In this work, Peter D. Jeans has written the story of seafaring men and women and their influence on the English language. An Ocean of Words tells the story of how nautical language has evolved into common usage. While providing definitions and word origins, the book is also anecdotal, recounting tales of such seafaring men as Capt. James Cook and Adm. Horatio Nelson. Much more than a dictionary, this work paints a vivid picture of the seaman's daily life in the age of sail and honors the rich cultural heritage of the sea-faring tradition. An astonishing variety of words, sayings, and idiomatic expressions are explained in alphabetically organized entries, and a bibliography guides the reader to key source materials. Anyone interested in the history of the English language or the history of the sea will find this book informative, intriguing, and very entertaining.