astern in or at the stern (rear) of the ship
bilge the bottom of a ship’s hull
binnacle a box found on the deck of a ship near the helm which holds the compass
bitts strong posts fastened in pairs in the deck of a ship to which are attached cables and ropes
bluff-bowed a ship which has little inclination: the bows are nearly vertical
bobstay rope used to pull the bowsprit of a ship downwards
boom a long spar extending from a ship to increase or ‘boom out’ the foot of a sail, or a pole erected to mark the course of a channel or deep water
bowsprit a large pole extending from the stem of a vessel to which the foremast stays are fixed
bulkhead a partition in a ship which divides the hold or creates a cabin
bumpkin boom used to extend the foresail, mainsail, and mizzen
burgee a triangular or swallowtailed flag used as a distinguishing flag on yachts
carronadc a piece of ordnance, mainly used on shipboard
catspaw a slight breeze which ripples the sea surface
clipper vessel built for fast sailing
culvert a channel or conduit carrying a stream across or beneath a canal
davit-tackles a pair of cranes on the side of a ship with sheaves and pulleys for raising or lowering a boat
ferry packet a boat travelling at regular intervals between two points
fo’c’sle forecastle, a short raised deck at the fore end of a vessel
foresail the principal sail set on the foremast (the forward lower mast)
forestay a strong rope stretching from the foremast-head towards the bowsprit end
galliot a small boat propelled by sails and oars and used for swift navigation
grapnel a tool with iron claws used especially for seizing and securing boats
gunwale the upper edge of a ship’s side
halyards rope used for raising or lowering a sail, spar, or flag
hawse-pipe a cast-iron pipe fitted into the hawse-hole (one of two holes in the bow of a vessel for a cable to run through) which prevents the cable from eroding the wood
head-sail any of the sails belonging to the foremast and bowsprit
helm the handle or wheel used to control the rudder
jib a triangular sail stretching from bowsprit to masthead in smaller boats
jib-sheets one of the ropes by which the jib is trimmed
kedge a small anchor used in mooring or moving a ship
keel the lowest longitudinal timber of a boat on which the frame of the whole is built
lanyard short piece of rope fastened to something to secure it
lee the side of a ship that is turned away from the wind
lighter a boat used for unloading ships that cannot be discharged at a wharf
lugsail a four-cornered sail, bent upon a yard which is slung at one-third or one-fourth of its length from one end, and so hangs obliquely
mainsheet the rope which secures the mainsail when set
marling-spike a pointed iron tool used to separate the strands of rope in splicing
mizzen-mast the aftermost mast of a three-masted ship
mosquito a motor-torpedo boat for rapid manoeuvring
overfall a turbulent surface of water with short breaking waves
painter a rope attached to the bow of a boat for making it fast to a ship or stake
port the left-hand side of a ship when looking forward
roadstead a place where ships lie at anchor near the shore
rowlock a device on the gunwale of a boat forming a fulcrum for the oar in rowing
rudder a broad, flat piece of wood or metal attached vertically to the sternpost of a ship to assist in the steering
scud ocean spray driven by the wind
scull an oar operated by working it from side to side over the stern of the boat, reversing the blade at each turn skipper the captain of a ship
spars a general term for all masts
spar-torpedo a torpedo (underwater explosive device) fastened on the end of a spar projecting from the bows of the boat
starboard the right-hand side of a ship when looking forward
stern the hind part of a boat
tackle the rigging or ropes used for working the sails
taffrail the aftermost part of the poop-rail of a ship
thwart scat placed across the width of a boat
tide-rips a commotion of the sea caused by opposing currents, or by a rapid current passing over an uneven bed
tiller horizontal lever used to control the rudder for steering purposes
tiller-head extremity of the tiller to which are attached two ends of tiller-rope
to jib to pull the sail from one side of a boat to the other
to kedge (kedging off) to move a ship by winding in a hawser attached to a small anchor dropped at a distance
topsail the uppermost sail
torpedo-boats a small, fast warship from which torpedoes are discharged
tug a small, strong steamer used to tow other boats
warp a rope attached to a fixed object and used in hauling in or moving a ship
windlass a mechanical device around which a rope or chain is wound, especially for weighing the anchor
yawl a small fishing or sailing boat