Originally a seaman who, not wanting to work, preferred to exist by hanging around ports and harbors and living on the charity of others. Now more generally describing any loafer around the waterfront who prefers not to work.

Rank intermediate between officer and rating, and in charge of ratings; more or less equivalent to the rank of sergeant.

To make fast. To bend a sail, is to make it fast to the yard. To bend a cable, is to make it fast to the anchor. A bend, is a knot by which one rope is made fast to another.

Person who assists in saving life or property from a vessel wrecked near the coast. Often applied to a small boat that lies in narrow waters ready to wait on a vessel, if required.

The straight or curved line of the deck line; curvature of the lines of a vessel toward the bow and stern.

A line or wire from the mast to the bow or stern of a ship, for support of the mast; rigging used to support the mast from forward or aft.

To sail a boat closer to the wind - to steer closer to the wind, usually by pulling in on the sheets

A machine that compresses gases. Divided into two groups; process gas compressors and oil and gas field compressors.

Wooden bar with an iron shod, wedge, Shaped end, used in prying the anchor or working the anchor or working the anchor chain. Also used to engage or disengage the wild-cat.

A direction of forty-five degrees or less from the stern.

devoid of water.

Short shrouds which give support to the top of a lower mast.

The proper return port of a discharged seaman.

Special vessels employed in exploration for, development of or continuous production of, subsea oil and gas.

Merchant seaman's name for his bed or mattress.

Changing the consignee or destination on a bill of lading while shipment is still in transit. Diversion has substantially the same meaning.

A course marked by buoys or ranges measuring one nautical mile. Measured miles are used to calibrate logs.

Containers loaded at port of loading and discharged at port of destination.

A nautical version of the national flag of the country usually flown at the stern. (2) Adopted by the United States Navy in 1862, the rank of a young officer equivalent to that of midshipman. The flag carried by a ship as insignia of her nationality.

The outside plating of a vessel.