The Vasa's New Battle

Glossary

Some naval and wood related terms used in the text.

board see planking below
cabin cabin (state room), in the after body for the highest-ranking commander
cell wall wood cell walls consist of 3 types of layers: middle lamella,   primary (thin) and secondary (thicker and layered) walls
cellulose long chain of glucose molecules, linked with glycosidic bonds
ceiling/dunnage planks covering the inner side of the frame
covering board plank on top of frame for preventing water to enter between planking and ceiling
dunnage/plank see ceiling
frame "ribs" of the ship, standing timber from the keel to the covering board between planking and ceiling
galley "kitchen", located in the middle of the hold
gun deck covered deck with cannons
heartwood hard central wood of a trunk
hemicellulose branched polymers of xylose, arabinose, galactose, mannose, and glucose, which bind bundles of cellulose fibrils to form microfibrils, which enhance the stability of the cell wall.
hold space in the bottom of the ship
hull body of the ship (not masts or rigging)
increment drill hand-operated drill for sampling of wood. Used by forest rangers to check growth of trees
lignin natural component that helps provide strength in cell walls; contains aromatic structures; resists attack by microorganisms, in anaerobic environment lignin can persist for very long periods
lumen the space in the center of a wood cell
middle lamella the outer wall of the cell shared by adjacent cells.
orlop deck second lowest deck below the lowest gun deck
peg wood pin through dunnage, frame and plank
PEG acronym for polyethylene glycol, a filling material in wood cells
planking/board outside planks coating the frame and timber
poop deck covered part of the quarter (aft cabins of the officers)
port (side) left side of the ship when facing the bow
primary cell wall after the middle lamella, consists of cellulose microfibrils in pectic compounds, hemicellulose and glycoproteins.
quarter deck aft part of deck, located higher than the main deck
secondary cell wall extremely rigid layered wall around the lumen, made of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin.
splint wood soft surface wood of timber
star board right side of the ship when facing the bow
sternpost aftmost standing timber, running from the keel and connecting the ship's sides
stringer thick timber along sides, which carries the deck beams
wale projecting timber along outside of hull, to strengthen planking
wheelhouse between the cabin and upper gun deck

Small chemical dictionary

acid compound that reacts with water to supply hydrogen ions,    H+(aq), see below, in aqueous solution
alkaline basic; pH > 7 in aqueous solution
anaerobic lacking or not needing oxygen, air deficient
anoxic in the absence of oxygen
biocide poisonous to fungi or bacteria
dehydrate remove water
elemental sulfur free sulfur, not combined with other elements
erode wear away gradually
hydrogen ion,  H+(aq) H+ always combines with at least one water molecule in solution, e.g. as hydronium ion H3O+
hydrolyse decompose by reaction with water
hygroscopic absorbing moisture
catalyst substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction without being consumed
metabolism combustion process in living organism
pH degree of acidity on a logarithmic scale (pH=0 equals 1 mol H+/L, pH = 3 equals 1 mmol H+/L)