| Aft |
Direction — toward the back of a ship |
| Forward |
Direction — toward the front of the ship |
| Deck |
Like a floor in a building |
| Bulkhead |
Like a wall in a building |
| Overhead |
Like a ceiling in a building |
| Compartment |
A room for various uses or a storage area |
| Galley |
Compartment were food is prepared — like a kitchen |
| Head |
Like a bathroom with toilets, sinks and showers. |
| Mess Deck |
Sometimes called a mess hall or chow hall — a dining area |
| Weather Deck |
Any deck that is outside exposed to the weather |
| Topside |
Decks above the main deck or the main weather deck |
| Above |
Direction — Deck above current location — upstairs |
| Below |
Direction — Deck below current location — downstairs |
| Ladder |
Some are truely ladders — others are very steep stairways |
| Hatch |
Like a trap-door in a deck or overhead |
| Rack |
A bunk or bed |
| Fantail |
A deck on the aft end or back end on a ship |
| Bow |
Farthest forwad or the front of a ship |
| Stern |
Farthest aft or back of a ship |
| Pea coat |
Heavy wool coat worn by enlisted men in cold weather |
| Seabag |
Duffle bag holds an enlisted sailor's entire wardrobe except pea coat |
| Rank |
Enlisted man's standing such as Seaman or Second Class Petty Officer |
| Rate |
Enlisted specialty such as, Radarman, Boatswain or Radioman |
Glossary
