What is a lazarette?

The lazarette is always an aft compartment. On a smaller yacht, it is usually behind the steering station. On larger vessels the lazarette is found on the lee side of the ship. It would house extra lines, different sails, maybe a bosun chair or tools.

The name derives from the biblical story of "Lazarus". On the old square-rigged sailing ships it was located in the bow of the ship. The original purpose was to store the bodies of important passengers or crew who had died on the voyage, (lesser seamen would be buried at sea). It was a large locker obviously, and was situated at the bow in order that the stench of rotting flesh was blown away from the vessel rather than across the decks. All that remains from these origins is that it is still generally the largest locker on a boat, and it's still known as the "Lazarette".

More Info: www.en.mimi.hu

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27 Comments

james parrillo

Lindsay Fussell, The player EarlePG has told you about the bell in the right corner. The bell will have a number in it if someone has responded to a comment. Thank you, Christine, James' wife

james parrillo

Syed Hussain, If you can remember the question, you could look for it. If your search engine stores history, you could find it there. Please read my comment to Lindsay Fussell, as well, in case that is helpful. Thank you, Christine, James' wife

earlepg

Syed Hussain, It's been a while, so you may know now. In case not, here is how I've gone back to questions. First, if you've received a reply to a comment you've made, you'l! receive a notification that can be accessed by clicking on the bell symbol near the top right side of your screen. Otherwise you can access the question, with the comments, by typing the question on your "search" line. I am sure to use the original words of the question with "quizzclub" at the end of the line (some non-essential words can be omitted). This doesn't work in all cases, but it's close (maybe 80% of the time). Hope it works for you.

earlepg

Geoff Rankin, Thank you! It had me wondering. I wanted to check the article but it isn't available.

earlepg

Diane Smith, I've been finding that to be true in the majority of cases, but I still try to be careful about it

deborahpmercer

Good question - even if I was originally surprised not to see "dungeon" in the options as I was confusing it with an oubliette!

Louella Wilson

Not a term that I had heard of. But the suffix ette means of small size. Hence opted for the answer containing small.

Diding Otico

Got it

Wayne Jines

Every lazarette I've seen has been astern. We have the forepeak at the bow.

Rebecca Neese

It says that on the older sailing vessels this locker was at the bow of the ship so that the winds wouldn't blow the stench of the rotting bodies across the decks. However, I was taught in school that the bow is the FRONT of the ship -- our 3rd-grade teacher said we could remember because the ship "always enters with a bow." The rear of the ship was the stern. So, if that's the case, wouldn't the winds blow back from the front of the ship? Wouldn't the lazarette have been at the stern, not the bow?

Allan Jones

I have one on my boat but I was call the bow know I know. What to call

Anne Roberts

Oh dear

Karin Johansson

Teresa Moral, a lasarett here is a bigger hospital

jbradleyhoward

The bow is in front of ship and stern is in back. "It was a large locker obviously, and was situated at the bow in order that the stench of rotting flesh was blown away from the vessel rather than across the decks."