William E. Taylor Division, (USNSCC)
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Naval Terminology

Common Navy Terms & Acronyms for Sea Cadets

To help our new cadets get up to speed, here is a quick guide to the naval terminology you will hear during drills and trainings:

Navy Terms (A-L)

  • ABOARD: On or in a ship. Close aboard; near a ship.
  • ADVANCE PAY: An advance on your base pay for a move. This must be repaid.
  • AFT: Toward the stern; opposite of forward.
  • AIRDALE: Slang, a naval aviator.
  • ALLOTMENT: Assignment of part of military pay directly to a person or bank.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • AYE-AYE: Term used to acknowledge receipt of a command or order from senior. It means “I have heard the order; I understand it; I will carry it out."
  • BARNACLE: Small marine animal that attaches itself to hulls and pilings.
  • BELAY: To cancel an order; stop; firmly secure a line.
  • BERTH: Space assigned ship for anchoring or mooring.
  • BERTHING: Where Sailors sleep onboard ship.
  • BILLET: An allotted sleeping space; an individual’s position in the ship’s organization.
  • BLACK SHOE: An officer who is not an aviator; the latter is a brown shoe. Usually only used by Surface Warfare Officers.
  • BLUEJACKET: Navy enlisted member below the grade of CPO.
  • BOATSWAIN: Pronounced “bosun,” refers to the mate, warrant officer or petty officer in charge of boats, rigging and ground tackle aboard ship.
  • BOW: Most forward part of a ship.
  • BRAVO ZULU (BZ!): Good job!
  • 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.
  • BROW: Large gangplank leading from a ship to a pier, wharf or float; usually equipped with handrails.
  • BULKHEAD: One of the upright, crosswise partitions dividing a ship into compartments.
  • CAPTAIN: Rank, or commanding officer of a ship or squadron.
  • CARRY ON: To proceed with any duty.
  • CATAPULT: Shipboard mechanism for launching aircraft.
  • CHAIN OF COMMAND: The military’s management concept.
  • CHAPLAIN: The military men and women of the cloth who nurture the spiritual well-being of service members.
  • CLASSIFIED MATTER: Information or material of aid to possible enemy, if improperly divulged.
  • COMMISSARY: Grocery store on or near base where service members and families can purchase food, beverages, etc.
  • 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.
  • COMMODORE: The title of an officer commanding a squadron or flotilla of submarines, destroyers or smaller ships.
  • COMPARTMENT: Space enclosed by bulkheads, deck, and overhead, same as a room in a building.
  • CONUS: The Continental United States (48 states and the District of Columbia).
  • COURSE: Direction steered by a ship or plane.
  • COURT-MARTIAL: Military court for trial of serious offenses.
  • CROW: Slang, eagle on petty officer’s rating badge.
  • CRUISE: To sail with no definite destination. More commonly used to describe round trip.
  • DECK: A floor or platform extending from end to end of a ship.
  • DETAILER: The person responsible for deciding your Sailor’s next duty station.
  • DEPLOY: Tactical term used for dispersal of troops; also disposition of ships in battle formations.
  • 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.
  • DSN: Defense Switched Network; Department of Defense internal telephone system.
  • EMBARK: To go aboard ship preparatory to sailing.
  • ENLISTED EVALUATION: Written report of enlisted service member’s performance of duty, informally referred to as an EVAL.
  • ENSIGN: Lowest ranking commissioned officer.
  • 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.
  • FAIR WINDS AND FOLLOWING SEAS: A salutation meant to wish good fortune.
  • FANTAIL: The after end of the main deck.
  • FATHOM: In measuring depth of water, six feet.
  • FITNESS REPORT: Written report of an officer’s performance of duty (including chief petty officers), informally referred to as a FITREP.
  • FLAG AT HALF-MAST: A sign of mourning.
  • FLAG OFFICER: Rear Admiral, Lower Half; Rear Admiral, Upper Half; Vice Admiral; Admiral, and Fleet Admiral.
  • FLANK SPEED: Certain prescribed speed increase over standard speed; faster than full speed.
  • FLEET: Organization of ships and aircraft under one commander.
  • FLIGHT DECK: Deck of ship on which planes land, takeoff.
  • FORECASTLE: Pronounced “fo’c’sle.” Refers to upper deck in forward part of ship.
  • FORWARD: Toward bow; opposite of aft.
  • FROGMAN: Slang, member of underwater demolition team or SEALs.
  • GALLEY: The kitchen of the ship.
  • GANGWAY: Opening in bulwarks or rail of ship to give entrance; order to stand aside and get out of the way.
  • GEEDUNK: Slang, ice cream soda, malted milk, anything from soda fountain or Geedunk stand.
  • GENERAL QUARTERS: Battle stations for all hands.
  • GOUGE: The real story behind rumors and stories which may or may not be accurate.
  • GRUNT: Slang, a Marine.
  • GTMO: Abbreviation for U.S. Naval Base, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
  • GUNG-HO: Slang, eager and aggressive beyond normal requirements.
  • HASH MARK: Slang, service stripe worn on uniform of enlisted personnel.
  • HEAD: Place in ship or on shore station that might otherwise be called a restroom, washroom or toilet.
  • HOLIDAY ROUTINE: Followed aboard ship on authorized holidays and Sundays.
  • HONORS: Ceremonies conducted in honor of a visiting dignitary.
  • KNEE-KNOCKERS: A passageway opening through a bulkhead. The lower lip of the opening sits at shin height.
  • KNOCK OFF: Cease what is being done; stop work.
  • KNOT: Measure speed for ships and aircraft.
  • LADDER: In a ship, corresponds to stairs in a building.
  • LEATHERNECK: Term probably applied to U.S. Marines by Sailors because of the leather-lined collar once part of Marine Corps uniforms.
  • LINE OFFICER: Officer who may succeed to operational command as opposed to staff corps officer.
  • LOOKOUT: Seaman assigned to watch and report any objects of interest.

Navy Terms (M-Z) & Acronyms

  • MAST: Captain’s mast; a type of hearing with commanding officer presiding, in which any punishment administered is non-judicial in nature.
  • MESS: Meal; a place or group of officers and crew who eat together.
  • MID-WATCH: Watch from 0001-0400 or 0001-0600 based upon the ship’s schedule.
  • MUSTER: To assemble crew; roll call.
  • OLD MAN: Seaman’s term for captain of a ship.
  • PASSAGEWAY: Corridor or hallway on ship.
  • PLAN OF THE DAY: Schedule of day’s routine and events approved by Executive Officer (XO).
  • PORT: Left side of ship looking forward.
  • QUARTERDECK: Part of main deck reserved for honors and ceremonies and the station of the officer of the deck (OOD) in port.
  • QUARTERS: Living spaces assigned to personnel aboard ship; assembly of personnel for drill, inspection or meeting.
  • RANK: Grade or official standing of commissioned and warrant officers.
  • RATE: Grade or official standing of enlisted personnel.
  • RATING: Job classification with the Navy, such as electronics technician.
  • SAILOR: When capitalized "Sailor" is used to denote a Navy service member.
  • SCUTTLEBUTT: A drinking fountain; also rumor or gossip.
  • SEA BAG: Large canvas bag for stowing gear and clothing.
  • SEA DUTY (or SEA TOUR): Assignment to ship whose primary mission is accomplished while underway/deployed.
  • SHAKEDOWN CRUISE: Cruise of newly commissioned ship to test machinery and equipment.
  • SHIPMATE: Anyone who is attached to the same command as a Sailor.
  • SHORT TIMER: One whose enlistment or tour of duty is almost completed.
  • SICK BAY: Ship’s hospital or dispensary.
  • SIDEBOYS: Impeccably-uniformed Sailors who participate in honors ceremonies on the quarterdeck.
  • SKIPPER: From Dutch schipper, meaning captain.
  • STARBOARD: Right side of ship looking forward.
  • STERN: After part of ship.
  • STOW: To put gear in its proper place.
  • SWAB: Rope or yarn mop; also an unflattering term for a Sailor.
  • TOPSIDE: From Pidgin English, meaning upper level, or above decks.
  • TURN TO: An order to begin work.
  • WARDROOM: A compartment aboard ship near officers’ stateroom used as officers’ mess room.
  • WATCH: Positioning of qualified personnel to operate a ship continuously around the clock.

Navy Acronyms
  • AC: Active Component
  • ADSW: Active Duty for Special Work
  • ADT: Active Duty for Training
  • AOC: Aviation Officer Candidate
  • AWOL: Absent Without Leave
  • BAH: Basic Allowance for Housing
  • BAS: Basic Allowance for Subsistence
  • BEQ: Bachelor Enlisted Quarters
  • BUMED: Bureau of Medicine and Surgery
  • BUPERS: Bureau of Naval Personnel
  • CMC / CMDCM: Command Master Chief
  • CNO: Chief of Naval Operations
  • CO: Commanding Officer
  • COB: Chief of the Boat
  • CONUS: Continental United States
  • CPO: Chief Petty Officer
  • DEERS: Defense Eligibility Enrollment Reporting System
  • DoD: Department of Defense
  • EAOS: End of Active Obligated Service
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