forecastle

[ fohk-suhl, fawr-kas-uhl, -kah-suhl, fohr- ]

noun

, Nautical.

1. a superstructure at or immediately aft of the bow of a vessel, used as a shelter for stores, machinery, etc., or as quarters for sailors.
2. any sailors' quarters located in the forward part of a vessel, as a deckhouse.
3. the forward part of the weather deck of a vessel, especially that part forward of the foremast.

forecastle

/ ˈfəʊksəl /

noun

1. the part of a vessel at the bow where the crew is quartered and stores, machines, etc, may be stowed

Word History and Origins

Origin of forecastle¹

First recorded in 1300–50, forecastle is from the Middle English word forcastel. See fore-, castle

Example Sentences

Romeo followed Wallace up the stairs to the forecastle.

From Los Angeles Times

Built by the Dutch firm Feadship and put into service in 2013, the Madame Gu has a large helicopter pad on its forecastle with a hangar underneath that can double as a squash court when the chopper isn’t on board.

From New York Times

Two nautical-style open-tread oak stairways lead — one from the studio and the other from the living room and kitchen — to five upstairs bedrooms, which are tucked under the butterfly tresses that support the building like a forecastle deck where the sailors sleep.

From New York Times

As our charge was wrapped in his cloak, I purposely passed within a boat or two’s length of the floating Custom House, and so out to catch the stream, alongside of two emigrant ships, and under the bows of a large transport with troops on the forecastle looking down at us.

From Literature

An earlier version of this post incorrectly rendered the word "forecastle" as "foxhole" in a quote.

From Washington Post