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| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | K | L | M | O | P | Q | R | S | T | W |

A

Aboard
On or in a ship; Close aboard; near a ship.
Adrift
Loose from moorings and out of control. Applied to anything lost, out of hand or left lying about.
Ahoy!
This old traditional greeting for hailing other vessels was originally a Viking battle cry.
Aft
Near or towards the stern of a vessel.
Airedale
Slang, a naval aviator.
All-hands
The entire ship's company, both officers and enlisted personnel.
Allotment
An amount of money a member has designated to be withheld from pay and sent directly to another person or organization (i.e. bank or credit union)
Alongside
Beside a pier, wharf or ship.
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
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. Anchors Aweigh – The official hymn of the United States Navy and Naval Reserve.
AUTOVON
Old name for the Navy's internal telephone system. Now known as Defense Switched Network, or DSN.
Aye-aye!
Reply to an order or command meaning "I understand and will comply."

B

Barnacle
Small marine animal that attaches itself to hulls and pilings.
Barge
An Admiral's boat.
Barracks
Building where sailors live.
Belay
To cancel an order; stop; firmly secure a line.
Below
Below decks; below main deck.
Berth
Space assigned ship for anchoring or mooring.
Between the Devil and the Deep
In wooden ships, the "devil" was the longest seam of the ship. It ran from the bow to the stern. When at sea and the "devil" had to be caulked, the sailor sat in a bo'sun's chair to do so. He was suspended between the "devil" and the sea — the "deep" — a very precarious position, especially when the ship was underway.
Billet
An allotted sleeping space; an individual's position in the ship's organization.
Bitter End
As any able-bodied seaman can tell you, a turn of a line around a bitt, those wooden or iron posts sticking through a ship's deck, is called a bitter end. The landlubbing phrase "stick it to the bitter end" and "faithful to the bitter end" are derivations of the nautical term and refer to anyone who insists in adhering to a course of action without regard to consequences.
Blackshoe
An officer who is not an aviator; the latter is a Brownshoe.
Bluejacket
Navy enlisted member below the grade of CPO.
Boatswain
From the Saxon word "swein" which meant a boy or servant. The boat refers to the ship and not to her small boats.
Boatswain's Pipe
One of the oldest and most distinctive pieces of nautical equipment, the pipe or flute was used in Greece and Rome to keep the stroke of galley slaves. The pipe was used in the Crusades to call English cross bowmen on deck for attack. In time, the pipe came to be used as a badge of office by commanders. The whistle was used for salutes to distinguished persons as well as to pass orders.
A 1645 publication detailing honors for an admiral orders: "The ship's barge to be sent to fetch the visitor having the cockson with his silver whistle in the stern... Upon the near approach of the barge the noise of the trumpets are to sound and so to hold on until the barge comes within less than musket shot, at that time the trumpets are to cease and all such as carry whistles are to whistle a welcome three several times."
The parts of the pipe are the buoy, gun, keel and shackle.
Boot
Slang for recruit.
Boot Camp
During the Spanish-American War, sailors wore leggings called boots, which came to mean a Navy (or Marine) recruit. These recruits trained in "boot" camps.
Bow
Most forward part of a ship.
Bravo Zulu
The term originates from the Allied Signals Book (ATP 1), which in the aggregate is for official use only. Signals are sent as letters and/or numbers, which have meanings by themselves sometimes or in certain combinations. A single table in ATP 1 is called "governing groups," that is, the entire signal that follows the governing group is to be performed according to the "governor." The letter "B" indicates this table, and the second letter (A through Z) gives more specific information. For example, "BA" might mean "You have permission to . . . (do whatever the rest of the flashing light, flag hoist or radio transmission says)." "BZ" happens to be the last item in the governing groups table. It means "well done".
Bridge
Platform or area from which ship is steered, navigated and conned; usually located in forward part of ship.
Brig
Sailor's universal term for jail.
Brightwork
Brass or shiny metal kept polished rather than painted.
Brow
Large gangplank leading from a ship to a pier, wharf or float; usually equipped with handrails.
Bulkhead
One of the upright, crosswise partitions dividing a ship into compartments.
Bunk or Rack
Bed
Buoy
An anchored float used as an aid to navigation or to mark the location of an object.

C

Captain
From Latin caput meaning head. Rank or commanding officer of a ship or squadron. Until 1862, captain was highest commissioned rank in U.S. Navy.
Catapult
Shipboard mechanism for launching aircraft.
Carry on
An order to resume work or duties.
Cast off
To throw off; to let go; to unfurl
Chain locker
Compartment in which anchor chain is stowed.
Chewing the Fat
"God made the vittles but the devil made the cook," was a popular saying used by seafaring men in the 19th century when salted beef was staple diet aboard ship. This tough cured beef, suitable only for long voyages when nothing else was cheap or would keep as well (remember, there was no refrigeration), required prolonged chewing to make it edible. Men often chewed one chunk for hours, just as if it were chewing gum and referred to this practice as "chewing the fat."
Chow hall (Mess deck)
Place to eat
Classified
Information or material of possible aid to enemy if improperly divulged. There are currently three categories: Top Secret, Secret and Confidential.
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.
Commander
Title introduced into British Navy by William III, when it was spelled commandeur; later such officer was second in command of large ships. Rank of commander introduced into U.S. Navy in 1838 replacing that of "master commandant."
Commissary
Grocery store on base where service members and families can purchase food, beverages, etc., at prices usually lower than in civilian stores.
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
Used as an honorific to any officer commanding a squadron or flotilla of submarines, destroyers or smaller ships.
Compartment
Space enclosed by bulkheads, deck and overhead, same as a room in a building.
Contributory Support
Support provided by Reservists to active Navy commands, contributing to the completion of their mission.
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
Direction steered by a ship or plane.
Court-Martial
Military court for trial of serious offenses (summary, special, and general courts-martial).
Coxswain
A coxswain (pronounced cocks'n) or cockswain was at first the swain (boy servant) in charge of the small cock or cockboat that was kept aboard for the ship's captain and which was used to row him to and from the ship. The term has been in use in England dating back to at least 1463. With the passing of time the coxswain became the helmsman of any boat, regardless of size.
CPO
Abbreviation for Chief Petty Officer.
Crow
Slang, eagle on petty officer's rating badge.
Crow's Nest
The raven, or crow, was an essential part of the Vikings' navigation equipment. These land-lubbing birds were carried on aboard to help the ship's navigator determine where the closest land lay when weather prevented sighting the shore. In cases of poor visibility, a crow was released and the navigator plotted a course corresponding to the bird's flight path because the crow invariably headed towards land. The Norsemen carried the birds in a cage secured to the top of the mast. Later on, as ships grew and the lookout stood his watch in a tub located high on the main mast, the name "crow's nest" was given to this tub. While today's Navy still uses lookouts in addition to radars, etc., the crow's nest is a thing of the past.
Cumshaw
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.
Cup of Joe
Josephus Daniels (18 May 1862-15 January 1948) was appointed Secretary of the Navy by President Woodrow Wilson in 1913. Among his reforms of the Navy were inaugurating the practice of making 100 Sailors from the Fleet eligible for entrance into the Naval Academy, the introduction of women into the service, and the abolishment of the officers' wine mess. From that time on, the strongest drink aboard Navy ships could only be coffee and over the years, a cup of coffee became known as "a cup of Joe".

D

Deck
A floor or platform extending from end to end of a ship.
DEERS
Defense Eligibility Enrollment Reporting System. The DEERS database lists everyone entitled to active duty and retired pay and their dependents.
Deep-six
To dispose of by throwing over the side
Dependent
Family members who meet specific benefits eligibility requirements.
Deploy
Tactical term used for dispersal of troops; also disposition of ships in battle formations.
Ditty Box or Ditty Bag
A small box or bag carried by sailors in which is kept letters, small souvenirs, and sewing supplies. Probably from the Saxon word "dite," meaning tidy.
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.
Dogwatch
A dogwatch at sea is the period between 4 and 6 p.m, the first dogwatch, or the period between 6 and 8 p.m., the second dog watch. The dogwatches are only two hours each so the same sailors aren't always on duty at the same time each afternoon. Some experts say dogwatch is a corruption of dodge watch and others associate dogwatch with the fitful sleep of sailors called dog sleep, because it is a stressful watch. But no one really knows the origin of this term, which was in use at least back to 1700.
DSN
Defense Switched Network; Department of Defense internal telephone system (formerly Autovon).
Duffle
A name given to a sailor's personal effects. Also spelled duffel, it referred to his principal clothing as well as to the seabag in which he carried and stowed it. The term comes from the Flemish town of Duffel near Antwerp, and denotes a rough woolen cloth made there.
Dungarees
The modern sailor's work clothes. The term is not modern, however, but dates to the 18th century and comes from the Hindi word dungri, for a type of Indian cotton cloth.

E

Embark
To go aboard ship preparatory to sailing.
Eight Bells
Aboard Navy ships, bells are struck to designate the hours of being on watch. Each watch is four hours in length. One bell is struck after the first half-hour has passed, two bells after one hour has passed, three bells after an hour and a half, four bells after two hours, and so forth up to eight bells are struck at the completion of the four hours. Completing a watch with no incidents to report was "Eight bells and all is well."
The practice of using bells stems from the days of the sailing ships. Sailors couldn't afford to have their own time pieces and relied on the ship's bells to tell time. The ship's boy kept time by using a half-hour glass. Each time the sand ran out, he would turn the glass over and ring the appropriate number of bells.
Enlisted Evaluation
Written report of an enlisted service member's performance of duty
Ensign
National flag; commissioned junior officer between the rank of chief warrant officer and lieutenant junior grade
Exchange
Department store run by the military.
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.

F

Fantail
Main deck section in after part of flush-deck ship.
Fast
Snugly secured.
Fathom
A unit of length equal to 6 feet used for measuring the depth of water. Fathom was originally a land-measuring term derived from the Anglo-Saxon word "faetm" meaning to embrace. In those days, most measurements were based on average size of parts of the body, such as the hand (horses are still measured this way) or the foot (that's why 12 inches are so named). A fathom is the average distance from fingertip to fingertip of the outstretched arms of a man — about six feet. Since a man stretches out his arms to embrace his sweetheart, Britain's Parliament declared that distance be called a "fathom" and it be a unit of measure. A fathom remains six feet. The word was also used to describe taking the measure or "to fathom" something. Today, of course, when one is trying to figure something out, they are trying to "fathom" it.
Field day
General cleaning day, usually held the day before an inspection.
First Lieutenant
Officer responsible to the XO for the deck department/division aboard ship, or the command maintenance supervisor ashore.
Fitness Report
Written report of an officer's performance of duty.
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
Rear Admiral, Lower Half; Rear Admiral, Upper Half; Vice Admiral, Admiral, and Fleet Admiral are flag officers.
Flank Speed
Certain prescribed speed increase over standard speed; faster than full speed.
Fleet
From Anglo-Saxon fleet. Organization of ships and aircraft under one commander.
Flight Deck
Deck of ship on which planes land and take off.
Forecastle
The appropriate pronunciation for this word is fo'ksul. The forecastle is the forward part of the main deck. It derives its name from the days of Viking galleys when wooden castles were built on the forward and after parts the main deck from which archers and other fighting men could shoot arrows and throw spears, rocks, etc.
Forward
Toward bow; opposite of aft.
Frame
Ribs of a vessel.
Fouled Anchor
The fouled (rope- or chain-entwined) anchor so prevalent in our Navy's designs and insignia is a symbol at least 500 years old that has its origins in the British traditions adopted by our naval service. The fouled anchor was adopted as the official seal of Lord High Admiral Charles Lord Howard of Effingham during the late 1500s. The anchor (both with and without the entwined rope) is a traditional heraldic device used in ancient British coats of arms. As a heraldic device, it is a stylized representation used merely for its decorative effect.
Four-Oh
Top mark; equal to 100%. Navy grades and marks run from 0.0 to 4.0. By common usage, perfect.

G

Gaining Command
The active command to which a Reservist or unit is staffed to support.
Galley
The galley is the portion of the ship where food is prepared; never called a kitchen! The best explanation as to its origin is that it is a corruption of "gallery". Ancient sailors cooked their meals on a brick or stone gallery laid amidships.
Gangplank
See "Brow."
Gangway
The opening in a bulwark or lifeline that provides access to a brow or accommodation ladder; an order meaning to clear the way.
Gear locker
Storage room
Geedunk
To most Sailors, the word geedunk means ice cream, candy, potato chips and other assorted snacks, or even the place where they can be purchased. "Geedunk" is the sound made by a vending machine when it disposes a soft drink in the cup.
General Quarters
Battle stations.
Gig
A captain or commander's personal boat.
Gitmo
Abbreviation for U.S. Naval Base, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
Grunt
Slang, a Marine.
Gun Salutes
Gun salutes were first fired as an act of good faith. In the days when it took so long to reload a gun, it was a proof of friendly intention when the ship's cannon were discharged upon entering port.

H

Hash mark
Slang, service stripe worn on uniform of enlisted personnel.
Head
The "head" aboard a Navy ship is the bathroom. The term comes from the days of sailing ships when the place for the crew to relieve themselves was all the way forward on either side of the bowsprit, the integral part of the hull to which the figurehead was fastened.
Heel
To list to one side or the other.
Holiday Routine
Followed aboard ship on authorized holidays and Sundays.
Honors
Ceremonies conducted in honor of a visiting dignitary, usually involving sideboys and, occasionally, a band and honor guard.
Hunky-Dory
The term meaning everything is O.K. was coined from a street named "Honki-Dori" in Yokohama, Japan. Since the inhabitants of this street catered to the pleasures of sailors, it is easy to understand why the street's name became synonymous for anything that is enjoyable or at least satisfactory. "Okey-dokey" has similar origins.

K

Knock Off
Cease what is being done; stop work.
Knot
Measure speed for ships and aircraft, as "the destroyer was making 30 knots," or "the top speed of the plane is 400 knots."

L

Ladder
In a ship, corresponds to stairs in a building.
Leatherneck
Term probably applied to U.S. Marines by Sailors because of the leather-lined collar once part of Marine uniforms. The collar, about the same height as that of the present uniform collar, was designed to give a greater military appearance to the uniform; when damp with perspiration it was highly uncomfortable and caused throat trouble. Abolished by Marine Corps about 1875.
Leave
Paid vacation earned at the rate of 2 1/2 days per month of active duty.
Liberty
Authorized absence of individual from place of duty, not chargeable as leave. No period of liberty shall exceed a total of 96 hours.
Lifeline
Lines erected around the weatherdecks of a ship to prevent personnel from falling or being washed over the side
Line
The Navy term for "rope."
Line Officer
Officer who may succeed to operational command as opposed to staff corps officer who normally exercises authority only in a specialty (e.g., hospitals, supply centers).
Log Book
In the early days of sailing ships, the ship's records were written on shingles cut from logs. These shingles were hinged and opened like a book. The record was called the "log book." Later on, when paper was readily available and bound into books, the record maintained its name.
Lookout
Seaman assigned to watch and report any objects of interest; lookouts are "the eyes of the ship."

M

Mast
Captain's mast, or merely mast, derived from the fact that in early sailing days the usual setting for this type of naval justice was on the weather deck near ship's mainmast. Currently, means type of hearing with commanding officer presiding in which any punishment administered is nonjudicial in nature and is an alternative to court martial.
Mess
Meal; a place or group of officers and crew who eat together as in "crew is at mess," "meeting was held in CPO mess," or "she was the guest of wardroom mess." Mess comes from Latin mensa, or table.
Muster
To assemble crew; roll call.

O

Old Man
Seaman's slang term for captain of a ship.
Ombusdman
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.
Overhead
Ceiling on a ship

P

Passageway
Corridor or hallway on ship.
Pea Coat
Sailors who have to endure pea-soup weather often don their pea coats but the coat's name isn't derived from the weather. The heavy topcoat worn in cold, miserable weather by seafaring men was once tailored from pilot cloth — a heavy, course, stout kind of twilled blue cloth with the nap on one side. The cloth was sometimes called P-cloth for the initial letter of "pilot" and the garment made from it was called a p-jacket — later, a pea coat. The term has been used since 1723 to denote coats made from that cloth.
Plan Of The Day
Schedule of day's routine and events ordered by executive officer; published daily aboard ship or at shore activity.
Port and Starboard
Port and starboard are shipboard terms for left and right, respectively. Confusing those two could cause a ship wreck. In Old England, the starboard was the steering paddle or rudder, and ships were always steered from the right side on the back of the vessel. Larboard referred to the left side, the side on which the ship was loaded. So how did larboard become port? Shouted over the noise of the wind and the waves, larboard and starboard sounded too much alike. The word port means the opening in the "left" side of the ship from which cargo was unloaded. Sailors eventually started using the term to refer to that side of the ship. Use of the term "port" was officially adopted by the U.S. Navy by General Order, 18 February 1846.

Q

Quarterdeck
Part of main (or other) deck reserved for honors and ceremonies and the station of the OOD in port.
Quarters
Living spaces assigned to personnel aboard ship; government owned housing assigned to personnel at shore stations; assembly of personnel for drill, inspection, or meeting.

R

Rank
Grade or official standing of commissioned and warrant officers.
Rate
Grade or official standing of enlisted men; identifies pay grade or level of advancement; within each rating a rate reflects levels of aptitude, training, experience, knowledge, skill, and responsibility.
Rating
Job classification with the Navy, such as Electronics Technician.
Ready Reserve
A status in which members serve under a statutory military obligation or under a written agreement.
Retirement Points
Earned at the rate of one point for each drill and one for each day of active duty. Basis for computation of retirement pay, which commences at age 60.
Reveille
Bugle call to wake up, begin day.

S

Saluting the Quarter Deck
Some hold that the salute to the quarterdeck is derived from the very early seagoing custom of the respect paid to the pagan altar on board ship, and later to the crucifix and shrine. Others hold that the custom comes from the early days of the British Navy when all officers who were present on the quarterdeck returned the salute of an individual by uncovering (removing the hat). The original salute consisted of uncovering. The salute, touching the hat, to the seat of authority, the quarterdeck, the place nearest the colors, is as old a tradition.
Scullery
Place to wash dishes.
Scuttlebutt
The origin of the word "scuttlebutt," which is nautical parlance for a rumor, comes from a combination of "scuttle" — to make a hole in the ship's hull and thereby causing her to sink —- and "butt" — a cask or hogshead used in the days of wooden ships to hold drinking water. The cask from which the ship's crew took their drinking water — like a water fountain — was the "scuttlebutt". Even in today's Navy a drinking fountain is referred to as such. But, since the crew used to congregate around the "scuttlebutt", that is where the rumors about the ship or voyage would begin. Thus, then and now, rumors are talk from the "scuttlebutt" or just "scuttlebutt".
Sea Bag
Large canvas bag for stowing gear and clothing.
Sea Duty
Assignment to ship whose primary mission is accomplished while underway.
Secure
Lock, put away, or stop work.
Selected Reserve (SELRES)
Naval Reservists who are required to participate in active duty training periods and annual training, and are paid for this duty.
Shakedown Cruise
Cruise of newly commissioned ship to test machinery and equipment and train crew as a working unit.
Short-timer
One whose enlistment or tour of duty is almost completed.
Sick Bay
Hospital or clinic.
Sideboys
Impeccably uniformed Sailors who participate in honors ceremonies on the quarterdeck.
Skipper
From Dutch schipper, meaning captain.
Splice the Main Brace
A sailing ship's rigging was a favorite target during sea battles since by destroying the opponent's ability to maneuver or get away would put you at obvious advantage. Therefore, the first thing tended to after a battle was to repair broken gear, and repair sheets (lines - not "ropes" - that adjust the angle at which a sail is set in relation to the wind ) and braces (lines passing through blocks and holding up sails). Although no specifics remain, it appears that the main brace was the principal fore-and-aft support of the ship's masts. Splicing this line was the most difficult chore aboard ship, and one on which the ship's safety depended. It was the custom, after the main brace was properly spliced, to serve grog to the entire crew. Thus, today, after a hard day (or, not so hard day), the phrase has become an invitation to have a drink.
Standby Reserve
An active and inactive status manpower mobilization resource that cannot be ordered to active duty involuntarily by the President without the approval of Congress, and only if the Secretary of Defense determines that ample Ready Reserve expertise and units are not available for the emergency at hand.
Stern
Aft part of ship.
Stow
To put gear in its proper place.
Swab
Rope or yarn mop; also an unflattering term for a Sailor.

T

Taps
Bugle call signaling lights out, end of day.
Tattoo
Five minutes before taps.
Topside
Slang, meaning upper level, or above decks.
Total Force
Integration of active and Reserve components as one force
Training Administration of Reserves (TAR)
Reservists on full-time active duty solely to provide full-time support to the Naval Reserve.
Turn To
An order to begin work.

W

Wardroom
A compartment aboard ship near officers' stateroom used as officers' mess room.
Watches
Traditionally, a 24-hour day is divided into seven watches. These are: midnight to 4 a.m. [0000-0400], the mid-watch; 4 to 8 a.m. [0400-0800], morning watch; 8 a.m. to noon [0800-1200], forenoon watch; noon to 4 p.m. [1200-1600], afternoon watch; 4 to 6 p.m. [1600-1800] first dog watch; 6 to 8 p.m. [1800-2000], second dog watch; and, 8 p.m. to midnight [2000-2400], evening watch. The half hours of the watch are marked by the striking of the bell an appropriate number of times.
Working aloft
Working above the highest deck; generally performing maintenance on the ship's mast.

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