SHIPS TERMINOLOGY - Genealogy - http://maxpages.com/ourlostfamily/Terminology

"Boat" is defined as:
1.A vessel for transport by water, constructed to provide buoyancy by excluding water and shaped to give stability and permit propulsion.
2.A small ship, generally for specialized use.
3.A small vessel carried for use by a large one, as a lifeboat.
4.A ship.
5.A vessel of any size built for navigation on a river or other inland body of water.

"Ship" is defined as:
1.A vessel, esp. a large oceangoing one propelled by sails or engines.
2.(Nautical) a. A sailing vessel square-rigged on all of three or more masts, having jibs, staysails, and a spanker on the aftermost mast.
b.(Now rare) a bark having more than three masts.
3.The crew, and sometimes, the passengers of a vessel.

"Vessel" is defined as:
1.A craft for travelling on water, now usually one larger than an ordinary rowboat; a ship or boat.

AFT: In, toward, or close to the stern of a vessel

ARTICLES: A contract of employment or intent (written agreement)

BARK also BARQUE: A sailing ship with from three to five masts, all of them squared rigged except the after mast, which is fore-and-aft rigged.

BARKENTINE also BARQUENTINE: A sailing ship with three to five masts of which only the foremast is square-rigged, the others being fore-and-aft rigged.

BOWSPRIT: A spar extending forward from the stem of a ship

BRIG: A two-masted sailing ship, square rigged on both masks, carrying two or more headsails and a quadrilateral gaff sail or spanker aft of the mizzenmast OR a ships prison

BRIGANTINE: A two-masted sailing ship, square rigged on the foremast and having a fore and aft with mainsail
with square main top sails

BULKHEAD: One of the upright partitions dividing a ship into compartments and serving to prevent the spread
of leakage or fire.

BULWARK: A wall or similar structure raised as a defensive fortification

DOGWATCH: Either of two short periods of watch duty

DORY: A small, narrow, flatbottom boat with high sides and a sharp brow

FIGUREHEAD: A carved figure on a ships prow

FORECASTLE: The section of the upper deck of a ship located at the bow forward of the foremast or a
superstructure at the bow of a merchant ship where the crew is housed

FORE or FORWARD: Toward the bow of a ship

FORERUNNER: Harbinger or herald of impending disaster often felt by the family of those lost at sea (legends)

GALLEY: An ancient seagoing vessel propelled by oars or a kitchen on a ship

HARBOURMASTER: An officer who oversees and enforces the regulations of a harbor

HATCHWAY: Opening in a ships deck for loading or removing cargo

HELM: A wheel or tiller by which a ship is steered

HMS: Prefix used before a vessel's name (Owned by the Crown)

ICE BOAT: A boatlike vehicle set on runners that sails on ice.

JACK: A sailor or seaman

JIBS: A triangular sail stretching from the foretopmast head to the jib boom and in a small craft to the bowsprit or the bow.

KEEL: The principal structure member of a ship, running lengthwise along the center line from bow to stern, to which the frames are attached

KEELHAULING: To punish sailors by dragging under the keel of a ship

KNOT: A compact intersection of interlaced material, as code, ribbon or rope OR a division on a log line used to measure the speed of a ship

LOG: A device trailed from a ship to determine its speed OR a book in which a record is kept

MAST: A structure above the hull of a ship holding sails and rigging

MASTER: The captain of a ship

MATE: An deck officer on a merchant ship ranking below the master

MUTINY: Open rebellion against constituted authority

PILOT: One who, though not belonging to a ship's company, is licensed to conduct a ship into and out of port or though dangerous waters (helmsman of a ship)

PUNT: An open, flat-bottomed boat with squared ends, propelled by a long pole and used in shallow waters

QUARTERDECK: The rear part of the uppermost deck on a ship

RANGE LIGHTS: A set of lighthouses that will guide a vessel to safely into a harbour.

RATLINE: Any of the small ropes fastened horizontally to the shrouds of a ship and forming a ladder for going aloft

RIGGING: The ropes or chains used to support and work the masks, sails on a ship

RUDDER: A vertical blade that steers a boat

SCHOONER: A vessel with two or more masts

SHALLOP: A vessel with one mast

SHIP: A vessel with three or more masts

SHROUDS: One of a set of ropes, or wire cables stretched from the masthead to a vessel's sides to support the mast

SLOOP: A single-masted, fore-and- aft rigged sailing boat with a short standing bowsprit or none at all and a single headsail set from the forestay

SPAR: A wooden or metal pole, as a mast, boom, yard, or bowsprit, used to support rigging

STARBOARD: The right-hand side of a ship facing forward

STEERAGE: The section of a passenger ship, originally near the rudder, providing the cheapest accommodations for passengers

STERN: The rear part of a ship

TIDEWAITER: A customs officer who boards incoming ships at a harbor

TONNAGE: The number of tons of water a ship displaces afloat

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Page Updated Sun Oct 3, 1999 10:29am EDT