Naval battle between an American ship and an Algerine corsair.

Capture of an Algerine Corsair

Naval battle between an American ship and an Algerine corsair.

A fleet of three ancient Anglo-Saxon ships, each with wind filling the lone sail. Each ship has a dragon head at the bow. The front ship has a curled, dragon tail at the stern. Several men occupy the decks of the ships. The ship of the right has a head on a pike displayed at its bow. A crow sits on and pecks at the head. Another crow sits on the mast of that ship.

Anglo-Saxon Ships with Wind in the Sails

A fleet of three ancient Anglo-Saxon ships, each with wind filling the lone sail. Each ship has a dragon…

Boat with paddlewheel on side.

Boat with paddlewheel

Boat with paddlewheel on side.

"Riding-boom. A boat-boom or long spar working in a hinge or goose-neck, designed to be lowered from abreast the fore-rigging to a horizontal position at right angles with the keel of the vessel ... a, life-line; b, lift; c, riding-boom; d, rope ladder; e, outhaul; f, after-boom guy." -Whitney, 1911

Riding Boom

"Riding-boom. A boat-boom or long spar working in a hinge or goose-neck, designed to be lowered…

When used in a nautical sense, a cutter is a small single-masted vessel, fore-and-aft rigged, with two or more headsails, a bowsprit, and a mast set further back than in a sloop.

Cutter

When used in a nautical sense, a cutter is a small single-masted vessel, fore-and-aft rigged, with two…

A triangular sail made of light canvas, used only in light winds and on yachts, set between the foretop mast head and the end of the jib boom.

Balloon Jib

A triangular sail made of light canvas, used only in light winds and on yachts, set between the foretop…

"Monkey reefed, said of a sail when the yard is on the cap and the reef-tackles are hauled out." -Whitney, 1911

Monkey Reef Jib

"Monkey reefed, said of a sail when the yard is on the cap and the reef-tackles are hauled out."…

"Spanish reef, a derisive term for a jib having a knot tied in its head, or for one of the square-sails whose yard has been lowered and left on the cap." -Whitney, 1911

Spanish Reef Jib

"Spanish reef, a derisive term for a jib having a knot tied in its head, or for one of the square-sails…

"And after the uproar ceased, Paul having sent for the disciples and exhorted them, took leave of them, and departed to go into Macedonia." Acts 20:1 ASV
<p>Illustration of Paul being embraced by the disciples on the docks at Ephesus. One kneels at his feet and the others cling to him. His head is surrounded in a glowing light. In the background, sailors can be seen carrying packages on to a boat, filling pails with water, raising the sails, and getting ready for the voyage. The city of Ephesus is visible in the distance.

Paul Leaves Ephesus and Says Goodbye to the Ephesian Elders

"And after the uproar ceased, Paul having sent for the disciples and exhorted them, took leave of them,…

"A sloop-yacht with a jib, the jib-stay being fastened to a bowsprit." -Whitney, 1911

Raceabout

"A sloop-yacht with a jib, the jib-stay being fastened to a bowsprit." -Whitney, 1911

An illustration of two men sewing sails for a sailboat.

Sail-Making

An illustration of two men sewing sails for a sailboat.

A sailboat

Sailboat

A sailboat

A certain portion of a sail between the top or bottom and a row of eyelet-holes running across the sail, one or more reefs being folded or rolled up to contract the sail in proportion to the increase of the wind.

Reef Sails

A certain portion of a sail between the top or bottom and a row of eyelet-holes running across the sail,…

A piece of cloth or tissue of some kind spread to the wind to impel or assist in impelling a vessel through the water.

Ship Sails

A piece of cloth or tissue of some kind spread to the wind to impel or assist in impelling a vessel…

"A small sail set under another, or between two other sails, to catch or save the wind." &mdash;Whitney, 1889
<p>This illustration shows the save-all labeled with an "a". The hull of the boat as well as other sails and masts are visible.

Save-All, or Catch-All

"A small sail set under another, or between two other sails, to catch or save the wind." —Whitney,…

A four-masted schooner, a type of sailing vessel which uses fore-and-aft sails.

Schooner

A four-masted schooner, a type of sailing vessel which uses fore-and-aft sails.

A small fast-sailing sharp-built vessel with two mass, and the principals sails of the fore-and aft type. There are two chief kinds of schooners, the topsail schooner and the fore-and-aft schooner. This is an illustration of the Topsail Schooner.

Schooner Ship

A small fast-sailing sharp-built vessel with two mass, and the principals sails of the fore-and aft…

The sharp or sharpie is a long, narrow sailboat with a flat bottom used for oystering.

Sharpie

The sharp or sharpie is a long, narrow sailboat with a flat bottom used for oystering.

"Abox- in or into the position of the yards of a vessel when the head-sails are laid aback: applied to the head-yards only, the other sails being kept full."-Whitney, 1902

Ship

"Abox- in or into the position of the yards of a vessel when the head-sails are laid aback: applied…

A large ship with six sails.

Ship

A large ship with six sails.

A ship is a large vessel that floats on water and is propelled by wind caught in the sails.

Ship

A ship is a large vessel that floats on water and is propelled by wind caught in the sails.

An illustration of a large wind powered ship.

Ship

An illustration of a large wind powered ship.

An illustration of a large wind powered ship.

Large Ship with Sails

An illustration of a large wind powered ship.

Three ships sailing on the ocean.

Ships

Three ships sailing on the ocean.

An illustration of Spanish and English ships with sails at war.

Spanish & English Ships with Sails at War

An illustration of Spanish and English ships with sails at war.

"A small fore-and-aft rigged vessel with one mast, generally carrying a jib, fore-staysail, mainsail, and gaff-topsail. Some sloops formerly had a square topsail. It is generally understood that a sloop differs from a cutter by having a fixed instead of a running bowsprit, but the names are used somewhat indiscriminately." &mdash;Whitney, 1889

Sloop

"A small fore-and-aft rigged vessel with one mast, generally carrying a jib, fore-staysail, mainsail,…

"A becket fitted round a boat's mast with an eye to hold the lower end of the sprit which is used to extend the sail. a, sprit with the lower end in the snotter, b." —Whitney, 1889

Snotter

"A becket fitted round a boat's mast with an eye to hold the lower end of the sprit which is used to…

A warship is a ship that is built and primarily intended for combat. Warships are usually built in a completely different way than merchant ships. As well as being armed, warships are designed to withstand damage and are usually faster and more maneuverable than merchant ships. Unlike a merchant ship, a warship typically only carries weapons, ammunition and supplies for its own crew (rather than merchant cargo). Warships usually belong to a navy, though they have sometimes been operated by individuals or companies.

English and Spanish Warships, 1588

A warship is a ship that is built and primarily intended for combat. Warships are usually built in a…