aft: Toward rear of a ship. Near or around the stern. Opposite of fore.

aloft: Anywhere above deck.

astrolabe: Astronomical instrument used by ancient Greeks and others to measure the angular height of celestial bodies in relation to the horizon. The seaman’'s astrolabe was a simple device for measuring the altitude of the sun or a star for fixing one’'s approximate latitude.

athwart: Across

barque: A sailing vessel with at least three masts, with the fore and mainmasts square rigged, and the mizzenmast or aftermast rigged fore-and-aft.

Barquentine: Vessel with the foremast rigged square, and the other masts rigged fore-and-aft.

beam: Strong pieces of timber that support the decks.

beam ends: A vessel lying on its side, whether in distress at sea, or aground.

Black Ball: Shipping line famous for its fast passenger service between England, America and Australia. The New Brunswick-built Marco Polo was a Black Ball ship.

boom: 1. Spar used to extend the foot of a fore-and-aft sail; 2. a period of expansion or economic prosperity

bow: Front of a ship.

brace: Line attached to the end of the yard arms. Letting the braces in and out adjusts the angle of the yard and any sail hanging from it.

brig: Two-masted sailing vessel with both masts square rigged.

brigantine: Two-masted sailing vessel with square rigged foremast and fore-and-aft rigged mainmast.

canvas: Jute, cotton or hemp material for making the sails of a ship.

cardinal points: Four principal points of a compass: north, south, east and west.

clipper: Sailing ship built for great speed. Clippers differ from other square riggers by having long and slender hulls at least six times as long as they are wide.

code signals: Set of signal flags used to send messages.

compass: Instrument used to plot the course of a vessel by showing direction. Is made of a freely swinging magnetized needle that points toward the (Magnetic) North Pole.

deck: Planked floor on a vessel.

doldrums: Areas of the ocean where there is usually very little wind.

figurehead: Carved figure on the bow of many sailing vessels. A vessel without a figurehead has a "billet" head.

floor timbers: Floor timbers connect the “spine” of a vessel (the keel and keelson) with frame timbers that support the hull’s shape. foot: Base or bottom of a sail.

fore: Forward part of a vessel, or things in that direction; as in foremast, fore hatch. Opposite of aft. fore-and-aft sail: Sail that lies along the same line as the keel, or along the same plane as a vessel’s fore-and-aft line. Fore-and-aft sails are usually set upon gaffs, or on stays. Examples include the jib, spanker, etc. foremast: Most forward mast.

full rigged ship: Vessel with square rigged sails on all masts.

furl: To roll a sail up snugly on a yard or boom and secure it.

gaff: Spar that is used to extend the vertical, or upper edge of a fore-and-aft sail that is not set on a stay.

half-model: Wood model of a vessel carved to scale by a master shipbuilder and used to create accurate drawings to guide ship builders in constructing a full-sized frame of a vessel.

halyard: Rope that lift yards up and down. hardwood: Wood of any tree with broad, flat leaves. Species include birch, oak and maple. Useful because they are tough and heavy with a compact texture.

hold: Interior of a vessel where cargo is stowed.

hull: Body of a vessel.

jib: Triangular fore-and-aft sail set ahead of the foremast.

jigger: Fourth mast from the bow on a ship, barque or schooner.

keel: Principal timber upon which the hull is constructed. The backbone of the hull.

keelson: Timber, or line of timbers, placed over the keel on the floor timbers, and running parallel to the keel, to provide additional strength to the bottom of the hull.

latitude: Distance north or south from the equator, measured in degrees.

lead: Weight of lead used to sound depth of water underneath a vessel’s hull.

lee: Side opposite to that from which the wind blows.

lee shore: Shore that is receiving the wind blowing in from sea.

log: Used to measure a vessel’s speed. Also name of the record book tracking a ship’s progress, direction, weather and events while at sea.

longitude: Distance east or west of the prime meridian, expressed in degrees or time.

mainmast: Second mast from the bow of a ship, barque or schooner.

mariner: A sailor.

mast: Long pole or spar of timber set upright on a ship’s keel to support the sails.

mate: Officer who ranks second to the commander of the vessel.

meridian: Any line of longitude. Meridians connect the North and South Pole, and cross the Equator at a right angle.

mizzen mast: Third mast from the bow of a ship, barque or schooner.

mutiny: Usually the rebellion of sailors or soldiers against their officers. A revolt against authority.

navigation: Science of locating the position and plotting the course of ships (and other crafts).

navigators: One skilled in navigation. oakum: Loose hemp or jute that is wedged and soaked in tar to form a watertight seal between planks of wood.
poop: Deck or other structure covering the stern of a vessel. Also the name of the action when a wave breaks over the stern (vessel was “pooped”).

port: 1. left side of the ship when facing forward; 2. a city with a harbour where cargo is loaded and unloaded

prevailing wind: Wind and wind direction that is strongest and most frequent.

prime meridian: Meridian at Greenwich, England, from which longitude is measured east and west.

quadrant: Early instrument used to measure angles and altitudes in astronomy and navigation.

ratlines: Series of rope steps used to climb into the rigging.

rig: The way a vessel and its masts are fitted with sails.

rigging: Ropes, chains and wires that are used to support the vessel’s masts, spars and sails. schooner: Ship with two or more masts, rigged fore-and-aft.

sextant: Navigation instrument measuring the angular distance of the sun, a star, etc. from the horizon.

shallop: Small boat for one or two rowers.

shanty: Work songs of sailors.

shroud: Ropes or wires running laterally from the top of the mast to the side of the vessel that support the mast

sloop: Single-masted sailing vessel using a fore and aft rig. One sail is set from the forestay.

softwood: Wood of any tree with cones (pine, cedar and spruce). Softwoods provide light, buoyant and easily cut timbers.

sonar: Instrument that transmits sound waves in water. Used in finding depths, locating submarines, and wrecks.

spanker: Sail set on the lowest part of the mizzen or aftermost mast. Sail’s head is set on a gaff (a spar attached to the mast.)

spar: A general term for any iron or wood pole or rod. Spars include yards, booms, masts, bowsprits, etc.

square-rigged : Ship fitted with square or rectangular sails as the principal sails on two or more masts.

starboard: Right side of a ship when facing forward.

stays: Ropes or wires that support a mast. Stays run in afore-and-aft direction from the mast to second mast or to other part of the vessel.

stern: Rear of a ship steward: Attendant on a ship

tack: Direction a ship goes in relation to the position of the sails. Also to change the course of a ship.

tonnage: A number used to indicate a vessel’s cargo capacity.

venison: Flesh of a deer used as food. water current: Flow of water in a definite direction.

yard: Slender rod or spar fastened across a mast to support a sail.