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Nautical Dictionary - Nautical Glossary - Maritime Terminology

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Nautical Dictionary

Nautical Glossary - Maritime Terminology


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A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Cabin
A room or living compartment for passengers or crew.
Cabin Sole
The floor or bottom surface of the enclosed space under the deck of a boat
Cable
(1) A strong rope or chain for pulling or securing anything, usually a ship's anchor. (2) A nautical measurement of distance, a tenth of a nautical mile, 100 fathoms, or approximately 200 yards
Cable Ship
A specially constructed ship for the laying and repairing of telegraph and telephone cables across channels, seas, lakes, and oceans.
Caboose
Old term for the galley of a vessel situated normally on the deck and not between decks.
Cabotage
The carriage of goods or passengers for remuneration taken on at one point and discharged at another point within the territory of the same country.
Call Sign
A group of letters and numbers used for identification during radio transmission.
Calm
Little or no wind and flat seas
Calving
Breaking away of a mass of ice from a glacier or iceberg.
Cam Cleat
A mechanical cleat used to hold a line automatically. It uses two spring loaded cams that come together to clamp their teeth on the line, which is place between them.
Camber
The curvature of an object such as a sail, keel or deck. Usually used when referring to an objects aerodynamic or hydrodynamic properties. The weather decks of ships are rounded up or arched in an athwartship direction for the purpose of draining any water that may fall on them to the sides of the ship where it can be led overboard through scuppers; the camber is the crown or arch of a weather deck.
Camel
Hollow vessel of iron, steel or wood, that is filled with water and sunk under a vessel. When water is pumped out, the buoyancy of the camel lifts the ship. Very valuable aid to salvage operations.
Can or Can Buoy
A cylindrical navigation buoy painted green and having an odd number used in the United States as a navigational aid. At night they may have a green light.
Canal
A manmade waterway used to connect bodies of water that do not connect naturally. Canals use locks to raise and lower boats when connecting bodies of water that have different water levels.
Canoe Stern
A pointed stern, such as those on a canoe.
Cant
(1) A term signifying an inclination of an object from a perpendicular; to turn anything so that it does not stand perpendicularly or square to an object. (2) Those timbers in a ship near the bow or stern which are sharply angled from the keel. (3) The operation of turning a ship's head one way or another.
Cant Frames
Angled frames in the extreme forward or aft ends of a ship which form the sharp ends of the vessel's hull.
Canvas
Tightly woven cloth used for sails, awnings, covers, dodgers and biminis; slang for sails.
Cap
A piece of trim, usually wood, used to cover and often decorate a portion of the boat, i.e., caprail.
Capsize
To turn a boat over
Capstan
A revolving cylindrical device used for heaving in lines or anchors
A vertical, spool-shaped rotating drum around which cable, hawser or chain is wound for hoisting anchors, sails and other heavy weights. A capstan rotates around a vertical axis, as opposed to a windlass, which revolves around a horizontal axis.
Captain
The person who is in charge of a vessel and legally responsible for it and its occupants.
Car
A sliding fitting that attaches to a track allowing for the adjustment of blocks or other devices attached to the car.
Caravel
Small trading vessel also used for exploration. Three-masted, being square-rigged on the two forward masts, and having a lateen rigged mizzen mast. Christopher Colmbus' small squadron, the Santa Maria, Pinta, and Nina, were all Caravels, as were Magellan's ships in his famous circumnavigation.
Cardinal Points
The compass points of North, East, South and West. Intercardinal or half-cardinal points are Southeast, Southwest, Northwest and Northeast
Careen
To list a vessel so that a large part of her bottom is above water. This is done to remove weed and marine growth, to examine the bottom, to repair it and to put on preservative or anti-fouling.
Careenage
A suitable beach, being steep and sandy, where ships could be careened for cleaning or repair.
Cargo
Ship supplies.
Cargo Handling
The act of loading and discharging a cargo ship.
Cargo Hatch
An opening in a ship's deck for the loading and discharging of any kind of cargo.
Carline or Carling
Timbers used to support the deck planking of a wooden ship; also for supporting hatches.
Carlins
Structural pieces running fore and aft between the beams.
Carrack
Old three-masted trading vessel which was square-rigged on the fore and main masts, and lateen rigged on the mizzen mast. Similar to the Caravel, but larger and more robust.
Carriers
Owners or operators of vessels providing transportation to shippers. The term is also used to refer to the vessels.
Carry On
To continue sailing under the same canvas despite the worsening of the wind.
Cast Adrift
To abandon a ship at sea; to place people in a ship's boat or raft and leave them.
Cast Off
To let go of a line; to leave a dock or a mooring; to untie or loose a rope or line.
Castaway
A shipwrecked sailor as compared with one who has been marooned or deliberately put ashore.
Cat's Skin
Light, warm wind on surface of sea.
Catamaran
A multihull with two hulls separated by a deck or crossbeams from which a trampoline is suspended; abbreviated "cat."
Catboat
A small boat with the mast stepped far forward, carrying a single sail
Cathead
On older sailing ships, a heavy piece of curved timber projecting from the bow for the purpose of holding anchors in position for letting go or for securing them after weighing.
Catching Up Rope
Light rope secured to a buoy to hold vessel while stronger moorings are attached.
Catenary
The curve (sag) of a rope, cable or chain hung between two points such as the anchor rode or towing line; the deeper the curve, the more catenary.
Catharpings
In square-rigged vessels, short lines at the lower end of the futtock shrouds used to bring in the shrouds tighter to give room to brace the yards at a sharper angle when sailing close hauled.
Cat-O'-Nine-Tails
Similar to a whip, an instrument of punishment where seamen were flogged on their bare backs.
Catspaw
(1) A ruffle on the water indicating a breath of wind during a calm (2) A twisting hitch made in the bight of a rope to form two eyes, through which the hook of a tackle is passed for hoisting purposes. [image]
Catug
Short for Catamaran Tug. A rigid catamaran tug connected to a barge. When joined together, they form and look like a single hull of a ship.
Catwalk
On a ship, a raised bridge running fore and aft from the midship, and also called "walkway". It affords safe passage over the pipelines and other deck obstructions.
Caulking/Calking
Forcing material into the seams of the planks in a boat's deck or sides to make them watertight; the material itself. Oakum was once the material used for this purpose, and was then sealed with hot pitch to prevent it from rotting. Today there are polymers used for sealing all kinds of fittings.
Cavitation
Loss of effective propeller thrust caused by the blades cutting across the column of water sucked along by the propeller instead of working in it. Can also lead to heavy vibration of the vessel.
Celestial Navigation
To calculate your position using time, the position of celestial bodies, and mathematical tables. Position is determined by measuring the apparent altitude of one of these objects above the horizon using a sextant and recording the times of these sightings with an accurate clock. That information is then used with tables in the Nautical Almanac to determine one's position.
Celestial Sphere
An imaginary sphere surrounding the globe that contains the sun, moon, stars and planets.
Center of Buoyancy
A point through which all buoyant forces on an immersed hull are assumed to act.
Center of Effort (CE)
Point at which all of the force of the wind can be thought to concentrate; the point in the sail plan that is the balance point for all the aerodynamic forces
Center of Lateral Resistance (CLR)
Center point of all underwater area of the hull where the hull's lateral resistance can be said to be centered.
Centerboard
A board that can be raised and lowered by pivoting in a watertight box called the trunk or well to increase the draft and lateral area of the hull, preventing the boat from sliding sideways. Unlike a daggerboard, which lifts vertically, a centerboard pivots around a pin, usually located in the forward top corner, and swings up and aft.
Centerboard Trunk
Watertight housing for the centerboard.
Centerline
The imaginary line running from bow to stern along the middle of the boat.
Certificate
A legal paper or license of a boat or its captain.
Certificate of Registry
A document specifying the nation of registry of the vessel.
Chafe
Abrasion, wear or damage to a line caused by rubbing against another object
Chafing Gear
Canvas, cloth, leather, tubing, rubber or other material placed around a line or cable to protect it from wear and abrasion
Chain Locker
The compartment, near and below the hawse holes at the bow, for stowing the anchor chains; a compartment in the lower part of a ship for stowing an anchor chain.
Chain Pipe
A pipe of large diameter, through which the chains pass into the chain lockers.
Chain Plate
A metal plate, strap, or rod bolted to the hull structure to which the lower ends of shrouds and stays are attached
Chandler
A person who deals in the selling of provisions, dried stores, supplies, equipment, etc.
Chandlery
A marine hardware store.
Channel
A navigable route on a waterway, usually marked by buoys. Channels are deep enough for ships or boats to navigate without running aground.
Channel Fever
Seaman's name for the excitement on board as the ship approachs her destination, giving the crew some liberty ashore.
Chanty or Shanty
Shanties are the work songs that were used on the square-rigged ships of the Age of Sail. Their rhythms coordinated the efforts of many sailors hauling on lines.
Characteristic
The distinguishing qualities of a navigational light, including its color and whether it is fixed or flashing (and the flashing sequence).
Charley Noble
Galley smokestack or chimney.
Chart
A representation on a plane surface of the spherical surface of the earth. The equivalent of a map for use by navigators.
Chart Datum
The water level used to record data on a chart. Usually the average low tide water level. It is the level below which depths on a chart are measured, and above which keights of a tide are expressed.
Chart Table
A table designated as the area in the boat where the navigator will study charts and plot courses.
Charter
The renting of a boat
Chearly
An old expression meaning heartily or quickly.
Check
To ease away slowly, as in a line, sheet, or falls of a tackle.
Checking
Slacking a rope smartly, carefully and in small amounts.
Cheek Block
A block with one end permanently attached to a surface.
Cheeks
(1) The two sides of a block. (2) Pieces of timber attached to the mast below the masthead to support the trestle trees.
Cheese Down
To coil down the tail of a line on deck to present a neat appearance.
Chief Engineer
The senior engineer officer responsible for the satisfactory working and upkeep of the main and auxiliary machinery and boiler plant on board ship.
Chief Mate
The officer in the deck department next in rank to the master; second in command of a ship. He is next to the master, most especially in the navigation and as far as the deck department is concerned. The chief mate assumes the position of the Master in his absence.
Chinch
The operation of pressing oakum into a seam as a temporary measure until the seam can be properly caulked.
Chine
The angle of intersection between the topsides and the bottom of a boat. In a hard-chined boat this angle is pronounced.
Chock
(1) A deck fitting to guide an anchor, mooring, towing or docking line. Usually smooth shaped to reduce chafe. (2) A wedge or block to keep an object from moving.
Chock-a-Block
When a line is pulled as tight as is can go, as when two blocks are pulled together so that no further movement is possible (also known as "Two blocked").
Choke the Luff
To temporarily stop all movement of a line through a block by placing the hauling part across the sheave of the block. This jams the sheave and holds it tight, and a pull on the hauling part will release it.
Chop
Small, steep disorderly waves at rapid intervals.
Chord
An imaginary line drawn between the luff and leech of a sail. The chord depth is an imaginary line drawn to the deepest part of the sail from the chord. The ratio of chord depth to chord length represents the sail's draft a high ratio indicates a full sail; a low ratio, a flat sail.
Chow
Food.
Chute
An opening in the deck near the bow from which the spinnaker is hoisted. Spinnakers are also often referred to as chutes.
Ciguatera
A severe type of food poisoning caused by eating contaminated fish
Circumnavigate
To sail around the world
Circumnavigation
A voyage around the world.
Clap On
To clap on is to temporarily add something to an existing part.
Class
General category into which boats of the same or similar design are grouped for racing.
Classification Society
Worldwide experienced and reputable societies which undertake to arrange inspections and advise on the hull and machinery of a ship. A private organization that supervises vessels during their construction and afterward, in respect to their seaworthiness, and the placing of vessels in grades or "classes" according to the society's rules for each particular type.
Claw Off
Beat to windward to avoid being driven onto a lee shore.
Claw Ring
A "C" shaped fitting which can be slipped over the boom, for example, when the sail has been roller reefed to allow the boom vang to be reattached.
Clean
Referring to the lines of a vessel's hull when they give a a fine and unobstructed run from bow to stern so that she moves through the water smoothly.
Clear
(1) Free, not entangled (2) To finalize all formalities in a Customs House.
Clear for Running
A sheet or halyard coiled so that it will run out quickly without becoming tangled.
Clear the Decks
Remove unnecessary things from the decks usually in preparation for oncoming bad weather.
Cleat
A fitting of wood or metal, secured to the deck, mast, or spar, with two horns around which ropes are made fast. The classic cleat to which lines are belayed is approximately anvil-shaped; verb to belay.
Clevis Pin
A large pin that secures one fitting to another.
Clew
The lower aft corner of a fore and aft sail, both lower corners of a spinnaker, and the lower corners of a square sail
Clew Outhaul
The tackle used to adjust the clew in and out on the boom.
Clinometer
Instrument showing the angle of heel of a vessel, usually a weighted pointer resembling a pendulum, that swings along an arc that is marked in degrees. 1
Clipper
A sharp-bowed sailing vessel of the mid-19th century, having tall masts and sharp lines; built for great speed; the generic name used to describe types of fast sailing ships.
Clock Calm
Absolutely calm weather with a perfectly smooth sea.
Close Aboard
Close alongside; very near; in close proximity to.
Close Hauled
A point of sail where the boat is sailing as close to the wind (as directly into the wind) as possible; sails are pulled in tight, enabling the boat to point as high as possible to the direction the wind is coming from; Also, "beating" and "on-the-wind".
Close Reach
Sailing with the wind coming from the direction forward of abeam. A close reach is the point of sail between a beam reach and close hauled.
Closest Point of Approach (CPA)
The nearest another vessel will come to yours when both are under way, usually expressed in distance and relative bearing.
1 Clothing
Various pieces of rigging which hold a bowsprit in position.
Clove Hitch
Two half hitches around a spar or post. Easy way to make a line temporarily fast to a piling or post. The clove hitch can jam under heavy tension, making it difficult to untie. Worse, is its tendency to untie itself when subjected to repeated strain and release, such as a boat rocking in waves. You can add one or two half hitches on the standing line for a more secure attachment.
Club
A boom on a jib or staysail.
Coach Roof
The cabin roof, raised above the deck to provide headroom in the cabin. Also trunk.
Coachwhipping
Decorative ropework with an even number of strands to form a herring-bone pattern.
Coaming
A low vertical lip or raised section around the edge of a cockpit, hatch, etc. to prevent water on deck from running below.
Coast Pilots
Books covering information about coastal navigation, including navigational aids, courses, distances, anchorages and harbors.
Coastal Navigation
Navigating near the coast, allowing one to find one's position by use of landmarks and other references.
Coastwise
Domestic shipping routes along a single coast.
Cocked Hat
The small triangular space found at the intersection of lines of position on a chart when a ship's position is determined by taking three bearings.
Cockpit
The location from which the boat is steered, usually in the middle or at the stern of the boat.
Cockpit Sole
Floor of the cockpit.
Cockswain
The steersman of a boat, in direct charge of the crew if any. Pronounced "Cock-sun."
1 Coffee Grinder
A large and powerful sheet winch
Cofferdam
A void or empty space separating two or more compartments for the purpose of insulation, or to prevent the liquid contents of one compartment from entering another in case of a leak.
COG
Course Over Ground
Coil
To lay a line down in circular turns, known as fakes, or to arrange in loops so it can be stowed. Line is sold by the coil, which contain 200 fathoms
Cold Front
Used in meteorology to describe a mass of cold air moving toward a mass of warm air. Strong winds and rain typically accompany a cold front.
Cold Molding
A method of bending a material into an appropriate shape without heating or steaming the material first to soften it.
Colimation
Correct alignment of the optical parts of an instrument.
Collier
Vessel used for transporting coal.
Collision Avoidance System
Electronic system commonly used to prevent collisions in inland navigable waterways.
Collision Bulkhead
A watertight bulkhead at the forepeak extending to main deck. This bulkhead prevents the entire ship from being flooded in case of a collision.
Collision Mat
A large square of heavy canvas fitted with lines to allow it to be drawn under the hull of a ship where it is damaged. The pressure of the seawater holds it tight against the ship and greatly reduces the inflow of water.
Colors
National flag or insignia flown by a ship at sea.
COLREGS
Convention on International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea; Rules of the Road. Internationally accepted rules by which vessels at sea must keep clear of each other.
Comb the Cat
When flogging a seaman, to run the fingers through the Cat-O'-Nine-Tails after each stroke to separate the strands in preparation for the next stroke.
Combi
Combination passenger/cargo vessel.
Combined Ships
Ships which can carry both liquid and dry bulk cargoes.
Come/Coming About
Bringing the boat from one tack to the other when sailing into the wind, so that the sail is flown in the opposite side by turning through the eye of the wind; Tack
Come Home
An anchor is said to come home when its flukes are not holding in the ground and it drags.
Commander
The naval rank next below that of Captain.
Commission
(1) The documents by which naval officers hold their status as accredited officers in the navy they serve. (2) To place a vessel into active service. Decommission is to remove such a vessel from activity.
Commodore
(1) An intermediate rank between Captain and Rear Admiral, often held by a senior captain when given extra responsibility. (2) The leader of a yacht club.
Companion Way
The area leading down from the deck to the cabin, usually with steps (ladder)
Company
The whole crew of a ship.
Compartments
The spaces between the transverse bulkheads of a ship.
Compass
Navigation instrument, either magnetic, containing a magnetized card indicating the direction to magnetic north (showing magnetic north) or gyro (showing true north).
Compass Card
A card labeling the 360° of the circle and the named directions such as north, south, east and west. Part of a compass, the circular card is graduated in degrees. It is attached to the compass needles and conforms with the magnet meridian-referenced direction system inscribed with direction. The vessel turns, not the card.
Compass Course
The direction of a ship's heading as read on a compass. The compass course has added the magnetic deviation and the magnetic variation to the true course.
Compass Error
The amount the compass is deflected from the true direction by variation (magnetic) and deviation (metallic influences) together
Compass Rose
A circle on a chart, showing all 360°, indicating the direction of geographic north and sometimes also magnetic north.
Complement
The number of officers and crew employed upon a vessel for its safe navigation and operation.
Composite Construction
An object made with more than one type of material.
Compression Post
A vertical post, supporting the coach roof or deck, between a deck-stepped mast and (usually) the keel.
Con
Station, usually on the bridge, from which a ship is controlled; the act of so controlling.
Container Ship
A ship constructed in such a way that she can easily stack containers near and on top of each other as well as on deck. The hull is divided into cells that are easily accessible through large hatches, and more containers can be loaded on deck atop the closed hatches.
Continental Shelf
A region of relatively shallow water surrounding a land mass where the depth increases gradually before it plunges into the deeps of the ocean.
Contline
The spiral grooves between the strands of rope after it has been laid up.
Contraband
Goods which have been prohibited from entering a belligerent state by the declaration of a blockade.
Convoy
One or more merchant ships sailing in company to the same destination under the protection of naval ships.
Co-ordinates
The definition of the exact position on the surface of the globe in relation to two lines, latitude and longitude, which intersect at right angles.
Copper Sheathing
Thin sheets of copper applied to the hull of a wooden ship below the waterline to prevent the toredo worm eating the planks, and also to limit the growth of weed, barnacles or other marine life.
Cordage
Any rope or line.
Corinthian
A 19th century term for a yachtsman who sails his own yacht without the help of a professional skipper.
Corsair
A private ship operating under license from a government against the merchant shipping of an enemy.
Cotter Pin
A small double-pronged bendable pin used to secure a clevis pin or to keep turnbuckles from unwinding.
Counter
The overhang of the stern aft of the stern post. At the stern of the boat, that portion of the hull emerging from below the water, and extending to the transom.
Counter Current
That part of the water which is diverted from the main stream of a current and as a result flows in the opposite direction.
Course
(1) The prescribed compass direction in which a vessel is being steered (2) The lowest yard on a mast (square-rigged vessels). (3) The large square sail that hangs from that yard (4) The sequence of marks rounded in a race
Course Protractor
An instrument with a movable arm to plot a course on a chart
Courtesy Flag
A smaller version of the flag of the country being visited. It is flown from the starboard spreader.
Cove
(1) A small coastal inlet generally protected from the worst of the prevailing winds. (2) A thin, hollowed line cut along a yacht's sheer below deck level and traditionally gilded.
Cover
In sailboat racing, to have a controlling position over competitors by staying between them and the next mark or buoy a tactical maneuver in which the lead boat stays between the trailing boat and the wind or the next mark.
Cow-Hitch
Any bend or hitch which slips as a result of being improperly tied; an improvised knot which is not a recognized maritime knot as used at sea.
Cowls
Scoop like devices used to direct air into and ventilate a boat.
Coxswain, Cockswain
The helmsman.
CQD
The original distress call made by a ship requiring assistance, giving way to SOS. It stood for CQ, the signal for all stations (still used by Amateur Radio Operators, or Hams), and D for distress; it also meant "Come Quickly, Danger"
CQR Anchor
An anchor that is designed to bury itself into the ground by use of its plow shape. Also called a plow anchor.
Crabbing
Going sideways due to a current's set.
Crack On
To carry sail to the full limit of strength of masts, yards, and tackles.
Cradle
A frame that supports a boat when she's hauled out of the water onto shore.
Craft
Vessel or vessels of practically any size or type.
Crank
Said of a vessel with little stability, whether due to design or to stowage of cargo.
Creep
To search for a sunken object by towing a grapnel along bottom.
Crest
The top of a wave.
Crew
Personnel, excluding the Master, who serve on board a vessel (also excludes the passengers on passenger ships). In some cases a differentiation between officers and ratings is made; but officers are "crew" in a legal sense.
Crew List
List prepared by the master of a ship showing the full names, nationality, passport or discharge book number, rank and age of every officer and crew member engaged on board that ship. This serves as one of the essential ship's documents which is always requested to be presented and handed over to the customs and immigration authorities when they board the vessel on arrival.
Cribbing
Timbers used to support bottom of ship while it is under construction.
Crimp
Person who decoys a seaman from his ship and gains money by robbing and, or, forcing him on board another vessel in want of men.
Cringle
A large reinforced eye in the leech and clew of a sail that allows a line to fasten to it; e.g., the reef cringle and clew cringle.
Cross Bearing
Two or more bearings are noted on the chart in order to determine the ship's position at the intersection of the two
Cross Bracing
Iron or steel straps fastened diagonally across a ship's frames to make a rigid framework.
Cross-Jack Yard
The lower yard on a mizzen mast of a square-rigged ship.
Cross Sea
A sea running in a direction contrary to the wind, which can be confused and dangerous.
Crossing the Line
A ceremony performed on board ships when passengers or crew are crossing the equator for the first time during a voyage.
Crosstrees
Small horizontal spars extending athwartships from one or more places along the mast. The shrouds cross the end of these "spreaders", enabling the shrouds to better support the mast.
Crown
A knot formed by taking the strands of the end of a line and tucking them over and under each other to prevent them from unraveling.
Crow's Nest
A platform and protective coaming setting high up on a mast, to accommodate the look-out aloft while the ship is at sea.
Cruise
Voyage made in varying directions. To sail in various directions for pleasure, in search, or for exercise.
Cuddy
A small sheltered cabin on a boat.
Culage
Laying up of a vessel, in a dock, for repairs.
Cunningham
A line used to control the tension along a sail's luff in order to maintain proper sail shape.
Current
Horizontal movement of the water caused by tidal change, wind, river movement, or circular currents caused by the motion of the earth.
Customary Dispatch
Usual and accustomed speed.
Customs
Government officials responsible for regulating goods, services and supplies into a country.
Customs Manifest
Document listing all personal goods of crew members.
Cut
The shape or design of a sail.
Cut of His Jib
The recognition of a person by his recognizable characteristics (originally, the shape of the nose)
Cut Splice
Two lines spliced together to form an eye.
Cutlass
A short, curved sword associated with naval hand-to-hand combat. 1
Cutlass Bearing
The bearing surrounding the propeller shaft where it exits the hull.
Cutter
A single masted sailboat similar to a sloop except sails are arranged so that many combinations of areas may be obtained. A sail plan with two headsails, a main jib and a smaller staysail set between the jib and the mast.
Cutting His Painter
A seaman's personal "painter" is his lifeline, and if it is severed, he dies.
Cutwater
The forward curve of the stem of a ship.

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