Glossary of Terms

• Aft- The rear portion of a ship
• Ashore- Off station. Where you go on leave or liberty
• Aye Aye, Sir- Official acknowledgement of an order
• Barracks- Building where Marines live
• Below- Downstairs
• Bivouac- An area where you pitch tents in the field to stay overnight
• Blouse- Coat
• Boondocks- Woods or wilds; training area
• Brightwork- Brass or shiny metal; i.e., water faucets, doorknobs, etc.
• Bulkhead- Wall
• Bunk or Rack- Bed
• Chit- A small piece of paper; a receipt or authorization
• CMC- Commandant of the Marine Corps
• CO- Commander, Commanding Officer
• Colors- Organizational flags; raising or lowering of the National flag
• Cover- Hat
• Cruise or tour- Period of enlistment; deployment
• Deck- Floor
• Drill- March
• Ensign- National flag
• Esprit de Corps- Spirit of cammaraderie
• Fore- The front or forward portion of a ship
• Field- Boondocks where you train
• Field day- Clean up an area
• Galley- Kitchen
• Gangway- Move out of the way or make room
• Gear Locker- Storage room or locker for cleaning purposes
• Gung ho- Working together, in the spirit
• Hatch- Door
• Head- Bathroom
• Ladder- Stairs
• Leave- Authorized vacation
• Liberty- Authorized free time, but not leave
• MCRD- Marine Corps Recruit Depot. Where recruits train to be Marines
• MOS- Military Occupational Specialty
• NCO- Noncommissioned Officer
• NCOIC- Noncommissioned Officer in Charge
• Overhead- Ceiling
• Passageway- Corridor or hallway
• Port- The left side of a ship
• Porthole- Window
• PFT- Physical Fitness Test
• PX- Post Exchange; comparable to a civilian department store
• Quarterdeck- The most revered part of a ship. Where boarding and ceremonies take place.
• Quarters- A place to live, i.e., house, barracks, etc.
• Reveille- Time to get up
• Secure- Stop work, put away, close or lock
• Scuttlebutt- Water fountain, rumors
• Snapping in- Practicing getting into firing position
• Starboard- The right side of a ship
• Squad bay- Large room in barracks where Marines live
• Square away- Straighten up, make neat
• Survey- Turn in unserviceable items
• Swab- Mop
• Swooped- Already left to go out of town on leave or liberty
• Taps- Time to sleep
• Topside- Upstairs

All the above came from the D.E.P. book "The Making of A Marine"