LAND LUBBER - A person unfamiliar with being on the sea.

LANYARD - A rope that ties something off.

LATITUDE - The distance north or south of the equator measured and expressed in degrees.

LAZARETTE - A storage space in a marine vessel's stern area.

LEAGUE - A unit of length, normally equal to three nautical miles.

LEE - The side sheltered from the wind.

LEE SIDE - The side of a marine vessel sheltered from the wind.

LEE SHORE - A shore downwind of a marine vessel.

LEECH - The aft or trailing edge of a fore-and-aft sail.

LEEWARD - The direction away from the wind. Opposite of windward.

LEEWAY - The sideways movement of the marine vessel caused by either wind or current.

LIFEBOAT - A small boat used to get the crew to safety if something happens to the mothership.

LIMA - Letter L in the Marine Radio Alphabet.

LINE - Rope and cordage used aboard a vessel.

LIST - The vessel's angle of lean or tilt to one side, in the direction called roll.

LOG - A record of courses or operation. Also, a device to measure speed.

LONGITUDE - The distance in degrees east or west of the meridian at Greenwich, England.

LUBBER'S LINE - A mark or permanent line on a compass indicating the direction forward parallel to the keel when properly installed.

LUFF - The forward edge of a sail.

LUFFING - The flapping of the sail(s) which results from having no wind in the sail.

LYING AHULL - Waiting out a storm by dousing all sails and simply letting the boat drift.