Nautical Vocabulary

adverb on or onto the shore or the bottom of a body of water

• The ship ran aground on the rocks during the storm.
• The boat got stuck aground on the sandbar.
• We were aground for hours before help arrived.
• His career seemed to be going aground after the scandal.

noun nonsense or foolishness; a bunk bed or sleeping quarters in a ship or train

• The soldiers slept in the bunk beds at the military barracks.
• Let's have a sleepover and all crash in the bunks together.
• I can't believe he tried to bunk off school again.
• Don't listen to him, he's just talking bunk.

noun a rugby player in the front row of the scrum

• The police arrested a suspected hooker on charges of soliciting prostitution.
• I heard there's a new hooker working the corner by the gas station.
• That guy is always hanging out with hookers at the bar.
• The catchy chorus in that song is a real hooker, it's been stuck in my head all day.

noun the body of an old or wrecked ship

• The hulk is a fictional superhero character created by Marvel Comics.
• Did you see the hulk movie last night? It was amazing!
• That guy at the gym is a total hulk, he's so strong!
• The storm was so powerful, it felt like a hulk was raging outside.

adjective having a lively, cheerful, and self-confident manner

• The gentleman walked with a jaunty stride as he entered the ballroom.
• She always wears that jaunty hat when she goes out for a walk.
• He's got a jaunty attitude about everything, always looking on the bright side.
• The music had a jaunty beat that made everyone want to get up and dance.

noun a taunting or sarcastic remark

verb to agree or be in accord

• The sailor made sure the sails were adjusted properly to catch the jibe of the wind.
• I don't think his comments about your work really jibe with the feedback you received from others.
• Her fashion sense doesn't really jibe with the latest trends.
• Their personalities didn't jibe well, leading to constant disagreements.

noun a pirate flag

• The Jolly Roger is a traditional pirate flag featuring a skull and crossbones.
• We spotted the Jolly Roger flying high on the ship, so we knew pirates were nearby.
• The crew raised the Jolly Roger before raiding the enemy ship.
• Hoisting the Jolly Roger symbolizes a declaration of war in the pirate world.

noun a sudden, unsteady movement

verb to make a sudden, unsteady movement

• The ship lurched violently in the stormy seas.
• I nearly fell over when the bus lurched to a stop.
• He lurched towards me, looking like he was going to start a fight.
• His sudden resignation left the company in a lurch.

noun a place where a boat or ship is secured in a harbor

verb to secure a boat or ship in a particular place with a mooring

• The ship was securely fastened to the mooring in the harbor.
• We tied the boat to the mooring so it wouldn't drift away.
• Let's hook the boat up to the mooring before we head out.
• His strong principles acted as a mooring in times of uncertainty.

verb To plan and direct the route or course of a ship, aircraft, or other form of transportation.

• It is essential to have a clear map in order to navigate through the complex network of roads in the city.
• I always use Google Maps to navigate my way around town.
• I have no idea how to navigate this new video game level, it's so confusing!
• With her wisdom and experience, she was able to navigate through the challenges of life with grace.

noun a raised platform or dais from which a speaker addresses an audience

• The speaker stood behind the rostrum to address the audience.
• The teacher used the rostrum to give a lecture in class.
• I saw the rapper jump off the rostrum during the concert.
• Her words were like arrows shot from a rostrum, piercing through the crowd.

noun a word that functions as the name of a specific person, place, thing, or idea

verb a word that expresses an action, occurrence, or state of being

adverb a word that modifies or describes a verb, adjective, or another adverb

preposition a word that shows the relationship between a noun (or pronoun) and other words in a sentence

• The ship will sail into the harbor at dawn.
• We're going to sail into the cove for a swim.
• Let's sail into that party and make some noise!
• She had no idea what challenges would sail into her life next.

noun A person who works on a ship or boat, especially one whose job involves sailing

• The sailor navigated the ship through rough waters with great skill.
• The sailor knows these waters like the back of their hand.
• That sailor is one salty dog, always telling tall tales.
• She was a sailor in the sea of life, navigating through challenges with grace.

noun a small hatch or opening in a ship's deck or hull

verb to run with quick, hasty steps; scurry

• The crab used its pincers to scuttle across the sandy beach.
• I saw a mouse scuttle across the kitchen floor last night.
• Let's scuttle out of here before anyone notices we're gone.
• The rumors of a scandal caused the politician's reputation to scuttle.

noun the backward motion of a ship

adverb in a backward direction

• The ship began to move astern, gaining sternway as it reversed away from the dock.
• The boat picked up sternway as it backed up in the water.
• The captain gunned the engines in reverse and got some serious sternway going.
• His career seemed to be in sternway as he made progress in his new job.

verb to damage or tarnish the reputation or purity of something

• The reputation of the company was sullied by the scandal.
• I don't want to sully our friendship by bringing up old arguments.
• Don't sully my vibe with your negativity.
• The dark clouds sully the otherwise clear blue sky.

noun a wind blowing in the same direction as the motion of the object it affects

• The airplane was able to reach its destination faster thanks to the strong tail wind.
• We should have a smooth flight with the tail wind pushing us along.
• With this tail wind, we'll be cruising in no time!
• Having luck on your side is like having a tail wind in life, propelling you forward effortlessly.

noun a structural crosspiece sometimes forming a seat for a rower in a boat

verb to prevent someone from accomplishing something

• The security measures in place were able to thwart the attempted break-in.
• She tried to thwart his plans, but he ended up succeeding anyway.
• The hacker was able to thwart the system and access confidential information.
• Despite the obstacles, she was determined to thwart any challenges that came her way.

noun a window above a door or other window, usually hinged to the horizontal crosspiece separating the door from the window

• The transom above the door allowed natural light to filter into the room.
• I always forget to close the transom in the bathroom before showering.
• I propped open the transom so we could sneak out of the party.
• The success of the project was the transom through which many opportunities opened up.

verb to spread out or open up something, like a flag or sail

• The sails began to unfurl as the wind picked up.
• I watched as the flag unfurled in the breeze.
• The banner totally unfurled during the concert.
• As the story unfolded, the truth began to unfurl before us.

noun the act of changing direction or course suddenly

verb to change direction or course suddenly

• The driver had to make a sharp turn to avoid veering off the road.
• I almost veered into the wrong lane while driving today.
• I was veering all over the place on the dance floor last night.
• Her thoughts kept veering towards memories of her childhood.

verb To raise the anchor of a ship from the seabed in preparation for sailing.

• The captain gave the command to weigh anchor as the ship prepared to set sail.
• Hey, can you help me weigh anchor before we head out on the boat?
• Let's get this party started, time to weigh anchor and hit the open seas!
• It's time to let go of the past and weigh anchor on a new chapter in life.

adjective quick, agile, or lively in movement or action

• The ship's crew was praised for their yare handling of the vessel during the storm.
• She's always been yare when it comes to trying new things.
• The skateboarder's moves were so yare, dude!
• His mind was yare and agile, able to quickly grasp complex concepts.

noun a coast or shore

verb to approach or come near to (someone or something)

• The ship began to accoast the dock as the crew prepared to disembark.
• We can accoast at the beach for a quick swim before heading home.
• Let's accoast at the drive-thru for some late-night snacks.
• His words seemed to accoast her like gentle waves, soothing her troubled mind.

noun a person or thing that comes after another in a series

adjective indicating position further back than something else

preposition indicating position further back than something else

• The house is located behind the park.
• I'll be waiting for you at the back of the building.
• Let's chill out in the back of the club.
• He always seems to be one step behind everyone else.

noun the part of a ship's deck that is abaft amidships.

• The crew gathered on the afterdeck to discuss the next course of action.
• Let's hang out on the afterdeck and enjoy the sunset.
• I heard there's a party happening on the afterdeck later tonight.
• His mind wandered to the afterdeck of memories, where he found solace in the past.

noun the mast situated aft or rearward on a ship

• The aftermast of the ship was damaged during the storm.
• I saw some seagulls perched on the aftermast of the boat.
• Let's hang out by the aftermast and enjoy the view.
• She felt like she was clinging to the aftermast of life, barely holding on.