Navy terminology
Passageway
(P-way) A Hallway
Petty Officer
A Navy NCO, E-4 through E-6, E-7 through E-9 are further identified as Chief Petty Officers
Quarterdeck
A ceremonial bridge of the ship when the ship is moored or at anchor(It is located close to the brow or accommodation ladder and is the watch station for the Officer of the Deck.)
Seabag
A heavy canvas bag used to stow personal gear
Brown bagger
A married Marine, refers to their bringing in lunch from home in a brown paper bag.
Swab
A mop, also a derisive slang for an enlisted sailor
Brig
A place of confinement, a prison
Brow
A portable walkway from the pier or jetty to the ship's quarterdeck
Chit
A receipt of authorization; a piece of paper
Rate
A sailor's occupational specialty, as opposed to rank.
All Hands
All members of a unit or command
Buttkit
An Ashtray
Gangway
An opening in the rail giving access to the ship while docked. Also, a command announcement to stand aside to let someone through
Ashore
Any place outside a Navy vessel or Marine Corps Reservation.
Liberty
Authorized absence of enlisted from the shipper command for less than 96 hours for purposes of rest and recreation that is not charged as leave.
Turn to
Begin work, get started
Overhead
Ceiling
C.P.
Command Post in the field.
Field Day
Comprehensive barracks cleanup, typically done weekly
Geedunk
Refers to candy, ice cream, soda, and smokes or the place where they can be sold
Aft
Refers to or toward the stern (Rear) of a vessel.
Field scarf
Regulation Marine Corps uniform necktie
Aye aye, sir
Required official acknowledgement of an order meaning I have received, understand, and will carry out the order or instruction.
As you were
Resume former activity
Carry on
Resumer previous activity
Galley
Shipboard kitchen Kitchen of a mess hall mobile field mess
Secure
Stop, finish, end, make fast, put away in storage
Breakout
Take out of stock or storage
Gator
an amphibious ship or one who serves in the amphibious Navy
Hatch
an opening between decks, or the cover of such an opening
Port
left
Forecastle
pronounced (Foksel) The upper deck at the bow forward of the foremast; traditionally, on sailing ships and on merchant ships today, the crew's quarters were below it.
Ladder
stairs
Head
toilet
Topside
Upstairs, upper deck
Smoking Lamp
When the lamp is on, sailors are allowed to smoke.
Wardroom
Where officers take their meals, relax, and socialize
Below
Downstairs, lower deck
Gundecking
Falsifying reports, records, and the like.
Skylark
Goof-off, loiter
Sick bay
Hospital or Dispensary
Skipper
Informal term for the Captain of a ship; informal term for a Marine Corps Company Commander
Adrift
Loose from towing line or moorings; scattered about, not in proper stowage; Usage "Gear Adrift"
Shippingover
Reenlisting
Starboard
The Vikings called the side of their ships boards, and they placed the steering oar, the "Star", on the right side of the ship and that side became known as the starboard. Because the oar was on the right side, the ship was docked on the left side. This was known as the loading side or "Larboard." Later, it was decided that larboard and starboard were too similar so the phrase became "The side at which you tie up at port" or Portside.
Stern
The aft end, or rear of the ship
Scuttlebutt
The cask from which the ship's crew took their drinking water, like a water fountain. Since the crew used to congregate around the scuttlebutt, that is where rumors about the ship or voyage would begin. Thus, then and now, rumors are talk from the "Scuttlebutt" or just "Scuttlebutt"
Bow
The front portion of a ship
Fantail
The main aft deck of a ship
Aweigh
The moment a ship's anchor leaves the sea bottom
Bridge
The portion of a ship's structure from which it is controlled when underway. The Captain or Officer of the Deck's place of duty when underway.
Belay
To make fast or to secure. To cancel or to disregard the statement just made
Square Away
To straighten, make ship-shape, or to get settled; to inform or admonish someone abruptly.
Police
To streikten or tidy up, pick up gear adrift
Watch
Tour of duty, on the ship the entire day is split into (Usually) 4 hour watches, and tracked by the tolling of a bell.