Glossary
Terms & Glossaries of Shipping and Trading
Boom
A spar attached to the foot of a fore-and-aft sail.
Boom is a spar attached to the foot of a fore-and-aft sail. During certain sailing maneuvers, the boom moves rapidly from one side of the boat to the other. Sailors must take care not to obstruct this movement with their head. Failure to do so can give one insight into the origins of the name "boom".
