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