the part of a vessel at the bow where the crew was traditionally quartered and where stores, machines, etc may be stowed
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
fore•cas•tle /ˈfoʊksəl, ˈfɔrˌkæsəl/USA pronunciation
n. [countable]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025- Nautical, Naval Termsa structure sticking up at or immediately aft of the bow of a vessel.
fore•cas•tle
(fōk′səl, fôr′kas′əl, -kä′səl, fōr′-),USA pronunciation n. [Naut.]
- Nautical, Naval Termsa superstructure at or immediately aft of the bow of a vessel, used as a shelter for stores, machinery, etc., or as quarters for sailors.
- Nautical, Naval Termsany sailors' quarters located in the forward part of a vessel, as a deckhouse.
- Nautical, Naval Termsthe forward part of the weather deck of a vessel, esp. that part forward of the foremast.
- Middle English forcastel. See fore-, castle 1300–50
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
'forecastle' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
anchor bed
- anchor deck
- fo'c's'le
- fore
- forecastle deck
- forecastle head
- foredeck
- gangboard
- knighthead
- lighthouse
- sunk
- topgallant forecastle
- waist