Navy Jargon

Front 1

Adrift

Back 1

Loose from moorings and out of control (applied to anything lost)

Front 2

Aft-End

Back 2

Near or toward the the stern of the vessel

Front 3

All Hands

Back 3

The entire ships company, officer and enlisted

Front 4

Allotment

Back 4

An amount of money a member has coming out of his regular pay

Front 5

Aye-Aye

Back 5

Reply to an order or command meaning, "I understand and will comply"

Front 6

Barracks

Back 6

Building where sailors live

Front 7

Below

Back 7

Downstairs

Front 8

Brightwork

Back 8

brass or shiny metal kept polished rather than painted

Front 9

Bunk or rack

Back 9

bed

Front 10

Buoy

Back 10

An anchored float used as an aid to navigation or to mark the location of an object

Front 11

Carry on

Back 11

an order to resume work or duties

Front 12

Cast Off

Back 12

to throw off or let go

Front 13

Chain locker

Back 13

compartment in which anchor chain is stowed

Front 14

Chit

Back 14

coupon or receipt book

Front 15

Chow hall

Back 15

place to eat

Front 16

Colors

Back 16

Raising or lowering of national flag

Front 17

Deep six

Back 17

to dispose of by throwing over the side

Front 18

Ensign

Back 18

National flag; commissioned officer between the rank of Chief Warrant officer and Lieutenant Junior Grade

Front 19

Fast

Back 19

Snugly secured

Front 20

Fathom

Back 20

A unit of length (equal to 6 feet) used for measuring depth in water

Front 21

Flag officer

Back 21

any commissioned officer in pay grade O-7 or above

Front 22

Galley

Back 22

Kitchen

Front 23

Gangway

Back 23

an opening in a bulwark or lifeline that provides access to a brow or accommodation ladder; an order meaning to clear the way

Front 24

Gear Locker

Back 24

storage room

Front 25

Geedunk

Back 25

candy, gum or cafeteria

Front 26

General quarters

Back 26

battle stations

Front 27

Liberty

Back 27

Permission to leave the base (usually not for more than 48 hours)

Front 28

Lifeline

Back 28

Lines erected around the weather decks of a ship to prevent personnel from falling or bring washed over the side

Front 29

Overhead

Back 29

ceiling

Front 30

Passageway

Back 30

Hallway

Front 31

Quarters

Back 31

assembling of all hands on deck for muster, instruction and inspection

Front 32

Rating

Back 32

A job specialty title

Front 33

Reveille

Back 33

Wake up, start a new day

Front 34

Scullery

Back 34

Place to wash dishes

Front 35

Scuttlebutt

Back 35

Drinking fountain or a rumor

Front 36

Secure

Back 36

Lock, put away or stop work

Front 37

Sick bay

Back 37

Hospital or medical bay

Front 38

Swab

Back 38

mop

Front 39

Taps

Back 39

time to sleep, end of day

Front 40

Tattoo

Back 40

Five minutes before taps

Front 41

Topside

Back 41

Upstairs

Front 42

Turn to

Back 42

begin work

Front 43

Working Aloft

Back 43

Working above the highest deck; generally performing maintenance on the ship's mast