Glossary

Bow The foremost part of a vessel.

Clinker (building method) The method of hull construction characterized by overlapped strakes fastened to each other with rivets. In this case, the term denotes the way of fastening according to ON. hnodsaumr (riveted seam), hnjoda, hnita (to hit, to pound).

Cog Northern European merchant vessel developed in the Early Medieval period and characterized by full bodylines; keel-plank; flush-laid bottom planking (Southern Baltic); clenched lap side planking; moss caulking; raked, partially rabbeted, and straight stem and sternpost.

Deck Boards laid horizontally to cover the interior of a vessel. They can be laid in between bitar (Skuldelev 3, Gokstad 1, Oseberg) or at the upper beam level (Skuldelev 1). Deck space for the helmsman (ON. lypting,-ar) seems to have covered the space after and forward of the rudder frame. dugout (logboat) Craft built out of a single trunk of wood. According to the method of construction and the kind of wood employed, the dugouts are classified as hard and soft dugouts. flush-laid Method of hull construction where strakes are laid edge to edge. Like carvel-built, the term does not imply any connotation defining the fastening method. framing Main transverse reinforcement system composed of one (rib) or several joined elements. hull The ship’s finite body without rigging. keel The longitudinal timber placed at the centerline of a hull bottom.

Lapstrake Method of hull construction where the seams of the overlapped strakes are secured with a variety of fasteners, such as treenails, treenails and rivets, clenched nails (clenched lap) or iron nails driven through treenails. In Southern Baltic shipbuilding, it denotes the method of construction where overlapped strakes are fastened to each other with treenails. mortise Rectangular or square cut of variable depth made to receive another element.

Overlap Assemblage where the edge of one element overlays the edge of another element.

Plank Long wooden board used in the building of the hull of a vessel. A plank bears a different name, depending on its position in a hull. Among the best indicators for shipbuilding in archaeological contexts, a ship plank undergoes a totally different conversion than a plank destined for general construction purposes: it is radially split with a variable profile (ellipsoidal or irregular trapezoidal) that enhances mechanical strength; its main dimensions stay within a prescribed range fit to the ship dimensions and to that particular shipbuilding tradition; and exhibits features such as the long-side lining of relatively regular hole intervals for strake-to-strake fastening, few and largely spaced strake-to-frame fastening holes located around the middle width of the plank; and a long and narrow carved-in depression following the outside edge of the strake-to-strake fastener-line used for placing the watertight material. post Wooden timber fastened at both ends of a keel designed to hold the ends of the planks or the wings of a vessel.

Pram Term used for flat-bottomed vessels (OSl. pramti, ON.

Pramr) used in inland navigation. rigging Generic term used to designate the ropes used to support the mast (fixed rigging) and the ropes used to maneuver the sail and the yard (running rigging).

Rivet Metal fastener composed of a nail whose end is hammered over a rove.

Rove Metal piece of variable shape perforated in the middle in order to allow the end of the nail to pass through. seam The overlap between strakes where fastenings are driven. starboard The right side of a vessel viewed from the stern. In the Baltic shipbuilding, it usually denotes the side where the quarter-rudder is attached (ON. stj(ornbordi). stem The post fastened at the forward end of the keel. sternpost The post fastened at the after end of the keel. strake Planks scarfed to one another to form a continuous line of planking from sternpost to stem. treenail Cylindrical piece of wood carved with a distinct head and used to fasten parts in a hull. wedge Tapered piece of wood used to lock a treenail in place.