Common Nautical Terms

Fore

Towards the bow of the ship

Aft

Towards the rear

Bow

The front of the ship

Stern

Back

Port

Left side of the ship from the perspective of looking forward

Starboard

Right side of the ship from the perspective of looking forward

Mast

Vertical pole that may have a sail or rigging or antennas for powerboats

Keel

Center of the hull. Lowest in water where weight is most carried

Lee

Side of the vessel sheltered from wind

Windward

Side of the vessel wind is coming from

Hawser

Large line

Strike

Lower or bring down

Aloft

Above the ship’s uppermost solid structure, overhead or high above

Alongside

By the side of the pier or ship

Awash

So low in the water that the water is constantly washing across the service

Billet

A crew members assigned duties within the ship’s organization

BMOW

Boatswain’s mate of the watch is responsible to ensure all watches are properly manned and in order

Beam

Greatest athwart ships width of a vessel

Brow

A moveable ladder or ram used for boarding a vessel from a dock

Centerline

Imaginary line running from ship’s bow to stern

Check

To slack off slowly, to ease off a line a little

Davit

Shipboard crane that can be swung out over the side

EOW

An officer in charge of the enginnering department while on watch

Fast

Snugly secured

Fathom

A six foot unit of length

Fender

A piece of equipment, such as an inflated ball when inserted between the. vessel and another object will absorb shock and prevent damage

Forecastle

Upper deck in the forward part of the ship, pronounced “FOKE-sul”

Gunwale

Upper edge or rail of a ship or boat’s side, pronounced “GUN’nle”

Inboard

Toward the center of the ship

Outboard

Away from the center of the hull

Part

To break, as of a line

Scullery

Compartment for washing and sterilizing eating utensils

Turn to

An order to begin work

Void

An empty compartment below decks

Wake

The track left in the water behind a ship

Yaw

Zigzagging motion of a vessel as it is carried off its heading by strong seas