forecastle

American  

[fohk-suhl, fawr-kas-uhl, -kah-suhl, fohr-] / ˈfoʊk səl, ˈfɔrˌkæs əl, -ˌkɑ səl, ˈfoʊr- /

Also fo'c'sle.

noun

Nautical.

1. a superstructure at or immediately aft of the bow of a vessel, used as a shelter for stores, machinery, etc., or as quarters for sailors.

2. any sailors' quarters located in the forward part of a vessel, as a deckhouse.

3. the forward part of the weather deck of a vessel, especially that part forward of the foremast.

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forecastle British  

/ ˈfəʊksəl /

noun

1. the part of a vessel at the bow where the crew is quartered and stores, machines, etc, may be stowed

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Etymology

Origin of forecastle

First recorded in 1300–50, forecastle is from the Middle English word forcastel. See fore-, castle

Example Sentences

Romeo followed Wallace up the stairs to the forecastle.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 13, 2024

The crew, most of them live up in what’s called the forecastle, sort of a bowdlerization of forecastle, an old-fashioned term.

From Slate • Jun. 16, 2017

Up on the forecastle, Hurum and Klein scan the sea through their binoculars for the first signs of the boat.

From The Guardian • Sep. 29, 2015

“Around the tables, in the laboratory, and in the forecastle, men are sitting about sad and dejected, lost in dreams of melancholy,” he noted.

From The New Yorker • Apr. 13, 2015

A figurehead can only see things in front of the ship, and nothing within it, so Calliope can just guess at the way into the forecastle, where her legs—if they exist—would be embedded.

From "Challenger Deep" by Neal Shusterman