Nautical terminology
Some of the most common nautical terms are described below:
(Note there are many more than are shown here)
| Abaft | Towards the ships stern |
| Abeam | In a line at right angles to the ship's length |
| Aft | Towards the ship's stern |
| Ahead | In advance of the ships bows |
| Amidships | Near the centre of the ship's length |
| Astern | Behind the ship |
| Athwartships | From one side of the ship to another |
| Athwart | Transversely |
| Awash | Level with the surface of the water |
| Aweigh | Anchor just raised from the sea bed |
| Beam | Greatest bredth of the ship |
| Boot-topping | Area of a ships hull between the light and loaded water-lines, painted a distinctive colour |
| Bows | Foremost part of the ship |
| Camber | Athwartship upward curve of a ships deck |
| Draught | Depth of water necessary to float a ship |
| Flare | The outward and upward curve of a ship's side at the bows |
| Forecastle | Forward most deck of a ship |
| Forward | Towards the bows |
| Gaff | Spar ahead of a fore-and-aft sail or diagonal spar for flags |
| Gunwale | Upper edge of a boats side |
| Knot | Unit of speed. A nautical mile traversed in one hour |
| Leeward | Direction to which the wind is blowing |
| Lee | Sheltered side away from the wind |
| Port | Left hand side when looking towards the bows |
| Quarter | Direction between abeam and astern and that part of a vessel's sides near the stern |
| Quarter deck | After most deck of a warship |
| Rake | Slope of the stem |
| Sheer | Fore-and-aft curve of a hull or deck, rising between bows and stern |
| Starboard | Right hand side when looking towards the bows |
| Stem | Foremost part of a ship's hull |
| Stern | Aftermost part of the hull |
| Topsides | Sides of hull between boot-topping and shelter deck level |
| Trim | Way a vessel sits in the water, i.e. on an even keel, down by the head, or down by the stern |
| Tumblehome | Upward and inward curve of a vessel's side |
| Wake | Foamy water left in track of a ship |
| Way/ Underway | Passage of a ship through the water |
| Windward | Direction from which the wind is blowing |
