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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

Labor, to
Description of a vessel when she rolls or pitches excessively while underway in heavy seas.
Lacing
A length of line or thin rope; A line used to attach a sail to a spar.
Ladder
Stairway of inclined or vertical steps on board ship.
Lading
That which is loaded into a ship. The act of loading.
Lagan
Jettisoned goods that cast overboard and are buoyed for subsequent recovery.
Lagoon
An area of water totally or partially enclosed by coral islands, atolls, and reefs.
Laid Up
A boat in a dry dock.
Land Breeze
A wind moving from the land to the water due to temperature changes in the evening, where the temperature of the land falls below the sea temperature.
Landfall
Arrival at land
Landlocked
Surrounded by land.
Landlubber
A person inexperienced with or uncomfortable around boats.
Landmark
A distinctive fixed reference point that can be used for navigation.
Lanyard
A Short line used to attach one thing to another a short rope or cord that secures or attaches an item onboard a boat, usually for keeping it attached to the boat
Lapper
A large foresail which extends aft behind the mast.
Lapstrake
The overlapping of wooden planks, used to form the outer surface of a boat's hull.
Larboard
The original name for the left side of the vessel when facing forward. The name was changed to Port to avoid any confusion with starboard, the right side of the vessel when facing forward.
Large
Said of vessel sailing with wind abaft the beam but not right aft.
Lash
To tie something with a line; to secure
Lashing
A rope used for securing any movable object in place
Lask
To sail large, with wind about four points abaft beam.
Lateen
Narrow triangular sail set on a long yard or spar, the forward end of which is hauled down so that it sets obliquely on the mast with a high peak.
Lateral Resistance
The ability of a boat to keep from being moved sideways by the wind. Keels, daggerboards, centerboards, and leeboards are all used to improve a boat's lateral resistance.
Latitude
The distance north or south of the equator measured and expressed in degrees. The equator is 0° and the north and south poles are 90°.
Launch
(1) To float a vessel off the ways in a building yard after it is completed. (2) A small boat used to ferry people to and from a larger vessel.
Lay
(1) As a command, it means to go in the direction indicated, e.g., "Lay foward" (go up) or "Lay alow!" (come down). (2) Of a line or rope, it refers to the direction in which the strands are twisted. (3) Lay the course: able to fetch a given point when close-hauled
Lay Aboard
To come alongside. Also known as "Lay Alongside".
Lay Out
(1) Order to men at the mast to extend themselves at intervals along a yard. (2) To keep a vessel at a certain place until a specified time has elapsed.
Lay the Land
To cause the land to sink below horizon by sailing away from it.
Lay Up
To store a yacht away on land for the winter
Laying on Oars
Holding oars at right angles to fore and aft line of boat with blades horizontal and parallel to surface of water.
Layline
The direct sailing line in which a racing mark or buoy can be fetched while sailing the desired course
Lazarette
Compartment in the stern of a vessel used for storage; a storage space below the deck in the cockpit.
Lazy Guy
A line attached to the boom to prevent it from accidentally gybing.
Lazy Sheet
A line led to a sail, but is not currently in use. The line currently in use is known as the working sheet. Usually the working and lazy sheets change when the boat is tacked.
Lazyjacks
Light lines from the topping lift to the boom, forming a cradle into which the mainsail may be lowered.
Lead
Refers to the direction in which a line goes.
Lead Line
A line with a weight on the end used to measure depth. The lead is dropped into the water and marks on the line are read to determine the current water depth. The lead usually has a cavity to return a sample of the bottom type mud, sand, etc.
Leading Block
A single block such as a snatch block used as a fairlead to bring a line in a more favorable direction.
Leading Marks
Unlit navigational aids for use during the day. They mark a bearing to a channel when they are lined up one above the other. Leading lights are lighted at night and serve the same purpose.
League
A measure of distance approximately 3 nautical miles. One-twentieth of a degree of latitude.
Lee
The side of a ship, or a shore location, sheltered from the wind; also used in context to refer to a sheltered place out of the wind, as in the lee of the island; The area to the leeward
Lee Helm
Sailing with the tiller over to leeward by force of the wind
Lee Lurch
Heavy roll to leeward with a beam wind.
Lee Shore
A shore that wind blows onto; it is best to stay well off a lee shore in a storm
Leeboards
Boards fixed vertically to a boat to prevent leeway
Leebow
In sailboat racing, to disturb the wind of a windward boat by positioning your boat a bit ahead and to leeward. If done correctly, the disturbed air hitting the windward boat will slow it down, leaving it at a distinct disadvantage and causing it to tack away with a loss of speed and distance
Leech
After or trailing edge of a sail; the after edge of a fore-and-aft sail and the outer edges of a square sail.
Leech Line
A line used to tighten the leech of a sail, helping to create proper sail shape.
Leecloths
Cloths hung on the lee side of a berth to keep one from rolling out of their bunk
Leeward
Direction away from the wind. In the Rules of the Road, the leeward boat is the one farthest from where the wind is coming from. Opposite of windward.
Leeway
The sideways movement of a boat caused by either wind or current, usually unwanted. Keels and other devices help prevent a boat from having excessive leeway.
Leg
The working portion of a cruise between ports. A long cruise may have many legs. The distance sailed on one tack. The course from one race mark to another.
Length Over All (L.O.A.)
Measured from the most forward part of the fore end to the most after part of the after end of the hull.
Let Fly
The action of letting go the sheets of a sailing vessel, thus spilling the wind and reducing the forward motion of the boat.
Letter of Marque
A commission issued, licensing the commander of a privately owned ship to cruise in search of enemy merchant vessels. see Privateer.
Leviathan
A gigantic sea animal.
Liberty
Term for a seaman's short leave from his ship, permitting him to go ashore for the day or night.
Licensed Pilot
A pilot with a license stating that they are qualified to guide vessels in a particular area.
Lie A-Try
To bring a sailing vessel head to the wind or as close to it as possible in high seas, maintaining a slight forward motion.
Lie By
To remain nearly alongside another vessel.
Lie To
See Heave To
Lieutenant
A naval rank next below that of lieutenant-commander, which is next below that of captain (the equivalent of commander).
Life Jacket
A device used to keep a person afloat. Also called a life preserver, life vest, PFD or personal floatation device.
Life Raft
A raft used in case of emergencies, such as sinking or fire.
Life Vest
A wearable device used to keep a person afloat. Also called a life jacket, life preserver, PFD or personal floatation device.
Lifeboat
Small boat carried on the vessel and used in case of emergency.
Lifeboat Drill
The master of every vessel is bound by international law to make the officers, crew and passengers adequately acquainted with the procedures of lowering and the use of lifeboats in case of emergency.
Lifebuoy, Life Ring
a circular donut-shaped buoy designed to support a person in the water. It is attached to the vessel with a (floating) line so that the person can be hauled back to the boat.
Lifeline
Stout line or cable fore and aft around the deck of the boat to keep crew from falling overboard.
Lift
A wind shift that allows a boat to sail above its mean wind course.
Lifts
On square-rigged ships, the lines which are lead from the masthead to the ends of the yards to support them.
Lifted
In sailing, to be lifted by a wind shift that allows your boat to be lifted closer to the wind where by it allows you to sail a shorter distance to the next mark, buoy or finish line
Light
A lit navigational aid such as a lighthouse that can be used at night or in poor visibility.
Light List
A list of navigational lights arranged in geographical order, giving the position and characteristics.
Light Load Line
The water line when the ship rides empty.
Light Port
An opening in a ship's side, provided with a glazed lid or cover for the admission of light.
Light Sails
Sails, such as the spinnaker, reacher and reaching staysail used when running or reaching
Lightening Holes
Holes cut in a plate to make it lighter and yet not reduce its strength.
Lighter
General name for a broad, flat-bottomed boat used in transporting cargo between a vessel and the shore. The distinction between a lighter and a barge is more in the manner of use than in equipment. The term "lighter" refers to a short haul, generally in connection with loading and unloading operations of vessels in harbor while the term "barge" is more often used when the cargo is being carried to its destination over a long distance.
Lightering
Conveying cargo with another vessel known as a lighter from ship to shore, or vice versa.
Lighthouse
A structure erected to display a characteristic light as a warning of danger at sea and as an aid to navigation.
Lightship
A stationary vessel carrying a light used for navigation, serving the same purpose as a lighthouse.
Lignum Vitae
A smooth hard wood grown in the West Indies which had many maritime uses, such as deadeyes and the sheaves of blocks. Its hardness stood up well to wear, and its smoothness allowed lines to render through easily.
Limber Holes
Holes in the bottoms of floors or floor timbers for drainage; holes in the bilge crossframes to allow bilge water to drain to the lowest point, which is where the bilge pump would be located.
Limey
A nickname referring to British seamen. All British ships were to carry a supply of lime juice for issue to the crew as a preventative against scurvy.
Line
Rope and cordage used aboard a vessel. A particular line generally derives its name from the object it affects.
Line Gun
A gun used to shoot a messenger line from one ship to another, or to persons stranded.
1 Line Squall
A squally wind sometimes accompanied by rain, observed as a dark cloud stretched across the horizon.
Liner
A passenger or cargo-carrying ship which is operated between scheduled, advertised ports of loading and discharge on a regular basis.
Lines
The naval architect's drawings of a ship showing the various sections.
Linestoppers
A device used to keep a line from slipping, such as a jamcleat.
Lipper
Small sea that rises just above bows or gunwale.
Liquid Petroleum Gas
LPG or propane for short. Propane is a common fuel used for cooking and heating. CNG natural gas is considered safer because propane is heavy than air and will sink into the bilge if it leaks, creating the potential for an explosion. Propane is more easily available throughout the world than CNG however, so it is used for most boats outside of North America.
List
The leaning of a boat to the side because of excess weight on that side; inclination of a boat due to excess weight on one side or the other.
Lizard
A short length of line with a thimble spliced into the end, used for several purposes.
LNG Carrier
Liquefied natural gas carrier, perhaps the most sophisticated of all commercial ships. The cargo tanks are made of a special aluminum alloy and are heavily insulated to carry natural gas in its liquid state at a temperature of -2850F.
Load Water Line (LWL)
A line painted on the side of the vessel to which the vessel sinks when carrying its full load. The water line when a vessel is carrying its full load.
Lobscouse
A familiar dish at sea before refrigeration was available. It was a stew of salt meat, broken biscuit, potatoes, onions and available spices.
Locker
A closet or chest-like storage space.
Lodestar
Sailor's name for the north star, Polaris, which for all practical purposes remains fixed above the north pole, bearing north from everywhere in the northern hemisphere, making it a true aid to navigation.
Log
(1) A record of all the activities aboard a ship. The Log Book. (2) A device used to measure the distance traveled and speed through the water.
Log Room
Where a vessel's records, especially engineering records, are kept. 1
Loggerhead
The wooden bit in the stem of a whaling boat around which the harpoon line was controlled.
Long Glass
an optical device for magnifying distant objects, consisting of one telescoping barrel with lenses. 1
Long Splice
Joining the ends of two lines without increasing the thickness over the length of the splice, so that the splice will pass freely through a block.
Long Ton
2,240 pounds (1016.05 kilograms)
Longitude
Imaginary lines drawn through the north and south poles on the globe used to measure distance east and west of the prime meridian at Greenwich, England (designated as 0°).
Longitudinal
A bulkhead, frame, or longitudinal stiffener, running fore and aft.
Longsplice
Sailor slang for marriage.
Lookout
A person designated to watch for other vessels and hazards.
Loose
To loose a rope is to let it go
Loose-footed
A sail attached to the boom at the tack and clew, but not along the foot, or a fore-and-aft sail which is set without a boom.
Loran
Long-range navigation system that uses radio signals transmitted at specific times. An onboard receiver computes position by measuring the difference in time of signal reception. This system is being phased out in favor of GPS.
Low and Aloft
An expression describing a sailing ship set with every sail she can carry.
Lubber
A clumsy and unskilled man.
Lubber's Hole
An opening in the floor of the tops of a square-rigged vessel's masts, giving access from below. Timid crew climbing the rigging preferred to go through this hole to reach the top rather than over the futtock shrouds, the path taken by more experienced sailors.
Lubber's Line
A line on the compass aligned with the centerline of the vessel that indicates the vessel's compass heading. Since it points to the vessel's bow, it enables a course to be steered by bringing the lubber's line to the point on the compass card which indicates the desired course.
Lucky Bag
The place where lost items may be reclaimed, or after a time claimed anew. 1
Luff
The forward edge of a fore-and-aft sail
Luff Up
To steer the boat more into the wind, thereby causing the sails to flap or luff.
Luffing
To luff or luff up is to head into the wind, causing sails to flutter.
Lug or Lugsail
A four sided sail bent onto a yard. Similar to a gaff sail, but with a wider throat.
Lugger
A sailing vessel rigged with lugsails.
Lugs
Metal or plastic pieces attached to a sail's luff that slide in a mast track to allow easy hoisting of the sail.
Lumper
Man employed in unloading ships in harbour, or in taking a ship from one port to another. Paid "lump" sum for services.
Lurch
Sudden and long roll of a ship in a seaway.
Lying Ahull
A boat that is letting herself be subjected to prevailing conditions without the use of sails or other devices. Lying ahull is usually not preferred to other actions because a boat may tend to lie with her beam to the waves and the wind parallel to the waves. This can cause a boat to roll excessively and even become knocked down.
Lying To
Said of a vessel when stopped and lying near the wind in heavy weather. See Heave To

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