The Bosunīs Mate Glossary of Terms
The Bosunīs Mate dictionary of Nautical Terms has been compiled from many sources and is constantly being augmented and revised in our attempt to capture as much of the rich yet complicated (and often conflicting) maritime termonology as possible.
You will find an extensive list of information about all sorts of nautical items from sailorīs knots to the sailors themselves, and from ships to the weather patterns of the seas they ply.
Random terms, by category
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Abbreviations and Acronyms
(41 terms)
ICAO
International Civil Aviation Organization
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The things sailors do
(8 terms)
Wake
A disturbed column of water around and behind a pleasure craft as it makes its way through the water. It includes both the charastic "V" shaped wave pattern and the turbulent wated thrown Back by the propellers.
A detailed look: http://www.madsci.org/posts/archives/jul2001/994688283.Ph.r.html |
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Why say back when you can say aft instead!
(20 terms)
Flower of the Winds
A term for the engraving of the wind-rose on early charts and maps, extended after to include the compass-rose on later charts and maps.
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Common sayings and expressions from maritime lore
(149 terms)
Ahoy
A seamanīs call to attract attention
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The foods of the sea
(2 terms)
Sea-pie
A favorite dish for the crew of tall ships. It could consist of almost anything, but the propper dish consisted of layers of meat, vegetables, and fish alternating with crusts of bread and/or broken biscuit - affectionately referred to as a Two or Three decker based on the number of layers.
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Various knots both functional and ornamental from the nautical to the ornamental and with both historic and present day value.
(12 terms)
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Bits and bobs from life aboard ship
(5 terms)
Scrimshaw
A sailorīs carving or etching wood, on bones, teeth, tusks or shells. Frequently used as a way to pass the time on long voyages then to be traded or sold on shore.
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Specific sailing maneuvers
(33 terms)
Harden up
To steer closer to the wind, usually by pulling in on the sheets
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The points of sail and seamanship
(76 terms)
Collision Regulations
A detailed series of rules and laws that describe:
1) steering and sailing rules for vessels 2) lights and shapes rules for different type of vessels 3) sound and light signals |
The parts of ships
(131 terms)
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Important people and/or their positions in nautical history
(14 terms)
Bosunīs Mate
1) The mate (assistant) to the Bosun
2) One of the worldīs foremost nautical web sites bosunsmate.org (you had to know we would do this) |
Key locations of the maritime world
(20 terms)
Quay
A wharf used to discharge cargo
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Rigging components and terms
(104 terms)
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Sails, their parts and materials
(30 terms)
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Types of vessels and some famous examples
(22 terms)
Sandbagger
A type of broad shallow open or partly decked center-board sailing vessel which originated around the 1850. They carried tremendous Sail area for their size.
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The various spars used aboard ship
(6 terms)
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The tools of the trade
(27 terms)
Arming
Tallow held in the recess of a sounding lead to bring up a sample of the sea bed
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terms awaiting clasification
(36 terms)
none found |
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Meteorology and its relationship to sailing
(7 terms)
Force 8
Gale force wind on the Beaufort Wind Scale
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Total Terms: 539 Total Views: 2019051
