Glossaries, from Boxer, et al,
Key
Miscellaneous dictionaries, - ,
J.da Gama Pimentel Barata, "O livro primeiro da architectura naval de João Baptista Lavanha", in Ethnos IV, 1965 - JPB
C.R.Boxer, Tragic History of the Sea (Hakluyt 1957) - BoxerTHS. Book concerns 16-17thC Portugal and voyages to India especially.
C.R.Boxer, Salvador de Sá, 1952 - BoxerSdeS. Book concerns 17thC Brasil.
Faria de Morais - História da Marinha Portuguesa, I, 1940, esp.pp53-4 - FdeM. Faria de Morais gives an account of the administration of the court for the reign of D.Afonso II and to the late 14th century, but notes that many of the titles of offices are not really translatable into modern terms, and their boundaries are unclear.
K.S.Mathew, Portuguese trade with india in the 16thC, 1983 - KSM
P.E.Russell, Prince Henry the Navigator, a life,
2000 -PER
Terms
Abatimento da madeira, JPB, Bevelling. The quantity that is cut off the lower face of the floor, to give it the obliquity corresponding to the rise of the bottom, so that the planking sits wholly on the frame.
Abóboda, JPB, Counter. The rake of the stern, below the half deck and poop.
aguazil, KSM, administrative and judicial officer.
alcaide, BoxerSdeS, military governor
alcaide, KSM, Captain of a fortress. Represented the King in the territory of his jurisdiction, with military, administrative and judiciary powers. Also alcaide-mor and alcaide-do-mar (for a port).
aldeia, BoxerSdeS, (Brasilian) Indian village under missionary control
Alfarroba, BoxerTHS, = ferroba
alferes mor, PER, standard bearer; and until 1382 the field commander of the army.
Alferes-mor, FdeM = field commander in the absence of the king/military chief of staff
alguazil, KSM, governor
almiranta, , BoxerSdeS, flagship of an Admiral (equivalent rank to English Vice-Admiral)
Almogamas, JPB, The last frames set up with the graminhos, that mark the limits of the bottom.
almoxarife de armazens, KSM, officer in charge of revenues related to general stores.
almoxarife de mantimentos, KSM, officer in charge of revenues related to victuals.
almoxarife, KSM, officer supervising revenues; payment of Royal employees.
almoxarife, PER, collector of taxes for a specific locality.
Almude, BoxerTHS, wine measure, 26 almudes=1 pipa
alquiçé, PER, Moorish cloak
Alquiere, BoxerTHS, dry measure, alquiere=1-3/5 English pecks=13 litres
alvara, - ,writ, warrant, charter, permit
alvara, KSM, form of document to change the law, resulting from petitions for concessions, appointments, etc, usually for a set period of one year; validated by the chancery. See also carta de lei, regimento, estatuto, foral.
alvará, PER, a decree, usually issued by the Crown, often as letter patent.
Ameichura, BoxerTHS, = ameixoeira
Ameixoeira, BoxerTHS, sometimes applied to sorghum, sometimes to "small grey Kaffir corn" [note: in Lavanha as a Portuguese tree]
Ancosse, BoxerTHS, Inkosi, Kaffir chief or headman
Anielado, JPB, Is said of a nail or bolt whose end is riveted over a metal plate.
Apostura, JPB, The segment of the frame above the braço.
armador, -, ship's outfitter, rigger; but also one who arms, armourer.
armador-mor, -, master of the armouries, keeps royal armour and inspects officers of armouries
Armadouras, JPB, Wales of half a palmo by four dedos, run between the stem and sternpost and the floors of account, and fastened at specified positions, and which served for the design of the skeleton fore and aft [ribbands].
arraial, BoxerSdeS, camp
Arratel, BoxerTHS, pound weight (English adverdupois), from Arabic ratl
Arrepiamento da madeira, JPB, The amount by which the floor timber rises at the wronghead.
asiento, BoxerSdeS, contract for monopoly of supplying negro slaves
Astilha, JPB, The part of the floor that sits on the keel. The foot of the frame.
Atacadas, JPB, Piles of squared logs on which the keel sits in the shipyard.
audiencia, BoxerSdeS, high court of justice and its territorial jursidiction
auto, BoxerSdeS, official record
avaria, BoxerSdeS, convoy tax
Bahar, BoxerTHS, weight from 141 to 330 kgs, depending on merchandise concerned
Bahare, BoxerTHS, = bahar
bandeira, BoxerSdeS, slave-raiding party
bandeirantes, BoxerSdeS, slave-raiders
Bar, BoxerTHS, = bahar
Barra, JPB, A piece parallel to the transom, placed above it, and which forms part of the grade.
Barrote, JPB, Vertical pieces between the transom and the grade.
Bertangil, BoxerTHS, cotton piece-goods (blue, black, red) exported from Gujerat (Cambay) to East Africa
Besta, JPB, Padre Fernando Oliveira's designation for one process of dividing the graminho (see meia lua).
[Braço] , JPB, [The first futtock].
Bretangil, BoxerTHS, = bertangil
Brusca, JPB, Padre Fernando Oliveira's designation for one process of dividing the graminho (see saltarelha).
cabildo (Sp) , BoxerSdeS, town council
caixa, KSM, privilege of carrying boxes of spices back to Portugal. The box, of size regulated by Regimento of the Casa da India.
Calimas, JPB, The hull planking at the stern that is housed in the sternpost.
camara, BoxerSdeS, town council
camara, KSM, privilege of carrying commodities back to Portugal.
camareira, -, housekeeper, lady-in-waiting.
camareiro, -, chamberlain, or steward.
Cancomo, JPB, A rule for the calculation of the espalhamento of the frame timbers.
Canequim, BoxerTHS, cheap coarse calico, dyed blue or black, chiefly woven at Broach and Navsari in Western India
Canto, JPB, In a frame timber, the cantos are the exterior and interior faces.
Capelo, JPB, The top of the stem.
capitania, BoxerSdeS, captaincy - territorial division
capitania, BoxerSdeS, flagship of the General of a fleet (equivalent rank to English Admiral)
capitanias de baixo, BoxerSdeS, southern captaincies (Brasil)
capitão, PER, usual military and maritime connotations, but also as royal representative in overseas fortresses, and governors of Atlantic islands (which also had absent territorial lords).
carta de lei, KSM, document to change law; validated by Chancery. Always prefaced in King's name; valid more than one year.
cartaz, KSM, safe-conduct issued to captains of other vessels, in India.
Casa de Ceuta, PER, agency in Lisbon for affairs of Ceuta.
Casa de Guiné, PER, agency in Lisbon for affairs of Guiné.
casa de moeda, BoxerSdeS, mint
catual, KSM, chief of police; inspector of markets; criminal judge; or governor of a city - in India.
cavaleiro, KSM, order from ruler (mediaeval, lit: horseman); soldier maintaining three horses, and with his own squire (escudeiro). Variants of status, as fidalgo cavaleiro; changed by Afonso V.
Cavernas de conta, JPB, The floors of the bottom that are marked from the graminho, that is, whose height and narrowing are proportional to their number, and to the maximum measure of the same at the almogamas. The calculation was made by graminho. The same as cavernas da conta, madeira da conta or do conto.
cédula, BoxerSdeS, order, writ or warrant
cerro, BoxerSdeS, hillock
Chanceler (da Curia do Rei) , FdeM. Incorporating aspects of Ministers of Justice, and of Foreign Affairs, usually clerics who had been educated at foreign universities.
charrua, BoxerSdeS, cargo vessel similar in construction to a fluyt or fly-boat
chaveiro, -, = craveiro
Chincho, JPB, A kind of stick, whose point, soaked in ochre, traced out the piece in places inaccessible to the esgaravote and enxova.
Christãos-novos, BoxerSdeS, new Christians or crypto-Jews
Chumaceira, JPB, A projection on the sternpost where the run ends and the fashion piece is mortised.
Codaste, JPB, The same as cadaste [sternpost].
comenda, PER, commandery, territory of a military order, whose revenues were assigned to sustenance of a specific knight (comendador) of the order.
comendador, PER, knight of a military order assigned a specific territory and revenues.
Compartida, JPB, The dimension that is proportionally distributed into a certain number of divisions, by means of the graminhos. It is the major ordinate of a curve for which the number of abscissae is known.
comuna, PER, Jewish community regarded as a separate ethnic and administrative entity.
Condelatas, JPB, Crosstrees [curvatões] of the ends of the beams of galleys, on which the supporting structure for the oars was itself supported.
condestabre, PER, Constable: field commander of the army, from 1382.
Condestável, FdeM = Constable. Created on the English model in 1382, Alferes becoming a lesser post.
conquista, BoxerSdeS, Portuguese overseas possessions
conselho da fazenda, BoxerSdeS, revenue council
conselho de estado, BoxerSdeS, council of state
contador, BoxerSdeS, auditor, treasurer
Coparius maior, FdeM - difference between this and scançamus maior is not understood
copeiro, - , butler, or waiter/pantryman ?
Coral, JPB, Internal reinforcing knee to connect the keel with the sternpost or stem [sternson, stemson].
cordillera, BoxerSdeS, mountain-chain
corregidor, BoxerSdeS, civil governor
cortes, BoxerSdeS, parliament
Cortes, PER, parliament.
Couces, JPB, The extremities of the keel [English touch; but also the actual timbers, including a knee].
Côvado, JPB, The end of the floor timber properly called, which marks the limits of the breadth of the bottom, and where the floor begins to round upwards. It is at this point that the braços begin.
craveiro, - , keeper of the keys, (warden, goaler ?)
cruzado, BoxerSdeS, coin worth about 4 English shillings in 1602
Cruzado, BoxerTHS, coin and money of account, 400 reis, roughly 4 English shillings about 1600 (but see tostão !)
degredado, PER, banished person; ordered to serve, or allowed to commute, a sentence in an overseas territory.
Delgado, JPB, That part of the bottom, outside the almogamas, and in which the hull narrows towards the sternpost and stem [English run and foreway (or entry)].
Dente, JPB, Trapezoidal projection on the interior face of the frame, braço and top-timber, to support the beam shelves [dormentes], and for the adjustment of these pieces of the frame.
desembargador do paco, -, tribunal of third and final instance (appeal) = supreme tribunal of justice.
desembargador, - judge of relação (appeal)
desembargador, BoxerSdeS, crown lawyer or judge
desembargador, KSM, officer who carried out written decision of the king in response to petitions, etc; extending to taking decisions in the name of the king, as judge.
Desembargo do Paço, BoxerSdeS,high court of judicature at Lisbon
dízima, PER, tax of one-tenth levied by Crown on all imports by sea.
dobra, PER, =Sp. dobla. Muslim coinage, used as accounting unit in Portugal.
donatário, BoxerSdeS, lord-proprietor
donatório, PER, beneficiary of a grant of royal land, with devolved authority.
Embraçar, JPB, The same as embaraçar: to join the pieces of the frame face to face.
Emmocar, JPB, To join the pieces by means of rectangular housings.
[Emmocadura] , JPB, [Occurs in the joint at the overlap of the floor and futtock - the "dovetail mortise", referred to by Dr Pimentel Barata, and since found in archaeology, but not apparently from Lavanha's text].
Enchimentos, JPB, The name that Lavanha gives to the frames of the bow and stern, outside the bottom; they are divided into "open" and "closed" pieces. [English rising timbers, but probably also including the crook and half timbers on the deadwoods].
encomendero, BoxerSdeS, settler in Spanish America holding a piece of land with its Indian inhabitants in trust from the crown, and taking its revenues
encomienda, , BoxerSdeS, a town or district with its Indian inhabitants, held in trust from the crown, and taking its revenues
engenho, BoxerSdeS, sugar mill
engenhoca, BoxerSdeS, small sugar mill
Entremicha, JPB, A piece to reinforce the frame, between the lower ends of the futtocks (Lavanha); piece to reinforce the beams, between the ends of the hanging knees, below the beams.
Enxova, JPB, A plank in rectangular triangle [see figure 6], whose minor cathetus completes the breadth of the mould, and whose major cathetus follows its contour, to trace the total breadth of the piece.
Enxovar, JPB, To house a plank in another piece.
Escantilhão, JPB, A gauge with movable arms to measure the angles of pieces [bevel].
escrivão de puridade, BoxerSdeS, secret notary or confidential secretary
Esgaravote, JPB, A stick of one palmo length and one dedo thickness, which, soaked in ochre, serves to mark out the timber.
Eslora, JPB, The same as esloria (Lavanha).
Espalhamento (da madeira) , JPB, The diminution of the length of the floors and of the futtocks, to compensate for the spreading of the futtocks with the rising of the bottom, the arcs considered equal. It was calculated by the rule of the cancomo.
esprivão, KSM, writer (ie clerk) [eg Estprivão da alfandega, 1514].
estatuto, KSM, typ of alvara.
estribeiro, - stableman
estribeiro-mor, -, master of the horse.
Face, JPB, The side of the piece, considered from the canto. In a frame, the faces are the fore and aft sides, and the cantos are the interior and exterior sides.
fazenda, KSM, the patrimony of the state; Finances of state [treasury function].
feitor d'armada, -,
feitor, KSM, factor. Confidential agent to promote business, mainly overseas - economic, financial and administrative functions.
Ferroba, BoxerTHS, carob, or St John's bread, Cerratonia siliqua.Lin.
Fidalgo, BoxerTHS, gentleman or noble, from filho d'algo, "son of a somebody"
flota, BoxerSdeS, fleet, especially the convoy sailing between Spain and Spanish America
foral, KSM, authorised (outorgado) document to control collective life of a community; form of alvara.
foral, KSM, type of alvara.
Forma, JPB, The mould [template] for the [frame-]pieces.
foro, PER, charter
freire, PER, monk or friar, but also lay member holding rank of knight in a military order.
Galivar, JPB, To trace out the frame-pieces from the moulds; to hew and pare the timbers.
Gio, JPB, A timber crossed perpendicularly at the top of the sternpost, in the transverse sense [the transom].
Goa, JPB, Unit of nautical measure (see table).
Grade, JPB, The grid formed at the stern by the transom, the barra [above it], and the barrotes.
Graminho, JPB, Instrument intended for the calculation of the ordinates of curves, the largest ordinate and the number of abscissae being known. It is divided by three processes: meia lua, or besta; brusca, or saltarelha; and rabo-de-espada.
guazil, KSM = alguazil
hambel, PER, Moorish striped blanket
Heeren XIX, BoxerSdeS, the nineteen directors of the Dutch West India Company
Jogo de canas, BoxerSdeS, mock-fight with canes on horseback
Juiz de povo, BoxerSdeS, tribune of the people
Juiz ordinário, BoxerSdeS,justice of the peace, magistrate
kamer, BoxerSdeS, chamber, administrative board or committee
Lançamento, JPB, That which determined how much the end of a piece was set off from a vertical (axis of a frame; perpendiculars of the touches of the keel) [rake].
Lata, JPB, Transverse beams, from side to side, supported on the beam shelves or clamps [dormentes], and on which the deck planking lay.
lente, PER, university reader or professor
Liame, JPB, The assembly of pieces that formed the skeleton of the hull.
Luzio, BoxerTHS, single-masted vessel of sewn-construction, probably of Swahili origin, but not properly identified. Theal gives it as =sambuk; may be related to port of Luziwa
Maiordomus curiae, FdeM = Mórdomo da Côrte, Mórdomo-mor - Major-domo. Civil matters.
Manco, JPB, The same as pé manco, and revessado (Lavanha) [fashion piece].
Manega, JPB, Operation of adjusting the frames perpendicularly to the keel in the horizontal plane, to give symmetry to the futtocks (Lavanha); operation of housing or joining pieces by means of wedges [eg a made mast].
mantieiro, -, in charge of royal manteis - clothes, silver, tableware
Mão, JPB, Shorter branch of a knee, or a prolongation to join to another piece. [Also a run of planking or wale].
marechal, PER, second in command of field army, from 1382.
Meia lua, JPB, Semi-circumference or quadrant of circumference. One of the processes for dividing the graminho (the same as besta).
meirinho, KSM, beedle [sic]. Local (elected ?) official [mayor rather than beadle ?].
Mesa de Consciencia e Ordens, BoxerSdeS, Board of the King's Conscience and Military Orders
mestiço, BoxerSdeS, half-breed
Mestre, PER, head of a military order
milreis, BoxerSdeS, coin worth about 12 English shillings in Brasil in mid-seventeenth century
Milreis, BoxerTHS, 1,000 reis qv
mita, BoxerSdeS, forced labour corvée (Peru)
morador, BoxerSdeS, settler, citizen; specifically the head of a household
mordomo, -, majordomo
mordomo-mor, -,
mordomos, KSM, agent collecting duties for the king within a district.
Naveta, BoxerTHS, small sailing vessel - vague term, usually for ships under 2-300 tons, occasionally to twice that size.
ordenação, KSM, order having force of law, including alvara.
Orelha, JPB, Prolongation of a piece, for connection to another ["ear", lug].
ouvidor, BoxerSdeS, crown judge
ovidor, KSM, judge
padroado, BoxerSdeS, exclusive patronage of missionary activity in an area granted to the crown by the pope
Palmo de braça craveira, JPB, Common measure, also used in shipbuilding; the same as palmo de vara (see table).
Palmo de goa, JPB, Shipbuilding measure (see table).
Palmo de vara, JPB, Common unit of measure, also used in shipbuilding (see table).
pampas, BoxerSdeS, grass lands
Pangaio, BoxerTHS, a vessel like a barge, sewn together with rinds of trees and pinned with wood, with one sail of coconut-leaf matting (ref Mariner's Mirror 27, p261)
Pangayo, BoxerTHS, = pangaio
Par, JPB, The conjunction of frame and space with the frame following. The number of pairs is always counted for half the bottom, so that in reality a nau of 18 pairs has 36.
pardao, BoxerTHS, gold coin valued at 360 reis, or silver coin valued at 300 reis
Párea, JPB, Breadth [diameter] of the tonel [tun]. [4 pg. The term survives in the gauging of barrels]
Patilha, JPB, Prolongation of the keel that protects the lower part of the rudder [skeg]. The same as unha or polegar do leme (Padre F.Oliveira).
pauta, BoxerSdeS, list, register or roll
Pé da caverna, JPB, The part of the frame which sits on the keel, and increases in height from the master frame to the almogamas. The same as astilha, according to Lavanha.
Pé manco, JPB, The last frame, fixed to the sternpost, so that it does not rest on the keel. The same as revessado (Lavanha).
pedido, PER, subsidy granted by Cortes as a property tax for specific purposes, with exemptions.
pelouro, BoxerSdeS, ballot list
Petipé, JPB, Scale [from the French: little feet].
pombeiro, BoxerSdeS, slave-trader, lit: hawker
Porcas, JPB, Pieces at the stern, crossing from one side to the other of the fashion frame.
Porquetes, JPB, The spaces between the transom and the ends of the fashion pieces, which are filled in with the porcas.
porteiros, -, gate-keeper
povo, BoxerSdeS, people or populace
Pregos anielados, JPB, Bolts whose ends are riveted over iron roves.
procurador, -, attorney, procurator
procurador, BoxerSdeS, procurator, attorney
provedor, KSM, purveyor; for the deceased, for hospitals, etc.
provedor-mór, BoxerSdeS, crown purveyor or financial superintendent
qadi, PER, arabic hudge, principal officer of a town.
quetual, KSM = catual.
quinas, BoxerSdeS, royal arms of Portugal representing the five wounds of Christ and the thirty pieces of silver for which he was sold
quintal, BoxerTHS, Indo-Portuguese weight of 130 lbs avd
quinto, PER, Royal fifth, taken from any booty taken by force of arms.
quitacão, KSM acquittance given by creditor to the debtor - signing off of accounts of officials.
Rabo-de-espada, JPB, Process for the division of the graminho, in which the divisions are the terms of a geometric progression of argument equal to the nth root of three, in which n is the number of divisions. This graminho is only mentioned by Padre F.Oliveira.
Rabo-de-minhote, JPB, Perpendicular joint between two pieces, by means of a triangular mortise. [Occurs at the joint between sternpost and transom, where it is a complex three-dimensional mortise - see figure 12].
real (pl. reis), BoxerTHS, money of account (not a coin, about 1600 - see tostão, cruzado, milreis)
real branco, PER, copper/silver coin reckoned at 35 libras, from 1415.
realengo, PER, lands belonging to the Crown and directly administered.
reconcavo, BoxerSdeS, applied to the cultivated environs of Bahia and Rio de Janeiro, lit: hollow tract of land
Regel, JPB, Part of the run, between the almogama and the sternpost; or the height of the tuck measured on the sternpost. [Otherwise rangel].
regimento, BoxerSdeS, standing order or instruction
regimento, KSM, form of alvara, with legal standing.
regimento, KSM, type of alvara.
regimento, PER, directive; sailing orders.
relação, BoxerSdeS, high court of appeal, court of chancery
relação, KSM, tribunal of justice at second instance - appeal; formerly casa da supplicação.
repartição do Sul, BoxerSdeS, southern division or department of Portuguese dominions in Brasil
repartimiento, BoxerSdeS, share of territory allotted as a fief to a Spanish conquistador
Repositarius maior, FdeM = tesoureiro - Treasurer
reposteiro, housekeeper/steward
reposteiro-mor, -
resgate, PER, trading point between Portuguese and locals on coast or rivers of Guiné.
Reversado, JPB, Term with which Lavanha denotes the fashion pieces. The whole skeleton of the stern (Padre F.Oliveira). The same as revessado.
Revessado, JPB, See reversado.
roteiro, BoxerTHS, rutter, sailing directions
Rumo, JPB, Unit of measure, used exclusively in shipbuilding (see table).
sahel, PER, land between Sahara and tropical forests.
Saltarelha, JPB, Process for the division of the graminho, identical to that of the brusca. The divisions form an arithmetic progression, whose first term is the argument. A rule graduated by any of the processes for division of the graminho.
Scançamus maior, FdeM = escanção-copeiro
Scribanus domini regis, FdeM
sesmaria, PER, rural land lease system, committing full cultivation within a set period.
sesmarias, BoxerSdeS, holdings of crown lands
sisa, KSM, indirect tax on merchandise applied from 14thC onwards
soba, BoxerSdeS, negro tribal chief
Soleira, JPB, A plank set on the ground to support apparatus, etc. The plank on which the keel blocks sit.
sova, BoxerSdeS, = soba
Sovina, JPB, Treenail.
sub-donatório, PER, deputy for absent donatório.
supplicação, casa da, KSM, appeal court
Talha, JPB, Padre F.Oliveira's designation for the breadth of the tonel (4 palmos de goa). [sic: an obvious slip: compare párea. Talha is the height of a tun, 6 pg].
terço, BoxerSdeS, infantry regiment
Tinteiro, JPB, A container for the solution of ochre for marking or tracing out the timbers.
tisoureiro, - , treasurer (may be just local collection of plate, eg church).
Topas, BoxerTHS, dark-skinned or half-caste claimants of Portuguese ancestry
topaz, BoxerTHS, = topas
Torno, JPB, Treenail.
tostão (pl. tostões) , BoxerTHS, testoon, worth 100 reis, about 2-1/2 Elizabethan English pence (but see cruzado !)
tumbeiro, BoxerSdeS, slave-ship, lit: undertaker
tupassi, BoxerTHS, = topas
ucham (uchão), -, keeper of ucharia, place where meats etc are kept in old palaces; or bread; thus pantry - pantryman, possibly butler?
veador da fazenda, -
veador, -, overseer
vedor da fazenda, PER, treasurer, head of national finances appointed by king.
vedores da fazenda, KSM, comptroller of finance (defined by regimento of 1516). One in Portugal.
vereador, BoxerSdeS, alderman
vereador, KSM, municipal functionary (alderman); elected by the municipal council.
vezinho, BoxerSdeS, head of a household, lit: neighbour
Vice-maiordous, FdeM = vice mordomo
vintena, PER, tax of one twentieth imposed by Prince Henry on all imports from Guiné, on the basis of jurisdiction of Order of Christ over all discoveries in his time.
vizinho, BoxerSdeS, = vezinho
zimbo, BoxerSdeS, cowrie shell