Nautical Information Flashcards
Adrift
Loose from moorings and out of control. Applied to anything lost or out of hand.
Aft
Towards the stern (tail) end of a ship.
All Hands
The entire ship’s company, both officer and enlisted.
Allotment
An amount of money a Sailor has coming out of regular pay.
Aye, Aye
Response acknowledging the understanding of a command/statement.
Barracks
A building where Sailors live when ashore.
Below
Downstairs, like the next deck below.
Blackshoe
Non-aviation rate for enlisted personnel as well as officers. A “shoe” is a ship driver/Surface Warfare Officer.
Blue Nose
A Sailor who has crossed either the Arctic or Antarctic Circle. Also applies to officers.
Bow
The forward part of a ship or boat.
Bravo Zulu
Naval term for “well done”.
Brightwork
Brass or shiny metal kept polished rather than pained.
Brownshoe
Aviation rate enlisted personnel.
Bulkhead
The wall.
Bunk
A bed.
Buoy
An anchored float used as an aid to navigation or to mark the location of an object.
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.
Chit
Forms used to request taking leave, a day off, etc.
Chit Book
Coupon or receipt book.
Chow Hall
(Mess Deck) A place to eat.
Colors
Raising and lowering of the National Ensign, the American flag and organizational flags.
Cup Of Joe
A cup of coffee. Named after Josephus Daniels, Secretary of the Navy from 1913-1921 who under General Order 99 in June 1914 prohibited the use of alcohol on board U.S. Navy ships.
Deck
The floor.
Deep Six
To dispose of or throw away.
Enlisted
The general workforce of the Navy and Navy reserve - generally requires a high school diploma (or GED) as a minimum educational requirement, completion of Recruit Training and training in an occupational specialty area.
Ensign
The rank of Officer between Chief Warrant Officer and Lieutenant Junior Grade.
Fast
Snugly secured.
Fathom
A unit of length equal to 6 feet used for measuring the depth of water.
Field Day
Full-blown cleaning, sort of like spring cleaning in overdrive.
First Lieutenant
The officer responsible to the XO for the deck department/division aboard ship.
Flag Officer
Any commissioned officer in pay grade O-7 or above.
Galley
The kitchen.
Gangway
An opening in the bulwark or lifeline that provides access to a brow or accommodation ladder; when shouted means to get out of the way.
Gear Locker
A storage room.
Geedunk
Candy, gum or cafeteria, sometimes called pogey bait.
General Quarters
Battle stations.
Ground Tackle
The equipment used for mooring or anchoring a ship.
Hatch
The door.
Head
The restroom.
Jack Box
Access box to sound-powered phone circuitry.
Ladder
A device to move personnel from one level to another. Stairs.
Leave
Authorized absence, like vacation.
Liberty
Permission to leave the base, usually for not more than 48 hours.
Lifeline
Lines erected around the weather decks of a ship to prevent personnel from falling or being washed over the side.
Marlin Spike
A life-size model ship where recruits practice mooring, line handling, putting out to sea, and other aspects of basic seamanship.
Mess Deck
The crew’s dining area.
Mess Duty
A 90-day obligated duty working on the mess decks when first reporting aboard. (aka Mess-Crank’n)
Mid-Watch
The midnight watch, the most dreaded watch because one loses most sleep out of the rotation.
Navy Reserve
Reserve component of the U.S. Navy in which part-time Sailors and Officers are called into active duty, or mobilized, as needed.
Nautical Mile
Equal to 6,067 ft.
Officer
The leadership and management team of the Navy and Navy Reserve - generally requires a degree from a four-year college or university and completion of an Officer Training program.
Ombudsman
Volunteer who is the well-trained link between Sailors and their families.
Overhead.
The ceiling.
Passageway
A hallway.
Port
A place on a waterway with facilities for loading and unloading ships.
Port Side
The left side of a nautical vessel.
Quarters
Assembling all hands for muster. Also refers to a home on base, a residence.
Rack
A bed.
Rating
A specific job title.
Reveille
A signal signifying the start of a workday.
Scullery
A place to wash dishes.
Scuttlebut
Originally meant to describe a water fountain. Quickly became a place Sailors would gather and talk. Term now used for rumors and rumor control.
Secure
To stop or quit work.
Sick Bay
Medical facility located in a hospital, aid station or on board ship.
Snipe
Anyone who works in the Engineering department.
Starboard
The right side of a nautical vessel.
Stern
The aft part (rear) of a ship or boat.
Sweepers
Cleaning ritual that involves sweeping assigned areas.
Swab
A mop.
Taps
Lights out, time for sleep.
Turn To
Begin work.
Working Aloft
Working above the highest deck, generally performing maintenance on the ship’s mast.
