A view of the forecastle of the battleship USS Iowa.

Definition

Also spelled “fo’c’sle and pronounced the same way.

Noun

  • The foredeck of a vessel.

Origin

13th century. From the term for a raised platform at the bow of a ship for archers and musketeers to fire from.

Comments

In sailing warships, the forecastle was a raised area at the bow. In many vessels, the spaces below the foredeck also serve as a crew’s quarters (hence the term castle). In some modern recreational boats and yachts, the berthing spaces are still located at the bow of the vessel. In many ships, this space is now taken up by machinery, such as anchor chains, windlass, etc., and is no longer used for berthing.

References

Kemp, P. (1994). The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea. Oxford University Press.

King, D., Hattendorf, J.B, & Estes, J.W. (1997). A Sea of Words: A Lexicon and Companion for Patrick O’Brian’s Seafaring Tales (2nd Ed.). Owl Books.

Rogers, J.G. (1985). Origins of Sea Terms. Mystic Seaport.