//------------------------------// // Glossary and Illustrations // Story: The Cadenza Prophecies // by iisaw //------------------------------// --------- Informative Illustrations --------- General Terms Interior Quarterdeck (See if you can spot the slight clue that there is an earth pony officer on the crew.) Nebula has several other sternboards in her stores, with other (somewhat innacurate) names on them. Access to the sterngallery (for non-flying creatures) is through the sternlights. --------- GLOSSARY --------- AbaftBehind. AbeamDirectly to the side of the ship. AforeIn front of. AftToward the rear of a ship. AloftUp on a mast, or on top of or within the envelope. AmidshipsAt or lined up with the center line of the ship. Often said of the wheel or tiller. AthwartAcross. AvastA command to stop. Aye-AyeResponse to a command meaning understood, and will comply immediately. BaggywrinkleA soft fuzzy wrap around a line at the point where it might rub against a sail with the intent to prevent wear. BaldricA strap over one shoulder and across the chest. Often used to hang a cutlass scabbard, paint bucket, or anything that needs to be to hoof, but that should be quick and easy to take off. BallastWeight low in the ship designed to stabilize the vessel, or to help control the altitude of an airship. BarbelsTendrils sprouting from the heads of Eastern kirin and some species of fish. BeamThe widest part of a ship. Beam ReachSailing perpendicular to the wind. Bear a HoofAn order to help with a task. BeatingSailing into the wind. BelayA command to stop, but also meaning to make fast a line. Belaying PinA wooden pin made to fit into a pin rail to form a cleat for tying off lines. BellsBell strikes that keep time within a watch. (See: Watch) One bell is struck a half hour into a watch, with an additional bell every half hour, struck in groups of two, until eight bells are struck at the end of the watch (and the beginning of the next.) The two short "Dog" watches are an exception to this rule, the First Dog Watch ending with the striking of four bells, and the Second Dog Watch striking one, two and three bells at each half hour, but ending with eight. BinnacleAn enclosure on the quarterdeck to hold the ship's compass and other instruments. Biscuits, Ship's Hard-baked biscuits designed to stay edible for long periods of time. Universally unloved by sailors and aeronauts. BittsLarge horizontal wooden cleats primarily for mooring and anchor lines. BlockA shipboard pulley, usually large and wooden. BoomA spar that is attached to the lower edge of a sail. BowThe forward most point of a ship's hull. BowspritThe spar projecting forward from a ship's bow, used to carry a spritsail and as a fixing point for the foremast stay. BraceA line attached to the end of a yard. Used to turn the yard. BulkheadA shipboard wall. Usually solidly fixed in place, unlike a panel. See: Panel. BulwarkSolid sidewalls on the main deck. BunkerA fuel tank. Burthen, or BurdenThe volume of a ship's hull expressed as the weight of water required to completely fill it. CabinA room, usually for officers. See: Captain's cabin, Wardroom, and Great cabin. Cable1) A thick line made of three lines twisted together. 2) A unit of measurement, approximately 600 feet. Capstan A large vertical winch set into the deck of a ship. It can be turned by several ponies at once using removable wooden bars called hoofspikes. Usually employed only for heavy lines such as mooring cables. Captain's CabinA large common room with big square windows at the stern of a ship. Can be called a wardroom or great cabin. The captain's personal room is called the captain's sleeping cabin or the captain's quarters. Cargo HoldLowest area of a ship excepting the bilge or ballast tanks. Used, unsurprisingly, for stowing cargo. CarpenterThe crewpony responsible for making repairs to the wooden parts of a ship and fashioning new spars and yards when needed. CatwalkA narrow walkway, usually suspended at a height. CeilingThe altitude limit to which an airship can climb. Also the planks on the inner side of a ship's ribs, not often found on airships. CellSee: Gas Cell Cell HeaterA crystal inside a gas cell that emits heat in order to expand the gas and provide more lift. ChandlerA merchant specializing in providing hardware fittings and common supplies for ships. ChartA map specifically designed to be used for navigation. Chart RoomA space aboard ship for storing charts, usually provided with a large table to roll out charts and use course-plotting instruments. Chromatic AberrationRainbow-colored fringes around a magical field, indicative of instability or imminent collapse. 'ChunderContraction of "Watch under!" It is an unfortunate truth that even the most seasoned sailor or aeronaut may become nauseous in rough weather. When an afflicted pony is aloft in the rigging and about to loose their latest meal, it is a courteous warning to those on deck below. Has become a term meaning vomiting in general. Close HauledSailing as close to upwind as a ship can manage. Clouds in Her TeethSailing at a brisk pace. From the naval expression "bone in her teeth" that alludes to the bow wake of a ship. ColorsFlag. "Let fly the colors!" is to hoist up a flag. "Strike the colors!" is to take down the flag. "False colors" is a flag of a nation other than the one the ship is allied with. "True colors" is the flag of the nation that the ship is allied with. A courtesy flag flown at the jackstaff is not considered false colors. CompanionwayA hallway. CowlingAny solid, removable covering. CradleA large wooden structure meant to support a ship in drydock or an airship on the ground. Crew DeckThe deck immediately below the main deck where the crew sleep and eat together. The galley is most often located on this deck. CrosstreesThe crossed timbers that support a mast's top platform, and provide strong attachment points for shrouds and various lines. CupolaA semi-enclosure on the upper forward end of an airship's envelope. Designed as a duty post for lookouts. CutlassA short curved sword designed for fighting in close quarters. CutterA small boat for transferring crew and light cargo, usually powered or rowed, or a larger vessel designed for speed, usually with two or fewer masts. DavitsSmall L-shaped cranes most often used for securing and launching small craft. DeadlightA shipboard window that does not open. DeckA floor aboard ship. See: Floors. Dirty AirUneven, turbulent wind. Terrible for sailing. DorsalUpper surface DriverSee: Spanker DrogueA tubular flag, similar to a windsock, but usually attached to a moving vessel. DropstoneA stone with a hole through which a line can be attached. Usually the size of a pony's hoof, but can vary in size. Can be used as a light boat anchor in a calm, a weight for a heaving line, disposable ballast, etc. DufferA pony who has no knowledge of nautical/aeronautical operations or traditions. ElevatorA horizontal steering surface on the aft end of an airship's envelope. Engine PodThe cowling that provides an aerodynamic shape covering an engine's workings. Often is designed to be rotated to aid in maneuvering. Engine StrutThe beam (usually aerodynamically shaped) that supports and holds an engine pod away from a ship's side. EngineerAn officer specializing in the maintenance and repair of a ship's engines and other gear of a mechanical nature. EnvelopeThe fabric covering of an airship's gas cells, catwalks and maneuvering gear to produce an aerodynamic shape. FeatheringTo turn a prop's blades in line with the wind to produce no drag and to stop the prop from acting as a windmill. Cross-feathering is to turn the blades so as to produce no thrust when spinning. Fife RailA belaying pin rail that runs around a mast. Flag of CourtesyWhen a vessel is within the territories controlled by a nation other than its own, a small flag of that nation is flown from a jackstaff as a show of courtesy and peaceful intention. FlakingTo lay out a line on deck so that it runs out smoothly when a load is put on it. FloorsRemovable boards that can be laid across the ribs of a small boat to provide level footing. FlotsamWreckage floating in the sea. Fo’c’sl, ForecastleThe raised deck of the forward part of a ship and the area beneath it. Also the area forward of the foremast on a flat-decked vessel. FotherTo stretch sailcloth over a hole to help keep out water. Usually, fothering is done as an emergency repair to a damaged hull. FrassInsect feces. Full-and-ByClose-hauled, with all sails set. FurlongThe length of furrow an earth pony can plow without a rest break. About 660 feet. GalleyShipboard kitchen. GangwayA walkway connecting shore to ship. GantryA walkway connecting a mooring tower to a ship. Gas CellA fabric bag for containing lift gas. Large airships have several contained within their envelopes. GasbagA combined gas cell and envelope, usually found on small craft. GigA small craft, optimized for speed. Often used for ferrying officers from ship to ship. Ground AnchorA large iron stake designed to be driven into the ground to provide a secure mooring for an airship. GunnelThe upper edge of an open boat's hull. Half-ModelA design model of half of a ship's hull. Traditionally, the starboard half. Used for fixing the dimensions of a ship's framing. HalyardThe line that hauls a yard up a mast. HelmA ship's wheel or tiller. If You Please!A polite suffix appended to an order. Interstitial VortexA portal to interstitial space employing an N-dimensional hypermanifold. Teleport spells use pairs of these to transport items through interstitial space. Such vortices are not locationally stable and are affected by density and pressure gradients. In the case of a teleportation spell this can be beneficial, making it unlikely that a careless caster will appear (briefly) inside a solid object. JackA leather drinking mug, lined with brewer's pitch to make it watertight. JackstaffA short spar, having no other purpose than to fly signal flags or a flag of courtesy. JetsamWreckage washed up on shore. JettyA stone platform leading out from the shore into a body of water, used as a landing stage for ships. JibeTo change direction by crossing a ship's stern through the wind. This is easy for a square rigged ship, but more difficult for a fore-and-aft rig as the boom of the mainsail may swing across suddenly and cause injury or damage. In a very strong wind, a skipper may elect to do a round-about tack instead of jibing, sometimes turning as much as 270 degrees. This is known as a "chicken-jibe." Jolly BoatA ship's boat, smaller than a cutter. Jury-RiggedA temporary and improvisational setup of spars and lines, for a specific purpose. Most often said of temporary repairs to rigging. KeelThe heavy beam that runs the length of the bottom of a ship. Keel SpellA spell to reduce the leeway of a flying vessel, in much the same way as a physical keel or centerboard does for a sea-going vessel, allowing her to make way to windward. KeelmastA mast projecting downward from an airship's keel. LadderShipboard stairs. Lamp, LanternA lighting instrument using candles, oil, or crystals. The term "light" is not used for this purpose aboard a sailing or flying vessel. LanyardA line fixing an item to a pony. Typically used for a rigger’s knife when working aloft, or a bosun’s whistle. Larboard To the left when looking forward on a ship. "Port" is occasionally used in its place, though most sailors claim this causes confusion. It is more commonly used as an order to turn to larboard, i.e., “Port your helm!” Lead Lights(Pronounced to rhyme with “reed”) Two white lights, one higher than the other, Used to guide ships on an exact course. The upper light is further away from a vessel than the lower, so that any deviation from the desired course will cause the lights to appear to separate. Steering in the direction of the lower light brings the vessel back on course. LeagueThe distance a pony covers in an hour at an easy walk on flat ground. Approximately three miles. LeewayThe amount of distance a ship slips sideways when sailing into the wind. LengthShort for "pony-length." The average distance between a pony's chest and rump. Approximately a meter. Letter of MarqueSometimes called a letter of marque and reprisal. A letter from a government to a private captain granting (or even encouraging) the attack and capture of vessels hostile to that government. It is a legal contract that can also spell out particular details pertaining to the agreement, and a document which grant's the receiver the status of privateer. A typical clause is to grant protection within the region controlled by the issuing government. Lift1) The command to raise an airship to her cruising height. 2) The volume of an airship’s envelope stated as the weight of water necessary to fill it. Lift TanksSteel tanks for storing compressed lift gas. LightA shipboard window. The term "window" is only used aboard vessels to refer to the large "square lights" (sometimes called "port lights") at the stern. LineA piece of cordage that is employed in some use aboard a vessel. If three lines are twisted together, they become a cable. LockerA wooden chest that contains a sailor or aeronaut's personal belongings. Can also mean a common storage chest for goods. LubberShort form of "land-lubber," which is a corruption of "land-lover," which is rarely used nowadays since it is now considered a slur against earth ponies, when it is actually meant to be a slur against non-sailors and non-aeronauts. See: Duffer. Make FastTo tie off a line. MastA large, vertical wooden pole that supports yards and sails. MeadAn alcoholic drink made from fermented honey. MetheglinA mildly alcoholic drink made from fermented honey. Sweeter and less alcoholic than mead, and is produced more quickly. Sometimes called "quick mead." MidshipponyA ship's officer (usually fairly young) ranking below all the named officers, but above the general crew. Often considered an officer-in-training, though this is not necessarily true. MooringThe act of securing a ship to a fixed location such as a pier, mooring stake or buoy. Mooring GearFor an airship, the small winches and belaying points in the nose, designed to facilitate connecting to a mooring tower. Mooring TowerA tower specifically designed to moor an airship by connecting to the forward point of her mooring sprit. It allows an airship to swing freely in a circle, with a boarding gantry that matched the ship's swing. NéePronounced "neigh," meaning "born as." Used to indicate a pony's birth name, in cases where there may be some confusion as to who is being talked about. (Male form is "né.") Neutral BuoyancyThe balance between weight and lift that will keep an airship from rising or sinking without being propelled by engines or sails. NoseThe forward most point of an airship's envelope, not including the mooring sprit. OfficerA pony in a position of command or special responsibility aboard a ship. In the military, the ranks are rigidly defined. On merchant ships, the composition of a crew can vary, but typically there are: Captain, First Officer (or First Mate), Second Officer, Third Officer, Bosun, Ensign, Doctor, Engineer, and Carpenter. On small vessels these positions can be combined under one officer. On the RocksAeronautical slang for being ashore or on the ground. Sometimes used to mean moored or anchored for an unreasonably long period of time. OnboardOn the vessel, sometimes used to mean on the deck, as opposed to aloft. Orlop DeckThe lowest deck on a vessel above the cargo hold. Can sometimes be a partial platform instead of a full deck. OrnithopterA mechanical flying craft, usually quite small, that propels itself with powered, flapping wings. OuthaulA line that pulls a sail out to a set position on a yard or stay, in opposition to a tack or downhaul. OverboardOn the unfortunate side of a ship's rail. Not a recommended position for a sailor who cannot swim, or an aeronaut who cannot fly. OverheadThe ceiling. PainterThe line fastened at a small craft's bow for use in tying up or being towed. PanelA shipboard wall, usually slotted in place or hinged, and easy to move. See: Bulkhead. PierA wooden platform, supported by pillars, leading out from the shore into a body of water, used as a landing stage for ships. Pin RailA rail, usually fixed to the inside of a vessel's bulwarks or shrouds, made to receive belaying pins. See: Fife Rail. PirateA pony or other creature who commits mayhem and/or robbery at sea or in the air. PointAs in "How high can she point?" meaning, "How close to upwind can she sail?" Points, CompassA navigational compass is divided into 32 named points, though navigators will often add or subtract a half point when setting course. Used instead of degrees because they are immediately understandable and require no mental mathematics. A point is equal to 11.25 degrees. Port1) A town or city that provides mooring, supplies, and services to vessels. 2) Sometimes used to indicate the left side of a vessel in place of "larboard" but considered confusing by most sailors and aeronauts. 3) Used as a verb to indicate a turn to the left, as in, "Port your helm." 4) A shortened form of "teleport." Port LightA large square window at the stern of a ship. PortholeA circular window. Prefix, Ship'sThe letters before a ship's name on her official papers or nameboard that indicate origin and/or ownership. The most common are AS and SV which mean a private Air Ship or Sailing Vessel, respectively. Others are: TH(A)S - Their Highnesses' (Air) Ship, an Equestrian military vessel or royal yacht. HH(A)S - Her Highness' (Air) Ship, a Crystal Empire military vessel or royal yacht. HDM(A)S, Her Dark Majesty's (Air) Ship, a Twilight Town military vessel, royal yacht, or trading vessel directly owned by Queen Twilight. HEM(A)S, Her Exquisite Majesty's (Air) Ship, a Marezambiquan military vessel, or royal yacht. TMB, a joke prefix meaning, That's My Boat. PrivateerA pony or other creature who commits mayhem and/or robbery at sea or in the air while in possession of a valid letter of marque. PrizeA ship captured in battle. QuarterThe rearmost sides of a ship, the Starboard and Larboard Quarters. A sleeping cabin in one of those positions can be referred to as a Quarter Berth, but never an Afterberth. When referring to a direction a quarter is 45 degrees off the midline of the ship toward its stern. QuarterdeckThe raised deck at the stern of a ship, or the area of the main deck aft of the mizzenmast on a flat decked ship. QuayA stone platform running along the shore, used as a landing stage for ships. RailThe top edge of a ship's railing or bulwark. RaptorA RAPid amplitude-deviation interpretive oscillaTOR transceiver. A device that, used in pairs, allows ponies to speak to each other at considerable distances, RatlineA line running between shrouds to provide footing to enable ponies to go aloft, like rungs on a ladder. Reef1) To make a sail's area smaller by tying up one edge. 2) A dangerous shallow line of coral or rocks beneath the water. 3) A dangerous windbreak line. Rhumb LineAn arc crossing all meridians of longitude at the same angle. On a Marecator projection, a rhumb line will appear to be straight, while on a globe, it will spiral from pole to pole. Also known as a loxodrome. RibsThe curved wooden beams which define the shape of a ship's hull and to which the hull planks are fixed. RiggerA crewpony who specializes in shipboard ropework. RiggingLines directly involved in sailing a ship. Standing rigging holds up the masts, and doesn't move during use. Running rigging controls the sails and yards. Mooring lines, static lines, painters, and other such lines are not considered rigging. RopeA piece of cordage that is currently serving no purpose. For rope that is put to any use, see: Line. RudderA flat, vertical steering surface attached to the aft end of a ship's hull or envelope. RunningSailing directly away from the wind. SailclothTightly woven canvas, designed to work best for sails, but used for many other things such as hammocks and sea bags. SalvageAny wreckage legally recovered. ScuttlebuttShipboard rumors. Sea BagA cylindrical canvas bag used to transport a crewpony's belongings. Sea ChestA large wooden box used to store an officer's belongings. Typically has a greater size allowance than that of a crew pony's locker. (See: Locker) The term is used aboard airships as well as sailing vessels. (Probably because "air chest" sounds silly.) SharesThe system that decides the division of spoils or profits for a ship's crew. The grades range from quarter-share for new crewponies in an understandable progression to captain's-share and owner's-share SheetThe main line for controlling a sail. Fore-and-aft sails have one, square sails have two. Ship’s ArticlesThe rules of shipboard behavior, duties, shares and pay. ShipwrightA designer (not necessarily a builder) of ships. Shorten SailTo take in or reef sails to provide less speed or protect against damage in foul weather. ShroudA side-to-side heavy cable that stabilizes a mast. Part of the standing rigging. Signal FlagsFlags of different colors and designs used to send messages between ships or ships and shore/ground stations. There are internationally accepted meanings to the standardized set, but navies or private companies will often use their own coding/decoding schemes to prevent others from being able to read their signals. Signal FlaresRockets that burn in bright colors which are used to send coded messages over long distances. Because only colors are used, they are more limited in scope than signal flags. Signatures (book)A part of a book's pages that consist of a single set of folded and sewn-together sheets of paper. A typical book will consist of many signatures joined together. SinecureA position typically providing a title and income but requiring no duties. Often used as a reward for political support or simple nepotism. Sky OrcasMythical beings often credited for devouring airships that go inexplicably missing SlipwayA sloping surface designed for hauling ships out of the water or air, usually for repairs, and then allowing them to "slip" back in. For larger ships, it is often paired with a cradle. SnotterThe line used to support and tighten a spritsail to a mast. SpankerThe large fore-and-aft sail on the mizzenmast. SparGeneral term for any long wooden shaft used aboard a ship. Speaking TubeA metal tube leading from one location to another that will carry the sound of a pony's voice a great distance with clarity. Whistle plugs are used to signal an incoming communication. Springline1) A diagonal fore-and-aft mooring line that keeps a ship steady against a pier. 2) Any line tightened across something to keep it securely in place. SpritA slanting spar. See: Bowsprit Spritsail1) A sail hung from the bowsprit. 2) A sail supported by a sprit rather than a yard. SpyglassA small collapsible telescope. StarboardThe right side of a vessel facing forward. Static LineA line woven with metallic wire to ground the static charge on an airship. StayA fore-and-aft line supporting a mast or bowsprit. Part of the standing rigging. Staysail, StayslA fore-and-aft triangular sail supported on a stay instead of a yard. The foremost staysl on the bowsprit is called a jib, unless there are two, and then they are (going forward) the jib and the flying jib. Steering FinA large, maneuverable surface usually placed two-thirds of the way forward on an airship's envelope. Steering SurfaceAny flat, movable surface that aids in steering a ship. See: Rudder, Elevator, and Steering Fin StemThe projecting beam that extend upwards from the keel at the bow of a ship. SternThe back end of a ship. Stern GalleryA balcony projecting from the stern of a ship. Stern Lamp(s)One or more large, white navigation lights affixed to the taffrail of a ship. SternsheetsThe seatboards in the rear of a small craft. StrikeTo take down. "Strike the topmast," means to dismount and take down the mast. "Strike the colors," means to take down one's flag. Stun’sl Short form of “studdingsail” Sails hung from an asymmetrical yard, fastened to either an airship's hull or to the yardarms of other sails. SupercargoPonies aboard a ship that have specific authority and duties, but who are not within the normal chain of command. A portmanteau of "supervisor of cargo." Suppressor RingA helical coil of thaumically reactive wire contained within a ring-shaped casing, used to deaden a unicorn's magic. Most often designed with self-tightening cams to prevent removal. TackTo change direction by crossing a ship's bow through the wind. TaewidhaA talisman or gem that stores magical energy and (rarely) spell matrices. Any moderately adept mage can draw power from such a gem at will, although the recharging of one takes concentration and meticulous care. Storing a complete spell matrix in one is a very difficult and specialized skill. TaffrailThe rail athwart the stern of a ship. TelegraphA control mechanism set on the quarterdeck that sends speed and rotation orders to a ship's engines. Thaumochromatic detonationThe collapse or explosive fragmentation of a magical field, usually accompanied by a burst of multicolored light. A rainboom is the most commonly recognized (and least destructive) example of this effect. ThaumoreactiveSomething that, when touched with magic, reacts in any way not intended by the spell matrix. Technically includes a thaumoresistant object or substance, but that term or "anti-magic" is more commonly used for clarity. Through-HullAny valve or drainage port that pierces the hull of a ship. ThwartA board running across a small boat, often used as a bench, but also a structural part of the craft. TillerThe horizontal spar that turns a rudder. Topgallant MastA mast set atop a topmast. Often shortened to T'gallant mast. TopmastA mast set atop the mainmast. TruckThe wooden cap on a mast. VentA valve at the top of a gas cell to vent pressure. VentralLower surface. WaistThe central and lower part of a ship's deck. On a flat-decked ship, the area of the main deck between the foremost and aftmost masts. WardroomA large common room for the officers, usually at the rear of a ship. Ware!Short form of Beware! Watch1) A period of time when a ship's crew is on duty and at their stations. Watches can either alternate (watch-and-watch) or be divided into three sections. 2) A team of ponies who stand watch together. For watch-and-watch schedules, a crew is usually divided into Larboard and Starboard watches. These are only labels and have nothing to do with a pony's duty station. For a three watch schedule, watches are usually named after a ship's masts (Foremast, Mainmast, and Mizzenmast), the tribes (Horn, Hoof, and Wing), or the colors of Celestia's mane, (Blue, Pink, and Green), at the whim of the commander. The standard watch divisions, by time, are: Middle Watch - Midnight to 4 AM (0000 – 0400) sometimes called the Graveyard Watch Morning Watch - 4 AM to 8 AM (0400 – 0800) sometimes called the Deadeye Watch Forenoon Watch - 8 AM to Noon (0800 – 1200) Afternoon Watch - Noon to 4PM (1200 – 1600) First Dog Watch - 4 PM to 6PM (1600 – 1800) Second Dog Watch - 6 PM to 8 PM (1800 – 2000) First Watch - 8 PM to Midnight (2000 – 0000) WearTo change direction by crossing a ship's stern through the wind. An easier maneuver than tacking for a square-rigged ship. See: Jibe. Weevils’ Wedding Cake, TheDerogatory term for ship's biscuits. WharfA wooden platform, supported by pillars, running along the shore, used as a landing stage for ships. WindsockA tubular piece of cloth affixed to a pole to show the direction of the wind. YardThe wooden beam from which a sail hangs. YardarmThe part of a yard that projects beyond where the corner of a sail is attached.