Lateen, Lateen Rig: A lateen sail is a triangular sail supported by a long yard, which is hoisted to the top of a mast with the sail attached below. It is a common Mediterranean sail.

Spar: Any pole or bar on a ship, including masts, yards, and booms.

Rake: Referring to masts on a ship, the rake is the inclination of a mast either to the bow or stern of the ship.

Corsairs: A group of Christian and Muslim pirates operating under the guise of the Crusades. The Christians were led out of Malta by the Hospitalers while the Muslims opertated out of Tunis, Tripoli, and Algiers.

Broadside: The act of firing guns out of the beam of a ship.

Fore, Main, and Mizzen Masts: The names of masts on a three-masted ship, forward, main or middle, and last or back mast respectively.

Topmasts: When a mast is built with two parts, the upper part is the topmast.

Prow: A pointed section at the front of a ship that extends like a beak.

Bowsprit: The spar that extends about 45 degrees or less from horizontal at the front of a ship.

Cog: A ship commonly used in Atlantic Europe from about 800 to 1400, when it was replaced by caravel-type ships. It was round-hulled and carried a single mast with one square sail. Merchant cogs had high stern and bow castles, which could be used to fight from. In times of war, cogs could easily be converted to warships, transporting troops to the battleground.

Transom: The flat part of the stern, fitted to the back of the ship.

Round or Full Hull: A ship hull that was built to carry lots of cargo and provide a stable platform. All ships except for galleys and other rowed types of ships are round hulls.

Ship-Rigged: A rig that consists of three or more masts, all square-rigged.

Quarter Deck: A raised deck at the stern above the main deck.

Poop Deck: A raised deck at the stern above the quarter deck.