Navy Terms and Acronyms
Terms
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- Ashore
- On the beach or shore
- Astern
- Behind the ship
- Athwart
- Across or at right angles to.
- Batten down
- The closing of a watertight fixture.
- Beam
- The width of a vessel at its widest point.
- adrift
- Loose from moorings and out of control.
- aft-end
- Near or toward the stern of the vessel.
- All hands
- The entire ships' company both officer and enlisted.
- Allotment
- An amount of money a member has coming out of his regular pay.
- Aye-aye
- Reply to an order meaning "I understand and will comply."
- Barracks
- living quarters for sailors
- below
- downstairs
- brightwork
- brass or shiny metal kept polished rather than painted
- bunk
- a bed
- rack
- a bed
- bouy
- an anchored float used as a navigation aid
- carry on
- an order to resume work or duties
- cast off
- to throw off, to let go, to unfurl
- chain locker
- compartment in which anchor chain is stowed
- chit
- coupon book or receipt book
- chit book
- coupon or receipt book
- chow hall
- place to eat
- mess deck
- place to eat
- colors
- raising or lowering of national ensign at 0800 and at sunset
- deep six
- to throw over the side and dispose of
- ensign
- national flag; commisioned officer between warrant officer and LTJG
- fast
- secured snugly
- field day
- general cleaning day before an inspection
- first lieutenant
- officer responsible to the XO for the deck/division aboard ship, or the command maintenance
- flag officer
- any officer 0-7 or above
- galley
- kitchen
- gangway
- opening that provides access to a brow or accomodation ladder; order meaning to clear the way
- gear locker
- storage room
- geedunk
- candy, gum or cafeteria
- general quarters
- battle stations
- ground tackle
- all the equipment necessary for mooring a ship
- hatch
- door
- head
- bathroom
- jack box
- access box to sound-powered phone circuitry
- ladder
- a stairs or companionway
- leave
- authorized vacation
- liberty
- permission to leave base for not more than 48 hours
- lifeline
- lines erected around the weatherdecks to prevent people from falling over the side
- overhead
- ceiling
- passageway
- hallway
- quarters
- assembling of all hands for muster, instruction, and inspection.
- rating
- a job specialty title
- reveille
- wake up and start of a new day
- scullery
- place to wash dishes
- scuttlebutt
- rumor
- secure
- lock, put away, or stop work
- sickbay
- hospital or medical clinic
- swab
- mop
- taps
- time to sleep, end of day
- tattoo
- five minutes before taps
- topside
- upstairs
- turn to
- begin work
- working aloft
- working at the highest place above the deck; usually on the mast.