Pirate Ship?

Question

On the front of a pirate ship there is a decoration of some sorts. They are usually a mermaid...does anyone know the nautical name for it...I can't find it anywhere.

Answer 1

The sculpture present on the bow of many large ships is called the figurehead.  The figurehead comes from an ancient tradition of the sea which may have begun with the painting of eyes in the front of a vessel.  These eyes were expected to look out for the ship and crew.

Answer 2

The decoration is normally referred to as a figurehead and sometimes as a maidenhead.

While it was believed that to have a woman on board was bad luck, it was also believed that if a woman bore her b*****s in the face of a storm, the weather would abate and ships could pass peaceably.  This is why most figureheads are bare-chested.

Answer 3

itz a fuigure head and is normally the pirates true love