Large cockroach.

Telling sea stories. Referring to lamps slung from the deckhead which swing while at sea. Often used to indicate that the story teller is exaggerating.

The portion of the horizon over which a lighted aid to navigation is visible from seaward.

In shipbuilding, an elevation of the lines of a ship, viewed from above and divided lengthwise.

When a sailor is drafted to a warship at the last minute, just before she sails.

Lower Derrick

On or above the deck, in plain view, not hiding anything.

A letter from a state or power authorising action by a privateer. Also see Letter of marque.

Toward the stern, relative to some object ("abaft the fore hatch").

Further aft than the beam: a relative bearing of greater than 90 degrees from the bow: "two points abaft the port beam".