A Guide to Early 20th-Century Nautical Terms: Understanding Maritime Language & Ocean Travel

📌 Explore a glossary of early 20th-century nautical terms used aboard transatlantic steamships. A must-read for historians, genealogists, teachers, and ocean travel enthusiasts researching maritime history and passenger records.

⚓ Nautical Terms of the Early 20th Century: A Guide for Ocean Travel Enthusiasts, Historians, & Genealogists 🌊

📖 Why This Glossary of Nautical Terms Matters

This extensive glossary of early 20th-century nautical and maritime terms is an invaluable resource for anyone researching ocean travel, maritime history, or genealogy. Whether you’re a teacher, student, historian, or a descendant of immigrants, this compilation provides a deep dive into the vocabulary of seafarers, steamship passengers, and transatlantic travelers during the Golden Age of Ocean Liners.

This article offers a concise yet comprehensive explanation of common nautical terms used aboard steamships, sailing vessels, and merchant ships. It’s particularly useful for understanding passenger lists, ship logs, and immigration records, many of which contain technical maritime jargon that can be challenging for modern readers.

Commonly used nautical and maritime terms in use during the age of the transatlantic steamship circa the early to mid-1900s. It is perfect for a quick answer without too much detail.

▓▓▓ "A" ▓▓▓

ABAFT: Toward the stern; further aft than.

AFT: At, toward, or near the stern.

ALLEYWAY: Passageway.

ALTITUDE: Angular elevation of the Pole above the horizon.

▓▓▓ "B" ▓▓▓

BALLAST: Any weight or weights used to keep the ship from becoming top-heavy.

BEAM: Greatest width of a vessel.

BILGE: The flat, or nearly flat, part of a ship's bottom.

BILGE KEELS: Fin-like strips running lengthwise and projecting from the outer bilge on some ships to prevent rolling.

BILGE WATER: Foul water that collects in the bilge of a ship.

BITTS: Heavy steel castings fitted to a deck for securing mooring lines or hawsers.

BOOM: A long, round, heavy spar, pivoted at one end, generally used for hoisting cargo, etc. On sailing vessels the spar holding the bottom of a fore-and-aft sail.

BOW: The forward part of a vessel.

BRIDGE: The observation platform or partial deck built across and above a ship's deck for the use of officers in navigating the vessel.

BULKHEAD: A vertical partition running from side to side or fore-and-aft beneath the deck. A collision bulkhead is the first partition forward, near the bow.

BUNKER: A compartment used for storage of fuel.

▓▓▓ "C" ▓▓▓

CABLE: The chain to which the anchor is fastened. The term "cable's length" means about 100 fathoms or 600 feet, one- tenth of a sea mile.

CAPSTAN: A windlass for winding the cable.

CHART: A sea map used in navigation, showing depth of the sea, location of rocks, configuration of coast, etc.

CHART ROOM: Navigating room.

COAMING: The vertical boundary of a hatch or skylight.

COMPANIONWAY: A staircase at the entrance of a ship's cabin.

CROW'S NEST: A barrel or box on the ship's foremast where the lookout is stationed.

▓▓▓ "D" ▓▓▓

DAVITS: Heavy vertical pillars, used to support the ends of a boat when hoisting or lowering.

DEADLIGHT: Covering for portholes made of metal or wood and used in severe weather.

DEAD RECKONING: Method of ascertaining the approximate position of a vessel from the course steered and the distance run when heavenly bodies or land are obscured.

DOG: A small, bent metal fitting, used to close doors, hatch covers, etc.

DRAFT OR DRAUGHT: The depth to which a vessel sinks in the water: one commonly speaks of a ship's "drawing" so many feet of water, which is the equivalent of its draft.

DRIFT CURRENT: Movement of the surface of the sea.

▓▓▓ "E" ▓▓▓

EBB TIDE: The falling tide.

EQUINOX: Equal length of day and night, the vernal equinox occurring toward the end of March and the autumnal toward the end of September.

▓▓▓ "F" ▓▓▓

FATHOM: Six feet.

FLOOD TIDE: Rising tide.

FO'C'S'LE: "Forecastle"; seamen's living quarters, usually in the bow.

FORE-AND-AFT: Lengthwise with the ship.

FORWARD: Toward the bow.

▓▓▓ "G" ▓▓▓

GALLEY: The ship's kitchen.

GLORY HOLE: Steward's quarters. Usually aft, over the propellers.

▓▓▓ "H" ▓▓▓

HATCH: An opening in a dock.

HAWSE PIPES: Openings in the bow for the anchor chain.

HAWSER: A large rope or wire, commonly used for making fast to a pier or tender.

HOLD: The part of a ship below decks reserved for the storage of freight or baggage.

HOUSE FLAG: The penant usually flown on the mainmast, bearing the emblem of her owners.

HURRICANE DECK: A deck with no overhead protection.

▓▓▓ "K" ▓▓▓

KEEL: The central longitudinal beam at the extreme underside of the vessel; the foundation of the entire construction.

KNOT: A nautical mile. The British Admiralty knot is 6,080 feet; the statute knot is 6,082.66 feet, or 1.151 land miles.

▓▓▓ "L" ▓▓▓

LEAD: A mass of lead used for taking depths at sea.

LEE OR LEEWARD: The side of the vessel away from the wind.

LOG:

• An instrument towed by the vessel at the end of a long line, recording approximate distance traveled.
• Official daily record of a voyage, including weather, wind, direction and velocity, distance traveled, etc.

▓▓▓ "M" ▓▓▓

MID-SHIP: Toward the middle or "waist" of a vessel; is equally distant from bow and stern. The term "amidships" is frequently used.

MOORING: Securing a ship in position by lines so it cannot move or swing; anchoring.

▓▓▓ "O" ▓▓▓

OVERHANG: Portion of hull at the stern, over and unsupported by the water.

Front Cover of a Cabin Class Passenger List from the SS Manhattan of the United States Lines, Departing 18 July 1934 from New York to Hamburg via Cobh, Plymouth, and Le Havre, Commanded by Captain Schuyler F. Cumings, Lt. Cmdr. USNR. GGA Image ID # 1653f395c5

▓▓▓ "P" ▓▓▓

PILOT: Usually the licensed "guide" who comes aboard ship from a near port and directs its course through the local channel to anchorage or pier, or from the pier to the outer end of the channel.

PILOT HOUSE: Sheltered position connected with the bridge from which the ship is steered.

PITCHING: See-saw motion caused by the plunging of the vessel's head into the sea and the consequent raising of the stern. Distinguished from rolling, which is a movement from side to side.

POOP: Raised deck toward the stern of the vessel.

PORT: The left side of a vessel. French, babord.

PORTHOLE: Stateroom window.

▓▓▓ "R" ▓▓▓

RUDDER: The hinged projection astern for steering, controlled by chains from under the bridge.

▓▓▓ "S" ▓▓▓

SAILING VESSELS:

• A full-rigged ship has usually three masts, on all of which are square sails.
• A bark has three or four masts, all square-rigged except the after or mizzenmast, which is fore-and-aft rigged.
• A barkentine has three masts, the foremast square-rigged, the other two fore-and-aft rigged.
• A brig has two masts, both square-rigged.
• A brigantine has two masts, square-rigged except for a fore-and-aft mainsail.
• A schooner has two or more masts, with fore-and-aft sails.
• A sloop has a single mast, fore-and-aft rigged.

SCENDING: Heaving upward; a mixing of rolling and pitching.

SCREW: The ship's propellor.

SCUPPERS: Drains from the edge of a deck, discharging overboard.

SEXTANT: An instrument for measuring angular distance, used in ascertaining the ship's position by taking the altitude of heavenly bodies.

SHAFT: Long, round, heavy forging, connecting engine and propellor.

SOUNDINGS: Means of measuring the depth of the water by dropping a lead.

SPAR: A round timber for extending a sail; a mast, a yard or a boom.

SPRING TIDE: High tide caused by the sun and moon being on Meridian together, or in opposition.

STARBOARD: The right side of a ship. French, tribord.

STEM: A nearly upright timber or metal piece constituting the forward member of a vessel's hull; the bow.

STERN: The rear end of a vessel.

▓▓▓ "T" ▓▓▓

TAFFRAIL: A rail around a vessel's stern; the upper part of a vessel's stern.

TENDER: As applied to ocean travel, a small steamer for meeting ships in ports and taking off or putting on passengers.

THWARTSHIP: Crosswise to the ship.

▓▓▓ "W" ▓▓▓

WEATHERSIDE, WINDWARD: Side of vessel toward the wind.

WINCH: A small hoisting engine.

▓▓▓ "Y" ▓▓▓

YARDS: Spars set crosswise of a mast and used to support square- sails.

🚢 Why This Glossary is Important for Ocean Travel Research

📜 Genealogists: Deciphering Passenger & Crew Records

If you’re tracing an ancestor who immigrated by steamship or worked in the maritime industry, you may come across terms like “bunkers,” “berth,” or “bulkhead” in old passenger manifests, ship crew lists, and travel documents. Understanding these historical nautical terms can help you better interpret records and gain deeper insight into your ancestors’ journeys across the ocean.

📌 Key Terms for Genealogical Research:

✅ Berth: Sleeping accommodations on a ship, often listed in passenger manifests 🛏️

✅ Bunkers: Ship compartments used for fuel storage—important for understanding engine rooms 🔥

✅ Port & Starboard: Left and right sides of the ship, often found in ship blueprints and descriptions ⚓

✅ Steerage: The lowest class of accommodations, where most immigrants traveled to America 🌍

💡 Why it’s relevant:

✔️ Genealogists & family historians – Use these terms to interpret old passenger lists & ship logs 📝

✔️ Students researching immigration – Understand what life was like aboard immigrant steamships 🚢

✔️ Archivists & historical researchers – Learn how maritime records documented ocean travel 📜

🏛️ Historians & Teachers: Bringing Maritime History to Life

For educators and historians, this glossary provides a snapshot of life at sea during the early 20th century. Whether discussing the Titanic, the Lusitania, or other famous liners, these terms help paint a vivid picture of the sailing experience, from the bridge to the boiler room.

📌 Key Terms for Teaching Maritime History: ✅ Bridge: The raised platform where officers navigated the ship—key to understanding command structures on ocean liners 🧭

✅ Crow’s Nest: The lookout station high on the mast—important for historical events like the Titanic’s iceberg warning 🏔️

✅ Bulkhead: A vertical partition that made ships more watertight, crucial for learning about ship design & safety ⚓

✅ Sextant: A navigational instrument used to determine a ship’s position at sea 📡

💡 Why it’s relevant:

✔️ Teachers & students – Use these terms in history lessons on transatlantic migration & ocean liners 📚

✔️ Maritime historians – Gain a deeper understanding of ship operations & historical voyages 🏛️

✔️ Writers & researchers – Perfect for accurate depictions of ocean travel in historical fiction & documentaries 🎥

🌍 Travelers & Ocean Enthusiasts: Understanding Classic Steamship Design

For those passionate about ocean travel, maritime history, and cruise culture, this glossary provides an authentic look at how ships were structured and navigated. If you’ve ever wondered what distinguishes a barkentine from a brigantine, or how a capstan is used, this guide unlocks the language of the sea.

📌 Key Terms for Steamship Enthusiasts:

✅ Capstan: A rotating device used for pulling up anchors—essential for understanding ship mechanics ⚙️

✅ Poop Deck: A raised deck at the stern, where passengers enjoyed scenic views of the ocean 🌊

✅ Davits: The heavy-duty arms used to lower lifeboats—a crucial safety feature on steamships 🛟

✅ House Flag: A distinctive flag flown to represent the ship’s company—great for identifying steamship lines 🚩

💡 Why it’s relevant:

✔️ Cruise ship enthusiasts – Learn about the roots of modern ocean liners & luxury travel 🛳️

✔️ Maritime collectors & model ship builders – Use authentic terminology for historical accuracy 🏗️

✔️ Reenactors & museum professionals – Essential for creating authentic period experiences 🎭

📸 Noteworthy Images & Their Significance

📷 "Nautical Terms - FAQs - GG Archives Illustrated by a Two Stacker Steamer Racing Across the Sea"

🔹 A striking visual representation of a classic early 20th-century steamship, symbolizing the Golden Age of Ocean Travel.

📷 "United States Lines, SS Manhattan Passenger List, 18 July 1934"

🔹 An actual passenger list from a famous transatlantic voyage—perfect for genealogists researching family history.

🔎 Research & Essay Writing Using GG Archives

📢 This is NOT a blog! Unlike modern sites that allow comments, GG Archives serves as a research and educational resource. Students, teachers, and genealogists are encouraged to use this glossary for research, essays, and historical projects.

🔎 Need sources for an essay? GG Archives offers authentic maritime documents, passenger lists, and ship records! 📜🚢

🌊 Final Thoughts: A Must-Have Resource for Maritime Research & Ocean Travel Enthusiasts

This extensive glossary of nautical terms is more than just a list of definitions—it is a historical gateway to understanding the world of transatlantic travel in the early 20th century. Whether you’re a historian studying ocean liners, a genealogist decoding passenger records, or a student writing about maritime history, this guide provides invaluable context and terminology to enhance your research.

📌 Who Should Use This Resource?

✔️ Teachers & students – A primary source-rich glossary for essays & history projects 📚

✔️ Genealogists – Essential for understanding passenger lists & ship logs 🧳

✔️ Historians & maritime buffs – Learn the language of ocean liners & steamships ⚓

✔️ Writers & museum professionals – A perfect reference for historical accuracy 🎭

🚢 💡 Dive into the world of transatlantic steamships and learn the language of the sea! 🌊