Nautical Terms

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

• Aboard: on or in a vessel
• Aft: toward the stern (back of the boat)
• Ahead: in the direction of the ship's path of travel
• Ahoy: the customary hail to a boat or ship
• Alongside: by the side of a pier or other ship
• Astern: behind the ship
• Awash: so low that the water washes over

B

• Beam: width of the vessel at its widest point
• Below: beneath the deck; downstairs
• Boat: a small vessel
• Bow: the forward end of the vessel
• Bridge: the control center of a vessel

C

• Crow's Nest: a lookout station located at the highest point possible on a ship's mast

D

• Deck: what you walk on aboard ship; the floor
• Draft: the depth a ship floats at in the water

E

F

• Forward: toward the bow or front of the ship

G

• Galley: a ship's kitchen
• Gangway: an opening for getting on or off a ship

H

• Head: (1) the uppermost and most forward part of a ship; (2) the bathroom

I

J

K

• Knot: a unit of speed equal to 1 nautical mile (6080 feet) per hour

L

• Ladder: the stairs on a ship
• Lee: (1) the opposite direction of the wind. (2) sheltered area leeward (away from the wind) of a ship

M

• Mess: part of a ship's crew that eats together or the place where the crew eats

N

O

• Oscar Flag: a square orange and yellow flag meaning man overboard
• Overhead: the ceiling of a ship

P

• Port: (1) the left side of the ship when facing forward; (2) a porthole

Q

R

• Rack: a crew member's bed

S

• Ship: a large, ocean-going vessel
• SOS: radio distress signal short for "save our ship"
• Starboard: the right side of the ship when facing forward
• Stateroom: an officer's or passengers cabin
• Stern: the back of a vessel
• Swab: (1) to mop the deck; (2) the mop

T

U

• Underway: when a vessel is not tied to a pier or at anchor

V

W

X

Y

Z