Parts of boats and ships
aft
adjective, adverb
in or towards the back part of a ship or plane
amidships
adverb
in the middle part of a ship
bay
noun
an area in a plane or ship that is used for carrying goods or equipment
beam
noun
the widest part of a ship from one side to the other
berth
noun
a bed on a train or ship
bilge
noun
the bottom part of a boat
blade
noun
one of the flat parts of a propeller that spins around and pushes a boat or plane forwards
boom
noun
a long pole attached to the bottom of a boat’s sail, that is used for changing the direction of the sail
bow
noun
the front part of a ship
bowsprit
noun
a long pole that sticks out from the front of a ship
bridge
noun
the part of a ship from which it is controlled
brig
noun
a place on a ship where prisoners are kept, or a small prison
bulwarks
noun
the sides of a ship above the deck
cabin
noun
a private room on a ship for a passenger or one of the people working on the ship
capstan
noun
a round piece of equipment that you turn to wind a heavy rope, especially on a ship or at a port
catapult
noun
a piece of equipment on a ship used for sending aircraft into the air
cleat
noun
a metal object that you tie a rope round in order to fasten something in place, especially on a ship
cockpit
noun
the part of a boat where the controls are
conning tower
noun
the part on top of a submarine from which the periscope sticks out
crow’s nest
noun
a place near the top of a ship’s mast where a sailor stands to look out over the sea
deck
noun
the outside top part of a ship that you can walk on
deck
noun
one of the levels on a ship or bus
escape hatch
noun
a small door for escaping from a ship, aircraft, or submarine in an emergency
fender
noun
a piece of rope or a tyre that protects the side of a boat from knocks
figurehead
noun
a wooden model of a person fixed to the front of an old-fashioned ship
flight deck
noun
the open area on a large ship where aircraft can take off and land
fo’c’sle
noun
a forecastle
forecastle
noun
the front part of a ship
funnel
noun
a tube that lets out smoke and steam from the engine of a boat or old-fashioned train
galley
noun
the kitchen on a boat or plane
gangplank
noun
a long narrow board that you put between a boat and the land, or between two boats, so that you can walk across
gangway
noun
a flat board or metal structure that can be put in place between a ship and land to let people get off or on the ship
gunwale
noun
the upper edge of the side of a boat or ship
hawser
noun
a heavy cable or rope that is used for tying up or pulling a ship
helm
noun
a wheel or handle used for making a boat go in the direction you want
hold
noun
the area in a plane or ship that is used for goods, vehicles, or bags
hull
noun
the part of a ship or boat that floats on the water. The front part is called the bow and the back part is called the stern.
hydrofoil
noun
one of the wing-shaped pieces fixed to the bottom of a hydrofoil
jib
noun
a small triangular sail near the front of a boat
keel
noun
a long thin piece of wood or metal along the bottom of a boat that helps it to balance in the water
lanyard
noun
a short rope used on ships for fastening things such as the sails
mainsail
noun
the largest sail on a ship
mast
noun
a tall pole that the sails hang from on a ship
masthead
noun
the top of the mast (=tall pole) on a boat or ship
mizzen
noun
the sail behind the main sail on a ship
mizzen
noun
the mast that holds the mizzen sail
muster station
noun
a place, especially on a ship, where people should gather if there is an emergency
outrigger
noun
something that sticks out from the side of a boat and helps it to float
painter
noun
a rope fixed to the front of a boat and used for tying it to something such as a post
poop
noun
the higher part at the back of an old sailing ship
port
noun
the side of a ship or plane that is on your left when you are looking forwards. The part that is on your right is starboard.
porthole
noun
a small window in the side of a ship or plane
promenade deck
noun
the upper area of a ship where people walk for pleasure
propeller
noun
a piece of equipment with blades that spin, used for moving a ship or aircraft
prow
noun
the front of a ship or boat
quarterdeck
noun
the back part of a ship’s upper deck, where the officers often live
rigging
noun
the ropes and chains used for supporting a ship’s sails and masts
rowlock
noun
a ‘U’-shaped piece of metal fitted on the side of a boat to hold an oar in position
rudder
noun
a flat piece of wood or other material at the back of a boat or plane that is moved to change the direction of travel
sail
noun
a large piece of strong cloth fixed to a tall pole on a boat, used for catching wind to move the boat across water
saloon
noun
a big room on a ship where passengers can sit together and talk, play games etc
sickbay
noun
a room where sick people go to rest and get medical treatment on a ship
side
noun
the edge of a boat
spar
noun
a thick strong pole that supports something
spar
noun
a thick pole that supports the sails of a boat
spinnaker
noun
an extra sail sometimes fitted on the front of a boat used for racing
starboard
noun
the right side of a ship, as seen by someone who is looking towards the front. The left side is called port.
stateroom
noun
a small private room on a ship that is used for sleeping
steerage
noun
in the past, the part of a passenger ship in which people who had the cheapest tickets travelled
stern
noun
the back part of a ship. The front of a ship is called the bow.
stowage
noun
space for storing things in a boat or vehicle
sun deck
noun
an open area on a ship where you can enjoy the sun
superstructure
noun
the part of a ship that is above the main deck
thwart
noun
a seat across the middle of a rowing boat
tiller
noun
a long handle at the back of a boat that is used for controlling the direction that the boat moves in
topside
adjective, adverb
on or relating to the deck of a ship
turret
noun
a high part on a military ship or vehicle where guns are fixed. You can turn it in order to shoot the guns in any direction.
wardroom
noun
a room on a warship used by all the officers except for the captain
waterline
noun
the highest point where water touches the side of a boat
wheelhouse
noun
a small room on a boat where the wheel and other controls are