Naval Terminology A-K

Naval Terminology A-K
The terms in this list were taught to recruits at Recruit Training Command San Diego.

A	A \| B \| C \| D \| E \| F \| G \| H \| I \| J \| K \| L \| M \| N \| O \| P \| Q \| R \| S \| T \| U \| V \| W \| X \| Y \| Z
Abaft	Farther aft, as "Abaft the beam."
Abeam	On a relative bearing of 90 degrees (abeam to starboard) or 270 degrees (abeam to port).
Aboard	In or on a ship. Extended to use ashore, as aboard a naval station.
Aboard	On or in a ship. Close aboard; near a ship.
Accommodation Ladder	A ladder suspended over and inclining down the side of a ship to facilitate boarding the ship from boats.
Admiral	Derived it’s pronunciation from term for a Moorish chief. A Moorish chief is an Emir, and chief of all the chiefs is the EMIR-AL, from which we get our English word "Admiral."
Adrift	Loose from mooring and out of control. Applied to anything that is lost, out of hand, or left lying about.
Aft	In, near or toward the stern of the ship.
After	That which is farthest aft, as after fire room.
Afternoon Watch	The 1200 to 1600 watch.
Ahoy	Ahoy or demand for attention, as "Boat ahoy."
	This old traditional greeting for hailing other boats, was originally a Viking battle-cry.
Airdale	Slang, a naval aviator.
Alee	In direction toward which the wind is blowing; downwind.
Alive	Lively, energetic
All Fast	Tired or lashed down as necessary.
Allotment	Assignment of part of military pay directly to a person or bank.
Aloft	Generally specking, any area above the highest deck.
Alongside	Beside a pier, wharf or ship.
Amidships	An indefinite area midway between the bow and the stern. Rudder amidships means that the rudder us in line with the ship's centerline.
Anchor Cable	A group of persons available to the OOD during the night for such duties as heaving in or paying out the cable.
Anchor	The hook used at the end of a chain and dropped to the sea bottom to hold a ship in one particular place. The smallest Navy anchors can be lifted by one person; two anchors used by USS KITTY HAWK each weigh 30 tons.
Anchorage	An area designed to be used by ships for anchoring. Suitable place for ship to anchor. A designated area of a port or harbor.
Anchor's Aweigh	Said of the anchor when just clear of the bottom. (2) A US Navy Song. The word "Aweigh" is from the old English "Woeg" to raise.
Annunciator	A device, usually electromechanical, used to indicate or transmit information. See Engine order Telegraph.
AOC	AVIATION OFFICER CANDIDATE
Armament	The weapons of a ship.
Armored Deck	A deck, below the main deck, that provides added protection to vital spaces.
ASAP	as soon as possible
Astern	Directly behind a ship.
AT	Annual Training for a Naval Reservist.
Athwart	Across; at right angles to.
Autovon	Naval internal telephone system.
Auxiliary	(1) Extra, or secondary, as auxiliary engine; (2) a vessel whose mission is to supply or support the combatant forces.
Avast	Stop, as "Avast heaving."
AWOL	absent without leave
Aye Aye	Reply to a command or order, meaning "I understand and will obey."
	Term used to acknowledge receipt of a command or order from senior. It means "I have heard the order; I understand it; I will carry it out. "This affirmative expression is generally supposed to be a corruption of the words Yea, yea. The claim is advanced that Cockney accents changed the Yea to Yi, and from there it was a simple transition to Aye.
Azimuth	See Bearing

B	A \| B \| C \| D \| E \| F \| G \| H \| I \| J \| K \| L \| M \| N \| O \| P \| Q \| R \| S \| T \| U \| V \| W \| X \| Y \| Z
Back And Fill	The act of sailing craft in repeatedly catching and losing the wind from its sails, so as to be unable to make headway. Extend to cover the "fits and starts" of an indecisive individual.
Back	(1) To go backwards; (2) act of the wind in changing direction counterclockwise.
Backstay	Piece of standing rigging leading aft.
Backwater	To back off from something.
BAH	Basic Allowance for Housing
Bail	(1) To rid a boat of water by dipping it out; (2) a rigid member affording support at two end points, as the bail (handle) of a bucket or the support for an accommodation ladder.
Ballast	Weight (solid or liquid) loaded into a ship to increase stability.
BAQ	Basis Allowance for Quarters
Bar	A long, narrow shoal across a harbor entrance.
Barge	(1) A blunt ended, scow type of craft, usually nonself propelled, used to haul supplies or garbage; (2) a type of motorboat assigned for the personal of a flag officer.
Barge	An admiral's boat.
Barnacle	Small marine animal that attaches itself to hulls and pilings.
Barnacles	Small shellfish that are found attached to bottoms of vessels and to piling and other submerged structures.
Barrette	A heavily armored cylinder extension downward from a gun turret to the lowest armored deck to provide protection to projectile and powder handling crews.
BAS	Basic Allowance for Subsistence
Batten Down	The act of applying battens to a hatch; extended to mean the closing of any watertight fixture.
Batten	(1) A long strip of steel that is wedged against the edge of tarpaulins on a hatch to make the hatch watertight; (2) removable wood or steel members used in a ship's holds to keep cargo from shifting.
Battle Latern	A Battery powered light.
Beam	(1) The extreme breadth of a vessel; (2) a transverse frame supporting a deck.
Bear A Hand	(1) Provide assistance; (2) expedite, as "Bear a hand with rigging this stage," or "All divisions bear a hand with readiness for sea report."
Bear	The act of being located on a particular bearing, as "The lighthouse bears 045 degrees."
Bearing	The direction of an object from an observer, measuring in degrees clockwise form a reference point. True bearing is the angular difference between lines drawn from the observer to true north and to the object; magnetic bearing is the direction of the object measured on a magnetic compass; relative bearing is the angle between the ship's head and the object.
Becket	(1) Fitting on a block to which the dead end of a fall attached; (2) short form of bucket bend.
Belay	(1) To secure a line to a fixed point; (2) order to disregard a previous order or to stop an action, as Belay the last order," or "Belay the small talk."
Belay	To cancel an order; stop; firmly secure a line.
Bell-Bottom Trousers	A phrase that described the pants of sailors. Of all the reasons given for the extreme width of sailor's trousers at the bottoms, the obvious and practical one remains the best, they were easy to roll to the knees when the owner was swabbing decks.
Below	Below decks; below main deck.
	Downward, beneath, or beyond something, as to lay below; below the flight deck; below the horizon.
Bend	To join two lines together; the type of knot so used.
BEQ	Bachelor Enlisted Quarters
Berth	Space assigned ship for anchoring or mooring.
Bight	The middle part of a line, or a loop in a line.
Big-Wigs	This slang term for men in high positions gathers its meaning from the fact that senior officers in the old British Navy actually did wear huge wigs.
Bilge Keel	A keel attached to the outside of a ship's hull, near the turn of the bilge, to reduce rolling.
Bilge	(1) Bottom of the hull near the keel; (2) to fail an examination; (3) bilge water is foul water, so to apply the term oral or written statements implies that the statement is worthless.
Billet	An allotted sleeping space; an individual's position in the ship's organization.
	Place or duty to which one is assigned.
Binnacle List	List of persons excused from duty because of illness.
Binnacle	Stand containing a magnetic compass.
Bitt	Cylindrical upright fixture to which mooring or towing lines are secured aboard ship.
Bitter End	The free end of a line.
Black Neckerchiefs	Every time an American gob dons his neckerchief, he is unconsciously paying tribute to the death of Lord Horatio Nelson. This however, is only because the American uniform is patterned so closely after the British.
Black Shoe	An officer who is not an aviator; the latter is a brown shoe.
Block And Tackle	See Purchase
Block	A frame containing a pulley, called a sheave, around with a line (known as a fall) is rove.
Bluejacket	Navy enlisted member below the grade of CPO.
Bluejacket’s Manual	A manual originally produced in 1902 by Lieut. Ridley McLean, United States Navy to help the guidance and instruction of petty officers and enlisted men. The United States Naval Institute or the US Navy has published it since 1902. Until the 1970’s every edition was published with blue covers.
Board	(1) The act of going aboard a vessel; (2) a group of persons meeting for a specific purpose, as an investigation board.
Boat Boom	A spar rigged out from the side of an anchored or moored ship to which boats are tided when not in use
Boat Falls	Tackle used to hoist and lower a boat in davits.
Boat Hook	A staff having a hook at one end. Used for feeding a boat off, hooking a line, and so on.
Boat	A small craft capable of being carried aboard a ship. Or the common terminology for a submarine.
Boatswain	Pronounced "bosun," refers to the mate, warrant officer, or petty officer in charge of boats, rigging, and ground tackle aboard ship.
Boatswain's Chair	A seat attached to a gantline for hoisting a person aloft.
Boatswain's Locker	A compartment, usually forwarded, where line and other equipment used by the deck force are stowed.
Bollard	A strong, cylindrical upright fixture on a pier to which a ship's mooring lines are secured.
Boom	A spar used for hoisting loads; usually movable.
Boondocks	Slang, any remote or isolated place.
Boot Topping	Black paint applied to a ship's sides along the waterline.
Boot	Slang for recruit.
Bo'sun	In the 17th century, ships were required by law to carry three boats, which were named respectively (1) the BOAT, (2) the COCK, and (3) the SKIFF. The men in charge were rated BOATSWAIN, COXSWAIN and SKIFFSWAIN. Swain meant lover or keeper.
Bo'sun's Pipe	A whistle used for passing orders on a ship, also called a Boatswain’s Call before the 1900’s. It can be traced back to the day of the Crusades, 1248 A.D. Don't let a Bo'sun here you call their pipe a whistle!
Bow Hook	Member of a boat's crew whose station is forward.
Bow	Most forward part of a ship.
Break Out	To bring out supplies or equipment form a storage space.
Breast Line	Mooring line that leads from ship to pier at right angles to the ship.
Bridge	Platform or area from which ship is steered, navigated and conned; usually located in forward part of ship.Area in the superstructure from which a ship is operated. See Conn.
Brig	Sailor's universal term for jail. Because Admiral Nelson once assigned a small ship (a brig) to carry captives taken in one of his naval engagements, and because his seamen ever afterwards associated that vessels with prisoners, the name "brig" because sailor's universal slang for Jail.
Broach To	To get crosswise (without power) to the direction of wave travel; particularly dangerous neat a beach.
Broad On The Bow Or Quarter	Halfway between dead ahead and abeam, and halfway between abeam and astern, respectively.
Broad	Wide, as broad in the beam.
Brow	Large gangplank leading from a ship to a pier, wharf or float; usually equipped with hand rails. Used to cross form one ship to another, and from a ship to a pier.
Bucket Bend	Simple knot used to tie two lines together.
Bulkhead	a vertical partition in a ship; never call a wall.
Bulkhead	One of the upright, crosswise partitions dividing a ship into compartments. In civilian lingo it would be a wall.
Bullnose	A closed chock at the bow.
Bulwark	Solid barrier along the edge of weather decks.
Buoy	An anchored float used as an aid to navigation or to mark the location of an object.
Burdened Vessel	That vessel required by the Rules of the Road to keep clear of another.
By The Board	Overboard.

C	A \| B \| C \| D \| E \| F \| G \| H \| I \| J \| K \| L \| M \| N \| O \| P \| Q \| R \| S \| T \| U \| V \| W \| X \| Y \| Z
Cabin	Living compartment of a ship's commanding officer.
Cable	A line, wire, or chain that connects a ship to its anchor.
CACO	Casualty Assistance Calls Officer. A Navy liaison that assist family members with the procedures in dealing with a casually.
Caisson	Gate at the end of a drydock that keeps out the water.
Camel	Large timber or rectangular structure used as a fender between a ship and the pier.
Can Buoy	A navigational buoy, cylindrical in shape, that marks the port side of a channel form seaward; painted green and odd numbered.
Captain	From Latin caput meaning head. (Until 1862, captain was highest commissioned rank in U.S. Navy.) Rank or commanding officer of a ship or squadron.
Carrick Bend	A knot used for joining two lines. The single carrick bend is seldom used because it jams tight; instead, a double carrick bend is used, particularly for bending towing hawsers together.
Carry On	While the order "Carry On" now mean only to proceed with any duty, it was originally a specific order not to shorten sail, but to carry on all canvas the ship would stand unless stress of bad weather dictated otherwise.
Carry Out	To break loose. as "The rough seas carried away the lifelines."
Catapult	Shipboard mechanism for launching aircraft.
Caulk	The act of stuffing the seams between wooden planking with oakum for water tightness.
Chafing Gear	Material used to protect lines form excessive wear.
Chain Cables	"Old Ironsides" was one of the last American ships to use hemp cables for her anchors. In 1812, chain cables were introduced and quickly demonstrated their superiority over rope.
Chain Locker	Space where anchor chain is stowed.
Chains	Area (a platform of large ships where the leadsman stands when taking sounding with the hand lead.
CHAMPUS	Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services. A program for family members which supplements the medical benefits offered at military treatment facilities. Now called Tri-Care.
Chart	Nautical counterpart of a road map, showing, land configuration, water, depths, and aids to navigation.
Check	(1) To slow or ease; to check a line is to pay out just enough line to prevent its parting when under a strain; (2) to investigate or examine something.
Cheek	One of the sides of a block.
Chief of the Boat	Equivalent to a CMC, Command Master Chief. The most senior enlisted person on the boat (submarine). .
CHINFO	Chief of Naval Information
Chits	The name "chit" for a note or voucher, was introduced into our language in the days of the East Indian Company. A number of other Hindustani words were also added to our vocabulary through the medium of this old "Honorable John" line.
Chock	Deck fitting through which mooring lines are fed.
Chow	Food
Cleat	A metal casting with two projecting arms to which a line is belayed.
CMC	Command Master Chief
CMDMC	A new rating established December 19, 2000 for the Command Master Chiefs.
CNO	Chief of Naval Operations
CNP	Chief of Naval Personnel
CO	Commanding Officer
Coaming	Bulwark around a hatch opening.
COB	Chief of the Boat. The most senior enlisted person assigned to a boat (submarine).
COLA	Cost of Living Allowance
Collusion Bulkhead	A bulkhead, stronger than normal, located forward to control flooding in the event of a head on collision.
Colors	(1) The national ensign; (2) the ceremony of raising and lowering the ensign.
Colors	National ensign; distinguishing flag flown to indicate a ship's nationality. Naval ceremonies are performed when national flag is hoisted at eight o'clock in the morning and hauled down at sunset.
Combantant Ship	A ship whose primary mission is combat..
Commander	Title of an officer between a Lt Commander and Captain. The rank of commander was introduced into U.S. Navy in 1838 replacing that of "master commandant." The title was introduced into British Navy by William III, when it was spelled commandeur; later such officer was second in command of large ships.
Commissary	Grocery store on base where service members and families can purchase food, beverages, etc., at prices usually lower than in civilian stores.
Commission Pennant	A long, narrow starred, and striped pennant flown only aboard a commissioned ship.
Commission	To activate a ship or station; written order giving an officer rank and authority.
Commissioning Ceremonies	Ceremonies during which a new ship is placed in service. It is customary to invite friends of officers and others interested to attend the ceremony, along with the sponsor who christened the ship.
Commodore	The officer rank above a Captain. This title arose from a practiced economy of the old Dutch Admiralty. In her war with England, Holland found herself short of admirals and distressingly short of cash. She solved her difficulty by created a brand new rank of "commodore," which carried with it all the responsibilities of an admiral ... but only HALF his pay. (2) Used as an honorific to any officer commanding a squadron or flotilla of submarines, destroyers or smaller ships
Companionway	Deck opening giving access to a ladder (includes the ladder).
Compartment	Interior space (room) of a ship.
Compartment	Space enclosed by bulkheads, deck and overhead, same as a room in a building.
Complete Deck	Any deck that extends to the length of a ship and from side to side.
COMRATS	Commuted Rations
Conn	Station, usually on the bridge, from which a ship is controlled; to the act of so controlling.
CONUS	The Continental United States. (48 states and the District of Columbia.) Flying in CONUS determines certain limitations to space-available travel on military aircraft.
Course	A ship's desire direction of travel, not to be confused with healing, which is the direction in which the bow is pointed at any given instant.
Court-Martial	Military court for trial of serious offenses (summary, special, and general courts-martial).
Cover	(1) to protect; (2) a shelter; (3) headgear, and the act of donning same.
Coxswain	Enlisted person in charge of a boat. Or "cockswain" from the combination of "cock," a small boat, and "swain," a servant. It originally meant one who had charge of a boat and a crew in the absence of an officer.
CPO	Abbreviation for chief petty officer.
Cracker Jacks	A slang term for an enlisted uniform consisting of a top with a flap that hangs from the back of the neck and trousers that are bell bottomed.
Crew	We have the word "crew" from the old Norse "Acrue," meaning to gather; and from the same sources also the word "recruit."
Crossing The Line	this traditional ritual, now introducing the greenhorn to King Neptune in fun and merriment, originally was a very serious procedure among the Vikings, and was practiced with all kinds of severe tests to see if the novice could really stand the hardships of the ocean.
Crow	Slang, eagle on petty officer's rating badge.
Crow's Nest	The ship's lookout station was named for the cage which housed the ravens carried by Norsemen at their mastheads. When these sea-warriors lost sight of land, they would release one of the birds, and as it headed for the nearest shore, they would follow its flight. A crude method of navigation, but, within limits, both efficient and practical.
Cup of Joe	Ever wondered where the term "cup of Joe" came from? The U.S. Navy used to allow alcoholic beverages on U.S. Navy ships. Grog, Ale, and Beer were the supplied in the general mess hall . When Admiral Josephus "Joe" Daniels became Chief of Naval Operations, he outlawed alcohol on board all ships and ordered that coffee be served on the ships, hence the term "Cup of Joe."
Cumshaw	International seagoing term for petty graft or secret commissions; Chinese alms for a beggar; pidgin English for gift or something thrown in on trade; in Navy parlance, something obtained "for free," or the act of obtaining it.
CWO	Chief Warrant Officer
D	A \| B \| C \| D \| E \| F \| G \| H \| I \| J \| K \| L \| M \| N \| O \| P \| Q \| R \| S \| T \| U \| V \| W \| X \| Y \| Z
Darken Ship	To turn off all external lights and close all opening through which lights could be seen from the outside of the ship.
Davey Jones	The keeper of the deep ocean. This name is a corruption of Jonah, the Biblical gentleman who is credited with having supplied Vitamin A to a whale for three days.
Davits	Shipboard crane that can be swung out over the side; used for hoisting or lowering boats and weights.
Davits	These devices for hoisting boats were named for their inventor, a Welshman named David, and given the Welsh pronunciation of that word, Davit.
Davy Jones	Scribe and emissary of King Neptune.
Dead Ahead	Directly ahead; a relative bearing of 000 degrees. Dead astern is 180 degrees relative.
Dead Horse	This expression, meaning that one is working at some job for which he has already been paid, dates back to early days, when it was customary to advance a sailor his first month's pay. After the ship had been thirty days at sea, the crew would construct a horse out of a barrel and odd ends of canvas. It would be hoisted over the side and set on fire, and, as it drifted astern, the men would sing the old chantey "Poor Old Horse." This indicated that they would once again be working for wages, and no longer for "Salt Horse" (food).
Dead Reckoning	This navigation term was originally spelled "ded" (the abbreviation for deduced) reckoning. An unscholarly British shipmaster thought the "a" had been omitted, so he inserted it. Ever since then, even the officially printed forms spell it "dead" reckoning.
Deck Seamanship	The upkeep and operation of all deck equipment.
Deck	A floor or platform extending from end to end of a ship.
Deck	Horizontal planking or plating that divides a ship into layers.
Deep Six	To throw something overboard.
Deers	Defense Eligibility Enrollment Reporting System. The DEERS database lists everyone entitled to active duty and retired pay and their dependents.
Dependent	Family members who meet specific benefits eligibility requirements.
Deploy	Tactical term used for dispersal of troops; also disposition of ships in battle formations.
Dinghy	This name for a ship's smallest boat, is a contribution to our nautical vocabulary from India. Dinghy means "small," and from this same word, we get also our slang term "Dinky."
Dip	The act of lowering a flag part way down the staff as a salute to, or in reply to a salute from, another ship.
Dipping The Flag	Dipping the flag is a survival of a very old custom when merchant ships were required to clew up all their canvas and wait until the adjacent man-o'-war either sent a boat off to inspect their papers or signaled them to proceed. The flag salute was later adopted as a time-saver.
Distance Line	A line stretched between two ships engaged in replenished or transfer operation underway. The line is marked at 20 foot intervel to aid the conning officer in maintaining station.
DITY	Do It Yourself
Division	(1) A main subdivision of a ship's crew (1st, E, G, and so on); (2) an organization composed of two or more ships of the same type.
Division	In the organization of ship or plane groups, the unit between sections and squadrons; in shipboard organization, Sailors and officers grouped together for command purposes, a component group of a department
Dock	The term dock is commonly given to any pier or wharf, but, strictly, speaking, it refers only to the space alongside a pier or in dry-dock.
DOD	Department of Defense
DODDS	Department of Defense Dependent Schools
Dog Down	To set the dogs on a watertight door.
Dog Watch	This name for the split watch between the hours of four to six and six to eight p.m., was originally "Dodge Watch," as it allowed seamen to escape (or dodge) standing the same watch every day of the voyage. As time went on, the names gradually corrupted to the present "Dog Watch."
Dog Watches	The 1600 to 1800 to 2000 watches.
Dog	(1) A lever, or bolt and thumbscrews, used for securing a watertight door; (2) the act of dividing a 4hour watch into two 2hour watches.
Dolphin	(1) A cluster of piles at the end of a pier; (2) a porpoise.
Double Up	To double mooring lines for extra strength.
Draft	The vertical distance from the keel of the waterline.
Drift	the speed at which a ship is pushed off course by wind an current.
Drouge	See Sea Anchor.
Drydock	A dock from which the water may be removed for the purpose of inspecting or working on a ship's bottom; it may be either floating or built into a shore.
DSN	Defense Switched Network; Department of Defense internal telephone system (formerly Autovon).

E	A \| B \| C \| D \| E \| F \| G \| H \| I \| J \| K \| L \| M \| N \| O \| P \| Q \| R \| S \| T \| U \| V \| W \| X \| Y \| Z
EAOS	End of Active Obligated Service
Ease	To relax; to slack.
Ebb	Ebb, ebb tide, and on the ebb all refer to a falling tide.
EFM	Exceptional Family Member
Eight Bells	This measure of time originated in the days when a half-hour glass was used to tell off the four-hour watches. Each time the sand ran out, the ship's boy, whose job it was to reverse the glass, struck a bell to show he was attending to his business. Thus, eight times he turned the glass, and eight times struck the bell.
Embark	To go aboard ship preparatory to sailing.
Engine Order Telegraph	Electromechanical device that transmits orders to the engine room concerning desired direction of turn and general speed of the engines.
Enlisted Evaluation	Written report of an enlisted service member's performance of duty.
Ensign	(1) The national flag; (2) the lowest grade of a commissioned officer.
Ensign	Lowest ranking commissioned officer. This title dates back to when privileged squires carried the banners of their lords and masters into battle. Later, these squires became known by the name of the banner (the ensign) itself. Though today, we look on ensign as a purely naval rank, as a matter of fact, an ensign was originally the lowest commissioned officer in the Army. (2) In the US Navy it is also the US flag
ETA	Estimated Time of Arrival
ETD	Estimated Time of Departure
Exchange	Department store run by the military.
Exec	Executive Officer
Executive Officer (XO)	Regardless of rank, the officer second in command of a ship, squadron or shore activity. In early days, such an officer was the first Lieutenant.
Eyes	The most forward part of the forecastle.

F	A \| B \| C \| D \| E \| F \| G \| H \| I \| J \| K \| L \| M \| N \| O \| P \| Q \| R \| S \| T \| U \| V \| W \| X \| Y \| Z
Fairlead	A device, usually a block, for leading a line around a corner.
Fairway	Thoroughfare for a ship.
Fall	A line, wire, or chain rove on a purchase.
Fantail	Main deck section in after part of flush-deck ship.
Fantail	The after end of the main deck.
FAP	Family Advocacy Program
Fathom	In measuring depth of water, six feet. From Anglo-Saxon faehom. Originally distance spanned by man's outstretched arms. (2) This well-known nautical word comes from the old English "FAETM" meaning to embrace. Parliament decided that, since an embrace involved the distance between a man's hands when placed around his sweetheart, and as that distance averaged about six feet, it should be established as a standard measure.
Fathom	Unit of depth equal to 6 feet.
Fender	A cushioning device hung over the side of a ship to prevent contact between ship and a pier or another ship.
Fid	A long, tapered, wooden tool used to open the strands of a line for splicing.
Field Day	A day devoted to general cleaning, usually in preparation for an inspection.
Fife Rail	Rail containing belaying pins.
Firemain	Piping systems to which fire hydrants are connected.
First Watch	The 2000 to 2400 watch. (also evening watch.)
Fitness Report	Written report of an officer's performance of duty. Includes CPO’s.
Fitrep	Fitness Report
Flag At Half-Mast	Begun in times of mourning in old sailing days, indicated that grief was so great it was impossible to keep things shipshape. Half-masting of colors is the survival of days when slack appearance characterized mourning on shipboard.
Flag Officer	An officer of the rank of real admiral (lower half) or higher.
Flag Officer	Rear Admiral, Lower Half; Rear Admiral, Upper Half; Vice Admiral, Admiral, and Fleet Admiral are flag officers.
Flagstaff	Vertical staff at the stern to which the ensign is hoisted when moored or at anchor.
Flank speed	Certain prescribed speed increase over standard speed; faster than full speed.
Flat	Partial deck (often a grating) to provide walk and working surfaces; used extensively in engineering spaces.
Fleet	An organization of ships, aircrafts, marine forces, and shore based fleet activities, all under one commander, for the purpose of conducting major operations.
Flight Deck	Deck of ship on which planes land and takeoff.
Flood	(1) To fill a space with water; (2) a rising tide.
Flying-Fish Sailor	Old Navy slang to differentiate between a seaman on duty in Asiatic waters, and one in a Mediterranean squadron. The later was known as a "Sou'Spainer."
Fogy	A longevity pay increase. (Pronounced fogee.)
Fore And Aft	The entire length of a ship, as in "Sweep down fore and aft."
Fore	Forward.
Forecaslte	Foreword section of the main deck, generally extended from the stem aft to just abaft the anchor windlass. (Pronounced foksul.)
Forecastle (Fo'c'stle)	Pronounced "focsul." In the days of Columbus, ships were fitted with castle-like structures fore and aft. The structures have disappeared, but the term forecastle remains; refers to upper deck in forward part of ship. Abbreviated fo'c'sle. (2) This name is a relic of the days when huge wooden castles actually were built on the fore and aft ends of ships from which fighting men could throw spears, arrows, stones, etc., onto the decks of an enemy.
Foremast	First mast aft from the bow.
Forenoon Watch	The 0800 to 1200 watch.
Forestay	A stay leading forward.
Foul	(1) Entangled, as "The lines are foul of each other"; (2) stormy.
Fouled Anchor	It seems strange that the navies of the world should use as an insignia the abomination of all good sailors. Somewhere back in the early days, a draftsman with more artistic ability than technical knowledge produced the well-know design which shows an anchor with its cable hopelessly fouled around the shank and arms. How such a design could win the approval of the Admiralty Board is beyond comprehension, but the fact remains that the sign of the fouled anchor has become an international emblem.
Founder	To sink because of being overwhelmed by the sea.
Four O	Top mark; equal to 100%. Navy grades and marks run from 0.0 to 4.0. By common usage, perfect.
FRA	Fleet Reserve Association
Frame	Ribs of a vessel.
Frame	The athwarship strength member of a ship's hull.
Freeboard	Vertical distance from waterline to gunwale.
Frogman	Slang, member of underwater demolition team (SEALs).
FSC	Family Service Center

G	A \| B \| C \| D \| E \| F \| G \| H \| I \| J \| K \| L \| M \| N \| O \| P \| Q \| R \| S \| T \| U \| V \| W \| X \| Y \| Z
Gaff	A light spar set at an angle formt he upper part of a mast. the ensign ins usually flown from the gaff when the ship is underway.
Galley	Space where food is prepared. Never called a kitchen.
Galley	The most logical explanation for ship's kitchens being called galleys, is the one which maintains the word is a corruption of "gallery." Ancient mariners cooked their simple meals on a brick or stone gallery laid amidships.
Gangplank	See Brow.
Gangway	(1) The opening in a bulwark or lifeline to provide access to a brow or accommodation ladder; (2) given as an order, it means "Clear the way."
Gangway	Opening in bulwarks or rail of ship to give entrance. (2) order to stand aside and get out of the way.
Gantline	Line used for hoisting and lowering a boatswain's chair.
Geedunk	Slang, ice cream soda, malted milk, anything from soda fountain or Geedunk stand.
General Quarters	Battle stations for all hands.
General Quarters	The condition of full readiness for battle.
Gig line	Where the placket of a shirt lines up with the belt buckle.
Gig	A captain or commander's personal boat.
Gig	Boat assigned for the commanding officer's personal use.
Girder	A longitudinal supporting a deck.
GITMO	Abbreviation for U.S. Naval Base, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
Granny Knot	A bungled square knot.
Groung Tackle	Equipment used in anchoring or mooring with anchors.
Grunt	Slang, a Marine.
Gung-Ho	Slang, eager and aggressive beyond normal requirements.
Gunwale	The upper edge of the sides of a ship. Pronounced gunnel.
Guy	A line used to steady a spar or boom.

H	A \| B \| C \| D \| E \| F \| G \| H \| I \| J \| K \| L \| M \| N \| O \| P \| Q \| R \| S \| T \| U \| V \| W \| X \| Y \| Z
Half Deck	A partial deck below the main deck.
Half Mast	Flags flown at half-mast for mourning, are a survival of the old custom which decreed that slovenliness was a mark of respect for the dead. Sails and rigging were slacked off, yards cock-billed, flags part lowered etc. In fact, anything to give the ship a dejected appearance.
Halyard	A light line used to hoist a flag or pennant.
Halyards	Originally an order to "haul yards," these two words were corrupted into one which now designates any lines used for hoisting sails, flags, etc.
Hand Over	Condition of a rudder that has been turned to the maximum possible rudder angle.
Hand	A ship's crew member.
Handbilly	A small portable water pump for general use.
Handsomely	Slowly and carefully.
Hash Mark	Slang, service stripe worn on uniform of enlisted personnel. For Navy personnel each stripe represents four years of service.
Hashmark	A red, blue, or gold diagonal strip across the left sleeve of an enlisted person's jumper; each stripe indicates 4 years' service.
Hatch	A square or rectangular access in a deck.
Haul Off	The act of a vessel in changing course to keep clear of another vessel.
Haul	To pull in or heave on a line by hand.
Hawsepipe	Opening through which the anchor cable runs from the deck out through the side.
Hawser	A large rope for mooring, towing or securing a ship. The word "Hawser" is derived from the old English "Halter," meaning a rope for the neck.
Hawser	Any heavy wire or line for towing or mooring.
HBA	Health Benefit Advisors
Head	(1) The upper end of a lower mast boom; (2) compartment containing toilet facilities; (3) ship's bow.
Head	Place in ship or on shore station which might otherwise be called a rest room, washroom, or toilet.
Heading	The direction toward which the ship is pointing at any instant.
Heave Around	(1) The act of hauling in a line, usually by means of a capstan or which; (2) general term for "Get to work."
Heave In	Take in line or cable.
Heave Out And Lash Up	Admonishment given at reveille to persons sleeping in hammocks. It meant "Get up and lash up your hammocks." Now applied to bunks.
Heave To	The act of a vessel in stopping or reducing headway just enough to maintain steerageway.
Heave	To throw.
Heaving Line	A line with a weight at one end, heaved across an intervening space for the purpose of passing over a heavier line.
Helm	Mechanical device used to turn the rudder; usually a wheel aboard ship, a lever in boats.
Helmsman	Person who steers the ship by turning the helm. Also called steerman.
Highline	The line stretch between ship underway on which a trolley block travels back and forth for transfer of material and personnel.
Hitch	(1) Used to bend a line to or around a ring or cylindrical object; (2) common term for an enlistment.
Holding Bulkhead	The innermost of a series of bulkheads that form the tank and voids of the torpedo protection system.
Holiday Routine	A schedule that is followed aboard ship on authorized holidays and Sundays.
Holiday	Space on a painted surface that the painter neglected to cover.
Honors	Ceremonies conducted in honor of a visiting dignitary, usually involving side boys and, occasionally, a band and honor guard.
Hook	Familiar terms for the anchor.
Horn	(1) One pf the projections on a cleat; (2) one of a pair of protruding timbers attached athwart ships to the underside of stage.
House	The act of two blocking (pulling up tight) an anchor in its hawse pipe.
Hull Down	Refers to a ships that is so far over the horizon that only its superstructure or top hamper is visible.
Hull	The shell, or plating, of a ship from keel to gunwale.
Hunky-Dory	This term, meaning everything is O.K., was coined from a street named Honki-dori in Yokohama. As the inhabitants of this street catered to the pleasure of sailors, one can readily understand why the street's name became synonymous for anything that is enjoyable or satisfactory.

I, J, K	A \| B \| C \| D \| E \| F \| G \| H \| I \| J \| K \| L \| M \| N \| O \| P \| Q \| R \| S \| T \| U \| V \| W \| X \| Y \| Z
Idlers	This traditional name for members of the ship's company who stand no regular watch is a flagrant thrust at the toil-worn members of the medical staff, messmen and others who work on a different schedule.
Inboard	Toward the centerline.
Inhaul Line	Line used to haul the trolley block back to the delivering ships ship during highline transfers.
Inlet	A narrow strip of sea extending into the land.
Jack Tar	International nickname for government sailors, because of the custom among old Navy men of giving their work clothes a light coating of tar to waterproof them.
Jack	Starred blue flag (representing the union of the ensign) flown at the jackstay of a commissioned ship not underway.
Jackstaff	Vertical spar at the stem on which the jack is hoisted.
Jackstay	Any horizontal line or wire (such as sea bags).
Jacob's Ladder	A portable rope or wire ladder.
JAG	Judge Advocate General (lawyer)
Java	Bluejacket term for Coffee. For twenty years before "grog" was legislated out of the Navy, the rum ration was cut back and coffee and tea were supplied as a substitute. Congress passed a bill on 23 May 1872 that provided "an additional ration of coffee and sugar to be served at his (the bluejacket's) first turning out." Not a surprise to most, the United States Navy uses more coffee than any other military organization in the world.
Jetty	A structure built out from shore to influence water current or to protect a harbor or pier.
JNROTC	Junior Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps
Jolly Roger	Banner showing skull and crossbones, the royal standard of His Imperial Majesty Neptunis Rex.
Jump Ship	The act of deserting a ship.
Jury Rig	Any makeshifts device or apparatus.
Kapok	Materials used to stuff life jackets and other lifesaving apparatus.
Kedge	(1) A small anchor; (2) the act of moving a ship by hauling it ahead by heaving in on a line to a laid out kedge.
Keel Block	One of a series of blocks along a dry-dock bed; used to support the keel of a vessel in dry-dock.
Keel	The lowermost longitudinal strength members from which the frames and plating rise.
Keel-Haul	Keel-hauling was a brutal punishment inflicted on seamen guilty of mutiny or some other high crime in the "good old days" of sail. It practically amounted to a death sentence, for the chances of recovery after the ordeal were slight. The culprit was fastened to a line which had been passed beneath the vessel's keel. He was then dragged under the water on the starboard side of the ship, hauled along the barnacle-encrusted bottom and hoisted up and onto the deck on the port side. If the barnacles didn't cut him to pieces, and if he hadn't been drowned in the process of the operations, he was considered to have paid for his crime and was free.
Keelson	That part of a boat's keel that is inside the boat.
Key Volunteer	The Marine Corps equivalent to a Navy Ombudsman; spouse of a member of the command who is appointed by the commanding officer to serve as official liaison between the command and family members.
King Post	On of a pair short, strong upright when the rudder is amidships; usually distinctively marked, as with a Turk's head.
Kissed By Mother Carey	This is another way of saying, "Once a sailor, always a sailor." It is an old superstition that all boys who go to sea were kissed in their infancy by the sailorman's guardian angel Mata Cara (Mother Carey).
Knock Off	Cease what is being done; stop work.Quit working.
Knot	(1) A method of forming an eye in a line, or of typing the line to or around something; (2) a speed term that means nautical miles per hour.
	Measure of speed for ships and aircraft, as "the destroyer was making 30 knots," or "the top speed of the plane is 400 knots." To ascertain the speed of his vessel, a British commander had knots tied at regular intervals in a coil of rope. The rope was then tied onto a log and the log heaved overboard. With an hour-glass, he timed each knot as it disappeared over the taffrail thus originating the custom of telling off a ship's speed by knots instead of miles.

Naval Terminology A-K The terms in this list were taught to recruits at Recruit Training Command San Diego.

Naval Terminology A-K
The terms in this list were taught to recruits at Recruit Training Command San Diego.