Patrick O’Brian is a master of naval jargon, and such mastery can at times be overwhelming. This glossary is by no means exhaustive (hence “introduction”) but should help you gain your sea-legs for your voyage!
able seaman
Knowledgeable sailor.
afore
To the front of the vessel.
aft
To the rear of the vessel.
aloft
High in the masts or rigging.
amidships
In the middle of the vessel.
astern
Behind.
bar
Shallow water in entrance to harbour.
barque
Three-masted ship.
Width of ship.
bear away
Change direction to sail before the wind.
bilges
Bottom compartment of ship, usually filled with waste water.
boarding nets
Nets strung out from ship’s side to stop boarding.
bowlines
Ropes attached to sails to pull them forward.
Spar at the front of a ship.
box haul
Sharp turning of a ship.
brace
Rope used to hold direction of a sail.
brigantine
Two-masted ship.
bring to
Slowing a ship so that it almost stops by heading it into the wind.
bulkhead
Internal partitions of ships.
cable
Heavy rope.
cable (length)
240 yards.
capstan
Large cylindrical device that sailors inserted poles into to help haul up cables.
careen
Lying a ship on its side to allow its hull to be cleaned.
caulking
System of using unpicked rope and pitch to seal gaps in planks.
close-hauled
Rigging a ship to sail directly into the wind.
cutter
single-masted small ship.
en flute
A warship without some, or all, of its cannons.
flag officer
Admiral.
fore
Front of a ship.
forecastle
Small deck at front of ship.
gaff
Yard supporting top of a sail.
gasket
Platted rope holding sails to yards.
halyards/halliards
Ropes to raise or lower sails.
haul off
Move away.
heave to
Stopping a ship by heading it into the wind.
jib
Triangular sail at prow of ship.
landsman
Inexperienced sailor.
larboard
Port.
lateen sail
A triangular sail.
leeward
Same direction as the wind.
log-line
A knotted rope and piece of wood that measures a ship’s speed.
luff
Turn a ship closer to wind.
lug sail
A four-sided sail.
lying to
Position a ship is in after being brought to.
mast
Vertical spar from which sails and spars are attached.
midshipmen
Junior-ranking officers who would assist in the control of the crew.
mizzen
Rear of a ship.
ordinary seaman
Sailor with limited experience.
orlop deck
The lowest deck on a vessel.
packet
Small, fast ship for sending dispatches and orders.
petty officer
Included gunner’s mates, quartermasters, master-at-arms, carpenter, bosun and cooper, the ship’s master, chaplain and surgeon
pinnace
A ship’s boat.
plying
Turn to windward.
ratlines
Ropes attached to a ship’s shrouds that are used as ladders.
reef
Lessen sail area by tying parts of it to the mast.
royals
Square sails sitting beneath the topgallants.
sheets
Ropes attached to bottom corners of sails.
shrouds
Support ropes attached to the masts.
square-rigged
A ship rigged with square sails at its bow.
stays
Forwards and backwards support ropes for the masts.
tack
Way of a ship zig-zagging into the wind or turning it by steering to windward.
top
Platform around the mast.
topgallant
Highest of the three spars used to make a mast.
wear
Turn a ship by moving prow in direction of the wind.
windage
How far a ship is blown off course by the wind.
yard
Horizontal spar that holds up the sails.
yardarm
Outer sections of the yard.
Courtesy of The Napoleonic Guide.
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