Historical Nautical Terms

noun a person who is head of an organization or country in title only and has no real authority

• The king was merely a figurehead, with the real power lying in the hands of his advisors.
• The CEO is just a figurehead, the real decisions are made by the board of directors.
• She's just a figurehead in the company, doesn't really do much.
• The president was seen as a figurehead, a symbol of the nation rather than a true leader.

noun a flat, movable structure used for boarding or disembarking from a ship

verb N/A

adjective N/A

adverb N/A

pronoun N/A

preposition N/A

conjunction N/A

interjection N/A

article N/A

• The passengers walked down the gangplank to disembark from the ship.
• Be careful not to slip on the gangplank when getting off the boat.
• I almost tripped and fell on the dang gangplank!
• Stepping onto the gangplank of a new opportunity can be intimidating but rewarding.

noun a long shaft with a broad blade at one end, used as a lever for rowing or otherwise propelling or steering a boat

• The rower used the oar to steer the boat in the right direction.
• I grabbed the oar and started rowing towards the shore.
• Hey dude, pass me the oar so I can paddle us out of here.
• Education is the oar that helps navigate through the rough waters of life.

noun a biblical place name mentioned in the Book of Joshua

verb to trouble or disturb

• The achor was securely fastened to the ship to keep it from drifting.
• I forgot to tie the achor properly and now the boat is floating away.
• Hey, make sure you don't lose the achor or we'll be stranded out here.
• Having a mentor in the industry can act as an achor for your career, keeping you grounded and focused on your goals.