NAVAL TERMS AND PHRASES
cabin
- Captain's quarters
gangplank
- a board with cleats forming a bridge reaching from a gangway or a vessel to the wharf
dolphin
- a cluster of piles driven into the bottom of a waterway and bound firmly together for the mooring of vessels
davit
- a curved metal spar for handling a boat or other heavy objects
field day
- a day for general ship cleaning
forecastle deck
- a deck over the main deck at the bow
lazarette
- a low headroom space below decks used for provisions or spare part, or miscellaneous storage
brig
- a prison in a ship or a shore base
bow thruster
- a propulsion installed near the bow to provide transverse thrust component enhancing maneuverability
abaft
- a relative term used to describe the location of one object in relation to another, in which the object described is farther aft than the other
bow rudder
- a rudder placed at the bottom of the forward stern and maneuvered from the fore peak
cleat
- a small deck fittings or metal with horns used for securing lines
rudder
- a swinging flat frame hung to the stern post of a ship, by which the ship is steered
yardarm
- a term applied to the outer end of a yard
centerline
- a vertical reference line in the center of the body plan, midship section, or other sections
bulkhead
- a vertical structural partition dividing a vessel's interior into various compartments for strength and safety purposes
billet
- allotted sleeping place; also, a man's location in the ship's organization
flag officer
- an officer with the rank of Commodore and above
port hole
- an opening in the ship's shell plating; window
pipe down
- an order to keep silent
avast
- an order to stop or cease hauling; stop action at once
ballast
- any weight carried solely for the purpose of making the vessel more seaworthy
broadside
- at right angle to the fore and aft line of the ship
aft
- at, or toward the stern of a vessel; opposite to forward
port bow
- bearing 315deg relative to the bow of the ship
starboard bow
- bearing 45deg relative to the bow
overhead
- ceiling
head
- compartment with toilet facilities
passageway
- corridor
windward
- direction toward the wind
dead astern
- directly aft of the ship in line of the centerline
dead ahead
- directly ahead on the extension of the ship's fore and aft line
bridge
- elevated center dedicated to the control and navigation of the vessel (alt: wheelhouse)
flagstaff
- flag pole, usually at the stern of a ship, carries the ensign
superstructure
- general term for sections of a vessel constructed on and above the upper of mains decks of a vessel
abandon ship
- get away from the ship, as in an emergency
sickbay
- hospital or dispensary
bilge
- intersection or curved transition of bottom sides of a hull; lowest points within hull compartments where liquids may accumulate
galley
- kitchen compartment
dry dock
- large basin with sealing caisson for the repair and maintenance of vessels
portside
- left hand side of the ship facing forward
adrift
- loose from moorings; not tied or secured
black gang
- member of then engine room force, includes the engineers, firemen, oilers, and wipers
amidship
- midway between port and starboard sides of a vessel
aft-in
- near or toward the stern
wardroom
- officers' mess and lounge room
liberty
- permission to be absent from the ship for a short period; authorized absence
deck
- platform of horizontal floor which extends from side to side of vessel
starboardside
- right hand side of the ship facing forward
compartment
- room
dead in the water
- said of ship when it has neither headway nor steerway in the water
binnacle list
- sick list; list of men excused for duty
fathom
- six feet; a sea-going measure of length
capstan
- steel warping drum rotating on a vertical axis for the handling of mooring lines and optionally anchor cable
astern
- the backward direction in the line of a vessel's centerline
abeam
- the bearing of an object 90deg from ahead (in a line with the middle of the ship)
draft
- the distance from the surface of the water to the ship's keel; how deep the ship is into the water
all hands
- the entire crew
bow
- the fore end of a ship
waterline
- the line which the surface makes with the hull
ensign
- the national flag; a junior officer
gangway
- the opening in the bulwarks of a vessel through which persons come on board or disembark
fantail
- the overhanging stern section of a vessel, from the stern post aft
alongside
- the position of a vessel when securely moored on a berth in port
breadth
- the side-to-side measurements of a vessel at any given place
bear a hand
- to assist or help
jump ship
- to leave without authority; deserting
secure
- to make fast or tie; an order given in completion of a drill or exercise meaning to withdraw from drill station and duties
pass the word
- to repeat an order or information to the crew
forward
- towards or at the fore end of a vessel
bitts
- twin stout posts welded to the deck to which mooring lines are fastened
mast
- upright spar supporting yards and gaffs
freeboard
- vertical measurement from the vessel's side amidships from the load waterline to the upperside of the freeboard deck
bollard
- wooden or iron post on a pier or wharf for securing mooring lines