ClipArt ETC
"The yard of a ship. The ships of the ancients had a single mast in the middle, and a square sail, to raise and support which a transverse pole, or yard, was extended across the mast, not far from the top. To the two extremities of the yard, ropes were attached, which passed over the top of the mast, and thus supported the yard: these ropes were called ceruchi. Sometimes the yard had two, and at other times four ceruchi, as in the annexed cut." — Smith, 1873

Antenna

"The yard of a ship. The ships of the ancients had a single mast in the middle, and a square sail, to…

"The yard of a ship. The ships of the ancients had a single mast in the middle, and a square sail, to raise and support which a transverse pole, or yard, was extended across the mast, not far from the top. To the two extremities of the yard, ropes were attached, which passed over the top of the mast, and thus supported the yard: these ropes were called ceruchi. Sometimes the yard had two, and at other times four ceruchi, as in the annexed cut. When a storm arose, or when the port was obtained, or before an engagement, the antenna was lowered to the middle of the mast. From numerous representations of ships on antique coins, intaglios, lamps, and bas-reliefs, we here select two gems, both of which show the velata antenna, but with the sail reefed to the one, and in the other expanded and swollen with the wind." — Smith, 1873

Antenna

"The yard of a ship. The ships of the ancients had a single mast in the middle, and a square sail, to…

"The yard of a ship. The ships of the ancients had a single mast in the middle, and a square sail, to raise and support which a transverse pole, or yard, was extended across the mast, not far from the top. To the two extremities of the yard, ropes were attached, which passed over the top of the mast, and thus supported the yard: these ropes were called ceruchi. Sometimes the yard had two, and at other times four ceruchi, as in the annexed cut. When a storm arose, or when the port was obtained, or before an engagement, the antenna was lowered to the middle of the mast. From numerous representations of ships on antique coins, intaglios, lamps, and bas-reliefs, we here select two gems, both of which show the velata antenna, but with the sail reefed to the one, and in the other expanded and swollen with the wind." — Smith, 1873

Antenna

"The yard of a ship. The ships of the ancients had a single mast in the middle, and a square sail, to…

"The ornament rising above the stern of ancient ships."-Whitney, 1902

Aplustre

"The ornament rising above the stern of ancient ships."-Whitney, 1902

A three masted vessel, with the foremast square rigged, and the mainmast and mizzemast fore and aft rigged.

Barkantine

A three masted vessel, with the foremast square rigged, and the mainmast and mizzemast fore and aft…

A lateen-sail is a triangular sail extended on a yard which is slung one quarter from the lower end to a mast, and rigged in such a way that the upper end is raised in the air, and the lower end is brought down to form the tack. The word is merely a corruption of "latin," and the rig is mainly used in the Mediterranean and on sailing canoes and small boats.

Boat with Lateen-sail

A lateen-sail is a triangular sail extended on a yard which is slung one quarter from the lower end…

"Brigantine: a square-rigged vessel with two masts and fore and aft mainsail." — Williams, 1889

Brig

"Brigantine: a square-rigged vessel with two masts and fore and aft mainsail." — Williams, 1889

"Dioptric Floating Light. Elevation." —The Encyclopedia Britannica, 1910

Dioptric Light

"Dioptric Floating Light. Elevation." —The Encyclopedia Britannica, 1910

"Dioptric Floating Light. Horizontal Section." —The Encyclopedia Britannica, 1910

Dioptric Light

"Dioptric Floating Light. Horizontal Section." —The Encyclopedia Britannica, 1910

"When one is at sea, or standing on the sea-shore, the first part of a ship seen at a distance, is its mast. As the bessel advances, te mast rises higher and higher above the horizon, and finally the hull, and whole ship, become visible. Now, were the Earth's surface an exact plane, no such appearance would take place, for we should then see the hull long before the mast or rigging, because it is much the largest object." -Comstock 1850

Spheroidal Form of the Earth

"When one is at sea, or standing on the sea-shore, the first part of a ship seen at a distance, is its…

"aa is the mast, b tackle hook, c, c brass flanges for fixing parts of lantern together, e and g weather guards, h plate glass front of lantern, i shutter by which lamps are trimmed, k lamps, l silver reflector. Revolving catoptric apparatus was applied to floating lights in England, and M. Letourneau, in 1851, proposed to employ a number of sets of dioptric apparatus in one lantern." —The Encyclopedia Britannica, 1910

Floating Lights

"aa is the mast, b tackle hook, c, c brass flanges for fixing parts of lantern together, e and g weather…

"Gaff. B, boom; CC, cheeks; G, gaff; M, mast; P, peak; T, throat or jaw. Nautical, a spar used to extend the upper edge of fore-and-aft sails which are not set on stays, as the mainsail of a sloop or spanker of a ship." -Whitney, 1911

Gaff Rig

"Gaff. B, boom; CC, cheeks; G, gaff; M, mast; P, peak; T, throat or jaw. Nautical, a spar used to extend…

"Garland lashed on a lower mast. A large rope strap or grommet lashed to a spar when hoisting it on board." -Whitney, 1911

Nautical Garland

"Garland lashed on a lower mast. A large rope strap or grommet lashed to a spar when hoisting it on…

The sheer hulk is a ship that is afloat but incapable of going to sea. It was used as a crane to help construct ships with its sheers (masts).

Sheer Hulk

The sheer hulk is a ship that is afloat but incapable of going to sea. It was used as a crane to help…

A pole set upright in a boat or vessel, to sustain the sails, yards, rigging, etc.

Mast

A pole set upright in a boat or vessel, to sustain the sails, yards, rigging, etc.

An illustration of a mast with a spencer-mast attachment.

Mast with Spencer-Mast Attachment

An illustration of a mast with a spencer-mast attachment.

Merchant Sailing Ship

"A fore-and-aft sail, bent to the mast at the weather leech, and having the after peak stretched by a spar or spirit, the foremost and lower end of which is hitched to the mast."—Finley, 1917

Sprit sail

"A fore-and-aft sail, bent to the mast at the weather leech, and having the after peak stretched by…

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…

A large sailing ship.

Ship

A large sailing ship.

"Nautical, one of a pair of hooks working on the same axis and fitting closely together: much used about a ship's rigging. Also clip-hook, clove-hook." —Whitney, 1889

Sister Hooks - Closed and Open

"Nautical, one of a pair of hooks working on the same axis and fitting closely together: much used about…

"A small fore-and-aft rigged vessel with one mast and fixed bowsprint."—Finley, 1917

Sloop

"A small fore-and-aft rigged vessel with one mast and fixed bowsprint."—Finley, 1917

"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." —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…

Illustration of a painting of the ancient Greeks returning victorious from the Battle of Salamis against the Persians. Athenian women run out to meet the soldiers as they emerge from their ships. Ships' masts can be seen to the right. One soldier rears up on horseback.

The Victors of Salamis by Fernand Cormon

Illustration of a painting of the ancient Greeks returning victorious from the Battle of Salamis against…