This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Renamed user 9nc9f7hfgg (talk | contribs) at 06:34, 17 December 2006 (added quote). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.
Revision as of 06:34, 17 December 2006 by Renamed user 9nc9f7hfgg (talk | contribs) (added quote)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)"Is the poop deck really what I think it is?"
-- Homer Simpson
.jpg)
In naval architecture, a poop deck is a deck that constitutes the roof of a poop cabin built in the aft (rear) part of the superstructure of a ship. The name originates from the Latin puppis, or the elevated stern deck.
In sailing ships, with the helmsman at the stern, an elevated position was ideal for both navigation and observation of the crew.
The picture shows the stern of the ship. The deck out of view above the aftercabin is the poop deck. Despite similarity of the words, this has nothing to do with slang terms for defecation, which is performed using the ship's head. On modern, motorized warships, the ship functions which were once carried out on the poop deck are moved to the superstructure in the center of the ship (or the island on the starboard side, in the case of aircraft carriers), and the aft area, which is clear and flush with the main deck, is referred to as the fantail.