ABEAM.—On the side of a vessel amidsliips. To say an object is abeam (or on the beam) means that its bearing by compass is at right angles to the vessel’s course.

AHEAD.—In advance—an object is said to be ahead of the ship when its compass bearing is nearly the same as the vessel’s course.

ASTERN. -The opposite to ahead.

BOX THE COMPASS.—To name the points of the compass in regular order, i.e., in the direction taken by the hands of the clock.

BREAKWATER.—An artificial wall or bank , set up either outside a harbour or along the coast, to break the violence of the sea and so create a smooth shelter.

BREECH.—The end of the gun into which the projectile and cartridge are inserted when loading.

BROADSIDE.—The number of guns which con be brought to bear on one side of, or the total weight of metal which can be fired at once from either side of a ship.

BULKHEAD.—A structure, transverse or longtitudinal, dividing the interior of a ship into compartments.

COMPLEMENT.—The total number of officers and men forming the crew of a ship.

CONTROL STATION.—A platform whence range-finding instruments are managed, or from which the gunnery officers of a ship control gun-fire in an action.

CONVOY.—A number of merchant steamers crossing the ocean under the protection of warships.

CORDITE.—The explosive used in guns for discharging projectiles.

COUNTER MINING.—To lay out and explode mines in the vicinity of hostile ones, in order to destroy them by percussion.

DOCK.—A place in which a ship may be placed for repair or loading and unloading. See “Floating Dock” and “Graving Dock.”

DRAUGHT.—The vertical distance between the lowest portion of the keel and the water line.

ECHELON.—Guns are said to be mounted en echelon when they are not mounted symmetrically but are placed diagonally athwart-ship.

ENGINES.—The reciprocating, turbine, or internal-combustion machinery for propelling vessels.

ENSIGN.—(Usually pronounced “ens’n.”) The flag carried by a ship as the insignia of her nationality or the nature of her duties.

ESTIMATES.—The annual estimate or expenditure on the Royal Navy for its administration, personnel, and for the upkeep or building of new vessels.

FIRST SEA LORD.—The Senior Naval Officer serving on the Board of Admiralty.

FLARE.—The overhang of the upper part of a ship’s sides beneath the forecastle. The peculiar outward and upward curve in the form of a vessel’s bow. When it hangs over she is said
to have a “Flaring Bow.”

FLEET.—A number of vessels in company, be they war or other vessels.

FOST.- Flag Officer Sea Training

HOG.—When a vessel has a tendency to droop at her ends she is said to hog.

HORNPIPE.—The dance once popular among the sailors of the Royal Navy and still sometimes performed at festive times.

HOSPITAL SHIP.—An auxiliary vessel specially designed for the reception of sick and wounded men; by nature of her duties and under rules of International Law she is immune from attack.

HULL.—The body, framework, and plating of a vessel.

IDLERS.—Those, being liable to constant duty by day, who are not required to keep the night watches, such as carpenters, sail-makers, etc., also called “Daymen.”

JACK-STAFF.—A flagpole for flying the Union Jack, invariably at the bows of the ship.

KEEL-PLATE.—The lowest plate of all in the keel; this plate is the first to be laid down when building is commenced.

LARBOARD.—The old term for port.

LAUNCH.—To place a ship in the water for the first time.

LOG.—The instrument used to measTire a vessel’s speed through the water. Also the ship’s daily journal.

MARINE.—A soldier specially trained for sea service. “Soldier and sailor too.”

MAST.—The tall structure in a ship formerly for the carrying of sail, but now carrying control stations, fighting tops, and wirelees telegraphy apparatus.

MASTER.—The Captain of a merchant vessel who holds a master’s or extra master’s certificate.

MOOR.—To anchor a ship with two anchors.

MOTHER-SHIP.—A depot ship for torpedo craft, submarines, etc., victualling and issuing stores to the crews of the vessels under her command controlled by her officers.

NAUTICAL MILE.-One sixtieth of a degree of latitude. It varies from 6,048 ft. at the equator to 6,092 ft. in lat. 60° N. or S. The nautical mile for speed trials, generally called the Admiralty Measured Mile.=6,080 ft., 1,151 statute miles, 1,833 metres.

NAVIGATION.-That branch of science which teaches the sailor to conduct his ship from place to place.

ORDNANCE. — A general term applied to guns collectively, and to the Department concerned with them.

ORLOP DECK.—The lowest deck in the ship.

POOP.—An extra deck on the after part of a vessel.

PORT.—The left-hand side of the ship OS you stand looking forward.

PRIZE.—In war time, any vessel taken at sea from an enemy.

PROTECTIVE DECK.—See “Armoured Deck.”

QUARTERS.—A term indicating those portions of a vessel immediately on either side of her stern (q.v.). Differentiated in association with the terms “Port” or “Starboard.” “Quarters” also designates the living space for the personnel and the stations of the crew when in action.

RATE.—The classification of a vessel for certain purposes.

RIBS.—The timbers which form the skeleton of a ship or boat.

RIGGING.—The system of ropes in a vessel whereby the masts are supported and the sails hoisted. There are two kinds of rigging, viz., standing rigging and running rigging, the latter term including all movable ropes.

SHROUDS.—Strong ropes (generally wire) which support the mast laterally.

STAYS.—Strong ropes supporting spars and masts in a ship.

STARBOARD.—The right-hand side of the ship as you stand looking forward.

STEM.—The “nose” or “cutwater” of any ship.

TACTICS.—The handling and conduct of ships or squadrons in actual contact with an antagonist, or exercises for training for such engagements.

TENDER.—A vessel attached to a parent ship.

TOP.—A position or platform on the mast of a vessel. A fighting top is a top armed with light guns.

TURRET.—The revolving armoured structiire in which big guns are mounted, including the turn-table, ammunition hoists, etc. See ” Barbette.”

WAIST.—That portion of a ship on the upper deck between the forecastle and quarter deck.

WEATHER-SIDE.—The side on which the wind blows.

WEEPING (or Sweating).—Drops of water oozing through the sides of a vessel or caused by condensation on the surface of the beams, etc.

WEIGH.—To Hft the anchor from the ground.

YARD.—A spar suspended to a mast for the purpose of hoisting or extending a sail, or to which signal halyards can be taken.

Reference

Fred T. Jane, The British Battle Fleet, 1915 – London, Library Press.