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LAGAN - Jettisoned goods that sink and are buoyed for subsequent recovery.

LANYARD - A short line used for making anything fast

LASK - To sail large, with wind about four points abaft beam.

LATERAL BUOYAGE SYSTEM – A buoyage system in which different coloured buoys are used to mark the sides of a channel

LATITUDE - The distance north or south of the equator measured and expressed in degrees.

LAYING ON OARS - Holding oars at right angles to fore and aft line of boat with blades horizontal and parallel to surface of water. Is used also as a sarcastic term for idling, or not pulling one's weight.

LAY OUT - Order to men at mast to extend themselves at intervals along a yard. 2. To keep a vessel at a certain place until a specified time has elapsed.

LAY THE LAND - To cause the land to sink below horizon by sailing away from it

LAZARETTE /  LAZARETTO – 1. A storage space in a boat's stern area. 2. Ship or building in which persons in quarantine are segregated

LAZYJACKS - Lines from topping lifts to under boom which act as a net to catch the sails when lowered.

LEAGUE - measure of distance three nautical miles in length

LEAK - A situation calling for LEADERSHIP

LEAD LINE - A line with a weight on the end used to measure depth. The lead is dropped into the water and marks on the line are read to determine the current water depth. The lead usually has a cavity to return a sample of the bottom type (mud, sand, etc.)

LEADERSHIP - In maritime use, the ability to keep persons on board ship without resorting to measures which substantially violate applicable state and federal statutes

LEE - The side sheltered from the wind.

LEEWARD - The direction away from the wind. Opposite of windward.

LEEWAY - The sideways movement of the boat caused by either wind or current.  The difference between the ship’s heading and it’s track over the bottom.  May be expressed as an angle, a distance, or a speed

LEE BOARDS – Large boards suspended over the side of a vessel.  The lee one is lowered to reduce leeway

LEE CLOTHS - a cloth hung on the lee side of a berth (the down side when the boat has heel to it) to keep one from rolling out of their bunk

LEE LURCH - Heavy roll to leeward with a beam wind.

LEE SHORE - a shore that wind blows onto; it is best to stay well off a lee shore in a storm

LEE SIDE – The side opposite to the direction from which the wind blows

LEECH(LEACH) - After edge of a fore and aft sail

LHA – See Local Hour Angle

LIE - To remain in a particular place or position.

LIE BY - To remain nearly alongside another vessel.

LIE TO - To shop a ship and lie with wind nearly ahead.

LIFE PRESERVER - Any personal flotation device that will keep an individual who has fallen off a vessel above water long enough to be run over by it or another rescue craft.

LIFELINE – A stout line around the deck of the boat to keep crew from falling overboard

LIFT - A change in wind direction which lets the boat head up.

LIGHTHOUSE – A major light built as a man-made aid to navigation

LIGHT HAND - Youthful but smart seaman.

LIMBER HOLES -Holes in floor timbers, or tank side-brackets, through which bilge water flows to pump suction.

LIME JUICER (ALSO LIMEY) – British vessel or sailor

LINE - Rope and cordage used aboard a vessel.

LINE OF POSITION (LOP) – A line on which the vessel is known to be

LIPPER - Small sea that rises just above bows or gunwale.

LIST - Inclination of a boat due to excess weight on one side or the other

LOA - "Length over all," or the overall length of the vessel.

LOBSCOUSE - Nautical stew made with preserved meat and vegetables.

LOCAL HOUR ANGLE – The angular interval of a celestial body of it’s geographical position (GP) West from an assumed position (AP) or a DR position

LOCKER – A cupboard, chest, or cabinet

LOG - A record of courses or operation. Also, a device to measure speed.

LOGGERHEAD - To be at loggerheads; whalers, when a whale was harpooned, would fasten the line to a timber in the boat called a loggerhead, which would take the strain of the whale's pull. Also, to have a disagreement.

LONGITUDE - The distance in degrees east or west of the meridian at Greenwich, England.

LONG SPLICE – A joining splice that does not increase the diameter of the line

LOP - Small but quick-running sea.

LORAN - Long-range navigation system that uses radio signals transmitted at specific times. An onboard receiver computes position by measuring the difference in time of signal reception.

LUBBER - A clumsy and unskilled man.

LUBBER'S LINE - A mark or permanent line on a compass indicating the direction forward parallel to the keel when properly installed.

LUCKY BAG – A locker or compartment for the stowage of loose articles found about the ship

LUFF - To steer the boat more into the wind, thereby causing the sails to flap or luff . The front or leading edge of a sail.

LUFFING – The trembling or fluttering of the luff of a sail that is improperly set

LURCH - Sudden and long roll of a ship in a seaway.

LYING TO - Said of a vessel when stopped and lying near the wind in heavy weather.