Aboard
This list of ship directions explains dozens of related terms such as fore, aft, astern, aboard, or topside. For background, see below: Origins.
abaft (preposition)
at or toward the stern of a ship, or further back from a location, e.g. the mizzenmast is abaft the mainmast.
aboard
onto or within a ship, or in a group.
above
a higher deck of the ship.
aft (adjective)
toward the stern (rear) of a ship.
adrift
floating in the water without propulsion.
aground
resting on the shore or wedged against the sea floor.
ahull
with sails furled and helm lashed alee.
alee
on or toward the lee (the downwind side).
aloft
the stacks, masts, rigging, or other area above the highest solid structure.
amidships
near the middle part of a ship.
aport
toward the port side of a ship (opposite of “astarboard”).
ashore
on or towards the shore or land.
astarboard
toward the starboard side of a ship (opposite of “aport”).
astern (adjective)
toward the rear of a ship (opposite of “forward”).
athwartships
toward the sides of a ship.
aweather
toward the weather or windward side of a ship.
aweigh
just clear of the sea floor, as with an anchor.
below
a lower deck of the ship.
belowdecks
inside or into a ship, or down to a lower deck.
bilge
the underwater part of a ship between the flat of the bottom and the vertical topsides
bottom
the lowest part of the ship’s hull.
bow or stem
front of a ship (opposite of “stern”)
centerline
an imaginary, central line drawn from the bow to the stern.
fore or forward
at or toward the front of a ship or further ahead of a location (opposite of “aft”)
inboard
attached inside the ship.
keel
the bottom structure of a ship’s hull.
leeward
side or direction away from the wind (opposite of “windward”).
on deck
to an outside or muster deck (as “all hands on deck”).
on board
somewhere on or in the ship.
outboard
attached outside the ship.
port
the left side of the ship, when facing forward (opposite of “starboard”).
starboard
the right side of the ship, when facing forward (opposite of “port”).
stern
the rear of a ship (opposite of “bow”).
topside
on the ship’s main weather deck.
underdeck
a lower deck of a ship.
yardarm
an end of a yard spar below a sail.
waterline
where the water surface meets the ship’s hull.
weather
side or direction from which wind blows (same as “windward”).
windward
side or direction from which wind blows (opposite of “leeward”).
Aboard (adverb)
On board; into or within a ship or boat; hence, into or within a railway car. First attested from around (1350 to 1470).page=6
“We all climbed aboard.”
Aboard (adverb)
On or onto a horse, a camel, etc. First attested in the late 19th century.
“To sling a saddle aboard.”
Aboard (adverb)
On base. First attested in the mid 20th century.
“He doubled with two men aboard, scoring them both.”
Aboard (adverb)
Into a team, group, or company. First attested in the mid 20th century.
“The office manager welcomed him aboard.”
Aboard (adverb)
Alongside. First attested from around (1350 to 1470).
“The ships came close aboard to pass messages.”
“The captain laid his ship aboard the enemy’s ship.”
Aboard (preposition)
On board of; onto or into a ship, boat, train, plane. First attested around 1350 to 1470.
“We all went aboard the ship.”
Aboard (preposition)
Onto a horse. First attested in the mid 20th century.
Aboard (preposition)
Across; athwart; alongside. Attested from the early 16th century until the late 17th century.
Boarding (verb)
present participle of board
Boarding (noun)
the act of people getting aboard a ship or aircraft; embarkation
Boarding (noun)
the act of a sailor or boarding party attacking an enemy ship by boarding it
Boarding (noun)
a structure made of boards
Boarding (noun)
riding a skateboard
Boarding (noun)
a penalty called for pushing into the boards