larboard—The old term for port, or the left-hand side of a vessel. No longer in use because of its close resemblance to starboard, which is the term meaning the right-hand side.
lateen—A triangular sail of large size hung from a very long yard. It is common in Egyptian waters and is to be seen occasionally about the Mediterranean and in the East. The yard is often of immense length, sometimes being twice as long as the boat itself.
launch—A small vessel propelled by some kind of motor, and generally used for pleasure. To launch—To put a new vessel into the water. This is ordinarily a function of more or less formality.
lead—A leaden weight attached to the end of a line used to measure the depth of the water.
lee—The lee side of a vessel is the side opposite that against which the wind blows. A lee shore is a shore on the lee side of a ship, and is therefore to be feared, for the force of the wind tends to blow the ship ashore. “Under the lee of the shore,” however, is an expression meaning in the shelter of a shore line from which the wind is blowing.
leech (meaning lee edge)—The aftermost, backmost, or lee margin of a sail.
leg-of-mutton—A triangular sail sometimes used on small sailboats.
leeward—On the lee side. An object to leeward is on the lee side. Pronounced “loo-ard” or “lew-ard.”
lifeboat—A boat carried for the purpose of saving lives in case the ship which carried it is wrecked. Strict laws force all ships to carry these small boats, and the ships must carry life preservers in addition. Lifeboats are also maintained ashore in order to assist the crews of wrecked ships.
lighter—A barge intended for use in port or on rivers and meant to carry freight. The name comes from the fact that these barges “lighten” or unload ships. Ships also are often loaded from them.