abaft.

Behind.

bear up.

To steer closer to the wind.

bridle port.

A bow port through which hawsers are passed in mooring.

carronade.

A type of short iron cannon of large caliber.

cr’jack.

Short for crossjack . The lower yard on the mizzenmast (see mast). Cr’jack braces is applied to all braces on the mizzen.

dispart.

A metal sight set upon the muzzle ring of a piece of ordnance which enables the gunner, in calculating the proper elevation of his weapon, to correct for the difference in the diameters of the barrel at the breech and the muzzle.

dolphin striker.

A spar extending downward from the bottom of the bowsprit cap.

fiddlehead.

A wooden ornament similar in shape to the head of a violin, used in place of a figurehead to decorate the bow of a ship.

flake.

To coil or arrange a rope so that it will run out smoothly.

flying jib boom.

A light extension to the jib boom.

gaff.

A spar which projects behind a mast to extend the head of a fore-and-aft sail not set on a stay.

idler.

A sailor who has constant day duty and therefore is not assigned any night watches.

in irons.

A position in which a vessel is rendered incapable of maneuvering, occurring when a ship is turning at a slow speed and the sails are not catching wind from either direction.

jolly boat.

A ship’s small boat, used for errands or rough work.

lift.

A rope or chain from the mast to the end of a boom, or at each end of a yard, to support or lift it.

loblolly boy.

A surgeon’s attendant or steward.

lubber’s hole.

A hole in a top (see top ) through which a man may crawl when going aloft.

luff.

To steer or sail nearer to the wind.

manger.

A small space across the deck immediately behind the hawseholes. The after end has a strong coaming to prevent the ingress of the sea when the hawseholes are open.

martingale.

A rope or chain for staving the end of
the jib boom to the dolphin striker.

mast.

Frigates have three masts: the foremast, farthest forward; the mainmast; and the mizzenmast.

meridian.

A navigator’s observation of the sun or stars, taken when the reference point is directly overhead; thus, if the navigator is shooting the sun, he does so at noon.

monkeytail.

A short iron lever for aiming a swivel gun.

preventer.

A line designed as an extra support