half deck

American  

noun

1. (in a sailing ship) the portion of the deck below the upper or spar deck and aft of the mainmast.

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Other Word Forms

• half-decker
  noun

Etymology

Origin of half deck

First recorded in 1620–30

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

half deck

It's a sight out of a Twain lover's imagined memory: a tiny, homemade Mississippi River raft, buoyant on blue oil-drums, flapping blue canvas greetings from its scanty half deck.

From Time Magazine Archive

They could not, indeed, provide against the barbarity of their captains; but they secured them a space under the half deck in which to sleep.

From The History of the Rise, Progress and Accomplishment of the Abolition of the African Slave-Trade, by the British Parliament (1839) by Thomas Clarkson

She was a very poor subject to work upon, but he got out the wood for building a half deck over her, which he fitted on as he had opportunity.

From Little By Little or, The Cruise of the Flyaway by Oliver Optic

Sometimes it is placed between two of the guns, under the half deck; bat generally, I think, he is laid where I have mentioned, just abaft the mainmast.

From The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction Volume 17, No. 488, May 7, 1831 by Various

"Frank!" shouted Captain Sedley, who was at the helm, while Uncle Ben was gazing at them with a very sorrowful face from the half deck.

From All Aboard; or, Life on the Lake A Sequel to "The Boat Club" by Oliver Optic