This page gathers the 2,069 dictionary entries belonging to the domain “Nautical”, as labelled by Wiktionary. Each word leads to its full entry: definitions, etymology, pronunciation, examples. Page 13 of 21: from “masthead” to “outhaul”.
- masthead noun The top of a mast.
- match race noun A race in sport sail yachting where two sailboats race against one-another, head-to-head, on the same course, at the same time.
- match racing noun A type of sport sail yachting event where two sailboats race against one-another, head-to-head, on the same course, at the same time. (The…
- mate noun In naval ranks, a non-commissioned officer or his subordinate (e.g. Boatswain's Mate, Gunner's Mate, Sailmaker's Mate, etc).
- mateship noun The post of mate on a ship; a posting as mate.
- matey noun A fellow sailor; often used affectedly, especially when portraying a pirate.
- MCA noun Initialism of Maritime and Coastguard Agency
- medical center noun Synonym of sickbay.
- merchant ship noun A ship that is principally or (usually) entirely civilian, engaged in trade, which carries cargo, passengers, or both.
- messenger noun A light line with which a heavier line may be hauled e.g. from the deck of a ship to the pier.
- messmate noun An associate with whom one shares a mess (eating place) on a ship.
- metacentre noun The point where a vertical line through a tilted vessel's center of buoyancy intersects the originally-vertical (but-now-tilted) line that…
- metacentric height noun The vertical distance between the metacentre and center of mass (conventionally taken to be positive when the metacentre is above the…
- metacentric stability noun The tendency of a ship or other water-going vessel to remain upright due to its centre of gravity being below its centre of buoyancy, i.e.…
- middle verb To double (a rope) into two equal portions; to fold in the middle.
- middle body noun The part of a vessel adjacent to the midship section having a uniform or nearly uniform cross-section, usually referred to as the parallel…
- middy noun A midshipman.
- midship coefficient noun The relation between the sectional area of the main frame of a watercraft and the rectangular box surrounding it.
- midshipman noun An officer of the lowest rank in several navies; especially, a trainee officer.
- milky sea noun A bioluminescent phenomenon observable on moonless nights, caused by luminous plankton and bacteria, where the sea becomes milky white with…
- minesweep verb To sweep for mines.
- minesweeping noun The detection and safe disposal of mines.
- misfetch noun The act of fetching to the wrong location.
- mizzen noun Mizzenmast.
- mizzenmast noun The aftmost mast on a ship having three masts; the third-tallest mast on a full-rigged ship.
- mole noun A massive structure, usually of stone, used as a pier, breakwater or junction between places separated by water.
- monger noun A small seagoing vessel used for fishing.
- monitor noun A relatively small armored warship with only one or two turrets (but often carrying unusually large guns for a warship of its size)…
- monk's seam noun A strong seam formed by laying the selvage-edges of two pieces of canvas over each other and stitching on each side and down the middle.
- monkey noun The vessel in which a mess receives its full allowance of grog.
- monkey bridge noun The highest navigational platform on the bridge of a ship.
- monkey pump noun A straw inserted through a gimlet-hole into a cask for the purpose of covertly taking sips of the contents.
- monkey's fist noun A type of knot tied at the end of a rope to serve as a weight, making it easier to throw the line.
- monocaliber adj Having guns all of the same calibre
- monohedron noun A type of hull that has a constant deadrise.
- monotype noun A sailboat designed to be crewed or raced by a single person.
- moon pool noun An opening in the base of the hull of a vessel (especially a marine drilling platform), which is used for lowering equipment into the sea…
- moonraker noun A small, light sail located high on a mast (above the skysail) and used for speed.
- moor verb To cast anchor or become fastened.
- moor up verb To cast anchor or become fastened.
- mooring buoy noun a buoy at which a boat or ship can moor (tie up), usually in a harbour, but also in coastal waters for large ships.
- motor adj Propelled by an internal combustion engine (as opposed to a steam engine or turbine).
- motor ship noun A seagoing vessel powered by an internal combustion engine, usually a diesel. Compare with steamship.
- motorboat noun Any vessel driven by an engine (either inboard or outboard), but especially a small one.
- mouchard noun An inverted compass hanging above the captain's bed
- mouse verb To close the mouth of a hook by a careful binding of marline or wire.
- mousing noun A turn or lashing of spun yarn or small stuff, or a metallic clasp or fastening, uniting the point and shank of a hook to prevent its…
- MS noun M/S: Initialism of motor ship.
- mule noun A kind of triangular sail for a yacht.
- multichine adj Of a hull, having multiple chines.
- muzzler noun A wind from the intended direction of the vessel.
- nacelle noun The submersed providers of buoyancy of a SWATH-hulled boat.
- nail sick adj Of a house, a roof, or a ship, exhibiting degraded or corroded nails, or otherwise unsound fastenings.
- nao noun A Spanish or Portuguese carrack.
- narrow seas noun plural of narrow sea
- naval adj Of or relating to a navy.
- navigation channel noun The portion of a body of water (e.g., sea, bay, river) that is navigable, having suitable depth; it often includes a portion that is…
- navigation light noun one of two or more lights fitted to a ship or aircraft, which indicate position and direction taken, especially important at night.…
- navigational chart noun Synonym of nautical chart (“maritime map showing characteristics which are relevant for seafarers”).
- necked adj Cracked.
- nettles noun Small lengths of cord attached to a sail, used to secure the excess fabric after reefing; reef points
- nettling noun A process, resembling splicing, by which two ropes are joined so as to form one rope.
- newbuild noun A newly constructed vessel.
- niggerhead noun A bollard made from an old cannon.
- nip noun A short turn in a rope.
- nipper verb To seize (two ropes) together.
- no man's land noun A space amidships used to keep blocks, ropes, etc.; a space on a ship belonging to no one in particular for which to care.
- no no intj Response to ahoy if no officer is in the boat.
- nock noun The upper fore corner of a boom sail or trysail.
- nonant noun A theoretical measuring device with a graduated arc of 40° used in locating an altitude.
- norman noun A wooden bar, or iron pin.
- northing noun A distance traveled northward.
- nose verb To travel with the nose of the plane/ship aimed in a particular direction.
- nuke noun A vessel such as a ship or submarine running on nuclear power.
- number two noun A first mate.
- nurse noun A lieutenant or first officer who takes command when the captain is unfit for his place.
- nut noun A projection on each side of the shank of an anchor, to secure the stock in place.
- nutshell noun A small boat; a boat considered small in comparison to the seas.
- oarlock noun A usually U-shaped device attached to the gunwale of a rowboat to hold the oars in place while rowing.
- oblique icebreaker noun A special type of icebreaker designed to operate not only ahead and astern, but also obliquely with a large angle of attack.
- oblique sailing noun The movement of a ship when she sails upon some rhumb between the four cardinal points, making an oblique angle with the meridian.
- OBO noun Initialism of ore-bulk-oil: designating a ship designed to be capable of carrying wet or dry cargoes.
- oceangoing adj Designed and equipped for use on ocean voyages.
- octant noun An instrument for measuring angles, particularly of elevation.
- off and on adv On different tacks, now toward, and now away from, the land.
- offing noun The area of the sea in which a ship can be seen in the distance from land, excluding the parts nearest the shore, and beyond the anchoring…
- oiler noun An oil tanker.
- oldster noun A midshipman of four years' standing; a master's mate.
- on prep In the direction of (some part of one's vessel), to within 45 degrees.
- on deck prep_phrase On the deck of a ship, especially of a captain or officer; in charge.
- on the tack adj Tacking.
- ooch noun An act of propelling a boat or sailboard forward by rocking one's body.
- open order noun A naval formation in which ships are four cables'-length (2880 feet) apart.
- oppy noun Optimist (dinghy)
- optimist noun A small centreboard sailing dinghy designed to train and introduce young children into sailing.
- ordinal adj Intercardinal.
- orlop noun The platform over the hold of a ship that makes up the fourth or lowest deck, hence in full called orlop deck, especially of a warship.
- oscillometer noun A device that measures the roll (or pitch) of a ship
- out of prep Stating the port in which a boat has been registered.
- outhaul noun A rope that is used to extend a sail along a spar.