Not that it's relevant to the topic, but my background is in linguistics, so please forgive the digression and please don't let me hijack this thread by following me down this rabbit hole. I just want to point out that the purpose of a dictionary is to be descriptive and not prescriptive.
That is, dictionaries do not dictate the correct meaning of a word. They are an attempt to describe how the authors of the dictionary have found words to be used. People commonly think that dictionaries are the authoritative texts on the meanings of words. In fact, they are just reports of observations of usage. In other words, even though a dictionary contains definitions, it does not define words. People define words and dictionaries attempt to record those definitions.
The problem with using a dictionary as an authoritative text for terms that lean toward jargon is that the authors typically lack the knowledge in the relevant domain to adequately define a term as it is used by a particular community. The best they can do is describe how they have seen it used and try to extrapolate a general sense of meaning from that. That, and word meaning is always contextual.
For example, the term "rode" technically refers only to rope and not chain (according to most), but in certain contexts, we just use it to mean all of the flexible stuff that connects the boat to anchor.
Or, consider the term "jib". You can find definitions, but they do not match common usage. In casual reference, we tend to refer to a genoa as a "jib", though some would insist they are distinct (though arguably a genoa is a type of jib). And, historical definitions and usage of the term "jib" are not wholly satisfactory in the context of today's designs.
Or, maybe a better illustration is the pedantic assertion that there are no "ropes" on boats (though there definitely are). Yet, if ask someone, "Hey, grab that rope", there is a zero chance they will stare at you, not having a clue what you could possibly be referring to.
All this to say what Thinwater kind of alluded to: A word means pretty much what two people agree that it means in a given context.
OK ... that said ... we sailors do love our jargon, and having a secret language is part of what defines us as a community. And, debating the meaning of that jargon is also part of the community - much like discussing the minutiae of anchoring theory.