Vocabulary in The Old Man and the Sea

An extreme form of bad luck, used in Cuban fishing culture to describe someone so unlucky that even other unlucky people avoid them. In this text it marks Santiago as utterly, hopelessly unfortunate.

A small, flat-bottomed open boat, light enough for one person to row or sail alone. Santiago uses his skiff to go out fishing by himself each day.

Rolled or folded up tightly and secured, as a sail is wrapped around its mast or boom when not in use.

A long pole with a sharp metal hook at the end, used by fishermen to haul large fish out of the water and into the boat.

A narrow plank or seat that runs crosswise inside a small boat, used as a seat or as a brace to keep the hull rigid.

Thickened and clotted, as blood does when it dries and congeals on the skin after a wound.

A faint, cold glow produced by certain sea creatures and organisms in the water at night, making the ocean appear to shimmer or light up without any heat or flame.

Tiny drifting organisms — plants and animals — that float near the surface of the sea and form the base of the ocean food chain, often visible as a greenish or golden mass in the water.

Showing shifting, rainbow-like colors that change depending on the angle of light, the way the skin of certain fish or the surface of the sea can gleam with multiple hues at once.

Moving a boat by pulling on a rope or line that is attached to a fixed point, rather than by rowing or sailing.

A wooden or metal pin set into the gunwale of a boat to serve as a pivot point for an oar, keeping it in place while rowing.

The upper edge or rail along the side of a boat, forming the top of the hull. Santiago braces against it and rests his lines over it during the long fight.

A large, fast, and aggressive species of shark, considered among the most dangerous in the sea. In this text the mako is the first shark to attack Santiago's marlin.

A Spanish word meaning 'big-toothed one,' used in Cuban fishing as a name for the great shovel-nosed shark — a creature Santiago regards with hatred and contempt.

A Cuban Spanish term for a type of shark — specifically the shovel-nosed or grey shark — that travels in packs and strips carcasses. Santiago uses the word with deep disgust.

A long spear-like weapon with a barbed metal head, thrown or thrust into large sea animals to kill or hold them. Santiago uses his as his primary weapon against the sharks.

Tied or bound tightly with rope or cord. Santiago lashes the great fish alongside the skiff after the kill, securing it for the journey home.

The hard protective shell covering the back of a sea turtle or similar creature. Santiago is familiar with eating turtle eggs and the toughness of their shells.

Gathered or hauled in a sail or net by means of small ropes called brails, pulling it up or in toward the mast or boom to reduce or stow it.

The rear end of a boat. Santiago moves between the bow and the stern during his long struggle, shifting his weight and his lines as needed.

The front end of a boat, the pointed end that cuts through the water. Used in contrast with the stern to describe Santiago's movements and the direction the skiff is pulled.