noun
or fo'c'sle ˈfōksəl sometimes ˈfōrˌkasəl or ˈfȯr-
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English forcastel, forecastel, from for-, fore- fore- + castel castle — more at castle
1.
a. : an ancient warship's short upper deck forward raised like a castle in order to command an enemy's decks
b. : the part of the upper deck of a ship forward of the foremast or of the fore channels
2. : the forward part of a merchantman where the sailors live either under the deck or in a compartment above the deck