Nautical and sailing jargon

About this list

Sailing vocabulary is the jargon novelists most often get wrong, because every rope and direction has a name. The list favors the terms that turn up in sea stories over the purely technical.

200 terms, A to Z

air draft

The distance from the surface of the water to the highest point on a vessel

air port

An opening in the side of a ship to let in air and light.

arm the lead

To fill the hollow in the bottom of a sounding lead with tallow in order to discover the nature of the bottom by the substances adhering.

back and fill

To manage a sailing ship so that the wind strikes them alternately in front and behind, in order to keep the ship in the middle of a river or channel while the current or tide carries the vessel against the wind.

back water

To reverse the action of the oars, paddles, or propeller, so as to force the boat or ship backward.

ball off

To spin rope-yarns into balls, in preparation for making spun yarn.

bank effect

The effect of suction from the nearside shore or close watercourse bed, caused by the Bernoulli effect making a low pressure zone in the constricted region, leading vessels to be drawn to that surface.

bear a hand

To make haste; to help quickly.

bear away

To steer away from the wind

bear in with

To approach nearer to (a ship).

bear off from

To stand further off from (a ship)

bear-a-hand

make haste!

black cat

To do better than another in some respect; to one up.

blow out of the water

To rapidly destroy (a vessel) with overwhelming weapons fire.

blue peter

A blue signal flag with a white rectangle in the centre, signifying "P". When flown alone, indicates that a ship is ready to sail, requiring all crew members and passengers to return on board.

board and board

side by side

box off

To turn the head of a vessel either way by bracing the headyards aback.

brown water

Inland (river) or coastal waters, in contrast to blue water.

by the lay

Paid a portion of any profits from the voyage, rather than receiving wages.

capital ship

Any of the most important types of warships, capable of projecting a fleet in being.

cat-block

A heavy iron-strapped block consisting of a large hook used in catting an anchor.

channel

The wale of a sailing ship which projects beyond the gunwale and to which the shrouds attach via the chains. One of the flat ledges of heavy plank bolted edgewise to the outside of a vessel, to increase the spread of…

channel money

Money paid to sailors before completion of a voyage, when reaching a port.

cheese down

To coil the tail of a rope on deck so as to present a neat appearance.

chief mate

In the merchant navy, the officer who is second in command to the captain, and whose primary duties include managing the maintenance and upkeep of the vessel.

clear view screen

A circular disc of plate glass, set into the screen of a ship's bridge and spun at high speed by an electric motor in heavy rain or snow; it offers a clear view forward.

close quarter

any of several strong wooden barriers erected across the deck of a merchant sailing ship, having loopholes through which muskets could be fired to resist boarding attacks

close reach

The point of sail where the wind is blowing just ahead of the beam of the vessel

coach horse

A member of the crew who rowed the admiral's barge or a state barge

coach roof

The portion of the deck raised to give increased headroom in the cabin.

cross sea

A (dangerous) sea with two wave systems traveling at oblique angles, due to the wind over it shifting direction or the waves of two storm systems meeting.

day shape

Any of a set of simple geometric shapes that are hung from a mast and visually indicate the status of a vessel to other vessels.

dead calm

The condition of a perfectly flat sea with no waves and no wind.

dead flat

The widest cross-section of a ship.

dead horse

The period of work on board ship for which the seamen have been paid in advance (usually a month's wages), the end of this term being celebrated by parading a straw horse about the decks.

dead in the water

Stationary with respect to the current, having no means of propulsion.

dead rise

The transverse upward curvature of a vessel's floor.

dead rising

An elliptical line drawn on the sheer plan to determine the sweep of the floorheads throughout the ship's length.

dead water

The eddying water under a slow-moving ship's counter, or a similar area of stationary fluid or gas in advance of a concave angle, which can occur when there is strong vertical density stratification (due to salinity or…

dead wind

A wind directly ahead, or opposed to the ship's course.

death roll

In a keel boat, the act of broaching to windward, putting the spinnaker pole into the water and causing a crash-gybe of the boom and mainsail, which sweep across the deck and plunge down into the water.

deep draft

Synonym of draft (“depth of water needed to float a vessel”).

design depth

The maximum depth at which a submarine is designed to be able to operate safely.

double-bank

To row (a vessel) by rowers sitting side by side in twos on a bank or thwart.

draw ahead

To shift to blow in the direction a ship is moving.

drop down

To sail, move, or row down a coast, or down a river to the sea.

every man for himself

A command, issued in case of shipwreck, that crew members are relieved of all duties and should try to save themselves.

eye plate

A metal plate, either having a hole in it, or a loop protruding from it, that is part of a ship's rigging

factory ship

A vessel, usually part of a fleet, which processes catches of fish or whales while at sea.

fair wind

A favourable wind, i.e. one blowing in the desired direction of travel for the vessel.

fake

One of the circles or windings of a cable or hawser, as it lies in a coil; a single turn or coil.

fall

The cry given when a whale is sighted, or harpooned.

fashion piece

One of the timbers which terminate the transom and define the shape of the stern.

fill away

Let the wind fill the sails of a sailing ship and start sailing.

fire roll

A special drumbeat used to summon men to their quarters in case of fire.

first port of call

The first port that a vessel calls in at after the start of a voyage

free board

A vessel's side between waterline and gunwale.

French fake

A way of coiling a rope by running it backward and forward in parallel bends, so that it may run freely.

full and by

Keeping the sails full and steering by the wind.

full speed ahead

A command to move forward at maximum speed.

gain the wind

To reach the windward side of another ship.

go below

To go below deck on a ship; to leave the top deck of a ship.

go by the board

To fall or to go overboard; to be cast over the side of a ship.

go on the account

To become a pirate; to join a pirating or filibustering expedition.

gone north about

Dead, of sailor or seaman whose cause of death was anything except by drowning.

good leg

A course sailed on a tack near to the desired course.

green water

A large quantity of water on a ship's deck as a result of massive waves during a large storm.

green-to-green

Describing the condition in which two sea-going ships travelling in opposite directions pass each other on their starboard sides, making their green navigation lights face each other.

ground-effect vehicle

Synonym of ground-effect machine.

guy

A support rope or cable used to aid in hoisting or lowering.

half board

A manoeuvre by which a sailing-ship gains distance to windward by luffing up into the wind.

half-port

one half of a two-part shutter used to close a porthole.

hand over hand

by passing the hands alternately one before or above the other, especially with rope

hands off

Cut off a hand: decreed by old admiralty law as punishment for pulling a knife during a fight with a shipmate.

head reach

The distance to windward traversed by a vessel while tacking.

head to wind

Having the bow of a boat facing directly into the wind

hold fast

A formal command to a ship's crew to grasp and hold on to a solid fitting, such as ropes or rails, to avoid being swept overboard, especially during a storm.

hold hard

A formal command to a ship's crew to grasp and hold on to a solid fitting, such as ropes or rails, to avoid being swept overboard, especially during a storm.

horse iron

A large calking iron.

house-flag

A flag that uniquely identifies the company that owns or, occasionally, that operates a ship.

in a sea-way

In the position of a vessel when the waves are running high.

in ordinary

Out of commission and laid up; said of a naval vessel.

in the eye of the wind

In a direction opposed to the wind.

International Load Line

A mark on the hull of a merchant ship to show the waterline under specified conditions, indicating the maximum load that the ship may carry.

Iron Mike

A gyrocompass.

iron-sick

Denoting ironwork that loose or corroded; said of a ship where the bolts and nails are so degraded with rust as to cause leaks.

jack block

A block fixed in the topgallant or royal rigging, used for raising and lowering light masts and spars.

jump ship

To depart from a ship, especially without permission.

jury

For temporary use; applied to a temporary contrivance.

large

Before the wind.

launch

The boat of the largest size and/or of most importance belonging to a ship of war, and often called the "captain's boat" or "captain's launch".

lay day

A day in which a vessel may load or unload a cargo without paying an extra charge.

lay to

To turn towards the wind so that the boat stops; to remain stationary in open water or to lie to.

leading light

A light that helps to guide vessels into a port.

leading line

An imaginary line between two objects that can be used to chart a safe course in a difficult situation.

lee

A protected cove or harbor, out of the wind.

length overall

Length of a ship from bow to stern.

let drive

To allow (a vessel) to be propelled by the wind, current or tide.

let go by the run

To loosen and let run freely (lines)

lie off

To remain at a safe distance from (another vessel or hazard)

lie to

To have the sails arranged so as to counteract each other.

light air

A light wind with wind speed between 0.3 and 1.5 m/s; a Force 1 wind strength on the Beaufort scale.

light along

To lift or carry anything along the deck; to help in hauling along.

light line

The waterline at which a vessel floats when at light displacement; the light waterline.

light up

To loosen, slacken, or ease off.

line gun

A firearm designed to shoot a rope across a distance, usually used to pass lines from one ship to another.

list

A careening or tilting to one side, usually not intentionally or under a vessel's own power.

load line

The line on the outside of a vessel indicating the depth to which it sinks in the water when loaded.

load water line

load line

lost with all hands

Destroyed or sunk, with all passengers and crew having died in the process.

main frame

The widest structural frame located near the middle of a ship.

main-truck

On a wooden mast, a circular disc (or sometimes a rectangle) of wood near or at the top of the mast, usually with holes or sheaves to reeve signal halyards; also a temporary or emergency place for a lookout.

make ship

To embark in a ship or other vessel.

make water

(Of a ship or other vessel) to admit water; to leak.

making-iron

A tool somewhat like a chisel with a groove in it, used by caulkers of ships to finish the seams after the oakum has been driven in.

master

A vessel having a specified number of masts.

middle body

The part of a vessel adjacent to the midship section having a uniform or nearly uniform cross-section, usually referred to as the parallel middle body.

middle watch

Aboard a ship, a watch from midnight to 4 a.m.

motor

Propelled by an internal combustion engine (as opposed to a steam engine or turbine).

on deck

On the deck of a ship, especially of a captain or officer; in charge.

on the beach

Removed or retired from an active shipboard position in the navy or merchant navy.

on the quarter

In a direction between abeam and astern; opposite, or nearly opposite, a vessel's quarter.

on the wind

As close as possible to the direction that the wind is blowing.

open order

A naval formation in which ships are four cables'-length (2880 feet) apart.

owner

The captain of a ship.

pay

To cover (the bottom of a vessel, a seam, a spar, etc.) with tar or pitch, or a waterproof composition of tallow, resin, etc.; to smear.

plane

To move in a way that lifts the bow out of the water.

plate ship

A galleon, especially a Spanish one, carrying a cargo of precious metals and other treasure.

port

Of or relating to port, the left-hand side of a vessel when facing the bow.

port of call

Any port (except its home port) being visited by a ship, especially to load or unload cargo or passengers or to take on supplies.

prize-taking

The capturing of an enemy ship at sea; this results in a payment to all hands from the Admiralty.

put about

To change direction.

put to sea

To leave a port or harbour on a voyage, or for other purposes such as fishing.

quarter bill

A list specifying the different stations to be taken by the officers and crew in time of action, and the names of the men assigned to each.

quarter block

A block fitted under the quarters of a yard on each side of the slings, through which the clewlines and sheets are reeved.

quarter point

Any of the 32 points of the compass achieved by bisecting the angles of the sixteen half-points; for example, north by east (lying between north and north-northeast) or northwest by west (lying between northwest and…

radio officer

The person, on board ship, who sends and receives radio messages

ran

Yarns coiled on a spun-yarn winch.

reaching

Sailing on a reach, i.e. having the wind on either side and coming from an angle that is larger with respect to the bow than when sailing close-hauled.

ready about

Used by the helm announcing to the crew that (s)he is ready to change tack.

red-to-red

Describing the condition in which two sea-going ships travelling in opposite directions pass each other on their port sides, making their red navigation lights face each other.

reduced cat

A version of the cat-o'-nine-tails (multi-tail whip), which has only five (instead of nine) 'tails' (thongs) of smooth whipcord.

research ship

A ship that is designed and used for research.

ride hard

Of a ship: to pitch violently.

riding light

A light hung out in the rigging at night when a vessel is riding at anchor.

rising line

Synonym of dead rising.

roads

A roadstead.

roll-on roll-off

Of a form of marine vessel which allows wheeled vehicles to be driven on and off.

room

Off from the wind.

rose box

A perforated box attached to the input pipe of a bilge pump, to trap any solid material that might otherwise clog the pump.

round in

To haul up; usually, to haul the slack of (a rope) through its leading block, or to haul up (a tackle which hangs loose) by its fall.

round ship

A superclass of wooden sailing ship type with a length-to-beam ratio of roughly two to one and normally having one mast with a single square-rigged sail, used as a generic term encompassing most European ancient and…

round to

To turn the head of a ship toward the wind, especially in order to drop speed.

round-top

A platform at the top of a ship's mast.

run in with

To take a course near to; to take a course nearer to.

running light

A light shown by vessels between sunset and sunrise.

sea area

Any of the 31 areas of sea, surrounding the British Isles, that are used in the Shipping Forecast

sea chest

A box or case used to store a sailor's property.

sea lane

A regularly used route for ocean-going vessels.

sea lawyer

A rules lawyer.

sea letter

A certificate issued by a neutral country, usually at a custom house, to a merchant ship and its crew, cargo etc. during wartime, allowing them to pass safely through waters of a belligerent. Often synonymous with the…

send below

To order someone to go below the top deck on a ship.

set the land

To observe by the compass how the shore bears from the ship.

ship a sea

To have a large wave wash over one's vessel.

show a leg

To wake up and get out of bed.

single up

To remove one loop of a double-loop rope connecting a ship to a pier in preparation for departure.

sister block

A tackle block having two sheaves, one above the other.

sister ship

A ship built to the same design and dimensions as another or belongs to the same owners as another.

small stuff

thin string, as opposed to the thick, heavy ropes that are more often used in sailing. It is commonly used in a whipping knot to bind the ends of ropes to prevent fraying.

snow

A square-rigged sailing vessel similar to a brig formerly used as a warship, with a foremast, a mainmast, and a trysail mast immediately abaft (behind) the mainmast.

spirit-room

A compartment on a vessel where spirits or casks are held.

spring line

A line stretched longways between a docked vessel and a cleat on the pier, or used during berthing to guide the vessel into its slip; a warp

spring stay

A preventer stay, to assist the regular one; a smaller stay placed above the stays as a duplicate if needed.

square away

To square the ship's yards to make her run before the wind, with the wind blowing straight from the stern.

stand on

To continue following the same course.

stand up and give it to him

A phrase shouted by the officer on a whaleboat to order an attack with a harpoon.

station bill

A bill posted in the crew’s quarters and other conspicuous places, listing the station of the crew at maneuvers and emergency drills; sometimes called the muster roll.

stay

To incline forward, aft, or to one side by means of stays.

storm card

A sailor's chart showing from the direction of the wind the ship's position in relation to the eye of a storm, and accordingly the proper course to be taken.

storm stay

A stay on which a storm sail is set.

throw about

To change direction; to change from one tack to another.

top-block

A large ironbound block strapped with a hook, and, when used, hung to an eyebolt in the cap, used in swaying and lowering the topmast.

top-chain

A chain for slinging the lower yards, in time of action, to prevent their falling, if the ropes by which they are hung are shot away.

top-flag

A flag flown from the top of the mast of a sailing ship.

training ship

a ship, often a sailing ship, used to train people as sailors

transport ship

A ship that is used to transport military personnel; a troopship.

two-block

To hoist to the yardarm.

Union Jack

The flag, consisting of the flags of England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland combined, flown on ships of the government of the United Kingdom.

wall

A kind of knot often used at the end of a rope; a wall knot or wale.

watch and watch

The regular alternation in being on watch and off watch of the two watches into which a ship's crew is commonly divided.

watch bill

A list of the officers and crew of a ship, as divided into watches, with their various stations.

watch gun

A gun sometimes fired on ship at to mark the start of end of a watch.

watch in two

The practice of having two alternate watches aboard a ship or vessel.

weather

Facing towards the flow of a fluid, usually air.

weather roll

The lurch of a vessel to windward when in the trough of the sea.

weather-bit

A turn of the cable about the end of the windlass, without the bits.

well-boat

A fishing vessel designed to carry live fish in a tank or well.

where away

A query uttered by the officer of the deck as to the direction of an object sighted by the lookout.

white boat

A superyacht.

yards

The totality of the sailing rig.