Dictionnaire de Marine

Nicolas Aubin “Dictionnaire de Marine: Contenant Les Termes De La Navigation Et De L'Architecture Navale Avec les Règles & Proportions qui doivent y être observées ; Ouvrage Enrichi De Figures Représentant divers Vaisseaux , les principales Pièces servant à leur construction, les différens Pavillons des Nations, les Instrumens de Mathématique, Outils de Charpenterie & Menuiserie concernant la fabrique, avec les diverses fonctions des Officiers. - Seconde Edition, revûë., corrigée & augmentée” (Amsterdam: Mortier, 1736)

Acquired in 2025

As the Age of Sail was reaching its height in the 18^th century, naval power and commercial shipping became central to global geopolitics. Whole economies and livelihoods were coming to depend upon what were some of the largest machines that people had then managed to build. Yet the language and operation of ships were particular and obscure. An authoritative reference work on ships, their construction, and navigation therefore became an invaluable resource not just for sailors and shipbuilders but also for merchants, administrators, and the emerging industrial classes. Published in answer to this need, Nicolas Aubin’s “Dictionnaire de Marine” (1736) stands as one of the most comprehensive and influential maritime dictionaries of its time.

The Iron Library’s copy is a second edition of the dictionary, revised, corrected, and expanded. It was published in Amsterdam - a major European maritime hub - by Mortier, a prominent and respected publisher of nautical and cartographic works. The “Dictionnaire de Marine” is notable for its extensive woodcut illustrations and plates, which provide detailed views of ship types, rigging, and structural elements of naval architecture. Of particular interest are the plates depicting 88 flags of seafaring cities and nations, underscoring the cosmopolitan nature of the 18th century high seas.

Economic necessity and the sheer difficulty of recruiting enough skilled sailors meant that captains frequently turned to foreign mariners, privateers, and sometimes even former enemies to crew their ships. Aubin’s decision to include Dutch terminology alongside the French reflects the ongoing maritime collaboration and rivalry between France and the Dutch Republic. At the same time, it is a document attesting to the polyglot maritime world, where communication and shared technical knowledge were vital.

Reflecting the history of installations still provided by GF Piping Systems, the dictionary also provides insight into the different sorts of ship’s pumps and pipes. These were essential for maintaining sanitary conditions below decks by removing accumulated bilge water, a mixture of seawater, human waste, and other contaminants. Proper sanitation was vital for preventing disease, as the cramped and usually unventilated conditions below decks on ships made them breeding grounds for illnesses such as dysentery and typhus.

Through its meticulous documentation of maritime knowledge and practice, Aubin’s dictionary not only served the needs of its contemporary readership but endures as an excellent resource for researchers interested in the interconnected, multilingual, and ever-adaptive world of 18th-century seafaring and technology.