Start with the words that organize the record
Designation, division, squadron, home port, deck log and muster roll each describe a different part of the historical system. Learning those terms makes a search more precise before a reader reaches for a keyword list.
A glossary is a map, not a verdict
Definitions can vary by period, command or source type. Each entry therefore stays short and points toward a primary record when the term carries technical or administrative weight.
Keep the reader moving
The glossary links back to the ship profile, the Service Ledger and the guides for deck logs and muster rolls. It is built to open a record, not to replace one.
Source note. This page separates documented history, archival observation and editorial explanation. Where a source does not establish a detail, the detail is left open.