|
|
Sailing Terms
Here is some interesting schooner/sailing vocabulary
A | B | C | D | E |
F | G | H | I | J |
K | L | M | N | O | P
| Q | R | S | T
| U | V | W | X | Y | Z
A
Abaft
toward or at the stern of a ship; further aft
Afterdeck
deck behind a ship's bridge
Aftergaurd
men who work the aft sails on the quarterdeck and poop deck
Ahull
with sails furled and helm lashed to the lee-side
Amidships
midway between the bow and stern of a ship
Astern
at the stern of a ship
B
Backstay
stay extending from ship's mastheads to the back (aft) of the ship
Baggywrinkle:
clumps of frayed rope that protect the sails from chafing against the lines.
Ballaster
one who supplies ships with ballast
Bargemaster
Owner of a barge
Bee
Hardwood on either side of bowsprit through which forestays are reeved
Belay
To secure a rope by winding on a pin or cleat
Bilge
Lowest point of inner hull of a ship where ship's are drained from with a pump
Binnacle
Case in which a ship's compass is kept
Bitts
Posts mounted on a ship for fastening ropes
Bluepeter
Blue flag with white square in centre used as ship's signal
Boatsains Mate
Ship's crewmember in charge of equipment and maintenance
Bobstay
A stay used on ships to steady the bowsprit
Bollard
A short post on a wharf or ship to which ropes are tied
Boltrope
A strong rope stitched to edges of a sail
Boom:
Free-swinging spar attached to the bottom edge of of a sail, riding on the
mast, Red Witch has two.
Bosun:
Boatswain
Bottomry:
Using the ship as collateral to finance a sea voyage
Bow:
Front of ship
Bower:
Anchor carried at bow of a ship
Bowline:
Rope used to keep weather edge of a sail taut
Also a common knot use by sailors
Bowsprit:
a long spar attached to the bow; used to attach sails which hang out over
the ocean.
Brails:
Ropes on edge of sail for hauling up
Bream:
To clean a ship's bottom by burning off seaweed
Bulwark:
The side of a ship above the deck
Bumpkin:
A spar projecting from stern of ship
Bunk:
Red Witch has 5 sleeping berths, called bunks
Bunt:
Middle of the sail
Buntline:
A rope attached to middle of square sail to haul it up to the yard
Burgee:
small ship's flag used for identification or signalling
C
Camber:
slight arch or convexity to a beam or deck of a ship
Capstan:
the drum-like part of the windlass, which is a machine used for winding in rope,
cables or chain connected to an anchor cargo.
Capstan:
the drum-like part of the windlass, which is a machine used for winding in rope,
cables or chain connected to an anchor cargo.
Careen:
to turn a ship on its side in order to clean or repair it
Cathead:
projection near the bow of a ship to which anchor is secured
Chine:
the intersection of the middle and sides of a boat
Chock:
metal casting with curved arms for passing ropes for mooring ship
Clew:
The aft, bottom corner of sail with hole to attach ropes
Coaming:
raised edge around ship's hatches to keep water out
Companionway:
stairs from upper deck of ship to lower deck
Cordage:
ropes in the rigging of a ship
Cringle:
loop at corner of sail to which a line is attached
Crosstrees:
horizontal pieces of wood that cross the mast up high, acting as spreaders for
the shrouds.
D
Davit:
small cranes, usually located aster, that are used to raise and lower smaller
boats from the deck to the water.
Deadeye:
loop at corner of sail to which a line is attached
Ditty bag:
rounded wooden block with hole used to set up ship's stays
Dead-eyes:
blocks in the shroud rigging to adjust tension
Dogwatch:
a short, evening period of watch duty on a ship
Downhaul:
rope for holding down or hauling down a sail or spar
E
Ensign:
Large navel flag
Escutcheon:
part of ship's stern where name is displayed
F
Fairlead:
ring through which rope is led to change its direction without friction
Fardage:
wood placed in bottom of ship to keep cargo dry
Figurehead:
ornament or (usually female) bust attached to the bow of a ship
Fo’c’sle:
contraction of “fore castle” (fore= foreword); the living quarters inside the
hull of a ship.
Forecabin:
cabin in fore part of ship
Forecastle:
short raised deck at fore end of ship; fore of ship under main deck
Foremast:
the mast in the forepart of a vessel, nearest the bow.
Forepeak:
the crew’s quarters, located in the bow.
Foresail:
the lowest square sail on the foremast.
Forestay:
stay leading from the foremast to the bow of a ship
Frames:
the wooden ribs that form the shape of the hull.
Freeboard:
distance between waterline and main deck of a ship
Futtock:
rib of a ship
G
Gaff:
a free-swinging spar attached to the top of the sail.
Gaff-topsail:
triangular topsail with its foot extended upon the gaff
Galley:
the kitchen of a ship.
Gangway:
either of the sides of the upper deck of a ship
Garboard:
plank on a ship’s bottom next to the keel
Grapnel:
small anchor used for dragging or grappling
Groundage:
a charge on a ship in port
Gudgeon:
metal socket into which the pintle of a boat's rudder fits
Gunnage:
number of guns carried on a warship
Guwale:
upper edge of the side of a ship
Gybe:
To past the stern of the boat through the wind, opposite of tack
H
Halyards:
lines used to haul up the sail and the wooden poles (boom and gaff) that hold
the sails in place.
Hank:
A series of rings or clips for attaching a jib or staysail to a stay
Hawse:
distance between ship's bow and its anchor
Hawsehole:
hole for ship's cable
Hawsepipe:
hole for ship's cable
Hawser:
large rope for mooring or towing a ship
Hatch:
an opening in the deck for entering below.
Headsail:
sail set forward of the foremast of a ship
Helm:
Ship's steering wheel
Highliner:
the best of its type of fishing boat. Word originates from a time when the crew
used to fish from the deck of a vessel. The best fisherman got the highest place
on deck, up in the bow, so his line was the highest above the sea.
Hold:
the space for cargo below the deck of the ship ( as in “fish hold”).
Holystone:
sandstone material used to scrape ships' decks
I
Inboard:
inside the line of a ship's bulwarks or hull
J
Jack:
ship's flag flown from jack-staff at bow of vessel
p>
Jack-block:
pulley system for raising topgallant masts
Jettison:
to throw overboard.
Jib:
a triangular foresail in front of the foremast.
Jumbo:
the larger of the headsails.
K
Keel:
the timber at the very bottom of the hull to which frames are attached.
Knockabout:
a type of schooner without a bowsprit.
L
Lazyjacks:
lines from topping lifts to under boom which act as a net to catch the sails
when lowered.
Lines:
ropes used for various purposes aboard a boat.
M
Mainmast:
the tallest mast of the ship; on a schooner, the mast furthest aft.
Mainsail:
the lowest square sail on the mainmast.
Mast:
a large wooden pole used to hold up the sails.
P
Pay out:
to feed line over the side of the boat, hand over hand.
Pilothouse:
a small cabin on the deck of the ship that protects the steering wheel and the
crewman steering.
Planking:
wood boards that cover the frames outside the hull.
Q
Queen topsail:
small stay sail located between the foremast and mainmast.
R
Rigging:
the lines that hold up the masts and move the sails (standing and running rigging).
Rudder:
a fin or blade attached under the hull’s stern used for steering
S
Scuppers:
holes through the ship sides which drain water at deck level over the side.
Sail:
a piece of cloth that catches the wind and so powers a vessel.
Sailing rig:
the equipment used to sail a boat, including sails, booms and gaffs, lines and
blocks.
Schooner:
sailing ships with at least 2 masts (foremast and mainmast) with the mainmast
being the taller. Word derives from the term "schoon/scoon" meaning to move smoothly
and quickly. ( a 3-masted vessel is called a "tern").
Sheet:
piece of line fastened to the sail and used to position relative to the wind.
Shroud:
a line or wire running from the top of the mast to the spreaders, then attaching
to the side of the vessel.
Sole:
the inside deck of the ship.
Spar:
a pole or a beam.
Stay:
a line or wire from the mast to the bow or stern of a ship, for support of the
mast (fore, back, running, and triadic stays).
Stay sail:
any sail attached to a stay.
Stem:
the timber at the very front of the bow.
T
Topmast:
a second spar carried at the top of the fore or main mast, used to fly more
sail.
Transom:
the planking that forms the stern and closes off the sides.
W
Wheel:
device used for steering a boat.
Widow-maker:
a term for the bowsprit (many sailors lost their lives falling off the bowsprit
while tending sails).
Y
Yankee:
a fore-sail flying above and forward of the jib, usually seen on bowsprit vessels.
Yawl boat:
smaller powered boat used to provide steerage-way when not under sail.
INFORMATION REQUEST FORM - click here
Terms and conditions for use of website
Copyright © 2004-2009 Harbor Light Web Design, Lakeshore Sail Charters, LLC
|
