A classic three-masted, square-rigged merchant ship of the 17th and 18th century, invented by the Dutch to be economical in operation, carrying the largest cargo and smallest crew possible. It had a w [..]

An additional strip of canvas attached to the foot of the bonnet of a fore-and-aft sail. Also spelled drabbler.

The step made by the drop of a hand-rail (at the top of a ship's side) to a lower level.

A large timber support bracket location directly below the head of a mast, supporting the trestle trees and top.

An early name for the steering mechanism when steering was achieved with the help of tackle connected to the tiller. Also a name used for when a boat was steered by two ropes leading from the stern to [..]

Wind coming in from the front or 'wrong' side of a sail or sails, i.e. coming in to harbour with 'all yards aback'.

Like aft or a preposition indicating further aft, or nearer the stern; as in: the capstan stands abaft the mainmast, i.e. behind it, or nearer the stern.

At right angles to, or beside a ship.

A shipwright's tool, similar to an axe, used for shaping and dressing wood. It was different from an axe in that it had a long slender curved blade set at a right angle to the handle.

Before. Examples of usage: Afore the mast, as in before the mast. Also was used as in sailing afore the wind, meaning to sail closer (in) to the wind or sailing larger.