Definition of "forecastles" [forecastles]

• Plural form of forecastle. (noun)

Wiktionary.org : Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License

• "Likewise there were raised constructions at bow and stern, something like small forts, called forecastles and aftercastles; the former word still remaining under our modern term forecastle."
• "But as the fight was still at comparatively close quarters -- owing to the guns being small, and of no great range, -- warships were fitted with cumbrous "forecastles" and "aftercastles" (see illustration on page 69), and with heavy tops on the masts, to contain musketeers, in order to command the enemy's deck."
• "High "forecastles" and "aftercastles," and heavy tops, thus became of little use and were discarded, as were also the oars used on smaller craft, as the art of sailing became better understood and vessels more seaworthy."