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In naval architecture, a poop deck is a deck that constitutes the roof of a cabin built in the aft (rear) part of the superstructure of a ship. The name originates from the French word (la poupe) for stern, so the poop deck is the stern deck, which in sailing ships was usually elevated as the roof of the stern (or 'after') cabin. In sailing ships, with the helmsman at the stern, an elevated position was ideal for both navigation and observation of the crew and sails.

The picture shows the stern of the ship. The deck out of view above the after cabin is the poop deck. On modern, motorized warships, the ship functions which were once carried out on the poop deck are moved to the bridge superstructure in the center of the ship (or the island on the starboard side, in the case of aircraft carriers). The aft area, which is often clear and flush with the main deck, but may be one deck lower, is referred to as the "fantail" on American warships, and the "quarterdeck" on Commonwealth warships.

1. This is itself derived from the Latin word puppis, the stern of the Argo Navis