SHELLBACK—A person who has crossed the
equator.
SHIFT—(1) The act of the wind in changing direction.
(2) The act of moving a rudder with angle on it to
the same angle on the opposite side.
SHIFT COLORS—To change the arrangement of the
colors on getting under way or coming to
moorings.
SHIP—(1) Any large vessel capable of extended
independent operation. (2) To take on water
unintentionally.
SHIPOVER—To reenlist in the Navy.
SHIPSHAPE—Neat, clean, taut, in fine shape.
SHOAL—Similar to a reef, but more gradual in its rise
from the floor of the ocean.
SHORE—(1) The land in general, but usually refers to
that part adjacent to the water. (2) A timber used in
damage control to brace bulkheads and decks.
SHROUD—A line or wire that provides athwartship
support for a mast.
SICK BAY—Shipboard space used as a hospital.
SIDE BOY—One of a group of seamen who form two
ranks at the gangway as part of the ceremonies
conducted for visiting officials.
SIDE LIGHT—One of the required running lights.
The starboard side light is green and the port side
light is red.
SIDE PORT—A watertight opening in a ship’s side
that is used as a doorway.
SIGHT—(1) To see for the first time, as to sight a ship
on the horizon. (2) A celestial observation.
SKYLARK—To engage in irresponsible horseplay.
SLACK—(1) To allow a line to run out. (2) A slack
ship is one that has little or no discipline.
SLIP—(1) To free a ship of its anchor by
disconnecting the cable or by allowing its bitter
end to run out. (2) A narrow space between two
piers, or the space between two rows of piles that
guide a ferryboat into its berth.
SMALL CRAFT—Any less-than-ship-sized vessel.
SMALL STORES—Personal needs for Sailors, such
as articles of clothing.
SMART—Snappy, seamanlike, shipshape.
SNAKING—Netting stretched between the gunwales
and footrope (see LIFELINE) to prevent objects
from going over the side.
SNUB—The act of suddenly checking a line that is
running out under a strain.
SOPA—Abbreviation for senior officer present afloat.
SOUND—(1) To determine the depth of water. (2) The
act of a whale or similar creature in diving deep. (3)
A body of water between the mainland and a large
coastal island.
SPANNER—A wrench used for tightening couplings
on a fire hose.
SPAR—A along cylindrical member of wood or metal,
tapered at the ends; usually attached to a mast for
use as a boom or for the attachment of equipment
such as signal halyards. See BOAT BOOM;
YARDARM.
SPAR BUOY—A buoy shaped like a spar. Usually
indicates special areas, such as a quarantine
anchorage (yellow) or normal anchorage (white),
but may be used to indicate a channel (painted red
or green, as appropriate).
SPECIAL SEA DETAIL—Personnel aboard ship
assigned special duties connected with leaving and
entering port.
SPLICE—The act of intertwining strands of lines or
wires to join them together or to make an eye; the
joint so made.
SPRING—A mooring line that leads forward (or aft)
at an angle from ship to pier. Its purpose is to check
the fore-and-aft movement of the ship.
SPRING LAY—Wire rope in which each strand
consists partly of wire and partly of tarred hemp or
similar fiber.
SQUADRON—Two or more divisions of ships or
aircraft.
SQUARE AWAY—Put in proper order; make things
shipshape.
SQUARE KNOT—Simple knot used for bending two
lines together or for bending a line to itself.
STACK—Shipboard chimney.
STANCHIONS—Vertical posts used for supporting
decks; smaller, similar posts used for supporting
lifelines, awnings, and so forth.
STAND BY—To “prepare for” or “make ready to.”
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