LIE OFF—To heave to at some distance from shore.
LIFE BUOY—A buoyant ring or some other floating
device, except a life jacket or life belt, designed to
support a person in the water.
LIFE JACKET—A buoyant jacket designed to
support a person in the water; a life belt fits only
around the waist.
LIFELINE—(1) In general, the lines erected around
the edges of weather decks, specifically, the
topmost line. From top to bottom, the lines are
named lifeline, housing line, and foot rope.
LIGHTEN SHIP—To make a ship lighter by
removing weight.
LIGHT SHIP—The act of dispensing with blackout
precautions.
LINE—Any rope that isn’t wire rope.
LINNER BOTTOM—The inside bottom in a system
of double bottoms.
LOG—(1) A ship’s speedometer. (2) The act of a ship
in making a certain speed, as “The ship logged 20
knots.” (3) Book or ledger in which data or events
that occurred during a watch is recorded.
LOOK ALIVE—Admonishment meaning “be alert”
or “move faster.”
LOOKOUT—Person stationed topside as a formal
watch who reports all objects sighted and sounds
heard to the OOD.
LOOM—The glow seen in the sky from a light that’s
below the horizon.
LUBBER’S LINE—Line engraved on the inside of a
compass bowl, representing the ship’s head, by
which the ship’s course is steered.
LUCKY BAG—Locker, under the charge of the
master-at-arms, used to stow gear found adrift and
deserters’ effects.
MAGAZINE—Compartment used for stowage of
ammunition.
MAGNETIC BEARING—The direction of the
object measured on a magnetic compass.
MAIN DECK—The uppermost complete deck.
MAINMAST—Second mast aft from the bow.
MAN—To assume a station, as to man a gun.
MAN-O-WAR—See COMBATANT SHIP.
MARLINE—Two-strand, left-laid, tarred hemp.
MARLINSPIKE—Tapered steel tool used to open the
strands of wire for splicing.
MARLINESPIKE SEAMANSHIP—The art of
caring for and handling all types of line and wire.
MASTER-AT-ARMS—A member of a ship’s police
department.
MASTHEAD LIGHT—A 20-point, white running
light located in the fore part of the ship. May or
may not be on the foremast.
MATE—A shipmate; another Sailor.
MEET HER—Slow the swing of a ship by putting on
opposite rudder.
MESS—(1) Meal. (2) Place where meals are eaten, as
mess hall. (3) A group of personnel who take meals
together, as the officers’ mess.
MESSENGER—(1) A line used to haul another
heavier line across an intervening space. (2) One
who delivers messages.
MIDWATCH—The watch that begins at 0000 and
ends at 0400.
MIND YOUR RUDDER—An order to the helmsman
to steer the proper course.
MONKEY FIST—A complicated knot worked into
the end of a heaving line to provide weight.
MOOR—(1) To anchor, using two anchors. (2) To
make fast to a mooring buoy. (3) To make fast to a
pier or another ship.
MOORING BUOY—A large, anchored float a ship
may moor to.
MORNING WATCH—The 0400 to 0800 watch.
MOTOR WHALEBOAT—A double-ended power-
boat.
MUSTER—(1) A roll call. (2) The act of assembling
for a roll call.
NEST—(1) Two or more boats stowed one within the
other. (2) Two or more ships moored alongside
each other.
NOTHING TO THE RIGHT (LEFT)—Order given
to the helmsman not to allow the ship to come to
right (left) of the course because of some danger
lying on that side of the course.
AI-8
