Welcome to Julian Dixon's Polylingual Translating Dictionary and Glossary for Viking Ships and other ancient and historical Sailing Craft...

This dictionary and wordlist translates ancient nautical and maritime terms to and from English to various languages, dead and living. It is a reference work for researchers, etymologists and those who have an interest in traditional, historic and ancient sailing craft. The bias is on the Northern European languages so far, but those included are: Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, Anglo Saxon, Middle English, Dutch, Old Dutch, Middle Dutch, French, Old French, German, Old High German, Icelandic, Latin, Portugese, Italian, Old Norse, Spanish, and it is hoped that it will be extended continually. Last updated: 4^th June 2001

Corrections, comments or additions are most welcome, by e-mail: progenator@hotmail.com Please state clearly in the “subject” box of your email that it is related to this work, so that it does not get accidentally deleted with the junkmail which often plagues hotmail accounts.

Here’s a tip, (and is why the document comes in one great big file) if you copy the text to a word processor, and use the word search facility, you can find all the references to what you are looking for easily. For most people, it’s a slow download for which I appologise – but available thus, it allows better search possibilities than those available than on most online dictionaries.

Copyright

This work remains the copyright of Julian Dixon except where stated otherwise, and may not be copied or reproduced in any form, sold or resold unless written, signed permission from myself the author to do so is first obtained.

If you are going to use this work as a reference guide at your place of work, or in any professional capacity, or funded research, please pay for it ($100) per researcher for a licence and CD - details available upon request to my email address.

Casual users, students, and those who are not funded in their research are welcome to use the work for free so long as it’s not sold or reproduced for others without my permission. Where smaller parts of this work are quoted (and in accordance with international copyright law), please quote the source (webpage address, CD etc.) and my name as the author, and my copyright.

I’m also working on a photograph bank on CD for those further interested, which will include photographs of various Viking ship replicas; detailed photographs illustrating various construction techniques, as well as more picturesque ones. Again, more information on this is available upon request to my email address.

For photo’s and replica construction information on the net so far, see my Knarr replica project homepage at www.hianet.com/jocke/vikingproject/

Contents

· Introduction

· Notes

· Anglo-Saxon - English

· Arabic – English

· Danish - English

Main body of Danish-English reference dictionary

Axes (notes on axe and handtool translations, (predominantly Danish-English at this stage)

Beaufort Scales (Danish-English)

Old Danish - English

· Dutch - English

Middle Dutch - English

Glossary of 17th c. Dutch Ship Terms by Marit van Huystee

· French - English

Old French - English

· German - English

Old High German - English

· Greek (ancient) - English

· Icelandic - English

· Italian - English

· Latin - English

· Portugese - English

· Middle English - English

· Norwegian - English

· Old Norse - English

· Spanish - English

· Swedish - English

· English Definitions – an extensive list of definitions

· English to Anglo Saxon

· English to other languages

· Sources, credits and abbreviations

· Questions and issues the reader may be able to help with...

Introduction

When this work started out as a simple Danish - English word list in 1997, it contained only words associated with ancient square riggers and particularly Viking ships. With the addition of a Swedish - English section, then Definitions in English and soon words in other languages, it may be understood that there was no masterplan for its structure at first. But bit by bit cross references are being inserted, and grammatical notes, new words, varied definitions, new languages, word origins and so on are being added, and a proper structure is being implemented. Words in the dictionary now are included for all kinds of sailing vessels, but still with an emphasis on historic craft. Words which may be of use to people working on ancient replica projects are also included, e.g. words relating to treatment of materials, old tool definitions and so on.

The greatest difficulty in putting the work together has been when dictionaries, boatbuilders and various sources disagree, or add or lose exactness of definition in their descriptions. Therefore, I have added summarial descriptions of my own where necessary, as well as original quotations from the various sources. These may be in different formats and use abbreviations and cross references which are not mine: So please forgive what may appear as inconsistencies in the syntax/listing system - simply, an attempt has been made to add as much information as possible, even where it does not fit exactly according to plan.

Notes

Syntax/grammar were not my priority from the outset, though relevant notes are being added/improved as time goes on: Emphasis is put more on the correctness of the translation word(s). Where a term sounds out of place, I’ve put “ok” by it to show it’s been carefully checked. Anything uncertain (or where there may be a better phrase, ) is marked by “?”. Sources are noted as “s:(abbreviation)”: These are listed in full at the end of the work.

In the English Definitions section, where a ship's part (etc.) has more than one name, a system is in use so that all possible names and variations are grouped under keywords for ease of reference. It has been attempted to put what is seemingly the most correct, common or important definition first, with the other definitions anticedent in order of their 'relative value' separated by a comma. But please note that the order chosen is not necessarily correct, being subject sometimes only to my judgement and not to any statistical or etymological analysis, etc. Sometimes less certain similies are added and follow the same order, and these are enclosed in brackets.

In Other Language to English sections, only the keyword preceeds the translation and/or description, with synonyms listed afterward in brackets. This is so as to preserve descriptions or translations as much in their original form as possible.

Defn2 signifies "Definition2" (etc.), where more than one source is quoted, and this may mean that a second definition is entirely separate from the first, and may even be contradictory! Where a number appears in brackets e.g. (2) by keywords or in definitions, this is a quotation from the original, left in place so that the reader can refer to the source easily. Again, note that just because one definition follows another does not necessarily mean that it is inferior to the first, though this is the case where possible, where extra/further definitions are placed on following lines in their original form.

In the text are various notes relating to the construction of the work, and these may be ignored by the reader. E.g. ENG denotes text which has yet to be added to the English part of this translator

DAN denotes text which has yet to be added to the Danish part of this translator, ALL=information to be added to all sections, and so on.

Apparently, Anglo-Saxon is considered to be equivalent to Middle English by many etymologists, however I have adopted the scheme whereby if a word is defined as Middle-English at source, I put it in the M.E. section: If it is defined as Anglo Saxon, I put it in the A.-S. section.

Anglo-Saxon – English

(see also Middle English, which is considered by many etymologists to be equivalent to Anglo-Saxon)

(note that the letter æ follows at the end of the alphabet here)

actreo, m – oak tree

aheawan (sv 7) – cut down

ar, f - oar

awel, m – awl (tool)

æsc, m. – ash (wood type)

banloca - joint

bat - boat

beam, m - log

beam, m - tree

besencan - to sink (verb, to cause to)

bill, n - sword

bindan - bind

bord, n - board (naut.)(as in strake, planking)

bord, n - shield

bregdan - weave

brim - sea

brimfugol - seabird

brimlad - ocean path, route, sea lane

brimlidend – sailor (d is old letter)

brimmann - sailor

ceol - keel

ceol - ship

ceorphan (sv 3) - carve

coast - særima

dufan - dive

fell, n - skin

fleotend - seabird

flot, n - sea

flota, m – sailor, seaman

flota, m - ship

flotman - sailor

flothere - navy

forheawan (7) – cut down

forlidennes, f - shipwreck

fyllan – cut down

fæt - fat

gatehær – goat hair

gealgtreo - gallows

gealgu - gallows

geard - yard

gebindan - bind

gelagu - ocean

geofon, m/n – ocean, sea

gudbill, n, ecg – sword (d is old letter)

heawan – cut down

hiw - shape

hlast - freight

holm - sea

hwælweg - sea

hyd - rind

iren - sword

isensmith – blacksmith (the th part is the old letter)

iw, m – yew

lagu – sea water

lagulad, f – sea lane

lidmann - sailor

linen - linen

lucan - join

mece - sword

mereflod - ocean

merehengest - ship

mæstling - brass

naca, m – boat, ship

nicor, m – sea monster

nord - northwards (d is old letter)

onemn - alongside

pic - pitch, as in tar distillate (from the latin)

bæst - bast, lime bast

pin - (with long i) pine (from Lat. pinus)

ramm, m - ram

rewett, n - rowing

rowan (verb) – to row

sceat, m - surface

scield - shield

scip - ship

sciphere – fleet, navy

sæ - sea

sæbat – boat, ship

sæfor – sea voyage

sælan – bind

saelida – sailor (I think this should be sælida)

sæmann - sailor

særinc - sailor

sæstream – ocean current

Arabic-English

al` idadah - (al` of, adad the upper arm) noun: arm or index showing degrees on circle in astrolabe, quadrant, theodolite etc. (s:ced)(see also Eng,Lat,Fr)

Danish-English Endings are given after the keyword - first is gender, where en = (feminine?), and et = (neutral?); then in brackets the definite form ending is given, followed by the plural and finally the definite plural (¤ denotes no change in ending). Note that Danish alphabetical order originally ran here as a-z then å,æ,ø (so as to fit with the Swedish) but is being corrected to follow the usual Danish order of a-z, æ,ø,å, and this may account for possible inaccuracies in word order.

agterdæk - quarter deck

agter fortøjning - stern fast, stern rope (aft mooring rope)

agter haler - after guy

agterlig - after leach rope (rope sewn onto following vertical edge of a sail; the sail’s afterbody)

agterstag - aft stay (rope from the mast top to the aft of the ship to steady the mast)

agterstævn - sternpost

amning - drag (difference in depth of keel fore and aft, deeper aft)

antrækker - roving punch

avdrift - deviation, leeway, drift

bagbord - port

bakke - both backing the sails or backing as in reversing when trying to go about over the stays.

bakke (bakke sejlene) - v. back the sails

bakstok, bankstokke - stocks, gantry, set-up (Known in certain areas of Scandinavia as bankstokke, bædd, bedding)

bankstokke - (see bakstok) stocks

barkspader - bark knife

basttorve - bass-rope, bast-rope, bast etc. (bass, bast, bass-wood=inner fibre of the lime tree or any similar fibre)

bedding - (see bakstok) stocks (s:ocp)

beitas - reaching spar. A spar to hold out the lower leading corner of a square sail when sailing with the wind abeam (word stems from from beidevindsås, lit. by-the-wind spar)

belægges - belayed (eg the tack is belayed from a belay pin which can be located in one of three holes for the belay pin)(what is the proper name for the piece of wood in which the belay pin is located, in English?)

bidetang - nippers for cutting or pincers for gripping metal rods or fastenings e.g. nails and rivets. Nippers aka end-cutters.

bidevind - reaching, sailing by the wind or close by the wind, close hauled, tight to the wind (pointing?) (stems from lit. by-the-wind)

bielke væger - clamp (aka Da:balkwäger)(see also væger)(s:jhr)

bil økse - dressing axe (aka bile) (see axe definitions)(cutting (not chopping) axe sometimes with offset shaft for cutting sides off wood (Swedish bilyxa) (s:jhr)

bil økse - side axe (s:JH)

bindøkse - carpenter’s axe? or jointing axe? (old word for a timber housebuilder’s axe, probably coming from “afbindning” or cutting joints. Also known as a benøkse in certain parts of Scandinavia)

bite - bite or lower cross-beam

bitevægeren - bite stringer or bite clamp (holds down floor tips) (væge=wick, væg=wall)(s:jd)

bjælke knæ - beam bracket

bjælke-væger - clamp (see also bielke væger)

bjælkebugt - camber (of beams) (s:ocp)

blok - tackle block, pulley (see also hejseblok)(s:jd)

blokskive - sheave (s:ocp)

blye søm - a type of rivet with larger head and short body (and see søm)

blymønje - minium or red lead (antifouling coating for ship’s bottom)

bogband - bow hook

boline, bugline - bowline (see bugline)

bolværk, støttevæg - revetment (does this have anything to do with bulwark?)(s:ocp)

bordfyldes - swamped

bordgang - strake, (run of planking)

bordklemme - gripes, plank clamps, boatbuilders’ clamps, crocodiles, cramps (the traditionally clothes-peg shaped clamps which may be seen in use in clinker construction, holding the planks together until they are rivetted, for example.

bordudfoldning - ..........? (plank lofting?)(diagram of each plank of a ship as laid out flat)

bov - bow

bov bånd - breasthook. The tight knee or crook fitted in the fore of a ship.when fitted in the fore end of a ship. (cf. stævnknæ)

bovklyds - hawser hole

bord, bordplanke - planks (from which the ship is made)

bordhals - hood-end (plank) (s:ocp)

bordhals - (lit. translation is plank throat)

bordgang - strake (run of planking along the ship)

braserne - braces (ropes from the ends of the yard, serviced from aft of ship)(lee brace and luff brace)

bredbiler - broadaxe (type of biløkse which is a side axe, a type of dressing axe)(see axes section)

bræddebulter - coach bolts, carriage bolts (interchangeable words)

brækstang - crow bar or jemmy

buggaarding - bunt-line

bugline, boline - bow-line, bowline (sometimes meets forestay at bowline-block)

buglinespryd - bowline-bridle (bowline divides into bridles going to various parts of sail’s leading edge)

bugprier ..........?(see prier)

bugthøvle - spoke shave (draw knife?)

bunden - ship’s bottom. The part of the ship underwater between the keel and the turn of the bilge.

bundprop - plug (s:ocp)

bundrejsning - deadrise (s:ocp)

bundstok - floor

bysegl - village coat of arms or sail (lit. village sail)

bådelag - joint owners (usually of a fishing boat)(lit. boat team)

bådsmand - boatswain

bådtalje - boat’s fall (which is?)

bådwater - ..........? (see Da:vagebrædt - is it same thing?)

bånd - band, string, lead, leash

båndknive - spoke shave (woodworking blade with a handle at either end)(draw knife?)

bædd - stocks, gantry, set-up (see bakstok,)

crone - A Scandinavian term for the heavy block of oak that supported the heel of the mast sometimes referred to as a keelson, such blocks were hardly long enough to perform a full internal backbone function (s:jrs)

dorn - puncheon or punch

drager - beam, girder, truss

draget - halyard (see ED lifts and halyards)(line which lifts a yard)

dreje - turn (in a storm “heave to”)

dybgang - draught

dørkplankerne - decking planks, limber boards, floor plates, bottom boards (dørk=floor)(which expression best?)

dæksbjælker - deck beams (The cross members in a ship which support the deck (see ED clamp(3))

esping - ? (boat from hollowed, (steamed) stretched out asp log with added frames and planks)(one or more strakes added?)

esse - forge (for blacksmithing)

essing (øverste bord, råholt, rælingsbord, rip bord) - sheerstrake or gunwhale (rubbing strake?) (see also remmen)

essings stringer - sheer stringer? (gunwhale stringer? binder stringer?)

fald, falden - halyard (s:jhr)

faldblok - ? (hauling block used for halyard)

fjedra - stretch/dampen/absorb (shock, etc)

flikkerværktøj - mending tools? (flikke=cobble, patch, vamp, mend)

flyvende skjøder - flying sheets

fok - fore sail (see Danish forsejl)

fokke - fore

fokke bom - foresail boom

fokke hals - foresail tack (s:jhr)

fokker - fore-sail (see also klyver and stag-fok)

forlig - luff (eg luff or windward edge of the sail, luff edge of the sail)(the leading edge of the sail/fore leach rope)

forran for tværs - on the bow (eg. with the wind on the bow, or four points on the bow)

forsejl - foresail. If more than one sail is aloft at a time, that nearest the mast is known as a genoa, the foremost is known as a jib (which itself is a type of staysail as it flies from the stays). In Danish, these are fok and stagfok respectively)

forskod - fore bulkhead, for’d bulkhead, forward bulkhead

forskot - breasthook. The most forward placed frame in a viking ship hull, etc. often formed from a plate of wood, i.e. where two branches fork, but can be made from a knee if the bend is tight enough. (see ED crutches)

forskøder - head sheets

forstag - forestay (rope from the mast top to the fore of the ship, to steady the mast)

forstævn - stem post

fribord - freeboard (s:ocp)

galleaser - galliots (old ship-type)

garvede - seasoned

hale - to pull, to drag or to haul

halse - tack (but when at anchor it is properly known as a throat)

halsblok - tack-block

halse rundt - wear or jibe (kovende) (to bring a ship about by putting the helm up)

halsgat - (see halsklampe)

halshuller - is hawse holes correct word? Holes in the ship's side for the sail's tack ropes (tack leads?)(cf. skøde-hul)

halskarlen - .........? (foreman?)(the man in the fore of the ship who’s job it is to adjust the tack)

halsklampe - hole of the chess tree/chess trees (aka Da:halsgat)

halsleje - head or upper pan or collar bearing or neck bearing

hals-stik - tack belay-pin? or type of hitch? (tack is made fast using a simple hitch, can be easily freed) (see halshuller)(eg vantstik - hitch used for shrouds)(cf. sejlstik)

hals-tallie - tack tackle (tackle block for the tack rope)

halv-dæk - half deck or raised deck

hamlebånd - oar-grommet (s:ocp)

handøkse - handaxe or hatchet

hanefod - crow-foot (a rope which divides into two or two which meet and continue as one)(or more?)

havs bris - sea breeze (see also land bris)

hegling - hackling (in preparation of flax)

hejseblok - tackle block, pulley (lit. hauling block, hoisting block) (see also Danish blok)

hugge økse - hewing axe (huggespån =chip, huggeværktøj=hewing tool). (hugge=cut, slash, blow,n. to cut, to hew vb. i.e. hugge ned is to fell (a tree)) (huggjern= n. chisel)

huggetveje - .........? (/holding fork?)(forked branch dug into the ground used to hold planks steady for carving and finishing)

huggjern - chisel

hulklamp - pierced clamp (s:ocp)

høj prier - ..........? (lit. high prier, line going from higher up sail around mast, back to sail and onward so that it can be serviced from the ship to adjust how tight the sail is held in to the mast)(see prier)

hør - flax

hørdug - coarse unbleached cloth made from hemp or flax

jagter - sloops (old type of ship)

jolle båd - stern boat or jolly-boat (small boat used to service a ship)(known as a yawl if it has a sail)

jomfruer (jungfruer) - dead-eye (also bull’s eye) (eg for holding shrouds tight on Gokstad ship)

kalfatre, kalfatring - caulk, caulking, (see ED caulking)(s:jhr)

kalfater-jern - caulking iron

kam (Norwegian) - (of a wave) crest (s:ned)

kamme - ridge (can also describe wave tops)

kaproning - competition rowing

keiper - keiper (sort of built-in thole pins made where a branch naturally occurs from a slab of wood fastened to the gunwhale of a ship or from the essings rail itself ). Actually a Norwegian word keip which translates as oarlock or rowlock in the ned dictionary)

kile - wedge

kimming - bilge (s:ocp)

klampe - hasp, clamp, clasp, cleat (fastgørelses klamp=cleat,chok. Spænderstykke klamp=clamp)

klamp - kevel, belaying cleat (see also krydsholt)

klinkebolt - clinch bolt

klinknagler - (see nagler) rivets or clinch nails (or see ED rivets)(see also turned nails)

klinkpladen - rove, roves, burrs, etc (see ED rove) (plate used in fastening rivet)

klods - bed, pillow "en slags opfyldning af fyrre træ, hvorpå noget ska hvile" a protrusion of pine upon which something shall rest.

klodser - wooden chock, block, stock (see lejeklodser)

klofi - Viking word for mastfish (lit.fork)

klyds - (is this the same as klods, or what is it?)( cf. bovklyds (hawser hole))

klyver - jib sail (see also fokker)

klyver skøde - jib sheet

knebel - (see ters)

knob - knots (number of sea-miles sailed in one hour. 1 knot=1.85 km/h)

ko - tool used in fairing up clamps etc. consisting of a simple wooden block which is notched to fit the moulding and siding of a stringer, clamp etc. and can be run along the member to check it is fair.

kogge - cog (Freight ship popular in middle ages, has flat bottom, like stem and stern posts and clinker built sides).

kovende - wear round before the wind (turning downwind to the other tack), to veer, to wear, about-face, u-turn

krapp-sø - choppy sea

kravel - caravel, carvel (planking system and name applied to various ships-types)

krumtømmer - crook (curved or crooked-grown timber) (s:ocp)

krumtømmer - compass timber (curved or crooked-grown timber esp. for shipbuilding)(s:ced)

krydsbenet - tack leg, leg of the tack (windward leg of a tack)

krydse - tack, beat to windward (to sail by-the-wind, to reach) (eg “leg of a tack”, “on the port tack”)(“to sail on the stbd or port bow”)

krydsholt - kevel (see also klamp)

krænge, krængning - heal, healing (a ship’s lean to one or the other side)

kæntre - capsize

kølblok - keel block

kølbord - garboard, 1st strake or keel strake

kølbugt - rocker (s:ocp), sprung keel

køller - ..........? (one of the main tools used in viking ship construction)(wedges?)(plural of kile (wedge)?)

kølsvin - kelson, keelson (generally a longitudinal piece placed along the floor timbers of a ship binding them to the keel. In Viking ships has a hole in the top to receive the mast foot).

kværk - throat (s:ocp)(what sort of throat?)

land - lap, lap-joint (overlap)(land)(abut)

landbris - land breeze (see also havs bris)

lask - scarf (s:ocp), scarfing, scarving (joint), (splice)(cf. skrålaske)

ledingsbønder - warrior farmers (ledingsfærd=expedition/campaign of war)

leje - mounting?

lejeklodser - wooden chock, block, stock (leje=bearing) (see klodser)(mounting/adjusting block)(chesstree?)

lendse - (see lænse)

lense - (see lænse)

lik (liktove) - see lig

lig (ligtovene) - leach or bolt rope (aka Da:lik, liktove, pl. liktovene)

ligge bi - to lie to, to lie to windward, to lie still, to be stopped or checked in her course (eg by backing the yards or sails or taking in the sails)(A sailing manoeuvre which allows the ship to stand still in the water with the sail up. On a square sailed ship the aftmost edge of the sail is pulled astern and the foremost edge pulled toward the bow whilst the ship’s aft lies to windward).

ligfisk - foot rope or foot line (see also lig, ligtrosse)

ligtrosse - foot rope (see also lig, lig fisk)

liste, revle - batten (s:ocp), as in thin piece of wood, not as in sail batten

lom - loom (handhold on oar) (s:ocp)

lot - lot (short curved length of keel at stem and stern between keel and stem or stern post)(s:ocp). Presumably can be translated as forfoot or chin (related to gripe too, but this is really the knee above the joint)(see ED chin)

luv - luff (as in luff or weather side)(see luff)

læ - lee (as in downwind side)(see lee)

lænse - scudding (to sail with the wind or downwind) (aka Da:lendse, lense)(see sejl læns)(s:jhr)

lænse - spelling variations in Danish are lendse, lense

lænse - to bail (water from a ship)

løbende gods, løbende rig - running rigging

mast bjælke - mast beam

mastebiten - mast beam? (exactly the same as mast beam)?(cf. sailing thwart)

mastebuk - sheers or sheer legs (apparatus consisting of two masts or legs secured at the top for hoisting heavy weights)

mastefod - foot (heel) of the mast

mastegrav - pond

mastehul - mast hole

masteknæ - hound piece or cheek

mastekogger - tabernacle

mastekran - rigging shears

mastekrans - garland

maste lig - fore leach rope

mastfisken - tabernacle, heels of pillars, mastfish (housing round foot of mast, usually at deck level) (mastpartner = strengthening around mast hole in modern ships)

mast ring, mast bånd - mast hoop

mast spor, maste spor - mast step

mast tå - mast heel (lit. mast toe)

mål - scantlings (measurements of various parts of the ship)

meginhufr - meginhufr, old norse and Icelandic word, bilge plank. A type of wale. A strong strake at transition between bottom and side of ship (see Da: remmen)

midtskøde - mid-sheet? foot sheet?foot line? (sheet from bottom centre of square sail)

modhold - dolly (counterweight used when rivetting etc)

naglejern - .........? (tool used in blacksmithing)(presumably a swage block? check this in ivkv)

nagle søm - rivet seem

nagler(1) - rivet, clencher, clincher, clinch-nail, clench nail, clench (-hence the term clincher (clinker) built). See ED rivet. (aka Da:søm, klinknagler, nitte, naugler)(see also blye søm)(but check if søm is originally a Norwegian word). A rivet consists of a shank and a head, which is stilk and huved (-check spelling) in Danish. (cf. turned nails)

nagler(2), trænagler - treenail, trunnel (see trænagler)(aka naugler)

naugler - (see nagler)

naust - boathouse (is this originally a Danish or Norwegian word?)

nitter - (see nagler(1)) metal rivets

nåd - seam (s:ocp)

opklodsning - bow chock

oplænger - futtock (eg 1st, 2nd and 3rd futtocks)(lit. extender)

orlog - naval war (an especially Danish word)

pallisade - stockade (s:ocp)

pinde-kompass - sun compass (like the greenland compass)(s:jhr)

plade - rove, roove, burr, washer, ring (flat or convex plate used in fastening rivets)(lit. plate)(see ED rove)

prier, priar - ........? (line going from windward side of bottom of sail, around mast, back to a tackle block attached to the sail and on, for adjusting how tightly sail is held to mast (and therefore how much wind is spilt - a sort of damper or wind spilling mechanism which can be used when the wind is high?)(see also høj prier)(according to ned: a type of (N: stjert) in the middle of the underbody of a square sail which when reaching serves to hold the sail (N:strakt) (in to the mast), and which when scudding, (especially in a (N:løi bris)) is made fast rather high up the mast so that the view forward is not obstructed. "In a prier breeze" - a breeze no stronger than one where a prier can be in use when reaching. (Prier - Heissen auf Norwegischen Jachten eine Art Geitaue womit das Segel gegen den Mast geholt wird, damit der Wind herausgehe.(s:jhr))

profil fræser - profile cutter, (known as a router, when referring to the modern electrically powered equilvalent)

profil-skraber - profile/profiling iron? (guage?) moulding plane/iron? stripe plane? stripe guage?

profilering - moulding (s:ocp)

pynteprofil - decorative profiling on the planking or woodwork, e.g. two parallel lines along the rivet seam, made using a suitably cut profile iron, lap guage, stripe plane, stripe guage etc.(s:jd)

rabattejern - making iron (chisel/iron used in making the rabbet etc.)

rakke - parrel

rakke drag - parrel rope (rope used to pull down parrel, so it doesn’t stick up mast)(s:jhr)

rank - straight, upright, erect, proud, fearless (description of movement of a ship at sea)

rebede - reefed, (verb: to reef or reef in) (as in reefing the sail to reduce sail area)

rem, rim - bilge planking (strakes running around the ship at bilge level, before the bottom)(see meginhufr)

remmen - wale (whale) (Norwegian word), bilge stringer; sits inside bilge planking, (as defined by MG at rma)(remmen is the collective word for the bilge strakes. The beginning of the remmen is often the especially hefty meginhufr strake attached to the ship’s bottom. (The remmen and the sheer-strake together form what is known as the freeboard, according to SV’s book?)(see Da: meginhufr, rem, rim). Rimmen/remmen are Germanic words for belt. (synonymous words are listed under the keyword hold stringers in the English Definitions section)

retøkse - chopping axe? lit. straight axe, axe with head in line with handle. (for cutting cross-grain)

rette - to fair or to line up

revle, liste - batten (s:ocp) (as in thin piece of wood, not sail batten)

rigning - rig, rigging

rille - rabbet (see spunding)

rim - (see remmen)

rinkerikestil - ..........? (lit. coil rich style)(decorative carving style used on Viking ship woodwork)

rip bordene - sheer strakes (from book ivkv p57)(see keyword essing) (cf. rubbing strake)

rorpind - tiller (part of the helm)

rorskot - rudder frame? (the heavy aft-most frame to which the rudder is bound in a viking ship)

rorvorte - rudder-boss (lit. rudder-wart)(Protrusion on which the side rudder pivots)

rumsejlads - sail large (eg we progressed sail large, downwind)

rum vind - large or fair or leading wind, to sail before or afore the wind.

rundholter - spars (on a ship, the description of any rounded wooden boom, yard etc. apart from the mast. On a viking ship the yard and any spinnaker boom or beitas is a spar.(aka spir?)(s:cocp)

ruskning - pulling (in preparation of flax)

rytning - ..........? (ancient way of felling oak tree by cutting roots)

rå - yard (the expressions upper yard and lower yard are in use)

rågalier - gallows-bitts, gallow bitts

råholt - (see keyword essing) sheer strake (cf. rubbing strake)

råjern, råjærn - pig iron or ingot when referring to the material, wrought iron when referring to the worked piece.

råjærn - (see råjern)

rånok - yard arm (end of yard)

råsejlsrigning - square rig (coming from yard-sail)

ræling, essing - rail (railing) (top of the side of a ship)(also incorrectly known as a gunwhale)

rælingsbordene - sheer strakes (from book ivkv p57)(see keyword essing)(cf. rubbing strake)

rødning - retting (in preparation of flax)

røn - mountain ash

sejl bidevind - reaching, to sail by the wind

sejl dug - canvas (or sail canvas)

sejl for vinden - sail before the wind

sejl for en halv vind - sail with the wind abeam

sejl læns - scudding (to run fast before a gail with little or no sail spread, or “under under bare poles” - with no sail up)

sejl rumskøds eller sejl rumt - sail free or run free

sejlstik - tack belay pin, (tack sheet belay pin, sheet belay pin ) a belay pin for the tack which can usually be placed in one of several holes to suit. (cf. hals-stik)

sejle bjælke - mast beam

skank (Norwegian) - shank (s:ned)

skar, skrålaske (cf. lask)

skarføkse - (G:Ein Holdeissel)(see axes section)

skarøkse - adze (see axes section)

skav (Norwegian) - shavings, scrapings (s:ned)

skavank (Norwegian) - floor, fault, defect (s:ned)

skave (Norwegian) - scrape, probably origin for word skavl (s:ned)

skavl (høvle) - a plane with either a sharp or bowed edge for making a hollow(s:ned). A hollowing plane or bollow (s:jd)

skebor - spoon drill, spoon auger, spoon bit, shell auger, shell bit, dowel bit, duck bit, (generally, the word “auger” is used for tools for making holes in wood, and “drill” for holes in metal, otherwise this tool may well be called a spoon drill, but according to J Horsley, a spoon drill has a sharp end whereas the shell auger has a more rounded end, and there is a decided difference in the form of the tool tip.

skibshøvl - compass plane, concave plane, convex plane (lit. boat-plane)

skiffer - shiver

skiveblok - tackle block, pulley, pulley block

skive - sheave (the wheel or disc from a pulley or a block) (lit. plate, slab, disc)

skiveløs blok - fairlead (s:ocp) (block with no sheave (pulley wheel))

skivet - splinter? (vernacular, describing a worn ship, (s: ivkv p35))

skjøldelist, skjøldrim - shield rack (rail or list for mouting shields along topsides of the ship)

skjøldrim - see skjøldelist

skjøve (høvle) - (stripe-plane? stripe guage? moulding iron??) (a Norwegian word)

skonnerter - schooner (old ship-type)

skorbjælke - ridge pole, shore pole, rooftree, ridge beam, ridge piece, ridge spar, (ridge plate) (a horizontal timber placed above the ship for measuring, shoring etc)

skorstokkene - struts (piece of wood or steel inserted into a frame to keep two members apart

skot - bulkhead (s:ocp)

skovøkse - (see axe definitions) woodman’s axe

skrå - inclined, oblique, sloping

skrålaske, skar - scarfe joint, scarving (splice) - a chamfered, overlapping end to end joint in a ship’s planking, or any other joint in the ship’s timbers involving scarving, hook scarving etc. Skrålask literally means oblique joint. (cf. lask)

skuder - ..........? (small craft)(old type of ship (possibly a cutter?)

skvætbord - splashboard

skvætnagle - oarhole-lock, stop, shutter (see also årehulslukke)(s: book ivkv, p81)

skægøkse - (see axe definitions) bearded side axe or dressing axe (a type of biløkse)

skætning - scutching (in preparation of flax - to dress cotton, flax etc. by beating)

skøde - sheet

skøde-hul - (sheet hole?)( tack hole?)(tack leads?)(sheet leads?) (hawse hole?) what is better word for this?) hole in the ship's side through which the sail's sheet runs. (cf. halshuller)

skør - brittle

skøre - flaw (minor fault)

slip-stik - slip-hitch? (hitch knot, used on the tack belay-pin) (see hals-stik)

slit-köl - false keel or rubbing strip (see Da: stråe kjøl) (slit-köl is a Swedish term)

slå sig - warp (of timber)

sneglebor - twist bit (drill) or, in wood - centre brace bit, auger bit (generally, a drill for metal etc., auger for wood)

snelde - (see snelle) (one of many Danish words previously spelled with double “l” now spelled “ld”)

snelle - pillar or beam-stanchion (in Danish, tool used in weaving for winding thread)(N: snelle=reel, term also in fishing)

spansk grøn - verdigris, patina (literally Spanish green). Copper oxide.

spant - frame, rib (cross-sectional strengthening used in a ship)(is it technically a frame or a rib?)

spant bredde - siding (a dimension of ships' timbers, etc.)

spanteskabloner - templates, moulding templates (full scale, 2-dimensional pattern pieces used in shaping hull)

spejle - rays or silver grains (describing radial tissues in oak, in other languages often k.a. mirrors)

spejlekløvning - radially cleaving, cleaving along the rays

spik - nail, boat nail, dump, spike

spilbom - spinnaker boom (not to be confused with reaching spar)

spile (Norwegian) - batton (for fitting in sail)

spilerstage - spinnaker boom (spar used to open out the sail’s lowest corners whilst sailing downwind)

spiller - stretch or open out (as in spiller bom)

spir? - (see rundholter?)

splidse - splice, i.e. splice two pieces of rope etc. together

splint - sapwood, splint, splint wood, (bot:)alburnum (soft wood layer found beneath the bark)

spring - shear (s:ocp)(presumably referring to the upward curvature of a vessel towards the bow and stern; this needs to be checked)

spunding, spunning, rille - rabbet, rebate (spunding stævn=rabbeted post)(see rabbet plane (tool))

spunding stævn - rabbeted post (see spunding)

spunning - (see spunding)

spygat - limber hole, scupper

stag - stay

stag fok - fore stay sail (a sail extended by a stay) (pronounced “stays’l”) (jib?) (see Da: forsejl)(s:jhr)

stagvend (or gå overstag) - go about (to windward)

stikøkse - ..........? (see axes section)

stilk - shank (long part of a rivet, screw, etc.) (and see naugler)(lit. stem or stalk)

stivere - shores, props, (supports, buttresses (pillars)) (compliment of strut: props support from outside)

stringer, forstærkning - stringer (s:ocp), longitudinal strengthening

stævn - post (stem post or stern post)

stævne - rally, gathering, reunion (regatta?)

stævnfløj - stem-wing (s:ocp)

stævnknæ - (lit. post knee) The sharp knee or crook at the ends of a ship, acting as the last frame toward the posts, known as a crutch when fitted afore and as a sternhook when fitted aft. (Can the term stævnknæ be applied for both the fore and aft ends of a ship - they seem to be thus interchangeable in Danish?)(cf. bovbånd)

stoende gods - standing rig

stoende rig - (see stoende gods)

stok - log or timber

stokløst anker - stockless anchor

stang - bar, rod, stick

strammere - tensioners? (lines to the foot of a wool sail (etc.) to keep it in shape)

streger - point, rhumb (measurement of course or angle, one point = 11⁰, 15’)(see ED rhumb)

stryke - strike sail

stråe kjøl - false keel or rubbing strip (What are other Danish terms, i.e. stråk/stråt køl?)(cf. slit-köl)

styrbord - starboard

støtte - stanchion (s:ocp)

støttevæg, bolværk - revetment (does this have anything to do with bulwark?bulkheads?)

surra - frap, lash, seize, make fast

svøb - bent frame(s) (usually steamed into shape, often used on modern boats)thin type of rib (sweep?)

svøber - lanyard

søm - (see nagler) rivet or clinch nail (seem?)(see also blye søm)(cf. turned nails)

sømil - sea mile (1 sea mile=1852 metres)

takkel - tackle

talje blok - tackle block, pulley block (waist/purchase)

tall, furu - pine (these are Swedish and Norwegian words - are there other words used in Danish too?)

ters, knebel - toggle (piece of wood for attaching a loop of rope etc) (s:ocp)

ters, knebel - becket (toggle shaped wooden pieces used for securing a rope through a loop - like the standard toggle found on duffle jackets etc.) (s:ovh)

tilje - floor (as in floor to walk on, not lower beams of a ship) (bottom boards, stern sheets?)

tiljedæk - tilly deck

tofte - thwart (bench and often lateral strengthener, running athwart the ship)

tollepind - thole-pin (s:ocp) (see ED rowlock, keiper)(cf. åretol, årehul) (cf. Sw. hå, håband)

tovværk - rope

trænagler, nagler, naugler - treenails, trunnels, etc. (see ED treenails)

udfaldende - rake (s:ocp)(see ED rake)

udlude - leach, leaching (leaving oak members with bark removed in running water to allow tannic acid to dissolve out prior to construction)

uldrille - luting channel, luting cove (profile made inside plank to accomodate caulking, made using a caulker’s making iron or luting iron)(cf. vækkerabat)

underlig - foot (of a sail) (see ligtrosse, ligfisk)

vagebrædt - ..........? (tool for measuring horizontal distance from centre of ship to railing used in conjunction with a plumb line, temporary beam-piece and ruler)(is it same as (see) bådwater?)(etymologically translates as something along the lines of "weight board")

valke - fulling (in warm water, in preparation of flax) vb. to full

vant - shroud

vantklampe - shroud cleat, cleats of the shrouds (s:jhr)

vantnål - shroud-pin (lever used for tightening and fastening shrouds)(s:ocp)

varnagler- ..........? (Norwegian) (Blocks inside Norwegian square riggers, known in viking ships: used in striking and raising the mast).

vind dæmpere - .......... (lit. wind damper, fitted near centre of sail to reduce strain on sail from gusts)(and thus apparently same function as a prier)

vind kommende agten for midskibs - a little abaft the beam

vind kommende agten for tværs - abaft the beam

vind kommende agter fra - wind from astern, from abaft or on the quarter

vind kommende agtere end tværs - abaft the beam (lit. more aft than abeam)

vind kommende foran for tværs - before the beam

vækkerabat jern - caulker’s making iron (used to make channel in wood for the luting mass)

vækkerabat - luting cove, luting channel (cf. uldrille)

væger - general name for the planks, clamps and thick stuff used in the ceiling of a ship (s:jhr) (aka Da:balkwäger)(also wales?)

vægere - clamp (logitudinal strengthener which holds down the floor timber tips) (s:ivkv p147, diag)

åre - oar

årehul - oarhole, oar port.

årehulslukke - oarhole-lock (s:ocp), shutter, stop, oarport stop, etc. (see also skvætnagle)

åretol - rowlock (s:ocp) (other related words and synonyms: oarlock, oarbed, oarhole, thole pin, row cleat, crutch, oar port, toe cleat)(cf. tollepind, årehul)

ås - spar, ridge, purlin, beam

øse - (verb) to bail

øsekar - bailer (lit. bailing receptacle - better name than this?)

øverste bord - (see keyword essing) sheerstrake (cf. rubbing strake)(washstrake?)

Axes

Biløkse - According to J.Horsley this is a side axe, but JH Roeding gives us dressing axe - a (biløkse is commensurate with the Dutch byl, Swedish bila, bilyxa and with the German Beil (ein) (see also Du: byl). Probably it is indeed a side axe, being a particular form of dressing axe.

Bindøkse - carpenter’s axe? or jointing axe? (old word for a timber housebuilder’s axe, probably coming from “afbindning” or cutting joints. Also known as a benøkse in certain parts of Scandinavia)

Bredøkse - broad axe (bredbil:- lit. broad side axe or broad dressing axe, but it could also lit. translate as board/plank axe)(N:bredøkse). According to s:wam, broad axe is the correct translation, from their display. However, from s:JH, when the blade angle is not symmetrical and the handle (usually) correspondingly offset, the axe is known as a side axe (or even ship axe). The axe head can be either side cast or side ground (sic) for this side cutting purpose. The axes depicted in the Bayeux tapestry long in blade shape are known as long axes, and known as long side axes when made for side cutting (s:JH (diag p41)). JH depicts the straight cutting long axe as having a flat top on the blade, wheareas the side axes have a curl atop.

Fældøkse - felling axe

Håndøkse - hand axe (could also be hatchet)(Sw:handyxa)

Huggeøkse - carving axe or hewing axe (chipping axe)(huggespån =chip, huggeværktøj=hewing tool)(Sw:huggyxa)

Klyvøkse (Norwegian) - Cleaving axe (looks like a sharpened hammer, more or less a wedge set on a handle, made to be hit with a hammer)

Skarføkse - G:Ein Holdeissel, which JHR gives as hollowing adze. (see tværøkse))

Skarøkse - scarph axe, a type of adze. An axe with the head (blade) running perpendicular to the shaft, used for making scarph joints and the like. Known from the Mästermyr find and others. This would seem to be exactly the same as a skarføkse (see tværøkse).

Skægøkse - bearded carpenter’s axe? Type of bila (Sw:skäggyxa)(N:skjeggøkse)(lit. bearded axe: skjegg = beard)

Stikøkse - ?

Tværøkse - adze (also known as an addice). Any type of “axe” where the cutting edge is perpendicular to the shaft. A narrow bladed version of the adze is known as a scarphing or strap adze, and used for cutting scarph joints, etc., having blades of some 2-4"across. Adzes with blades of some 6" are known as shipwrights' axes. Doub-axes, doubing axes or dubbing adzes are those having a steep curve or lip to the cutting parts, e.g. the round-lipped or spoon adze and the square-lipped or box adze (s:JH(from his excellent and clear diagram and text)).

Retøkse - any axe with the head and blade in line with the shaft - the most common axe form in use, used for straightforward cutting or chopping.

Axe notes:

1. Skäggyxa (bila), huggyxa and handyxa from the Jämtland find appear to be three axes of same design, simply descending in order of size, all having flat tops with edges curving back from the vertical, all have small (lightweight) heads.

2. wam: "Broad axes were used for rough dressing beams. In later years they were also used for dressing railway sleepers". Wam also had in their collection a shingling axe, or one used for making the shingles used in roofing - this has a cutting edge reaching out rather far from the shaft on a stalk. The edge set of the blade is not visible.

3. Old smith in Surrey, England notes the name of a Throw as a special type of axe used in splitting hazel for panels.

4. JH describes one "short long axe" which together with the diagram infers that the first part of the name refers to the blade length, and the second to the haft length.

5. An axe-adze is the correct name for one which has both a transverse blade and straight blade on opposite sides of the same head (s:JH)

Danish-English translation

Danish Beaufort kts English Beaufort mph found in Danish weather book

0. Stille <1 Calm <1 Calm

1. Næsten still 1-3 Light air 1-3

2. Svag vind 4-6 Light breeze 4-7 Light breeze

3. Let vind 7-10 Gentle breeze 8-12 .......... breeze

4. Jævn vind 11-16 Moderate breeze 13-18 .......... breeze

5. Frisk vind 17-21 Fresh breeze 19-24 .......... breeze

6. Hård vind 22-27 Strong breeze 25-31 Strong breeze

7. Stiv kuling 28-33 Near gale 32-38 Moderate gail

8. Hård kuling 34-40 Gale 39-46 Fresh gale

9. Stormende kuling 41-47 Strong gale 47-54 Strong gale

10. Storm 48-55 Storm 55-63 Whole gale

11. Stærk storm 56-63 Violent Storm 64-72 Storm

12. Orkan 64+ Hurricane 73+ Hurricane

Old Danish - English

skever - shiver

Dutch-English

achter - aft, after

beleg houtjes met naagels - shroud cleats (see vant klampen). (Presumably the same as shroud belay pins?)

bolwerk - bulwark (s:mvh)

bow hook - bow hook, gripe

byl - side axe. A type of dressing axe usually with an offset shaft, used for trimming the sides of planks, etc. (s:jhr)(cf. Sw. bilyxa, etc.)

pek - pitch (tar distillate)

hals-taalie - tack tackle

keen(?) - chine

klampen - cleats, kevels or wedges (s:jhr)

lenzen - scudding, to scud

loose kiel - false keel or rubbing strip (check if this is loose or loofe kiel after transcr. from gothic f/s)(s:jhr)

splitsen - to splice, i.e. to splice two pieces of rope etc. together

storn hook - stern hook, heel

val - halyard (s:jhr)

vant-klampen - shroud cleats (aka beleg houtjes met naagels)

veereship - foreship

Middle Dutch - English

drillen - to bore (s:ced, under drill)

maren - to tie

wemelen - to bore with a wimble (s:ced, under wimble)

Glossary of c.17th Dutch Ship Terms

This section is reproduced by kind permission of Marit van Huystee, Assistant Curator at the Western Australian Maritime Museum, Fremantle, W.A. The glossary is produced as is the original, and any additions or comments added to the original follow an asterisk.

achtersteven - stern post, stern

bakboard - port (-side) (*aka larboard)

balkwager - ? (*clamp, which is a type of wale)

banden - bands

barckhout - wale

barkoen - stanchion, yuffer

beitel - chisel

beloop - rake, slope, coarse

bettingbalken - cross-piece of the bitts (*is this a bitt-beam, i.e. a member supporting the bitts, or the cross piece at the top - i.e. the gallows?)

binnenkiel - kelson

blok - block

boegspriet - bowsprit

boeien - to fitt the planks (*edge-sett?)

boeitang - ? (* lit. bending tong - is this the plank twister known from Viking ship replica construction, etc. for which I have as yet no name in English?)

borst - shoulder

bout - bolt, pin

breeuwen - to caulk

broekstuk - lower transom

buikhoofd - coaming

buikstuk - floor timber

centen - ribbands

dekbalk - beam (*lit. deck-beam)

dofje - broken spike to clinch

dommekracht - (screw) jack

drumpels - portsells

duimen - part of hinge

evenmaat - ? (*waterline? level? evening meal?)(lit. trans. by comparison to the Scandinavian languages = even measure)

fokkemast - fore-mast

fokkespoor - step of the fore mast

galderij - gallery

geschutspoort - port-hole (*gun-ports?)

gijnblok (jein) - winding-tackle block with two or three sheaves (*fiddle, fiddle block)

halsmast - wash board

handspaak - handspike

hek - stern (-frame)

hekbalk - wing-transom

hekstut - side counter timber

hel - wrain staff chain

helling - slanting (*heel (as in to heel over to one side)?)

hevel - siphon

hieling - heel of the keel

hol - concave

holte - depth

huiddicht - watertight (*lit. skintight)

huidgang - strake (*aka streak, range)

jock - gangboard

kaapstander - capstan

kajuit - ship's cabin

kapseizen - to capsize

karveelhouten - ledges

karvielhouten - carvel work, small carlings put between the beams

katteblok - catblock (*katte, kette and similar words being Northern European words for chain, presumably catblock came from an original description as chain block)

keep, inkeping - notch

ketting - chain

kiel - keel

kielgang - garboard strake (*aka first strake, keel strake)

kiellas - joint in the keel (*keel scarfe, probably stemming from keel lashing in its early form)

kim - bilge

kim waterpas - [bilge-level-prop]

kimwaeger - the thick stuff and ceiling placed about the floor-heads (*bilge wale)

kinnebak - head or fore-foot of the keel (*the word kinne is related to chin, and there is therefore a relationship to the word chin (see chin in ED section))

klamp - clamp, cleat, brace, chock, lock

klos - chock

knechten - knight heads

knie - knee

koebrug(sdek) - orlop (*the word koe probably has some relationship to cow, and it is possible that the Dutch description comes from the keeping of livestock in the lowest deck)

kolsem - kelson

konstapels-kamer - gun room (*arsenal?)

krabhout - [racing wood]

kruishouten - kevels (*kruis is most likely an old word for tacking, by comparison to the Scandinavian languages, and the origin of kruishouten (lit. then tacking wood) is likely that of a belaying cleat used in tacking, or in belaying the tack(s))

las - joint, scarf, seam (*cp. Scandinavian lask, etc. related to lash)

las met tap en gat - tenon, mortise

las met zwaluwstaart - dovetail

lastdrager - buttress

legger - floor timber

lijfhout - waterway (*limber holes? scuppers?)

lip - het overblijvende uiteinde van een stuk hout dat ingekeept is, van een uitstekende lip voorziene klamp om een lopend touw aan vast te maken (remaining part of notched piece of timber)(part pf a belaying cleat or kevel? An 'arm' of a kevel, etc.?)

lipklamp - [lipclamp]

lopersblok - running block

luik - hatch

luikgat - hatchway

mal - mould, shape, guage (*template?)

middelkrab - [hart of the keel]

naad - seam

oorhoot - ? (*keiper? rowlocks? oarhole? oarshaft (loom)? thole?)

oplang - 2nd futtock (* an oplænger in the Scandinavian languages is an extender - a good description for a frame extension such as a futtock)

opslag - ? (*rising?)

overloop - main deck, landing

pan - bowl

passer - pair of compasses

passerbeen - leg of a pair of compasses

plank - plank, board

poort, poorten - gun port (*is this not actually a description of any kind of port, as opposed to a gunport specifically?)

poorthengsels - port-hinges

raa hout - waist rail (*sheer strake? gunwale?)

rantsoen-hout - fashion piece

regelingen - rails (*railings?)

rei - batten, straightedge, measuring staff

ribben - carlings

ronding - camber

ruim - hold

schaal - bowl

scheergang - ? (* sheer-strake? sheer-line? mouth line? capping? topsides?)

scheerlijn - ? (* sheer-strake? sheer-line? mouth line? capping?)

scheerstokken - binding strakes of the deck, partners, carlings

scheerstrook - sheer strake

scheg - skeg

scheinagel - stopwater

scheren: een touw in een blok scheren - to reeve a rope

schietlood - plumbob, plummet

schmeerhouten - wooden chocks which are greased and used at the launching of a ship (*slipway blocks?)

schoor - prop (*shore)

schotbout - eye-bolts with fore locks or rings

sitter - sitter, first futtock

slechten - to level, to raze (lit. using comparison to Scand. langauges, slechten related words such as slakta = slaughter)

slotgat - fid-hole (*what kind of fid-hole, what is it?)

slothout - fid (*what kind of fid, what is it?)

spanten - timber, frame

spiegel - stern (* is this not specifically the transom?)

spijl - fore locks (* a pin or wedge for passing through the end of a bolt to prevent it from being withdrawn)

spil - capstan

sponning - rabbet

stander - prop

stapel(blok) - stocks (*aka gantry, set-up)

steker - sitter at the bottom

stelling - scaffolding

steven schoors - prop at the stem (*aka stem-shore? if this is for, for example, a ship in dry dock etc.)

streek - stroke

stut - a) a prop, supporting beam. b) 3rd. futtock (*stanchion? pillar?)

stuurboord - starboard

tegenkiel - kelson

tingel bij de mast - ?

twillen - crotches

uitwatering - free-board

val van mast - rake (of the mast)

val, valling - slope, gradient, rake (*fall?)

vangbedden - wooden chocks greased and used for the launching of a ship (*slipway chocks?)

verdeck balk - beam

verloren lippen - ? (ghost line?)

vertuiningen - ? (* bevel? chamfer?)

vijzel - jack-screw (*screw on a jack)

vlak - bottom

vloed - flow, flood

voegen - to flush, to point [?] (* to fill? to caulk? to fair?)

voorsteven - stem (*stem-post)

waeger, wager - a general name for the planks and thick-stuff used in the ceiling of a ship (*clamps, wales)

wageren - to place the thick-stuff of a ship's ceiling (*verb)

waterpas - level (* as in a tool such as a spirit level (presumably a water level in times gone by?))

worp, wurp - transom

yuffer - ?

zaahout - kelson

zandstrook - garboard strake, (* aka first strake, keel strake)

zeeg - sheer

zitter - sitter, bilge futtock, first futtock

zogstuk - crotches

zwalustaart - dovetail

zwavel - dovetail

zwieping - ? (* possibly propelling a boat in confined or calm waters using sweeps (a thin type of oar? fairing?)

French-English

abouter - to join end to end (to abut)

alidade - noun: arm or index showing degrees on circle in astrolabe, quadrant, theodolite etc. (s:ced)(see also Eng, Lat and Arab)

batiment a clin - (ou a qulein) clinker construction

bauqiere - clamp (s:jhr)(longitudinal running member holding down floor ends etc.)

beveau - bevel

clous a vis - rivet seem

couriran devant de la lame, mettre eul en vent - scudding, to scud

coussin du bois - pillow, bed

dogne d'amure - (see F:trou)

driffe - halyard

echine(?) - chine

ecoutes - the hole in the ship's side wherein the main and fore sheet are reeved (s:jhr)(Da:skøde hul)

ecoutes volantes - flying sheets

esquif - skiff

fausse quille - false keel (s:jhr)(aka rubbing strip)

guerre de mer - naval war

palan d'amure - tack tackle

patine - the green incrustation that covers ancient bronzes (ced).

racage - parrel (s:jhr)

river - to rivet (to bash out the fitted end of a rivet)(s:gak)

taquets - cleats, kevels or wedges (s:jhr)

trou - hole of the chess tree (aka F:Dogne d'amure)

vaigres - general name for the planks, clamps and thick stuff used in the ceiling of a ship (s:jhr)

Old French - English

bevel, buvel - bevel (as in a bevelled edge)

German-English

Note: use is made here of the international system for converting the German hard vowels (those with the umlaut, or dots above) to English spelling by placing an "e" after the letter in question. Thus, a hard u becomes ue.

Augsplissung (Die) - eye splice

Arbeitsäxte - plain axes (s:ovh)(lit. working axe)

Axt (eine) - axe (s:jhr)

Balkweger - clamp (longitudinal running member holding down floor ends etc.)

bei legen - lie to

Beil (ein) - side axe. A type of dressing axe usually with an offset shaft, used for trimming the sides of planks, etc. (s:jhr) (cf. Sw. bilyxa, etc.)

Beil (ein) - side axe (s:JH), a type of dressing axe (see axe definitions section)

beizen - to steep or to tan, tanning

Betel - chisel (s:jhr)

Buchenholz - beech (tree type) (s:ovh)

Dissel (ein) - see Diessel (s:jhr)

Deissel (ein) - adze (also spelt Dissel)(s:jhr) (cf. Holdeissel)

Eibenholz - yew (type of tree) (s:ovh)

Enterbeil (ein) - chopping or capping axe.

Eschen - ash (tree type)(s:ovh)

Fallen - halyard (s:jhr)

Fliegende schotten - flying sheets

Hakenscherbe (eine) - hook scarfe (aka Scherbe mit einem Haken)(s:jhr)

Hals-talje - tack tackle

Halsen (Die) - tacks

Holdeissel (ein) - hollow adze (s:jhr)(see Axe Definitions section)(cf. dissel, deissel)

kalfatern - caulking (s:jhr)

Kalfateisen - caulking iron (s:jhr)

Kiefer - Scots pine (Lat. pinus silvestris)(same as Waldföhre)(s:ocp)

Klammer - clamps (s:jhr) (tools for holding workpieces together whilst working)

Klampen - cleats, kevels or wedges (s:jhr)

Klinkerwerk - clinker/clinkerwork (s:jhr)

Knebel - toggle (piece of wood for attaching a loop of rope, etc)

Knebel - becket (toggle shaped wooden pieces used for securing a rope through a loop - like the standard toggle found on duffle jackets etc.) (s:ovh)

Langscherbe - longitudinal scarfe, (edges of which can be seen when keel etc is viewed from side)(s:jhr)

Lasch (ein) - scarfe (s:jhr) (cf. Scherbe, Zussamenfuegung)

Lenssen - scudding, to scud

Linde - lime (tree)

Loser kiel (ein) - false keel or rubbing strip (check if it is loser or lofer keel after transcr. from gothic s/f?)

Pech - pitch (tar distillate)

Prier - Heissen auf Norwegischen Jachten eine Art Geitaue womit das Segel gegen den Mast geholt wird, damit der Wind herausgehe.

Psropshammer - ?

Pumpenbohrer - spoon drill (consisting of der shaft - shank, and die schuelpe - scoop(?))(s:jhr)

Querbeil - adze (s:ovh)

Raa (eine) - yard (s:jhr)

Rack - parrel

Racktau (das) - parrel rope (used to pull rack down mast)(see also Taurack)(s:jhr)

Scherbe - scarfe (s:jhr)(cf. Lasch, Zussamenfuegung) (see also Langscherbe)

Schiefer - shiver

Schoten (Die) - sheets (ropes for servicing aft part of a sail)

Schwey - (simple angle measuring tool)(s:jhr) (simply a bevel, presumably)

Seiten rifs (den) - side view, section (s:jhr)

Setshammer - ?

Sextant (ein) - sextant (s:jhr)

Standard Knees, standards - Germans used this expression for what they termed deck knees made in the English style (s:jhr)

Standards - (see Standard Knees)

Spannrifs (den) - cross-section (s:jhr)

Spiegeln - rays, silver grains - the radial tissues seen in the cross-section of oak (lit. mirrors)

splissen - to splice (rope, etc)(s:jhr)

Splithammer - claw hammer

Taurack (ein) - truss-parrel, one made of rope, usually covered in leather (see also Racktau)(s:jhr)

Tiljedæk - so heisst der innre flachen Boden eines Fioringfar in Norwegen

Uhrbord - sun dial (also sun compass?)(s:jhr)

Waldföhre - Scots pine (Lat. pinus silvestris)(same as Kiefer)(s:ocp)

Wacholder - juniper

Wasserpassen rifs (den) - plan view (s:jhr)

Weger - general name for the planks, clamps and thick stuff used in the ceiling of a ship (s:jhr)

Zichklinger (eine) - draw knife

Zussamenfuegung - scarving (of keels, members)(s:jhr) (cf. Scherbe, Lasch)

Old High German - English

skif - skiff

skivaro - shiver

Greek (ancient) - English

balanos - oak

Icelandic - English

bik - pitch (tar distillate)

Italian - English

correr - una fortuna divento - scudding, to scud

dormente - clamp. Longitudinal running member holding down floor ends etc. (lit. sleeper)

drizza - halyard (s:jhr)

paranco della mura - tack tackle

pertusso della mura - hole of the chess trees

schifo - skiff

stelo - portion of lateen yard which rides below the horizontal (see also ventame)

tacchj - cleats, kevels or wedges

ventame - portion of lateen yard which rides above the horizontal (see also stelo)

Latin-English

abies picea (bot.) - pitch pine

alburnum - sapwood

alhidada - noun: arm or index showing degrees on circle in astrolabe, quadrant, theodolite etc. (s:ced)(see also Eng, Fr and Arab)

duramen (bot.) - heartwood

euononymus europaeus (bot.) - spindle-tree

pinus - any tree of the genus pine

pinus silvestris (bot.) - scots pine

pix, picis - pitch (tar distillate)

quercus aegiiops (bot.) - an evergreen oak of the Greek archipelago etc., commonly known as vallonia oak

salix viminalis (bot.) - willow, (aka osier)

tilia americana (bot.) - american lime, (aka bass, bass-wood)

? - wicken, rowan, mountain ash (all one type of tree)

Portugese-English

correr o tempo - scudding, to scud (s:jhr)

dormente - clamp. Longitudinal running member holding down floor ends etc. (lit. sleeper)

drica - halyard

Middle English – English

(see also Anglo-Saxon, which is considered by many etymologists to be equivalent to Middle English)

pynsors, pinsours - pincers

schivere - shiver

Norwegian - English . Endings given after the keyword - first is gender, where ei = feminine, en = masculine, and et = neutral; then in brackets the definite form ending is given, followed by the plural and finally the definite plural (¤ denotes no change in ending). Note Norwegian alphabetical order follows the English order a-z followed by three additional letters æ,ø,å. Sogndal and Nordheimsund are relatively isolated traditional shipbuilding areas in Norway where older terms and dialect words may be learnt.

alm, en (en, er, ene)- elm (type of tree)

arbeidsøkse - plain axes (s:ovh) (lit. working axes)

ask, ei (a, er, ene) - ash (type of tree)

babord - port (as in port side of a ship) (s:cap)

base - base (e.g. baseolje - base oil) (s:cap)

bass - bass, bast (lime, etc.) (s:cap)

bark - bark, barque, n. ship type (s:cap)

barlind - yew (type of tree)(s:cap)

baug - n, bow (bow (front) of a ship, etc.)(s:jd)

baut - (e.g. gå baut tack) n. to go about (s:cap)

baute - (e.g. gå baut tack) v. to tack, to go about (s:cap)

bjerk, bjørk, ei (a, er, ene; a, er, ene) - birch (type of tree)

bris - breeze (e.g. frisk breeze - fresh breeze)

bunn-tilje - (see tilje)

bøk - beech (type of tree)(s:ovh)

båthus, et (et, ¤, ene) - boathouse

doll bord, et (et, ¤, ene) - (see øverste bord)

dørk - (cf. tilje and see Da: dørkplankene) decking planks, limber boards, floor plates, bottom boards (dørk=floor)(which expression best?)

eik, ei (a, er, ene) - oak (type of tree)

einer, en (en, ¤, ne?) - juniper (type of tree)

fender list - beading which runs around a boat to protect it from chaffing on a quayside, etc. (s:jd) (better description/word in English?)

festepinner til tauverk (knevler) - beckets (toggle shaped wooden pieces used for securing a rope through a loop - like the standard toggle found on duffle jackets etc.) (s:ovh)

flikk - n. patch, mend, cobble (s:cap)

flikke - vb. patch, mend, cobble (s:cap)

flyndre - flat plank as a keelson (cf. ED slab - flat plank as a keel)

fortøye - v. to moor

fortøyning, en ( en, er, ene) -

furu, ei (a, er, ene), tall, (syre, liktorn) - pine (type of tree)

gallionsfigur - figure head

garve - vb. to tan, tanning (s:cap)

garveri - tannery (s:cap)

gran, ei (a, er, ene) - spruce (type of tree)

hekle - hackling (in preperation of flax)

høvel, en (en, høvler, høvlene) - plane (is there a change of spelling from the Danish?)

høvle - to plane

kam - crest (of a wave)(s:ned and cap)

keiper - keiper (sort of built-in thole pins made where a branch naturally occurs from a slab of wood fastened to the gunwhale of a ship or from the essings rail itself ). Actually a Norwegian word keip which translates as oarlock or rowlock in the ned dictionary)(s:cap)

kile, en (en,er,ene) - wedge

klink - clinker (s:jd)

klinke - v. to clinker build, (to fasten clinker rivets) (s:jd)

klinkhammer, en (en, re, rene) - hammer used in clinker construction (peening hammer?) (s:jd)

kne, knekt - knee

knekt - (see kne)

knevler - beckets (toggle shaped wooden pieces used for securing a rope through a loop - like the standard toggle found on duffle jackets etc.) (s:ovh) (aka festepinner til tauverk)

ko øye - porthole (the small round type, for light and air, this was traditionally known as a bull's eye in English but has come to be known as a porthole) (lit. cow-eye)(s:jd)

kranseband - same word used for both breasthook and crutch(?) (s:jd)

krysse - to tack, vb. kryss - tack, n. (s:cap)

køl bord, et (et, ¤, ene) - garboard, first strake, keel strake

landkrabbe - landlubber (s:cap)

lense - (see øse, v. to bail)

lense - sail before the wind, plain sailing (s:jd)

lense - (seile unna vinden) - scudding, run before the wind (s:cap)

lerk, ei (a, er, ene) - larch (type of tree)

likesime - (aka sime) bolt ropes of animal hair, horse hair etc. acc. Norwegian texts. Also used for sheets and tacks, etc:- does not rot

lind - n. lime (type of tree)

mast fisk?, en (en, ¤, ene) - mast fish (sometimes shaped like a fish)

nagle, en (en, er, ene) - rivet, for clinker construction etc.

naust, et (et, ¤, ene), båthus, rorbu - boathouse (is this originally a Norwegian or Danish word?)

not og fjær - tongue and groove (system for joining planks etc)

ram bord, et (et, ¤ , ene) - thicker strake, perhaps placed as protection against ramming (is this word connected with rim bord?)(cf. rubbing strake)

rambukk, en (en, er, ene) - battering ram

ram, en? (en, er, ene), vedder n. ram (ship's front for sinking other ships, etc.)

ramme, vedde - v. to ram

reim (en/a?, er, ene) - smaller frames between larger frames, (futtocks/sub-frames/ribs/intermediate frames?)

rem - a small horizontal member between frames for supporting a thwart, etc. (s:jd)(better descr./word?)(is this synonymous with a rising?)(compare with the perhaps synonymous words which are listed under the keyword hold stringers in the English Definitions section)

revsing - a strengthening strip of wood running around the outside of a small boat, the compliment of æsing which runs around the inside (s:jd) (better description/word?)

ringeriksstil - ..........? (lit. coil rich style)(decorative carving style used on Viking ship woodwork)

rom sjø - ...........?

rorbu - (see naust)

ror-pind - tiller (s:ovh)

røe - rove (plate used in rivetting)

sammanføyning, å sammanføye - joint, to join. Prob. related to English fey, (see ED fey), used in connecting two pieces perhaps at right angles as opposed to a longitudinal scarfe etc. See also N: skjøt.

seilskjøtet - sheet block (s:ovh)

sime - (see likesime)

spile (en?, er, ene) - batton (for fitting in sail)

skank - shank (s:ned) (of a rivet, etc.)

skav - shavings, scrapings (s:ned)

skavank - floor, fault, defect (s:ned)

skave - scrape, probably origin for word skavl (s:ned)

skavl (høvel) - ..........? (specialist plain or iron for cutting grooves)(noulding iron? stripe guage? stripe plane? moulding plane?)

skjøt, å skjøte - scarfe, to scarfe (e.g. fingerskjøt (zigzag ends glued together), bladskjøt (feather scarfe, plane scarfe), laskeskjøt (using a piece fastened alongside like a splint)(s:jd)

skjøve - (a specialist plane, probably a making iron or luting iron, for cutting grooves in planking etc.)(stripe-plane? strip guage?)

snelle(?) - pillar, beam stanchion (this is the expression used in Danish, with snelde)

snorstrammere - rope tighteners (s:ovh). Small wooden pieces carved into a piece of eight, displayed from Viking finds at the Viking ship hall, Oslo, like modern tent guyrope tighteners which slide along the rope and hold tension, after looping the peg, by friction. Those displayed measure (by eye) some 12cm by 5cm with 1.3cm holes for the rope to pass. There is almost certainly a proper English word for these which I don't yet know.

spile - batton, sail batton (is it always a batton for fitting into a sail?)

spleis - n. splice (a rope, etc.) (s:cap)

spleise, (skjøte) - v. to splice (a rope, etc.) (s:cap)

stag (1) - stay (as in stay for the mast)

stag (2) - a boom for the foresail (what’s proper noun in English?)

stem - stem (same as English word)

tau - n. rope (s:cap)

taue - v. to tow

taubåt - tugboat (s:cap)

tau stige - n. rope ladder

tauverk - n. coll. cordage, ropes

tall - (see furu)

teltvindskier - the decorated verge boards which cross to hold the ridge pole of a viking tent, such as those found on display at the Oslo Viking Ship hall, Bygdøy.

tilje, bunn-tilje - the bottom boards (flooring) in a small, rowing boat etc (better descr./word?)(s:jd)

tiljedæk - so heisst der innre flachen Boden eines Fioringfar in Norwegen (s:jhr). (Translation: The name given to the inner flat floor of a Fioringfar in Norway).

tverrøks - adze (see also axe section)

varnagler - ..........? (Blocks inside Norwegian square riggers, known in viking, ships used in striking and raising the mast).

vedder - n. (see ram)

vedde - vb. (see ramme)

vidje - withy (it is said that in Norway, this is actually a type of bush - to be checked)(is this bush related to rowan, aka mountain ash and wickan?)

wale, val etc. - these words are not known to describe a strengthener etc. in boats in Norway as far as I have learned from asking about, but it seems to me that some related words should exist. (s:jd)

æsing - a strengthening strip of wood running around the inside of a small boat, the compliment of revsing which runs around the outside (s:jd) (better description/word?)

øverste bord, doll bord - sheer strake (or washstrake?)(cf. rubbing strake)

økse - axe

økse hode - axe head

økse skaft - axe shaft

øse, lense - v. to bail. (note: may be difference between øse and lense, (is one Danish, etc?))

øsekar - n. bailer (bailing vessel, receptacle)

øse lens - v. bail out completely, bail clear (water from a boat, etc.) (lens = adv. clear, empty)

Old Norse - English

Askr name 'ash(-tree)’ (s:tjw)

endlangr adj. extended; the length of. (s:tjw)

ferñ f. journey, expedition (s:tjw)

hamarr m. hammer. (s:tjw)

hlutr m. part, thing. (s:tjw)

lín n. flax, linen; (brúñar lín) veil made of linen.(s:tjw)

norñr adv. northwards. (s:tjw)

rõst f. unit of distance: mile, league (s:tjw)

sáld n. a measure of volume; cask, vat. (s:tjw)

síga v. sink (s:tjw)

stõng f. pole (s:tjw)

viñr m. tree; wood (s:tjw)

Spanish - English

correr el tiempo - scudding, to scud

driza - halyard (s:jhr)

Swedish-English

(Swedish:caulking or luting? dikta, täta, driva, dreva (drevning=caulking mass))

akterstav - stern post

al - alder (type of tree)

ankarnit - ? (lit. anchor rivet)(metal rivet for fastening futtocks/knees to planking)

ask - ash (type of tree)

balkwägare - planks of the deck beams (aka Da:balkwäger)(see also væger)(s:jhr))(this is of course a clamp or a shelf)

basa, ångbehandla - to steam, esp. of bending wood to fit a ship

beta - maceration, tanning

bila - (see bilyxa)

bilyxa - side axe, a type of dressing axe (aka S:bila)(cutting (not chopping) axe usually with offset shaft for cutting sides off wood) (s:jhr). Jhr Gives this as dressing axe, but side axe is perhaps a more accurate definition, especially when in use for plank smoothing.

bilyxa, bila - side axe (s:JH). This translation is made from drawings by JH, and is a type of dressing axe in effect, used for shaping the sides of wood, sometimes with an offset shaft.

bjälke - beam

björk - birch (type of tree)

bogband - breast-hook (see also bovband)

bok - beech (tree)

bordgånga - strake, run, plank run

bordklämma - boatbuilders’ clamp, gripe, crocodile (lit. board clamp)

bottenstock - floor timbers

bovband - breast hook, crutch

djupgående - draught

ek - oak (type of tree, hardwood)

en - juniper (type of tree)

essinslist - (inner rubrail/railing list)(list on inside of ship, along rail)

furu, tall - pine (tree)(pinus silvestris - Scots pine)?

får talg - sheep tallow, sheep fat

garn - yarn

garv syra - tannic acid (acid found in oak)

gipp - jibe

gran - spruce (type of tree, whitewood)

hala - to haul, to pull, to drag

halsar - ? (possibly hood ends, but not separate from planks - more the area, landing?chase?)(lit. throat)

halsgat - hole of the chess tree, hole of the chess trees, chess trees, etc. (aka S:halsklamp)

halsklamp (-ar) - aka S: halsgat (see halsgat)

hå - rowlock (need to find more specific definition of hå)

håband - ?(withy?)(band to hold oar by rowlock)(any relation to the English copp?)

kil - wedge

klamp - pillow, bed (protrusion from planks carved into them where they meet frames)

klampar, krampar - cleats, kevels or wedges

knä - knee

krabb-sjö - choppy sea

krampar - (see klampar)

kärn (an,?,?) - pith, core (juvenile wood)

köl - keel

kölbord - garboard, keel strake, first strake

kölsvin - keelson, kelson

land - lap, lap-joint (overlap)

landfäste - abutment (to abut) (I'm not sure this is the correct translation - needs checking)

lind - lime (type of tree)

lodbräda - ?(?angle board)(D:bådwater, (vaegebrædt?))

lä - lee (as in downwind side)

längs-fiber - along the grain, along the fibre, longitudinally to the fiber (of wood, etc), (see also tvärs-fiber)

länsa (1) - to bail, bailing (aka ösa)(also to dry, to pump)

läns, att länsa (2) - scudding, to scud, run before the wind, sail with following wind, make way

läskot - lee-sheet

lösköl - false keel or rubbing strip (see stråk köl)

mastspor - maststep

navare (en, ¤, ¤), skedborr - spoon drill (or shell auger, depending on the form of the tip: which is it?)

pil - willow (type of tree; Lat. Salix Viminalis), also means arrow

planka - board

roderpinne - tiller, rudder arm

roderrim - rudder belt (made of leather)

roderspant - rudder frame

rodertåg - rudder lashing

rodervårta - rudder boss

rågaljer - gallows bitts, (or yard-gallows?)(lit. spar gallows)

scarv - see skarv

skarv, scarv - scarve, scarf, etc.

skarvyxa - scarphing axe, a type of adze. (and see Axe Definitions section)

skavjärnet - making iron, luting iron (iron for making curved grooves)(N:skavl)

skedbor - see navare

skiffer - shiver

skiva (an?, or, orna) - sheave(s) (the wheel or disc from a pulley or a tackle-block) (plate, slab, disc)

skot - sheet (S:läskot - E:lee-sheet)

slit-köl - false keel, rubbing strip (see stråk-köl)

snedd - bevel (oblique?)

snedlaskar - oblique scarf joint (?oblique fish joint)

snälla - spindle (D:snelde/snelle)(is same word snälla used for beam stanchion, pillar?)

splissa - splice, i.e. to splice a rope etc. together

spunning - rabbet

stamkraft - ? (crutch?) (lit. post strengthener)

stav, en (?, ?, arna) - post, posts

strå köl, en - false keel, rubbing strip (see stråk köl)

stråk köl, en - false keel, rubbing strip(aka lösköl, strå-köl, slit-köl)

talja - tackle

talja block - tackle-block or pulley

tall - see furu

tilja - see planka (check this for connection to either tilly deck or plank)

tränaglar - tree-nails (in English pronounced trunnels, from tradition)

tväryxa - adze, there are various adzes used in traditional shipbuilding, see Axe Definitions section (see also skarvyxa)

tvärs-fiber - cross-grain, across the grain, across the fibre (of wood etc.), (see also längs-fiber)

upplängor - futtocks (lit. extenders)

vagare - general name for the planks, clamps and thick stuff used in the ceiling of a ship (s:jhr)(is this incorrect and should be vägare like in Danish?)

vant klampar - shroud cleats

vidje - wooden material, usually willow (S: pil), (used for lashing, etc.)

ångbehandla - to steam (i.e. steam treating wood), aka basa

ösa - to bail, bailing (also to dry, to pump) (see also länsa)

English Definitions

abut - where two pieces of timber meet end to end, or meet squarely (O.F. abouter, abuter (a, to, but, end) (cp. Fr. abouter, to join end to end)(see butt and butt-joint)(s:jd)

addice - adze (see adze)

adze - axe type tool but with transverse blade (aka addice)(see also hollow adze). A narrow bladed version of the adze is known as a scarphing adze or strap adze, and is used for cutting scarph joints, etc., having blades of some 2-4"across. Adzes with blades of some 6" are known as shipwrights' axes. Doub-axes, doubing axes or dubbing adzes are those having a steep curve or lip to the cutting parts, e.g. the round-lipped or spoon adze and the square-lipped or box adze (s:JH(from his excellent and clear diagram and text)).

agave - (L. agave, Gr. agaue)(bot.) genus comprising the American aloe

alidad, alidade - noun: arm or index showing degrees on circle in astrolabe, quadrant, theodolite etc. (s:ced)(see also Fr, Latin and Arabic)

anchor stock - the foldable cross piece at the top of an anchor at 90⁰ to the main “mud-grip” (aka beam)

anchor shank - main length of the anchor between stock and “mud grip”. The shank is also known as a beam.

antifouling - usually a paint or coating but any method of protection given to the hull to stop fouling, or the build up of crustaceans, weed and sea life which slows the ship. Commonly a poison such a red lead, but copper oxide based coatings have been used in the middle ages and earlier. Lime has been mixed in to various compounds. Each of Europe’s great navies had their own compound throughout the middle ages and later, which was kept most secret which is why many of them are not known today.

awl - hand tool used for making holes, like a small version of a shell auger or spoon drill, but for simple hand use and not designed for use in a drill stock.(s:JH(diag p42))(cf. gimlet)

backing - manually turning the (square) sail(s) at ninety degrees to the oncoming wind so as to lie to. A technique often used in strategic sailing manoeuvres.(see also lie to)

balk, baulk - (A-S balca, a ridge (prob. cogn. with Icel. balke, a beam, partition)), a ridge of land left unploughed; a dividing ridge; a ridge left unploughed inadvertatnly (relevant to nautical terms:) a beam of timber, a tie beam of a house, (etc...) (s:ced)

ball-peen hammer - a hammer specially made for rivetting in shipbuilding. At one side of the head is the sharp edge for hooking over the nail or cutting the rivets, at the other side is the ball for peening over the rivet shank to fasten the rove. (aka ball pein hammer (s:bf)) (see also rivet and rove)

band (1) - M.E. band, Icel. band (O.Teut. bindan to bind), n. (s:ced) (non Nautical def'n)

band (2) - (late M.E. bande, F. bande, a strip, Prov. and It. benda, O.H.G. binda (O. Teut. bindan, as prec.) A flat strip or band used to bind together, encircle or confine (s:ced)

bass, bass-wood - in America the fibres or wood of the American lime (bot.) tilia americana.

bast - the inner bark of the lime (aka linden) tree, used in Russia and elsewhere for making mats; any similar fibrous bark; a rope, mat , etc. made from this fibre (also known as bass). Lime contains about twice as many layers of fibres as other types of tree. In the Oslo Viking Ship Hall, Bygdøy, information plaques state that the Viking Oseberg ship's "rigging is made of Linden fibres".

batten, baton (1) - a piece of wood from 1 to 9 inches wide and from ½ to 2 ½ inches thick, used for flooring. (s:ced)

batten (2) - a scantling, ledge, clamp(s:ced)

batten (3) - (naut.) - a thin piece of wood, nailed on masts etc. to prevent chafing, or to fasten down the edges of tarpaulins over the hatches.(s:ced)

batten (4) - (verb) to fasten or to strengthen with battens. (s:ced)

beam stanchion - (see pillar)

bearding line - lowest line followed by the rabbet carved out of keel/post etc. to receive first strake

beckets - toggle shaped wooden pieces used for securing a rope through a loop - like the standard toggle found on duffle jackets etc. (s:ovh).

bed - (see pillow)

belay - (A-S belecgan (BE- LAY), to lay round, envelop; (nautical use perh. from Dutch beleggan, to cover, belay)), v.t. fasten a running rope by winding it round a cleat or belaying pin. Belay there! stop! enough! (s:ced)

belaying pin - (Naut.) n. A stout pin to which running ropes may be belayed. (s:ced)

bevel (1) - a surface which has been angled to fit with another. Bevels in certain places have special names such as splay, snape, bearding, etc.

bevel (2) (adj) - oblique, sloping, slanting; at more than a right angle; a slope from a right angle, an inclination of two planes, except one of 90’

bevel (3) - a tool consisting of a flat rule with a movable tongue or arm for setting off angles.

bevel edge - the oblique edge of a chisel or similar cutting tool.

bight - (A-S byht (bygan, to bend), n. a bending, a bend; a small bay, the space between two headlands; the loop of a rope. (s:ced)

bilge - Inside, that part of the boat under the bottom boards. Outside, the curved surface between the bottom and the side. The phrase the “turn of the bilge” is applied to both inside and out. (s:emk)

bilge keel - see bilge rail

bilge rail - an external timber, normally half the length of the boat, secured to a plank lap just under the turn of the bilge. In addition to taking the rub of beaching, and reducing rolling, it is normally fitted with handholes in boats subject to capsize. Aka bilge keel. (s:emk)

bilge stringer - (?add definition) (synonymous words are listed under the keyword hold stringers)

binder stringer - (?add definition)

bitt-beam - beam predominantly for fastening the bitts - a strong cross beam, sometimes above deck level.(could this be related to the Danish bite, given that an early ships, ropes were fastened to the bite (lower cross beam) or to uprights made from this, e.g. maste-bite?).

bitt - (etym. doubtful) Naut. a strong post fixed in pairs in the deck of a ship for fastening cables, belaying ropes, etc. (s:ced)

bitts - strong wooden members, usually vertical, for attaching anchor cable etc.

black knot - one caused by an old and decayed or perhaps dried out or rotten bud or branch - and one which should be removed and stopped or completely avoided in boatbuilding. (see knot (2))

blind fastening - a fastening whose point does not break through: nails, screws and drifts are common examples. (s:emk)

blind wedging - (see tree nails)

block - a solid mass of wood or stone

block, tackle block - (see pulley, see pulley block and see tackle)

block machine - a machine for making tackle blocks (s:ced)

board - a length of wood 4 inches or more wide but less than 2 inches thick, from which planks are cut (s:emk)

boat nails - when made of iron are more resistant both to corrosion and to fatigue than their more modern replacements which are made of steel which is cheaper and easier to fabricate en masse. (s:bf).

boat nails made of copper, when tapering (quadratic section) should have a pilot hole drilled before insertion which is equivalent in diameter to the average of the cross section of the nail shank. When square in section, the pilot hole should be drilled to a diameter of half a flat side for softwoods, and half the diagonal distance for hardwoods.

body plan - the part of the draft showing the half breadths or transverse vertical sections used for moulds (s:emk)

bollow - a type of hollowing plane. A special plane used to hollow or more correctly to “back out” the inside of planks which are to be made concave. The bottom of the tool is curved in two planes (cup shaped). (JH(diag))

bolt rope - rope sewn around edge of sail to stop canvas tearing - on perpendicular or sloping edges of a sail it is known as a leech rope, along the bottom edge it is known as a foot rope, along the top it is known as a head rope.

bonnet - (Naut.) an additional piece of canvas laced to the bottom of a sail to enlarge it.

bottom boards - portable flooring, curved to fit and laid over the bottom of an open boat. Floor-boards are flat, level and more rigid, whilst a deck is permanently fitted. (s.emk). (cf. limber boards, which are primarily placed as removable for clearing water from the bilge)

bowline - a rope fastened by the bridles to the bowline cringles on the leech of topsails and other squar sails, to keep tight the windward or weather edge of the sail. Usually attached around the middle of the perpendicular weather edge of the sail.

box scarfe - where the end of each piece to be joined is cut in half for the length of the overlap - the simplest scarfe joint, that used often in joinery. Also known as halving or halved scarfe.(see also halved scarfe)

brail - (from Lat. breaching girdle) ropes used to gather up the foot and leaches of a sail before furling (e.g. "to haul up by means of the brails", sail shaped or shortened by means of brailing gear)

breast hooks - a type pf knee which ties the stem post to the sheer plank, the foremost frame of a ship, sheets of metal or wood often formed in a U or V shape (usually fitted horizontally) in the fore end of a vessel (known as crutches or stern hooks when used aft, i.e. in vessels where the sheer meets the stern post). (cf. crotch)

browning off - (see hemming home)

bulkhead - an upright partition dividing the ship into compartments

bull’s eye - hemispherical disk of glass in the side or deck of a ship to give light below; hemispherical lens in a lantern; small round window (s:ced). Often the word porthole is used for a small round window nowadays, but this is most likely a modern misnomer for what is really a bull's eye, whereas a true porthole would be one big enough for loading and unloading goods etc. through the ship's side whilst in port.

bulwark - the upper part of the sides of a ship which rises above the upper deck.

bulwark - (formed like Dutch bolwerk and G. bollwerk from words represented by BOLE (1) or the M.H.G.v. boln, to throw, and WORK). Naut. That part of the sides of a ship which rises above the upper deck, v.t. To furnish with or protect as with bulwarks. (s:ced)

bunt - the middle part of a sail formed into a cavity to hold the wind (s:ced)

bunting - a thin woollen stuff of which flags are made; a flag; flags collectively.

buntline - a rope passing from the foot-rope of a square sail and in front of the canvas to prevent bellying (bulging out of the sails)(s:ced)

burr - (see rove)

butt (1) - the manner in which one member meets another squarely; for instance in the way the end of a strake meets the rabbet line.(s:emk)(cf. abut)

butt (2) - the butt of a board or timber is the broader end, coming from the lower end of the tree. (s:emk)

butt block - block of wood fastened over or behind a butt joint to reinforce it. (aka butt strap)

butt joint - a joint in which the pieces come square against each other (s:ced)(cf. abut)

butt strap - (see butt block)

buttockline - a vertical fore and aft section of a boat (s:emk)

calk - (see caulk)

camber - round down. The amount the crown of a curved transverse member is higher at the centre line than the sides. (s.emk)

cant - any timber or frame which meets the keel other than square, normally to avoid excessive twist or bevel. (s:emk)

canvas - a coarse unbleached cloth, made of hemp or flax, formerly used for sifting, now for sails, tents etc. (s:ced).

capping - a fairing fitted over the top of the gunwhale and the sheer strake (s:emk)

capsize - (etym. unknown; perhaps from Sp. capuzar, to sink by the head), v.t. to upset, to overturn. v.i. to be upset. n, an overturn. Capsizal, n. (s:ced)

capstan - (Prov. and F. cabestan, L. capistare, to fasten (capistrum, a halter, from capere, to hold),n a revolving pulley or drum, either power or lever driven, with a belt or cable running over it. Used to increase the force exerted by the cable or belt. (s:ced)

caravel, carvel - type of ship and method of ship construction whereby the ship’s skeleton, frames and all is set up, so that planking can be fitted to that pre-defined shape. The planks do not overlap as in clinker hulls, but butt against one another, where a chamfer is cut onto each plank before fitting to allow caulking of the finished ship. Caravel was the most common form of ship building in the Mediterranean area whereas clinker was favoured in Northern Europe before and during the Viking times. Since then caravel technique became ever more popular in the north as the need for larger ships arose.

carvel - (see caravel)

cat - a strong tackle used to hoist the anchor to the cat heads; various parts of this tackle; a double tripod which always lands on its feet, as a cat is said to do. (s:ced)

cat - (Naut.) v.t. to draw to the cat head (colloq. to vomit) (s:ced)

cat - (Naut.) n. a coal and timber vessel formerly used on the north-east coast of England. (s:ced) (and see cat-rigged)

cat-beam - (Naut) the broadest beam in a ship. (s:ced)

cat-block - (Naut.) a block used to cat the anchor (s:ced)

cat-head - (Naut.) a beam projecting from a ship's bows to which the anchor is secured.(s:ced)

cat-holes - (Naut.) two holes at the stern of a ship for a cable or hawser. (s:ced)

cat rigged - a. Having one large fore-and.aft mainsail (s:ced)(and see cat, n.)

cat's paw - (Naut.) a light air which just ripples the surface of the water. (s:ced)

cat's paw - (Naut.) a turn in the bight of a rope to hook a tackle on. (s:ced)

caulk, calk - (O.F. cauquer (L. calcare, to tread, from calc, the heel))(verb) to stuff the seams of a ship with oakum, etc. (see also luting, stopping). When making repairs, cotton should not be used as caulking in old clinker vessels as it opens up the seam as it swells in water.

caulker - the man who does the caulking

caulking - "Caulkers boiled pitch and mixed it with spun agave" and applied it to planks.

caulking iron - blunt chisel used by caulkers. These usually come in sets of various sizes of caulking irons, together with various tools for pulling, poking and raking out old caulking materials where a repair is to be made. (s:jd)

caulking seem - the space left for caulking in between each plank when constructing a caravel hull. Each plank is chamferred on one side before fitting to the ship. The seam (chamferred edge) should be no less than half but no more than 2/3 the plank thickness, and some 4mm wide on the extern of the vessel.

ceiling - inner planking of vessel fastened to inside of frame members, sometimes extending coverage up the side of the bilge/hold. They are both for strengthening the ship and to hold ballast etc. in place between the frames (and are also known as foot-waleing). (synonymous words are listed under the keyword hold-stringers)

chain - strong plates of iron bolted to a ship's sides and used to secure the shrouds.(s:ced) (probably a contraction of chain plates (s:jd)) (see chain plates)

chain plates - n. (Naut) One of the flat iron bars bolted to a ship's side to secure the shrouds, also called channel plates - (CHANNEL (2)) (s:ced) (see chain plates)

chain wales - (CHANNEL (2)) (s:ced) (see also chain plates)

chamfer - an angle slightly pared off; a bevel, a groove, a fluting. Verb: to groove, to bevel off. (s:ced)(see also bevel)

channel (2) - (CHAIN, WALE) ,n. (Naut) A plank fastened horizontally to the side of a ship to spread the lower rigging. (s:ced) (synonymous words are listed under the keyword hold stringers)

chase - a tapered rabbet worked at the end of the hem so that the upper plank can land on the apron or transom (s.emk)(see hemming home) (cf. splay)

check - to cut a notch to fit the end of another member. Deadwoods are often checked to receive the snaped heels of timbers whose heads are located in checks in the gunwhale (s:emk)(see also snape)(perhaps check and snape are complimentary?)

checked scarfe - (see lipped scarfe)

checking - splits occuring at the end of timber whilst it is drying.

cheeks - one of a pair of side members in a structure, e.g in rudders to accomodate tillers, in tabernacles to accommodate the mast (s:emk) (cf. tabernacles)

chin - curved juncture of the stem and keel. The forefoot or gripe in a ship. (s:emk)(aka forfoot). Scarved in piece between stem post and keel, sometimes on the inside radius, sometimes in contact with the water on the external radius, as a full fill-in piece. (cf. hook)

chine - longitudinal strength member fitted at the turn of the bilge and into which the planking is rabetted and fastened above and below. If an angle (as opposed to a smooth curve) is formed this is known as a hard chine and this is usual in vee-bottom designs. (s:emk)

chock(1) - piece of wood (etc.) wedged in to prevent something from moving, eg a chock-stone

chock(2) - a wood block (eg boat chocks - for supporting a ship’s boat)

clamp(1) (generally) - anything rigid which strengthens, fastens or binds; a piece of timber or iron used to fasten work together.

clamp(2) - (carpentry) frame with two tightening screws to hold pieces of wood together; a back batten fastened crosswise to several boards to prevent them from warping

clamp(3) - (not in early use; etymology uncertain (cp. Dutch klampe (now clamp), G. klamp, A-S clam)) (nautical) the internal planking under the shelf on which the deck beams rest (s:ced)

clamp (4) - boatbuilders’ clamp. A device for holding parts of a boat together temporarily whilst other work is being performed. In addition to the usual steel screw designs, boat builders made their own gripes out of wood in the form of large clothes pegs or wedged pairs of cleats bolted together. (also known as cramp, gripe, crocodile) (s:emk)

clasp - a catch, hook or interlocking device for fastening

claw hammer - hammer which has a claw on one side of the head used for removing nails - the usual hammer seen in use by a joiner. Other tools for nail removing are the crowbar and pinch bar.

cleat - any short length of wood used for securing something. In their most varied and elaborate forms and in other materials, cleats are used for turning up ropes. (s:emk)(cf. kevel)

clench - see clinch

clencher - (see clinker and see rivet)

clew (1) - the lower corner of a staysail (windward clew =lower corner of sail, tack is name of rope used to secure it)

clew (2) - the aftermost corner of a staysail

clew - (verb) to truss up to the yard

clew-garnets - tackels attached to the clews of the main and fore sails by which they are trussed up to the yards.

clew lines - (see clew garnets) - similar tackles for the smaller square sails

clinch - to beat over/spread the fitted end of a rivet (aka clench, and see also double-clench)(cf. turned nails)

clinker (1) - A method of arranging the strakes of a vessel so they overlap and are then fastened together through the overlap. Also known as clencher, lapstrake (s:emk)(see rivet)(see also landing and hemming home)

clinker (2) - a type of nail;- that used for clinker construction. (it is said to be double clenched, hooked or turned when its end is folded over and back into the planking, as it is sometimes used instead of with a rove). (aka rivet, land-nail, clencher, clench nail, clench, clincher)(see also rivet and rove)

close haul - the act of sailing a ship close to the wind.(cf. pinch, luff(4), tight to the wind, (pointing?)

closer - (see shutter (2))

coamings - (etym doubtful) n,pl. (Naut.) The raised borders round hatches, etc. for keeping water from pouring into the hold (s:ced)

cogg - a double ended craft with angular profile, flat bottom with flush strakes, and steep, lapstraked sides (s:ocp).

compass timber - naturally curved tree trunks and large branches (s:jrs)(cf. compass timber)

compass timber - n. curved timber used in shipbuilding (s:ced)(cf. compass timber)

copp - a perforated ledge secured to the loom of an oar. The copp permits the use of a single thole and improves the balance of the oar. (s:emk)

countersinking - drilling or otherwise cutting into a surface so as to allow a fastening to sink below the surface of a fitting etc so usually so that it can be hidden, but also to allow the use of shorter fastenings to make fast large fittings. Filler, or a wooden plug (aka pellet to furniture makers, and generally known as a “bung” in US), or a dowel or stop, is usually put in behind the fastening to hide it and allow a fine looking finish, and/or to prevent water from getting to it. A stop, which has its grain running across, should not be confused with a dowel, which exclusively has its grain running from end to end.

cramp - (see clamp (4))

crank - Type of tender, which is unstable at any loading state and unable to carry much sail. Note the characteristic "loll" which is instability in the near upright state, but this may be combined with good heeled stability. West Country Flash Boats have marked loll when empty.

cringles - the 'eyes' spliced into a sail's bolt rope for attaching ropes which haul it up to the mast etc.

crocodile - (see clamp (4))

crone - A Scandinavian term for the heavy block of oak that supported the heel of the mast sometimes referred to as a keelson, such blocks were hardly long enough to perform a full internal backbone function (s:jrs)

crook (1) - a curved piece of wood, which has grown into a shape useful to a boatbuilder. Depending on the nature of the growth it might be a hook, knee, elbow, fork or bend. (s:emk)(cf. compass timber)

crook (2) - a grown curve of timber

crow-foot(1) - a rope dividing into two, or two meeting to continue as one

crow-foot(2) - a contrivance for suspending the ridge of an awning

crotch - (etym doubtful, cp. crutch) - n, a forking; the parting of two branches; a hook or crook (s:ced)

crutches (1) - sheets of metal or wood (or frames) which form a u or v shape (usually horizontally nowadays) in the stern end of a vessel (see breast hooks and stern hooks) and used in ends of a viking ship

crutch (2) - rowlock. A metal fork or pivot for an oar and fitting into a hole at gunwhale level. A wide range of patterns are available. (s:emk) (cf. related parts rowlock, row cleat, oarlock, oarbed, oarhole, thole pin, row cleat, oar port, toe cleat).

crutch (A-S cryce, from Teut. kruk (cp Du kruk, Dan krukke, G kruecke) n, (naut) various appliances for spars, timbers, etc. (s:ced)

cut nippers - (see nippers)

dead-eye - one of the flat round blocks having eyes for the lanyards, by which the rigging is set up

dead-reckoning - the calculation of a vessel’s position using the log and compass, when observations cannot be taken

deadrise (1) - the angles made between the first strake and the horizontal when fitted to the keel

deadrise (2) - the angle the bottom a boat makes with the horizontal (s:emk)

dead-water - the eddy under the stern of a ship or boat

deadwood - the built up timbers fore and aft above the keel (cf. wedge, heel, hook, gripe)

deal - length of soft wood (usually pine or fir) 2 to 4 inches thick and 9 to 11 inches wide. (s:emk)

derrick - (the name of a Tyburn hangman in the 17th cent.) n. a hoisting machine with a boom stayed from a central post, wall, floor, deck, etc. for raising heavy weights ; the framework over an oil-well. (s:ced)

dolly - a metal billet used for holding up a nail while it is being clenched (s:emk)

dory lap - double bevelling of both planks the full length of the overlap so that the projection of lap is much reduced. (s:emk)

double clenched - a nail, clinker nail, clencher etc. is said to be double clenched when its end is folded over and back into the planking (s:jrs)(see hooked nails and see turned nails)

double clinched - (see double clenched)

dovetail - n, A mode of fastening boards together by fitting tenons, shaped like a dove's tail spread out, into corresponding cavities (s:ced)

dowel - a round wooden piece or rod used in various wood joint fastenings and furniture making (see countersinking)

drag - the amount the after end of the keel is lower than the forward end. (s:emk)

draw-knife - a tool which is simply a blade with handles which can be drawn toward the user - a simple plane in essence.(from diagrams in s:JH)

drying lumber - water evaporates some ten times faster from the ends of cut lumber (planks) than from the flat sides, so measures must be taken to prevent checking (splits occuring from the ends).

duramen (bot.) - heartwood (see heartwood)

edge set - to edge set is to bend a plank across it’s width (in the same plane as its widest side) to settle it correctly in the ship. It is a technique which can be used in caravel construction but it is not to be used in clinker hulls.

ell - a stick with notches or marks, used to determine distances, e.g.used from a longitudinal line in boatbuilding to determine certain points, thus an aid in shaping the side of a ship's hull when clinker building a shell-type hull before any kind of framework is added.

end cutters, end cut nippers - tools used to nip or cut off the shank of a rivet, nail etc to a suitable length. (s:bf;ip)(see nippers)

entry - the front part of a ship which is below the waterline

fairlead - a block requiring no “sheave” or pulley wheel, but which essentially consists of a piece of wood with a groove or grooves cut in it to allow a rope to run. (s:jd)

fairway - noun, the navigable part of river, channel or harbour (s:ced)

fall aboard of, to - (Naut) To strike against, as one vessel in collision with another. (s:ced)

fall asterm, to - (Naut) to fall behind (s:ced)

fall foul of, to - (Naut) to fall aboard of (s:ced)

fall home - (Naut) To curve inwards(as timbers or sides of a ship). (s:ced)

fall off, to - (Naut) to fail to keep her head to the wind (s:ced)

false - any addition to the underpart of a vessel to increase its size e.g. on the keel proper, as an addition to the lower part of the transom, before or aft a ballast keel (cf. rubbing strip attached under keel, which is also known as a false keel)

false keel - a rubbing strip. A wooden member fastened under the true keel to take the knocks from grounding or beaching, attack from worms etc. Usually seperated from the true keel by a barrier layer such as tar paper. Under this may be attached a metal shoe (see shoe). (aka rubbing strip) (cf. bilge rail)

fay - to fit closely. The faces which are to meet in a joint are known as the faying faces. It is standard practice to coat them with a protective paint, bedding compound, tar etc. before they meet and the joint is fastened. (A-S fegan to join, unite (cp. Dutch voegen, G.fuegen))(Am. to fit) (naut.) to fit accurately (s:ced)

feather edge, shim edge - an edge which tapers to nothing. (s:emk)(known as a plane scarfe or feather scarfe when describing a scarfe joint with such features) (cf. lipped scarfe).

fence - name given to a batton or such like which is temporarily fastened along a member as a guide for a router, an electric plane or similar tool.

fid (1) - (etym. doubtful), n, (naut) a bar of wood or iron used to support a top mast (s:ced)

fid (2) - n, (naut) a pointed wooden pin used to open the strands of a rope in splicing (s:ced)

fid (3) - n, (naut) a wood or metal bar used as a support, etc. (s:ced)

fid (4) - n, (naut) a plug of oakum for the vent of a cannon. (s:ced)

fiddle block - a block with two sheaves (s:ced)

filling piece - a piece of wood used between frames, planks etc to fill the gap between them, to make a strong compound assembly, to allow for through fastenings, to make a continuous area of support for a fitting, etc., or to stop movement of ballast etc. (cp. butt-block)

flake - (perh. from Icel. flake, fleke, a hurdle, rel. to L. plectere, and Gr. plekein, to plait), n. (Naut) a stage hung over a ship's side, for the use of painters etc. (s:ced)

flam - a convex shape in the topsides as they rise toward the sheer. The compliment of flare. (cf. flare)

flare - an increase in the width of a topside as it rises toward the sheer: more exactly, a hollow (concave) section is implied. The word flam is used if the section is convex. (s:emk) (cf. flam and tumblehome)

flare - (Naut.) the widening or spreading out upwards (as of a ship's bows)(s:ced)

flare - a torch-like night signal (s:ced)

flax - (A-S fleax (cp. Dutch vlas, G. flachs; perh. cogn. with Gr. plekein, and L. plectere, to weave)), n. A plant of the genus linum, esp. L. usitatissimum, the common flax, the fibre of which is made into yarn, and spun into linen cloth; the fibrous part of the plant prepared for manufacture; one of various kinds of similar plants, as white flax, false flax, or toad flax.New Zealand flax: A fibre obtained from the flax bush, Phormium tenax, a native of New Zealand. Flax comb, n. A comb or hackle for dressing flax. Flax-dresser, n. one who prepares flax for the spinner. Flax-mill, n. A mill or place where flax is spun. Flax-seed, n. Linseed. Flax-weed, n. the toad flax Linaria vulgaris. Flax-wench,n. A woman who dresses flax (s:ced)

floor - transverse member fastened across the hog or keel. It maintains the shape of the bottom planking and ties the two sides of the boat together. In Viking ship construction, floors are not fastened to the keel though they are held in place across it by the keelson.

floor - the flat portion of a vessel's hold (s:ced)

floor plates - (?presumably the same as floor boards, on which there is information under the keyword bottom boards)

flush-deck - n. A deck with a level floor from stem to stern. (s:ced)

flying jib - n. a sail extending beyond the standing jib (s:ced)

flying jib boom - n. an extension of the jib boom (s:ced)

flying sheets - ?

flying squadron - (Nav.) a squadron kept distinct from the main force to carry out a special manoeuvre. (s:ced)

foot-rope(1) - a rope beneath the yard upon which seamen stand when reefing sails

foot-rope(2) - a rope at the foot of a sail

foot-waleing - (see ceiling)

forfoot - (see chin and see hook)

forefoot - (see chin and see hook)

forelock - a pin or wedge passing through the end of a bolt to prevent this from being withdrawn

foremast - the mast nearest the bow of a vessel

foremastman -hand -seaman - a common sailor

foresail - the principal sail on the foremast (s:ced)

foresails - if two foresails are aloft at same time, the one by mast is known as a Genoa, and the foremost is known as a jib

foresheet - the rope holding the lee corner of a foresail (s:ced)

foreship - (A-S forscip (as fore, ship)) the fore part of a ship - the prow (s:ced)

fox wedging - (see tree nails)

frame - a transverse assembly of timbers providing support for the planking. Working up from the keel, the components are named; floor, futtocks and top timber. (s:emk). The transverse strengthening pieces of a vessel are properly known as ribs if they are one continuous member, or a frame if made compound. (cf. timber)

frame bay - name given to the area (recess) between two frames on the inside of a ship.

frame height measurement - (a dimension) moulding (s:ocp)(see moulding)

frame chisel - a heavy chisel used for making mortices (s:ced)

frame saw - a flexible saw blade stretched in a frame to stiffen it. (s:ced)

freeboard - the space between the waterline on a vessel and the upper side of the deck, or the uppermost full deck. (s:ced) (cf. topside)

furring - double planking on the sides of a ship (also used to describe extra planking over bad areas)

full ended - ample buoyancy in the entry and run (s:emk)

futtock - (from foot-hook) one of the timbers in the compound skeleton or backbone of a vessel. The transverse strengthening pieces are properly known as ribs if they are one continuous member, or a frame if made compound.

gallows-bitts - a strong frame erected amidships on the deck to hold spare spars

gallows-top - a crosspiece of timber placed at the top of the gallows-bitts

gantry - balks of wood arranged criss-cross into a platform on which a boat can be built out of doors. (s:emk)(see also stocks, set-up)(cf. shore)

garboard - first strake, also known as keel strake

ghost line - the line following the deepest incision of a rabbet cut into a keel/post etc. to receive the first strake (see also rabbet line and bearding line)

gimlet - (O.F. guimbelet, dim). A small boring tool with a worm or screw for penetrating wood, and a wooden cross piece for a handle. v.t. To bore or pierce with a gimlet.(s:ced)(see also wimble)

gimlet - (naut.) to turn round (as an anchor) with a motion like the turning of a gimlet (s:ced)

grapnel - a ship’s grapnel or grappling hook, iron or hook for gathering, seizing or securing (stems from dim. of grape) (s:ced)

gripe (1) - (see: chin, and see: hook)

gripe (2) - (see clamp (4))

gudgeon - the female part of the pivot for a rudder assembly, fits over the pintle (s:jd)(see also pintle)

gudgeon - (O.F. gougeon) n, the metallic journal-piece let into the end of a wooden shaft; the bearing of a shaft; an eye or socket in which a rudder turns. (s:ced)

guide - (Naut.) a ship by which a squadron or fleet regulate their movements. (s:ced)

gunwale, gunnel - n, The upper edge of a ship's side next to the bulwarks, a strip forming the upper edge of a boat.(s:ced) (waist rail?)(synonymous words are listed under the keyword hold stringers beacause a wale can also be a type of stringer or thick stuff more generally)

gun-tackle - n, the ropes, pulleys etc. attached to the sides of the ports, and to the gun carriage on an old-fashioned warship. (s:ced)

gunnel - see gunwale

guy, guy rope - (O.F. guier), n. a rope, chain etc. to steady a load in hoisting or to act as a stay, v.t. To guide or steady by means of ropes or guys. guy-rope, n. (s:ced)

gybe - (also spelt jib) (Naut. prob. from Dutch gijben (now gijpen)) v.i. To swing from one side of the mast to the other (of a fore-and-aft sail); to take the wind on the other quarter (of a vessel). v.t. To shift (a sail) in this way; to make (a vessel) take the wind on the opposite quarter. n. The act or process of gybing. (s:ced) (see also jib)

half frames - those used between frames for extra strengthening (half frames do not cross the keel, as do floor timbers)

halve, halved scarfe - (see box scarf). To join two parts by cutting away an equal piece of each, the faying surface being parallel to the outside of the parts. (s:emk)

halving - (see box scarfe)

halyard - line which goes to the middle of a yard to lift it or hold it aloft, whereas a lift goes to the ends of the yard (s:jhr)

handspike - n. a bar, usually of wood shod with steel, used as a lever for lifting. heaving, etc. (s:ced)

hanging plank (noun) - description of a plank shape when lofting it - that the ends are higher than the middle.e.g a plank that hangs, a plank with hang (compliment of sny)

hanging knee - a knee which is fitted vertically in the vessel

hawse hole - a hole in the ship's side usually for the anchor/towing chain or hawse (usually houses hawse pipes - the metal pipes used to protect the chain/hawse travelling through it.

heads - top corners of a sail

heartwood - (bot:)duramen. The part of timber useable for boatbuilding; excluding the sapwood or splintwood (which is properly known as the alburnum).

heel - the lowest and aftest end of a member (s:emk) e.g. the mast heel is the lowest part of the mast, which fits into the mast step.

heel - (Naut) to incline or cant over to one side (s:ced)

heel, heels - (see hook)

helm - apparatus by which the ship is steered and its operative parts such as the tiller or wheel

hem - ?(no definition)(rel. to chase, and poss hood ends?))

hemming home - to bevel the upper part of a plank to provide a good landing for the one above. Also known as landing off or browning off. (s:emk) (cf. chase)(cf. splay)

hog (1) - to clean a ship’s bottom underwater by scraping; a scrub-broom for this (s:oed)

hog (2) - a longitudinal strength member being part of the backbone to which the garboards are fastened. (s:emk) (if they are not fastened directly to a rabetted keel). Usually a hog runs along the top of the keel and is fastened to it.

hog (3) - a form of distortion which causes the ends of a boat to drop. (s:emk)

hog-frame - a fore-and-aft frame forming a truss in the main frame of a vessel of light draught to prevent vertical flexure. (s:oed)

hold stringers - another correct name for wales, applied when they are fitted on the inside of frames - i.e. along the ceiling. (cf. n. ceiling, wale, thick stuff, gunwale, gunnel, inwale, foot-waleing, bilge stringer, sheer stringer, binder stringer, gunwale stringer, bilge plank, channel (2) and (Norwegian:remmen))(see also chine)

hollow adze - adze with convex blade used in hollowing (s:jhr)

hood - the end of a strake which butts into a rabbet. Strictly, the term should not be used where the end grain of the plank can be seen, as at the transom. (s:emk)

hooked nails, turned nails - to hook is to work over the point of a through fastening so that it re-enters the wood completely. (s:emk). Hooked nails are sometimes used in clinker hulls instead of true clinches.(aka double clinched nails)(see also turned nails)

hooked scarfe - scarfe which looks like a German “s” or lightning symbol. A tabled or keyed hooked scarfe is one where a block is inserted to expand at the middle of the joint.

hook - term which scholars apply to the knees joining keel to posts, later known as gripes when in the fore of the ship, and as heels when aft)(cf. chin)

horn - to check that all the frames or moulds in a vessel are placed square by measuring from a mid point the ship’s at the stem or stern to the horns of the mould.

hove in stays - a command or a name for the manoeuvre of going about or tacking (see stay)

inside of plank - (referring to a lofting diagram), is the the moulded shape of a boat measured without any planks, therefore to the inside of planks. These lines are the ones a builder prefers to use. Lines drawn to outside of planks are better for the construction of models and for those studying the actual form of a vessel. (s:emk)

in-stays, to - an order and a name for the manoeuvre to change to the other tack, or go about (see stay)

inwhale - a correct but less used term for a gunwhale in an open boat. More usually used for the inboard member of a gunwhale made in two parts. (s:emk)(synonymous words are listed under the keyword hold stringers)

jack - (Naut) a small flag (s:ced)

jack block - (Naut) A block for raising and lowering the top-gallant mast (s:ced)

jack flag - a flag hoisted at the spritsail top-mast head (s:ced)

Jack Nichols - wedge shaped pieces fitted between the stem head and sheer line (plank) as reinforcement and protection for a boat that lies at mooring. These are also known as whiskers (s:emk)

jack screw - a lifting implement worked by a screw (s:ced)

jack stay - a rib or plate with holes, or a rod running through eyebolts, passing along the upper side of a yard, to which a sail is bent.(s:ced)

jib (1) - etym. doubtful; perh. abbr. of GIBBET, or from JIB (2)) n. A large triangular sail set on a stay between the fore-topmast-head and bowsprit or jib-boom in large vessels, and between the masthead and the bowsprit in smaller ones; the extended arm of a crane or derrick. The cut of his jib: (Orig. Naut. slang) One's physical appearance. (s:ced)

jib boom - n. A movable spar running out beyond the bowsprit. (s:ced)

jib-door - n. A door flush with the wall on both sides, and usually papered or painted over so as to be concealed. (s:ced)

jib (2) - (also spelt gybe) (cp. Dan. gibbe, Dut. gijpen) v.t. (past and p.p. jibbed) To shift (a boom, yard, or sail) from one side of a vessel to the other. v.i. To swing round (of a sail, etc.) Cp. Gybe (s:ced)

jigger - (Naut) Small tackle used for holding on to the cable as it is heaved in, and similar work; a small sail, usually set on a jigger mast; a small smack carrying this (s:ced)

jigger-mast - n, A small mast at the stem of a yawl, a small mizzen mast. (s:ced)

joggle - to cut out a notch. Frames are joggled to fit clinker overlaps. Covering boards at the deck edge.

juvenile wood - that which has grown around the pith of a timber, and which tends to be more susceptible to longitudinal shrinkage when drying than other, outer parts of the wood.

keelson, kelson - a longitudinal piece placed along the floor timbers of a ship binding them to the keel

kelson - see keelson

kemp - the coarse rough hairs of wool; knotty hairs that will not felt. (advb: kempy)

kevel - (O.North French keville (F. cheville) L. clavicula, dim. of clavis, key). n. (Naut) a belaying cleat, usually fixed in pairs. (s:ced)

key - block of wood used as a key, like a wedge, to strengthen a scarfe joint, in a process known as tabling (see tabling, and see hooked scarfe)

king planks - that found at the centre line of decks etc. are joggled to take the nibs formed in the ends of deck planks. (s:emk)

knight heads - (Naut) one of a pair of vertical posts supporting the bowsprit (s:ced)

knot - an irregularity, blemish or twist in wood, usually caused by the growth of buds or branches (see pin knot, black knot)

lapstrake - (see clinker)(a lapstrake construction is a clinker construction (s:jrs))

landing, overlap, lap, land - the surface available for making a plank joint. (s:emk)(see also overlap)

land nail - nail used to fasten two clinker planks together as opposed to one that also secures a timber. (s:emk) (see rivet and clinker)

landing off - (see hemming home)

lanyard - a short cord, line or gasket for seizing or lashing

lap - (see landing)

lap guage - a guage with set distances at each end for the width of the overlap and the line of fastenings. A boatbuilder will make his own for each thickness of plank. (s:emk) A simple tool which scores a line along a plank to make the overlap visible - can be adjusted in some cases.

larboard - port (left) side of a ship

lay off - (see loft)

lay to - (Naut) to check the motion of ship (s:ced)

laying down - the process of making a drawing of mechanical parts, etc, or copying lines from pieces of a ship etc. onto paper etc. (s:jd) (a compliment of picking up, and almost complimentary to lofting)

laying down - to draft to delineate (as the lines of a ship) (s:ced)

lead(1) - a way, channel or passage through ice etc.

lead(2) - the direction in which a rope runs

lee - the side or quarter opposite to that against which the wind blows (opp. to windward or weather side)

lee gage - position to windward of another ship (this is the correct spelling!)

lee-sheet - sheet on the following edge of a fore and aft sail

lee-shore - shore or land to lee side of ship

lee-tide - tide running in same direction as the wind blows

lee-way - the drift of a vessel to leeward of her preferred course

leech - either vertical edge of a square sail (the after edge of a fore-and-aft sail)

leech rope - the correct name for a bolt rope when it is located on the perpendicular or sloping edges of a sail (see bolt rope for further information)

lie to, to lie to windward - to lie still, to be stopped or checked in her course (eg by backing the yards or sails or taking in the sails)(A sailing manoeuvre which allows the ship to stand still in the water with the sail up. On a square sailed ship the aftmost edge of the sail is pulled astern and the foremost edge pulled toward the bow whilst the ship’s aft lies to windward).

lift - line which goes to the end of a yard (see also halyard)

limber - (adj. weak) e.g.“a bit on the limber side” (an American term)

limber boards - removable flooring over the bilge. (cf. bottom boards)

limber holes(1) - a gutter on either side of the kelson for drainage

limber holes(2) - the gutters and holes in the floor timbers

lime bast - (see bast)

lipped scarfe - scarfe joint which consists of an oblique joint with the faying surface ends having a near flat lip on them instead of tapering to a feather edge. The usual ratio of scarfe length to timber thickness is 1:5. (s:fbs)(aka a checked or nibbed scarfe (s:emk))(cf. hooked scarfe, plane scarfe, nibbed scarfe)

lodging knee - a horizontal knee, fitted worn in corners subjet to side loads. (s:emk)

loft - to draw out the lines of a boat full size (to 1:1 scale) and make such detail drawings as may be needed to find the shape of the various members. (s:emk) (see also lay-off)(almost a compliment of laying down)

loom - the handle or inboard part of an oar. (s:ced)

lower yard - yard under a square sail. Also known as an "under yard”.

luff (1) - that part of a ship’s bows where the timbers begin to curve in towards the stem

luff (2) - the weather edge of a fore and aft sail

luff (3) - the weather gage (part of a ship toward the wind)

luff (4) - the act of sailing close to the wind (cf. pinch, close haul, tight to the wind (pointing?))

luff (verb) - to bring a ship’s head or to steer nearer the wind; or to turn the helm so as to do this

luffing match - a struggle to secure the windward position (eg. in a yachting race)

luff tackle - a large tackle composed of a double and single block (cf. fiddle block)

lug - a projecting part made to hold or grip another part

lugger - a small vessel with two or three masts, a running bowsprit, and lug sails

lug-sail - a four cornered sail bent to a yard lashed obliquely to the mast

luting - stopping placed in a joint before it is fastened (as opposed to caulking, etc.)(see also caulking, stopping)

luting channels - channels made for luting (aka luting coves according to jrs)(s:jrs)

luting coves - channels/recess made for luting (s:jrs)(also known as luting channels according to jrs)

make headway - to advance

make sail (naut) - to set more sails; to set sail

make water (naut) - to leak

make way - to make room, to open a passage, to progress

making iron - chisel/iron used in making the rabbet and similar parts.

mast heel - (see heel)

mast step - the hole into which the mast fits in the kelson

mastfish - on Gokstad-ship it sits at deck height, over and above the kelson. When raised up, the mast is locked in place with an oak plank (N:mastelåsen)(a mastfish is a type of mastpartner (s:jrs))

mastpartner - wooden blocks used to secure mast at deck height (wedges may be driven between)

mile - (see seamile)

miss-stays, to - to fail in tacking (see stay)

moor (1) - (probably from a non-extant A-S marian (cp. mærels, mooring rope, and M. Dutch maren, to tie) v.t. To secure (a ship, boat etc.) with chains, ropes, cables, or cable and anchor. v.i. To secure a ship in this way, to anchor; to lie at anchor or secured by cables, etc. Moorage, n. Mooring, n (usually in plural) The place where a ship is moored; anchors, chains, etc. by which a ship is moored. (s:ced)

mortice - (see mortise)

mortise - (F. mortaise, etym unknown) n. A hole cut in timber or other material to receive a tenon. v.t to join by means of mortise and tenon.(s:ced)

mortise chisel - n. a chisel with a stout blade for cutting mortises. (s:ced)

moulding - a dimension of a member e.g. such as a frame when measured from inside to outside the ship at the sheer - that same dimension on the same member of course would be vertical as it passes over the keel.

moulding plane - a plane which has its blade (iron) and surface which contacts the wood (the sole) in a particular cross section to affect a "moulding" or decorative/functional edge on a piece of wood (s:wam)

mouth line - (see sheer (2))

nail-punch - the tool used to drive home, flush with or below the surface being fastened.(cf. pin punch)

nail sick - a terminal illness in boats caused by the nails becoming bent and loose in their holes and no longer capable of being hardened up (s:emk)

nibbed scarfe - (see lipped scarfe)

nippers - tool used to cut off or pinch off (nip off) the end or point of a metal rod, nail, fastening, etc. (aka end cutters, end cut nippers)(see end cutters) (cf. pincers)

oakum - [from A-S tow (lit. combings)] old rope, untwisted and pulled into loose fibres, used for caulking seams, stopping leaks etc. (see caulking and see luting)

oar - (A.S. ar (cp. Icel. ar, Dan aare), perh. rel to Gr. eretes, rower), n. a long pole with a flattened blade, for rowing, sculling or steering a boat; to pull a good oar: to be a good oarsman; to lie or rest on the oars: to cease rowing without shipping the oars; to ship or unship oars: to place them in or take them out of the rowlocks. The handle or inboard part of an oar is known as a loom. (s:ced)(see also sweep)(another name for an oar-blade is a wash)

oarbed - a D-shaped opening, usually with metal protection, cut in the upper surface of a washstrake to accomodate an oar. (cf. related parts oarlock, oarhole, rowlock, row cleat, thole pin, oarport, toe cleat) (s:emk)

oarblade - also known as a "wash"

oarholes - holes in the gunwhale used as a fulcrum for the oars, used sometimes instead of a rowlock (cf. related parts rowlock, oarlock, oarbed, thole pin, row cleat, thole pin, row cleat, oar port, toe cleat).

oarhole-lock - (see shutter(1)) device for closing oarports when not in use

oar port - a hole in the topsides through which an oar can be slid and set into use. (see rowlock)

oarport stop - (see shutter(1)) device for closing oarports when not in use

off the wind - sailing with the wind abeam, not into the wind.

on the beam - at right angles to the ship’s keel (eg on the port or stbd beam)

on her beam ends - to be thrown so much from side to side that the beams are in the water

orlop, orlop deck - the lowest deck of a vessel having three or more decks (s:ced)

osier - a species of willow, salix viminalis, the pliable shoots of which are used for basket-making.

overlap - the amount one plank overlaps the preceding or anticeding. It should be the same everywhere in a boat, being twice the thickness of the plank being used. (s:emk) (aka lap)(and see landing)

painter - the line used to secure or tow a boat. In the latter case the painter ring is fitted low down on the forward side of the stem. (s:emk)

parrel-rope - a rope used to pull the rack down the mast so it doesn't get stuck up there (s:jhr)

patina - the green incrustation that covers ancient bronzes (ced). Presumably the same as verdigris and Spanish Green - an oxide of copper which has been used as antifouling.

pellet - (see countersinking)

pick up - to transfer dimensions from the lofting on to the materials being worked (s:emk)(cf. lofting)(a compliment of laying down)

pillar - vertical strut supporting a bench or thwart, often decoratively turned. (s:emk) aka beam stanchion.

pillow - protrusion (of wood) on which something shall rest e.g. pillow of the bowsprit (aka E:bed)

pilot hole - should be the same diameter as the screw’s root (see screw),

pinch (verb) - to steer a ship close hauled (s:ced)(cf. luff, close haul, tight to the wind, (pointing?))

pincers - a tool with two limbs working on a pivot as levers to a pair of jaws, for gripping, crushing, extracting nails, etc. (s:ced)(cf. nippers)

pin knot - an imperfection in wood, one which is very small, usually caused by the early growth of a bud or branch. (see knot (2))

pin-punch - a tool used to drive in a pin - flush with or below the surface being fastened - a smaller version of a nail punch

pintle - the pin mounted on and protruding from the aft of a ship (usually from the stern post) which is located to accept the female pivot of the rudder assembly known as a gudgeon. (s:jd)

pitch (1) - the distance between regularly spaced members, fastenings, fittings etc. e.g. frames.

pitch (2) measure of inclination of a vessel or aircraft between the plane made by its designed longitudinal average (eg a ship’s waterline fore-aft) and the horizontal. (see also yaw and roll)

pitch (3) - a dark brown resinous substance obtained from tar, turpentine and some oils.

pitch black - brownish black; dark as pitch

pitch-pine - a highly resinous pine (bot. abies picea) much used for woodwork. (s:ced)

pith - correct name for the middle, the very core of the wood, having around it juvenile wood.(see juvenile wood)

plane - tool used for thinning, bevelling or forming wood by shaving - there are many types of plane available for specialist jobs, such as hollowing planes or those with interchangeable irons and soles. (see bollow, rabbet plane, moulding plane, stripe-plane)

plane scarfe - one where both of the faying faces are cut obliquely to a feather edge.

plank-twister? - (tool (forked branch) used to bend strakes in or out during Viking-ship construction).

point - a point of the compass (see rhumb)

point - a short cord for reefing sails (s:ced)

point - verb. to sail close to the wind (s:ced)

poop - (M.E. and O.F. pupe (F. poupe), late L. puppa, L. puppis), n. The stern of a ship; a deck over the after part of a spar deck. v.t. (Naut) To break heavily over the poop (of waves); to take (a wave) over the stern (of a ship), pooped, a. Having a poop (usually in comb.); struck on the poop. (s:ced)

port, port side - larboard or left hand side of a ship as one looks ahead

port hole - (Naut); an aperture in a ship's side for light, air, etc. formerly for discharging guns through (s:ced)(cf. gunport)

port hole - a hole or doorway in a ship's side which could be opened when in port for easy loading from a quayside, etc. but which could be closed at sea to prevent water from entering the ship. And this explains the phrase rather better than the misleading dictionary description of a hole for discharging guns through - which is better described as a gun port. (s:jd)

port lanyard, port rope - a rope for drawing up a port lid (s:ced)

port rope - see port lanyard

prier - Heissen auf Norwegischen Jachten eine Art Geitaue womit das Segel gegen den Mast geholt wird, damit der Wind herausgehe. Note: this is a Norwegian word, known in Danish too, and used by JH roeding in German to describe: (trans.) In Norwegian yachts, a sort of guy rope with which the sail can be hauled against the mast, thereby letting out the wind. So far I have not found any reference to this apparatus in any English texts or pictures, but such is clearly pictured in jhr's maritime dictionary: illustrated is a Norwegian vessel with a single square sail and three 'priers' in use at varying heights; one at around the middle of the sail, with one above and one below at even spacings. 'Priers' are known from old in the Nordic waters and are installed on numerous single square sail and Viking ship replicas, indeed, they are still in use on original-rigged single square sail ships from the north and north-western areas of Norway. The 'prier' could possibly be translated as a damper. In Danish, the priers are known as højt prier (high prier), midt prier (mid prier) (and lavt prier? - needs to be checked).

press - (naut.) a press of sail (aka a crowd of sail) - as much sail as the wind will let a ship carry. (cf. press - the proper name for a linen cupboard (probably being a contraction of pressed linen cupboard), it is a word still in use in Ireland today, but used to describe any type of cupboard).

pulley, pulley wheel, sheave - a wheel with a grooved rim, or a combination of such wheels, mounted in a block for changing the direction or increasing the effect of a force. (s:ced) (see fairlead)(cf. fiddle block, luff tackle)

pulley block - the (usually wooden) block in which a sheave or pulley wheel is mounted. (s:jd)

put up the helm - to bring the rudder to leeward

put down the helm - to bring the rudder to windward

quarter deck - the upper deck extending from the stern to the main-mast, usually assigned for the use of officers and cabin passengers (s:ced)

quarter knee - the knee which makes fast the transom to the gunwhale - in the top rear corner of the ship.

quarter sawn - the preferred method of sawing out planks for caravel planking, as wood shrinks some half as far across its width when quarter sawn than when sawn tangentially.

rabet - (see rabbet)

rabbet - any groove or channel worked in a member to accept another without a lip being formed. In particular the triangular sectional channel cut in a stem or stern post for the plank ends, and along the keel to accept the garboard (aka rebate, rabet). In the US the rabbet becomes known as a “gain” as a bevel becomes a rabbet at the stem or stern posts, allowing the next plank to lie fair.

rabbet - (O.F. rabat, from rabattre, to rebate) v.t. cut a groove or slot along the edge of (a board) so that it may receive the edge of another piece cut to fit; to unite or fix in this way. n. Such a groove or slot made in the edge of a board so that it may join with another; a joint so made; a rabbet-plane.(s:ced)

rabbet line - the uppermost line followed by the rabbet (see also ghost line and bearding line)

rabbet plane - planing tool used especially for cutting the rabbet.

railing - ?(need definition) (relate any definition to sheer (2))

rake(1) - inclination, slope, esp backward slope.(s:ced)

rake(2) - projection of the stem or stern of a vessel beyond the extremities of the keel (s:ced)

range - (see strake (2))

rebate - (see rabbet)

reaching - tacking, sailing up against the wind (the following are associated with reaching; sailing close hauled, pinching, luffing(4), sailing tight to the wind, (pointing?))(and see tack, tacking)

reaching spar - (Norwegian - beitas, from beidevindsås or by-the-wind-spar) spar used when reaching to hold the sail that it may be most efficient.

reconciler - (see tuck)

reef - to reduce the sail area by reefing - there are (reefing lines, ties(?)) on the surface of a sail especially for this, usually there are several layers of ties to allow adjustment of the sail to suit. Reefing is usually done when wind rises to prevent damage to the sail, capsize etc. “To reef in the sail”.

reeve - (prob. from Dutch reven to reef (2)), v.t. (past & p.p. rove, reeved: Nautical) to pass (the end of a rope, a rod, etc.) through a ring, a hole in a block, etc; to fasten (a rope, etc.) round some object by this means.

reverse clinker - strakes with the lower overlapping the upper. (s:emk)

rhumb(1) - a line cutting all the meridians at the same angle, such as a ship would follow sailing continuously on one course (rhumbline).

rhumb(2) - any one of the 32 principal points of the compass; the angular distance 11⁰ 15’ between any successive pair of these. Also known as a point.

rib - a transverse strengthening member, part of the backbone or skeleton of a ship. The transverse strengthening pieces are properly known as ribs if they are one continuous member, or a frame if made as a compound of members. (cf. timber)

ribband - (var. of prec. or from rib, band(2)),n. (shipbuilding) A strip, scantling, or spar temporarily attached lengthwise to the body of a ship to hold the ribs in position; a piece of timber used in launching, as a stop, guide, etc. or in the construction of pontoons, gun platfroms, etc. (s:ced)

riders - internal frames set atop the ceiling (s:jrs)

ridge pole, pole - a timber arranged centrally above the keel in a set-up, and to which mould shores may be secured, or measurements taken when planking without moulds. (s:emk)(aka shore pole, rooftree)

ring - (see rove)

rising - a longitudinal strength member fitted inside the timbers for the support of thwarts or beams, but not usually butted on to the apron or transom. (s:emk)

rivet - A metal fastening, traditionally used on clinker vessels, which is composed of a head and a body (or shank). Rivets are counter fastened using metal plates (usually on the inside of the ship) known in Danish as plader - known in English as roves (see roves). After a rivet is put in place, the rove is placed over the shank, and pushed tight to the plank surface using a rivet punch. A hammer, heavy weight or correctly a “dolly” is held against the head of the rivet outside the ship whilst the shank is cut to size using end cutters or it is bent over and cut using a sharp peening hammer, ideally leving a length of shank proud over the rove which is equal to the shank’s diameter. The length of shank remaining is then peened over the rove using a peening hammer - one which has a rounded head. Peening should be done using a large number of soft blows rather than a few hard blows. This method of fastening pulls the planks (etc.) being joined together and is rather strong. Rivets are usually made of iron, copper or galvanised steel. Galvanised steel rivets are only available as standard with heads of diameter 3/4 inch which gives only some 40% of the surface area obtained using a one inch headed rivet - which has less potential to eat into the wood and therefore is a more stable fastening. For this reason, and for authenticity, most Viking ship projects have iron nails made to order from a blacksmith. (aka clinch nail, clench nail, clincher, clencher, clench). (and see rove)(s:jd)(see also ball-peen hammer, and see turned nails)

rivet (verb) - to rivet, to clinch, to clench, to fasten a rivet, (to peen a rivet?)

rocker - the fore and aft curvature in the keel or bottom. (s:emk)

roll - measure of inclination of a vessel or aircraft between the plane made by its designed transverse average (eg a ship’s design waterline starboard-port) and the horizontal. (see also yaw and pitch)

roll in - to twist a plank so it becomes more vertical as it approaches the end of a boat. (s:emk)

rooftree - (see ridge pole)

room and space - distance between frames, half-frames etc (measured centre to centre)(s:jrs)

roove - (see rove)

row cleat - a cleat secured at the level of the gunwhale to provide a housing for a thole or crutch. (s:emk). (See also rowlock).

rowlock (1) - a crotch, notch or other device on the gunwhale of a boat serving as a fulcrum for an oar (Americans use oarlock) (see also related words/parts; oarlock, oarbed, oarhole, thole pin, row cleat, crutch, oar port, toe cleat)(see also copp)

rowlock (2) - Strictly any oar pivot including ports and tholes. Usage has narrowed the meaning to a crutch. (s:emk).(see also copp)

rove - a round or rectangular, flat or dished, copper or iron plate which is forced down over a nail or bolt before it is clenched or riveted. (s:emk)(aka roove, ruff, ring, burr, washer). Roves can also be diamond shaped, and are sometimes made with small folded over or ‘hooked’ corners which bite into the wood and hold them in place in the grain.

roving punch - hollow tool used to push roves hard down on rivets when fitting.

rubber - rubbing strake. A fore and aft fender strip giving protection when going alongside. (s:emk)

rubbing strip - (see false keel)

rubbing strake - (see rubber)

rubrail - rail around outside of boat’s sheer to protect from rubbing on quayside etc.

ruff - (see rove)

run (1) - the underwater afterbody of a vessel. (s:emk)

run (2) - the manner in which strakes or stringers are disposed to each other or the boat as a whole. (s:emk)

running rig - the part(s) of a ship’s rig which must be adjusted when making way under canvas

sailing thwart - bench or thwart primarily for supporting a mast. Can be transverse or longitudinal, or at gunwhale level. (s:emk) (cf. mast beam)

samson’s post, samson post, timber head - timber which is affixed to the keelson and rises to stand above the decking - a strong post for affixing towing, harpooning lines, etc. DEF2:(naut) a timber rising above the deck for belaying ropes, etc.(s:ced)

sapwood - (bot.)alburnum - the soft white wood (which lies over the good heartwood under the bark) in exogenous trees and must be rejected for boatbuilding. (aka splintwood) (see heartwood)

scantling charts - tell of relative thicknesses and sizes of various boat parts

scarf - a tapered joint between pieces of similar section at the join. The plain scarf end is tapered to a feather edge requiring careful placing of the fastenings if splitting is to be avoided. Nibbing of this edge in combination with a slight rabbet will reduce risk of splitting as well as any tendency for the outer edge to lift if the scarf is on a bend. (s:emk) (aka scarph, scarve, scarfe). Two particular scarves are in common use on capping rails where good locks is more important than strength; the bird’s eye (rounded) and the bird’s mouth (sharp). In scarving, a ratio of scarf length to member thickness of 8:1 allows 85% of original strength to be maintained, 4:1 gives 65%. Lloyds stipulate 6:1 ratio for keel/stem scarves, and minimum 4:1 for plank scarves, which may not be within 4 foot of another scarf on adjacent planks, and scarves must be three clear strakes apart if on same frame. The scarf taper must face to the rear of the boat externally. (s:fbs) For glued plywood scarves, ratios must lie between 8:1 and 12:1. (see also splice)

scarfe, a note - The scarfe joint on the Gokstad ship's posts (by eye) appear to be straightforward oblique scarfes, (i.e. not lipped scarfes like those in the Knarr replica constructed at Roskilde 2000). They appear to be of about 15 degrees, the wood at the fore being some 5cm sided (broad, as seen from the front of the ship, looking aft) and the hook covers vertically some 24cm up the height of the post.

scarf - (perh. from Swedish skarfva, from scarf, a seam), v.t. To join the ends of (timber) by means of a scarf-joint. n, A joint made by bevelling or notching so that the thickness is not increased, and then bolting or strapping together; a cut, a groove (s:ced) (cf. splice)

scarfe - (see scarf)

scarph - (see scarf)

scarve - (see scarf)

screw - a metal fastening which can be divided up into four parts - the head, the shank, the thread and the root which is the diameter of metal lying under the thread. A hole consisting of three differing diameters should be bored before a screw is lubricated (with tallow, beeswax, soap, grease, etc) and screwed in. The pilot hole should be drilled to the correct size for the root and thread of the screw, with some allowance for the hardness of the wood: the pilot hole should be slightly larger for hardwoods than for softwoods. Note: The clearance hole is that drilled for the shank of the screw, the countersink is that which is often drilled for the screw’s head

scribing knife - ? (tool used by shipwrights)

scudding - (N:skudda, allied to shoot) v.i. (naut)to run fast before a gail with little or no sail set. scudder, noun (s:ced)

scupper, scupper hole - (prob. from O.F. escope, SCOOP), n. (Naut) a hole or tube through a ship's side to carry off water from the deck (s:ced)

scupper - v.t. to sink, to do for (s:ced)

scupper-hose, scupper-shoot - n. a spout hanging from a scupper to carry the water clear of the side.(s:ced)

scupper-nail - n. a short nail with a broad, flat head for nailing on the scupper-hose, etc. (s:ced)

sea mile - One British Admiralty sea mile is 6080 ft, or 2026 2/3 yds. - a sixtieth of a degree. (1 sea mile=1852 metres)

seize - to fasten, to lash with cord, etc (s:ced)

set-up - stocks. The temporary arrangement on which a boat is built. (aka stocks, set-up, gantry)(see cks) (cf. shore)

sham - half mould pivoted on a shore. (s:emk)

sheave - the wheel in a pulley block (see pulley)(cf. fairlead)(and see fiddle block)

sheave-hole - (naut) a groove or a channel in which to fix a sheave

sheer (1) - the upward curvature of a vessel toward the bow or stern

sheer (2) - The curve of the upper edge of the hull; bounded by the covering board in a decked vessel and the capping or top of the sheer strake in an open boat. (s:emk) (aka sheer line, mouth line)

sheer - (Dut. scheren, to SHEAR), v.i. (Naut.) to deviate from a course; to start aside. n. The upward curvature of a vessel towards the bow and stern; the position of a ship riding at single anchor; swerving or curving course.

sheer legs - (see sheer)

sheer line - (see sheer (2))

sheer off, to - To move off, to go away (s:ced)

sheer strake (1) - vertical plank along top of sheer (sides)

sheer strake (2) - the top strake of planking. (s:emk)

sheers - (var. of SHEAR) n, pl. An apparatus consisting of two masts, or legs, secured at the top, for hoisting heavy weights, esp. in dockyards, also called sheer legs. Sheer hulk, n. A dismantled hull of a vessel fitted with sheers for hoisting out and putting in the masts of other ships, etc.(s:ced)

sheet leads - pieces or blocks used to lead sheets

sheets - ropes for servicing the lower, aft corner of a sail (see also tacks)

shelf plank - internal thick plank ceiling - like a whale but inside (s:jrs) (cf. clamp)

shell auger - is a bit which is akin to a spoon drill, used for drilling holes in wood manually but which ha a rounded end, as opposed to the sharper end of a spoon drill. (see also ED spoon drill)

shim edge - (see feather edge)

shiver - a wood dressing tool used alongside files (presumably a shave of some sort?)(s:nde)(possibly a draw knife?)

shoe - a metal strip attached to the false keel to prevent damage or wear to the wood when beaching etc.

shore pole - (see ridge pole)

shore - any timber placed temporarily to hold, support fix or brace a mould, frame or any other timbers, planking (or other apparati) up from the floor or down or across from from the ridge pole. When used across it may be referred to as a cross shore. (s:jd) (see also spall)

shore - (M.E. schore (cp. M.Dutch shore, Dutch schoor, Icel. skortha, etym.doubtful) n. a prop, a stay; a support for a building or vessel on the stocks v.t. to support or hold (up) with shores. Shoring, n. (s:ced) (cf. stocks, set-up, gantry,)

shoulder of mutton sail - a triangular fore-and-aft sail with a boom at the bottom. (s:ced)

shroud - (A.S. scrud (cp. Icel. skruth, Dan, Norw and Swed skrud), cogn. with SHRED), n. A winding sheet, (Naut): n.pl. ropes extending from the lower mast-heads to the sides of the ship, serving to steady the masts. (s:ced)

shutter (1) - a device for closing off an oar port or row bed when it is not in use. (s:emk)

shutter (1) - aka oarhole-lock, stop

shutter (2) - the last plank in a strake to be fitted. (s:emk) (aka closer)

sided - the dimension of a timber which remains constant and indicates the thickness of the material from which it might be cut. (s:emk).

sided (2) - the dimension of e.g. a frame, which would be seen standing on the keel and looking directly at the side of the ship. (jd)

sintels - when a seem was caulked with moss it was sometimes covered by elliptically shaped laths that were fastened with iron clamps called sintels. (seen is use on cogs) (s:jrs)

sister - (Naut) one of a pair of hooks opening to receive a rope, etc. and overlapping (s:ced)

sitter - first futtock (first part (by the keel) of a compound frame made up of several timbers)

skeg - an underwater projection fitted on the after end of the keel to improve directional stability, or a bracket for the (rudder) pintle. (s:emk)

skiff, skif - (noun) a small, light boat

skiff - (verb) to row or to skull in a skiff

skin - (noun) the planked or plated surface of a boat. (s:emk)

skin - (verb) to plank up a boat (s:emk)

skin fitting - one that goes through the planking or skin of a vessel - e.g. a waste outlet pipe

skirting rail - a rail or contour plank fastened to the inside of the timbers to locate the bottom boards. (s:emk)

slab - the bottom plank of a flat bottomed boat.

slab sawn - the most common way of cutting a log into boards, which though very broad for getting out those curved strakes are not as stable as those that have been quarter sawn. (s:emk) (aka sawn through and through)

smack - (M Dutch smacke, cp. L.G. smakk, perhaps related to SNAKE, cp. A.S. snacc), n. a one-masted vessel, like a sloop or cutter, used in fishing, etc. smacksman, n.

snape - to bevel the end of a timber to a good fit (s:emk)(see also check)(perhaps check and snape are complimentary?) (see also check)

sny plank (noun) - to have the ends of a plank lower than its middle e.g. a sny plank (the compliment of a hanging plank)

solids - an exceptionally thick strake fitted above the gunwhale to take heavy loads such as laying moorings. (s:emk). Also a shorter area of thicker planking for bearing heavy loads. (cf. rubbing strake)

spall - a light shore used to brace a mould, frame or transom from the rafters or shore pole. A cross spal is a temporary beam fixed across the sheer strake to prevent spreading when forcing in steam timbers (s:emk)

spanker - a fore and aft sail set by two spars on the after side of the mizzen mast (s:ced)

spar - (M.E. sparre (cp. Dut. spar, G. sparren, Icel. sparri, Dan and Swed sparre), perh. cogn. with spear) n. a round timber, pole, esp. used as a mast, yard, boom, shears, etc. (s:ced)

spar deck - the upper deck of a vessel stetching from stem to stern (s:ced)

spindle-tree - small shrub or tree (Lat. Euononymus Europaeus) used for making spindles, pins, skewers etc)

spile - to transfer a line which is curved in two planes on to a pattern, which when laid flat will give the true shape to saw the lower edge of a plank. (s:emk)

spiling batten - any thin, flexible plank or board which can be marked and used for spiling. Often an offcut is used but some boatbuilders make and keep a set of battens which suit the various curvatures likely to be encountered.

splay - alternative method to chasing for terminating the hem. In this method both upper and lower planks are bevelled until the joint is only one thickness of one plank.(s:emk)(chase and hemming home)

splice - to unite (two ropes, etc) by interweaving the strands of the ends; to unite tibers etc by bevelling, overlapping, and fitting the ends together. (see scarf)

spline - a flexible strip of wood or rubber used in laying down large curves in mechanical drawing. (s:ced)

splint - sapwood, splintwood, (bot:)alburnum (see heartwood)

spoon drill - is a bit used for drilling holes in wood which has the form of a sharply tipped spoon, whereas the shell auger bit, which although rather similar in form, has a rounded end.(see also ED shell auger). aka spoon bit/shell bit (s:JH(diag p37)(cf. gimlet)(and see also wimble)

spoon drill - also known as spoon drill, spoon auger, spoon bit, shell auger, shell bit, dowel bit, duck bit Generally, the word “auger” is used for tools for making holes in wood, and “drill” for holes in metal, otherwise this tool may well be called a spoon drill, but according to J Horsley, a spoon drill has a sharp end whereas the shell auger has a more rounded end, and there is a decided difference in the form of the tool tip. The spoon drill was mounted in a shaft with a cross piece; i.e. a brace and bit, (cf. wimble) and could be pushed hard into use with a plate of wood, etc. worn over the chest, located in a socket on which the tool could rotate.

spring beam - n. a beam of wide span without intermediate support; an elastic bar used as a spring in a tilt hammer, jig-saw, etc. (s:ced)

sprung - longitudinal members which are forced into position without previous steaming. Provided too much pressure is not excerted on fastening, this pre-stressing can be used to increase the strength of the structure in a desired direction. (s:emk)(cf. spring)

sprung - (of beams) along the Norwegian sea coast there is a tradition of building fishing vessels with beams that are formed like a hunting bow, i.e. thicker in the middle and tapering at the ends to a specified form, deliberately so that the beams flex when the ship is at sea. These form what may well be described as a sprung hull, though this is my own interpretation of the word, for want of a correct nautical term. This occurs, as I have heard, in ships of around 38ft. in length, and perhaps in others (s:jd) (cf. spring)

stanchion - (O. Nor. French estanchon (F. etancon), dim. of estance, STANCE), n. A prop, post, pillar, etc., forming a support or part of a structure; v.t to fasten with a stanchion. (s:ced)

standing rig - the part of the ship’s rig which is steady-set and need not be adjusted under canvas

stay - (verb) to stay, to support by stays or to put on the other tack (in stays or hove in stays = going about from one tack to another)(to miss stays=to fail in tacking). At the fore of the ship, the rope, rod, cable, etc. going from the bow area to the mast is a fore stay(s), that (or those) at the aft end are known as aft stays. The mast-staying lines from the mast to the sides of the ship are known as shrouds. In most modern baots, wire stays are tightened with turnbuckles, craft of the middle ages etc. used shroud cleats (acc. jhr), or shroud belay pins (also known as shroud-pins, according to ocp), and the Gokstad Viking ship was found complete with dead-eyes for belaying the shrouds. (s:jd)

staysail - a sail flown from a stay as opposed to from a mast, a yard or a boom.

station - longitudinal positioning of any major transverse fitting such as a frame, futtock, floor, or the moulds for these. Often the position is marked on the keel, hog, or floor, in notch, paint or pencil,or from the ridge pole using plumb weights. The stations are usually at (usually regular) intervals which are noted on the plans or lofting diagrams. (s:jd)

stealer - a device for gaining or losing a strake and thus avoiding overwide or overthin plank ends. Though once used in many ways by early Scandinavian clinker boat builders, it is now associated with carvel work(s:emk)

stem(1) - the stock, stalk or ascending axis of a tree, shrub or other plant.

stem(2) - (shipbuilding) the upright piece of timber or iron at the fore end of a vessel to which the sides are joined

step - (verb) to step a mast: to put it upright and into the maststep in the crone or keelson (s:jrs)

stern - (M.E. steorne, Icel. stjorn, steering, cogn. with steer. n. The hind part of a ship or boat (s:ced)

stern chase - a chase in which one vessel follows the other straight behind

stern fast - a rope or chain mooring the stern to a wharf etc.

stern foremost - (moving) with the stern in front

stern post - a timber or iron post forming the central upright of the stern and usually carrying the rudder.

stern sheets - the space in a boat between the stern and the aftermost thwart.

stern sheets - the level platform providing a floorboard between the aftermost thwart and the stern and side benches. (s:emk)

sternway - the movement of a ship backward

stevedore - a labourer who loads and unloads boats

stocks - the supports, blocks, logs or timber frame on which a ship’s keel rests whilst the ship is under construction. (see also gantry, set-up)(cf. shore)

stocks - (A-S stocc, cp. Dutch stok, G. stock, Icel. stokkr) n, the trunk or main stem of a tree or other plant. pl. a timber framework on which a vessel rests during building. (s:ced) (the framework on which vessels are built are also known as a set-up or gantry)(cf. shore)

stop - (see countersinking for fuller information) a wooden plug used in boatbuilding, etc. to hide countersunk fastenings

stop - (see shutter(1)) device for closing oarports when not in use

stopping - material put in a seam to make it watertight. It may be hard or soft depending whether or not it sets hard after use. Hard stopping is also used to mask imperfections preparatory to painting (s:emk)(see also oakum, caulking, luting)

stopwater - a soft wood plug fitted wherever three surfaces meet below the waterline. (s:emk). Usually made of a softwood dowel of such woods as larch or douglas fir - which swell up on contact with water to make the joint tight (s:fbs)

strake - continuous run of planking (or plates) from stem to stern of a ship (aka streak, range)

strake (2) - a single plank or combination of planks which stretches from one end of the boat to the other. (s:emk) (aka streak, range)

streak - (see strake(2))

stringer - a longitudinal strength member running from apron to transom inside the timbers and normal to them. This make them higher at each end than in the middle and inconvenient for supporting internal structures. Not so much used in clinker as in carvel work. (s:emk)

stripe-plane - a simple plane used for cutting a small stripe into woodwork. There is also a version known as a stripe guage and cutter which simply cuts a groove a fixed distance from the edge of rhe work (s:JH)

studding sail - (etym doubtful) an additional sail set beyond the leach of a square sail in light winds (s:ced)(cf. bonnet)

swage - (F. suage, etym. doubtful), n. A tool used for shaping wrought iron, etc. by hammering or pressure. v.t. To shape with a swage. (s:ced)

swage block, n. A heavy iron block or anvil with grooves, etc., used for shaping metal. (s:ced)

sweep - a long oar used to propel barges or sailing vessels in a calm (e.g. on Roar Ege, the Danish Viking ship "small trader" replica)

tabernacle - a wooden or metal mast housing fastened between the mast step and the sailing thwart or deck beams. If the mast is to be pivoted, the cheeks are extended upwards to a convenient height. (s:emk)(see also cheeks)

tabling - placing a (usually shortgrained hardwood) wooden block in and across the line of a scarfe to aid stability of the joint (like wedging a table to stop it moving). The wedged in piece is known as a table or a key. (s:fbs). Often used in keel scarving etc.

tack - (O.North French taque, (O.F. tache), fastening, nail, peg. E. Fris. and Dan. takke, pointed thing (cp. L.G takk, G. zacke, point, prong, Dutch tak: twig)), n. (Naut): a rope by which the forward lower corner of certain sails is fastened; the course of a ship as determined by the position of her sails; the act of tacking or changing direction to take advantage of a side wind, etc. (s:ced)

tack - v.t. To change the course of a ship by shifting the tacks and position of the sails. (s:ced)

tack, tacking - verb, to sail close to the wind (see reaching for more information). Associated are; leg of the tack, tack leg, beat to windward, to sail by-the-wind (s:jd) (cf. wear)

tack - to go about, to go about over stays, change tack, to in-stays, to hove-in-stays

tackle - (prob. from M.L.G. or Dutch takel, from M.L.G. taken, to take, to lay hold of), n. apparatus, esp. pf ropes, pulleys, etc., for lifting, hoisting etc. or for working spars, sails, etc.: a windlass or winch with its ropes etc.; the implements, gear, or outfit for carrying on any particular work or sport. (s:ced)

tackle block - (see pulley, fiddle block, luff tackle)(cf. fairlead)

tacks - ropes for servicing the fore part of a sail (see also sheets)e.g. foresail tack (s:jhr)

tangentially sawn - the preferred method of sawing for clinker planking, though wood shrinks some twice as far when sawn tangentially as when quarter sawn, it yields a wider plank.

template - a semi permanent shaped pattern of a stem post, transom, or other member, made of any thin stuff, plywood or hardboard. (s:emk)(aka moulding templates when used for shaping timbers for a ship's hull etc.)

tenon - the end of a member which has been worked so as to be a close fit in a cavity, or mortise in another member. (s:emk)(and see mortise)

tenon saw - a saw used to cut across the grain or for fine work, that used for making a tenon joint. (s:jd)

thick stuff - thick and hefty timbers being, or used; as ceiling, wales and gunwales, (and...?) (synonymous words are listed under the keyword hold stringers)

thole (1) - a portable square or round sectioned pin projecting upwards at gunwhale level to provide a pivot for an oar. (s:emk) (see rowlock)

thole-pin, thole (2) - a pin in the gunwhale of a boat serving as a fulcrum for the oar (cf. oarlock, rowlock, oarhole, oarbed, row cleat, thole pin, row cleat, oar port, toe cleat).

through and through sawn - (see slab sawn)

through fastening - a fastening which passes through all the parts being joined, and has a head on both ends. Bolts, clenched or hooked nail, and double wedged trenails are good examples. (s:emk)

thwart - a transverse strength member being a board which is secured across the boat and used as a seat. (s:emk)

thwart - (M.E. from Icel. thvert, cp. A.s. thwerh, thweorh, perverse), a. Transverse, oblique. prep. across, athwart. n. A transverse plank in a boat serving as seat for a rower, v.t. to cross, to frustrate (s:ced

thwartship - (Naut.) across the vessel (s:ced)

tight to the wind - sailing close hauled; the act of sailing near to the wind. (cf. luff(4), pinch, (pointing?)) (cf. reaching)

tiller - (M.E. tillen) n. the lever on the head of a rudder by which this is turned. ((Note relationship to A.S. telgor, tealgor, from telga, cp. Dutch telg), n. the shoot of a plant springing from the base of the original stalk; a sucker; a sapling (s:ced))

tiller-chain, tiller rope - one connecting the tiller with the steering wheel

tilly deck - (eng. defn.?)(tiljedæk - so heisst der innre flachen Boden eines Fioringfar in Norwegen)(s:jhr)

timber - a single piece of wood used to form all or part of a transverse rib. It is steamed or cut to fit and support the planking. Also generally any piece of wood used in the construction of a boat. (s:emk)(cf. frame)

timber - (A-S (cp. Dut. and Swed. timmer, G. zimmer, room, timber, Icel. timbr) cogn. with Gr. demein, to build). wood suitable for building, carpentry, etc. (s:ced)

timber-head - (see Samson post)

toe cleat - a short length of wood secured under the row cleat to locate the lower end of crutch or rowlock (s:emk)

toggle - see becket. Is toggle a term that is used for nautical purposes?

tong - tool used in blacksmithing and for holding objects; which consists of the reins, a rivet (the pivot) and bits (or jaws). The former are held in the hands of the worker, the next is simply a rivet used as a pivot and the latter are the parts which holds the piece being worked.

topside - the part of the side above the water, the vertical measure of which is freeboard. (s:emk) (cf. freeboard)

transom - (M.E. traunsum, prob. corr. of L. transtrum, from trans- (across, over)) A horizontal bar of wood or stone across a window or other opening; a horizontal bar across the top of a doorway separating it from the fan-light; one of the beams bolted acros the stern-post of a ship, supporting the after-end of the deck; a horizontal piece connecting the cheeks of a gun carriage; a beam across a saw-pit; the vane of a cross-staff. (s:ced)

tree nail (wood nail) - pronounced “trunnel” - long lasting as there is no metal to wood contact. Can be divided into three parts - head, shank and wedge (Da: hoved, stilk, kile) (aka trenail, trunnel). Tree nails are properly made by splitting off or “riving” over-sized wood blocks or “blanks” - the wood was split off as opposed to sawn off to enable short grains or trouble spots to be seen quickly and unsuitable pieces discarded. Good pieces were sometimes dried in the local bakery to reduce to minimum dimensions before insertion. The tool for making trunnels is correctly known as a mute; it has a number of variations. Made from pine, juniper and willow (Danish: fyr, enebær, pil). the process of fitting a tree nail into a blind hole, with a wedge placed to open the split from inside the hole, is known as blind or fox wedging. Often the inside of the hole was first widened using a flareing tool. (aka treenail, trenail, trunnel)

trenail - (see treenail)

trunnel - (see treenail)

truss - (naut.) a heavy iron securing a lower yard to the mast (s:oed)

tuck, reconciler - the reverse (concave) curve in a transom.

tumblehome - the opposite of flare, with the topsides narrowing as they rise. (s:emk) (see also flam and flare)

turn-buckle - n. a coupling for metal rods, etc. allowing adjustment of length. (s:ced)

turnbuckles - metal pieces used to tighten rigging

turnbutton - a wooden or metal cleat pivoted about its centre and used for holding down bottom boards or securing other panels. (s:emk)

turned nails, hooked nails - nails which are struck so as to hook them back into the wood on the inside of a vessel. A strong fastening but one which does not draw the pieces being fastened together, as opposed to rivetting. These are also known as double clinched nails.

under yard - (see lower yard)

vang - (Dut., from vangen, to catch, cogn. with FANG),n. (Naut.) Either of a pair of guy-ropes running from the peak of a gaff to the deck to steady it.(s:ced)

vail - (shortened from AVALE), v.t. to lower (a topsail, etc.) or doff (one's cap, etc.), esp. in token of respect or submission. v.i. to yield, to give place (s:ced)

veer - (F. virer, late L. virare, cp. virola, ring, L. viriola, bracelet, dim. of viria, in viriae, armlets) v.i. To change its direction (of the wind), esp. in the direction of the sun; to shift, to change about, esp. in opinion, conduct, etc. v.t. (Naut) To let out or slacken (a rope, etc.); to wear (a ship, etc); to shift, to change. Veeringly, adv. (s:ced)(see wear)

veer, veering - (see wear)

veer and haul : (Naut) to pull tight and slacken alternately (s:ced)

veer away, veer out: to slacken and let run.

waist - the part of a ship between the quarter deck and the forecastle

wale - a strake which is thicker than the others. (s:emk) (aka whale)(see hold stringers)(cf. rubbing strake)

wale - (from weal(2)) A-S walu, orig. a rod (cp. gunwale and channel (2)) cp. O.Fris. walu, Icel. voelr, cogn. with Latin volvere, Gr. helissein, to roll); a wide plank extending along a ship's side (s:ced)(This and similar words don't seem to be known in Norway)

ware - see wear

warp (1) - (A-S wearp, cp Icel. Dan and Swed. varp, a casting or throwing (v. from the cogn. Icel. to throw)) The threads running the long way of a woven fabric, crossed by the woof.(s:ced)(compliment of (and see also) woof, weft).

warp (2) - a rope, usually smaller than a cable, used in towing.(s:ced)

warp (3) - a state of being twisted or distorted, in timber.(s:ced)

warp (4) - to tow or move with a line attached to a buoy, anchor, or other fixed point (s:cedwash - (A-S wascan, cp. Dutch wasschen, G. waschen, Icel. and Swed. vaska, cogn. with water and wet) (Naut); the blade of an oar (s:ced)(see oarblade)

wash-board - n. (Naut) a board to keep the water from washing over a gunwale or through a port, etc. (s:ced)(cf. washstrake)

washer - a metal plate, usually round, with a hole which fits neatly over an already inserted bolt before a nut is threaded on and tightened. Used to give the fastening more surface area and/or to prevent the nut from slipping. A washer can also be placed under the head of the bolt before it is inserted to serve a similar purpose. (See also rove).

washstrake - an extra strake or part strake fitted over the sheer to prevent water from coming over the sides (can also refer to sheer strake itself?) (s:jd)(cf. washboard)

wear, ware, veer, veering - (var. of veer), v.t. (past and p.p. wore) To bring (a ship) about tack by putting the helm up. v.i. To come round thus (of a ship). (s:ced): To go about downwind - a necessary manoeuvre in large old square riggers (s:jd)

wedge - the after deadwood, especially where the hog has been set up from the keel to avoid a tuck in the transom. (s:emk) (cf. deadwood, heal and hook)

weft - (A-S from wefan, to WEAVE) n. The thread passing through the warp from selvedge to selvedge, aka woof; a web. *weftage, n. (s:ced)

whale - (see wale)

whiskers - (see Jack Nichols)

whorl - yarn is spun using a spindle whorl

wicken - the rowan or mountain ash

wimble - (cp. Middle Dutch wemwlen to bore with a wimble, L.G. wemel, wemmel, Dan. vimmel, a boring tool, perhaps cogn. with whim) A boring instrument, a gimlet, brace-and-bit, etc. v.t. To bore with this.

withy (withe, willow) - a tough, flexible branch, esp. of willow or osier, used in binding things together; band or tie made of osiers, twigs, straw etc. Note use of expression “spruce root lashings” in Bud Mc Intosh’s boatbuilding article. (e.g. spruce roots used in Gokstad ship (s:jrs))(note: osier = willow, salix viminalis)

woof - (M.E. oof, A-S owef (A-, wef, web))n. (in weaving:) the threads that cross the warp, the weft (s:ced)(same as, and see also weft)

yaw - measure of inclination of a vessel or aircraft between the plane made by its designed attitude to the vertical (eg the plane formed by the stem and stern posts and the mast) and the actual direction of travel. (see also pitch and roll). E.g. the difference between course steered and course made.

English to Anglo-Saxon

alongside - onemn

ash - æsc, m.

awl - awel, m.

bast - bæst

bind - bindan; gebindan; sælan

blacksmith - isensmiþ

board (naut) - bord, n.

boat - bat; naca, m; sæbat

brass - mæstling

carve - ceorfan (sv 3)

coast - særima

cut down - aheawan (sv 7); forheawan (7); fyllan; heawan

dive - dufan

fat - fæt

fleet - sciphere

freight - hlast

gallows - gealgu; gealgtreo

goathair - gatehær

join - lucan

joint - banloca

keel - ceol

linen - linen

log - beam, m.

navy - flothere; sciphere

northwards - norð

oak tree - actreo, m

oar - ar, f

ocean - geofon, m/n; gelagu; mereflod

ocean current - sæstream

ocean path, route - brimlad

pine - pin (with long i) (from Lat. pinus)

pitch - pic (wood tar distillate)(from the Latin)

ram - ramm, m

row (v) - rowan

rowing - rewett, n

sailor - brimliðend; brimmann; flota, m; flotman; lidmann; s&aelida; sæmann; særinc

sea - brim; flot, n; geofon, m/n; holm; holm; hwælweg; sæ

seabird - brimfugol; fleotend

sealane - brimlad; lagulad, f

sea voyage - sæfor

sea water - lagu

seamonster - nicor, m

seaman - flota, m.

shape - hiw

shield - bord, n; scield

ship - ceol; flota, m; scip;; merehengest; naca, m; sæbat

shipwreck - forlidennes, f

sink (cause to) - besencan

skin - fell, n; hyd; rind

surface - sceat, m

sword - bill, n.; ecg; guðbill, n; iren; mece

tree - beam, m.

weave - bregdan

yard - geard

yew - iw, m

English to other languages (AS - anglo saxon, Da:nish, Du:tch, F:rench, G:erman, Ic:elandic, L:atin, N:orwegian, Sp:anish Sw:wedish)

veer, veering - Da:kovende

Sources, credits and abbreviations:

acc. - according to

aka - “also known as”

bf - Bob Forsyth, traditional boatbuilder, shipwright and writer from England

cap - Cappelen Fakta Eng-Norsk, Norsk-Eng Ordbok, Herbert Svenkerud, S.W Cappelens Forlag a/s, Oslo 1990, ISBN 82-02-11723-2

ced - Concise English Dictionary, Omega books 1985

cocp - confirmed in Ole Crumlin-Pedersen’s terminology

ED - English Definition (section of this work)

emk - Eric McKee in his paper on Clinker construction, for Greenwich Maritime Museum, London 1972

ent - Encyclopoaedia of Nautical Terms, Crown Publishers, New York

gak - Georg Albrecht Koefoed - Dansk Søe Ord-Bog from 1755, Handels- og søfartsmuseet på kronborg ISBN 87+7790+021+9 ), printed in DK 1993

jal - Jal's Glossaire Nautique 1848-1850

jd - Julian Dixon

JH - John E Horsley's "Tools of the Maritime Trades" ISBN 0 7153 5280 6 printed in UK by David and Charles, Brunel House, Newton Abbot, Devon, 1978

jhr - Johann Hinrich Roeding's Vorterbuch der Marine from 1798, Graphic Publisher, Amsterdam

jrs - J. Richard Steffy

ivkv: book “i vikingernes kølvand”, SørenVadstrup(SV)

n. noun

n. coll. - collective noun

N: Norwegian

ned - Norwegian-English Dictionary

nde - Norwegisch-Daenisch Etymologisches Worterbuch (classification 803.96-54)

ocp - Ole Crumlin-Pedersen, from his Terminology appendix

ovh - Oslo Viking Ship Hall, Bygdøy, from translation plaques on visitor displays.

rma: Roskilde Marine Archaeologists: Morten Gøthsche (MG).

Sw: Swedish

tjw: information from Tarrin John Wills’ Old Norse Web Page

v. verb

wam - Western Australian Museum (Perth)

Unsolved Issues which consists of interesting expressions, parts etc. to be looked into:

The expression prier (alt. priar) is in use still in NW Norway on simple square riggs and aboard Danish replica Viking ships – it is a line which runs from the middle of the sail body to the mast (and again to the sail and back, using a block system) and thence to the deck from where it is serviced. Its use seems to be to haul the sail body close to the mast for efficiency when sailing close to the wind, and also to spill the wind from the sail when sailing afore the wind. (It is described by JH Roeding thus: “Prier - Heissen auf Norwegischen Jachten eine Art Geitaue womit das Segel gegen den Mast geholt wird, damit der Wind herausgehe”. Together with a clear illustration of priars aboard a simple Norwegian square rigger.) The Danes use the terms høj prier, midt prier etc to describe higher and lower priers (I’ve seen up to three; high, mid and low priers in use on Viking ship replicas.) WHAT IS THIS CALLED IN ENGLISH, or any other language? It has eluded me for some time and I would be most grateful if anyone can illucidate.

Generally, see for reference the English classics: Richard Blanckley's Naval Expositor 1750, and W Falconer's Universal Dictionary of the Marine 1769.

Widje is a type of bush in Norway, used for making widje lashings, according to Ingrid K. – what is this in English?

What is difference between hals-stik and sejlstik in Danish? Is one for the tack, the other for the sheet?

Better descriptions are needed for flam and flare (of a ship's sides) to clarify and differentiate them

What is a stealer in Danish, (and other languages)?

Use of treenails unwedged in middle ages (Steffy p149, left-hand column). Anyone have any info on this?