noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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General-American:/ˈfoʊk.səl/
General-American:/ˈfoɹ.kæ.səl/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
1
noun
Meaning 1
A raised part of the upper deck at the front of a ship; the structure of this part of the ship; the crew's quarters located within it.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: nautical, transport
Examples
Holonyms: watercraft, vessel, vessel
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: aftcastle, aftercastle
2
noun
Meaning 2
living quarters consisting of a superstructure in the bow of a merchant ship where the crew is housed
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: fo'c'sle
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: living quarters, quarters
History
Etymology
From Middle English forecastel, forcastel, (whence also Anglo-French forechasteil), equivalent to fore- + castle. Compare Dutch voorkasteel.
Across languages
Translations
43 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Bulgarian:
бак
(bak)
— nautical: raised part of the upper deck at bow
Catalan:
castell de proa
— nautical: raised part of the upper deck at bow
Chinese Mandarin:
前甲板
(qiánjiǎbǎn)
— nautical: raised part of the upper deck at bow
Danish:
bak
— nautical: raised part of the upper deck at bow
Danish:
folkelukaf
— nautical: raised part of the upper deck at bow
Dutch:
voorkasteel
— nautical: raised part of the upper deck at bow
Finnish:
etukastelli
— nautical: raised part of the upper deck at bow
Finnish:
pakka
— nautical: raised part of the upper deck at bow
French:
gaillard d'avant
— nautical: raised part of the upper deck at bow
Galician:
castelo
— nautical: raised part of the upper deck at bow
German:
Vorschiff
— nautical: raised part of the upper deck at bow
German:
Bugkastell
— nautical: raised part of the upper deck at bow
Hebrew:
בֵּית קַדְמָה
(bet kadmá)
— nautical: raised part of the upper deck at bow
Hebrew:
צוּר חַרְטוֹם
(tsur khartóm)
— nautical: raised part of the upper deck at bow
Ido:
kastelo avana
— nautical: raised part of the upper deck at bow
Ido:
avana kastelo
— nautical: raised part of the upper deck at bow
Irish:
deic thosaigh
— nautical: raised part of the upper deck at bow
Japanese:
船首楼
(senshurō)
— nautical: raised part of the upper deck at bow
Manx:
cashtal toshee
— nautical: raised part of the upper deck at bow
Middle English:
forstage
— nautical: raised part of the upper deck at bow
Norman:
châté
— nautical: raised part of the upper deck at bow
Norman:
gaillard d'avant
— nautical: raised part of the upper deck at bow
Norwegian:
ruff
— nautical: raised part of the upper deck at bow
Norwegian Bokmål:
bakk
— nautical: raised part of the upper deck at bow
Norwegian Bokmål:
bakkdekk
— nautical: raised part of the upper deck at bow
Polish:
bak
— nautical: raised part of the upper deck at bow
Polish:
bakdek
— nautical: raised part of the upper deck at bow
Portuguese:
castelo de proa
— nautical: raised part of the upper deck at bow
Russian:
бак
(bak)
— nautical: raised part of the upper deck at bow
Russian:
полуба́к
(polubák)
— nautical: raised part of the upper deck at bow
Russian:
носово́й ку́брик
(nosovój kúbrik)
— nautical: raised part of the upper deck at bow
Spanish:
castillo de proa
— nautical: raised part of the upper deck at bow
Swedish:
backdäck
— nautical: raised part of the upper deck at bow
Swedish:
back
— nautical: raised part of the upper deck at bow
Welsh:
fforcas
— nautical: raised part of the upper deck at bow