Island Nicknames & Basics
The essential terms every visitor should know
ACK
The three-letter airport code for Nantucket Memorial Airport, universally used as shorthand for the island itself. You'll see it on bumper stickers, t-shirts, and hashtags everywhere. It's become an affectionate nickname that signals insider status.
The Grey Lady
Nantucket's poetic nickname, inspired by the fog that frequently blankets the island and the gray-shingled buildings that define its architecture. The full version is "The Little Grey Lady of the Sea." The name evokes the island's mystical, often misty atmosphere.
On-Island / Off-Island
The fundamental geographic distinction in Nantucket life. "On-island" means you're on Nantucket; "off-island" is everywhere else - Cape Cod, Boston, the rest of the world. It reflects the island's sense of being a world apart.
Town
Downtown Nantucket - the historic district with cobblestone streets, shops, and restaurants centered around Main Street. When someone says they're "going to town," they mean the central commercial and historic area, not the island as a whole.
The Boat
The ferry - always referred to as "the boat" by locals, never "the ferry." Both the Steamship Authority and Hy-Line ferries are simply "the boat."
'Sconset
The local abbreviation for Siasconset, the charming village on the island's eastern end known for rose-covered cottages. Almost no one says the full name - it's always 'Sconset (sometimes written Sconset without the apostrophe).
People & Social Terms
How islanders categorize their community
Washashore
Someone who moved to Nantucket but wasn't born there. The term suggests someone who "washed ashore" from somewhere else. It's used matter-of-factly, without negative connotation - even residents who've lived on the island for 30 years may still be called washashores.
Year-Rounder
A resident who lives on Nantucket year-round, as opposed to seasonal residents or summer visitors. Year-rounders form the backbone of the island community, keeping businesses running and maintaining the island through quiet winters.
Summer People
Seasonal visitors and residents who come primarily during the summer months. This includes both tourists and families who own summer homes but don't live on-island year-round. The term is neutral but distinguishes them from year-rounders.
Chad / ChadTucket
Tongue-in-cheek slang for the stereotypical wealthy, preppy visitor - typically a young man in Nantucket Reds and a pastel polo, often spotted at Cisco Brewers. "ChadTucket" describes Nantucket during peak summer when this demographic is most visible. Used humorously, sometimes self-deprecatingly.
Coofs
An old Nantucket term for tourists or off-islanders, derived from a 19th-century word meaning "foolish person." It's rarely used seriously today but sometimes appears in historical context or ironic usage. Most locals simply say "visitors" or "tourists."
Whaling & Maritime Heritage
Terms from Nantucket's legendary whaling era
Nantucket Sleigh Ride
A dramatic whaling term describing what happened when a harpooned whale would drag the small whaleboat across the ocean at high speed in its attempt to escape. Crews could be pulled for miles, sometimes for hours, in a terrifying and exhilarating chase. It's one of the most evocative images of the whaling era and is often referenced in local lore and literature.
Scrimshaw
The folk art of carving or engraving designs on whale ivory, teeth, or bone. Whalers practiced scrimshaw during long voyages, creating intricate decorative objects. Authentic antique scrimshaw is now rare and valuable; modern pieces use alternative materials. The Whaling Museum has an excellent collection.
Widow's Walk
The railed rooftop platform found on many historic Nantucket homes. Legend says wives would watch from these perches for their husbands' ships returning from whaling voyages - hence the melancholy name. In reality, they were primarily used as fire lookouts and for accessing roof-mounted chimneys, but the romantic legend persists.
Try Pots
Large iron pots used aboard whaling ships to render whale blubber into oil through a process called "trying out." The brick structures that held these pots, called tryworks, were built on ship decks. You'll sometimes see antique try pots repurposed as planters or decorative elements on-island.
Greasy Luck
A traditional whaling-era toast wishing a ship and crew success - the "grease" referring to the valuable whale oil they hoped to harvest. You might still hear it used as a toast or good-luck wish on the island.
Petticoat Row
The historic nickname for Centre Street's commercial district, dating to the early 1800s when women ran many of the shops while their husbands were away on years-long whaling voyages. These early female entrepreneurs made Centre Street one of America's first woman-dominated business districts.
Island Fashion & Style
The iconic looks of Nantucket
Nantucket Reds
The iconic cotton canvas pants (and shorts) that start out a distinctive red color and fade to a soft salmon pink over time. Created by Murray's Toggery Shop in the 1960s, the faded look has become a status symbol showing you've been coming to Nantucket for years. New Reds are a slight faux pas; well-worn, faded ones are a badge of honor.
Lightship Baskets
Intricately woven rattan baskets that originated with crews stationed on the Nantucket Lightship in the 19th century. Today they're prized as purses, especially with carved ivory or wood tops. Authentic ones are handmade on-island and can cost thousands of dollars. They're a symbol of Nantucket craftsmanship and tradition.
Nantucket Grays
The weathered gray color of the cedar shingles that cover most island buildings. The distinctive silver-gray develops naturally as untreated cedar is exposed to salt air and sun. It's now essentially required by historic district guidelines and has become synonymous with Nantucket's visual identity.
Places & Geography
Local names for island areas
The Moors
The rolling, open heathlands that cover much of Nantucket's interior. Characterized by low shrubs, grasses, and wetlands, the moors are a defining landscape feature and important conservation area. They're particularly beautiful in autumn when the vegetation turns golden and red.
Mid-Island
The central part of Nantucket, away from both downtown and the outer villages. Mid-island is where you'll find the airport, many year-round residents, and some businesses. It's more residential and practical than the scenic coastal areas.
The Creeks
A small waterfront area between downtown and Brant Point, featuring boat moorings and some of the island's most coveted real estate. Known for beautiful harbor views and proximity to town.
Straight Wharf / Old South Wharf
The two main wharves extending into Nantucket Harbor from downtown. Straight Wharf is where the ferries dock and has restaurants and shops. Old South Wharf has galleries, boutiques, and the famous Cottages at Nantucket Boat Basin.
The Three Bricks
Three identical Georgian brick mansions at 93, 95, and 97 Main Street, built in 1836-1838 by whale oil merchant Joseph Starbuck for his three sons. They're among the most photographed historic homes on the island and represent the peak of Nantucket's whaling-era prosperity.
Food & Drink Terms
Culinary vocabulary for the island
Quahog
A large hard-shell clam found in New England waters, used in clam chowder and stuffed clams (stuffies). The word comes from the Narragansett language. Different sizes have different names: littlenecks and cherrystones are smaller quahogs perfect for raw bars; chowder clams are the largest.
Stuffies
Stuffed quahog clams - the large shells filled with a savory mixture of chopped clams, breadcrumbs, and seasonings, then baked. A New England classic you'll find at many island restaurants and raw bars.
Steamers
Soft-shell clams steamed and served with their cooking broth and melted butter for dipping. The ritual involves swishing each clam in the broth to remove any sand, then dipping in butter before eating.
Cranberry Bog
Nantucket has several active cranberry bogs, a legacy of the island's agricultural past. The Cranberry Festival each October celebrates the harvest. You can find local cranberry products at farm stands and shops around the island.
Speaking Like a Local
- Say "'Sconset": Never the full "Siasconset" unless you want to sound like a guidebook
- It's "the boat": Not "the ferry" - locals always call it "the boat"
- Embrace the fog: Refer to it as "classic Grey Lady weather" rather than complaining
- Know your Reds: Compliment faded Nantucket Reds - the more faded, the better
- On-island etiquette: Don't ask a longtime resident if they're "from" Nantucket - ask if they're a year-rounder
- Respect the pace: Saying you're "on island time" shows you understand the culture