a deck on an old ship of war that is situated below the upper deck and extends aft from the mainmast
half deck in American English
noun
(in a sailing ship)
the portion of the deck below the upper or spar deck and aft of the mainmast
Derived forms
half-decker
noun
Word origin
[1620–30]This word is first recorded in the period 1620–30. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: acid, headline, midshipman, phosphorus, veto