Extended Operational and Trade Vocabulary

Ship Handling, Seamanship and Deck Vocabulary glossary (page 2)

The working vocabulary of the deck and the practice of handling a vessel: relative directions (abaft, abeam, aboard), sailing and tacking orders, weather-deck terminology, mooring and anchoring practice, and the seamanship terms that describe ship movement and station. The plain-language counterpart to the formal navigation and COLREGs sections.

733 defined terms.

Showing 250 on this page (page 2 of 3).

F

Full astern: Engine order for maximum reverse propulsion.
Furl: Roll or fold a sail and secure it.
Futtock: One of the curved timbers forming part of a ship's frame.
Futtock shrouds: Short shrouds leading from the top of the lower mast to the topmast rigging.

G

Gaff: Spar supporting the head of a fore-and-aft sail.
Gale: Wind of force 8 on the Beaufort scale.
Gangway: Movable ramp or bridge for boarding.
Gantline: Single rope rove through a single block aloft for hoisting work.
Gantry crane: Rail-mounted gantry such as STS, RMG, or RTG.
Garboard strake: Plank or plate next to the keel.
Gasket: Lashing securing a furled sail.
Gather way: Begin to move through the water.
Gauge: Position of one ship relative to another with respect to the wind.
General quarters: Battle stations order in a warship.
Ghost: Sail very slowly in a light air.
Gimbals: Pivoted rings keeping an instrument level.
Gipsy: See gypsy.
Girt: Held fast by a chain or cable so that the vessel cannot ride freely.
Give-way vessel: Vessel required to keep out of the way under the collision regulations.
Glass: Barometer; sandglass.
Go about: Tack.
Going large: Sailing with the wind aft.
Gooseneck: Hinged fitting connecting a boom to a mast.
Goosewing: Setting headsail and mainsail on opposite sides when running.
Granny knot: Insecure knot resembling a reef knot but with wrong crossings.
Grapnel: Small anchor with four or more flukes.
Grommet: Ring of rope or eyelet of metal.
Ground tackle: Anchors, cables, and associated gear.
Gudgeon: Eye fitting on the sternpost for the rudder pintle.
Gunwale: Upper edge of the hull at the side.
Guy: Rope steadying a boom or derrick.
Gypsy: Notched wheel on a windlass that grips the anchor chain.

H

Half ahead: Engine order for moderate forward speed.
Half astern: Engine order for moderate reverse speed.
Half-hitch: Simple knot used as the basis of many compound knots.
Halyard: Line used to hoist a sail or yard.
Hand: Member of the crew; furl a sail.
Hand Lead: Sounding lead historically used to measure depth.
Hand-over-hand: Hauling rapidly by alternate use of the hands.
Hand-somely: Slowly and carefully.
Handy billy: Small portable tackle.
Hank: Snap-hook securing a sail to a stay.
Hard a-port: Helm order for full rudder to port.
Hard a-starboard: Helm order for full rudder to starboard.
Hard over: Helm at the limit of its travel.
Hatch: Opening in a deck for cargo access.
Hatch beam: Removable beam supporting hatch boards.
Hatch cover: Watertight cover over a cargo hatch.
Haul: Pull on a rope; shift of wind.
Hawse: Area at the bow where anchors are stowed and chains lead.
Hawse pipe: Pipe through which the anchor cable passes.
Hawser: Heavy rope or cable for mooring or towing.
Hawser-laid: Rope laid up of three strands twisted right-handed.
Head: Top of a sail; toilet; bow.
Head line: Mooring line led forward from the bow.
Head reach: Distance a ship continues to move ahead after engines are stopped or reversed.
Head sea: Sea running against the ship's course.
Headway: Forward motion through the water.
Heave: Vertical translational motion.
Heave around: Turn the capstan or winch in the hauling direction.
Heave down: Careen.
Heave-to: Maneuver to hold position in heavy weather.
Heaving line: Light line thrown to a wharf to haul over a heavier mooring rope.
Heel: Transverse inclination of the vessel.
Helm: Steering control of a vessel; the wheel and rudder.
Helm Orders: Standard wheel commands such as "starboard 10."
Helmsman: Person at the wheel.
High and dry: Aground above the waterline.
Hitch: Knot used to attach a rope to an object.
HMPE: High-modulus polyethylene fiber such as Dyneema or Spectra used in mooring lines.
Hogging: Stress condition with the bow and stern lower than the midship.
Hoist: Raise; vertical portion of a flag.
Hold: Cargo compartment below decks.
Holding ground: Quality of the seabed for anchoring.
Hook: Slang for the anchor.
Horse: Athwartship rail or rod on which a sheet block traverses.
House flag: Owner's distinguishing flag.
Hull down: Hull below the horizon, only the upper works visible.

I

In ballast: Carrying no cargo, only ballast.
In commission: Manned and ready for service.
In irons: Sailing vessel head to wind and unable to pay off.
In stays: Sailing vessel head to wind during tacking.
In trim: Properly loaded for good seakeeping.
Inboard: Toward the centerline; on the inside of the ship.
Inhaul: Rope for hauling a sail or boom inboard.
Inner forestay: Stay inboard of and parallel to the main forestay.
Inshore: Toward the shore.
Interaction: Hydrodynamic effects between two ships passing closely.
Intermediate shaft: Section of propeller shafting between thrust shaft and tail shaft.

J

Jack: Small flag flown at the bow.
Jacobs Ladder: Rope or wire ladder used for boarding pilots and others.
Jib: Triangular headsail of a fore-and-aft rig.
Jib boom: Spar extending the bowsprit forward.
Jibe: Shift a fore-and-aft sail from one side to the other when running.
Jigger: After mast of a four-masted vessel; small tackle.
Joining shackle: Detachable link uniting lengths of anchor chain.
Jolly boat: Light general-purpose ship's boat.
Jumbo Derrick: Heavy-lift derrick on a multipurpose vessel.
Jury Rig: Temporary improvised rig set after damage.

K

Kedge: Light anchor used to move a ship by hauling on its cable.
Keel: Principal longitudinal member at the bottom of the hull.
Keelhaul: Drag a man under the keel as punishment (historical).
Keelson: Internal longitudinal member above the keel.
Kenter shackle: Patent connecting link replacing a length of chain.
Kentledge: Pig-iron permanent ballast.
Ketch: Two-masted rig with mizzen forward of the rudder post and shorter than the main.
Kevel: Heavy belaying cleat.
Kick ahead: Brief application of ahead engine to maintain steerage.
Kick astern: Brief application of astern engine to check headway or assist turning.
King post: Vertical post supporting cargo booms.
Knot: One nautical mile per hour.

L

Labor: Pitch and roll heavily.
Land breeze: Offshore wind at night caused by cooling land.
Landfall: First sighting of land after ocean passage.
Lanyard: Short rope securing or making fast.
Lap link: Repair link closing a parted chain.
Larboard: Old term for port side, no longer used.
Lash: Secure with rope or wire.
Lashing rod: Steel bar tensioned by a turnbuckle to lash containers.
Latch: See pelican hook.
Lay: Direction of twist in a rope; to apply.
Lay aloft: Order to go up the rigging.
Lay days: Days allowed for loading or discharging.
Lay the course: Sail directly toward the intended destination.
Lazaret: Storeroom in the after part of the vessel.
Lazy guy: Light rope to steady a boom.
Lead: Sounding weight on a marked line.
Leadsman: Sailor who heaves the lead.
Lee: Side or direction sheltered from the wind.
Lee helm: Helm action required when a vessel tends to bear away from the wind.
Lee Shore: Shore onto which the wind is blowing; hazardous in heavy weather.
Leech: After edge of a fore-and-aft sail; outer edge of a square sail.
Leeward: Downwind.
Leeway: Lateral drift of a vessel caused by wind.
Length overall: Greatest length of the vessel.
Let fly: Release the sheets so the sail flutters.
Let go: Order to release an anchor or mooring line.
Lifeboat: Boat carried for emergency abandonment.
Lifeboat drill: SOLAS Chapter III drill at intervals not exceeding one month.
Lifeline: Safety line rigged on deck.
Light to: Slack a rope toward another point.
Lighter: Flat-bottomed harbor vessel for transferring cargo to and from ships in roadsteads.
Limber holes: Holes in floors and frames to permit drainage to the bilge.
List: Angle of permanent heel.
Loaded: Carrying cargo.
Lock: Navigation lock raising or lowering vessels.
Log: Instrument measuring speed and distance run; daily journal.
Loll: Slow steady inclination when stability has been lost.
Long splice: Splice that joins two ropes without significant increase in diameter.
Lookout: Person stationed to watch for objects ahead.
Loom: Glow above the horizon from a light beyond visual range; handle of an oar.
Loose: Cast off; not made fast.
Lower: Slack down by easing a rope.
Lubber line: Reference line on compass aligned with ship's head.
Luff: Forward edge of a fore-and-aft sail; head a vessel into the wind.
Luff tackle: Single block and double block tackle giving a three-to-one purchase.
Lug sail: Four-sided fore-and-aft sail set on a yard slung obliquely.

M

MacGregor: Common type of folding steel hatch cover.
Mainmast: Principal mast.
Mainsail: Principal sail set on the mainmast.
Mainsheet: Sheet controlling the mainsail.
Make fast: Secure a rope.
Make way: Move through the water.
Manila: Natural fiber rope made from abaca.
Manrope: Steady rope at a gangway or ladder.
Mark: Numbered fathom division on a lead line.
Marline: Light two-strand line used for seizing and serving.
Marlinspike: Pointed iron tool for splicing rope.
Mast: Vertical spar supporting sails or signaling gear.
Mast band: Iron band on a mast for attaching rigging.
Mast step: Block in which the heel of a mast rests.
Master: Captain of the vessel.
Mate: Deck officer subordinate to the master.
Mediterranean moor: Mooring stern-to with both anchors out forward.
MEG4: OCIMF Mooring Equipment Guidelines, referenced for SOLAS II-1/3-8.
Messenger: Light line used to haul a heavier line.
Midships: Helm order to bring the rudder amidships; the middle section.
Mizzen: Aftermost mast in a yawl or ketch; sail set on it.
MOB: Man overboard.
Mole: Massive coastal structure projecting into the sea.
Monkey's fist: Weighted knot tied at the end of a heaving line.
Mooring: Securing arrangement at a berth or buoy.
Mooring buoy: Buoy to which a ship may secure.
Mooring winch: Powered winch for handling mooring lines.
Muster: Assemble the crew for roll call or drill.
Muster List: Required under SOLAS III/8.

N

Nautical mile: 1852 m international nautical mile.
Neap Tide: Tide with smallest range, near first and third lunar quarters.
Neaped: Stranded by neap tides falling too low to refloat.
Nip: Short turn or pinch in a rope.
Nipper: Short length of rope used to bind cable to messenger (historical).
No higher: Helm order to the helmsman not to come closer to the wind.
No lower: Order not to fall off any further.
Norman: Pin in a bitthead used to belay a line.
Nun buoy: Conical buoy.

O

Oakum: Loose fiber obtained by untwisting old rope, used in caulking.
Oar: Pole with a flattened blade used to propel a boat.
Oarlock: U-shaped device holding an oar; rowlock.
Off and fair: Remove a fitting, repair it, and refit.
Off the wind: Sailing with the wind abaft the beam.
Offing: Open sea visible from shore.
On the bow: Bearing forward of the beam.
On the quarter: Bearing abaft the beam.
On the wind: Sailing close-hauled.
Open hawse: Both anchor cables leading straight from their hawse pipes.
Open order: Wide spacing in formation.
Order book: Total tonnage on order at shipyards.
Outboard: Outside or away from the centerline.
Outhaul: Rope for hauling a sail outboard along a spar.
Overall: Total length.
Overhaul: Examine and repair; separate the blocks of a tackle.
Overstand: Stand on past the laying course.

P

Paddle wheel effect: Sideways thrust of a single propeller, especially in astern movement.
Painter: Bow line of a small boat.
Palm: Flat surface of an anchor fluke; leather sewing aid.
Panama chock: Closed mooring chock with a smooth oval lead.
Parbuckle: Hoist a cylindrical object by rolling it on doubled ropes.
Parcel: Wind tarred canvas strips around a rope before serving.
Parrel: Rope or band holding a yard to its mast.
Pawl: Hinged catch engaging a notched wheel to prevent reverse movement.
Pay: Coat a seam with pitch.
Pay off: Discharge a crew; ship's head falling off from the wind.
Pay out: Slacken or veer a rope.
Pelican hook: Hinged hook released by a sliding link.
Pendant: Short rope with an eye at one end and a thimble at the other.
Pilot: Local navigation specialist who guides ships through restricted waters.
Pilot embarkation: Procedure for taking a pilot on board, usually via pilot ladder.
Pilot Ladder: Ladder constructed to SOLAS V/23 standards.
Pintle: Pin on the rudder fitting into a gudgeon.
Pipe: Boatswain's whistle call.
Pitch: Vertical motion of bow and stern; tar.
Pitch pole: Capsize end-over-end.
Pivot point: Apparent center of rotation during a turn.
Point: Direction; 11.25 degrees on the compass.
Polyester: Synthetic fiber used for mooring lines with high strength and low stretch.
Polypropylene: Synthetic mooring rope fiber that floats.
Pooped: Swept by a sea breaking over the stern.
Port: Left-hand side of a vessel when facing forward; also a harbor.
Port side: Left side of the vessel.
Pram: Small boat with a transom bow.
Preventer: Additional rope rigged to a guy or sheet.
Pricker: Small marlinspike.
Promenade deck: Passenger deck for walking.
Prudent mariner: Standard of care expected of a competent seaman.
Pump out: Discharge bilge or ballast water.
Purchase: Mechanical advantage from a tackle.

Q

Quadrant: Brass arc on the rudder head to which steering chains are attached.
Quarter: Side of the ship abaft the beam.
Quarterdeck: Upper deck abaft the mainmast.
Quartering sea: Sea on the quarter.