Glossary

From our unique acronyms and abbreviations to our colorful general terminology, the Glossary is the definitive source for the everyday language and vocabulary of today’s Navy.

Acronyms, Abbreviations and General Terminology

A

AA

Authorized Absence

Aboard

On or in a ship (close aboard; near a ship.)

ABSC

Active Billet Sequence Code

Adrift

Loose from moorings and out of control. Applied to anything lost, out of hand or left lying about.

ADSW

Active Duty for Special Work (Formerly TEMAC, Temporary Active Duty)

Aft

Near or toward the stern of a vessel.

Ahoy!

This old traditional greeting for hailing other vessels was originally a Viking battle cry.

Airedale

Slang, a naval aviator.

All-hands

The entire ship’s company, both Officers and Enlisted personnel.

Allotment

An amount of money a member has designated to be withheld from pay and sent directly to another person or organization (i.e., bank or credit union).

Alongside

Beside a pier, wharf or ship.

Anchor

The hook used at the end of a chain and dropped to the sea bottom to hold a ship in one particular place. The smallest Navy anchors can be lifted by one person. Two anchors used by USS Kitty Hawk each weigh 30 tons.

Anchorage

Suitable place for ship to anchor. A designated area of a port or harbor.

Anchors Aweigh!

Said of the anchor when just clear of the bottom. Anchors Aweigh — the official hymn of the United States Navy and Naval Reserve.

AOC

Aviation Officer Candidate

ASAP

As soon as possible

ASVAB

Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery

ASW

Antisubmarine Warfare

AT

Annual Training

ATP

Additional Training Period

AUTOVON

Old name for the Navy’s internal telephone system. Now known as Defense Switched Network, or DSN.

Aye-Aye!

Reply to an order or command meaning “I understand and will comply.”

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B

BAQ

Basic Allowance for Quarters

Barge

An Admiral’s boat.

Barnacle

Small marine animal that attaches itself to hulls and pilings.

Barracks

Building where Sailors live.

BAS

Basic Allowance for Subsistence

Belay

To cancel an order; stop; firmly secure a line.

Below

Below decks; below main deck.

BEQ

Bachelor Enlisted Quarters

Berth

Space assigned to a ship for anchoring or mooring.

Between the Devil and the Deep

In wooden ships, the “devil” was the longest seam in the hull of the ship. It ran from the bow to the stern. When at sea and the “devil” had to be caulked, the sailor sat in a bo’sun’s chair to do so. He was suspended between the “devil” and the sea — the “deep” — a very precarious position, especially when the ship was underway.

Billet

An allotted sleeping space; an individual’s position in the ship’s organization.

Bitter End

As any able-bodied seaman can tell you, a last turn of a line around a bitt, those wooden or iron posts sticking through a ship’s deck, is called a bitter end. The landlubbing phrase “stick it out to the bitter end” and “faithful to the bitter end” are derivations of the nautical term and refer to anyone who insists on adhering to a course of action without regard to consequences.

Blackshoe

An Officer who is not an aviator; the latter is a Brownshoe.

Bluejacket

Navy enlisted member below the grade of CPO.

Boatswain

From the Saxon word “swein” which meant a boy or servant. “Boat” refers to a ship and not to a ship’s small boats.

Boatswain’s Pipe

One of the oldest and most distinctive pieces of nautical equipment, the pipe or flute was used in Greece and Rome to keep the rowing stroke of galley slaves. The pipe was used in the Crusades to call English crossbowmen on deck for attack. In time, the pipe came to be used as a badge of office by commanders. The whistle was used for salutes to distinguished persons as well as to pass orders.

A 1645 publication orders these detailing honors for an admiral: “The ship’s barge to be sent to fetch the visitor having the cockson with his silver whistle in the stern... Upon the near approach of the barge the noise of the trumpets are to sound and so to hold on until the barge comes within less than musket shot, at that time the trumpets are to cease and all such as carry whistles are to whistle a welcome three several times.”

The parts of the pipe are the buoy, gun, keel and shackle.

Boot

Slang for recruit.

Boot Camp

During the Spanish-American War, Sailors wore leggings called boots, which came to mean a Navy (or Marine) recruit. These recruits trained in “boot” camps.

Bow

Most forward part of a ship.

Bravo Zulu

The term originates from the Allied Signals Book (ATP 1), which in the aggregate is for official use only. Signals are sent as letters and/or numbers, which have meanings by themselves sometimes or in certain combinations. A single table in ATP 1 is called “governing groups,” that is, the entire signal that follows the governing group is to be performed according to the “governor.” The letter “B” indicates this table, and the second letter (A through Z) gives more specific information. For example, “BA” might mean “You have permission to... (do whatever the rest of the flashing light, flag hoist or radio transmission says).” “BZ” happens to be the last item in the governing groups table. It means “well done.”

Bridge

Platform or area from which ship is steered, navigated and conned; usually located in forward part of ship.

Brig

Sailor’s universal term for jail.

Brightwork

Brass or shiny metal kept polished rather than painted.

Brow

Large gangplank leading from a ship to a pier, wharf or float; usually equipped with handrails.

BUDS

Basic Underwater Demolition School

Bulkhead

One of the upright, crosswise partitions dividing a ship into compartments.

BUMED

Bureau of Medicine and Surgery

Bunk or Rack

Bed

Buoy

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

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C

CACO

Casualty Assistance Calls Officer

CAI

Cross-Assigned In

CAO

Cross-Assigned Out

Captain

From Latin caput meaning head. Rank or Commanding Officer of a ship or squadron. Until 1862, Captain was highest commissioned rank in U.S. Navy.

Carry On

An order to resume work or duties.

Cast Off

To throw off; to let go; to unfurl.

Catapult

Shipboard mechanism for launching aircraft.

CEC

Civil Engineering Corps

Chain Locker

Compartment in which anchor chain is stowed.

Chewing the Fat

“God made the vittles but the devil made the cook,” was a popular saying used by seafaring men in the 19th century when salted beef was the staple diet aboard ship. This tough cured beef, suitable only for long voyages when nothing else was cheap or would keep as well (remember, there was no refrigeration), required prolonged chewing to make it edible. Men often chewed one chunk for hours, just as if it were chewing gum and referred to this practice as “chewing the fat.”

CHINFO

Chief of Information

Chow Hall (Mess Deck)

Place to eat.

Classified

Information or material of possible aid to enemy if improperly divulged. There are currently three categories: Top Secret, Secret and Confidential.

CMDCM

Command Master Chief

CNO

Chief of Naval Operations

CNP

Chief of Naval Personnel

CNRIC

Commander, Navy Reserve Intelligence Command

CO

Commanding Officer

COLA

Cost of Living Allowance

Colors

National ensign; distinguishing flag flown to indicate a ship’s nationality. Naval ceremonies are performed when national flag is hoisted at eight o’clock in the morning and hauled down at sunset.

Commander

Title introduced into British Navy by William III, when it was spelled commandeur; later such officer was second in command of large ships. Rank of Commander introduced into U.S. Navy in 1838 replacing that of “master commandant.”

Commissary

Grocery store on base where servicemembers and families can purchase food, beverages, etc., at prices usually lower than in civilian stores.

Commission

To activate a ship or station; written order giving an Officer rank and authority.

Commissioning Ceremonies

Ceremonies during which a new ship is placed in service. It is customary to invite friends of officers and others interested to attend the ceremony, along with the sponsor who christened the ship.

Commodore

Used as an honorific to any Officer commanding a squadron or flotilla of submarines, destroyers or smaller ships.

COMNAVAIRFORES

Commander, Navy Air Force Reserve

COMNAVRESINTCOM

Commander, Navy Reserve Intelligence Command

COMNAVRESFOR

Commander, Navy Reserve Force

COMNAVRESFORCOM

Commander, Navy Reserve Forces Command

Compartment

Space enclosed by bulkheads, deck and overhead, same as a room in a building.

COMRATS

Commuted Rations

CONUS

The Continental United States. (48 states and the District of Columbia.) Flying in CONUS determines certain limitations to space-available travel on military aircraft.

Course

Direction steered by a ship or plane.

Court-Martial

Military court for trial of serious offenses (summary, special, and general court-martial).

Coxswain

A coxswain (pronounced cocks’n) or cockswain was at first the swain (boy servant) in charge of the small cock or cockboat that was kept aboard for the ship’s captain and which was used to row him to and from the ship. The term has been in use in England dating back to at least 1463. With the passing of time, the coxswain became the helmsman of any boat, regardless of size.

CPO

Chief Petty Officer

Crow

Slang, eagle on Petty Officer’s rating badge.

Crow's Nest

The raven, or crow, was an essential part of the Vikings’ navigation equipment. These land-lubbing birds were carried on aboard to help the ship’s navigator determine where the closest land lay when weather prevented sighting the shore. In cases of poor visibility, a crow was released and the navigator plotted a course corresponding to the bird’s flight path because the crow invariably headed towards land. The Norsemen carried the birds in a cage secured to the top of the mast. Later on, as ships grew and the lookout stood his watch in a tub located high on the main mast, the name “crow’s nest” was given to this tub. While today’s Navy still uses lookouts in addition to radars, etc., the crow’s nest is a thing of the past.

Cumshaw

Chinese: alms for a beggar; pidgin English for gift or something thrown in on trade; in Navy parlance, something obtained “for free,” or the act of obtaining it.

Cup of Joe

Josephus Daniels (18 May 1862–15 January 1948) was appointed Secretary of the Navy by President Woodrow Wilson in 1913. Among his reforms of the Navy were inaugurating the practice of making 100 Sailors from the Fleet eligible for entrance into the Naval Academy, the introduction of women into the service, and the abolishment of the Officers’ wine mess. From that time on, the strongest drink aboard Navy ships could only be coffee and over the years, a cup of coffee became known as “a cup of Joe.”

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D

DDS

Direct Deposit System

Deck

A floor or platform extending from end to end of a ship.

Deep-Six

To dispose of by throwing over the side.

DEERS

Defense Eligibility Enrollment Reporting System. The DEERS database lists everyone entitled to active duty and retired pay and their dependents.

Dependent

Family members who meet specific benefits eligibility requirements.

Deploy

Tactical term used for dispersal of troops; also disposition of ships in battle formations.

DFAS

Defense Finance Accounting Service

Ditty Box or Ditty Bag

A small box or bag carried by Sailors in which is kept letters, small souvenirs and sewing supplies. Probably from the Saxon word “dite,” meaning tidy.

Division

In the organization of ship or plane groups, the unit between sections and squadrons; in shipboard organization, Sailors and Officers grouped together for command purposes.

DoD

Department of Defense

Dogwatch

A dogwatch at sea is the period between 4 and 6 p.m., the first dogwatch, or the period between 6 and 8 p.m., the second dogwatch. The dogwatches are only two hours each so the same Sailors aren’t always on duty at the same time each afternoon. Some experts say dogwatch is a corruption of dodge watch and others associate dogwatch with the fitful sleep of Sailors called dog sleep, because it is a stressful watch. But no one really knows the origin of this term, which was in use at least back to the 1700s.

DSN

Defense Switched Network; Department of Defense internal telephone system (formerly AUTOVON).

Duffle

A name given to a Sailor’s personal effects. Also spelled duffel, it refers to his principal clothing as well as to the seabag in which he or she carries and stows. The term comes from the Flemish town of Duffel near Antwerp, and denotes a rough woolen cloth made there.

Dungarees

The modern Sailor’s work clothes. The term is not modern, however, but dates to the 18th century and comes from the Hindi word dungri, for a type of Indian cotton cloth.

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E

EAOS

End of Active Obligated Service

ECMO

Enlisted Career Management Objective

EFM

Exceptional Family Member

Eight Bells

Aboard Navy ships, bells are struck to designate the hours of being on watch. Each watch is four hours in length. One bell is struck after the first half-hour has passed, two bells after one hour has passed, three bells after an hour and a half, four bells after two hours, and so forth up to eight bells are struck at the completion of the four hours. Completing a watch with no incidents to report was “Eight bells and all is well.”

The practice of using bells stems from the days of the sailing ships. Sailors couldn’t afford to have their own time pieces and relied on the ship’s bells to tell time. The ship’s boy kept time by using a half-hour glass. Each time the sand ran out, he would turn the glass over and ring the appropriate number of bells.

Embark

To go aboard ship preparatory to sailing.

Enlisted

Rank achieved by Sailors who have completed the minimum educational requirement of a high school diploma (or GED).

Enlisted Evaluation

Written report of an enlisted servicemember’s performance of duty.

Ensign

Commissioned junior Officer between the rank of chief warrant Officer and Lieutenant Junior Grade.

EOS

Expiration Of Service

ET

Equivalent Training

ETA

Estimated Time of Arrival

ETD

Estimated Time of Departure

Exchange

Department store run by the military.

Executive Officer (XO)

Regardless of rank, the Officer second in command of a ship, squadron or shore activity. In early days, such an Officer was the First Lieutenant.

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F

Fantail

Main deck section in aft part of flush-deck ship.

Fast

Snugly secured.

Fathom

A unit of length equal to six feet used for measuring the depth of water. Fathom was originally a land-measuring term derived from the Anglo-Saxon word “faetm” meaning to embrace. In those days, most measurements were based on average size of parts of the body, such as the hand (horses are still measured this way) or the foot (that’s why 12 inches and more are so named). A fathom is the average distance from fingertip to fingertip of the outstretched arms of a man — about six feet. Since a man stretches out his arms to embrace his sweetheart, Britain’s Parliament declared that distance be called a “fathom” and it be a unit of measure. A fathom remains six feet. The word was also used to describe taking the measure of or “to fathom” something. Today, of course, when one is trying to figure something out, they are trying to “fathom” it.

FFSC

Fleet and Family Support Center

Field Day

General cleaning day, usually held the day before an inspection.

First Lieutenant

Officer responsible to the XO for the deck department/division aboard ship, or to the command maintenance supervisor when ashore.

Fitness Report

Written report of an Officer’s performance of duty.

FITREP

Fitness Report

Flag at Half-Mast

Begun in times of mourning in old sailing days, indicated that grief was so great it was impossible to keep things shipshape. Half-masting of colors is the survival of days when slack appearance characterized mourning on shipboard.

Flag Officer

Rear Admiral, Lower Half; Rear Admiral, Upper Half; Vice Admiral; Admiral; and Fleet Admiral are flag Officers.

Flank Speed

Certain prescribed speed increase over standard speed; faster than full speed.

Fleet

From Anglo-Saxon fleet. Organization of ships and aircraft under one commander.

Flight Deck

Deck of ship on which planes land and take off.

FMF

Fleet Marine Force

Forecastle

The appropriate pronunciation for this word is fo’ksul. The forecastle is the forward part of the main deck. It derives its name from the days of Viking galleys when wooden castles were built on the forward and after parts of the main deck from which archers and other fighting men could shoot arrows and throw spears, rocks, etc.

Forward

Toward bow; opposite of aft.

Fouled Anchor

The fouled (rope- or chain-entwined) anchor so prevalent in our Navy’s designs and insignia is a symbol at least 500 years old that has its origins in the British traditions adopted by our naval service. The fouled anchor was adopted as the official seal of Lord High Admiral Charles Lord Howard of Effingham during the late 1500s. The anchor (both with and without the entwined rope) is a traditional heraldic device used in ancient British coats of arms. As a heraldic device, it is a stylized representation used merely for its decorative effect.

Four-Oh

Top mark; equal to 100%. Navy grades and marks run from 0.0 to 4.0. By common usage, perfect.

FRA

Fleet Reserve Association

Frame

Ribs of a vessel.

FTC

Fleet Training Center

FTS

Full-Time Support. Reservists on full-time Active Duty to provide full-time support to the Navy Reserve.

FY

Fiscal Year

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G

Gaining Command

The active command to which a Reservist or unit is staffed to support.

Galley

The galley is the portion of the ship where food is prepared; never called a kitchen! The best explanation as to its origin is that it is a corruption of “gallery.” Ancient Sailors cooked their meals on a brick or stone gallery laid amidships.

Gangplank

See Brow.

Gangway

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

Gear Locker

Storage room

Geedunk

To most Sailors, the word geedunk means ice cream, candy, potato chips and other assorted snacks, or even the place where they can be purchased. “Geedunk” is the sound made by a vending machine when it disposes a soft drink in the cup.

General Quarters

Battle stations.

Gig

A Captain or Commander’s personal boat.

Gitmo

Abbreviation for U.S. Naval Base, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Grunt

Slang, a Marine.

Gun Salutes

Gun salutes were first fired as an act of good faith. In the days when it took so long to reload a gun, it was a proof of friendly intention when the ship’s cannon was discharged upon entering port.

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H

Hash Mark

Slang, service stripe worn on the uniform of enlisted personnel.

Head

The “head” aboard a Navy ship is the bathroom. The term comes from the days of sailing ships when the place for the crew to relieve themselves was all the way forward on either side of the bowsprit, the integral part of the hull to which the figurehead was fastened.

Heel

To list to one side or the other.

Holiday Routine

Followed aboard ship on authorized holidays and Sundays.

Honors

Ceremonies conducted in honor of a visiting dignitary, usually involving sideboys and, occasionally, a band and honor guard.

Hunky-Dory

The term meaning everything is O.K. was coined from a street named “Honki-Dori” in Yokohama, Japan. Since the inhabitants of this street catered to the pleasures of Sailors, it is easy to understand why the street’s name became synonymous for anything that is enjoyable or at least satisfactory. “Okey-dokey” has similar origins.

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I

IADT

Initial Active Duty Training

IDT

Inactive Duty Training (a period of training on inactive duty, usually four hours in duration)

IDTT

Inactive Duty Training Travel

IMA

Individual Mobilization Augmentee

IMAPMIS

Inactive Manpower and Personnel Management Information System

IRR

Individual Ready Reserve

IUW

Inshore Undersea Warfare

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J

JAG

Judge Advocate General (lawyer)

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K

Knock Off

Cease what is being done; stop work.

Knot

Measure speed for ships and aircraft, as “the destroyer was making 30 knots,” or “the top speed of the plane is 400 knots.”

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L

Ladder

In a ship, corresponds to stairs in a building.

LDO

Limited Duty Officer

Leatherneck

Term probably applied to U.S. Marines by Sailors because of the leather-lined collar once part of Marine uniforms. The collar, about the same height as that of the present uniform collar, was designed to give a greater military appearance to the uniform; when damp with perspiration it was highly uncomfortable and caused throat trouble. Abolished by the Marine Corps in about 1875.

Leave

Paid vacation earned at the rate of 2 1/2 days per month of Active Duty.

Liberty

Authorized absence of individual from place of duty, not chargeable as leave. No period of liberty shall exceed a total of 96 hours.

Lifeline

Lines erected around the weatherdecks of a ship to prevent personnel from falling or being washed over the side.

Line

The Navy term for “rope.”

Line Officer

Officer who may succeed to operational command as opposed to staff corps Officer who normally exercises authority only in a specialty (e.g., hospitals, supply centers).

Log Book

In the early days of sailing ships, the ship’s records were written on shingles cut from logs. These shingles were hinged and opened like a book. The record was called the “log book.” Later on, when paper was readily available and bound into books, the record maintained its name.

Lookout

Seaman assigned to watch and report any objects of interest; lookouts are “the eyes of the ship.”

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M

Mast

Captain’s mast, or merely mast, derived from the fact that in early sailing days the usual setting for this type of Naval justice was on the weather deck near the ship’s mainmast. Currently, it means type of hearing with Commanding Officer presiding in which any punishment administered is nonjudicial in nature and is an alternative to court-martial.

MCPON

Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy

MEPS

Military Entrance Processing Station

Mess

Meal; a place or group of officers and crew who eat together as in “crew is at mess,” “meeting was held in CPO mess,” or “she was the guest of wardroom mess.” Mess comes from Latin mensa, or table.

MILPERSMAN

Military Personnel Manual

MIUW

Mobile Inshore Undersea Warfare

MSC

Military Sealift Command

MTF

Military Treatment Facility

Muster

To assemble crew; roll call.

MWR

Morale, Welfare, and Recreation

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N

NAF

Naval Air Facility

NAS

Naval Air Station

NAT

New Accession Training

NATOPS

Naval Air Training and Operating Procedures Standardization

NAVET

Navy Veteran

NAVFAC

Naval Facility

NAVRES

Navy Reserve

NAVSTA

Naval Station

NEC

Navy Enlisted Classification (or Code)

NJROTC

Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps

NKO

Navy Knowledge Online

NMCB

Naval Mobile Construction Battalion

NMCI

Navy-Marine Corps Intranet

NMCRS

Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society

NOBC

Navy Officer Billet Classification (or Code)

NOE

Notice of Eligibility

NOSC

Navy Operational Support Center

NPQ

Not Physically Qualified

NRA

Navy Reserve Activity

NRF

Navy Reserve Force

NRIP

Navy Reserve Intelligence Program

NROTC

Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps

NROWS

Navy Reserve Order Writing System

NSIPS

Navy Standard Integrated Personnel System

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O

OCS

Officer Candidate School

Officer

Rank achieved by Sailors who have completed a 4-year bachelor’s degree or higher.

OIC

Officer In Charge

OJT

On the Job Training

Old Man

Seaman’s slang term for Captain of a ship.

Ombudsman

Spouse of a member of the command who is appointed by the Commanding Officer to serve as official liaison between the command and family members.

OOD

Officer of the Deck

Operational Support

Support provided by Reservists to active Navy commands

OPNAV

Office of Chief of Naval Operations

OSD

Office of the Secretary of Defense

OSVET

Other Service Veteran

OCONUS

Outside the Continental United States

Overhead

Ceiling on a ship.

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P

PARS

Personnel Advancement Requirements

Passageway

Corridor or hallway on a ship.

PAYPERSMAN

Navy Pay and Personnel Procedures Manual

PCS

Permanent Change of Station

Pea Coat

Sailors who have to endure pea-soup weather often don their pea coats but the coat’s name isn’t derived from the weather. The heavy topcoat worn in cold, miserable weather by seafaring men was once tailored from pilot cloth — a heavy, course, stout kind of twilled blue cloth with the nap on one side. The cloth was sometimes called P-cloth for the initial letter of “pilot” and the garment made from it was called a p-jacket — later, a pea coat. The term has been used since 1723 to denote coats made from that cloth.

Plan of the Day

Schedule of day’s routine and events ordered by Executive Officer; published daily aboard ship or on shore.

Port and Starboard

Port and starboard are shipboard terms for left and right, respectively. Confusing those two could cause a ship wreck. In Old England, the starboard was the steering paddle or rudder, and ships were always steered from the right side on the back of the vessel. Larboard referred to the left side, the side on which the ship was loaded. So how did larboard become port? Shouted over the noise of the wind and the waves, larboard and starboard sounded too much alike. The word port means the opening in the “left” side of the ship from which cargo was unloaded. Sailors eventually started using the term to refer to that side of the ship. Use of the term “port” was officially adopted by the U.S. Navy by General Order, February 18, 1846.

POV

Privately Owned Vehicle

PRC

Presidential Reserve Callup -or- People’s Republic of China

PRD

Projected Rotation Date

PRIMUS

Physician Reservists in Medical Universities and Schools

PSD

Personnel Support Detachment

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Q

QOL

Quality of Life

Quarterdeck

Part of main (or other) deck reserved for honors and ceremonies and the station of the OOD in port.

Quarters

Living spaces assigned to personnel aboard ship; government-owned housing assigned to personnel at shore stations; assembly of personnel for drill, inspection, or meeting.

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R

Rank

Grade or official standing of Commissioned and Warrant Officers.

Rate

Grade or official standing of Enlisted men; identifies pay grade or level of advancement; within each rating, levels of aptitude, training, experience, knowledge, skill and responsibility are reflected.

Rating

Job classification with the Navy, such as Electronics Technician.

RBSC

Reserve Billet Sequence Code

RCC

Reserve Component Command

RCHB

Reserve Cargo Handling Battalion

Ready Reserve

A status in which members serve under a statutory military obligation or under a written agreement.

REFLEX

Reserve Flexible (drilling opportunities)

RESFORON

Reserve Force Squadron

Retirement Points

Earned at the rate of one point for each drill and one for each day of Active Duty. Basis for computation of retirement pay, which commences at age 60.

Reveille

Bugle call to wake up, begin day.

RFAS

Reserve Functional Area and Sex

RIAC

Reserve Intelligence Area Commander

RIPO

Reserve Intelligence Program Officer

RSTARS

Reserve Support Standard Training Administration and Readiness

RTB

Reserve Transition Benefits

RUAD

Reserve Unit Assignment Document

RUIC

Reserve Unit Identification Code

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S

Saluting the Quarterdeck

Some hold that the salute to the quarterdeck is derived from the very early seagoing custom of the respect paid to the pagan altar on board ship, and later to the crucifix and shrine. Others hold that the custom comes from the early days of the British Navy when all officers who were present on the quarterdeck returned the salute of an individual by uncovering (removing the hat). The original salute consisted of uncovering. The salute — touching the hat to the seat of authority, the quarterdeck (the place nearest the colors) — is as old a tradition.

Scullery

Place to wash dishes.

Scuttlebutt

The origin of the word “scuttlebutt,” which is nautical parlance for a rumor, comes from a combination of “scuttle” — to make a hole in the ship’s hull and thereby causing her to sink — and “butt” — a cask or hogshead used in the days of wooden ships to hold drinking water. The cask from which the ship’s crew took their drinking water — like a water fountain — was the “scuttlebutt.” Even in today’s Navy, a drinking fountain is referred to as such. But, since the crew used to congregate around the “scuttlebutt,” that is where the rumors about the ship or voyage would begin. Thus, then and now, rumors are talk from the “scuttlebutt” or just “scuttlebutt.”

Sea Bag

Large canvas bag for stowing gear and clothing.

Sea Duty

Assignment to ship whose primary mission is accomplished while underway.

SEAL

Sea-Air-Land (team)

SECDEF

Secretary of Defense

SECGRU

Security Group

SECNAV

Secretary of the Navy

Secure

Lock, put away, or stop work.

Selected Reserve (SELRES)

Navy reservists who are required to participate in Active Duty training period and annual training, and are paid for this duty.

SGLI

Servicemen’s Group Life Insurance

Shakedown Cruise

Cruise of newly commissioned ship to test machinery and equipment and to train the crew as a working unit.

Short-Timer

One whose enlistment or tour duty is almost completed.

Sick Bay

Hospital or clinic

Sideboys

Impeccably uniformed Sailors who participate in honors ceremonies on the quarterdeck.

SITREP

Situation Report

Skipper

From Dutch schipper, meaning captain.

SPECWAR

Special Warfare

Splice the Main Brace

A sailing ship’s rigging was a favorite target during sea battles since by destroying the opponent’s ability to maneuver or get away would put you at obvious advantage. Therefore, the first thing tended to after a battle was to repair broken gear, and repair sheets (lines — not “ropes” — that adjust the angle at which a sail is set in relation to the wind ) and braces (lines passing through blocks and holding up sails). Although no specifics remain, it appears that the main brace was the principal fore-and-aft support of the ship’s masts. Splicing this line was the most difficult chore aboard ship, and one on which the ship’s safety depended. It was the custom, after the main brace was properly spliced, to serve grog to the entire crew. Thus, today, after a hard day (or, not-so-hard day), the phrase has become an invitation to have a drink.

SSN

Social Security Number or Fast Attack Submarine

Standby Reserve

An active and inactive status manpower mobilization resource that cannot be ordered to Active Duty involuntarily by the President without the approval of Congress, and only if the Secretary of Defense determines that ample Ready Reserve expertise and units are not available for the emergency at hand.

Stern

Aft part of the ship.

Stow

To put gear in its proper place.

Swab

Rope or yarn mop; also an unflattering term for a Sailor.

SWO

Surface Warfare Officer

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T

TAD

Temporary Additional Duty

Taps

Bugle call signaling lights out, end of day.

Tattoo

Five minutes before taps.

TFMDP

TRICARE Family Member Dental Plan

TFMMS

Total Force Manpower Management System

Topside

Slang, meaning upper level or above decks.

Total Force

Integration of active and Reserve components as one force.

TSRDP

TRICARE Selected Reserve Dental Program

Turn To

An order to begin work.

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U

UA

Unauthorized Absence

UCMJ

Uniform Code of Military Justice

UMA

Uniform Maintenance Allowance

USC

United States Code

USNR-R

United States Navy Reserve — Ready

USNR-S1

United States Navy Reserve — Standby Reserve

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V

VA

Attack Squadron -or- Department of Veterans Affairs

VAQ

Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron

VF

Fighter Squadron

VFA

Strike Fighter Squadron

VFC

Fighter Squadron Composite

VHA

Variable Housing Allowance

VP

Patrol Squadron

VR

Fleet Logistics Support Squadron

VRC

Fleet Logistics Support Squadron

VS

Air Antisubmarine Squadron

VTU

Volunteer Training Unit

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W

Wardroom

A compartment aboard ship near Officers’ stateroom used as Officers’ mess room.

Watches

Traditionally, a 24-hour day is divided into seven watches. These are: midnight to 4 a.m. [0000-0400], the mid-watch; 4 to 8 a.m. [0400-0800], morning watch; 8 a.m. to noon [0800-1200], forenoon watch; noon to 4 p.m. [1200-1600], afternoon watch; 4 to 6 p.m. [1600-1800] first dogwatch; 6 to 8 p.m. [1800-2000], second dogwatch; and 8 p.m. to midnight [2000-2400], evening watch. The half-hours of the watch are marked by the striking of the bell an appropriate number of times.

WO

Warrant Officer

Working Aloft

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

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Glossary

Acronyms, Abbreviations and General Terminology

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

N

O

P

Q

R

S

T

U

V

W