NAVAL TERMS AND PHRASEOLOGIES
Ships Nomenclature:
A. Naval terms (denotes direction and location)
1. Abaft- behind or further aft, astern or toward the stern.
2. Abeam- at right angle to the centerline of the ship
3. Aft-in- near or toward the stern
4. Alongside- on side a pier or berth
5. Amidship- the middle portion of the ship
6. Astern- toward the stern, an object or vessel that is abaft to another vessel or object
7. Bridge- raised platform from which a ship is navigated
8. Bow- the forward part of the ship
9. Broadside- at right angle to the fore and aft line of the ship
10. Centerline- imaginary line running from the ships bow to stern: divides the ship
lengthwise vertically
11. Dead ahead- directly ahead of the ship s bow in line of the centerline
12. Dead astern- directly aft of the ship in line of the centerline
13. Draft- depth of the water from the surface waterline to the ships keel
14. Fantail- main deck section in the after part of the ship
15. Freeboard- height of ships side from the waterline to the main deck
16. Leeward- direction away from the wind
17. Port Bow- bearing 315 degrees relative to the bow of the ship
18. Portside- left hand side of the ship facing forward
19. Starboard Bow- bearing 45 degrees relative to the bow
20. Starboardside- right hand side of the ship facing forward
21. Waterline- the line which makes the surface with the hull
22. Windward- direction toward the wind
B. Naval Terms (denotes nomenclature of fittings)
1. Bitts- strong iron post on a ships deck for working of fastening lines almost
invariably in pairs.
2. Bulkhead- one of the vertical wall like structures enclosing a compartment
3. Brig – a prison on a ship or a shore base
4. Bollard- wooden or iron post on a pier or wharf for securing mooring lines
5. Cleat- a small deck fittings or metal with horns used for securing lines
6. Deck- on a ship, its corresponds to a floor in a building
7. Compartment- it corresponds to a room in a building
8. Overhead- equivalent to a ceiling of a building ashore
9. Head- compartment of a ship having toilet facilities
10. Superstructure- all equipment and fittings except armament extending above the hull
11. Mast- upright spar supporting signal halyard and antennas in a naval ship
12. Wardroom- officers mess and lounge room aboardship
13. Yardarm- a spar attached to the of a mast running athwartship
14. Rudder- flat movable structure and vertically attached to the stern used for steering
the ship
15. Lazarette- storage compartment of the stern below deck
16. Galley- the ship kitchen
17. Cabin- the captain’s living quarter
C. Other Naval Terms
1. Adrift- loose from mooring or out of place
2. Aye-Aye- a reply to an order to indicate that it is understood and will be carried out
3. Billet allotted sleeping place: also a man s location in the ships organization
4. Avast- a command to desist for whatever is being done
5. Black Gang- slang for the engineering force
6. Bear Hand- cooperation among the ship s company
7. All Hands- entire ship s company
8. Binnacle list - sick list: list of men excuse for duty
9. Boot- slang for new recruit
10. Coxswain- enlisted men in charge of a boat
11. Crossing the line- crossing the earth equator
12. Dolphin- cluster of piles at the corner or edge of a pier
13. Dead in the water- said of a ship when she has neither headway nor steerway in the
water
14. Fathom- six (6) feet unit of length
15. Field day- general cleaning day aboardship, usually a day before inspection
16. Flag Officer- an officer with the rank of COMMODORE and above
17. Gangway- opening in the bulwarks: order to stand a while and get out of way
18. General Quarters- battle station for all hands
19. Gig- ships boat designated for the use of the Commanding Officer
20. Java- slang for coffee time
21. Jump ship- slang for leaving the ship without authority/permission
22. Irish pennant – untidy loose end of a line
23. Lucky bag- stowage of article found adrift
24. Landlubbers- seaman s term for one that has never been at sea
25. Passageway- corridor
26. Pipe down- an order to keep silent
27. Pass the word- to repeat an order or information to the crew
28. Pollywog- a person who has never cross the equator
29. Sea dog- an old sailor
30. Sea lawyer- an enlisted men who likes to argue; usually one who thinks he can twist
the regulations and standing order to favor his personal inclinations
31. Shell back – a man who has cross the equator and has been initiated
32. Skag- slang for cigarettes
33. Ship-shape- term for a neat and orderly condition
34. Sickbay- ships hospital or dispensary
35. Skippy- slang for undershirt
36. Secure- to make fast; to tie; an order given in completion of a drill or exercise
meaning to withdraw from drill station and duties
37. Davey Jones Locker – the bottom of the sea
