Glossary
Ahoy there! Did you know that sailors used to believe whistling on a ship could summon a storm, but now it just summons the captain asking who’s off-key? Or that the humble 'starboard' and 'port' aren’t just fancy ways to say 'right' and 'left,' but actually prevent sailors from yelling, 'No, my right!' at each other? And here’s a kicker: some buoys have horns because, apparently, even the ocean needs to honk at clueless boaters. The nautical world is full of these tidbits, proving that life at sea isn’t just waves—it’s a wave of weirdness!
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TermDefinition
- Did you know? As the crow flies
The phrase "as the crow flies," meaning the most direct route, is believed to originate from the marine world. It refers to crows being released...
More Details - Did you know?, General Nautical Terminology Bosun
A bosun, short for boatswain, is a senior crew member on a ship responsible for the vessel's maintenance, repair, and overall operation. The...
More Details - Did you know?, Nautical Saying Chock-a-block
Chock-a-block is a nautical term describing when two blocks (pulleys) are pulled so close together that they cannot be tightened further. It...
More Details - Did you know?, General Nautical Terminology Feeling Blue
The phrase "feeling blue" is commonly used to describe sadness or melancholy, and its origins are often linked to nautical traditions.
More Details - Did you know?, Flag Semaphore, Signals & Communication Flag Semaphore Signals
Flag semaphore is a system for conveying information at a distance through visual signals using hand-held flags. The position of the flags...
More Details - Did you know? International Radiotelegraph Conference (IRC)
A series of meetings establishing global standards and regulations for using radiotelegraphy, particularly in maritime communication.
The...
More Details - Did you know? IRC
A series of meetings establishing global standards and regulations for using radiotelegraphy, particularly in maritime communication.
The...
More Details - Did you know?, Phonetic Alphabet Juliett
Phonetic alphabet letter J.
Emergency Situations: A vessel displaying the Juliet flag indicates a serious emergency involving hazardous...
More Details - Did you know?, Nautical Saying Press Gangs
Press gangs were groups of men employed by the British Royal Navy in the 17th to 19th centuries to forcibly recruit individuals into naval...
More Details - Did you know? The Bitter End
"The bitter end" is a nautical term referring to the very end of a rope or chain secured to a ship or boat. Its name is derived from the sturdy...
More Details - Did you know? The Challenger of Record
The Challenger of Record is the yacht club or team officially representing the first challenging team in a sailing competition, such as the...
More Details - Did you know? Tomasz Schafernaker
Tomasz Schafernaker is a well-known meteorologist and television weather presenter for the BBC.
Born on January 8, 1979, in Gdańsk,...
More Details - Did you know?, Nautical Saying Under the Weather
Under the weather is commonly used to describe feeling ill or unwell. Its origins can be traced back to maritime language. It originated from the...
More Details - Did you know? Unlucky Bananas
If you've ever set sail or chatted with seasoned sailors, you might have stumbled upon a curious maritime superstition: bananas are bad luck on...
More Details - Did you know?, Phonetic Alphabet Whiskey
Phonetic alphabet letter W.
Medical Emergency: When a vessel displays the Whiskey flag, it indicates a medical emergency on board and that...
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