# dictionary of nautical/sailing terms **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 18, 2008, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dictionary-of-nautical-sailing-terms/445835 "2008-04-18T03:21:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DaddyTimesTwo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f07891/32.png) [@DaddyTimesTwo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaddyTimesTwo)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2008, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dictionary-of-nautical-sailing-terms/445835/1 "2008-04-18T03:21:36Z")
I remember reading a straight dope column where Cecil quotes from a dictionary or encyclopedia of terms that originated as sailing terms. I can’t remember the title or the question and searching has not been helpful. I seem to remember the title as something like “Mrs Calibash’s Something About Sailing or Other Maritime Endeavors”. Anyone got a clue abou this book? I’d like to find copy, but I think it also moight be rather old and thus out of print. ---
**Author:** ![Meurglys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/258eb7/32.png) [@Meurglys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meurglys)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2008, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dictionary-of-nautical-sailing-terms/445835/2 "2008-04-18T14:33:23Z")
Captain Bucko’s Nauti-Words Handbook: Fascinating Facts and Fables about the Origins of Hundreds of Nautical Terms and Everyday Expressions? [Amazon link](http://www.amazon.com/Captain-Buckos-Nauti-words-Handbook-Fascinating/dp/0595315291/ref=sr_11_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1208529109&sr=11-1) ---
**Author:** ![DaddyTimesTwo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f07891/32.png) [@DaddyTimesTwo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaddyTimesTwo)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2008, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dictionary-of-nautical-sailing-terms/445835/3 "2008-04-18T21:51:51Z")
That one’s not ringing a ell, but it looks like a good one. Although I really thought you had made it up. “Nauti-word”? That’s either clever or stupid. ---
**Author:** ![Meurglys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/258eb7/32.png) [@Meurglys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meurglys)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2008, 10:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dictionary-of-nautical-sailing-terms/445835/4 "2008-04-19T10:15:02Z")
Well, if you don’t like that silly title, try this one: [When a Loose Cannon Flogs a Dead Horse There’s the Devil to Pay: Seafaring Words in Everyday Speech](http://www.amazon.com/Loose-Cannon-Flogs-Horse-Theres/dp/0070328773/ref=sr_11_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1208599597&sr=11-1) Assuming that’s not the one you’re after either, I’ll admit I’m now stumped. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2008, 10:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dictionary-of-nautical-sailing-terms/445835/5 "2008-04-19T10:48:55Z")
[QUOTE=Meurglys] Well, if you don’t like that silly title, try this one: [When a Loose Cannon Flogs a Dead Horse There’s the Devil to Pay: Seafaring Words in Everyday Speech](http://www.amazon.com/Loose-Cannon-Flogs-Horse-Theres/dp/0070328773/ref=sr_11_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1208599597&sr=11-1) Assuming that’s not the one you’re after either, I’ll admit I’m now stumped. [/QUOTE] I would think that’s the one. And it was referred to by SDStaff Dex in his report [What’s the origin of “ahoy”?](http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mahoy.html) ---
**Author:** ![DaddyTimesTwo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f07891/32.png) [@DaddyTimesTwo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaddyTimesTwo)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2008, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dictionary-of-nautical-sailing-terms/445835/6 "2008-04-19T13:31:35Z")
I’m going to look up both of those, thanks for the help. I’m still not sure that’s what I’m remembering, although the link to the staff report is pretty convincing. ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2008, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dictionary-of-nautical-sailing-terms/445835/7 "2008-04-19T13:43:49Z")
Beware of CANOEists (Conspiracy to Assign a Nautical Origin to Everything). Most of the popular books on this topic are more concerned with spinning a good yarn than thoroughly researching the actual etymologies. _Caveat emptor_.