Naval vs. Nautical

[taz1004]

I've been having discussion with collegue about what is proper term to use to categorize yacht industry.

I believe it should be naval but I'm being told that it implies navy and therefore nautical is proper term to be used. But I haven't seen the word nautical being used anywere in yacht industry.

I would like to know what the expert's opinions are.

[jehardiman]

"Navis" is latin for ship, therefor the operative is "naval" for ship matters. Naval Architecture is about the structure of ships.

"Nauta" is latin of sailor and likewise "nautical" for matters about sailors. A Nautical Handbook if the necessary learning of a sailor.

The proper term for governmental orginization of ships (military or not)is "Admiralty". Admiralty Law is the code of laws about ships and shipping.

[D'ARTOIS]

Correcto. No doubt about that. - However: Naval Academy - is that a school for the merchant (navy?)

If I am a Naval Architect: what I am doing? Designing war ships?

[jehardiman]

Originally Posted by D'ARTOIS

Correcto. No doubt about that. - However: Naval Academy - is that a school for the merchant (navy?)

If I am a Naval Architect: what I am doing? Designing war ships?

If you are in a naval academy, you are in a school to learn about ships. If you are a naval architect you design ships. If you are in the Naval Academy you are in a school about the Navy and may be learning Naval Engineering.

I can't help it that some old french guy, who couldn't speak either latin or english properly, convinced some old english guy to go along with the improper contracted singular of "naval" as "Navy" and so perjoratated the word for the last millennium.

[D'ARTOIS]

Ok - only to some extend - it is a fact that in the Anglosaxon language there is no proper distinction between Merchant-Marine and Navy.
The Dutch ( inventors of the yacht) make a proper distinction: Marine = Navy;
Koopvaardij = Merchant Marine; Nautic (Nautisch) is anything that is connected to seafaring;

But the French - and I agree with you - make a real mess of it:

Navy= Marine Militaire
Merchant Marine = Marine Marchand
Warship = Cuirassier (sounds like cruiser but is not the same)

corect me if I am wrong......