moon pool

UK/ˈmuːnpuːl/US/ˈmunˌpul/

noun

An opening in the base of the hull of a vessel (especially a marine drilling platform), which is used for lowering equipment into the sea below.

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Meanings

nounmoon pool (plural moon pools)

plural moon pools · alternative moonpool · alternative moon-pool

  1. chiefly oil industrynauticalAn opening in the base of the hull of a vessel (especially a marine drilling platform), which is used for lowering equipment into the sea below.

Origin

From moon + pool, from the fact that, on some nights, moonlight can be seen reflected by the surface of the sea through the opening, making it resemble a swimming pool.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Dutch moonpool
  • moonpoolopening in the base of the hull of a vessel, which is used for lowering equipment into the sea below
French puits central
  • puits centralopening in the base of the hull of a vessel, which is used for lowering equipment into the sea below
German Moonpool
  • Moonpoolopening in the base of the hull of a vessel, which is used for lowering equipment into the sea below
Japanese ムーンプール
  • ムーンプールopening in the base of the hull of a vessel, which is used for lowering equipment into the sea below
Swedish månbassäng
  • månbassängopening in the base of the hull of a vessel, which is used for lowering equipment into the sea below
Cite this entry
APA

moon pool. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/moon%20pool

MLA

“moon pool.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/moon%20pool. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “moon pool,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/moon%20pool.

Source: moon pool on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.