THE 
Mariners Jewel; 
OR, 
A Pocket Companion
FOR THE 
INGENIOUS. 

Being of more General Use for Offi­
cers, Seamen, Carpenters, Boatswains, 
Pursers and Stewards, then any thing 
yet Published. 

CONTAINING 
An Alphabetical Dictionary of all 
the Naval Terms; A General Pay Ta­
ble; with a Table of Boatswain Stores 
for each Rank of Ship; the proportion 
of Prizes, with many other useful things 
both Decimal and Vulgarly demonstra­
ted from a Manuscript of Sir John 
Narbrough's, and methodiz'd by 

James Lightbody, P. M. 

LONDON Printed for Robert Whitledge, and 
sold by Alexander Sims at the Bible in 
Beet-street in Ratcliff-High-Way, 1695.  








To the HONOURABLE. 
Sir Cloudsley Shouel, Knight. 
Vice-Admiral of the RED 
SQADRON 
Of the Royal Navy of England. 

Renowned SIR,  

MY chief aim in Publish­
ing this small Piece, is 
for the benefit of Sea­
men, who is known to be the 
chief Bulwark of our Kingdoms,  



and upon whose undaunted Cou­
rage, Resolution and Conduct, our 
Liberties and Properties wholly 
depend; who vindicate our 
Rights with the expence of 
their dearest Blood. The un­
deserved Disappointments they 
have received, unknown to 
your Honour, for some Years past; 
and the many Losses they have 
sustain'd for want of good Instructi­
ons, has induced me to the great­
est part of this work, which I 
hope will be of good use to them 
if duly applyed. 

I don't mean there is any un­
just thing put upon them by 
their Superior Officers, who has 
a paternal care over them, but  



that they have not consulted a due 
Information for their own Interest. 

This I can safely say, the in­
forming of Sea-men was my only 
aim in this small Piece, when I 
first set my Resolutions upon it; 
but having a Manuscript by me, 
writ by the famous Sir John 
Narbrough,I was advis'd by 
some Friends to put some material 
and useful things therein menti­
oned, in this, which I have done 
exactly from the Original. 

 When I resolved to make this 
Piece publick, the Epistle Dedi­
catory was mainly in the choice 
of a Patron, to testify my esteem 
of those extraordinary Qualifica­



tions in you, that have gained 
the Affections of even the 
best and worst of Sea-men, for 
whose sakes I have dedicated it 
to you, who sit at the Helm of 
their Government, to guide and 
direct them in their true Course, 
not doubting but you will accept 
of the weak Labours of 

SIR,

Your Honours 
most humble Servant,
James Lightbody.






The Contents.


OF Decimal Arithmetick p. 3
To know the Burthen, and how 
to Rig a Ship. p. 17
A Table of the length of Masts and 
Yards of a Ship. p. 19
A Table of the Names and Sizes of 
each Rope belonging to a ship. p. 21
A Table of the Proportion of Boat­
swain Sea-stores for each Rank 
of ships. p. 32
To find the length and thickness of 
Masts and Yards by the Pen. p. 40
How to Rig any ship by Proportion p. 44
An Alphabetical Dictionary of all the 
Names of every thing belonging to 
a ship, with the use and explanati­
on of the same, together with the 
Terms used at sea. p. 53
An exact List of the Royal Navy p. 89
Rules to be observed in the payment 
of the Navy. p. 75
A Table of Officers Pay by month 
in each Rank of ships. p. 76
A Table of Masters, Gunners, Car­
penters, Boatswain, Purser and 
Chyrurgions Pay, from one day 
to six months. p. 100



A Table of Pay from 3 l. a month 
to 19 s. from 1 day to 6 months. p. 108
An Abstract of the Act of Par­
liament for the Incouragement 
of Privateers, wherein is the 
Proportions belonging to the 
ships Crew for any Prize taken. p. 112
A Copy of the Act of Council, for 
the Incouragement of sea-men, 
and the Proportions belonging to 
each Man in taking of a Prize, 
with the King's Approbation. p. 120
The Proportions of Prizes accord­
ing to the Custom of the Navy. p. 123
A Guide to Pursers and Stewards p. 124
A Table of Coins, and their value p. 133




ERRATA.


I beg of the Reader to excuse the Omissions 
of the Press, and help them with his Pen, as in

pag. 19. line 20. for Inches read Foot.
pag. 32. line 1. for proposition r. proportion.
pag. 38. line 12. for Mop-Gallant r. Top-Gall.






An Alphabetical DICTIO­
NARY of all the Names of 
the Members or Parts of a Ship, 
with an Explanation of the 
same, and how they are disposed 
of; together with the Sea Terms 
used in any Ship.


A. 
ANchors, There are several sorts;
the greatest is the Sheet Anchor, never used but in extraordinary neces­
sity; the smallest is the Kedge Anchor,
which is used in calm Weather and a
flow Stream; the Stream Anchor is
somewhat bigger than the Kedge An­
chor.

"Kedge Anchor" antedates the earliest OED citation (1704).

 

Then there is the First, Second and
Third Anchors, and are called Bow An­
chors. The parts of an Anchor are
called the Shank, the Flook, the Shoul­
der, the Beam, the Eye, the Ring, the
Stock.

"Shoulder(n)" in the sense of "a part of an anchor" is not found in the OED.

  



The Anchor is a Peek, that is, the An­
chor is right under the Hawse or Hole,
through which the Cable runs out. 

The Anchor is a Cock-Bell, that is,
hangs up and down by the Ships side. 

The Anchor is Fowle, that is, the Cable
is got about the Flook. 

Abaft, is the Stern part of the Ship. 

Aft, The Stern part also. 

The Mast hangs Aft, that is, towards
the Stern. 

How chear ye Fore and Aft? How fairs
all the Ships Crew. 

Amain, signifies yield, and is used in
a Fight. 

An Awning, An Old Sail or such like,
supported with Oars like a Canopy over
the Deck, to shade from the Sun.


B. 

BIllage, is the breadth of the Floor,
when she lyes aground. 

Billage Water, is that which can't come
to the Pump.

"Billage water" antedates the earliest OED citation (1706).

 

Bilged, is when a Ship strikes upon a
Rock, or any thing that breaks her Planks. 

Buttocks, is the breadth of her After
part by the Rudder. 

Beds, is a Plat-form to raise the Car­



riage of a Gun, so as she may be level'd
out at the Port.  

Bluff, or Bluff-headed, is when a Ship
has an upright Stern. 

Beams, is the Supporters of the Orlop
or Deck. 

Butt-ends, is the Fore-end of the Planks
where they join under-water. 

Bend or Wail, is the out-most Tim­
bers on the Ships-sides. 

Bolts, are long pieces of Iron, sharp at
one end for driving into the Planks upon
several occasions, such as fixing the Tackle
of your Ordnance to, or for driving out
of Wood-nails, or bringing the Planks
to the Ships side, and several other uses.

The compound "wood-nail" is not found in the OED.

 

Bow, the Bow is the broadest part
of the Ship, before which compasseth
the Stern. 

Beak, the Beak-head is without the
Ship before the Fore-Castle, supported
by the Main Knee, a place for men to
ease themselves. The Coller of the Main-­
Stay is fastned to it.

The phrase "main knee" is not found in the OED.

 

Bits, are two great pieces of Timber,
through which a cross piece goeth; they are placed Abaft the Manger in the
Ships Loof, to belay the Cable thereto
when they ride at Anchor.  



Blocks or Pullies, are pieces of Wood
with Wheels in them, through which
all the running Ropes do run. 

Block and Block, is when they hale any
Tackle that the two Blocks do meet. 

Fish-Block, is a Block by which they
Hale up the Flook of the Anchor to the
Ships Bow. 

Bulk-head, is any partition made up
with sealing, such as the Bread-room. 

Bracketts, are little carv'd Knees to
support the Gallerys. 

Bittacles, are little Wooden Pins for
nailing the Compass-box withal.

"compass box" antedates the earliest OED citation (1797).

 

Barnacles, are little Fishes like Red
Worms, which will eat through the
Planks of a Ship if she be not sheathed. 

Breaming, is washing or burning off
all the filth with Reads or Broom. 

Breast-Ropes, doth keep the Yards close
to the Masts. 

Brales, are small Ropes, which come
down before the Sail, with which we
Furle our Sails a Cross; they belong on­
ly to the two Courses and the Missen. 

Bolt-Rope, is that Rope which is
sewed about every Sail. 

Buntlines, is but a small Rope made
fast to the midst of the Boltrope, to trice
or draw up the Bunt of the Sail when
you farthel it.  



Braces, are Ropes, two whereof be­
long to all Yards but the Missen, and
are reeved to their ends, by which they
square, or traverse the Yards. 

Bowling, is made fast to the Leech of
the Sail, about the midst to make it
stand the sharper or closer by a Wind. 

Sharp the main Bowling, is to hale it
taut. Hale up the Bowling, is to pull it
hard or forward on: Check the Bouling
is to let it be more slack.

"Sharp(v)" in the sense of "haul(v)" is not found in the OED.

 

Bouse, is to pull down the Sail or
ease the Tacks in a stiff Gale, or take
off the Bonnet. 

Bonnet or Drabler, is a short Sail to
take off or put on to the fore-course,
or the main-Course. 

Boling knott, is a knot so firmly fast­
ned to the Creengles of the Sails, that
they can't slip or be unty'd. 

Bails, is a piece of Tar'd Canvas for a
Tilt to the Boat. 

Bucket-Rope, is ty'd to the Bucket to
draw Water. 

Boy-Rope, is that which is tyed to
the Anchor and Boy. 

Boat-rope, is that by which the Ship
doth tow her Boat.  



A Bight; is to hold by any part of
a Coile. 

A Bitter, is the Turn of a Cable a­
bout the Bitts, and veer it out by little,
and little. 

Bitters-end, is that part of a Cable
doth stay within Board.

See OED, "bitter," n.3.

 

Bending, is to tye two Ropes or
Cables together. 

Breast-fast, is a Rope by which you
hale a Ships Head to a Wharf or the like. 

Buoys, are close hoop'd Barrels like
Tankards, to shew you the Anchor. 

Can Buoys, are much larger for shew­
ing of Danger. 

Ballast, is Gravel, Stones, or Lead,
so disposed as the Ship may lye neither
to one side or other, but even upon the
Water. 

Bear up, is to make the Ship go large
before the Wind, 

Bear off, is to thrust from you, 

Bear in, is to go nigh the Land or
Harbour. 

Breeze, is a Wind which blows out of
the Sea in Fair Weather. 

Boarding, is to enter a Ship. 

To Bale, is to lade Water out of the
Hold. 

Trench the Ballast, is to separate it.  



The Ballast shoots, or runs to one side. 

The Piece of Ordnance doth bear, or lies
right with the Mark. 

Bear up round, that is, put her right
before the Wind.

The phrase "bear up round(v)" is not found in the OED but see "bear up" there at "bear," v. 1, 37.

 

Bellage, to make fast any running
Rope. 

A Birth, a place to Moore a Ship
in. 

A Bight, any part of a Rope between
the ends. 

A Boom, a long Pole to spread out
the Clew of the studding Sail. 

Board and board, is when two ships
touch each other. 

To make a Board, is to turn to the
Windward. 

To Break Bulk, is to open the Hold
and take out Goods. 


C. 
Cradle, is a frame of Timber made a­
long the sides of a Ship, for safety in
Launching. 

A Crab is an Engine of Wood, of three
Claws, placed on the Ground, for the
Launching of ships, or heaving them
into the Docks.  



Clamps, are long thick Planks, which lye
under the ends of the Beams, and Timbers
of the second Deck, or third Deck, or Orlop. 

Cambering, is when a Deck lyes com­
passing. 

Chain-wail, is a broad Timber; a little
above which the Chains and Shrouds are
fastned, to spread the Shrouds the wider. 

Culver-tail'd, is to let one Timber into
another. 

Carlings, are Timbers lying along the
Ship from Beam to Beam, whereon the
Ledges do rest, whereunto the Planks of
the Decks are fastned. 

Carling knees, are Timber coming
thwart the Ship, and bears up the Deck
on both sides. 

Comings, are Timbers and Planks which
bears the Deck so up, that the Water
can't enter the Hatches. 

Capstain, is in the nature of a Windis,
to wind, or weigh up the Anchors, Sails,
Top-masts, Ordnance, or the like, be­
ing a great piece of Wood standing up­
right on the Deck. 

Comb, is a little piece of Wood with
two holes in it, to bring the the Fore-­
Tacks aboard. 

The Catt, is a short piece of Timber
aloft, right over the Hause, in the end  



whereof is a Hook and two Shivers, for
tricing up the Anchor to the top of the
Fore-Castle.  

Cubbrige-heads, wherein are placed, some
things to clear the Deck. 

The Counter, is a hollow Arching be­
twixt the lower part of the Gallery and
the Transome. 

The Compass, is so well known to every
Sea-man that I need not describe it. 

Catt-holes, are over the Ports right
with the Capstain, to heave the Ship a
stern by a Cable or Hawser. 

Calking, is beating Okum into every
Seam or betwixt Plank and Plank. 

Calking, Iron is made in the form of
a Chissel. 

Careene, is to make a Ship so light as
she may lye upon one side in calm wa­
ter, so as you may see her Keel. 

Cap, is a piece of square Timber with
a round hole in it to receive the Top-­
mast or Flag-staff, to keep them sted­
dy or strong. 

Crosse-Trees, are at the head of the
masts, the one set into the other, strong­
ly boulted with the tressel-Trees to
keep up the Top-mast, which are fast­
ned in them.  



Coller, is a great Rope which comes
about the Head and Boulsprit, the other
end to the head of the Main-mast. 

A Cock, is the Pin which goes through
the Block and Center of the Wheel, or
Pully.

"Cock(n)" in the sense of "a pin that goes through the centre of a wheel or pulley" is not found in the OED.

 

Chains, are strong Plates of Iron, fast
boulted into the Ships side, by the Chain
wail. 

Catharpings, are small Ropes run in
little blocks from one side of the Ship
to the other, near the upper Deck, to
keep the shrowds right.

Neither "catharpings" nor "catharpin(n)" is found in the OED.

 

Can-hooks are two hooks fastned to
the one end of a Rope with a noose,
and serve to take in or out Hogsheads
or other goods. 

Creengles, are little Ropes spliced in­
to the Boult Ropes of all sails of Main
and Fore-mast, to which the bowling
Bridles are made fast, 

Clew-garnet, is a Rope made fast to
the Clew of the Sail, and from thence
runs in a Block to the middle of
the Yard, which serves to hale up the
Clew of the sail, and the Clew-line is the
same to the Top-sail, Top-gallant, and
Sprit-sails. 

The Clews of a Sail in the lower corner
next the Sheet and Tacks.  



Courses, are the fore, or Main sails. 

Caburn, is a small line to make a bend
of two Cables, or to sease the Tackles. 

Caskets, are small Ropes made fast to
the Gromits. 

Cat-rope, is to hale up the Cat. 

Chest-rope, is added to the Boat rope
to keep her from shearing. 

Canting-coins, are little pieces of wood
made with a sharp edge to lye betwixt
the Casks. 

Standing-coins, are pipe staves to
make the Canting-coins fast. 

To Chase, is to pursue a Ship. 

To Cond, or Cun, is to guide a Ship. 

The Course, is that point of the Com­
pass, on which the Ship sails. 

Cut the Sail, that is to unfurl it, and
let it fall down. 


D. 
DRive Bolts, is a long piece of Iron
to drive out a Tree-nail. 

Decks, are the Floors of a Ship. 

A Flush Deck, is when it lyes upon
a streight Line fore and aft from stem
to stern. 

The Daile, is a Trough wherein the
water that comes from the Pump is con­
vey'd out of the Ship.  



The David, is a short piece of Tim­
ber, with a notch in it for a block to
lye for haling up the Anchor. 

A Drabler, is a short sail, to take off
or put to the Fore-sail or Main-sail. 

Drift-sail, is only used in a Storm,
veered out right a head by sheets, to keep
her head right upon the Sea. 

Dead Water, is the Eddy water at the
stern of the Ship. 

Disembogue, is to go out of the Mouth
of a Gulph. 

Dispart, is to find the difference of
Diameters of Metles, betwixt the breach
and Mouth of a Cannon. 


E. 
EArings, is that part of the Bunt­
rope, which at all the four Cor­
ners of the Sail is left open as it were
a Ring. 

Entring-rope, it is ty'd by the Ships
side to hold by as you go up the entring
Ladder. 

End for End, is when the Cable run­
neth clear out of the Hawse. 

Ease the Helm, is to let her sail to the
leeward. 




F. 
FAshion-pieces, are two Timbers which
rises from the stern-post, to which are fastned all the Planks
that reach to the after part of the Ship. 

Fore-lock-bolts, hath an Eye at the end,
wherein a cotril of Iron is driven to
hinder it from starting back. 

Furling Lines, are small Lines made
fast to the Top-sail, Top-gallant and
Mizon Yard Arms. 

Free the Boat, is to cast out the water. 

Flook, is that part of an Anchor that
doth stick into the Ground. 

Fake, is one circle of any Cable when
Coil'd. 

Fore-Top-Sail, is the uppermost Sail
belonging to the Fore-Mast. 

Fenders, are pieces of old Hawsers or
Blocks hung about the Ship to defend
her from the Key. 

Fore Course, is the Fore sail.

A Fathom is six Foot. 

To Farthel or Furl a Sail, is to wrap
it up close together, and tye it with
little strings fast to the Yard.  



To Fish a Mast or Yard, is to fasten a
piece of Timber or Plank to it to streng­
then it, which Plank is called a Fish. 

To lower or strike the Flag, is to put
it down upon the Cap, which signifies
to Yield. 

To heave out the Flag is to wrap it
about the Staff. 


G. 
THE Garbord, is the first Plank
next to the Keel on the outside. 

The Garbord-stroke, is the first seam
next the Keel. 

Gun-wail, is the upmost wail,
which goeth about the Ships waste at the up­
most Deck. 

Gudgions, is an Iron work whereby
the Tiller is hung to the Rudder. 

Graving, is under water, and is a
white mixture of Tallow, Sope and Brim­
stone, to preserve the ships Calking,
and make her Glib, to pass the quicker
through the water. 

A Guy, is a Rope brought from the
Fore-mast to the winding Tackle, used
for the haling in or out the Ordnance. 

Goaring, is a sloaping part of a sail.  



A Gang, is a select Company of Men
appointed for the Boatswain to Man
the Boat. 

Graples or Graplings, is a small An­
chor with four Flooks which commonly
serves for a Boats Anchor. 

Gert, is when the Cable is so taut,
that upon the turning of a Tide the
Ship can't go over it. 

The Ships Gauge, is so many Foot as
she draws or sinks in the Water. 

The weather Gauge, is when one Ship has
the wind of another, or to weather of her. 

A Loom Gale, is a little wind. 

One Ship Gale, away from another; in
fair weather when there is but little
wind, that Ship that Sails fastest and
hath most wind, is said to gale away. 

To Greave a Ship, is to bring her to
lye dry a ground, so that you may burn
off her old Filth. 

The Ship Gripes, that is turns her
head more to the wind then she should. 


H. 
A Ships Hull, is the whole body of
the Ship without the Rigging. 

The Howld, is the Inner-part of the
Hull.  



Hatches, are the entrances into the
Howld. 

The Hawses, are the great round Holes
where the Cables go out at, under the
Beak head. 

A Horse, is a rope made fast to the
Fore-mast Shroudes and the Sprit-sail
sheets, to keep them clear of the Anchor
Flooks. 

Head-lines, are the Ropes that makes
all the sails fast to the Yard. 

Hold water, is to stay the Boat. 

Hale, is to pull. 

To over Hale, is when a rope is ha­
led too stiff, to hale it the contrary
way to slacken it. 

To Hale a Ship, is to call to her com­
pany to know whither they are bound,
and to salute a Ship with Trumpets is
Hailing. 

Hôa, is whither are you bound? 

Hâe, is what do you say, or what
would you say? 

Fresh the Hawse, is to veere, or let
more Cable out at the Hawse, if so be
that the Cable which lyes therein is
fretted, or chaffed. 

Clear the Hawse, is to untwist two
Cables that are twisted by accident.  



Thwart the Hawse, is when a Ship
lyes cross the Hawse, or with her stern
just before another Ships Hawse. 

The Ship Heels, that is when a Ship
inclines more to one side then the other. 

To Hitch, is to catch hold. 

Rumige the Howld, is to remove any
thing therein, or to clear the goods. 

Stow the Howld, is to take goods in­
to the Howld. 

Hoise up the Yards, is to hale up the
Yards. 

Hulling, is when a Ship at Sea takes
in all her sails. 


I. 
JUnks, are pieces of wood hung about
the Ships sides to keep them from
bruising. 


K. 
THE Keel, is the lowest Timber
in the Ship, being a great Tree
hewn according to her burthen, to
which all other Timber of the Ship is
fastned. 

The Keelson, is another long Timber,
like the Keel, which lyes in the inside,
fixed with strong Iron Bolts to the Keel
through the floor Timber.  



Knees, are crooked Timbers which
are bolted to the Beams, in every part
of the Ship. 

Knights, are two great pieces of wood
carved with the Head of a Man upon
them, wherein is four shivers a piece,
three for the Hall-yards and one for the
top Rope to run in. 

Knevells, are small pieces of wood
nailed to the inside of the Ship, to belay
the sheets and Racks unto. 

Knettles, are two Rope yarns twisted to­
gether, and a knot on each end where­
unto to sease a block, a rope, or the
like. 

Keel-rope, is of hair to scower the
Limber-holes, which they pull from
stern to stem to keep them clean. 


L. 
THE Limber-holes, are through the
Floor, Timber or Rings, thwart the
Keel, to bring the water to the Well for
the Pump. 

Lockers, are seats in the Cabin, Quar­
ter Deck, or round House, to put any
thing in. 

Lannier, is that which makes the Main­
mast-stay fast to a Coller.  



Leefanngs, is a rope reeved into the
Creengles of the Courses, when we
would hale in the bottom of a sail to
lash on a Bonnet, or take in the sail.

See OED, "fang," n. 1, 7a; and "lee," n. C1a.

 

Leech-lines, are small ropes made fast
to the Leech of the Top-sails. 

The Leech of a sail, is the outward
part of the skirt of a sail, from the ear­
ing to the Clew. 

The Lifts, are two ropes which be­
long to all yards, arms, to make them
hang higher or lower, or top the yards, as
they call it. 

Legs, are small Ropes put through
the bolt-ropes of the Main or Fore-sail,
near a foot long, spliced each end into
the other in the Leech of the sail, with
a little eye whereunto the Martnets are
fastned. 

Latchets, are small lines sewed in the
Bonnets and Drablers, to lash or make
them fast to the Course. 

Loof-hook, is a Tackle with two hooks,
one to hitch into a Chingle of the Main,
or Fore-sail in the Bolt-rope in the
Leech of the sail by the Clew, and the
other to the strap spliced to the Chesters,
to put down the sail to ease the Tacks
in a swift Gale.

"Chester(n)" in any nautical sense is not found in the OED.

  



The Ship Labours, that is Rowls and
tumbles much. 

Land-fall, is a term used when we
expect to see Land. 

Land-locked, is when the land lies round
about us so that no point is open to the
Sea. 

Land-to, a Ship is said to lye Land-to
when she is at so great a distance that
you can only discern the Land. 

To Lash, is to bind. 

Launch a Ship, is to put her forth of
the Dock into the Water. 

Launch-hôe, is when a yard is hoist­
ed high enough, and is meant hoist
no more. 

Lay the Land, is to loose sight of it. 

The Lee-shore, is that shore against
which the wind blows. 

Have a care of the Lee-latch, that is,
take heed the Ship go not too much to
the Leeward.

"Lee-latch(n)" antedates the earliest OED citation (1721).

 

A Ship lyes by the Lee, that it has all
her sails, lying, flat against the masts
and shrouds. 


M. 
MAnger, is a Circle of Plank they
build either before the Main­



mast or Abaft, to keep out the water, which
sometimes comes in at the Hawses in a 
rough Sea.

A Made mast, a Mast greater then of
one Tree. 

Marting, is a small untwisted line
Well tarr'd, to sease the ends of Ropes,
so that they may not untwist. 

Marting Spike, is a small piece of Iron
to splice Ropes withal, or to open the
Bolt-rope when you sew the Sail. 

The Main-sail, is the Great Sail or
Course belonging to the Main-mast. 

The Main-top-sail, is the Sail immedi­
ately above that. 

The Mizen-sail, is the great sail of the Mizen-mast. 

The Mizen Top-sail, is next above that. 

A Monk-seam, is a flat seam in the
sail. 

Set the Mizon, that is, fit the Mizon-­
sail. 

Change the Mizon, that is, bring the
Yard to the other side of the Mast. 

Speek the Mizon, is to bring the
Yard right up and down by the Mast 

Spell the Mizon, that is, let go the
Sheet and Peek it up.  



To moor a Ship, is to lay out her An­
chors in such manner, as she may ride
most conveniently and safe. 


N. 
No near, is to ease the Helm, and let
the ship fall to the Leeward. 

Nealed to, that is, deep Water close
aboard the shore. 

Neap Tides, are Tides when the Moon
is in the second or last Quarter, and are
neither so high nor low as the spring
Tides. 

A Ship is Beneaped, is when the Wa­
ter is not high enough to bring a ship
out of a Dock, or make her float. 


O. 
Orlop, is a Deck. 

Okum, is Old Ropes torn in pieces,
like Tow or Furds, the which is beat
into every seam of the ship to make
her tight.

"Furd(n)" in the sense of "a type of rope" is not found in the OED.

 

Over-rigg'd, is when the Ropes of
a ship are not sizable to her Burthen. 

Offing, is the open sea from the shore,
or the midst of any great stream.  



It Overblows, is when we can bear no
Top-sail. 

An Over-grown Sea, is a great Wave
or Billow. 

The Ship stands for the Offing, that is, she
stands to the Sea-ward. 

Over-set, is turning over.


P. 
Ports, are square Holes in the sides of
the Ship for the Ordnance to lye out at,
offensive or defensive. 

A Pump, is a boared Tree with a
Sucker belonging to it, to suck the Wa­
ter out of the Well of the Ship. 

The Pump sucks, is when the Water
being out, the Pump sucks nothing but
Froth and Wind. 

A bare Pump, is a little piece of Latten
or Reed, to pump the Beer or Water
out of the Cask. 

The Prow, is the Deck abaft the Fore-­
Castle. 

Pintels, is Hooks or Bolts that goes into
Iron Sockets, whereby the Rudder hangs. 

Parsling, is a List of Canvas, which
being well smear'd with hot Pitch, poured
upon, is laid all along the seams of the
Decks.  



Partners, are strong Timbers bolted to
the Beams incircling the Masts to keep
them steady. 

The Pillow, is that Timber whereon the
Boultspreat resteth. 

The Puttocks, go from the Shrouds of
the Masts to the Top, Cap, or Bowl, which
is a round Timber on the head of every
Mast. 

Parrels, are round Balls of Wood which
go round the mast, and are fixed to the
Yards, which make them slip up and
down easy. 

A Parbunckle, is two Ropes that have
at each end a Noose or Lump, that being
crossed, you may set any Vessel that hath
but one head upon them, bringing the
Loops over the upper end, to fix the
Tackle to them; and you may heave
them out or in as you please. 

Puddings, are Ropes nailed round the
Yards Arms close to the end, to save the
Robins from galling upon the Yards, or
to put about the Anchors Ring to save
the Clinch of the Cable from Galling. 

Preventer Rope, is a little rope ceased
cross over the Ties, that if one pair of
them should break, the other should not
run through the Rams head to endanger
the Yard.  



Port Ropes, Are these which hale up
the Gun-ports.

"Gun-port(n)" antedates the earliest OED citation (1769).

 

Pay more Cable, is when you are going
out with your Anchor, you would have
them to throw over more Cable. 

To pay a Seam, is to lay hot Pitch and
Tar over a Caulked Seam. 

To ride a Peek, is when the Yards are
so, that they make the Figure of St. An­
drews Cross. 

The Capstain purchases apace, that is,
draws in much Cable in a short time. 


Q. 
A Ships Quarter, is from the Main­
mast aftward. 

Quoynes, are slenting pieces of Timber
or Wedges to heighten the breach of a
Cannon. 

Quarter-Winds, are when the Wind
comes in abaft the main Shrouds even
with the Quarter. 

A Quoil, is a Rope or Cable laid up
round, one fack over another. 


R. 
Rungs, are the Floor Timbers, or
ground Timbers thwart the Keel.  



Rungheads, is the bending place at the
end of the Rungs. 

Ribs, are Arching Timbers which lye
in the inside of the Ship whereunto the
Planks are boulted, which make the Hould
and Hull. 

Rising Timbers, are the Hooks, or
ground Timbers, or Foot-Hooks, placed
on the Keel. 

The Run, is that part of the Ship un­
der-water, which grows narrower by
degrees from the Floor Timbers along
the stern Post. 

The Rake, is so much of a Ships Hull as
hangs over both ends of the Keel. 

Riders, are great binders, which go
from the Beams under the Orlop to the
Keel in great Ships, to strengthen all. 

Ring-bolts, are used for the Tackle of
the Ordnance. 

To raise a Deck, is to put it higher. 

Ramshead, is a great Block with three
Shivers, through which are passed the
Hallyards, and in a hole at the end of it,
is reeved the Tyes, belonging to the
Fore-end Main-Hallyard.

The compound "main-halyard(n)" is not found in the OED.

 

The Roul, is that through which the
Whipstaff goeth, which is a piece of wood
the Steers-man holdeth in his hand to
steer withal.  



The Rudder, is a great piece of Tim­
ber like unto a Plank, made lesser or
greater according to the Ships Burthen
hung at the stern of the Ship upon
Hooks and Hinges, to guide the Ship. 

Rigging, is all the Ropes or Cordage
belonging to the Masts and Yards of a
Ship. 

Running-Ropes, are such Ropes as run
through Blocks or Pullies. 

Ratlings, are the small Ropes which
go cross the Shrouds, for steps to go up
the Shrouds upon. 

Robbins, are little lines reeved into the
Eyelot-holes of the Sail, to make fast
the Sail to the Yard. 

Rope-Yarns, are the Yarns of any Rope
untwisted. 

Rudder-Rope, is reeved through the
stern Post, and goeth through the head
of the Rudder; the ends whereof are
spliced together, to save the Rudder, if
it should be unhinged, or struck off the
Irons.

"Rudder-rope(n)" is not found in the OED.

 

Rousing, is to pull the Slackness of
any Rope into the Ship. 

Rouse-Trees, are small Timbers to bear
up the Goarings from the half Deck to
the Fore-Castle.  



A Reach, is the Distance between any
two Points of Land that lye opposite to
one another. 

To Reeve, is to put a Rope through a
Block. 

Un-reeve, is to pull a Rope out of a
Block. 

Ride, is when a Ship is held fast by
an Anchor, so that she doth not drive. 

To ride athwart, is to ride with the
Ships-side to the Tide.

The phrase "ride athwart(v)" is not found in the OED but see "athwart," adv. and prep. 3.

 

To ride between Wind and Tide, is when
the Wind and Tide are contrary, and
are in strength equal. 

A Road, is any place near the Land,
where Ships may ride at Anchor. 

To Ride Hawse-fall, is in a Rough Sea,
when the Water breaks into the Hawses. 

Rouse in, that is, hale in the Cable or
Hawser. 


S. 
The Stem, is a great piece of Timber
compassing and fixed into the Keel, where­
unto all the Butt ends of the Planks
foreward are fixed. 

The Stern Post, is another great Tim­
er, which is let into the Keel at the o­
ther end.  



Sweep or Mould, is the Timber which
compasseth at the ground Timber, on
the foot Hooks. 

Skarfing, is one piece of Wood let
into another. 

Sleepers, are Timbers which are boulted
strongly to the Foot-Hooks on each side
the Keelsom. 

Spurkits, are the spaces betwixt the
Timbers along the ship sides in all parts
but them in the Howle below the sleep­
ers. 

A Scuttle Hatch, is a little square Hole
we call the scuttle, where but one Man
can go down into the ship. 

Skupper-Leathers, are pieces of Lea­
ther nailed upon the out-sides of the
Skupper-holes, to keep the sea out,
and these Holes are round the Deck, to
let the Pump Water out. 

The Stearage, is a Room before the
Great Cabin, where he that steareth the
Ship stands. 

The Stern, is the Hind part of the
ship where the Rudder is. 

Stays, are great Ropes, for staying
the Masts, the Main stay is made fast
by a Lannier to a Coller which comes
round the Head and Boltsprit. 

A Shiver, is a little Wheel fixed with  



an Iron Pin into a Block or Pulley.  

Shrowds, are great Ropes which go up
either sides of all Masts, and go
through Blocks with several Holes, cal­
led Dead Eyes.

"Dead eyes" antedates the earliest OED citation (1748).

 

Standing-Ropes, are the shrouds and
stays, because they are not removed, un­
less it be upon extraordinary occasion. 

The Snap-Block, is that Block which is
used in hoisting the Goods in or out. 

A Sling, is to make fast any Cask,
Yard or Gun in a pair of Slings, which
are made of a Rope spliced at either end
into it self, with one Eye at either end
so long as to be sufficient to receive the
Cask. 

Sheats, are bent to the Clews of all
Sails; in low Sails they hale aft the Clew
of the Sail, but in Top Sails, they hale
them home, or close to the Yards Arm. 

Sinnet, is a string made of Rope-Yarn,
platted in three parts, which being beat
flat, it is used to sarve Ropes or Mats. 

Sarve, is when a Rope is ty'd round
with a piece of Mat, Sinnet or Canvas,
to save it from fretting. 

Seasing, is to bind fast any rope to­
gether. 

A seasen, is the Rope by which the
Boat doth Ride by the Ships side.

"Seasen(n)" in the sense of "a type of rope" is not found in the OED. John Smith uses the word in his General History of Virginia.

  



Spun-yarn, is Rope-Yarn made small
at the end, and so spun to each other. 

Splicing, is to let one Ropes End into
another, so as they may be as firm as
the other part of the Rope. 

Sheep-shank, is a kind of a Knot, they
cast upon the runner of Tacle when it
is too long to take in the goods, so
they can shorten a rope without cut­
ting. 

A shallop, are small Boats belong­
ing to Great Ships. 

A spell, is a relief of a new gang for
the Boat to relieve the Rowers. 

Shearing, is when the Boat swings to
and again. 

Splice a Cable, is to fasten two ends
together to add to the length of it. 

Shank-panter, is a short Chain fastned
under the foremast shrowds, to the Ships
side, and at the other end a Rope to
make fast the Anchor to the Bowe. 

To stop, is when you come to an An­
chor and veers out your Cable. 

Studding sails, are bolts of Canvas
which are extended along the side of
the Main-Sail, the which we boom out
with a Boom or long Pole. 

Sprit-sail, are the Sails of the Boult-sprit.  



To stow, is to put the Goods in or­
der into the Hould. 

The Ballast shoots, is to run to one
side or shift. 

Strike, That is when the Goods are
down into the Hould, so as the Tackle
may be made loose, they say strike.  

To sease, Is to make fast. 

The ship seals, That is when on a
sudden she lies down on one side, and
tumbles from one side to the other. 

The ship sends,that is, her Head or Stern falls deep in the Trough or Hol­
low of the Sea. 

The ship is sewed, or the Water is gone
from her. 

The ship stears, or goes not strieght
forward. 

To sound, is to try with a Lead and
Line the depth of Water. 

The ship hath spent her Masts, that is,
she hath lost them all by fowl Weather. 

Their Masts are shot by the Board, that
is, when they are lost in a Fight. 

The sail is split, or blown in pieces. 

The ship spooms, that is, goes right
before the Wind without Sails. 

Spring Tides, are the Tides at New
and Full Moon.  



The Bowsprit steeves, or stands too
Upright.


T. 
Trunions, or Tree-nails, is Wooden
Pins about a foot long, which go through
the Planks and Ribs of the Ship, to keep
them strongly together. 

Transome, is a Timber lyes thwart the
Stern, and doth lay out the bredth of
the Ship at the Buttocks. 

The Tiller, is a strong piece of Wood
made fast to the Rudder. 

Tauntmasted, is when a Ship is over
masted, so that she laboureth too much
a Hull. 

The Trestel-trees, are bolted into the
Cross Trees at the Head of the Mast,
to keep in the Top Mast which are fast­
ned in them. 

Tawt the shrowds or stay, is when
they are over slack to make them
stiffer.

The verb "Tawt", presumably derived from the adjective, is not found in the OED, which has the usual verb form "tauten."

 

The Tyes, are the Ropes by which the
Yards do hang. 

The Tackles, are ropes run in three
parts with two blocks, one whereof has
a Hook to heave any thing in or out of
the Ship.  


 
Tacks, are great Ropes which bring
forward the Clew of the Sail to make
it stand fast by a Wind. 

Tarpawling, is a piece of Tarr'd Can­
vass, to cover the Hoops in the stern of
a Boat in Wet Weather. 

Thoughts, are the Seats whereon the
Rowers sit.

"thwart" antedates the earliest citation in the OED (1721).

 

Thowls, are small Pins put into the
side of the Boat, to bear the Oars when
they Row. 

Trim the Boat, is to keep her streight. 

Top-Gallant-sail, is the sail of the Mast
next the ship stern. 

Trench the Ballast, that is to Divide
it to find the Lake. 

Tack about, that is to bring the ships
Head about to lye the other way. 

Talle off the sheets, that is, hale off the
sheats of the main Sail.

"Talle off" antedates the earliest OED citation ("tail," v.1, Phrasal verbs, 1; 1827) and is not found in this nautical sense.

 

A Windward Tide, is when the Wind
and Tide is contrary. 

A Tide-Gate, is when the Tide runs
strong. 

To Tide it up, is to go with Tide a­
gainst the Wind. 

To Tow, is to drag any thing after
the Ship. 

To Traverse, is the Ships way.




V. 
To Veer, is to let out more Rope. 

Vea, Vea, Vea, is a term when they
pull all strongly together. 


W. 
Whoodings, are Planks fastned into the
Ships stern. 

Whelps, are short pieces of Wood made
fast to the Capstain, to keep the Cable
from coming too high in turning a­
bout. 

The Windes, is a piece of Timber
like a Role, which is forced about
with Hand-spakes in small Ships, and
performs the same as Capstain. 

The Wast, is that part of the Ship be­
twixt the Main-mast and the Fore-­
Castle. 

The Whip-staff, is that which the steers-man holds in his hand to steer
by. 

Wind the Boat, is to bring her Head
the other way. 

The Wast-Cloaths, is a long red Cloath
edged on each side with Calico, that go­
eth round about the Ship, when she is
ingaged in a Fight.  



The ship is Walt, that is wants Ballast. 

To Weather a ship, is to go to Wind­
ward of her. 

To Wind a ship, is to bring her Head
about. 

How Winds the ship, is what point of
the Compass doth she lye with her Head. 

To Would, is to bind Ropes about a
Mast.


Y. 
The ship yaws, that is, goes in and out
and does not stear steady. 

Yonkers, are the young Foremast Men. 

Beyare at the Helm, that is, be care­
ful at the Helm.