, and for punishment 
for offenses.

MAGAZINE- Compartment used for the stowage of gunpowder, heavy projectiles, 
explosives, and pyrotechnics.

MAKE FAST- To secure, to hold down.

MAN O' WAR- A combatant ship. Usually given to frigates and larger warships.

MESS- (1)Meal (especially when Akane cooks.) (2)Place where meals are 
taken, as in messhall. (3)A group who take meals together, as in the 
officers' mess.

MIZZENMAST- On ships with two or more masts, the mizzenmast is the mast 
directly aft of the mainmast.

MUSTER- (1)A rollcall. (2)The act of assembling for a rollcall.

OUTBOARD- Away from the centerline.

OVERHAUL- (1)To repair or recondition. (2)To overtake another vessel.

PARTY- A group having a common temporary assignment or purpose, as a 
working party, line-handling party, or liberty party.

PAY- Pitch. Used for caulking ship's seams below the waterline to seal 
them.

PAY OUT- To feed out or lengthen a line.

PIPE- The act of sounding a particular call on the bosun's pipe (whistle).

POINT- One of the cardinal or subcardinal directions on a compass such as 
West, Southeast, North-by-Northwest, etc;. Points were spaced 11.25 degrees 
apart, thus there were 32 points on a compass. Steering orders and bearings 
were often given in points.

POLLYWOG- A lowly person who has never crossed the equator by ship.

PORT- To the left of centerline when facing forward. Replaced "larboard" in 
U.S. Navy terminology in 1846.

POUNDER- Designation of a cannon's bore size. For example: a lead 
projectile of the diameter of a nine-pounder cannon's bore will weigh 
nine pounds. An obsolete term in the 20th Century, the concept lives on 
with shotgun calibers. Gauge refers to the number of lead projectiles of the 
diameter of the shotgun's bore that add up to one pound. A 12-gauge shotgun 
would therefore require twelve lead balls the size of the weapon's bore to 
make up one pound of lead.

P's and Q's- Abbreviation for "Pints and Quarts," which could be found on 
slates hanging up behind bars throughout the world. Sailors were often 
offered credit at such establishments, as the proprietors knew they would 
be given an advance in pay prior to a voyage. The expression "Mind your 
P's and Q's" came to mean staying on your best behavior. Since a drunken 
sailor could be easily duped by an unscrupulous landlord, it made sense to 
stay sober enough to catch him putting a few extra tick marks next to your 
name on the slate -and sobriety usually meant good behavior.

QUARTERMASTER- Seaman assistant to the Navigator.

REEF- (1)An underwater ledge rising abruptly from the ocean's floor. (2)To 
furl sails and keep them fast.

REEF STAYS- Short lines that are used to keep sails furled.

RIGGING- Lines, blocks, and tackle. Rigging used for supporting masts is 
called standing rigging, while that used for hoisting or moving equipment 
is called running rigging.

ROPEYARN SUNDAY- Term applied to an otherwise workday that has been granted 
as a holiday for the purpose of tending to personal business. Ropeyarn 
days allowed a crew to catch up on mending clothes, taking care of haircuts, 
and other small chores that get put aside for the ship's business.

SCUTTLEBUTT- (1)Originally a ship's water barrel (called a butt) which was 
tapped (scuttled) with a spigot from which the crew drew their drinking 
water. (2)Because the crew would tend to gather here while getting a drink, 
the term came to mean the rumors and other gossip that were inevitably 
exchanged during such gatherings. People who don't go to sea for a living 
can probably relate to this as hanging out by the watercooler...

SECURE- (1)To make fast. (2)To cease an activity.

SHELLBACK- A worthy person who has crossed the equator and survived the 
punishment given by Neptune's Court for the most heinous offense of being 
a pollywog. (Neptune himself rarely attends these functions, preferring 
to delegate this task to members of his Court and to his crusty shellbacks.
These days only aircraft carriers, with their vast numbers of hapless 'wogs 
bemoaning their cruel and quite possibly disgusting toils, can draw him 
out for a personal appearance. Other times a member of his Court will 
assume his mantle and appearance.)

SHIPSHAPE- Neat, clean, taut, in fine shape.

SHOW A LEG- Admonishment given at reveille. In later times, sailors often 
brought their wives with them on long voyages (a fact the British Navy 
vehemently denies even when there is documentation to the contrary...).
To "show a leg" meant dangling a leg out of your hammock. If the leg was 
big and hairy, said sailor could expect a sound whipping to get him out 
of bed. If the leg was dainty and sheathed in silk, said person was allowed 
to continue sleeping. Such determinations were very touchy subjects with 
Bosuns of crews where wives had big hairy legs...

SKYLARK- To engage in irresponsible horseplay.

SNUB- The act of suddenly checking a line that is running out under strain.

SOUND- (1)To determine the depth of water. (2)The act of a whale or similar 
creature in diving deep. (3)A body of water between the mainland and a 
large coastal island.

SPINDRIFT- Fine mist of seawater caused by the rough action of cresting 
waves in a heavy sea, or that caused by the bow of a swift ship moving 
through the water.

SQUARE AWAY- Put in proper order; make things shipshape.

STANCHION- Vertical posts used for supporting decks.

STARBOARD- Direction to the right of centerline when facing forward.

STAY- Any piece of standing rigging providing support only.

STEM- Extreme forward line of the bow.

STERN- The aftermost part of a vessel.

TURN IN- Retire to sleep.

TURN OUT- (1)Get out of bed. (2)Order out a working party or other group.

TURN TO- Start working. Also another polite way of saying "Get your ass in 
gear."

VICTUALS- Pronounced "vittles." Foodstuffs and other expendables for a 
voyage.

VOID- A space not used for storage or as a working/living space. 

WAIST- The amidships section of the main deck.

WATCH- (1)One of the periods (usually 4 hours) into which a day is divided. 
(2)A particular duty, or the one who performs said duty.

WEATHER DECK- Any deck exposed to the elements.

WEIGH ANCHOR- Hoist the anchor clear of the bottom. 

WINDWARD- Toward the direction from which the wind is blowing.

YARD, YARDARM- A spar set athwartships across a mast from which the sails 
are hung.

YAW- The act of a vessel in having its heading thrown wide of its course as 
the result of a force from astern, such a heavy following sea.