A NAUTICAL DICTIONARY

Abstract

An article under this title, written by Mr L. G. Carr Laughton, the Society's first Honorary Editor, will be found on page 229 of volume ten of The Mariner's Mirror for 1924 and is reprinted below. The preparation of a nautical dictionary was an object noted in the original rules of the Society and it was dear to Mr Laughton's heart. He made it his life's work and, at first anyway with the help of volunteer readers of likely nautical works, produced four drawers full of slips of paper, recording dated examples of the use and meaning of nautical terms. This is a good start, and the accumulation of slips is now in the National Maritime Museum. The Council has recently considered how to pursue the Society's intention of producing a worthy dictionary and has decided to appoint a small working committee, consisting of the Officers of the Society, and four others, to make a start. They consider it should be an historical dictionary, with definitions and dates of use, the citations and sources being indicated by short titles. The approximate period to be covered would be between 1400 and 1900, but sailing ship terms would be continued to the present day and terms in common use by 1400 carried back to their source. The Hon. Secretary is producing a list of the words collected by Mr Laughton as a start towards compiling a list of the words to be defined. Members of the Society particularly interested in the compilation of this dictionary and prepared to help, or with suggestions to offer, are invited to write to the Hon. Secretary.

GEORGE P. B. NAISH