aback
adverbMarine and shipyard
Backward against the mast; said of the sails when pressed by the wind from the "wrong" (forward) side, or of a ship when its sails are set that way.
Marine and shipyard
237 entries in this trade.
abaft
adverbMarine and shipyard
On the aft side; in the stern.
abeam
adverbMarine and shipyard
On the beam; at a right angle to the centerline or keel of a vessel or aircraft; being at a bearing approximately 90° or 270° relative.
ablative
adjectiveMarine and shipyard
Sacrificial, wearing away or being destroyed in order to protect the underlying material, as in ablative paints used for antifouling, or ablative heat shields used to protect spacecraft during reentry. .
able
adjectiveMarine and shipyard
Capable of performing all the requisite duties; as an able seaman.
able-bodied
adjectiveMarine and shipyard
Capable of performing all requisite duties as a seaman, specifically in the Royal Navy, a rating between leading and ordinary.
about
adverbMarine and shipyard
To the opposite tack: see go about.
abreast
adverbMarine and shipyard
Side by side; also, opposite; on a line with the vessel's beam.
acorn
A cone-shaped piece of wood on the point of the spindle above the vane, on the mast-head.
aft
adverbMarine and shipyard
At, near, or towards the stern of a vessel (with the frame of reference within the vessel).
agribulk
Unpackaged agricultural commodities transported in large quantities, such as grains, oilseeds, sugar, and fertilizers, typically handled via bulk carriers, barges, or silos.
aloft
adverbMarine and shipyard
In the top, at the masthead, or on the higher yards or rigging.
anchor
A tool used to moor a vessel to the bottom of a sea or river to resist movement.
antenna
The spar to which a lateen sail is attached, which is then hoisted up the mast.
average
A financial loss due to damage to transported goods; compensation for damage or loss.
backboard
The port or larboard side of a ship
bag
To drop away from the correct course.
balance
To contract, as a sail, into a narrower compass.
bark
A vessel, typically with three (or more) masts, with the foremasts (or fore- and mainmasts) square-rigged, and mizzenmast schooner-rigged.
bear
A block covered with coarse matting, used to scour the deck.
beat
To sail to windward using a series of alternate tacks across the wind.
bee
Any of the pieces of hard wood bolted to the sides of the bowsprit, to reeve the fore-topmast stays through.
bell
Any of a series of strokes on a bell (or similar), struck every half hour to indicate the time (within a four hour watch)
bend
To tie, as in securing a line to a cleat; to shackle a chain to an anchor; make fast.
berth
A place for a vessel to lie at anchor or to moor.
BIC
Initialism of Bureau International des Containers (“the International Container Bureau”).
bill
The extremity of the arm of an anchor; the point of or beyond the fluke (also called the peak).
bill of lading
A document issued by a carrier (e.g. master of a ship or the ship owner's agent) to a shipper listing a ship's cargo, acknowledging receipt of said cargo, and specifying terms for its delivery.
bitter
A turn of a cable about the bitts.
blade
The rudder, daggerboard, or centerboard of a vessel.
blow
An instance of using high-pressure air to empty water from the ballast tanks of a submarine, increasing the submarine's buoyancy and causing it to surface.
board
The distance a sailing vessel runs between tacks when working to windward.
bolt
The standard linear measurement of canvas for use at sea: 39 yards.
book of lading
A book that records the details of carried cargoes.
boom
A spar extending the foot of a sail; a spar rigged outboard from a ship's side to which boats are secured in harbour.
bow
A crude sort of quadrant formerly used for taking the sun's altitude at sea.
bracket
A short crooked timber, resembling a knee, used as a support.
branch
A certificate given by Trinity House to a pilot qualified to take navigational control of a ship in British waters.
buccaneer
Any of a group of seamen who cruised on their own account on the Spanish Main and in the Pacific in the 17th century, who were similar to pirates but did not prey on ships of their own nation.
bulb
A bulbous protuberance at the forefoot of certain vessels to reduce turbulence.
bunk
A built-in bed on board ship, often erected in tiers one above the other.
buttock
The convexity of a ship behind, under the stern.
c/o
Initialism of certificate of origin, a document describing a product's country of origin.
CA
Initialism of heavy cruiser, a variant of the cruiser type of warship.
call
A visit by a ship or boat to a port.
canoe
A small long and narrow boat, propelled by one or more people (depending on the size of canoe), using single-bladed paddles. The paddlers face in the direction of travel, in either a seated position, or kneeling on the bottom of the boat. Canoes are open on top, and pointed at both ends.
cant
A piece of wood laid upon the deck of a vessel to support the bulkheads.
carcass
An early incendiary ship-to-ship projectile consisting of an iron shell filled with saltpetre, sulphur, resin, turpentine, antimony and tallow with vents for flame.
cardinal
adjectiveMarine and shipyard
Of or relating to the cardinal directions (north, south, east and west).
carry
To capture a ship by coming alongside and boarding.
cat
A strong tackle used to hoist an anchor to the cathead of a ship.
ceiling
The inner planking of a vessel.
CH
Abbreviation of heavy cruiser.
characteristic
The distinguishing features of a navigational light on a lighthouse etc by which it can be identified (colour, pattern of flashes etc.).
Christmas tree
A panel of indicator lights in an aircraft or a submarine.
clause
To amend (a bill of lading or similar document).
cloff
An allowance of two pounds in every three hundredweight after the tare and tret are subtracted; now used only in a general sense, of small deductions from the original weight.
club
To drift in a current with an anchor out.
colt
A short piece of rope once used by petty officers as an instrument of punishment.
commodore
A naval officer holding a rank between captain and rear admiral.