by Alaric Bond
Cat's paws
Light disturbance in calm water indicating a wind.
Caulk
Sl. To sleep. Also caulking, a process to seal the seams between strakes.
Chapbook
A small booklet, cheaply produced.
Company Bahadur
Sl. Indian name for the East India Company.
Close hauled
Sailing as near as possible into the wind.
Coaming
A ridged frame about hatches to prevent water on deck from getting below.
Companionway
A staircase or passageway.
Counter
The lower part of a ship's stern.
Course
A large square lower sail, hung from a yard, with sheets controlling, and securing it.
Crank
Sl. Description of a ship that lacks stability, having too much sail or not enough ballast. Opposite of stiff.
Crown and Anchor
A popular shipboard dice game.
Crows of iron
"Crow bars" used to move a gun or heavy object.
Cuddy
Area in a merchant ship forward of the roundhouse, on the same level as the quarterdeck.
Cutter
Fast small, single masted vessel with a sloop rig. Also a seaworthy ship's boat.
Deckhead
The underside of the deck above. Also Overhead.
Ditty bag
Sl. A seaman's bag. Derives its name from the dittis or 'Manchester stuff' of which it was once made.
Dogwatch
Short two hour watch that break the four hour cycle, giving each watch keeper a variation in watches.
Dolly
Wooden implement for stirring clothes in a wash tub.
Drab
Sl. A particularly nasty slut or whore.
Driver
Large sail set on the mizzen in light winds. The foot is extended by means of a boom.
Dunnage
Officially the packaging around cargo. Also Sl. Seaman's baggage or possessions.
Factor
Owner or governor of a factory or trading post; a master merchant.
Fall
The loose end of a lifting tackle on which the men haul.
Fife rail
Holed rail to accept belaying pins.
First Luff
Sl. First lieutenant.
Flick
Sl. To cut.
Forereach
To gain upon, or pass by another ship when sailing in a similar direction.
Forestay
Stay supporting the masts running forward, serving the opposite function of the backstay. Runs from each mast at an angle of about 45 degrees to meet another mast, the deck or the bowsprit.
Foretack
Line leading forward from the bowsprit, allowing the clew of the forecourse to be held forward when the ship is sailing close to the wind.
Founder
Verb, to sink without touching land of any sort, usually during bad weather.
Frapping/Frapped
When not in service the gun, carriage and breaching tackle are lashed together, or Frapped.
Frizzen
Striking plate of a flintlock mechanisum.
Futtock shrouds
Rigging that projects away from the mast leading to, and steadying, a top or crosstrees. True sailors climb up them, rather than use the lubber's hole, even though it means hanging backwards.
Gaff
Spar attached to the top of the gaff sail.
Gaff sail
Fore and aft quadrilateral shaped sail, usually set at the mizzen.
Gangway / Gangboard
The light deck or platform on either side of the waist leading from the quarterdeck to the forecastle, often called a gangboard in merchant ships. Also, narrow passages left in the hold, when a ship is laden.
Gasket
Line or canvas strip used to tie the sail when furling.
Glass
Telescope. Also, hourglass; an instrument used for measuring time. Also barometer.
Gore
The lower edge of a sail, usually scalloped, in the case of a main or forecourse. In warships the gore is deeper (more round). Also Roach.
Gratings
An open wood-work of cross battens and ledges forming cover for the hatchways, serving to give light and air to the lower decks. In nautical phrase, he “who can’t see a hole through a grating” is excessively drunk.
Grape
Cannon shot, larger than case.
Grog
Rum mixed with water (to ensure it is drunk immediately, and not accumulated). Served twice a day at ratios differing from three to five to one.
Gunpowder
A mixture of charcoal, potassium nitrate and sulphur.
HEIC
Honourable East India Company.
Halyards
Lines which raise: yards, sails, signals etc.
Handspike
Long lever.
Hanger
A fighting sword, similar to a cutlass.
Head
Toilet, or seat of ease. Those for the common sailor were sited at the bow to allow for a clear drop and the wind to carry any unpleasant odours away.
Headway
The amount a vessel is moved forward, (rather than leeway: the amount a vessel is moved sideways), when the wind is not directly behind.
Heave to
Keeping a ship relatively stationary by backing certain sails in a seaway.
Holystone
Sl. Block of sandstone roughly the size and shape of a family bible. Used to clean and smooth decks. Originally salvaged from the ruins of a church on the Isle of Wight.
Hounds
Projections at the mast-head.
Idler
One who does not keep a watch, cook, carpenter, etc.
Interest
Backing from a superior officer or one in authority, useful when looking for promotion to, or within, commissioned rank.
Jack Dusty
Sl. Purser's steward, also Jack of the dust.
Jacob's ladder
Rope ladder (often used for boarding a ship from a boat).
Jib-boom
Boom run out from the extremity of the bowsprit, braced by means of a Martingale stay, which passes through the dolphin striker,
John Company
Sl. The Honourable East India Company (H.E.I.C.).
Jury mast/rig
Temporary measure used to restore a vessels sailing ability.
Kinchins
Sl. Children.
Lading
The act of loading.
Landsman
The rating of one who has no experience at sea.
Lanyard
Short piece of line to be used as a handle. Also decorative tassel to a uniform.
Larboard
Left side of the ship when facing forward. (Later known as Port.)
Lascar
A sailor or militiaman from the Indian subcontinent or other countries east of the Cape of Good Hope. Employed on European ships from the 16th century.
Leaguer
Water cask, holding 159 imperial gallons.
Leeward
The downwind side of a ship.
Leeway
The amount a vessel is pushed sideways by the wind, (as opposed to headway, the forward movement, when the wind is directly behind).
Letter of marque
A commission, formerly granted by a country or power, allowing privateers to make prizes of enemy shipping. Also lettre de course.
Lifts
Lines that keep the yards horizontal, each lift leads from the mast, through a block at the yard arm, and back through another block at the head of the mast, and down to the deck, where it is secured.
Lighter
A large, open, flat-bottomed boat, with heavy bearings, employed to carry goods to or from ships.
Lily white
&
nbsp; Sl. A chimney sweep.
Lind
James Lind, (1716– 1794). Scottish physician and pioneer of naval hygiene in the Royal Navy.
Liner
Sl. Ship of the line—Ship of the line of battle (later battleship).
Listed on the books
The sons, or protégés of senior officers were frequently entered on ships books while still too young to serve. This gave them additional sea time necessary for rapid promotion.
Lobscouse
A mixture of salted meat, biscuit, potatoes, onions and spices, minced small and stewed together.
Loblolly men/boys
Surgeon's assistants.
Lubberly/Lubber
Sl. Unseamanlike behaviour; as a landsman.
Luff
Intentionally sail closer to the wind, perhaps to allow work aloft. Also the flapping of sails when brought too close to the wind. The side of a fore and aft sail laced to the mast.
Man Rope
A side rope to aid boarding.
Master-at-Arms
Senior hand, responsible for discipline aboard ship.
Midshipman
Junior, and aspiring, officer.
Mot
Sl. Girl, or wench.
Nigit
Sl. an idiot, a fool.
Ordinary
Term used to describe a ship laid up; left in storage, with principle shipkeepers aboard, but unfit for immediate use.
Ordinary seaman
One who can make himself useful on board, although not an expert, or skilful sailor.
Orlop
Deck directly above the hold, and below the lower gun deck. A lighter deck than the gun deck (no cannon to support) and usually level or below the waterline. Holds warrant officers mess, and midshipmen's berth, also carpenters and sail makers stores. Used as an emergency operating area in action.
Overhead
The underside of the deck above, also deckhead
Parbuckle
The rig, consisting of two looped lines, used to drag barrels etc. on board without using a davit.
Parbuckle rails
Rails, often near the entry port, that aid items entering the ship, see above.
Peach
Sl. To betray or reveal; from impeach.
Pompey
Sl. Portsmouth.
Poop
Aft most, and highest, deck of a larger ship.
Portable Soup
A dehydrated (and fat free) meat soup.
Pox
Sl. Venereal Disease, Common on board ship; until 1795 a man suffering had to pay a 15/- fine to the surgeon, in consequence, many cases went unreported. Treatment was often mercurial, and ineffective.
Pugilist
One who fights with fists; usually a professional.
Pumpdale
Gully that crosses a deck, carrying water cleared by a pump.
Purser
Officer responsible for provisions and clothing.
Pusser
Sl. Purser.
Quarterdeck
Deck forward of the poop, but at a lower level. The preserve of officers.
Queue
A pigtail. Often tied by a man's best friend (his tie mate).
Quid
The quantity of tobacco chewed at one time.
Quoin
Wedge for adjusting elevation of a gun barrel.
Rapper
Sl. A particularly large lie.
Ratlines
Lighter lines, untarred, and tied horizontally across the shrouds at regular intervals, to act as rungs and allow men to climb aloft.
Reef
A portion of sail that can be taken in to reduce the size of the whole.
Rib
Sl. Wife.
Rigging
Tophamper; made up of standing (static) and running (moveable) rigging, blocks etc. Sl. Clothes.
Rook
Sl. Thief.
Round house
On a merchant this is the better class of accommodation, set where the senior officers cabins would be in a man of war. Also (and confusingly!) the enclosed (private) heads at the stem of a warship. Larboard side for midshipmen, warrant officers and mates, starboard for patients in the sick bay.
Rudder horn
An iron shackle bolted to the back of the rudder, for attaching auxiliary chains should the tiller fail.
Running
Sailing before the wind.
Saw-bones
Sl. surgeon, or any medic.
Scarph / Scarphing
The process of joining wood to build keels, masts and other major items.
Sconce
Candle holder, often made of tin, usually large and flat for stability.
Scupper
Waterway that allows deck drainage.
Scuttle-butt
Bucket with holes for line or leather handles used for water for immediate consumption. Sl. gossip (the modern equivalent is chatting by the water cooler).
Seven bell men
That part of a watch who are sent to dine early, to cover the others while they eat.
Sheet
A line that controls the foot of a sail.
Shrouds
Lines supporting the masts athwart ship (from side to side) which run from the hounds (just below the top) to the channels on the side of the hull. Upper run from the top deadeyes to the crosstrees.
Skeel
A cylindrical wooden bucket. A large water-kid.
Skylarking
Sl. Unofficial exercise aloft, often in the form of follow my leader, or other games.
Slatches
Large cat's-paws on the water, an indication of strong wind.
Slush
Sl. Fat from boiled meat, sold by the cook to the men to spread on their biscuit. The money made was known as the slush fund.
Snow
Type of brig, with an extra trysail mast stepped behind the main.
Spick
Sl. Spick and span. New, or at least, clean and tidy.
State / State Lottery
The English State Lottery ran from 1694 until 1826.
Stay sail
A quadrilateral or triangular sail with parallel lines, usually hung from under a stay.
Stern sheets
Part of a ship's boat between the stern and the first rowing thwart, used for passengers.
Stood/Stand
The movement of a ship towards or from an object.
Strake
A plank.
Studding sail
Light sail that extend to either side of main and top sails to increase speed in low winds. Made of the thinnest canvas (No 8).
Swab
Cloth, or (Sl.) an officer's epaulette.
Tack
To turn a ship, moving her bow through the wind. Also a leg of a journey. Also relates to the direction of the wind—if from starboard, a ship is on the starboard tack. Also the part of a fore and aft loose footed sail where the sheet is attached or a line leading forward on a square course to hold the lower part of the sail forward.
Taffrail
Rail around the stern of a vessel.
Thwart
(Properly athwarts). The seats or benches athwart a boat whereon the rowers sit to manage their oars.
Tie Mate
A seaman's best friend, one who ties his queue, and attends to his body should he die.
Tophamper
Literally any unnecessary weight either on a ship’s decks or about her tops and rigging, but often used loosely to refer to spars and rigging.
Touched
Sl. Mad.
Tow
Sl. Cotton waste.
Traverse board
A temporary log used for recording speed and headings during a watch.
Trick
Sl. Period of work time; an hour, when served by a helmsman.
Trotter
Thomas Trotter, (1760-1832) surgeon to the fleet.
Veer
Wind change, clockwise.
Waist
Area of main deck between the quarterdeck and forecastle.
Warm
Sl. When describing a person, rich.
Watch
Period of four (or in case of a dog watch, two) hour duty. Also describes the two or three divisions of a crew.
Watch list
List of men and stations, usually carried by lieutenants and divisional officers.
Wearing
To change the direction of a ship across the wind by putting the stern of the ship through the eye of the wind.
Well
A deep enclosure in the middle of the ship where bilge water can gather, and be cleared by the pumps.
