World War II Glossary

Term	Language	Definition
A4	German	See Aggregat 4
abaft	English	maritime terminology for to the rear of, eg. the mainmast is abaft the foremast
Abschuß	German	discharge of a gun
Abteilung	German	branch, section (abbreviation: Abt.)
aburton	English	maritime terminology for a small tackle formed by two blocks or pullies
Abwehr	German	German military intelligence service
AEF	English	Allied Expeditionary Force, the combined forces of all Allied nations
aft	English	the area near or at the rear of a maritime vessel
Aggregat 4	German	The earlier name for the German V-2 rocket
AI	English	Airborne Interception radar equipment fitted to fighters.
Airborne Cigar	English	Electronic aircraft jammer to blot out enemy nightfighter radar channels.
AK	Polish	The Armja Krajowa, or "Home Army", was the name of the Polish Resistance
Aktion T4	German	The Nazi plan to exterminate the disabled
Allgemeine SS	German	Non-military branch of the SS
alpino	Italian	mountain infantry (plural: alpini)
amidships	English	The center area of a ship
amidships	English	the area in the middle of a maritime vessel
Anderson Shelters	English	Small and cheap Air-raid shelter that could be erected in people's gardens. Made from six curved sheets bolted together and measuring 6ft 6in by 4ft 6in (1.95m by 1.35m) the shelter could accommodate six people. Anderson shelters were given free to poor people, and those earning more than £5 a week could purchase them for £7. Soon after the outbreak of the Second World War in September 1939, over 2 million families had shelters in their garden. By the time of the Blitz this had risen to two and a quarter million.
Anker	German	anchor
Anschluss	German	The plan and the eventually successful annexation of Austria into German borders [Read More]
ANZAC	English	Australia and New Zealand Army Corps
apron	English	the part of a pier or quay which is between the enclosed structure and the edge, upon which cargo is unloaded
armi d'accompagnamento	Italian	support weapons
ARP	English	Acronym for "Air Raid Precautions", which was an organization in the United Kingdom dedicated to the protection of civilians from the danger of air-raids.
Artillerie	German	artillery (abbreviation: Art.)
Artilleriefährprahm	German	German landing craft refitted with artillery pieces for naval bombardment
ASDIC	English	The original British acronym for a sonic device that detects submarines, usually said to stand for Anti-Submarine Detection Investigation Committee, although there is little evidence that this was the case. Now usually called SONAR (Sound Navigation and Ranging).
ASV	English	Air to Surface Vessel radar
athwartship	English	across a ship, from side to side
Atlantic Wall	English	English translation of the German term Atlantikwall; see Atlantikwall for more details
Atlantikwall	German	The Atlantic Wall was the line of defenses along the 2,685-kilometer coast line from the Netherlands to the Spanish-French border. Construction of it began in 1942. It formed the basis for Adolf Hitler's Festung Europa concept.
ATS	English	Acronym for "Auxiliary Territorial Service", which was a branch of the British Army in World War II consisted of women.
Backbord	German	Backbord is the nautical term that refers to the left side of a ship, as perceived by a person facing towards the bow, or, the front of the ship. The term is also used for aircraft. The equivalent for the right-hand side is Steuerbord. (abbreviation: B.B.)
backstay	English	a rope that serves as a support to prevent the mast of a maritime vessel from going forward and also contributes to its lateral support, thereby assisting the shrouds; it extends from the upper part of the mast to the side at some distance abaft the mast
ballast	English	heavy weights packed into the bottom of a ship to give her stability; also, water carried in ballast tanks
ballast tanks	English	tanks provided in various parts of a ship for introduction of water ballast when necessary to add weight to produce a change in trim or stability; they are capable of being flooded or pumped out at will
banderas	Italian	Italian Blackshirt battalions fighting in Spain during the Spanish Civil War
bandit	English	Allied code name for any aircraft identified as hostile
banzai	Japanese	Banzai was the traditional Japanese cheer of enthusiasm or triumph, meaning "10,000 years", referring to the wish for the reigning Japanese emperor to rule for 10,000 years. While it was used mainly as a victory cheer, western exposure to the word was often made during suicide charges by defensive Japanese garrisons, hence the phrase "banzai charge" coined by western soldiers.
BAR	English	Browning automatic rifle
battaglione	Italian	battalion
batten	English	a strip of wood or steel used in securing tarpaulins in place on a maritime vessel, or wood or steel fittings inside the frames of a ship to keep cargo from moving and hitting the shell plating of a ship
Batteriedeck	German	battery deck or second deck of a warship
bazooka	English	Rocket-propelled shaped charge grenade
BCRA	French	The Bureau Centrale de Renseignements et d'Action was the Free French secret intelligence service
beam	English	The direction toward the sides of a ship or the width of a ship
beam clamp	English	a ringed fitting that can be fastened to a beam aboard a ship in order to secure a block and tackle in the hold for lifting or shifting cargo
becket	English	maritime terminology for an eye for securing one end of a line to a block or a rope eye as on a cargo net
BEF	English	The British Expeditionary Force
belay	English	maritime terminology for to fasten or to stop
bend	English	maritime terminology for to secure one line to another
Beobachtungsdienst	German	wireless reconnaissance service (abbreviation: B-Dienst)
berth	English	a designated place where a ship lies at anchor or ties up
between decks	English	the space between decks aboard a ship
bight	English	maritime terminology for a loop or bend in a rope
bilge	English	the rounded portion of the shell of a maritime vessel which connects the bottom with side, or the part of a barrel at its greatest width
bitts	English	maritime terminology for a pair of short metal or wooden posts extending up from a base plate usually fastened to a dock or deck and used for securing lines
Blitzkrieg	German	Literally meaning "lightning war", blitzkrieg was the name given to the German tactic that, through the use of combined arms, paralyzed enemy defenses through surprise, speed, firepower, and envelopment. The tactic was tested in Spain in 1938 and in Poland in 1939, and was most notably used in the quick capture of France and the Low Countries in 1940.
block	English	maritime terminology for a pulley or sheave, or a system of pulleys or sheaves, mounted in a frame or shell and used for moving objects by means of ropes run over the pulleys or sheaves
bo'sn's chair	English	a piece of plank hung in two straps and forming a seat on which a man may be hoisted aloft or lowered over the side of a ship
boat hook	English	a long pole with a hook attached to the end, used for catching, holding, and steadying small boats
bocage	French	Sometimes referred to in English as hedgerows, bocage is a French word referring to a terrain of mixed woodland and pasture with side roads bounded by banks and thick vegetation. The bocage-country of Normandy in France provided German troops significant advantages during the Allied Normandy Campaign of 1944.
Bofors	Swedish	The Swedish weapon manufacturer which sold its 40-mm Anti-aircraft gun to both sides before World War II.
bollard	English	a short metal or timber column which is attached to a wharf and used for securing the lines from a ship
boom	English	a long, round, heavy spar, pivoted at one end, generally used for handling cargo into and out of a ship
boot topping	English	a specific exterior area on the hull of a maritime vessel where special air, water, and grease resisting paint is applied
Boozer	English	Radar warning device against fighters, fitted to bombers.
bow	English	The bow is the foremost point of the hull of a ship or boat; it is the point that is ahead when the vessel is underway. The furthest point of the bow is called the stem.
break down	English	to put cargo in step formation aboard a ship
break out	English	to unload cargo from a maritime vessel
breasting float	English	a raft-like float used to keep a maritime vessel, while secured, away from the pier; also known as camel
bridge	English	The general location of the ship where the commanding officer and his/her staff operates
bridle	English	maritime terminology for a length of line with ends secured to a spar or another line, or an assembly of wire rope or chain used as a sling
broken stowage	English	maritime terminology for the waste and loss of space caused by irregularity in the size and shape of packages or the incidence of hold pillars, frames, deck beams and other obstructions, and the failure to utilize available space
brow	English	a gangplnk that is usually fitted with rollers at the end resting on the wharf to allow for the movement of the maritime vessel with the tide
Brücke	German	bridge of a warship
bulkhead	English	walls in the interior of ships
bull rope	English	maritime terminology for a rope used for snaking out cargo to the square of the hatch from the between deck or lower hold, or used to work the cargo into these spaces, or a rope used in connection with the topping lift
bulwark	English	the extension of the plating of the side of a ship above the weather deck
bunker	English	maritime terminology for a compartment used for the storage of coal or fuel oil
camel	English	a raft-like float used to keep a maritime vessel, while secured, away from the pier; also known as breasting float
Camicia Nera	Italian	Italian Blackshirt personnel
cantline	English	the space or groove between two fore and aft rows of casks stowed side by side aboard a ship
CAP	English	Combat air patrols were defensive formations formed by carrier fighters above task groups.
caponier	English	Originally from the French word caponnière, a caponier is a fortification positioned in such a way that its weapons could fire on both flanks. A half-caponier, contrastingly, could only fire on one flank.
capsize	English	A ship is said to have capsized when she flips upside down.
capstan	English	a revolving drum, with vertical axis, powered by hand or by machine, used for handling heavy anchor chains, hawsers, etc. aboard a ship
careen	English	to incline a ship from the upright, as by wave action, or mechanically for the purpose of making repairs
carfloat	English	a barge used for ferrying railroad cars
cat head	English	an auxiliary drum usually fitted on one or both ends of a winch or windlass aboard a ship
catamaran	English	a platform secured to two floats used for work alongside a ship
caulk	English	maritime terminology for to fill in the seams with oakum or cotton to make watertight
ceiling	English	planking fitted on top of the double-bottom in the hold of a ship
centuria	Italian	Italian Blackshirt unit equivalent to a company
cheek	English	maritime terminology for the side of a block
chime	English	the part of the cask or barrel at the end of the staves
chock	English	blocks of wood used to secure cargo aboard a ship that otherwise may roll, eg. vehicles
chock-a-block	English	maritime terminology for when two blocks of a tackle are drawn together as close as possible
choked	English	maritime terminology for to be fouled in the block, because of a kink, or because of slipping off the sheave
CIGS	English	British Chief of the Imperial General Staff
cleat	English	maritime terminology for metal or wood fittings with arms or horns upon which to secure lines
clip	English	maritime terminology for a metal fitting used to grip and hold wire rope
coaming	English	maritime term for the side wall of a hatch projecting above the deck around the perimeter of the hatch
coffer dam	English	the empty space separating compartments aboard a ship for the purpose of insulation, or to prevent the liquid contents of one compartment from entering another in the event of leakage
collier	English	a maritime vessel designed for the carrying of coal
Commando Supremo	Italian	Italian supreme military command
complementi	Italian	replacement
conning tower	English	The conning tower is a raised location of a ship where a navigation officer could reside to direct the ship. It is usually armored. Aboard a surface ship, the conning tower is usually immediately below the bridge; aboard a submarine, it is raised, and is often also used for entering and exiting the vessel.
cooper	English	maritime terminology for someone who repairs cargo containers
coorte	Italian	Italian Blackshirt unit equivalent to a battalion
cordage	English	a comprehensive maritime terminology for all ropes of whatever size or kind
Corpo Truppe Volontarie	Italian	Italian volunteer corps fighting in Spain during the Spanish Civil War
coup d'é·tat	French	"Blow of state"; an illegal replacement of a ruling body of a state
cow's tail	English	maritime terminology for the frayed end of a rope; also called fag
cowl	English	the opening to a ventilator
cradle	English	a support of wood or metal shaped to fit the object which is stowed upon it, such as boat cradle, boom cradle, etc.
cringle	English	maritime terminology for a piece of line spliced on another line to form an eye
cross beams	English	beams that support the hatch covers aboard a ship
cross tree	English	athwartship pieces fitted on a mast, serving as foundations for platforms or used to secure the blocks used in connection with the topping lift
crow's nest	English	a lookout station attached to or near the top of the mast aboard a ship
D-Day	English	Military term used to signify the particular date on which an operation was to start; in popular culture, "D-Day" often refers to the Normandy invasion of 6 Jun 1944.
da sbarco	Italian	Italian Blackshirt amphibious battalion
davits	English	crane-like device used to raise and lower a ship's boats or other weights
deadweight cargo	English	maritime cargo of such a nature that a long ton stows in less than 40 cubic feet
deadweight tonnage	English	the carrying capacity of a ship, measured by subtracting the empty (light) displacement tonnage from the loaded displacement tonnage
deck load	English	the cargo carried on the deck of a maritime vessel
deep waterline	English	the waterline at which a maritime vessel floats when carrying the maximum allowable load
demurrage	English	the charge made when a ship is delayed while loading or discharging cargo
displacement tonnage	English	the weight of a ship measured in terms of the weight of water displaced by the ship
docking plan	English	information regarding the underwater portion of a ship's hull for docking purposes
dog	English	maritime terminology for a short metal rod or bar fashioned to form a clamp which is used to hold watertight doors or manhole covers in place
donkey engine	English	a small gas, steam, or electric auxiliary engine set on the deck of a maritime vessel for lifting or another purpose
double bottom	English	a watertight space between inner and outer bottom of a ship, in which fuel oil or water ballast may be carried
draft	English	the depth of a maritime vessel below the waterline
DUKW	English	Sometimes nicknamed Duck, it was an amphibious truck used by the Allies. "D" indicated a vehicle designed in 1942, "U" stood for "utility (amphibious)", "K" indicated all-wheel drive, and "W" indicated two powered rear axles.
dunnage	English	loose material such as lumber, burlap, etc., placed in between cargo aboard a ship
E-Boat	English	English name for the small and fast patrol craft of the German Navy armed with guns and torpedos. See Schnellboot.
Einsatzgruppen	German	German paramilitary groups operated by the SS responsible for one million civilian deaths during the Holocaust
Endlösung	German	The "Final Solution" genocide planned by the Nazi Party against Jewish people. [Read More]
Enigma	German	A German military encryption protocol
escape hole	English	amall man hole in the deck of a ship
estuary	English	An estuary is the wide part of a river where it connects with the sea. In this area, fresh and salt water mix as a result of both the river's current as well as the ocean tides.
ETO	English	The European Theatre of Operations was the term used in the United States to refer to US operations north of the Mediterranean coast.
Eureka	English	AN/APN-2 ground radio beacons set by the pathfinder paratroopers to guide transport aircraft to their drop zones during the Allied invasion of Normandie, France. [Read More]
eye	English	maritime terminology for a loop for insertion of a hook, pin, etc.
fair lead	English	maritime terminology for a fitting, usually a block, used to change the direction of a line
fake	English	maritime terminology for to lay a rope down in the long bights side by side in order that it will run out clear or can be easily and rapidly paid out, or to describe one complete circle of a coil of rope
fall	English	maritime terminology for the entire length of rope used in a tackle
fallschirmjäger	German	Paratrooper
farm	English	maritime time for an open storage area near pier entrances
fathom	English	a maritime measurement equaling 6 feet or approximately 1.8 meters
feldgrau	German	"Field grey" was the term commonly used to describe the German soldier; it was derived from the color of the German Army uniform.
fender	English	canvas, wood, or rope used over the side of a ship to protect it from chafing when alongside another vessel or dock
fid	English	maritime terminology for a pointed hard wood tool used to open strands of manila line
Filbert	English	A 219-foot long naval barrage balloon containing a 9-foot diameter radar reflector, giving an echo on German radar like that of a large ship.
Fishpond	English	British early-warning radar against fighters fitted to some bombers in 1944.
fjord	English	Originally a Scandinavian word but now commonly used in English as well, a fjord is a steeply-walled inlet of salt water created by glacial erosion.
Flaggschiff	German	flagship
Flak	German	Abbreviated form of fliegerabwehrkanone, or anti-aircraft gun. The word is also commonly used in the English language with the same meaning.
flattop	English	Nickname for an aircraft carrier
Fliegerabwehrkanone	German	anti-aircraft gun; the word is also commonly used in the English language with the same meaning (abbreviation: Flak)
flooring off	English	laying a floor with dunnage aboard a ship
Flotte	German	fleet
Flottenchef	German	chief of a naval fleet
Flottille	German	flotilla (abbreviation: Fl.)
Flugzeugträger	German	aircarft carrier
forecastle	English	uppermost structure on the bow of a ship
fork truck	English	a gasoline or electric powered industrial machine equipped with two extended forks used to pick up, carry and stack supplies
freeboard	English	the vertical distance from the waterline to the top of the weather deck at side aboard a maritime vessel
freeing port	English	holes in the lower portion of a bulwark aboard a ship which allow deckwash to drain off into the sea
Freikorps	German	A collective term for the ultra-conservative para-military volunteer organizations that formed in post-WW1 Germany.
freshen the nip	English	maritime terminology for to shift the rope so as to take the wear in another place
full and down	English	maritime terminology which describes a ship as being filled to its cargo capacity
Funk	German	radio (abbreviation: Fu)
Funkmeßortung	German	radar (abbreviation: FuMO)
Funktelegramm	German	radio message (abbreviation: FT)
funnel	English	Synonymous with smokestack, the funnel is used to ventilate smoke from a ship's boilers.
Führer	German	leader (abbreviation: Fhr.)
gangway man	English	a longshoreman who directs the inch operators
gantline	English	maritime terminology for a line passed through a single block aloft, used for hoisting or lowering rigging
gantry	English	maritime terminology for an overhead structure used to support a crane or another purpose
gasket	English	seaming material such as rubber, canvas, asbestos, which insures tightness in an opening such as a hatch aboard a ship
Gefechtsmast	German	foremast of a ship
Ger	German	instrument
Geschoss	German	projectile
Geschwader	German	A geschwader is the largest combat flying unit in the German Luftwaffe. A geschwader was consisted of three gruppen with a staff unit of four aircraft, making the nominal strength 94 aircraft, but the number fluctuated depending on situation. The plural form of the word is geschwader.
Gestapo	German	The Gestapo, short for Geheime Staatspolizei, was the Secret State Police of Nazi Germany. It was established on 26 Apr 1933 from the existing Prussian Secret Police. In 1934, Hermann Göring assumed control of the Gestapo and expanded its influence across all of Germany. In Apr 1934, Göring handed over full control of the Gestapo over to Heinrich Himmler and the SS, officially making it a branch of the SS; Himmler merged the Gestapo with the existing SS Sicherheitspolizei branch. Because Gestapo agents were considered above the law, abuses of power were frequent, ranging from illegal detention to torture. The post-war Nuremberg war crimes trials declared the Gestapo a criminal organization.
gin block	English	maritime terminology for a steel block consisting of a sheave supported by a skeleton frame, that is, without solid sides
gin pole	English	maritime terminology for a portable pole rigged with tackles, which is used to handle loads where a boom is not available
gooseneck	English	maritime terminology for a swivel fitting that connects the heel of the boom with the mast
grab rope	English	maritime terminology for a line used for steadying oneself
Granate	German	shell, grenade (plural: Granaten)
grapnel	English	a small maritime anchor with several arms used for dragging
grommet	English	maritime terminology for a ring of rope used as an eye or as a gasket
gross tonnage	English	a measure of volume inside a ship
ground tackle	English	general maritime terminology for all mooring gear
Großmast	German	mainmast of a ship
Gruppe	German	A gruppe is a combat flying unit in the German Luftwaffe, usually consisted of three staffeln with a staff flight of three aircraft. A gruppe had a nominal strength of 30 aircraft, but the number fluctuated depending on situation. The plural form of the word is gruppen.
gruppo battaglioni	Italian	battalion group
Guardia Nazionale Repubblicana	Italian	National Republican Guard (GNR)
gunwale	English	maritime terminology for the upper edge of the rail of a ship or boat; approximate pronunciation: GUN-nel
guy	English	maritime terminology for a rope or cradle used to swing or steady a boom
H-Hour	English	Military term used to signify the particular time at which an operation was to start
Hakenkreuz	German	Swastika
halyard	English	maritime terminology for a light line used for hoisting a flag or sail
Handelsmarine	German	merchant marine
handy billy	English	maritime term for a small block and tackle for use about the deck, resembling awning pulley
hatch	English	maritime terminology for an opening in the deck through which cargo may be handled
hatch covers	English	maritime terminology for boards fitted to rest on top of hatch beams to cover a hatch opening
hawser	English	maritime terminology for a large rope used for securing vessels to a pier, for towing, etc.
head block	English	maritime terminology for a block that is attached to the top or head of the boom, also called the cargo block, and sometimes referred to as gin block
header	English	a longshoreman who works in a hold of a ship and at the same time directs several others
Heck	German	stern; rear or after part of a ship or boat
Hedgehog	English	British anti-submarine weapon; a mortar firing a salvo of depth charges
heel block	English	maritime terminology for the block located at the bottom or heel of the boom
HMS	English	His Majesty's Ship, which was the prefix to the names of all British ships controlled by the British government or military; "His Majesty" referred to King George VI of Britain
hold	English	space below decks for stowage of cargo aboard a ship
housefall	English	maritime terminology for a system of cargo handling whereby a fall is passed through a block attached high on a pier structure and used in conjunction with the fall from a boom spotted over the ship's hatch. The fall passing through the block may lead either to the winch on the ship, or to a winch on the pier.
Huff-Duff	English	British Royal Navy term for HF/DF (High Frequency Direction Finding) equipment used to locate enemy warships, usually U-boats, by detecting their radio signals.
hull	English	the framework of a maritime vessel including all decks, deckhouses, but not the mast rigging, engines, etc.
HVAR	English	high velocity air rocket
IFF	English	"Identification Friend or Foe" was a radio device equipped by aircraft to announce its identity to prevent friend fire.
inboard	English	toward the center of a ship
Ingenieur	German	engineer (abbreviation: Ing.)
jackstay	English	a general maritime terminology for any rope or rod used for securing purposes
jettison	English	to heave goods overboard from a maritime vessel
jetty	English	a landing wharf or pier or a breakwater
Jot Dora	German	German code word meaning 'fire at will' (abbreviation: JD)
jury rig	English	maritime terminology for a makeshift arrangement of cargo handling gear, rigged when regular gear has broken down
kaigun	Japanese	Japanese word for navy, as in Nihon Kaigun, or the Japanese Navy.
kamikaze	Japanese	Originally coined to describe the two typhoons that thwarted the Mongol invasion of Japan in 1274 and 1281, the term kamikaze, or "divine wind", was applied particularly in English in reference to the suicide aircraft employed by Japan in WW2. Japanese sources typically use the phrase tokubetsu kogeki tai, or "Special Attack Units", instead of kamikaze.
Kampfgruppe	German	Sometimes shortened as KG, the Kampfgruppe was an ad-hoc mixed military formation usually organized for a particular task or operation only. It was usually a battalion in size, but size could vary based on mission. It was often named by either their commanding officer or the parent division. The plural form of Kampfgruppe is Kampfgruppen.
Katapult	German	catapult aboard ships
keel	English	The center structural beam of a ship at the very bottom running longitudinally, consisting of three parts: the flat keel plate, the vertical keel plate, and rider plate.
Kehlsteinhaus	German	Sometimes anglicized as Eagle's Nest, it was Adolf Hitler's mountain-top retreat in the German Alps near Berchtesgaden.
Kempei	Japanese	Japanese military police
kentledge	English	pig iron used as ballast, or as a weight for inclining a maritime vessel
kingposts	English	a pair of masts used to support booms aboard a maritime vessel
knot	English	maritime terminology for a tie in a line, or a measurement of speed of one nautical mile per hour
Kreuzer	German	cruiser
Kriegsmarine	German	Name of the German Navy between 1935 and 1945.
Kriegsschiff	German	warship
landlubber	English	maritime terminology for something that is non-seafaring
lanyard	English	maritime terminology for a heavy piece of rope attached at one end to some object, which is moving or swinging, while the other end of the rope is used for controlling purposes
lashing	English	maritime terminology for a rope used to secure deck cargo, etc.
lay	English	maritime terminology for the direction of twist in a rope, as left lay or right lay
LCM	English	landing craft mechanized
LCT	English	landing craft tank
LCVP	English	landing craft vehicles and personnel
LDV	English	Acronym for "Local Defence Volunteers", which were local volunteers otherwise ineligible for military service, usually owing to age. They acted as a secondary defense force in conjunction with the military in case of invasion. The organization was later renamed to the Home Guard.
Lebensraum	German	Literally "living space", it was a concept used by the Nazi Party to express the need and to justify German aggression in Eastern Europe.
legione	Italian	Italian Blackshirt unit equivalent to a regiment
Lend-Lease	English	The American policy to supply the Allied nations with equipment
Liberty ship	English	Modular American cargo ship that was mass-produced in great quantities during the war
lighter	English	a small barge-like vessel used for loading and unloading ships from the offshore side, and for transporting cargo locally about the harbor
line	English	maritime terminology for a rope
linkband	English	maritime terminology for a band fitted around the head of a cargo boom into which is shackled the topping lift, headblock, and boom guys
list	English	A ship is said to be listing when she is tilting toward any direction, usually because of flooding.
locker	English	a storage compartment aboard a ship
long ton	English	a weight measurement equaling 2,240 pounds
longshoreman	English	a person emmployed in the loading and unloading of cargo from ships
LRDG	English	Acronym for "Long Range Desert Group", which specialized in mechanized reconnaissance, intelligence gathering, and desert navigation.
LST	English	Landing Ship Tank, a type of American landing craft [Read More]
Luftwaffe	German	German Air Force
magazine	English	storage space for a warship's ammunition
main deck	English	highest complete deck extending from stem to stern and side to side aboard a ship
mainmast	English	the second mast from the bow aboard a ship
manifest	English	a detailed list of a maritime vessel's cargo
Maquis	French	Rural guerrilla bands of French Resistance, mostly operating in the mountainous areas of Brittany and southern France. They utilised guerrilla tactics to harass the Milice and German occupation troops.
Marinefährprahm	German	landing craft
marlin	English	maritime terminology for a two-stranded tarred cord used for seizing
marlinspike	English	maritime terminology for a pointed iron instrument used to separate the strands in splicing wire rope
mast	English	a vertical structure supporting the booms of a ship
messenger	English	maritime terminology for a light line used for hauling a heavier rope or cable
Milizia Volontaria Sicurezza Nazionale	Italian	National Security Volunteer Militia (MVSN)
mole	English	a breakwater used as a loading pier
Molotov cocktail	English	hand-made explosive device made from a fuel-filled bottle with a piece of rag which acted as a fuse. First employed in the Spanish Civil War, it later became a weapon symbolizing the fierce Russian resistance against German occupation. Named after Vyacheslav Molotov.
Monica	English	British radar early-warning device against fighters fitted to bombers from 1943.
Moonshine	English	An electric repeater carried on RAF air-sea-rescue boats that could pick up the Hohentwiel radar carried on German maritime-reconnaissance aircraft and then amplify and re-transmit them giving the impression on radar of a large fleet of ships sailing close together.
mortise	English	maritime terminology for a groove for the strap of a block; also called a score
mousing	English	maritime terminology for closing the end of a hook with seizing to prevent the sling from slipping off
MTB	English	motor torpedo boat
MTB	English	motor gun boat
Nazi	German	An alternate abbreviation to NSDAP for the German political party National Sozialistiche Deutsche Arbeitpartei that controlled Germany until 1945.
net tonnage	English	a measure of volume inside a ship, not counting non-cargo holding areas such as the crew's spaces
Nihon Kaigun	Japanese	Japanese phrase for the Japanese Navy.
nip	English	maritime terminology for a worn spot in a rope
nisei	Japanese	second generation; children born in a foreign country to Japanese immigrants
NKVD	Russian	Narodni Komissarat Vnutrennykh Del, "Soviet People's Comissariat of Internal Affairs" was the Soviet Russian internal security service, which was the predecessor to the KGB.
norman pin	English	maritime terminology for a pin passing through the head of a bollard to prevent hawsers from slipping off
oakum	English	a caulking material made of old tarred hemp rope fiber, often used aboard maritime vessels
Oberdeck	German	upper deck of a ship
OKW	German	The Oberkommando der Wehrmacht was the German military high command.
OSS	English	The Office of Strategic Services was the American military intelligence and special operations service.
outboard	English	toward the side of the ship
overhead	English	maritime terminology for ceiling
padeye	English	maritime terminology for a metal eye attached to a deck or bulkhead through which a hook, ring or line may be passed
pallet	English	a wooden platform on which material can be stacked and hoisted aboard a ship
palm whipping	English	maritime terminology for a short length of seizing at the end of a rope to prevent its unlaying
Panzer	German	Armor, as in tank
Panzerdeck	German	armored deck of a ship
Panzerfaust	German	A light, disposable, and very effective German infantry anti-tank grenade launcher
Panzergrenadier	German	Mechanized infantry
Panzerschiff	German	German pocket battleship; literally 'armored ship'
Panzerschiffe	German	A class of heavy cruisers often dubbed as pocket battleships
panzerschreck	German	Rocket-propelled shaped charge grenade
Panzersprenggranate	German	armor piercing shell (abbreviation: Psgr.)
parbuckle	English	maritime terminology for the method of rolling an object, such as a drum, up an incline by means of a rope
parcelling	English	maritime terminology for wrapping a rope spirally with long strips of tarred canvas, overlapped, in order to shed water
patent block	English	maritime terminology for a block having roller bearings for the pin bearing
patent eye	English	maritime terminology for a metal eye or socket secured to the end of a wire rope in place of a spliced eye
pawl	English	maritime terminology for a short hinged piece of metal used to engage the teeth of gear-like mechanisms so that recoil will be prevented
pay out	English	maritime terminology for to slack out on a line
peak tank	English	compartments at the extreme fore and aft ends of the ship either left void or used for water ballast
pendant	English	maritime terminology for a length of wire rope with a socket or an eye splice at each end
persona non grata	Latin	A foreign person whose entering or remaining in a particular country is prohibited by that country's government. The plural form of this term is personae non gratae.
pier	English	a structure used for loading and unloading maritime vessels, which projects into the water, usually at right angles to the shore line
pile	English	a timber driven into the bottom and projecting above water
plimsoll mark	English	A mark painted on the sides of a maritime vessel designating the depth to which the vessel may, under the maritime laws, be loaded in different bodies of water during various seasons of the year
pole mast	English	a complete mast constructed from a single spar aboard a ship
Pom-Pom	English	British Royal Navy term for any ship-mounted automatic anti-aircraft cannon, particularly the 2-pounder Vickers.
poop deck	English	a partial deck at the stern over the main deck aboard a ship
porpoise	English	broach of a torpedo
port	English	Port is the nautical term that refers to the left side of a ship, as perceived by a person facing towards the bow, or, the front of the ship. The term is also used for aircraft. The equivalent for the right-hand side is starboard.
preventer	English	maritime terminology for a rope used for additional support or safety, as, a preventer guy
pricker	English	maritime terminology for a small marlinspike, which is a pointed iron instrument used to separate the strands in splicing wire rope
quay	English	a wharf used for the loading and unloading of cargo from ships, which is parallel to the shore, having water on only one side
RAAF	English	Royal Australian Air Force
racking	English	maritime terminology for joining two ropes together by seizing
RAF	English	Royal Air Force of Britain
raggruppamento	Italian	Italian Blackshirt formation consisted of two legione (regiments) or two gruppo battalioni (battalion group) (plural: raggruppamenti)
raked	English	fore and aft inclination of masts, funnels, and other structures aboard a ship
RAN	English	Royal Australian Navy
Rangers	English	US Army equivalent of the British Commandos trained to make hit and run raids on enemy facilities on the coast of occupied Europe.
ras	Italian	Local fascist leader
rat guard	English	maritime terminology for a circular piece of metal fitted closely on hawsers and lines to prevent rats from boarding or leaving the ship while at the wharf
ratline	English	maritime terminology for a light rope used as rungs between shrouds, for the crew to go aloft
RCAF	English	Royal Canadian Air Force
RCN	English	Royal Canadian Navy
reefer	English	a ship designed for the carrying of refrigerated cargo
reeve	English	maritime terminology for to pass the end of a rope through a block
Reich	German	Reich is the German word used by Nazi Germany to refer to Germany and the conquered territories. Nazi Germany was often referred to as the Third Reich; in Nazi propaganda, the First Reich referred to the Holy Roman Empire and the Second Reich referred to the German empire of 1871-1918.
Reichswehr	German	Name of the German Armed Forces under the Weimar Republic between 1919 and 1935
rigging	English	maritime terminology for all ropes and chairs required to support the masts, yards, and booms of a vessel and to operate the moveable parts, or the act of handling and placing heavy weights and machinery; standing rigging is permanent while running rigging is temporary
RIN	English	Royal Indian Navy
Ritterkreuz	German	Knight's Cross medal
RKKA	Russian	Robochiy Krestyanskaya Krasnaya Armiya, "The Workers and Peasants Red Army" or "Red Army" for short
RM	English	Royal Marines of Britain
RN	English	Royal Navy of Britain
RNVR	English	Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve of Britain
RNZAF	English	Royal New Zealand Air Force
RNZN	English	Royal New Zealand Navy
Rope	English	Bundles of strips of aluminium foil (see Window) dropped every 5 seconds (or every 440 yards) to give a continuous "blib" on the German coastal radar during the Allied invasion of Normandie, France. [Read More]
rose box	English	maritime terminology for the enlarged terminal on the suction end of a pipe which forms a strainer to prevent the entrance of material liable to choke the bilge suction pipe
round	English	one unit of ammunition fired from a weapon
round in	English	maritime terminology for to bring the blocks of a tackle closer together
round line	English	maritime terminology for a three-stranded rope used for fine seizings
RSHA	German	The Reichssicherheitshauptamt, or "Reich Security Main Office", was the SS orgainization to coordinate all German police forces.
SA	German	See Sturmabteilung
salmon board	English	the platform of a platform sling aboard a ship
salvo	English	a simultaneous firing of more than one weapons
SAS	English	Acronym for "Special Air Service", which was consisted of British Army volunteers who conducted raids behind enemy lines during the North African Campaign.
save-all	English	a net spread from a ship's rail to the wharf to catch any cargo falling from slings during loading and unloading operations
Schiff	German	ship
Schlachtkreuzer	German	battlecruiser
Schlachtschiff	German	battleship
Schnellboot	German	German name for the small and fast patrol craft of the German Navy armed with guns and torpedoes. They were larger (between 78-100 tons) than the comparable British Motor Torpedo Boats or American PT vessels and were used to attack shipping in coastal waters. Called Schnellboot (fast craft) by the Germans they were generally known as E-Boats (Enemy Boats) by the Allies.
Schutzstaffel	German	Directly translated into English as "Protective Squadron", the Schutzstaffel was the para-military branch of the the Nazi Party in Germany. It was often referred to as the SS. The SS was established in the 1920s as Adolf Hitler's bodyguards, hence the perception that the members of the SS were of an elite group more capable than the German military. From 1929 until the end of Nazi Germany, the SS was led by Heinrich Himmler. As the European War began, SS troops conducted battles in tandem with the regular army, and was known for rampant atrocities against enemy personnel, both military and civilian. The post-war Nuremberg war crimes trials declared the SS a criminal organization.
score	English	maritime terminology for the groove in the cheek of some types of blocks, to take the strap
screw	English	The term "screw" is the shortened form of the full "screw propeller". It refers to the fan-like device that propels boats, ships, and other maritime vessels.
scuppers	English	maritime terminology for drains from decks to carry off accumulated rain or sea water
SD	German	See Sicherheitsdienst
SEAC	English	The Allied South East Asia Command
Seetakt	English	German coast-watching radar working in the 370 MHz (megahertz) band.
seizing	English	maritime terminology for the light cordage used to bind a cut or spliced rope or cable, or the act of applying such
SHAEF	English	The Allied Supreme Headquartes Allied Expeditionary Force
shake out	English	To unstow specific items of cargo from a ship, particularly by dragging to the square of the hatch
shakings	English	maritime terminology for waste rope, canvas, etc.
sheave	English	maritime terminology for the wheel of a block
sheepshank	English	maritime terminology for a knot used to shorten a rope
shifting board	English	a temporary bulkhead in a hold to prevent the shifting of cargo aboard a ship
shore	English	a temporary wooden brace or prop used to support cargo aboard a ship
short ton	English	a weight measurement equaling 2,000 pounds
shot	English	15 fathoms of cable or anchor chain
shroud	English	maritime terminology for a rope extending from a mast head to the vessel's side to afford lateral support for the mast
Sicherheitsdienst	German	The Sicherheitsdienst, or SD, was directly translated into English as "Security Service". It was the Nazi German intelligence branch of the SS. It was created in 1932 by Reinhard Heydrich. In 1934, it was declared the Nazi Party's main information service provider, and it became the intelligence organization for the Nazi German state in 1938. It maintained an extensive network of agents and informants in Germany and occupied territories. After the assassination of Heydrich in 1942, Ernst Kaltenbrunner became its chief on 30 Jan 1943. The post-war Nuremberg war crimes trials declared the SD a criminal organization.
Siebel Ferry	German	twin pontoon decked craft developed in response to the need for rapid personnel and vehicle transport
sisal	English	a rope made from the fiber of the henequin plant
slack-line block	English	maritime terminology for fitting attached at the midpoint of the boom to support any slack that may develop
slip	English	maritime terminology for the space between two piers for berthing a vessel
smokestack	English	Synonymous with funnel, the smokestack is used to ventilate smoke from a ship's boilers.
snatch block	English	maritime terminology for a single sheave block having one side of the frame hinged so that it can be opened to allow the bight of a rope to be placed on the sheave, thus avoiding the necessity of threading the end of the rope through the swallow of the block
snorter/snotter	English	maritime terminology for a length of rope with eye splices at each end, used as a cargo sling
snub	English	maritime terminology for doing a quick check to see if a line is running out
socket	English	maritime terminology for a wire rope fitting attached to the end of the rope and secured by molten metal which has hardened
SOE	English	The Speical Operations Executive was the British organization responsible for training and coodinating resistance groups in occupied countries.
span	English	maritime terminology for a rope with both ends secured and a purchase attached to the bight
spanner stay	English	maritime terminology for a wire stay connecting two Kingposts
spar	English	a mast, boom, yard, or any wood or metal pole used for similar purposes aboard a ship
splice	English	maritime terminology for to join the ends of two lines by tucking the strands of each into the other
sponson	English	structure mounted to the hull of a ship, often used to mount weapons
spot	English	maritime terminology for to swing a boom to any desired position by means of the boom guys and topping lift
spreader	English	maritime terminology for a horizontal iron or wooden bar used to spread the legs of a sling or bridle and to keep them that way while the cargo is suspended
Sprenggranate	German	high explosive shell (abbreviation: Spgr.)
square of the hatch	English	maritime terminology for the space directly under a hatch opening, extending from the opening itself down to the bottom of the hold
SS	German	See Schutzstaffel
SS	English	American naval prefix used for steam ships; usually lightly armed or unarmed
stability	English	maritime terminology for the tendency which a vessel has to return to the upright position
Staffel	German	A staffel is the smallest combat flying unit in the German Luftwaffe. A staffel had a nominal strength of nine aircraft, but the number fluctuated depending on situation. The plural form of the word is staffeln.
stanchion	English	maritime terminology for wooden or metal uprights used as supports
starboard	English	Starboard is the nautical term that refers to the right side of a ship, as perceived by a person facing towards the bow, or, the front of the ship. The term is also used for aircraft. The equivalent for the left-hand side is port.
Stavka	Russian	Stavka Glavnogo Komandovaniya was the political arm that oversaw the Soviet military.
stay	English	maritime terminology for a rope or cable running fore and aft from a mast to support it
stem	English	The stem is the foremost point of the bow, which is the front portion of the ship.
step	English	maritime terminology for to set a mast, gin pole, etc., in place
stern	English	The stern is the rear or after part of a ship or boat, technically defined as the area built up over the sternpost, extending upwards from the counter to the taffrail.
Steuerbord	German	Steuerbord is the nautical term that refers to the left side of a ship, as perceived by a person facing towards the bow, or, the front of the ship. The term is also used for aircraft. The equivalent for the right-hand side is Backbord. (abbreviation: St.B.)
stevedore	English	a person who contracts to load or unload a maritime vessel, and employs longshoremen for this purpose
stool	English	a platform in the hold of a maritime vessel in which cargo is landed; may be made from planking, a heap of sacks, etc.
stopper	English	maritime terminology for a piece of rope or chain used to hold rope under load while being transferred from drum end of the winch to a cleat or vice versa
strake	English	a continuous row of steel plates running the length of a ship
Stuka	English	English abbreviation of the German word Sturzkampfflugzeug (diving-aircraft). Usually applied to the Junkers Ju.87 Dive Bomber.
Sturmabteilung	German	Literally "Storm Division", the SA was a para-military organization of the Nazi Party. The members were often referred to as stormtroopers or brownshirts for the color of their uniforms. It was established in Nov 1921 and remained in place until the end of the European War, but its power diminished after the Night of the Long Knives in 1934. After the war, the SA was found not to be a criminal organization.
tabernacle	English	a watertight structure for stowing gear and housing winches aboard a ship
tackle	English	maritime terminology for an assembly of ropes and blocks
tare	English	the weight of cargo containers, strapping, etc. without considering the weight of the cargo within
tarpaulin	English	heavy canvas
TF	English	A naval task force was consisted of several warships.
Thatch Weave	English	American fighter defensive maneuver used in the Pacific War. When a pair of fighters came under attack, the pair would turn into a second friendly pair, which did the same. The maneuver forced the enemy fighter to either abandon the attack on the original pair, or continue the attack but risk being tailed by the second pair of fighters.
tin can	English	Nickname for a destroyer escort
Tinsel	English	Technique by which British bomber wireless-operators fed jamming noise on to German night-fighter frequencies.
tokkotai	Japanese	See tokubetsu kogeki tai
tokubetsu kogeki tai	Japanese	Instead of the word kamikaze popularly used in western literature, Japanese sources typically cite the suicide attack forces as tokubetsu kogeki tai.
top	English	maritime terminology for raising or lifting up the boom
tora	Japanese	"Tora" is the code phrase designated by the Japanese Navy to signal the start of the attack on Pearl Harbor; it was radioed by Mitsuo Fuchida three times successively on 7 Dec 1941 to launch the strike. The word "tora" is an acronym. "To" is short for totsugeki (attack), and "ra" is short for raigeki (torpedo attack); combined, "tora" loosely translates to "commence torpedo attack". [Read More]
trim	English	a maritime vessel's position in the water relative to the horizontal place
Turm	German	turret
U-Boat	English	The English name for the German submarine, or in German, unterseeboot
ullage	English	maritime terminology which describes what a case or tank lacks of being full
Ultrakurzwelle	German	ultra short wave; very high frequency/VHF (abbreviation: U.K.)
unterseeboot	German	German word for submarine, often anglicized as "U-Boat"
USAAF	English	The United States Army Air Force, which evolved from the US Army Air Corp, and was the predecessor of the post-war US Air Force
USCG	English	United States Coast Guard
USMC	English	United States Marine Corps
USN	English	The United States Navy
USO	English	The United Service Organization provided recreational services and entertainment shows for American military servicemen.
USS	English	United States Ship, which was the prefix to the names of all American ships controlled by the US government or military
UXB	English	unexploded bomb
V-1	German	The first of the German Vergeltungswaffen wonder weapon, which was a jet-powered pilotless flying bomb with a range of 200 km
V-2	German	Also known as A4, the second German Vergeltungswaffen wonder weapon carried a heavier bomb load than the V-1 and had a longer range of 320 km
V-3	German	A German Vergeltungswaffen wonder weapon which was a smooth-bore gun with a range of 93 km; they were not used in WW2
VAD	English	Voluntary Aid Detachment, a British nursing organization
Versenken	German	sinking a ship
Volkssturm	German	A para-military force organized by Germany near the end of the war as the last line of defense against the Allied invasion; it was often consisted of teenagers and older men who were not already conscripted during the war.
Vorderer Kommandostand	German	fore conning tower of a ship
WAAC	English	American Women's Auxiliary Army Corps
WAAF	English	British Women's Auxiliary Air Force
WAC	English	US Army Women's Army Corps
wadi	Arabic	a valley or a dry river bed
Waffen-SS	German	The military branch of the SS
warp	English	maritime terminology for to move a vessel by means of a line or anchor
wash plate	English	maritime terminology for plates fitted fore and aft to check the rush of bilge water from side to side when the ship is rolling
WASP	English	US Army Air Forces Women Airforce Service Pilots [Read More]
water logged	English	martime terminology for being filled with water but still afloat
wave off	English	signal given by aircraft carrier landing officers to abort the landing approach of an aircraft
WAVES	English	US Navy Women Accepted for Voluntary Service [Read More]
weather deck	English	uppermost decks aboard a ship which are exposed to the weather
Wehrmacht	German	Armed forces of Nazi Germany
Werft	German	shipyard
Werk	German	machinery; mechanism; factory
wharf	English	a place for loading or unloading maritime vessels
wharfage	English	maritime terminology for the charge for the use of berthing space
whip	English	maritime terminology for any tackle used for hoisting light weights; usually only a single fixed block
whipping	English	maritime terminology for turns of small cord wound around the end of a rope to prevent its unlaying
wildcat	English	maritime terminology for the large toothed wheel of the windlass that catches the anchor chain and carries it over the windlass
winch	English	an engine usually electric or steam driven, secured on deck of a ship or aircraft, and fitted with drums on a horizontal axis which are used for hoisting or lowering cargo
windlass	English	a powered apparatus used for handling heavy anchor chains, hawsers, etc. aboard a ship
Window	English	Strips of aluminium foil dropped by the British to flood German radar readouts.
WLA	English	Acronym for "The Women's Land Army", which was a British civilian organization created during the First and Second World Wars to work in agriculture replacing men called up to the military.
worming	English	maritime terminology for the laying of a small rope or worm along the lay of a larger rope to bring the surface of the rope more nearly round for the purpose of parceling or serving
WRNS	English	Acronym for "Womens Royal Naval Service", which was the womens' branch of the British Royal Navy.
WVS	English	Acronym for "Women's Voluntary Service", which was a voluntary organization concerned with helping people in need throughout England, Scotland and Wales.
yard	English	maritime terminology for an athwartships spar attached at its midpoint to a mast
yardarm	English	maritime terminology for the outer end of a yard
Zerstörer	German	destroyer

Did you enjoy this article or find this article helpful? If so, please consider supporting us on Patreon. Even $1 per month will go a long way! Thank you.

Share this article with your friends:

Facebook
Reddit
Twitter

Stay updated with WW2DB:

RSS Feeds

Change View

Desktop View

Search WW2DB

News

» Wreck of USS Edsall Found (14 Nov 2024)
» Autumn 2024 Fundraiser (7 Nov 2024)
» Nobel Peace Prize for the Atomic Bomb Survivors Organization (11 Oct 2024)
» Wreck of USS Stewart/DD-224 Found (2 Oct 2024)
» See all news

Random Photograph

Oil tanker Byron T Benson burns on 5 Apr 1942 after being torpedoed the night before by U-552 ten miles off North Carolina, United States. 28 were rescued while ten perished. The ship burned for 3 days before sinking

Current Site Statistics

Famous WW2 Quote

"All right, they're on our left, they're on our right, they're in front of us, they're behind us... they can't get away this time."

Lt. Gen. Lewis B. "Chesty" Puller, at Guadalcanal

Support Us

Please consider supporting us on Patreon. Even $1 a month will go a long way. Thank you!

Or, please support us by purchasing some WW2DB merchandise at TeeSpring, Thank you!