futtock shrouds: short, heavy pieces of standing rigging connected on one end to the topmast shrouds at the outer edge of the top and on the other to the lower shrouds, designed to bear the pressure on the topmast shrouds. Often used by sailors to go aloft.
gaff: a spar or pole extending diagonal y upward from the after side of a mast and supporting a fore-and-aft sail.
galley: the kitchen area of a ship.
grapeshot: a cluster of round, iron shot, generally nine in all, and wrapped in canvas. Upon firing the grapeshot would spread out for a shotgun effect. Used against men and light hulls.
grating: hatch cover composed of perpendicular, interlocking wood pieces, much like a heavy wood screen. It allowed light and air below while still providing cover for the hatch. Gratings were covered with tarpaulins in rough or wet weather.
grog: British naval seaman received a portion of liquor every day. In 1740, Admiral Edward Vernon ordered the rum to be diluted with water. Vernon 's nickname was Old Grogram, and the beverage was given the name grog in their disdain for Vernon.
gunwale: pronounced gun-el. The upper edge of a ship's side.
halyard: a line used to hoist a sail or spar. The tightness of the halyard can affect sail shape.
handsomely: slowly, gradual y.
hard tack: ship's biscuit.
haul: pulling on a line.
heave to: arranging the sails in such a manner as to stop the forward motion of the ship.
heel: the tilt of a ship/boat to one side.
helm: the wheel of a ship or the til er of a boat.
holystone: a block of sandstone used to scour the wooden decks of a ship.
idler: the name of those members of a ship's crew that did not stand night watch because of their work, example cook, carpenters.
jetty: a manmade structure projecting from the shore.
jib: a triangular sail attached to the headstay.
John Company: nickname for the Honourable East India Company
jolly boat: a small workboat.
jonathan: British nickname for an American.
keel: a flat surface (fin) built into the bottom of the ship to reduce the leeway caused by the wind pushing against the side of the ship.
ketch: a sailboat with two masts. The shorter mizzen mast is aft of the main, but forward of the rudder post.
knot: one knot equals one nautical mile per hour. This rate is equivalent to approximately 1.15 statute miles per hour.
larboard: the left side of a ship or boat.
lee: the direction toward which the wind is blowing. The direction sheltered from the wind.
leeward: pronounced loo-ard. downwind.
Letter of Marque: a commission issued by the governmental authorizing seizure of enemy property.
luff: the order to the steersman to put the helm towards the lee side of the ship, in order to sail nearer to the wind.
main mast: the tallest (possibly only) mast on a ship.
mast: any vertical pole on the ship that sails are attached to.
mizzen mast: a smaller aft mast.
moor: to attach a ship to a mooring, dock, post, anchor.
nautical mile: one minute of latitude, approximately 60 feet about 1/8 longer than the statute mile of 5280 feet.
pitch: (1) a fore and aft rocking motion of a boat. (2) a material used to seal cracks in wooden planks.
privateer: a privateer is a captain with a Letter of Marque which allows a captain to plunder any ship of a given enemy nation. A privateer was supposed to be above being tried for piracy.
prize: an enemy vessel captured at sea by a warship or privateer. Technical y these ships belonged to the crown, but after review by the Admiralty court and condemnation, they were sold and the prize money shared.
powder monkey: young boy (usually) who carried cartridges of gunpowder from the filling room up to the guns during battle.
quadrant: instrument used to take the altitude of the sun or other celestial bodies in order to determine the latitude of a place. Forerunner to the modern sextant.
quarterdeck: a term applied to the afterpart of the upper deck. The area is general y reserved for officers.
quarter gallery: a small, enclosed balcony with windows located on either side of the great cabin aft and projecting out slightly from the side of the ship.
Traditionally contained the head, or toilet, for use by those occupying the great cabin.
rake: a measurement of the top of the mast's tilt toward the bow or stern.
rate: Ships were rated from first to sixth rates based on their size and armament:
First rate line of battle 100 or more guns on 3 gundecks
Second rate line of battle 90 to 98 guns on gundecks
Third rate line of battle 80, 74 or 64 guns on 2 gundecks
Fourth rate below the line 50 guns on 1 or 2 gundecks
Fifth rate frigates 32 to 44 guns on gundeck
Sixth rate frigates 20 to 28 guns on gundeck
ratline: pronounced ratlin. Small lines tied between the shrouds, horizontal to the deck, forming a sort of rope ladder on which the men can climb aloft.
reef: to reduce the area of sail. This helps prevent too much sail from being in use when the wind gets stronger (a storm or gale).
roll: a side-to-side motion of the ship, usual y caused by waves.
schooner: a North American (colonial) vessel with two masts the same size.
scuppers: Drain holes on deck, in the toe rail, or in bulwarks.
scuttle: any small, generally covered hatchway through a ship's deck.
sextant: a navigational instrument used to determine the vertical position of an object such as the sun, moon or stars.
shoal: shallow, not deep.
shrouds: heavy ropes leading from a masthead aft and down to support the mast when the wind is from abeam or farther aft.
skiff: a small boat.
sky lark: to frolic or play, especial y up in the rigging.
spar: any lumber/pole used in rigging sails on a ship.
starboard: the right side of a ship or boat.
stern: the aft part of a boat or ship.
stern chasers: cannons directed aft to fire on a pursuing vessel.
tack: to turn a ship about from one tack to another, by bringing her head to the wind.
taffrail: the upper part of the ship's stern, usual y ornament with carved work or bolding.
thwart: seat or bench in a boat on which the rowers sit.
topgallant: the mast above the topmast, also sometimes the yard and sail set on it.
transom: the stern cross-section/panel forming the after end of a ship's hul.
veer: a shifting of the wind direction.
waister: landsman or unskilled seaman who worked in the waist of the ship.
wear: to turn the vessel from one tack to another by turning the stern through the wind.
weigh: to raise, as in to weigh anchor.
windward: the side or direction from which the wind is blowing.
yard: a spar attached to the mast and used to hoist sails.
