To review a dictionary may seem a rather pointless exercise but Paasch’s work is something more than a simple dictionary. Rather, it is a compendium of nautical terms and background information relating to sea‐going vessels. When the original was published in 1885, iron vessels driven by steam were becoming pre‐eminent, but there were still wooden ships sailing the seas in great numbers and steamers often had a sailing rig for additional propulsive power or as a standby in case of machinery breakdown.
Of particular interest is the descriptive list of the principal sailing vessels and steamers with illustrations, giving a clear idea of the various classes. Complementary to this are sections devoted to rigging and sails, thus enabling even the uninitiated to differentiate between a barque and a barquentine, topgallants and royals. Other sections cover ship construction, masts, machinery, anchors, knots etc. All are illustrated with line engravings in the manner of a manufacturer’s catalogue of the Victorian era. Illustrations are detailed in English but the provision of a tri‐lingual index ensures that the correct term can be found for French or German all of which presumably were “international” languages of the sea at that time.
An appendix gives a fuller explanation of technical terms found in the main body of the text, together with additions and corrections, again in three languages. Also included are various tables, providing imperial and metric equivalents for plate, pipework, cordage, etc. This book no doubt served as a reference source for marine engineers, shipwrights and others engaged in the building and repair of vessels at that time. It should prove invaluable to students of marine architecture and maritime history as well as those having a particular interest in ships of the period.
