scuppers Holes in a ship's side through which water could drain off from the deck.
sextant An instrument with a graduated arc of 60 degrees, used for navigation.
sheet A rope made fast to the lower corner or corners of a sail to control its position.
sheer hulk A vessel, usually an old ship, fitted with a pair of sheer legs (two large spars forming an 'A frame') to hoist masts in and out of vessels; a floating crane.
ship 1. A vessel with three or more masts and fully square-rigged throughout. 2. The term is also used to describe any large sea-going vessel. ship of the line A warship large enough to take her place in the line of battle. In the late eighteenth century this usually ranged from third-rate ships of between 64 and 80 guns up to first-rate ships of 100 guns or more. shrouds The set of ropes forming part of the standing rigging and supporting the mast or topmast.
sloop 1. A vessel having one fore-and-aft rigged mast with mainsail and a single foresail. 2. In the Royal Navy any ship or vessel commanded by an officer with the rank of master and commander, usually rigged as a ship or brig with 16 to 28 guns.
slop seller A supplier of clothes for sailors.
spar A stout wooden pole used for the mast or yard of a sailing vessel.
square-rigged The principal sails set at right-angles to the length of the ship and extended by horizontal yards slung to the mast (as opposed to fore- and-aft rigged).
standing rigging That part of the rigging which supports the masts and spars and which is not moved when operating the vessel, as distinct from running rigging.
starboard The right side of a vessel facing forward.
supernumerary A person borne on the ship's books in addition to the established complement.
tack To change the direction of a sailing vessel's course by turning her bows into the wind until the wind blows on her other side.
tender A vessel attending a larger vessel and used to supply stores or convey passengers.
three-decker The largest class of warship with upwards of 90 guns on three gundecks.
top (as in foretop, maintop, mizentop) A platform built at the head of the lower mast serving to spread the topmast rigging and provide a place for sailors working aloft.
topmen The sailors who went aloft to raise or lower the sails.
topsail A sail set on the topmast.
van The foremost or leading ships of a fleet.
warp (noun) A rope used in towing or warping.
warp (verb) In calms or contrary winds it was often necessary to warp a vessel in and out of harbour or along a river. This was done by taking a rope or ropes from the ship to a fixed point ashore, or to a heavy post or pile driven into the river bed alongside the channel, and then heaving in the rope to haul the ship along.
warrant officers These ranked below the commissioned officers (the captain and lieutenants) and included the master, purser, surgeon, gunner, boatswain, carpenter and cook.
wear (as in 'to wear ship') To change the direction of a sailing vessel's course by turning her bows away from the wind until the wind blows on her other side (the opposite manoeuvre from tacking, when the bows are turned into the wind).
weather (adjective) The side facing the wind. The weather column of a fleet is the column to windward or nearest the direction from which the wind is blowing.
weigh anchor To pull up the anchor.
yard A long spar suspended from the mast of a vessel to extend the sails.
yard-arm Either end of a yard.
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