The Nautical Encyclopedia

Patterson’s Illustrated Nautical Encyclopedia — Howard Patterson, 1891

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Home ⚓ Letter D ⚓ Doldrums

Doldrums

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Certain parts of the sea where calms prevail. They exist between the trade winds.

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2026 Editor's Note: The doldrums gave English its word for stagnation; the zone itself now goes by the bureaucratic name Intertropical Convergence Zone, and still becalms sailors — including modern racing yachts. (Ed: BR 2026-07-03)

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The Nautical Encyclopedia (1891) is in the public domain; this digital edition © 2026 PhotoOpAI.