Sea Terms for Sea Actors
One of the most important things about portraying a character is convincing the audience that you are who you claim to be. This is accomplished through several means - costume, body language, and perhaps most importantly, technical language.
To that end, here's a list of terms for the Nautically minded, along definitions. They range from generic seagoing terms through industry specific. If terms are only valid after certain time periods, I'll attempt to note that in the definition.
Aft: Towards the rear of the ship
Boatswain's Mate: Commonly seen abbreviated and pronounced as "Bosun"
or "Bos'n". The Bos'n was usually either hired on specifically for the
job or picked from among the crew. The position was normally seen as the 'senior
seaman' on board the ship, and carried with it responsibilities ranging from
coordination and discipline of the crew, advice to the Captain regarding
seafaring matters (if the captain was not otherwise versed and was amenable to
such), maintenance and dispersal of cleaning stores and other such duties, and
quite often as the crew liaison between the 'regular' crew and the officers. The
position is still present in today's ships, and the US Navy Bosun's Mate rating
are charged with maintenance, care and light repair work onboard ship.
Clipper: Term for technically advance sailing ships, first seen primarily
in the American fleet in the 19th century. Not truly a 'class' of ship, but more
a style - fast, built very streamlined and 'fishy'.
Coxswain's Mate: Commonly seen abbreviated and pronounced as "Coxs'n".
The Coxs'n is normally responsible for the care, maintenance and manning of the
ship's boats. In whaling vessels (primarily in the 'golden age', circ.
1860), the Coxs'n and Harpooner shared control of the vessel. The Harpooner had
absolute control over the direction and conduct of the boat until a hit with a harpoon
was made, whereupon the Coxs'n traded positions with him and took control until
the hunt ended or the harpoon came loose. This position is still in effect in
the modern seagoing forces.
Flenser: The flenser was responsible for stripping
killed whales of their blubber. Using Flensing
Knives, when a whale was brought alongside the vessel the flenser would
climb over the side of the ship and strip the whale while it was still in the
water. As with most whaling positions, this job was incredibly dangerous, as if
the carcass turned, or the ship rolled unexpectedly, or any of a myriad other occurrences,
the flensers could easily be dislodged and crushed between the whale and the
hull. Flensers were also present in shore-based whaling stations, and are still
part of the whaling industry today.
Flensing Knife:
Basically a very sharp blade mounted on the end of a long stick, the overall
assembly somewhat resembling a hockey stick. Used by the Flenser
to strip blubber from whale carcasses.
Forecastle: Usually abbreviated "Foc'sle". In mid to late
period sailing ships (17th century on), the Foc'sle was normally the primary
berthing area for the 'deck' or enlisted crew. Normally abysmal quarters - being
far forward, the Foc'sle area took the brunt of any harsh seas. Also, in an era
not known for concern over hygiene and odor, the foc'sle was notoriously dank,
dark and dirty. Sailors would normally spend most or all off hours in the
foc'sle.
Forward: Towards the front of the ship.
Harpoon: Long spear used to hunt whale and other
sea life. Harpoons began as little more than a spear with a rope tied to them,
but evolved into massive, barbed projectiles with explosives in the head.
Larboard: Same as port. Larboard is usually
considered to be the 'older' term used.
Lee: Away from the wind. Opposite of Windward.
Lemmer: Until the 20th century, Lemmers were primarily shore-based. Their
job is to take the whale carcass after the Flensers have
stripped the blubber off of it and dissect it for processing
Lay System: Method of paying a ship's crew. The Lay System paid the crew
based on the profits earned over the voyage, with a typical distribution being
the captain receiving 1/11th, ordinary seaman receiving 1/150th, and skilled
seaman and officers receiving amounts according to their skill and investment in
the voyage. First widely seen in the post-Revolution American fleets, later
spreading to several European fleets, and present until at least the 1950's in
the Norwegian whaling fleet as "quota system". Most other ships paid a
flat rate regardless of the voyage's success or failure.
Line: Term used for working ropes. Starting in the mid-to-late Victorian
period, as metal rope was introduced, 'line' came to mean any natural fiber
ropes, and 'rope' was reserved for metal cable strand ropes.
Port: Looking forward, port
is to your left.
Ratline: Line secured in the rigging for footholds to be used while
climbing.
Sheet: Not a sail. Sheets are the lines used to secure the sails.
Starboard: Looking forward, starboard is to
your right
Starter: Small knotted rope whip used by officers to 'start' the crew to
work. Any officer or mate could at will use the 'starter' on a crew member for
any (or even no) reason, sometimes as part of the duty, sometimes requiring the
crewman to remove his shirt for the beating. The 'starter' was originally a
feature of the British Navy, with equivalents throughout most European fleets.
It was at first forbidden aboard American vessels, but after a time became known
there as well.
Windward: Towards the wind. Opposite of Lee.
