Aft deck (shipbuilding)
The aft deck ( English "Quarterdeck") is a raised deck in the aft ( Low German for "rear") part of a ship.
For tall ships it refers to the mostly raised area of the upper deck behind the main mast . Only the captain , officers and midshipmen were allowed to stay there on warships . Morning prayers were held from the quarterdeck and the ship's rules read out. It was also the place from which orders were given. In later cargo ships, the rear area, which was increased by half a deck height, was referred to as the aft deck, which was intended to counteract top-heaviness when fully loaded.
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Wiktionary: aft deck - explanations of meanings, word origins, synonyms, translations
Wiktionary: Quarterdeck - explanations of meanings, word origins, synonyms, translations