hail-shot – a type of antipersonnel cannon ammunition that burst into a rain of metal fragments, or “hail”
halyard – the line used to hoist a sail.
hand – a member of a ship’s crew.
handsomely – to do something well. “Handsomely now!” was an encouragement to sailors to put forth their best effort on whatever task was at hand.
hang the jib - an expression meaning to frown or scowl, the jib in this case being a euphemism for the lower lip.
hardtack (also sea biscuit) – a cracker or biscuit made of flour, salt, and water, baked repeatedly until the dough is completely dried out and hardened. Properly prepared and kept away from moisture, hardtack would remain good for years which made it suitable for use on long voyages. (In fact, there are several examples existing of hardtack biscuits remaining from the 1850s, which are now on museum display.) If possible, hardtack was typically dipped in water or some other liquid before meals to make it slightly more edible. The biscuits were also often infested with weevils, to the extent that one of the most common shipboard sounds at mealtime was reportedly that of the sailors constantly banging the bread against the tables in an effort to dislodge the insects.
haul – Two possible meanings, depending on context: to slacken a line, or to gain upon in a chase; to overtake.
haul wind – to alter a ships path to sail closer to the wind.
head – the front of a ship; also, used to refer to the ships toilet facilities, which were traditionally placed at the front of the vessel.
hearties – friends or comrades
heave down – to lay a ship down on one side, in particular to scrape the hull.
heave to – to slow or stop a ship by setting the rudder and sails in opposition; often used to allow the crew time to focus their attention on some task other than merely steering the vessel.
helm – a ship’s steering mechanism.
helmsman – the person steering a ship.
hempen halter – a euphemism for a hangman’s noose.
hogshead – a barrel that held about 63 wine gallons.
hold – the interior cargo space of a ship, typically down in the lowest part of the hull.
holystone – a soft sandstone used for scrubbing the decks, so called because men would perform the task from a kneeling position. (Another explanation attributes the name to the stones being quarried in a churchyard.) The scraping sound of holystone was inescapable during the age of sail.
hornswaggle – to deceive or swindle.
hulk – an old, worn-out ship, or one that’s particularly bulky and difficult to control.
