Return to Maritime History Citations page
OE cnear should be noted as a cognate of or, more probably, a borrowing from ON (cf. Clark Hall A concise Anglo-Saxon dictionary, s.v.) (AHH)
cf. OE scielfe `deck' (Schepper Die Namen der Schiffe und Schiffsteile im Altenglischen (1908 diss.) in Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 21)
perhaps `stringer'; prob. ME allonge (OE andlang) `longitudinal' plus obscure second element
Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 25-6
prob. = OF aleor (alour, alouer) `passage, crenelated gallery'
Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 26
note: cf. F hiloire `binding strake', aileures `co[a]mings or carlings' (1611 Cotgrave, OED2 s.v. coaming), OF "les aloirs de desus le couvers" [the binding strakes on top of the deck] (138., Bréard Le compte de Clos des Galées de Rouen au XIVe s. (1893) 79); ult. from Du sloeren `binding strake' (REW 8035) (AHH)
[1337-9 in Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 28
can[vas] empt' pro le bemeheueds inde stoppand]
trans: canvas bought for stopping leaks around the beam-ends (AHH)
In sense 1.b., cf. Du bint `tie-beam, cross-beam', binden `beams in a ship'
Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 29-30
This sense should be classed etymologically with bend sb.1, as "the prevailing notion is that of bracing or binding".
Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 30
directly from ON biti (the Fr term-with its Mediterranean descendants-are also from ON)
Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 31
from Du polder (bolder, bollerd, bollaard) from OF poldre (poltre) (F poutre) from VLat *pullitra frrom L pullus `foal'
Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 34
1409-11 in Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 37
Capstanspekes
note: prob. = capstan-bar (AHH)
1409-11 in Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 37
Candelhokes
note: meaning unknown (AHH)
1578 Frobisher's third voyage 251 in Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 37
having a little before wayed hir anker a cocke bill
from MDu boeyinge (cf. Du boeiing `weather-boards') from MDu bo(e)yen (Du boien `to increase the freeboard of a ship with extra planking or wash-boards')
Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 38
from ON brandr `richly decorated stem plank'; in ME, took on meaning `topmost piece of the stem-post' (cf. OE brand-stefn, assumed to have same meaning as the ON term)
Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 39
1951 Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 40
The name [breast-hook] is derived from the position in the ship's bows. Breast occurs several times in E[xchequer] 36/13 (1514-5), e.g. p. 50 "Shevers of Brasse in the brest of the forecastell"
1961 R. de Kerchove International maritime dictionary (2d. ed.) s.v.
breast rope
A mooring or docking line leading at an angle of about 90 deg. with the fore-and-aft line of the vessel. Also called Breast fast.
note: = breast fast. This is the predominant meaning in mod. naut. usage. (AHH)
from ME bolk `beam' from ON balkr, bolkr `beam, balk'; vowel-quality perhaps influenced by Eng bulk `cargo'
Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 41
= carling; from ME carle from ON karl `man', which was substituted for the less familiar carling
Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 41
from ON kerling `woman; mast-step-kelson'. By early 17c., the sense was that in mod. use.
Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 42
possible anatomical metaphor: the mast was inserted in a socket in the horizontal mast-step-kelson
Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 70
1400-02 in Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 26
pro pictura Nauis..in le Celeur et in le Sterne
trans: for painting the ship..in the canopy [?] and the stern (AHH)
note: this supplies the missing OF form conjectured in OED2 (AHH)
1294-5 Exchequer 101/5/8 m.13 in Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 46
Puly
oak boards used in shipbuilding; prob. of Continental origin; cf. Du kogghenborden (1363)
in Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 48
apparently from ON krapti, a kind of kevel-head
Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 49
a fore-and-aft strengthening timber; from ME endlong `longitudinal'
Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 52
perhaps from Mdu voetkijn (dimin. of voet `foot') in unrecorded sense `futtock'
Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 59
note: perhaps from a Du dimin. of the type voeteke (AHH)
prob. a var. of halse `hawse-timber' [?]
Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 62
meaning ? (perhaps `wash-board'); perhaps from obs. F haut bord `high freeboard'
Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 64
[143. Exchequer 101/53/5 p.15 in Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 65
reparacionem et arraiacionem eiusdem Balingere]
trans: repair and outfitting of the said balinger (AHH)
note: this a latinization of a Fr or Eng *arraition. OF arroy, array was used in the sense of `rigging' (Jal Glossaire nautique sv. agrès)
from ON kjolr (sg.) or kilir (pl.)
Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 66
1319 Cal. Pat. Rolls in Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 66
a ship called `le Keel'
note: ref. is to Lincolnshire and the north of England
perhaps from ON *kjolgríss (cf. Eng. keel sb.1, grice1)
Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 67
1494 in Accounts of the Lord High Treasurer of Scotland I. 246 in Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 72
rowbarge
of Continental origin; cf. MDu cnorhout
Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 73
1424-5 Exchequer 364/59G in Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 73
bord' vocatis knarroldes
note: Sandahl glosses as `thin oak board'
meaning possibly `scarf', more probably `fish-piece'; from Mdu lassce `a kind of scarf joint'
Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 73
1422-27 (ms. naval accounts and inventories of William Soper) in Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 73
pro xxxvij. peciis maeremij pro laskes et wellynges
etym.: from MDu wel(l)inge `band of brush-wood or withy for tying faggots'
Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 73
`mast partners' or (?) `cheeks supporting the top'; from ME lere `cheek' + -ing
Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 75
from mast + -spore `imprint of a foot'
Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 78
1531 in Mariner's Mirrror V. 21 in Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 79
A nyew mayne mast of spruce
perhaps from OF pautoniere `prostitute' from MLat *paltonaria, cogn. with Lat. palitare `to wander about; another instance here of the notion ` female pudendum' to which..the mast-step and partners are often associated.
Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 80
note: this partner should be given a separate entry if this etym. be accepted (AHH)
possibly from MLG term meaning (softwood) boards or planks from Riga; cf. Du Rijges houts (1454)
Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 83
prob. = shore sb.3; from MDu schore/score/scoor
Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 87
from OE sceat `corner, projection', referring to the triangular shape of the deck-area of the stern-sheets, rather than to the sheets used to handle the sail
Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 87
perhaps from MDu (ghe)scelt boom `beam whose bark has been removed' from MDu schelle/schille `bark' (cf. Eng. shell)
Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 88
from ON skegg `projections at the forward and after ends of the keel; (in primary sense) beard'
Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 90-1
from ME spurkat and variants, prob. `rider', perhaps, with transposition of elements, from Du kattespoor `rider' (and cf. Dan. katzespoer `rider')
Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 94-5
prob. small hooks or knees or short beams in the forward end of vessels; from ON stafnlok `raised half-deck forward' from stafn `prow' + lok `lid, lock; enclosed space'
Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 97
note: for var. staven-lock, ibid. 99
from ON stafn `stem'
Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 98-9
`transverse (deck-)beam'; from OF traversain from travers `traverse; cross-beam', from medL traversum
Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 109
from ON undirhlutr `lower piece (of a ship's stem)'; Sandahl concurs that the word used in non-naut. senses is of OE origin
Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 110
1337-8 in Exchequer 372/182 m. 39 d. in Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 86
cogging' [in context of shipbuilding]
note: also antedates 1663 for cock v.3
1961 R. de Kerchove International maritime dictionary (2d. ed.) s.v.
Calking..1. Burring or driving up the edges of iron or steel plates and sections along riveted seams to make them watertight...2. Forcing a quantity of calking material into the seams of the planks in a ship's decks or sides to make them watertight.
note: the process as applied to iron/steel vessels ought to be included explicitly in the def. (AHH)
note: there ought to be cross references from verbs calk, caulk, cork to cock v.3, based on the 1854 quot. in the latter (AHH)
1337-8 in Exchequer 372/182 m. 39 d. in Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 86
tangewegges [in context of shipbuilding]
1358-9 Exchequer 372/203 m. 33 d. in Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 89
CCCCxiiij. precis [?peciis] de tallewode xxMD. bilett'
1358-9 Exchequer 372/203 m. 33 d. in Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 89
CCCCxiiij. precis [?peciis] de tallewode xxMD. bilett'
1294-5 Exchequer 101/58 m. 13 in Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 92
in xij. cheveruns ad Scaltres
trans: for 12 timbers for spars (AHH)
1347-50 Exchequer 101/25/32 m. 2 in Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 95
vn Mast de ffur pris vj. s.
1419-22 Exchequer 101/49/29 m. 4 in Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 102
Et in..vadiis..diuersorum laborariorum..laborancium..ad extrahendum et deducendum dictam Nauem extra idem Wose supra Stokkes in quadam fossura vocata le Dook de nouo ordinata apud Depford.
trans: And for the wages of various workers working to remove and guide said ship from said Wose [where it was] on the stocks, in a certain trench called the dock, newly established at Deptford. (AHH)
1419-22 Exchequer 101/49/29 m. 5 in Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 102
vadiis diuersorum Marinariorum vocatorum Shipkepers
trans: for the wages of various sailors called shipkeepers (AHH)
[1378-81 Exchequer 101/38/24 m. 3 in Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 105
et in cariagio dict[arum] pec[iarum] maere]
trans: and for the carriage of the said pieces of timber (AHH)
note: Anglo-French word in Latin guise (AHH)
1546 Accts. Lord High Tres. Scotl. VIII p. 486 in Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 110
quhilk he debursit upoun the calfating, dok casting, putting in of the underlute of the said [ship] Lyoun1422-7 (naval accounts and inventories of William Soper) in Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 134
emendacionem de calfatynge eiusdem Ballingere
trans: for repairs to the caulking of said balinger (AHH)1378-81 Exchequer 101/38/24 m. 4 in Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 177
tough..pro la Calfatyng dicte nauis
trans: tow for the caulking of said ship (AHH)
1546 Accts. Lord High Tres. Scotl. VIII p. 486 in Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 110
quhilk he debursit upoun the calfating, dok casting, putting in of the underlute of the said [ship] Lyoun
note: presumably the clearing of mud from the floor of the dock; cf. cast v. 29 (AHH)
ME weyre is prob. cognate with Du weger/wager `ceiling, inside planking of a ship', presumably from WGerm. *waiga- `wall' (cf. OE wag, wæg) + Germ -aria
Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 113
from Germ *wrangel
1958 Kahane, Kahane & Tietze The Lingua Franca in the Levant 464
cf. Fr (XVIIc) varengle (Jal Glossaire nautique sv. varengue); Prov varenglo (Mistral Lou tresor dóu Felibrige s.v.), both meaning `floor-timber' (AHH)
1951 Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 121
Could it not simply have been a crane for raising and unshipping the rudder (or rudders)?
note: slip for 1295 quot. already submitted (AHH)
possibly cognate with helve
Sandahl Middle English sea terms I.
perhaps from ON hjalmvolr `thwartship tiller of the side-rudder'
Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 124
from MLG *anned `clench(ed) nail' prob from a v. *anneden
Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 131
prob. from F banc `rowing bench; thwart'
Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 131
kind of shipbuilding nail; from MDu boeispiker from bo(e)yen `to fit strakes of planking acting as washboards above the gunwale of a boat'
Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 134
1422-7 (naval accounts and inventories of William Soper) in Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 135
et expensis..circa calkyng et arraiacionem dictarum iiijor nauium
trans: and expenses..for the caulking and fitting out of the said 4 ships (AHH)
1358-9 Exchequer 372/203 m. 33 in Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 136
Et in shraping' pitching et rosinyng diuersarum nauium Regis
prob. from late MDu *ka(r)viel[nagel] , with secondary r , from *kaviel from OProv. cavilha or It caviglia, Sp cabilla `peg, pin, belaying-pin' from L clavicula `peg, pin' from clavis `key'. There was early confusion with car(a)vel (type of ship).
Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 136-7
1422-3 Exchequer 364/57 last m. in Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 138
de clauis et Rof vocat' clench in clenchyng
trans: for nails and roves called clench, for clenching [in shipbuilding]
1312-3 Exchequer 101/612/31 m. 2 in Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 139
clenchingnail
note: context is shipbuilding
1441-2 Exchequer 101/53/37 col. 2 in Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 138
Twistis ferri pro le Rother
trans: iron hinges for the rudder (i.e. rudder-irons, gudgeon and pintle). This is a specific tech. use of sense 1. (AHH)
[1312-3 Exchequer 101/612/31 m. 1 in Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 146
en 5 dozeynes de staunceons pour faire gerners pour coucher Toneux...En CC. de spikingnayl por tacher les estaunceons]
trans: for 5 dozen stanchions to make racks [?--modF grenier ] in which to lay casks...For 200 spikes to secure the stanchions (AHH)
[1312-3 Exchequer 101/612/31 m. 1 in Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 146
En DCCC. de Lathingnayl por lather les graners]
from OF run, rum `ship's hold' from ON rúm `compartment of the hull' (cf. Eng rummage)
Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 153
new var.
1390 Earl Derby's expedition p. 19/25 in Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 153
et pro runagio dictorum doliorum
trans: and for stowing said casks (AHH)
1390 Earl Derby's expedition p. 19/25 in Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 153
cum rollagio, kranagio et conductione unius boot
trans: for the rolling [of casks], cranage and the hire of a boat (AHH)
1390 Earl Derby's expedition p. 23/1 in Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 153
pro strycage et stouwage xij doliorum vini et floure
trans: for striking off and stowage of 12 casks of wine and flour (AHH)
1358-9 Exchequer 372/203 m. 33 in Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 149
paribus de garnettes
trans: for pairs of garnets [to be used in ship-repair] (AHH)
prob. treenails with a score in their heads to receive treenail wedges; from late OE scoru
Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 156
1422-7 (ms. naval accounts and inventories of William Soper) in Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 156
et in iiijC. clauis vocatis scoper naill'
trans: for 400 nails called scupper-nails (AHH)
1295 in Anderson English galleys in 1295 in Mariner's Mirror 14 (1928) 233
Item pro orgenall' et Kyuill' ferri et clauis
trans: Item for a davit and a cleat of iron and for nails (Anderson)
note: in F, usually `anchor-ring, bending-shackle' (AHH)
cf. F organeau in1961 R. de Kerchove International maritime dictionary (2d. ed.) s.v. Bending Shackle
cf. 138. in Bréard Le compte de Clos des Galées de Rouen (1893) 77
les chaennes pour..les orgueneaulx qui soustiennent les ancres
trans: chains for the rings which hold the anchors (AHH)
to cover part of the upper works of a ship with clinker-built horizontal planking; AN tylater from OF tille `shingle' from ON thilja `loose deck-planking'
Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 165-6
from ME well `to cast (metal)' from OE wiellan `to boil'
Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 170
1337-8 Exchequer 372/182 m. 39 d. in Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 171
Wodenails scaffotis et shoris pro dicta bargea construenda
trans: treenails for scaffolds and shores for building said barge (AHH)
1337-8 Exchequer 372/182 m. 39 d. in Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 171
Wodenails scaffotis et shoris pro dicta bargea construenda
trans: treenails for scaffolds and shores for building said barge (AHH)
1294-5 Exchequer 101/5/8 m. 2 in Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 174
in stipendis Willelmi le fferyman
trans: for the wages of William the ferryman (AHH)
of Scand. origin; cf. Da, OSw blaar `tow, hards'
Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 175
from OF bourre `flocks, refuse of wool or cotton used for padding' from LowL burra `shaggy substance, flocks'; cf. It, Sp OProv borra
Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 175
1422-3 Exchequer 364/57 last m. in Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 176
Crossegymewes
note: in a list of shipbuilding materials
1426-7 Exchequer 364/61 H. in Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 178
Et in ij. Pomp'boxes clauis..et iij. petris de towe
trans: and for 2 pump-boxes, nails and 3 stone of tow (AHH)
1336-7 Exchequer 101/19/31 in Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 178
cord' de canabo..pro vno Botrop
trans: hemp-rope for a boat-rope (AHH)
1336-7 Exchequer 101/19/31 in Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 178
cord' de canabo..pro vno towerop'
trans: hemp rope for a tow-rope (AHH)
1378-81 Exchequer 101/33/24 m. 5 in Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 178
pro j. skeine pakthrede
trans: for one skein of pack-thread (AHH)
1420-1 Exchequer 364/54 D. d. in Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 197
Skeynes fili
trans (AHH): skeins of twine
1378-81 Exchequer 101/33/24 m. 5 in Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 178
et x. gerthes..pro towing eiusdem bargee
trans: and 10 girths for the towing of the barge (AHH)
[1303-4 Exchequer 372/149 m. 3 in Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 180
xvij. Ruschis de Rosino
trans: 27 cakes (?) of rosin; note that Sp rosca is used in the sense of a circular loaf of bread c1300 (Corominas Breve diccionario etimológico de la lengua castellana (1973 s.v.); and cf. OF rusche `bee-hive' from LL rusca `bark' (AHH)
1358-9 Exchequer 372/203 m. 33 in Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 180
Cxxxvij. fassibus straminis et D. arundinis..pro factura reparacione et bremyng predictarum nauium
trans: 137 bundles of straw and 500 of reeds for the repairing and breaming of said ships (AHH)1405-10 Exchequer 101/44/11 roll 1, m. 2 in Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 181
Et in C. arundin'..pro bremyng dicte Nauis
trans: and for 100 [bundles of] reeds for breaming said ship (AHH)
note: burning straw and reeds were used in breaming (AHH)
1405-10 Exchequer 101/44/11 roll 1, m. 2 in Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 181
in talwyng eiusdem Nauis
trans: for tallowing of said ship (AHH)
[1422-7 (ms. naval accounts and inventories of William Soper) in Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 181
pro frettagio huius ocom']
trans (AHH): for the freightage of this oakum
1422-7 (ms. naval accounts and inventories of William Soper) in Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 181
pro iiijor lagenis et iij. quart' olei..circa unctionem de les brewes bord' tempore de berdynge eiusdem Ballingere
trans (AHH): for 4 and 3 quarters lagen of oil for the greasing of the spruce boards during the planking of the balinger
note: for etym, cf. Eng. bred, Du berd (AHH)
[1422-7 (ms. naval accounts and inventories of William Soper) in Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 181
pro iiijor lagenis et iij. quart' olei..circa unctionem de les brewes bord' tempore de berdynge eiusdem Ballingere]
trans (AHH): for 4 and 3 quarters lagen of oil for the greasing of the spruce boards during the planking of the balinger
1422-7 (ms. naval accounts and inventories of William Soper) in Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 181
pro iiijor lagenis et iij. quart' olei..circa unctionem de les brewes bord' tempore de berdynge eiusdem Ballingere
trans (AHH): for 4 and 3 quarters lagen of oil for the greasing of the spruce boards during the planking of the balinger
from OE *wifeling `weaving, spinning' (a wiveling was a roll of hair or wool, spun like the cocoon of a weevil); cf. Du weveling `ratline'
Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 182
note: Sandahl cites wiveling s.v. windling in the NED; as far as I can see, it is not in OED2 (AHH)
Fr filasse from popL *filacea from filum `thread'
Dauzat et al. Nouveau dictionnaire étymologique s.v.
1422-7 (ms. naval accounts and inventories of William Soper) in Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 183
xj.lb. de ffilas..viij. peciis Wynwes..xvij.lb. de Merlynglyn'..pro eadem Ballingera
trans (AHH): 11 lbs. yarn..8 pieces of wyning..17 lbs. marline..for the balinger
1420-1 Exchequer 364/54 D. d. in Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 197
Skeynes fili ffilas
trans (AHH): skeins of twine, yarn [these glosses are uncertain]
note: words cognate with It filaccia meaning `spun yarn' are widespread in the Mediterranean-cf. Prov fielasso-and ffilas is presumably the Fr form. The recurrence of filasse in 19c is unrelated. (AHH)
1422-7 (ms. naval accounts and inventories of William Soper) in Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 183
xj.lb. de ffilas..viij. peciis Wynwes..xvij.lb. de Merlynglyn'..pro eadem Ballingera
trans (AHH): 11 lbs. yarn..8 pieces of wyning..17 lbs. marline..for the balinger
1422-7 (ms. naval accounts and inventories of William Soper) in Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 183
xj.lb. de ffilas..viij. peciis Wynwes..xvij.lb. de Merlynglyn'..pro eadem Ballingera
trans (AHH): 11 lbs. yarn..8 pieces of wyning..17 lbs. marline..for the balinger
note: this early Eng form supports Du merling as etymon (AHH)
1420-1 Exchequer 364/54 D. d. in Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 184
Capstanbarys
1347-50 Exchequer 101/25/32 m. 2 in Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 185
Et en les gages de vij. castelwri tes
1495 Naval acc. Henry VII (1896) 194 in Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 186
Serpentynes of yron in the forecastell..yche of them with his miches & foreloke of yron
[1335-6 Exchequer 101/19/14 m. 6 in Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 188
in paracione de guerra et arraimenta cuiusdam magni Nauis]
trans (AHH): for preparing for war and fitting out a certain large ship
note: this a latinization of a Fr or Eng arraiment. OF arroy, array was used in the sense of `rigging' (Jal Glossaire nautique sv. agrès) (AHH)
perhaps cogn. with Nor æsing `stringer on which the thwarts rest'
Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 189
from MDu hol `[ship's] hold'
Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 193
from MDu hol `[ship's] hold'
Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 194
[1424-5 Exchequer 101/51/20 in Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 194
vna portag' per estimacionem xl. dol' vini]
trans (AHH): one portage-charge, estimated, for 40 casks of wine
from MDu lene `something to lean on' or MLG (cf. MHG lene `railing, balustrade')
Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 197
1420-1 Exchequer 364/54 D. d. in Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 197
peciis de Corke filo Sperr' de Firre cepo
trans (AHH): pieces of cork, twine, a fir spar, tallow
1420-1 Exchequer 364/54 D. d. in Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 197
peciis de Corke filo Sperr' de Firre cepo
trans (AHH): pieces of cork, twine, a fir spar, tallow
1467 Sc. Acts James III (1814) 87 in OED2 s.v. orlop1
tha gudis sall pay na fraucht
[ 1358-64 Exchequer 101/27/15 m. 2 in Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 205
iiij. hauser' de filo bastardo]
trans (AHH): 4 hawsers of bastard yarn
1358-64 Exchequer 101/27/15 m. 2 in Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 205
ij. hauser' pro boyropes
trans (AHH): 2 hawsers for buoy-ropes
1420-1 Exchequer 364/54 D/1 d. in Sandahl Middle English sea terms I. 207
iiijor Banershaftes
note: among equipment for a ship
1419-22 Exchequer101/49/29 m. 6 in Sandahl Middle English sea terms II. 10
ad towand' et conducend' in diuersis magnis batellis omnia Apparat' et Takelyng eiusdem in Portu de Hamell vsque ad le Storehouse
trans (AHH): for towing and piloting to the storehouse in the port of Hamell, in several large boats, all its rigging and tackle
note earliest example of the mod. spelling (AHH)
1495 Naval Acc. Henry VII 156 in Sandahl Middle English sea terms II. 12
Hokes of yron for fysshing of ankers
note: to parallel the structure of fish v.1, this should be considered a sense of fishing vbl. sb.1 (AHH)
1294-6 Exchequer101/5/21 in Sandahl Middle English sea terms II. 24
Et in duobus signis videlicet Boyes vij.d.
trans (AHH): And for 2 markers, viz. buoys, 12d.
from Scand. (cf. Sw bärling, Nor dial. berling `pole'), dimin. of bar (cf. OSw bar `pole, bar (of metal), modE bar
Sandahl Middle English sea terms II. 15
1312-13 Exchequer101/612/31 M. 2. in Sandahl Middle English sea terms II. 16
En xij.li. de fillaz
trans (AHH): for 12 lbs. of twine
1358-9 Exchequer 372/203 m. 34 (37) in Sandahl Middle English sea terms II. 21
iiij. bales CCLxxiiij.lb. philas'
trans (AHH): 4 bales 274 lbs. of twine
new var.
1358-9 Exchequer 372/203 m. 34 (37) in Sandahl Middle English sea terms II. 21
pro diuersis nauis [?nauibus] flun' barg' et batell'
trans (AHH): for several ships, floines, barges and boats
1424-5 Exchequer101/51/20 m. 2. in Sandahl Middle English sea terms II. 29
vnam cabulam vsitatam et ij. jonckis
trans (AHH): one used cable and 2 junks [exact meaning unknown]
from OF cors from L corpus `body' [i.e. the main member of the sail-pair course and bonnet]
Sandahl Middle English sea terms II. 31
note: this sense should thus be given its own main entry (AHH)
from OF drenc `[halyard-]rack [sb.2 5.c.]' from ON drengr `rope'
Sandahl Middle English sea terms II. 33
1358-64 Exchequer 101/27/15 m. 1-2 in Sandahl Middle English sea terms II. 35
iij. cord' pro toweropes et handeropes
trans (AHH): 3 ropes for tow-ropes and hand-ropes
1358-64 Exchequer 101/27/15 m. 1-2 in Sandahl Middle English sea terms II. 35
cordall' nigro de Brydeport pro barg' eiusdem nauis
trans (AHH): tarred rope from Bridport for the barge of said ship
153. Exchequer 315/317 II p. 107 in Sandahl Middle English sea terms II. 42
Item for a coler a botte hoke and a fechehoke
trans (AHH): Item for a collar, a boat-hook and a [?] fetch-hook
153. Exchequer 315/317 II p. 107 in Sandahl Middle English sea terms II. 42
Item for a coler a botte hoke and a fechehoke
trans (AHH): Item for a collar, a boat-hook and a [?] fetch-hook
1531 in Mariner's mirror 5.21 in Sandahl Middle English sea terms II. 45
A nyew mayne mast of spruce with a nyew staye hounsyd and skarvyd with the same wood whyche mast ys of leyngth from the hounse to the step xxv yaerdes.
1531 in Mariner's mirror 5.21 in Sandahl Middle English sea terms II. 45
A nyew mayne mast of spruce with a nyew staye hounsyd and skarvyd with the same wood whyche mast ys of leyngth from the hounse to the step xxv yaerdes.
note: (taking hounse as the base-form, rather than hounds) fitted with hounds (sb.2); the phrase "with a nyew staye" should be considered parenthetical (AHH)
ME houn from ON húnn `die; [rectangular] mast-head'
Sandahl Middle English sea terms II. 46
1577 Voyages of Martin Frobisher 81 in Sandahl Middle English sea terms II. 50
The captayne..caught holde on the weather-leche of the foresayle and in the weather coyling of the ship, the foreyard brake.
Two hypotheses:
1. from a root *leig- `to tie' akin to L ligare
2. identical, in the languages in which it occurs in the naut. sense, to the words for `corpse' (ON lík, Du lijk, Eng lich, et al.)
Sandahl Middle English sea terms II. 50
1485 Naval Acc. Henry VII 38 in Sandahl Middle English sea terms II. 51
Bowhokes with ij sheves of Jren iij Catte hokes with tree v Shanke hokes iij Pakke hokes iiij
1485 Naval Acc. Henry VII 38 in Sandahl Middle English sea terms II. 51
Bowhokes with ij sheves of Jren iij Catte hokes with tree v Shanke hokes iij Pakke hokes iiij
note: can't be sure this is the anchor cat-hook, but it seems likely (AHH)
1485 Naval Acc. Henry VII 38 in Sandahl Middle English sea terms II. 51
Bowhokes with ij sheves of Jren iij Catte hokes with tree v Shanke hokes iij Pakke hokes iiij
note: seems to be no example cited, thought it is listed in 18. (AHH)
1532 in Mariner's mirror 5.21 in Sandahl Middle English sea terms II. 63
Item towe katt howkes and towe fysche howkes.
1485 Naval Acc. Henry VII 38 in Sandahl Middle English sea terms II. 51
Bowhokes with ij sheves of Jren iij Catte hokes with tree v Shanke hokes iij Pakke hokes iiij
new var.
1495 Naval Acc. Henry VII 204 in Sandahl Middle English sea terms II. 55
Poliees with iiij colkes of Brasse for the Botes takle iiij.
1958 Sandahl Middle English sea terms II. 121
Coak (colk) is recorded from 1465 onwards, in the earliest examples probably meaning `pin of a block.'
1532 in Mariner's mirror 5.21 in Sandahl Middle English sea terms II. 63
Item towe katt howkes and towe fysche howkes.
ME from OE lorg `warp-beam of a loom'
Sandahl Middle English sea terms II. 66
1371-2 Exchequer 364/5 A. in Sandahl Middle English sea terms II. 66
j. lathe j. trevet' ponder xxxix.lb.
note: in a list of rope-making equipment
1371-2 Exchequer 364/5 A. in Sandahl Middle English sea terms II. 66
j. lathe j. treuet' ponder xxxix.lb.
note: in a list of rope-making equipment
1371-2 Exchequer 364/5 A. in Sandahl Middle English sea terms II. 66
j. wynch gross' j. crowe ponder' xviij.lb.
note: in a list of rope-making equipment
1419-22 Exchequer 101/49/29 m. 5. in Sandahl Middle English sea terms II. 71
J. cord' voc' baste pro moryng eiusdem
trans (AHH): one rope called a `bast' for mooring of the same [balinger]
1419-22 Exchequer 101/49/29 m. 5. in Sandahl Middle English sea terms II. 71
J. cord' voc' baste pro moryng eiusdem
trans (AHH): one rope called a `bast' for mooring of the same [balinger]
1422-7 (ms. naval accounts and inventories of William Soper) in Sandahl Middle English sea terms II. 73
Mesan j. De bitakyll..
1413-20 Exchequer 101/44/24 (loose m.) in Sandahl Middle English sea terms II. 78
bitakill' j.
[1422-3 Exchequer 364/57 (last m.) in Sandahl Middle English sea terms II. 73
iiij. Gonn' vnde iij. sine Camer']
trans (AHH): 4 guns, 3 of which without chambers
"E. mizzen is generally supposed to be an adaptation of F. misaine. But surely the form mesan, the only recorded one up to 1435, points rather to a direct importation from Italian (or Spanish)."
Sandahl Middle English sea terms II. 77
prob. from Du (cf. MDu utligger recorded from 1500); the prevalence of variant forms also suggest a borrowed word
Sandahl Middle English sea terms II. 81-82
referred to Shetlands pegi, peg, pig, pjegi `small and feeble', cogn. with Shetl. pjakk `young person', N pjakk `young salmon'; ult. also prob cognate with Eng peg (from Du)
Sandahl Middle English sea terms II. 83
from OE racca `parrel' identical with ON rakki et al; orig. meaning `rope'
Sandahl Middle English sea terms II. 88
"The origin of ME. riff is ON. rif `reef' but there is some doubt whether this should be further referred to ON. rif `rib'..or to ON. ríva `to tear'.., i.e. literally `a piece of cloth cut off.' The second derivation is greatly preferable."
Sandahl Middle English sea terms II. 90-1
prob. from ME *riven, *reven (formed on rif, reef), meaning originally `to lace a bonnet to the course'
Sandahl Middle English sea terms II. 92
1600 Jane Last Voy. of Th. Cavendish 111 in Sandahl Middle English sea terms II. 92-3
we rived our ropes, and againe rigged our ship
1422-3 Exchequer 364/57 m. J. in Sandahl Middle English sea terms II. 93
Sheues..de cupro CC.lb. de bellebras DCCCC.lb. de potbras et panbras xxix.
1422-3 Exchequer 364/57 m. J. in Sandahl Middle English sea terms II. 93
Sheues..de cupro CC.lb. de bellebras DCCCC.lb. de potbras et panbras xxix.
1422-3 Exchequer 364/57 m. J. in Sandahl Middle English sea terms II. 93
Sheues..de cupro CC.lb. de bellebras DCCCC.lb. de potbras et panbras xxix.
1419-22 Exchequer 101/49/29 m. 21 in Sandahl Middle English sea terms II. 107
Carrac' Regis voc' Petir cum Apparatu et stuffura suis
trans (AHH): the royal carrack Peter with its equipment
1358-9 Exchequer 372/203 m. 36. d. in Sandahl Middle English sea terms II. 109
iiij. cables j. caggyngcable
from OF tref, treif, tre `sail' from a Germ. word for `tent' (cf. OE træf)
Sandahl Middle English sea terms II. 116
c1625 Treatise on rigging 6 in Sandahl Middle English sea terms II. 118
The truss is fastened to the middle of the mayne yearde betweene the Parell with a tymber hitch
TRUSS sb. etym.
in the sense `rope', from It trozza, trossa or Sp troza, trosa from Lat. tortiare from torquere `to turn, twist'
Sandahl Middle English sea terms II. 120
1485 Naval acc. Henry VII 37 in Sandahl Middle English sea terms II. 122
Cablettes for the mayne staye j
1336-7 Exchequer 101/19/31 m. 4. in Sandahl Middle English sea terms II. 123
peyntours et seysynges
[1337-9 Exchequer 101/20/27 m. 2. in Sandahl Middle English sea terms II. 123
Et de v.s. pro ij. magnis bend' ferri pro castro poster' nauis predicte afforciand']
trans (AHH): And 5 shillings for 2 large iron bands for reinforcing the after-castle of said ship
antedates 1713
1419-22 Exchequer 101/49/29 m. 5 in Sandahl Middle English sea terms II. 126
pice bitumine Rosyn okom' sep' focal'
trans (AHH): pitch, tar, rosin, tallow, [?] hearth
[1312-3 Exchequer 101/612/31 m. 2. in Sandahl Middle English sea terms II. 127
En ij. roulles de drap por la veile]
trans (AHH): For 2 rolls of sail-cloth
1419-22 Exchequer 101/49/29 m. 15 in Sandahl Middle English sea terms II. 132
xxiiij.or vas' voc' strawebaskett' ad portan' lastag'
trans (AHH): 24 containers called straw-baskets for carrying ballast
1420-1 Exchequer 364/54 m. G. in Sandahl Middle English sea terms II. 149
Batell' voc' Barkys j. Goundell xviij. polleys pro le Shrowdes ij.
trans (AHH): one boat called a bark, 18 goundels, 2 pulleys for the shrouds
note: meaning unknown, but cf. Fr. gond `hinge' (AHH)
1514-5 Exchequer 36/13 p. 41. in Sandahl Middle English sea terms II. 150
Ouerlopp and dekke, Chapell dek, grete capstayne Deke
1514-5 Exchequer 36/13 p. 41. in Sandahl Middle English sea terms II. 150
Ouerlopp and dekke, Chapell dek, grete capstayne Deke
1362-3 Exchequer 372/207 m. 51. in Sandahl Middle English sea terms II. 66
ij. handhamers iiij. nailtoll' j. bighorn ij. wasshours
note: meaning unknown (AHH)
1362-3 Exchequer 372/207 m. 51. in Sandahl Middle English sea terms II. 66
ij. handhamers iiij. nailtoll' j. bighorn ij. wasshours
note: meaning unknown (AHH)
1362-3 Exchequer 372/207 m. 51. in Sandahl Middle English sea terms II. 66
ij. paria suffletarum ij. slegges
note: meaning unknown (AHH)
prob. cognate with ON keipr, No k(j)eip `thole-pin formed as a hook', shetland keb `thole-pin', from Germ *kaibná- (cf. Du kip `notch, nick, groove', Eng chip)
Sandahl Middle English sea terms III. xiii
1620-25 Treatise on rigging 50 in Sandahl Middle English sea terms III. xiv
Tackes. ther standinge parts..ar boulted to the outside of the loffe of the ship and ar belayed to bitpins on the fforcastell
from medIt bigota `rib of a parrel' from Lat biga `pair of horses; two-horsed cart'
Sandahl Middle English sea terms III. 9-10
1497 Naval Acc. Henry VII 333 in Sandahl Middle English sea terms III. 11
An hoke Rope to fysshe Ankers
"..bowline should be regarded as one of the early "Channel Words" and the etymology is bow + line. It was adopted very early into Northern French and Anglo-Norman nautical jargon...In Middle English, 14th c. bowline could be a regular development of ME bow (<OE bog) + line, or it could be a rendering of AN boeline; it is likely that both types were in use at the same time."
Sandahl Middle English sea terms III. 14
1353-4 Exchequer 101/27/14 in Sandahl Middle English sea terms III. 16
j. caggyngcable
from Breton, i.e. `a tackle used and/or invented in Brittany'
Sandahl Middle English sea terms III. 16
very probably from Fr breton (à la bretonne, en breton) (Jal Glossaire nautique s.v. breton). The term is attested, with the same meaning, in Spanish in 1587: a la bretona `la carga se..arruma atrauessada de vabor à estribor' [the cargo is stowed thwartship from port to starboard] (García de Palacio f. 131v.) And it occurs with metathesis in Italian, in the sense of a type of sailing vessel used by the English and the Bretons (16c.): bertone (Dizz. de marina de la Accademia s.v.) (AHH)
prob. from Lat. catena `chain' or medL catena `the stout curved beam that crossed the forecastle arch and projected through the planking on both sides of the bows'
Sandahl Middle English sea terms III. 18
1578 Sellman's account Frobisher's voyage, in Sandahl Middle English sea terms III. 18
stting sayle before the anker was catted, the yse stroke the flok of the anker through the bow of the ship
1420-1 Exchequer 364/54 D d. in Sandahl Middle English sea terms III. 19
iiij. lanternis xij. tribul'
note: Sandahl says `a tool, generally a shovel'
1420-1 Exchequer 364/54 D d. in Sandahl Middle English sea terms III. 19
vj touches ferri pro canon'
trans (AHH): 6 iron touch(-pans ?) for cannon
note: the 1497 date in OED is cited s.v. touch-powder
C. Phillips The caravel and the galleon in R. Unger Cogs, caravels and galleons (1994) 95
In November 1533..a Portuguese fleet of nine caravels, two galleons and one nau made India in less than seven months at sea.
ibid. 102
the nao, the large merchant ship of the medieval Mediterranean...Confusingly, Spaniards and Portuguese used the word nao to refer both to streamlined merchant ships and to enormous ships with large superstructures which others called carracks.
1358-9 Exchequer 372/203 m. 36 (39) d in Sandahl Middle English sea terms III. 20
in quadam naue voc' la Naw seinte Marie
note: the name of the ship appears to be French. (nau is not recorded for Fr; cognate words for `ship' are nef (native) and nave (from Italian) (AHH)
prob. from Fr *nau from Cat nau (perhaps through Sp or Port) from Lat nauis (AHH)
1466 Manners and household exp. p. 214 in Sandahl Middle English sea terms III. 21
and he axseth for viij. gonne spannes and xvj. plates for the whele
note: meaning ?
1378-81 Exchequer 101/38/24 m. 5. in Sandahl Middle English sea terms III. 28
pro j. rotul' et xxxiiij. virg' de Beuer
note: Sandahl says `a kind of felted cloth...for making tilts or awnings in galleys and barges' (cf. MED)
presumably from ME girdel
Sandahl Middle English sea terms III. 30
1312-3 Exchequer 101/612/31 in Sandahl Middle English sea terms III. 30
En iiij. boltes de feer ala Nief iij.s.
trans (AHH): For 4 iron bolts for the ship, 3 shillings
note: this is the orig. sense of nef
TREGETTE sb. not in OED
1378-9 Exchequer 101/38/13 in Sandahl Middle English sea terms III. 30
iiij. handerop' ij. tregettes ij. truss'
note: meaning ?
prob. from ME girde/gerde `to gird'. "The notion `girth' or `girdle' for a fitting that served to gather up and bring under control the body and/or leeches of the sail when furling was probably common to the languages of the sea from the early Middle Ages on."
Sandahl Middle English sea terms III. 32
note: cognate with GORDING (see slip submitted) (AHH)
prob. from OF from MDu (cf. early modDu gording)
Sandahl Middle English sea terms III. 37
1358-9 Exchequer 372/203 m. 34 (37) in Sandahl Middle English sea terms III. 38
v. trisrop' xxxiiij. poleancrerop'
1378-81 Exchequer 101/38/24 m. 10. in Sandahl Middle English sea terms III. 8
ij. polancrerop'
cf. c1350 Brit. Mus. Add. MS 17364 in Sandahl Middle English sea terms III. 22
pro xiiij. palancos
note: this ms. is an account of ships kept at Bayonne
Return to top of document