taffrail

The curved wooden top of the stern of a sailing man-of-war or East Indiaman, usually carved or decorated.

The rail around the stern of a ship.

One evening, leaning over the taffrail, I observed a very singular, isolated cloud, to the N.W.

[…] with heavy, lumber-like pace he was measuring the ship from taffrail to mainmast […]

The deck area at the stern of a vessel.