Old Weather Forum

This is a collection of responses to questions about nautical, naval, and a few other terms found in our log books.
Please post questions and suggestions for additions or changes in OWpedia: discussion.
The board Weather, sea, and ice terminology may also be useful.

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Items where alphabetic order didn't make sense are at the end.


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Abaft
See Relative bearings


Abeam
See Relative bearings


Actaeon sweep
A single-ship sweep, consisting of a light wire, a small kite, a depth float and an explosive grapnel, and was towed from each quarter of a minesweeper. On meeting a mine, the explosive grapnel parted its mooring; the sweep proved particularly useful in locating new fields, and had the advantage over the " A " sweep that it could be used by night.
http://www.theodora.com/encyclopedia/m2 ... aying.html [Maikel]


One Inch Aiming Rifle
See Deflection Teacher.
+
Don't know much about naval gunnery, but before the days of laser rangefinders etc, medium calibre land weapons sometimes had small calibre ranging/sighting rifles alongside the main barrel. Two that spring to mind are early Chieftain tanks and the Wombat recoiless gun.
[Haywain]
A weapon that fires a round 1" in diameter is not something that you pass around from hand to hand! This had to be a fixed weapon and the idea that it was attached to the barrels of the ship's guns as described by Haywain makes a lot of sense.
[dorbel]



Airing of bedding - Their bedding was taken to an open deck and draped across lines, etc to air. Imagine what sweat, condensation would do to your bed? [kin47]


All hands, from all hands, at all hands
"48 hours bread and water from all hands until 10 PM. for not obeying orders of a Petty Officer"
01/08/1887 - http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/ ... _145_1.jpg [jd570b]
"At all hands, 5:00 o'clock, released S.F. McMahon - W.T. - from sentry's charge, he having become sober."
http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/ ... _269_1.jpg [Maikel]
"All hands" has two meanings. One is official, and is a longstanding part of Navy regulations, dating back to 1843 when the "rules and regulations for the government of the Navy" was first codified. The other is just an offhand jargon term meaning everyone in a specific department, or everyone aboard, depending on who's calling for all hands.
The official, daily one, actually happens twice. Once in the morning at 08:00, with the first call given five minutes prior for all hands to morning quarters, which is the morning formation for muster and inspection, as well as for the raising of the ensign. The second is at sunset, which is another formation for muster and inspection, lowering of the ensign, and release from duty for all sailors not assigned a night watch. [HatterJack]


Always done to discharge ammunition before docking. This is then taken to a specific wharf for storage right away from the main port area if possible. [dorbel]


Anchor

There are definite reasons to use a particular anchor. Often it relates to: a) one is heavier (better) than the other; b) sailing vessels need to stand away from the anchorage in one direction (made easier if the anchor is on the unfavored side); c) weather or tide tends to back/veer in one direction so to keep from riding over the cable; d) if used to control the bow during docking maneuvers then the inboard (dock side) anchor is used, contrary to what one might guess; e) ... Also important to log 'anchors at the hawse'^* when operating in close quarters since this seems to be the only time engine and rudder controls fail and if there is a crunch it's best to not also be obviously ignoring accepted practice.
^* In this context it means the anchor is literally dangling from the hawse pipe, and ready to drop. Also implies all the securing attachments - devil's claw, etc. - are removed, so the anchor can be dropped in an instant (as a matter of safety). General practice when entering a harbor. [Kevin]
[AND]
Two anchors is always preferable if there is likely to be a blow or if the holding ( the state of the sea bed) isn't good. It takes longer to weigh of course, so you will see "at single anchor" when your vessel is making a short visit or is required to put to sea at short notice.
[AND]
It is actually the weight and drag of the anchor chain (or cable) lying on the sea bed that keeps the ship where it is. The flukes of the anchor do dig in of course but once the cable is veered out, the strain on the anchor itself should be minimal or non-existent.
[AND]
A careful skipper will always take bearings on two or more points when anchoring in any bay, enabling the officer of the watch to see at a glance if she is dragging her anchor. [dorbel]
[AND]
I found a reference to sorting out cats, fish and capstans (can't quite recall where - sorry!) the other day. Finally looked this up: refers to hauling up anchors. The 'cat' is the cathead, and the 'fish' the fish-davit. Found these articles (first short, second leeeeeengthy). http://www.1902encyclopedia.com/A/ANC/anchor-05.html, http://www.hnsa.org/doc/luce/part5.htm [AvastMH]
[AND]
http://hdl.handle.net/2027/nyp.33433008 ... %3Bseq=221
[AND]
"BOWER-ANCHORS. Those at the bows and in constant working use. They are called best and small, not from a difference of size, but as to the bow on which they are placed; starboard being the best bower, and port the small bower." http://www.gutenberg.org/files/26000/26 ... 6000-h.htm
[AND]
Bent sheet cable: When the navy attaches something to something, they bend it on. Here they are attaching a cable (probably a thick wire rope) to the sheet anchor, which is a spare and doesn't have a cable of its own. The reason is that nasty NE force 7 that is blowing directly down the harbour. [dorbel]


Anchor buoy and barricoe
"An anchor Buoy is used to mark the position of the anchor when it is on the bottom, and is always streamed before the anchor is let go. Its use is of particular importance in crowded anchorages to enable other vessels to keep clear of your anchors and cables. The anchor buoy used in the Royal Navy usually consists of a strengthened barricoe, fitted with slings to which the buoy rope is bent." - http://books.google.it/books?id=qDQuAQA ... CEIQ6AEwAQ [lollia paolina]


Anchor Pawl
A pawl is a movable lever that engages a fixed component to either prevent movement in one direction or restrain it altogether.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pawl [ggordon]


Ardois system: "A widely used system of electric night signals in which a series of double electric lamps (white and red) is arranged vertically on a mast, and operated from a keyboard below." - http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Ardois+system


The armed merchant cruisers' crews in WW I were mostly Mercantile Marine Reserve, civilians under military discipline. The officers were Merchant sailors with RNR commissions. As a whole, you are only going to find a few sailors, telegraphists, and signalmen from the Regular Navy in converted merchant ships. [kin47 - Don]


Arming, lead arming
A hollow indentation in the end of the lead permitted "arming" with tallow or another sticky substance so that a sample of the bottom could then be brought up to aid navigation or in unfamiliar locations establish whether it was suitable for anchoring. The nature of the bottom might be mud, sand, shingle or shell for examle or if nothing attached to the tallow, rock.
https://www.historicnavalfiction.com/ge ... -soundings



Compulsory for the Captain to read the Articles of War to his Ship's Company at least once a month. These are the regulations by which the ship is governed and cover the offences with which a seaman may be charged and the penalties thereto. Usually read on a Sunday at divisions. [dorbel]
[AND]
The 1866 version of the "Articles of War" read to the sailors on all of our ships: http://www.pdavis.nl/NDA1866.htm
The 1884 version does not seem to be digitized, but a listing of the changes made through 1884 (the version our sailors heard) can be found at: http://www.pdavis.nl/NDA.htm
The earlier version of 1757 with its more draconian punishments: http://www.hmsrichmond.org/rnarticles.htm [Janet Jaguar]


At Home:
Admiral Captain and officers "At Home." https://s3.amazonaws.com/oldweather/ADM ... 0066_1.jpg
[jeff]
An 'at home' was an informal gathering at, well, one's home, so I guess the officers were holding a social evening on board, probably with guests.
[Caro]
+
[jil]
Held Ship's Company "At Home" https://s3.amazonaws.com/oldweather/ADM ... 0129_0.jpg
+
A regular part of "Showing the Flag". The ship is open to visitors, boys are shown the guns and the boats and kind-hearted Jacks in gleaming whites attentively assist young ladies to climb ladders and look through telescopes. Refreshments are served.
[dorbel]


Azimuth and amplitude can refer to two different methods of determining compass error, basically using bearings to the sun (most commonly) or other body. It is still in routine use today for determining gyro (compass) error at sea - where there are no natural ranges to 'swing' the compass on. I've used these techniques to reconstruct the compass card after the ship was struck by lighting. The strike - aside from blowing the HF radio antennas completely off the mainmast - completely magnetized the ship resulting in transient compass error of up to +/- 25 degrees. See also the chapter in Mody Dick about 'thunderstruck' - which was incidentally lifted from Scoresby's Account of the Arctic Regions. [Kevin]




Badge, Ship's Naval heraldry is a form of identification used by naval vessels from the end of the 19th century onwards, after distinguishing features such as figureheads and gilding were discouraged or banned by several navies.
Naval heraldry commonly takes the form of a badge, seal, crest, or coat of arms designed specifically for a ship
Also: ship's seal or ship's crest. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naval_heraldry


Badgemen: Sailors of the Royal Navy with good conduct badges. http://www.eurekaencyclopedia.com/index ... oned_Ranks [Caro]


Balloon ship
WW 1 -- There were 1 or 2 observers in the basket under the balloon which was attached by a wire rope to the ship. The obervers had binoculars & telephone and gave instructions to the battle ships with detailed information on targets out of sight of both the allied warships & the soldiers ashore. The spotters could see where the shells landed and could tell the warships how close they were to the target.
[John Moscow]


Bank fires See Drew fires / Draw fires


Barabara
Traditional Aleut winter house.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barabara and https://www.wdl.org/en/item/16046/


... they did take the barometer down (and presumably pack it in a padded case) during practice firing on some ships. [dorbel]


Barricoe: A small water barrel carried in boats. The word comes from the Spanish "Barrica" - a cask - http://www.hmsrichmond.org/dict_b.htm [Caro]
[AND]
See breaker


Base ships were floating barracks, offices, store ships, etc, etc. You see a base ship usually in the circumstance where the shore command has outgrown its space and needs more room. I.E. about any of the major naval commands. [kin47]


Basnett's sounding machine: https://archive.org/stream/wrinklesinpr ... ch/basnett


Bass broom: The stiff bristles are made of piassava fibre. [dorbel]


Bath Brick
Patented in 1823 ... used for cleaning and polishing.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bath_brick


Battery
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artillery ... aval_usage - [ggordon]


A battleship is a large armored warship with a main battery consisting of heavy caliber guns. Battleships were larger, better armed and armored than cruisers and destroyers. As the largest armed ships in a fleet, battleships were used to attain command of the sea and represented the apex of a nation's naval power from the 19th century up until World War II. With the rise of air power and guided missiles, large guns were no longer deemed necessary to establish naval superiority, and as a result there are no battleships in active service today....The word battleship was coined around 1794 and is a contraction of the phrase line-of-battle ship, the dominant wooden warship during the Age of Sail. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battleship [Janet Jaguar]


Bbl
Abbreviation for barrel.
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/bbl.
http://www.natemaas.com/2011/01/correct ... ation.html


If you take a bearing on a single point and draw a line on your chart, you know that you are somewhere along the line to that point. Take a bearing to a second point, draw another line and in theory you are where those lines intersect. In practice you won't be stationary even if your engines have stopped and there will be small errors in the taking of the bearings and their transposition to the chart, so navigators like to take a third bearing and draw a third line. This will cross the other two lines and make a small (hopefully) triangle known to sailors as a cocked hat and you are somewhere in that triangle. When anchoring a ship, the navigating officer will take two or three bearings to landmarks and enter these in the log, so that succeeding officers of the watch can by checking these, ensure that the vessel isn't dragging her anchor(s).
After a sighted bearing is noted, we sometimes (and should always) see (M), (T) or (S) after the bearing. Sometimes the letter is lower case and I don't think that that matters. (M) is short for magnetic and indicates that the bearing is with reference to Magnetic North and is the uncorrected bearing straight off the pelorus. (T) is short for True and indicates that the bearing is with reference to True North. The navigating officer has corrected the bearing and laid it off on the chart. More rarely though we see (S) and this one I don't know. [dorbel]


Beckets, or rope handles (see http://www.frayedknotarts.com/beckets.html). [Steeleye]

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Go back to the beginning

Beating:
See Tacking and beating


Bee:
A ring or hoop of metal.
+
Bee-blocks. Pieces of hard wood bolted to the outer end of the bowsprit, to reeve the fore-topmast stays through, the bolt, serving as a pin, commonly called bees.
http://www.gutenberg.org/files/26000/26 ... 00-h.htm#B


I remember a time in my life when beef was the usual for Sunday lunch and chicken was a once-a-year Christmas dinner treat. - Same back then.[navalhistory (Gordon)]


Bells, engine telegraph: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Engine_order_telegraph
[AND]
The early one's weren't fancy telegraphs like you see in the movies though, just a pull-cord attached to the bell with a pre-established code. Sometimes there might be a bell-bell and a jingle-bell with specific meanings (ahead, astern...). The SS Sabino at Mystic Seaport is like that as I recall. As a group these are all referred to now as 'bell boats' though few remain. My last boat had telegraphs just in case the air control failed. [Kevin]
Slow bell


"Belum" is a kind of Mesopotamian river boat (various spellings). http://www.gutenberg.org/files/24893/24 ... tm#Page_99 [Janet Jaguar / edited]


Bend - Verb: To fasten, as one rope to another, a sail to its yard or stay, or a cable to the ring of an anchor. Noun: A knot by which one rope is fastened to another or to some object.


Berthon Boat: Collapsible lifeboat https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berthon_Boat [CHommel]


Beset (in ice): Situation of a vessel surrounded by ice and unable to move. (WMO Sea Ice Nomenclature) [Danny252]


Bethel flag:

At the opening of the nineteenth century the merchant seamen of both England and America were a spiritually neglected class. 'Floating Chapels' or 'Ship Chapels,' which were called 'Bethels,' were started in London and vicinity about 1814.
...
The Bethel flag first appeared in the United States on a vessel entering New York harbor in March 1821. Under the leadership of John Allan, who had been commissioned by the Bethel movement in England to carry the idea to America, a group was soon at work in New York. The zealous members of this organization supplemented the activities of the Navy chaplains in ministering to the spiritual needs of naval personnel.

https://flagspot.net/flags/us_beth.html


Bight - The double part of a rope when bent; that is, a round, bend, or coil not including the ends; a loop.


The ship's Binnacle List is the medical department's report of personnel at sick bay, excused from that day's duty. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Binnacle [Caro]
[AND]
"Binnacle List - A ship's sick-list. A binnacle was the stand on which the ship's compass was mounted. In the eighteenth century and probably before, a list was given to the officer or mate of the watch, containing the names of men unable to report for duty. The list was kept at the binnacle." http://www.usstopekaclg8.org/Shipmates/ ... leList.htm


Bitt End/Bitter End:
"The bitt end (or bitter end) refers to the final part of the anchor rope near to where the rope is fixed to the ship's deck. Usually marked with coloured rags, the bitter end gets its name from the bollards (or bitts) on the deck to which the anchor rope was tied."
https://www.grammar-monster.com/sayings ... er_end.htm [ggordon]


Bits/Bitts A frame composed of two strong pieces of straight oak timber, fixed upright in the fore-part of a ship, and bolted securely to the beams, whereon to fasten the cables as she rides at anchor; in ships of war there are usually two pairs of cable-bitts, and when they are both used at once the cable is said to be double-bitted. Since the introduction of chain-cables, bitts are coated with iron, and vary in their shapes. There are several other smaller bitts; as, the topsail-sheet bitts, paul-bitts, carrick-bitts, windlass-bitts, winch-bitts, jear-bitts, riding-bitts, gallows-bitts, and fore-brace bitts. http://www.gutenberg.org/files/26000/26 ... 6000-h.htm and http://southseas.nla.gov.au/refs/falc/0151.html and http://southseas.nla.gov.au/refs/falc/0152.html
[AND]
A pair of short metal or wooden posts extending up from a base plate usually fastened to a dock or deck and used for securing lines. http://www.history.navy.mil/research/li ... onary.html


Blacking down aloft - It is blacking for the standing rigging, whether of wire or rope and it is done mainly for smartness before entering a harbour. I have never enquired what it is actually made of but I suspect it is very like stove black, graphite and carbon in a paste, which dries to a nice dull sheen.
The Royal Navy, a deeply conservative organisation, has always been fanatical about cleanliness, partly for smartness, partly for hygiene but most of all to keep a large crew occupied! They have to do something every day, so they may as well keep the ship clean.
[dorbel]
+
BLACKING. For the ship's bends and yards. A good mixture is made of coal-tar, vegetable-tar, and salt-water, boiled together, and laid on hot.
BLACKING DOWN. The tarring and blacking of rigging; or the operation of blacking the ship's sides with tar or mineral blacking. http://www.gutenberg.org/files/26000/26 ... 6000-h.htm
+
It is said that one of the consequences of blacking rope for protection and appearance, is the Royal Navy sailors' salute. As you may know, it differs from the army and air force salute where the palm of the hand is towards the recipient. The thinking is that a grubby palm, resulting from years of handling rope, could be considered as lacking in respect, so the hand was turned to be palm downwards.
Sounds like the Royal Navy, adapting to any circumstance.
[Bunting Tosser]


"Blocks" - supporting the ship clear of the bottom of the dock to allow access to the whole underside, except where the bits where the blocks were in contact with the hull. [Bunting Tosser]


Blue light: A pyrotechnical preparation for signals by night. Also called Bengal light. http://www.gutenberg.org/files/26000/26 ... BLUE_LIGHT


Any reference to boat masts and/or sails definitely means the cutters, pinnaces etc. Boats are things that are hoisted onboard ships. Confusingly sailors (and particularly submariners) often refer to their ship as "The boat", although not I fancy in the log. [dorbel]


Boat pulling Navy-speak for rowing. [Janet Jaguar]


Bomb: May refer to a depth charge.


Bonnet:
Extra strip of canvas fixed to the foot of a fore-and-aft sail.
http://www.ageofsail.net/aoshipwd.asp?s ... et;iword=1


Boom defence (harbour chain, river chain, chain boom, etc.) is an obstacle strung across a navigable stretch of water to control or block navigation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boom_(nav ... l_barrier)


Boot topping:
The process of cleaning the upper part of a ship's underwater hull and daubing it with a protecting layer of antifouling substance.
https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/boot-topping [ggordon]


Bouse or bowse: To pull upon any body with a tackle, or complication of pulleys. https://www.gutenberg.org/files/26000/2 ... 6000-h.htm [BaroquePearl]


Bower anchor - An anchor carried at the bow. (In 1928 dictionary: A bower anchor for a modern battle-ship weighs a much as 18,000 pounds; kedges vary from 100 to 900 pounds.)[/i][/color]


Boxing the Compass: the action of naming all thirty-two principal points of the compass in clockwise order. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Points_of_the_compass [Janet Jaguar]


The boys are what we would now call junior seamen, early teens. I think at this time they took them from 12 years old and they would indeed have school and a ship of this size [HMS Yarmouth] would have a schoolmaster in her complement. [dorbel]
[AND]
At the time of WW1, Boys could be taken on as young as 14. Don't forget the school leaving age in the UK was that until some years after WW2. Also the youngest Victoria Cross winner was Boy Cornwall at the Battle of Jutland. He was just 15 and a national hero.
Contrary to all our fears for youngsters these days, I get the impression they were well cared for - tough and strictly disciplined yes, but fairly, and probably free, in all but the most exceptional cases of real abuse. I posted a link in one of the forum about naval court martials in the First World War. I don't recollect seeing any cases of Boys being abused.
If anyone finds evidence to the contrary, I'd like to know about it. [navalhistory (Gordon)]


Brats in lucky bag - Middle English cloak of coarse cloth ; from Old English bratt ; from Gaelic mantle, cloth, rag [mapurves]


Bread-room:
The lowest and aftermost part of the orlop deck, where the biscuit is kept, separated by a bulk-head from the rest; but any place parted off from below deck for containing the bread is so designated.
http://www.gutenberg.org/files/26000/26 ... 00-h.htm#B


The biscuit breaker has fallen out of the boat. This is a small sealed barrel full of ship's biscuit, permanently stowed in the sea boat in case of emergency. There will also be at least one water breaker [dorbel]
[AND]
BREAKER - A small wooden barrel, primarily used for holding water supplies in boats. The day's rum ration for mixing into grog is kept in a special breaker, under a sentry's charge, until mixed into grog. Some years ago the synonym "Barricoe" was invariably pronounced "breaker." - http://www.hmsrichmond.org/dict_b.htm


Breaking/Breaking out hold: Breaking out stores or cargo in the hold. The act of extricating casks or other objects from the hold-stowage. http://www.gutenberg.org/files/26000/26 ... 00-h.htm#B


breast in - to bind (an object, as a boatswain's chair) securely under a projection, as the flare of a bow.
breast off - a. to thrust (a vessel) sideways from a wharf. b. to keep (a vessel) away from a wharf by means of timbers. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/breast


breast line: a mooring line securing a ship to that part of a pier alongside it.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/breast-line


Breech Loading (B.L.) Guns: http://www.hnsa.org/doc/br224/part1.htm [Caro]
[AND]
http://www.archive.org/stream/HandbookF ... 1/mode/2up [Tegwen]
[AND]
A breech-loading weapon is a firearm in which the cartridge or shell is inserted or loaded into a chamber integral to the rear portion of a barrel. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breech-loading_weapon and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quick_firing_gun#BL


A bridle is commonly used when a ship ties to a mooring buoy. It is a piece of steel wire rope with an eye on each end large enough to pass over cleats to either side of the bow. You put one eye over one cleat then pass the other end through the ring on top of the buoy, then bring it back to the cleat on the other side of the bow. This arrangement is much more stable than a single line and is always to be preferred, even for yachts.
What is a cleat? They come in all shapes and sizes but it is just a post with a cap or bar on the top that prevents the eye of a rope riding up and off. [dorbel]
MOORING-BRIDLE. The fasts attached to moorings, one taken into each hawse-hole, or bridle-port.
FAST. A rope, cablet, or chain by which a vessel is secured to a wharf; and termed bow, head, breast, quarter, or stern fasts, as the case may be.
BOWLINE-BRIDLE. The span attached to the cringles on the leech of a square sail to which the bowline is toggled or clinched.
http://www.gutenberg.org/files/26000/26 ... 6000-h.htm


brightwork, bright work:
The exposed and varnished wood or metal work of a boat. The metal is usually brass or bronze that is kept polished, or stainless steel.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brightwork [ggordon]


Broad:
See Relative bearings


We are indebted to former Commander Parparatt his explanation of the naval term "Broke his flag", a term we have used several times in our stories about our guys that served in the navy. Quoting Everett, "Officers of the rank of Rear Admiral, Vice-Admiral, or Admiral are designated as flag officers. When one of them takes command of a ship, a task force or a fleet, the chief signalman is given the job of raising the Admiral's flag."
The Admiral's flag is blue with white stars. A Rear-Admiral will have two stars on his flag, a vice-admiral will have three stars, and a full Admiral rates four stars. A very rare case would be five stars for a fleet admiral. "During the ceremony the flag is bunched up into a ball and hoisted up in that fashion until it gently bumps the masthead and the balled up flag breaks open to a full flag furl. When this takes place the flag officer's flag has broken open and he has taken command."
To say that a Commander "Broke his flag," means that particular officer has been assigned task force or Fleet Commander. Read more: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_o ... z27mFCyI7Z
'Struck' is the opposite of 'broke' [Steeleye]


The brow in nautical terms is what is more commonly known as a gang plank, often made with a slight arch (for strength) which no doubt accounts for the name. [dorbel]
[AND]
http://www.history.navy.mil/research/li ... onary.html


bull rope:
Rope used for hoisting a topmast or topgallant mast in a square-rigged ship
http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/bull_rope
+
https://www.hnsa.org/manuals-documents/ ... volutions/


Bulwark: The extension of the plating of the ship's side above the weather deck. It helps to keep the deck dry and serves as a guard against losing deck cargo or men overboard. http://www.history.navy.mil/research/li ... onary.html
[AND]
The planking or wood-work round a vessel above her deck. http://www.gutenberg.org/files/26000/26 ... 00-h.htm#B


Buoy, Nun buoy: http://www.fish4fun.com/buoys.htm


by account is old usage synonymous with DR (dead reckoning). [Kevin]




Camber
I have seen it used in reference to the torpedo boat depot in Kowloon as in 'naval camber '. It refers to an enclosure formed by the breakwaters. But any sea area surrounded by breakwaters can be referred to as a camber, such as the Port of Dover. [CharlesNorrieTemp]
[AND]
In Hong Kong harbor (HMS Otter) they use 'camber' to indicate temporary docks made with floating breakwaters or buffers as opposed to permanent structures. [Janet Jaguar]


Camel, ship camel:
An external flotation tank that can be fitted to a ship to increase her buoyancy or reduce her draught.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ship_camel [Michael]
+
A type of fender.

http://www.alaskaharbors.org/resources/ ... _FINAL.pdf


Camouflage painting - Dazzle camouflage, also known as razzle dazzle or dazzle painting, was a military camouflage paint scheme used on ships, extensively during World War I and to a lesser extent in World War II. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dazzle_camouflage [Janet Jaguar]
[AND]
False bow-waves seem to have been one of the more common anti-submarine subterfuges employed over the years. On the http://www.worldnavalships.com/monitors.htm website there is an amusing photo of HMS Medusa (ex-M29), a monitor with a top-speed of 10 knots when new, with a 'bow-wave' that gives the impression that she's doing 15-20! [Steeleye]


Cant - To take an oblique direction or course; swing around, as a ship. [Caro]


Capital ship - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_ship [Bunting Tosser]


Capstan: a vertical-axled rotating machine developed for use on sailing ships to multiply the pulling force of seamen when hauling ropes, cables, and hawsers. The principle is similar to that of the windlass, which has a horizontal axle. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capstan_(nautical)


Captains defaulters means that someone has broken the rules and has to appear before the captain or first lieutenant for trial and sentencing. They were marched up to the table escorted by two guards and presented their version to the captain who then passed sentence. [elynn]
In the terms of the British justice system, you can broadly relate "captain's defaulters" to the Magistrates Court and Courts Martial to the Crown Court. The Captain could remand the accused to a Courts Martial for more serious crimes or if he felt a more severe sentence was required than he could award. [Haywain]


Captain's Mast: See Mast.


Careening:
The operation of heaving the ship down on one side, by arranging the ballast, or the application of a strong purchase to her masts, which require to be expressly supported for the occasion to prevent their springing; by these means one side of the bottom, elevated above the surface of the water, may be cleansed or repaired.
http://www.gutenberg.org/files/26000/26 ... 6000-h.htm
+
https://www.liboatingworld.com/single-p ... /careening


Cargadores: 1928 Websters has "[Sp.] A carrier or porter. Phil.I."


Carley Floats:
Primitive liferafts - very basic but easy to deploy and probably rigged so they floated free if the ship sank.
[Haywain]
+
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carley_float [CHommel]
+
https://web.archive.org/web/20080725153 ... yfloat.pdf


Carling, carline:
Fore-and-aft member supporting a deck of a ship or framing a deck opening where the beams have been cut.
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/carling
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/ee/db/58 ... efa6ad.jpg
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/25/51/95 ... 99ac46.jpg


CARRY AWAY, To. To break; as, "That ship has carried away her fore-topmast," i.e. has broken it off. It is customary to say, we carried away this or that, when knocked, shot, or blown away. It is also used when a rope has been parted by violence. http://www.gutenberg.org/files/26000/26 ... 6000-h.htm


Cathead See Anchors


Cease-firing gong:
The system consists of vibrating gongs giving a signal to stop firing the guns.
https://books.google.com/books?id=5YofA ... iring+gong [ggordon]


Challenged and exchanged pendants: The challenge, whether by Wireless Telegaphy (in Morse Code), Aldiss lamp (ditto) or flag signals is a routine matter of ascertaining the identity of the other ship. The one that challenges first demonstrates that they are more alert and the first lieutenant of the other will have something to say to his lookouts.
The exchanging of pendants refers I think to the dipping of the ship's ensign as they pass, a mark of respect, traditionally observed.
[dorbel]


Cheered Ship See Manning and Cheering


Cherub See Log


Church is Rigged on the Quarter-deck Royal Navy in World War 2 --- NAVAL LIFE and CUSTOMS, Part 2 of 2


Civil time:
"The Log Book of Vessels of the Revenue-Cutter Service must be kept according to civil time — that is, the day will end at midnight."
https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorag ... 9_0068.JPG
This is as opposed to nautical time.


Clock See Time


Closed Fireroom See Natural Draft and Forced Draft


CPO is a Chief Petty Officer, the highest rating that can be achieved and a man of some influence aboard, to whom even junior officers will defer ("What do you think we ought do Chief?"). [dorbel]


Clear view screen or clearview screen or clear sight: A glass disk mounted in a window that rotates to disperse rain, spray, and snow. A clear view screen is typically driven by an electric motor at the center of the disk, and is often heated to prevent condensation or icing. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clear_view_screen


Cleat - They come in all shapes and sizes but it is just a post with a cap or bar on the top that prevents the eye of a rope riding up and off. [dorbel]


Close aboard: Near a ship. https://www.nauticed.org/sailingterms


Close up, closed up, closing up:
When a crew are closed up, then they are at their station ready for orders. In this case the sea boat's crew are closed up at their boat, but this also applies to gun crews, searchlight crews, control parties, special duty men (the foc'sle hands who handle mooring and anchoring duties), etc. Purely naval, I can't think of any day to day use of it in standard English. [dorbel]


Coach whip:
Informal term for a log thin pennant used to indicated a USN ship in commission.
[studentforever]
https://www.history.navy.mil/browse-by- ... nnant.html


Coaling See viewtopic.php?f=38&t=252 , also Stokers
Coaling Ship from a Collier

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Go back to the beginning

Cod line:
Eighteen-thread line used in catching codfish.
http://www.webster-dictionary.net/definition/cod%20line


Coir is a natural fibre extracted from the husk of coconut and used in products such as floor mats, doormats, brushes, mattresses, etc. Technically, coir is the fibrous material found between the hard, internal shell and the outer coat of a coconut. Other uses of brown coir (made from ripe coconut) are in upholstery padding, sacking and horticulture. White coir, harvested from unripe coconuts, is used for making finer brushes, string, rope and fishing nets. ... Ropes and cordage made from coconut fibre have been in use from ancient times. Indian navigators who sailed the seas to Malaya, Java, China, and the Gulf of Arabia centuries ago used coir for their ship ropes. Arab writers of the 11th century AD referred to the extensive use of coir for ship ropes and rigging. A coir industry in the UK was recorded before the second half of the 19th century. ... The coir fibre is relatively waterproof, and is one of the few natural fibres resistant to damage by saltwater. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coir
Also, according to an ad, lightweight.


"Coir Springs Heavy duty harbour moorings manufactured in coir rope. They are designed to be picked up by a vessel mooring in a harbour, usually where heavy swells are experienced. Commonly referred to as 'storm moorings'. Common to ports on the Pacific rim, they are used in addition to the ship's own moorings."
http://www.pomorci.com/Edukacija/80-100 ... hrases.pdf [Bunting Tosser]


colt - Naut. A short rope knotted or having something heavy attached to the end, as that formerly used as an instrument of punishment in the navy. Websters, 1928


Comox coal:
Coal from the Comox area of Vancouver Island.
[Danny252]


Commander:
Wooden mallet, used in paving, in sail lofts, etc.
http://www.webster-dictionary.net/definition/commander



... A commodore is an anomalous rank, held temporarily by a Captain when he is the officer commanding a squadron of vessels acting outside the direct control of an admiral. Sometimes he also captains his own vessel as well, sometimes he has a captain under him. If for some reason he moves into a smaller ship than his own, to reconnoitre a coastline for example, his pendant goes with him. When their particular mission is over, he reverts to being a captain. [dorbel]


Comparing watch
http://www.hamiltonchronicles.com/2013/ ... model.html


Compass error See Swinging the ship


Compasses:
COMPASSIPEDIA -- The Online Compass Museum
[Bunting Tosser]

• Steering Compass:
  Ships are required to have a magnetic compass at the primary steering station.
  PSTGC (or PSTC) means per steering compass (usually uncorrected).
• Standard Compass:
  If a ship has a second magnetic compass, it is called the standard compass and is normally located at the secondary conning station.
  PSC means per standard compass (usually uncorrected).
• Gyrocompass:
  "Despite the excellence of the gyro mechanism, the magnetic compass is still standard equipment used aboard ship. Because the gyrocompass is powered by electricity, it would be useless in a power failure. It is an extremely complicated and delicate instrument, and it is subject to mechanical failure."
  PGC means per gyrocompass (usually uncorrected).

http://navyadministration.tpub.com/1422 ... ses-60.htm,
http://navyadministration.tpub.com/1406 ... ent-25.htm, and
[Kevin]
"One cadet awoke Langevad to show how the cadet’s navigational plot had put the ship ashore in Massachusetts. Without saying a single word or moving a muscle in his face, Langevad showed that the cadet had applied steering compass deviation to the standard compass, then he yawned and went back to sleep."
https://www.mycg.uscg.mil/News/Article/ ... ast-guard/


Condition (of Readiness)
One: General Quarters (battle stations). May be modified for certain conditions, such as Condition 1-AS, in which all anti-submarine watch stations and weapons are manned, but AAW stations may not be. Modified conditions are used to minimize crew fatigue, which can be a significant factor over a prolonged period at battle stations. Other types of modified conditions include 1-SQ (battle stations for missile launch);
Two: Condition of modified General Quarters, generally used on large ships;
Three: Material condition of readiness commonly associated with wartime steaming where some, usually half, of the ship's weapons are kept in a manned and ready status at all times;
Four: Material condition of readiness commonly associated with peacetime steaming. There are no weapons in a ready status;
Five: Material condition of readiness associated with peacetime inport status. Other material conditions may be set as needed, dictated by the threat;
Hairy: Alert that all units may be required to prosecute an unidentified submarine contact.
[Jerry Mason]
+
http://www.de634.org/facts.htm
+
"the skipper of the Iowa, authorized readiness condition 1E to allow some of the men from down below to come topside briefly to escape the heat. ... Condition 1E also allowed the galley to distribute food to the men at battle stations."
https://www.usni.org/magazines/naval-hi ... truk-atoll
+
See Material Condition


Conduct Class: Class can apply to training and/or ability (e.g., Seaman 1st class, Seaman 2nd class, Seaman 3rd class), but it can also apply to behavior and rewards.
First Conduct Class includes: "Those who perform duty efficiently, cheerfully, and have no more than four hours' extra duty during the month and return from leave clean and sober".
For those in the First Conduct Class: "Whenever funds or circumstances on board will permit and the efficiency of the ship will warrant the indulgence, the first conduct class will be granted liberty and draw monthly money and one half of their monthly pay."
https://archive.org/details/onboardpens ... 0/mode/2up [Danny252]


Shells were propelled by cordite cartridges at this time, the shell and the cartridge being stored separately. The cordite, although not explosive in the same way as the shell, could and did become unstable in conditions of heat and damp. Many WW1 ships were lost by careless use and storage of cordite and careful gunners took no chances and threw old charges overboard, particularly if they had been brought up to the gun on a "fire first" basis and then not used. [dorbel]


cornet - Naut. A pennant or flag (in the U.S. navy only the latter) used in signalling. Websters, 1928


Coston flares, Coston pistols:
Pyrotechnic night signal and code system.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martha_Coston
+
http://www.civilwarsignals.org/pages/si ... oston.html


Cot case: a person confined to bed through illness https://www.dictionary.com/browse/cot-case


This entry is "Read Quarterly Court Martial returns". These are a summary of all the Royal Navy's courts martial for the preceding quarter, read to the crew as an awful warning to them of the penalties for comitting a court martial offence. This entry doesn't relate to your deserter and not every deserter is court martialled, many being dealt with by their Captain directly.
It makes a great deal of difference whether a man "deserts in the face of the enemy". Soldiers leaving their post on the Western Front were invariably court martialled and often shot, whereas those who deserted in the UK didn't always face a court martial and I think I am right in saying, never executed. It may be that your man will be regarded as merely Absent Without Leave, a much lesser offence.[dorbel]
[AND]
The Court-Martial gun (known unofficially as the "Rogue's Salute" or a "One-gun salute") is the signal gun fired at 'Colours' on the morning of the day on which a naval court-martial has been ordered to assemble. A Union flag is flown from the peak halliards (at the yard arm in a single-masted ship) while the Court is sitting. http://www.hmsrichmond.org/dict_g.htm [Bunting Tosser]
[AND]
US Navy: Summary Court-Martial, Special Court-Martial, General Court-Martial http://www.military.com/benefits/milita ... ained.html


Cross in the hawse:
When a ship moored with two anchors from the bows has swung the wrong way once, whereby the two cables lie across each other.
To cross a vessel's hawse is to sail across the line of her course, a little ahead of her.
http://www.gutenberg.org/files/26000/26 ... 00-h.htm#C


Crowfoot:
A number of small cords rove through a long block, or euphroe, to suspend an awning by.
http://www.webster-dictionary.net/definition/crowfoot


The booms of small sailing craft have crutches fitted at the trailing end to support them during transport or hoisting out, but I think that I have heard crutches used to describe rowlocks, the u-shaped attachments in which the oars sit on the gunwhales of pulling boats. [dorbel]


I've noticed that "Cutters" may be the only class of ships whose name does not apply to size (above the minimum) or function. From the United States Coast Guard site:
The Coast Guard's official history began on 4 August 1790 when President George Washington signed the Tariff Act that authorized the construction of ten vessels, referred to as "cutters," to enforce federal tariff and trade laws and to prevent smuggling. ... A "Cutter" is basically any CG vessel 65 feet in length or greater, having adequate accommodations for crew to live on board. ... All (CG) vessels under 65 feet in length are classified as boats and usually operate near shore and on inland waterways. [Janet Jaguar]


Cutwater, cut-water:
The forward edge of the stem at or near the water line is called the cutwater.
https://www.history.navy.mil/research/l ... l#glossary
+
https://ussconstitutionmuseum.org/2015/08/05/cutwater/




Dan buoy - a small buoy, made of cork with a small flag, used to temporarily mark a position at sea, normally to mark a fishing ground or a minesweeping area http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/dan_buoy [CHommel]


davit
Any of various types of small cranes that project over the side of a ship and are used to hoist boats, anchors, and cargo. - http://www.thefreedictionary.com/davit

http://www.history.navy.mil/research/li ... onary.html
AND
A spar formerly used on board of ships, as a crane to hoist the flukes of the anchor to the top of the bow, without injuring the sides of the ship; - called also the fish davit.- http://www.webster-dictionary.net/definition/davit


Dazzle painting See Camouflage painting


DB party - Double Bottom Party.
There's an inner and outer hull with the space in between used for ballast or storage or (for all I know) the bilges. The inner hull has water tight doors. Naturally, unwanted "stuff" will accumulate over time and need to be cleaned out. Highly desirable job, that's why they throw a party for the cleaners. Apart from that, this construction makes the hull "stiffer" and gives a second chance in case of grounding. [Bunting Tosser]
[AND]
The cavity between the inner and outer skins of the boat could be used for storage, of oil, water, ballast and coal. Even when just an empty space though, it's desirable to get into it to dry it out, brush or chip off the rust and apply some red lead. Paradoxically iron and steel ships tend to rust from the inside more than the outside! A dirty and unpleasant job. [dorbel]
[AND]
http://books.google.com/books?id=-fVLAA ... royal+navy [DJ_59]


Dead reckoning:
The process of calculating one's current position by using a previously determined position, or fix, by using estimations of speed and course over elapsed time.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dead_reckoning


Deckhouse:
any enclosed structure projecting above the weather deck of a vessel and, usually, surrounded by exposed deck area on all sides.
https://www.dictionary.com/browse/deckhouse [ggordon]


Deflection Teacher - http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.anc ... Ch_09.html [sean0118]
Image at https://www.illustratedfirstworldwar.co ... -0013-001/
https://wargamingmiscellany.blogspot.co ... games.html
[AND]
http://www.rifleman.org.uk/Miniature_ca ... sions.html
http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forum ... at-was-it/ [Bunting Tosser]



Deck Common names for decks: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deck_%28sh ... _for_decks


Deck court: "A deck court may be convened by the Commanding Officer of a ship or naval station, or by any officer of the Navy or Marine Corps who is authorized to order a summary court-martial or a general court-martial. The purpose of a deck court is to try enlisted personnel for minor offenses which, however, warrant greater punishment than the Commanding Officer is empowered to impose." https://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/re ... ip-19.html


Degaussing "At the start of WWII, the Germans developed a new magnetic trigger for mines- one based on the mine's sensitivity to the magnetic field of a ship passing nearby. ... The effort to defeat these magnetic mines took several forms. One such approach was to attempt to negate the magnetic signatures of metal ships through a process known as "degaussing,""
http://www.eaglespeak.us/2007/11/sunday ... ships.html
More details at https://ethw.org/Degaussing [Michael]


Dent chronometer:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dent_%28cl ... ronometers
Mahogany cased two-day Dent chronometer



Derrick They are reeving a hand purchase and topping lift for the main derrick. The main derrick on a cruiser would normally be operated by a steam capstan, but for some reason they want to use manual power, a hand purchase, here. Perhaps the capstan is down for maintenance.
In the diagram below, the topping lift is labelled as the span tackle, but it's the same thing.
http://nauticalclass.com/wp-content/upl ... 9x1024.jpg [dorbel]
http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ADM5 ... -058_1.jpg
See purchase.


Diaphone - a foghorn that emits a two-toned signal [szukacz]


A dipped light means precisely that - it is dipped below the actual horizon. It doesn't mean you cannot see it though. You can often see the 'loom' of the light, especially if it is a lighthouse with a powerful light and see the rotation of the light even below the horizon. [TenDown]


Discipline - It's worth remembering the tremendous authority a ship's captain had over his crew. I'm ex-Army so less familiar with Naval law, but on the Western front at that time, unfortunately we were executing soldiers, many of whom today would be diagnosed with stress related disorders.
Military law has specific offences to deal with the nature of the job; sleeping on duty, failing to obey an order, insubordination, losing kit, cowardice etc. In the Army there was also a marvellous catch all, Section 69 "prejudice of good order and military discipline " max sentence 2 years. Sections of military law also allow any criminal or common law offences to be tried, such as theft or murder, with corresponding sentences.
For more serious offences, a Courts Martial was formed with a panel of officers but minor crimes would be dealt with summarily. Even so, sentences could be harsh; restrictions of privileges, stoppages of pay (i.e. fines), reduction in rank or jail (up to 56 days).
I believe it is still the case, that any Captain grounding or losing his ship (even through enemy action) automatically faces a Courts Martial, along with any of his officers that may be to blame. [Haywain]


Disrated - To reduce in rank or rating; demote. / to punish (an officer) by lowering him in rank http://www.thefreedictionary.com/disrated, http://www.freefictionbooks.org/books/l ... l?start=75


Steam engines require fresh water, as they can't use sea water because of the corrosion. They do have distillation plants that can be used for drinking water, but these do consume fuel, so a good skipper in rainy climes will take any opportunity to add fresh water to his tanks, by setting out canvas funnels, that feed straight into the fresh water tanks. [dorbel]
[AND]
It's not only the corrosion. [When] the water boils and the salt would be left. It would clog the tubes in the boilers and either render the engine plugged an unusable OR there could be enough pressure build up to explode the boiler! [dmaschen]
[AND]
they condensed their own steam, feeding the distilled pure water back into the boilers
http://www.aandc.org/research/salt_in_m ... ilers.html [Janet Jaguar]
[AND]
If they were recondensing the water, that makes a lot more sense (also explains why ships' exhaust is always smokey, never steamy, now I think on it). Assuming the inefficiency isn't too bad, you could probably easily distill enough to cover that - at least, easily compared to distilling constantly to feed the boilers! [Danny252]
[AND]
One other important point regarding the condensation. In a ship there is of course always loads of cold (sea) water outside that can be bought in to cool the steam to condense. That is not the case with a steam train. Also I think in steam trains they use the waste steam, up the chimney to help the draught in the boilers. That is why the steam trains have that chuff chuff sound especially when they start moving. These two factors help to explain the differences in the steam/smoke from the different types of steam power units. [Tegwen]


Divisions:
http://www.naval-history.net/WW2aaNaval ... stoms2.htm
+
This tweet's short clip shows divisions on board HMS Queen Elizabeth in 1915.
https://twitter.com/simonharley/status/ ... 4189399041 [Maikel]


... a dodger is 'a canvas shelter, mounted on a ship's bridge or over the companionway of a sailing yacht to protect the helmsman from bad weather'. [Caro]


Dog:
The objects that are wedged against the door to hold it closed are dogs. To dog the doors means to close the doors and secure them in the closed positions.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dog_(engi ... )#Door_dog
[Hurlock]


Dog Watch http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dog_watch [Geoff]


donkey boiler: A donkey boiler is used to supply non-essential steam to a ship for 'hotel' services such as heating or lighting when the main boilers are not in steam, for example, when in port. Donkey boilers were also used by the last sailing ships for working winches and anchor capstans. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donkey_boi ... key_boiler
[AND]
http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/Steam+donkey
[AND]
A donkey engine is a small diesel (or petrol) engine, used for auxiliary power around the ship, operating a derrick, a pump, a generating set, anything really. Donkeymen were responsible for the care and maintainance of these. [dorbel]


Dory, Doree, Dori:
A small, flat-bottomed boat, often used for fishing, with very few other distinguishing features - if you think of a typical fisherman's boat, the image that comes to mind is probably a dory! It is usually powered by oars, but can also be fitted with sails or a motor.

[Danny252]


"The dotter was a device for measuring the gunlayer's ability to hold "continuous aim". It consisted of paper targets in front of the sights, with the targets able to move around constantly. The gunner looked through his sight and manipulated his controls of the actual gun to keep the sight centered on the moving target at all times. Attached to the sight was a pen that moved back and forth every second or so to make a dot on the paper corresponding to the sight's position relative to the target at that time. The goal was to get all the dots densely clustered in the center of the target regardless of its motion." - http://www.stormeaglestudios.com/phpbb3 ... ?f=8&t=210 [thursdaynext]
http://www.dreadnoughtproject.org/tfs/index.php/Dotter [Steeleye]
http://www.rifleman.org.uk/Hollifield_Dotter.htm
https://wargamingmiscellany.blogspot.co ... games.html
https://www.history.navy.mil/content/hi ... 487052.jpg

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Go back to the beginning

Downton pump:
Positive displacement pump patented in 1825 by Jonathan Downton, a British shipwright. It was typically used on ships.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Downton_pump
+

https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/J._Downton_and_Co
https://www.maritimequest.com/warship_d ... page_4.htm
+
Pumping Shanties: All wooden ships leak somewhat. There was a special hold (cargo area) in the ships where the leaked-in water (the bilge) would collect: the bilge hold. The bilge water had to be pumped out frequently; on period ships this was done with a two-man pump. Many pumping shanties were also used as capstan shanties, and vice versa, particularly after the adoption of the Downton pump which used a capstan rather than pump handles moved up and down. Examples include: "Strike The Bell," "Shallow Brown," "Barnacle Bill the Sailor," "Lowlands." http://www.traditionalmusic.co.uk/sea-s ... shanty.htm


Dress: See
Uniforms.


Dress and full-dress ship, rainbow colors:
https://coastguardblogcom.wpcomstaging. ... dence-day/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dressing_overall
http://navyaviation.tpub.com/14243/css/ ... ip-201.htm
http://www.ushistory.org/betsy/images/ntp13b.pdf


Drew fires / Draw fires / Pull fires - "Draw or pull<a fire> is a set phrase in boiler operation, but it means just about what it says. You actually draw or pull the burning bits of coal from under the boilers to let them cool down (in this case [talking about the sinking of the Titanic] to prevent an explosion when cold water comes in contact with the boilers). Cold water hitting the burning coals could cause an explosion of steam, but it would not be nearly as violent as the failure of a boiler. The one might kill some people, the other would tear the ship in half. The difference is between steam at near-atmospheric pressure, and super-critical water and steam as found inside hot boilers. Note that the hot coals would still be on the boiler-room floor, but they are not worried about that, just about getting the boilers down to 212F (100C) or below." https://forum.wordreference.com/threads ... s.2378037/
[AND]
http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2 ... 34,2165072
[AND]
To bank the fire on a steam engine, you rake out all the ash and build a pile of the remaining coals at the back of the firebox. Then you put fresh coal at the front. Then in the morning everything should still be warm enough to get it all going again and raise steam quickly. To draw the fire is to remove everything, which you would do if you didn't intend to use the engine the next day. A steam pinnace alongside a warship will have her fires banked overnight and drawn when she is no longer required for duty and is to be hoisted in. [dorbel]
[AND]
Haul fires - Seems to mean draw fires - https://books.google.com/books?id=WjwxA ... ul&f=false


Drift lead:
e.g. "Put drift lead over at 10:00 and noted strong N'ly current"
A heavy lead put overboard when a ship is at anchor with a line attached and left slack so that its tautening will indicate any drift or dragging. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/drift%20lead [Danny252]


Drifters were robust boats built, like trawlers, to work in most weather conditions, but designed to deploy and retrieve drift nets. They were generally smaller and slower than trawlers. If requisitioned by navies, they were typically armed with an anti-submarine gun and depth charges and used to maintain and patrol anti-submarine nets. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naval_drifter [jennfurr]


Drills / Exercises
Abandon ship: all crew will close up to their boat or raft stations with a life jacket. Those officers and senior ratings with specific duties to perform before they leave will simulate them.
Collision stations: closing all water tight doors, damage control and fire parties close up to their stations, and petty officers all round the ship will report the state of their part of it.
Fire quarters: This happens daily in well regulated ships, where hands fall in at their correct stations for fire drill. There are a great number of these drills, action stations, abandon ship station and the like, but fire, the seaman's deadly enemy is religiously exercised. They will use the opportunity to check that the correct gear for their station is present and that there is water at the cock too. [dorbel]
The Officer of the Watch (Duty Captain) decides where and when the exercise will be and he will usually choose an area and time that has not recently been experienced. If he is considerate, he will avoid mealtimes and the 'quiet hours' (sleeping time). At the appointed time, he will inform the Bosun's Mate/Bugler who will sound the alarm (always prefaced by "For Exercise" to identify it is a drill). The members of the Duty Watch run to the scene of the exercise fire where they will run out the hoses to the nearest fire main, organise the attack and support teams and then tackle the fire. Water is not usually put into the hoses, but the main is cracked open to test for water pressure.
Providing the response was quick and no mistakes made, the exercise is signed off. If errors or equipment deficiencies are discovered, the exercise could be repeated. In this way, all ship's crew get to know all areas of the ship and what to do in an emergency. Particular attention is given to training new crew members. The bigger the ship, the more important fire exercises are as it will take months to exercise every area and crew member. [Gixernutter]
Sea boat crews: Standing orders required their regular exercise. It usually meant them closing up to the station to be counted and make sure they were all awake with the correct gear on! Regular practice is the only way to ensure that every man in the crew (6 for a whaler) and those swinging them out and lowering know exactly what to do, in the dark. Putting a whaler onto the top of a wave from a ship traveling at speed requires high levels of co-ordination. One mistake can put all the men into the water in a moment and in the water alongside a fast moving ship is a very bad place to be! Actually launching the thing at two in the morning was a rarity. Even so, they did and do exercise a lot. The ability to put a boat into the water with a trained crew at great speed has saved many a life, then and now, particularly operating in cold waters where three minutes is about the maximum a body can stand.
AND
A whaler's crew is permanently on stand-by whenever the vessel is at sea, usually to be found in a warm cubby hole abaft the funnel. "Exercised" can be anything from the officer of the watch sticking his nose in the door and counting heads through a thick fug of tobacco smoke, to closing up the crew at their station, turning the boat out and checking gear, usually depending on the weather. The ability to put the boat in the water in under two minutes has saved many a life.
[dorbel]




driver screw - They've just stripped down a gun and I fancy the lost item is the breech closure which has a screw thread to push home (drive) the shell and seal the breech. [Bunting Tosser]


Dub, dubb, dubbing out, dubbing down:
Smooth and cut off with an adze the superfluous wood. Remove the outer surface of the plank completely with an adze. Spotting to examine planks with the adze is also dubbing.
http://www.gutenberg.org/files/26000/26 ... 6000-h.htm
http://www.bruzelius.info/Nautica/Etymo ... 1832).html
[Maikel]


The Dumaresq is a mechanical calculating device invented around 1902 by Lieutenant John Dumaresq of the Royal Navy. The dumaresq is an analog computer which relates vital variables of the fire control problem to the movement of one's own ship and that of a target ship. It was often used with other devices, such as a Vickers range clock to generate range and deflection data so the gun sights of the ship could be continuously set. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dumaresq [AvastMH]
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-no ... d-45868798 studentforever


Dumb Compass: See pelorus.


A floating barge, connected to a pier, is called a dummy. [Caro]




Escutcheon:
(Naut.) That part of a vessel's stern on which her name is written.
(Carp.) A thin metal plate or shield to protect wood, or for ornament, as the shield around a keyhole.
http://www.webster-dictionary.net/definition/Escutcheon


Evening quarters is daily at 4pm, the start of the first dog watch. The work of the day is finished, but "Jimmy the one", the first lieutenant will often use this time to exercise his crew in one of the many evolutions that they may have to perform one day in the dark and under fire. [dorbel]
[AND]
Carried out for two special reasons - (1) a complete muster of the hands, especially necessary in the larger ships where it is possible for a man to be locked in a compartment or a confined space where he has been working; and (2) to see that all decks are thoroughly cleared up and tidy on completion of the day's work. Formerly (and now, when a state of war exists) the ship's company was summoned to Action Stations or General Quarters before dark, to clear away the guns, and see everything in a state of preparedness for immediate action. Until very recently the bugle (drum) call for Evening Quarters was the same as that for General Quarters. (http://www.hmsrichmond.org/dict_q.htm) [randi_2]


Evershed Bearing Indicator - http://www.dreadnoughtproject.org/tfs/i ... _Indicator [jil]


Evolution is an exercise. [navalhistory (Gordon)]


As I recall, "exercise sea boat's crew" varied widely depending on the officer of the watch. Standing orders required their regular exercise, so into the log it must go. It usually meant them closing up to the station to be counted and make sure they were all awake with the correct gear on! Actually launching the thing at two in the morning was a rarity. Even so, they did and do exercise a lot. The ability to put a boat into the water with a trained crew at great speed has saved many a life, then and now, particularly operating in cold waters where three minutes is about the maximum a body can stand.
[AND]
... regular practice is the only way to ensure that every man in the crew (6 for a whaler) and those swinging them out and lowering know exactly what to do, in the dark. Putting a whaler onto the top of a wave from a ship travelling at speed requires high levels of co-ordination. One mistake can put all the men into the water in a moment and in the water alongside a fast moving ship is a very bad place to be!
[AND]
"Away sea boats crew" is a standard order for the designated sea boat's crew to lower their boat with it's crew. The first lieutenant will be timing them with a stop watch. If it isn't a drill, e.g. if they are required to do something, pick up a man overboard for example, they will knock out the pin that attaches the boat to the falls as they reach the water and pull away from the side of the ship. For a drill and particularly if it is blowing and a strong sea running, they will usually lower the boat to somewhere near the sea level and then just hoist it back inboard. [dorbel]




Fairlead:
Device to guide a line, rope or cable around an object, out of the way or to stop it from moving laterally.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairlead [Caro]


Fall - That part of the rope of a tackle to which the power is applied in hoisting.
[AND]
Falls - The tackle which is used in lowering and hoisting a ship's boat from or to the davits. [randi_2]


False fire, Blue flames: A composition of combustibles filled into a wooden tube, which, upon being set fire to, burns with a light blue flame from a half to several minutes. They are principally used as night-signals, but often to deceive an enemy. http://www.gutenberg.org/files/26000/26 ... 00-h.htm#F


Fid: 1. A square bar of wood or iron, with a shoulder at one end, used to support the weight of the top-mast when erected at the head of the lower mast, by passing through a mortise or hole at the lower end of the former, and resting its ends on the trestle-trees. The topgallant-mast is retained at the head of the top-mast in the same manner. Illustration: Figure 192, element a
2. A conical pin of hard wood, of any size from 10 inches downwards, tapering to a point, used to open the strands of a rope in splicing.
Additional details and definitions at: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/26000/26 ... 00-h.htm#F


Fidded: When a mast has been swayed high enough the fid (see above, definition 1) is then inserted, and the mast-rope relieved of the weight. http://www.gutenberg.org/files/26000/26 ... 00-h.htm#F


Fiddle: A contrivance to prevent things from rolling off the table in bad weather. It takes its name from its resemblance to a fiddle, being made of small cords passed through wooden bridges, and hauled very taut. http://www.gutenberg.org/files/26000/26 ... 00-h.htm#F



Fiddley / fiddly: "the vertical space above a vessel's engine room extending into its stack, usually covered by an iron grating. Also applied to the framework around the opening itself" - http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictio ... sh/fiddley [Caro]

Fiddly deck from http://timzim.blogspot.com/2007/02/clea ... gress.html


Fier: An old spelling of fire. We still have that old spelling in the related word, fiery.


Fife rail: a rail surrounding or next to the mast of a sailing vessel for use in holding the pins to which some of the running rigging is belayed. https://www.dictionary.com/browse/fife-rail [ggordon]


Fine: See Relative bearings.


Fish:
The devices used on HMS CHRISTOPHER had hydrophones to listen for the acoustic signatures of submarines, what was known in those days as HE or Hydrophone Effect. Getting the hydrophone away from your own ships noise was essential to have have any hope of success. You will note that HMS CHRISTOPHER always reduces speed to 10 kts or so when streaming the Fish - this was because this was her best search speed, a combination of quietness but tactically usable speed over the ground. [TenDown]
Also, see Sail and Wind Powered Sailing Terms and anchors and davit.


Fisherman's bladder / Scotchman's bladder:
It is rather difficult to find a specific reference to a "Scotchman's bladder".
"Though skin- and bladder- buoys have long gone out of use, many of the old fishermen remember having worked with them. Bladders seem to have been widely used"
[W. Elmer, Cooper Monographs on English and American Language and Literature, volume 19, page 234]
A Fishermans "buff" or "pallet" could be mistaken as a mine.
[Able Seaman Fred Pedelty from "Engadine" in "Lost voices of the Royal Navy" edited by Max Arthur, 1996]
[lollia paolina]


FIRE-BARS: "The range fronting a steam-boiler" http://www.gutenberg.org/files/26000/26 ... 6000-h.htm
1928 Websters says "A bar of a grate or boiler furnace"
"We have long handled bars of various shapes and sizes on the steam locos called 'firebars', Used to keep the fire level and burning even." [Pommy Stuart]


... fire control table, where the information coming in from lookouts regarding the positions of enemy ships and the fall of shot could be collated and used to control the guns. On sophisticated purpose-built warships this was a very complex affair, a sort of mechanical computer which needed 8-10 operators to turn all the wheels, but on the Mantua it may well be something much simpler. [dorbel]


Fireworks: In the navy this means signal rockets and flares fired from a Verey pistol.[dorbel]


Flat: almost any floor surface below the upper deck, particularly the mess decks where the crew sling their hammocks. [dorbel]


Fleet: Old word for float. Also an old term for an arm of the sea, a bay where vessels can remain afloat, and a salt-water tide-creek. http://www.gutenberg.org/files/26000/26 ... 00-h.htm#F


Flinders bar: I think that they are adjusting the standard (compass) with F & A magnets, i.e Flinders and Airy bars or correctors. Mr Flinders gave his name to the correction of compasses to adjust for the magnetism of the iron in the ship and Mr Airy refined his ideas later. [dorbel]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flinders_bar
+
https://www.compassmuseum.com/nautical/ ... m#FLINDERS
[Bunting Tosser]


flood-cock A cock for letting water into a magazine, or shell-room on board a man-of-war, to flood it, in case of fire. - The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia [Craig]
(cock: A faucet or valve by which the flow of a liquid or gas can be regulated.)


Flying bridge:
Open area on top of a surface ship that provides unobstructed views of the fore, aft, and the sides of a vessel, and that serves as an operating station for the ship's officers.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flying_bridge [Gordon]


"A fog-buoy was a marker float, towed on the end of a fine wire or rope, from the stern of each ship (except the last) of a line in close company, in fog. In line ahead (each ship following in the wake of another) the standard distance apart was 2 1/2 cables, or 500 yards. If the visibility was less than that distance, then the ship ahead streamed (= let out) a fog-buoy to a distance of 500 yards, and the ship astern kept the buoy abreast its bridge." http://www.kipling.org.uk/naval2.htm [Bunts]


Forced Draft See Natural Draft and Forced Draft


Setting a foresail will save a little fuel and it will also make her steer more easily, the pressure forward balancing the ship nicely. [dorbel]


FXR (US), Foxer (UK) Code name for an acoustic decoy used to confuse German homing torpedoes during WWII https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foxer


Franklin buoy: Life-buoy. Traditional ring form, but visible at night due to calcium phosphide. http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bi ... 407.2.30.4


Frodsham marine chronometer:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_F ... succession
+
http://www.antiques-marine.com/chronometers/1375/


Frog: A loop fastened to a belt to hold a tool or weapon.
https://www.thefreedictionary.com/frog
http://www.bayonetsplus.com/RN%20bayone ... 0frogs.pdf
[studentforever]
+
The Navy referred to its holsters as frogs during this [Civil War] period and, in fact, they more closely resemble the sword and bayonet frogs of the day than true holsters.
https://picclick.com/Civil-War-Naval-Fr ... 88237.html


Full and by See Sailing Terms

---

Go back to the beginning

Gallows, gallows-bitt:
One of two or more frames amidships to support spare spars.
https://www.merriam-webster.com/diction ... ows%20bitt

https://etc.usf.edu/clipart/63400/63416 ... s-bits.htm


Gas buoy: metal buoy filled with a compressed illuminating gas and surmounted by a lantern where a light fed by the gas burns night and day.
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gas%20buoy [ggordon]


Gatling gun "The Gatling gun is one of the best known early rapid-fire weapons and a forerunner of the modern machine gun. Invented by Richard Gatling, it is known for its use by the Union forces during the American Civil War in the 1860s, which was the first time it was employed in combat." - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gatling_gun


Gin block:
Simple form of tackle block, having one wheel, over which a rope runs; - called also whip gin, rubbish pulley, and monkey wheel.
http://www.webster-dictionary.net/defin ... in%20block
+
https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id= ... up&seq=133


GMT See Time


Gonda Battery:
An early wet cell version version of the zinc carbon battery (Leclanche cell).
[Hurlock]
+
Signal Corps Manuals


Grapnel:
A small anchor with usually four or five flukes used especially to recover a sunken object or to anchor a small boat.
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grapnel [ggordon]


Grass line: one made of coir fibre (coconut husk) [Shorter OED / studentforever]
A grass line is a light weight rope with an ability to float. Normally used, as in this case, for light duty towing. Another use was to get a rope to a disabled vessel in rough seas when it would be hazardous to get close enough to throw a line. The grass line would be paid out and floated to, or across the bow of the disabled ship where it would be picked up and hauled in, with a tow rope attached to the end. [Bunting Tosser]
The passing of a wire towing hawser from one ship to another involves two other lines, first a heaving line, which is little more than a light cord, is thrown across and this is attached to a grass (sisal) rope, that floats, so easily drawn across. This is then attached to the actual hawser. [dorbel]


Green - Starboard.
Navigation lights - Port Red, Starboard Green
Imagine a line down the middle of the ship, bow to stern, and extended forwards. Anything to the left would be "Red x degrees" or to the right "Green y degrees". [Bunting Tosser / edited]
+
4am to 8am: At 4 sighted red light on st'b'd bow...
Since the mid 19th century (there's a wide range of actual starting years, depending entirely on which country you're referencing) ships have been required to carry a red and green sidelights (port and starboard respectively) for the sake of both visibility and collision prevention. The longstanding automotive practice of yielding the right of way to the vehicle on the right (as well as the phrase "rules of the road") has its roots in naval maneuvering practices.
In this case, Albatross sights the red sidelight of another vessel of her starboard bow, meaning that the other vessel's port side is to her starboard, which translates to Albatross being on the other vessel's left. As such, Albatross yielded the right of way to the vessel on her right, and veered off course in order to clear the other vessel to her stern (crossing a vessel to her bow is a nearly sure-fire way to wind up with a sizeable hole in your starboard).
I mentioned the phrase "rules of the road". While most of us are familiar with the phrase as it relates to highway codes and etiquette, it has its roots in a pamphlet titled "The Rule of the Road" by Thomas Grey in 1867, predating the earliest highway codes by nearly 80 years. Yet another example of naval jargon becoming part of the modern parlance.
[HatterJack]


Gripe:
A sailing vessel gripes when, by poor design or imbalance of sail, it tends to end up with its bow into the wind when sailing close-hauled. The sails flap around, forward progress is halted and she is very hard to steer. On land, the term means to complain, complain, complain.
http://shipofficer.com/so/everyday-phra ... l-origins/ [Craig]

Gripes
https://www.dco.uscg.mil/Portals/9/DCO ... s/0304.pdf
The purpose of the gripes is to secure the lifeboat against the davits when in the stowed position. The gripes are essentially straps which attach to the ends of the boat and are secured to the davits. One end attaches to a tightening and turnbuckle device, while the other end is attached to a ring that is placed over a slip hook.

GTC - I think it is Gunnery and Torpedo Classes, having seen it written out in full on several ships. [dorbel]
[AND]
http://forum.oldweather.org/index.php?t ... 2#msg19662


guess-warp or guest warp - http://books.google.fr/books?id=6mGLsY0 ... rp&f=false
[AND]
http://navyadvancement.tpub.com/12018/c ... ms-227.htm


Gun:
"A rifle is not a gun, by military standards, despite civilian use making firearm and gun synonymous. A gun, by definition, is a firearm requiring a crew to operate." [HatterJack]
[AND]
"GUN. The usual service name for a cannon (which see); it was originally called great gun, to distinguish it from the small or hand guns, muskets, blunderbusses, &c." http://www.gutenberg.org/files/26000/26 ... 00-h.htm#G
[AND]
List of naval guns of all countries, in increasing caliber size
[AND]
Naval Weapons of the World - From 1880 to Today


Gun decking:
Filling out a log or form with imaginary data, usually done out of laziness or to satisfy an inspection.
[Kevin]


Gunlaying / Gun laying: the process of aiming an artillery piece, such as a gun, howitzer or mortar, on land or at sea, against surface or air targets. It may be laying for direct fire, where the gun is aimed similarly to a rifle, or indirect fire, where firing data is calculated and applied to the sights. The term includes automated aiming using, for example, radar-derived target data and computer-controlled guns. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_laying


GUNNER, of a Ship of War. A warrant-officer appointed to take charge of the ammunition and artillery on board; to keep the latter properly fitted, and to instruct the sailors in the exercise of the cannon. The warrant of chief-gunner is now given to first-class gunners. - Quarter-gunners. Men formerly placed under the direction of the gunner, one quarter-gunner being allowed to every four guns. In the army, gunner is the proper title of a private soldier of the Royal Artillery, with the exception of those styled drivers. - http://www.gutenberg.org/files/26000/26 ... htm#GUNNER


Gun tackle:
Block and tackle with a mechanical advantage of 2.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pulley
+
http://hdl.handle.net/2027/nyp.33433008 ... =%3Bseq=60


Gypsy: See Wildcat




Hack watch, hack chronometer:
Watch that offers a mechanism for setting the watch to a specific time, stopping the watch, then restarting the watch the instant the time setting matches the time displayed by a reference timepiece.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hack_watch [Hurlock]


Just as his rifle is described as a soldier's best friend, his hammock is described as a sailer's best friend. When properly lashed up, a sailor's hammock will support a man in the sea for 24 hours. (http://www.hmsrichmond.org/dict_h.htm)
[AND]
When a seaman leaves his canvas hammock (and they all slept in hammocks then), he rolls his blankets in it and binds it all into a sausage shape with seven turns of the rope. Of course this has to be neat enough to pass an inspection and mustering bedding is just that, an inspection. [dorbel]
[AND]
In the sailing war ship days the hammocks were passed through a hoop to insure they were 'properly tight' and then they were stacked and pressed against the outer walls of the decks (Gunwales) so as to try to stop the incoming cannonballs and or splinters from hits in an attempt to protect the crew during battle. [Dean]


A handy billy is a small tackle for general purposes. http://www.gwpda.org/naval/br82704.htm
[AND]
Small, portable, power-driven water pump. http://books.google.fr/books?id=M--TNIN ... mp&f=false


Harness cask:
Tub lashed to a vessel's deck and containing salted provisions for daily use; - called also harness tub.
http://www.webster-dictionary.net/defin ... ess%20cask
+
http://www.hmsrichmond.org/dict_h.htm


Hawse:
This is a term of great meaning. Strictly, it is that part of a vessel's bow where holes are cut for her cables to pass through. It is also generally understood to imply the situation of the cables before the ship's stem, when she is moored with two anchors out from forward, one on the starboard, and the other on the port bow. It also denotes any small distance between her head and the anchors employed to ride her, as "he has anchored in our hawse," ... "Clearing hawse," is untwisting or disentangling two cables that come through different holes, and make a foul hawse.
http://www.gutenberg.org/files/26000/26 ... .htm#HAWSE


Hawsepipe or Hawse Pipe: A hole in the side of the ship to allow the anchor chain to pass through from the windlass to the water below. May also be used to pass hawsers through. [Danny252]


Hawser:
Thick cable or rope used for mooring and towing.
[Danny252]
+
One reason for streaming the towing hawser, ie trailing it in the sea behind the vessel, would be to remove kinks in it. This is often done with new ropes and old hands called it "getting the devil out of it".
[dorbel]


Hazelwood fenders - These were certainly in use in the Navy in the sixties. More like a large and substantial basket they were very handy for the focsle party to drop down between the wharf and the bow as they came alongside, being very much lighter than a rope fender of the same size. They sprung back into shape remarkably as the pressure came off. Once moored, more substantial rope fenders were substituted.
[dorbel]
[AND]
As for the fenders, the crew seem to spend an awful lot of time repairing and refitting fenders ... If they are made out of twigs that might explain it. [thursdaynext]


HEAD-SAILS. A general name for all those sails which may be set on the fore-mast and bowsprit, jib, and flying jib-boom, and employed to influence the fore-part of the ship. The Sailor's Word-Book


Headed Sea - With a strong wind and a big sea running, even quite big ships will prefer to steam into the wind, rather than take the force of wind and wave on the side or stern of the vessel.
[AND]
When the vessel is turned head to wind the object is to make very little progress over the ground, just enough to keep the vessel steering and the engine speed will be adjusted accordingly. You'll see this referred to as "hove to" in the logs sometimes, a relic of sailing ship days when the mainyard was hove round to the wind to stop the ship temporarily, to speak another vessel or the like.
Of course sailing ships couldn't adopt the steamers tactic of heading into the wind and wave and faced with a very strong blow would be obliged to put before the wind with as little sail as possible, dangerous but their safest course. Some sailing ships also do well "lying a-try", taking all sail off and allowing the ship to adapt to the weather by herself. Very small motor vessels, trawlers for example, adopt a tactic called "dodging" to deal with big waves, heading into the wave with very little power at a slight angle. No doubt their many other ways of dealing with heavy weather, as many as there are different sea going craft probably. [dorbel]


HEAVING DOWN. (See Careening.) The bringing one of a ship's sides down into the water, by means of purchases on the masts, in order to repair any injury which is below her water-line on the other. http://www.gutenberg.org/files/26000/26 ... 6000-h.htm


Heaving line:
A heaving line is a length of rope that has been configured for ease of throwing, sometimes long distances across the water. It is normally attached to, and used for sending, a much heavier line across the open distance between a vessel and a pier, or sometimes between two vessels.
https://shipcanvas.com/collections/heaving-lines


Heel - The tilt of a ship to one side; also, angle of heel, the degree of such a tilt. And http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heeling_%28sailing%29


Heeling System - "Heeling systems, which roll the ship from side to side and reduce the effect of static friction, are helpful if the ship is stuck in pressured ice, or beached on an ice feature." http://www.ccg-gcc.gc.ca/e0010972 [Danny252]


Helm and Rudder Orders:
Orders to the helmsman were traditionally given in terms of "helm", that is to say, the position of the tiller rather than the rudder. 'Hard a-starboard!' meant "Put the tiller (helm) to starboard, so that the ship may go to port!'. It will be realised that not only the bow turned to port, but also the rudder, top of the wheel, ...
The United States Navy made the switch from 'Port helm!' to 'Right rudder' in 1914, but American merchant vessels did not change until 1935. In the United Kingdom, the transition to 'rudder' orders was made in 1933.
http://www.gwpda.org/naval/boxco000.htm (scroll down)
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Geo ... 29/enacted [Bunting Tosser]
+
I think what we see in the logs always refers to the manouevre carried out by the ship itself.
[dorbel]


Holystone http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holystone [Bunting Tosser]
[AND]
From Two Years Before the Mast Chapter 23 (1835): "... and the decks were wet and sanded all over, and then holystoned. The holystone is a large, soft stone, smooth on the bottom, with long ropes attached to each end, by which the crew keep it sliding fore and aft, over the wet, sanded decks. ... when the head-pump was manned, and all the sand washed off the decks and sides. Then came swabs and squilgees; and after the decks were dry, each one wnnt to his particular morning job."


Hoppers are indeed barges of the dumb variety, usually not even having a rudder. [dorbel]


Horn-card:
Transparent graduated horn-plates to use on charts, either as protractors or for meteorological purposes, to represent the direction of the wind in a cyclone.
http://www.gutenberg.org/files/26000/26 ... 6000-h.htm
+
https://archive.org/stream/sailorshornb ... 6/mode/2up


Hotchkiss gun:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hotchkiss_gun


Houseline, housing, house-line:
A small line formed of three fine strands, smaller than rope yarn; principally used for seizings of the block-strops, fastening the clues of sails to their bolt-ropes, and other purposes.
http://www.gutenberg.org/files/26000/26 ... 6000-h.htm


Hulk: A hulk is a ship that is afloat, but incapable of going to sea. ... Although the term hulk can be used to refer to an abandoned wreck or shell, it is much more commonly applied to hulls that are still performing a useful function. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hulk_(ship_type)


Hull board:
A board of officers in charge of inspecting and reporting about the ship's hull - normally before and after drydock operations, but also whenever an hull inspection is needed [propriome]
https://fas.org/man/dod-101/navy/docs/s ... g4-05.html




Inclination Exercise: The course and speed of the enemy are passed down by telephone from the Director Control Tower and are set on the "ENEMY" dial. The enemy's course is estimated in terms of INCLINATION (see Diagram 18). The inclination of a ship is the angle between the LINE OF SIGHT produced beyond the enemy ship and her bows. The angle is measured in degrees right or left, according to which way the enemy is going and is zero when the enemy is going straight away from our own ship and 180 degrees when coming straight towards. When going from right to left, the inclination is left, and from left to right the inclination is right. [Steeleye]



Inclination test - ... I found it in one of my pages. The ship had just come out of dry dock and it was used to check the center of gravity to see if it had changed after some work had been done on the ship. e-shipyard.net/trials/inclination-test.html [pommystuart]


Indicator card - http://www.shipsnostalgia.com/showthread.php?t=26119 [Caro]
https://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary ... cator+card


Irons
Wrist and Leg Irons: http://www.nps.gov/vick/historyculture/ ... egrstn.jpg in http://www.nps.gov/vick/historyculture/life-aboard.htm

BILBOES. Long bars or bolts, on which iron shackles slid, with a padlock at the end; used to confine the legs of prisoners in a manner similar to the punishment of the stocks. The offender was condemned to irons, more or less ponderous according to the nature of the offence of which he was guilty.

DOUBLE-IRONED. Both legs shackled to the bilboe-bolts.

SHACKLES. Semicircular clumps of iron sliding upon a round bar, in which the legs of prisoners are occasionally confined to the deck. Manacles when applied to the wrists. (See Bilboes.)

http://www.gutenberg.org/files/26000/26 ... 6000-h.htm




Jag - To lay in bights and to secure with stops, as a rope.


Jack staff or jackstaff - a small vertical spar (pole) on the bow of a ship or smaller vessel on which a particular type of flag, known as a jack, is flown. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jackstaff [ggordon]


Jews' harp:
The shackle for joining a chain-cable to the anchor-ring.
https://www.gutenberg.org/files/26000/2 ... 00-h.htm#J
#1
[Hurlock]


Jigger-tackle:
Small tackle consisting of a double and a single block, and used by seamen on sundry occasions about the decks or aloft.
https://www.gutenberg.org/files/26000/2 ... htm#JIGGER


Jingle bell:
Steam ship: steaming 'under a jingle bell'.
To "hook 'er up", while in either direction - a "jingle" on a small bell. To go from "hooked up" astern to "hooked up" ahead - one bell to slow down, one to stop, one for ahead, and a jingle to "hook 'er up"...three bells in all, and a jingle.
https://freepages.rootsweb.com/~slowbell/misc/bells.htm


Joiner:
One whose occupation is to construct articles by joining pieces of wood; a mechanic who does the woodwork (as doors, stairs, etc.) necessary for the finishing of buildings.
http://www.webster-dictionary.net/definition/joiner


A jumping ladder is a rope ladder. [Caro]


Junk:
Remnants or pieces of old cable, or condemned rope, cut into small portions for the purpose of making points, mats, swabs, gaskets, sinnet, oakum, and the like.
Also, salt beef, as tough to the teeth as bits of rope, whence the epithet.
https://www.gutenberg.org/files/26000/2 ... h.htm#JUNK




Watch, out kedge anchor, i.e the watch on deck have to lay out a kedge. This is just a light weight anchor that can be dropped into a boat with a line attached, then rowed out to a suitable position and dropped in. The boat rows back and the hands on deck take up the slack. Useful as haywain says to stop her swinging about and often used for other evolutions, turning the ship in a restricted space for example or pulling her off when aground. Sailing vessels had to be good at this, often the only way of leaving a harbour in an emergency when the wind was foul. [dorbel]


Kentledge - Pig iron used as permanent ballast. [Caro]


Key up:
On the USS Bear the engines were stopped to "key up"
Bob: May refer to tightening up the shaft key(s).
Kevin: The shaft and propeller on the Bear were arranged such that the latter could be disconnected and hoisted up into a well to get it out of the ice. Undoubtedly the connection utilized a key-way and key just as modern installations often do.
https://propshopinc.com/inboard-propell ... ns-36.html
[ellensmn, Bob, Kevin]


Kid:
Small wooden tub.
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/kid


Knots, Fathoms, Tenths - Knot can be 1) A division on a log line used to measure the speed of a ship. 2) A unit of speed (one nautical mile per hour). 3) A distance of one nautical mile.
In many of our log books, you see headings of Knots and Fathoms or Knots and Tenths. In this case, a fathom is often, but not always, an eighth of a knot. For further explanation, see page 28 of A treatise on navigation and nautical astronomy.
[AND]
Nowadays, speed is measured by a mechanical device that turns in the water and drives a scale that can be read, but knots and fathoms comes from the period of log lines. This was a float attached to a line that had knots in the line 50 feet apart. The float was thrown overboard and allowed to run out for 30 seconds, at which point the line was nipped and the number of knots run out was counted. In those days a fathom was more often reckoned to be 5 feet, so on the line a fathom was indeed a tenth of the distance between knots. Because the log ran out for 30 seconds (1/120th of an hour), the number of knots corresponded to nautical miles per hour and the number of fathoms to tenths of a mile. So in that sense a fathom is a tenth of a knot, but it is not a tenth of an actual mile. [dorbel]


Kolster radio compass:
The Kolster radio compass was a carefully guarded World War I secret...it played a vital role in the search for German U-boats by U.S. destroyers. A ship lost at sea, or in fog or bad weather, could listen to radio beacons from coastal lighthouses and lightships and find its way. It could also be used for ships to find each other at sea, by taking a bearing on their radio transmitters.

http://perhamcollection.historysanjose. ... er-c-1946/ [ggordon]


Kroomen (also Kroumen or Krumen) See Seedies and Kroomen


Kyar: Cocoanut fiber, or the cordage made from it. See Coir. http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Kyar




Larboard:
The left side of a ship, when the spectator's face is towards the bow. The Italians derive starboard from questa borda, "this side," and larboard from, quella borda, "that side;" abbreviated into sta borda and la borda. Their resemblance caused so many mistakes that, by order of the admiralty, larboard is now thrown overboard, and port substituted.
https://www.gutenberg.org/files/26000/2 ... 00-h.htm#L


lard oil - oil consisting chiefly of olein that is expressed from lard and used especially as a lubricant, cutting oil or illuminant - http://www.thefreedictionary.com/lard+oil


Lagger, Pipe lagger:
Many insulators were employed on ships. Steam boilers found on oceangoing vessels and discharge pressurized gas at high temperatures. Because the piping must be able to withstand extremely high pressures and fluctuations without deforming, it is typically made from metal. Exterior surfaces often became hot enough to present an extreme physical injury hazard and a fire risk. As a result, ship pipes were insulated.
For most of the 20th century, shipyard lagging, or insulation, that was applied to pipes was made of heat-resistant asbestos. Easily manufactured in sheets and mats, the low-cost microscopic fibers were ideal for creating insulation that could be wrapped around pipes. Additionally, asbestos was commonly used in tape and adhesives that were used to secure the insulation.
http://www.asbestos.com/occupations/insulators.php
+
Laggers apply insulation using a variety of materials including fibreglass, felt and asbestos to pipes, generators, ducting and other devices.
https://www.open.edu.au/your-career/construction/lagger
+
https://work.chron.com/shipyard-insulat ... 27474.html


'lay apart store' - a store for equipment from vessels under repair. [Caro]


LCVP - The Landing Craft, Vehicle, Personnel (LCVP) or Higgins boat was a landing craft used extensively in amphibious landings in World War II. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LCVP_%28United_States%29


LEADING-BLOCKS. The several blocks used for guiding the direction of any purchase, as hook, snatch, or tail blocks.
Sailor's Word-Book


Leathering oars - https://christinedemerchant.com/leathering-oars.html


Leeway - That sideways movement of a vessel away from the designated course due to the force of the wind. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leeway


Life car: A watertight boat or chamber traveling on a rope and usually used to haul persons through surf too heavy for an open boat. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/life%20car
http://americanhistory.si.edu/collectio ... mah_844283
http://www.tomsriverseaport.org/josephFrancis.shtml

Sometimes, possibly incorrectly, called a surf car: http://muse.jhu.edu/chapter/154883


A lighter is a type of flat-bottomed barge used to transfer goods and passengers to and from moored ships. Lighters were traditionally unpowered and were moved and steered using long oars called "sweeps" and the motive power of water currents. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lighter_%28barge%29.
On the other hand, some were large and powered [h.kohler]



On ships with a steel hull, the lightning conductor, which is of course higher than any other part of the vessel, is grounded to the hull with a bronze plate. The huge area of the ship in contact with the water means that the electrical charge is dissipated harmlessly. ... Big ships are often struck, without any ill effect. The conductor just means that the lightning will strike there first, rather than say the radio aerials. [dorbel]


Lignum Vitae:
Incredibly strong and dense wood from Central and South America, and as a result of its properties it was used for various naval fittings for centuries. It later found an important use in propeller and turbine bearings, where its self-lubricating properties avoided the need for oiling in difficult to reach areas, and was widely used until the 1960s. According to Wikipedia, lignum vitae bearings were even used in the construction of the first nuclear-powered submarine, the USS Nautilus! This Popular Mechanics article discusses the material's use in propeller shafts.
[Danny252]


Loosed sails to dry:
http://collections.rmg.co.uk/collection ... 44053.html

---

Go back to the beginning

Log:
Streaming the log: drop log into water behind ship / are dragging log behind ship
All navy ships, pre-GPS, dragged instruments behind them to measure their speed through the water, or simply dropped them (originally logs of wood) in the sea and measured how quickly the ships passed them by feeling how many knots in the attached rope slid through their hands. Recording these measurements is critical to being able to estimate location, so the book they were recorded in was called the 'log book', and the speed recorded was the number of knots, not bothering to ever translate it into length. http://forum.oldweather.org/index.php?topic=1221.0

Chip Logs:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chip_log
http://gluedideas.com/content-collectio ... us_P1.html

Patent or Taffrail Logs:

nearchus wrote: The Admiralty Manual of Seamanship in use in WW1 describes two towed logs (Trident electric and non-electric)and one bottom log (Forbes' Ship's Log and Speed Indicator). The towed logs were secured aft in the ship and the rotator streamed astern on a log line. The bottom log used a sea cock in the bottom of the ship and consisted of "a manganese bronze tube having one opening facing forward for the admission of water as the tube is carried forward by the ship, and another opening facing aft to allow the water to escape. Between these two openings is a propellor operating the transmitting mechanism, and so designed as to make a certain number of definite revolutions while the ship travels one sea mile". This log had both distance and speed indicators. The sea cock allowed the tube to be drawn upwards through the bottom of the ship and the aparatus could then be cleaned etc.
The advantages of the bottom log were many, including the freedom from likely damage if the ship goes astern, not vulnerable to damage from other ships in company, readiness for use at any moment and accuracy over a wide range of speeds.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pitometer_log#History
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knot_%28speed%29
[AND]
Brand names for models of patent logs are 'Neptune', Trident and 'Cherub' - just in case someone records dropping an angel overboard.
[Janet Jaguar / Randi]
Walker's Cherub III Ship-Log: http://collections.rmg.co.uk/collection ... 42931.html
The Cherub was made by Thomas Walker and Sons of Birmingham, who specialised in patent logs. It was a model suitable for large ships and featured a dial usually mounted on the taffrail. [dorbel]
[AND]
JOHN BLISS & CO. TAFFRAIL LOGS

[propriome]
[AND]
http://forum.oldweather.org/index.php?t ... #msg123880 [HatterJack]
[AND]
https://www.sailfeed.com/2019/01/my-wal ... l-working/ [Dean]


Log, log book, logbook: There seem to be conflicting origins for the term.
The term log-book has an interesting derivation in itself. An early form of measuring a ship's progress was by casting overboard a wooden board (the log) with a string attached. The rate at which the string was payed out as the ship moved away from the stationary log was measured by counting how long it took between knots in the string. These measurements were later transcribed into a book. Hence we get the term 'log-book' and also the name 'knot' as the unit of speed at sea. http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/naut ... rases.html [Caro]
https://www.etymonline.com/word/log#etymonline_v_43590 [Kevin]

Given the following comments, perhaps the above was more an attempt to explain the origin of the term than historical research.

LOG BOOK - Today any bound record kept on a daily basis aboard ship is called a "log." Originally, records were kept on the sailing ships by inscribing information onto shingles cut from logs and hinged so they opened like books. When paper became more readily available, "log books" were manufactured from paper and bound. Shingles were relegated to naval museums -- but the slang term stuck.
Naval History and Heritage Command:

LOG-BOARD. Two boards shutting together like a book, and divided into several columns, in which to record, through the hours of the day and night, the direction of the wind and the course of the ship, with all the material occurrences, together with the latitude by observation. From this table the officers work the ship's way, and compile their journals. The whole being written by the mate of the watch with chalk, is rubbed out every day at noon. Now a slate is more generally used.
LOG-BOOK. Mostly called the log, is a journal into which the log-board is daily transcribed, together with any other circumstance deserving notice. The intermediate divisions or watches are usually signed by the commanding officer. It is also divided into harbour-log and sea-log.
The Sailor's Word-Book, by Admiral W. H. Smyth, 1867

At least part of Jamestown's log was on a slate and then copied to paper at the end of most days.
January 17, 1862
Hampton Roads
This day's remarks + columns
was accidentally erased from the
log slate before being copied.
https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorag ... 67_116.jpg
also
https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorag ... 67_063.jpg [Bob]

Omaha's 1890 log book lists "2 Silicate Log Slates" under stores received.
https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorag ... 30-167.JPG
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/ ... 3883648749

Longitude:
Is more difficult to acquire by observation than Latitude. During the day you usually need two of three to obtain a good fix - morning sight, noon (local apparent noon), afternoon sight. The noon sight will give you longitude (and a fix under certain conditions). The other two produce a line of position on the plotting sheet that shifts from nearly horizontal (like latitude) through vertical (longitude - sun due N/S of ship) and then the opposite angle as the sun moves through the sky. So if you're taking pot-shots through holes in the cloud-cover you may only get one and nothing at noon. The best way to get a fix is with morning & evening stars, which if well-shot will produce a 'pinwheel' of 3 to 7 intersecting lines of position. In the northern hemisphere a shot of Polaris (the North Star) will give you latitude almost without any reduction. Then there are some techniques that I never used (most don't anymore as the reduction is time consuming) like lunar distances (from a star), or moon-sun combinations. You cannot under any circumstances read a position directly from a sextant like you see in the movies sometimes.
[Kevin]


Finding longitude by the setting sun:
https://panoptes-uploads.zooniverse.org ... 4ca92.jpeg [AvastMH]
The method outlined above 'longitude by setting sun' does not work -- indeed, I went looking in the old Bowditch and even 'Wrinkles in Navigation' of 1899 just for due diligence but not found, though plenty of warnings about low-level sights (< 10 degrees) and how to correct for refraction using air temp and barometer. I remember the idea seemed reasonable back when I was a young deck officer still mastering the art of celestial navigation, and even tried it out, but of course got no useful result except for some acidic comments from the old man, like if it was that easy why was there even a longitude prize (we were all reading Sobel's 'Longitude' on that voyage). [Kevin]


Lucky bag The lucky bag is also defined as a where loose items from a ship are stored until being returned to the owner. According to the 1940 edition of the Blue Jackets' Manual (a handbook for U.S. Navy enlisted personnel), "The lucky bag is a place where the police petty officers stow for safe-keeping effects that are found adrift about the ship. All clothes, etc., found about the decks are placed in the lucky bag. When clothes are piped down, the police petty officer attends and takes care of all clothes not called for and places these in the lucky bag. All effects in this bag belong to the person who lost them. At frequent intervals the lucky bag is opened and the effects distributed to the owners. Where persons have been guilty of carelessness in leaving their effects adrift, they are placed on the report." According to the log of the USS Yosemite, on June 24, 1898 several sailors were given 72 hours extra duty for having an article in the lucky bag. - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucky_Bag
[AND]
The Lucky Bag is a practice still followed on some school ships. We had a 'gear adrift' locker for such things - one could retrieve items at any time, but on field day (cleaning day) anything left there would be auctioned for a song (or other performance) with preference for the actual owner. Socks not so much but foulies commanded a high price, especially on northbound voyages. [krwood]


Luff See Sailing Terms




Made daily inspection of magazines and smokeless powder samples, conditions normal. See smokeless powder


Magnetic deviation and variation See Swinging the ship


"Mahailla" is a kind of Mesopotamian river boat (various spellings). http://www.gutenberg.org/files/24893/24 ... htm#Page_9 [Janet Jaguar]


'Make and Mend' Originally it was exactly that - a period of time without work when sailors were allowed to make and mend their own clothes. Nowadays it just refers to time given off without work to do. [TenDown]
[AND]
While "Make & Mend" does mean crews making, repairing or cleaning their kit (not just clothes), it also refers to time spent doing other activities other than 'work' but not time ashore or 'leave'. This can be sport, studying for promotion, writing letters home, or any other beneficial task. [Gixernutter]


"Manning and Cheering ship as a collective mark of respect in honour of a person or of another ship is a very old custom. In the days of sail the yards and shrouds were manned as well as the decks, but now a days only decks are manned. Some example of occasions on which this mark of honour is paid are: visit of Sovereign to the Fleet, the entry into port of ships which have shared a victory, the final departure of a ship from a foreign station on her way home to pay-off." http://www.mranil.com/2010/09/man-and-cheer-ship.html [helenj]
[AND]
Manning the yards: the 1887 photograph Manning the Yards, the crew of the USS Atlanta

Manning the rail: Sailors of the USS Abraham Lincoln man the rails during her return to port after participating in Operation Iraqi Freedom
[Janet Jaguar]


Manrope: A rope placed at the side of a gangway, ladder, or the like, to serve as a rail. http://www.liberaldictionary.com/manrope/ [Maikel]


Marine Railway:
"The patent slip or Marine Railway was invented by Scot Thomas Morton in 1818 as a cheaper alternative to a dry dock for ship repair. It consisted of an inclined plane, which extended well into the water, and a wooden cradle onto which a ship was floated. The ship was then attached to the cradle and hauled out of the water up the slip." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patent_slip
https://usnhistory.navylive.dodlive.mil ... nnovation/


Marle:
To wind marline, spun-yarn, twine, &c., about a rope, so that every turn is secured by a kind of knot, and remains fixed, in case the rest should be cut through by friction. It is commonly used to fasten slips of canvas, called parsling, upon the surface of a rope, to prevent its being galled, or to attach the foot of a sail to its bolt-rope, &c., with marling hitches, instead of sewing it.
http://www.gutenberg.org/files/26000/26 ... 00-h.htm#M


Marline:
A small line composed of two strands a little twisted, used for winding around ropes and cables, to prevent their being weakened by fretting.


Marline spike:
An iron tool tapering to a point, used to separate the strands of a rope in splicing and in marling.
http://www.webster-dictionary.net/definition/marline [ggordon]


Marsden squares:
https://igppweb.ucsd.edu/~agnew/Pubs/agnew.a74.pdf [Michael & Roly Allen]


Mast (disciplinary hearing): A captain's mast or admiral's mast is a procedure whereby the commanding officer must:
Make inquiry into the facts surrounding minor offenses allegedly committed by a member of the command;
Afford the accused a hearing as to such offenses; and
Dispose of such charges by dismissing the charges, imposing punishment under the provisions of military law or referring the case to a court-martial. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mast_%28naval%29


Mast (spar): Masts have several uses other than carrying sails, for spotting platforms, aerials, derricks, anything that needs to be higher than the deck really, so the masts would remain even if sails were never set on them.
Masts on these sloops would be probably be wood and assembled in two or three parts, hence the reference to the sending down of topgallant and topmasts, usual in preparation for heavy weather, in order to reduce the weight and wind resistance high on the ship, technically known as tophamper. [dorbel]
[AND]
Someone queried the matter of topgallant masts on steam ships. Masts were very high, with topgallants to get wireless aerials as high as possible. [navalhistory (Gordon)]


Material Condition
Circle William - A material condition involving closure of ventilation fittings and machinery marked with a 'W' inside a circle. Used to control the spread of smoke in a fire belowdecks, or in preparation for an NBC attack;
Xray - A material condition where fittings or closures (hatches, watertight doors, valves, flappers, etc.) marked with an 'X' ('X-ray' in the phonetic alphabet) must be closed; Generally seen only inport. Surface ships only;
Yoke - Closures marked 'X' and 'Y' must be kept closed. This is the normal daylight underway material condition, and represents a minimal condition of watertight integrity;
Zebra - All fittings and closures marked 'X', 'Y', and 'Z' must be closed. Maximum watertight integrity. "Set Condition Zebra" is the command to close all water-tight doors, hatches, and fittings throughout the ship.
[Jerry Mason]
+
Material Condition Able is a means to set and maintain "watertight integrity" of the ship. Generally it requires that all Z fittings be closed.
Material Condition Baker allows for freer flow of activities below the main deck and in general allows for all Z fittings to be opened while X and Y are closed.
Material Condition Y is usually set from 2000 to 0600 in peace time. i.e. X and Y fittings closed.
http://www.de634.org/facts.htm
+
http://www.cv6.org/ship/logs/ops/ops_chap_43.htm
+
See Condition


Maxim Gun:
Invented by Hiram S. Maxim in the U.S. in 1884, it was the world's first automatic machine gun. When war in Europe broke out in the summer of 1914 the major armies largely made use of machine guns based upon Maxim's original design. The Maxim Gun was water-cooled and fed from fabric belts ... 1914 machine guns weighed from 40-60kg ... The Maxim was usually operator by a four to six man team.
http://www.firstworldwar.com/atoz/mgun_maxim.htm [Janet Jaguar]


Messenger line, messenger:
Relatively light cordage used to pull a heavier cable across a gap or through a tube or duct. The term is also used for a line used to pull or lower a package along a downline or jackstay.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messenger_line [Gordon]


Mine: May refer to a depth charge.


Monel:
Alloy of nickel and copper. Stronger than pure nickel, and resistant to corrosion by seawater.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monel [Hurlock]


Monthly Payment:
This is in the days before the widespread use of bank accounts.
I think the way it used to work for married personnel (and also families of single men if they wanted), was for the serviceman to decide on an allocation of his pay. Part was available for him to draw on locally and the balance was available to a nominated person at his home port. [Haywain]


Morris Tube: Well ... (from the days of my youth)
I have nothing to offer on "guns", but as to "rifles": the standard issue would have been one of the variants of the Lee Enfield .303 calibre rifles. They had an effective range of 500 yards plus, but you wouldn't want to be in front of a bullet that had travelled twice that distance. A device called the "Morris Tube" could be fitted inside the breech mechanism to enable .22 ammunition to be used instead. This had considerably reduced range and accuracy but shooting practice remained constant and was cheaper.
The .303 round was about 3 inches long and (perhaps significantly) the .22 was about 1 inch long.
It would certainly be easier to pass around a .22 or .303 weapon than a 1" ;D as can be seen here:
http://www.rifleman.org.uk/Miniature_ca ... sions.html [Bunting Tosser]


Mousetrap:
It launched anti-submarine projectiles and was designed for use on smaller coastal escort ships.
http://www.microworks.net/pacific/armam ... setrap.htm [ggordon]


Senior warrant officers, the Gunner, the Bosun, the Carpenter and the like are always referred to as Mr by the immemorial custom of the service. [dorbel]


Musketry:
1. the technique of bringing small arms fire to bear on specific targets.
2. muskets collectively. [Musket: A smoothbore shoulder gun used from the late 1500s through the early 1800s]
https://www.thefreedictionary.com/musketry




"Nancy Hanks":
These are infrared signal light communications drills . The signal transmitter beacon was referred to as a "nancy" light, and receiving the radio code "Nancy Hanks" told the radioman to get out the infrared telescope and prepare for an incoming message.
treadleirons
+
http://www.navy-radio.com/flory/id24.html
Kevin


Natural Draft and Forced Draft "To make steam, fuel must be burned ... so air must be supplied to the furnace or firebox of a boiler and the method of doing this is called draft.
NATURAL DRAFT ... In a boiler the hot gases rise up the stack and the relatively cold air in the fireroom sinks down and flows into the front of the furnace. ...... When a greater quantity of steam is necessary some other means of supplying air must be provided. This is known as forced draft." http://www.hnsa.org/doc/merchant/engineering/part2.htm
closed fireroom system: A fireroom system in which combustion air is supplied via forced draft resulting from positive air pressure in the fireroom. http://www.answers.com/topic/closed-fireroom-system
[AND]
http://books.google.fr/books?id=1DdWfsa ... d+fireroom


Nautical time:
The nautical day started at noon on the previous (conventional) day and ran to noon on the next day - so Nautical 21st Oct ran from Noon on the (civil) 20th to Noon on the civil 21st. Nautical days are standard in older ships logbooks (at least from the UK). The Admiralty abolished it in 1805 so I'm surprised to see it in these logs. It was usual to switch back to the civil day when in port, but the older logbooks I've looked at so far don't have data while in port so I've never before seen a logbook where they are actually doing the transition. [philip.brohan]
More at https://www.omnilexica.com/?q=nautical+time
See also civil time.


Navel pipe: Also chain pipe and spurling pipe. For leading the [anchor] cable through, as it passes up from one deck to anothr from the chain-lockers. https://books.google.com/books?id=PDpKA ... avel+pipes
[AND]
https://books.google.com/books?id=jUdZl ... avel+pipes


Navy beef:
Raw beef preserved in brine.
[Hurlock]
https://books.google.com/books?id=TKhLA ... vy+Beef%22


Negative "anything" is navyspeak for omit, leave out, cancel, or as the lower deck would say, "scrub round it". It comes from the days of flag hoists, where the Negative flag turns the accompanying signal into "do not". [dorbel]


Neptune See Log


Night clothing is not pyjamas, but just the old casual clothing that a seaman wears on his off duty evenings aboard. An old shirt, a patched pair of trousers, a sweater, that sort of thing. [dorbel]




Oakum: The state into which old ropes are reduced when they are untwisted and picked to pieces. It is principally used in caulking the seams, for stopping leaks, and for making into twice-laid ropes. Very well known in workhouses. http://www.gutenberg.org/files/26000/26 ... 00-h.htm#O


Record of Observations for Deviation See Swinging the ship


Octant:
Forerunner (around 1730) of the sextant. "One common practice among navigators up to the late nineteenth century was to use both a sextant and an octant. The sextant was used with great care and only for lunars, while the octant was used for routine meridional altitude measurements of the sun every day. This protected the very accurate and pricier sextant, while using the more affordable octant where it performs well." - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octant_%28instrument%29 [Randi]


Offing:
Implies to sea-ward; beyond anchoring ground.—To keep a good offing, is to keep well off the land, while under sail.
https://www.gutenberg.org/files/26000/2 ... 6000-h.htm


Oil bag:
See storm oil [jd570b]


Open arrest: a state in which a person is considered to be in custody and their movements are restricted, but they are allowed to go about their normal daily business http://www.militarydictionary.com/defin ... rrest.html [CHommel]


Open Fireroom See Natural Draft and Forced Draft


Muster by the Open List - This is a muster of the entire ship's company, wherein each member, in alphabetical order reports name, rank and duties on board to the captain.. This practice originated to counteract the practice of some ship's pursers of having non-existent people on the ship's rolls (and thereby pocketing the pay and benefits of these non-people). [dorbel]


Orlop:
The lowest deck, formerly called "over-lop," consisting of a platform laid over the beams in the hold of ships of war, whereon the cables were usually coiled, and containing some cabins as well as the chief store-rooms. In trading vessels it is often a temporary deck.
http://www.gutenberg.org/files/26000/26 ... 00-h.htm#O


otters are paravanes [navalhistory (Gordon)]

---

Go back to the beginning

Painter:
A rope that is attached to the bow of a dinghy, or other small boat, and used for tying up or towing.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Painter_%28rope%29 [jd570b]


Parrel or parral:
Rope loop or sliding collar by which a yard or spar is held to a mast in such a way that it may be hoisted or lowered
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/parrel [studentforever]
+
Figure 253


Paravane
http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/1922_Ency ... a/Paravane
[AND]
I think "P.V." is being used for Paravane ... These are described as underwater kites, used to stream wires away from ships for minesweeping or other purposes and invented during WW1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paravane_%28weapon%29 [Haywain]
[AND]
Towed paravanes were used for mine detection and destruction ... The towed body was shaped like a seal and was used to draw strong cables out from the ships side. It was hoped these would snag on the cables of moored mines. I device on the cable would then fire to cut the wire on the mine. Once released it would float to the surface where it could be destroyed by gunfire. [TenDown]
[AND]
http://www.navy-net.co.uk/history/50867 ... id-12.html reply #114 [Bunting Tosser]
[AND]
Algerines RN Minesweepers 1942-1961 - http://www.minesweepers.org.uk/sweeping.htm#top [studentforever]


Parchment - The old naval name for a rating's Service Certificate which, until the 1914/18 war, was on real parchment. http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov. ... l-o-putty/
+
Parchment muster, where the bodies show their credentials for being able to do the jobs they hold.
[Bunting Tosser]
+
"When the man is discharged from one Ship to another, or is to be paid off, the Commanding Officer is to certify on his Parchment Certificate the rating he holds, his character, and the description of Badge he is entitled to wear, and the date of its having been conferred." http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.anc ... _GCBs.html [Caro]


Parrott rifle:
Type of muzzle-loading rifled artillery weapon used extensively in the American Civil War.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parrott_rifle
+
http://www.civilwarartillery.com/hap/page154.htm

Passed:
Having passed an examination for promotion, and awaiting a vacancy in the senior grade: as, a passed assistant surgeon in the United States navy; a passed assistant engineer.
http://www.wordnik.com/words/passed
Passed midshipman: A midshipman who had passed the lieutenant's exam and was eligible for promotion to lieutenant as soon as there was a vacancy in that grade.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passed_midshipman

Patent Log See Log


PAUNCH-MAT. A thick and strong mat formed by interweaving sinnet or strands of rope as close as possible; it is fastened on the outside of the yards or rigging, to prevent their chafing.
www.gutenberg.org/files/26000/26000-h/26000-h.htm


Pay, to implies to daub or anoint the surface of any body, in order to preserve it from the injuries of the water, weather, &c.
Thus the bottom of a ship is paid with a composition of tallow, sulphur, resin, &c. ...
The sides of a ship are usually paid with tar, turpentine, or resin; or by a composition of tar and oil, to which is sometimes added red oker, &c. to protect the planks thereof from being split by the sun or wind. The lower-masts are, for the same reasons, paid with materials of the same sort, if we except those, along which their respective sails are frequently hoisted and lowered; such are the masts of sloops and schooners, which are always paid with tallow for this purpose: for the same reason all top-masts and top-gallant-masts are also paid with hog's lard, butter, or tallow... http://southseas.nla.gov.au/refs/falc/0942.html
[AND]
PAYING OUT. The act of slackening a cable or rope, so as to let it run freely. When a man talks grandiloquently, he is said to be "paying it out."
Pay down. Send chests or heavy articles below. http://www.gutenberg.org/files/26000/26 ... 6000-h.htm


Peak tank: Found in the bow (and in some ships also in the stern). They are filled with water for ballast purposes, so that the trim of the vessel remains more or less the same as coal is used or cargo unloaded.[dorbel]


Pelorus: a device for measuring in degrees the relative bearings of observed objects. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pelorus_%28instrument%29 [propriome]
Also called a dumb compass. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/dumb-compass


Pendant: A strop or short piece of rope fixed on each side, under the shrouds, upon the heads of the main and fore masts, from which it hangs as low as the cat-harpings, having an iron thimble spliced into an eye at the lower end to receive the hooks of the main and fore tackles. There are besides many other pendants, single or double ropes, to the lower extremity of which is attached a block or tackle...
Rudder-pendants. Strong ropes made fast to a rudder by means of chains. Their use is to prevent the loss of the rudder if by any accident it should get unshipped.
Also See Pennant
www.gutenberg.org/files/26000/26000-h/26000-h.htm
[AND]
The Pendant is a flag indicating the presence of the senior officer of a group of ships so that the others know where to report, and to pay attention to any orders by signal flags shown on that ship. [Bunting Tosser]
[AND]
Used to connect the boat to the mooring buoy. http://www.mushroommooring.com/Rope_Pennant.html. [Steeleye]


Pennant: A long narrow banner with St. George's cross in the head, and hoisted at the main. It is the badge of a ship-of-war. Signal pennants are 9 feet long, tapering from 2 feet at the mast to 1 foot. ... When the pennant is half mast, it denotes the death of the captain. When hauled down the ship is out of commission. Broad pennant denotes a commodore, and is a swallow-tailed flag, the tails tapering, and would meet, if the exterior lines were prolonged; those of a cornet could not. www.gutenberg.org/files/26000/26000-h/26000-h.htm


Auction of Personal Effects - "Sale of effects - started at least in the 18th century, and finished, I don't know when - during or after World War 2? When someone died or was killed, their personal effects - clothes etc. were auctioned off and the proceeds sent to their next of kin. I believe that if the man was popular, his mates or oppo's (opposite number) would sometime pay ridiculous prices for ordinary items just to make sure, say his widow, received a good sum." Quote from I question I had asked navalhistory [elizabeth/Gordon]
[AND]
Whilst it may seem impersonal, it would have been much easier to ensure the money got back to the relatives rather than their effects. A lot more opportunity for things to go missing in transit. As Gordon has said, there is plenty of evidence that depending on their circumstances, prices became inflated to help reduce immediate hardship. There was also the thought that one day it might be their belongings being auctioned to help their own dependents. [Haywain]


Pet cock:
Little faucet in a water pipe or pump, to let air out, or at the end of a steam cylinder, to drain it.
https://www.thefreedictionary.com/Pet+cock


Pilot bread:
Sea-biscuit; hard bread
https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=IPv ... &q&f=false


Ping pong or ping-pong:
See Sub-caliber.


PGC means per gyrocompass. See Compasses


Piasaba, piassaba, piassava: 1. Either of two South American palm trees, Attalea funifera or Leopoldinia piassaba, from which a strong coarse fiber is obtained. 2. The fiber of either of these plants, formerly widely used for making ropes, brushes, and brooms. https://www.thefreedictionary.com/piassava
[AND]
http://www.gwpda.org/naval/w03gunm.htm: "Special piasaba cleaners are supplied for 4 in. guns and above",
http://www.hnsa.org/doc/br224/part1.htm: The bore and chamber of a gun must be kept clean, and except when ready for immediate use, oiled. To enable this to be done a special brush, called a piasaba brush, is supplied for each type of gun in the ship. The act of cleaning or oiling the gun with a piasaba brush is called sponging out. [Tegwen]


Pier-head leap:
It could be that there is a standard billet list for the ship - in today's merchant marine it is the official manning document that is part of the certificate of inspection. So a ship has to have, say, one master, three mates, 4 ABs and 8 ordinary seamen... So you hire the only guy you have to fill the OS billet and then promote him to his usual rating and pay. In fact, now that I think about it I sailed on more than one occasion in a billet two levels below grade but was paid my usual rate as chief officer or whatever it was. This was because the person who was supposed to sail as 3rd was not able to make it and I was asked to make a 'pier-head leap' as its called.
[Kevin]


Pin rail: a strong rail at the side of the deck of a vessel, for holding the pins to which some of the running rigging is belayed. https://www.dictionary.com/browse/pin-rail [ggordon]


Pipe, Boatswain's call, Bosun's whistle, ...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boatswain%27s_call
All orders passed out to the entire company over the tannoy are preceded by a pipe, a signal blown on a small whistle by a Bosun's mate. Pipe down is blown to tell the ship's company that it's bed time. You might not want to sleep, but you must keep quiet. [dorbel]
[AND]
http://navy.memorieshop.com/pipe-call.pdf
[AND]
Mess Call - The pipe Mess call is the longest of the lot; it should cover not less than a minute. It consists of All hands, a long Heave around., and a long Pipe down, in that order [szukacz]

[AND]
http://www.godfreydykes.info/NAVAL_PIPI ... O_END.html


Pintle (sometimes pintol) (and gudgeon) - ... hold the rudder on to the boat, while allowing it to move from side to side. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pintle [Tegwen]


Pitching, Rolling, Pooping - Pitching is the bow going up and down, while the stern does the opposite.
Rolling is as it says rolling about the long axis so the top of the mast is going from side to side. [Tegwen]
[AND]
Rolling is far more dangerous in terms of buoyancy. While taking water is never good, generally speaking a ship won't sink as long as it has headway and can take the seas on directly. However, if it takes waves from the side (rolls), the risk of broaching -- that is, rolling over -- is significant.
Then there's the risk of a following / cross sea slapping the vessel in the stern and checking its way -- or "pooping." When that happens, it is possible for the ship to suddenly turn, roll and broach to.
That's why, in the logs, you occasionally see course corrections, during heavy seas, to turn into the wind. (Usually, the seas and the winds are running in the same direction. But not always.) As a rule, in a heavy sea, taking the waves head-on is the safest option. [Doug Vanderweide]
[AND]
In a 'heavy' sea (i.e. lots of wave movement with a big difference (2-3m) between the peak and trough (bottom) of the wave), ships will pitch and roll at the same time and usually end up doing a corkscrew movement. The bigger ships tend to move about less (inertia, mass, displacement etc etc), but smaller ships like destroyers, frigates, sloops would constantly be smothered in sea water with their crews soaking at their stations. Ships with high sides and flat bottoms (early aircraft carriers) were even worse. [Gixernutter]
[AND]
"Actually setting sails" in the "What does that mean?" section. Wendolk draws our attention to HMS Foxglove, sailing South across the China Sea in 1923 in a heavy swell and setting staysails on both masts to counteract the rolling. Her relatively shallow draft made these little sloops very vulnerable in a sea and the sails would have helped a lot to make everybody more comfortable. [dorbel]
[AND]
Both pitching and rolling can be dangerous to the ship. A ship that actually dipped the gun'l under while rolling shouldn't take in water, but the course would have been altered to head into the prevailing wind and sea before that happened. There are watertight doors and hatches to prevent water on the deck getting into the ship. Square rigged sailing ships could and did sail with the lee gun'l almost permanently under water when being driven hard. Many powered vessels commonly took a lot of water on deck in heavy weather. The ill-fated HMS "Hood" had a lot of extra armour added after design and her stern deck was always awash when steaming fast in any sort of sea.
Pitching can be every dangerous if the vessel actually puts the whole of the bow into a big wave as the weight of the water may keep the bow under water and the ship can suddenly become a submarine! This was believed to be the fate of many of the lovely extreme clippers, built for speed in the heyday of the square rigger. Their fine entry and low freeboard meant that they could be and were literally sailed under by hard driving skippers carrying a press of sail in heavy weather. [dorbel]


plain sail: the ordinary working canvas of a sailing ship usually including topgallant sails, royals, and a flying jib https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plain%20sail
http://cdn.artmight.com/albums/userpics ... Strait.jpg


... the plotting table, where all the info is co-ordinated to be sent to the guns. The "table" on the more modern WW1 ships was actually a sort of mechanical computer developed by the navy and operated by 8 men twirling little wheels! They entered the bearing, distance, course and speed of the target, along with the course and speed of their own vessel and came up with a direction and elevation for the gunners to use. Could be shockingly accurate too. [dorbel]


Point: 1 point = 11.25 degrees.
It can be used as a compass direction: N 1/2 E means 1/2 point east of north or 5.625 degrees.
It can also be used as a bearing: On 4 pts means 45 degrees on the bow. [Jeff]


Sounds like an old sailor man on your sail-less vessel. Pointing ship means to take care of particular details of maintenance like whipping rope ends (a 'pointing' is a fancy type of whipping that actually results in a point which makes reeving the line through a block easier, or may be used to attach a messenger line etc.). ...the term may be used in the sense 'to clean up loose ends' before sailing...
[AND]
Also - to position a ship in preparation for fleet movement. [Kevin]
[AND]
Falls are often pointed at the ends, i.e tapered so that they can be more easily passed through the blocks. The strands are progressively reduced in size and the whole is whipped together with thin cord [dorbel]


Points of Sail:


Course is the direction in which the ship is going.
Heading is the direction in which the ship is pointed.
Navigation: Course, Bearings and Headings explains the difference between course and heading[/size]


Police - To inspect and/or clean up. - http://books.google.fr/books?id=6mGLsY0 ... ce&f=false


Pom pom:
The Maxim gun was sometimes called the pom-pom due to its sound. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maxim_gun [CHommel]
[AND]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QF_1_pounder_pom-pom
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QF_2_pounder_naval_gun [Thursday Next]


Portfire:
Fuze or match for firing guns or fireworks
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/portfire
[studentforever]


3 pounder - Refers to a gun which fired projectiles weighing approximately three pounds. [loerie]
[AND]
QF 3 pounder Hotchkiss - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QF_3_pounder_Hotchkiss [Bunting Tosser]


Pram, pramm, prahm, praam:
Flat bottomed ship used to handle cargo.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pram_%28ship%29 and https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/prahm
[Danny252] [Hurlock]


Pram, Norwegian Pram:
Small utility boat or dinghy with a transom (flat) bow.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pram_%28boat%29
[Danny252]


Pratique is the license given to a ship to enter port on assurance from the captain to convince the authorities that he/she is free from contagious disease. The clearance granted is commonly referred to as Free Pratique.
A ship can signal a request for "Pratique" by flying a solid yellow square-shaped flag. This yellow flag is the Q flag in the set of International maritime signal flags. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pratique [montanaisaleg]


PREVENTER: Applied to ropes, &c., when used as additional securities to aid other ropes in supporting spars, &c., during a strong gale; as preventer-backstays, braces, shrouds, stays, &c. http://www.gutenberg.org/files/26000/26 ... 6000-h.htm


Priming Mines - Fixing the fuses and first explosive charge so that they will go off. [Tegwen]


Projector:
A type of mortar.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Projector ... biguation)


An able seaman will certainly want to advance and that is initially by examination. He can pass for a Leading Seaman and then for Petty Officer, but his actual promotion will come with a vacancy and his captain's recommendation. A Petty Officer promotion will usually come with a change of ship. [dorbel]


PSC means per standard compass. See Compasses.


PSTGC (or PSTC) means per steering compass. See Compasses.


Pudding also Puddening: A thick wreath of yarns, matting, or oakum (called a dolphin), tapering from the middle towards the ends, grafted all over, and fastened about the main or fore masts of a ship, directly below the trusses, to prevent the yards from falling down, in case of the ropes by which they are suspended being shot away. Puddings are also placed on a boat's stem as a kind of fender; and also laid round the rings of anchors to prevent hempen cables or hawsers from chafing. http://www.gutenberg.org/files/26000/26 ... 00-h.htm#P


Pulling boat - A rowing boat, usually with a range of rowing stations for several oarsmen seated facing astern. http://www.seatalk.info/cgi-bin/nautica ... =boat&nh=2


Pulling - Rowing.


Punishment - "A method for classifying offences and punishments on board vessels of the U.S. Navy, with directions as to good-conduct lists, badges, and discharges, and as to liberty on shore and liberty money" http://hdl.handle.net/2027/hvd.32044018998039 [Bob]
See also: Captains defaulters/Captain's Mast, Court Martial, and Warrant punishments.


purchase - Any mechanical hold, or advantage, applied to the raising or removing of heavy bodies, as by a lever, a tackle, capstan, and the like; also, the apparatus, tackle, or device by which the advantage is gained. - http://www.webster-dictionary.net/definition/purchase
[AND]
http://www.gwpda.org/naval/br82704.htm (very helpful details and illustrations)


P.Z. exercise:
A tactical exercise carried out at sea. From the P and Z signalling flags.
https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/p.z._exercise

---

Go back to the beginning

Q-ships: Also known as Q-boats, decoy vessels, special service ships, or mystery ships, were heavily armed merchant ships with concealed weaponry, designed to lure submarines into making surface attacks. This gave Q-ships the chance to open fire and sink them. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Q-ship
http://www.archive.org/stream/qshipsthe ... 3/mode/2up [Bunting Tosser]


QC Sonar See Sonar


Quarantine:
Restriction within limits awarded to naval cadets as a punishment.
https://www.wordnik.com/words/quarantine, https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id= ... up&seq=470
+
It doesn't seem to be limited to cadets.
Albatross 1908: M.McCann, F1c. 2/9 AWOL, 5/9 Returned 3 days AWOL. Placed in confinement in irons on account of brig not being secure to await trial by summary court-martial. 7/9 Released. 10/10 2 weeks quarantine with extra duty.


Quarter:
See Relative bearings


Quarterly settlement: https://www.archive.org/stream/kingsreg ... ettlements


Quartermaster Nautical, a petty officer who has charge of the steering of the ship, the signals and soundings, and the running lights, leads, colors, log, compasses, etc., as an assistant to the navigator. Quartermasters keep regular watch during the whole time a ship is in commission, and are selected from the steadiest and most trustworthy seamen. On mail steamers the quartermasters steer and keep the flags and running-lights in order. - http://www.wordnik.com/words/quartermaster


Quarter-Gunner see Gunner


Quick Firing (Q.F.) Guns (Q.F. guns are also loaded at the breech end.): http://www.hnsa.org/doc/br224/part1.htm [Caro]
[AND]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quick_firing_gun#QF




Raise
To bring into sight by approaching nearer: raised the Cape
https://www.thefreedictionary.com/raise


Rake Party - http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=RBmf ... 22&f=false [Caro]
+
A little more detail: https://archive.org/details/historyoftr ... rake+party
+
https://books.google.com/books?id=PxHn7 ... 22&f=false


Rank - Related to target practice - http://www.naval-history.net/WW1NavyBritish-Ranks.htm [navalhistory (Gordon)]


Rat guard: a disk of sheet metal fitted around a hawser to prevent rats from boarding a vessel moored at a dock. [Hanibal94]


Rating:
Any man below officer rank.
[dorbel]


Rattling down, Rattle down rigging, Rattle the shrouds: To fix the ratlines in a line parallel to the vessel's set on the water. http://www.gutenberg.org/files/26000/26 ... 00-h.htm#R
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ratlines
It is a rule of seamanship to always hold on to the shrouds (vertical standing rigging to which the ratlines are attached) because the ratlines sometime break, causing one's stomach to leap (more the higher you are). Or worse. [Kevin]


Raven's duck:
A fine quality of sailcloth.
http://www.webster-dictionary.net/defin ... n%27s-duck
"During the Age of Sail, duck was the equivalent of today’s gasoline"
https://www.nps.gov/sama/learn/historyc ... o4duck.pdf


I have seen the phrase "Read stations for.... " a few times. It seems to mean that they read out to the relevant crew members what they need to do, when and where. ie gave out instructions before they started to do something that they haven't done very often, ... [Tegwen]


Receiving Ship: a ship used in harbour to house newly recruited sailors before they are assigned to a ship's crew. ... Receiving ships often served as floating hospitals as many were assigned in locations without shore-based station hospitals. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hulk_(shi ... iving_hulk [Kookaburra]


Recommissioned - The only thing that I would add to these interesting and informative posts, is that crews get very set in their ways, from officers down to scullions. Breaking them up and moving them on prevents bad habits becoming routine and of course teaches old dogs new tricks. This is particularly true of small ship's companies, where discipline is usually easier than in the cruisers and battleships. [dorbel]


Red - Port.
Navigation lights - Port Red, Starboard Green
Imagine a line down the middle of the ship, bow to stern, and extended forwards. Anything to the left would be "Red x degrees" or to the right "Green y degrees". [Bunting Tosser / edited]


Red oxide was (and is) the best primer for protecting steel and wood from the sea. Provided you didn't actually eat the stuff it wasn't harmful to health although the dust from chipping and grinding it off again undoubtedly was. It's use on boats was largely banned due to its detrimental effect on sea-life...
[Also called red lead] [dorbel]
+
"red lead" is another name for lead tetroxide, "...most often used as a pigment for primer paints for iron objects. Due to its toxicity, its use is being limited. In the past, it was used in combination with linseed oil as a thick, long-lasting anti-corrosive paint..." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lead_tetroxide [CHommel]
+
red-leading appears to refer to the practice of apply red lead paint to a surface to prevent corrosion.
https://www.loc.gov/item/2017699468/ [ggordon]


reeve
1. To pass (a rope or rod) through a hole, ring, pulley, or block.
2. To fasten by passing through or around. - http://www.thefreedictionary.com/reeve


Reeving: In polar voyaging, following up serpentine channels in the ice, till the vessel reaches open water, or reeves the pack. http://www.gutenberg.org/files/26000/26 ... 00-h.htm#R


To the best of my knowledge the larger warships did have refrigerators, and there were refrigerated cargo ships carrying meat from Australia, Argentina, New Zealand etc. [navalhistory (Gordon)]


Relative bearings:
Abaft, abeam, bow, broad, fine, forward, quarter, ...
Compass Degrees From The Bow And Their Bearing







Repair:
To take oneself somewhere, or to return. E.g., Commanding Officer repaired on board.
[dorbel]


Rolling See Pitching, Rolling, Pooping


Rose or Strainer / Rosebox: A plate of copper or lead perforated with small holes, placed on the heel of a pump to prevent choking substances from being sucked in. Roses are also nailed, for the like purpose, upon the holes which are made on a steamer's bottom for the admission of water to the boilers and condensers.
http://www.gutenberg.org/files/26000/26 ... 6000-h.htm
http://www.wagerusa.com/pages/marine/rosebox.html


Rounds Correct
Well what actually happens is that the officer of the watch, with a small entourage (a CPO and a midshipman perhaps) tours the ship, covering every station where duty men are closed up, as well as the galleys and the mess decks which have been prepared for inspection, i.e. clean and tidy. As he reaches each section a PO or Leading seaman will report and accompany them on to the next part of the tour. Unless something is horribly wrong, a word in the ear of the man responsible ("See to it that those mops and buckets are properly stowed away Killick") is plenty and "rounds correct" means that the whole timeless procedure has been carried out, rather than that everything was perfect. Discipline was and probably still is strict in the Royal Navy, but there is a great deal of informal give and take, particularly in the small ships and it is no coincidence that "to turn a blind eye" is a naval expression.
[AND]
Rounds are always correct, because minor imperfections are not meant to be noticed (the pile of dust hastily swept under a coiled cable) and major imperfections, a man not on duty for example is immediately rectified and dealt with at defaulters parade the next day. Nobody on board has anything to gain by noting a list of things that are wrong in the log for their Lordships to contemplate, least of all "Jimmy The One", the First Lieutenant who is responsible for just about everything in this line. [dorbel]


Rouse To man-handle. "Rouse in the cable," haul it in, and make it taut. http://www.gutenberg.org/files/26000/26 ... 6000-h.htm


route marching is marching over rough ground, usually with full kit, and would be for when your ships company (especially if they had marines) needed to operate as a landing party.
Ceremonial marching is what the tin says. It usually takes place on a parade ground or flat piece of ground and consists in marching according to shouted orders. It often involves rifle drill - 'present arms' etc. This would be used if providing guards of honour at events or if taking part in formal ceremonies. [studentforever]


rove - It's the past participle of "to reeve" [above], to pass a rope through something. A slip rope is one that moors to the quayside in such a way that the crew can release it from the ship and retrieve the rope, rather than having to rely on the dockside workers to unhitch the rope at the correct moment. [dorbel]


Run: a. the tack of a sailing vessel in which the wind comes from astern. b. part of the hull of a vessel near the stern where it curves upwards and inwards. https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dicti ... nglish/run [propriome]

Running lights: See Steaming lights




A sail loft is an upper floor in a building where sails are made. It is large enough for the entire sail to be laid out and worked on. If sails were made flat this wouldn't be necessary, but the square sails of square-rigged ships are stitched together from bolts of canvas so that they have a "belly" and for this you need to have the whole sail laid out.
Many RN ships at this time could and did set sails; we note Foxglove setting fore and aft sails when on a long beam reach as late as 1922 and of course there were still a lot of sailing ships trading, so the sail loft was still a feature of most ports. [dorbel]


Scandalize:
Reduce the area of (a fore-and-aft sail) by lowering the head or raising the boom.
https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/scandalize
+
https://www.grammarphobia.com/blog/2011 ... alize.html


Scuttle butt:
Butt or cask with a large hole in it, used to contain the fresh water for daily use in a ship.
http://www.webster-dictionary.net/defin ... tle%20butt


Sea valve or seacock - a valve on the hull of a boat or a ship, permitting water to flow into the vessel, such as for cooling an engine or for a salt water faucet; or out of the boat, such as for a sink drain or a toilet.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seacock [ggordon]


Seedies and Kroomen (also Kroumen or Krumen)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seedies_and_Kroomen [Janet Jaguar]
[AND]
All is explained in great detail at http://www.unesco.org/new/fileadmin/MUL ... rators.pdf [dorbel]
[AND]
A seedie boy is an East African or Indian native labourer working in H.M. Ships. Don't let the term "boy" conjure any images of young, strong men. I think the oldest "Boy" I've encountered was in his late 70s. They did get all the dirty jobs. Being PC wasn't an issue then. [kin47 - Don]
[AND]
Back to Africa: A Liberian Tragedy - The Kroomen


Seine Net, Seine Fishing, Seiner, Seining
e.g. "Several seining and hunting parties left the ship"
A Seine net (or dragnet) is a type of fishing net, which hangs vertically in the water at the surface, with weights along the bottom edge and floats along the top (this is in contrast to a trawl net, which is dragged underwater or along the sea bottom). Seining is the act of fishing with a seine net - this can either be done with a fishing boat, known as a Seiner, or by hand.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seine_fishing [Danny252]


SEIZING. Fastening any two ropes, or different parts of one rope together, with turns of small stuff. - http://www.gutenberg.org/files/26000/26 ... 00-h.htm#S
https://www.thefreedictionary.com/seizing


Send down:
The yards represent a considerable weight high above the vessel's centre of gravity. To increase stability, especially in heavy weather, some means is normally provided to lower some of the yards when they are not being used to set sails. In nineteenth-century warships (where a large crew was available) this was generally by physically "sending down" the upper yards from the masts and storing them on deck - along with, in many cases, the upper sections of the mast itself.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yard_%28sailing%29


Sennit also spelled senate and sennet: Cordage formed by braiding several strands of rope fiber or similar material.
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/sennit


Casey, Petty Officer and Captain's Coxswain, is busy forward with the awning and an additional halliard rove through a block at the foremast head. This, steadied by the boat-hook, will serve us as a spinnaker during the three-mile run down-wind; and, in a Service rig race, is the only additional fitting allowed beyond what is defined as "the rig the boat uses on service, made of service canvas by service labour." http://www.pbenyon.plus.com/Naval_Occasions/Chap_3.html


Set:
Direction from which a wind is blowing or towards which a tide or current is moving
https://www.thefreedictionary.com/set
For background, see https://www.paddlinglight.com/articles/ ... -headings/


Sextant can be used by day observing the sun at solar noon to fix your latitude and by night to measure the angle between various celestial bodies, by which it is possible by means of tables to work out your longitude as well. Sextant and chronometer when no land was in sight was the method of fixing your position at this time, assisted by dead reckoning (marking your course and distance travelled on a chart) and soundings. Ditto for WWII of course. [dorbel]


Shackle:
A length of cable or chain equal to 12.5 fathoms or 75 feet, or later to 15 fathoms. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/shackle
[AND]
Shackles are the primary connecting link in all manner of rigging systems, from boats and ships to industrial crane rigging, as they allow different rigging subsets to be connected or disconnected quickly.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shackle


Shake:
To shake a cask. To take it to pieces, and pack up the parts, then termed "shakes."
https://www.gutenberg.org/files/26000/2 ... 00-h.htm#S


Shear legs, Shears are a form of two-legged lifting device, that were used by sailboats and dockyards for tasks such as lifting masts and heavier parts of the rigging on board. - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shear_legs [camiller]


Sheave:
Wheel over which the rope passes in a block.
https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id= ... up&seq=130


Definitely sheering (considerably), a particularly nasty phenomenon where wind and wave carry you back over your own anchor. The danger in this situation is that you foul the anchor chain around your propeller and/or rudder, greatly increaing the risk of plucking your anchor out of the ground with the extra leverage and then being blown ashore unable to use your engines because of the chain around the prop. Not unheard of to be driven ashore in this way. [dorbel]


Sheet anchor - an extra large anchor used in emergencies [wendolk]


Ship, to:
Fix anything in its place, as "Ship the oars," i.e. place them in their rowlock.
https://www.gutenberg.org/files/26000/2 ... 00-h.htm#S


Shipwright:
Artisan skilled in one or more of the tasks required to build vessels
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/shipwright


Shoe block:
Block with two sheaves one above the other and at right angles to each other.
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shoe%20block


Shores: the props that stop the ship from falling over in the dock. These are stout timbers that brace the vessel against the side of the dock. The Bosun walks along striking each with a stout mallet and they give a satisfying ring when "hard up". [dorbel]


To single out is just to remove most of the various wires holding the ship to the quayside, leaving just two springs, i.e, wires running from the bow and stern toward bollards nearer the centre of the ship. Then depending on wind and tide it is a relatively simple matter to leave, bow or stern first as appropriate. They reeve a slip rope (not ship). A slip rope is just one secured to the vessel and passed around a bollard (or through a ring), so that it can be released and gathered in as the vessel moves away. [dorbel]
https://www.youtube.com/embed/qUiFnW6xlq4


Singlestick, single stick, cudgels:
Refer to both a martial art that uses a wooden stick as well as the weapon used in the art. It began as a way of training sailors in the use of swords such as the sabre or the cutlass.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singlestick
+
https://ejmas.com/jmanly/articles/2002/ ... f_0202.htm


Single up, singling up:
To cast off all mooring lines, except one at each end of the boat, preparatory to getting under way.
https://www.pbo.co.uk/nautical-almanac/ ... up-to-9546 [ggordon]
+
Singling up means all the lines are released except for a single line from the ship to the pier is still attached in each mooring line position. Singling up is done just before letting go all the lines.
https://marineprohelp.com/terms/18252/singling-up


Pretty standard to sink any floating object out at sea, empty lifeboat, drums, barrels etc. Good gunnery practice and means that your patrolling vessels won't be altering course to investigate them in the future. A ship that has sent 400 men to action stations because an alert lookout has spotted a periscope that turns out to be an old fisherman's net marker delights in smashing it to pieces. [dorbel]


Sister block:
Tackle block having two sheaves of the same size one above the other.
https://www.merriam-webster.com/diction ... er%20block
+
https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id= ... 1up&seq=53


Sister hook:
Hook made in two parts, set facing each other in such a manner that when combined they form a link.
https://www.history.navy.mil/research/l ... onary.html


"'All hands to dance and skylark' was historically a command from a ship's officer for his crew to take brisk exercise in the fresh air, shinning up and down the rigging (hence 'skylark'). It was given when, confined at sea, the men became sluggish and listless; so it was, if you like, an early form of fitness training." [wendolk]


Slip test:
For gun mountings. The speed of run-out is adjusted so that the fired cartridge is ejected just clear of the gun at all angles of elevation.
https://www.navy.gov.au/sites/default/f ... 3-4521.pdf [studentforever]


Slops. Clothing, tobacco, etc., issued from the ship's slop-chest by the paymaster. Unlike "issue" (q.v.), slops must be paid for. http://www.naval-history.net/WW2aaNaval ... stoms2.htm
[AND]
Uniform for ratings was first established by the Admiralty in 1857. Prior to this, most seamen wore "slops", or ready-made clothing sold to the ship's crew by a contractor; many captains established general standards of appearance for the seamen on their vessel, but there was little or no uniformity between ships.
[AND]
A name given to ready-made clothes, and other furnishings, for seamen, by Maydman, in 1691. http://www.gutenberg.org/files/26000/26 ... 00-h.htm#S
[ - AND - ]
Unappetizing watery food or soup. http://www.thefreedictionary.com/slops


Slow bell
To proceed with care and caution.
Published in Crystal Beach Local News on Nov 28, 2011 and again May 09, 2021. Image of 'slow bell' as a direction: https://www.crystalbeachlocalnews.com/w ... wbell1.jpg


Slushing:
It means using meat fat from the top of the barrels of meat to grease the mast for easier hoisting of sails. The slush fund was the cooks secret store of this fat for sale ashore. [Hurlock]
https://www.oxfordreference.com/display ... 3100511761 [studentforever]


Smoking lamp:
The exact date and origin of the smoking lamp has been lost. However, it probably came into use during the 16th Century when seamen began smoking on board vessels. The smoking lamp was a safety measure. It was devised mainly to keep the fire hazard away from highly combustible woodwork and gunpowder. Most navies established regulations restricting smoking to certain areas. Usually, the lamp was located in the forecastle or the area directly surrounding the galley indicting that smoking was permitted in this area. Even after the invention of matches in the 1830s, the lamp was an item of convenience to the smoker. When particularly hazardous operations or work required that smoking be curtailed, the unlighted lamp relayed the message. "The smoking lamp is lighted" or "the smoking lamp is out' were the expressions indicating that smoking was permitted or forbidden.
The smoking lamp has survived only as a figure of speech. When the officer of the deck says "the smoking lamp is out" before drills, refueling or taking ammunition, that is the Navy's way of saying "cease smoking."
https://www.history.navy.mil/content/hi ... rigin.html [lollia paolina]



Smokeless powder:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smokeless_powder
Single-base powder (single base propellant) and double-base powder (double base propellant) are types of smokeless powder.
You will frequently see the entry: "Made daily inspection of magazines and smokeless powder samples, conditions normal."
Brave Ship, Brave Men - by Arnold S. Lott has more details.

---

Go back to the beginning

Snatch block:
Block with an opening in one side to receive the bight of a rope.
http://www.webster-dictionary.net/defin ... ch%20block


Sonar http://pwencycl.kgbudge.com/S/o/Sonar.htm and http://csi.whoi.edu/sites/default/files ... 20Text.pdf


Sounding: Ships in unknown waters like to know the depth of water underneath them. Also, charts are marked with the depth of water, so it is a navigational aid.
In early days they found this out by sounding, that is dropping a heavy weight on a long piece of rope over the side, letting it sink to the bottom and marking the length of the rope used.
By WW1 this process was a little more sophisticated and a thin wire with a weight [and tube] was used, lowered and raised by a powered winch. ... The tube is there to collect samples from the sea bed. It was driven into the sea bed by weights, a flap closed and when it was brought to the surface the tube contained a sample. The material on the bottom (mud, sand, shell for example) is also useful information. See
http://www.skippertips.com/public/Know_ ... gation.cfm [dorbel]
[AND]
Equipment - from SOUNDING POLE AND LEADLINE to TODAY'S SYSTEMS: http://www.photolib.noaa.gov/cgs/sound.html [Janet Jaguar]
[AND]
http://www.photolib.noaa.gov/htmls/ship3167.htm [Janet Jaguar]
[AND]
Lord Kelvin's Sounding Machine, Kelvite Mark IV: http://collections.rmg.co.uk/collection ... 42900.html
https://www.submerged.co.uk/kelvins-machine.php
[AND]
From the Seamanship Manual section on Sounding Machines: "The glass chemical tubes are coated inside with chloride of silver, which shows red, but is turned white by the action of the water. Thus, the deeper the tube goes, the greater the pressure and the further the water is forced up the tube ....." [navalhistory (Gordon)]
[AND]
http://www.navyandmarine.org/ondeck/180 ... nglead.htm
[AND]
http://webapp1.dlib.indiana.edu/virtual ... nding.html [propriome]
[AND]

Two Years Before the Mast (1834-1836) wrote:The soundings on the American coast are so regular that a navigator knows as well where he has made land, by the soundings, as he would by seeing the land. Black mud is the soundings of Block Island. As you go toward Nantucket, it changes to a dark sand; then, sand and white shells; and on George's Banks, white sand;
...
On Monday morning, the increased depth and deep blue color of the water, and the mixture of shells and white sand which we brought up, upon sounding, showed that we were in the channel, and nearing George's; accordingly, the ship's head was put directly to the northward, and we stood on, with perfect confidence in the soundings, though we had not taken an observation for two days, nor seen land; and the difference of an eighth of a mile out of the way might put us ashore.

(They are approaching Boston.)


Sou'wester:
A type of oilskin (waterproof) hat, which is longer at the back to protect the neck from rain, sometimes also provided with a "gutter" front to keep rain out of the wearer's eyes.

[Danny252]


Specie:
Money in the form of coins rather than notes.
https://www.lexico.com/definition/specie
+
The USS President Hoover was a US mail carrier and carried the registered mails, which were kept in 'specie tank', which got its name from the large amounts of gold and silver bullion stored there. .... You never knew what was in registered mail, transferable documents, negotiable instruments, stocks, boxes of paper currency, gold and silver bars and coins, that's the way they were moved in those days.
http://takaoclub.com/hoover/wreck.htm
[Bunting Tosser]


Splice the Main Brace - http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/sitecore/co ... main-brace


Spoke for seamen of that era really did mean that, with a megaphone! Radio was still morse code and flag or aldiss lamp signalling with merchantmen notoriously cumbersome. They closed and shouted. [dorbel]
+
Until radio communication became reliable (1920s), most short range naval communication between ships was by semaphore flag ('bunting tossers') or aldis lamp (shuttered light using morse code). Merchant vessels did not communicate this way and used voice amplified by megaphone, hence 'spoken to'. [Gixernutter]


Splinter Mats - These large and bulky objects, certainly 6" thick, were erected around exposed gun positions in action, but were a blasted nuisance at any other time and were often dumped ashore at the first opportunity.
Nice picture of some rigged on HMS Hood here. http://www.hmshood.com/photos/evans/evans4.htm as well as many other fascinating photos for us all to waste time on. [dorbel]


Gun barrels were regularly sponged out, as the cordite propellant in use at this time was highly corrosive and could quickly damage the bore of the barrel. [dorbel]
[AND]
See also piasaba.
[AND]
Ahem ...
"spongeing" is the correct Br. Eng. spelling (not always used on dry cleaners' signs); otherwise you have a hard "g" as in "springing". [Bunting Tosser]


Spotting Table: See Fire Control Table


Spun yarn:
A small line, formed of two, three, or more old rope-yarns not laid, but twisted together by hand or winch. Spun-yarn is used for various purposes, as seizing and serving ropes, weaving mats, &c.
http://www.gutenberg.org/files/26000/26 ... 6000-h.htm
+
https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id= ... 1up&seq=18


Spring, spring line:
In the naval sense, a spring is a rope running from the side of the ship to the anchor cable or to bollards on the shore.
If it is running to the anchor cable from a point on the side of the vessel, it enables you to adjust your position in relation to the anchor by hauling on the rope, or slacking off. More commonly when moored alongside a jetty or wharf it runs from ship to shore at a diagonal. It will prevent the ship surging backwards and forwards. When moving away from the side, it can be used to manouevre the bow or the stern away from the wharf by hauling on it or slacking away. [dorbel]
[AND]
Illustration (scroll down): http://navyadvancement.tpub.com/12018/c ... er-225.htm
[AND]
Coir Springs: Heavy duty harbour moorings manufactured in coir rope. They are designed to be picked up by a vessel mooring in a harbour, usually where heavy swells are experienced.
[Bunting Tosser]


squeegee, squilgee or sometimes squimjim
Tool with a flat, smooth rubber blade, used to remove or control the flow of liquid on a flat surface. ... The original squilgee was a long-handled, wooden-bladed tool fishermen used to scrape fish blood and scales from their boat deck, and to push water off the deck after it had been washed.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squeegee


Squeeze Station:
[Caro]


Stage: Planks let over the ship's sides by ropes, whereon the people may stand when repairing, &c.?A floating stage is one which does not need the support of ropes. http://www.gutenberg.org/files/26000/26 ... 6000-h.htm
My elderly dictionary gives "scaffolding" as one meaning of "staging" [Thursday Next]

Stand, Stood - To take or hold a particular course or direction: a ship standing to windward.
Stand off, stand out - To maintain a course away from shore.
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/stand
[AND]
To stand off and on (Naut.), to remain near a coast by sailing toward land and then from it. [Caro]
[AND]
It may include tacking. If you follow any of the 'old' naval stuff (Hornblower, Nelson, 'Master and Commander,' etc.) the British and /or the French would 'blockade' the other's ships in harbour to keep them there. It entailed in some cases MONTHS of just sailing back and forth off shore to keep the enemy bottled up. That was considered 'standing off and on' to the shore. [dmaschen]


Stand of grape:
Artillery projectile.
http://www.relicman.com/artillery/Artil ... Stand.html


Starshell - http://www.firstworldwar.com/atoz/starshell.htm
[szukacz]
+
I found a discussion on Naval History Forums: Battleship Bismarck Forums, that indicates star shells were special shells used to illuminate enemy ships for night battles. Based on what Szukacz found, it seems they were used on land as well.
[wendolk]
+
The first is definitely starshell - it is a gunshell carrying a very bright parachute flare for illuminating targets. Often fired 'over range' so that as they descended the target would be seen in silhouette.
[barbicantrader]


Looks like 'starting the water' - which would mean opening the bungs, letting the water drain into the bilge, and then pumping it overboard. Unless the barrels were on a deck with scuppers, in which case it would just run out into the sea. [Kevin]


Stay sails are sails rigged on stays. Stays are ropes that go from the bow to the mast or from the foot of a forward mast to higher up a mast further aft, to support the mast, and in particular to stop it falling sternwards. Staysails are normally triangular. [Tegwen]


Steaming lights are the lights carried by all ships at night. They include port and starboard lights of red and green, a white mast light and stem/stern lights. [Tegwen]


Steep tub:
Large tub in which salt provisions are soaked previous to being cooked.
https://www.gutenberg.org/files/26000/2 ... 00-h.htm#S


Steering full-and-by:
(nautical) Keeping the sails full and steering by the wind.
https://www.yourdictionary.com/full-and-by


Steering Ram:
The ram is really the key part or “foundation” of the steering system
https://www.sbmar.com/articles/marine-h ... g-systems/ [ggordon]


Stokehold: The intermediate point for coal after removing it from the bunkers before it's sent down to the boilers. It's collected there for quicker access/supply than having to shovel it from the bunkers; it could be needed in a hurry. The trimmers would then get to work to top it up as it was used. [Bunting Tosser]


The Royal Navy didn't have Trimmers just Stokers, who were an all encompassing Marine Fireman. The Stoker was trained in the loading, distribution, storage and use of coal. The basics of a Royal Navy steam propulsion system that uses coal, has to use three compartments firstly the bunkers where the coal was stored, then the stokehold where the coal was held until required to be sent down chutes to the boilers.
Bunkers where strategically placed around the ship and used as extra armour by being placed between the outer skin and the boiler/engine rooms, so usually long thin compartments. Coal also came in different grades and calorific values the lower values being used for normal cruising, the higher saved for exercise or battle and stowed near the stokehold (Welsh coal being the preference).The location of coal within the ship would effect the ship's "trim" (i.e., if all of the bunkers on one side of the ship were emptied, she would lean drastically to one side), so the use of coal was monitored to keep the ship in trim. This was supervised by the Chief Stokers and their tanky's the water used to feed the boilers was also a large part of this equation both in what was used and what was produced.
As you could imagine during normal cruising this was a calm steady process, well oiled and managed by the Chief Stoker with Stokers manning or managing the three parts of ship, this gave the younger Stokers time to train and perfect their skills.
The bunkers were hot, often humid, and the air thick with coal dust. Each bunker had to be periodically emptied totally and the build up of dust cleaned out to stop the chance of spontaneous combustion, caused by the coal absorbing moisture and creating heat which would build up until the coal began to burn, a problem to put out usually done by flooding the bunker pumping out and then using the coal straight away.
Working within the bunkers was a terrible job. Since the coal bunkers could be long, men had to shovel the coal around in the bunkers, so that the bunkers could be filled evenly. When the coal was being used, a shovel relay would be set up in the bunkers, so that the coal in the bunker could be used evenly, and a ready supply kept at the entrance to the bunker for transfer to the stokehold. From this point it was shovelled in manageable quantities into the boiler rooms.
The job of 'Trimming' the bunkers was normally done by Sailors and Marines and the first place any army embarked where employed, this task was supervised by PO and Leading Stokers. The Stokers moving the coal from the stokehold to the boiler rooms and feeding the furnaces. [Bunting Tosser / Charles]
[AND]
"Spontaneous combustion has long been recognized as a fire hazard in stored coal. Spontaneous combustion fires usually begin as "hot spots" deep within the reserve of coal. The hot spots appear when coal absorbs oxygen from the air. Heat generated by the oxidation then initiated the fire". [Craig]
[AND]
https://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/a ... ps-112802/ [Janet Jaguar]
[AND]
U.S.S. Massachusetts, fire room between 1896 and 1901: http://lcweb2.loc.gov/pnp/det/4a10000/4 ... 14410r.jpg and http://lcweb2.loc.gov/pnp/det/4a10000/4 ... 14411r.jpg

Stokes Stretcher: http://navymedicine.navylive.dodlive.mil/archives/9189

Storm oil:
Used to keep the seas from breaking.
Mentioned at 6:30 am: https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorag ... 4_0140.JPG
https://www.mycg.uscg.mil/News/Article/ ... years-ago/
https://wqed.pbslearningmedia.org/resou ... lms-waves/
Image: http://collections.rmg.co.uk/collection ... 17688.html
http://www.deepseanews.com/2010/06/pour ... ed-waters/
http://www.usmm.org/lifeboat.html
https://response.restoration.noaa.gov/a ... rpose.html (end)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Storm_oil
https://io9.gizmodo.com/dumping-oil-in- ... 1666279269 [jd570b]
Here, in a hurricane in 1902, Bear even used some engine oil and coal oil: https://catalog.archives.gov/OpaAPI/med ... 86_217.jpg
Bear also mentioned using bags of oil just before WWII.
https://wordhistories.net/2017/10/06/oi ... ed-waters/ [Michael]
Usually you would think of it as a small-boat measure -- for example a cutter might deploy storm oil when trying to pick up survivors in heavy weather. I've never read about trying to use it protect a larger ship like this. In the shallow seas around the Pribilof Island it must have been really quite horrifying. They're running the oil through the crew toilets (which dumped right into the sea in those days) in order to avoid going on deck, which likely would've been ridiculously dangerous. [Kevin]


Strake:
"a strip of planking in a wooden vessel or of plating in a metal one, running longitudinally along the vessel's side, bottom or the turn of the bilge, usually from one end of the vessel to the other" - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strake




Stop - A piece of small line, or the like, used to bind or secure something; as, to secure a furled sail with stops.


Stream Anchor - A light anchor sometimes carried at the stern of the vessel. Alternatively called a stern anchor or kedge anchor. http://www.pomorci.com/Edukacija/80-100 ... hrases.pdf


... you strike a flag when you lower it. [dorbel]


Strongback - from Wiki:
1. (nautical) The fore-and-aft spar extending from stem to stern on a lifeboat and serving as a raised spreader for a boat cover. (FM 55-501).
2. (nautical) A strong bar placed across a hatch opening to hold hatch boards or hatch covers. (FM 55-501).
It's also used, differently, in housing and ship construction. [Janet Jaguar]
[AND]
"The same with Samson's post (which see). Also, an adaptation of a strong piece of wood over the windlass, to lift the turns of a chain-cable clear of it." - http://www.gutenberg.org/files/26000/26 ... 00-h.htm#S


Strop 1. (Naut.) A piece of rope spliced into a circular wreath, and put round a block for hanging it. http://www.webster-dictionary.net/definition/strop


Stuffing box: also called packing gland, stuffing gland, packing box, and stern gland
On a boat having an inboard motor that turns a shaft attached to an external propeller, the shaft passes through a stuffing box. The stuffing box prevents sea water from entering the boat's hull.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stuffing_box#Boats
+
https://answers.yahoo.com/question/inde ... 714AAkj7ce


Ran across a mention of the 'submarine sentry' in the Bear 1914 log while editing ice obs. It is a kite that swims below the ship at a given guard depth (12 ftms in this case) that will sound a gong if it hits the bottom, hence warning of shoal water. I've never heard of this device before. Described in detail in this 1891 text from Science magazine (page down): https://archive.org/stream/jstor-176547 ... 2_djvu.txt [Kevin]


Sub-caliber, sub-calibre, ping pong, ping-pong:
Sub-caliber round is a round the diameter of which is inferior to the barrel diameter. An expendable sabot is used to expand the diameter to the full barrel width of the firing gun. - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sub-caliber_round
[AND]
Sub-caliber training is used to save wear and expense when training with a larger gun by use of smaller weapons with identical ballistic characteristics. The smaller weapons could be inserted into the larger weapon's barrel, externally attached to the barrel or mounted above the weapon. - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sub-caliber_training
[AND]

"Ping-Pong" gunnery sighting practice on one of the ship's three-inch rapid-fire guns, circa 1904-1906.
https://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/Online ... b/c3-o.htm
[AND]
Target Practice On Board A Modern Mon O' War


Worth noting that at this time [WWI] suicide was both a crime and a sin. Successful suicides could not be buried in consecrated ground and there was a great sense of family shame attached to it. Hence authorities would bend over backwards to find a form of words that avoided stigmatising the unhappy person concerned, as appears to have happened here [HMS Birmingham 2nd April 1921: "died on his way to hospital suffering morphine poisoning due to an overdose having been taken without knowledge of consequences"]. [dorbel]
[AND]
If the suicide was due to an action while the person was of unsound mind, it was not necessarily as serious in the legal text. And some allowance could be made to the next of kin. Exceptions to every rule, but this should be known. [kin47 - Don]


Sumner Line:
Method of determining the longitude using observations of altitude of known celestial bodies to triangulate position when dead reckoning is likely to be in error, but direct observation is impossible. It is surprisingly precise when you've got a capable navigator, but can be disastrous if calculated incorrectly.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Hubbard_Sumner [HatterJack]


Surfboat, surf boat:
Oar-driven boat designed to enter the ocean from the beach in heavy surf or severe waves. It is often used in lifesaving or rescue missions where the most expedient access to victims is directly from the beach.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surfboat


Swifter:
To tighten (e.g. slack standing rigging) by bringing the opposite shrouds nearer.
https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/swifter [studentforever]
+
http://www.gutenberg.org/files/26000/26 ... 6000-h.htm


Swinging boom:
A boom having one end fastened to the side of the ship abreast of the fore swifter, used at sea to extend the foot of the lower studdingsail. In port it is swung out at right angles so that boats may be fastened to it. Also called lower boom.
https://www.wordnik.com/words/swinging-boom [ggordon]


Swinging the ship: In short, checking their compass for accuracy [Haywain]
Magnetic variation is the difference between true north (geographic north) and magnetic north. Deviation is the difference between magnetic north and ships compass north. It is due to the distortion of the magnetic field as it passes through the various metal parts of the ship before it gets to the compass. Thus variation deviation [ShedMonkey] is different for every compass point on which the ship steers. When a ship comes out of dock she has her compass "Swung" which entails swinging the ship around a known point so that she points at at marks ashore the true direction of which is also known. A deviation table is then compiled. It follows that the table is applicable only to that specific ship at that specific time. [Cunimb]
[AND]
Compass "Error" is the combination of variation and deviation and it will usually be one of a watchkeeper's duties to check compass error (and thereby derive deviation) every watch either by observing a geographical transit, or by celestial observation - Azimuth or Amplitude. In these days of gyro compasses, this is still a duty of a navigator, but gyros don't suffer from variation or deviation - they just have "error" - but nowhere near that of a magnetic compass. [ShedMonkey]
Example: http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ADM% ... -017_1.jpg
http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ADM% ... -018_0.jpg
[AND]
http://www.compassadjustment.com/#4 [dmaschen]
[AND]
http://myreckonings.com/wordpress/2009/ ... on-part-i/ "Magnetic Deviation: Comprehension, Compensation and Computation (Part I)" [Bunting Tosser]
[AND]
They put iron shims [thin wedges] in to counteract the magnetic effects of the metal around the ship, of which of course there is loads, but the magnetic effect of the ship can change due to slight moves of plating, guns etc. The shims are placed so as to neutralise the effects of all those changes ensuring that the main effect on the compass is the earth's magnetic field, not the ships. [Tegwen / Janet Jaguar]


Swinging to flood tide:
I believe it indicates that the ship is riding at one anchor (usually the bow) so that the ebb tide had carried the stern away from land. When the tide turns, the current - being in the opposite direction - will push the stern around. It's just physics or hydrodynamics, no active participation from the ship's engine or crew. [Bunting Tosser]

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Go back to the beginning

Tacking and Beating http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tacking_%28sailing%29 [randi_2]


Taken aback See Sailing Terms


Tampion/Tompion: A plug or cover for the muzzle of a cannon or gun to keep out dust and moisture. http://www.thefreedictionary.com/tampion [dorbel/Randi]


"Orcoma" at this time has 10-13 on the sick list every day. TB was very much the lower deck sailor's disease. Common in the population as a whole at this time, the close living conditions (all men still slept in a hammock that touched that of his neighbour), dampness, the very high number of smokers and the seaman's invariable habit of stuffing up any ventilation, all made for ideal conditions for the passing on of TB. In the notoriously damp HMS "Hood" between the wars, where sea water came down the ventilators into the mess decks in any sort of a sea when travelling fast, lower deck TB was almost endemic. [dorbel]


"Telaupad is the contemporary British term for headphones used in a variety of shipboard applications, often in Fire Control tasks where the operator had to keep his hands free and be attentive to a remote source of information and command." http://www.dreadnoughtproject.org/tfs/i ... p/Telaupad [thursdaynext]
Sometimes written Telepad.


Temperley transporter: is an early form of overhead crane. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temperley_transporter


Thermometer for sea temperature.
Pictured: Negretti & Zambra recording deep-sea thermometer, English, late 19th century, the brass frame with loop handle mounted with mercury thermometer and vertical copper screw propeller, signed Negretti & Zambra London Patent No. 24, 24in (61cm) high.
The instrument works on the following principle: "In its decent the thermometer acts as an ordinary instrument, the mercury rising or falling according to the temperature of the stratum through which it passes; but as soon as the descent ceases and a reverse motion is given to the line, so as to pull up the apparatus towards the surface, the thermometer turns once upon its centre, first bulb uppermost and afterwards bulb downwards. This causes the mercury, which was in the left hand column, first to pass into the dilated syphon bend at the top and thence onto the right hand tube, where in remains indicting on a graduated scale the exact temperature at the time it was turned over."
[Kevin and Janet Jaguar]


Thimble:
Ring of thin metal formed with a grooved circumference so as to fit within an eye-spice, or the like, and protect it from chafing.
http://www.webster-dictionary.net/definition/thimble
+
http://hdl.handle.net/2027/nyp.33433008 ... =%3Bseq=59


"Throw-off shoot Shoot at a live target (aircraft or ship) with extra right deflection applied to avoid actually hitting it." http://www.navy-net.co.uk/rrpedia/Tare
AND
"in a throw off shoot the exact range was used but hopefully a corrected bearing allowing the shells to fall either ahead or astern thus allowing a judgement made on the accuracy, another method was to adjust the range with either an under or over range shoot but on the correct bearing." http://www.shipsnostalgia.com/guides/Ne ... HMS_Nelson


Time Ships keep local time wherever they are, so on a voyage the clocks may change daily. When clocks are put back it makes the watch longer, very unpopular as you can imagine, so it was often done in in two stages, once in the first dog watch (4-pm to 6pm) and once in the second, (6-8pm). [dorbel]
AND
Before the days of GPS, the only way to find local time at sea was to shoot the sun, that is to use a sextant to find the moment when the sun is at an angle of 90 degrees to the visible horizon. If either is not visible, you don't know when local noon is and you can't reset your ship clocks. Perhaps in those circumstances you might note an important time in GMT, which you have on your chronometers.
It occurs to me that an exact time of rendezvouz or when to expect a signal might well be given in GMT to avoid confusion, but I don't know that. [dorbel]
AND
A.T.S. - Apparent Time at Ship, S.A.T. - Ship's Apparent Time, MTS - ? -- "Ship's time: the local mean time of the meridian where a ship is located.
"Before 1920, all ships kept local apparent time on the high seas by setting their clocks at night or at the morning sight so that, given the ship's speed and direction, it would be 12 o'clock when the Sun crossed the ship's meridian (12 o'clock = local apparent noon)." http://www.exactspent.com/time_zone.htm" [lollia paolina]
AND
http://forum.oldweather.org/index.php?t ... #msg113831 [HatterJack]


Time ball: https://stardate.org/radio/program/2019-12-30
AND
On HMS Britannia, they have been regularly dropping a time ball, usually twice per day at 8am and 5pm, but they are at sea. An example is at http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ADM5 ... -007_0.jpg. [Steeleye]
Most likely what is happening with the at-sea time-ball drop is that the flagship is getting a radio time-tick that is being relayed to the not-radio-equipped ships or it has a better chronometer that is being used to 'rate' all the others or the commodore is ensuring that everyone in the fleet actually bothers to rate their chronometers (esp. if they are merchant ships). [Kevin]


Time tick: A radio-broadcast time signal consisting of one or more short audible sounds or beats; in particular, one which is generated by an accurately controlled pulsed radio signal. http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/time+tick
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:WWV_ ... 090904.ogg [Kevin]



Toe a seam, toe a line, tow a seam:
To toe a seam, to stand on deck with the toes touching one of the seams. Such standing is imposed as a punishment for
slight offenses.
https://usnhistory.navylive.dodlive.mil ... -part-two/
https://archive.org/details/centurydict ... /page/5442
[Caro]


Told Off means "Assigned to" in the way it's used here - old military speak [Haywain]
Detail sailors off for work assignments. http://readyayeready.com/jackspeak/termview.php?id=397


Ton:
1. A unit of weight equal to 2,000 pounds (0.907 metric ton or 907.18 kilograms). Also called net ton, short ton.
2. A unit of weight equal to 2,240 pounds (1.016 metric tons or 1,016.05 kilograms). Also called long ton.
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/ton


Tormentor:
Long fork used by a ship's cook to take meat out of the coppers.
http://www.finedictionary.com/tormentor.html [Thursday Next]


Torpedo:
Firing a torpedo, WWI style. Very much a point and click interface for this tube.
https://twitter.com/i/status/1244564966923010050 [Maikel]


Torpedo director:
Calculating sight for firing torpedoes, more similar to a settable gunsight than to a gunnery director.
http://www.dreadnoughtproject.org/tfs/i ... o_Director


Torpedo, Practice
A red-nosed dummy collision warhead take the place of the real warhead. If it hits, the collision head collapses to avoid damaging the target. If it misses, it comes to the surface and releases a small calcium flare which gives out a light at night and a puff of grey smoke by day to aid in the recovery of this expensive weapon.
http://www.naval-history.net/WW2aaNaval ... stoms2.htm


Transmitting station:
A Transmitting Station (in Royal Navy parlance) is a room deep within a large ship where calculations pertaining to gunnery are worked and from which orders, ranges and deflections are transmitted to the guns. The function varied by ship, period and navy. Most vitally, the various nationalities had different words for their version of this room.
http://www.dreadnoughtproject.org/tfs/i ... ng_Station


A naval trawler is a vessel built along the lines of a fishing trawler but fitted out for naval purposes. Naval trawlers were widely used during the First and Second world wars. Fishing trawlers were particularly suited for many naval requirements because they were robust boats designed to work heavy trawls in all types of weather and had large clear working decks. One could create a mine sweeper simply by replacing the trawl with a mine sweep. Adding depth charge racks on the deck, ASDIC below, and a 3-inch (76 mm) or 4 in (102 mm) gun in the bows equipped the trawler for anti-submarine duties. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naval_trawler [randi_2]


Triatic stay
1. a rope or stay secured to the heads of the foremast and mainmast, to which hoisting tackles can be attached
2. a wire running from the foremast to the mainmast
https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dicti ... iatic-stay


Trimmers See Stokers


Lines of ships singly or more than one abreast, moored in a bay, river or creek - also alongside a bigger ship - "(ship) on her trots" - In the RAN we say "rafted up alongside" or "raft on a (ship)" - "tie up alongside another (ship)". - http://users.qld.chariot.net.au/~dialabull/ark.html [lollia paolina]
[AND]
The moorings may be individual or on a "trot", that is a line of moorings attached to a long heavy chain on the bottom. - http://www.sailtrain.co.uk/anchoring/buoy.htm [Caro]


Turning 2nd sampan's falls end for end
They are reversing the run of the falls so that the chafe points aren't always in the same place. If you don't turn the falls regularly you have the same bit of the rope being chafed away all the time and you suddenly launch the boat by accident when it breaks. [PeteB9]
We sailors regularly swap the running lines end for end to prevent chafe in the same spot as the lines turn through blocks, winches, etc. Mooring lines also so they don't scrub through on the dock. On my boat I wrap the mooring lines in canvas where they pass through the hawse pipes and where they rub on the dock near the cleats. [Dean]


Turpentine chest:
Turpentine and alcohol are stowed in a “turpentine chest” aft, on the upper deck, to be readily thrown overboard in case of fire, if necessary.
https://www.hnsa.org/manuals-documents/ ... p/stowage/
(Text-book of seamanship; the equipping and handling of vessels ... Luce, Stephen Bleecker, 1827-1917.)





Umiak, omiak:
Open skin boat, used by both Yupik and Inuit, and was originally found in all coastal areas from Siberia to Greenland.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Umiak [Hurlock]


Under slow bells:
Operating a large vessel at a slow speed, but fast enough to maintain steerage way.
[Hurlock]


Union Jack on American ships "The blue, starred jack is referred to as the Union Jack, not to be confused with the British Union Jack of the same name." - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_of_the_United_States [propriome]


Uniforms / Dress
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Navy_uniform [Tegwen]
http://allnavy.blogspot.fr/2011/04/roya ... iform.html,
http://www.seayourhistory.org.uk/conten ... 0/808/1/2/,
http://www.pbenyon1.plus.com/Uniform/Phot/Index.html [randi_2]
http://www.worldnavalships.com/forums/s ... php?t=4294 (especially no.# 15) [Bunting Tosser]


Up Spirits http://www.naval-history.net/WW2aaNaval ... oms2.htm#6 [randi_2]


Usudurian: A packing-material prepared from unvulcanized rubber combined with other materials. https://www.wordnik.com/words/usudurian
[AND]
It will pack any kind of steam, hot air or 'hot water joints and is a non-conductor. http://www.forgottenbooks.com/readbook_ ... 204009/437




Veer: 1) To let out, so they are increasing the amount of cable (or chain) between the ship and the anchor. This decreases the likelihood that they will drag the anchor if the wind gets up. It is actually the weight and drag of the anchor chain (or cable) lying on the sea bed that keeps the ship where it is. The flukes of the anchor do dig in of course but once the cable is veered out, the strain on the anchor itself should be minimal or non-existent. [dorbel]
2) To shift clockwise in direction, as from north to northeast. Used of the wind. https://www.thefreedictionary.com/veer
3) See wear.


Very pistol: A large-bore handgun firing flares (Very lights). The flare gun is used to create illumination for improved vision or as a distress signal. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flare_gun


videlicet
Abbr. viz.
That is; namely. Used to introduce examples, lists, or items. https://www.thefreedictionary.com/videlicet


Violet test paper, methyl violet test paper:
Used for determining pH and for testing the chemical stability of smokeless powder.
https://scindeks-clanci.ceon.rs/data/pd ... 01018F.pdf




Warp:
Ships don't manouevre well from a standing start, nor do they always maintain sufficient steam to drive the engines, so warping as a technique to move from one wharf to another or out to the harbour entrance was very common. However they didn't have to carry out a kedge and warp up to it (though it is something that they can do and will practise), because in those days there were large steam capstans at strategic points in docks entirely for this purpose. With hawsers from these to the ship and/or to various bollards and sheaves on the dockside, the dockyard mateys would be quite accustomed to hauling ships around with a great degree of accuracy and control.[dorbel]


He also received a War Gratuity, whatever that was. Any comments?
A gratuity was a sum of money paid to servicemen and women when they had completed a period of service for which they were contracted. it was an inducement for those serving shorter term engagements which did not entitled them to a pension. The war gratuity will have been paid for those who volunteered for war service. (http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/t ... 0961106780)[Bunting Tosser]


War spirit: British refiners originally used "motor spirit" as a generic name for the automotive fuel and "aviation spirit" for aviation gasoline. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gasoline
Twenty gallons of War Spirit fuel: http://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk/cansofpetrol.htm


Warping: Ships don't manouevre well from a standing start, nor do they always maintain sufficient steam to drive the engines, so warping as a technique to move from one wharf to another or out to the harbour entrance was very common. However they didn't have to carry out a kedge and warp up to it (though it is something that they can do and will practise), because in those days there were large steam capstans at strategic points in docks entirely for this purpose. With hawsers from these to the ship and/or to various bollards and sheaves on the dockside, the dockyard mateys would be quite accustomed to hauling ships around with a great degree of accuracy and control. [dorbel]


Warrant punishments are severe! We had one once where a Petty Officer had a warrant punishment. The whole Ships company and all officers form up in their best No 1 uniforms. The offender is marched in before the Captain. He is not allowed to remove his own cap - it is snatched from his head by the Master at Arms standing right behind him. The warrant is read and the punishment starts there and then. The mans Petty Officers badges are torn from his sleeves, his Good Conduct Badges are torn from his sleeves and he is marched away to RNDQ's (RN Detention Quarters). The re-offender rate in the Navy is a fraction of that in civilian justice system. [TenDown]


Watches on board are four hour watches commencing at midnight, except for the dog watches, 1600 to 1800 and 1800 to 2000. The purpose of these is to arrange watch keeping so that you don't always come on watch at the same time every day. Ships usually keep three watches in port but revert to two watches (4 hours on, 4 hours off) at sea, Port and Starboard. Not all hands are watch and watch about, certain trades, cooks, carpenters etc are day men, sometimes referred to as the idlers. [dorbel]


Water Whip: a gun-tackle purchase hooked to a yard (as of a ship) and used in hoisting in moderate weights http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/water%20whip
[AND]
"Water Whips are tackles for hoisting in water, when it is brought off in gang casks; or for medium weights generally." http://www.hnsa.org/resources/manuals-d ... p/tackles/ [Randi]


Wear: You tack when you are sailing into the wind. You wear when the wind is behind you. "The term refers to a maneuver characteristic of a square rigged vessel. Given the configuration of the sails, the best point of sail that could be achieved was a beam reach or slightly better. These vessels could not bring the bow through the breeze as a sloop rigged vessel could. The alternative to the tack, was to turn away from the wind, eventually jibing the vessel around and establishing course on the opposite tack." http://sailorschoice.com/terms/scphrases.htm
For a fore and aft rigged ship this maneuver is called a jibe or gybe http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jibe


WEATHER is also used as an adjective, applied by mariners to every thing lying to windward of a particular situation. Thus a ship is laid to have the weather-gage of another, when the is further to-windward. Thus also, when a ship under sail presents either of her sides to the wind, it is then called the weather-side; and all the rigging and furniture situated thereon are distinguished by the same epithet; as, the weather-shrouds, the weather-lifts, the weather-braces, &c. See the article LEE. - http://southseas.nla.gov.au/refs/falc/1486.html#9054


Well deck: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Well_deck


Whip:
Hoist consisting of a single rope passing through an overhead pulley.
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/whip
+
http://hdl.handle.net/2027/nyp.33433008 ... =%3Bseq=60


Whistle buoy: a pear shaped buoy hull constructed of iron plates with a long tube extending through the buoy and below the buoy body or hull. The hollow tube was open at the bottom (under water) and capped at the top with a whistle. As the buoy rose and fell with waves, air was forced up through the tube and out the whistle emitting the mournful sound of the 'whistling buoy' as it was then called.

https://uslhs.org/buoys-0 [ggordon]
+
Lighthouse Board Has Hopes Again of Recapturing Fort Ross Buoy [AvastMH]


Whitehead Pistols: Which turned out to involve torpedoes, not small arms. http://www.navalofficer.com.au/pistols/ [CHommel]


Wildcat (US) or Gypsy (UK): A drum that is part of the windlass that engages the anchor chain via a set of teeth. This drum is connected to the braking and winding mechanisms, allowing the anchor to be wound in or out. [Danny252]
[AND]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anchor_windlass [ggordan]


Wind [a] ship, to: To change her position by bringing her stern round to the place where the head was. http://www.gutenberg.org/files/26000/26 ... 00-h.htm#W


Wind hauling, veering and backing
I have come across the phrase "wind hauling" a couple of time. According to my 1928 Websters:
"To change direction, as the wind. ... A distinction is often made between haul and veer, as said of the wind. Perhaps the more general usage is to say that the wind hauls from north to west (counterclockwise) and veers from north to east (clockwise); but some authorities support the contrary usage."
On the USS Rodgers, they seem to only use the term hauling and they use seem to clockwise and counterclockwise. [randi_2]
[AND]
I found a longer definition of wind hauling, veering and backing, that includes the various (contradictory) uses from different ships. http://fer3.com/arc/m2.aspx/veering-bac ... 2003-w9282 [Janet Jaguar]
[AND]
Hauling (veering is the modern term) is clockwise and backing is counterclockwise... in the northern hemisphere! If you are in the southern hemisphere, it's the other way around: hauling is counterclockwise and backing is clockwise. It is based on the way the wind changes as weather fronts pass a designated point. For the same weather pattern, the wind changes opposite ways in the north and south hemispheres, but the terminology remains the same so you know where you are relative to that weather pattern. [Jeff]


Wind sail - A wide tube or funnel of canvas, used to convey air for ventilation into the lower compartments of a vessel. [randi_2]


Windlass: The mechanism used to wind the anchor in or out. [Danny252]
Any of numerous hauling or lifting machines consisting essentially of a horizontal cylinder turned by a crank or a motor so that a line attached to the load is wound around the cylinder. https://www.thefreedictionary.com/windlass


Writer ratings keep all the books aboard. Accounts, stores, personnel, anything really, as well as typing all the ships letters and despatches. A writer probably prepares the copies of the logs that we see. They are seamen, so have basic training in seaman skills, but "writing" is their speciality. A very large ship would certainly have a Chief Writer, but one imagines that a smaller ship would be managed by a PO Writer or even a Leading Writer. [dorbel]




Yachts were used as patrol craft in both world wars. While there were alot of problems in using them since they weren't designed as warships. They did fill the breach until purpose built warships could take over. [JamesAPrattIII]
E.g., https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMY_Alexandra and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMY_Victo ... ert_(1899)




Zig-zagging:
At the risk of boring the entire Forum with my numerous mentions of "The Big Blockade" by E Keble Chatterton, the author explains that zig-zagging is indeed to make the ship a harder target for a torpedo. They would mostly stop at night, but on a bright moonlit night they would continue to zig-zag - and the Mantua's logs bear this out.
The Mantua is now off the Atlantic patrol and on convoy duty between Sierra Leone and Plymouth. She only starts to zig-zag approaching Europe; presumably further south was considered out of U-boat range for WWI.
I have just come across a log entry for the Mantua which reads: Zigzagging Diagram No II
[Thursday Next]
+
http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ADM5 ... -095_0.jpg
[Janet Jaguar]
+
1915 "Kinfauns Castle" is approaching the Channel and describes in detail a zig zag procedure at 6.0pm which is logged in the course column - but does not mention zig zag
http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ADM_ ... -011_0.jpg
[Lancsgreybeard]


Zone description, zone time:
Used in some US Navy log books
The convention is to express the Zone Description as what you'd add to get GMT. Same as the World Clock on an iPhone. Here in Seattle we're +8 to get UTC. 0704 here, 1504 UTC.
+
The ships would be using zone time, and referring to GMT. Zone time has a special meaning in that is how navigators determine how to enter the Nautical Almanac and Sight Reduction Tables (HO-229 in the US). Here is a map published by the Hydrographic Office in 1927: https://collections.lib.uwm.edu/digital ... dm/id/863/
[Kevin]

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Use of ship name:
It's quite common to refer to a hand from a ship by the name of the ship. A hand from the ship Topaz can be referred to as a Topaz.
An approaching boat would reply with the name of the ship (e.g., Topaz) when challenged if carrying the captain of that ship.
[dorbel]

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