Descriptionary

cleats piece of wood or metal having two projecting arms or horns on which to belay ropes.

clinometer instrument that indicates the angle of roll or pitch of a vessel.

companionway a hatchway in a deck with a set of steps or ladders leading from one deck to another.

cordage collective term for all the ropes on a vessel.

cradle wooden frame where boats are stowed on shore.

cross tree athwartship pieces fitted over the trees on a mast.

crow's nest lookout perch attached to or near the head of a mast.

cuddy a small cabin.

davit small crane on a ship's side for hoisting boats or supplies.

deadlight a porthole lid or cover.

deep waterline the depth of a vessel in the water when carrying the maximum amount of allowable weight or cargo.

derrick a type of crane used for hoisting and swing­ing heavy weights.

door, airtight a door constructed to prevent the passage of air.

door, watertight a door constructed to prevent the passage of water.

draft the depth of a vessel below the waterline. Also spelled draught.

draft marks numbers on a vessel's bow or stern indicating the draft or depth of the vessel below the waterline.

dry dock a hollow floating structure designed to sub­merge in order to float a vessel into it, and then to lift the vessel out of the water for repairs or construction.

fantail the overhanging stern section on some vessels.

fathom nautical unit of measurement, in the United States 6 feet, or 1.829 meters.

fender protective plate, bundles of rope, old tires, or other material running along the side of a ship to prevent scratches and dents from rubbing against other vessels or piers.

fetch the distance from a wind's point of origin over the sea to a vessel, affecting the height of waves. Also, to swing around or veer.

fin a projecting keel.

flotilla fleet of small vessels.

flotsam and jetsam debris, goods, or cargo cast or washed from an imperiled or wrecked ship.

flukes the hooks or holding claws of an anchor.

fore the front of a ship or bow area.

fore and aft lengthwise of a ship.

forecastle structure on the upper deck of a ship toward the fore; the crew quarters on a merchant ship.

foul the sea growth or foreign matter covering the underwater portion of a ship's shell.

founder to sink after filling with water.

galley kitchen.

gangplank board or platform used for boarding passengers or cargo.

gangway an opening in a ship's side for the passage of freight or passengers.

grapnel similar to a small anchor, a device used for recovering small items dropped overboard or to hook onto lines from a distance.

graybeards choppy, frothy waves.

gunwale the upper edge of a side of a vessel.

guys wires, ropes, or chains used to support booms, davits, and suchlike.

halyards light lines used in hoisting signals or flags; also, the ropes used in hoisting gaffs, sails, or yards.

hatchway accessway or opening in a deck.

hawse hole through which the anchor chain is hoisted or released; any hole through which a chain or cable is passed.

hawser rope or cable used in mooring or towing. head toilet.

heave to to stop the forward motion of a vessel and lie dead in the water.

heel the leaning of a vessel to one side, caused by wind, waves, or shifting cargo.

helm the steering apparatus, including the tiller, the rudder, and the wheel.

hog scrub broom used for scraping a ship's bottom underwater.

hold space below deck for cargo.

jack ladder ladder with wooden steps and side ropes.

jury temporary structures, such as makeshift masts or rudders, used in an emergency. Also known as jury-rigging.

keel the main structural member running fore and aft along the bottom of a vessel, also known as the backbone.

keelson a beam running above the keel of a vessel.

knot unit of speed, 1 nautical mile (6,080 feet) an hour.

lanyard rope having one free end and one attached to any object for the purpose of remote control; also, any rope used for fastening riggings.

lee the side of a vessel sheltered from the wind, or leeward; opposite of the windward side.

list deviation of a vessel from an upright position, caused by waves, wind, bilging, or shifting cargo.

magazine storage compartment for the stowage of ammunition.

mast upright pole on the center line of a ship's deck, used for carrying sails or for supporting rigging, cargo, and boat-handling gear.

messroom compartment where crew members eat their meals. An officer's meal compartment is some­times called a wardroom messroom.

mooring the operation of anchoring a vessel or securing it to a mooring buoy, wharf, or dock.

mooring lines chains, ropes, or cables used to tie a ship to a wharf or dock.

nautical mile 6,080 feet.