beakhead: a small deck forward of the forecastle that overhangs the bow. The crew's latrine was located there, hence in current usage the term head for a marine toilet.
beam reach: sailing with the wind abeam.
belay: to make a rope fast to a belaying pin, cleat, or other such device. Also used as a general command to stop or cancel, e.g. "Belay that last order!"
belaying pin: a wooden pin, later made of metal, generally about twenty inches in length, to which lines were made fast, or "belayed." They were arranged in pinrails along the inside of the BULWARK and in FIFE RAILS around the masts.
bells: method by which time was marked on shipboard. Each day was generally divided into five four-hour "watches" and two two-hour "DOGWATCHES". After the first half hour of a watch, one bell was rung, then another for each additional half hour until eight bells and the change of watch, when the process begun again.
binnacle: a large wooden box, just forward of the helm, housing the compass, half-hour glass for timing the watches, and candles to light the compass at night.
bitts: heavy timber frame near the bow to which the end of the anchor cable is made fast, hence the term bitter end.
block: nautical term for for a pulley.
boatswain (bosun): warrant officer in charge of boats, sails, and rigging. Also responsible for relaying orders and seeing them carried out, not unlike a sergeant in the military.
boatswain's call: a small, unusually shaped whistle with a high, piercing sound with which the boatswain relayed orders by playing any of a number of recognizable tunes. Also played as a salute.
boatswain's chair: a wooden seat with a rope sling attached. Used for hoisting men aloft or over the side for work.
boom: the SPAR to which the lower edge of a fore-and-aft sail is attached. Special studdingsail booms are used for those sails.
booms: spare spars, generally stowed amidships on raised gallows upon which the boats were often stored.
bow: the rounded, forwardmost part of a ship or boat.
bow chaser: a cannon situated near the bow to fire as directly forward as possible.
bower: the two primary anchors stored near the bow, designated best bower and small bower.
bowline: line attached to a bridle, which is in turn attached to the perpendicular edge of a square sail. The bowline is hauled taut when sailing close-hauled to keep the edge of the sail tight and prevent shivering. Also, a common knot used to put a loop in the end of a rope.
brace: line attached to the end of a yard, which, when hauled upon, turn the yard horizontally to present the sail at the most favorable angle to the wind. Also, to perform the action of bracing the yards.
break: the edge of a raised deck closest to the center of the ship.
breaching: rope used to secure a cannon to the side of a ship and prevent it from recoiling too far.
brig: a two-masted vessel, square-rigged on fore and main, with a large fore-and-aft mainsail supported by boom and gaff and made fast to the after side of the mainmast.
bulwark: wall-like structure, generally of waist height or higher, built around the outer edge of the weather decks.
bumboat: privately owned boat used to carry vegetables, liquor, and other items for sale out to anchored vessels.
buntlines: lines running from the lower edge of a square sail to the yard above and used to haul the bunt, or body of the sail, up to the yard, generally in preparation for furling.
cable: a large, strong rope. As a unit of measure, 120 fathoms or 240 yards, generally the length of a cable.
cable tier: a section of the lowest deck in a ship, in which the cables are stored.
cap: a heavy wooden block through which an upper mast passes, designed to hold the upper mast in place against the mast below it. Forms the upper part of the DOUBLING.
capraiclass="underline" wooden rail that is fastened to the top edge of the bulwark.
capstan: a heavy wooden cylinder, pierced with holes to accept wooden bars. The capstan is turned by means of pushing on the bars and is thus use to raise the anchor or move other heavy objects.
cascabel: the knob at the end of a cannon opposite the muzzle to which the breeching is fastened.
cat-o'-nine-tails (cat): a whip with a rope handle around an inch in diameter and two feet in length to which was attached nine tails, also around two feet of length. 'Flogging' with the cat was the most common punishment meted out in the navy.
cathead: short, strong wooden beam that project out over the bow, one on either side of the ship, used to suspend the anchor clear of the ship when hauling it up or letting it go.
ceiling: the inside planking or 'inner wall' of a ship.
chains: strong links or iron plates used to fasten the deadeyes to the hull. The lower parts of the chains are bolted to the hull; the upper ends are fastened to the chainwale, or CHANNEL. The are generally referred to as forechains, mainchains, and mizzenchains for those respective masts.
channel: corruption of chainwale. Broad, thick planks extending from both sides of the ship at the base of each mast to which the shrouds are attached.
clear for action: the process by which a ship is prepared for an engagement. Also the order that is given to prepare the ship.
clew: either of the two lower corners of a square sail or the lower aft corner of a fore-and-aft sail. To clew up is to haul the corners of the sail up to the yard by means of the clewlines.
clewlines: lines running from the clews of the square sail to the yard above and used to haul the clews up, generally in preparation for furling. On lower, or course, sails the clewlines are called clew garnets.
close-hauled: said of a vessel that is sailing as nearly into the wind as she is able, and her sails are hauled as close to her centerline as they can go.
conn: to direct the helmsman in the steering of the ship.
course: the largest sails; in the case of square sails, those hung from the lowest or course yards and loose footed. The foresail and mainsail are courses.
crosstrees: horizontal wooden bars, situated at right angles to the ship's centerline and located at the junction of the lower and upper masts. Between the lower and the topmasts they support the TOP, between the topmast and the topgallant mast they stand alone to spread the shrouds and provide a perch for the lookout.
dead reckoning: from deduced reckoning. Calculating a vessel's position through an estimate of speed and drift.
deadeye: a round, flattish wooden block pierced with three holes through which a LANYARD is rove. Deadeyes and lanyards are used to secure and adjust standing rigging, most commonly the SHROUDS.
dirk: a small sword, more like a large dagger, worn by junior officers.
dogwatch: two-hour watches from 4 to 6 P.M. (first dogwatch) and 6 to 8 P.M. (second dogwatch).
doubling: the section where two masts overlap, such as the lower mast and the topmast just above the top.
fall: the loose end of a system of blocks and tackle, the part upon which one pulls.