The ship’s boy’s glossary

Abattre (Bear away): to steer a sailboat away from the wind (opposite of luff).

Accastillage (Deck equipment): parts of the rigging necessary to manoeuvre the boat.

Affaler (Haul down): to take down a sail.

“Amateloter” (Pair up): French word describing the pairing up of sailors to help or replace each other.

Ariser (Reef): tie reefs to reduce the sail area.

Avitaillement (Victualing): provisioning a boat with fresh supplies of food and materials.

Banette (Berth): single berth on-board ship.

“Bidou”: French word meaning the youngest crew member in a boat (“mousse”) or a cockpit.

Bigorneau (Ration): a small quantity of spirit distributed to sailors to keep them motivated (“deck-scrubbing tot”).

Bitture (Range): section of chain stretched out on the deck before mooring to facilitate dropping of the anchorage.

Border (Planking): action of tensing a sheet to sail upwind, close-hauled (opposite of surging).

Bouline (Bowline): sheet (or manoeuvre) used to manoeuvre a square sail. By extension it is also referred to as a “boulinard” bowline for a “voileux” or sailor

Branle-bas de combat (Prepare for action): originally described the action of carrying hammocks (branles) into the bulwarks between canons for protection during combats. Nowadays it stands for the routine to prepare a ship for combat.

Brûlot (Fire ship): small ship packed with explosives launched against enemy vessels to set fire to them.

Burin (Marlin spike): a hard wood spike used for thick ropes

Cabillot (Belaypin): wooden or metal peg used to turn ropes to secure them

Cartahu (Whip): tackle used to lift or unload objects.

Chatte (Grappling hook): a tool with several hooks designed to fish for ropes or recover objects that have fallen into the sea.

Chemises de bonne soeur (Nun’s shirts): complete set of thick canvas sails bent on approaching Cape Horn. On a three-masted ship, this operation could take up to three days.

Clous (Boils): inflamed swellings on the skin due to chaffing of clothes.

Coal tar: tar obtained from the distillation of coal used to coat hulls and wood to prevent them from rotting.

Corbeau (Boat hook): a special iron hook used to hook hold of and board another boat.

Empanner (Jibe): to change tack with the wind behind.

Flottaison (Waterline): line separating the emerged/submerged parts of a boat hull

Fortune de Mer (Jury rig): square sail raised on the fore mast in bad weather on board a schooner

Génois (Genoa): a large foresail whose clew is situated further back than the other foresails.

Genou (Joint): curved central section of a couple or rib (boat frame) situated between the transom plate, which runs from the keel, and the stern frame.

Gréement (Rigging): all materials used to manoeuvre the sails.

Jarretière (Kicking strap): strap used to hold the boom in place in a boat.

Jaumière (rudder post port): tube through which the rudderstock passes.

“Lève-nez”: French word meaning a small item of rigging which helps lift the clew of a fore-and-aft sail.

Lève-rames (Oars up!): position on board. Expression used on board rowing boats to order the crew to stop rowing and hold the oars in a horizontal position.

Peau de bouc (Ship’s log): book in which all the sailor’s punishments were recorded.

“Pilotins”: junior officer of the watch in the merchant navy.

Ramasser les balais (Pick up the brooms): the loser of a regatta is said to pick up the brooms as the winner threw old brooms out of the ship to celebrate its victory and ridicule its opponent.

Renard (Deck log): wood or copper tray used to record the movements of officers boarding and disembarking from a boat in port or moored at a buoy.

Sentine (Bilge): lowest part inside a boat where water collects and stands.

Spinnaker (abbreviated to “spi”): large triangular sail flown in front of a boat sailing downwind (wind from behind).

Tirant d’eau (Draft): height between the water line and the bottom of the keel.

Tourmentin (storm sail): small, highly-resistant jib used in bad weather.

Violon (Fiddle): utensil, roughly in the shape of a violin, fixed on the top of a table to hold plates and glasses in place in rough seas.

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