Ladder 8 : On board a ship, all "stairs" are called ladders, except for literal staircases aboard passenger ships. Most "stairs" on a ship are narrow and nearly vertical, hence the name
Brethrencoast, Glossary of Nautical Terms - Talk like a pirate, Sylvan Dell Publishing, USA 2000. Brethren of the Coast is a non-profit site which was created solely for those interested in 'Piracy of Old' on the high seas. It is NOT associated with any organization or reinactment group by the same name. This just me personal website on the subject. http://brethrencoast.com/Glossary.html, (Mrtm - Amer) {574}
