 THE SAILOR'S WORD-BOOK: AN ALPHABETICAL DIGEST OF NAUTICAL TERMS, INCLUDING SOME MORE ESPECIALLY MILITARY AND SCIENTIFIC, BUT USEFUL TO SEAMEN; AS WELL AS ARCHAISMS OF EARLY VOYAGERS, ETC. 

 BY THE LATE

 ADMIRAL W. H. SMYTH, K. S. F. , D. C. L. , &c. 

 REVISED FOR THE PRESS BY

 VICE-ADMIRAL SIR E. BELCHER, K. C. B. , &c. &c. 

 [Device]

 LONDON:

 BLACKIE AND SON, PATERNOSTER ROW; AND GLASGOW AND EDINBURGH. 1867. 

 GLASGOW: W. G. BLACKIE AND CO. , PRINTERS, VILLAFIELD. 

Transcriber's Note:

 Dialect, variant and obsolete spellings remain as printed. Minor typographical errors have been corrected without note, whilst significant changes have been listed at the end of the text. Superscript characters are preceded by the ^ character. Greek text appears as printed. 

THE EDITOR'S PREFACE. 

The recent loss of Admiral William Henry Smyth, noticed as it was by theleading periodicals, will have recalled to many, not only the socialcharacter and amiable qualities of the compiler of this Work, but alsohis distinguished professional career and high reputation as an officer, a navigator, and a seaman, which will be a guarantee for the details ofthis posthumous publication. 

When, in 1858, the Admiral reached the allotted term of three-scoreyears and ten, yet in perfect health, he executed his resolution ofresigning to younger men the posts he held in the active scientificworld, and concentrated his attention, at his quiet and literary retreatof St. John's Lodge, near Aylesbury, on reducing for the press the vastamount of professional as well as general information which he hadamassed during a long, active, and earnest life: the material for this"Digest" outstanding as the last, largest, and most important part ofit. Had he survived but a few months more, a preface in his own terseand peculiar style, containing his last ideas, would have rendered theseremarks unnecessary; but he was cut off on the 8th of September, 1865, leaving this favourite manuscript to the affectionate care of his familyand friends. By them it has been most carefully revised; and is nowpresented to the public, especially to his honoured profession, for thebenefit of which he thought and worked during the long period whichelapsed between his leaving the quarter-deck and his death; as hisCharts (constructed from his numerous surveys), his twenty years' Essaysin the _United Service Journal_, his efforts to render his astronomicalresearches accessible to seamen, --all testify. 

Admiral Smyth was what has been called a _commonplacer_. He had thehabit of methodically storing up, through a long series of years, allthat could profit the seaman, whether scientific or practical. Acollector of coins, and in various ways an antiquary, he knew well, notmerely that "many mickles make a muckle, " but that it will sometimeschance that the turning up of one little thing makes another littlething into a great one. And he culled from the intelligent friends withwhom he associated many points of critical definition which cannot befound elsewhere. Thus, in addition to naval terms, he has introducedothers relating to fortification; to ancient and modern arms and armour;to objects of natural history occurring at sea, in travel, &c. : thewhole forming such an assemblage of interesting and instructive matteras will prove valuable to both seaman and landsman. 

This "Digest" may engage the attention of the naval officer, not merelyfor the information it conveys, but for the doubts it may raise inmatters deserving further research. Independently of the variety ofsubjects treated, the author's characteristic manner of handling themwill make it to his former brother officers a reminiscence of one of thetrue tars of the old school--the rising generation will find here oldterms (often misunderstood by younger writers) interpreted by one whowas never content with a definition until he had confirmed itsatisfactorily by the aid of the most accomplished of his cotemporaries;the landsman will discover the meaning or derivation of words eitherobsolete or which are not elsewhere to be traced, though occurring ingeneral literature. To all it is the legacy of an officer highlyappreciated by men of science, who on shore as well as afloat fought hisway to eminence in every department, and always deemed it his pride thatno aim was dearer to him than the advancement of his noble profession. 

LONDON, _May, 1867_. 

[Illustration: CAPT^N W. H. SMYTH, R. N. , K. S. F. , F. R. S. , F. S. A. , F. R. A. S. , 1842]

INTRODUCTION. 

What's in a word? is a question which it is held clever to quote andwise to think unanswerable: and yet there is a very good answer, and itis--a meaning, if you know it. But there is another question, and it is, What's a word in? There is never a poor fellow in this world but mustask it now and then with a blank face, when aground for want of ameaning. And the answer is--a dictionary, if you have it. Unfortunately, there may be a dictionary, and one may have it, and yet the word may notbe there. It may be an old dictionary, and the word a new one; or a newdictionary, and the word an old one; a grave dictionary, and the word aslang one; a slang dictionary, and the word a grave one; and so onthrough a double line of battle of antitheses. Such is assuredly matterfor serious cogitation: and voluntarily to encounter those anomalousperplexities requires no small amount of endurance, for the task isequally crabbed and onerous, without a ray of hope to the pioneer beyondthat of making himself humbly useful. This brings me to my story. 

Many years ago, I harboured thoughts of compiling a kind of detailednautical _vade mecum_; but a lot of other irons already in the firemarred the project. Still the scheme was backing and filling, when thelate Major Shadwell Clerke--opening the year 1836 in the _UnitedService Journal_--fired off the following, to me, unexpectedannouncement:--

"A Nautical Dictionary, or Cyclopædia of Naval Science and Nomenclature, is still a desideratum. That of Falconer is imperfect and out of date. We have heard that the design of such a work has been entertained, andmaterials for its execution collected, by Captain W. H. Smyth, whom, weearnestly recommend to prosecute an undertaking of such promise to theservice of which he is so experienced and distinguished a member--itcould not be in more competent hands. "

This broad hint must have been signalled by the gallant Major in the wayof a stimulating fillip, and accordingly it aroused considerableattention. Among those who were excited by the notification was myfriend Captain Basil Hall, who wrote to me from Paris a few daysafterwards--13th of January, 1836--in these words:

"I read a day or two ago, in the _United Service Journal_, that you hadsome thoughts of preparing a Nautical Dictionary for publication; andfrom your connection with that journal, or at least your acquaintancewith our friend the editor, I am led to fear that the report may betrue. You will understand the use of the word _fear_ when I tell youthat, for nearly three years, _my_ own thoughts have turned in the samedirection, and I have been busily preparing for a task to which I meantto buckle to with a will, and to which I meant to devote some four orfive years of exclusive diligence. What I am anxious to know, as soon asmay be, is the fact of your having undertaken a similar work, _or not_. For I assure you I am not so foolish, nor so insensible either to my ownpeace of mind or my own reputation; nor am I so careless of your goodopinion and regard, as to enter the lists with you. I repeat, neither myfeelings nor my judgment would permit me in any way to cross your hawse, if indeed, as I too much fear, you have got before me. There is oneother man in the service besides yourself, and only one, with whom noconsideration would induce me to enter into competition--and that isBeaufort--but his hands, I presume, are full enough, and I had somehowimagined yours were too. So much so, that you were one of the first menI meant to consult on my return to England, and to beg assistance from. I should not have minded the competition of any one else, but I am notso vain as to suppose that I could do the thing as well as either ofyou--and therefore, even if I were not restrained by motives of personalfriendship, I should never dream of risking my reputation forprofessional, scientific, or literary attainments by a struggle in whichI should certainly be worsted. "

To this hearty and laudatory interpellation, an immediate reply wasreturned, stating that I had long held the subject in view, but thatother weighty avocations occasioned its hanging fire, and had compelledme to suspend it _sine die_. Still I considered such a work necessary tothe current wants, as well those of seafarers as of the landsmen whoevince a taste for nautical matters; and that, from his profession andliterary prowess, I knew of no one better fitted for the task thanhimself--adding that, under the emergency, my papers were at hisservice, and I would occasionally give him such personal aid as mightlie in my power. This was acknowledged in a long explicatory letter, ofwhich the following are extracts:--

"I trust I know the value of a compliment as well as any man, and I cansay, with perfect truth, that in the whole of my career (such as it hasbeen), professional, scientific, or literary, no compliment--I may sayno circumstance--has occurred which has given me so much honestgratification as your letter of the 3d. I know you are a man not to saywhat you do not truly think, nor to express yourself strongly where youhave not observed carefully. I shall therefore not disclaim yourcompliment, but rather seek, in a kindred spirit, to work up to the markwhich you assign me--and which I know but too well how far I am shortof. 

"I do hope, indeed, that as you say, 'we may row in the same boatwithout catching crabs;' but of this I am quite resolved, not to crossyour hawse, nor to interfere with your project, which you have alludedto as having already commenced. That is to say, I shall not interfereunless I can be of use to it and to you, and with your full concurrence, and, as I hope, your companionship. * * * *

"What I should propose would be, that you should furnish theprofessional technicalities in all the different branches, and that Ishould endeavour to popularize them. Here and there--as in the matter ofNavigation--I also might intrude with some few technicalities. Butgenerally speaking it would be you who should provide the real solidstuff, and I who should attempt to dress it up so as to be intelligible_beyond_ the limits of the sea-service; and also to be intelligible tothose young persons whom it is very important to instruct in general andeven popular views, but for whom it would be needless to write a newelementary treatise. * * * *

"This is a sketch of my plan. What think you of it? I must add onething, however, that you must be the senior officer on the occasion. Ishall act in all this matter, and in the most perfect good faith, asyour subordinate. "

In responding to this full and frank overture, I entered into a few moreparticulars respecting my progress and purpose in the projected work;and invited him--on his return from France--to come at once to Bedfordand ransack my papers. 

Accordingly, in the autumn of 1836, Captain Basil Hall and hisfamily--the whole of the Schloss Handfeldt party--arrived at my house, where he was located in a quiet library, with all my materials for theNaval Dictionary before him. Here he remained in close examination ofthem during two days, when he promised to send me his ultimatum inwriting after due deliberation. He required time for this, seeing I hadfairly warned him that my onerous undertakings would necessarily throwthe heavier share of our performance upon his shoulders. On the 27th ofNovember I received a letter from Edinburgh, in which he made thisstatement:--

"With respect to the Marine Dictionary I think we have come to a clearunderstanding--namely, that for the present it is standing fast. _I_certainly had a notion that I was an interloper, and as soon as I sawthe vast deal you had done in the way of preparation, that it became meas a man of fair dealing, to back out. This does not, however, appear tohave been your wish, but on the contrary that we may still make a jointwork of it by-and-by, when we have leisure, both of us, to engage in itheartily--tooth and nail. I shall therefore keep it in my thoughts, andendeavour to shape my future plans so as to meet this view, and, shouldI see occasion, I can write to you about it. My present notion is, thatif ever we do set about it, I must come to Bedford for a season, andgive myself entirely up to the work, under your direction. The work, tobe worth a straw, or at all what would be expected from you and me, would require no small labour on our parts, for a considerable length oftime. "

We consequently lay upon our oars for some time, but occasionallypulling a stroke or two to keep to the station, and be ready forhead-way when required. While thus prepared, in 1842 my excellent andhighly accomplished friend was most unexpectedly assailed by anafflicting malady, which at once reduced a brilliant mind to adistressing fatuity, which--after two lingering years--closed hisvaluable life, and clued up our arrangements. 

Meantime our plan had oozed out, and too great an expectation was evokedin certain quarters, the inquiries from whence were frequent reminders. At length in 1865, most of my undertakings having been completed, andout of the way, I made an overhaul of the bulky ribs and trucks of thescheme in question. Both my judgment and feelings united in showing thatit is now too late in the day for me to think of setting about such awork as was contemplated thirty years ago; yet finding myself stillcapable of application, and fully knowing all the bearings of the case, I feel assured that a comprehensive and useful "word-book" may be madefrom the shakings. On the whole, therefore, the foregoing particularsseem to be a necessary prelude to this introduction. 

Doubtless a well-digested marine dictionary would be equally beneficialto the country and to the service, for the utility of such a work inassisting those who are engaged in carrying on practical sea duties isso generally admitted, that it is allowable here to dilate upon itsimportance, especially when it is considered how much information ayouth has to acquire, on his first going afloat, in order to qualify himfor a position so totally different from what he had hitherto beenfamiliar with. In this case such a volume might justly be deemed one ofthe most useful of his companions, as it would at all times answer hisquestions, and aid that ardour of inquiry which some of his shipmatesmight not find it easy to satisfy. It would quicken the slow progress ofexperience, and aid those who take a pleasure in the knowledge anddischarge of their duties. But a work of this description mustnecessarily require constant additions, and revised explanations, toenable it to keep pace with the wondrous alterations and innovationswhich are now taking place in every department of the naval service. Thefuture of all this is utterly inscrutable!

Nor has this province been neglected, as the efforts of Captain JohnSmith (of mine own clan), Maynwaring, Boteler, Blanckley, Falconer, Young, and many others, testify; and however they may fall short of whatnaval science demands, they are full of initiative training. Indeed theymay all be advantageously consulted, for honey is not the less sweetbecause it is gathered from many flowers; and I have freely availedmyself of their various works, as far as they go, though I have adoptedno term without holding myself responsible for its actuality. Such avaunt may be considered to savour of the _parturiunt montes_ apothegm, but the reader may confidently rest assured that whatever shortcomingshe may detect they are not the result of negligence. 

It has been pronounced that such lexicography may be too diffuse; thatto describe the track of every particular rope through its differentchannels, however requisite for seamen, would be useless andunintelligible to a landsman. But surely nothing can be considereduseless which tends directly to information, nor can that beunintelligible which is clearly defined. Moreover, such a work may be socarried out as not only to be instructive in professional minutiæ, butalso to be a vehicle for making us acquainted with the rules whichguided the seamen of former times, thereby affording an insight intothose which are likely to direct them in their own. 

From the causes already stated, my project of a full sailor's dictionaryfell to the ground; yet in course of time, and at the age ofseventy-seven, finding leisure at last on hand, I thought it feasible towork my materials into a sort of maritime glossary. The objects of sucha digest are to afford a ready reference to young or old, professionalor non-professional, persons, who by consulting it may obtain an instantanswer to a given question. Now although many of the explanations may besuperfluous to some seamen, still they may lead others to a rightunderstanding of various brackish expressions and phrases, withouthaving to put crude queries, many of which those inquired of might beunable to solve. Nor is it only those afloat who are to be thusconsidered; all the empire is more or less connected with its navy andits commerce, and nautical phraseology is thereby daily becoming morehabitual with all classes of the lieges than of erst. Even ourparliamentary orators, with a proper national bias, talk of swamping ameasure, danger ahead, taking the wind out of an antagonist's sails, drifting into war, steering a bill through the shoals of opposition orthrowing it overboard, following in the wake of a leader, trimming tothe breeze, tiding a question over the session, opinions above or belowthe gangway, and the like, so rife of late in St. Stephen's; even when amember "rats" on seeing that the pumps cannot keep his party fromfalling to leeward, he is but imitating the vermin that quit asinking-ship. 

This predilection for sea idiom is assuredly proper in a maritimepeople, especially as many of the phrases are at once graphic, terse, and perspicuous. How could the whereabouts of an aching tooth be betterpointed out to an operative dentist than Jack's "'Tis the aftermostgrinder aloft, on the starboard quarter. " The ship expressions preservemany British and Anglo-Saxon words, with their quaint old preterites andtelling colloquialisms; and such may require explanation, as well forthe youthful aspirant as for the cocoa-nut-headed prelector in nauticlore. It is indeed remarkable how largely that foundation of the Englishlanguage has been preserved by means of our sailors. 

This phraseology has necessarily been added to from time to time, andconsequently bears the stamp of our successive ages of sea-life. In the"ancient and fishlike" terms that brave Raleigh derived from hispredecessors, many epithets must have resulted from ardent recollectionsof home and those at home, for in a ship we find--

 Apeak, Cat's-paw, Driver, Hound, Rabbit, Stays, Apron, Cot, Earings, Jewel, Ribband, Stirrup, A-stay, Cradle, Eyes, Lacings, Saddle, Tiller, Bonnet, Crib, Fox, Martingale, Sheaves, Truck, Braces, Crow-foot, Garnet, Mouse, Sheets, Truss, Bridle, Crow's nest, Goose-neck, Nettle, Sheepshank, Watch, Cap, Crown, Goose-wing, Pins, Shoe, Whip, Catharpins, Diamond, Horse, Puddings, Sister, Yard. Cat-heads, Dog, Hose, Most of the real sea-terms are pregnant with meaning; but those whoundertake to expound them ought to be tolerably versed in the topic. Thus perhaps there was no great harm in Dr. Johnson's being utterlyignorant of maritime language, but it was temerariously vain in thatsturdy lexicographer to assert that _belay_ is a sea-phrase for splicinga rope; _main sheet_, for the largest sail in a ship; and _bight_, forthe circumference of a coil of rope; and we long had him on the hiprespecting the _purser_, a personage whom he--misled by Burser--at oncepronounced to be the paymaster of a ship; as the then purser was, infact, more familiar with slops, tobacco, pork, dips, biscuit, and thelike, than with cash payments--for, excepting short-allowance dues, hehad very little meddling with money matters. But the Admiralty haverecently swamped the well-known and distinctive nautical title--despiteof its time-honoured claims to repute--and introduced the armyappellative, PAYMASTER, in its stead. 

The pithy conciseness of the brackish tongue renders it eminently usefulon duty. In some of their sea-phrases the French, our great rivals, usea heap of words more than we are wont to do. An instance isgiven--supposing a ship of the former met with one of ours, and theyshould desire to salute each other, the English commander would singout, "Man ship!" but the French captain would have to exclaim, "Rangezdu monde sur les vergues pour donner des cris de salut!" By the way, there is a _ben trovato_ respecting the difficulty of doing our navaltidings into French: a translator of note made quite a mull of a shipbeing _brought up_ by her anchors, and of another which was strandedfrom _borrowing_ too much; while "a man-of-war riding easily in the roadat Spithead" was rendered "Un homme de guerre se promenait à cheval àson aise sur le chemin de Spithead. " Some of the French terms, however, are recommended by their Parisian stamp, as in calling iron bilboes "basde soie"--the waist-netting "Saint Aubinet"--the quarter-gallery a"jardin d'amour:" but similar elegance was not manifested in dubbing theopen-hearted thorough-bred tar "un loup de mer. "

In the work before us, the nautical import of the terms is dulyconsidered, and the orthography, as far as feasible, is ruled byauthority and custom, with an occasional slight glance at the probableetymology of the words--slight, because derivation is a seductive andfrequently illusory pilot. Our language is said to have been arraignedby foreigners for its hissing enunciation; but, regardless of therebuke, our pundits have, of late, unnecessarily increased the whistlingby substituting the sibilant _s_ for the vocal _z_, in all sorts ofcases. Happily this same _s_ not being yet acclimatized to the galley, Jack will continue to give tongue to an enterpri_z_ing crui_z_e afterPortugue_z_e merchandi_z_e, and there anent. 

The plan of our work may be said to comprise the treating _de omnibusrebus nauticis_, for many branches of knowledge are demanded of theintelligent seaman. Thus in Naval Architecture, the terms used in theconstruction of ships, the plans and sections, and the mechanical meansof the builders, are undoubted requirements of a sea word-book. So alsoin Astronomy, or that portion of nautical science constitutingobservations which are necessary to the determinations of the navigator. In Mathematics, especially the branch distinguished as practical, thedoctrine which teaches whatever is capable of being numbered ormeasured, requires verbal elucidation, not so much for the educatedyouth, as for him who labours under difficulties--who is

 "In canvass'd berth, profoundly deep in thought, His busy mind with sines and tangents fraught. "

Many of the words in our columns are not _de facto_ sea-terms, but asthey are in rife and familiar use on ship-board, they obtained alodgment; whence it becomes rather a difficult matter to mark aboundary for nautic language. Various expressions are also retainedwhich, though unused or all but obsolete, occur so frequently inprofessional treatises and antiquated journals, that their expositionmay often be welcomed by a general reader: they are here introduced, notas worthy of revival, yet as necessary to be understood when fallen inwith. And it should be remembered, that--especially during our lastconflict with France--so many combined enterprises occurred, that themost general naval and military phrases pertained, in a manner, to botharms of the service. 

What may be termed mere galley-slang also demands explanation, sinceeven officers are sometimes ashore--I was going to say atsea--respecting its purport; and I recollect at a court-martial holdenon a seaman for insolence to his superior, the lingo used by the shrewdculprit was liable to be thought respectful or otherwise according tothe manner of utterance, and he was admitted to the benefit of thedoubtful meaning. Still it must be admitted that all vulgarisms, as faras practicable, should be indignantly spurned from our noble Englishlanguage--a language unequalled for excellence in fluency, capacity, andstrength. A stern critic may also, and in truth, aver that terms areincluded on our roll the which are not altogether of maritime usage. This we have admitted, but the allegation will be greatly weakened onscrutiny, for they are here given in the sense entertained of them innautic parlance. Such are generally illustrative of some of the lingualor local peculiarities of sea-life, or borne on its literature, andtherefore are necessarily admitted as having a footing in maritimephilology. Some of our misused words and archaic phrases are, byinfluence of the newspaper magnates, brought across the Atlantic, andre-appear among us under the style and title of Americanisms: afterwhich fashion, in the lapse of time and the mutation of dialect, vocables once differing in origin and meaning may become identical insense and sound. [A]

[A] As for example the word _alarm_, _alarum_, a bell, from the German_lärm_; but the military _alarm_ on a drum is the Italian _all'arme_. 

Finally, Natural History, a taste for which is a substantial blessing tothe sailor, is too vast a department for our professional pages. However, a few requisite definitions of the familiar products of theair, earth, and water are introduced. Numbers of marine birds and manyfishes--so often misnamed--are entered upon the muster; and especiallythose which the blue-jackets vote to be very good eating; yet, as areverend author has well observed, we should, in such cases, recur tothe probable state of their appetites at the time of experiment. Themost general nautic dishes and refections are likewise cited, to themaking of which most of our sea-cooks are competent--there being nopurée, entremet, or fricandeau to trouble them. But though they are attimes libelled as being sent from the infernal regions, they are prettyfair in their way; and though no great shakes in domestic chemistry, they can enter the lists against any white-aproned _artiste_ atpea-soup, beef-steak, lobscouse, pillau, curried shark, twice-laid, orsavoury sea-pie. Still, a more luxurious tendency in this department iscasting its shadow before; and there are Sybarites invading the ocean towhom the taste of junk is all but unknown. 

[Illustration: Signature of W. H. Smyth]

A DIGEST

OF

SEA TERMS AND PHRASES. 

A. 

A. The highest class of the excellence of merchant ships on Lloyd'sbooks, subdivided into A 1 and A 2, after which they descend by thevowels: A 1 being the very best of the first class. Formerly ariver-built (Thames) ship took the first rate for 12 years, a Bristolone for 11, and those of the northern ports 10. Some of the out-portbuilt ships keep their rating 6 to 8 years, and inferior ones only 4. But improvements in ship-building, and the large introduction of iron, are now claiming longer life. 

A is an Anglo-Saxonism for _in_ or _on_; as _a_'board, _a_'going, &c. 

A. B. The rating of _Able Seamen_ on the ship's books: these two lettersare often used as an epithet for the person so rated. He must be equalto all the duties required of a seaman in a ship--not only as regardsthe saying to "hand, reef, and steer, " but also to strop a block, splice, knot, turn in rigging, raise a mouse on the main-stay, and be anexample to the _ordinary seamen_ and _landsmen_. 

ABAB. A Turkish sailor who plies in coasting craft. 

ABACK. The situation of a ship's sails when the wind bears against theirfront surfaces. They are _laid aback_, when this is purposely effectedto deaden her way by rounding in the weather-braces; and _taken aback_, when brought to by an unexpected change of wind, or by inattention inthe helmsman. --_All aback forward_, the notice given from theforecastle, when the head-sails are pressed aback by a sudden change inthe wind. (_See_ WORK ABACK. )--_Taken aback_, a colloquialism for beingsuddenly surprised or found out. 

ABACUS. A board with balls sliding on small rods, used in China, Russia, &c. , for calculating bills, &c. 

ABAFT. This word, generally speaking, means behind, inferred relatively, beginning from the stem and continuing towards the stern, that is, thehinder part of the ship. --_Abaft the beam_ implies any direction betweena supposed transverse line amidships and the stern, whether in or outof the ship. It is the relative situation of an object with the ship, when that object is placed in the arc of the horizon contained between aline at right angles with the keel and the point of the compass which isdirectly opposite the ship's course. An object--as a man overboard--isdescribed by the look-out man at the mast-head as abeam, before, orabaft the beam, by so many points of the compass. As a vessel seen maybe "three points before the beam, " &c. 

ABAKA. A fine vegetable fibre, with which the white Manila rope, so muchused on the India station, is made. This rope floats in water, and isnot subject to rot, nor does it require tarring. A frigate on the Chinastation in 1805 had nearly the whole of her running rigging of thiscordage. 

ABANDONMENT OF A VESSEL. Deserting and abandoning her by reason ofunseaworthiness or danger of remaining in her, also when grounded andcannot be saved. This never occurs but in imminent cases; therefore, before the insured can demand recompense from the underwriter, they mustcede or _abandon_ to him the right of all property which may berecovered from shipwreck, capture, or any other peril stated in thepolicy. Other parties entering and bringing the vessel into port obtainsalvage. (_Vide_ DERELICT. )

ABASE, TO. An old word signifying to lower a flag or sail. _Abaisser_ isin use in the French marine, and both may be derived from the stillolder _abeigh_. _Abase_ literally means to cast down, to humble. 

ABATE, TO. An old Anglo-Norman word from _abattre_, to beat down ordestroy; as, to _abate_ a castle or fort, is to beat it down; and a galeis said to _abate_ when it decreases. The term is still used in law. 

ABATEMENT. A plea by which a reduction of freight is demanded, whenunforeseen causes have delayed or hindered the performance of astipulated charter-party. 

ABATIS. An obstruction used in temporary fortification, composed offelled trees deprived of their smaller branches, and secured to theground side by side with their tops towards the enemy; applicable to thefront of posts, works, or positions, and occasionally to the bars ofrivers. 

ABBEY-LUBBER. This is an old term of reproach for idleness, and is herequoted only as bearing upon the nautical lubber. In the "_Burnynge ofPaule's Church_, 1563, " it is thus explained--"An Abbey-lubber, that wasidle, well-fed, a long lewd lither loiterer, that might worke, and wouldnot. "

ABBLAST. Cross-bow; hence, ABBLASTER. Cross-bow man. 

ABBROCHYN. The old term for beginning or broaching a barrel, cask, orany "vesselle of drynke. "

ABEAM. In a line at right angles to the vessel's length; opposite thecentre of a ship's side. 

ABEAM-ARM. For this curved timber, _see_ FORK-BEAMS. 

ABER. An ancient British word for the mouth of a river--asAber-brothick, Aber-avon, Aber-ystwith, and Aber-conway, &c. It alsomeans the confluence of two or more streams. 

ABERRATION. An apparent change of place, or alteration of their meanposition, in the fixed stars, caused by the earth's orbitalmovement. --_Aberration of a planet_ signifies its progressive geocentricmotion, or the space through which it appears to move, as seen from theearth, during the time which light occupies in passing from the planetto us. --_Crown of aberration_ is a spurious circle surrounding theproper disc of the sun. --_Constant of aberration_, or amount ofdisplacement in the sun's longitude, arising from the progressive motionof light, is established at 20″·45. 

ABET, TO. To excite or encourage--a common word, greatly in use atboat-racings, and other competitive acts. 

ABITED. A provincial term for _mildewed_. 

ABJURATION. The oath taken till lately by all officers on receivingtheir commission, by which they abjured any claim of the Stuarts to thethrone, the power of the Pope, and the Romish religion. 

ABLE. A term not simply expressive of strong faculties, but asacquainted with and equal to perform the expected duty. --_Able seaman_, a thorough or regular bred sailor. (_See_ A. B. )--_Able-bodied_, sound, healthy, and fit for the Royal service. 

ABLE-WHACKETS. A popular sea-game with cards, wherein the loser isbeaten over the palms of the hands with a handkerchief tightly twistedlike a rope. Very popular with horny-fisted salts. 

ABOARD. Inside or upon a ship; the act of residing afloat; to hug theland in approaching the shore. --_To fall aboard of_, is for one vesselto run foul of another. --_To haul the tacks aboard_, is to bring theirweather clues down to the chess-tree, or literally, to set thecourses. --_To lay an enemy aboard_, to run into or alongside. 

ABODE. Waited for; as, ship ran to the appointed place of rendezvous and_abode_ there for her consort. 

ABORD. An Anglo-Saxon term, meaning across, from shore to shore, of aport or river. 

ABOUT. Circularly; the situation of a ship after she has gone round, andtrimmed sails on the opposite tack. --_Ready about!_ and _About-ship!_are orders to the ship's company to prepare for tacking by being attheir stations. 

ABOVE-BOARD. Over the deck; a term used for open fair dealing, withoutartifice or trick. 

ABOX. A word used in veering for _aback_, alluding to the situation ofthe head-yards in paying off. (_See_ BRACE ABACK. )--_Lay the head-yardsabox_--in former times, and even at present, many good seamen prefer tolay the head-yards square, or abox, to heave-to. It brings the vesselmore under command for sudden evolution, wearing, or staying. 

ABRAHAM-MEN. A cant term for vagabonds, who formerly begged about underpretence of having been discharged destitute from ships and hospitals;whence an idle malingerer wanting to enter the doctor's list is said to"sham Abraham. " From a ward in Bedlam which was appropriated for thereception of idiots, which was named Abraham: it is a very old term, andwas cited by Burton in the _Anatomy of Melancholy_ so far back as 1621. 

ABRASE, TO. To dubb or smooth planks. 

ABRASION. The rubbing off or wearing away of the parts of a rock, or ofthe soil, by the impinging and friction of other bodies. 

ABREAST. Side by side, parallel, or opposite to; generally used inopposition to _abaft_ or _afore_. --_Line abreast_ means a fleetadvancing or retreating uniformly on a line parallel with thebeam. --_Abreast of a place_, is directly off it; a direction at rightangles with the keel or ship's length. In the army the term was formerlyused for any number of men in front; but at present they are determinedby files. --_Abreast. _ Within-board, signifies on a parallel with thebeam. 

ABRID. A pintle-plate. 

ABROACH. On tap, in use; spoken of barrels of beer or other liquors. 

ABROAD. Synonymous with foreign, or being on a foreign station. Also anold word for _spread_; as, all sail _abroad_. 

ABRUPT. A word applied to steep, broken, or craggy cliffs and headlands, especially such as are bold-to and precipitous. 

ABSCISS. A part either of the diameter or the transverse axis of a conicsection, intercepted between the vertex or any other fixed point and asemi-ordinate. --_Abscission of a planet_, its being outstripped byanother, which joins a third one before it. 

ABSENCE. A permission occasionally obtained, on urgent affairs, byofficers to quit their duties. 

ABSOLUTE. Anything free from conditions. --_Absolute equations_, the sumof the optic and eccentric equation, or the anomalies arising from aplanet's not being equally distant from the earth at all times, and itsmotion not being uniform. --_Absolute gravity_ is the whole force withwhich a body tends downwards. 

ABSORPTION. A term formerly used for the sinking of islands and tractsof land, instead of _subsidence_. 

ABSQUATULATE. _See_ SQUATTER. 

ABSTRACT. A brief register of the warrant officer's stores, by whichthe supplies, expenses, and remains are duly balanced. An _abstract log_contains the most important subjects of a ship's log. 

ABSTRACT MATHEMATICS, OR PURE. The branch which investigates anddemonstrates the properties of magnitude, figure, or quantity, absolutely and generally considered, without restriction to any speciesin particular; such as arithmetic and geometry. 

A-BURTON. The situation of casks when they are stowed in the holdathwart ship, or in a line with the beam. 

ABUT. When two timbers or planks are united endways, they are said to_butt_ or _abut_ against each other. (_See_ BUTT. )

ABYME. Places supposed to be the site of constant whirlpools, such asCharybdis, the Maelstrom, and others. It means generally an abyss. 

ABYSS. A deep mass of waters; in hydrography it was synonymous with_gulf_. 

ACADEMITE. An old term for an officer brought up at the Royal NavyAcademy at Portsmouth, afterwards named the Royal Naval College. 

ACAIR-PHUILL. Compounded of the British _acair_ or anchor, and _phuill_, a pill, or harbour, and means a safe anchorage. 

ACALEPHÆ. A class of marine animals of low organization, having atranslucent jelly-like structure, and frequently possessing the propertyof stinging, whence their name (ἀκαλήφη, a nettle). The common jelly-fish(_Medusa_) and the Portuguese man-of-war (_Physalia_) are the best-knownexamples. 

ACAST. The old word for _lost_ or _cast-away_. In weighing anchor thehead-yards are generally braced _acast_, to cause the vessel to cast inthe direction. "Does she take _acast_?" is frequently the question ofthe officer abaft. 

ACATER. An old word for purveyor of victuals, whence _caterer_, orsuperintendent and provider of a mess. Thus in Ben Jonson's "The Devilis an Ass"--

 "He is my wardrobe-man, my _acater_, Cook, butler, and steward. "

ACATES. Victuals; provisions purchased; delicious food; dainties. 

ACATIUM. A word used in Roman naval affairs for a small boat, and alsothe main-mast of a ship. 

ACCELERATION. The increase of velocity in a moving body by the force ofgravity. A planet is said to be accelerated when its actual diurnalmotion exceeds its mean. In fixed stars the acceleration is the meantime by which they anticipate the sun's diurnal revolution, which is 3′56″ nearly. --_Acceleration of the moon_ is the increase of her meanmotion, caused by a slow change in the excentricity of the terrestrialorbit, and which has sensibly diminished the length of the moon'srevolution since the time of the earliest observations. 

ACCESS. Means of entry on board. 

ACCESSIBLE. A place which can be approached by land or sea. 

ACCLIVITY. The upward slope of an inclined cliff. 

ACCOIL, TO. To coil together, by folding round. (_See_ COIL. )

ACCOLADE [_ad_ and _collum_, Lat. ] The ceremony of dubbing a knight, andthe consequent embrace formerly customary on the occasion. 

ACCOMMODATIONS. Cabins fitted for passengers. --_Accommodation ladder_, aconvenient flight of steps fixed at the gangway, by which officers andvisitors enter the ship. --_Accommodation_, the physical application ofone thing to another by analogy. 

ACCOMPANY, TO. To sail together; to sail in convoy. 

ACCOST, TO. To pass within hail of a ship; to sail coastwise; toapproach, to draw near, or come side by side. 

ACCOUNT, GOING UPON. A phrase for buccaneering. 

ACCOUNTANT-GENERAL OF THE NAVY. Superintendent of pay and generalaccounts of the navy. 

ACCOUNTS. The several books and registers of stores, provisions, slops, and contingents of a ship or fleet; and they are strictly enjoined to becorrect, real, and precise, both in receipt and expenditure. --_Accountsales_, a form of book-keeping in commerce. 

ACCOUTREMENT. An old term for an habiliment, or part of the trappingsand furniture of a soldier or knight; now generally used for the belts, pouches, and equipments of soldiers or marines. 

ACCUL. A word used by old voyagers for the end of a deep bay; it iscorrupted from _cul de sac_. 

ACHATOUR. The old word for caterer of a mess. 

ACHERNAR. A star of the first magnitude in the constellation Eridanus, called by navigators the "Spring of the River. " It is invisible in ourlatitude. (α Eridani. ) Properly should be _acher nahr_. 

ACHIEVEMENT. A signal exploit; escutcheon; armorial bearings granted forachievement. 

ACHROMATIC. An optical term applied to those telescopes in whichaberration of the rays of light, and the colours dependent thereon, arepartially corrected. (_See_ APLANATIC. )

ACHRONICAL. An ancient term, signifying the rising of the heavenlybodies at sunset, or setting at sunrise. 

ACKER. _See_ EAGRE or AIGRE. Also, an eddying ripple on the surface offlooded waters. A tide swelling above another tide, as in the Severn. (_See_ BORE. )

ACK-MEN, OR ACK-PIRATES. Fresh-water thieves; those who steal onnavigable rivers. 

A-COCKBILL (_see_ COCK-BILL). The anchor hangs by its ring at thecat-head, in a position for dropping. 

ACOLYTE. A term sometimes used to distinguish the smaller component of adouble star. A subordinate officer in the ancient church. 

ACON. A flat-bottomed Mediterranean boat or lump, for carrying cargoesover shoals. 

ACQUITTANCE. A commercial term, more generally called _quittance_ (whichsee). 

ACRE, OR ACRE-FIGHT. An old duel fought by warriors between thefrontiers of England and Scotland, with sword and lance. This duellingwas also called _camp-fight_. 

ACROSS THE TIDE. A ship riding across tide, with the wind in thedirection of the tide, would tend to leeward of her anchor; but with aweather tide, or that running against the wind, if the tide be strong, would tend to windward. A ship under sail should prefer the tack thatstems the tide, with the wind _across the stream_, when the anchor islet go. 

ACROSTOLIUM. A buckler, helmet, or other symbolical ornament on the prowof ancient ships; the origin of the modern figure-head. 

ACT AND INTENTION. Must be united in admiralty law. 

ACTE. A peninsula; the term was particularly applied by the ancients tothe sea-coast around Mount Athos. 

ACT OF COURT. The decision of the court or judge on the verdict, or theoverruling of the court on a point of law. 

ACT OF GOD. This comprehends all sudden accidents arising from physicalcauses, as distinguished from _human_ agency, such as from lightning, earthquakes, hurricanes, plagues, and epidemic contagion amongst thecrew. For none of these are ship-owners responsible. 

ACT OF GRACE. An act of parliament for a general and free pardon todeserters from the service and others. 

ACTING COMMISSION. When a commissioned officer is invalided, his vacancyis filled up pending the pleasure of the admiralty by an acting order. But when an officer dies on a station, where the admiralty delegates thepower to the admiral commanding in chief, the vacancy is filled by anacting commission. Thus also rear-admirals now act on acting commissionsas vice-admirals during command on their station, but return to theirproper position on the navy list when it ceases. 

ACTION. Synonymous with _battle_. Also a term in mechanics for theeffort which one body exerts against another, or the effects resultingtherefrom. --_Action and reaction_, the mutual, successive, contraryimpulses of two bodies. 

ACTIVE SERVICE. Duty against an enemy; operations in his presence. Or inthe present day it denotes serving on full-pay, on the active list, incontradistinction to those who are virtually retired, and placed onseparate lists. 

ACTIVITY. The virtue of acting. The sphere of _activity_ is thesurrounding space to which the efficacy of a body extends, as theattraction of the magnet. 

ACTO, OR ACTON. A kind of defensive tunic, made of quilted leather, orother strong material, formerly worn under the outer dress, and evenunder a coat of mail. 

ACTUARIÆ. Long light vessels of the ancients, especially contrived forswiftness; propelled both by sails and oars; of the latter never lessthan twenty. 

ACUMBA. Oakum. The Anglo-Saxon term for the _hards_, or the coarse part, of flax or unplucked wool. 

ACUTE. Terminating in a point, and opposed to _obtuse_. An _acute_ angleis less than a right one, or within 90°. 

ACUTE-ANGLED TRIANGLE. That which has all its angles acute. 

ADAMANT. The loadstone; the magnet--the sense in which it was held byearly voyagers; but others considered it a "precyowse stone, " or gem. 

ADAMAS. The moon in nautic horoscopes. 

ADAPTER. A brass tube to fit the eye-end of a telescope, into which allthe eye-pieces will screw. 

ADARRIS. A word which Howell explains as the flower of sea-water. 

ADDEL, OR ADDLE. An old term for the putrid water in casks. 

ADDICE, an adze. Also the addled eggs of gulls and other sea-fowl. 

ADDLINGS. Accumulated pay or wages. 

ADELANTADO. A lieutenant of the king of Spain, but used by old Englishwriters for "admiral. "

ADHESION. Consent to a proposal. Union or temporary cohesion; as, twovessels forced into _adhesion_ by the pressure of the tide on theirbeam. 

ADIT. A space in ancient ships, in the upper and broadest part, at whichpeople entered. The _adit_ of a military mine, is the aperture by whichit is dug and charged: the name is also applied to an air-hole or drift. 

ADJACENT. Lying close to another object; a word applied to the relativesituations of capes or bays from the ship. --_Adjacent angle_ is oneimmediately contiguous to another, so that they have one common side. 

ADJOURN, TO. To put off till another day. _Adjournments_ can be made incourts-martial from day to day, Sundays excepted, until sentence ispassed. 

ADJUDICATION. The act of adjudging prizes by legal decree. Captors arecompelled to submit the adjudication of their captures to a competenttribunal. 

ADJUST, TO. To arrange an instrument for use and observation; as, toadjust a sextant, or the escapement of a chronometer. To set the frameof a ship. 

ADJUSTMENT. In marine insurance, the ascertaining and finally settlingthe amount of indemnity--whether of average or of salvage--which theinsured (after all proper deductions have been made) is entitled toreceive under the policy, when the ship is lost. 

ADJUSTMENT OF THE COMPASS. Swinging a ship to every point of bearing, tonote the variation or error of the needle upon each rhumb, due to thelocal attraction of the iron, or the mass, on each separate compassbearing. Thus, in lat. 76° N. It was found to be +22° 30′ with the headW. S. W. , and -56° 30′ on the opposite bearing, or E. N. E. 

ADJUTANT. [From Lat. _adjuvo_, to help. ] A military assistant tofield-officers. The term has been applied to an assistant captain of afleet. It is indeed the duty performed by first lieutenants. 

ADMEASUREMENT. The calculation of proportions according to assumedrules, often ignorantly practised in estimating the tonnage of a ship. 

ADMIRAL. The derivation of this noble title from the Greek _almyros_, from the Latin _admirabilis_, from the Saxon _aenmereeal_, and from theFrench _aumer_, appear all fanciful. It is extensively received that theSicilians first adopted it from _emir_, the sea, of their Saracenmasters; but it presents a kind of unusual etymological inversion. Theterm is most frequent in old Romance; but the style and title was notused by us until 1286; and in 1294, William de Leybourne was designated"Amiral de la Mer du Roy d'Angleterre;" six years afterwards ViscountNarbonne was constituted Admiral of France; which dates nearly fix thecommencement of the two states as maritime powers. 

The _admiral_ is the chief commander of a fleet, but of this rank thereare three degrees, distinguished by a flag at the fore, main, or mizenmast, according to the title of _admiral_, _vice-admiral_, or_rear-admiral_. These were again subdivided according to their colour ofred, white, or blue, which had to be likewise borne by the squadronsthey respectively commanded. (_See_ FLAG. ) In 1865 the colours wereomitted, and the only flag now hoisted by ships of war is the white St. George's ensign, and for admirals the white St. George's cross at themain, fore, or mizen. 

The _admiral of the fleet_ is the highest officer under the admiralty ofGreat Britain; it is rather an honorary distinction, and usuallyattained by seniority and service: when this officer serves afloat, hehoists the proud distinction of the Union flag at the main. 

The _lord high-admiral_ was one of the principal officers of the state, who formerly decided all cases relating to the sea: he wore a gold calland chain, similar in form to that which has descended to the boatswainand his mate. This dignity has been extinct for many years, and the dutymerged into that of the lords-commissioners and admiralty court; in1827, it was revived for a short time in the person of His RoyalHighness the Duke of Clarence. 

The epithet of _admiral_ was also formerly applied to any large orleading ship, without reference to flag; and is still used for theprincipal vessel in the cod and whale fisheries. That which arrivesfirst in any port of Newfoundland retains this title during the season, with certain rights of beach in flakes. The master of the second shipbecomes the vice-admiral, and the master of the third the rear-admiral. 

ADMIRAL. A beautiful and rare shell of the genus _Conus_; the varietiesare designated the grand-admiral, the vice-admiral, the orange-admiral, and the extra-admiral. 

ADMIRALTY. An office for the administration of naval affairs, presidedover by a lord high-admiral, whether the duty be discharged by oneperson, or by commissioners under the royal patent, who are styledlords, and during our former wars generally consisted of seven. Thepresent constitution of the Board of Admiralty comprises--the firstlord, a minister and civilian as to office; four naval lords; one civillord attending to accounts, &c. ; one chief secretary; one secondsecretary. Two lords and one secretary form a legal Board of Admiraltywherever they may be assembled, under the authority of the board or itschief. 

ADMIRALTY BLACK-BOOK. _See_ BLACK-BOOK. 

ADMIRALTY COURT. The constitution of this court relatively to thelegislative power of the king in council, is analogous to that of thecourts of common law relatively to the parliament of the kingdom. --_HighCourt of Admiralty_, a supreme court of law, in which the authority ofthe lord high-admiral is ostensibly exercised in his _judicial_ capacityfor the trial of maritime causes of a civil nature. Although termed theHigh Court of Admiralty, more properly this is the Court ofVice-Admiralty, and relates solely to civil and military matters of thesea, and sea boundaries, prizes, collisions, vessels or goods cast onthe shore where the vice-admirals have civil jurisdiction, but no navalpower, as the lord-lieutenants of counties are named in their patents"vice-admirals of the same;" in like manner all governors of colonies. All cases in connection are tried by the Admiralty Court in London, orby our "courts of vice-admiralty and prize jurisdictions abroad. "Admirable as some of the decisions of this expensive tribunal have been, it has all the powers of the Inquisition in its practice, and hasthereby been an instrument of persecution to some innocent navigators, while it has befriended notorious villains. Besides this we have theAdmiralty Court of Oyer and Terminer, for the trial of all murders, piracies, or criminal acts which occur within the limits of the country, on the coast-lines, at sea, or wherever the admiralty jurisdictionextends--the deck of a British ship included. 

ADMIRALTY MIDSHIPMAN. Formerly one who, having served the appointedtime, and passed his examination for lieutenant, was appointed to a shipby the admiralty, and thus named in contradistinction to those who usedto be rated by the captain; he generally had precedence for promotion to"acting orders. "

ADONIS. An anguilliform fish, about six inches long: it is of a goldencolour, with a greenish tint, and has a white line from its very smallgills to the tail. 

ADORNINGS. The carved work on the quarter and stern-galleries ofmen-of-war. 

ADOWN. The bawl of privateersmen for the crew of a captured vessel to gobelow. Saxon, _adoun_. 

ADREAMT. Dozing; the sensation so often combatted with towards the endof a first or a middle watch, it being the state, as an old author hasit, "between sleeping and waking. "

ADRENT, OR ADREYNTE. An old term for _drowned_. 

ADRIFT. Floating at random; the state of a boat or vessel broken fromher moorings, and driven to and fro without control by the winds andwaves. Cast loose; cut adrift. 

ADSCRIPTS. Sometimes used for the tangents of arcs. 

AD VALOREM. Duties levied on commercial goods, according to their value. 

ADVANCE, TO. An old word, meaning to raise to honour. 

ADVANCED POST. A spot of ground seized by a party to secure their front. A piquet or outpost. 

ADVANCED SQUADRON. One on the look-out. --_Advance_, or _vanguard_, thatdivision of a force which is next the enemy, or which marches before abody. --_Advance fosse_, a ditch of water round the esplanade or glacisof a fortification. --_Advance!_ the order to marines and small-arm mento move forward. 

ADVANCE-LIST. The register by which two months' wages to the crew arepaid, on first commission, and a quarter's to officers. 

ADVANCEMENT. Promotion to higher rank. 

ADVANCE MONEY. In men-of-war and most merchant ships the advance of twomonths' wages is given to the crew, previous to going to sea; theclearing off of which is called _working up the dead horse_. 

ADVANCE NOTE. A document issued by owners of a ship or their agents, promising to pay a seaman, or to his order, a sum of money in part ofhis wages, within a certain number of days after he has sailed in theship. Advance notes are quite negotiable before a seaman has taken hisdeparture. 

ADVANTAGE, OR VANTAGE-GROUND. That which gives superiority of attack on, or defence against, an enemy; affording means of annoyance orresistance. 

ADVENTURE. An enterprise in which something is left to hazard. --_A billof adventure_ is one signed by the merchant, by which he takes thechances of the voyage. 

ADVERSARY. Generally applied to an enemy, but strictly an opponent insingle combat. 

ADVERSE. The opposite of favourable; as, an _adverse_ wind. 

ADVICE-BOAT. A small fast-sailing vessel in advance of a fleet, employedto carry intelligence with all possible despatch. They were first usedin 1692, to gain tidings of what was transacting in Brest, previous tothe battle of La Hogue. 

ADVOCATE GENERAL. An officer of the High Court of Admiralty, whose dutyit is to appear for the lord high-admiral in that court, the court ofdelegates, or any other wherein his rights are concerned. --_Judge-advocateof the navy_, a law officer appointed to watch over and directproceedings connected with courts-martial. --_Deputy judge-advocate_, anappointment made by the sudden selection of some secretary, or captain'sclerk, to perform the duty at a court-martial (where no legal person isempowered), utterly ignorant of the law or the customs of the navalservice. 

ADZE, OR ADDICE. A cutting tool of the axe kind, for dubbing flat andcircular work, much used by shipwrights, especially by the Parseebuilders in India, with whom it serves for axe, plane, and chisel. It isa curious fact that from the polar regions to the equator, and southerlythroughout Polynesia, this instrument and its peculiar adaptations, whether made of iron, basalt, nephrite, &c. , all preserve the same ideaor identity of conception. 

ÆINAUTÆ. Senators of Miletus, who held their deliberations on boardship. 

ÆRATÆ. Ancient ships fitted with brazen prows. 

AEROLITES. One of the many names given to those solid masses or stoneswhich occasionally fall from the atmosphere to the surface of the earth. The assumption of their periodicity cannot, as yet, be considered asconfirmed. 

AEROLOGY. The rational doctrine or science of the air and itsphenomena. 

AEROMANCY. Formerly the art of divining by the air, but now used forforetelling the changes in the weather, either by experience or byinstruments. 

AEROMETRY. The science of measuring the air, its powers, pressure, andproperties. 

ÆSTIVAL. Belonging to summer; the solstitial point whereby the sun'sascent above the equator is determined. 

ÆSTUARY. _See_ ESTUARY. 

ÆWUL. An Anglo-Saxon term for a twig basket for catching fish. 

AFEARD. This is a very common expression for _afraid_, and thoughthought low, is a true archaism of our language, as seen in Chaucer, Shakspeare, and Ben Jonson. Major Moor terms it an old and good word. 

AFER. The south-west wind of the Latins, and used by some of the earlyvoyagers. 

AFFAIR. An indecisive engagement; a duel. 

AFFECTED. An algebraic term for an equation in which the unknownquantity rises to two or more several powers. 

AFFECTIONATE FRIENDS. An official inconsistent subscription, even toletters of reproof and imprest, used by the former Board ofCommissioners of the Navy to such officers as were not of noble familiesor bore titles; the only British board that ever made so mean adistinction, equally kind with the regrets of the clergy on burning aheretic, or those of Walton in cutting a live fish _tenderly_. It wasprobably adopted from James, Duke of York, who, when lord high-admiral, always so subscribed his official letters. It is said that this practicewas discontinued in consequence of a distinguished naval captain--aknight--adding, "your affectionate friend. " He was thereupon desired to"discontinue such an expression, " when he replied, "I am, gentlemen, nolonger your affectionate friend, J. Phillimore. "

AFFIDAVIT. A declaration upon oath, weakened in importance by its toofrequent administration at custom-houses, lazarettos, &c. Declarationsare now substituted in the case of naval officers. 

AFFIRMATIVE. The positive sign or quantity in algebra; also signal flagor pendant by which a request or order is answered. 

AFFLUENT. A stream flowing directly into another stream; a more specificterm than tributary. 

AFFORCIAMENT. An old term for a fortress or stronghold. 

AFFREIGHTMENT. A contract for the letting the vessel, or a part of herfor freight. (_See_ CONTRACT OF AFFREIGHTMENT. )

AFLOAT. Borne up and supported by the water; buoyed clear of the ground;also used for being on board ship. 

AFORE. A Saxon word opposed to abaft, and signifying that part of theship which lies forward or near the stem. It also means farther forward;as, the galley is _afore_ the bitts. --_Afore_, the same as _before_ themast. --_Afore the beam_, all the field of view from amidship in a rightangle to the ship's keel to the horizon forward. 

AFORE THE MAST. _See_ BEFORE THE MAST. 

AFOUNDRIT. An archaism of _sunk_ or _foundered_. 

AFRAID. One of the most reproachful sea-epithets, as not only conveyingthe meaning being struck with fear, but also implies rank cowardice. (_See_ AFEARD. )

AFT--a Saxon word contradistinctive of _fore_, and an abbreviation of_abaft_--the hinder part of the ship, or that nearest the stern. --_Rightaft_ is in a direct line with the keel from the stern. --_To haul aft asheet_ is to pull on the rope which brings the clue or corner of thesails more in the direction of the stern. --The mast _rakes aft_ when itinclines towards the stern. 

AFT-CASTLE. An elevation on the after-part of our ships of war, opposedto forecastle, for the purpose of fighting. 

AFTER. A comparative adjective, applied to any object in the hind partof a ship or boat; as, the _after_-cabin, the _after_-hatchway, &c. --_After_ sails, yards, and braces--those attached to the main andmizen masts. Opposed to _fore_. 

AFTER-BODY. That part of the ship's hull which is abaft the midships ordead-flat, as seen from astern. The term is, however, more particularlyused in expressing the _figure_ or _shape_ of that part of the ship. (_See_ DEAD-FLAT. )

AFTER-CLAP. Whatever disagreeable occurrence takes place after theconsequences of the cause were thought at an end; a principalapplication being when a ship, supposed to have struck, opens her fireagain. This is a very old English word, alluding to unexpected eventshappening after the seeming end of an affair; thus Spenser, in "MotherHubbard's Tale"--

 "And bad next day that all should readie be, But they more subtill meaning had than he: For the next morrowes mede they closely ment, For feare of _after-claps_, for to prevent. "

AFTER-END. The stern of a ship, or anything in her which has that endtowards the stern. 

AFTER-FACE. _See_ BACK OF THE POST. 

AFTER-GUARD. The men who are stationed on the quarter-deck and poop, towork the after-sails. It was generally composed of ordinary seamen andlandsmen, constituting with waisters the largest part of the crew, onwhom the principal drudgery of the ship devolved. At present the crewsof ships-of-war are composed chiefly of able and ordinaryseamen--landsmen are omitted. 

AFTER-LADDER leads to captain's and officers' quarters, and only used byofficers. 

AFTERMOST. The last objects in a ship, reckoned from forwards; as, the_aftermost_ mast, _aftermost_ guns, &c. 

AFTERNOON-WATCH. The men on deck-duty from noon till 4 P. M. 

AFTER-ORDERS. Those which are given out after the regular issue of thedaily orders. 

AFTER-PART. The locality towards the stern, from dead-flat; as, in the_after-part_ of the fore-hold. 

AFTER-PEAK. The contracted part of a vessel's hold, which lies in therun, or aftermost portion of the hold, in contradistinction to_fore-peak_. Both are the sharp ends of the ship. 

AFTER-RAKE. That part of the hull which overhangs the after-end of keel. 

AFTER-SAILS. All those on the after-masts, as well as on the staysbetween the main and mizen masts. Their effect is to balance thehead-sails, in the manner that a weather-cock or vane is moved, of whichthe main-mast must be considered the pivot or centre. The reverse of_head-sails_. "Square the after-yards, " refers to the yards on the mainand mizen masts. 

AFTER-TIMBERS. All those timbers abaft the midship section or bearingpart of a vessel. 

AFTMOST. The same as _aftermost_. 

AFTWARD. In the direction of the stern. 

AGA. A superior Turkish officer. 

AGAINST THE SUN. Coiling a rope in the direction from the right handtowards the left--the contrary of _with the sun_. This term applies to aposition north of the sun; south of the sun it would be reversed. 

AGAL-AGAL. One of the sea fuci, forming a commercial article from theMalay Isles to China, where it is made into a strong cement. The best isthe _Gracilaria spinosa_. Agal-agal derives its name from Tanjong Agalon the north coast of Borneo; where it was originally collected. It isnow found in great abundance throughout the Polynesian Islands, Mauritius, &c. It is soluble, and forms a clear jelly--used byconsumptive patients. It fetches a high price in China. It is supposedthat the sea-swallow derives his materials for the edible bird's nestsat Borneo from this fucus. 

AGATE. The cap for the pivots of the compass-cards, formed of hardsiliceous stone, a chalcedony or carnelian, &c. 

AGAVE. The American aloe, from which cordage is made; similar to thepiña of Manila. The fruit also, when expressed, affords the refreshingdrink "pulque. "

AGE. In chronology, a period of a hundred years. --_Ship's age_, one ofthe stipulations of contracts at Lloyd's. --_Age of the moon_, is theinterval of time or number of days elapsed since the previousconjunction or new moon. 

AGENCY. Payment _pro operâ et labore_, fixed by the prize act at fiveper cent. As a fair average, but it gives nothing where the property isrestored; in such cases it is usual for the agent to charge a gross sum. 

AGENCY, NAVAL. A useful class of persons, who transact the monetaryaffairs of officers, and frequently help them to the top branches of theprofession. They are paid for their services by a percentage of 2-1/2. 

AGENT. In physics, expresses that by which a thing is done oreffected. --_Navy agent_ is a deputy employed to pass accounts, transactbusiness, and receive pay or other monies, in behoof of the officers andcrew, and to apply the proceeds as directed by them. --_Agent victuallers_, officers appointed to the charge of provisions at our foreign ports andstations, to contract for, buy, and regulate, under the authority of thecommissioners of the navy. (_See_ NEGLIGENCE. )--_Prize agent_, oneappointed for the sale of prizes, and nominated in equal numbers by thecommander, the officers, and the ship's company. 

AGENTS TO LLOYD'S. _See_ LLOYD'S AGENTS. 

AGGRESSION. The first act of injury in provoking warfare. 

AGIO. An Italian word, applied to denote the profit arising fromdiscounting bills; also the difference between the value of bank-stockand currency. 

AGISTMENT. An embankment against the sea or rivers, or one thrown up tofence out a stream. 

AGON. A Chinese kind of metal cymbal. (_See_ GONG. ) It is singular thatGower, _circa_ 1395, using this old word for _gone_, thus metallicizes--

 "Of brasse, of silver, and of golde, The world is passed, and _agon_. "

AGONIST. A champion; prize-fighter. 

AGREEMENT. Except vessels of less than eighty tons register, the masterof a ship must enter into an agreement with every seaman whom he carriesfrom any port in Great Britain as one of his crew; and that agreementmust be in the form sanctioned by the Board of Trade. (_See_ RUNNINGAGREEMENT. )

AGROUND. The situation of a ship or other vessel whose bottom touches orrests upon the ground. It also signifies stranded, and is usedfiguratively for being disabled or hindered. 

AGUA-ARDIENTE [Sp. ] Corrupted into _aguardiente_, --the adulteratedbrandy of Spain supplied to ships. 

AGUADA. The Spanish and Portuguese term for a watering-place. 

AGUGLIA. A common name for sharp-pointed rocks. From the Italian forneedle; written _agulha_ in Spanish and Portuguese charts. 

AHEAD. A term especially referable to any object farther onward, orimmediately before the ship, or in the course steered, and thereforeopposed to _astern_. --_Ahead of the reckoning_, is sailing beyond theestimated position of the ship. --_Ahead_ is also used for progress; as, _cannot get ahead_, and is generally applied to forward, in advance. 

AHOLD. A term of our early navigators, for bringing a ship close to thewind, so as to hold or keep to it. 

AHOO, OR ALL AHOO, as our Saxon forefathers had it; awry, aslant, lop-sided. (_See_ ASKEW. )

AHOY! _See_ HO!

A-HULL. A ship under bare poles and her helm a-lee, driving from windand sea, stern foremost. Also a ship deserted, and exposed to thetempestuous winds. 

AID, TO. To succour; to supply with provisions or stores. 

AID-DE-CAMP. A military staff officer, who carries and circulates thegeneral's orders; and another class selected as expert at carving anddancing. In a ship, flag-lieutenant to an admiral, or, in action, thequarter-deck midshipmen to a captain. 

AIGRE. The sudden flowing of the sea, called in the fens ofLincolnshire, _acker_. (_See_ BORE. )

AIGUADE [Fr. ] AGUADA [Sp. ] Water as provision for ships. 

AIGUADES. Watering-places on French coasts. 

AIGUILLE _aimantee_, magnetic needle. ---- _de carène_, out-rigger. ----_d'inclinaison_, dipping needle. ---- _de tré_, or _à ralingue_, abolt-rope needle. 

AIGUILLES. The peculiar small fishing-boats in the Garonne and otherrivers of Guienne. 

AIGULETS [Fr. _aiguillettes_]. Tagged points or cords worn across thebreast in some uniforms of generals, staff-officers, and special mountedcorps. 

AILETTES. Small plates of steel placed on the shoulders in mediævalarmour. 

AIM. The direction of a musket, cannon, or any other fire-arm or missileweapon towards its object. --_To take aim_, directing the piece to theobject. 

AIR. The elastic, compressible, and dilatable fluid encompassing theterraqueous globe. It penetrates and pervades other bodies, and thusanimates and excites all nature. --_Air_ means also a gentle breath ofwind gliding over the surface of the water. --_To air_, to dry orventilate. 

AIR-BLADDER. A vesicle containing gas, situated immediately beneath thespinal column in most fish, and often communicating by a tube with thegullet. It is the homologue of the lungs of air-breathing vertebrates. 

AIR-BRAVING. Defying the winds. 

AIR-CONE, in the marine engine, is to receive the gases which enter thehot-well from the air-pump, where, after ascending, they escape througha pipe at the top. 

AIRE. A name in our northern islands for a bank of sand. 

AIR-FUNNEL. A cavity formed by omission of a timber in the upper worksof a vessel, to admit fresh air into the hold of a ship and convey thefoul out of it. 

AIR-GUN. A silent weapon, which propels bullets by the expansive forceof air only. 

AIRING-STAGE. A wooden platform, on which gunpowder is aired and dried. 

AIR-JACKET. A leathern garment furnished with inflated bladders, to buoythe wearer up in the water. (_See_ AYR. )

AIR-PIPES. Funnels for clearing ships' holds of foul air, on theprinciple of the rarefying power of heat. 

AIR-PORTS. Large scuttles in ships' bows for the admission of air, whenthe other ports are down. The Americans also call their side-ports bythat name. 

AIR-PUMP. An apparatus to remove the water and gases accumulating in thecondenser while the engine is at work. 

AIR-SCUTTLES. The same as _air-ports_. 

AIR-SHAFTS. Vertical holes made in mining, to supply the adits withfresh air. Wooden shafts are sometimes adopted on board ship for asimilar purpose. 

AIRT, OR ART. A north-country word for a bearing point of the compass orquarter of the heavens. Thus the song--

 "Of a' the _airts_ the wind can blaw, I dearly love the west. "

AIRY. Breezy. 

AKEDOWN. A form of the term _acton_, as a defensive dress. 

ALABLASTER. An arbalist or cross-bow man; also the corruption of_alabaster_. 

ALAMAK. The name given in nautical astronomy to that beautiful doublestar _Anak al ard_ of the Arabians, or γ Andromedæ. 

ALAMOTTIE. The _Procellaria pelagica_, or Storm-finch; Mother Cary'schicken, or stormy petrel. 

ALAND. A term formerly used for to the shore, on shore, or to land. 

ALARM, ALARUM [from the Italian _all'armi!_] An apprehension fromsudden noise or report. The drum or signal by which men are summoned tostand on their guard in time of danger. --_False alarm_ is sometimesoccasioned by a timid or negligent sentry, and at others designedly byan officer, to ascertain the promptness of his men. Sometimes falsealarms are given by the enemy to harass the adversary. Old Rider defines_alarm_ as a "watch-word shewing the neernesse of the enemies. "

ALARM-POST. A place appointed for troops to assemble, in case of asudden alarm. 

ALBACORE. A fish of the family _Scombridæ_, found in shoals in theocean; it is about 5 or 6 feet long, with an average weight of nearly100 lbs. When fine. 

ALBANY BEEF. A name for the sturgeon of the Hudson River, where it istaken in quantity for commerce. 

ALBATROSS. A large, voracious, long-winged sea-bird, belonging to thegenus _Diomedea_; very abundant in the Southern Ocean and the NorthernPacific, though said to be rarely met with within the tropics. 

ALBION. An early name of England, from the whiteness of the easterncoast cliffs. 

ALBURNUM. The sap-wood of timber, commonly termed the slab-cuts. 

ALCAID. A governor, or officer of justice, amongst the Moors, Spaniards, and Portuguese. 

ALCATRAZ. The pelican. Alcatraz Island is situated in the mouth of theriver San Francisco, in California, so named from its being covered withthese birds. Also Alcatraz on the coast of Africa, from _Pelecanussula_--booby. Columbus mentions the alcatraz when nearing America, andDrayton says--

 "Most like to that sharp-sighted _alcatras_, That beats the air above the liquid glass. "

ALDEBARAN. The lucida of Taurus, the well-known nautical star, popularlycalled Bull's-eye. 

A-LEE. The contrary of _a-weather_: the position of the helm when itstiller is borne over to the lee-side of the ship, in order to go aboutor put her head to windward. --_Hard a-lee!_ or _luff a-lee!_ is said tothe steersman to put the helm down. --_Helm's a-lee!_ the word of commandgiven on putting the helm down, and causing the head-sails to shake inthe wind. 

ALEMAYNE. The early name for Germany. 

ALERT. On the look-out, and ready for any sudden duty. Nearly synonymouswith _alarm_. _Alerto_--called frequently by Spanish sentinels. 

ALEWIFE. The _Clupea alosa_, a fish of the herring kind, which appearsin the _Philosophical Transactions_ for 1678, as the _aloofe_; thecorruption therefore was a ready one. 

ALEXIACUS. The appellation under which Neptune was implored to protectthe nets of the tunny fisheries from the sword-fish. 

ALFERE, OR ALFEREZ [_alfier_, Fr. ; _alferez_, Span. ] Standard-bearer;ensign; cornet. The old English term for ensign; it was in use in ourforces till the civil wars of Charles I. 

ALFONDIZA. The custom-house at Lisbon. 

ALGA. A species of millepora. 

ALGÆ. Sea-weeds, and the floating scum-like substances on fresh water;they deserve to be more studied, for some, as dulse, laver, badderlocks, &c. , are eatable, and others are useful for manure. 

ALGEBRA. A general method of resolving mathematical problems, by meansof equations, or rather computing abstract quantities by symbols orsigns; a literal arithmetic. 

ALGENIB. A principal star (γ) in Pegasus. 

ALGERE. A spear used by fishermen in olden times. 

ALGIER DUTY. An imposition laid on merchants' goods by the LongParliament, for the redemption of captives in the Mediterranean. 

ALGOL. A wonderful variable star in Perseus, which goes through itschanges in about two days and twenty-one hours. 

ALGOLOGY. Scientific researches into the nature of sea-plants. 

ALGORAB. A star taking rank as the α of Corvus, but its brightness oflate is rivalled by β Corvi. 

ALHIDADE. An Arabic name for the index or fiducial of an astronomical orgeometrical instrument, carrying sight or telescope; used by earlynavigators. A rule on the back of a common astrolabe, to measureheights, &c. 

ALIEN. Generally speaking, one born in a foreign country, out of theking's allegiance; but if the parents be of the king's obedience, thechild is no alien. An alien enemy, or person under the allegiance of thestate at war with us, is not _generally_ disabled from being a witnessin admiralty courts; nor are debts due to him forfeited, but onlysuspended. --_Alien's duty_, the impost laid on all goods imported intoEngland in foreign bottoms, over and above the regular customs. 

ALIGNMENT. An imaginary line, drawn to regulate the order of a squadron. 

ALIQUOT PART. That which will exactly divide a number, leaving noremainder. 

ALL. The total quantity; quite; wholly. --_All aback_, when all the sailsare taken aback by the winds. --_All ahoo_, or _all-a-ugh_, confused;hanging over; crooked. --_All-a-taunt-o_, a ship fully rigged, with mastsin and yards crossed. --_All hands_, the whole ship's company. --_Allhands ahoy_, the boatswain's summons for the whole crew to repair ondeck, in distinction from the watch. --_All hands make sail!_ thecheering order when about to chase a strange vessel. --_All hands toquarters!_ the call in armed merchantmen, answering to the _Beat toquarters_ in a man-of-war. --_All in the wind_, when a vessel's head istoo close to the wind, so that all her sails are shivering. --_All over_, resemblance to a particular object, as a ship in bad kelter: "she's aprivateer _all over_. "--_All overish_, the state of feeling when a manis neither ill nor well, restless in bed and indifferent to meals. Inthe tropics this is considered as the premonitory symptom of disease, and a warning which should be looked to. --_All ready_, the answer fromthe tops when the sails are cast loose, and ready to be dropped. --_Allstanding_, fully equipped, or with clothes on. To be brought up _allstanding_, is to be suddenly checked or stopped, without anypreparation. --_Paid off all standing_, without unrigging or waiting toreturn stores; perhaps recommissioned the next day or hour. --_All'swell_, the sentry's call at each bell struck (or half hour) between theperiods of broad daylight, or from 8 P. M. To 4 A. M. --_All to pieces_, aphrase used for out-and-out, extremely, or excessively; as, "we beat herin sailing _all to pieces_. "--_All weathers_, any time or season;continually. 

ALLAN. A word from the Saxon, still used in the north to denote a pieceof land nearly surrounded by a stream. 

ALLEGE. A French ballast-boat. 

ALLEGIANCE. The legal obedience of a subject to his sovereign in returnfor the protection afforded; a debt which, in a natural-born subject, cannot be cancelled by any change of time, or place, or circumstance, without the united consent of the legislature. 

ALLER-FLOAT, OR ALLER-TROUT. A species of fine trout frequenting theshady holes under the roots of the _aller_ or alder tree, on the banksof rivers and brooks. 

ALLIANCE. A league or confederacy between sovereigns or states, formutual safety and defence. Subjects of allies cannot trade with thecommon enemy, on pain of the property being confiscated as prize to thecaptors. 

ALLICIENCY. The attractive power of the magnet. 

ALLIGATOR [from the Spanish _lagarto_]. The crocodile of America. Thehead of this voracious animal is flat and imbricate; several of theunder teeth enter into and pass through the upper jaw; the nape isnaked; on the tail are two rough lateral lines. 

ALLIGATOR WATER. The brackish water inside the mouths of tropicalrivers, with white and muddy surface running into the sea. 

ALLISION. Synonymous in marine law with _collision_, though the juristsof Holland introduce it to mark a distinction between one vessel runningagainst another and two vessels striking each other. 

ALLOCUTION. The harangue anciently made by the Roman generals to exhorttheir forces. 

ALLOTMENT. A part of the pay apportioned monthly to the wives, children, mothers, or destitute fathers of the warrant and petty officers, seamen, and marines of ships of war on foreign stations. In the merchant serviceall such stipulations for allotting any portion of a seaman's wagesduring his absence must be inserted in the agreement. 

ALLOTMENT-LIST. A document containing the requisite details, attested bythe four signing officers, to be transmitted to the Navy Office. 

ALLOTTING. Persons agreeing to buy a ship's cargo appoint adisinterested person to allot a share to each by affixing theirrespective names. 

ALLOW, TO. To concede a destined portion of stores, &c. 

ALLOWANCE. The ration or allotted quantum of provisions which eachindividual receives; and it is either double, full, two-thirds, half, orshort, according to incidents. 

ALLUVION. An accretion formed along sea-shores and the banks of riversby the deposition of the various substances held in solution or washedby the waters. Sea alluvions differ from those of rivers, in that theyform a slope _towards_ the land. 

ALLY. A friendly or confederated state. 

ALMACANTARS. Circles parallel to the horizon, and supposed to passthrough every degree of the meridian. An Arabic term, synonymous with_parallels of latitude_. 

ALMACANTARS STAFF. An instrument formerly used at sea for observing thesun's amplitude, formed of an arc of about 15 degrees. 

ALMADIA. A small African canoe, made of the bark of trees. Some of thelarger square-sterned negro-boats are also thus designated. 

ALMAFADAS. Large dunnage cut on the coast of Portugal. 

ALMAGEST. The celebrated work of Ptolemy on geometry and astronomy. Ricciolus adopted the term in 1651 for his _Body of MathematicalScience_. It became general, whence Chaucer--

 "His _Almagiste_ and bookes, grete and small. "

ALMANAC. A record of the days, feasts, and celestial phenomena of theyear. Though confounded with calendar, it is essentially different--thelatter relating to time in general, and the almanac to that of a year;but the term calendar can be properly used for a particular year. (_See_EPHEMERIS. )

ALMATH [_Hamal_]. The star in Aries whence the first mansion of the moontakes its name. The Frankeleine in Chaucer says:--

 "And by his eighte speres in his werking, He knew ful wel how far _Alnath_ was shove Fro the hed of thilke fix Aries above, That in the ninthe spere considered is. "

ALMIRANTE. A great sea-officer or high-admiral in Spain. 

ALMIRANTESA. The wife of an admiral. 

ALMURY. The upright part of an astrolabe. 

ALNUS CAVER. Transport-ships of the early English, so called from thewood of which they were constructed. 

ALOFT [Anglo-Saxon, _alofte_, on high]. Above; overhead; on high. Synonymous with up above the tops, at the mast-head, or anywhere aboutthe higher yards, masts, and rigging of ships. --_Aloft there!_ thehailing of people in the tops. --_Away aloft!_ the command to the peoplein the rigging to climb to their stations. Also, heaven: "Poor Tom isgone _aloft_. "

ALONDE. An old English word for ashore, on land. 

ALONG [Saxon]. Lengthwise. --_Alongside_, by the side of a ship; side byside. --_Lying along_, when the wind, being on the beam, presses the shipover to leeward with the press of sail; or, _lying along_ the land. 

ALONGSHORE. A common nautical phrase signifying along the coast, or acourse which is in sight of the shore, and nearly parallel to it. (_See_'LONGSHORE. )

ALONGST. In the middle of a stream; moored head and stern. 

ALOOF. The old word for "keep your luff, " in the act of sailing to thewind. (_See_ LUFF. )--_Keep aloof_, at a distance. 

ALOOFE. _See_ ALEWIFE. 

ALOW. Synonymous with _below_; as _alow_ and _aloft_, though moreproperly _low_ and _aloft_. Carrying all sail _alow and aloft_ is whenthe reefs are shaken out, and all the studding-sails set. 

ALPHABETICAL LIST. This is a list which accompanies the ship's books; itcontains the names and number of every person in the pay-book. 

ALTAIR. The bright nautical star α Aquilæ, binary. 

ALTAR. A platform in the upper part of a dock. 

ALTEMETRIE. The old term for trigonometry among navigators. 

ALTERNATE. Reciprocal. --_Alternate angles_ are the internal anglesformed by a line cutting two parallels, and lying on the opposite sideof the cutting line; the one below the first parallel, and the otherabove. --_Alternate ratio_ is that of which the antecedents andconsequents bear respectively to each other in any proportion which hasthe quantities of the same kind. 

ALTERNATING WINDS. Peculiar winds blowing at stated times one way, andthen, from a sudden alteration in the temperature of the elements, setting in the contrary direction. A remarkable instance is that of theGulf of Arta in the Ionian Sea, where the effect is promoted by localcauses. All land and sea breezes are strictly alternating winds. Thesehowever are mostly intertropical; the solar heat causing the sea-breezeto blow on the land by day, and condensation and greater heat of the seacausing a reaction when the land has cooled to a lower temperature. 

ALTERNATION OR PERMUTATION OF QUANTITIES, is the varying or changingtheir order, and is easily found by a continual multiplication of allnumbers. 

ALTIMETRY. Trigonometry; the art of measuring heights or depressions ofland, whether accessible or not. 

ALTITUDE. The elevation of any of the heavenly bodies above the plane ofthe horizon, or its angular distance from the horizon, measured in thedirection of a great circle passing through the zenith. Also the thirddimension of a body, considered with regard to its elevation above theground. --_Apparent altitude_ is that which appears by sensibleobservations made on the surface of the globe. --_Altitude of the pole. _The arc of the meridian between the pole of the heavens and the horizonof any place, and therefore equal to its geographical latitude. --_Altitudeof the cone of the earth's and moon's shadow_, is the height of the oneor the other during an eclipse, and is measured from the centre of thebody. --_Altitude of a shot or shell. _ The perpendicular height of thevertex of the curve in which it moves above the horizon. --_Meridianaltitude. _ The arc of the meridian, --or greater or less altitude, measured from the horizon, of a celestial object in its passage over themeridian, above or below the pole, of the place of the observer. InPolar regions two such transits of the sun, and in England similarly, circumpolar stars afford double observations for the determination oftime or latitude. The general term is understood by seamen to denotemid-day, when the passage and meridian altitude of the sun affords thelatitude. --_True altitude_ is that produced by correcting the apparentone for parallax and refraction. 

ALTMIKLEC. A silver Turkish coin of 60 paras, or 2_s. _ 9-1/2_d. _sterling. 

ALUFFE, OR ALOOF. Nearer to the wind. This is a very old form of _luff_;being noticed by Matthew Paris, and other writers, as a sea-term. (_See_LUFF. )

ALURE. An old term for the gutter or drain along a battlement or parapetwall. 

ALVEUS. A very small ancient boat, made from the single trunk of a tree. A monoxylon, or canoe. 

A. M. The uncials for _ante-meridian_, or in the forenoon. (_See_MERIDIAN. )

AMAIN [Saxon _a_, and _mægn_, force, strength]. This was the old word toan enemy for "yield, " and was written _amayne_ and _almayne_. Itsliteral signification is, with force or vigour, all at once, suddenly;and it is generally used to anything which is moved by a tackle-fall, as"lower amain!" let run at once. When we used to demand the salute inthe narrow seas, the lowering of the top-sail was called _strikingamain_ (_see_ STRIKE), and it was demanded by the _wave amain_ (_see_WAVING), or brandishing a bright sword to and fro. 

AMALPHITAN CODE, the oldest code of modern sea-laws, compiled, duringthe first Crusade, by the people of Amalfi in Italy, who then possessedconsiderable commerce and maritime power. 

AMAYE. Sea-marks on the French coast. 

AMBASSADOR. A practical joke performed on board ship in warm climates, in which the dupes are unmercifully ducked in the wash-deck tub:--

 "And he was wash'd, who ne'er was wash'd before. "

AMBER. A hard resinous substance of vegetable origin, generally of abright yellow colour, and translucent. It is chiefly obtained from thesouthern shores of the Baltic, and those of Sicily, where it is thrownup by the sea, but it also occurs in beds of lignite. 

AMBERGRIS. A fragrant drug found floating on sea-coasts, the origin andproduction of which was long a matter of dispute, although now known tobe a morbid product developed in the intestines of the spermaceti whale(_Physeter macrocephalus_). It is of a grayish colour, very light, easily fusible, and is used both as a perfume and a cordial, in variousextracts, essences, and tinctures. 

AMBIENT [from _ambio_, Lat. , to go round]. Surrounding, or investing;whence the atmosphere is designated ambient, because it encompasses theearth. 

AMBIGENAL. One of the triple hyperboles of the second order. 

AMBIT of a geometrical figure is the perimeter, or the line, or sum orall the lines, by which it is bounded. 

AMBITION is usually denominated a virtue or a vice according to itsdirection; but assuredly more of the former, as it is a grand stimulusto officers to avoid reproach, and aspire to eminence and honour. 

AMBLYGON. Obtuse angular. 

AMBRY. _See_ AUMBREY. 

AMBUSCADE [Span. _emboscada_]. A body of men lying in wait to surprisean enemy, or cut off his supplies; also the site where they lurk. This, as well as _ambush_, obviously arose from woods having affordedhiding-places. 

AMBUSH. Signifies an attempt to lie in concealment for the purpose ofsurprising the enemy without his perceiving the intention until he isattacked. 

AMELIORATION. An allowance made to the neutral purchaser, on reclaiminga ship irregularly condemned, for repairs she has undergone in hisservice. 

AMICABLE NUMBERS are such as are mutually equal to the sum of eachother's aliquot parts. 

AMIDSHIPS. The middle of the ship, whether in regard to her lengthbetween stem and stern, or in breadth between the two sides. To put thehelm _amidships_ is to place it in a line with the keel. The term, however, has a more general bearing to the axis of the ship; as guns, orstores, or place amidships has reference to that line, fore and aft. Externally the term "amidships" as to striking, boarding, &c. , would beabout the main-mast, or half the length of the ship. (_See_ MIDSHIPS. )

AMIDWARD. Towards the 'midship or middle section of the vessel. 

AMLAGH. A Manx or Gaelic term denoting to manure with sea-weed. 

AMLEE. A Manx or Gaelic term for sea-weed. 

AMMUNITION. This word had an infinite variety of meanings. It includesevery description of warlike stores, comprehending not only theordnance, but the powder, balls, bullets, cartridges, andequipments. --_Ammunition bread_, that which is for the supply of armiesor garrisons. --_Ammunition chest_, a box placed abaft near the stern orin the tops of men-of-war, to contain ammunition, for the arms thereinplaced, in readiness for immediate action. --_Ammunition shoes_, thosemade for soldiers and sailors, and particularly for use by thosefrequenting the magazine, being soft and free from metal. --_Ammunitionwaggon_, a close cart for conveying military effects. --_Ammunitionwife_, a name applied to women of doubtful character. 

AMNESTY. An act of oblivion, by which, in a professional view, pardon isgranted to those who have rebelled or deserted their colours; also todeserters who return to their ships. 

AMOK. A term signifying slaughter, but denoting the practice of theMalays, when infuriated to madness with bang (a preparation from aspecies of hemp), of sallying into the streets, or decks, to murder anywhom they may chance to meet, until they are either slain or fall fromexhaustion. --_To run a-muck. _ To run madly and attack all we meet(_Pope_, _Dryden_). As in the case of mad dogs, certain death awaitedthem, for if not killed in being taken, torture and impalement followed. 

AMORAYLE. An archaism of _admiral_. 

AMORCE [Fr. ] A word sometimes used to signify priming-powder. 

AMPERES. An ancient vessel, in which the rowers used an oar on each sideat once. 

AMPHIBIA. A class of animals which, from a peculiar arrangement ofbreathing organs, can live either in water or on land. [Gr. _amphibios_, having a double manner of life. ] Hence _amphibious_. 

AMPHIPRORÆ. Ancient vessels, both ends of which were prow-shaped, sothat in narrow channels they need not turn. 

AMPHISCII. The inhabitants of the torrid zone are thus denominated fromtheir shadow being turned one part of the year to the north and theother to the south. 

AMPHOTEROPLON. _See_ HETEROPLON. 

AMPLITUDE. As a general term, implies extent. In astronomy, it is an arcof the horizon intercepted between the true east or west points thereof, and the centre of the sun, star, or planet, at its rising or setting. Inother words, it is the horizontal angular distance of a star from theeast or west points. It is eastern or ortive when the heavenly objectrises, and western or occiduous when it sets, and is moreover northernor southern according to its quarter of the horizon. --_Amplitude_, ingunnery, is the range or whole distance of a projectile, or the righthorizontal line subtending the curvilineal path in which itmoved. --_Amplitude_, in magnetism, is the difference between the risingand setting of the sun from the east and west points, as indicated bythe mariner's or magnetic compass--which subtracted from the trueamplitude, constitutes the error of the compass, which is the combinedeffect of variation and local deviation. 

AMPOTIS. The recess or ebb of the tide. 

AMRELL. An archaic orthography for _admiral_. 

AMULET. A small relic or sacred sentence, preservative against disasterand disease, appended to the neck by superstitious people: few Italianor Spanish seamen are without them. 

AMUSETTE. A kind of gun on a stock, like that of a musket, but mountedas a swivel, carrying a ball from half a pound to two pounds weight. 

AMY. A foreigner serving on board, subject to some prince in friendshipwith us. 

ANACLASTICS, OR ANACLATICS. The ancient doctrine of refracted light ordioptrics. --_Anaclastic curves_, the apparent curves formed at thebottom of a vessel full of water, or anything at great depths overboardto an eye placed in the air; also the heavenly vault as seen through theatmosphere. 

ANADROMOUS. A term applied to migratory fishes, which have their statedtimes of ascending rivers from the sea, and returning again, as thesalmon and others. 

ANALEM. A mathematical instrument for finding the course and elevationof the sun. 

ANALEMMA. A projection of the sphere on the plane of the meridian, takenin a lateral point of view, so that the colours become circles, whilstthose whose planes pass through the eye become right lines, and theoblique circles ellipses. On globes it is represented by a narrowdouble-looped formed figure, the length of which is equal to thebreadth of the torrid zone, and is divided into months and days, to showapproximately the solar declination and the equation of time. 

ANALOGY. Resemblance, relation, or equality; a similitude of ratios orproportions. 

ANALYSIS. The resolution of anything into its constituent parts:mathematically, it is the method of resolving problems by reducing themto equations. --_Analysis of curves_ is that which shows theirproperties, points of inflection, station, variation, &c. --_Analysis offinite quantities_ is termed specious arithmetic or algebra. --_Analysisof infinites_ is a modern introduction, and used for fluxions or thedifferential calculus. --_Analysis of powers_ is the evolution orresolving them into their roots. --_Analysis of metals_, fluids, solids, earths, manures, &c. 

ANALYTIC. That which partakes of the property of analysis, and isreducible thereby. 

ANAN. A word going out of use, uttered when an order was not understood, equal to "What do you say, sir?" It is also used by corruption for_anon_, immediately. 

ANANAS. (_Bromelia_). Pine-apple. 

ANAPHORA. A term sometimes applied to the oblique ascensions of thestars. 

ANAS. A genus of water-birds of the order _Natatores_. Now restricted tothe typical ducks. 

ANASTROUS. _See_ DODECATIMORIA. 

ANAUMACHION. The crime amongst the ancients of refusing to serve in thefleet--the punishment affixed to which was infamy. 

ANCHIROMACHUS. --A kind of vessel of the middle ages used fortransporting anchors and naval stores. 

ANCHOR. A large and heavy instrument in use from the earliest times forholding and retaining ships, which it executes with admirable force. With few exceptions it consists of a long iron shank, having at one enda ring, to which the cable is attached, and the other branching out intotwo arms, with flukes or palms at their bill or extremity. A stock oftimber or iron is fixed at right angles to the arms, and serves to guidethe flukes perpendicularly to the surface of the ground. According totheir various form and size, anchors obtain the epithets of the _sheet_, _best bower_, _small bower_, _spare_, _stream_, _kedge_, and _grapling_(which see under their respective heads). 

_Anchor floating_, _see_ FLOATING ANCHOR. --_At anchor_, the situation ofa ship which rides by its anchor. --_To anchor_, to cast or to let go theanchor, so that it falls into the ground for the ship to ridethereby. --_To anchor_ with a spring on the cable, _see_ SPRING. _Anchor_is also used figuratively for anything which confers security orstability. 

ANCHORABLE. Fit for anchorage. 

ANCHORAGE. Ground which is suitable, and neither too deep, shallow, orexposed for ships to ride in safety upon; also the set of anchorsbelonging to a ship; also a royal duty levied from vessels coming to aport or roadstead for the use of its advantages. It is generally markedon the charts by an anchor, and described according to its attributes ofgood, snug, open, or exposed. 

ANCHOR-BALL. A pyrotechnical combustible attached to a grapnel foradhering to and setting fire to ships. 

ANCHOR-CHOCKS. Pieces indented into a wooden anchor-stock where it hasbecome worn or defective in the way of the shank; also pieces of wood oriron on which an anchor rests when it is stowed. 

ANCHOR-DAVIT. _See_ DAVIT. 

ANCHORED. Held by the anchor; also the act of having cast anchor. 

ANCHOR-HOLD. The fastness of the flukes on the ground; also the act ofhaving cast anchor, and taken the ground. (_See_ HOME. )

ANCHOR-HOOPS. Strong iron hoops, binding the stock to the end of theshank and over the nuts of the anchor. 

ANCHOR-ICE. The ice which is formed on and incrustates the beds of lakesand rivers: the _ground-gru_ of the eastern counties of England. (_See_ICE-ANCHOR. )

ANCHORING. The act of casting anchor. --_Anchoring ground_ is that whereanchors will find bottom, fix themselves, and hold ships securely: freefrom rocks, wrecks, or other matters which would break or foul theanchor or injure the cable. In legal points it is not admitted as eitherport, creek, road, or roadstead, unless it be _statio tutissima nautis_. A vessel dropping anchor in known foul ground, or where any danger isincurred by inability to recover the anchor, or by being there detaineduntil driven off by stress of weather, is not legally anchored. 

ANCHOR-LINING. The short pieces of plank fastened to the sides of theship, under the fore-channels, to prevent the bill of the anchor fromtearing the ship's side when fishing or drawing it up. (_See also_BILL-BOARDS. )

ANCHOR-RING. Formerly the great ring welded into the hole for it. Recentanchors have Jew's-harp shackles, easily replaced, and not so liable tobe destroyed by chain-cables. 

ANCHOR-SEAT. An old term for the prow of a ship, still in use witheastern nations--Chinese, Japanese, &c. 

ANCHOR-SHACKLE. An open link of iron which connects the chain with theanchor--a "Jew's-harp" shackle. 

ANCHOR-SMITH. A forger of anchors. 

ANCHOR-STOCK. A bar at the upper end of the shank, crossing thedirection of the flukes transversely, to steady their proper direction. In small anchors it is made of iron, but in large ones it is composed oftwo long cheeks or beams of oak, strongly bolted and tree-nailedtogether, secured with four iron hoops. It is now generally supersededby the iron stock. 

ANCHOR-STOCK-FASHION. The method of placing the butt of one wale-planknearly over the middle of the other; and the planks being broadest inthe middle, and tapered to the ends, they resemble an anchor-stock, withwhich it is more in keeping than is the method called _top-and-butt_;also pursued in fishing spars, making false rudder-heads, &c. 

ANCHOR-STOCKING is a mode of securing and working planks in general withtapered butts. 

ANCHOR-STOCK TACKLE. A small tackle attached to the upper part of theanchor-stock when stowing the anchor, its object being to bring itperpendicular and closer to the ship. 

ANCHOR-WATCH. A subdivision of the watch kept constantly on deck duringthe time the ship lies at single anchor, to be in readiness to hoist jibor staysails, to keep the ship clear of her anchor; or in readiness toveer more cable or let go another anchor in case the ship should driveor part her anchor. This watch is also in readiness to avoid collisionin close rivers by veering cable, setting sail, using the helm, &c. , which formerly involved the essence of seamanship. 

ANCHOVY. The _Engraulis encrasicholus_. A small fish of the family_Clupeidæ_, about four inches in length, much used in sauces andseasoning when cured. It is migratory, but principally taken in theMediterranean, where those of Gorgona are most esteemed in commerce. 

ANCIENT. A term formerly used for the colours and their bearer, asensign is now. Shakspeare's Nym was only a corporal, but Pistol was anancient. 

ANCON. A corner or angle of a knee-timber. --_Ancon_ [Sp. ] Harbour, bay, or anchorage. 

ANCOR-STRENG. A very old designation of a cable. 

ANCYLE. A kind of dart thrown with a leathern thong. 

ANDREA-FERRARA. _See_ FERRARA. 

ANDREW, OR ANDREW MILLAR. A cant name for a man-of-war, and also forgovernment and government authorities. 

ANDROMEDA. A hemispherical medusa found in the Indian and Red Seas. Thebody is transparent and brownish, with a black cross in the middle, andhas foliaceous white arms on the under part. 

ANDROMEDÆ α. (Alpheratz. ) A star of the first magnitude in theconstellation of Andromeda. 

ANELACE. The early name for a dirk or dagger usually worn at thegirdle. 

ANEMOMACHIA. A whirlwind or hurricane in old writers. 

ANEMOMETER, OR WIND-GAUGE. An instrument wherewith to measure thedirection and velocity of wind under its varying forces--a desideratumat sea. 

ANEMONE. _See_ ANIMAL FLOWERS. 

ANEMOSCOPE. A vane index with pointers to tell the changes of the windwithout referring to the weather-cock. 

AN-END. The position of any spar when erected perpendicularly to thedeck. The top-masts are said to be _an-end_ when swayed up to theirusual stations and fidded. To strike a spar or plank _an-end_ is todrive it in the direction of its length. (_See_ EVERY ROPE AN-END. )

ANENT, OR ANENST. Opposite to; over against. 

ANEROID. A portable barometer or instrument for showing variations ofthe weather by the pressure of the atmosphere upon a metallic boxhermetically sealed. 

ANEROST. A coast-word of the western counties for _nigh_ or _almost_. 

ANEW. Enough, as relating to number. 

ANGEL-FISH. The _Squatina angelus_, of the shark family. It inhabits thenorthern seas, is six or eight feet long, with a cinereous rough backand white smooth belly; the mouth is beneath the anterior part of thehead, and the pectoral fins are very large. (Also, _Chætodon_. )

ANGEL-HEAD. The hook or barb of an arrow; probably _angle-head_. 

ANGEL-SHOT. A ball cut in two, and the halves joined by a chain. 

ANGIL. An old term for a fishing-hook [from the Anglo-Saxon _ongul_, forthe same]. It means also a red worm used for a bait in angling orfishing. 

ANGLE. The space or aperture intersected by the natural inclination oftwo lines or planes meeting each other, the place of intersection beingcalled the vertex or angular point, and the lines legs. Angles aredistinguished by the number of degrees they subtend, to 360°, or thewhole circumference of a circle. Angles are acute, obtuse, right, curvilinear, rectilinear, &c. (all of which see). 

ANGLE-DOG, OR ANGLE-TWITCH. A large earth-worm, sought for bait. 

ANGLE-IRONS. Certain strips of iron having their edges turned up at anangle to each other; they are of various sizes, and used for the ribsand knees of the framing of iron vessels. 

ANGLE OF COMMUTATION. The difference between the heliocentric longitudesof the earth and a planet or comet, the latter being reduced to theecliptic. 

ANGLE OF ECCENTRICITY. An astronomical term denoting the angle whosesine is equal to the eccentricity of an orbit. 

ANGLE OF ELEVATION. _See_ ELEVATION. 

ANGLE OF INCIDENCE. _See_ INCIDENCE. 

ANGLE OF LEE-WAY. The difference between the apparent compass-course andthe true one--arising from lateral pressure and the effect of sea whenclose-hauled. It is not applicable to courses when the wind and sea arefair. 

ANGLE OF POSITION. A term usually confined to double stars, todistinguish the line of bearing between them when they are apparentlyvery near to each other. 

ANGLE OF REFLECTION. _See_ REFLECTION. 

ANGLE OF SITUATION. This was formerly called the _angle of position_, and is also termed the _parallactic angle_ (which see). 

ANGLE OF THE CENTRE. In fortification, the angle formed at the centre ofthe polygon by lines drawn from thence to the points of two adjacentbastions. 

ANGLE OF THE SHOULDER. _See_ EPAULE. 

ANGLE OF THE VERTICAL. The difference between the geographical andgeocentric latitudes of a place upon the earth's surface. 

ANGLER. A fisherman, or one who angles for recreation rather thanprofit. Also a species of _Lophius_ or toad-fish; from its ugliness andhabits called also the _sea-devil_. It throws out feelers by which smallfry are enticed within its power. 

ANGLES OF TIMBERS. _See_ BEVELLING. 

ANGLING. The practice of catching fish by means of a rod, line, hook, and bait, which by its mixture of idleness and chance forms recreation;but however simple the art appears, it requires much nicety. 

ANGON. A javelin formerly used by the French, the point of whichresembled a _fleur-de-lis_: it is also generally applied to thehalf-pike or javelin. 

ANGOSIADE. An astronomical falsehood; a term originating from thepretended observations of D'Angos at Malta. 

ANGRA [Sp. ] Bay or inlet. --_Angra grande_, _pequena_, &c. , on the coastsof Spanish and Portuguese settlements. 

ANGUILLIFORM. Applied to fishes having the shape, softness, andappearance of eels. 

ANGULAR CRAB. An ugly long-armed crustacean--the _Goneplaxangulata_--with eyes on remarkably long stalks. 

ANGULAR DISTANCE. This term, when applied to celestial bodies, impliesthat the sun and moon, or moon and stars, are within measuring distancefor lunars. 

ANGULAR MOTION is that which describes an angle, or moves circularlyround a point, as planets revolving about the sun. 

ANGULAR VELOCITY. This is a term used in the orbits of double stars, andimplies the motion in a certain time of one star round the other. 

ANILLA. A commercial term for indigo, derived from the plant whence itis prepared. [Sp. _anil_, indigo, Indigofera; _alnyl_, Arab. ]

ANIMAL FLOWERS. _Actiniæ_, or sea-anemones and similar animals, whichproject a circle of tentacula resembling flowers. Formerly they were allclassed under zoophytes. 

ANIMATE. The giving power or encouragement. --_To animate a battery_, toplace guns in its embrasures. --_To animate a needle_, to magnetizeit. --_To animate the crew_ in various ways for any special duty. 

ANKER. An anker of brandy contains ten gallons. The kegs in whichHollands is mostly exported are ankers and half-ankers. 

ANKER-FISH. A name of a kind of cuttle-fish. 

ANKLE-BONE. An old seaman's term for the crawfish. 

ANNELIDS. A class of worm-like animals, of which the body is composed ofa series of rings. 

ANNET. A sea-gull, well known in Northumberland and on the northerncoasts. 

ANNIVERSARY WINDS. Those which blow constantly at certain seasons of theyear, as monsoon, trade, and etesian winds. 

ANNONA. An ancient tax for the yearly supply of corn or provisions forthe army and capital: still in use in Italy. 

ANNOTINÆ. The ancient Roman victuallers or provision vessels. 

ANNOTTO (_Bixa orellana_). The plant from the dried pulp of theseed-vessels of which a delicate red dye is obtained, used to give arich colour to milk, butter, and cheese. 

ANNUAL. Those astronomical motions which return or terminate every year. 

ANNUAL ACCOUNTS. The ship's books and papers for the year. 

ANNUAL EQUATION. An inequality in the moon's march, arising from theeccentricity of the earth's orbit, whereby the diurnal motion issometimes quicker and at other times slower than her mean motion. 

ANNUAL PARALLAX. _See_ PARALLAX. 

ANNUAL RETURNS. In addition to the general accounts of the year, thereare three returns to be transmitted to the admiral or senior officer forthe Admiralty. They are, a report of the sailing and other qualities ofthe ship; state of the ship as to men; and progress of the younggentlemen in navigation. 

ANNUAL VARIATION. The change produced in the right ascension ordeclination of a star by the precession of the equinoxes and propermotion of the star taken together. Also, the annual variation of thecompass. 

ANNUL, TO. To nullify a signal. 

ANNULAR. Resembling an annulus or ring. An _annular_ eclipse takes placewhen the apparent diameter of the moon is less than that of the sun, anda zone of light surrounds the moon while central. 

ANNULAR SCUPPER. A contrivance for fitting scuppers so that the wholecan be enlarged by a movable concentric ring, in order that a surchargeof water can be freely delivered; invented by Captain Downes, R. N. 

ANNULUS. A geometrical figure. (_See_ RING. )

ANNULUS ASTRONOMICUS. A ring of brass used formerly in navigation. In1575 Martin Frobisher, when fitting out on his first voyage for thediscovery of a north-west passage, was supplied with one which costthirty shillings. 

ANOMALISTIC MONTH. _See_ ANOMALISTIC PERIOD. 

ANOMALISTIC PERIOD. The time of revolution of a primary or secondaryplanet in reference to its line of apsides; that is, from one perigee orapogee to another. 

ANOMALISTIC YEAR. The space of time in which the earth passes throughher orbit--distinct from and longer than the tropical year, owing to theprecession of the equinoxes. 

ANOMALY. Deviation from common rule. An irregularity in the motion of aplanet by which it deviates from the aphelion or apogee. --_Mean anomaly_formerly signified the distance of a planet's mean place from theapogee: it is the angular distance of a planet or comet from perihelionsupposing it to have moved with its mean velocity. --_True anomaly_, thetrue angular distance of a planet or comet from perihelion. (_See_EXCENTRIC and EQUATED. )

ANON. Quickly, directly, immediately. 

ANONYMOUS PARTNERSHIPS. Those not carried on under a special name, andthe particulars known only to the parties themselves. This is muchpractised in France, and often occasions trouble in prize-courts. 

ANSÆ. The dolphins or handles of brass ordnance. Also the projections orarms of the ring on each side of Saturn's globe, in certain situationsrelative to the earth. 

ANSERES. Birds of the goose tribe. 

ANSWER, TO. To reply, to succeed; as, the frigate has _answered_ thesignal. This boat will not _answer_. 

ANSWERS HER HELM. When a ship obeys the rudder or steers. 

ANTARCTIC. Opposite to the Arctic--abbreviated from _anti-arctic_. 

ANTARCTIC CIRCLE. One of the lesser circles of the sphere, on the southparallel of the equator, and 23-1/2° from the south pole. 

ANTARCTIC OCEAN. That which surrounds the south pole, within theimaginary circle so called. 

ANTARCTIC POLE. The south end of the earth's axis. 

ANTARES. A star of the first magnitude, popularly known as the_scorpion's heart_ (α Scorpio): it is one of those called "nautical"stars, used for determining the latitude and longitude at night. 

ANTECEDENTAL METHOD. A branch of general geometrical proportion, oruniversal comparison of ratios. 

ANTECEDENTIA. A planet's apparent motion to the westward, contrary tothe order of the signs. 

ANTECEDENT OF A RATIO. The first of the two terms. 

ANTECIANS. Those inhabitants of the earth who live under the samemeridian, but in opposite hemispheres. (_See_ ANTISCII. )

ANTE LUCAN. Before daylight. 

ANTE MERIDIAN. Before noon. 

ANTE MURAL. _See_ OUTWORKS. 

ANTHELION. A mock or spurious sun; a luminous meteor, resembling, butusually larger than, the solar disc. 

ANTHRACITE. [Gr. _anthrax_ and _lithos_. ] A stone coal demanding greatdraught to burn, affording great heat, little smoke, and peculiarlyadapted for steamers. 

ANTICHTHONES. The inhabitants of countries diametrically opposite toeach other. 

ANTI-GALLICANS. A pair of extra backstays, sometimes used bymerchantmen, to support the masts when running before the trades. 

ANTI-GUGGLER. A straw, or crooked tube, introduced into a spirit cask orneck of a bottle, to suck out the contents; commonly used in 1800 to robthe captain's steward's hanging safe in hot climates. Is to be found inold dictionaries. 

ANTILOGARITHM. The complement of the logarithm of a sine, tangent, orsecant. 

ANTIPARALLELS. Those lines which make equal angles with two other lines, but contrary ways. 

ANTIPATHES. A kind of coral having a black horny stem. 

ANTIPODES. Such inhabitants of the earth as are diametrically oppositeto each other. From the people, the term has passed to the placesthemselves, which are situated at the two extremities of any diameter ofthe earth. 

ANTISCII. The people who dwell in opposite hemispheres of the earth, andwhose shadows at noon fall in contrary directions. 

ANT ISLANDS. Generally found on Spanish charts as _Hormigas_. 

ANVIL. The massive block of iron on which armourers hammer forge-work. It is also an archaism for the handle or hilt of a sword: thusCoriolanus--

 "Here I clip The anvil of my sword. "

It is moreover a little narrow flag at the end of a lance. 

ANYHOW. Do the duty by all means, and at any rate or risk: as Nelson, impatient for getting to Copenhagen in 1801, exclaimed--

 "Let it be by the Sound, by the Belt, or anyhow, only lose not an hour. "

ANY PORT IN A STORM signifies contentment with whatever may betide. 

APAGOGE. A mathematical progress from one proposition to another. 

APE, OR SEA-APE. The long-tailed shark. Also, an active American seal. 

APEEK. A ship drawn directly over the anchor is _apeek_: when thefore-stay and cable form a line, it is _short stay apeek_; when in aline with the main-stay, _long stay apeek_. The anchor is _apeek_ whenthe cable has been sufficiently hove in to bring the ship overit. --_Yards apeek. _ When they are topped up by contrary lifts. (_See_PEAK. )

APERTÆ. Ancient deep-waisted ships, with high-decked forecastle andpoop. 

APERTURE, in astronomy. The opening of a telescope tube next theobject-glass, through which the rays of light and image of the objectare conveyed to the eye. It is usually estimated by the clear diameterof the object-glass. 

APEX. The summit or vertex of anything; as the upper point of atriangle. 

APHELION. That point in the orbit of a planet or comet which is mostremote from the sun, and at which the angular motion is slowest; beingthe end of the greater elliptic axis. The opposite of _perihelion_. 

APHELLAN. The name of the double star α Geminorum, better known asCastor. 

APHRACTI. Ancient vessels with open waists, resembling the presentTorbay-boats. 

APLANATIC. That refraction which entirely corrects the aberration andcolour of the rays of light. 

APLETS. Nets for the herring-fishery. 

APLUSTRE. A word applied in ancient vessels both to the ornament on theprow and to the streamer or ensign on the stern. Here, as in therudder-head of Dutch vessels frequently, the dog-vane was carried todenote the direction of the wind. 

APOBATHRÆ. Ancient gang-boards from the ship to the quays. 

APOCATASTASIS. The time in which a planet returns to the same point ofthe zodiac whence it departed. 

APOGEE. That point of the moon's orbit which is furthest from the earth;the opposite of _perigee_. The _apogee_ of the sun is synonymous withthe _aphelion_ of the earth. The word is also used as a general term toexpress the greatest distance of any heavenly body from the earth. 

A-POISE. Said of a vessel properly trimmed. 

APOSTLES. The knight-heads or bollard timbers, where hawsers or heavyropes are belayed. 

APOTOME. The difference of two incommensurable mathematical quantities. 

APPALTO. The commercial term for a monopoly in Mediterranean ports. 

APPARATUS. Ammunition and equipage for war. 

APPAREL. In marine insurance, means the _furniture_ or appurtenances ofa ship, as masts, yards, sails, ground gear, guns, &c. Morecomprehensive than _apparatus_. 

APPARELLED. Fully equipped for service. 

APPARENT. In appearance, as visible to the eye, or evident to the mind, which in the case of astronomical motions, distances, altitudes, andmagnitudes, will be found to differ materially from their real state, and require correcting to find the true place. 

APPARENT EQUINOX. The position of the equinox as affected by nutation. 

APPARENT HORIZON. _See_ HORIZON. 

APPARENT MOTION. The motion of celestial bodies as viewed from theearth. 

APPARENT NOON. The instant that the sun's centre is on the meridian of aplace. 

APPARENT OBLIQUITY. The obliquity of the ecliptic affected withnutation. 

APPARENT PLACE OF A STAR. This is the position for any day which itseems to occupy in the heavens, as affected with aberration andnutation. 

APPARENT TIME. The time resulting from an observation of the sun--anexpression _per contractionem_ for apparent solar time. 

APPARITION. A star or planet becoming visible after occultation. _Perpetual apparition_ of the lesser northern circles, wherein the starsbeing above the horizon, never set. 

APPEARANCE. The first making of a land-fall: formerly astronomicallyused for phenomenon and phase. The day of an officer's first joining aship after his being appointed. 

APPLE-PIE ORDER. A strange but not uncommon term for a ship in excellentcondition and well looked to. Neat and orderly. Absurdly said to be acorruption of _du pol au pied_. 

APPLICATE. The ordinate, or right line drawn across a curve, so as to bebisected by its diameter. 

APPLICATION. A word of extensive use, for the principles of adjusting, augmenting, and perfecting the relations between sciences. 

APPOINTED. Commissioned--named for a special duty. 

APPOINTMENT. The equipment, ordnance, furniture, and necessaries of aship. Also an officer's commission. In the Army, _appointments_ usuallyimply military accoutrements, such as belts, sashes, gorgets, &c. 

APPORTER. A bringer into the realm. 

APPRAISEMENT. A law instrument taken out by the captors of a vessel, whoare primarily answerable for the expense. 

APPRENTICE. One who is covenanted to serve another on condition of beinginstructed in an art, and ships' apprentices are to the same effect. Boys under eighteen years of age bound to masters of merchant ships wereexempted from impressment for three years from the date of theirindentures; which documents were in duplicate, and exempt from stampduty. 

APPROACHES. The trenches, zig-zags, saps, and other works, by which abesieger makes good his way up to a fortified place. (_See_ TRENCHES. )

APPROVAL. The senior officer's signature to a demand or application. 

APPROXIMATION. A continual approach to a quantity sought, where there isno possibility of arriving at it exactly. 

APPULSE. A near approach of one heavenly body to another, so as to forman apparent contact: the term is principally used with reference tostars or planets when the moon passes close to them without causingoccultation. 

APRON, OR STOMACH-PIECE. A strengthening compass timber fayed abaft thelower part of the stern, and above the foremost end of the keel; thatis, from the head down to the fore dead-wood knee, to which it isscarfed. It is sided to receive the fastenings of the fore-hoods orplanking of the bow. --_Apron of a gun_, a square piece of sheet-leadlaid over the touch-hole for protecting the vent from damp; also overthe gun-lock. --_Apron of a dock_, the platform rising where the gatesare closed, and on which the sill is fastened down. 

APSIDES, LINE OF. The imaginary line joining the aphelion and perihelionpoints in the orbit of a planet. 

APSIS. Either of the two points in planetary orbits where they are atthe greatest and the least distance from the sun, and are termed_higher_ or _lower_ accordingly. The two are joined by a diameter calledthe _line of the apsides_. 

AQUAGE. The old law-term denoting the toll paid for water-carriage. 

AQUARIUS. The eleventh sign in the zodiac (α Aquarius Sadalmelik). 

AQUATIC. Inhabiting or relating to the water. 

AQUATILE. An archaism for _aquatic_; thus Howell's lexicon describes thecrocodile as "partly aquatil, partly terrestrial. "

AQUATITES. The law-term for everything living in the water. 

AQUE. Wall-sided flat-floored boats, which navigate the Rhine. 

AQUEDUCT. Conduits or canals built for the conveyance of water. 

AQUILA. The constellation Aquila, in which α Aquilæ is an important starof the first magnitude: used by seamen in determining the latitude andlongitude; also in lunar distances. (_See_ ALTAIR. )

AQUILON. The north-east wind, formerly much dreaded by mariners. 

ARAMECH. The Arabic name for the star Arcturus. 

ARBALIST [from _arcus_ and _balista_]. An engine to throw stones, or thecross-bow used for bullets, darts, arrows, &c. ; formerly arbalistersformed part of a naval force. 

ARBITER. The judge to whom two persons refer their differences; notalways judicial, but the arbiter, in his own person, of the fate ofempires and peoples. 

ARBITRAGE. The referring commercial disputes to the arbitration of twoor more indifferent persons. 

ARBITRATION. The settlement of disputes out of court. 

ARBOR. In chronometry, a shaft, spindle, or axis. 

ARBY. A northern name for the thrift or sea-lavender. 

ARC, OR ARCH. The segment of a circle or any curved line, by which allangles are measured. 

ARC DIURNAL. _See_ DIURNAL ARC. 

ARC NOCTURNAL. _See_ NOCTURNAL ARC. 

ARC OF DIRECTION OR PROGRESSION. The arc which a planet appears todescribe when its motion is direct or progressive in the order of thesigns. 

ARC OF VISION. The sun's depth below the horizon when the planets andstars begin to appear. 

ARCH-BOARD. The part of the stern over the counter, immediately underthe knuckles of the stern-timbers. 

ARCH OF THE COVE. An elliptical moulding sprung over the cove of a ship, at the lower part of the taffrail. 

ARCHED SQUALL. A violent gust of wind, usually distinguished by thearched form of the clouds near the horizon, whence they rise rapidlytowards the zenith, leaving the sky visible through it. 

ARCHEL, ARCHIL, ORCHILL. _Rocella tinctorum fucus_, a lichen found onthe rocks of the Canary and Cape de Verde groups; it yields a richpurple. Litmus, largely used in chemistry, is derived from it. 

ARCHES. A common term among seamen for the Archipelago. (_See_ alsoGALLEY-ARCHES. )

ARCHI-GUBERNUS. The commander of the imperial ship in ancient times. 

ARCHIMEDES' SCREW. An ingenious spiral pump for draining docks orraising water to any proposed height, --the invention of that wonderfulman. It is also used to remove grain in breweries from a lower to ahigher level. The name has been recently applied to the very importantintroduction in steam navigation--the propelling screw. (_See_SCREW-PROPELLER. )

ARCHING. When a vessel is not strongly built there is always a tendencyin the greater section to lift, and the lower sections to fall; hencethe fore and after ends droop, producing arching, or _hogging_ (whichsee). 

ARCHIPELAGO. A corruption of Aegeopelagus, now applied to clusters ofislands in general. Originally the Ægean Sea. An archipelago has a greatnumber of islands of various sizes, disposed without order; but oftencontains several subordinate groups. Such are the Ægean, the Corean, theCaribbean, Indian, Polynesian, and others. 

ARCHITECTURE. _See_ NAVAL ARCHITECTURE. 

ARCTIC. Northern, or lying under _arktos_, the Bear; an epithet given tothe north polar regions comprised within the _arctic circle_, a lessercircle of the sphere, very nearly 23° 28′ distant from the north pole. 

ARCTIC OCEAN. So called from surrounding the pole within the imaginarycircle of that name. 

ARCTIC POLE. The north pole of the globe. 

ARCTURUS. α Boötis. A star of the first magnitude, close to the knee ofArctophylax, or Boötes. One of the nautical stars. 

ARD, OR AIRD. A British or Gaelic term for a rocky eminence, or rocks ona wash: hence the word _hard_, in present use. It is also anenunciation. 

ARDENT. Said of a vessel when she gripes, or comes to the wind quickly. 

ARE. The archaism for _oar_ (which see). A measure of land in Francecontaining 100 square metres. 

AREA. The plane or surface contained between any boundary lines. Thesuperficial contents of any figure or work; as, the _area_ of any squareor triangle. 

ARENACEOUS. Sandy; partaking of the qualities of sand; brittle; as, _arenaceous_ limestone, quartz, &c. 

ARENAL. In meteorology, a cloud of dust, often so thick as to preventseeing a stone's-throw off. It is common in South America, being raisedby the wind from adjoining shores. Also off the coast of Africa at thetermination of the desert of Zahara. 

ARENATION. The burying of scorbutic patients up to the neck in holes ina sandy beach, for cure; also spreading hot sand over a diseased person. 

AREOMETER. An instrument for measuring the specific gravity of fluids. 

ARGIN. An old word for an _embankment_. 

ARGO. A name famous from Jason's romantic expedition, but absurdlyquoted as the first ship, for the fleets of Danaus and Minos arementioned long before, and the _Argo_ herself was chased by a squadronunder Æetes. 

ARGO NAVIS. The southern constellation of the Ship, containing 9clusters, 3 nebulæ, 13 double and 540 single stars, of which about 64are easily visible. As most of these were invisible to the Greeks, thename was probably given by the Egyptians. 

ARGOL. The tartaric acid or lees adhering to the sides of wine-casks, particularly of port-wine; an article of commerce; supertartrate ofpotass. 

ARGOLET. A light horseman of the middle ages. 

ARGONAUTA. The paper-nautilus. The sail which it was supposed to spreadto catch the wind, is merely a modified arm which invests the outersurface of the shell. 

ARGONAUTS. A company of forty-four heroes who sailed in the _Argo_ toobtain the golden fleece; an expedition which fixes one of the mostmemorable epochs in history. Also a Geographical Society instituted atVenice, to whom we owe the publication of all the charts, maps, anddirectories of Coronelli. 

ARGOSY. A merchant ship or carrack of burden, principally of the Levant;the name is by some derived from Ragusa, but by others with moreprobability from the _Argo_. Shakspeare mentions "argosies with portlysail. " Those of the Frescobaldi were the richest and most adventurous ofthose times. 

ARGOZIN, OR ARGNESYN. The person whose office it was to attend to theshackles of the galley-slaves, over whom he had especial charge. 

ARGUMENT. An astronomical quantity upon which an equation depends, --orany known number by which an unknown one proportional to the first maybe found. 

ARGUMENT OF LATITUDE. The distance of a celestial body from one of thenodes of its orbit, upon which the latitude depends. 

ARIES. The most important point of departure in astronomy. A northernconstellation forming the first of the twelve signs of the zodiac, intowhich the sun enters about the 20th of March. With Musca, Aries contains22 nebulæ, 8 double and 148 single stars, but not above 50 are visibleto the unassisted eye. The commencement of this sign, called the firstpoint of Aries, is the origin from which the right ascensions of theheavenly bodies are reckoned upon the equator, and their longitudes uponthe ecliptic. 

ARIS. Sharp corner of stones in piers and docks. 

ARIS PIECES. Those parts of a made mast which are under the hoops. 

ARITHMETIC. The art of computation by numbers; or that branch whichconsiders their powers and properties. 

ARK. The sacred and capacious vessel built by Noah for preservationagainst the flood. It was 300 cubits in length, 50 in breadth, and 30 inheight; and of whatever materials it was constructed, it was pitchedover or pay'd with bitumen. _Ark_ is also the name of a mare's-tailcloud, or cirrhus, when it forms a streak across the sky. 

ARLOUP. An archaism for the deck, now called _orlop_ (which see). 

ARM. A deep and comparatively narrow inlet of the sea. That part of ananchor on which the palm is shut. The extremity of the bibbs whichsupport the trestle-trees. Each extremity or end of a yard, beam, orbracket. --_To arm_, to fit, furnish, and provide for war; to cap and seta loadstone; to apply putty or tallow to the lower end of the leadprevious to sounding, in order to draw up a specimen of the bottom. --_Toarm a shot_, is to roll rope-yarns about a cross-bar-shot, in order tofacilitate ramming it home, and also to prevent the ends catching anyaccidental inequalities in the bore. 

ARMADA. A Spanish term signifying a royal fleet; it comes from the sameroot as army. The word _armado_ is used by Shakspeare. 

ARMADILLA. A squadron of guarda-costas, which formerly cruized on thecoasts of South America, to prevent smuggling. 

ARMADOR. A Spanish privateer. 

ARMAMENT. A naval or military force equipped for an expedition. Thearming of a vessel or place. 

ARMAMENTA. The rigging and tackling of an ancient ship. It includedshipmen and all the necessary furniture of war. 

ARMATÆ. Ancient ships fitted with sails and oars, but which fought underthe latter only. 

ARM-CHEST. A portable locker on the upper deck or tops for holding arms, and affording a ready supply of cutlasses, pistols, muskets or otherweapons. 

ARMED. Completely equipped for war. --_Armed at all points_, covered witharmour. --_Armed "en flute, " see_ FLUTE. --_Armed mast_, made of more thanone tree. --_Armed ship_, a vessel fitted out by merchants to annoy theenemy, and furnished with letters of marque, and bearing a commissionfrom the Admiralty to carry on warlike proceedings. 

ARMED STEM. _See_ BEAK. 

ARMILLARY SPHERE. An instrument composed of various circles, to assistthe student in gaining a knowledge of the arrangement and motions of theheavenly bodies. A brass _armilla tolomæi_ was one of the instrumentssupplied to Martin Frobisher in 1576, price £4, 6_s. _ 8_d. _

ARMING. A piece of tallow placed in the cavity and over the bottom of asounding lead, to which any objects at the bottom of the sea becomeattached, and are brought with the lead to the surface. 

ARMINGS. Red dress cloths which were formerly hung fore and aft, outsidethe upper works on holidays; still used by foreigners. (_See_TOP-ARMINGS. ) It was also the name of a kind of boarding-net. 

ARMIPOTENT. Powerful in war. 

ARMISTICE. A cessation of arms for a given time; a short truce for thesuspension of hostilities. 

ARMLET. A narrow inlet of the sea; a smaller branch than the arm. Alsothe name of a piece of armour for the arm, to protect it from the jar ofthe bow-string. 

ARMOGAN. An old term for good opportunity or season for navigation, which, if neglected, was liable to costs of demurrage. It is aMediterranean word for fine weather. 

ARMORIC. The language of Brittany, Cornwall, and Wales: the word in itsoriginal signification meant _maritime_. 

ARMOUR. A defensive habit to protect the wearer from his enemy; alsodefensive arms. In old statutes this is frequently called _harness_. 

ARMOUR-CLAD. A ship of war fitted with iron plates on the outside torender her shot-proof. 

ARMOURER. In a man-of-war, is a person appointed by warrant to keep thesmall arms in complete condition for service. As he is also the ship'sblacksmith, a mate is allowed to assist at the forge. 

ARMOURY. A place appropriated for the keeping of small arms. 

ARM-RACK. A frame or fitting for the stowage of arms (usually vertical)out of harm's way, but in readiness for immediate use. In the conveyanceof troops by sea arm-racks form a part of the proper accommodation. 

ARMS. The munitions of war, --all kinds of weapons whether for offence ordefence. Those in a ship are cannons, carronades, mortars, howitzers, muskets, pistols, tomahawks, cutlasses, bayonets, and boarding-pikes. 

ARMS OF A GREAT GUN. The trunnions. 

ARMSTRONG GUN. Invented by Sir William Armstrong. In its most familiarform, a rifled breech-loading gun of wrought iron, constructedprincipally of spirally coiled bars, and occasionally having an innertube or core of steel; ranging in size from the smallest field-piece upto the 100 pounder; rifled with numerous shallow grooves, which aretaken by the expansion of the leaden coating of its projectile. Lateexperiments however, connected with iron-plated ships are developingmuzzle-loading Armstrong guns, constructed on somewhat similarprinciples, but with simpler rifling, ranging in size up to the 600pounder weighing 23 tons. 

ARMY. A large body of disciplined men, with appropriate subdivisions, commanded by a general. A fleet is sometimes called a navalarmy. --_Flying army_, a small body sent to harass a country, interceptconvoys, and alarm the enemy. 

ARMYE. A early term for a naval armament. 

ARNOT. A northern name for the shrimp. 

ARONDEL. A light and swift tartan: probably a corruption of _hirondelle_(swallow). 

ARPENT. A French measure of land, equal to 100 square rods or perches, each of 18 feet. It is about 1/7th less than the English acre. 

ARQUEBUSS. A word sometimes used for carbine, but formerly meant agarrison-piece, carrying a ball of 3-1/2 ounces; it was generally placedin loop-holes. (_See_ HAGBUT. )

ARRACK. An Indian term for all ardent liquors, but that which wedesignate thus is obtained by the fermentation of toddy (a juiceprocured from palm-trees), of rice, and of sugar. In Turkey arrack isextracted from vine-stalks taken out of wine-presses. 

ARRAIER. The officer who formerly had the care of the men's armour, andwhose business it was to see them duly accoutred. 

ARRAY. The order of battle. --_To array. _ To equip, dress, or arm forbattle. 

ARREARS. The difference between the full pay of a commissioned officer, and what he is empowered to draw for till his accounts are passed. 

ARREST. The suspension of an officer's duty, and restraint of hisperson, previous to trying him by a court martial. Seamen in HerMajesty's service cannot be _arrested_ for debts under twenty pounds, and that contracted before they entered the navy. Yet it is held in law, that this affords no exemption from _arrests_ either in civil orcriminal suits. 

ARRIBA. [Sp. Pronounced _arriva_]. Aloft, quickly. --_Agir contre songré, montar arriba_, to mount aloft, which has passed into seamen'slingo as _areevo_, up, aloft, quickly:--mount _areevo_, or go on deck. 

ARRIBAR, TO. To land, to attain the bank, to arrive. 

ARRIVE, TO. In the most nautical sense, is to come to any place bywater, to reach the shore. 

ARROBA. A Portuguese commercial weight of 32 lbs. Also, a Spanishgeneral wine measure of 4-1/4 English gallons. The lesser _arroba_, usedfor oil, is only 3-1/3 English gallons. A Spanish weight of 25 lbs. Avoirdupois; one-fourth of a quintal. Also, a rough country cart inSouthern Russia. 

ARROW. A missive weapon of offence, and whether ancient or modern, inthe rudest form among savages or refined by art, is always a slenderstick, armed at one end, and occasionally feathered at the other. Thenatives of Tropical Africa feather the metal barb. 

ARROW. In fortification, a work placed at the salient angles of theglacis, communicating with the covert way. --_Broad arrow. _ The royalmark for stores of every kind. (_See_ BROAD ARROW. )

ARSENAL. A repository of the munitions of war. Some combine bothmagazines of naval and military stores, and docks for the constructionand repair of ships. 

ARSHEEN. A Russian measure of 2 feet 4 in. = 2·333--also Chinese, fourof which make 3 yards English. 

ART. A spelling of _airt_ (which see). Also, practice as distinguishedfrom theory. 

ARTEMON. The main-sail of ancient ships. 

ARTHUR. A well-known sea game, alluded to by Grose, Smollet, and otherwriters. 

ARTICLES. The express stipulations to which seamen bind themselves bysignature, on joining a merchant ship. 

ARTICLES OF WAR. A code of rules and orders based on the act ofparliament for the regulation and government of Her Majesty's ships, vessels, and forces by sea: and as they are frequently read to allhands, no individual can plead ignorance of them. It is now termed theNew Naval Code. --The _articles of war_ for the land forces have asimilar foundation and relation to their service; the act in this case, however, is passed annually, the army itself having, in law, no morethan one year's permanence unless so periodically renewed by act ofparliament. 

ARTIFICER. One who works by hand in wood or metal; generally termed an_idler on board_, from his not keeping night-watch, and only appearingon deck duty when the hands are turned up. 

ARTIFICIAL EYE. An eye worked in the end of rope, which is neater butnot so strong as a spliced eye. 

ARTIFICIAL HORIZON. An artificial means of catching the altitude of acelestial body when the sea horizon is obscured by fog, darkness, or theintervention of land; a simple one is still the greatest desideratum ofnavigators. Also a trough filled with pure mercury, used on land, wherein the double altitude of a celestial body is reflected. 

ARTIFICIAL LINES. The ingenious contrivances for representinglogarithmic sines and tangents, so useful in navigation, on a scale. 

ARTILLERY was formerly synonymous with archery, but now comprehendsevery description of ordnance, guns, mortars, fire-arms, and all theirappurtenances. The term is also applied to the noble corps destined tothat service: as also to the theory and practice of the science ofprojectiles: it was moreover given to all kinds of missile weapons, andthe translators of the Bible make Jonathan give his "artillery unto hislad. "

ARTILLERY, ROYAL MARINE. Formerly a select branch of the _R. Marines_, specially instructed in gunnery and the care of artillery stores;assigned in due proportion to all ships of war. It is now separate fromthe other branch (to whose original title the denomination of LightInfantry has been added), and rests on its own official basis; itsrelation to ships of war, however, remaining the same as before, although while on shore the Royal Marine forces are regulated by anannual act of parliament. (_See_ ROYAL MARINE ARTILLERY. )

ARTIST. A name formerly applied to those mariners who were also expertnavigators. 

ARTIZAN. A mechanic or operative workman. (_See_ ARTIFICER. )

ARX. A fort or castle for the defence of a place. 

ASCENDANT. The part of the ecliptic above the horizon. 

ASCENDING NODE. _See_ NODES. 

ASCENDING SIGNS. Those in which the sun appears to ascend towards thenorth pole, or in which his motion in declination is towards the north. 

ASCENSION. The act of mounting or rising upwards. (_See_ RIGHTASCENSION. )

ASCENSIONAL DIFFERENCE. The equinoctial arc intercepted between the_right_ and _oblique_ ascensions (which see). 

ASCENSION OBLIQUE. _See_ OBLIQUE ASCENSION. 

ASCENSION RIGHT. _See_ RIGHT ASCENSION. 

ASCII. The inhabitants of the torrid zone, who twice a year, being undera vertical sun, have no shadow. 

AS DEAF AS THE MAIN-MAST. Said of one who does not readily catch anorder given. Thus at sea the main-mast is synonymous with the door-poston shore. 

ASHES. _See_ WINDWARD. 

ASHLAR. Blocks of stone masonry fronting docks, piers, and othererections; this term is applied to common or freestone as they come ofvarious lengths, breadths, and thicknesses from the quarry. 

ASHORE. Aground, on land. --To _go ashore_, to disembark from a boat. Opposed to _aboard_. 

ASH-PIT. A receptacle for ashes before the fire-bars in a steamer, orunder them in most fire-places. 

ASIENTO [Sp. ] A sitting, contract, or convention; such as that betweenSpain and other powers in relation to the supply of stores for SouthAmerica. 

ASK, OR ASKER. A name of the water-newt. 

ASKEW. Awry, crooked, oblique. 

ASLANT. Formed or placed in an oblique line, as with dagger-knees, &c. --_To sail aslant_, turning to windward. 

ASLEEP. The sail filled with wind just enough for swelling or bellyingout, --as contrasted with its flapping. 

ASPECT. The looming of the land from sea-ward. 

ASPER. A minute Turkish coin in accounts, of which three go to a para. 

ASPIC. An ancient 12-pounder piece of ordnance, about 11 feet long. 

ASPIRANT DE MARINE. Midshipman in the French navy. 

ASPORTATION. The carrying of a vessel or goods illegally. 

ASSAIL, TO. To attack, leap upon, board, &c. 

ASSAULT. A hostile attack. The effort to storm a place, and gainpossession of a post by main force. 

ASSEGAI. The spear used by the Kaffirs in South Africa; it is frequentlyfeather-bent to revolve in its flight. 

ASSEGUAY. The knife-dagger used in the Levant. 

ASSEMBLY. That long roll beat of the drum by which soldiers, or armedparties, are ordered to repair to their stations. It is sometimes calledthe _fall-in_. 

ASSES'-BRIDGE. The well-known name of prop. 5, b. I. Of Euclid, thedifficulty of which makes many give in. 

ASSIEGE, TO. To besiege, to invest or beset with an armed force. 

ASSIGNABLE. Any finite geometrical ratio, or magnitude that can bemarked out or denoted. 

ASSILAG. The name given in the Hebrides to a small sea-bird with a blackbill. The stormy petrel. 

ASSISTANCE. Aid or help: strongly enjoined to be given whenever a signalis made requiring it. 

ASSISTANT-SURGEON. The designation given some years ago to thoseformerly called "surgeon's mates, " and considered a boon by the corps. 

ASSORTMENT. The arrangement of goods, tools, &c. , in a series. 

ASSURANCE. (_See_ MARINE INSURANCE. ) Conveyance or deed: in which lightShakspeare makes Tranio say that his father will "pass assurance. "

ASSURGENT. A heraldic term for a man or beast rising out of the sea. 

ASSUROR. He who makes out the policy of assurance for a ship: he is notanswerable for the neglect of the master or seamen. 

A-STARBOARD. The opposite to _a-port_. 

A-STAY. Said of the anchor when, in heaving in, the cable forms such anangle with the surface as to appear in a line with the stays of theship. --_A long stay_ apeek is when the cable forms an acute angle withthe water's surface, or coincides with the main-stay--_short stay_ whenit coincides with the fore-stay. 

ASTELLABRE. The same as _astrolabe_. 

ASTERIA. _See_ SEA-STAR. 

ASTERISM. Synonymous with _constellation_, a group of stars. 

ASTERN. Any distance behind a vessel; in the after-part of the ship; inthe direction of the stern, and therefore the opposite of _ahead_. --_Todrop astern_, is to be left behind, --when abaft a right angle to thekeel at the main-mast, she drops astern. 

ASTEROIDS. The name by which the minor planets between the orbits ofJupiter and Mars were proposed to be distinguished by Sir W. Herschel. They are very small bodies, which have all been discovered since thecommencement of the present century; yet their present number is overeighty. 

ASTRAGAL. A moulding formerly round a cannon, at a little distance fromits breech, the _cascabel_, and another near the muzzle. It is a halfround on a flat moulding. 

ASTRAL. Sidereal, relating to the stars. 

ASTROLABE. An armillary sphere. --_Sea-astrolabe_, a useful graduatedbrass ring, with a movable index, for taking the altitude of stars andplanets: it derived its name from the armillary sphere of Hipparchus, atAlexandria. 

ASTROMETRY. The numerical expression of the apparent magnitudes of theso-called fixed stars. 

ASTRONOMICAL CLOCK. A capital bit of horology, the pendulum of which isusually compensated to sidereal time, for astronomical purposes. (_See_SIDEREAL TIME. )

ASTRONOMICAL HOURS. Those which are reckoned from noon or midnight ofone natural day, to noon or midnight of another. 

ASTRONOMICAL OBSERVATIONS. There have been occasional slight records ofcelestial phenomena from the remotest times, but the most useful onesare those collected and preserved by Ptolemy. Since 1672, science hasbeen enriched with a continued series of astronomical observations ofaccuracy and value never dreamed of by the ancients. 

ASTRONOMICAL PLACE OF A STAR OR PLANET. Its longitude or place in theecliptic, reckoned from the first point of Aries, according to thenatural order of the signs. 

ASTRONOMICAL TABLES. Tables for facilitating the calculation of theapparent places of the sun, moon, and planets. 

ASTRONOMICALS. The sexagesimal fractions. 

ASTRONOMY. The splendid department of the mixed sciences which teachesthe laws and phenomena of the universal system. It is _practical_ whenit treats of the magnitudes, periods, and distances of the heavenlybodies; and _physical_ when it investigates the causes. In the firstdivision the more useful adaptation _nautical_ is included (which see). 

ASTROSCOPIA. Skill in examining the nature and properties of stars witha telescope. 

ASTRUM, OR ASTRON. Sirius, or the Dog-star. Sometimes applied to acluster of stars. 

ASWIM. Afloat, borne on the waters. 

ASYLUM. A sanctuary or refuge; a name given to a benevolent institutionat Greenwich, for 800 boys and 200 girls, orphans of seamen and marines. The Royal Military Asylum is also an excellent establishment of asimilar nature at Chelsea, besides numerous others. 

ASYMMETRY. A mathematical disproportion. The relation of two quantitieswhich have no measure in common. 

ASYMPTOTES. Lines which continually approximate each other, but cannever meet. 

ATABAL. A Moorish kettle-drum. 

ATAGHAN. _See_ YATAGHAN. 

AT ANCHOR. The situation of a vessel riding in a road or port by heranchor. 

ATAR. A perfume of commerce, well known as atar-of-roses; atar being theArabic word for fragrance, corrupted into _otto_. 

A'TAUNTO, OR ALL-A-TAUNT-O. Every mast an-end and fully rigged. 

ATEGAR. The old English hand-dart, named from the Saxon _aeton_, tofling, and _gar_, a weapon. 

ATHERINE. A silvery fish used in the manufacture of artificial pearls;it is 4 or 5 inches long, inhabits various seas, but is taken in greatnumbers in the Mediterranean. It is also called _argentine_. 

ATHILLEDA. The rule and sights of an astrolabe. 

ATHWART. The transverse direction; anything extending or across the lineof a ship's course. --_Athwart hawse_, a vessel, boat, or floating lumberaccidentally drifted across the stem of a ship, the transverse positionof the drift being understood. --_Athwart the fore-foot_, just before thestem; ships fire a shot in this direction to arrest a stranger, and makeher bring-to. --_Athwart ships_, in the direction of the beam; from sideto side: in opposition to _fore-and-aft_. 

ATHWART THE TIDE. _See_ ACROSS THE TIDE. 

ATLANTIC. The sea which separates Europe and Africa from the Americas, so named from the elevated range called the Atlas Mountains in Morocco. 

ATLANTIDES. The daughters of Atlas; a name of the Pleiades. 

ATLAS. A large book of maps or charts; so called from the character ofthat name in ancient mythology, son of Uranus, and represented asbearing the world on his back. Also the Indian satin of commerce. 

ATMOSPHERE. The ambient air, or thin elastic fluid which surrounds theglobe, and gradually diminishing in gravity rises to an unknown height, yet by gravitation partakes of all its motions. 

ATMOSPHERIC OR SINGLE-ACTION STEAM-ENGINE. A condensing machine, inwhich the downward stroke of the piston is performed by the pressure ofthe atmosphere acting against a vacuum. 

ATMOSPHERICAL TIDES. The motions generated by the joint influence of thesun and moon; and by the rotatory and orbital course of the earth, --asdeveloped in trade-winds, equinoctial gales, &c. 

ATOLLS. An Indian name for those singular coral formations known aslagoon-islands, such as the Maldive cluster, those in the Pacific, andin other parts within the tropics, where the apparently insignificantreef-building zoophytes reside. 

ATRIE. To bring the ship to in a gale. 

A-TRIP. The anchor is _a-trip_, or a-weigh, when the purchase has justmade it break ground, or raised it clear. Sails are _a-trip_ when theyare hoisted from the cap, sheeted home, and ready for trimming. Yardsare _a-trip_ when swayed up, ready to have the stops cut for crossing:so an upper-mast is said to be _a-trip_, when the fid is loosenedpreparatory to lowering it. 

ATTACHED. Belongs to; in military parlance an officer or soldier isattached to any regiment or company with which he is ordered to do duty. 

ATTACK. A general assault or onset upon an enemy. Also the arrangementfor investment or battle. (_See_ FALSE ATTACK. )

ATTEMPT, TO. To endeavour to carry a vessel or place by surprise; toventure at some risk, as in trying a new channel, &c. 

ATTENDANT MASTER. A dockyard official. (_See_ MASTER-ATTENDANT. )

ATTENTION. A military word of command, calling the soldier from thequiescent position of "at ease" into readiness for any exercise orevolution. Also the erect posture due to that word of command, and whichis assumed by a private soldier in the presence of an officer. Theattending to signals. 

ATTERRAGE. The land-fall, or making the land. Usually marked on Frenchcharts and plans to show the landing-place. 

ATTESTATION. In Admiralty courts the attestation of a deed signifies thetestifying to the signing or execution of it. 

ATTESTED. Legally certified; proved by evidence. 

ATTILE. An old law term for the rigging or furniture of a ship. 

ATTORNEY. _See_ SEA-ATTORNEY. 

ATTRACTION. The power of drawing, or the principle by which all bodiesmutually tend towards each other; the great agent in nature's wonderfuloperations. --_Attraction of mountains_, the deviating influenceexercised on the plumb-line by the vicinity of high land. But exertingalso a marvellous effect on all floating bodies, for every seaman knowsthat a ship stands inshore faster than she stands out, the distancesbeing similar. 

ATWEEN, OR ATWIXT. Betwixt or between, shortened into _'tween_, that is, in the intermediate space. The word _'tween decks_ is usually applied tothe lower deck of a frigate, and _orlop_ to that of a line-of-battleship. 

AUBERK, OR HAUBERK. One who held land to be ready with a coat of mailand attend his lord when called upon so to do. Thus the old poet:--

 "Auberk, sketoun, and scheld Was mani to-broken in that feld. "

AUDIT. The final passing of accounts. 

AUDITORS OF THE IMPREST. Officers who had the charge of the greataccounts of the royal customs, naval and military expenses, &c. ; theyare now superseded by the commissioners for auditing the publicaccounts. 

AUGES. An astronomical term, synonymous with _apsides_. 

AUGET. A tube filled with powder for firing a mine. 

AUGMENTATION OF THE MOON'S DIAMETER. The increase of her apparentdiameter occasioned by an increase of altitude: or that which is due tothe difference between her distance from the observer and the centre ofthe earth. 

AUGRE, OR AUGER. A wimble, or instrument for boring holes for bolts, tree-nails, and other purposes. 

AUK, OR AWK. A sea-bird with short wings. The great auk or gair-fowl(_Alca impennis_) was formerly common on all the northern coasts, wherethey laid their eggs, ingeniously poised, on the bare rocks. They werevery good eating, and having been taken in great numbers by theEsquimaux, and by European sailors on whaling voyages, the species isnow supposed to be exterminated. 

AULIN. An arctic gull (_Cataractes parasiticus_), given to make othersea-birds mute through fear, and then eat their discharge--whence it istermed _dirty aulin_ by the northern boatmen. 

AUMBREY. An old north-country term for a bread and cheese locker. 

AUNE. Contraction of _ulna_. French cloth measure: at Rouen it is equalto the English ell--at Paris 0·95--at Calais 1·52 of that measure. 

AURIGA. A northern constellation, and one of the old 48 asterisms; it ispopularly known as the _Waggoner_: α Auriga, Capella. 

AURORA. The faint light which precedes sunrising. Also the mythologicalmother of the winds and stars. 

AURORA AUSTRALIS OR BOREALIS. The extraordinary and luminous meteoricphenomenon which by its streaming effulgence cheers the dreary nights ofpolar regions. It is singular that these beautiful appearances arenowhere mentioned by the ancients. They seem to be governed byelectricity, are most frequent in frosty weather, and are proved to bemany miles above the surface of the earth, from some of them beingvisible over 30° of longitude and 20° of latitude at the same instant!In colour they vary from yellow to deep red; in form they areProteus-like, assuming that of streamers, columns, fans, or arches, witha quick flitting, and sometimes whizzing noises. The aurora is not vividabove the 76th degree of north latitude, and is seldom seen before theend of August. Cook was the first navigator who recorded the southernlights. 

AUSTER. The south wind of the ancients, gusts from which quarter arecalled _autan_. 

AUSTRAL. Relating to the south. --_Austral signs_, those on the southside of the equator, or the last six of the zodiac. 

AUTHORITY. The legal power or right of commanding. 

AUTOMATIC BLOW-OFF APPARATUS. _See_ BLOW-OFF-PIPE. 

AUTUMNAL EQUINOX. The time when the sun crosses the equator, under asoutherly motion, and the days and nights are then everywhere equal inlength. (_See_ LIBRA. )

AUTUMNAL POINT. That part of the ecliptic whence the sun descendssouthward. 

AUTUMNAL SIGNS. Libra, Scorpio, and Sagittarius. 

AUXILIARIES. Confederates, an assisting body of allies; or, physicallyspeaking, vessels using steam as an auxiliary to wind. 

AUXILIARY SCREW. A vessel in which the screw is used as an auxiliaryforce. Such a vessel is usually fully masted for sailing purposes. 

AVANIA. The fine or imposition imposed on Christians residing underTurkish governors, when they break the laws. 

AVANT-FOSSE. In fortification, an advanced ditch without thecounterscarp, and stretching along the foot of the glacis. 

AVAST. The order to stop, hold, cease, or stay, in any operation: itsderivation from the Italian _basta_ is more plausible than _have fast_. 

AVAST HEAVING! The cry to arrest the capstan when nippers are jammed, orany other impediment occurs in heaving in the cable, not unfrequentlywhen a hand, foot, or finger, is jammed;--stop!

AVENTAILE. The movable part of a helmet. 

AVENUE. The inlet into a port. 

AVERAGE. Whether _general_ or _particular_, is a term of ambiguousconstruction, meaning the damage incurred for the safety of the ship andcargo; the contribution made by the owners in general, apportioned totheir respective investments, to repair any particular loss or expensesustained; and a small duty paid to the master for his care of thewhole. Goods thrown overboard for the purpose of lightening the ship, are so thrown for the good of all, and the loss thus sustained must bemade up by a general average or contribution from all the partiesinterested. (_See_ GENERAL AVERAGE. )

AVERAGE-ADJUSTER. A qualified person engaged in making statements toshow the proper application of loss, damage, or expenses in consequenceof the accidents of a sea adventure. 

AVERAGE-AGREEMENT. A written document signed by the consignees of acargo, binding themselves to pay a certain proportion of general averagethat may from accident arise against them. 

AVERAGE-STATER. _See_ AVERAGE-ADJUSTER. 

AVIST. A west-country term for "a fishing. "

AVVISO. An Italian advice-boat. [_Aviso_, Sp. ] Despatch-boat or tender. 

AWAFT, OR AWHEFT. The displaying of a stopped flag. (_See_ WHEFT. )

AWAIT. Ambush; cutting off vessels by means of boats hidden in coveswhich they must pass in their course. 

AWARD. A judgment, in maritime cases, by arbitration; and the decisionor sentence of a court-martial. 

A-WASH. Reefs even with the surface. The anchor just rising to thewater's edge, in heaving up. 

AWAY ALOFT. The order to the men in the rigging to start up. 

AWAY OFF. At a distance, but in sight. 

AWAY SHE GOES. The order to step out with the tackle fall. The cry whena vessel starts on the ways launching; also when a ship, having stowedher anchor, fills and makes sail. 

AWAY THERE. The call for a boat's crew; as, "_away there!_ barge-men. "

AWAY WITH IT. The order to walk along briskly with a tackle fall, ascatting the anchor, &c. 

AWBLAST. The arbalest, or cross-bow. 

AWBLASTER. The designation of a cross-bowman. 

A-WEATHER. The position of the helm when its tiller is moved to thewindward side of the ship, in the direction from which the wind blows. The opposite of _a-lee_. 

A-WEIGH. The anchor being _a-trip_, or after breaking out of theground. 

AWK. _See_ AUK. 

AWKWARD SQUAD. A division formed of those men who are backward ingaining dexterity. (_See_ SQUAD. )

AWL. A tool of a carpenter, sail-maker, and cobbler. 

AWME. A tierce of 39 gallons. A Dutch liquid measure. 

AWNING. A cover or canvas canopy suspended by a crow-foot and spreadover a ship, boat, or other vessel, to protect the decks and crew fromthe sun and weather. (_See_ EUPHROE. ) Also that part of the poop-deckwhich is continued forward beyond the bulk-head of the cabin. 

AWNING-ROPES. The ridge and side ropes for securing the awning. 

AXE. A large flat edge-tool, for trimming and reducing timber. Also anAnglo-Saxon word for _ask_, which seamen still adhere to, and it isdifficult to say why a word should be thought improper which hasdescended from our earliest poets; it may have become obsolete, butwithout absolutely being vulgar or incorrect. 

AXIOM. A self-evident truth or proposition, that cannot be made plainerby demonstration. 

AXIS. The imaginary line upon which a planet revolves, the extremitiesof which are termed the poles, --therefore a line joining the north andsouth poles. The real or imaginary line that passes through the centreof any cylindrical or spherical body on which it may revolve. Also aright line proceeding from the vertex of a cone to the middle of itsbase. Also, an imaginary right line passing through the middle of a shipperpendicularly to its base, and equally distant from its sides;--animaginary line passing through the centre of a gun's bore, parallel withits position. --_Axis of a telescope. _ (_See_ COLLIMATION, LINE OF. )

AXLE-TREES. The two cross-pieces of a gun-carriage, fixed across andunder the fore and hinder parts of the cheeks. The cylindrical ironwhich goes through the wheel of the chain-pump, and bears the weight ofit. 

AYE, AYE, SIR. A prompt reply on receiving an order. Also the answer oncomprehending an order. _Aye-aye_, the answer to a sentinel's hail, froma boat which has a commissioned officer on board below the rank ofcaptain. The name of the ship in reply from the boat indicates thepresence of a captain. The word "flag, " indicates the presence of anadmiral. 

AYLET. The sea-swallow. 

AYONT. Beyond. 

AYR. An open sea-beach, and also a bank of sand. (_See_ AIRE. ) Themediæval term for _oar_. 

AYT. _See_ EYGHT. 

AZIMUTH. A word borrowed from the Arabic. The complement of theamplitude, or an arc between the meridian of a place and any givenvertical line. 

AZIMUTHAL ERROR. _See_ MERIDIAN ERROR. 

AZIMUTH CIRCLES. _See_ VERTICAL CIRCLES. 

AZIMUTH COMPASS. A superior graduated compass for ascertaining theamount of magnetic variation, by amplitude or azimuth, when the sun isfrom 8° to 15° high, either after its rising or before its setting. (_See_ MAGNETIC AZIMUTH. ) It is fitted with vertical sight vanes for thepurpose of observing objects elevated above the horizon. 

AZOGUE. [Sp. ] Quicksilver. 

AZOGUES. Spanish ships fitted expressly for carrying quicksilver. 

AZUMBRE. A Spanish wine-measure, eight of which make an arroba. 

AZURE. The deep blue colour of the sky, when perfectly cloudless. 

B. 

BAARD. A mediæval transport. 

BAARE-Y-LANE. The Manx or Gaelic term for high-water. 

BAAS. An old term for the skipper of a Dutch trader. 

BAB. The Arabic for _mouth_ or _gate_; especially used by seamen for theentrance of the Red Sea, _Bab-el-mandeb_. 

BABBING. An east-country method of catching crabs, by enticing them tothe surface of the water with baited lines, and then taking them with alanding net. 

BABBLING. The sound made by shallow rivers flowing over stony beds. 

BAC. A large flat-bottomed French ferry-boat. In local names it denotesa ferry or place of boating. 

BACALLAO [Sp. ] A name given to Newfoundland and its adjacent islands, whence the epithet is also applied to the cod-fish salted there. 

BACCHI. Two ancient warlike machines; the one resembled a battering-ram, the other cast out fire. 

BACK. _To back an anchor. _ To carry a small anchor ahead of the one bywhich the ship rides, to partake of the strain, and check the latterfrom coming home. --_To back a ship at anchor. _ For this purpose themizen top-sail is generally used; a hawser should be kept ready to windher, and if the wind falls she must be hove apeak. --_To back and fill. _To get to windward in very narrow channels, by a series of smartalternate boards and backing, with weather tides. --_To back a sail. _ Tobrace its yard so that the wind may blow directly on the front of thesail, and thus retard the ship's course. A sailing vessel is backed bymeans of the sails, a steamer by reversing the paddles orscrew-propeller. --_To back astern. _ To impel the water with the oarscontrary to the usual mode, or towards the head of the boat, so that sheshall recede. --_To back the larboard_ or _starboard oars_. To back withthe right or left oars only, so as to round suddenly. --_To back out. _(_See Back a Sail. _) The term is also familiarly used for retreating outof a difficulty. --_To back a rope or chain_, is to put on a preventerwhen it is thought likely to break from age or extra strain. --_To backwater. _ To impel a boat astern, so as to recede in a direction oppositeto the former course. --_Backing the worming. _ The act of passing smallyarn in the holidays, or crevices left between the worming and edges ofthe rope, to prevent the admission of wet, or to render all parts ofequal diameter, so that the service may be smooth. --_Wind backing. _ Thewind is said to back when it changes contrary to its usual circuit. Inthe northern hemisphere on the polar side of the trades, the windusually changes from east, by the south, to west, and so on to north. Inthe same latitudes in the southern hemisphere the reverse usually takesplace. When it backs, it is generally supposed to be a sign of afreshening breeze. 

BACK. The outside or convex part of compass-timber. Also a wharf. 

BACK, OF A SHIP. The keel and kelson are figuratively thus termed. 

BACK, OF THE POST. An additional timber bolted to the after-part of thestern-post, and forming its after-face. 

BACK-BOARD. A board across the stern sheets of a boat to support theback of passengers; and also to form the _box_ in which the coxswainsits. 

BACK-CUTTING. When the water-level is such that the excavation of acanal, or other channel, does not furnish earth enough for its ownbanks, recourse is had to _back-cutting_, or the nearest earth behindthe base of the banks. 

BACK-FRAME. A vertical wheel for turning the three whirlers of a smallrope-machine. 

BACK-HER. The order, in steam-navigation, directing the engineer toreverse the movement of the cranks and urge the vessel astern. 

BACKING. The timber behind the armour-plates of a ship. 

BACK-O'-BEYOND. Said of an unknown distance. 

BACK OFF ALL. The order when the harpooner has thrown his harpoon intothe whale. Also, to back off a sudden danger. 

BACK-ROPE. The rope-pendant, or small chain for staying thedolphin-striker. Also a piece long enough to reach from the cat-block tothe stem, and up to the forecastle, to haul the cat-block forward tohook the ring of the anchor--similarly also for hooking the fish-tackle. (_See_ GAUB-LINE. )

BACKS. The outermost boards of a sawn tree. 

BACK-STAFF. A name formerly given to a peculiar sea-quadrant, becausethe back of the observer was turned towards the sun at the time ofobserving its zenith distance. The inventor was Captain Davis, the Welshnavigator, about 1590. It consists of a graduated arc of 30° united to acentre by two radii, with a second arc of smaller radius, but measuring6° on the side of it. To the first arc a vane is attached for sight, --tothe second one for shade, --and at the vertex the horizontal vane has aslit in it. 

BACKSTAY-PLATES. Used to support the backstays. 

BACKSTAYS. Long ropes extending from all mast-heads above a lower-mastto both sides of the ship or chain-wales; they are extended and set upwith dead eyes and laniards to the backstay-plates. Their use is tosecond the shrouds in supporting the mast when strained by a weight ofsail in a fresh wind. They are usually distinguished into breast andafter backstays; the first being intended to sustain the mast when theship sails upon a wind; or, in other terms, when the wind acts upon aship obliquely from forwards; the second is to enable her to carry sailwhen the wind is abaft the beam; a third, or shifting backstay, istemporary, and used where great strain is demanded when chasing, chased, or carrying on a heavy pressure of canvas: they are fitted either withlashing eyes, or hook and thimble with selvagee strop, so as to beinstantly removed. 

BACKSTAY-STOOLS. Detached small channels, or chain-wales, fixed abaftthe principal ones. They are introduced in preference to extending thelength of the channels. 

BACKSTERS. Flat pieces of wood or cork, strapped on the feet in order towalk over loose beach. 

BACK-STRAPPED. As a ship carried round to the back of Gibraltar by acounter-current and eddies of wind, the strong currents detaining herthere. 

BACK-SWEEP. That which forms the hollow of the top-timber of a frame. 

BACK-WATER. The swell of the sea thrown back, or rebounded by itscontact with any solid body. Also the loss of power occasioned by it topaddles of steamboats, &c. The water in a mill-race which cannot getaway in consequence of the swelling of the river below. Also, anartificial accumulation of water reserved for clearing channel-beds andtide-ways. Also, a creek or arm of the sea which runs parallel to thecoast, having only a narrow strip of land between it and the sea, andcommunicating with the latter by barred entrances. The west coast ofIndia is remarkable for its back-waters, which give a most useful smoothwater communication from one place to another, such as from Cochin toQuilon, a distance of nearly 70 miles. 

BACON, TO SAVE. This is an old shore-saw, adopted in nauticalphraseology for expressing "to escape, " but generally used in _pejusruere_; as in Gray's _Long Story_. (_See_ FOUL HAWSE. )

BAD-BERTH. A foul or rocky anchorage. 

BADDERLOCK. The _Fucus esculentus_, a kind of eatable sea-weed on ournorthern shores. Also called _pursill_. 

BADDOCK. A name from the Gaelic for the fry of the _Gadus carbonarius_, or coal-fish. 

BADGE. Quarter badges. False quarter-galleries in imitation offrigate-built ships. Also, in naval architecture, a carved ornamentplaced on the outside of small ships, very near the stern, containingeither a window, or the representation of one, with marine decorations. 

BADGE, SEAMAN'S. _See_ GOOD-CONDUCT BADGE. 

BADGER, TO. To tease or confound by frivolous orders. 

BADGER-BAG. The fictitious Neptune who visits the ship on her crossingthe line. 

BAD-NAME. This should be avoided by a ship, for once acquired forinefficiency or privateer habits, it requires time and reformation toget rid of it again. "Give a dog a bad name" most forcibly exemplified. Ships have endured it even under repeated changes of captains--one shiphad her name changed, but she became worse. 

BAD-RELIEF. One who turns out sluggishly to relieve the watch on deck. (_See_ ONE-BELL. )

BAESSY. The old orthography of the gun since called _base_. 

BAFFLING. Is said of the wind when it frequently shifts from one pointto another. 

BAG. A commercial term of quantity; as, a bread or biscuit _bag_, asand-_bag_, &c. An empty purse. --_To bag on a bowline_, to be leewardly, to drop from a course. 

BAG, OF THE HEAD-RAILS. The lowest part of the head-rails, or that partwhich forms the sweep of the rail. 

BAG, THE. Allowed for the men to keep their clothes in. The _ditty bag_included needles and needfuls, love-tokens, jewels, &c. 

BAGALA. A rude description of high-sterned vessel of various burdens, from 50 to 300 tons, employed at Muskat and on the shores of Oman: theword signifying _mule_ among the Arabs, and therefore indicative ofcarrying rather than sailing. 

BAG AND BAGGAGE. The whole movable property. 

BAGGAGE. The necessaries, utensils, and apparel of troops. 

BAGGAGE-GUARD. A small proportion of any body of troops on the march, towhom the care of the whole baggage is assigned. 

BAGGETY. The fish otherwise called the lump or sea-owl (_Cyclopteruslumpus_). 

BAGGONET. The old term for bayonet, and not a vulgarism. 

BAGNIO. A sort of barrack in Mediterranean sea-ports, where thegalley-slaves and convicts are confined. 

BAGPIPE. _To bagpipe the mizen_ is to lay it aback, by bringing thesheet to the mizen-shrouds. 

BAG-REEF. A fourth or lower reef of fore-and-aft sails, often used inthe royal navy. --_Bag-reef of top-sails_, first reef (of five inAmerican navy); a short reef, usually taken in to prevent a large sailfrom bagging when on a wind. 

BAGREL. A minnow or baggie. 

BAGUIO. A rare but dreadfully violent wind among the Philippine Isles. 

BAHAR. A commercial weight of a quarter of a ton in the Molucca Islands. 

BAIDAR. A swift open canoe of the Arctic tribes and Kurile Isles, usedin pursuing otters and even whales; a slender frame from 18 to 25 feetlong, covered with hides. They are impelled by six or twelve paddles. (_See_ KAYAK. )

BAIKIE. A northern name for the _Larus marinus_, or black-backed gull. 

BAIKY. The ballium, or inclosed plot of ground in an ancient fort. 

BAIL. A surety. The cargo of a captured or detained vessel is notallowed to be taken on bail before adjudication without mutual consent. It was also a northern term for a beacon or signal. 

BAIL-BOND. The obligation entered into by sureties. Also when a personappears as proxy for the master of a vessel, or, on obtaining letters ofmarque, he makes himself personally responsible. In prize matters, however, the bail-bond is not a mere personal security given to theindividual captors, but an assurance to abide by the adjudication of thecourt. 

BAIL'D. This phrase "I'll be bail'd" is considered as an equivalent to"I'll be bound;" but it is probably an old enunciation for "I'll bepoisoned, " or "I'll be tormented, " if what I utter is not true. 

BAILO. A Levantine term for consul. 

BAILS, OR BAILES. The hoops which bear up the tilt of a boat. 

BAIOCCO. An Italian copper coin, about equal to our halfpenny. Also ageneric term for copper money or small coin. 

BAIRLINN. A Gaelic term for a high rolling billow. 

BAIT. The natural or artificial charge of a hook, to allure fish. 

BAITLAND. An old word, formerly used to signify a port whererefreshments could be procured. 

BALÆNA. The zoological name for the right whale. 

BALANCE. One of the simple mechanical powers, used in determining theweights and masses of different bodies. Also, one of the twelve signs ofthe zodiac, called Libra. Balance-wheel of a chronometer--_see_CHRONOMETER. 

BALANCE, TO. To contract a sail into a narrower compass;--this ispeculiar to the mizen of a ship, and to the main-sail of those vesselswherein it is extended by a boom. The operation of balancing the mizenis performed by lowering the yard or gaff a little, then rolling up asmall portion of the sail at the peak or upper corner, and lashing itabout one-fifth down towards the mast. A boom main-sail is balanced byrolling up a portion of the clew, or lower aftermost corner, andfastening it strongly to the boom. --N. B. It is requisite in both casesto wrap a piece of old canvas round the sail, under the lashing, toprevent its being fretted by the latter. 

BALANCE-FISH. The hammer-headed shark (which see). 

BALANCE-FRAMES. Those frames or bends of timber, of an equal capacity orarea, which are equally distant from the ship's centre of gravity. 

BALANCE OF TRADE. A computation of the value of all commodities which weimport or export, showing the difference in amount. 

BALANCE-REEF. A reef-band that crosses a sail from the outer head-earingto the tack diagonally, making it nearly triangular, and is used tocontract it in very blowing weather. (2) A balance reef-band isgenerally placed in all gaff-sails; the band runs from the throat to theclew, so that it may be reefed either way--by lacing the foot or lowerhalf; or by lacing the gaff drooped to the band: the latter is only donein the worst weather. --This is a point on which seamen may select--butthe old plan, as first given, affords more power; (2) is applicable tothe severest weather. 

BALANCING-POINT. A familiar term for centre of gravity. (_See_ GRAVITY. )

BALANDRA. A Spanish pleasure-boat. A lighter, a species of schooner. 

BALANUS. The acorn-shell. A sessile cirriped. 

BALCAR. _See_ BALKAR. 

BALCONY. The projecting open galleries of old line-of-battle ships'sterns, now disused. They were convenient and ornamental in hotclimates, but were afterwards inclosed within sash windows. 

BALDRICK. A leathern girdle or sword-belt. Also the zodiac. 

BALE. A pack. This word appears in the statute Richard II. C. 3, and isstill in common use. 

BALE, TO. To lade water out of a ship or vessel with buckets (whichwere of old called _bayles_), cans, or the like, when the pumps areineffective or choked. 

BALEEN. The scientific term for the whalebone of commerce, derived from_balæna_, a whale. It consists of a series of long horny plates growingfrom each side of the palate in place of teeth. 

BALE GOODS. Merchandise packed in large bundles, not in cases or casks. 

BALENOT. A porpoise or small whale which frequents the river St. Lawrence. 

BALESTILHA. The cross-staff of the early Portuguese navigators. 

BALINGER, OR BALANGHA. A kind of small sloop or barge; small vessels ofwar formerly without forecastles. The name was also given by some of theearly voyagers to a large trading-boat of the Philippines and Moluccas. 

BALISTES. A fish with mailed skin. File-fish. 

BALIZAS. Land and sea marks on Portuguese coasts. 

BALK. Straight young trees after they are felled and squared; a beam ortimber used for temporary purposes, and under 8 inches square. Balks, oftimber of any squared size, as mahogany, intended for planks, or, whenvery large, for booms or rafts. 

BALKAR. A man placed on an eminence, like the ancient Olpis, to watchthe movements of shoals of fish. In our early statutes he is called_balcor_. 

BALL. In a general sense, implies a spherical and round body, whethernaturally so or formed into that figure by art. In a military view itcomprehends all sorts of bullets for fire-arms, from the cannon to thepistol: also those pyrotechnic projectiles for guns or mortars, whetherintended to destroy, or only to give light, smoke, or stench. 

BALLAHOU. A sharp-floored fast-sailing schooner, with taunt fore-and-aftsails, and no top-sails, common in Bermuda and the West Indies. Thefore-mast of the ballahou rakes forward, the main-mast aft. 

BALL-AND-SOCKET. A clever adaptation to give astronomical or surveyinginstruments full play and motion every way by a brass ball fitted into aspherical cell, and usually carried by an endless screw. 

BALLARAG, TO. To abuse or bully. Thus Warton of the French king--

 "You surely thought to _ballarag_ us With your fine squadron off Cape Lagos. "

BALLAST. A certain portion of stone, pig-iron, gravel, water, or suchlike materials, deposited in a ship's hold when she either has no cargoor too little to bring her sufficiently low in the water. It is used tocounter-balance the effect of the wind upon the masts, and give the shipa proper stability, that she may be enabled to carry sail withoutdanger of overturning. The art of ballasting consists in placing thecentre of gravity, so as neither to be too high nor too low, too farforward nor too far aft, and that the surface of the water may nearlyrise to the extreme breadth amidships, and thus the ship will be enabledto carry a good sail, incline but little, and ply well to windward. Awant of true knowledge in this department has led to putting too great aweight in ships' bottoms, which impedes their sailing and endangerstheir masts by excessive rolling, the consequence of bringing the centreof gravity too low. It should be trimmed with due regard to thecapacity, gravity, and flooring, and to the nature of whatever is to bedeposited thereon. (_See_ TRIM. )

BALLAST. As a verb, signifies to steady;--as a substantive, acomprehensive mind. A man is said to "lose his ballast" when hisjudgment fails him, or he becomes top-heavy from conceit. 

BALLASTAGE. An old right of the Admiralty in all our royal rivers, oflevying a rate for supplying ships with ballast. 

BALLAST-BASKET. Usually made of osier, for the transport and measure ofshingle-ballast. Supplied to the gunner for transport of looseammunition. 

BALLAST-LIGHTER A large flat-floored barge, for heaving up and carryingballast. 

BALLAST-MARK. The horizontal line described by the surface of the wateron the body of a ship, when she is immersed with her usual weight ofballast on board. 

BALLAST-MASTER. A person appointed to see the port-regulations inrespect to ballast carried out. 

BALLAST-PORTS. Square holes cut in the sides of merchantmen for takingin ballast. But should be securely barred and caulked in beforeproceeding to sea. 

BALLAST-SHIFTING. When by heavy rolling the ballast shifts in the hold. 

BALLAST-SHINGLE. Composed of coarse gravel. 

BALLAST-SHOOTING. (_See_ SHOOTS. ) In England, and indeed in mostfrequented ports, the throwing of ballast overboard is strictlyprohibited and subject to fine. 

BALLAST-SHOVEL. A peculiar square and spoon-pointed iron shovel. 

BALLAST-TRIM. When a vessel has only ballast on board. 

BALLATOON. A sort of long heavy luggage-vessel of upwards of a hundredtons, employed on the river between Moscow and the Caspian Sea. 

BALL-CARTRIDGE. For small arms. 

BALL-CLAY. Adhesive strong bottom, brought up by the flukes of theanchors in massy lumps. 

BALLISTA. An ancient military engine, like an enormous cross-bow, forthrowing stones, darts, and javelins against the enemy with rapidity andviolence. Also, the name of the geometrical cross called Jacob's staff. 

BALLISTER. A cross-bow man. 

BALLISTIC PENDULUM. An instrument for determining the velocity ofprojectiles. The original pendulum was of very massive construction, thearc through which it receded when impinged on by the projectile, takinginto account their respective weights, afforded, with considerablecalculation, a measure of the velocity of impact. Latterly theelectro-ballistic pendulum, which by means of electric currents is madeto register with very great accuracy the time occupied by the projectilein passing over a measured space, has superseded it, as being moreaccurate, less cumbrous, and less laborious in its accompanyingcalculations. 

BALLIUM. A plot of ground in ancient fortifications: called also_baiky_. 

BALLOCH. Gaelic for the discharge of a river into a lake. 

BALLOEN. A Siamese decorated state-galley, imitating a sea-monster, withfrom seventy to a hundred oars of a side. 

BALL-OFF, TO. To twist rope-yarns into balls, with a running end in theheart for making spun-yarn. 

BALLOON-FISH (_Tetraodon_). A plectognathous fish, covered with spines, which has the power of inflating its body till it becomes almostglobular. 

BALLOW. Deep water inside a shoal or bar. 

BALL-STELL. The geometrical instrument named _della stella_. 

BALLY. A Teutonic word for inclosure, now prefixed to many sea-ports inIreland, as Bally-castle, Bally-haven, Bally-shannon, and Bally-water. 

BALSA, OR BALZA. A South American tree, very porous, which grows to animmense height in a few years, and is almost as light as cork. Hence thebalsa-wood is used for the surf-boat called _balsa_. (_See_ JANGADA. )

BALTHEUS ORIONIS. The three bright stars constituting Orion's Belt. 

BALUSTERS. The ornamental pillars or pilasters of the balcony orgalleries in the sterns of ships, dividing the ward-room deck from theone above. 

BAMBA. A commercial shell of value on the Gold Coast of Africa and belowit. 

BAMBO. An East Indian measure of five English pints. 

BAMBOO (_Bambusa arundinacea_). A magnificent articulated cane, whichholds a conspicuous rank in the tropics from its rapid growth and almostuniversal properties:--the succulent buds are eaten fresh and the youngstems make excellent preserves. The large stems are useful inagricultural and domestic implements; also in building both houses andships; in making baskets, cages, hats, and furniture, besides sails, paper, and in various departments of the Indian _materia medica_. 

BAMBOOZLE, TO. To decoy the enemy by hoisting false colours. 

BANANA (_Musa paradisiaca_). A valuable species of plantain, the fruitof which is much used in tropical climates, both fresh and made intobread. Gerarde named it Adam's apple from a notion that it was theforbidden fruit of Eden; whilst others supposed it to be the grapesbrought out of the Promised Land by the spies of Moses. The spikes offruit often weigh forty pounds. 

BANCO [Sp. ] Seat for rowers. 

BAND. The musicians of a band are called idlers in large ships. Also asmall body of armed men or retainers, as the band of gentlemenpensioners; also an iron hoop round a gun-carriage, mast, &c. ; also aslip of canvas stitched across a sail, to strengthen the parts mostliable to pressure. --_Reef-bands_, rope-bands or robands; rudder-bands(which see). 

BANDAGE. A fillet or swathe, of the utmost importance in surgery. Also, formerly, parcelling to ropes. 

BANDALEERS, OR BANDOLEERS. A wide leathern belt for the carriage ofsmall cases of wood, covered with leather, each containing a charge fora fire-lock; in use before the modern cartouche-boxes were introduced. 

BANDECOOT. A large species of fierce rat in India, which infests thedrains, &c. 

BANDED-DRUM. _See_ GRUNTER. 

BANDED-MAIL. A kind of armour which consisted of alternate rows ofleather or cotton and single chain-mail. 

BANDEROLD, OR BANDEROLE. A small streamer or banner, usually fixed on apike: from _banderola_, Sp. Diminutive of _bandera_, the flag or ensign. 

BAND-FISH, OR RIBBON-FISHES. A popular name of the _Gymnetrus_ genus. 

BANDLE. An Irish measure of two feet in length. 

BANG. A mixture of opium, hemp-leaves, and tobacco, of an intoxicatingquality, chewed and smoked by the Malays and other people in the East, who, being mostly prohibited the use of wine, double upon Mahomet byindulging in other intoxicating matter, as if the manner of doing itcleared off the crime of drunkenness. This horrid stuff gives themaddening excitement which makes a Malay run _amok_ (which see). --_Tobang_ is colloquially used to express excelling or beating rivals. (_See_ SUFFOLK BANG. )

BANGE. Light fine rain. 

BANGLES. The hoops of a spar. Also, the rings on the wrists and anklesof Oriental people, chiefly used by females. 

BANIAN. A sailor's coloured frock-shirt. 

BANIAN OR BANYAN DAYS. Those in which no flesh-meat is issued to themesses. It is obvious that they are a remnant of the maigre days of theRoman Catholics, who deem it a mortal sin to eat flesh on certain days. Stock-fish used to be served out, till it was found to promote scurvy. The term is derived from a religious sect in the East, who, believing inmetempsychosis, eat of no creature endued with life. 

BANIAN-TREE. _Ficus indica_ of India and Polynesia. The tendrils fromhigh branches extend 60 to 80 feet, take root on reaching the ground, and form a cover over some acres. Religious rites from which women areexcluded are there performed. 

BANJO. The brass frame in which the screw-propeller of a steamer works, and is hung for hoisting the screw on deck. This frame fits betweenslides fixed on the inner and outer stern-posts; resting in largecarriages firmly secured thereto. The banjo is essential to lifting thescrew. --Also, the rude instrument used in negro concerts. 

BANK. The right or left boundary of a river, in looking from its sourcetowards the sea, and the immediate margin or border of a lake. Also, athwart, _banco_, or bench, for the rowers in a galley. Also, a risingground in the sea, differing from a shoal, because not rocky butcomposed of sand, mud, or gravel. Also, mural elevations constructed ofclay, stones, or any materials at hand, to prevent inundations. 

BANK, TO. Also, an old word meaning to sail along the margins or banksof river-ports: thus Shakspeare in "King John" makes Lewis the Dauphindemand--

 "Have I not heard these islanders shout out _Vive le Roy!_ as I have _bank'd_ their towns?"

BANKA. A canoe of the Philippines, consisting of a single piece. 

BANKER. A vessel employed in the deep-sea cod-fishery on the great banksof Newfoundland. Also, a man who works on the sides of a canal, or on anembankment; a navvy. 

BANK-FIRES. In steamers, taking advantage of a breeze by allowing thefires to burn down low, and then pulling them down to a side of thebridge of the fire-place, and there covering them up with ashes takenfrom the ash-pit, at the same time nearly closing the dampers in thefunnel and ash-pit doors. This, with attention on the part of theengineers, will maintain the water hot, and a slight pressure of steamin the boilers. When fuel is added and draught induced the fires aresaid to be "drawn forward, " and steam is speedily generated. 

BANK-HARBOUR. That which is protected from the violence of the sea bybanks of mud, gravel, sand, shingle, or silt. 

BANK-HOOK. A large fish-hook laid baited in running water, attached by aline to the bank. 

BANKING. A general term applied to fishing on the great bank ofNewfoundland. 

BANK OF OARS [_banco_, Sp. ] A seat or bench for rowers in the happilyall but extinct galley: these are properly called the athwarts, butthwarts by seamen. The common galleys have 25 banks on each side, withone oar to each bank, and four men to each oar. The galeasses have 32banks on a side, and 6 or 7 rowers to each bank. (_See_ DOUBLE-BANKED, when two men pull separate oars on the same thwart. )

BANKSAL, OR BANKSAUL, and in Calcutta spelled _bankshall_. A shop, office, or other place, for transacting business. Also, a squareinclosure at the pearl-fishery. Also, a beach store-house wherein shipsdeposit their rigging and furniture while undergoing repair. Also, wheresmall commercial courts and arbitrations are held. 

BANN. A proclamation made in the army by beat of drum, sound of trumpet, &c. , requiring the strict observance of discipline, either for thedeclaring of a new officer, the punishing an offender, or the like. 

BANNAG. A northern name for a white trout, a sea-trout. 

BANNAK-FLUKE. A name of the turbot, as distinguished from the halibut. 

BANNER. A small square flag edged with fringe. 

BANNERER. The bearer of a banner. 

BANNERET. A knight made on the field of battle. 

BANNEROL. A little banner or streamer. 

BANNOCK. A name given to a certain hard ship-biscuit. 

BANQUETTE. In fortification, a small terrace, properly of earth, on theinside of the parapet, of such height that the defenders standing on itmay conveniently fire over the top. 

BANSTICKLE. A diminutive fish, called also the three-spined stickleback(_Gasterosteus aculeatus_). 

BAPTISM. A ceremony practised on passengers on their first passing theequinoctial line: a riotous and ludicrous custom, which from theviolence of its ducking, shaving, and other practical jokes, is becomingannually less in vogue. It is esteemed a usurpation of privilege tobaptize on crossing the tropics. 

BAR, OF A PORT OR HARBOUR. An accumulated shoal or bank of sand, shingle, gravel, or other uliginous substances, thrown up by the sea tothe mouth of a river or harbour, so as to endanger, and sometimestotally prevent, the navigation into it. --_Bars of rivers_ are someshifting and some permanent. The position of the bar of any river maycommonly be guessed by attending to the form of the shores at theembouchure. The shore on which the deposition of sediment is going onwill be flat, whilst the opposite one is steep. It is along the side ofthe latter that the deepest channel of the river lies; and in the lineof this channel, but without the points that form the mouth of theriver, will be the _bar_. If both the shores are of the same nature, which seldom happens, the bar will lie opposite the middle of thechannel. Rivers in general have what may be deemed a bar, in respect ofthe depth of the channel within, although it may not rise high enough toimpede the navigation--for the increased deposition that takes placewhen the current slackens, through the want of declivity, and of shoresto retain it, must necessarily form a bank. Bars of small rivers may bedeepened by means of stockades to confine the river current, and prolongit beyond the natural points of the river's mouth. They operate toremove the place of deposition further out, and into deeper water. Bars, however, act as breakwaters in most instances, and consequently securesmooth water within them. The deposit in all curvilinear or serpentinerivers will always be found at the point opposite to the curve intowhich the ebb strikes and rebounds, deepening the hollow and depositingon the tongue. Therefore if it be deemed advisable to change theposition of a bar, it may be in some cases aided by works projected onthe last curve sea-ward. By such means a parallel canal may be forcedwhich will admit vessels under the cover of the bar. --_Bar_, a boomformed of huge trees, or spars lashed together, moored transverselyacross a port, to prevent entrance or egress. --_Bar_, the short bits ofbar-iron, about half a pound each, used as the medium of traffic on theNegro coast. --_Bar-harbour_, one which, from a bar at its entrance, cannot admit ships of great burden, or can only do so athigh-water. --_Capstan-bars_, large thick bars put into the holes of thedrumhead of the capstan, by which it is turned round, they working ashorizontal radial levers. --_Hatch-bars_, flat iron bars to lock over thehatches for security from theft, &c. --_Port-bar_, a piece of wood oriron variously fitted to secure a gun-port when shut. --_Bar-shallow_, aterm sometimes applied to a portion of a bar with less water on it thanon other parts of the bar. --_Bar-shot_, two half balls joined togetherby a bar of iron, for cutting and destroying spars and rigging. Whenwhole balls are thus fitted they are more properly double-headedshot. --_To bar. _ To secure the lower-deck ports, as above. 

BARACOOTA. A tropical fish (_Sphyræna baracuda_), considered in the WestIndies to be dangerously poisonous at times, nevertheless eaten, anddeemed the sea-salmon. 

BARBACAN. In fortification, an outer defence. 

BARBADOES-TAR. A mineral fluid bitumen resembling petroleum, of nauseoustaste and offensive smell. 

BARBALOT. The barbel. Also, a puffin. 

BARB-BOLTS. Those which have their points jagged or barbed to make themhold securely, where those commonly in use cannot be clinched. The sameas _rag-bolt_. Those of copper used for the false keel. 

BARBECUE. A tropical custom of dressing a pig whole. 

BARBEL (_Barbus vulgaris_). An English river-fish of the carp family, distinguished by the four appendant beards, whence its name is derived. It is between 2 and 3 feet in length, and coarse. Also, _barbel_ is asmall piece of armour which protects part of the bassenet. 

BARBER. A rating on the ships' books for one who shaves the people, forwhich he receives the pay of an ordinary seaman. In meteorology, _barber_ is a singular vapour rising in streams from the seasurface, --owing probably to exhalations being condensed into a visibleform, on entering a cold atmosphere. It is well known on the shores ofNova Scotia. Also, the condensed breath in frosty weather on beard ormoustaches in Arctic travelling. 

BARBETTE. A mode of mounting guns to fire over the parapet, so as tohave free range, instead of through embrasures. 

BARCA-LONGA. A large Spanish undecked coasting-vessel, navigated withpole-masts, _i. E. _ single-masts, without any top-mast or upper part; andhigh square sails, called lug-sails. Propelled with sweeps as well. Thename is also applied to Spanish gunboats by our seamen. 

BARCES. Short guns with a large bore formerly used in ships. 

BARCHETTA. A small bark for transporting water, provisions, &c. 

BARCONE. A short Mediterranean lighter. 

BAREKA. A small barrel: spelled also _barika_ (Sp. _baréca_). Hence thenautical name _breaker_ for a small cask or keg. 

BARE-POLES. The condition of a ship having no sails set when out at sea, and either scudding or lying-to by stress of weather. (_See_ UNDER BAREPOLES. )

BARE-ROOM. An old phrase for _bore-down_. 

BARGE. A boat of a long, slight, and spacious construction, generallycarvel-built, double-banked, for the use of admirals and captains ofships of war. --_Barge_, in boat attacks, is next in strength to thelaunch. It is likewise a vessel or boat of state, furnished and equippedin the most sumptuous style;--and of this sort we may naturally supposeto have been the famous barge or galley of Cleopatra, which, accordingto the beautiful description of Shakspeare--

 "Like a burnished throne Burnt on the water: the poop was beaten gold, Purple her sails; and so perfumed, that The winds were love-sick with them; the oars were silver. Which to the tune of flutes kept time, and made The water which they beat to follow faster As amorous of their strokes. "

The barges of the lord-mayor, civic companies, &c. , and the coal-bargesof the Thames are varieties. Also, an early man-of-war, of about 100tons. Also, an east-country vessel of peculiar construction. Also, aflat-bottomed vessel of burden, used on rivers for conveying goods fromone place to another, and loading and unloading ships: it has variousnames, as a Ware barge, a west-country barge, a sand barge, a row-barge, a Severn trough, a light horseman, &c. They are usually fitted with alarge sprit-sail to a mast, which, working upon a hinge, is easilystruck for passing under bridges. Also, the bread-barge or tray orbasket, for containing biscuit at meals. 

BARGEES. The crews of canal-boats and barges. 

BARGE-MATE. The officer who steers when a high personage is to visit theship. 

BARGE-MEN. The crew of the barge, who are usually picked men. Also, thelarge maggots with black heads that infest biscuit. 

BARGET. An old term for a small barge. 

BARILLA. An alkali procured by burning _Salsola kali_ and othersea-shore plants. It forms a profitable article of Mediterraneancommerce. (_See_ KELP. )

BARK. The exterior covering of vegetable bodies, many of which areuseful in making paper, cordage, cloth, dyes, and medicines. 

BARK, OR BARQUE [from _barca_, Low Latin]. A general name given to smallships, square-sterned, without head-rails; it is, however, peculiarlyappropriated by seamen to a three-masted vessel with only fore-and-aftsails on her mizen-mast. --_Bark-rigged. _ Rigged as a bark, with nosquare sails on the mizen-mast. 

BARKANTINE, OR BARQUANTINE. A name applied on the great lakes of NorthAmerica to a vessel square-rigged on the fore-mast, and fore-and-aftrigged on the main and mizen masts. They are not three-masted schooners, as they have a regular brigantine's fore-mast. They are long inproportion to their other dimensions, to suit the navigation of thecanals which connect some of these lakes. 

BARKERS. An old term for lower-deck guns and pistols. 

BARKEY. A sailor's term for the pet ship to which he belongs. 

BARKING-IRONS. Large duelling pistols. 

BARLING. An old term for the lamprey. --_Barling-spars_, fit for anysmaller masts or yards. 

BARNACLE (_Lepas anatifera_). A species of shell-fish, often foundsticking by its pedicle to the bottom of ships, doing no other injurythan deadening the way a little:

 "_Barnacles_, termed _soland geese_ In th' islands of the Orcades. "--_Hudibras. _

They were formerly supposed to produce the barnacle-goose! (vide oldcyclopedias): the poet, however, was too good a naturalist to believethis, but here, as in many other places, he means to banter some of thepapers which were published by the first establishers of the RoyalSociety. The shell is compressed and multivalve. The tentacula are longand pectinated like a feather, whence arose the fable of their becominggeese. They belong to the order of _Cirripeds_. 

BARNAGH. The Manx or Gaelic term for a limpet. 

BAROMETER. A glass tube of 36 inches in length, filled with the open endupwards with refined mercury--thus boiled and suddenly inverted into acistern, which is furnished with a leathern bag, on which theatmosphere, acting by its varying weight, presses the fluid metal up tocorresponding heights in the tube, easily read off by an external scaleattached thereto. By attentive observations on this simple prophet, practised seamen are enabled to foretell many approaching changes ofwind or weather, and thus by shortening sail in time, save hull, spars, and lives. This instrument also affords the means of accuratelydetermining the heights or depressions of mountains and valleys. This isthe _mercurial_ barometer; another, the _aneroid_ barometer, invented byMonsr. Vidi, measures approximately, but not with the permanence of themercurial. It is constructed to measure the weight of a column of air orpressure of the atmosphere, by pressure on a very delicate metallic boxhermetically sealed. It is more sensible to passing changes, but not soreliable as the mercurial barometer. 29·60 is taken as the mean pressurein England; as it rises or falls below this mark, fine weather or strongwinds may be looked for:--30·60 is very high, and 29·00 very low. Thebarometer is affected by the direction of the wind, thus N. N. E. Is thehighest, and S. S. W. The lowest--therefore these matters govern thedecision of men of science, who are not led astray by the change ofreading alone. The seaman pilot notes the heavens; the direction of thewind--and the pressure due to that direction--not forgetting suddenchanges of temperature. Attention is due to the surface, whether convexor concave. 

BARQUE. The same as _bark_ (which see). 

BARR. A peremptory exception to a proposition. 

BARRA-BOATS. Vessels of the Western Isles of Scotland, carrying ten ortwelve men. They are extremely sharp fore and aft, having no floor, butwith sides rising straight from the keel, so that a transverse sectionresembles the letter V. They are swift and safe, for in proportion asthey heel to a breeze their bearings are increased, while from theirlightness they are as buoyant as Norway skiffs. 

BARRACAN. A strong undiapered camblet, used for garments in the Levantand in Barbary; anciently it formed the Roman toga. 

BARRACK-MASTER. The officer placed in charge of a barrack. 

BARRACKS. Originally mere log-huts, but of late extensive houses builtfor the accommodation and quartering of troops. Also, the portion of thelower deck where the marines mess. Also, little cabins made by Spanishfishermen on the sea-shore, called _barracas_, whence our name. 

BARRACK SMACK. A corruption of _Berwick smack_; a word applied to smallScotch traders. The masters were nicknamed _barrack-masters_. 

BARRATRY. Any fraudulent act of the master or mariners committed to theprejudice of the ship's owners or underwriters, whether by fraudulentlylosing the vessel, deserting her, selling her, or committing any otherembezzlement. The diverting a ship from her right course, with evilintent, is barratry. 

BARRED KILLIFISH. A small fish from two to four inches in length, whichfrequents salt-water creeks, floats, and the vicinity of wharves. 

BARREL. A cylindrical vessel for holding both liquid and dry goods. Also, a commercial measure of 31-1/2 gallons. 

BARREL OF A CAPSTAN. The cylinder between the whelps and the paul rim, constituting the main-piece. 

BARREL OF A PUMP. The wooden tube which forms the body of the engine. 

BARREL OF SMALL ARMS. The tube through which the bullets are discharged. In artillery the term belongs to the construction of certain guns, andsignifies the inner tube, as distinguished from the breech piece, trunnion-piece, and hoops or outer coils, the other essential parts of"built-up guns" (which see). 

BARREL OF THE WHEEL. The cylinder round which the tiller-ropes arewound. 

BARREL-BUILDER. The old rating for a cooper. 

BARREL-BULK. A measure of capacity for freight in a ship, equal to fivecubic feet: so that eight barrel-bulk are equal to one ton measurement. 

BARREL-SCREW. A powerful machine, consisting of two large poppets, ormale screws, moved by levers in their heads, upon a bank of plank, witha female screw at each end. It is of great use in starting a launch. 

BARRICADE. A strong wooden rail, supported by stanchions extending as afence across the foremost part of the quarter-deck, on the top of whichsome of the seamen's hammocks are usually stowed in time of battle. In avessel of war the vacant spaces between the stanchions are commonlyfilled with rope-mats, cork, or pieces of old cable; and the upper part, which contains a double rope-netting above the sail, is stuffed withfull hammocks to intercept small shot in the time of battle. Also, atemporary fortification or fence made with abatis, palisades, or anyobstacles, to bar the approach of an enemy by a given avenue. 

BARRIER OF ICE. Ice stretching from the land-ice to the sea or main ice, or across a channel, so as to render it impassable. 

BARRIER REEFS. Coral reefs that either extend in straight lines in frontof the shores of a continent or large island, or encircle smaller isles, in both cases being separated from the land by a channel of water. Barrier reefs in New South Wales, the Bermudas, Laccadives, Maldives, &c. 

BARRIERS. A martial exercise of men armed with short swords, withincertain railings which separated them from the spectators. It has longbeen discontinued in England. 

BARROW. A hillock, a tumulus. 

BARSE. The common river-perch. 

BARTIZAN. The overhanging turrets on a battlement. 

BARUTH. An Indian measure, with a corresponding weight of 3-1/2 lbs. Avoirdupois. 

BASE. The breech of a gun. Also, the lowest part of the perimeter of ageometrical figure. When applied to a delta it is that edge of it whichis washed by the sea, or recipient of the deltic branches. Also, thelowest part of a mountain or chain of mountains. Also, the level line onwhich any work stands, as the foot of a pillar. Also, an old boat-gun; awall-piece on the musketoon principle, carrying a five-ounce ball. 

BASE-LINE. In strategy, the line joining the various points of a base ofoperations. In surveying, the base on which the triangulation isfounded. 

BASE OF OPERATIONS. In strategy, one or a series of strategic points atwhich are established the magazines and means of supply necessary for anarmy in the field. 

BASE-RING. In guns of cast-metal, the flat moulding round the breech atthat part where the longitudinal surface ends and the verticaltermination or cascable begins. The length of the gun is reckoned fromthe after-edge of the base-ring to the face of the muzzle: but inbuilt-up guns, there being generally no base-ring moulded, and thebreech assuming various forms, the length is measured from theafter-extreme of the breech, exclusive of any button or other adjunct. 

BASHAW. A Turkish title of honour and command; more properly _pacha_. 

BASIL. The angle to which the edge of shipwrights' cutting tools isground away. 

BASILICON. An ointment composed of wax, resin, pitch, black resin, andolive oil. _Yellow basilicon_, of olive oil, yellow resin, Burgundypitch, and turpentine. 

BASILICUS. A name of Regulus or the Lion's Heart, α Leonis; a star ofthe first magnitude. 

BASILISK. An old name for a long 48-pounder, the gun next in size to thecarthoun: called basilisk from the snakes or dragons sculptured in theplace of dolphins. According to Sir William Monson its random range was3000 paces. Also, in still earlier times, a gun throwing an iron ball of200 lbs. Weight. 

BASILLARD. An old term for a poniard. 

BASIN. A wet-dock provided with flood-gates for restraining the water, in which shipping may be kept afloat in all times of tide. Also, allthose sheltered spaces of water which are nearly surrounded with slopesfrom which waters are received; these receptacles have a circular shapeand narrow entrance. Geographically basins may be divided, as upper, lower, lacustrine, fluvial, Mediterranean, &c. 

BASIS. _See_ BASE. 

BASKET. In field-works, baskets or corbeilles are used, to be filledwith earth, and placed by one another, to cover the men from the enemy'sshot. 

BASKET-FISH. A name for several species of _Euryale_; a kind ofstar-fish, the arms of which divide and subdivide many times, and curlup and intertwine at the ends, giving the whole animal something of theappearance of a round basket. 

BASKET-HILT. The guard continued up the hilt of a cutlass, so as toprotect the whole hand from injury. 

BASKING SHARK. So called from being often seen lying still in thesunshine. A large cartilaginous fish, the _Squalus maximus_ of Linnæus, inhabiting the Northern Ocean. It attains a length of 30 feet, but isneither fierce nor voracious. Its liver yields from eight to twelvebarrels of oil. 

BASS, OR BAST. A soft sedge or rush (_Juncus lævis_), of which coarsekinds of rope and matting are made. A Gaelic term for the blade of anoar. 

BASSE. A species of perch (_Perca labrax_), found on the coast and inestuaries, commonly about 18 inches long. 

BASSOS. A name in old charts for shoals; whence bas-fond andbasso-fondo. Rocks a-wash, or below water. 

BAST. Lime-tree, linden (_Tilia europea_). Bast is made also from thebark of various other trees, macerated in water till the fibrous layersseparate. In the Pacific Isles it is very fine and strong, from_Hibiscus tiliaceus_. 

BASTA. A word in former use for _enough_, from the Italian. 

BASTARD. A term applied to all pieces of ordnance which are of unusualor irregular proportions: the government bastard-cannon had a 7-inchbore, and sent a 40-lb. Shot. Also, a fair-weather square sail in someMediterranean craft, and occasionally used for an awning. 

BASTARD-MACKEREL, OR HORSE-MACKEREL. The _Caranx trachurus_, a dry, coarse, and unwholesome fish, of the family _Scombridæ_, very common inthe Mediterranean. 

BASTARD-PITCH. A mixture of colophony, black pitch, and tar. They areboiled down together, and put into barrels of pine-wood, forming, whenthe ingredients are mixed in equal portions, a substance of a veryliquid consistence, called in France _bray gras_. If a thickerconsistence is desired, a greater proportion of colophony is added, andit is cast in moulds. It is then called _bastard-pitch_. 

BASTE, TO. To beat in punition. A mode of sewing in sail-making. 

BASTILE. A temporary wooden tower, used formerly in naval and militarywarfare. 

BASTIONS. Projecting portions of a rampart, so disposed that the bottomof the escarp of each part of the whole rampart may be defended from theparapet of some other part. Their form and dimensions are influenced bymany considerations, especially by the effect and range of fire-arms;but it is essential to them to have two faces and two flanks; the formerhaving an average length, according to present systems, of 130 yards, the latter of 40 yards. 

BASTON, OR BATON. A club used of old by authority. (_See_ BATOON. )

BASTONADO. Beating a criminal with sticks [from _bastone_, a cudgel]. Apunishment common among Jews, Greeks, and Romans, and still practised inthe Levant, China, and Russia. 

BAT, OR SEA-BAT. An Anglo-Saxon term for boat or vessel. Also abroad-bodied thoracic fish, with a small head, and distinguished by itslarge triangular dorsal and anal fins, which exceed the length of thebody. It is the _Chætodon vespertilio_ of naturalists. 

BAT AND FORAGE. A regulated allowance in money and forage to officers inthe field. 

BATARDATES. Square-stemmed row-galleys. 

BATARDEAU. In fortification, a dam of masonry crossing the ditch: itstop is constructed of such a form as to afford no passage along it. 

BATARDELLES. Galleys less strong than the capitana, and placed on eachside of her. 

BATEAU. A flat-bottomed, sharp-ended clumsy boat, used on the rivers andlakes of Canada; some of them are large. Also a peculiar army pontoon. 

BATED. A plump, full-roed fish is said to be bated. 

BATELLA. A small plying-boat. 

BATH. (_See_ WASHING-PLACE. ) An order of knighthood instituted in 1339, revived in 1725, and enlarged as a national reward of naval and militarymerit in January, 1815. Henry IV. Gave this name, because the forty-sixesquires on whom he conferred this honour at his coronation had watchedall the previous night, and then _bathed_ as typical of their purevirtue. The order was supposed to belong to men who distinguishedthemselves by valour as regards the navy, but it is now deemed aninferior representation of court favour. 

BATILLAGE. An old term for boat-hire. 

BATMAN. A Turkish weight of 6 okes, or about 18 lbs. English. There isalso a smaller batman in Turkey, of about 4 lbs. 10 ozs. English. InPersia there are also two batmans--the larger equal to 12 lbs. English, and the other is of about half that weight. Also, a soldier assigned toa mounted officer as groom. 

BATOON, BASTON, OR BATON. A staff, truncheon, or badge of militaryhonour for field-marshals. A term in heraldry. Also, _batoons of St. Paul_, the fossil spines of echini, found in Malta and elsewhere. 

BAT-SWAIN. An Anglo-Saxon expression for boatswain. 

BATTA. Extra allowance of pay granted to troops in India, varyingsomewhat with the nature of the service they are employed upon, andtheir distance from the capital of the presidency. 

BATTALIA. The order of battle. 

BATTALION. A force of soldiers, complete in staff and officers, of suchstrength as will allow of its manœuvres on the field of battle beingintimately regulated by one superior officer. The term is now proper toinfantry only, and represents from 500 to 1000 men. It is the ordinaryunit made use of in estimating the infantry strength of an army. 

BATTARD. An early cannon of small size. 

BATTELOE. A lateen-rigged vessel of India. 

BATTENING THE HATCHES. Securing the tarpaulins over them. (_See_ BATTENSOF THE HATCHES. )

BATTENS. In general, scantlings of wood from 1 inch to 3 inches broad. Long slips of fir used for setting fair the sheer lines of a ship, ordrawing the lines by in the moulding loft, and setting off distances. 

BATTENS FOR HAMMOCKS. _See_ HAMMOCK-BATTENS. 

BATTENS OF THE HATCHES. Long narrow laths, or straightened hoops ofcasks, serving by the help of nailing to confine the edges of thetarpaulins, and keep them close down to the sides of the hatchways, inbad weather. Also, thin strips of wood put upon rigging, to keep it fromchafing, by those who dislike mats: when large these are designated_Scotchmen_. 

BATTERING GUNS. Properly guns whose weight and power fit them fordemolishing by direct force the works of the enemy; hence all heavy, asdistinguished from field or light, guns come under the term. (_See_SIEGE-ARTILLERY and GARRISON GUNS. )

BATTERING RAM. _See_ RAM. 

BATTERING TRAIN. The train of heavy ordnance necessary for a siege, which, since the copious introduction of vertical and other shell fire, is more correctly rendered by the term siege-train (which see). 

BATTERY. A place whereon cannon, mortars, &c. , are or may be mounted foraction. It generally has a parapet for the protection of the gunners, and other defences and conveniences according to its importance andobjects. (_See also_ FLOATING BATTERY. ) Also, a company of artillery. Infield-artillery it includes men, guns (usually six in the Britishservice), horses, carriages, &c. , complete for service. 

BATTLE. An engagement between two fleets, or even single ships, usuallycalled a sea-fight or engagement. The conflict between the forces of twocontending armies. 

BATTLE LANTERNS (American). _See_ FIGHTING-LANTERNS. 

BATTLEMENTS. The vertical notches or openings made in the parapet wallsof old castles and fortified buildings, to serve for embrasures to thebowmen, arquebusiers, &c. , of former days. 

BATTLE-ROYAL. A term derived from cock-fighting, but generally appliedto a noisy confused row. 

BATTLE THE WATCH, TO. To shift as well as we can; to contend with adifficulty. To depend on one's own exertions. 

BATTLING-STONE. A large stone with a smooth surface by the side of astream, on which washers beat their linen. 

BATTS. A north-country term for flat grounds adjoining islands inrivers, sometimes used for the islands themselves. 

BAT-WARD. An old term for a boat-keeper. 

BAUN. _See_ BORE. 

BAVIER. The beaver of a helmet. 

BAVIN. Brushwood bound up with only one withe: a faggot is tied withtwo. It is often spelled _baven_, but Shakspeare has

 "Rash bavin wits, Soon kindled and soon burned. "

This underwood is sometimes procurable by ships where none other can begot. Bavin in war applies to fascines. 

BAW-BURD. An old expression of larboard. 

BAWDRICK. Corrupted from _baldrick_. A girdle or sword-belt. 

BAWE. A species of worm, formerly used as a bait for fishing. 

BAWGIE. One of the names given to the great black and white gull (_Larusmarinus_) in the Shetlands. 

BAWKIE. A northern term for the auk, or razor-bill. 

BAXIOS. [Sp. ] Rocks or sand-banks covered with water. Scopuli. 

BAY. The fore-part of a ship between decks, before the bitts (_see_SICK-BAY). Foremost messing-places between decks in ships of war. 

BAY. An inlet of the sea formed by the curvature of the land between twocapes or headlands, often used synonymously with gulf; though, in strictaccuracy, the term should be applied only to those large recesses whichare wider from cape to cape than they are deep. Exposed to sea-winds, abay is mostly insecure. A bay is distinguished from a bend, as that avessel may not be able to fetch out on either tack, and is embayed. Abay has proportionably a wider entrance than either a gulf or haven; acreek has usually a small inlet, and is always much less than a bay. 

BAY. Laurel; hence crowned with bays. 

BAYAMOS. Violent blasts of wind blowing from the land, on the south sideof Cuba, and especially from the Bight of Bayamo, by which some of ourcruisers have been damaged. They are accompanied by vivid lightning, andgenerally terminate in rain. 

BAY-GULF. A branch of the sea, of which the entrance is the widest part, as contradistinguished from the strait-gulf. The Bay of Biscay is awell-known example of the semicircular gulf. 

BAY-ICE. Ice newly formed on the surface of the sea, and having thecolour of the water; it is then in the first stage of consolidation. Theepithet is, however, also applied to ice a foot or two in thickness inbays. 

BAYLE. An old term for bucket. 

BAYONET [Sp. _bayoneta_]. A pike-dagger to fit on the muzzle of amusket, so as not to interfere with its firing. 

BAZAR, OR BAZAAR. A market or market-place. An oriental term. 

BAZARAS. A large flat-bottomed pleasure-boat of the Ganges, moved withboth sails and oars. 

BEACH. A littoral margin, or line of coast along the sea-shore, composedof sand, gravel, shingle, broken shells, or a mixture of them all: anygently sloping part of the coast alternately dry and covered by thetide. The same as _strand_. 

BEACH, TO. Sudden landing--to run a boat on the shore, to land a personwith intent to desert him--an old buccaneer custom. To land a boat on abeach before a dangerous sea, this demands practical skill, for whichthe Dover and Deal men are famed. 

BEACH-COMBERS. Loiterers around a bay or harbour. 

BEACH-COMBING. Loafing about a port to filch small things. 

BEACH-FLEA. A small crustacean (_Talitra_) frequenting sandy shores. 

BEACH-GRASS. _Alga marina_ thrown up by the surf or tide. 

BEACHING A VESSEL. _See under_ VOLUNTARY STRANDING. Also, the act ofrunning a vessel up on the beach for various purposes where there is noother accommodation. 

BEACH-MAN. A person on the coast of Africa who acts as interpreter toshipmasters, and assists them in conducting the trade. 

BEACH-MASTER. A superior officer, captain, appointed to superintenddisembarkation of an attacking force, who holds plenary powers, andgenerally leads the storming party. His acts when in the heat of action, if he summarily shoot a coward, are unquestioned--poor Falconer, to wit!

BEACH-MEN. A name applied to boatmen and those who land people through aheavy surf. 

BEACH-RANGERS. Men hanging about sea-ports, who have been turned out ofvessels for bad conduct. 

BEACH-TRAMPERS. A name applied to the coast-guard. 

BEACON. [Anglo-Saxon, _béacn_. ] A post or stake erected over a shoal orsand-bank, as a warning to seamen to keep at a distance; also asignal-mark placed on the top of hills, eminences, or buildings near theshore for the safe guidance of shipping. 

BEACONAGE. A payment levied for the maintenance of beacons. 

BEAFT. Often used by east-country men for abaft. 

BEAK, OR BEAK-HEAD. A piece of brass like a beak, fixed at the head ofthe ancient galleys, with which they pierced their enemies. Pisæus issaid to have first added the rostrum or beak-head. Later it was a smallplatform at the fore part of the upper deck, but the term is now appliedto that part without the ship before the forecastle, or knee of thehead, which is fastened to the stem and is supported by the main knee. Latterly, to meet steam propulsion, the whole of this is enlarged, strengthened, and armed with iron plates, and thus the armed stemrevives the ancient strategy in sea-fights. Shakspeare makes Ariel thusallude to the beak in the "Tempest:"--

 "I boarded the king's ship; now on the beak, Now in the waist, the deck, in every cabin, I flam'd amazement. "

BEAKER. A flat drinking tumbler or cup, from the German _becher_. (_See_BICKER. )

BEAK-HEAD BEAM. For this important timber _see_ CAT-BEAM. 

BEAK-HEAD BULK-HEAD. The old termination aft of the space called_beak-head_, which inclosed the fore part of the ship. 

BEAL. A word of Gaelic derivation for an opening or narrow pass betweentwo hills. 

BEAM. A long double stratum of murky clouds generally observed over thesurface of the Mediterranean previous to a violent storm or anearthquake. The French call it _trave_. 

BEAM. (_See_ ABEAM. )--_Before the beam_ is an arc of the horizon, comprehended between a line that crosses the ship's length at rightangles and some object at a distance before it; or between the line ofthe beam and that point of the compass which she stems. On the _weather_or _lee_ beam is in a direction to windward or leeward at right angleswith the keel. 

BEAM-ARM. Synonymous with _crow-foot_ (which see). 

BEAM-ENDS. A ship is said to be on her beam-ends when she has heeledover so much on one side that her beams approach to a vertical position;hence also a person lying down is metaphorically said to be on hisbeam-ends. 

BEAM-FILLINGS. Short lengths of wood cut to fit in between the beams tocomplete the cargo of a timber ship. 

BEAM-LINE. A line raised along the inside of the ship fore and aft, showing the upper sides of the beams at her side. 

BEAM OF THE ANCHOR. Synonymous with _anchor-stock_. 

BEAMS. Strong transverse pieces of timber stretching across the shipfrom one side to the other, to support the decks and retain the sides attheir proper distance, with which they are firmly connected by means ofstrong knees, and sometimes of standards. They are sustained at each endby thick stringers on the ship's side, called shelf-pieces, upon whichthey rest. The main-beam is next abaft the main-mast, which is steppedbetween two beams with transverse supports termed partners; the foremostof these is generally termed the main-beam, or the after-beam of themain-hatchway. The greatest beam of all is called the midship-beam. 

BEAN-COD. A small fishing-vessel, or pilot-boat, common on thesea-coasts and in the rivers of Spain and Portugal; extremely sharpforward, having its stem bent inward above in a considerable curve; itis commonly navigated with a large lateen sail, which extends the wholelength of the deck, and sometimes of an out-rigger over the stern, andis accordingly well fitted to ply to windward. They frequently set asmany as twenty different sails, alow and aloft, by every possiblecontrivance, so as to puzzle seamen who are not familiar with the rig. 

BEAR. A large block of stone, matted, loaded with shot, and fitted withropes, by which it is roused or pulled to and fro to grind the deckswithal. Also, a coir-mat filled with sand similarly used. 

BEAR, THE CONSTELLATIONS OF THE. Ursa Major and Minor, most important toseamen, as instantly indicating by the pointers and pole-star the truenorth at night, much more correctly than any compass bearing. 

BEAR, TO. The direction of an object from the viewer; it is used in thefollowing different phrases: The land's end bore E. N. E. ; _i. E. _ it wasseen from the ship in a line with the E. N. E. Point of the compass. Webore down upon the enemy; _i. E. _ having the advantage of the wind, orbeing to windward, we approached the enemy by sailing large, or from thewind. When a ship that was to windward comes under another ship's stern, and so gives her the wind, she is said to bear under the lee; often as amark of respect. She bears in with the land, is said of a ship when sheruns towards the shore. We bore off the land; _i. E. _ we increased ourdistance from the land. --_To bear down_ upon a ship, is to approach herfrom the windward. --_To bear ordnance_, to carry her guns well. --_Tobear sail_, stiff under canvas. --_To bear up_, to put the helm up, andkeep a vessel off her course, letting her recede from the wind and moveto leeward; this is synonymous with _to bear away_, but is applied tothe ship instead of the helm. --_Bear up_, one who has duly served for acommission, but from want of interest bears up broken-hearted andaccepts an inferior warrant, or quits the profession, seeking some lessimportant vocation; some middies have borne up and yet become bishops, lord-chancellors, judges, surgeons, &c. --_To bear up round_, is to put aship right before the wind. --_To bring a cannon to bear_, signifies thatit now lies right with the mark. --_To bear off from_, and _in with_ theland, signifies standing off or going towards the coast. 

BEAR A BOB, OR A FIST. Jocular for "lend a hand. "

BEAR A HAND. Hasten. 

BEARD. The silky filaments or byssus by which some testacea adhere torocks. Of an oyster, the gills. 

BEARDIE. A northern name of the three-spined stickleback. 

BEARDING. The angular fore-part of the rudder, in juxtaposition with thestern-post. Also, the corresponding bevel of the stern-post. Also, thebevelling of any piece of timber or plank to any required angle: as thebearding of dead wood, clamps, &c. 

BEARDING-LINE. In ship-building, is a curved line made by bearding thedead-wood to the shape of the ship's body. 

BEARERS. Pieces of plank placed on the bolts which are driven throughthe standards or posts for the carpenters' stages to rest upon. 

BEARING. An arc of the horizon intercepted between the nearest meridianand any distant object, either discovered by the eye and referred to apoint on the compass, or resulting from finical proportion. There is the_true_ or astronomical bearing, and the _magnetic_ bearing. It is alsothe situation of any distant object, estimated with regard to the ship'sposition; and in this sense the object must bear either ahead, astern, abreast, on the bow, or on the quarter; if a ship sails with a sidewind, a distant object is said to bear to leeward or to windward, on thelee quarter or bow, or on the weather quarter or bow. 

BEARING BACKSTAYS AFT. To throw the breast backstays out of thecross-tree horns or out-riggers and bear them aft. If not done, whensuddenly bracing up, the cross-tree horn is frequently sprung or brokenoff. 

BEARING BINNACLE. A small binnacle with a single compass, usually placedbefore the other. In line-of-battle ships it is generally placed on thefife-rail in the centre and foremost part of the poop. 

BEARINGS. The widest part of a vessel below the plank-shear. The line offlotation which is formed by the water upon her sides when she sitsupright with her provisions, stores, and ballast, on board in propertrim. 

BEARINGS, TO BRING TO HIS. Used in conversation for "to bring toreason. " To bring an unruly subject to his senses, to know he is undercontrol, to reduce to order. 

BEAT. The verb means to excel, surpass, or overcome. 

 "And then their ships could only follow, For we had beat them all dead hollow. "

BEATEN BACK. Returning into port from stress of foul weather. 

BEATING, OR TURNING TO WINDWARD. The operation of making progress byalternate tacks at sea against the wind, in a zig-zag line, ortransverse courses; beating, however, is generally understood to beturning to windward in a storm or fresh wind. 

BEATING THE BOOBY. The beating of the hands from side to side in coldweather to create artificial warmth. 

BEATING WIND. That which requires the ship to make her way by tacks; abaffling or contrary wind. 

BEATSTER. One who _beats_ or mends the Yarmouth herring-nets. 

BEAT TO ARMS. The signal by drum to summon the men to their quarters. 

BEAT TO QUARTERS. The order for the drummer to summon every one to hisrespective station. 

BEAVER. A helmet in general, but particularly that part which lets downto allow of the wearer's drinking. 

BECALM, TO. To intercept the current of the wind in its passage to aship, by means of any contiguous object, as a high shore, some othership to windward, &c. At this time the sails remain in a sort of rest, and consequently deprived of their power to govern the motion of theship. Thus one sail becalms another. 

BECALMED. Implies that from the weather being calm, and not a breath ofwind blowing, the sails hang loose against the mast. 

BECHE DE MER. _See_ TREPANG. 

BECK [the Anglo-Saxon _becca_]. A small mountain-brook or rivulet, common to all northern dialects. A Gaelic or Manx term for a thwart orbench in the boat. 

BECKET. A piece of rope placed so as to confine a spar or another rope;anything used to keep loose ropes, tackles, or spars in a convenientplace; hence, beckets are either large hooks or short pieces of ropewith a knot at one end and an eye in the other; or formed like acircular wreath for handles; as with cutlass hilts, boarding pikes, tomahawks, &c. ; or they are wooden brackets, and probably from acorruption and misapplication of this last term arose the word becket, which seems often to be confounded with bracket. Also, a grummet eitherof rope or iron, fixed to the bottom of a block, for making fast thestanding end of the fall. 

BECKET, THE TACKS AND SHEETS IN THE. The order to hang up theweather-main and fore-sheet, and the lee-main and fore-tack, to thesmall knot and eye becket on the foremost-main and fore-shrouds, whenthe ship is close hauled, to prevent them from hanging in the water. Akind of large cleat seized on a vessel's fore or main rigging for thesheets and tacks to lie in when not required. Cant term forpockets--"Hands out of beckets, sir. "

BED. Flat thick pieces of wood, lodged under the quarters of caskscontaining any liquid, and stowed in a ship's hold, in order to keepthem bilge-free; being steadied upon the beds by means of wedges calledquoins. The impression made by a ship's bottom on the mud on having beenleft by an ebb-tide. The bite made in the ground by the fluke of ananchor. A kind of false deck, or platform, placed on those decks wherethe guns were too low for the ports. --_Bed of a gun-carriage_, or_stool-bed_. The piece of wood between the cheeks or brackets which, with the intervention of the quoin, supports the breech of the gun. Itis itself supported, forward, on the bed-bolt, and aft, generally withthe intervention of an elevating-screw, on the rear axle-tree. 

BED OR BARREL SCREWS. A powerful machine for lifting large bodies, andplaced against the gripe of a ship to be launched for starting her. 

BED-BOLT. A horizontal bolt passing through both brackets of agun-carriage near their centres, and on which the forward end of thestool-bed rests. 

BEDDING A CASK. Placing dunnage round it. 

BEDLAMERS. Young Labrador seals, which set up a dismal cry when theycannot escape their pursuers--and go madly after each other in the sea. 

BED OF A MORTAR. The solid frame on which a mortar is mounted forfiring. For sea-service it is generally made of wood; for land-service, of iron, except in the smaller natures. In mortar vessels as latterlyfitted, the bed traverses on a central pivot over a large table orplatform of wood, having under it massive india-rubber buffers, tomoderate the jar from the discharge. --_Bed of a river_, that part of thechannel of a stream over which the water generally flows, as also thatpart of the basin of a sea or lake on which the water lies. 

BED-OF-GUNS. A nautical phrase implying ordnance too heavy for a ship'sscantling, or a fort over-gunned. 

BE-DUNDERED. Stupified with noise. 

BEE. A ring or hoop of metal. --_Bees of the bowsprit. _ (_See_BEE-BLOCKS. )

BEE-BLOCKS. Pieces of hard wood bolted to the outer end of the bowsprit, to reeve the fore-topmast stays through, the bolt, serving as a pin, commonly called bees. 

BEEF. A figurative term for strength. --_More beef!_ more men on. 

BEEF-KID. A mess utensil for carrying meat from the coppers. 

BEETLE. A shipwright's heavy mallet for driving the wedges calledreeming irons, so as to open the seams in order to caulk. (_See_REEMING. )

BEETLE-HEAD. A large beetle, weighing 1000 lbs. , swayed up by acrabwinch to a height, and dropped by a pincer-shaped hook; it is usedin pile-driving. 

BEFORE OR ABAFT THE BEAM. The bearing of any object which is before orabaft a right line to the keel, at the midship section of a ship. 

BEFORE THE MAST. The station of the working seamen, as distinguishingthem from the officers. 

BEGGAR-BOLTS. A contemptuous term for the missiles which were thrown bythe galley-slaves at an approaching enemy. 

BEHAVIOUR. The action and qualities of a ship under different impulses. Seamen speak of the manner in which she behaves, as if she acted by herown instinct. 

BEIKAT. _See_ BYKAT. 

BEILED. A sea-term in the old law-books, apparently for moored. 

BEING. _See_ BING. 

BELAY, TO. To fasten a rope when it has been sufficiently hauled upon, by twining it several times round a cleat, belaying pin, or kevel, without hitching or seizing; this is chiefly applied to the runningrigging, which needs to be so secured that it may be quickly let go incase of a squall or change of wind; there being several otherexpressions used for securing large ropes, as bitting, making fast, stoppering, &c. --_Belay there_, stop! that is enough!--_Belay thatyarn_, we have had enough of it. Stand fast, secure all, when a hawserhas been sufficiently hauled. When the top-sails, or other sails havebeen hoisted taut up, or "belay the main-tack, " &c. 

BELAYING PINS. Small wooden or iron cylinders, fixed in racks indifferent parts of the ship, for belaying running ropes to. 

BELEAGUER. To invest or closely surround an enemy's post, in such manneras to prevent all relief or communication. 

BELFRY. An ornamental frame or shelter, under which the ship's bell issuspended. 

BELL. _Strike the bell. _ The order to strike the clapper against thebell as many times as there are half hours of the watch elapsed; hencewe say it is two bells, three bells, &c. , meaning there are two or threehalf-hours past. The watch of four hours is eight bells. 

BELLA STELLA. A name used by old seamen for the cross-staff. 

BELLATRIX. γ Orionis. 

BELL-BUOY. A large can-buoy on which is placed, in wicker-work, a bell, which is sounded by the heaving and setting of the sea. 

BELLIGERENT. An epithet applied to any country which is in a state ofwarfare. 

BELLOWS. An old hand at the bellows. A colloquialism for a man up to hisduty. "A fresh hand at the _bellows_" is said when a gale increases. 

BELL-ROPE. A short rope spliced round a thimble in the eye of thebell-crank, with a double wall-knot crowned at its end. 

BELLS. _See_ WATCH. 

BELL-TOP. A name applied to the top of a quarter-gallery, when the upperstool is hollowed away, or made like a rim. 

BELL-WARE. A name of the _Zostera marina_ (which see). 

BELLY. The swell of a sail. The inner or hollow part of compass timber;the outside is called the _back_. To belly a sail is to inflate or fillit with the wind, so as to give a taut leech. --_Bellying canvas_ isgenerally applied to a vessel going free, as when the belly and footreefs which will not stand on a wind, are shaken out. --_Bellying to thebreeze_, the sails filling or being inflated by the wind. --_Bellying toleeward_, when too much sail is injudiciously carried. 

BELLY-BAND. A strip of canvas, half way between the close-reef and thefoot of square sails, to strengthen them. Also applied to an armyofficer's sash. 

BELLY-GUY. A tackle applied half-way up sheers, or long spars thatrequire support in the middle. Frequently applied to masts that havebeen crippled by injudiciously setting up the rigging too taut. 

BELLY-MAT. _See_ PAUNCH-MAT. 

BELLY-STAY. Used half-mast down when a mast requires support; asbelly-guy, above. 

BELOW. The opposite of _on_ or _'pon deck_. Generally used todistinguish the watch on deck, and those off the watch. 

BELT. A metaphorical term in geography for long and proportionallynarrow encircling strips of land having any particular feature; as abelt of sand, a belt of hills, &c. It is, in use, nearly synonymous withzone. Also, to beat with a colt or rope's end. 

BELTING. A beating; formerly given by a belt. 

BELTS. The dusky streaks crossing the surface of the planet Jupiter, andsupposed to be openings in his atmosphere. 

BENCHES OF BOATS. The seats in the after-part whereon the passengerssit; properly stern-sheets, the others are athwarts, whereon the rowerssit. 

BEND, TO. To fasten one rope to another, or to an anchor. The term isalso applied to any sudden or remarkable change in the direction of ariver, and is then synonymous with bight or loop. --_Bend a sail_ is toextend or make it fast to its proper yard or stay. (_See_ GRANNY'SBEND. ) Also, _bend to your oars_, throw them well forward. 

BEND. The chock of the bowsprit. 

BENDER. A contrivance to bend small cross-bows, formerly used in thenavy. Also, "look out for a _bender_, " or "strike out for a bend, "applied to coiling the hempen cables. 

BENDING ROPES, is to join them together with a bowline knot, and thenmake their own ends fast upon themselves; not so secure as splicing, butsooner done, and readiest, when it is designed to take them asunderagain. There are several bends, as _Carrick-bend_, _hawser-bend_, _sheet-bend_, _bowline-bend_, &c. 

BENDING THE CABLE. The operation of clinching, or tying the cable to thering of its anchor. The term is still used for shackling chain-cables totheir anchors. 

BEND-MOULD. A mould made to form the futtocks in the square body, assisted by the _rising-square_ and _floor-hollow_. 

BEND ON THE TACK. In hoisting signals, that piece of rope called thedistant line--which keeps the flags so far asunder that they are notconfused. Also, in setting free sails, the studding-sail tack, &c. 

BEND-ROLL. A rest formerly used for a heavy musket. 

BENDS. The thickest and strongest planks on the outward part of a ship'sside, between the plank-streaks on which men set their feet in climbingup. They are more properly called wales, or wails. They are reckonedfrom the water, and are distinguished by the titles of _first_, _second_, or _third bend_. They are the chief strength of a ship'ssides, and have the beams, knees, and foot-hooks bolted to them. Bendsare also the frames or ribs that form the ship's body from the keel tothe top of the side, individualized by each particular station. That atthe broadest part of the ship is denominated the _midship-bend_ or_dead-flat_. 

BE-NEAPED. The situation of a vessel when she is aground at the heightof spring-tides. (_See_ NEAPED. )

BENGAL LIGHT. _See_ BLUE LIGHT. 

BENJY. A low-crowned straw-hat, with a very broad brim. 

BENK. A north-country term for a low bank, or ledge of rock; probablythe origin of _bunk_, or sleeping-places in merchant vessels. (_See_BUNK. )

BENN. A small kind of salmon; the earliest in the Solway Frith. 

BENT. The trivial name of the _Arundo arenaria_, or coarse unprofitablegrass growing on the sea-shore. 

BENTINCK-BOOM. That which stretches the foot of the fore-sail in manysmall square-rigged merchantmen; particularly used in whalers among theice, with a reefed fore-sail to see clearly ahead. The tack and sheetare thus dispensed with, a spar with tackle amidships brings the leechestaut on a wind. It is principally worked by its bowline. 

BENTINCKS. Triangular courses, so named after Captain Bentinck, by whomthey were invented, but which have since been superseded by stormstaysails. They are still used by the Americans as trysails. 

BENTINCK-SHROUDS. Formerly used; extending from the weather-futtockstaves to the opposite lee-channels. 

BENT ON A SPLICE. Going to be married. 

BERG. A word adopted from the German, and applied to the features ofland distinguished as steppes, banquettes, shelves, terraces, andparallel roads. (_See_ ICEBERG. )

BERGLE. A northern name for the wrasse. 

BERM. In fortification, a narrow space of level ground, averaging abouta foot and a half in width, generally left between the foot of theexterior slope of the parapet and the top of the escarp; in permanentfortification its principal purpose is to retain the earth of theparapet, which, when the latter is deformed by fire or by weather, wouldotherwise fall into the ditch; in field fortification it also serves toprotect the escarp from the pressure of a too imminent parapet. 

BERMUDA SAILS. _See_ 'MUDIAN. 

BERMUDA SQUALL. A sudden and strong wintry tempest experienced in theAtlantic Ocean, near the Bermudas; it is preceded by heavy clouds, thunder, and lightning. It belongs to the Gulf Stream, and is felt, throughout its course, up to the banks of Newfoundland. 

BERMUDIANS. Three-masted schooners, built at Bermuda during the war of1814; they went through the waves without rising to them, andconsequently were too ticklish for northern stations. 

BERNAK. The barnacle goose (_Anser bernicla_). 

BERSIS. A species of cannon formerly much used at sea. 

BERTH. The station in which a ship rides at anchor, either alone, or ina fleet; as, she lies in a good berth, _i. E. _ in good anchoring ground, well sheltered from the wind and sea, and at a proper distance from theshore and other vessels. --_Snug berth_, a place, situation, orestablishment. A sleeping berth. --_To berth a vessel_, is to fix upon, and put her into the place she is to occupy. --_To berth a ship'scompany_, to allot to each man the space in which his hammock is to behung, giving the customary 14 inches in width. --_To give a berth_, tokeep clear of, as to give a point of land a wide berth, is to keep at adue distance from it. 

BERTH. The room or apartment where any number of the officers, or ship'scompany, mess and reside; in a ship of war there is commonly one ofthese between every two guns as the mess-places of the crew. 

BERTH AND SPACE. In ship-building, the distance from the moulding edgeof one timber to the moulding edge of the next timber. Same as room andspace, or timber and space. 

BERTH-DECK. The 'tween decks. 

BERTHER. He who assigns places for the respective hammocks to hang in. 

BERTHING. The rising or working up of the planks of a ship's sides; asberthing up a bulk-head, or bringing up in general. Berthing alsodenotes the planking outside, above the sheer-strake, and is called theberthing of the quarter-deck, of the poop, or of the forecastle, as thecase may be. 

BERTHING OF THE HEAD. _See_ HEAD-BOARDS. 

BERVIE. A haddock split and half-dried. 

BERWICK SMACK. The old and well-found packets of former days, untilsuperseded by steamers. (_See_ BARRACK SMACK. )

BESET IN ICE. Surrounded with ice, and no opening for advance orretreat, so as to be obliged to remain immovable. 

BESIEGE, TO. To endeavour to gain possession of a fortified placedefended by an enemy, by directing against it a connected series ofoffensive military operations. 

BESSY-LORCH. A northern name of the _Gobio fluviatilis_ or gudgeon. 

BEST BOWER. _See_ BOWER-ANCHORS. 

BETELGUESE. The lucida of Orion, α Orionis, and a standard Greenwichstar of the first magnitude. 

BETHEL. _See_ FLOATING BETHEL. 

BETTY MARTIN. _See_ MARTIN. 

BETWEEN DECKS. The space contained between any two whole decks of aship. 

BETWIXT WIND AND WATER. About the line of load immersion of the ship'shull; or that part of the vessel which is at the surface of the water. 

BEVEL. An instrument by which bevelling angles are taken. Also a slopedsurface. 

BEVELLING. Any alteration from a square in hewing timber, as taken bythe bevel, bevelling rule, or bevelling boards. --_A standing bevelling_is that made without, or outside a square; an _under-bevelling_ within;and the angle is optionally acute or obtuse. In ship-building, it is theart of hewing a timber with a proper and regular curve, according to amould which is laid on one side of its surface. 

BEVELLING-BOARD. A piece of board on which the bevellings or angles ofthe timbers are described. 

BEVERAGE. A West India drink, made of sugar-cane juice and water. 

BEWPAR. The old name for buntin, still used in navy office documents. 

BEWTER. A northern name for the black-wak, or bittern. 

BEZANT. An early gold coin, so called from having been first coined atByzantium. 

BIBBS. Pieces of timber bolted to the hounds of a mast, to support thetrestle-trees. 

BIBLE. A hand-axe. Also, a squared piece of freestone to grind the deckwith sand in cleaning it; a small holy-stone, so called from seamenusing them kneeling. 

BIBLE-PRESS. A hand rolling-board for cartridges, rocket, and port-firecases. 

BICKER, OR BEAKER. A flat bowl or basin for containing liquors, formerlymade of wood, but in later times of other substances. Thus Butler:

 "And into pikes, and musqueteers, Stamp beakers, cups, and porringers. "

BID-HOOK. A small kind of boat-hook. 

BIEL-BRIEF. The bottomry contract in Denmark, Sweden, and the north ofGermany. 

BIERLING. An old name for a small galley. 

BIFURCATE. A river is said to bifurcate, or to form a fork, when itdivides into two distinct branches, as at the heads of deltas and influvial basins. 

BIGHT. A substantive made from the preterperfect tense of _bend_. Thespace lying between two promontories or headlands, being wider andsmaller than a gulf, but larger than a bay. It is also used generallyfor any coast-bend or indentation, and is mostly held as a synonym ofshallow bay. 

BIGHT. The loop of a rope when it is folded, in contradistinction to theend; as, her anchor hooked the bight of our cable, _i. E. _ caught anypart of it between the ends. The bight of his cable has swept ouranchor, _i. E. _ the bight of the cable of another ship as she rangedabout has entangled itself about the flukes of our anchor. Any part ofthe chord or curvature of a rope between the ends may be called a bight. 

BIG-WIGS. A cant term for the higher officers. 

BILANCELLA. A destructive mode of fishing in the Mediterranean, by meansof two vessels towing a large net stretched between them. 

BILANCIIS DEFERENDIS. A writ directed to a corporation, for the carryingof weights to such a haven, there to weigh the wool that persons, by ourancient laws, were licensed to transport. 

BILANDER. A small merchant vessel with two masts, particularlydistinguished from other vessels with two masts by the form of hermain-sail, which is bent to the whole length of her yard, hanging foreand aft, and inclined to the horizon at an angle of about 45°. Fewvessels are now rigged in this manner, and the name is ratherindiscriminately used. 

BILBO. An old term for a flexible kind of cutlass, from Bilbao, wherethe best Spanish sword-blades were made. Shakspeare humorously describesFalstaff in the buck-basket, like a good bilbo, coiled hilt to point. 

BILBOES. Long bars or bolts, on which iron shackles slid, with a padlockat the end; used to confine the legs of prisoners in a manner similar tothe punishment of the stocks. The offender was condemned to irons, moreor less ponderous according to the nature of the offence of which he wasguilty. Several of them are yet to be seen in the Tower of London, takenin the Spanish Armada. Shakspeare mentions Hamlet thinking of a kind offighting, "That would not let me sleep: methought, I lay Worse than the mutines in the bilboes. "

BILCOCK. The northern name for the water-rail. 

BILGE, OR BULGE. That part of the floor in a ship--on either side of thekeel--which approaches nearer to a horizontal than to a perpendiculardirection, and begins to round upwards. It is where the floors andsecond futtocks unite, and upon which the ship would rest if laid onthe ground; hence, when a ship receives a fracture in this part, she issaid to be bilged or bulged. --_Bilge_ is also the largest circumferenceof a cask, or that which extends round by the bung-hole. 

BILGE-BLOCKS. _See_ SLIDING BILGE-BLOCKS. 

BILGE-COADS. In launching a ship, same with sliding-planks. 

BILGE-FEVER. The illness occasioned by a foul hold. 

BILGE-FREE. A cask so stowed as to rest entirely on its beds, keepingthe lower part of the bilge at least the thickness of the hand clear ofthe bottom of the ship, or other place on which it is stowed. 

BILGE-KEELS. Used for vessels of very light draught and flattishbottoms, to make them hold a better wind, also to support them uprightwhen grounded. The _Warrior_ and other iron-clads are fitted withbilge-keels. 

BILGE-KEELSONS. These are fitted inside of the bilge, to afford strengthwhere iron, ores, and other heavy cargo are shipped. Otherwise they arethe same as sister-keelsons. 

BILGE-PIECES. Synonymous with _bilge-keels_. 

BILGE-PLANKS. Certain thick strengthenings on the inner and outer linesof the bilge, to secure the _shiftings_ as well as bilge-keels. 

BILGE-PUMP. A small pump used for carrying off the water which may lodgeabout the lee-bilge, so as not to be under the action of the main pumps. In a steamer it is worked by a single link off one of the levers. 

BILGE-TREES. Another name for bilge-coads. 

BILGE-WATER. The rain or sea-water which occasionally enters a vessel, and running down to her floor, remains in the bilge of the ship tillpumped out, by reason of her flat bottom, which prevents it from goingto the well of the pump; it is always (especially if the ship does notleak) of a dirty colour and disgusting penetrating smell. It seems tohave been a sad nuisance in early voyages; and in the earliestsea-ballad known (_temp. _ Hen. VI. ) it is thus grumbled at:--

 "A sak of strawe were there ryght good, For som must lyg theym in theyr hood, I had as lefe be in the wood W'out mete or drynk. For when that we shall go to bedde, The pumpe was nygh our bedde's hedde; A man were as good to be dede As smell thereof ye stynk. "

The mixture of tar-water and the drainings of sugar cargo is about theworst perfume known. 

BILL. A weapon or implement of war, a pike or halbert of the Englishinfantry. It was formerly carried by sentinels, whence Shakspearehumorously made Dogberry tell the sleepy watchmen to have a care thattheir bills be not stolen. Also, the point or tapered extremity of thefluke at the arm of an anchor. Also a point of land, of which a familiarinstance may be cited in the Bill of Portland. 

BILLAT. A name on the coast of Yorkshire for the piltock or coal-fish, when it is a year old. 

BILL-BOARDS. Doubling under the fore-channels to the water-line, toprotect the planking from the bill of the anchor. 

BILLET. The allowance to landlords for quartering men in the royalservice; the lodging-money charged by consuls for the same. 

BILLET-HEAD. A carved prow bending in and out, contrariwise to thefiddle-head (scroll-head). Also, a round piece of wood fixed in the bowor stern of a whale-boat, about which the line is veered when the whaleis struck. Synonymous with bollard. 

BILLET-WOOD. Small wood mostly used for dunnage in stowing ships'cargoes, also for fuel, usually sold by the fathom; it is 3 feet 4inches long, and 7-1/2 inches in compass. 

BILL-FISH. _See_ GAR-FISH. 

BILL-HOOK. A species of hatchet used in wooding a ship, similar to thatused by hedgers. 

BILL OF EXCHANGE. A means of remitting money from one country toanother. The receiver must present it for acceptance to the parties onwhom it is drawn without loss of time, he may then claim the money afterthe date specified on the bill has elapsed. 

BILL OF FREEDOM. A full pass for a neutral in time of war. 

BILL OF HEALTH. A certificate properly authenticated by the consul, orother proper authority at any port, that the ship comes from a placewhere no contagious disorder prevails, and that none of the crew, at thetime of her departure, were infected with any such distemper. Suchconstitutes a _clean_ bill of health, in contradistinction to a _foul_bill. 

BILL OF LADING. A memorandum by which the master of a ship acknowledgesthe receipt of the goods specified therein, and promises to deliverthem, in like good condition, to the consignee, or his order. It differsfrom a charter-party insomuch as it is given only for a single articleor more, laden amongst the sundries of a ship's cargo. 

BILL OF SALE. A written document by which the property of a vessel, orshares thereof, are transferred to a purchaser. 

BILL OF SIGHT, OR OF VIEW. A warrant for a custom-house officer toexamine goods which had been shipped for foreign parts, but not soldthere. 

BILL OF STORE. A kind of license, or custom-house permission, forre-importing unsold goods from foreign ports duty free, within aspecified limit of time. 

BILLOWS. The surges of the sea, or waves raised by the wind; a term morein use among poets than seamen. 

BILLS. The ends of compass or knee timber. 

BILLY BOY OR BOAT. A Humber or east-coast boat, of river-barge build, and a trysail; a bluff-bowed north-country trader, or large one-mastedvessel of burden. 

BINARY SYSTEM. When two stars forming a double-star are found to revolveabout each other. 

BIND. A quantity of eels, containing 10 sticks of 25 each. 

BINDINGS. In ship-building, a general name for the beams, knees, clamps, water-ways, transoms, and other connecting parts of a ship or vessel. 

BINDING-STRAKES. Thick planks on the decks, in midships, between thehatchways. Also the principal strakes of plank in a vessel, especiallythe sheer-strake and wales, which are bolted to the knees andshelf-pieces. 

BING. A heap; an old north-country word for the sea-shore, and sometimesspelled _being_. 

BINGE, TO. To rinse, or bull, a cask. 

BINGID. An old term for locker. 

BINK. _See_ BENK. 

BINN. A sort of large locker, with a lid on the top, for containing avessel's stores: bread-binn, sail-binn, flour-binn, &c. 

BINNACLE (formerly BITTACLE). It appears evidently to be derived fromthe French term _habittacle_, a small habitation, which is now used forthe same purpose by the seamen of that nation. The binnacle is a woodencase or box, which contains the compass, and a light to illuminate thecompass at night; there are usually three binnacles on the deck of aship-of-war, two near the helm being designed for the man who steers, weather and lee, and the other amidships, 10 or 12 feet before these, where the quarter-master, who conns the ship, stands when _steering_, orgoing with a free wind. (_See_ CONN. )

BINNACLE-LIGHT. The lamp throwing light upon the compass-card. 

BINOCLE. A small binocular or two-eyed telescope. 

BIOR-LINN. Perhaps the oldest of our terms for boat. (_See_ BIRLIN. )

BIRD-BOLT. A species of arrow, short and thick, used to kill birdswithout piercing their skins. 

BIRD'S-FOOT SEA-STAR. The _Palmipes membranaceus_, one of the_Asterinidæ_, with a flat thin pentagonal body, of a bright scarletcolour. 

BIRD'S NEST. A round top at a mast-head for a look-out station. Asmaller crow's nest. Chiefly used in whalers, where a constant look-outis kept for whales. (_See_ EDIBLE BIRD'S NEST. )

BIREMIS. In Roman antiquity, a vessel with two rows of oars. 

BIRLIN. A sort of small vessel or galley-boat of the Hebrides; it isfitted with four to eight long oars, but is seldom furnished with sails. 

BIRT. A kind of turbot. 

BIRTH-MARKS. A ship must not be loaded above her birth-marks, for, saysa maritime proverb, a master must know the capacity of his vessel, aswell as a rider the strength of his horse. 

BISCUIT [_i. E. _ _bis coctus_, or Fr. _bis-cuit_]. Bread intended fornaval or military expeditions is now simply flour well kneaded, with theleast possible quantity of water, into flat cakes, and slowly baked. Pliny calls it _panis nauticus_; and of the _panis militaris_, he saysthat it was heavier by one-third than the grain from which it was made. 

BISHOP. A name of the great northern diver (_Colymbus glacialis_). 

BISMER. A name of the stickleback (_Gasterosteus spinachia_). 

BIT. A West Indian silver coin, varying from 4_d. _ to 6_d. _ In Americait is 12-1/2 cents, and in the Spanish settlements is equal with thereal, or one-eighth of a dollar. It was, in fact, Spanish money cut intobits, and known as "cut-money. "

BITE. Is said of the anchor when it holds fast in the ground on reachingit. Also, the hold which the short end of a lever has upon the thing tobe lifted. Also, to bite off the top of small-arm cartridges. 

BITTER. Any turn of a cable about the bitts is called a bitter. Hence aship is "brought up to a bitter" when the cable is allowed to run out tothat stop. 

BITTER-BUMP. A north-country name for the bittern. 

BITTER-END. That part of the cable which is abaft the bitts, andtherefore within board when the ship rides at anchor. They say, "Bend tothe bitter-end" when they would have that end bent to the anchor, andwhen a chain or rope is paid out to the bitter-end, no more remains tobe let go. The bitter-end is the clinching end--sometimes that end isbent to the anchor, because it has never been used, and is moretrustworthy. The first 40 fathoms of a cable of 115 fathoms is generallyworn out when the inner end is comparatively new. 

BITT-HEADS. The upright pieces of oak-timber let in and bolted to thebeams of two decks at least, and to which the cross-pieces are let onand bolted. (_See_ BITTS. )

BITT-PINS. Similar to belaying-pins, but larger. Used to prevent thecable from slipping off the cross-piece of the bitts, also to confinethe cable and messenger there, in heaving in the cable. 

BITTS. A frame composed of two strong pieces of straight oak timber, fixed upright in the fore-part of a ship, and bolted securely to thebeams, whereon to fasten the cables as she rides at anchor; in ships ofwar there are usually two pairs of cable-bitts, and when they are bothused at once the cable is said to be double-bitted. Since theintroduction of chain-cables, bitts are coated with iron, and vary intheir shapes. There are several other smaller bitts; as, thetopsail-sheet bitts, paul-bitts, carrick-bitts, windlass-bitts, winch-bitts, jear-bitts, riding-bitts, gallows-bitts, and fore-bracebitts. 

BITT-STOPPER. One rove through the knee of the bitts, which nips thecable on the bight: it consists of four or five fathoms of rope tailedout nipper fashion at one end, and clench-knotted at the other. The oldbitt-stopper, by its running loop on a standing end, bound the cabledown in a bight abaft the bitts--the tail twisted round the fore parthelped to draw it still closer. It is now disused--chain cables havingsuperseded hemp. 

BITT THE CABLE, TO. To put it round the bitts, in order to fasten it, orslacken it out gradually, which last is called veering away. 

BIVOUAC. The resting for the night in the open-air by an armed party, instead of encamping. 

BIZE. A piercing cold wind from the frozen summits of the Pyrénées. 

BLACKAMOOR. A thoroughly black negro. 

BLACK-BIRD CATCHING. The slave-trade. 

BLACK-BIRDS. A slang term on the coast of Africa for a cargo of slaves. 

BLACK-BOOK OF THE ADMIRALTY. An imaginary record of offences. Also, adocument of great authority in naval law, as it contains the ancientadmiralty statutes and ordinances. 

BLACK-FISH. A common name applied by sailors to many different speciesof cetaceans. The animal so called in the south seas belongs to thegenus _Globiocephalus_. It is from 15 to 20 feet long, and occurs incountless shoals. 

BLACK-FISHER. A water-poacher: one who kills salmon in close-time. 

BLACK-FISHING. The illegally taking of salmon, under night, by means oftorches and spears with barbed prongs. 

BLACK-HEAD. The pewitt-gull (_Larus ridibundus_). 

BLACK-HOLE. A place of solitary confinement for soldiers, and tried insome large ships. 

BLACK-INDIES. Newcastle, Sunderland, and Shields. 

BLACKING. For the ship's bends and yards. A good mixture is made ofcoal-tar, vegetable-tar, and salt-water, boiled together, and laid onhot. 

BLACKING DOWN. The tarring and blacking of rigging; or the operation ofblacking the ship's sides with tar or mineral blacking. 

BLACK-JACK. The ensign of a pirate. Also, a capacious tin can for beer, which was formerly made of waxed leather. In 1630 Taylor wrote--

 "Nor or of blacke-jacks at gentle buttry-bars, Whose liquor oftentimes breeds household wars. "

BLACK-LIST. A record of misdemeanours impolitically kept by someofficers for their private use--the very essence of private tyranny, nowforbidden. 

BLACK-LOCK. A trout thought to be peculiar to Lough Melvin, on the westof Ireland. 

BLACK SHIPS. The name by which the English builders designate thoseconstructed of teak in India. 

BLACK SOUTH-EASTER. The well-known violent wind at the Cape of GoodHope, in which the vapoury clouds called the Devil's Table-cloth appearon Table Mountain. 

BLACK SQUALL. This squall, although generally ascribed to the WestIndies, as well as the white squall, may be principally ascribed to apeculiar heated state of the atmosphere near land. As blackey, wheninterrogated about weather, generally observes, "Massa, look toleeward, " it may be easily understood that it is the condensed airrepelled by a colder medium to leeward, and driven back with condensedelectricity and danger. So it is sudden to Johnny Newcomes, who losesails, spars, and ships, by capsizing. 

BLACK'S THE WHITE OF MY EYE. When Jack avers that no one can say this orthat of him. It is an indignant expression of innocence of a charge. 

BLACK-STRAKE. The range of plank immediately above the wales in a ship'sside; they are always covered with a mixture of tar and lamp-black, which not only preserves them from the heat of the sun and the weather, but forms an agreeable variety with the painted or varnished parts abovethem. Vessels with no ports have frequently two such strakes--one above, the other below the wales, the latter being also called the diminishingstrake. 

BLACK-STRAP. The dark country wines of the Mediterranean. Also, badport, such as was served for the sick in former times. 

BLACK-TANG. The sea-weed _Fucus vesicolosus_, or tangle. 

BLACKWALL-HITCH. A sort of tackle-hook guy, made by putting the bight ofa rope over the back of the hook, and there jamming it by the standingpart. A mode of hooking on the bare end of a rope where no lengthremains to make a cat's-paw. 

BLACK WHALE. The name by which the right whale of the south seas(_Balæna australis_) is often known to whalemen. 

BLAD. A term on our northern coasts for a squall with rain. 

BLADDER-FISH. A term for the tetraodon. (_See_ BALLOON-FISH. )

BLADE OF AN ANCHOR. That part of the arm prepared to receive the palm. 

BLADE OR WASH OF AN OAR. Is the flat part of it which is plunged intothe water in rowing. The force and effect in a great measure depends onthe length of this part, when adequate force is applied. When long oarsare used, the boat is generally single-banked, so that the fulcrum isremoved further from the rower. Also, the motive part of thescrew-propeller. 

BLAE, OR BLEA. The alburnum or sap-wood of timber. 

BLAKE. Yellow. North of England. 

BLANK. Level line mark for cannon, as point-blank, equal to 800 yards. It was also the term for the white mark in the centre of a butt, atwhich the arrow was aimed. 

BLANKET. The coat of fat or blubber under the skin of a whale. 

BLARE, TO. To bellow or roar vehemently. --_Blare_, a mixture of hair andtar made into a kind of paste, used for tightening the seams of boats. 

BLARNEY. Idle discourse; obsequious flattery. 

BLASHY. Watery or dirty; applied to weather, as "a blashy day, " a wetday. In parlance, trifling or flimsy. 

BLAST. A sudden and violent gust of wind: it is generally of shortduration, and succeeded by a fine breeze. --_To blast_, to blow up withgunpowder. 

BLAST-ENGINE. A ventilating machine to draw off the foul air from thehold of a ship, and induce a current of fresh air into it. 

BLATHER. Thin mud or puddle. Also, idle nonsense. 

BLAY. A name of the bleak. 

BLAZE, TO. To fire away as briskly as possible. To blaze away is to keepup a running discharge of fire-arms. Also, to spear salmon. Also, in thewoods, to mark a tree by cutting away a portion of its outer surface, thus leaving a patch of whiter internal surface exposed, to callattention or mark a track. 

BLAZERS. Applied to mortar or bomb vessels, from the great emission offlame to throw a 13-inch shell. 

BLAZING STARS. The popular name of comets. 

BLEAK. The _Leuciscus alburnus_ of naturalists, and the fresh-watersprat of Isaak Walton. The name of this fish is from the Anglo-Saxon_blican_, owing to its shining whiteness--its lustrous scales havinglong been used in the manufacture of false pearls. 

BLEEDING THE MONKEY. The monkey is a tall pyramidal kid or bucket, whichconveys the grog from the grog-tub to the mess--stealing from this _intransitu_ is so termed. 

BLEED THE BUOYS. To let the water out. 

BLENNY. A small acanthopterygious fish (_Blennius_). 

BLETHER-HEAD. A blockhead. 

BLETHERING. Talking idle nonsense; insolent prate. 

BLIND. A name on the west coast of Scotland for the pogge, or miller'sthumb (_Cottus cataphractus_). 

BLIND. Everything that covers besiegers from the enemy. (_See_ ORILLON. )

BLINDAGE. A temporary wooden shelter faced with earth, both in siegeworks and in fortified places, against splinters of shells and the like. 

BLIND-BUCKLERS. Those fitted for the hawse-holes, which have no aperturefor the cable, and therefore used at sea to prevent the water coming in. 

BLIND-HARBOUR. One, the entrance of which is so shut in as not readilyto be perceived. 

BLIND-ROCK. One lying just under the surface of the water, so as not tobe visible in calms. 

BLIND-SHELL. One which, from accident or bad fuze, has fallen withoutexploding, or one purposely filled with lead, as at the siege of Cadiz. Also used at night filled with fuze composition, and enlarged fuze-hole, to indicate the range. 

BLIND-STAKES. A sort of river-weir. 

BLINK OF THE ICE. A bright appearance or looming (the iceberg reflectedin the atmosphere above it), often assuming an arched form; so called bythe Greenlanders, and by which reflection they always know when they areapproaching ice long before they see it. In Greenland blink meansiceberg. 

BLIRT. A gust of wind and rain. 

BLOAT, TO. To dry by smoke; a method latterly applied almost exclusivelyto cure herrings or bloaters. --_Bloated_ is also applied to anyhalf-dried fish. 

BLOCCO. Paper and hair used in paying a vessel's bottom. 

BLOCK. (In mechanics termed a pulley. ) Blocks are flattish oval piecesof wood, with sheaves in them, for all the running ropes to run in. Theyare used for various purposes in a ship, either to increase themechanical power of the ropes, or to arrange the ends of them in certainplaces on the deck, that they may be readily found when wanted; they areconsequently of various sizes and powers, and obtain various names, according to their form or situation, thus:--A single block containsonly one sheave or wheel. A double block has two sheaves. A treble orthreefold block, three, and so on. A long-tackle or fiddle-block has twosheaves--one below the other, like a fiddle. Cistern or sister block fortop-sail lifts and reef tackles. Every block is composed of three, andgenerally four, parts:--(1. ) The shell, or outside wooden part. (2. ) Thesheave, or wheel, on which the rope runs. (3. ) The pin, or axle, onwhich the sheave turns. (4. ) The strop, or part by which the block ismade fast to any particular station, and is usually made either of ropeor of iron. Blocks are named and distinguished by the ropes which theycarry, and the uses they serve for, as bowlines, braces, clue-lines, halliards, &c. &c. They are either _made_ or _morticed_ (which see). 

BLOCK. The large piece of elm out of which the figure is carved at thehead of the ship. 

BLOCKADE. The investment of a town or fortress by sea and land; shuttingup all the avenues, so that it can receive no relief. --_To blockade aport_ is to prevent any communication therewith by sea, and cut offsupplies, in order to compel a surrender when the provisions andammunition are exhausted. --_To raise a blockade_ is to discontinueit. --Blockade is violated by egress as well as by ingress. Warning onthe spot is sufficient notice of a blockade _de facto_. Declaration isuseless without actual investment. If a ship break a blockade, thoughshe escape the blockading force, she is, if taken in any part of herfuture voyage, captured _in delicto_, and subject to confiscation. Theabsence of the blockading force removes liability, and _might_ (in suchcases) overrules _right_. 

BLOCK AND BLOCK. The situation of a tackle when the blocks are drawnclose together, so that the mechanical power becomes arrested until thetackle is again overhauled by drawing the blocks asunder. Synonymouswith chock-a-block. 

BLOCKHOUSE. A small work, generally built of logs, to protect adjacentports. Blockhouses were primarily constructed in our American colonies, because they could be immediately built from the heavy timber felled toclear away the spot, and open the lines of fire. The ends were simplycrossed alternately and pinned. Two such structures, with a space of 6feet for clay, formed, on an elevated position, a very formidablecasemated work. The slanting overhanging roof furnished excellent coverin lieu of loop-holes for musketry. 

BLOCK-MAKER. A manufacturer of blocks. 

BLOCKS. The several transverse pieces or logs of timber, piled in plane, on which a ship is built, or to place her on for repair: they consist ofsolid pieces of oak laid on the ground-ways. 

BLOCKS, FIXED. _See_ FIXED BLOCKS. 

BLOOD-SUCKERS. Lazy fellows, who, by skulking, throw their proportion oflabour on the shoulders of their shipmates. 

BLOODY FLAG. A large red flag. 

BLOOM. A peculiar warm blast of wind; a term used in iron-foundries. 

BLORE. An old word for a stiff gale. 

BLOUT. A northern term for the sudden breaking-up of a storm. Blout hasbeen misused for blirt. 

BLOW. Applied to the breathing of whales and other cetaceans. Theexpired air from the lungs being highly charged with moisture, whichcondenses at the temperature of the atmosphere, appears like a column ofsteam. 

BLOW. A gale of wind. 

BLOWE. A very old English word for scold or revile, still in use, aswhen a man receives a good blowing-up. 

BLOW-HOLES. The nostrils of the cetaceans, situated on the highest partof the head. In the whalebone whales they form two longitudinal slits, placed side by side. In the porpoises, grampuses, &c. , they are unitedinto a single crescentic opening. 

BLOW HOME. The wind does not cease or moderate till it comes past thatplace, blowing continuously over the land and sea with equal velocity. In a naval sense, it does not blow home when a sea-wind is interruptedby a mountainous range along shore. 

BLOWING GREAT GUNS AND SMALL ARMS. Heavy gales; a hurricane. 

BLOWING HARD. Said of the wind when it is strong and steady. 

BLOWING THE GRAMPUS. Throwing water over a sleeper on watch. 

BLOWING WEATHER. A nautical term for a continuance of strong gales. (_See_ GALE. )

BLOWN COD. A split cod, half dried by exposure to the wind. _Blown_ isalso frequently applied to bloated herrings, when only partly cured. Also, a cod-fish rises to the surface, and is easily taken, if blown. Bybeing hauled nearly up, and the hook breaking, it loses the power forsome time of contracting the air-bladder, and thus dies head out ofwater. 

BLOWN ITSELF OUT. Said of a falling gale of wind. 

BLOW OFF, TO. To clear up in the clouds. 

BLOW-OFF-PIPE, in a steamer, is a pipe at the foot of each boiler, communicating with the sea, and furnished with a cock to open and shutit. --_Blowing-off_ is the act or operation of using the blow-off-pipe tocleanse a marine steam-engine of its brine deposit; also, to clear theboilers of water, to lighten a ship if grounded. 

BLOW-OUT. Extravagant feasting regardless of consequences. 

BLOW OVER, (IT WILL). Said of a gale which is expected to pass awayquickly. 

BLOW-PIPE. An engine of offence used by the Araucanians and Borneans, and with the latter termed _sumpitan_: the poisoned arrow, _sumpit_, will wound at the distance of 140 or more yards. The arrow is forcedthrough (like boys' pea-shooters) by the forcible and sudden exertion ofthe lungs. A wafer can be hit at 30 yards to a certainty, and smallbirds are unerringly stunned at 30 yards by pellets of clay. 

BLOW THE GAFF. To reveal a secret; to expose or inform against a person. 

BLOW-THROUGH VALVE. A valve admitting steam into the condenser, in orderto clear it of air and water before starting the engine. 

BLOW UP, TO. To abuse angrily. 

BLOW-VALVE. A valve by which the first vacuum necessary for starting asteam-engine is produced. 

BLUBBER. The layer of fat in whales between the skin and the flesh, which is flinched or peeled off, and boiled for oil, varying from 10 to20 inches in thickness. (_See_ SEA-BLUBBER. )

BLUBBER FORKS AND CHOPPERS. The implements with which blubber is "madeoff, " or cut for stowing away. 

BLUBBER-GUY. A large rope stretched from the main to the fore mast headof whalers, to which the speck-falls are attached for the operation offlensing. 

BLUE. _Till all's blue_: carried to the utmost--a phrase borrowed fromthe idea of a vessel making out of port, and getting into bluewater. --_To look blue_, to be surprised, disappointed, or taken aback, with a countenance expressive of displeasure. 

BLUE-JACKETS. The seamen as distinguished from the marines. 

BLUE LIGHT. A pyrotechnical preparation for signals by night. Alsocalled Bengal light. 

BLUE-LIGHTISM. Affected sanctimoniousness. 

BLUE MOON. An indefinite period. 

BLUE-NOSE. A general term for a native of Nova Scotia. 

BLUE PETER. The signal for sailing when hoisted at the fore-topmasthead; this well-known flag has a blue ground with a white square in thecentre. 

BLUE PIGEON. A nickname for the sounding lead. 

BLUE WATER. The open ocean. 

BLUFF. An abrupt high land, projecting almost perpendicularly into thesea, and presenting a bold front, rather rounded than cliffy in outline, as with the headland. 

BLUFF-BOWED. Applied to a vessel that has broad and flat bows--that is, full and square-formed: the opposite of lean. 

BLUFF-HEADED. When a ship has but a small rake forward on, being builtwith her stem too straight up. 

BLUNDERBUSS. A short fire-arm, with a large bore and wide mouth, toscatter a number of musket or pistol bullets or slugs. 

BLUNK. A sudden squall, or stormy weather. 

BLUSTROUS. Stormy: also said of a braggadocio. 

BO. Abbreviation of _boy_. A familiar epithet for a comrade, derivedprobably from the negro. 

BOADNASH. Buckhemshein coins of Barbary. 

BOANGA. A Malay piratical vessel, impelled by oars. 

BOARD. Certain offices under the control of the executive government, where the business of any particular department is carried on: as theBoard of Admiralty, the Navy Board, Board of Ordnance, India Board, Board of Trade, &c. Also, timber sawn to a less thickness than plank:all broad stuff of under 1-1/2 inch in thickness. (_See_ PLANK. ) Also, the space comprehended between any two places when the ship changes hercourse by tacking; or, it is the line over which she runs between tackand tack when working to windward, or sailing against the direction ofthe wind. --_To make a good board. _ To sail in a straight line whenclose-hauled, without deviating to leeward. --_To make short boards_, isto tack frequently before the ship has run any great length of way. --_Tomake a stern board_, is when by a current, or any other accident, thevessel comes head to wind, the helm is shifted, and she has fallen backon the opposite tack, losing what she had gained, instead of havingadvanced beyond it. To make a stern board is frequently a very criticalas well as seamanlike operation, as in very close channels. The vesselis allowed to run up into the wind until she has shot up to the weatherdanger; the helm is then shifted, and with all aback forward, she fallsshort off on the opposite tack. Such is also achieved at anchor inclub-hauling (which see). --_To board a ship_, is to enter her in ahostile manner in order to take forcible possession of her, either fromthe attacking ship or by armed boats. The word _board_ has various otherapplications among seamen:--_To go aboard_ signifies to go into theship. --_To slip by the board_, is to slip down a ship's side. --_To boardit up_, is to beat up, sometimes on one tack and sometimes onanother. --_The weather-board_ is the side of the ship which is towindward. --_By the board_, close to a ship's deck. 

BOARD AND BOARD. Alongside, as when two ships touch each other. 

BOARDERS. Sailors appointed to make an attack by boarding, or to repelsuch attempt from the enemy. Four men selected from each gun weregenerally allotted as boarders, also to trim sails, tend pumps, repairrigging, &c. 

BOARD HIM. A colloquialism for I'll ask, demand, or accost him. HenceShakspeare makes Polonius say of Hamlet, "I'll board him presently. "

To make acquaintance with; to fasten on. 

BOARD HIM IN THE SMOKE. To take a person by surprise, as by firing abroadside, and boarding in the smoke. 

BOARDING. An assault made by one vessel on another, by entering her inbattle with a detachment of armed men. 

BOARDING-BOOK. A register which has for its object the recording allparticulars relative to every ship boarded, a copy of which istransmitted to the admiral under whose orders the ship is employed. (_See_ GUARD-BOOK. )

BOARDING-NETTINGS. A framework of stout rope-netting placed wherenecessary, to obstruct an enemy's boarders. 

BOARDING-PIKE. A defensive lance against boarders. 

BOARDLINGS. Flippant understrappers of the admiralty and navy-boards. 

BOARD OF TRADE. A committee of the Privy Council appointed for theconsideration of commercial matters. 

BOAT. A small open vessel, conducted on the water by rowing or sailing. The construction, machinery, and even the names of boats, are verydifferent, according to the various purposes for which they arecalculated, and the services on which they are employed. Thus we havethe long-boat and the jolly-boat, life-boat and gun-boat, but they willappear under their respective appellations. --_A bold boat_, one thatwill endure a rough sea well. --_Man the boat_, send the crew in to rowand manage it. 

BOATABLE. Water navigable for boats and small river-craft. 

BOAT-BUOYS. Means added to increase the buoyancy of life-boats, &c. 

BOAT-CHOCKS. Clamps of wood upon which a boat rests when stowed on avessel's deck. 

BOAT-CLOAK. A mantle for the officer going on duty; when left in theboat it is in the coxswain's charge. 

BOAT-DAVIT. A curved piece of timber with a sheave at its outer end, which projects over the boat's stern, while the inner end is shippedinto a cleat on each side of the bottom of the boat, for weighinganchors when needed. (_See_ DAVIT. )

BOAT-FAST. _See_ PAINTER. 

BOAT-GEER. A general name for the rigging and furniture of a boat. 

BOAT-HIRE. Expenses for the use of shore-boats. 

BOAT-HOOK. An iron hook with a straight prong at its hinder part; it isfixed upon a pole, by the help of which a boat is either pulled to, orpushed off from, any place, and is capable of holding on by anything. 

BOATILA. A narrow-sterned, flat-bottomed boat of the Gulf of Manar. 

BOATING. Transporting men, munitions, or goods, in boats. 

BOAT-KEEPER. One of the boat's crew who remains in charge of her duringthe absence of the others. In small vessels he is sometimes called theboatman. 

BOAT-NAILS. Those supplied for the carpenter's use are of variouslengths, generally rose-headed, square at the points, and made both ofcopper and iron. (_See_ NAILS. )

BOAT-ROPE. A separate rope veered to the boat to be towed at the ship'sstern. 

BOAT'S CREW. The men appointed as the crew of any particular boat, asthe barge's crew, cutter's crew, &c. 

BOAT'S-GRIPES. Lashings for the secure stowage of boats. (_See_ GRIPES. )

BOAT-SKIDS. Portable pieces of plank used to prevent chafing when a boatis hoisted or lowered. (_See_ SKIDS. )

BOATSWAIN. The officer who superintends the boat-sails, ship's-sails, rigging, canvas, colours, anchors, cables and cordage, committed to hischarge. He ought also to take care that the blocks and running ropes areregularly placed to answer the purposes for which they are intended, andthat the sails are properly fitted to their yards and stays, andwell-furled or reefed when occasion requires. He pipes the hands totheir several duties, seeing that they attend his call, and ought to bein every way a thorough seaman. Although termed boatswain, the boats arenot in his charge. They, with the spars, &c. , and stores for repair, belong to the carpenter. The boatswain is the officer of the firstlieutenant; he gives no order, but reports defects, and carries out thewill of his superior. 

BOATSWAIN-BIRD. _Phaethon æthereus_, a tropical bird, so called from itssort of whistle. It is distinguished by two long feathers in the tail, called the marling-spike. 

BOATSWAIN-CAPTAIN. An epithet given by certain popinjays in the serviceto such of their betters as fully understand the various duties of theirstation. 

BOATSWAIN'S MATE. Is an assistant to the boatswain, who had the peculiarcommand of the long-boat. He summons the watch or crew by his whistle, and during his watch looks to the decks, and has peculiar calls for"grog, " "'bout ship, " "pipe to breakfast, " "sweepers, " &c. 

BOATSWAIN'S STORE-ROOM. Built expressly for boatswain's stores, on aplatform or light deck. 

BOATSWAIN'S YEOMAN. _See_ YEOMAN. 

BOAT THE ANCHOR. Place the anchor in-board in the boat. 

BOAT THE OARS. Put them in their proper places fore and aft on thethwarts ready for use. 

BOB. A knot of worms on a string, used in fishing for eels; alsocolloquially, it means a berth. --_Shift your bob_, to move about, tododge, to fish. --_Bear a bob_, make haste, be brisk. 

BOB. The ball or balance-weight of a clock's pendulum; the weightattached to the plumb-line. 

BOBBERY. A disturbance, row, or squabble; a term much used in the EastIndies and China. 

BOBBING. A particular method of fishing for eels--

 "His hook he bated with a dragon's tail, And sat upon a rock, and bobb'd for whale. "

BOBBING ABOUT. Heaving and setting without making any way. 

BOBBLE. The state of waves when dashing about without any regular set ordirection, as in cross tides or currents. 

BOBSTAY-COLLARS. These are made with large rope, and an eye spliced ineach end; they are secured round the bowsprit, on the upper side, with arose lashing. They are almost entirely superseded by iron bands. 

BOBSTAY-HOLES. Those cut through the fore-part of the knee of the head, between the cheeks, for the admission of the bobstay; they are not muchused now, as chain bobstays are almost universal, which are secured toplates by shackles. 

BOBSTAY-PLATES. Iron plates by which the lower end of the bobstay isattached to the stem. 

BOBSTAYS. Ropes or chains used to confine the bowsprit downward to thestem or cut-water. They are fitted in various ways. Their use is tocounteract the strain of the foremast-stays, which draw it upwards. Thebowsprit is also fortified by shrouds from the bows on each side, whichare all very necessary, as the fore-mast and the upper spars on themain-mast are stayed and greatly supported by the bowsprit. 

BOCCA. [Sp. _boca_, mouth. ] Is a term used both in the Levant, and onthe north coast of South America, or the Spanish Main, for a mouth orchannel into any port or harbour, or the entrance into a sound which hasa passage out by a contrary way. --_Bocca Tigris_, Canton River. 

BODIES. The figure of a ship, abstractedly considered, is divided intodifferent parts or figures, each of which has the appellation body, asfore-body, midship-body, square-body, &c. 

BODKIN. A dirk or dagger, a word still in use, though Johnson says it isthe oldest acceptation of it. It is the _bodekin_ of Chaucer; andShakspeare makes Hamlet ask who would bear the ills of life, "When he himself might his quietus make With a bare bodkin?"

BODY. The principal corps of an army, or the main strength of a fleet. 

BODY, OF A PLACE. In fortification, the space inclosed by the enceinte, or line of bastions and curtains. 

BODY-HOOPS. Those which secure the aris pieces of a made mast. 

BODY-PLAN. The draught of a proposed ship, showing the breadth andtimbers; it is a section supposed to cut the vessel through the broadestpart; it is otherwise called the plan of projection. 

BODY-POST. An additional stern-post introduced at the fore-part of anaperture cut in the dead-wood in a ship fitted with a screw-propeller. 

BOG. A marsh, or a tract of land, which from its form and impermeablebottom retains stagnant water. (_See_ QUAGMIRE. )

BOG-BLUTER. A northern name for the bittern, from its habit of thrustingits bill into marshy places. 

BOG-TROTTER. Any one who lives among marshy moors, but generally appliedto the Emeralders. 

BOGUE, TO. To drop off from the wind. To edge away to leeward with thewind; not holding a good wind, and driving very much to leeward. Usedonly to clumsy inferior craft. 

BOGUE. Mouth of a river; hence disembogue. Bogue forts, China. 

BOHEMIAN. A conceited dawdler in his duties. Shakspeare ridicules Simpleas a Bohemian Tartar; both of which terms were applied to gipsies. 

BOILER. Of a steam-engine, made of wrought iron, or copper-plates, whichbeing partly filled with water, and having fire applied to the outside, generates steam to supply the engine. 

BOILERS. Termed coppers; the ship's cooking utensils, of iron or copper. 

BOILING. The "whole boiling" means the entire quantity, or whole party;applied to number or quantity. A contemptuous epithet. 

BOLD-BOW. A broad bluff bow. 

BOLDERING WEATHER. Cloudy and thundery. 

BOLD-SHORE. A steep coast where the water, deepening rapidly, admits thenear approach of shipping without the danger of grounding. 

BOLD-TO. Applied to land; the same as steep-to. 

BOLE. A small boat. 

BOLIDE. A name for aërolite (which see). 

BOLINE. _See_ BOWLINE. _Clavus in navi. _

BOLLAN. The Manx or Gaelic term for the fish old-wife. 

BOLLARD. A thick piece of wood on the head of a whale-boat, round whichthe harpooner gives the line a turn, in order to veer it steadily, andcheck the animal's velocity. Also a strong timber fixed vertically intothe ground, part being left above it, on which to fasten ropes. Also alighter sort of dolphin for attaching vessels to. Wharves have bollardsto which vessels are secured when alongside. 

BOLLARD-TIMBERS. Two pieces of oak, usually called knight-heads (whichsee). 

BOLLING OR BOWLING AWAY. Going with a free wind. 

BOLME. An old term for a waterman's pole or boom. 

BOLOTO. A small boat of the Philippines and Moluccas. 

BOLSTERS. Small cushions or bags of tarred canvas, used to preserve thestays from being chafed by the motion of the masts, when the shippitches at sea. Pieces of soft wood covered with canvas, placed on thetrestle-trees, for the eyes of the rigging to rest upon, and prevent asharp nip. Also pieces of oak timber fayed to the curvature of the bow, under the hawse-holes, and down upon the upper cheek, to prevent thecable from rubbing against the cheeks. --_Bolsters_ for sheets, tacks, &c. , are small pieces of fir or oak, fayed under the gunwale, or otherpart, with the outer surface rounded to prevent chafing. --_Bolsters_, for the anchor lining. Solid pieces of oak bolted to the ship's side atthe fore part of the fore-chains on which the stanchions are fixed thatreceive the anchor lining. 

BOLT. A cylindrical pin of iron or copper to unite the different partsof a vessel, varied in form according to the places where they arerequired. In ship-building square ones are used in frame-fastening; theheads of all bolts are round, saucer, or collared. --_Bolt of the irons_, which runs through three pairs of shackles. --_Drift_ or _drive-bolts_are used to drive out others. --_Bay-bolts_, have jags or barbs on eachside, to keep them from flying out of their holes. --_Clench-bolts_ areclenched with rivetting hammers. --_Fend_ or _fender bolts_, made withlong and thick heads, and struck into the outermost bends of the ship, tosave her sides from bruises. --_Forelock-bolts_ have at the end a forelockof iron driven in, to keep them from starting back. --_Set-bolts_ are usedfor forcing the planks, and bringing them close together. --_Ring-bolts_are used for the bringing to of the planks, and those parts whereto arefastened the breeches and tackle of the guns. --_Scarp-bolts_ and_keel-bolts_, pointed, not clinched, used for false keel or temporarypurposes. --_Bringing-to bolts_, fitted with an eye at one end, and a nutand screw at the other, for bringing to the ends at the stem, &c. --_Tobolt_, to start off, to run away. 

BOLT-BOAT. An old term for a boat which makes good weather in a roughsea. 

BOLTING TIMBERS. Those on each side of the stem, continued up for thesecurity of the bowsprit. (_See_ KNIGHT-HEADS. )

BOLT OF CANVAS. The piece or roll of 39 yards in which it is supplied, but which usually measure about 40 yards in length; it is generally from22 to 30 inches wide. 

BOLT-ROPE. A rope sewed all round the edge of the sail, to prevent thecanvas from tearing. The bottom part of it is called the foot-rope, thesides leech-ropes, and if the sail be oblong or square the upper part iscalled the head-rope; the stay or weather rope of fore-and-aft sails istermed the luff. 

BOLTROPE-NEEDLE. A strong needle for stitching the sail to thebolt-ropes. 

BOLT-SPRIT. _See_ BOWSPRIT. 

BOLT-STRAKE. Certain strakes of plank which the beam fastenings passthrough. 

BOLT-TOE. The cock of a gun-lock. 

BOMB [formerly _bomber_, from _bomba_]. The mortar of bomb-vessels. 

BOMB OR MORTAR VESSELS. Small ships fortified for throwing bombs into afortress; said to be the invention of M. Reyneau, and to have been firstused at the bombardment of Algiers in 1682. Until then it had beenjudged impracticable to bombard a place from the sea. 

BOMBALO. A delicate kind of sand-eel taken in quantities at Bombay. 

BOMBARD. A piece of ordnance, anciently in use before the introductionof more complete cannon with improved gunpowder, propelling iron balls. Its bore, for the projection of stone shot, sometimes exceeded 20 inchesin diameter, but was short; its chamber, for containing thepowder-charge, being about as long, but much narrower both within andwithout. There were also very diminutive varieties of it. It has beenvaguely called by some writers _basilisk_, and by the Dutch_donderbass_. Used to assail a town, fortress, or fleet, by theprojection of shells from mortars. It was also the name of a barrel, orlarge vessel for liquids; hence, among other choice epithets, PrinceHenry calls that "tun of man, " Falstaff, a "huge bombard of sack. " Also, a Mediterranean vessel, with two masts like the English ketch. 

BOMB-BED BEAMS. The beams which support the bomb-bed in bomb-vessels. 

BOMB-BEDS. _See_ BED OF A MORTAR. 

BOMBO. Weak cold punch. 

BOMB-SHELL. A large hollow ball of cast-iron, for throwing from mortars(distinguished by having ears or lugs, by which to lift it with theshell-hooks into the mortar), and having a hole to receive the fuze, which communicates ignition to the charge contained in the shell. (_See_FUZE. )

BOME-SPAR [a corruption of _boom_]. A spar of a larger kind. 

BOMKIN. _See_ BUMKIN. 

BONA FIDE. In good faith; without subterfuge--_Bona fides_ is acondition necessary to entitle to the privilege of pre-emption in ouradmiralty courts. 

BONAVENTURE. The old outer mizen, long disused. 

BONDING. _See_ WAREHOUSING SYSTEM. 

BONDING-POND. An inclosed space of water where the tide flows, forkeeping timber in. 

BOND-MAN. A harsh method in some ships, in keeping one man bound for thegood behaviour of another on leave. 

BOND OF BOTTOMRY. An authority to borrow money, by pledging the keel orbottom of the ship. (_See_ BOTTOMRY. )

BONE, TO. To seize, take, or apprehend. A ship is said to carry a bonein her mouth and cut a feather, when she makes the water foam beforeher. 

BON GRACE. Junk-fenders; for booming off obstacles from a ship's sidesor bows. (_See_ BOWGRACE. )

BONITO. The _Thynnus pelamys_, a fish of the scomber family, commonlyabout 2 feet long, with a sharp head, small mouth, full eyes, and aregular semi-lunar tail. 

BONI-VOCHIL. The Hebridean name for the great northern diver (_Colymbusglacialis_). 

BONNET. An additional part laced to the foot of the jibs, or otherfore-and-aft sails, in small vessels in moderate weather, to gather morewind. They are commonly one-third of the depth of the sails they belongto. Thus we say, "Lace on the bonnet, " or "Shake off the bonnet. "Bonnets have lately been introduced to secure the foot of anupper-topsail to a lower-topsail yard. The unbonnetted sail is for stormservice. Bonnet, in fortification, is a raised portion of the works atany salient angle, having the same plan, but 10 or 12 feet more commandthan the work on which it is based. It assists in protecting fromenfilade, and affords a plunging fire. 

BONNET-FLOOK. A name of the well-known flat-fish, brill, pearl, ormouse-dab; the _Pleuronectes rhombus_. 

BONXIE. The Shetland name for the skua-gull (_Cataractes vulgaris_). Also a very general northern term for sea-birds. 

BONY-FISH. One of the names of the hard-head (which see). 

BOOBY. A well-known tropical sea-bird, _Sula fusca_, of the family_Pelecanidæ_. It is fond of resting out of the water at night, evenpreferring an unstable perch on the yard of a ship. The name is derivedfrom the way in which it allows itself to be caught immediately aftersettling. The direction in which they fly as evening comes on oftenshows where land may be found. 

BOOBY-HATCH. A smaller kind of companion, but readily removable; it isin use for merchantmen's half decks, and lifts off in one piece. 

BOOK. A commercial term for a peculiar packing of muslin, bast, andother stuffs. --_Brought to book_, made to account. 

BOOKING. A reprimand. 

BOOKS. (_See_ SHIP'S BOOKS. ) Official documents. 

BOOM. A long spar run out from different places in the ship, to extendor boom out the foot of a particular sail; as, jib-boom, flyingjib-boom, studding-sail booms, driver or spanker boom, ringtail-boom, main-boom, square-sail boom, &c. A ship is said to come booming forwardswhen she comes with all the sail she can make. Boom also denotes a cablestretched athwart the mouth of a river or harbour, with yards, top-masts, or stout spars of wood lashed to it, to prevent the entranceof an enemy. --_To top one's boom_, is to start off. --_To boom off_, toshove a boat or vessel away with spars. 

BOOMAGE. A duty levied to compound for harbour dues, anchorage, andsoundage. 

BOOM-BOATS. Those stowed on the booms. 

BOOM-BRACE PENDANT. A rope attached to the extremity of a studding-sailboom, and leading down on deck; it is used to counteract the pressure ofthe sail upon the boom. 

BOOM-COVER. The tarpaulin, or painted, cover over the spars. 

BOOMING. Sound of distant guns; it is often, but wrongly, applied to thehissing or whistling of shot. 

BOOM-IRONS. Are metal rings fitted on the yard-arms, through which thestudding-sail booms traverse; there is one on each top-sail yard-arm, but on the lower yards a second, which opens to allow the boom to betriced up; it is one-fourth from the yard-arms, and holds down the heelof the boom when it is rigged out. 

BOOM-JIGGER. A tackle used in large ships, for rigging out or running inthe top-mast studding-sail booms. 

BOOMKIN. _See_ BUMKIN. 

BOOM-MAINSAIL. _See_ MAIN-SAIL. 

BOOMS. A space where the spare spars are stowed; the launch beinggenerally stowed between them. 

BOOPAH. A Tongatabou canoe with a single out-rigger. 

BOOTHYR. An old term, denoting a small river vessel. 

BOOT-TOPPING. The old operation of scraping off the grass, slime, shells, &c. , which adhere to the bottom, near the surface of the water, and daubing it over with a mixture of tallow, sulphur, and resin, as atemporary protection against worms. This is chiefly performed wherethere is no dock or other commodious situation for breaming orcareening, or when the hurry of a voyage renders it inconvenient to havethe whole bottom properly trimmed and cleansed. The term is now appliedto sheathing a vessel with planking over felt. 

BOOTY. That sort of prize which may be distributed at the capstan-head, or at once. 

BOOZE. A carouse; hence, _boozy_, elevated by liquor. 

BORA. A very violent wind experienced in the upper part of the AdriaticSea, but which fortunately is of no great duration. 

BORACCHIO [Sp. _borracho_, drunk]. A skin for holding wine or water, usually a goat's. Used in the Levant. A skin-full; literally, gorgedwith wine. 

BORASCA. A storm, with thunder and lightning. 

BORD. The sea-coast, an old term. Formerly meant the side, edge, orbrim; hence, as applied to a ship, to throw overboard, is to castanything over the side of the vessel. 

BORDELS. An old word for houses built along a strand. In the old playcalled the "Ladies' Privilege, " it is said:--"These gentlemen knowbetter to cut a caper than a cable, or board a pink in the bordels thana pinnace. "

BORDER. A term referring to the nature of the vegetation on the marginof a stream or lake, or to artificial works constructed along the banks. 

BORD YOU. A saying of a man waiting, to one who is drinking, meaningthat he claims the next turn. 

BORE. A sudden and rapid flow of tide in certain inlets of the sea; asthe monstrous wave in the river Hooghly, called _bahu_ by the natives, which rolls in with the noise of distant thunder at flood-tide. Itoccurs from February to November, at the new and full moon. Its causehas not been clearly defined, although it probably arises from thecurrents during spring-tides, acting on a peculiar conformation of thebanks and bed of the river; it strikes invariably on the same part ofthe banks, majestically rolling over to one side, and passing ondiagonally to the other with impetuous violence. The bore also occurs inEngland, near Bristol; and in America, in several rivers, but especiallyin the Bay of Fundy, where at the river Petticodiac the tide rises 76feet. It also occurs in Borneo and several rivers in the East. (_See_HYGRE. ) Also, the interior cavity of a piece of ordnance, generallycylindrical in shape, except when a part of it is modified into achamber. 

BOREAS. A classical name for the north wind, still in use; indeed abrackish proverb for extreme severity of weather says--"Cold and chilly, like Boreas with an iceberg in each pocket. "

BORE DOWN. Sailed down from to windward. 

BORHAME. A northern term for the flounder. 

BORING. In Arctic seas, the operation of forcing the ship through looseice under a heavy press of sail; at least attempting the chance ofadvantage of cracks or openings in the pack. 

BORN WITH A SILVER SPOON IN HIS MOUTH. Said of a person who, by birthor connection, has all the usual obstacles to advancement cleared awayfor him. Those who toil unceasingly for preferment, and toil in vain, are said to have been born with a wooden ladle. Again, the silver-spoongentry are said to come on board through the cabin windows; those lessfavoured, over the bows, or through the hawse-holes. 

BORNE. Placed on the books for victuals and wages; also supernumeraryand "for rank. "

BORROW, TO. To approach closely either to land or wind; to hug a shoalor coast in order to avoid adverse tide. 

BORT. The name given to a long fishing-line in the Shetland Isles. 

BOSS. A head of water, or reservoir. Also the apex of a shield. 

BOTARGA. The roe of the mullet pressed flat and dried; that of commerce, however, is from the tunny, a large fish of passage which is common inthe Mediterranean. The best kind comes from Tunis; it must be chosen dryand reddish. The usual way of eating it is with olive-oil andlemon-juice. 

BOTCH, TO. To make bungling work. 

BOTE'S-CARLE. An old term for the coxswain of a boat. 

BOTHERED. Getting among adverse currents, with shifting winds. 

BOTH SHEETS AFT. The situation of a square-rigged ship that sails beforethe wind, or with the wind right astern. It is said also of ahalf-drunken sailor rolling along with his hands in his pockets andelbows square. 

BOTTE. An old English term for boat, and assuredly the damaged boat intowhich Prospero is turned adrift by Shakspeare. 

BOTTLE-BUMP. The bittern, so called on our east coast. 

BOTTLE-CHARTS. Those on which the set of surface currents are exhibited, derived from papers found in bottles which have been thrown overboardfor that purpose, and washed up on the beach, or picked up by otherships. 

BOTTLE-NOSE, OR BOTTLE-NOSED WHALE. A name applied to several of thesmaller cetaceans of the northern seas, more especially to the_Hyperoodon rostratus_. 

BOTTOM. A name for rich low land formed by alluvial deposits: but in ageneral sense it denotes the lowest part of a thing, incontradistinction to the top or uppermost part. In navigation, it isused to denote as well the channel of rivers and harbours as the body orhull of a ship. Thus, in the former sense we say "a gravelly bottom, clayey bottom, " &c. , and in the latter sense "a British bottom, a Dutchbottom, " &c. By statute, certain commodities imported in foreign bottomspay a duty called "petty customs, " over and above what they are liableto if imported in British bottoms. Bottom of a ship or boat is that partwhich is below the wales. 

BOTTOM-CLEAN. Thoroughly clean, free from weeds, &c. 

BOTTOM-PLANK. That which is placed between the garboard-strake and lowerback-strake. 

BOTTOMREE, OR BOTTOMRY-BOND. The contract of bottomry is a negotiableinstrument, which may be put in suit by the person to whom it istransferred: it is in use in all countries of maritime commerce andinterests. A contract in the nature of a mortgage of a ship, when theowner of it borrows money to enable him to carry on the voyage, andpledge the keel, or bottom of the ship, as a security for the repayment. If the ship be lost the lender also loses his whole money; but if itreturn in safety then he shall receive back his principal, and also thepremium stipulated to be paid, however it may exceed the usual or legalrate of interest. The affair is, however, only regarded as valid uponthe ground of necessity; and thus exacting more than the interestallowed by law is not deemed usury. 

BOTTOMRY PREMIUM. A high rate of interest charged on the safety of theship--the lender losing his whole money if she be lost. 

BOTTOM-WIND. A phenomenon that occurs on the lakes in the north ofEngland, especially Derwent Water, which is often agitated by swellingwaves without any apparent cause. 

BOUCHE. _See_ BUSH. 

BOUGE OR BOWGE AND CHINE, OR BILGE AND CHIMB. The end of one cask stowedagainst the bilge of another. To prepare a ship for the purpose ofsinking it. 

BOUILLI. Termed by seamen bully-beef; disliked because all the substanceis boiled away to enrich the cook's grease-tub, and the meat is uselessas food; rejected even by dogs. In one ship of war it produced mutiny;vide Adams' account of the _Bounty_ miseries. It is also the name givento highly cooked meat in hermetically sealed tin canisters. 

BOULDER-HEAD. A work against the encroachment of the sea, made of woodenstakes. 

BOULDERS. Stones worn and rounded by the attrition of the waves of thesea: the word, on the authority of Hunter, was considered a technicalterm in the fourteenth century, as appears in a warrant of John of Gauntfor the repair of Pontefract Castle--"De peres, appelés buldres, a n'redit chastel come nous semblerez resonables pur la defense de meisme. "

BOULEPONGES. A drink to which many of the deaths of Europeans in Indiawere ascribed; but in Bernier's "Travels, " in the train of Aurungzebe, in 1664, we are informed that "bouleponge is a beverage made of arrack, sugar, lemon-juice, and a little muscadine. " Probably a corruption ofbowls of punch. (_See_ PUNCH. )

BOUNCE. The larger dog-fish. 

BOUNCER. A gun which kicks violently when fired. 

BOUND. Destined for a particular service. Intended voyage to aplace. --_Ice-bound. _ Totally surrounded with ice. --_Tide-bound_, orbe-neaped. (_See_ NEAPED. )--_Wind-bound. _ Prevented from sailing bycontrary wind. --_Where are you bound to?_--_i. E. _ To what place are yougoing?--_Bound on a cruise. _ A corruption of the old word _bowne_, whichis still in use on the northern coasts, and means to make ready, toprepare. 

BOUNTY. A sum of money given by government, authorized by act ofparliament or royal proclamation, to men who voluntarily enter into thearmy or navy; and the widow of such volunteer seaman killed or drownedin the service was entitled to a bounty equal to a year's pay. 

BOUNTY-BOATS. Those which fished under the encouragement of a bountyfrom government. 

BOUNTY-LIST. A register of all persons who have received the bounty towhich they are entitled after having passed three musters in theservice. 

BOURN. _See_ BURN. 

BOURSE. A place where merchants congregate. An exchange. 

BOUSE. _See_ BOWSE. 

BOUT. A turn, trial, or round. An attack of illness; a convivialmeeting. --_'Bout ship_, the brief order for "about ship. "

BOW. The fore-end of a ship or boat; being the rounding part of a vesselforward, beginning on both sides where the planks arch inwards, andterminating where they close, at the rabbet of the stem or prow, beinglarboard or starboard from that division. A bold bow is broad and round;a lean bow, narrow and thin. --_On the bow. _ An arc of the horizon (notexceeding 45°) comprehended between some distant object and that pointof the compass which is right ahead. Four points on either bow is met byfour points before the beam. 

BOW. An astronomical instrument formerly used at sea, consisting of onlyone large graduated arc of 90°, three vanes, and a shank or staff. Alsothe bow of yew, a weapon of our early fleets. 

BOW. _She bows to the breeze_; when the sails belly out full, and theship inclines and goes ahead, pitching or bowing over the blue waves. 

BOW-BYE. The situation of a ship when, in stays, she falls back off thewind again, and gets into irons, which demands practical seamanship forher extrication. This was deemed a lubberly act in our fleets of old. 

BOW-CHASERS. Two long chase-guns placed forward in the bow-ports to firedirectly ahead, and being of small bore for their length, carry shot toa great distance. 

BOWD-EATEN. An old expression for eaten by weevils. 

BOWER-ANCHORS. Those at the bows and in constant working use. They arecalled best and small, not from a difference of size, but as to the bowon which they are placed; starboard being the best bower, and port thesmall bower. The appropriated cables assume the respective names. (_Seealso_ SPARE ANCHOR, SHEET, STREAM, COASTING, KEDGE, &c. )

BOW-FAST. A rope or chain for securing a vessel by the bow. (_See_FAST. )

BOWGE, OR BOUGE. An old term for bilge. 

BOWGER. A name given in the Hebrides to the coulter-neb, or puffin(_Fratercula arctica_). 

BOWGRACE. A kind of frame or fender of old junk, placed round the bowsand sides of a ship to prevent her receiving injury from floating ice ortimbers. (_See_ BON GRACE. )

BOWING. An injury done to yards by too much topping, and letting theirweights hang by the lifts. The state of a top-sail yard when it archesin the centre from hoisting it too tautly. Also of the mast when itbellies or is crippled by injudiciously setting up the rigging too taut. 

BOWING THE SEA. Meeting a turbulent swell in coming to the wind. 

BOWLINE. A rope leading forward which is fastened to a space connectedby bridles to cringles on the leech or perpendicular edge of the squaresails: it is used to keep the weather-edge of the sail tight forward andsteady when the ship is close hauled to the wind; and which, indeed, being hauled taut, enables the ship to come nearer to the wind. Hencethe ship sails on a bowline, or stands on a taut bowline. --_To check orcome up a bowline_ is to slacken it when the wind becomes large orfree. --_To sharp or set taut a bowline_ is to pull it as taut as it canwell bear. 

BOWLINE-BEND. The mode of bending warps or hawsers together by taking abowline in the end of one rope, and passing the end of the other throughthe bight, and making a bowline upon it. 

BOWLINE-BRIDLE. The span attached to the cringles on the leech of asquare sail to which the bowline is toggled or clinched. 

BOWLINE-CRINGLE. An eye worked into the leech-rope of a sail; usually inthat of a fore-sail two, a main-sail three, and the fore-topsails three, but the main-topsail four. By these the sails are found in the dark, byfeeling alone. 

BOWLINE HAUL. A hearty and simultaneous bowse. (_See_ ONE! TWO!!THREE!!!) In hauling the bowline it is customary for the leading man toveer, and then haul, three times in succession, singing out one, two, three--at the last the weight of all the men is thrown in together:this is followed by "belay, oh!" When the bowlines are reported"bowlines hauled, sir, " by the officer in command of the fore-part ofthe ship, the hands, or the watch, return to their duties. 

BOWLINE-KNOT. That by which the bowline-bridles were fastened to thecringles: the bowline-knot is made by an involution of the end and abight upon the standing part of a rope. A further involution makes whatis termed a bowline on a bight. It is very difficult to explain bywords:--holding the rope some distance from the end by the left hand, the end held in the right is laid on the main part, and by a twist givenscrew-fashion to the right, a loop or kink is formed inclosing this end, which is then passed behind, and back in the same direction with theformer, and then jammed home. It is rapidly done, easily undone, and oneof the most seamanlike acts, exhibiting grace as well as power. It canbe made by a man with but one arm. 

BOW-LINES. In ship-building, longitudinal curves representing the ship'sfore-body cut in a vertical section. 

BOWLING-ALONG. Going with a free wind. 

BOW-LOG TIMBERS. A provincial name for hawse-wood. 

BOWMAN. In a single-banked boat he who rows the foremost oar and managesthe boat-hook; called by the French "brigadier de l'embarcation. " Indouble-banked boats there are always two bowmen. Also an archer, differently pronounced. 

BOW-OAR. The foremost oar or oars, in pulling a boat. 

BOW-PIECES. The ordnance in the bows; also in building. 

BOW-RAIL. A rail round the bows. 

BOWSE, TO. To pull upon any body with a tackle, or complication ofpulleys, in order to remove it, &c. Hauling upon a tack is called"bowsing upon a tack, " and when they would have the men pull alltogether, they cry, "Bowse away. " Also used in setting up rigging, as"Bowse away, starboard;" "Bowse away, port. " It is, however, mostly agun-tackle term. --_Bowse up the jib_, a colloquialism to denote the actof tippling: it is an old phrase, and was probably derived from theDutch _buyzen_, to booze. 

BOWSPRIT, OR BOLT-SPRIT. A large spar, ranking with a lower-mast, projecting over the stem; beyond it extends the jib-boom, and beyondthat again the flying jib-boom. To these spars are secured the stays ofthe fore-mast and of the spars above it; on these stays are set the foreand fore-topmast staysails, the jib, and flying-jib, which have a mostuseful influence in counter-balancing the pressure of the after-sails, thereby tending to force the ship ahead instead of merely turning herround. In former times underneath these spars were set a sprit-sail, sprit-topsail, &c. 

BOWSPRIT, RUNNING. In cutter-rigged vessels. (_See_ CUTTER. )

BOWSPRIT-BITTS. Are strong upright timbers secured to the beams belowthe deck; they have a cross-piece bolted to them, the inner end of thebowsprit steps between them, and is thus prevented from slipping in. Thecross-piece prevents it from canting up. 

BOWSPRIT-CAP. The crance or cap on the outer end of the bowsprit, through which the jib-boom traverses. 

BOWSPRIT-GEAR. A term denoting the ropes, blocks, &c. , belonging to thebowsprit. 

BOWSPRIT-HEART. The heart or block of wood used to secure the lower endof the fore-stay, through which the inner end of the jib-boom isinserted. It is seldom, if ever, used now, an iron band round thebowsprit, with an eye on each side for the fore-stays, being preferred. 

BOWSPRIT-HORSES. The ridge-ropes which extend from the bowsprit-cap tothe knight-heads. 

BOWSPRIT-LADDER. Skids over the bowsprit from the beak-head in someships, to enable men to run out upon the bowsprit. 

BOWSPRIT-NETTING. The netting placed just above a vessel's bowsprit, forstowing away the fore-topmast staysail; it is usually lashed between theridge-ropes. 

BOWSPRIT-SHROUDS. Strong ropes or chains leading from nearly the outerend of the bowsprit to the luff of the bow, giving lateral support tothat spar. 

BOW-STAVES. Early supplied to our men-of-war. 

BOW-TIMBERS. Those which form the bow of the ship. 

BOX. The space between the back-board and the stern-post of a boat, where the coxswain sits. 

BOXES OF THE PUMPS. Each ordinary pump has an upper and lower box, theone a fixture in the lower part of its chamber, the other attached tothe end of the spear or piston-rod; in the centre of each box is a valveopening upwards. 

BOXHAULING. Is an evolution by which a ship is veered sharp round on herheel, when the object is to avoid making a great sweep. The helm is puta-lee, the head-yards braced flat aback, the after-yards squared, thedriver taken in, and the head-sheets hauled to windward; when she beginsto gather stern-way the helm is shifted and sails trimmed. It is onlyresorted to in emergencies, as a seaman never likes to see his ship havestern-way. With much wind and sea this evolution would be dangerous. 

BOXING. A square piece of dry hard wood, used in connecting the frametimbers. Also, the projection formerly left at the hawse-pieces, in thewake of the hawse-holes, where the planks do not run through; nowdisused. The stem is said to be boxed when it is joined to the fore endof the keel by a side scarph. (_See_ BOXING OF RUDDER. )

BOXING OFF. Is performed by hauling the head-sheets to windward, andlaying the head-yards flat aback, to pay the ship's head out of thewind, when the action of the helm alone is not sufficient for thatpurpose; as when she is got "in irons. "

BOX THE COMPASS, TO. Not only to repeat the names of the thirty-twopoints in order and backwards, but also to be able to answer any and allquestions respecting its divisions. 

BOYART. An old term for a hoy. 

BOYAUX. The zig-zags or tortuous trenches in the approach of a besieger. 

BOYER. A sloop of Flemish construction, with a raised work at each end. 

BRAB. The sheaf of the young leaves of the Palmyra palm (and also of thecocoa-nut), from which sinnet or plait for hats is made. 

BRAB-TREE. The Palmyra palm. 

BRACE. The braces are ropes belonging to all the yards of a ship; two toeach yard, rove through blocks that are stropped to the yards, orfastened to pendants, seized to the yard-arms. Their use is either tosquare or traverse the yards horizontally; hence, _to brace the yard_, is to bring it to either side by means of the braces. In ship-building, braces are plates of iron, copper, or mixed metal, which are used tobind efficiently a weakness in a vessel; as also to receive the pintlesby which the rudder is hung. 

BRACE ABACK. To brace the yards in, so as to lay the sails aback. --_Tobrace about_, to turn the yards round for the contrary tack, or inconsequence of a change of wind. --_To brace abox_, a manœuvre to insurecasting the right way, by bracing the head-yards flat aback (notsquare). --_To brace by_, to brace the yards in contrary directions toeach other on the different masts, to effect the stopping of the vessel. (_See_ COUNTER-BRACE. )--_To brace in_, to lay the yard less oblique, asfor a free wind, or nearly square. --_To brace round_, synonymous withbrace about. --_To brace sharp_, to cause the yards to have the smallestpossible angle with the keel, for the ship to have head-way: deemedgenerally to form an angle of 20° with the keel. --_To brace to_, is tocheck or ease off the lee braces, and round in the weather ones, toassist in the manœuvre of tacking or wearing. --_To brace up_, or _bracesharp up_, to lay the yards more obliquely fore and aft, by easing offthe weather-braces and hauling in the lee ones, which enables a ship tolie as close to the wind as possible. 

BRACE OF SHAKES. A moment: taken from the flapping of a sail. I will bewith you before it shakes thrice. 

BRACE PENDANTS. Are lengths of rope, or now more generally chain, intowhich the yard-arm brace-blocks are spliced. They are used in themerchant service to save rope, to give the blocks more freedom forslewing to their work, but chiefly because when the brace is let go, thefalling chain will overhaul it, making it easier to haul in the otherbrace. 

BRACE UP AND HAUL AFT! The order usually given after being hove-to, withfore or main top-sail square or aback, and jib-sheet flowing, _i. E. _haul aft jib-sheet, brace up the yards which had been squared, for thepurpose of heaving to. 

BRACK. The Manx or Gaelic name for mackerel. 

BRACKETS. Short crooked timbers resembling knees, fixed in the frame ofa ship's head to support the gratings; they likewise served to supportand ornament the gallery. Also, the two vertical side-pieces of thecarriage of any piece of ordnance, which support it by the trunnions. Called also cheeks. Also, triangular supports to miscellaneous things. 

BRACKISH. Water not fresh; from the Icelandic _breke_, the sea. 

BRADS. Small nails. 

BRAE. A declivity or precipice. 

BRAGGIR. The name given in the Western Islands of Scotland to the broadleaves growing on the top of the _Alga marina_, or sea-grass. 

BRAILS. Ropes passing through leading blocks on the hoops of themizen-mast and gaff, and fastened to the outermost leech of the sail, indifferent places, to truss it close up as occasion requires; alltrysails and several of the staysails also have brails. 

BRAIL UP! The order to pull upon the brails, and thereby spill and haulin the sail. The mizen, or spanker, or driver, or any of the gaff-sails, as they may be termed, when brailed up, are deemed furled; unless itblows hard, when they are farther secured by gaskets. 

BRAKE. The handle or lever by which a common ship-pump is usuallyworked. It operates by means of two iron bolts, one thrust through theinner hole of it, which bolted through forms the lever axis in the ironcrutch of the pump, and serves as the fulcrum for the brake, supportingit between the cheeks. The other bolt connects the extremity of thebrake to the pump-spear, which draws up the spear box or piston, chargedwith the water in the tube; derived from _brachium_, an arm or lever. Also, used to check the speed of machinery by frictional force pressingon the circumference of the largest wheel acted on by leverage of thebrake. 

BRAN, TO. To go on; to lie under a floe edge, in foggy weather, in aboat in Arctic seas, to watch the approach of whales. 

BRANCH. The diploma of those pilots who have passed at the TrinityHouse, as competent to navigate vessels in particular places. The wordbranch is also metaphorically used for river divergents, but itsapplication to affluents is improper. Any branch or ramification, as inestuaries, where they traverse, river-like, miles of territory, inlabyrinthine mazes. 

BRANCH-PILOT. One approved by the Trinity House, and holding a branch, for a particular navigation. 

BRAND. The Anglo-Saxon for a burnished sword. A burned device orcharacter, especially that of the broad arrow on government stores, todeface or erase which is felony. 

BRANDED TICKET. A discharge given to an infamous man, on which hischaracter is written, and the reason he is turned out of the service. Inthe army, deserters are branded with D; also B for bad character. In thenavy, a corner of the ticket is cut off. 

BRANDLING. A supposed fry of the salmon species, found on the north ofEngland coasts. Also, the angler's dew-worm. 

BRANDY-PAWNEE. A cant term for brandy and water in India. 

BRANLAIG. The Manx or Gaelic term for a cove or creek on a shore betweenrocks. 

BRANLIE, OR BRANLIN. A northern name for the samlet or par. 

BRAN-NEW. Quite new: said of a sail which has never been bent. 

BRASH. Small fragments of crushed ice, collected by wind or currents, near the shore; or such that the ship can easily force through. 

BRASS. Impudent assurance. 

BRASSARTS. Pieces between the elbow and the top of the shoulder inancient armour. 

BRASSER. A defensive bit of armour for the arm. 

BRAT. A northern name for a turbot. 

BRAVE. This word was not only used to express courage by our earlyseamen, but was also applied to strength; as, "we had a brave wind. "

BRAWET. A kind of eel in the north. 

BRAY, TO. To beat and bruise in a mortar. 

BREACH. Formerly, what is made by the breaking in of the sea, nowapplied also to the openings or gaps made in the works of fortifiedplaces battered by an enemy's cannon. Also, an old term for a heavy surfor broken water on a sea-coast; by some called _brist_. 

BREACHING. The act of leaping out of the water; applied to whales. 

BREACH OF THE SEA. Waves breaking over the hull of a vessel in badweather, or when stranded. --_A clear breach_ implies the waves rollingclean over without breaking. Shakspeare in "Twelfth Night" uses the termfor the breaking of the waves. --_Clean-breach_, when masts and everyobject on deck is swept away. 

BREACHY. Brackish, as applied to water, probably originating in the seabreaking in. 

BREAD. The usual name given to biscuit. 

BREAD-BARGE. The tray in which biscuit is handed round. 

BREAD-FRUIT (_Artocarpus incisa_). This most useful tree has a widerange of growth, but the seedless variety produced in Tahiti and some ofthe South Sea Islands is superior to others; it has an historicalinterest from its connection with the voyage of the _Bounty_ in 1787. 

BREAD-ROOM. The lowest and aftermost part of the orlop deck, where thebiscuit is kept, separated by a bulk-head from the rest; but any placeparted off from below deck for containing the bread is so designated. 

BREAD-ROOM JACK. The purser's steward's help. 

BREADTH. The measure of a vessel from side to side in any particularplace athwart-ships. (_See_ STRAIGHT OF BREADTH, HEIGHT OF BREADTH, TOP-TIMBER BREADTH, &c. )--_Breadth of beam_, extreme breadth of a ship. 

BREADTH EXTREME. _See_ EXTREME BREADTH OR BEAM. 

BREADTH LINE. A curved line of the ship lengthwise, intersecting thetimbers at their greatest extent from the middle line of the ship. 

BREADTH-MOULDED. _See_ MOULDED BREADTH. 

BREADTH-RIDERS. Timbers placed nearly in the broadest part of the ship, and diagonally, so as to strengthen two or more timbers. 

BREAK, TO. To deprive of commission, warrant, or rating, bycourt-martial. 

BREAK. The sudden rise of a deck when not flush; when the aft, andsometimes the fore part, of a vessel's deck is kept up to give moreheight below, and at the drifts. --_Break of the poop_, where it ends atthe foremost part. 

BREAKAGE. The leaving of empty spaces in stowing the hold. In marineinsurance, the term alludes to damage occurring to goods. 

BREAK-BEAMS. Beams introduced at the break of a deck, or any suddentermination of planking. 

BREAK-BULK. To open the hold, to begin unloading and disposing of thegoods therein, under legal provisions. 

BREAKERS. Small barrels for containing water or other liquids; they arealso used in watering the ship as gang-casks. (_See_ BAREKA. ) Also, those billows which break violently over reefs, rocks, or shallows, lying immediately at, or under, the surface of the sea. They aredistinguished both by their appearance and sound, as they cover thatpart of the sea with a perpetual foam, and produce loud roaring, verydifferent from what the waves usually have over a deeper bottom. Also, aname given to those rocks which occasion the waves to break overthem. --_Breakers ahead!_ the common pass-word to warn the officer ofbroken water in the direction of the course. (_See also_ SHIP-BREAKER. )

BREAK-GROUND. Beginning to weigh, or to lift the anchor from thebottom. On shore it means to begin the works for besieging a place, oropening the trenches. 

BREAKING. Breaking out stores or cargo in the hold. The act ofextricating casks or other objects from the hold-stowage. 

BREAKING LIBERTY. Not returning at the appointed time. 

BREAKING OF A GALE. Indications of a return of fine weather; short gustsat intervals; moaning or whistling of the wind through the rigging. 

BREAKING-PLATE DISTANCE. The point within which iron-plated ships, underconcentrated fire, may be damaged. 

BREAKING THE EY. _See_ EYGHT. 

BREAKING-UP OF THE MONSOON. A nautical term for the violent storms thatattend the shifting of periodical winds. 

BREAK-OFF. (_See_ BROKEN-OFF). "She breaks off from her course, " appliedonly when the wind will not allow of keeping the course; applies only to"close-hauled" or "on a wind. "--_Break-off!_ an order to quit onedepartment of duty, to clap on to another. 

BREAK-SHEER, TO. When a ship at anchor is laid in a proper position tokeep clear of her anchor, but is forced by the wind or current out ofthat position, she is said to break her sheer. Also, for a vessel tobreak her sheer, or her back, means destroying the gradual sweeplengthways. 

BREAK-UP, TO. To take a ship to pieces when she becomes old andunserviceable. 

BREAK-WATER. Any erection or object so placed as to prevent the sea fromrolling inwards. Where there is no mole or jetty the hull of an old shipmay be sunk at the entrance of a small harbour, to break off or diminishthe force of the waves as they advance towards the vessels mooredwithin. Every bar to a river or harbour, intended to secure smooth waterwithin, acts as a break-water. 

BREAM. A common fresh as well as salt water fish (_Abramis brama_), little esteemed as food. 

BREAMING. Cleaning a ship's bottom by burning off the grass, ooze, shells, or sea-weed, which it has contracted by lying long in harbour;it is performed by holding kindled furze, faggots, or reeds to thebottom, which, by melting the pitch that formerly covered it, loosenswhatever filth may have adhered to the planks; the bottom is thencovered anew with a composition of sulphur, tallow, &c. , which not onlymakes it smooth and slippery, so as to divide the fluid more readily, but also poisons and destroys those worms which eat through the planksin the course of a voyage. This operation may be performed either bylaying the ship aground after the tide has ebbed from her or by dockingor careening. 

BREAST, TO. To run abeam of a cape or object. To cut through a sea, thesurface of which is poetically termed breast. --_To breast the sea_, tomeet it by the bow on a wind. --_To breast the surf_, to brave it, andovercome it swimming. --_To breast a bar_, to heave at the capstan. --_Tobreast to_, the act of giving a sheer to a boat. 

BREAST-BACKSTAYS. They extend from the head of an upper-mast, through anout-rigger, down to the channels before the standing backstays, forsupporting the upper spars from to windward. When to leeward, they areborne abaft the top-rim. (_See_ BACKSTAYS. )

BREAST-BEAMS. Those beams at the fore-part of the quarter-deck, and theafter-part of the forecastle, in those vessels which have a poop and atop-gallant forecastle. 

BREAST-FAST. A large rope or chain, used to confine a ship's broadsideto a wharf or quay, or to some other ship, as the head-fast confines herforward, and the stern-fast abaft. 

BREAST-GASKETS. An old term for bunt-gaskets. 

BREAST-HOOKS. Thick pieces of timber, incurvated into the form of knees, and used to strengthen the fore-part of a ship, where they are placed atdifferent heights, directly across the stem internally, so as to uniteit with the bows on each side, and form the principal security, supporting the hawse-pieces and strain of the cables. The breast-hooksare strongly connected to the stem and hawse-pieces by tree-nails, andby bolts driven from without through all, and forelocked or clinchedupon rings inside. 

BREAST-RAIL. The upper rail of the balcony; formerly it was applied to arailing in front of the quarter-deck, and at the after-part of theforecastle-deck. Also, fife-rail. 

BREAST-ROPE. The lashing or laniard of the yard-parrels. (_See also_HORSE. ) Also, the bight of a mat-worked band fastened between theshrouds for the safety of the lad's-man in the chains, when sounding, sothat he may hang over the water, and let the lead swing clear. 

BREAST-WORK. A sort of balustrade of rails, mouldings, or stanchions, which terminates the quarter-deck and poop at the fore ends, and alsoincloses the forecastles both before and behind. (_See_ PARAPET. ) Nowapplicable to the poop-rails only. In fortification, it signifies aparapet thrown up as high as the breasts of the men defending it. 

BREATHER. A tropical squall. 

BREATH OF WIND. All but a dead calm. 

BREECHING. A strong rope passing through at the cascable of a gun, usedto secure it to the ship's side, and prevent it recoiling too much intime of battle, also to secure it when the ship labours; it is fixed byreeving it through a thimble stropped upon the cascable or knob at thebreech of the gun; one end is rove and clinched, and the other ispassed through the ring-bolt in the ship's side, and seized back. Thebreeching is of sufficient length to let the muzzle of the cannon comewithin the ship's side to be charged, or to be housed and lashed. Clinch-shackles have superseded the ring-bolts, so that guns may beinstantly unshackled and shifted. 

BREECHING-BOLT. Applies to the above. 

BREECH-LOADER. A gun, large or small, charged at the breech. The methodis a very old one revived, but with such scientific modifications as tohave enormously increased the effectiveness of small-arms; with cannonits successful practical application to the larger natures has not yetbeen arrived at, but with field-guns it has added largely to accuracy ofpractice and facility of loading. 

BREECH OF A CANNON. The after-end, next the vent or touch-hole. It isthe most massive part of a gun; strictly speaking, it is all the solidmetal behind the bottom of the bore. Also, the outside angle formed bythe knee-timber, the inside of which is the throat. 

BREECH-SIGHT. The notch cut on the base ring of a gun. 

BREEZE. This word is widely understood as a pleasant zephyr; but amongseamen it is usually applied as synonymous with wind in general, whetherweak or strong. 

BREEZE, SEA OR LAND. A shifting wind blowing from sea and landalternately at certain hours, and sensibly only near the coasts; theyare occasioned by the action of the sun raising the temperature of theland so as to draw an aërial current from sea-ward by day, which isreturned as the earth cools at night. 

BREEZE, TO KICK UP A. To excite disturbance, and promote a quarrelsomerow. 

BREEZING UP. The gale freshening. 

BREEZO. A toast given by the presiding person at a mess-table; derivedfrom _brisée générale_. 

BREVET. A rank in the army higher than the regimental commission held byan officer, affording him a precedence in garrison and brigade duties. Something approaching this has been attempted afloat, under the term"staff. "

BREWING. The appearance of a collection of black and tempestuous clouds, rising gradually from a particular part of the hemisphere, as theforerunner of a storm. 

BRICKLAYER'S CLERK. A contemptuous expression for lubberly pretenders tohaving seen "better days, " but who were forced to betake themselves tosea-life. 

BRIDGE. A narrow gangway between two hatchways, sometimes termed abridge. Military bridges to afford a passage across a river for troops, are constructed with boats, pontoons, casks, trusses, trestles, &c. Bridge in steam-vessels is the connection between the paddle-boxes, fromwhich the officer in charge directs the motion of the vessel. Also, themiddle part of the fire-bars in a marine boiler, on either side of whichthe fires are banked. Also, a narrow ridge of rock, sand, or shingle, across the bottom of a channel, so as to occasion a shoal over which thetide ripples. That between Mount Edgecombe and St. Nicholas' Isle, atPlymouth, has occasioned much loss of life. 

BRIDGE-ISLET. A portion of land which becomes insular at high-water--asOld Woman's Isle at Bombay, and among others, the celebratedLindisfarne, thus _tidally_ sung by Scott:--

 "The tide did now his flood-mark gain, And girdled in the saint's domain: For, with the flow and ebb, its style Varies from continent to isle; Dry-shod, o'er sands, twice ev'ry day The pilgrims to the shrine find way; Twice every day the waves efface Of staves and sandall'd feet the trace. "

BRIDGE-TRAIN. An equipment for insuring the passage of troops over ariver. Pontooners. (_See_ PONTOON. )

BRIDLE. _See_ MOORING-BRIDLE and BOWLINE-BRIDLE. 

BRIDLE-PORT. A square port in the bows of a ship, for taking in mooringbridles. They are also used for guns removed from the port abaft, andrequired to fire as near a line ahead as possible. They are main-deckchase-ports. 

BRIDLES. The upper part of the moorings laid in the queen's harbours, toride ships or vessels of war. (_See_ MOORINGS. )

BRIG. A two-masted square-rigged vessel, without a square main-sail, ora trysail-mast abaft the main-mast. This properly constituted the snow, but both classes are latterly blended, and the terms thereforesynonymous. 

BRIGADE. A party or body of men detached for a special service. Adivision of troops under the command of a general officer. In artilleryorganization on land, a brigade is a force usually composed of more thana battery; in the field it commonly consists of two or three batteries;on paper, and for administrative purposes, of eight. 

BRIGADE-MAJOR. A staff officer attached to a brigade, and is the channelthrough which all orders are received from the general and communicatedto the troops. 

BRIGADE-ORDERS. Those issued by the general officer commanding troopswhich are brigaded. 

BRIGADIER. An officer commanding a brigade, and somewhat the same ascommodore for a squadron of ships. 

BRIGANDINE. A pliant scale-like coat of mail. 

BRIGANTINE. A square-rigged vessel with two masts. A term variouslyapplied by the mariners of different European nations to a peculiar sortof vessel of their own marine. Amongst British seamen this vessel isdistinguished by having her main-sail set nearly in the plane of herkeel, whereas the main-sails of larger ships are spread athwart theship's length, and made fast to a yard which hangs parallel to the deck;but in a brig, the foremost side of the main-sail is fastened atdifferent heights to hoops which encircle the main-mast, and slide upand down it as the sail is hoisted or lowered: it is extended by a gaffabove and a boom below. Brigantine is a derivative from brig, firstapplied to passage-boats; in the Celtic meaning "passage over thewater. " (_See_ HERMAPHRODITE OR BRIG-SCHOONER. )

BRIGANTS. Formerly, natives of the northern parts of England. 

BRIGDIE. A northern name for the basking shark (_Squalus maximus_). 

BRIGHT LOOK-OUT. A vigilant one. 

BRIG-SCHOONER. (_See_ HERMAPHRODITE and BRIGANTINE, by which, term sheis at present classed in law. ) Square-rigged on the fore-mast, schooneron the main-mast. 

BRILL. The _Pleuronectes rhombus_, a common fish, allied to, but rathersmaller than, the turbot. 

BRIM. The margin or bank of a stream, lake, or river. 

BRIMSTONE. _See_ SULPHUR. 

BRINE, OR PICKLE. Water replete with saline particles, as brine-picklefor salt meat. The briny wave. 

BRINE-GAUGE. _See_ SALINOMETER. 

BRINE-PUMPS. When inconvenient to blow off the brine which collects atthe bottom of a steamer's boilers, the brine-pump is used for clearingaway the deposit. 

BRING BY THE LEE, TO. To incline so rapidly to leeward of the coursewhen the ship sails large, or nearly before the wind, as in scuddingbefore a gale, that the lee-side is unexpectedly brought to windward, and by laying the sails all aback, exposes her to the danger ofover-setting. (_See_ BROACH-TO. )

BRING 'EM NEAR. The day-and-night telescope. 

BRINGERS UP. The last men in a boarding or small-arm party. Amongsoldiers, it means the whole last rank of a battalion drawn up, beingthe hindmost men of every file. 

BRING HOME THE ANCHOR, TO, is to weigh it. It applies also when theflukes slip or will not hold; a ship then brings home heranchor. --_Bring home the log_. When the pin slips out of the log shipand it slides through the water. 

BRINGING IN. The detention of a vessel on the high seas, and bringingher into port for adjudication. 

BRINGING-TO THE YARD. Hoisting up a sail, and bending it to its yard. 

BRING-TO, TO. To bend, as to bring-to a sail to the yard. Also, to checkthe course of a ship by trimming the sails so that they shall counteracteach other, and keep her nearly stationary, when she is said to lie by, or lie-to, or heave-to. --_Bring to!_ The order from one ship to anotherto put herself in that situation in order to her being boarded, spokento, or examined. Firing a blank gun across the bows of a ship is theforcible signal to shorten sail and bring-to until furtherpleasure. --_Bring-to_ is also used in applying a rope to the capstan, as"bring-to the messenger. "

BRING-TO AN ANCHOR, TO. To let go the anchor in the intended port. "Allhands bring ship to an anchor!" The order by which the people aresummoned for that duty, by the pipes of the boatswain and his mates. 

BRING UP, TO. To cast anchor. 

BRING UP WITH A ROUND TURN. Suddenly arresting a running rope by takinga round turn round a bollard, bitt-head, or cleat. Said of doing a thingeffectually though abruptly. It is used to bring one up to his senses bya severe rating. 

BRISAS. A north-east wind which blows on the coast of South Americaduring the trades. 

BRISMAK. A name among the Shetlanders for the excellent fish called tuskor torsk, the best of the cod kind (_Brosmius vulgaris_). 

BRISTOL FASHION AND SHIP-SHAPE. Said when Bristol was in its palmycommercial days, unannoyed by Liverpool, and its shipping was all inproper good order. 

BRITISH-BUILT SHIP. Such as has been built in Great Britain or Ireland, Guernsey, Jersey, the Isle of Man, or some of the colonies, plantations, islands, or territories in Asia, Africa, or America, which, at the timeof building the ship, belonged to or were in possession of Her Majesty;or any ship whatsoever which has been, taken and condemned as lawfulprize. 

BRITISH SEAS. _See_ QUATUOR MARIA. 

BRITISH SHIP. May be foreign built, or rebuilt on a foreign keel whichbelonged to any of the people of Great Britain and Ireland, Guernsey, Jersey, or the Isle of Man, or of any colony, island, or territory inAsia, Africa, or America, or was registered before the 1st of May, 1786. 

BRITISH SUBJECT. Settled in an enemy's country, may not trade in anycontraband goods. 

BRITTLE-STAR. The common name of a long-rayed star-fish (_Ophiocomarosula_). 

BROACH A BUSINESS, TO. To begin it. 

BROACH-TO, TO. To fly up into the wind. It generally happens when a shipis carrying a press of canvas with the wind on the quarter, and a gooddeal of after-sail set. The masts are endangered by the course being soaltered, as to bring it more in opposition to, and thereby increasingthe pressure of the wind. In extreme cases the sails are caught flataback, when the masts would be likely to give way, or the ship might godown stern foremost. 

BROAD ARROW. The royal mark for government stores of every description. To obliterate, deface, or remove this mark is felony; or even to be inpossession of any goods so marked without sufficient grounds. It is nodoubt one of the Ditmarsh runes. 

BROAD AXE. Formerly a warlike instrument; also for beheading; speciallyapplied to the axe of carpenters for mast-making, and sometimes cuttingaway the masts or cable. 

BROAD CLOTH. Square sails. 

BROAD OF WATER. An extensive lake with a channel communicating with thesea, or a wide opening of a river after passing a narrow entrance. 

BROAD PENNANT. A swallow-tailed piece of buntin at the mast-head of aman-of-war; the distinctive mark of a commodore. The term is frequentlyused for the officer himself. It tapers, in contradistinction to acornet, which has only the triangle cut out of it. 

BROAD R. _See_ BROAD ARROW. 

BROADS. Fresh-water lakes, in contradistinction to rivers or narrowwaters. 

BROADSIDE. The whole array, or the simultaneous discharge of theartillery on one side of a ship of war above and below. It also impliesthe whole of that side of a ship above the water which is situatebetween the bow and quarter, and is in a position nearly perpendicularto the horizon. Also, a name given to the old folio sheets whereonballads and proclamations were printed of old (broad-sheet). 

BROADSIDE-ON. The whole side of a vessel; the opposite of _end-on_. 

BROADSIDE WEIGHT OF METAL. The weight of iron which the guns of a shipcan project, when single-shotted, from one side. (_See_ WEIGHT OFMETAL. )

BROADSWORD. _See_ CUTLAS. 

BROCAGE. The same with _brokerage_ (which see). 

BROCLES. _See_ STRAKE-NAILS. 

BRODIE. The fry of the rock-tangle, or Hettle-codling, a fish caught onthe Hettle Bank, in the Firth of Forth. 

BROGGING. A north-country method of catching eels, by means of smallsticks called brogs. 

BROGUES. Among seamen, coarse sandals made of green hide; but Shakspearemakes Arviragus put "his clouted brogues from off his feet, " for"answering his steps too loud. " This would rather refer to shoesstrengthened with hob-nails. 

BROKE. Sentence of a court-martial, depriving an officer of hiscommission. 

BROKEN. An old army word, used for _reduced_; as, a broken lieutenant, &c. The word is also applied to troops in line when not dressed. Theheart of a gale is said to be broken; parole is broken; also, leave, bulk, &c. (which see). 

BROKEN-BACKED. The state of a ship so loosened in her frame, either byage, weakness, or some great strain from grounding amidships, as todroop at each end, causing the lines of her sheer to be interrupted, andtermed _hogged_. It may result from fault of construction, in themidship portions having more buoyancy, and the extreme ends too muchweight, as anchors, boats, guns, &c. , to sustain. 

BROKEN-OFF. Fallen off, in azimuth, from the course. Also, men takenfrom one duty to be put on another. 

BROKEN SQUALL. When the clouds separate in divisions, passing ahead andastern of a ship, and affecting her but little, if at all. 

BROKEN WATER. The contention of currents in a narrow channel. Also, thewaves breaking on and near shallows, occasionally the result of vastshoals of fish, as porpoise, skip-jacks, &c. , which worry untutoredseamen. 

BROKER. Originally a broken tradesman, from the Anglo-Saxon _broc_, amisfortune; but, in later times, a person who usually transacts thebusiness of negotiating between the merchants and ship-owners respectingcargoes and clearances: he also effects insurances with theunderwriters; and while on the one hand he is looked to as to theregularity of the contract, on the other he is expected to make a candiddisclosure of all the circumstances which may affect the risk. 

BROKET. A small brook; the sea-lark is so called at the Farne Islands. 

BROKE-UP. Said of a gale of wind passing away; or a ship which has goneto pieces on a reef, &c. 

BROND. An old spelling of _brand_, a sword. 

BRONGIE. A name given to the cormorant in the Shetland Islands. 

BROOD. Oysters of about two years old, which are dredged up at sea, forplacing on the oyster-beds. 

BROOD-HEN STAR. The cluster of the Pleiades. 

BROOK, OR BROOKLET. Streams of fresh or salt water, less than a rivulet, creeping through narrow and shallow passages. The clouds _brook-up_, when they draw together and threaten rain. 

BROOM. A besom at the mast-head signifies that the ship is to be sold:derived probably from the old practice of displaying boughs at shops andtaverns. Also, a sort of _spartium_, of which ropes are made. 

BROOMING. _See_ BREAMING. 

BROTHER-OFFICERS. Those of the same ship or regiment. 

BROTH OF A BOY. An excellent, though roystering fellow. 

BROUGHT BY THE LEE. _See_ BRING BY THE LEE. 

BROUGHT-TO. A chase made to stop, and heave-to. Also, the cable isbrought-to when fastened to the messenger by nippers. The messenger isbrought to the capstan, or the cable to the windlass. 

BROUGHT TO HIS BEARINGS. Reduced to obedience. 

BROUGHT TO THE GANGWAY. Punished. 

BROW. An inclined plane of planks, on one or both sides of a ship, tocommunicate internally; a stage-gangway for the accommodation of theshipwrights, in conveying plank, timber, and weighty articles on board. Also, the face of a rising ground. An old term for a gang-board. 

BROWN BESS. A nickname for the old government regulation bronzed musket, although till recently it was brightly burnished. 

BROWN BILL. The old weapon of the English infantry: hence, perhaps theexpression "Brown Bess" for a musket. 

BROWN GEORGE. A hard and coarse biscuit. 

BROWNIE. The Polar bear, so called by the whalers. It is also a northernterm for goblin. 

BROWN JANET. A cant phrase for a knapsack. 

BROWN-PAPER WARRANT. _See_ WARRANT. 

BROWSE. A light kind of dunnage. 

BRUISE-WATER. A ship with very bluff bows, built more for carrying thansailing. 

BRUISING WATER. Pitching heavily to a head-sea, and making but littlehead-way. 

BRUN-SWYNE. An early name for a seal. 

BRUSH. A move; a skirmish. 

BRYDPORT. An old word signifying cable. The best hemp grew at Bridport, in Dorsetshire; and there was a statute, that the cables and hawsers forthe Royal Navy were to be made thereabouts. 

BUB. A liquor or drink. _Bub_ and _grub_ meaning inversely meat anddrink. 

BUBBLE. Another term for spirit-level, used for astronomicalinstruments. 

BUBBLER. A fish found in the waters of the Ohio, thus named from thebubbling noise it makes. 

BUCCANEER. A name given to certain piratical rovers, of variousEuropean nations, who formerly infested the coasts of Spanish America. They were originally inoffensive settlers in Hispaniola, but wereinhumanly driven from their habitations by the jealous policy of theSpaniards; whence originated their implacable hatred to that nation. Also, a large musketoon, about 8 feet in length, so called from havingbeen used by those marauders. 

BUCENTAUR. A large and splendid galley of the doge of Venice, in whichhe received the great lords and persons of quality who went there, accompanied by the ambassadors and councillors of state, and all thesenators seated on benches by him. The same vessel served also in themagnificent ceremony on Ascension-day, when the doge threw a ring intothe sea to espouse it, and to denote his dominion over the Gulf ofVenice. 

BUCHAN BOILERS. The heavy breaking billows among the rocks on the coastof Buchan. 

BUCHT. A Shetland term for lines of 55 fathoms. 

BUCK, TO. To wash a sail. 

BUCKALL. An earthen wine-cup used in the sea-ports of Portugal, Spain, and Italy. [From _bocale_, It. ]

BUCKER. A name for the grampus in the Hebrides. It is also applied, onsome of our northern coasts, to the porpoise. 

BUCKET. A small globe of hoops, covered with canvas, used as a recallfor the boats of whalers. 

BUCKET-ROPE. That which is tied to a bucket for drawing water up fromalongside. 

BUCKETS. Are made either of canvas, of leather, or of wood; the latterare used principally for washing the decks, and therefore answer thepurposes of pails. 

BUCKET-VALVE. In a steamer's engine, is a flat metal plate filling upthe passage between the air-pump and the condenser, and acted upon byboth in admitting or repressing the passage of water. 

BUCKHORN. Whitings, haddocks, thorn-backs, gurnet, and other fish, cleaned, gently salted, and dried in the sun. 

BUCKIE. A northern name for the whelk. 

BUCKIE-INGRAM. A name for the hermit-crab. 

BUCKIE-PRINS. A northern designation for a periwinkle. 

BUCKLE. A mast buckles when it suffers by compression, so that the fibretakes a sinuous form, and the grain is _upset_. Also, in Polar regions, the bending or arching of the ice upwards, preceding a nip. 

BUCKLERS. Two blocks of wood fitted together to stop the hawse-holes, leaving only sufficient space between them for the cable to pass, andthereby preventing the ship taking in much water in a heavy head-sea. They are either _riding_ or _blind bucklers_ (which see). 

BUCKRA. A term for white man, used by the blacks in the West Indies, Southern States of America, and the African coast. 

BUCK-WEEL. A bow-net for fish. 

BUDE. An old name for the biscuit-weevil. 

BUDGE-BARREL. A small cask with copper and wooden hoops, and one headformed by a leather hose or bag, drawing close by a string, for carryingpowder in safety from sparks. In heraldry, the common bucket is called awater bouget or budget. 

BUDGEROW. A cabined passage-boat of the Ganges and Hooghly. 

BUFFET A BILLOW, TO. To work against wind and tide. 

BUG. An old term for a vessel more remarkable in size than efficiency. Thus, when Drake fell upon Cadiz, his sailors regarded the huge galleysopposed to them as mere "great bugges. "

BUGALILO. A large trading-boat of the Gulf of Persia; the _buglo_ of ourseamen. 

BUGAZEENS. An old commercial term for calicoes. 

BUILD. A vessel's form or construction. 

BUILD A CHAPEL, TO. To turn a ship suddenly by negligent steerage. 

BUILDER'S CERTIFICATE. A necessary document in admiralty courts, containing a true account of a ship's denomination, tonnage, trim, wherebuilt, and for whom. 

BUILDING. The work of constructing ships, as distinguished from navalarchitecture, which may rather be considered as the art or theory ofdelineating ships on a plane. The pieces by which this complicatedmachine is framed, are joined together in various places by scarfing, rabbeting, tenanting, and scoring. 

BUILT. A prefix to denote the construction of a vessel, as carvel orclinker-built, bluff-built, frigate-built, sharp-built, &c. ; English, French, or American built, &c. 

BUILT-BLOCK. Synonymous with _made-block_ (which see). The lower mastsof large ships are built or made. 

BUILT-UP GUNS. Recently invented guns of great strength, speciallyadapted to meet the requirements of rifled artillery and of the attackof iron plating. They are usually composed of an inner core or barrel(which may be of coiled and welded iron, but is now generally preferredof tough steel), with a breech-piece, trunnion-piece, and various outerstrengthening hoops or coils of wrought iron, shrunk or otherwise forcedon; having their parts put together at such predetermined relativetensions, as to support one another under the shock of explosion, andthereby avoiding the faults of solid cast or forged guns, whereof theinner parts are liable to be destroyed before the outer can take theirshare of the strain. The first practical example of the method wasafforded by the Armstrong gun, the "building up" which obtained inancient days, before the casting of solid guns, having been apparentlyresorted to as an easy means of producing large masses of metal, withoutrealizing the principle of the mutual support of the various parts. 

BUIRAN. A Gaelic word signifying the sea coming in, with a noise as ofthe roar of a bull. 

BULCH, TO. To bilge a ship. 

BULGE. (_See_ BILGE. ) That part of the ship she bears upon when on theground. 

BULGE-WAYS. Otherwise _bilge-ways_ (which see). 

BULK. In bulk; things stowed without cases or packages. (_See_ BULK-HEADand LADEN IN BULK. )

BULKER. A person employed to measure goods, and ascertain the amount offreight with which they are chargeable. 

BULK-HEAD, THE. Afore, is the partition between the forecastle andgratings in the head, and in which are the chase-ports. 

BULK-HEADS. Partitions built up in several parts of a ship, to form andseparate the various cabins from each other. Some are particularlystrong, as those in the hold, which are mostly built with rabbeted orcyphered plank; others are light, and removable at pleasure. Indeed theword is applied to any division made with boards, to separate oneportion of the 'tween decks from another. 

BULK OF A SHIP. Implies the whole cargo when stowed in the hold. 

BULL. An old male whale. Also, a small keg; also the weak grog made bypouring water into a spirit-cask nearly empty. 

BULL-DANCE. At sea it is performed by men only, when without women. Itis sometimes called a stag-dance. 

BULL-DOG, OR MUZZLED BULL-DOG. The great gun which stands "housed" inthe officer's ward-room cabin. General term for main-deck guns. 

BULLETIN. Any official account of a public transaction. 

BULLET-MOULD. An implement for casting bullets. 

BULLETS. Leaden balls with which all kinds of fire-arms are loaded. 

BULL-HEAD, OR BULL-JUB. A name of the fish called miller's thumb(_Cottus gobio_). 

BULLOCK-BLOCKS. Blocks secured under the top-mast trestle-trees, whichreceive the top-sail ties through them, in order to increase themechanical power used in hoisting them up. 

BULLOCK-SLINGS. Used to hoist in live bullocks. 

BULL'S-EYE. A sort of block without a sheave, for a rope to reevethrough; it is grooved for stropping. Also, the central mark of atarget. Also, a hemispherical piece of ground glass of great thickness, inserted into small openings in the decks, port-lids, andscuttle-hatches, for the admission of light below. 

BULL'S-EYE CRINGLE. A piece of wood in the form of a ring, which answersthe purpose of an iron thimble; it is seldom used by English seamen, andthen only for the fore and main bowline-bridles. 

BULL-TROUT. The salmon-trout of the Tweed. A large species of trouttaken in the waters of Northumberland. 

BULLYRAG, TO. To reproach contemptuously, and in a hectoring manner; tobluster, to abuse, and to insult noisily. Shakspeare makes mine host ofthe Garter dub Falstaff a bully-rook. 

BULWARK. The planking or wood-work round a vessel above her deck, andfastened externally to the stanchions and timber-heads. In this form itis a synonym of berthing. Also, the old name for a bastion. 

BULWARK-NETTING. An ornamental frame of netting answering the purpose ofa bulwark. 

BUMBARD. A cask or large vessel for liquids. (_See_ BOMBARD. ) Trinculo, in the "Tempest, " thinks an impending storm-cloud "looks like a foulbumbard. "

BUM-BOAT. A boat employed to carry provisions, vegetables, and smallmerchandise for sale to ships, either in port or lying at a distancefrom the shore; thus serving to communicate with the adjacent town. Thename is corrupted from bombard, the vessels in which beer was formerlycarried to soldiers on duty. 

BUMKIN, BUMPKIN, OR BOOMKIN. A short boom or beam of timber projectingfrom each bow of a ship, where it is fayed down upon the false rail. Itsuse is to extend the clue or lower corner of the fore-sail to windward, for which purpose there is a large block fixed on its outer end, throughwhich the tack is passed, and when hauled tight down is said to beaboard. The name is also applied to the pieces on each quarter, for themain-brace blocks. 

BUMKIN. A small out-rigger over the stern of a boat, usually serving toextend the mizen. 

BUMMAREE. A word synonymous with _bottomry_, in maritime law. It is alsoa name given to a class of speculating salesmen of fish, not recognizedas regular tradesmen. 

BUMP, TO. To bump a boat, is to pull astern of her in another, andinsultingly or inimically give her the stem; a practice in rivers andnarrow channels. 

BUMP-ASHORE. Running stem-on to a beach or bank. A ship bumps by theaction of the waves lifting and dropping her on the bottom when she isaground. 

BUMPERS. Logs of wood placed over a ship's side to keep off ice. 

BUND. In India, an embankment; whence, Bunda head, and Bunda boat. 

BUNDLE-UP! The call to the men below to hurry up on deck. 

BUNDLING THINGS INTO A BOAT. Loading it in a slovenly way. 

BUNGLE, TO. To perform a duty in a slovenly manner. 

BUNGO, OR BONGA. A sort of boat used in the Southern States of America, made of the bonga-tree hollowed out. 

BUNG-STARTER. A stave shaped like a bat, which, applied to either sideof the bung, causes it to start out. Also, a soubriquet for the captainof the hold. Also, a name given to the master's assistant serving hisapprenticeship for hold duties. 

BUNG-UP AND BILGE-FREE. A cask so placed that its bung-stave isuppermost, and it rests entirely on its beds. 

BUNK. A sleeping-place in the fore-peak of merchantmen; standingbed-places fixed on the sides between decks. 

BUNKER. For stowing coal in steamers. Cellular spaces on each side whichdeliver the coal to the engine-room. --_Wing-bunkers_ below the decks, cutting off the angular side-spaces of the hold, and hatched over, areusually filled with sand, holy-stones, brooms, junk-blocks, &c. , savingstowage. 

BUNT OF A SAIL. The middle part of it, formed designedly into a bag orcavity, that the sail may gather more wind. It is used mostly intop-sails, because courses are generally cut square, or with but smallallowance for bunt or compass. "The bunt holds much leeward wind;" thatis, it hangs much to leeward. In "handed" or "furled" sails, the bunt isthe middle gathering which is tossed up on the centre of the yard. --_Tobunt a sail_ is to haul up the middle part of it in furling, and secureit by the bunt-gasket. 

BUNTERS. The men on the yard who gather in the bunt when furling sails. 

BUNT-FAIR. Before the wind. 

BUNT-GASKET. _See_ GASKET. 

BUNTING. A name on our southern shores for the shrimp. 

BUNTING, OR BUNTIN. A thin woollen stuff, of which the ship's colours, flags, and signals are usually made. 

BUNT-JIGGER. A small gun-tackle purchase, of two single blocks, onefitted with two tails, used in large vessels for bowsing up the bunt ofa sail when furling: a peculiar combination of two points, fitted to aspar to which it is hooked. 

BUNTLINE-CLOTH. The lining sewed up the fore-part of the sail in thedirection of the buntline to prevent that rope from chafing the sail. 

BUNTLINE-CRINGLE. An eye worked into the bolt-rope of a sail, to receivea buntline. This is only in top-gallant sails, and is seldom used now. In the merchant service all buntlines are generally passed through aneyelet-hole in the sail, and clinched round its own part. 

BUNTLINES. Ropes attached to the foot-ropes of top-sails and courses, which, passing over and before the canvas, turn it up forward, and thusdisarm the force of the wind; at one-third from each clue, eyelet-holesare worked in the canvas, and by grummets passed through, a toggle issecured on both bights: to this buntline-toggle the buntline attaches byan eye or loop. When the sails are loosed to dry, the bowlines, unbentfrom the bridles, are attached to these toggles, and haul out the sailsby the foot-ropes like table-cloths. The buntline is rove through ablock at the mast-head, passes through the buntline span attached to thetye-blocks on the yard to retain them in the bunt, or amidships, downbefore all, and looped to the toggles aforesaid. By aid of theclue-lines, reef-tackles, and buntlines, a top-sail is taken in orquieted if the sheets carry away, but more especially by the buntlines, as the wind has no hold then to belly the canvas. 

BUNTLINE-SPANS. Short pieces of rope with a thimble in one end, theother whipped; the buntlines are rove through these thimbles: they areattached to the tie-blocks to keep the sail in the bunt when hauled up. 

BUNTLINE-TOGGLES. _See_ BUNTLINES and TOGGLE. 

BUNT SLAB-LINES. Reeve through a block on the slings of the yard orunder the top, and pass abaft the sail, making fast to its foot. Theirobject is to lift the foot of a course so as to see underneath it, or toprevent it from chafing. Something of the same kind is used fortop-sails, to keep them from rubbing on the stays when flapping in acalm. 

BUOY. A sort of close cask, or block of wood, fastened by a rope to theanchor, to show its situation after being cast, that the ship may notcome so near it as to entangle her cable about its stock or flukes. --_Tobuoy a cable_ is to make fast a spar, cask, or the like, to the bight ofthe cable, in order to prevent its galling or rubbing on the bottom. When a buoy floats on the water it is said to watch. When a vessel slipsher cable she attaches a buoy to it in order afterwards to recover it. Thus the blockading squadrons off Brest and in Basque Roads frequentlyslipped, by signal, and each in beautiful order returned and picked uptheir cables. --_To stream the buoy_ is to let it fall from the ship'sside into the water, which is always done before the anchor is let go, that it may not be fouled by the buoy-rope as it sinks to thebottom. --_Buoys_ of various kinds are also placed upon rocks orsand-banks to direct mariners where to avoid danger. 

BUOYANCY. Capacity for floating lightly. --_Centre of buoyancy_, in navalarchitecture, the mean centre of that part of the vessel which isimmersed in the water. (_See_ CENTRE OF CAVITY. )

BUOYANT. The property of floating lightly on the water. 

BUOY-ROPE. The rope which attaches the buoy to the anchor, which shouldalways be of sufficient strength to lift the anchor should the cablepart; it should also be little more in length than equal to the depth ofthe water (at high-water) where the anchor lies. --_To bend thebuoy-rope_, pass the running eye over one fluke, take a hitch over theother arm, and seize. Or, take a clove-hitch over the crown on each armor fluke, stopping the end to its own part, or to the shank. 

BUOY-ROPE KNOT. Used where the end is lashed to the shank. A knot madeby unlaying the strands of a cable-laid rope, and also the small strandof each large strand; and after single and double walling them, as for astopper-knot, worm the divisions, and round the rope. 

BURBOT. A fresh-water fish (_Molva lota_) in esteem with fishermen. 

BURDEN. Is the quantity of contents or number of tons weight of goods ormunitions which a ship will carry, when loaded to a proper sea-trim: andthis is ascertained by certain fixed rules of measurement. The preciseburden or burthen is about twice the tonnage, but then a vessel would bedeemed deeply laden. 

BURG [the Anglo-Saxon _burh_]. A word connected with fortification inGerman, as in almost all the Teutonic languages of Europe. In Arabic thesame term, with the alteration of a letter, _burj_, signifies primarilya bastion, and by extension any fortified place on a rising ground. Thismeaning has been retained by all northern nations who have borrowed theword; and we, with the rest, name our towns, once fortified, burghs orboroughs. 

BURGALL. A fish of the American coasts, from 6 to 12 inches long: it isalso called the blue-perch, the chogset, and the nibbler--the last fromits habit of nibbling off the bait thrown for other fishes. 

BURGEE. A swallow-tailed or tapered broad pendant; in the merchantservice it generally has the ship's name on it. 

BURGOMASTER. In the Arctic Sea, a large species of gull (_Larusglaucus_). 

BURGONET. A steel head-piece, or kind of helmet. Shakspeare makesCleopatra, alluding to Antony, exclaim--

 "The demi-Atlas of this earth, the arm And burgonet of men. "

In the second part of "Henry VI. " Clifford threatens Warwick--

 "And from thy burgonet I'll rend thy bear, And tread it underfoot with all contempt. "

BURGOO. A seafaring dish made of boiled oatmeal seasoned with salt, butter, and sugar. (_See_ LOBLOLLY and SKILLY. )

BURLEY. The butt-end of a lance. 

BURLEY-TWINE. A strong and coarse twine or small string. 

BURN, OR BOURNE. The Anglo-Saxon term for a small stream or brook, originating from springs, and winding through meadows, thus differingfrom a beck. Shakspeare makes Edgar say in "King Lear"--

 "Come o'er the bourn, Bessy, to me. "

The word also signifies a boundary. 

BURNETTIZE, TO. To impregnate canvas, timber, or cordage with SirWilliam Burnett's fluid, a solution of chloride of zinc. 

BURN THE WATER. A phrase denoting the act of killing salmon in thenight, with a lister and lighted torch in the boat. 

BURN-TROUT. A northern term for a small species of river-trout. 

BURR. The iris or hazy circle which appears round the moon before rain. Also, a Manx or Gaelic term for the wind blowing across on the tide. Also, the sound made by the Newcastle men in pronouncing the letter R. 

BURREL. A langrage shot, consisting of bits of iron, bullets, nails, andother matters, got together in haste for a sudden emergency. 

BURROCK. A small weir over a river, where weals are laid for takingfish. 

BURR-PUMP. A name of the bilge-pump. 

BURSER. _See_ PURSER. 

BURST. The explosion of a shell or any gun. 

BURTHEN. _See_ BURDEN. 

BURTON. A small tackle rove in a particular manner; it is formed by twoblocks or pulleys, with a hook-block in the bight of the running part;it is generally used to set up or tighten the shrouds, whence it isfrequently termed a top-burton tackle; but it is equally useful to moveor draw along any weighty body in the hold or on the deck, as anchors, bales of goods, large casks, &c. (_See_ SPANISH-BURTON. ) The burtonpurchase, also _runner-purchase_ (which see). 

BUSH, OR BOUCHE. A circular shouldered piece of metal, usually of brass, let into the lignum vitæ sheaves of such blocks as have iron pins, thereby preventing the sheave from wearing, without adding much to itsweight. The operation of placing it in the wood is called bushing orcoaking, though the last name is usually given to smaller bushes of asquare shape. Brass bushes are also extensively applied in the marinesteam-engine work. Also, in artillery, the plug (generally of copper, onaccount of the superior resistance of that metal to the flame ofexploded gunpowder), having a diameter of about an inch, and a lengthequal to the intended length of the vent, screwed into the metal of thegun at the place of the vent, which is then drilled in it. Guns may bere-bushed when the vent has worn too large, by the substitution of a newbush. 

BUSH. The forests in the West Indies, Australia, &c. 

BUSHED. Cased with harder metal, as that inserted into the holes of somerudder braces or sheaves in general, to prevent their wearing. 

BUSHED-BLOCK. _See_ COAK. 

BUSKING. Piratical cruising; also, used generally, for beating towindward along a coast, or cruising off and on. 

BUSS. A small strong-built Dutch vessel with two masts, used in theherring and mackerel fisheries, being generally of 50 to 70 tons burden. 

BUST-HEAD. _See_ HEAD. 

BUSY AS THE DEVIL IN A GALE OF WIND. Fidgety restlessness, or doublediligence in a bad cause; the imp being supposed to be mischievous inhard gales. 

BUT. A northern name for a flounder or plaice. Also, a conical basketfor catching fish. 

BUTCHER'S BILL. A nickname for the official return of killed and woundedwhich follows an action. 

BUTESCARLI. The early name for the sea-officers in the British Navy(_see the_ EQUIPMENT OF). 

BUTT. The joining of two timbers or planks endways. Also, the openingbetween the ends of two planks when worked. Also, the extremities of theplanks themselves when they are united, or abut against each other. Theword likewise is used to denote the largest end of all timber. Planksunder water as they rise are joined one end to another. In large shipsbutt-ends are most carefully bolted, for if any one of them shouldspring, or give way, the leak would be very dangerous and difficult tostop. --_To start_ or _spring a butt_ is to loosen the end of a plank bythe ship's weakness or labouring. --_Butt-heads_ are the same withbutt-ends. --_Butt_ is also a mark for shooting at, and the hind part ofa musket or pistol. Also, a wine-measure of 126 gallons. 

BUTT-AND-BUTT. A term denoting that the butt ends of two planks cometogether, but do not overlay each other. (_See_ HOOK AND BUTT andHOOK-SCARPH. )

BUTT-END. The shoulder part of a fire-lock. 

BUTTER-BOX. A name given to the brig-traders of lumpy form, from London, Bristol, and other English ports. A cant term for a Dutchman. 

BUTTER-BUMP. A name of the bittern in the north. 

BUTTER-FINGERED. Having a careless habit of allowing things to dropthrough the fingers. 

BUTTLE. An eastern-county name for the bittern. 

BUTTOCK. The breadth of the ship astern from the tuck upwards: it isterminated by the counter above, by the bilge below, by the stern-postin the middle, and by the quarter on the side. That part abaft the afterbody, which is bounded by the fashion pieces, and by the wing transom, and the upper or second water-line. A ship is said to have a broad, ornarrow, buttock according to her transom convexity under the stern. 

BUTTOCK-LINES. In ship-building, the longitudinal curves at the roundingpart of the after body in a vertical section. 

BUTTON. The knob of metal which terminates the breech end of most guns, and which affords a convenient bearing for the application ofhandspikes, breechings, &c. 

BUTTONS, TO MAKE. A common time-honoured, but strange expression, forsudden apprehension or misgiving. 

BUTTRESS. In fortification. (_See_ COUNTERFORTS. )

BUTT-SHAFT, OR BUTT-BOLT. An arrow without a barb, used for shooting ata butt. 

BUTT-SLINGING A BOWSPRIT. _See_ SLINGS. 

BUXSISH. A gratuity, in oriental trading. 

BUZZING. Sometimes used for _booming_ (which see). 

BY. On or close to the wind. --_Full and by_, not to lift or shiver thesails; rap-full. 

BY AND LARGE. To the wind and off it; within six points. 

BYKAT. A northern term for a male salmon of a certain age, because ofthe beak which then grows on its under-jaw. 

BYLLIS. An old spelling for _bill_ (which see). 

BYRNIE. Early English for body-armour. 

BYRTH. The old expression for tonnage. (_See_ BURDEN or BURTHEN. )

BYSSA. An ancient gun for discharging stones at the enemy. 

BYSSUS. The silken filaments of any of the bivalved molluscs whichadhere to rocks, as the _Pinna_, _Mytilus_, &c. The silken byssus of thegreat pinna, or wing-shell, is woven into dresses. In the _Chama gigas_it will sustain 1000 lbs. Also, the woolly substance found in damp partsof a ship. 

BY THE BOARD. Over the ship's side. When a mast is carried away near thedeck it is said to go by the board. 

BY THE HEAD. When a ship is deeper forward than abaft. 

BY THE LEE. The situation of a vessel going free, when she has fallenoff so much as to bring the wind round her stern, and to take her sailsaback on the other side. 

BY THE STERN. When the ship draws more water abaft than forward. (_See_BY THE HEAD. )

BY THE WIND. Is when a ship sails as nearly to the direction of the windas possible. (_See_ FULL AND BY. ) In general terms, within six points;or the axis of the ship is 67-1/2 degrees from the direction of thewind. 

BY-WASH. The outlet of water from a dam or discharge channel. 

C. 

CAAG. _See_ KAAG. 

CABANE. A flat-bottomed passage-boat of the Loire. 

CABBAGE. Those principally useful to the seaman are the esculentcabbage-tree (_Areca oleracea_), which attains to a great height in theW. Indies. The sheaths of the leaves are very close, and form the greentop of the trunk a foot and a half in length; this is cut off, and itswhite heart eaten. Also, the _Crambe maritima_, sea-kail, or marinecabbage, growing in the west of England. 

CABIN. A room or compartment partitioned off in a ship, where theofficers and passengers reside. In a man-of-war, the principal cabin, inwhich the captain or admiral lives, is the upper after-part of thevessel. 

CABIN-BOY. A boy whose duty is to attend and serve the officers andpassengers in the cabin. 

CABIN-LECTURE. _See_ JOBATION. 

CABIN-MATE. A companion, when two occupy a cabin furnished with twobed-places. 

CABLE. A thick, strong rope or chain which serves to keep a ship atanchor; the rope is cable-laid, 10 inches in circumference and upwards(those below this size being hawsers), commonly of hemp or coir, whichlatter is still used by the Calcutta pilot-brigs on account of itslightness and elasticity. But cables have recently, and all butexclusively, been superseded by iron chain. --_A shot of cable_, twocables spliced together. 

CABLE, TO COIL A. To lay it in fakes and tiers one over the other. --_Tolay a cable. _ (_See_ LAYING. )--_To pay cheap the cable_, to hand it outapace; to throw it over. --_To pay out more cable_, to let more out ofthe ship. --_To serve or plait the cable_, to bind it about with ropes, canvas, &c. ; to keep it from galling in the hawse-pipe. (_See_ ROUNDING, KECKLING, &c. )--_To splice a cable_, to make two pieces fast together, by working the several yarns of the rope into each other; with chain itis done by means of shackles. --_To veer more cable_, to let more out. 

CABLE-BENDS. Two small ropes for lashing the end of a hempen cable toits own part, in order to secure the clinch by which it is fastened tothe anchor-ring. 

CABLE-BITTED. So bitted as to enable the cable to be nipped or renderedwith ease. 

CABLE-BITTS. _See_ BITTS. 

CABLE-BUOYS. Peculiar casks employed to buoy up rope cables in a rockyanchorage, to prevent their rubbing against the rocks; they are alsoattached to the end of a cable when it is slipped, with the object offinding it again. 

CABLE-ENOUGH. The call when cable enough is veered to permit of theanchor being brought to the cat-head. 

CABLE-HANGER. A term applied to any person catching oysters in the riverMedway, not free of the fishery, and who is liable to such penalty asthe mayor and citizens of Rochester shall impose upon him. 

CABLE-LAID ROPE. Is a rope of which each strand is a hawser-laid rope. Hawser-laid ropes are simple three-strand ropes, and range up to thesame size as cablets, as from 3/4 to 9 inches. (_See_ ROPE. )

CABLE-SHEET, SHEET-CABLE. The spare bower cable belonging to a ship. Sheet is deemed stand-by, and is also applied to its anchor. 

CABLE'S LENGTH. A measure of about 100 fathoms, by which the distancesof ships in a fleet are frequently estimated. This term is frequentlymisunderstood. In all marine charts a cable is deemed 607·56 feet, orone-tenth of a sea mile. In rope-making the cable varies from 100 to 115fathoms; cablet, 120 fathoms; hawser-laid, 130 fathoms, as determined bythe admiralty in 1830. 

CABLE-STAGE. A place constructed in the hold, or cable-tier, for coilingcables and hawsers on. 

CABLE-STREAM, STREAM-CABLE. A hawser or rope something smaller than thebower, used to move or hold the ship temporarily during a calm in ariver or haven, sheltered from the wind and sea, &c. 

CABLE-TIER. The place in a hold, or between decks, where the cables arecoiled away. 

CABOBBLED. Confused or puzzled. 

CABOBS, OR KEBAUB. The Turkish name for small fillets of meat broiled onwooden spits; the use of the term has been extended eastward, and inIndia signifies a hot spiced dish of fish, flesh, or fowl. 

CABONS. _See_ KABURNS. 

CABOOSE, OR CAMBOOSE. The cook-room or kitchen of merchantmen on deck;a diminutive substitute for the galley of a man-of-war. It is generallyfurnished with cast-iron apparatus for cooking. 

CABOTAGE [Ital. ] Sailing from cape to cape along a coast; or the detailsof coast pilotage. 

CABURNS. Spun rope-yarn lines, for worming a cable, seizing, windingtacks, and the like. 

CACAO [Sp. ] The plant _Theobroma_, from which what is commonly termedcocoa is derived. 

CACCLE, OR KECCLE. To apply a particular kind of service to the cable. (_See_ KECKLING. )

CACHE. A hidden reservoir of provision (to secure it from bears) inArctic travel. Also, a deposit of despatches, &c. 

CADE. A small barrel of about 500 herrings, or 1000 sprats. 

CADENCE. The uniform time and space for marching, more indispensable tolarge bodies of troops than to parties of small-arm men; yet animportant part even of their drill. The regularity requisite in pulling. 

CADET. A volunteer, who, serving at his own charge, to learn experience, waits for preferment; a designation, recently introduced, for younggentlemen formerly rated volunteers of the first class. Properly, theyounger son in French. 

CADGE, TO. To carry. --_Cadger_, a carrier. Kedge may be a corruption, asbeing carriable. 

CÆSAR'S PENNY. The tip given by a recruiting sergeant. 

CAFFILA. _See_ KAFILA. 

CAGE. An iron cage formed of hoops on the top of a pole, and filled withcombustibles to blaze for two hours. It is lighted one hour beforehigh-water, and marks an intricate channel navigable for the period itburns; much used formerly by fishermen. 

CAGE-WROCK. An old term for a ship's upper works. 

CAIQUE, OR KAIQUE. A small Levantine vessel. Also, a graceful skiff seenin perfection at Constantinople, where it almost monopolizes the boattraffic. It is fast, but crank, being so narrow that the oars or scullshave their looms enlarged into ball-shaped masses to counter-balancetheir out-board length. It has borne for ages the wave-line now broughtout in England as the highest result of marine architecture. It may havefrom one to ten or twelve rowers. 

CAIRBAN. A name in the Hebrides for the basking-shark. 

CAIRN. Piles of stones used as marks in surveying. 

CAISSON, OR CAISSOON. An adopted term for a sort of float sunk to arequired depth by letting water into it, when it is hauled under theship's bottom, receives her steadily, and on pumping out the waterfloats her. These were long used in Holland, afterwards at Venice, andin Russia, where they were known as _camels_ (which see). Caisson isalso a vessel fitted with valves, to act instead of gates for a drydock. Used also in _pontoons_ (which see). 

CAKE-ICE. Ice formed in the early part of the season. 

CALABASH. _Cucurbita_, a gourd abundant within the tropics, furnishingdrinking and washing utensils. At Tahiti and the Sandwich Islands theyattain a diameter of 2 feet. There is also a calabash-tree, the fruitnot exceeding the size of oranges. 

CALABASS. An early kind of light musket with a wheel-lock. Bournementions it in 1578. 

CALALOO. A dish of fish and vegetables. 

CALAMUS. _See_ RATTAN. 

CALANCA. A creek or cove on Italian and Spanish coasts. 

CALAVANCES [_Phaseolus vulgaris. _ _Haricot_, Fr. ] Small beans sometimesused for soup, instead of pease. 

CALCULATE, TO. This word, though disrated from respectability byAmerican misuse, signified to foretell or prophesy; it is thus used byShakspeare in the first act of "Julius Cæsar. " To calculate the ship'sposition, either from astronomical observations or rate of the log. 

CALENDAR. A distribution of time. (_See_ ALMANAC. )

CALENDAR-TIME. On which officers' bills are drawn. 

CALF. A word generally applied to the young of marine mammalia, as thewhale. --_Calf_, in the Arctic regions, a mass of floe ice breaking fromunder a floe, which when disengaged rises with violence to the surfaceof the water; it differs from a tongue, which is the same body keptfixed beneath the main floe. The iceberg is formed by the repeatedfreezing of thawed snow running down over the slopes, until at lengththe wave from beneath and weight above causes it to break off and fallinto the sea, or, as termed in Greenland, to calve. Thus, berg, isfresh-water ice, the work of years. The floe, is salt water frozensuddenly each winter, and dissolving in the summer. 

CALF, OR CALVA. A Norwegian name, also used in the Hebrides, for isletslying off islands, and bearing a similar relation to them in size that acalf does to a cow. As the Calf at Mull and the Calf of Man. 

CALFAT. The old word for caulking. [_Calfater_, Fr. ; probably from_cale_, wedge, and _faire_, to make. ] To wedge up an opening with anysoft material, as oakum. [_Calafatear_, Sp. ]

CALIBER, OR CALIBRE. The diameter of the bore of a gun, cannon, shot, orbullet. A ship's caliber means the known weight her armament represents. 

CALIPASH. The upper shell of a turtle. 

CALIPEE. The under shell of a turtle. 

CALIVER. A hand-gun or arquebuss; probably the old name of thematchlock or carabine, precursors of the modern fire-lock, or Enfieldrifle. (_See_ CALABASS. )

CALL. A peculiar silver pipe or whistle, used by the boatswain and hismates to attract attention, and summon the sailors to their meals orduties by various strains, each of them appropriated to some particularpurpose, such as hoisting, heaving, lowering, veering away, belaying, letting go a tackle-fall, sweeping, &c. This piping is as attentivelyobserved by sailors, as the bugle or beat of drum is obeyed by soldiers. The coxswains of the boats of French ships of war are supplied withcalls to "in bow oar, " or "of all, " "oars, " &c. 

CALLIPERS. Bow-legged compasses, used to measure the girth of timber, the external diameter of masts, shot, and other circular or cylindricalsubstances. Also, an instrument with a sliding leg, used for measuringthe packages constituting a ship's cargo, which is paid for by itscubical contents. 

CALL THE WATCH. This is done every four hours, except at thedog-watches, to relieve those on deck, also by pipe. "All the watch, " orall the starboard, or the port, first, second, third, or fourth watches. 

CALM. There being no wind stirring it is designated flat, dead, orstark, under each of which the surface of the sea is unruffled. 

CALM LATITUDES. That tropical tract of ocean which lies between thenorth-east and south-east trade-winds; its situation varies severaldegrees, depending upon the season of the year. The term is also appliedto a part of the sea on the Polar side of the trades, between them andthe westerly winds. 

CALVERED SALMON. Salmon prepared in a peculiar manner in early times. 

CALVE'S TONGUE. A sort of moulding usually made at the caps and bases ofround pillars, to taper or hance the round part to the square. 

CAMBER. The part of a dockyard where cambering is performed, and timberkept. Also, a small dock in the royal yards, for the convenience ofloading and discharging timber. Also, anything that curves upwards. --_Tocamber_, to curve ship-planks. 

CAMBER-KEELED. Keel slightly arched upwards in the middle of the length, but not actually hogged. 

CAMBOOSE. A form of _caboose_ (which see). 

CAMELS. All large ships are built, at St. Petersburg, in a dockyard offthe Granite Quay, where the water is shallow; therefore a number ofcamels or caissons are kept at Cronstadt, for the purpose of carryingthem down the river. Camels are hollow cases of wood, constructed in twohalves, so as to embrace the keel, and lay hold of the hull of a ship onboth sides. They are first filled with water and sunk, in order to befixed on. The water is then pumped out, when the vessel gradually rises, and the process is continued until the ship is enabled to pass over theshoal. Similar camels were used at Rotterdam about 1690. 

CAME-TO. Brought to an anchor. 

CAMFER. _See_ CHAMFER. 

CAMISADO. A sudden surprise or assault of the enemy. 

CAMOCK. A very early term for crooked timber. 

CAMP. The whole extent of ground on which an army pitches its tents andlodges. (_See_ DECAMP. )

CAMP, OR CAMP-OUT, TO. In American travel, to rest for the night withouta standing roof; whether under a light tent, a screen of boughs, or anymakeshift that the neighbourhood may afford. 

CAMPAIGN. A series of connected operations by an army in the field, unbroken by its retiring into quarters. 

CAMPAIGNER. A veteran soldier. 

CAMP-EQUIPAGE. _See_ EQUIPAGE. 

CAMPER. _See_ KEMP. 

CAMPESON. _See_ GAMBISON. 

CAMP-FIGHT. _See_ ACRE. 

CAN. A tin vessel used by sailors to drink out of. 

CANAICHE, OR CANASH. An inner port, as at Granada in the West Indies. 

CANAL-BOAT. A barge generally towed by horses, but furnished with alarge square-sail for occasional use. 

CAN-BODIES. The old term for anchor-buoys, now can-buoys. 

CAN-BUOYS. Are in the form of a cone, and therefore would countenancethe term cone-buoys. They are floated over sands and other obstructionsin navigation, as marks to be avoided; they are made very large, to beseen at a distance; where there are several, they are distinguished bytheir colour, as black, red, white, or chequered; &c. 

CANCELLED TICKET. One rendered useless by some subsequent arrangement orclerk's error. In either case the word "cancelled" is to be writtenacross in large characters, and due record made. The corner cut offcancels good character, yet they are a certificate for time. 

CANCER. The Crab; the fourth sign of the zodiac, which the sun entersabout the 21st of June, and commences the summer solstice. 

CANDLE-BARK. A cylindrical tin box for candles. 

CANE. The rattan (_Calamus rudentum_), is extensively used in the Eastfor rigging, rope, and cables. The latter have remained for years at thebottom of the sea uninjured by teredo, or any destructive crustacea. Thecables, too, resist any but the sharpest axes, when used to connect logsas booms, to stop the navigation of rivers. 

CANEVAS. The old word for hempen canvas; but many races, even theChinese, make sails entirely of cane. The Americans frequently usecotton, and term that cloth duck. In the islands of the South Pacific itis made from the bark of various trees, grasses, &c. 

CAN-HOOKS. They are used to sling a cask by the chimes, or ends of itsstaves, and are formed by reeving the two ends of a piece of rope orchain through the eyes of two flat hooks, and there making them fast. The tackle is then hooked to the middle of the bight. 

CANISTER SHOT. _See_ CASE-SHOT. 

CANNIKIN. A small drinking-vessel. 

CANNON. The well-known piece of artillery, mounted in battery on boardor on shore, and made either of brass or iron. The principal partsare:--1st. The breech, together with the cascable and its button, calledby seamen the pommelion. The breech is of solid metal, from the bottomof the concave cylinder or chamber to the cascable. 2d. The trunnions, which project on each side, and serve to support the cannon, hold italmost in equilibrio. 3d. The bore or caliber, is the interior of thecylinder, wherein the powder and shot are lodged when the cannon isloaded. The entrance of the bore is called the mouth or muzzle. It maybe generally described as gradually tapering, with the variousmodifications of first and second reinforce and swell, to the muzzle orforward end. (_See_ GUN. )

CANNONADE. The opening and continuance of the fire of artillery on anyobject attacked. Battering with cannon-shot. 

CANNON-PERER. An ancient piece of ordnance used in ships of war forthrowing stone shot. 

CANNON-PETRONEL. A piece of ordnance with a 6-inch bore which carried a24-lb. Ball. 

CANNON, RIFLED. Introduced by Captain Blakely, Sir W. Armstrong, andothers. 

CANNON ROYAL. A 60-pounder of eight and a half inches bore. (_See_CARTHOUN. )

CANNON-SERPENTINE. An old name for a gun of 7-inches bore. 

CANOE. A peculiar boat used by several uncivilized nations, formed ofthe trunk of a tree hollowed out, and sometimes of several pieces ofbark joined together, and again of hide. They are of various sizes, according to the uses for which they are designed, or the countries towhich they belong. Some carry sail, but they are commonly rowed withpaddles, somewhat resembling a corn-shovel; and instead of rowing withit horizontally, as with an oar, they manage it perpendicularly. InGreenland and Hudson Bay, the Esquimaux limits of America, skin-boatsare chiefly in use, under the name of kaiack, oomiak, baidar, &c. 

CANOPUS. The lucida of Argo Navis, and a Greenwich star. Also, a city ofclassical importance, visited by the heroes of the Trojan war, thereputed burial-place of the pilot of Menelaus, &c. But, as some ancientplaces have been so fortunate as to renew their classical importance inmodern times, so this, under the modern name of Abukeir, has received anew "stamp of fate, " by its overlooking, like Salamis, the scene of anaval battle, which also led to a decision of the fate of nations. Inthis bay Nelson, at one blow, destroyed the fleet of the enemy, and cutoff the veteran army of France from the shores of Egypt. The Canopianmouth of the Nile was the most westerly of all the branches of thatcelebrated river. 

CANOPY. A light awning over the stern-sheets of a boat. 

CANT, TO. To turn anything about, or so that it does not stand square. To diverge from a central right line. Cant the boat or ship; _i. E. _ forcareening her. 

CANT. A cut made in a whale between the neck and the fins, to which thecant-purchase is made fast, for turning the animal round in theoperation of flensing. 

CANTARA. A watering-place. 

CANT-BLOCKS. The large purchase-blocks used by whalers to cant thewhales round under the process of flensing. 

CANT-BODY. An imaginary figure of that part of a ship's body which formsthe shape forward and aft, and whose planes make obtuse angles with themidship line of the ship. 

CANTEEN. A small tin vessel for men on service to carry liquids. Also, asmall chest containing utensils for an officer's messing. Also, a kindof sutling-house in garrisons. 

CANTERA. A Spanish fishing-boat. 

CANT-FALLS. _See_ SPIKE-TACKLE. 

CANT-HOOK. A lever with a hook at one end for heavy articles. 

CANTICK-QUOINS. Short three-edged pieces of wood to steady casks fromlabouring against each other. 

CANTING BALLAST. Is when by a sudden gust or stress of weather a ship isthrown so far over that the ballast settles to leeward, and prevents theship from righting. 

CANTING-LIVRE. _See_ CONSOLE-BRACKET. 

CANT-LINE. Synonymous with _girt-line_, as to cant the top over thelowermast-head. 

CANTONMENTS. Troops detached and quartered in different towns andvillages near each other. 

CANT-PURCHASE. This is formed by a block suspended from themainmast-head, and another block made fast to the cant cut in the whale. (_See_ CANT-BLOCKS. )

CANT-RIBBONS. Those ribbons that do not lie in a horizontal or leveldirection. 

CANT-ROPE. _See_ FOUR-CANT. 

CANT-SPAR. A hand-mast pole, fit for making small masts or yards, booms, &c. 

CANT-TIMBERS. They derive their name from being canted or raisedobliquely from the keel. The upper ends of those on the bow are inclinedto the stem, as those in the after-part incline to the stern-post above. In a word, cant-timbers are those which do not stand square with themiddle line of the ship. They may be deemed radial bow or stern-timbers. 

CANVAS [from _cannabis_, hemp]. A cloth made of hemp, and used for thesails of ships. It is purchased in bolts, and numbered from 1 to 8, rarely to 9 and 10. Number 1 being the coarsest and strongest, is usedfor the lower sails, as fore-sail and main-sail in large ships. When avessel is in motion by means of her sails she is said to be undercanvas. 

CANVAS-BACK DUCK. An American wild duck (_Fuligula valisneria_), whichtakes this name from the colour of the back feathers; much esteemed as adelicacy. 

CANVAS-CLIMBER. A word used by Marston for a sailor who goes aloft;hence Marina tells Leonine--

 "And, clasping to a mast, endur'd a sea That almost burst the deck, and from the ladder-tackle Wash'd off a canvas-climber. "

CAP. A strong thick block of wood having two large holes through it, theone square, the other round, used to confine two masts together, whenone is erected at the head of the other, in order to lengthen it. Theprincipal caps of a ship are those of the lower masts, which are fittedwith a strong eye-bolt on each side, wherein to hook the block by whichthe top-mast is drawn up through the cap. In the same manner as the topmast slides up through the cap of the lower mast, the topgallant-mastslides up through the cap of the top-masts. When made of iron the capused to be called a crance. --_To cap_ a mast-head is placing tarpaulinguards against weather. The term is applied to any covering such as leadput over iron bolts to prevent corrosion by sea-water, canvas coversover the ends of rigging, &c. &c. Also, pieces of oak laid on the upperblocks on which a vessel is built, to receive the keel. They are splitout for the addition of the false keel, and therefore should be of themost free-grained timber. Also, the coating which guards the top of aquill tube. Also, the percussion priming for fire-arms. --_Cap-a-pied_, armed from head to foot. 

CAP, TO. To puzzle or beat in argument. To salute by touching thehead-covering, as Shakspeare makes Iago's friends act to Othello. It isnow more an academic than a sea-term. 

CAPABARRE. An old term for misappropriating government stores. (_See_Marryat's _Novels_. )

CAPACISE. A corrupt form of _capsize_. 

CAPACITY. Burden, tonnage, fitness for the service, rating. 

CAPE. A projecting point of land jutting out from the coast-line; theextremity of a promontory, of which last it is the secondary rank. Itdiffers from a headland, since a cape may be low. The Cape of Good Hopeis always familiarly known as "The Cape. " _Cape_ was also used for arhumb-line. 

CAPE, TO. To keep a course. How does she cape? how does she lie hercourse?

CAPE FLY-AWAY. A cloud-bank on the horizon, mistaken for land, whichdisappears as the ship advances. (_See_ FOG. )

CAPE-HEN. _See_ MOLLY-MAWK. 

CAPELLA. The lucida of Auriga, and a nautical star. 

CAPE-MERCHANT [_capo_]. An old name for super-cargo in early voyages, asalso the head merchant in a factory. 

CAPE-PIGEON, OR CAPE-PETREL. A sea-bird which follows a ship in herpassage round the cape; the _Procellaria capensis_. (_See_ PINTADOS. )

CAPER. A light-armed vessel of the 17th century, used by the Dutch forprivateering. 

CAPER CORNER-WAY. Diagonally. 

CAPFUL OF WIND. A light flaw, which suddenly careens a vessel and passesoff. 

CAPITAL OF A WORK. In fortification, an imaginary line bisecting itsmost prominent salient angle. 

CAPITANA. Formerly the principal galley in a Mediterranean fleet: theadmiral's ship. 

CAPITULATION. The conditions on which a subdued force surrenders, agreedupon between the contending parties. 

CAPLIN, OR CAPELIN. A fish of the family _Clupeidæ_, very similar to asmelt; frequently imported from Newfoundland dried. It is the generalbait for cod-fish there. 

CAP'N. The way in which some address the commanders of merchant vessels. 

CAPON. A jeering name for the red-herring. 

CAPONNIERE. In fortification, a passage across the bottom of the ditch, covered, at the least, by a parapet on each side, and very generallyalso with a bomb-proof roof, when it may be furnished with many guns, which are of great importance in the defence of a fortress, as thebesieger can hardly silence them till he has constructed batteries onthe brink of the ditch. 

CAPOTE. A good storm-coat with a hood, much worn in the Levant, and madeof a special manufacture. 

CAPPANUS. The worm which adheres to, and gnaws the bottom of a ship, toprevent which all ships should be sheathed with copper. 

CAPPED. A ship making against a race or very strong currents. 

CAPRICORNUS. The tenth sign of the zodiac, which the sun enters aboutthe 21st of December, and opens the winter solstice. 

CAP-SCUTTLE. A framing composed of coamings and head-ledges raised abovethe deck, with a top which shuts closely over into a rabbet. 

CAP-SHORE. A supporting spar between the cap and the trestle-tree. 

CAPSIZE, TO. To upset or overturn anything. 

CAP-SQUARE. The clamp of iron which shuts over the trunnions of a gun tosecure them to the carriage, having a curve to receive one-third part ofthe trunnion, the other two being sunk in the carriage; it is closed byforelocks. 

CAPSTAN, CABESTAN, CAPSTERN, CAPSTON, &c. A mechanical arrangement forlifting great weights. There is a variety of capsterns, but they agreein having a horizontal circular head, which has square holes around itsedge, and in these long bars are shipped, and are said to be "swifted"when their outer ends are traced together; beneath is a perpendicularbarrel, round which is wrapped the rope or chain used to lift the anchoror other great weight, even to the heaving a ship off a shoal. Now, inmost ships where a capstern is used to lift the anchor, the chain cableis itself brought to the capstern. The purchase or lifting power isgained by the great sweep of the bars. A perpendicular iron spindlepasses through the whole capstern, and is stepped into a socket on thedeck below the one on which it stands. In some cases capsterns aredouble in height, so that bars may be worked on two decks, giving moreroom for the men. 

CAPSTAN, TO COME UP THE. In one sense is to lift the pauls and walkback, or turn the capstan the contrary way, thereby slackening, orletting out some of the rope on which they have been heaving. The suddenorder would be obeyed by surging, or letting go any rope on which theywere heaving. Synonymous to "Come up the purchase. "

CAPSTAN, TO HEAVE AT THE. To urge it round, by pushing against the bars, as already described. 

CAPSTAN, TO MAN THE. To place the sailors at it in readiness to heave. 

CAPSTAN, TO PAUL THE. To drop all the pauls into their sockets, toprevent the capstan from recoiling during any pause of heaving. 

CAPSTAN, TO RIG THE. To fix the bars in their respective holes, thrustin the pins to confine them, and reeve the swifter through the ends. 

CAPSTAN, SURGE THE. Is the order to slacken the rope which is woundround the barrel while heaving, to prevent it from riding or fouling. This term specially applies to surging the messenger when it rides, orwhen the two lashing eyes foul on the whelps or the barrel. 

CAPSTAN-BAR PINS. Pins inserted through their ends to prevent theirunshipping. 

CAPSTAN-BARRING. An obsolete sea-punishment, in which the offender wassentenced to carry a capstan-bar during a watch. 

CAPSTAN-BARS. Long pieces of wood of the best ash or hickory, one end ofwhich is thrust into the square holes in the drumhead, like the spokesof a wheel. They are used to heave the capstan round, by the men settingtheir hands and chests against them, and walking round. They are alsoheld in their places in the drumhead holes, by little iron bolts calledcapstan or safety pins, to prevent their flying out when the surgingovercomes the force of the men. Many men have been killed by thisaction, and more by the omission to "pin and swift. "

CAPSTAN-ROOM. _See_ ROOM. 

CAPSTAN-STEP. (_See_ STEP OF THE CAPSTAN. ) The men march round to thetune of a fiddle or fife, and the phrase of excitement is, "Step out, lads, make your feet tell. "

CAPSTAN-SWIFTER. A rope passed horizontally through notches in the outerends of the bars, and drawn very tight: the intent is to steady the menas they walk round when the ship rolls, and to give room for a greaternumber to assist, by manning the swifters both within and without. 

CAPTAIN. This title is said to be derived from the eastern militarymagistrate _katapan_, meaning "over everything;" but the term _capitano_was in use among the Italians nearly 200 years before Basilius II. Appointed his katapan of Apulia and Calabria, A. D. 984. Hence, thecorruption of the Apulian province into _capitanata_. Among theAnglo-Saxons the captain was _schipp-hláford_, or ship's lord. Thecaptain, strictly speaking, is the officer commanding a line-of-battleship, or a frigate carrying twenty or more cannon. A captain in theroyal navy is answerable for any bad conduct in the military government, navigation, and equipment of his ship; also for any neglect of duty inhis inferior officers, whose several charges he is appointed toregulate. It is also a title, though incorrectly, given to the mastersof all vessels whatever, they having no commissions. It is also appliedin the navy itself to the chief sailor of particular gangs of men; inrank, captain of the forecastle, admiral's coxswain, captain'scoxswain, captain of the hold, captain of main-top, captain of fore-top, &c. 

CAPTAIN. A name given to the crooner, crowner, or gray gurnard (_Triglagurnardus_). 

CAPTAIN OF A MERCHANT SHIP. Is a certificated officer in the mercantilemarine, intrusted with the entire charge of a ship, both as regards lifeand property. He is in no way invested with special powers to meet hispeculiar circumstances, but has chiefly to depend upon moral influencefor maintaining order amongst his passengers and crew during the manyweeks or even months that he is cut off from appeal to the laws of hiscountry, only resorting to force on extreme occasions. Great tact andjudgment is required to fulfil this duty properly. 

CAPTAIN OF A SHIP OF WAR. Is the commanding officer; as well thepost-captain (a title now disused) as those whose proper title iscommander. 

CAPTAIN OF THE FLEET. Is a temporary admiralty appointment; he isentitled to be considered as a flag-officer, and to a share in theprize-money accordingly. He carries out all orders issued by thecommander-in-chief, but his special duty is to keep up the discipline ofthe fleet, in which he is supreme. He is the adjutant-general of theforce, hoisting the flag and wearing the uniform of rear-admiral. 

CAPTAIN OF THE HEAD. Not a recognized rating, but an ordinary manappointed to attend to the swabs, and to keep the ship's head clean. 

CAPTAIN OF THE HOLD. The last of the captains in rank, as a first-classpetty officer. 

CAPTAIN OF THE PORT. The captain of the port is probably betterexplained by referring to that situation at Gibraltar. He belongs to theBoard of Health; he controls the entries and departures, the berthing atthe anchorage, and general marine duties, but possesses no navalauthority. Hence, the port-captain is quite another officer. (_See_PORT-CAPTAIN. )

CAPTAIN-GENERAL. The highest army rank. 

CAPTAIN'S CLERK. One whose duty is strictly to keep all books andofficial papers necessary for passing the captain's accounts at theadmiralty. 

CAPTAIN'S CLOAK. The jocose name given to the last sweeping clause, thethirty-sixth article of war:--"All other crimes not capital, and forwhich no punishment is hereby directed to be inflicted, shall bepunished according to the laws and customs in such cases used at sea. "

CAPTAIN'S GIG. _See_ GIG. 

CAPTAIN'S STORE-ROOM. A place of reserve on the platform deck, for thecaptain's wines and sea-stores. 

CAPTIVE. A prisoner of war. 

CAPTORS. The conquerors of and sharers in the proceeds of a prize. Captors are not at liberty to release prisoners belonging to the shipsof the enemy. The last survivor is in law the only captor. 

CAPTURE. A prize taken by a ship of war at sea; is the taking forciblepossession of vessels or goods belonging to one nation by those of ahostile nation. Vessels are looked on as prizes if they fight under anyother standard than that of the state from which they have theircommission; if they have no charty-party, manifest, or bill of lading, or if loaded with effects belonging to the king's enemies, or evencontraband goods. Whether the capture be lawful or unlawful, the insureris rendered liable to the loss. 

CAR. A north-country word, denoting any swampy land surrounded byinclosures, and occasionally under water. 

CARABINEER. One who uses the carbine. 

CARACK, CARRAK, OR CARRICK. A large ship of burden, the same with thosecalled galleons. Hippus, the Tyrian, is said to have first devisedcaracks, and onerary vessels of prodigious bulk for traffic or offence. 

CARACORA. A proa of Borneo, Ternate, and the Eastern Isles; also calledcaracol by early voyagers. 

CARAMOUSSAL. A Turkish merchant ship with a pink-stern. 

CARAVEL, OR CARAVELA. A Portuguese despatch boat, lateen-rigged, formerly in use; it had square sails only on the fore-mast, thoughdignified as a caravela. 

CARAVELAO. A light pink-sterned vessel of the Azores. 

CARBASSE. _See_ KARBATZ. 

CARBIN. A name in our northern isles for the basking shark. 

CARBINE, OR CARABINE. A fire-arm of less length and weight than amusket, originally carrying a smaller ball, though latterly, for theconvenience of the supply of ammunition, throwing the same bullet as themusket, though with a smaller charge. It has been proper to mountedtroops since about A. D. 1556, and has been preferred to the musket as aweapon for the tops of ships as well as boats. 

CARCASS. An iron shell for incendiary purposes, filled with a veryfiercely flaming composition of saltpetre, sulphur, resin, turpentine, antimony, and tallow. It has three vents for the flame, and sometimes isequipped with pistol barrels, so fitted in its interior as to dischargetheir bullets at various times. 

CARCASS OF A SHIP. The ribs, with keel, stem, and stern-post, after theplanks are stripped off. 

CARCATUS [from _caricato_, It. ] A law-term for a freighted ship. 

CARD. The dial or face of the magnetic compass-card. 

 "Reason the card, but passion is the gale. "--_Pope. _

Probably derived from _cardinal_. 

CARDINAL POINTS. The general name by which the north, east, south, andwest rhumbs of the horizon are distinguished. 

CARDINAL POINTS OF THE ECLIPTIC. The equinoctial and solstitial points;namely, the commencement of Aries and Libra, and of Cancer andCapricornus. 

CARDINAL SIGNS. The zodiacal signs which the sun enters at the equinoxesand solstices. 

CARDINAL WINDS. Those from the due north, east, south, and west pointsof the compass. 

CAREEN, TO. A ship is said to careen when she inclines to one side, orlies over when sailing on a wind; off her keel or carina. 

CAREENING. The operation of heaving the ship down on one side, byarranging the ballast, or the application of a strong purchase to hermasts, which require to be expressly supported for the occasion toprevent their springing; by these means one side of the bottom, elevatedabove the surface of the water, may be cleansed or repaired. (_See_BREAMING. ) But this operation is now nearly superseded by sheathingships with copper, whereby they keep a clean bottom for several years. 

CAREENING BEACH. A part of the strand prepared for the purpose of aship's being grounded on a list or careen, to repair defects. 

CARFINDO. One of the carpenter's crew. 

CARGO. The merchandise a ship is freighted with. 

CARGO-BOOK. The master of every coasting-vessel is required to keep acargo-book, stating the name of the ship, of the master, of the port towhich she belongs, and that to which she is bound; with a roll of allgoods, shippers, and consignees. In all other merchant ships thecargo-book is a clean copy of all cargo entered in the gangway-book, andshows the mark, number, quality, and (if measurement goods) thedimensions of such packages of a ship's cargo. 

CARICATORE. Places where the traders of Sicily take in their goods, from_caricare_, to load. 

CARINA. An old term, from the Latin, for the keel, or a ship's bottom. The north-country term keel means an entire vessel: "So many keelstouched the strand. " (_See_ KEEL. )

CARL, OR MALE HEMP. _See_ FIMBLE or FEMALE HEMP. 

CARLE-CRAB. The male of the black-clawed crab, _Cancer pagurus_; also ofthe partan or common crab. 

CARLINE-KNEES. Timbers going athwart the ship, from the sides to thehatchway, serving to sustain the deck on both sides. 

CARLINES, OR CARLINGS. Pieces of timber about five inches square, lyingfore and aft, along from one beam to another. On and athwart these theledges rest, whereon the planks of the deck and other portions ofcarpentry are made fast. The carlines have their end let into the beams, called "culver-tail-wise, " or scored in pigeon-fashion. There are othercarlines of a subordinate character. 

CARLINO, OR CAROLINE. A small silver coin of Naples, value 4_d. _English. Ten carlini make a ducat in commerce. 

CARN-TANGLE. A long and large fucus, thrown on our northern beachesafter a gale of wind in the offing. 

CAROUS. A sort of gallery in ancient ships, which turned on a pivot. Itwas hoisted to a given height by tackles, and thus brought to projectover, or into, the vessel of an adversary, furnishing a bridge forboarding. 

CARP. A well-known fresh-water fish of the Cyprinidæ family, consideredto have been introduced into England in the time of Henry VIII. ; but inDame Berner's book on angling, published in 1486, it is described as the"daynteous fysshe" in England. 

CARPENTER, SHIP. A ship-builder. An officer appointed to examine andkeep in order the hull of a ship, and all her appurtenances, likewisethe stores committed to him by indenture from the store-keeper of thedockyard. The absence of other tradesmen whilst a ship is at sea, andthe numerous emergencies in which ships are placed requiring invention, render a good ship's carpenter one of the most valuable artizans onboard. 

CARPENTER'S CREW. Consists of a portion of the crew, provided forship-carpentry and ship-building. In ships of war there are twocarpenter's mates and one caulker, one blacksmith, and a carpenter'screw, according to the size of the ship. 

CARPENTER'S STORE-ROOM. An apartment built below, on the platform-deck, for keeping the carpenter's stores and spare tools in. 

CARPENTER'S YEOMAN. _See_ YEOMAN. 

CARPET-KNIGHT. A man who obtains knighthood on a pretence for servicesin which he never participated. 

CARPET-MEN. Those officers who, without services or merit, obtain rapidpromotion through political or other interest, and are yet declared"highly meritorious and distinguished. "

CARR. _See_ CAR. 

CARRAC, CARRACA, CARRACK, OR CARRICKE. A name given by the Spaniards andPortuguese to the vessels they sent to Brazil and the East Indies;large, round built, and fitted for fight as well as burden. Theircapacity lay in their depth, which was extraordinary. English vessels ofsize and value were sometimes also so called. 

CARRARA. The great northern diver, _Colymbus glacialis_. 

CARREE. A Manx or Gaelic term for the scud or small clouds that drivewith the wind. 

CARRIAGE OF A GUN. The frame on which it is mounted for firing, constructed either exclusively for this purpose, or also for travellingin the field. Carriages for its transport only, are not included underthis term. The first kind only is in general use afloat, where itusually consists of two thick planks (called brackets or cheeks) laid onedge to support the trunnions, and resting, besides other transverseconnections, on two axle-trees, which are borne on low solid woodenwheels called trucks, or sometimes, to diminish the recoil, on flatblocks called chocks. The hind axle-tree takes, with the intervention ofvarious elevating arrangements, the preponderance of the breech. Thesecond kind is adapted for field and siege work: the shallow bracketsare raised in front on high wheels, but unite behind into a solid beamcalled the trail, which tapers downwards, and rests on the ground whenin action, but for travel is connected to a two-wheeled carriage calleda _limber_ (which see). Gun-carriages are chiefly made of elm forship-board, as less given to splinter from shot, and of oak on shore;wrought-iron, however, is being applied for the carriages of the largeguns recently introduced, and even cast-iron is economically used insome fortresses little liable to sudden counter-battery. 

CARRICK. An old Gaelic term for a castle or fortress, as well as for arock in the sea. 

CARRICK-BEND. A kind of knot, formed on a bight by putting the end of arope over its standing part, and then passing it. 

CARRICK-BITTS. The bitts which support the ends or spindles of thewindlass, whence they are also called windlass-bitts. 

CARRIED. Taken, applied to the capture of forts and ships. 

CARRONADE. A short gun, capable of carrying a large ball, and useful inclose engagements at sea. It takes its name from the large iron-foundryon the banks of the Carron, near Falkirk, in Scotland, where this sortof ordnance was first made, or the principle applied to an improvedconstruction. Shorter and lighter than the common cannon, and having achamber for the powder like a mortar, they are generally of largecalibre, and carried on the upper works, as the poop and forecastle. 

CARRONADE SLIDE. Composed of two wide balks of elm on which thecarronade carriage slides. As the slide is bolted to the ship's side, and is a radius from that bolt or pivot, carronades were once the onlyguns which could be truly concentrated on a given object. 

CARRY, TO. To subdue a vessel by boarding her. To move anything alongthe decks. (_See_ LASH AND CARRY, as relating to hammocks. ) Also, toobtain possession of a fort or place by force. Also, the direction ormovement of the clouds. Also, a gun is said to carry its shot so manyyards. Also, a ship carries her canvas, and her cargo. 

CARRY AWAY, TO. To break; as, "That ship has carried away herfore-topmast, " _i. E. _ has broken it off. It is customary to say, wecarried away this or that, when knocked, shot, or blown away. It is alsoused when a rope has been parted by violence. 

CARRYING ON DUTY. The operations of the officer in charge of the deck orwatch. 

CARRYING ON THE WAR. Making suitable arrangements for carrying on thelark or amusement. 

CARRY ON, TO. To spread all sail; also, beyond discretion, or at allhazards. In galley-slang, to joke a person even to anger; also riotousfrolicking. 

CARRY THE KEG. _See_ KEG. 

CARTE BLANCHE. In the service sense of the term, implies an authority toact at discretion. 

CARTEL. A ship commissioned in time of war to exchange the prisoners ofany two hostile powers, or to carry a proposal from one to the other;for this reason she has only one gun, for the purpose of firing signals, as the officer who commands her is particularly ordered to carry nocargo, ammunition, or implements of war. Cartel also signifies anagreement between two hostile powers for a mutual exchange of prisoners. In late wars, ships of war fully armed, but under cartel, carriedcommissions for settling peace, as flags of truce. Cartel-ships, bytrading in any way, are liable to confiscation. 

CARTHOUN. The ancient cannon royal, carrying a 66-lb. Ball, with a pointblank range of 185 paces, and an extreme one of about 2000. It was 12feet long and of 8-1/2 inches diameter of bore. 

CARTOUCH-BOX. The accoutrement which contains the musket-cartridges: nowgenerally called a pouch. 

CARTOW. _See_ CART-PIECE. 

CART-PIECE. An early battering cannon mounted on a peculiar cart. 

CARTRIDGE. The case in which the exact charge of powder for fire-arms ismade up--of paper for small-arms, of flannel for great guns, or of sheetmetal for breech-loading muskets. For small-arms generally the cartridgecontains the bullet as well as the powder, and in the case of mostbreech-loaders, the percussion priming also; in the case of some verylight pieces the shot is included, and then named a round of "fixedammunition;" and for breech-loading guns some sort of lubricator isgenerally inclosed in the forward end of the cartridge. 

CARTRIDGE-BOX. A cylindrical wooden box with a lid sliding upon a handleof small rope, just containing one cartridge, and used for its safeconveyance from the magazine to the gun--borne to and fro bypowder-monkeys (boys) of old. The term is loosely applied to theammunition pouch. 

CARUEL. _See_ CARVEL. 

CARVED WORK. The ornaments of a ship which are wrought by the carver. 

CARVEL. A light lateen-rigged vessel of small burden, formerly used bythe Spaniards and Portuguese. Also, a coarse sea-blubber, on whichturtles are said to feed. 

CARVEL-BUILT. A vessel or boat, the planks of which are all flush andsmooth, the edges laid close to each other, and caulked to make themwater-tight: in contradistinction to clinker-built, where they overlapeach other. 

CARY. _See_ MOTHER CARY'S CHICKEN. _Procellaria pelagica_. 

CASCABLE. That generally convex part of a gun which terminates thebreech end of it. The term includes the usual button which is connectedto it by the neck of the cascable. 

CASCADE. A fall of water from a considerable height, rather bysuccessive stages than in a single mass, as with a cataract. 

CASCO. A rubbish-lighter of the Philippine Islands. 

CASE. The outside planking of the ship. 

CASE-BOOK. A register or journal in which the surgeon records the casesof all the sick and wounded, who are placed under medical treatment. 

CASEMATE. In fortification, a chamber having a vaulted roof capable ofresisting vertical fire, and affording embrasures or loop-holes tocontribute to the defence of the place: without these it would be merelya bomb-proof. 

CASERNES. Often considered as synonymous with _barracks_; but morecorrectly small lodgments erected between the ramparts and houses of afortified town, to ease the inhabitants by quartering soldiers there, who are also in better condition for duty than if living in variousparts. 

CASE-SHOT, COMMON. Called also canister-shot. Adapted for close quartersif the enemy be uncovered. It consists of a number of small iron balls, varying in weight and number, packed in a cylindrical tin case fittingthe bore of the gun from which it is to be fired. Burrel, langrage, andother irregular substitutes, may be included under the term. Sphericalcase-shot are officially called _shrapnel shell_ (which see). 

CASHIERED. Sentenced by a court-martial to be dismissed the service. Bysuch sentence an officer is rendered ever after incapable of serving thesovereign in any position, naval or military. 

CASING. The lining, veneering, or planking over a ship's timbers, especially for the cabin-beams; the sheathing of her. Also a bulk-headround a mast to prevent the interference of cargo, or shiftingmaterials. 

CASING-COVER. In the marine steam-engine is a steam-tight opening forthe slide-valve rod to pass through. 

CASK. A barrel for fluid or solid provisions. (_See_ STOWAGE. )

CASKETS (properly GASKETS). Small ropes made of sinnet, and fastened togrummets or little rings upon the yards. Their use is to make the sailfast to the yard when it is to be furled. 

CASSAVA, OR CASSADA. A species of the genus _Jatropha janipha_, wellknown to seamen as the cassava bread of the West Indies. Tapioca isproduced from the _Jatropha manihot_. Caution is necessary in the use ofthese roots, as the juice is poisonous. The root used as chewsticks, tocleanse the teeth and gums, by the negroes, produces a copious flow offrothy saliva. 

CAST. A coast term meaning four, as applied to haddocks, herrings, &c. Also, the appearance of the sky when day begins to break. A cast ofpots, &c. --_A'cast_, when a ship's yards are braced a'cast preparatoryto weighing. Also condemned, cast by survey, &c. 

CAST, TO. To fall off, so as to bring the direction of the wind on oneside of the ship, which before was right ahead. This term isparticularly applied to a ship riding head to wind, when her anchorfirst loosens from the ground. To pay a vessel's head off, or turn it, is getting under weigh on the tack she is to sail upon, and it iscasting to starboard, or port, according to the intention. --_To castanchor. _ To drop or let go the anchor for riding by--synonymous with toanchor. --_To cast a traverse. _ To calculate and lay off the courses anddistances run over upon a chart. --_To cast off. _ To let go at once. Toloosen from. 

CAST. A short boat passage. 

CAST-AWAY. Shipwrecked. 

CAST-AWAYS. People belonging to vessels stranded by stress of weather. Men who have hidden themselves, or are purposely left behind, when theirvessel quits port. 

CASTING ACCOUNTS. Sea-sickness. 

CAST-KNEES. Those hanging knees which compass or arch over the angle ofa man-of-war's ports, rider, &c. 

CASTLE. A place strong by art or nature, or by both. A sort of littlecitadel. (_See_ FORECASTLE, AFT-CASTLE, &c. )

CASTLE-WRIGHTS. Particular artificers employed in the erection of theearly ship's castles. 

CAST-OFFS. Landsmen's clothes. 

CAST OF THE LEAD. The act of heaving the lead into the sea to ascertainwhat depth of water there is. (_See also_ HEAVE THE LEAD and SOUNDING. )The result is a cast--"Get a cast of the lead. "

CASTOR. α Gemini, a well-known nautical star in the zodiac, which hasproved to be a double star. 

CASTOR AND POLLUX. Fiery balls which appear at the mast-heads, yard-arms, or sticking to the rigging of vessels in a gale at sea. (_See_ COMPASANT and CORPOSANT. )

CASTRAMETATION. The art of planning camps, and selecting an appropriateposition, in which the main requirement is that the troops of all armsshould be so planted in camp as immediately to cover their properpositions in the line of battle. 

CAST THE WRONG WAY. _See_ WRONG WAY. 

CASUALTIES. In a military sense, comprehends all men who die, arewounded, desert, or are discharged as unfit for service. 

CAT. A ship formed on the Norwegian model, and usually employed in thecoal and timber trade. These vessels are generally built remarkablystrong, and may carry six hundred tons; or in the language of their ownmariners, from 20 to 30 keels of coals. A cat is distinguished by anarrow stern, projecting quarters, a deep waist, and no ornamentalfigure on the prow. 

CATALAN. A small Spanish fishing-boat. 

CATAMARAN. A sort of raft used in the East Indies, Brazils, andelsewhere: those of the island of Ceylon, like those of Madras and otherparts of that coast, are formed of three logs; the timber preferred fortheir construction is the _Dúp_ wood, or _Cherne-Maram_, the pinevarnish-tree. Their length is from 20 to 25 feet, and breadth 2-1/2 to3-1/2 feet, secured together by means of three spreaders and crosslashings, through small holes; the centre log is much the largest, witha curved surface at the fore-end, which tends and finishes upwards to apoint. The side logs are very similar in form, and fitted to the centrelog. These floats are navigated with great skill by one or two men, in akneeling position; they think nothing of passing through the surf whichlashes the beach at Madras and at other parts of these coasts, when eventhe boats of the country could not live upon the waves; they are alsopropelled out to the shipping at anchor when boats of the bestconstruction and form would be swamped. In the monsoons, when a sail canbe got on them, a small out-rigger is placed at the end of two poles, asa balance, with a bamboo mast and yard, and a mat or cotton-cloth sail, all three parts of which are connected; and when the tack and sheet ofthe sail are let go, it all falls fore and aft alongside, and beinglight, is easily managed. In carrying a press of sail, they are trimmedby the balance-lever, by going out on the poles so as to keep the logon the surface of the water, and not impede its velocity, which, in astrong wind, is very great. 

CATANADROMI. Migratory fishes, which have their stated times of goingfrom fresh-water to salt and returning, as the salmon, &c. 

CATAPULT. A military engine used by the ancients for throwing stones, spears, &c. 

CATARACT. The sudden fall of a large body of water from a higher to alower level, and rather in a single sheet than by successive leaps, asin a cascade. 

CATASCOPIA. Small vessels anciently used for reconnoitring and carryingdespatches. 

CAT-BEAM. This, called also the beak-head beam, is the broadest beam inthe ship, and is generally made of two beams tabled and bolted together. 

CAT-BLOCK. A two or three fold block, with an iron strop and large hookto it, which is employed to cat or draw the anchor up to the cat-head, which is also fitted with three great sheaves to correspond. 

CATCH. A term used among fishermen to denote a quantity of fish taken atone time. 

CATCH A CRAB. In rowing, when an oar gets so far beneath the surface ofthe water, that the rower cannot recover it in time to prevent his beingknocked backwards. 

CATCH A TURN THERE. Belay quickly. 

CATCH-FAKE. An unseemly doubling in a badly coiled rope. 

CATERER. A purveyor and provider of provisions: now used for the personwho takes charge of and regulates the economy of a mess. (_See_ ACATER. )

CAT-FALL. The rope rove for the cat-purchase, by which the anchor israised to the cat-head or catted. 

CAT-FISH. A name for the sea-wolf (_Anarrhicas lupus_). 

CAT-GUT. A term applied to the sea-laces or _Fucus filum_. (_See_SEA-CATGUT. )

CAT-HARPINGS, OR CATHARPIN LEGS. Ropes under the tops at the lower endof the futtock-shrouds, serving to brace in the shrouds tighter, andaffording room to brace the yards more obliquely when the ship isclose-hauled. They keep the shrouds taut for the better ease and safetyof the mast. 

CAT-HEAD. The cat-head passes through the bow-bulwark obliquely forwardon a radial line from the fore-mast, rests on the timbers even with thewater-way, passes through the deck, and is secured to the side-timbers. It is selected from curved timber. Its upper head is on a level with theupper rail; it is furnished with three great sheaves, and externallystrengthened by a cat-head knee. It not only is used to lift the anchorfrom the surface of the water, but as it "looks forward, " the cat-blockis frequently lashed to the cable to aid by its powerful purchase whenthe capstan fails to make an impression. The cat-fall rove through thesheaves, and the cat-block furnish the cat-purchase. The cat-head thusserves to suspend the anchor clear of the bow, when it is necessary tolet it go: the knee by which it is supported is generally ornamentedwith carving. Termed also _cat-head bracket_. 

CAT-HOLES. Places or spaces made in the quarter, for carrying out fastsor springs for steadying or heaving astern. 

CAT-HOOK. A strong hook which is a continuation of the iron strop of thecat-block, used to hook the ring of the anchor when it is to be drawn upor catted. 

CAT-LAP. A common phrase for tea or weak drink. 

CAT O' NINE TAILS. An instrument of punishment used on board ships inthe navy; it is commonly of nine pieces of line or cord, about half ayard long, fixed upon a piece of thick rope for a handle, and havingthree knots on each, at small intervals, nearest one end; with this theseamen who transgress are flogged upon the bare back. 

CATRAIA. The catraia of Lisbon and Oporto, or pilot surf-boats, areabout 56 feet long, by 15 feet beam, impelled by sixteen oars. 

CAT-RIG. A rig which in smooth water surpasses every other, but, beingutterly unsuited for sea or heavy weather, is only applicable topleasure-boats who can choose their weather. It allows one sail only--anenormous fore-and-aft main-sail, spread by a gaff at the head and a boomat the foot, hoisted on a stout mast, which is stepped close to thestem. 

CAT-ROPE. A line for hauling the cat-hook about: also cat-back-rope, which hauls the block to the ring of the anchor in order to hook it. 

CAT'S-PAW. A light air perceived at a distance in a calm, by theimpressions made on the surface of the sea, which it sweeps very gently, and then passes away, being equally partial and transitory. Oldsuperstitious seamen are seen to scratch the backstays with their nails, and whistle to invoke even these cat's-paws, the general forerunner ofthe steadier breeze. Cat's-paw is also a name given to a particulartwisting hitch, made in the bight of a rope, so as to induce two smallbights, in order to hook a tackle on them both. Also, good-lookingseamen employed to entice volunteers. 

CAT'S-SKIN. A light partial current of air, as with the cat's-paw. 

CAT'S-TAIL. The inner part of the cat-head, that fays down upon thecat-beam. 

CAT-STOPPER, OR CATHEAD-STOPPER. A piece of rope or chain rove throughthe ring of an anchor, to secure it for sea, or singled before lettingit go. 

CAT-TACKLE. A strong tackle, used to draw the anchor perpendicularly upto the cat-head, which latter is sometimes called cat. 

CATTAN. _See_ KATAN. 

CAT THE ANCHOR. When the cat is hooked and "cable enough" veered andstoppered, the anchor hangs below the cat-head, swings beneath it; it isthen hauled close up to the cat-head by the purchase called thecat-fall. The cat-stopper is then passed, and the cat-block unhooked. 

CATTING. The act of heaving the anchor by the cat-tackle. Also, sea-sickness. 

CATTY. A Chinese commercial weight of 18 ozs. English. Tea is packed inone or two or more catty boxes, hence most likely our word tea-caddy. 

CAUDAL FIN. The vertical median fin terminating the tail of fishes. 

CAUDICARIÆ. A kind of lighter used by the Romans on the Tiber. 

CAUL. The membrane encompassing the head of some infants when born, andfrom early antiquity esteemed an omen of good fortune, and apreservative against drowning; it was sought by the Roman lawyers withas much avidity as by modern voyagers. Also, a northern name for adam-dike. Also, an oriental license. (_See_ KAULE. )

CAULK, TO. (_See_ CAULKING. ) To lie down on deck and sleep, with clotheson. 

CAULKER. He who caulks and pays the seams. This word is mistaken by manyfor _cawker_ (which see). 

CAULKER'S SEAT. A box slung to a ship's side whereon a caulker can sitand use his irons; it contains his tools and oakum. 

CAULKING OF A SHIP. Forcing a quantity of oakum, or old ropes untwistedand drawn asunder, into the seams of the planks, or into the intervalswhere the planks are joined together in the ship's decks or sides, orrends in the planks, in order to prevent the entrance of water. Afterthe oakum is driven in very hard, hot melted pitch or rosin is pouredinto the groove, to keep the water from rotting it. Among the ancientsthe first who made use of pitch in caulking were the inhabitants ofPhæacia, afterwards called Corfu. Wax and rosin appear to have beencommonly used before that period; and the Poles still substitute anunctuous clay for the same purpose for the vessels on their navigablerivers. 

CAULKING-BUTT. The opening between ends or joints of the planks whenworked for caulking. 

CAULKING-IRONS. The peculiar chisels used for the purpose of caulking:they are the caulking-iron, the making-iron, the reeming-iron, and therasing-iron. 

CAULKING-MALLET. The wooden beetle or instrument with which thecaulking-irons are driven. 

CAURY. Worm-eaten. 

CAVALIER. In fortification, a work raised considerably higher than itsneighbours, but generally of similar plan. Its object is to afford aplunging fire, especially into the near approaches of a besieger, and toshelter adjacent faces from enfilade. Its most frequent position infortresses is at the salient of the ravelin, or within the bastion; andin siege-works in the advanced trenches, for the purpose of enabling themusketry of the attack to drive the defenders out of the covered way. 

CAVALLO, by some CARVALHAS. An oceanic fish, well-known as the bonito orhorse-mackerel. 

CAVALOT. A gun carrying a ball of one pound. 

CAVALRY. That body of soldiers which serves and fights on horseback. 

CAVER. _See_ KAVER. 

CAVIARE. A preparation of the roe of sturgeons and other fish salted. Itforms a lucrative branch of commerce in Italy and Russia. 

CAVIL. A large cleat for belaying the fore and main tacks, sheets, andbraces to. (_See_ KEVELS. )

CAVITY. In naval architecture signifies the displacement formed in thewater by the immersed bottom and sides of the vessel. 

CAWE, OR CAWFE. An east-country eel-box, or a floating perforated cagein which lobsters are kept. 

CAWKER. An old term signifying a glass of strong spirits taken in themorning. 

CAY, OR CAYOS. Little insulated sandy spots and rocks. The Spaniards inthe West Indies called the Bahamas _Los Cayos_, which we wrote_Lucayos_. (_See_ KEY. )

CAZE-MATTE. _See_ CASEMATE. 

CAZERNS. _See_ CASERNES. 

C. B. The uncials of Companion of the most honourable Order of the Bath. This grade was recently distributed so profusely that an undecoratedveteran testily remarked that if government went on thus there wouldsoon be more C. B. 's than A. B. 's in the navy. 

CEASE FIRING. The order to leave off. 

CEILING. The lining or planks on the inside of a ship's frame: these areplaced on the flat of the floor, and carried up to the hold-beams. Theterm is a synonym of _foot-waling_ (which see). 

CELLS. _See_ SILLS. 

CELOCES, OR CELETES. Light row-boats, formerly used in piracy, and alsofor conveying advice. 

CEMENT, ROMAN. For docks, piers, &c. _See_ POZZOLANA. 

CENTIME. _See_ FRANC. 

CENTINEL. _See_ SENTINEL. 

CENTRAL ECLIPSE. _See_ ECLIPSE. 

CENTRE (usually CENTER). The division of a fleet between the van and therear of the line of battle, and between the weather and lee divisions inthe order of sailing. 

CENTRE OF CAVITY, OF DISPLACEMENT, OF IMMERSION, AND OF BUOYANCY, aresynonymous terms in naval architecture for the mean centre of that partof a vessel which is immersed in the water. 

CENTRE OF GRAVITY, OR BALANCING POINT. _See_ GRAVITY. 

CENTRE OF MOTION. _See_ MOTION (CENTRE OF). 

CENTURION. A military officer who commanded one hundred men, in theRoman armies. 

CEOLA. A very old term for a large ship. 

CERADENE. A large fresh-water mussel. 

CERCURI. Ancient ships of burden fitted with both sails and oars. 

CERTIFICATE. A voucher or written testimony to the truth of anystatement. An attestation of servitude, signed by the captain, is givenwith all discharges of men in the navy. 

CERTIFY, TO. To bear official testimony. 

CESSATION OF ARMS. A discontinuation or suspension of hostilities. 

CETINE. An ancient large float, says Hesychius, "in bulk like a whale;"derived from _cetus_, which applied both to whale and ship. 

C. G. Coast-guard (which see). 

CHAD. A fish like a small bream, abundant on the south-west coasts ofEngland. 

CHAFE, TO. To rub or fret the surface of a cable, mast, or yard, by themotion of the ship or otherwise, against anything that is too hard forit. --_Chafing-gear_, is the stuff put upon the rigging and spars toprevent their being chafed. 

CHAFFER. A name for a whale or grampus of the northern seas. 

CHAFING-CHEEKS. A name given by old sailors to the sheaves instead ofblocks on the yards in light-rigged vessels. 

CHAFING-GEAR. Mats, sinnet, spun-yarn, strands, battens, scotchmen, andthe like. 

CHAIN. When mountains, hills, lakes, and islands are linked together, orfollow each other in succession, so that their whole length greatlyexceeds their breadth, they form what is termed a chain. A measuringchain is divided into links, &c. , made of stout wire, because line isapt to shrink on wet ground and give way. The chain measure is 66 feet. 

CHAINAGE OF SHIP. An old right of the admiral. 

CHAIN-BOLT. A large bolt to secure the chains of the dead-eyes throughthe toe-link, for the purpose of securing the masts by the shrouds. Also, the bolts which fasten the channel-plates to the ship's side. 

CHAIN-CABLE COMPRESSOR. A curved arm of iron which revolves on a boltthrough an eye at one end, at the other is a larger eye in which atackle is hooked; it is used to bind the cable against the pipe throughwhich it is passing, and check it from running out too quickly. 

CHAIN-CABLE CONTROLLER. A contrivance for the prevention of one part ofthe chain riding on another while heaving in. 

CHAIN-CABLES. Are not new; Cæsar found them on the shores of the BritishChannel. In 1818 I saw upwards of eighty sail of vessels with them atDesenzano, on the Lago di Garda. They have all but superseded hempcables in recent times; they are divided into parts 15 fathoms inlength, which are connected by shackles, any one of which may be slippedin emergency; at each 7-1/2 fathoms a swivel used to be inserted, but inmany cases they are now dispensed with. 

CHAIN-CABLE SHACKLES. Used for coupling the parts of a chain-cable atvarious lengths, so that they may be disconnected when circumstancedemands it. 

CHAIN-HOOK. An iron rod with a handling-eye at one end, and a hook atthe other, for hauling the chain-cables about. 

CHAIN-PIPE. An aperture through which a chain-cable passes from thechain-well to the deck above. 

CHAIN-PLATES. Plates of iron with their lower ends bolted to the ship'ssides under the channels, and to these plates the dead-eyes arefastened; other plates lap over and secure them below. Formerly, andstill in great ships, the dead-eyes were linked to chain-pieces, andfrom their being occasionally made in one plate they have obtained thisappellation. 

CHAIN-PUMP. This is composed of two long metal tubes let down throughthe decks somewhat apart from each other, but joined at their lowerends, which are pierced with holes for the admission of water. Above theupper part of the tubes is a sprocket-wheel worked by crank handles;over this wheel, and passing through both tubes, is an endless chain, furnished at certain distances with bucket valves or pistons, turninground a friction-roller. The whole, when set in motion by means of thecrank handles, passing down one tube and up the other, raises the watervery rapidly. 

CHAINS, properly CHAIN-WALES, or CHANNELS. Broad and thick planksprojecting horizontally from the ship's outside, to which they are fayedand bolted, abreast of and somewhat behind the masts. They are formed toproject the chain-plate, and give the lower rigging greater out-rig orspread, free from the top-sides of the ship, thus affording greatersecurity and support to the masts, as well as to prevent the shroudsfrom damaging the gunwale, or being hurt by rubbing against it. Ofcourse they are respectively designated fore, main, and mizen. They arenow discontinued in many ships, the eyes being secured to thetimber-heads, and frequently within the gunwale to the stringers orlower shelf-pieces above the water-way. --_In the chains_, applies to theleadsman who stands on the channels between two shrouds to heave thehand-lead. 

CHAIN-SHOT. Two balls connected either by a bar or chain, for cuttingand destroying the spars and rigging of an enemy's ship. 

CHAIN-SLINGS. Chains attached to the sling-hoop and mast-head, by whicha lower yard is hung. Used for boat or any other slings demanded. 

CHAIN-STOPPER. There are various kinds of stoppers for chain-cables, mostly acting by clamping or compression. 

CHAIN, TOP. A chain to sling the lower yards in time of battle, toprevent them from falling down when the ropes by which they are hung areshot away. 

CHAIN-WELL, OR LOCKER. A receptacle below deck for containing thechain-cable, which is passed thither through the deck-pipe. 

CHALAND. A large flat-bottomed boat of the Loire. 

CHALDERS. Synonymous with _gudgeons_ of the rudder. 

CHALDRICK. An Orkney name for the sea-pie (_Hæmatopus ostralegus_). 

CHALDRON. A measure of coals, consisting of 36 bushels; a cubic yard =19 cwts. 19 lbs. 

CHALINK. A kind of Massoolah boat. 

CHALK, TO. To cut. --_To walk one's chalks_, to run off; also, an ordealfor drunkenness, to see whether the suspected person can move along theline. "Walking a deck-seam" is to the same purpose, as the man is toproceed without overstepping it on either side. 

CHALKS. Marks. "Better by chalks:" wagers were sometimes determined byhe who could reach furthest or highest, and there make achalk-mark. --_Long chalks_, great odds. 

CHALLENGE. The demand of a sentinel to any one who approaches his post. Also, the defiance to fight. 

CHAMADE. To challenge attention. A signal made by beat of drum when aconference is desired by the enemy on having matter to propose. It isalso termed beating a parley. 

CHAMBER, OR CHAMBER-PIECE. A charge piece in old ordnance, like a_paterero_, to put into the breech of a gun prepared for it. (_See_MURDERER. ) Used by the Chinese, as in _gingals_ (which see). 

CHAMBER OF A MINE. The seat or receptacle prepared for thepowder-charge, usually at the end of the gallery, and out of the directline of it; and, if possible, tamped or buried with tight packing ofearth, &c. , to increase the force of explosion. 

CHAMBER OF A PIECE OF ORDNANCE. The end of the bore modified to receivethe charge of powder. In mortars, howitzers, and shell-guns, they are ofsmaller diameter than the bore, for the charges being comparativelysmall, more effect is thus expected. The gomer chamber (which see) isgenerally adopted in our service. In rifled guns the powder-chamber isnot rifled; it and the bullet-chamber differ in other minute respectsfrom the rest of the bore. Patereroes for festive occasions aresometimes called chambers; as the small mortars, formerly used forfiring salutes in the parks, termed also pint-pots from their shape andhandles. 

CHAMBERS. Clear spaces between the riders, in those vessels which havefloor and futtock riders. 

CHAMFER. The cutting or taking off a sharp edge or angle from a plank ortimber. It is also called camfering. 

CHAMPION. The great champion of England, who at the coronation of thesovereign throws down his gauntlet, and defies all comers. Held at thecoronations of George IV. , William IV. , and Victoria, by a navalofficer, a middy in 1821. 

CHANCERY, IN. When a ship gets into irons. (_See_ IRONS. )

CHANCY. Dangerous. 

CHANDLER, SHIP. Dealer in general stores for ships. 

CHANGE. In warrantry, is the voluntary substitution of a differentvoyage for a merchant ship than the one originally specified or agreedupon, an act which discharges the insurers. (_See_ DEVIATION. )

CHANGEY-FOR-CHANGEY. A rude barter among men-of-war's men, as bread forvegetables, or any "swap. "

CHANNEL. In hydrography, the fair-way, or deepest part of a river, harbour, or strait, which is most convenient for the track of shipping. Also, an arm of the sea, or water communication running between anisland or islands and the main or continent, as the British Channel. Inan extended sense it implies any passage which separates lands, andleads from one ocean into another, without distinction as to shape. 

CHANNEL-BOLTS. The long bolts which pass through all the planks, andconnect the channel to the side. 

CHANNEL-GROPERS. The home-station ships cruising in the Channel; usuallysmall vessels to watch the coast in former times, and to arrestsmugglers. 

CHANNEL-GROPING. The carrying despatches, and cruising from port to portin soundings. 

CHANNEL-PLATES. _See_ CHAIN-PLATES. 

CHANNEL-WALES. Strakes worked between the gun-deck and the upper deckports of large ships. Also, the outside plank which receives the boltsof the chain-plates. The wale-plank extends fore and aft to support thechannels. 

CHANTICLEER. A name in the Frith of Forth for the dragonet or gowdie(_Callionymus lyra_). The early or vigilant cock, from which severalEnglish vessels of war have derived their names. 

CHAP. A general term for a man of any age after boyhood; but it is notgenerally meant as a compliment. 

CHAPE. The top locket of a sword scabbard. 

CHAPELLING A SHIP. The act of turning her round in a light breeze, whenshe is close hauled, without bracing the head-yards, so that she willlie the same way that she did before. This is commonly occasioned by thenegligence of the steersman, or by a sudden change of the wind. 

CHAPLAIN. The priest appointed to perform divine service on board shipsin the royal navy. 

CHAPMAN. A small merchant or trader; a ship's super-cargo. 

CHAR. A fine species of trout taken in our northern lakes. 

CHARACTERS. Certain marks invented for shortening the expression ofmathematical calculations, as +, -, ×, ÷, =, : :: :, √, &c. 

CHARGE. The proportional quantity of powder and ball wherewith a gun isloaded for execution. The rules for loading large ordnance are: that thepiece be first cleaned or scoured inside; that the proper quantity ofpowder be next driven in and rammed down, care however being taken thatthe powder in ramming be not bruised, because that weakens its effect;that a little quantity of paper, lint, or the like, be rammed over it, and then the ball be intruded. If the ball be red hot, a tompion, ortrencher of green wood, is to be driven in before it. Also, in martiallaw, an indictment or specification of the crime of which a prisonerstands accused. Also, in evolutions, the brisk advance of a body toattack an enemy, with bayonets fixed at the charge, or firmly held atthe hip. Also, the command on duty, every man's office. --_A ship ofcharge_, is one so deeply immersed as to steer badly. --_To charge apiece_, is to put in the proper quantity of ammunition. 

CHARGER. The horse ridden by an officer in action; a term looselyapplied to any war-horse. 

CHARITY-SLOOPS. Certain 10-gun brigs built towards the end of Napoleon'swar, something smaller than the 18-gun brigs; these were rated sloops, and scandal whispers "in order that so many commanders might charitablybe employed. "

CHARLES'S WAIN. The seven conspicuous stars in Ursa Major, of which twoare called the pointers, from showing a line to the pole-star. 

CHART, OR SEA-CHART. A hydrographical map, or a projection of some partof the earth's superficies _in plano_, for the use of navigators, further distinguished as plane-charts, Mercator's charts, globularcharts, and the bottle or current chart, to aid in the investigation ofsurface currents (all which see). A selenographic chart represents themoon, especially as seen by the aid of photography and Mr. De la Rue'sarrangement. 

CHARTER. To charter a vessel is to take her to freight, under acharter-party. The charter or written instrument by which she is hiredto carry freight. 

CHARTERED SHIP. One let to hire to one or more, or to a company. A_general_ ship is where persons, unconnected, load goods. 

CHARTERER. The person hiring or chartering a ship, or the government ora company by their agents. 

CHARTER-PARTY. The deed or written contract between the owners and themerchants for the hire of a ship, and safe delivery of the cargo; thusdiffering from a bill of lading, which relates only to a portion of thecargo. It is the same in civil law with an indenture at the common law. It ought to contain the name and burden of the vessel, the names of themaster and freighters, the place and time of lading and unlading, andstipulations as to demurrage. The charter-party is dissolved by acomplete embargo, though not by the temporary stopping of a port. It isthus colloquially termed a pair of indentures. 

CHASE, TO. To pursue a ship, which is also called giving chase. --_Astern chase_ is when the chaser follows the chased astern, directly uponthe same point of the compass. --_To lie with a ship's fore-foot in achase_, is to sail and meet with her by the nearest distance, and so tocross her in her way, as to come across her fore-foot. A ship is said tohave a good chase when she is so built forward or astern that she cancarry many guns to shoot forwards or backwards; according to which sheis said to have a good forward or good stern chase. Chasing to windward, is often termed chasing in the wind's eye. 

CHASE. The vessel pursued by some other, that pursuing being the chaser. This word is also applied to a receptacle for deer and game, between aforest and a park in size, and stored with a larger stock of timber thanthe latter. 

CHASE, BOW. Cannon situated in the fore part of the ship to fire uponany object ahead of her. Chasing ahead, or varying on either bow. 

CHASE OF A GUN. That part of the conical external surface extending fromthe moulding in front of the trunnions to that which marks thecommencement of the muzzle; that is, in old pattern guns, from the ogeeof the second reinforce, to the neck or muzzle astragal. 

CHASE-GUNS. Such guns as are removed to the chase-ports ahead or astern, if not pivot-guns. 

CHASE-PORTS. The gun-ports at the bows and through the stern of awar-ship. 

CHASER. The ship which is pursuing another. 

CHASE-SIGHT. Where the sight is usually placed. 

CHASE-STERN. The cannon which are placed in the after-part of a ship, pointing astern. 

CHASSE MAREES. The coasting vessels of the French shores of the Channel;generally lugger-rigged; either with two or three masts, and sometimes atop-sail; the hull being bluffer when used for burden only, are thusdistinguished from luggers. They seldom venture off shore, but coast it. 

CHATHAM. _See_ CHEST OF CHATHAM. 

CHATS. Lice. Also lazy fellows. 

CHATTA, OR CHATTY. An Indian term for an earthen vessel sometimes usedfor cooking. 

CHAW. _See_ QUID. 

CHEATING THE DEVIL. Softenings of very profane phrases, the mereeuphemisms of hard swearing, as _od rot it_, _od's blood_, _dash it_, _dang you_, _see you blowed first_, _deuce take it_, _by gosh_, _bedarned_, and the like profane preludes, such as boatswains and theirmates are wont to use. 

CHEAT THE GLASS. _See_ FLOGGING THE GLASS. 

CHEBACCO BOAT. A description of fishing-vessel employed in theNewfoundland fisheries. It is probably named from Chebucto Bay. 

CHECK. (_See_ BOWLINE. ) To slack off a little upon it, and belay itagain. Usually done when the wind is by, or as long as she can lay hercourse without the aid of the bowline. --_To check_ is to slacken or easeoff a brace, which is found to be too stiffly extended, or when the windis drawing aft. It is also used in a contrary sense when applied to thecable running out, and then implies to stopper the cable. --_Check her_, stop her way. 

CHECKERS. A game much used by seamen, especially in the tops, whereusually a checker-board will be found carved. 

CHECKING-LINES. These are rove through thimbles at the eyes of thetop-mast and top-gallant rigging, one end bent to the lift and brace, the other into the top. They are used to haul them in to the mast-head, instead of sending men aloft. 

CHEEK. Insolent language. --_Own cheek_, one's self. --_Cheeky_, flippant. 

CHEEK-BLOCKS. Usually fitted to the fore-topmast head, for the purposeof leading the jib-stay, halliards, &c. 

CHEEKS. A general term among mechanics for those pieces of timber in anymachine which are double, and perfectly corresponding to each other. Theprojections at the throat-end of a gaff which embrace the mast aretermed jaws. Also, the sides of a gun-carriage. (_See_ BRACKETS. ) Also, the sides of a block. Also, an old soubriquet for a marine, derived froma rough pun on his uniform in olden days. 

CHEEKS, OR CHEEK-KNEES. Pieces of compass-timber on the ship's bows, forthe security of the beak-head, or knee of the head, whence the term_head-knee_. Two pieces of timber fitted on each side of a mast, frombeneath the hounds and its uppermost end. Also, the circular pieces onthe aft-side of the carrick-bitts. 

CHEEKS OF AN EMBRASURE. The interior faces or sides of an embrasure. 

CHEEKS OF THE MAST. The faces or projecting parts on each side of themasts, formed to sustain the trestle-trees upon which the frame of thetop, together with the top-mast, immediately rest. (_See_ HOUNDS andBIBBS. )

CHEER, TO. To salute a ship _en passant_, by the people all coming ondeck and huzzahing three times; it also implies to encourage or animate. (_See also_ HEARTY and MAN SHIP!)

CHEERING. The result of an animated excitement in action, which oftenincites to valour. Also, practised on ships parting at sea, on joiningan admiral, &c. In piratical vessels, to frighten their prey with asemblance of valour. 

CHEERLY. Quickly; with a hearty will. "Cheerly, boys, cheerly, " when therope comes in slowly, or hoisting a sail with a few hands. 

CHEESE. A circle of wads covered with painted canvas. 

CHELYNGE. An early name of the cod-fish. 

CHEQUE, OR CHECK. An office in dockyards. Cheque for muster, pay, provision, desertion, discharged, or dead--under DDD. Or DSq^d. 

CHEQUE, CLERK OF THE. An officer in the royal dockyards, who goes onboard to muster the ship's company, of whom he keeps a register, therebyto check false musters, the penalty of which is cashiering. 

CHEQUERED SIDES. Those painted so as to show all the ports; moreparticularly applicable to two or more rows. 

CHERIMERI. In the East, a bribe in making a contract or bargain. 

CHERRY. A species of smelt or spurling, taken in the Frith of Tay. 

CHESIL. From the Anglo-Saxon word _ceosl_, still used for a bank orshingle, as that remarkable one connecting the Isle of Portland with themainland, called the Chesil Beach. 

CHESS-TREE. A piece of oak fastened with iron bolts on each top-side ofthe ship. Used for boarding the main-tack to, or hauling home the cluesof the main-sail, for which purpose there is a hole in the upper part, through which the tack passes, that extends the clue of the sail towindward. Where chain has been substituted of late for rope, iron plateswith thimble-eyes are used for chess-trees. 

CHEST OF CHATHAM. An ancient institution, restored and established by anorder in council of Queen Elizabeth, in 1590, supported by acontribution from each seaman and apprentice, according to the amount ofhis wages, for the wounded and hurt seamen of the royal navy, under thename of smart-money. 

CHEST-ROPE. The same with the guest or gift rope, and is added to theboat-rope when the boat is towed astern of the ship, to keep her fromsheering, _i. E. _ from swinging to and fro. (_See_ GUESS-WARP. )

CHEVAUX DE FRISE. An adopted term for pickets pointed with iron, andstanding through beams, to stop an enemy: this defence is also called aturn-pike or pike-turn. 

CHEVENDER. An old name for the chevin or chub. 

CHEVILS. _See_ KEVELS. 

CHEVIN. An old name for the chub. 

CHEVRON. The distinguishing mark on the sleeves of sergeants' andcorporals' coats, the insignia of a non-commissioned officer. Also, amark recently instituted as a testimony of good conduct in a private. Further, now worn by seamen getting good-service pay. 

CHEWING OF OAKUM OR PITCH. When a ship suffers leakage from inefficientcaulking. (_See_ SEAM. )

CHEZ-VOUS. A kind of "All Souls" night in Bengal, when meats and fruitsare placed in every corner of a native's house. Hence _shevoe_, for aship-gala. 

CHICO [Sp. For small]. --_Boca-chica_, small mouth of a river. 

CHIEF. _See_ COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF. A common abbreviation. 

CHIEF MATE, OR CHIEF OFFICER. The next to a commander in a merchantman, and who, in the absence of the latter, acts as his deputy. 

CHIGRE, CHAGOE, CHIGGRE, OR JIGGER. A very minute insect of tropicalcountries, which pierces the thick skin of the foot, and breeds there, producing great pain. It is neatly extricated with its sac entire byclever negroes. 

CHILLED SHOT. Shot of very rapidly cooled cast-iron, _i. E. _ cast in ironmoulds, and thus found to acquire a hardness which renders them ofnearly equal efficiency with steel shot for penetrating iron plates, yetproduced at about one-quarter the price. They invariably break up onpassing through the plates, and their fragments are very destructive oncrowded decks; though in the attack of iron war vessels, where thedemolishment of guns, carriages, machinery, turrets, &c. , is required, the palm must still be awarded to steel shot and shell. 

CHIMBE [Anglo-Saxon]. The prominent part or end of the staves, wherethey project beyond the head of a cask. 

CHIME. _See_ CHINE. 

CHIME IN, TO. To join a mess meal or treat. To chime in to a chorus orsong. 

CHINCKLE. A small bight in a line. 

CHINE. The backbone of a cliff, from the backbones of animals; a namegiven in the Isle of Wight, as Black Gang Chine, and along the coasts ofHampshire. Also, that part of the water-way which is left the thickest, so as to project above the deck-plank; and it is notched or gougedhollow in front, to let the water run free. 

CHINE AND CHINE. Casks stowed end to end. 

CHINED. Timber or plank slightly hollowed out. 

CHINGLE. Gravel. (_See_ SHINGLE. )

CHINGUERITO. A hot and dangerous sort of white corn brandy, made inSpanish America. 

CHINSE, TO. To stop small seams, by working in oakum with a knife orchisel--a temporary expedient. To caulk slightly those openings thatwill not bear the force required for caulking. 

CHINSING-IRON. A caulker's tool for chinsing seams with. 

CHIP, TO. To trim a gun when first taken from the mould or castings. 

CHIPS. The familiar soubriquet of the carpenter on board ship. Thefragments of timber and the planings of plank are included amongchips. --_Chip of the old block_, a son like his father. 

CHIRURGEON. [Fr. ] The old name for surgeon. 

CHISEL. A well-known edged tool for cutting away wood, iron, &c. 

CHIT. A note. Formerly the note for slops given by the officer of adivision to be presented to the purser. 

CHIULES. The Saxon ships so called. 

CHIVEY. A knife. 

CHLET. An old Manx term for a rock in the sea. 

CHOCK. A sort of wedge used to rest or confine any weighty body, andprevent it from fetching way when the ship is in motion. Also, piecesfitted to supply a deficiency or defect after the manner of filling. Also, blocks of timber latterly substituted beneath the beams for knees, and wedged by iron keys. (_See_ BOAT-CHOCKS. )--_Chock of the bowsprit. __See_ BEND. --_Chocks of the rudder_, large accurately adapted pieces oftimber kept in readiness to choak the rudder, by filling up theexcavation on the side of the rudder hole, in case of any accident. Itis also choaked or chocked, when a ship is likely to get strongstern-way, when tiller-ropes break, &c. --_To chock_, is to put a wedgeunder anything to prevent its rolling. (_See_ CHUCK. )

CHOCK-A-BLOCK, OR CHOCK AND BLOCK. Is the same with _block-a-block_ and_two-blocks_ (which see). When the lower block of a tackle is run closeup to the upper one, so that you can hoist no higher, the blocks beingtogether. 

CHOCK-AFT, CHOCK-FULL, CHOCK-HOME, CHOCK-UP, &c. Denote as far aft, full, home, up, &c. , as possible, or that which fits closely to oneanother. 

CHOCK-CHANNELS. Those filled in with wood between the chain-plates, according to a plan introduced by Captain Couch, R. N. 

CHOCOLATE-GALE. A brisk N. W. Wind of the West Indies and Spanish main. 

CHOGSET. _See_ BURGALL. 

CHOKE. The nip of a rocket. 

CHOKED. When a running rope sticks in a block, either by slippingbetween the cheeks and the shiver, or any other accident, so that itcannot run. 

CHOKE-FULL. Entirely full; top full. 

CHOKE THE LUFF. To place suddenly the fall of a tackle close to theblock across the jaw of the next turn of the rope in the block, so as toprevent the leading part from rendering. Familiarly said of having ameal to assuage hunger; to be silenced. 

CHOKEY. An East Indian guard-house and prison. 

CHOMMERY. _See_ CHASSE MAREES, for which this is the men's term. 

CHOP. A permit or license of departure for merchant ships in the Chinatrade. A Chinese word signifying quality. Also, an imperial chop ormandate; a proclamation. 

CHOP, OR CHAPP. The entrance of a channel, as the Chops of the EnglishChannel. 

CHOP-ABOUT, TO. Is applied to the wind when it varies and changessuddenly, and at short intervals of time. 

CHOPPING-SEA. A synonym of _cockling sea_ (which see). 

CHOPT. Done suddenly in exigence; as, _chopt_ to an anchor. 

CHORD. In geometry, is a line which joins the extremities of any arc ofa circle. 

CHOW-CHOW. Eatables; a word borrowed from the Chinese. It is supposed tobe derived from _chou-chou_, the tender parts of cabbage-tree, bamboo, &c. , preserved. 

CHOWDER. The principal food in the Newfoundland bankers, or stationaryfishing vessels; it consists of a stew of fresh cod-fish, rashers ofsalt pork or bacon, biscuit, and lots of pepper. Also, a buccaneer'ssavoury dish, and a favourite dish in North America. (_See_ COD-FISHER'SCREW. ) Chowder is a fish-seller in the western counties. 

CHOWDER-HEADED. Stupid, or batter-brained. 

CHRISTIAN. A gold Danish coin, value in England from 16_s. _ to 16_s. _4_d. _

CHRISTIAN'S GALES. The tremendous storms in 1795-6, which desolated thefleet proceeding to attack the French West India Islands, under AdmiralChristian. 

CHROCKLE. A tangle or _thoro'put_ (which see). 

CHRODANE. The Manx and Gaelic term for gurnet. 

CHRONOMETER. A valuable time-piece fitted with a compensation-balance, adjusted for the accurate measurement of time in all climates, and usedby navigators for the determination of the longitude. 

CHRONOMETER RATE. The number of seconds or parts of seconds which itloses or gains per diem. (_See_ RATING. )

CHRUIN. A Gaelic term for masts. --_Chruin-spreie_, the bowsprit. 

CHUB. The _Leuciscus cephalus_, a fresh-water fish. 

CHUCK. A sea-shell. Nickname for a boatswain, "Old chucks. " Also, an oldword signifying large chips of wood. 

CHUCKLE-HEADED. Clownishly stupid; lubberly. 

CHULLERS. A northern name for the gills of a fish. 

CHUNAM. Lime made of burned shells, and much used in India for the navalstore-houses. That made at Madras is of peculiarly fine quality, andeasily takes a polish like white marble. 

CHUNK. A coarse slice of meat or bread; more properly _junk_. Also, thenegro term for lumps of firewood. 

CHUNTOCK. A powerful dignitary among the Chinese. (_See_ JANTOOK. )

CHURCH. The part of the ship arranged on Sunday for divine service. 

CHURCH-WARDEN. A name given on the coast of Sussex to the shag orcormorant. Why, deponent sayeth not. 

CHUTE. A fall of water or rapid; the word is much used in North America, wherever the nomenclature of the country retains traces of the earlyFrench settlers. (_See_ SHOOT. )

CILLS. Horizontal pieces of timber to ports or scuttles; mostly spelled_sills_ (which see). Generally pronounced by sailors _sell_, as theport-sell. 

CINGLE [from _cir-cingle_, a horse's belt]. A belt worn by seamen. 

CINQUE-PORT. A kind of fishing-net, having five entrances. 

CINQUE PORTS, THE. These are five highly privileged stations, the oncegreat emporiums of British commerce and maritime greatness; they areDover, Hastings, Sandwich, Romney, and Hythe, which, lying opposite toFrance, were considered of the utmost importance. To these wereafterwards added Winchelsea, Rye, and Seaford. These places werehonoured with peculiar immunities and privileges, on condition of theirproviding a certain number of ships at their own charge for forty days. Being exempted from the jurisdiction of the Admiralty court, the LordWarden of the Cinque Ports is authorized to make rules for thegovernment of pilots within his jurisdiction, and in many other generalacts exceptions are provided to save the franchises of the Cinque Portsunimpeached. It is a singular fact that it has never been legallydetermined whether the Downs and adjacent roadsteads are included in thelimits of the Cinque Ports. All derelicts found without the limits byCinque Port vessels are droits of admiralty. This organization wasnearly broken up in the late state reforms, but the Lord Warden stillpossesses some power and jurisdiction. 

CIPHERING. A term in carpentry. (_See_ SYPHERED. )

CIRCLE. A plane figure bounded by a line called the circumference, everywhere equally distant from a point within it, called the centre. 

CIRCLE OF PERPETUAL APPARITION. A circle of the heavens parallel to theequator, and at a distance from the pole of any place equal to thelatitude: within this circle the stars never set. 

CIRCLES, GREAT, LESSER, AZIMUTH, VERTICAL (which see). 

CIRCLES OF LONGITUDE. These are great circles passing through the polesof the ecliptic, and so cutting it at right angles. 

CIRCULARS. Certain official letters which are sent to several persons, and convey the same information. 

CIRCUMNAVIGATION. The term for making a voyage round the world. 

CIRCUMPOLAR. A region which includes that portion of the starry spherewhich remains constantly above the horizon of any place. 

CIRCUMVALLATION, LINES OF. Intrenchments thrown up by a besieging army, outside itself, and round the besieged place, but fronting towards thecountry, to prevent interference from outside. This continuous methodhas gone out of favour, though some covering works of concentratedstrength are still considered essential. 

CIRRIPEDIA. A group of marine animals, allied to the crustacea. They arefree and natatory when young, but in the adult state attached to rocksor some floating substance. They are protected by a multivalve shell, and have long ciliated curled tentacles, whence their name(_curl-footed_). The barnacles (_Lepas_) and the acorn-shells(_Balanus_) are familiar examples. 

CIRRO-CUMULUS. This, the _sonder-cloud_, or system of small roundishclouds in the upper regions of the atmosphere, commonly moves in adifferent current of air from that which is blowing at the earth'ssurface. It forms the mackerel sky alluded to in the followingdistich:--

 "A mack'rel sky and mares'-tails Make lofty ships carry low sails. "

CIRRO-STRATUS. Is the stratus of the upper regions of the atmosphere, heavier looking than the cirrus, but not so heavy as the stratus. 

CIRRUS. The elegant modification of elevated clouds, usually termedmares'-tails (see the distich given at CIRRO-CUMULUS); otherwise thecurl-cloud. 

CISCO. A fish of the herring kind, of which thousands of barrels areannually taken and salted in Lake Ontario. 

CISTERN. A reservoir for water placed in different parts of a ship, where a constant supply may be required. Also furnished with a leadenpipe, which goes through the ship's side, whereby it is occasionallyfilled with sea-water, and which is thence pumped up to wash the decks, &c. 

CITADEL. A fortified work of superior strength, and dominatingeverything else, generally separated therefrom by an open space ofglacis or esplanade; often useful against domestic as well as foreignenemies. 

CIVIL BRANCH. That department executed by civilians, ascontradistinguished from the army or navy branch. 

CIVILIANS. The surgeon, chaplain, purser or paymaster, assistantsurgeons, secretary, and ship clerks, on board men-of-war. 

CIVIL LORD. The lay or junior member of the admiralty board. 

CIVIL WAR. That between subjects of the same realm, or between factionsof the same state. 

CLAIMANTS. Persons appealing to the jurisdiction of the admiralty court. They are denominated colourable, or fair, according to the informality, or justice, of their claims. 

CLAKE. A name for the barnacle-goose (_Anser bernicla_). Also, for the_Lepas anatifera_, a cirriped often found attached to vessels or timberby a long fleshy peduncle, sometimes 4 or 5 feet in length. 

CLAM. A well-known bivalve shell-fish. "As happy as a clam athigh-water, " a figurative expression for otiose comfort. 

CLAMBER. To climb; to ascend quickly. 

CLAMPING. Applying a cross-head, or stirrup-piece, in a socket. 

CLAMP-NAILS. Such nails as are used to fasten clamps; they are short andstout, with large heads. 

CLAMPS. Pieces of timber applied to a mast or yard, to prevent the woodfrom bursting. Also, thick planks lying fore and aft under the beams ofthe first orlop or second deck, the same as the rising-timbers are tothe deck. They are securely fayed to all the timbers, to which they arefastened by nails through the clamp, and penetrating two-thirds of thethickness of the timbers. Also, substantial strakes, worked inside, onwhich the ends of the beams rest. Also, smooth crooked plates of ironforelocked upon the trunnions of cannon; these, however, are moreproperly termed cap-squares. (_See_ CARRIAGE. ) Also, any plate of ironmade to open and shut, so as to confine a spar. A one-cheeked block; thespar to which it is fastened being the other cheek. --_To clamp_, is tounite two bodies by surfaces or circular plates. --_Clamped_, is when apiece of board is fitted with the grain to the end of another piece ofboard across the grain. 

CLAMS. Strong pieces used by shipwrights for drawing bolts, &c. Also, akind of forceps used for bringing up specimens of the bottom insounding; a drag. (_See_ CLAM. )

CLANG. The rattling or clashing of arms. 

CLAP-BOARD [German, _klapp-bord_]. An east-country commercial plank, which ought to be upwards of 13 feet in length; cask-staves are alsoclap-boards. Clap-board, in the colonies, is the covering the side of ahouse with narrow boards, "lapping fashion, " in contradistinction toshingling, or tiling, or clench-built. 

CLAP-MATCH. A sort of seal, distinct from the fur-seal. 

CLAP ON! The order to lay hold of any rope, in order to haul upon it. Also, to "Clap on the stoppers before the bitts, " _i. E. _ fasten thestoppers; or, "Clap on the cat-fall, " _i. E. _ lay hold of thecat-fall. --_To clap a stopper over all_, to stop a thing effectually; toclap on the stopper before the bitts next to the manger or hawse-hole;to order silence. --_To clap in irons_, to order an offender into thebilboes. --_To clap on canvas_, to make more sail. 

CLAPPER. A name for the valve of a pump-box. Also, a plank orfoot-bridge across a running stream; also, the clapper of a bell. 

CLAP-SILL. The lockage of a flood-gate. 

CLARTY. In north-country whalers, used for _wet_, _slippery_. 

CLASHY. Showery weather. 

CLASP-HOOK. An iron clasp, in two parts, moving upon the same pivot, andoverlapping one another. Used for bending chain-sheets to the clues ofsails, jib-halliards, &c. (_See_ SPAR-HOOK. )

CLASS. Order or rank; specially relating to dockyard men. 

CLASSIFICATION OF SHIPS. A register made of vessels according to thereport rendered in by special surveyors. (_See_ NAVY and LLOYD'SREGISTER. )

CLAW, OR CLAW OFF, TO. To beat, or turn to windward from a lee-shore, soas to be at sufficient distance from it to avoid shipwreck. It isgenerally used when getting to windward is difficult. 

CLAYMORE. Anciently a two-handed sword of the Highlanders, but latterlyapplied to their basket-hilted sword. 

CLEACHING NET. A hand-net with a hoop and bar, used by fishermen on thebanks of the Severn. 

CLEAN. Free from danger, as clean coast, clean harbour; in generalparlance means quite, entirely. So Shakspeare represents Ægeon

 "Roaming clean through the bounds of Asia. "

Also, applied to a ship's hull with a fine run fore and aft. --_Cleanentrance_, clean run. --_To clean a ship's bottom. _ (_See_ BREAMING andHOG. )

CLEAN BILL. (_See_ BILL OF HEALTH. ) When all are in health. 

CLEAN DONE. Quite. In a seamanlike manner; purpose well effected;adroitly tricked. (_See_ WEATHERED. )

CLEAN-FISH. On the northern coasts, a salmon perfectly in season. 

CLEAN-FULL. Keeping the sail full, bellying, off the wind. 

CLEAN OFF THE REEL. When the ship by her rapidity pulls the line off thelog-reel, without its being assisted. Also, upright conduct. Also, anyperformance without stop or hindrance, off-hand. 

CLEAN SHIP. A whale-ship unfortunate in her trip, having no fish or oil. 

CLEAR. Is variously applied, to weather, sea-coasts, cordage, navigation, &c. , as opposed to foggy, to dangerous, to entangled. It isusually opposed to _foul_ in all these senses. 

CLEAR, TO. Has several significations, particularly to escape from, tounload, to empty, to prepare, &c. , as:--_To clear for action. _ Toprepare for action. --_To clear away_ for this or that, is to getobstructions out of the way. --_To clear the decks. _ To remove lumber, put things in their places, and coil down the ropes. Also, to take thethings off a table after a meal. --_To clear goods. _ To pay thecustom-house dues and duties. --_To clear the land. _ To escape from theland. --_To clear a lighter, or the hold. _ To empty either. 

CLEARANCE. The document from the customs, by which a vessel and hercargo, by entering all particulars at the custom-house, and paying thedues, is permitted to clear out or sail. 

CLEAR FOR GOING ABOUT. Every man to his station, and every rope an-end. 

CLEARING LIGHTERS. All vessels pertaining to public departments shouldbe cleared with the utmost despatch. 

CLEAR THE PENDANT. _See_ UP AND CLEAR THE PENDANT. 

CLEAR WATER. A term in Polar seas implying no ice to obstructnavigation, well off the land, having sea-room. 

CLEAT A GUN, TO. To nail large cleats under the trucks of thelower-deckers in bad weather, to insure their not fetching way. 

CLEATS, OR CLEETS. Pieces of wood of different shapes used to fastenropes upon: some have one and some two arms. They are called belayingcleat, deck-cleat, and a thumb-cleat. Also, small wedges of woodfastened on the yards, to keep ropes or the earing of the sail fromslipping off the yard. Mostly made of elm or oak. 

CLEAVAGE. The splitting of any body having a structure or line ofcleavage: as fir cleaves longitudinally, slates horizontally, stonesroughly, smoothly, conchoidal, or stratified, &c. 

CLEFTS. Wood sawn lengthways into pieces less in thickness than inbreadth. (_See_ PLANK. )

CLENCH, TO. To secure the end of a bolt by burring the point with ahammer. Also, a mode of securing the end of one rope to another. (_See_CLINCH. )

CLENCHED BOLTS. Those fastened by means of a ring, or an iron plate, with a rivetting hammer at the end where they protrude through the wood, to prevent their drawing. 

CLENCH-NAILS. They are much used in boat-building, being such as can bedriven without splitting the boards, and drawn without breaking. (_See_ROVE and CLENCH. )

CLEP. A north-country name for a small grapnel. 

CLERK. Any naval officer doing the duty of a clerk. 

CLETT. A northern or Erse word to express a rock broken from a cliff, asthe holm in Orkney and Shetland. 

CLEUGH. A precipice, a cliff. Also, a ravine or cleft. 

CLEW. Of a hammock or cot. (_See_ CLUE. )

CLICKS. Small pieces of iron falling into a notched wheel attached tothe winches in cutters, &c. , and thereby serving the office of pauls. (_See_ RATCHET, or RATCHET-PAUL, in machinery. ) It more peculiarlybelongs to inferior clock-work, hence click. 

CLIFF [from the Anglo-Saxon _cleof_]. A precipitous termination of theland, whatever be the soil. (_See_ CRAG. )

CLIMATE. Formerly meant a zone of the earth parallel to the equator, inwhich the days are of a certain length at the summer solstice. The termhas now passed to the physical branch of geography, and means thegeneral character of the weather. 

CLINCH. A particular method of fastening large ropes by a half hitch, with the end stopped back to its own part by seizings; it is chiefly tofasten the hawsers suddenly to the rings of the kedges or small anchors;and the breechings of guns to the ring-bolts in the ship's side. Thoseparts of a rope or cable which are clinched. Thus the outer end is"bent" by the clinch to the ring of the anchor. The inner or tier-clinchin the good old times was clinched to the main-mast, passing under thetier beams (where it was unlawfully, as regards the custom of the navy, clinched). Thus "the cable runs out to the clinch, " means, there is nomore to veer. --_To clinch_ is to batter or rivet a bolt's end upon aring or piece of plate iron; or to turn back the point of a nail that itmay hold fast. (_See_ CLENCH. )

CLINCH A BUSINESS, TO. To finish it; to settle it beyond furtherdispute, as the recruit taking the shilling. 

CLINCH-BUILT. Clinker, or overlapping edges. 

CLINCHER. An incontrovertible and smart reply; but sometimes theconfirmation of a story by a lie, or by some still more improbable yarn:synonymous with _capping_. 

CLINCHER OR CLINKER BUILT. Made of clincher-work, by the planks lappingone over the other. The contrary of _carvel-work_. Iron ships after thisfashion are distinguished as being _lap-jointed_. 

CLINCHER-NAILS. Those which are of malleable metal, as copper, wroughtiron, &c. , which clinch by turning back the points in rough-built firboats where roofs and clinching are thus avoided. 

CLINCHER-WORK. The disposition of the planks in the side of any boat orvessel, when the lower edge of every plank overlaps that next below it. This is sometimes written as pronounced, _clinker-work_. 

CLIPHOOK. A hook employed for some of the ends of the running rigging. 

CLIPPER. A fast sailer, formerly chiefly applied to the sharp-builtraking schooners of America, and latterly to Australian passenger-ships. Larger vessels now built after their model are termed clipper-built:sharp and fast; low in the water; rakish. 

CLIVE. An old spelling of _cliff_. 

CLOCK-CALM. When not a breath of wind ruffles the water. 

CLOCK-STARS. A name for the nautical stars, which, from their positionshaving been very exactly ascertained, are used for determining time. 

CLOD-HOPPER. A clownish lubberly landsman. 

CLOKIE-DOO. A west of Scotland name for the horse-mackerel. 

CLOSE-ABOARD. Near or alongside; too close to be safe. "The boat isclose aboard, " a caution to the officer in command to receive hisvisitor. "The land is close aboard, " danger inferred. 

CLOSE-BUTT. Where caulking is not used, the butts or joints of theplanks are sometimes rabbeted, and fayed close, whence they are thusdenominated. 

CLOSE CONTRACT. One not advertised. 

CLOSED PORT. One interdicted. 

CLOSE-FIST. One who drives a hard bargain in petty traffic. 

CLOSE HARBOUR. That is one gained by labour from the element, formed byencircling a portion of water with walls and quays, except at theentrance, or by excavating the land adjacent to the sea or river, andthen letting in the water. 

CLOSE-HAULED. The general arrangement or trim of a ship's sails when sheendeavours to progress in the nearest direction possible contrary to thewind; in this manner of sailing the keel of square-rigged vesselscommonly makes an angle of six points with the line of the wind, butcutters, luggers, and other fore-and-aft rigged vessels will sail evennearer. This point of sailing is synonymous with _on a taut bowline_ and_on a wind_. 

CLOSE PACK. The ice floes so jammed together that boring is impossible, and present efforts useless. (_See_ PACK-ICE. )

CLOSE-PORTS. Those which lie up rivers; a term in contradistinction to_out-ports_. 

CLOSE-QUARTERS, OR CLOSE-FIGHTS. Certain strong bulk-heads or barriersof wood, formerly stretching across a merchant ship in several places;they were used for retreat and shelter when a ship was boarded by anadversary, and were therefore fitted with loop-holes. Powder-chests werealso fixed upon the deck, containing missiles which might be fired fromthe close quarters upon the boarders. The old slave-ships were thusfitted in case of the negroes rising, and flat-headed nails were castalong the deck to prevent their walking with naked feet. In the navy, yard-arm and yard-arm, sides touching. 

CLOSE-REEFED. The last reefs of the top-sails, or other sails set, beingtaken in. 

CLOSE-SIGHT. The notch in the base-ring of a cannon, to place the eye ina line with the top-sight. 

CLOSE THE WIND, TO. To haul to it. --_Close upon a tack or bowline_, or_close by a wind_, is when the wind is on either bow, and the tacks orbowlines are hauled forwards that they may take the wind to make thebest of their way. --_Close to the wind_, when her head is just so nearthe wind as to fill the sails without shaking them. 

CLOSE WITH THE LAND, TO. To approach near to it. 

CLOSH [from the Danish _klos_]. A sobriquet for east-country seamen. 

CLOTHED. A mast is said to be clothed when the sail is so long as toreach the deck-gratings. Also, well clothed with canvas; sails well cut, well set, and plenty of them. 

CLOTHES-LINES. A complete system of parallel lines, hoisted between themain and mizen masts twice a week to dry the washed clothes of theseamen. 

CLOTHING. The rigging of the bowsprit. --_Clothing the bowsprit_ isrigging it. Also, the purser's slops for the men. 

CLOTH IN THE WIND. Too near to the wind, and sails shivering. Also, groggy. 

CLOTHS. In a sail, are the breadths of canvas in its whole width. When aship has broad sails they say she spreads much cloth. 

CLOTTING. A west-country method of catching eels with worsted thread. 

CLOUD. A collection of vapours suspended in the atmosphere. Also, undera cloud of canvas. 

CLOUGH. A word derived from the verb _to cleave_, and signifying anarrow valley between two hills. (_See_ CLEUGH. ) Also, in commerce, anallowance on the turn of the beam in weighing. 

CLOUT. From the Teutonic _kotzen_, a blow. Also, a gore of blood. 

CLOUT-NAILS [Fr. _clouter_]. To stud with nails, as ships' bottoms andpiles were before the introduction of sheet copper. 

CLOUTS. Thin plates of iron nailed on that part of the axle-tree of agun-carriage that comes through the nave, and through which thelinch-pin goes. 

CLOVE-HITCH. A knot or noose by which one rope is fastened to another. (_See_ HITCH. ) Two half hitches round a spar or rope. 

CLOVE-HOOK. Synonymous with _clasp-hook_. 

CLOVES. Planks made by cleaving. Certain weights for wool, butter, &c. Also, long spike-nails [derived from _clou_, Fr. ]

CLOW. A kind of sluice in which the aperture is regulated by a boardsliding in a frame and groove. 

CLOY, TO. To drive an iron spike by main force into the vent ortouch-hole of a gun, which renders it unserviceable till the spike beeither worked out, or a new vent drilled. (_See_ NAILING and SPIKING. )

CLUBBED. A fashion which obtained in the time of pig-tails of doublingthem up while at sea. 

CLUBBING. Drifting down a current with an anchor out. 

CLUBBING A FLEET. Manœuvring so as to place the first division on thewindward side. 

CLUBBOCK. The spotted blenny or gunnel (_Gunnellus vulgaris_). 

CLUB-HAUL, TO. A method of tacking a ship by letting go the lee-anchoras soon as the wind is out of the sails, which brings her head to wind, and as soon as she pays off, the cable is cut and the sails trimmed;this is never had recourse to but in perilous situations, and when it isexpected that the ship would otherwise miss stays. The most gallantexample was performed by Captain Hayes in H. M. S. _Magnificent_, 74, inBasque Roads, in 1814, when with lower-yards and top-masts struck, heescaped between two reefs from the enemy at Oleron. He bore the name of_Magnificent Hayes_ to the day of his death, for the style in which heexecuted it. 

CLUB-LAW. The rule of violence and strength. 

CLUE. Of a square sail, either of the lower corners reaching down towhere the tacks and sheets are made fast to it; and is that part whichcomes goring out from the square of the sail. 

CLUE-GARNETS. A sort of tackle rove through a garnet block, attached tothe clues of the main and fore sails to haul up and truss them to theyard; which is termed clueing up those sails as for goose-wings, or forfurling. (_See_ BLOCK. )

CLUE-LINES. Are for the same purpose as clue-garnets, only that thelatter term is solely appropriated to the courses, while the wordclue-line is applied to those ropes on all the other square sails; theycome down from the quarters of the yards to the clues, or lower cornersof the sails, and by which the sails are hauled or clued up for furling. 

CLUE OF A HAMMOCK. The combination of small lines by which it issuspended, being formed of knittles, grommets, and laniards; they aretermed double or single clues, according as there are one or two at eachend. Latterly iron grommets or rings were introduced, but did not affordthe required spread, and in some cases triangular irons, orspan-shackles were substituted, called _Spanish clues_, formed by fixingthe knittles at equal distances upon a piece of rope instead of agrommet, which having an eye spliced, and a laniard placed at each end, extends the hammock in the same way as a double clue. --_From clue toearing. _ A phrase implying from the bottom to the top, or synonymouswith "from top to toe. " Or literally the diagonal of a square sail. Also, every portion, as in shifting dress; removing every article. Also, cleaning a ship from clue to earing; every crevice. --_A clue up. _ A caseof despair. In readiness for death. 

CLUE-ROPE. In large sails, the eye or loop at the clues is made of arope larger than the bolt-rope into which it is spliced. 

CLUE UP! The order to clue up the square sails. 

CLUMP. A circular plantation of trees. 

CLUMP-BLOCKS. Those that are made thicker or stronger than ordinaryblocks. (_See_ BLOCK, TACK-AND-SHEET. )

CLUSTER. _See_ GROUP. 

CLUTCH. The oyster spawn adhering to stones, oyster shells, &c. 

CLUTCH. Forked stanchions of iron or wood. The same as crutch, clutch, or clamp block. (_See_ SNATCH-BLOCK. )

CLUTTERY. Weather inclining to stormy. 

COACH, OR COUCH. A sort of chamber or apartment in a large ship of war, just before the great cabin. The floor of it is formed by the aftmostpart of the quarter-deck, and the roof of it by the poop: it isgenerally the habitation of the flag-captain. 

COACH-HORSES. The crew of the state barge; usually fifteen selected men, to support the captain in any daring exploits. 

COACH-WHIP. The pendant. 

COAD. In ship-building, the fayed piece called _bilge-keel_. 

COAK. A small perforated triangular bit of brass inserted into themiddle of the shiver (now called _sheave_) of a block, to keep it fromsplitting and galling by the pin, whereon it turns. Called also _bush_, _cock_ or _cogg_, and _dowel_. 

COAKING. Uniting pieces of spar by means of tabular projections formedby cutting away the solid of one piece into a hollow, so as to make aprojection in the other fit in correctly, the butts preventing thepieces from drawing asunder. Coaks, or dowels, are fitted into the beamsand knees of vessels, to prevent their slipping. 

COAL-FISH. The _Gadus carbonarius_. Called _gerrack_ in its first year, _cuth_ or _queth_ in its second, _sayth_ in its third, _lythe_ in itsfourth, and _colmie_ in its fifth, when it is full grown. 

COALING. Taking in a supply of coals for a cruise or voyage. 

COALS. To be hauled over the coals, is to be brought to strict account. 

COAL-SACKS. An early name of some dark patches of sky in the Milky Way, nearly void of stars visible to the naked eye. The largest patch is nearthe Southern Cross, and called the Black Magellanic Cloud. 

COAL-SAY. The coal-fish. 

COAL-TAR. Tar extracted from bituminous coal. 

COAL-TRIMMER. One employed in a steamer to stow and trim the fuel. Thisduty and that of the stoker are generally combined. 

COAMING-CARLINGS. Those timbers that inclose the mortar-beds ofbomb-vessels, and which are called carlings, because they are shiftedoccasionally. Short beams where a hatchway is cut. 

COAMINGS OF THE HATCHES OR GRATINGS. Certain raised work rather higherthan the decks, about the edges of the hatch-openings of a ship, toprevent the water on deck from running down. Loop-holes were made in thecoamings for firing muskets from below, in order to clear the deck of anenemy when a ship is boarded. There is a rabbet in their inside upperedge, to receive the hatches or gratings. 

COAST. The sea-shore and the adjoining country; in fact, the sea-frontof the land. (_See_ SHORE. )

COAST-BLOCKADE. A body of men formerly under the jurisdiction of theCustoms, termed Preventive Service, offering a disposable force inemergency; but which has been turned over to the control of theAdmiralty, and now become the Coast-guard, over which a commodore, ascontroller-general, presides. (_See_ FENCIBLES. )

COASTER. _See_ COASTING. 

COASTING, OR TO COAST ALONG. The act of making a progress along thesea-coast of any country, for which purpose it is necessary to observethe time and direction of the tide, to know the reigning winds, theroads and havens, the different depths of water, and the qualities ofthe ground. As these vessels are not fitted for distant sea voyages, they are termed coasters. 

COASTING PILOT. A pilot who has become sufficiently acquainted with thenature of any particular coast, to conduct a ship or fleet from one partof it to another; but only within his limits. He may be superseded bythe first branch-pilot he meets after passing his bounds. 

COASTING TRADE. The commerce of one port of the United Kingdom withanother port thereof. A trade confined by law to British ships andvessels. 

COAST-WAITER. Custom-house superintendents of the landing and shippingof goods coastways. 

COAST-WARNING. Synonymous with _storm-signal_; formerly fire-beaconswere used to give warning of the approach of an enemy. 

COAT. A piece of tarred canvas nailed round above the partners, or thatpart where the mast or bowsprit enters the deck. Its use is to preventthe water from running down between decks. There is sometimes a coat forthe rudder, nailed round the hole where the rudder traverses in theship's counter. It also implies the stuff with which the ship's sides ormasts are varnished, to defend them from the sun and weather, asturpentine, pitch, varnish, or paint; in this sense we say, "Give her acoat of tar or paint. " By neglecting the scraper this may become a crustof coatings. 

COAT OF MAIL. The chiton shell. 

COAT-TACKS. The peculiar nails with which the mast coats are fastened. 

COB. A young herring. Also, a sea-gull. Also, a sort of shortbreak-water--so called in our early statutes: such was that which formsthe harbour of Lyme Regis, originally composed of piles and timber, lined with heaps of rock; but now constructed of stone compacted withcement. 

COBB. A Gibraltar term for a Spanish dollar. 

COBBING. An old punishment sometimes inflicted at sea for breach ofcertain regulations--chiefly for those quitting their station during thenight. The offender was struck a certain number of times on the breechwith a flat piece of wood called the _cobbing-board_. Also, when _watch_was cried, all persons were expected to take off their hats on pain ofbeing cobbed. 

COBBLE, TO. To mend or repair hastily. Also, the _coggle_ or _cog_(which see). --_Cobble or coggle stones_, pebbly shingle, ballast-stonesrounded by attrition, boulders, &c. 

COBBLER. An armourer's rasp. 

COBBO. The small fish known as the miller's thumb. 

COBLE. A low flat-floored boat with a square stern, used in the cod andturbot fishery, 20 feet long and 5 feet broad; of about one ton burden, rowed with three pairs of oars, and furnished with a lug-sail; it isadmirably constructed for encountering a heavy swell. Its stability issecured by the rudder extending 4 or 5 feet under her bottom. Itbelonged originally to the stormy coast of Yorkshire. There is also asmall boat under the same name used by salmon fishers. 

COBOOSE. _See_ CABOOSE. 

COCK. That curved arm affixed to the lock of small arms, which, whenreleased by the touch of the trigger, flies forward and discharges thepiece by percussion, whether of flint and steel, fulminating priming, needles abutting on the latter, &c. 

COCKADE. First worn by St. Louis on his unfortunate crusade. 

COCK-A-HOOP. In full confidence, and high spirits. 

COCKANDY. A name on our northern shores for the puffin, otherwise called_Tom Noddy_ (_Fratercula arctica_). 

COCK-BILL. The situation of the anchor when suspended from the cat-headready for letting go. Also said of a cable when it hangs right up anddown. To put the yards a-cockbill is to top them up by one lift to anangle with the deck. The symbol of mourning. 

COCK-BOAT. A very small boat used on rivers or near the shore. Formerlythe cock was the general name of a yawl: it is derived from _coggle_ or_cog_ (which see). 

COCKETS, OR COQUETS. An official custom-house warrant descriptive ofcertain goods which the searcher is to allow to pass and be shipped. Also, a galley term for counterfeit ship-papers. --_Cocket bread. _ Hardsea-biscuit. 

COCK-PADDLE. A name of the paddle or lump-fish (_Cyclopterus lumpus_). 

COCKLE. A common bivalve mollusc (_Cardium edule_), often used as food. 

COCKLING SEA. Tumbling waves dashing against each other with a short andquick motion. 

COCKPIT. The place where the wounded men are attended to, situated nearthe after hatchway, and under the lower gun-deck. The midshipmen aloneinhabited the cockpit in former times, but in later days commission andwarrant officers, civilians, &c. , have their cabins there. --_Forecockpit. _ A place leading to the magazine passage, and the boatswain's, gunner's, and carpenter's store-rooms; in large ships, and during wartime, the boatswain and carpenter generally had their cabins in the forecockpit, instead of being under the forecastle. 

COCKPITARIAN. A midshipman or master's mate; so called from messing inthe cockpit of a line-of-battle ship. 

COCKSETUS. An old law-term for a boatman or coxswain. 

COCKSWAIN, OR COXSWAIN. The person who steers a boat; after the officerin command he has charge of the crew, and all things belonging to it. Hemust be ready with his crew to man the boat on all occasions. 

COCOA, OR CHOCOLATE NUTS, commonly so termed. (_See_ CACAO. ) It is thebreakfast food of the navy. 

COCOA-NUT TREE. The _Palma cocos_ yields _toddy_; the nut, a valuableoil and milky juice; the stem, bark, branches, &c. , also serve numerouspurposes. (_See_ PALMETTO. )

COD. The centre of a deep bay. The bay of a trawl or seine. Also, the_Gadus morrhua_, one of the most important of oceanic fishes. The cod isalways found on the submerged hills known as banks; as the Dogger Bank, and banks of Newfoundland. (_See_ LING. )

COD-BAIT. The large sea-worm or lug, dug from the wet sands. The squidor cuttle, herrings, caplin, any meat, or even a false fish of brighttin or pewter. (_See_ JIG. )

CODDY-MODDY. A gull in its first year's plumage. 

CODE OF SIGNALS. Series of flags, &c. , for communicating at sea. 

COD-FISHER'S CREW. The crew of a banker, or fishing-vessel, whichanchors in 60 or 70 fathoms on the Great Bank of Newfoundland, andremains fishing until full, or driven off by stress of weather. Seasonfrom June until October. (_See_ FISHERIES. )

CODGER. An easy-going man of regularity. Also, a knowing and eccentrichanger-on; one who will not move faster than he pleases. 

COD-LINE. An eighteen-thread line. 

COD-SOUNDS. The swim-bladders of the cod-fish, cured and packed for themarket; the palates also of the fish are included as "tongues andsounds. "

COEHORN. A brass mortar, named after the Dutch engineer who invented it. It is the smallest piece of ordnance in the service, having a bore of4-1/2 inches diameter, a length of 1 foot, and a weight of 3/4 cwt. Theythrow their 12-pounder shells with much precision to moderate distances, and being fixed to wooden beds, are very handy for ships' gangways, launches, &c. , afloat, and for advanced trenches, the attack ofstockades, &c. , ashore. 

COFFER, OR COFFRE. A depth sunk in the bottom of a dry ditch, to bafflebesiegers when they attempt to cross it. 

COFFER-DAM. A coffer-dam consists of two rows of piles, each row boardedstrongly inside, and being filled with clay within well rammed, therebyresists outward pressure, and is impenetrable by the surrounding water. (_See_ CAISSON. )

COGGE. An Anglo-Saxon word for a cock-boat or light yawl, being thusmentioned in _Morte Arthure_--

 "Then he covers his cogge, and caches one ankere. "

But coggo, as enumerated in an ordinance of parliament (_temp. _ Rich. II. ), seems to have been a vessel of burden used to carry troops. 

COGGE-WARE. Goods carried in a cogge. 

COGGLE, OR COG. A small fishing-boat upon the coasts of Yorkshire, andin the rivers Ouse and Humber. Hence the _cogmen_, who after shipwreckor losses by sea, wandered about to defraud people by begging andstealing, until they were restrained by proper laws. 

COGGS. The same with _coaks_ or _dowels_ (which see). 

COGS OF A WHEEL; applies to all wheel machinery now used at sea or onshore: thus _windlass-cogs_, _capstan-cogs_, &c. 

COGUING THE NOSE. Making comfortable over hot negus or grog. 

COIGN. _See_ QUOIN. 

COIL. A certain quantity of rope laid up in ring fashion. The manner inwhich all ropes are disposed of on board ship for convenience ofstowage. They are laid up round, one fake over another, or by concentricturns, termed _Flemish coil_, forming but one tier, and lying flat onthe deck, the end being in the middle of it, as a snake or worm coilsitself. 

COILING. A sort of serpentine winding of a cable or other rope, that itmay occupy a small space in the ship. Each of the windings of this sortis called a _fake_, and one range of _fakes_ upon the same line iscalled a _tier_. There are generally from five to seven fakes in a tier, and three or four tiers in the whole length of the cable. The smallerropes employed about the sails are coiled upon cleats at sea, to preventtheir being entangled. 

COIR. Cordage made from the fibrous husks of the cocoa-nut; thoughcables made of it are disagreeable to handle and coil away, they havethe advantage of floating in water, so that vessels ride easily by them;they are still used by the Calcutta pilot-brigs. True coir is from the_Borassus gomutus_, the long fibrous black cloth-like covering of thestem. It is from this that the black cables in the East are made; thecocoa-nut fibre being of a reddish hue. It is used for strong brushes, being cylindrical and smooth, with a natural gloss. 

COKERS. The old name for cocoa-nut trees. 

CO-LATITUDE. The abbreviation for complement of latitude, or what it isshort of 90°. 

COLD-CHISEL. A stout chisel made of steel, used for cutting iron when itis cold. 

COLD-EEL. The _Gymnotus electricus_. 

COLE [from the German _kohl_]. Colewort or sea-kale; a plant in its wildstate peculiar to the sea-coast. 

COLE-GOOSE. A name for the cormorant (_Phalacrocorax carbo_). 

COLLAR. An eye in the end or bight of a shroud or stay, to go over themast-head. The upper part of a stay. Also, a rope formed into a wreath, with a heart or dead-eye seized in the bight, to which the stay isconfined at the lower part. Also, the neck of a bolt. 

COLLAR-BEAM. The beam upon which the stanchions of the beak-headbulk-head stand. 

COLLECTOR OF CUSTOMS. An officer who takes the general superintendenceof the customs at any port. 

COLLIERS. Vessels employed exclusively to carry coals from the northernports of England. This trade has immemorially been an excellent nurseryfor seamen. But Shakspeare, in _Twelfth Night_, makes Sir Toby exclaim, "Hang him, foul collier!" The evil genius has lately introduced steamscrew-vessels into this invaluable school. 

COLLIMATION, LINE OF. The optical axis of a telescope, or an imaginaryline passing through the centre of the tube. 

COLLISION. The case of one ship running foul of another; the injuriesarising from which, where no blame is imputable to the master of either, is generally borne by the owners of both in equal parts. (_See_ALLISION. )

COLLISION-CLAUSE. _See_ RUNNING-DOWN CLAUSE. 

COLLOP. A cut from a joint of meat. "Scotch collops. "

COLMIE. A fifth-year or full-grown coal-fish; sometimes called _comb_. 

COLMOW. An old word for the sea-mew, derived from the Anglo-Saxon. 

COLONEL. The commander of a regiment, either of horse or foot. 

COLONNATI. The Spanish pillared dollar. 

COLOURABLE. Ships' papers so drawn up as to be available for morepurposes than one. In admiralty law, a probable plea. 

COLOUR-CHESTS. Chests appropriated to the reception of flags for makingsignals. 

COLOURS. The flags or banners which distinguish the ships of differentnations. Also, the regimental flags of the army. Hauling down colours intoken of submission, and the use of signals, are mentioned by Plutarchin _Themistocles_. 

COLOUR-SERGEANT. The senior sergeant of a company of infantry; he actsas a kind of sergeant-major, and generally as pay-sergeant also to thecompany. From amongst these trustworthy men, the sergeants forattendance on the colours in the field were originally detailed. 

COLT. A short piece of rope with a large knot at one end, kept in thepocket for starting skulkers. 

COLUMBIAD. A name given in the United States to a peculiar pattern ofgun in their service, principally adapted to the firing of heavy shells:its external form does not appear to have been the result of muchscience, and it is now generally superseded by the Dahlgren pattern. 

COLUMN. A body of troops in deep files and narrow front, so disposed asto move in regular succession. 

COLURES. Great circles passing through the equinoctial and solstitialpoints, and the poles of the earth. 

COMB. A small piece of timber under the lower part of the beak-head, forthe fore-tack to be hauled to, in some vessels, instead of a bumkin: ithas the same use in bringing the fore-tack on board that the chess-treehas to the main-tack. Also, the notched scale of a wire-micrometer. Also, that projecting piece on the top of the cock of a gun-lock, whichaffords the thumb a convenient hold for drawing it back. 

COMBATANTS. Men, or bodies of troops, engaged in battle with each other. 

COMBE. _See_ COOMB and CWM. 

COMBERS. Heavy surges breaking on a beach. 

COMBERS, GRASS. Men who volunteer from the plough-tail, and often provevaluable seamen. 

COMBING THE CAT. The boatswain, or other operator, running his fingersthrough the cat o' nine tails, to separate them. 

COMBINGS. _See_ COAMINGS. 

COMBING SEA. A rolling and crested wave. 

COMBUSTION. Burning, &c. (_See_ SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION. )

COME NO NEAR! The order to the helmsman to steer the ship on the courseindicated, and not closer to the wind, while going "full and by. "--_Comeon board, sir. _ An officer reporting himself to his superior onreturning from duty or leave. --_Come to. _ To bring the ship close to thewind. --_Come to an anchor. _ To let go the anchor. --_Come up!_ with arope or tackle, is to slack it off. --_Comes up_, with the helm. Aclose-hauled ship comes up (to her course) as the wind changes in herfavour. To _come up with_ or overhaul a vessel chased. --_Come up thecapstan. _ Is to turn it the contrary way to that which it was heaving, so as to take the strain off, or slacken or let out some of the cabletor rope which is about it. --_Come up the tackle-fall. _ Is to letgo. --_To come up_, in ship-building, is to cast loose the forelocks orlashings of a sett, in order to take in closer to the plank. 

COMING-HOME. Said of the anchor when it has been dropped on bad holdingground, or is dislodged from its bed by the violence of the wind andsea, and is dragged along by the vessel, or is tripped by insufficientlength of cable. --_Coming round on her heel. _ Turning in the samespot. --_Coming the old soldier. _ Petty manœuvring. --_Coming-up glass. _(_See_ DOUBLE-IMAGE MICROMETER. )

COMITY. A certain _comitas gentium_, or judgment of tribunals, havingcompetent jurisdiction in any one state, are regarded in the courts ofall other civilized powers as conclusive. Especially binding in allprize matters, however manifestly unjust may be the decision. (_See_JUDGMENT. )

COMMAND. The words of command are the terms used by officers in exerciseor upon service. All commands belong to the senior officer. Also, infortification, the height of the top of the parapet of a work above thelevel of the country, or above that of another work. Generally, oneposition is said to be commanded by another when it can be seen intofrom the latter. 

COMMANDANT. The officer in command of a squadron, ship, garrison, fort, or regiment. 

COMMANDER. An officer in the royal navy, commanding a ship of war ofunder twenty guns, a sloop of war, armed ship, or bomb-vessel. He wasentitled master and commander, and ranked with a major of the army: nowsimply termed commander, and ranking with lieutenant-colonel, but juniorof that rank. The act of the commander is binding upon the interests ofall under him, and he is alone responsible for costs and damages: he mayact erroneously, and abandon what might have turned out good prize tohimself and crew. --_Commander_ is also the name of a large wooden malletused specially in the sail and rigging lofts, as anything of metal wouldinjure the ropes or canvas. 

COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF. The senior officer in any port or station appointedto hold command over all other vessels within the limits assigned tohim. Thus the commodore on the coast of Africa is, _de facto_, commander-in-chief, free from the interference of any other authorityafloat. 

COMMAND-OF-MIND MEN. Steady officers, who command coolly. 

COMMEATUS, OR PROVISIONS, going to the enemy's ports, subject only to_pre_-emption, a right of purchase upon reasonable terms, but previouslyliable to confiscation (Robinson). _Commeatus_, in admiralty law, is ageneral term, signifying drink as well as eatables. 

COMMERCE. Was not much practised by the Romans. The principal objects oftheir water-carriage were the supply of corn, still termed _annona_, andthe tribute and spoils of conquered countries. 

COMMERCIAL CODE OF SIGNALS. As Marryat's and others. 

COMMISSARIAT. The department of supplies to the army. 

COMMISSARY. The principal officer in charge of the commissariat. 

COMMISSION. The authority by which an officer officiates in his post. Also, an allowance paid to agents or factors for transacting thebusiness of others. 

COMMISSIONED OFFICERS. Those appointed by commissions. Such areadmirals, down to lieutenants, in the royal navy; and in the army, allfrom the general to the ensign inclusive. 

COMMISSIONERS, LORDS, OF THE ADMIRALTY. In general the crown appointsfive or seven commissioners for executing the office of lordhigh-admiral, &c. ; for this important and high office has seldom beenintrusted to any single person. The admiralty jurisdiction extends toall offences mentioned in the articles of war, or new naval code, asregards places beyond the powers of the law courts, or outside thebounds of a county. But all criminal acts committed within the limits ofa county, or within a line drawn from one headland to the next, arespecially liable to be tried by the common law courts. The high court ofadmiralty civil court takes cognizance of salvage, prize-derelict, collision, &c. , at sea beyond the county limits, even as relates toships of war if in fault. 

COMMISSIONERS OF CUSTOMS. The board of management of the customsdepartment of the public revenue. 

COMMISSIONERS OF THE NAVY. Certain officers formerly appointed tosuperintend the affairs of the navy, under the direction of thelords-commissioners of the Admiralty. Their duty was more immediatelyconcerned in the building, docking, and repairing of ships in thedockyards; they had also the appointment of some of the officers, assurgeons, masters, &c. , and the transport, victualling, and medicaldepartments were controlled by that board. It was abolished in 1831. 

COMMIT ONE'S SELF, TO. To break through regulations. To incurresponsibility without regard to results. 

COMMODORE. A senior officer in command of a detached squadron. A captainfinding five or six ships assembled, was formerly permitted to hoist hispennant, and command as commodore; and a necessity arising for holding acourt-martial, he ordered the said court to assemble. Again, where anadmiral dies in command, the senior captain hoists a first-class broadpennant, and appoints a captain, secretary, and flag-lieutenant, fulfilsthe duties of a rear-admiral, and wears the uniform. Commodores of thesecond class have no captain or pennant-lieutenant. A commodore rateswith brigadier-generals, according to dates of commission (being of fullcolonel's rank). He is next in command to a rear-admiral, but cannothoist his broad pennant in the presence of an admiral, or superiorcaptain, without permission. The broad pennant is a swallow-tailedtapered burgee. The second-class commodore is to hoist his broadpennant, white at the fore. It is a title given by courtesy to thesenior captain, where three or more ships of war are cruising incompany. It was also imported into the East India Company's vessels, thesenior being so termed, _inter se_. It moreover denotes the convoy ship, which carries a light in her top. The epithet is corrupted from theSpanish _comendador_. 

COMMUNICATION. Corresponding by letter, hail, or signal. (_See_ LINE OFCOMMUNICATION and BOYAUX. )

COMMUTE, TO. To lighten the sentence of a court-martial, on arecommendation of the court to the commander-in-chief. 

COMPANION. The framing and sash-lights upon the quarter-deck orround-house, through which light passes to the cabins and decks below;and a sort of wooden hood placed over the entrance or staircase of themaster's cabin in small ships. Flush-decked vessels are generally fittedwith movable companions, to keep the rain or water from descending, which are unshipped when the capstan is required. 

COMPANION-LADDER. Denotes the ladder by which the officers ascend to, and descend from, the quarter-deck. 

COMPANION-WAY. The staircase, porch, or berthing of the ladder-way tothe cabin. 

COMPANY. The whole crew of any ship, including her officers, men, andboys. In the army, a small body of foot, or subdivision of a regiment, commanded by a captain. 

COMPARATIVE RANK. _See_ RANK. 

COMPARISON WATCH. The job-watch for taking an observation, comparedbefore and after with the chronometer. 

COMPARTMENT BULK-HEADS. Some of the iron ships have adopted theadmirable Chinese plan of dividing the hold athwart-ship by strongwater-tight bulk-heads, into compartments, so that a leak in any one ofthem does not communicate with the others--thus strengthening a vessel, besides adding to its security. Compartment bulk-heads were firstdirected to be fitted under the superintendence of Commander Belcher inH. M. Ships _Erebus_ and _Terror_ at Chatham, for Arctic service in 1835. H. M. S. _Terror_, Commander Back, was saved entirely owing to thisfitment, the after section being full of water all the passage home; andlately the mail packet _Samphire_ was similarly saved. 

COMPASANT. A corruption of _corpo santo_, a ball of electric lightobserved flickering about the masts, yard-arms, and rigging, duringheavy rain, thunder, and lightning. 

COMPASS. An instrument employed by navigators to guide the ship's courseat sea. It consists of a circular box, containing a fly or paper card, which represents the horizon, and is suspended by two concentric ringscalled gimbals. The fly is divided into thirty-two equal parts, by linesdrawn from the centre to the circumference, called points or rhumbs; theinterval between the points is subdivided into 360 degrees--consequently, the distance or angle comprehended between any two rhumbs is equal to 11degrees and 15 minutes. The four cardinal points lie opposite to eachother; the north and south points form top and bottom, leaving the easton the right hand, and the west on the left; the names of all theinferior points are compounded of these according to their situation. This card is attached to a magnetic needle, which, carrying the cardround with it, points north, excepting for the local annual variationand the deviation caused by the iron in the ship; the angle which thecourse makes with that meridian is shown by the lubber's point, a darkline inside the box. (_See_ ADJUSTMENT OF THE COMPASS. )

COMPASS, TO. To curve; also to obtain one's object. 

COMPASSING. (_See_ COMPASS-TIMBERS. )

COMPASSIONATE ALLOWANCES. Grants are made on the compassionate fund tothe legitimate children of deceased officers, on its being shown to theAdmiralty that they deserve them. 

COMPASS-SAW. A narrow saw, which, inserted in a hole bored by acentre-bit, follows out required curves. 

COMPASS-TIMBERS. Such as are curved, crooked, or arched, forship-building. 

COMPENSATION. If a detained vessel is lost by the negligence andmisconduct of the prize-master, compensation must be rendered, and theactual captors are responsible. The principal being answerable in lawfor the agent's acts. 

COMPENSATOR OF THE COMPASS. _See_ MAGNETIC COMPENSATOR. 

COMPLAIN, TO. The creaking of masts, or timbers, when over-pressed, without any apparent external defect. One man threatening to complain ofanother, is saying that he will report misconduct to the officer incharge of the quarter-deck. 

COMPLEMENT. The proper number of men employed in any ship, either fornavigation or battle. In navigation the complement of the course is whatit wants of eight points; of latitude, what it is short of 90°. (_See_CO-LATITUDE. )

COMPLEMENT OF LONGITUDE. _See_ SUPPLEMENT OF LONGITUDE. 

COMPLETE BOOK. A book which contains the names and particulars of everyperson borne for wages on board, as age, place of birth, rating, timesof entry and discharge, &c. 

COMPLIMENT, TO. To render naval or military honour where due. 

COMPO. The monthly portion of wages paid to the ship's company. 

COMPOSITION NAILS. Those which are made of mixed metal, and which, beinglargely used for nailing on copper sheathing, are erroneously called_copper nails_. 

COMPOUND. A term used in India for a lawn garden, or inclosed groundround a house. 

COMPRADOR [Sp]. A Chinese contractor in shipping concerns, or inpurchasing present supplies. 

COMPRESS. A pad of soft linen used by the surgeon for the dressing of awound. 

COMPRESSION OF THE POLES. The amount of flattening at the polar regionsof a planet, by which the polar diameter is less than the equatorial. 

COMPRESSOR. A mechanism generally adopted afloat for facilitating theworking of the large guns recently introduced; the gun-carriage is thuscompressed to its slide or platform during the recoil, and set freeagain by the turn of a handle for running up. It is of various forms;one of the simpler kind used to be always applied to carronade slides. 

COMPRESSOR-STOPPER. A contrivance for holding the chain-cable bycompression. 

COMPROMISE. The mutual agreement of a party or parties at difference, torefer to arbitration, or make an end of the matter. 

COMPTROLLER OF THE CUSTOMS. The officer who controls and has a check onthe collectors of customs. (_See_ CONTROLLER. )

COMPTROLLER OF THE NAVY. Formerly the chief commissioner of the navyboard, at which he presided. 

COMRADE. A barrack term for a fellow-soldier, serving in the samecompany. 

CONCEALMENT, OR SUPPRESSIO VERI. Consists in the suppression of any factor circumstance as to the state of the ship, the nature of her employ, and the time of sailing or expected arrival, material to the risk ofinsurance, and is fatal to the insured. But it is held immaterial todisclose the secret destination of privateers, the usages of trade, ormatters equally open to both parties. 

CONCENTRATED FIRE. The bringing the whole or several guns to bear on asingle point. 

CONCH. A large univalve, used as a horn by pilots, fishermen, &c. , infogs: a _strombus_, _triton_, or sometimes a _murex_. 

CONCHS. A name for the wreckers of the Bahama reefs, in allusion to theshells on those shores. Though plunder is their object, the _Conchs_ arevery serviceable to humanity, and evince both courage and address insaving the lives of the wrecked. 

CONCLUDING-LINE. A small rope hitched to the middle of the steps of thestern-ladders. Also, a small line leading through the centre of thesteps of a Jacob's ladder. 

CONDEMNATION. A captured ship declared by sentence of the admiraltycourt to be lawful prize. But the transfer of a prize vessel carriedinto a neutral port, and sold without a condemnation, or the authorityof any judicial proceedings, is null and void. 

CONDEMNED. Unserviceable, as bad provisions, old stores, &c. 

CONDENSER. The chamber of a marine engine, where the steam, after havingperformed its duty, is instantly reduced to water. Sailing shipsfrequently carry condensers, for the purpose of making fresh from saltwater. 

CONDER. A watcher of fishes, the same as balker, huer, and olpis. Seestatute (1 Jac. Cap. 23) relating to his employment, which was to givenotice to the fishermen from an eminence which way the herring shoalswere going. 

CONDITIONS. The terms of surrender. 

CONDUCT-LIST. A roll to accompany the tickets of all persons sent to ahospital for medical treatment; it details their names, numbers on theship's books, the date of their being sent, and the nature of theirailment. 

CONDUCT-MONEY. A sum advanced to defray the travelling expenses ofvolunteers, and of soldiers and sailors to their quarters and ships. (_See_ SAFE-CONDUCT. )

CONDUCTOR. A thick metal wire, generally of copper, extending from abovethe main truck downwards into the water, or in the form of a chain withlong links. Its use is to defend the ship from the effects of lightning, by conveying the electric fluid into the sea. 

CONE. A solid figure having a circle for its base, and produced by theentire revolution of a right-angled triangle about its perpendicularside, which is termed the axis of the cone. 

CONE-BUOY. _See_ CAN-BUOYS. 

CONEY-FISH. A name of the burbot. 

CONFIGURATION. The relative positions of celestial bodies, as forinstance those of Jupiter's satellites, with respect to the primary atany one time. 

CONFINEMENT. Inflicted restraint; an arrest. 

CONFIRMED RANK. When an officer is placed in a vacancy by "actingorder, " he only holds temporary rank until "confirmed" therein by theAdmiralty. An acting order given by competent authority is not disturbedby any casual superior. 

CONFLICT. An indecisive action. 

CONFLUENTS. Those streams which join and flow together. The confluenceis the point of junction of an affluent river with its recipient. 

CONGER. A large species of sea-eel, furnishing a somewhat vile viand, but eatable when strongly curried. Not at all despised by the people ofCornwall in "fishy pie. "

CONGREVE-ROCKET. A very powerful form of rocket, invented by the lateSir William Congreve, R. A. , and intended to do the work of artillerywithout the inconvenience of its weight. In its present form, however, the rocket is so uncertain, that it is in little favour save forexceptional occasions. 

CONICAL TOPS OF MOUNTAINS not unfrequently indicate their nature: thetruncated sugar-loaf form is generally assumed by volcanoes, though thesame is occasionally met with in other mountains. 

CONIC SECTIONS. The curved lines and plane figures which are produced bythe intersection of a plane with a cone. 

CONJEE. Gruel made of rice. 

CONJUGATE AXIS. The secondary diameter of an ellipse, perpendicular tothe transverse axis. 

CONJUNCTION, in nautical astronomy, is when two bodies have the samelongitude or right ascension. 

CONN, CON, OR CUN, as pronounced by seamen. This word is derived fromthe Anglo-Saxon _conne_, _connan_, to know, or be skilful. The pilot ofold was skillful, and later the master was selected to conn the ship inaction, that is, direct the helmsman. The quarter-master during ordinarywatches conns the ship, and stands beside the wheel at the conn, unlessclose-hauled, when his station is at the weather-side, where he can seethe weather-leeches of the sails. 

CONNECTING-ROD. In the marine engine, the part which connects theside-levers and the crank together. 

CONNINGS. Reckonings. 

CONQUER, TO. To overcome decidedly. 

CONSCRIPTION. Not only furnishes conscripts for the French army, butalso levies a number of men who are compelled to serve afloat. 

CONSECRATION OF COLOURS. A rite practised in the army, but not in thenavy. 

CONSIGN, TO. To send a consignment of goods to an agent or factor forsale or disposal. 

CONSIGNEE. The party to whose care a ship or a consignment of goods isintrusted. 

CONSIGNMENT. Goods assigned from beyond sea, or elsewhere, to a factor. 

CONSOLE-BRACKET. A light piece of ornament at the fore-part of thequarter-gallery, otherwise called a _canting-livre_. 

CONSORT. Any vessel keeping company with another. --_In consort_, shipssailing together in partnership. 

CONSORTSHIP. The practice of two or more ships agreeing to join inadventure, under which a strict division of all prizes must be made. (_See_ TON FOR TON. )

CONSTRUCTION. In naval architecture, is to give the ship such a form asmay be most suitable for the service for which she is designed. Innavigation, it is the method of ascertaining a ship's course bytrigonometrical diagrams. (_See_ INSPECTION. )

CONSTRUCTIVE TOTAL LOSS. When the repair of damage sustained by theperils of the sea would cost more than the ship would be worth afterbeing repaired. 

CONSUL. An officer established by a commission from the crown, in allforeign countries of any considerable trade, to facilitate business, andrepresent the merchants of his nation. They take rank with captains, butare to wait on them if a boat be sent. Commanders wait on consuls, butvice-consuls wait on commanders (_in Etiquette_). Ministers and _chargésd'affaires_ retire in case of hostilities, but consuls are permitted toremain to watch the interests of their countrymen. When commerce beganto flourish in modern Europe, occasion soon arose for the institutionof a kind of court-merchant, to determine commercial affairs in asummary way. Their authority depends very much on their commission, andon the words of the treaty on which it is founded. The consuls are totake care of the affairs of the trade, and of the rights, interests, andprivileges of their countrymen in foreign ports. Not being publicministers, they are liable to the _lex loci_ both civil and criminal, and their exemption from certain taxes depends upon treaty and custom. 

CONTACT. Brought in contact with, as touching the sides of a ship. Inastronomy, bringing a reflected body, as the sun, in contact with themoon or with a star. (_See_ LUNAR DISTANCES, SEXTANT, &c. )

CONTENTS. A document which the master of a merchantman must deliver tothe custom-house searcher, before he can clear outwards; it describesthe vessel's destination, cargo, and all necessary particulars. 

CONTINENT. In geography, a large extent of land which is not entirelysurrounded by water, or separated from other lands by the sea, asEurope, Asia, and Africa. It is also used in contradistinction to_island_, though America seems insulated. 

CONTINGENT. The quota of armed men, or pecuniary subsidy, which onestate gives to another. Also, certain allowances made to commandingofficers to defray necessary expenses. 

CONTINUED LINES. In field-works, means a succession of fronts withoutany interruption, save the necessary passages; differing thus from_interrupted lines_. 

CONTINUOUS SERVICE MEN. Those seamen who, having entered for a period, on being paid off, are permitted to have leave, and return to theflag-ship at the port for general service. 

CONT-LINE. The space between the bilges of two casks stowed side byside. 

CONTOUR. The sweep of a ship's shape. 

CONTRABAND. The ship is involved in the legal fate of the cargo; themaster should therefore be careful not to take any goods on boardwithout all custom-house duties being paid up, and see that they be notprohibited by parliament or public proclamation. Contraband is simplydefined, "merchandise forbidden by the law of nations to be supplied toan enemy;" but it affords fat dodges to the admiralty court sharks. 

CONTRABAND OF WAR. Arms, ammunition, and all stores which may aidhostilities; masts, ship-timber going to an enemy's port, hemp, provisions, and even money under stipulations, pitch and tar, sail-cloth. They must, however, be taken _in delicto_, in the actualprosecution of a voyage to the enemy's port. 

CONTRACT OF AFFREIGHTMENT. The agreement for the letting to freight thewhole or any part of a vessel for one or more voyages; the_charter-party_. 

CONTRACT TICKET. A printed form of agreement with every passenger in apassenger-ship, prescribed by the legislature. 

CONTRARY. The wind when opposed to a vessel's course. 

 "Cruel was the stately ship that bore her love from Mary, And cruel was the fair wind that wouldn't blow contrary. "

CONTRAVALLATION, LINES OF. Continuous lines of intrenchment round thebesieged fortress, and fronting towards it, to guard against any sortiesfrom the place. (_See_ CIRCUMVALLATION. )

CONTRIBUTION. Money paid in order to save a place from being plunderedby a hostile force. (_See_ RANSOM. ) Also, a sum raised among merchants, where goods have been thrown overboard in stress of weather, towards theloss of the owners thereof. 

CONTROLLER. Differs from _comptroller_, which applies chiefly to theduties of an _accompt_. But the controller of the navy controls navalmatters in ship-building, fitting, &c. There is also the controller ofvictualling, and the controller-general of the coast-guard. 

CONTUMACY. The not appearing to the three calls of the admiralty court, after the allegation has been presented to the judge, with a schedule ofexpenses to be taxed, and an oath of their necessity. 

CONVALESCENT. Those men who are recovering health, but not sufficientlyrecovered to perform their duties, are reported by the surgeon"convalescent. " Convalescents are _amused_ by picking oakum!

CONVENIENT PORT. A general law-term in cases of capture, within acertain latitude of discretion; a place where a vessel can lie insafety, and holding ready communication with the tribunals which have todecide the question of capture. 

CONVENTION. An agreement made between hostile troops, for the evacuationof a post, or the suspension of hostilities. 

CONVERGENT. In geography, a stream which comes into another stream, butwhose course is unknown, is simply a convergent. 

CONVERSION. Reducing a vessel by a deck, thereby converting aline-of-battle ship into a frigate, or a crank three-decker into a goodtwo-decker; or a serviceable vessel into a hulk, resembling a prison ordungeon, internally and externally, as much as possible. 

CONVERSION OF STORES. Adapting the sails, ropes, or timbers from onepurpose to another, with the least possible waste. 

CONVEXITY. The curved limb of the moon; an outward curve. 

CONVICT-SHIP. A vessel appropriated to the convicts of a dockyard; alsoone hired to carry out convicts to their destination. 

CONVOY. A fleet of merchant ships similarly bound, protected by an armedforce. Also, the ship or ships appointed to conduct and defend them ontheir passage. Also, a guard of troops to escort a supply of stores to adetached force. 

CONVOY-INSTRUCTIONS. The printed regulations supplied by the seniorofficer to each ship of the convoy. 

CONVOY-LIST. A return of the merchantmen placed under the protection ofmen-of-war, for safe conduct to their destination. 

COOK. A man of each mess who is caterer for the day, and answerabletoo, wherefore he is allowed the surplus grog, termed _plush_ (whichsee). The cook, _par excellence_, in the navy, was a man of importance, responsible for the proper cooking of the food, yet not overboiling themeat to extract the fat--his perquisite. The coppers were closelyinspected daily by the captain, and if they soiled a cambrichandkerchief the cook's allowance was stopped. Now, the ship's cook is afirst-class petty officer, and cannot be punished as heretofore. In amerchantman the cook is, _ex officio_, the hero of the fore-sheet, asthe steward is of the main one. 

COOKING A DAY'S WORK. To save the officer in charge. Reckoning too iscooked, as in a certain Antarctic discovery of land, which James Rossafterwards sailed over. 

COOK-ROOM, OR COOK-HOUSE. The galley or caboose containing the cookingapparatus, and where victuals are dressed. 

COOLIE, COULEY, KOULI, OR CHULIAH. A person who carries a load; a porteror day-labourer in India and China. 

COOMB. The Anglo-Saxon _comb_; a low place inclosed with hills; avalley. (_See_ CWM. )

COOMINGS, OR COMBINGS. The rim of the hatchways. (_See_ COAMINGS. )

COOM OF A WAVE. The comb or crest. The white summit when it breaks. 

COON-TRAIE. A Manx and Erse term for the neap-tide. 

COOP, OR FISH-COOP. A hollow vessel made with twigs, with which fish aretaken in the Humber. (_See_ HEN-COOP. )

COOPER. A rating for a first-class petty officer, who repairs casks, &c. 

COOT. A water-fowl common on lakes and rivers (_Fulica atra_). The toesare long and not webbed, but bordered by a scalloped membrane. The nameis sometimes used for the guillemot (_Uria troile_), and often appliedto a stupid person. 

COOTH. _See_ CUTH. 

COP, OR COPT. The top of a conical hill. 

COPE. An old English word for cape. 

COPECK. _See_ KOPEK. 

COPERNICAN SYSTEM. The Pythagorean system of the universe, revived byCopernicus in the sixteenth century, and now confirmed; in which the sunoccupies the central space, and the planets with their attendantsatellites revolve about him. 

COPILL. An old term for a variety of the coble. 

COPING. In ship-building, turning the ends of iron lodging-knees, sothat they may hook into the beams. 

COPPER, TO. To cover the ship's bottom with prepared copper. 

COPPER-BOLTS. _See_ COPPER-FASTENED. 

COPPERED, OR COPPER-BOTTOMED. Sheathed with thin sheets of copper, whichprevents the teredo eating into the planks, or shell and weedaccumulating on the surface, whereby a ship is retarded in her sailing. 

COPPER-FASTENED. The bolts and other metal work in the bottom of ships, made of copper instead of iron, so that the vessel may afterwards becoppered without danger of its corroding the heads of the bolts bygalvanic action, as ensues when copper and iron are in contact withsea-water. 

COPPER-NAILS. These are chiefly used in boat-building, and for planknails in the vicinity of the binnacle, as iron affects thecompass-needle. They are not to be confounded with _composition nails_, which are cast. (_See_ ROOF, OR ROVE and CLINCH. )

COPPERS. The ship's boilers for cooking; the name is generally used, even where the apparatus may be made of iron. 

COQUILLAGE. Shell-fish in general. It applies to anchorages whereoysters abound, or where fish are plentiful, and shell-fish for baiteasily obtainable. It is specially a term belonging to French andSpanish fishermen. 

CORAB. A sort of boat, otherwise called _coracle_. 

CORACLE. An ancient British truckle or boat, constructed of wicker-work, and still in use amongst Welsh fishermen and on the Irish lakes. It iscovered by skins, oil-cloth, &c. , which are removed when out of use; itis of an oval form; contains one man, who, on reaching the shore, shoulders his coracle, deposits it in safety, and covers it with driedrushes or heather. The Arctic _baidar_ is of similar construction. It isprobably of the like primitive fabric with the _cymba sutiles_ ofHerodotus. 

CORACORA. _See_ KOROCORA. 

CORAL. A name applied to the hard calcareous support or skeleton of manyspecies of marine zoophytes. The coral-producing animals abound chieflyin tropical seas, sometimes forming, by the aggregated growth ofcountless generations, reefs, barriers, and islands of vast extent. The"red coral" (_Corallium rubrum_) of the Mediterranean is highly prizedfor ornamental purposes. 

CORALAN. A small open boat for the Mediterranean coral fishery. 

CORAL-BAND. _See_ SAND AND CORAL BANK or ISLET. 

CORBEILLE [Fr. Basket]. Miner's basket; small gabion used temporarilyfor shelter to riflemen, and placed on the parapet, either to firethrough, or for protection from a force placed on a higher level. 

CORBILLARD [Fr. ] A large boat of transport. 

CORD. Small rope; that of an inch or less in circumference. 

CORD OR CHURD OF WOOD; as firewood. A statute stack is 8 feet long, 4feet broad, and 4 feet high. 

CORDAGE. A general term for the running-rigging of a ship, as also forrope of any size which is kept in reserve, and for all stuff to makeropes. --_Cable-laid cordage. _ Ropes, the three strands of which arecomposed of three other strands, as are cables and cablets. (_See_ROPE. )

CORDILLA. The coarse German hemp, otherwise called _torse_. 

CORDLIE. A name for the tunny fish. 

CORDON. In fortification, the horizontal moulding of masonry along thetop of the true escarp. Also, sometimes used for lines ofcircumvallation or blockade, or any connected chain of troops or evensentries. Also, the riband of an order of knighthood or honour, andhence used by the French as signifying a member thereof, as Cordonbleu, Knight of the order of the Holy Ghost, &c. 

CORDOVAN. Leather made from seal-skin; the term is derived from thesuperior leather prepared at Cordova in Spain. 

CORDUROY. Applied to roads formed in new settlements, of trees laidroughly on sleepers transverse to the direction of the road; as suddenlyfor artillery. 

CORKIR, OR CUDBEAR. The _Lecanora tartarea_, a lichen producing a purpledye, growing on the stones of the Western Isles, and in Norway. 

CORMORANT. A well-known sea-bird (_Phalacrocorax carbo_) of the family_Pelecanidæ_. 

CORN, TO. A remainder of the Anglo-Saxon _ge-cyrned_, salted. Topreserve meat for a time by salting it slightly. 

CORNED. Slightly intoxicated. In Chaucer's _Canterbury Tales_, mentionis made of "corny ale. "

CORNED POWDER. Powder granulated from the mill-cakes and sifted. 

CORNET. A commissioned officer who carries the colours belonging to acavalry troop, equivalent to an ensign in the infantry; the juniorsubaltern rank in the horse. 

CORNISH RING. The astragal of the muzzle or neck of a gun; it is thenext ring from the mouth backwards. (Now disused. )

CORN-SALAD. A species of Valerianella. The top-leaves are used forsalad, a good anti-scorbutic with vinegar. 

CORNS OF POWDER. The small grains that gunpowder consists of. The powderreduced for fire-works, quill-tubes, &c. ; sometimes by alcohol. 

COROMONTINES. A peculiar race of negroes, brought from the interior ofAfrica, and sold; but so ferocious as to be greatly dreaded in the WestIndies. 

CORONA. In timber, consists of rows of microscopic cylinders, situatedbetween the wood and the pith; it is that part from which all thebranches take their rise, and from it all the wood-threadsgrow. --_Corona_ astronomically means the luminous ring or glory whichsurrounds the sun or moon during an eclipse, or the intervention of athin cloud. They are generally faintly coloured at their edges. Frequently when there is a halo encircling the moon, there is a smallcorona more immediately around it. Coronæ, as well as halos, have beenobserved to prognosticate rain, hail, or snow, being the result of snowor dense vapours nearer the earth, through which the object becomeshazy. 

CORONER. An important officer. Seamen should understand that his dutiesembrace all acts within a line drawn from one headland to another; orwithin the body of the county. His duty is to investigate, on the partof the crown, all accidents, deaths, wrecks, &c. ; and his warrant is notto be contemned or avoided. 

COROUSE. The ancient weapon invented by Duilius for boarding. An attemptwas made in 1798 to re-introduce it in French privateers. 

COROWNEL. The old word for colonel. 

CORPHOUN. An out-of-the-way name for a herring. 

CORPORAL, SHIP'S. In a ship of war was, under the master-at-arms, employed to teach the sailors the use of small arms; to attend at thegangways when entering ports, and see that no spirituous liquors werebrought on board without leave. Also, to extinguish the fire and candlesat eight o'clock in winter, and nine o'clock in summer, when the eveninggun was fired; and to see that there were no lights below, but such aswere under the charge of the proper sentinels. In the marines or army ingeneral the corporal is a non-commissioned officer next below thesergeant in the scale of authority. The ship's corporal of the presentday is the superior of the first-class working petty officers, andsolely attends to police matters under the master-at-arms orsuperintendent-in-chief. 

CORPORAL OATH. So called because the witness when he swears lays hisright hand on the holy evangelists, or New Testament. 

CORPOSANT. [_Corpo santo_, Ital. ] _See_ COMPASANT. 

CORPS. Any body of troops acting under one commander. 

CORPSE. Jack's term for the party of marines embarked; the corps. 

CORRECTIONS. Reductions of observations of the sun, moon, or stars. 

CORRIDOR. _See_ COVERT-WAY. 

CORRYNE POWDER. Corn-powder, a fine kind of gunpowder. 

CORSAIR. A name commonly given to the piratical cruisers of Barbary, whofrequently plundered the merchant ships indiscriminately. 

CORSELET. The old name for a piece of armour used to cover the body of afighting-man. 

CORTEGE. The official staff, civil or military. 

CORUSCATIONS. Atmospheric flashes of light, as in auroras. 

CORVETTES. Flush-decked ships, equipped with one tier of guns: finevessels for warm climates, from admitting a free circulation of air. TheBermuda-built corvettes were deemed superior vessels, swift, weatherly, "lie to" well, and carry sail in a stiff breeze. The cedar of which theyare chiefly built is very buoyant, but also brittle. 

CORVORANT. An old mode of spelling _cormorant_. 

COSIER. A lubber, a botcher, a tailoring fellow [_coser_, Sp. To sew?]

COSMICAL RISING AND SETTING OF THE HEAVENLY BODIES. Their rising andsetting with the sun. 

COSMOGRAPHER. Formerly applied to "too clever by half. " Now, one whodescribes the world or universe in all its parts. 

COSS. A measure of distance in India, varying in different districtsfrom one mile and a half to two miles. 

COSTAL. Relating to the coast. 

COSTEIE. An old English word for going by the coast. 

COSTERA. A law archaism for the sea-coast. 

COSTS AND DAMAGE. Demurrage is generally given against a captor forunjustifiable detention. Where English merchants provoke expense byusing false papers, the court decrees the captors their expenses onrestitution. (_See_ EXPENSES. )

COT. A wooden bed-frame suspended from the beams of a ship for theofficers, between decks. It is inclosed in canvas, sewed in the form ofa chest, about 6 feet long, 1 foot deep, and 2 or 3 feet wide, in whichthe mattress is laid. 

COTT. An old term for a little boat. 

COTTON, GUN. _See_ GUN-COTTON. 

COTTONINA. The thick sail-cloth of the Levant. 

COUBAIS. An ornamented Japanese barge of forty oars. 

COUD. An old term used for _conn_ or _cunn_. 

COULTER-NEB. A name of the puffin (_Fratercula arctica_). 

COUNCIL-OF-WAR. The assemblage of officers for concerting measures ofmoment, too often deemed the symbol of irresolution in thecommander-in-chief. 

COUNTER. A term which enters into the composition of divers words of ourlanguage, and generally implies opposition, as _counter-brace_, _counter-current_, &c. --_Counter of a ship_, refers to her after-seat onthe water: the counter above extends from the gun-deck line, or lowerribbon moulding of the cabin windows, to the water-line (or seat ofwater); the lower counter is arched below that line, and constitutes thehollow run. It is formed on the transom-buttocks. 

COUNTER-APPROACHES. Works effected outside the place by the garrisonduring a siege, to enfilade, command, or otherwise check the approachesof the besieger. 

COUNTER-BALANCE WEIGHT, in the marine engine. (_See_ LEVER. ) Also inmany marine barometers, where it slides and is fixed by adjustingscrews, so as to produce an even-balanced swing, free from jerk. 

COUNTER-BRACE, TO. Is bracing the head-yards one way, and theafter-yards another. The counter-brace is the lee-brace of thefore-topsail-yard, but is only distinguished by this name at the time ofthe ship's going about (called tacking), when the sail begins to shiverin the wind, this brace is hauled in to flatten the sail against thelee-side of the top-mast, and increase the effect of the wind in forcingher round. Counter-bracing becomes necessary to render the vesselstationary when sounding, lowering a boat, or speaking a stranger. It isnow an obsolete term, and the manœuvre is called _heaving-to_. 

COUNTER-CURRENT. That portion of water diverted from the main stream ofa current by the particular formation of the coast or other obstruction, and which therefore runs in a contrary direction. There is also acurrent formed under the lee-counter of a ship when going through thewater, which retains floating objects there, and is fatal to a man, bysucking him under. 

COUNTERFORTS. Masonry adjuncts, advantageous to all retaining walls, butespecially to those which, like the escarps of fortresses, are liable tobe battered. They are attached at regular intervals to the hinder faceof the wall, and perpendicular to it; having various proportions, butgenerally the same height as the wall; they hold it from being thrustforward from behind, and, even when it is battered away, retain theearth at the back at such a steep slope that the formation of apracticable breach remains very difficult. When arches are turnedbetween the counterforts, the strength of the whole structure is muchincreased: it is then called a _counter-arched revêtement_. 

COUNTERGUARD. In fortification, a smaller rampart raised in front of alarger one, principally with the intention of delaying for a period thebesieger's attack. Other means, however, are generally preferred inmodern times, except when a rapid fall in the ground renders itdifficult to cover the main escarp by ordinary resources. 

COUNTER-LINE. A word often used for _contravallation_. 

COUNTERMARCH. To change the direction of a march to its exact opposite. In some military movements this involves the changing of front andwings. 

COUNTERMINES. Military defensive mines: they may be arranged on a systemfor the protection of the whole of a front of fortification by thediscovering and blowing up not only the subterranean approaches of thebesieger, but also his more important lodgments above. 

COUNTER-MOULD. The converse of _mould_ (which see). 

COUNTER-RAILS. The balustrade work, or ornamental moulding across asquare stern, where the counter terminates. 

COUNTERSCARP. In fortification, the outer side of the ditch next thecountry; it is usually of less height, and less strongly revetted thanthe escarp, the side which forms the face of the rampart. 

COUNTER-SEA. The disturbed state of the sea after a gale, when, the windhaving changed, the sea still runs in its old direction. 

COUNTERSIGN. A particular word or number which is exchanged betweensentinels, and intrusted to those on duty. (_See_ PAROLE. )

COUNTER-SUNK. Those holes which are made for the heads of bolts or nailsto be sunk in, so as to be even with the general surface. 

COUNTER-TIMBERS. Short right-aft timbers for the purpose ofstrengthening the counter, and forming the stern. 

COUNTER-TRENCHES. _See_ COUNTER-APPROACHES. 

COUNTRY. A term synonymous with _station_. The place whither a shiphappens to be ordered. 

COUP DE GRACE. The finishing shot which brings an enemy to surrender; orthe wound which deprives an adversary of life or resistance. 

COUP DE MAIN. A sudden and vigorous attack. 

COUP D'ŒIL. The skill of distinguishing, at first sight, the weakness ofan enemy's position, as Nelson did at the Nile. 

COUPLE, TO. To bend two hawsers together; coupling links of a cable;coupling shackles. 

COUREAU. A small yawl of the Garonne. Also, a narrow strait or channel. 

COURSE. The direction taken by anything in motion, shown by the point ofthe compass _towards_ which they run, as water in a river, tides, andcurrents; but of the wind, as similarly indicated by the compass-point_from_ which it blows. Course is also the ship's way. In commonparlance, it is the point of the compass upon which the ship sails, thedirection in which she proceeds, or is intended to go. When the wind isfoul, she cannot "lie her course;" if free, she "steers her course. "

COURSES. A name by which the sails hanging from the lower yards of aship are usually distinguished, viz. The main-sail, fore-sail, andmizen: the staysails upon the lower masts are sometimes alsocomprehended in this denomination, as are the main staysails of allbrigs and schooners. A ship is under her courses when she has no sailset but the fore-sail, main-sail, and mizen. _Trysails_ are courses(which see), sometimes termed _bentincks_. 

COURSET. The paper on which the night's course is set for the officer incharge of the watch. 

COURT-MARTIAL. A tribunal held under an act of parliament, of the year1749, and not, like the mutiny act, requiring yearly re-enactment. Ithas lately, 6th August, 1861, been changed to the "Naval DisciplineAct. " At present a court may be composed of five, but must not exceednine, members. No officer shall sit who is under twenty-one years ofage. No flag-officer can be tried unless the president also be aflag-officer, and the others flag, or captains. No captain shall betried unless the president be of higher rank, and the others captainsand commanders. No court for the trial of any officer, or person belowthe rank of captain, shall be legal, unless the president is a captain, or of higher rank, nor unless, in addition, there be two other officersof the rank of commander, or of higher rank. Any witnesssummoned--civil, naval, or military--by the judge-advocate, refusing toattend or give evidence, to be punished as for same in civil courts. Theadmiralty can issue commissions to officers to hold courts-martial onforeign stations, without which they cannot be convened. Acommander-in-chief on a foreign station, holding such a commission, mayunder his hand authorize an officer in command of a detached portion tohold courts-martial. Formerly all officers composing the court, attendants, witnesses, &c. , were compelled to appear in their full-dressuniforms; but by recent orders, the undress uniform, with cocked hat andsword, is to be worn. 

COUTEL. A military implement which served both for a knife and a dagger. 

COUTERE. A piece of armour which covered the elbow. 

COVE. An inlet in a coast, sometimes extensive, as the Cove of Cork. Innaval architecture, the arched moulding sunk in at the foot or lowerpart of the taffrail. --_My cove_, a familiar friendly term. 

COVER. Security from attack or interruption, as under cover of theship's guns, under cover of the parapet. In the field exercise and drillof troops, one body is said to cover another exactly in rear of it. Covers for sails when furled (to protect them from the weather whenloosing and airing them is precluded), are made of strong canvaspainted. 

COVERED WAY. In fortification, a space running along the outside of theditch for the convenient passage of troops and guns, covered from thecountry by a palisading and the parapet of the glacis. It is ofimportance to an active defence, as besides enabling a powerful musketryfire to be poured on the near approaches of the besieger, it affords tothe garrison a secure base from which to sally in force at any hour ofthe day or night. 

COVERING-BOARD. _See_ PLANK-SHEER. 

COVERING-PARTY. A force detached to protect a party sent on especialduty. 

COVERT-WAY. _See_ COVERED WAY. 

COW. Applied by whalers to the female whale. --_To cow. _ To depress withfear. 

COWARDICE, AND DESERTION OF DUTY IN FIGHT. Are criminal by law, even inthe crew of a merchant-ship. Such poltroonery is very rare. 

COWD. To float slowly. A Scotch term, as "the boat cowds braely awa. "

COW-HITCH. A slippery or lubberly hitch. 

COWHORN. The seaman's appellation of the coehorn. 

COWIE. A name among Scotch fishermen for the porpoise. 

COWL. The cover of a funnel. 

COWRIE. Small shells, _Cypræa moneta_, used for money or barter inAfrica and the East Indies. 

COXSON, OR COXON. _See_ COCKSWAIN. 

COX'S TRAVERSE. Up one hatchway and down another, to elude duty. (_See_TOM COX. )

C. P. Mark for men sent by civil power. 

CRAB. A wooden pillar, the lower end of which being let down through aship's decks, rests upon a socket like the capstan, and having in itsupper end three or four holes at different heights, long oars are thrustthrough them, each acting like two levers. It is employed to wind in thecable, or any other weighty matter. Also, a portable wooden or cast-ironmachine, fitted with wheels and pinions similar to those of a winch, ofuse in loading and discharging timber-vessels, &c. --_The crab with threeclaws_, is used to launch ships, and to heave them into the dock, or offthe key. --_To catch a crab. _ To pull an oar too light or too deep in thewater; to miss time in rowing. This derisive phrase for a false strokemay have been derived from the Italian _chiappar un gragno_, to expressthe same action. 

CRABBING TO IT. Carrying an over-press of sail in a fresh gale, by whicha ship crabs or drifts sideways to leeward. 

CRABBLER. _See_ KRABLA. 

CRAB-BOAT. Resembles a large jolly-boat. 

CRAB-CAPSTAN. _See_ CRAB. 

CRAB-WINDLASS. A light windlass for barges. 

CRAB-YAWS. _See_ YAW. 

CRACK. "In a crack, " immediately. 

CRACKER. So named from the noise it makes in exploding; it is appliedto a small pistol. Also, to a little hard cabin biscuit, so called fromits noise in breaking. 

CRACKNEL. A small bark. Also, biscuits (see 1 Ki. Xiv. 3). 

CRACK OFFICER. One of the best class. 

CRACK ON, TO. To carry all sail. 

CRACK-ORDER. High regularity. 

CRACK-SHIP. One uncommonly smart in her evolutions and discipline, perhaps from the old English word for a fine boy. Crack is generallyused for first-rate or excellent. 

CRADLE. A frame consisting of bilge-ways, poppets, &c. , on the principleof the wedge, placed under the bottom of a ship, and resting on the wayson which it slips, thus launching her steadily into the water, at whichtime it supports her weight while she slides down the greased ways. Thecradle being the support of the ship, she carries it with her into thewater, when, becoming buoyant, the frame separates from the hull, floatson the surface, and is again collected for similar purposes. 

CRADLES. Standing bedsteads made up for wounded seamen, that they may bemore comfortable than is possible in a hammock. Boats' chocks aresometimes called cradles. 

CRAFT [from the Anglo-Saxon word _cræft_, a trading vessel]. It is now ageneral name for lighters, hoys, barges, &c. , employed to load or landany goods or stores. --_Small craft. _ The small vessels of war attendanton a fleet, such as cutters, schooners, gunboats, &c. , generallycommanded by lieutenants. Craft is also a term in sea-phraseology forevery kind of vessel, especially for a favourite ship. Also, all mannerof nets, lines, hooks, &c. , used in fishing. 

CRAG. A precipitous cliff whose strata if vertical, or nearly so, subdivide into points. 

CRAGER. A small river lighter, mentioned in our early statutes. 

CRAGSMAN. One who climbs cliffs overhanging the sea to procuresea-fowls, or their eggs. 

CRAIG-FLOOK. The smear-dab, or rock-flounder. 

CRAIK, OR CRAKE. A ship; a diminutive corrupted from _carrack_. 

CRAIL. _See_ KREEL. 

CRAIL-CAPON. A haddock dried without being split. 

CRAKERS. Choice soldiers (_temp. _ Henry VIII. ) Perhaps managers of thecrakys, and therefore early artillery. 

CRAKYS. An old term for great guns. 

CRAMP. A machine to facilitate the screwing of two pieces of timbertogether. 

CRAMPER. A yarn or twine worn round the leg as a remedy against cramp. 

CRAMPETS. The cramp rings of a sword scabbard. Ferrule to a staff. 

CRAMPINGS. A nautical phrase to express the fetters and bolts foroffenders. 

CRAMPOON. _See_ CREEPER. 

CRANAGE. The money paid for the use of a wharf crane. Also, thepermission to use a crane at any wharf or pier. 

CRANCE. A sort of iron cap on the outer end of the bowsprit, throughwhich the jib-boom traverses. The name is not unfrequently applied toany boom-iron. 

CRANE. A machine for raising and lowering great weights, by which timberand stores are hoisted upon wharfs, &c. Also, a kind of catapult forcasting stones in ancient warfare. Also, pieces of iron, or timber at avessel's sides, used to stow boats or spars upon. Also, as many fresh orgreen unsalted herrings as would fill a barrel. 

CRANE-BARGE. A low flat-floored lump, fitted for the purpose of carryinga crane, in aid of marine works. 

CRANE-LINES. Those which formerly went from the spritsail-topmast to themiddle of the fore-stay, serving to steady the former. Also, small linesfor keeping the lee backstays from chafing against the yards. 

CRANG. The carcass of a whale after being flinched or the blubberstripped off. 

CRANK, OR CRANK-SIDED. A vessel, by her construction or her stowage, inclined to lean over a great deal, or from insufficient ballast orcargo incapable of carrying sail, without danger of overturning. Theopposite term is _stiff_, or the quality of standing well up to hercanvas. --_Cranky_ expresses a foolish capriciousness. Ships built toodeep in proportion to their breadth are notoriously crank. --_Crank bythe ground_, is a ship whose floor is so narrow that she cannot bebrought on the ground without danger. 

CRANK-HATCHES. Are raised coamings on a steamer's deck, to formcoverings for the cranks of the engines below. 

CRANK-PIN. In steam machinery, it goes through both arms of the crank attheir extremities; to this pin the connecting-rod is attached. 

CRANKS OF A MARINE ENGINE; eccentric, as in a turning-lathe. The bend orknee pinned on the shafts, by which they are moved round with a circularmotion. Also, iron handles for working pumps, windlasses, &c. Also, erect iron forks on the quarter-deck for the capstan-bars, or otherthings, to be stowed thereon. Also, the axis and handle of a grindstone. Also, an old term for the sudden or frequent involutions of the planetsin their orbits. 

CRANK-SHAFT. In a steamer. (_See_ INTERMEDIATE SHAFT. )

CRAPPO, OR GENERAL CRAPAUD. Jack's name for a Frenchman, one whom hethinks would be a better sailor if he would but talk English instead ofFrench. 

CRARE, OR CRAYER. A slow unwieldy trading vessel of olden times. ThusShakspeare, in _Cymbeline_, with hydrographic parlance:--

 "Who ever yet could sound thy bottom? Find The ooze, to show what coast thy sluggish crare Might easiliest harbour in?"

CRATER OF A MINE. Synonymous with _funnel_ (which see). 

CRAVAISE. An Anglo-Norman word for cray-fish. 

CRAVEN. An old term synonymous with _recreant_ (which see). 

CRAWL. A sort of pen, formed by a barrier of stakes and hurdles on thesea-coast, to contain fish or turtle. On the coast of Africa, a pen forslaves awaiting shipment. 

CRAWLING OFF. Working off a lee-shore by slow degrees. 

CRAY-FISH. A lobster-like crustacean (_Astacus fluviatilis_) found infresh-water. 

CRAZY. Said of a ship in a bad state. 

CREAK. The straining noise made by timbers, cabin bulk-heads, and sparsin rolling. 

CREAR. A kind of Scotch lighter. (_See_ CRARE. )

CREEK. A narrow inlet of the sea shoaling suddenly. Also, the channelsconnecting the several branches of a river and lake islands, and onelake or lagoon with another. It differs from a cove, in beingproportionately deeper and narrower. In law, it is part of a haven whereanything is landed from the sea. 

CREEL, OR CRUE, for fishing. _See_ KREEL. 

CREENGAL. _See_ CRINGLE. 

CREEPER. A small grapnel (iron instrument with four claws) for draggingfor articles dropped overboard in harbour. When anything falls, a dishor other white object thrown immediately after it will greatly guide thecreeping. 

CREES. _See_ KRIS. 

CREMAILLEE. More commonly called _indented_ (which see), with regard tolines or parapets. 

CRENELLE. A loop-hole in a fortress. 

CRENG. _See_ KRANG. 

CREOLE. This term applies in the West Indies and Spanish America, &c. , to a person of European and unmixed origin, but colonial born. 

CREPUSCULUM. _See_ TWILIGHT. 

CRESPIE. A northern term for a small whale or a grampus. 

CRESSET. A beacon light set on a watch-tower. 

CRESSIT. A small crease or dagger. 

CREST. The highest part of a mountain, or range of mountains, and thesummit of a sea-wave. 

CREW. Comprehends every officer and man on board ship, borne ascomplement on the books. There are in ships of war several particularcrews or gangs, as the gunner's, carpenter's, sail-maker's, blacksmith's, armourer's, and cooper's crews. 

CRIB. A small berth in a packet. 

CRICK. A small jack-screw. 

CRIMPS. Detested agents who trepan seamen, by treating, advancing money, &c. , by which the dupes become indebted, and when well plied with liquorare induced to sign articles, and are shipped off, only discoveringtheir mistake on finding themselves at sea robbed of all theypossessed. 

CRINGLE. A short piece of rope worked grommet fashion into the bolt-ropeof a sail, and containing a metal ring or thimble. The use of thecringle is generally to hold the end of some rope, which is fastenedthereto for the purpose of drawing up the sail to its yard, or extendingthe skirts or leech by means of bowline _bridles_, to stand upon aside-wind. The word seems to be derived from the old English _crencled_, or circularly formed. Cringles should be made of the strands of newbolt-rope. Those for the reef and reef-tackle pendant are stuck throughholes made in the tablings. 

CRINKYL. The cringle or loop in the leech of a sail. 

CRIPPLE, TO. To disable an enemy's ship by wounding his masts, yards, and steerage gear, thereby placing him _hors de combat_. 

CRISS-CROSS. The mark of a man who cannot write his name. 

CROAKER. A tropical fish which makes a _cris-cris_ noise. 

CROAKY. A term applied to plank when it curves much in short lengths. 

CROCHERT. A hagbut or hand cannon, anciently in use. 

CROCK [Anglo-Saxon, _croca_]. An earthen mess-vessel, and the usualvegetables were called crock-herbs. In the _Faerie Queene_ Spenser citesthe utensil:--

 "Therefore the vulgar did aboute him flocke, Like foolish flies about an honey-crocke. "

CROCODILES. A designation for those who served in Egypt under LordKeith. 

CROJEK. The mode of pronouncing _cross-jack_ (which see). 

CRONNAG. In the Manx and Erse, signifies a rock that can be seen beforelow-water. 

CROOKED-CATCH. An iron implement bent in the form of the letter S. 

CROOKS. _Crooked timbers. _ Short arms or branches of trees. 

CROONER. The gray gurnard (_Trigla gurnardus_), so called on account ofthe creaking noise it makes after being taken. 

CROSS-BARS. Round bars of iron, bent at each end, used as levers to turnthe shank of an anchor. 

CROSS-BAR-SHOT. The famed cross-bar-shot, or properly _bar-shot_, usedby the Americans: when folded it presented a bar or complete shot, andcould thus be placed in the gun. But as it left the muzzle it expandedto a cross, with four quarters of a shot at its radial points. It wasused to destroy the rigging as well as do execution amongst men. 

CROSS-BITT. The same as _cross-piece_ (which see). 

CROSS-BORED. Bored with holes alternately on the edges of planks, toseparate the fastenings, so as to avoid splitting the timbers or beams. 

CROSS-BOW. An ancient weapon of our fleet, when also in use on shore. 

CROSS-CHOCKS. Large pieces of timber fayed across the dead-woodamidships, to make good the deficiency of the heels of the lowerfuttocks. 

CROSS-FISH. A northern name for the _asterias_ or star-fish; so calledfrom the Norwegian _kors-fisk_. Also, the _Uraster rubens_. 

CROSS-GRAINED. Not straight-grained as in good wood; hence the perverseand vexatious disposition of the ne'er-do-wells. As Cotton's _Juno_--

 "That cross-grained, peevish, scolding queen. "

CROSS-HEAD. In a steamer's engine, is on the top of the piston-rodathwart the cylinder; and there is another fitted to the air-pump, bothhaving side-rods. (_See_ CYLINDER CROSS-HEAD. )

CROSSING A SHIP'S WAKE. When a ship sails over the transient track whichanother has just passed, _i. E. _ passes close astern of her. 

CROSSING THE CABLES IN THE HATCHWAY. A method by which the operation ofcoiling is facilitated; it alludes to hempen cables, which are nowseldom used. 

CROSS IN THE HAWSE. Is when a ship moored with two anchors from the bowshas swung the wrong way once, whereby the two cables lie across eachother. --_To cross a vessel's hawse_ is to sail across the line of hercourse, a little ahead of her. 

CROSSJACK-YARD [pronounced _crojeck-yard_]. The lower yard on themizen-mast, to the arms of which the clues of the mizen top-sail areextended. The term is applied to any fore-and-aft vessels setting asquare-sail, flying, below the lower cross-trees. It is now very commonin merchant ships to set a sail called a cross-jack upon this yard. 

CROSS-PAWLS. _See_ CROSS-SPALES. 

CROSS-PIECE. The transverse timber of the bitts. Also, a rail of timberextending over the windlass of some merchant-ships from the knight-headsto the belfry. It is furnished with wooden pins to fasten therunning-rigging to, as occasion requires. --_Cross-pieces. _ Short pieceslaid across the keel of a line-of-battle ship, and scarphed to the lowerends of the first futtocks, as strengtheners. 

CROSS-SEA. A sea not caused by the wind then blowing. During a heavygale which changes quickly (a cyclone, for instance), each change ofwind produces a direction of the sea, which lasts for some hours afterthe wind which caused it has changed, so that in a part of the sea whichhas experienced all the changes of one of these gales, the sea runs upin pyramids, sending the tops of the waves perpendicularly into the air, which are then spread by the prevailing wind; the effect is awfullygrand and dangerous, for it generally renders a ship ungovernable untilit abates. 

CROSS-SOMER. A beam of timber. 

CROSS-SPALES OR SPALLS. Temporary beams nailed across a vessel to keepthe sides together, and support the ship in frame, until the deck-kneesare fastened. 

CROSS-STAFF. _See_ FORE-STAFF. 

CROSS-SWELL. This is similar to a cross-sea, except that it undulateswithout breaking violently. 

CROSS-TAIL. In a steam-engine, is of the same form as the cylindercross-head: it has iron straps catching the pins in the ends of theside-levers. 

CROSS-TIDE. The varying directions of the flow amongst shoals that areunder water. (_See_ CURRENT. )

CROSS-TIMBERS. _See_ CROSS-PIECE. 

CROSS-TREES. Certain timbers supported by the cheeks and trestle-treesat the upper ends of the lower and top masts, athwart which they arelaid to sustain the frame of the tops on the one, and to extend thetop-gallant shrouds on the other. 

CROTCHED-YARD. The old orthography for _crossjack-yard_ (which see). 

CROTCHES. _See_ CRUTCH. 

CROW, OR CROW-BAR. An iron lever furnished with a sharp point at oneend, and two claws on a slight bevel bend at the other, to prize orremove weighty bodies, like pieces of timber, to draw spike-nails, &c. Also, to direct and manage the great guns. 

CROWDIE. Meal and milk mixed in a cold state; but sometimes a merecomposition of oatmeal and boiled water, eaten with treacle, or butterand sugar, as condiment. 

CROWD SAIL, TO. To carry an extraordinary press of canvas on a ship, asin pursuit of, or flight from, an enemy, &c. 

CROW-FOOT. A number of small lines spreading out from an uvrou or longblock, used to suspend the awnings by, or to keep the top-sails fromstriking violently, and fretting against the top-rims. (_See_ EUPHROE. )Also, a kind of stand, attached to the end of mess-tables, and hooked toa beam above. --_Crow-foot_ or _beam-arm_ is also a crooked timber, extended from the side of a beam to the ship's side, in the wake of thehatchway, supplying the place of a beam. --_Crow's-foot_ is the name ofthe four-pointed irons thrown in front of a position, to hamper theadvance of cavalry, and other assailants, for in whatsoever way theyfall one point is upwards. The phrase of _crow's-feet_ is also jocularlyapplied to the wrinkles spreading from the outer corner of the eyes--ajoke used both by Chaucer and Spenser. 

CROWN. A common denomination in most parts of Europe for a silver coin, varying in local value from 2_s. _ 6_d. _ sterling to 8_s. _ (_See also_PREROGATIVE. )--_Crown of an anchor. _ The place where the arms are joinedto the shank, and unite at the throat. --_Crown of a gale. _ Its extremeviolence. --In fortification, to crown is to effect a lodgment on the topof; thus, the besieger _crowns_ the covered way when he occupies withhis trenches the crest of the glacis. 

CROWN, OR DOUBLE CROWN. A knot; is to pass the strands of a rope overand under each other above the knot by way of finish. (_See_ KNOT. )

CROWNING. The finishing part of some knots on the end of a rope, toprevent the ends of the strands becoming loose. They are moreparticularly useful in all kinds of stoppers. (_See_ WALL-KNOT andCROWN. )

CROWN-WORK. In fortification, the largest definite form of outwork, having for its head two contiguous bastioned fronts, and for its sidestwo long strait faces, flanked by the artillery fire of the place. Or adetached work, according to the circumstances of the ground, requiringsuch advanced occupation. 

CROW-PURSE. The egg-capsule of a skate. 

CROW-SHELL. A fresh-water mussel. 

CROW'S NEST. A small shelter for the look-out man: sometimes made with acask, at the top-gallant mast-head of whalers, whence fish are espied. Also, for the ice-master to note the lanes or open spaces in the ice. 

CROY. An inclosure on the sea-beach in the north for catching fish. Whenthe tide flows the fishes swim over the wattles, but are left by theebbing of the water. 

CRUE. _See_ KREEL. 

CRUE-HERRING. The shad (_Clupea alosa_). 

CRUER. _See_ CRARE. 

CRUISE, OR CRUIZE. A voyage in quest of an enemy expected to sailthrough any particular tract of the sea at a certain season, --the seekertraversing the cruising latitude under easy sail, backward and forward. The parts of seas frequented by whales are called the cruising groundsof whalers. 

CRUISERS. Small men-of-war, made use of in the Channel and elsewhere tosecure our merchant ships from the enemy's small frigates andprivateers. They were generally such as sailed well, and were wellmanned. 

CRUIVES. Inclosed spaces in a dam or weir for taking salmon. 

CRUMMY. Fleshy or corpulent. 

CRUPPER. The train tackle ring-bolt in a gun-carriage. 

CRUSADO. _See_ CRUZADO. 

CRUTCH, OR CROTCH. A support fixed upon the taffrail for the main boomof a sloop, brig, cutter, &c. , and a chock for the driver-boom of a shipwhen their respective sails are furled. Also, crooked timber inside theafter-peak of a vessel, for securing the heels of the cant orhalf-timbers: they are fayed and bolted on the foot-waling. Also, stanchions of wood or iron whose upper parts are forked to receivemasts, yards, and other spars, and which are fixed along the sides andgangways. Crutches are used instead of rowlocks, and also on the sidesof large boats to support the oars and spars. 

CRUZADO. A Portuguese coin of 480 reis, value 2_s. _ 7-1/4_d. _ sterlingin Portugal; in England, 2_s. _ to 2_s. _ 2_d. _

CUBBRIDGE HEADS. The old bulk-heads of the forecastle and half-decks, wherein were placed the "murderers, " or guns for clearing the decks inemergency. 

CUBE. A solid body inclosed by six square sides or faces. A cubical footis 12 inches square every way, of any solid substance. 

CUB-HOUSE, OR CUBBOOS. _See_ CABOOSE. 

CUBICULATÆ. Roman ships furnished with cabins. 

CUCKOLD'S-KNOT OR NECK. A knot by which a rope is secured to a spar--thetwo parts of the rope crossing each other, and seized together. 

CUDBEAR. (_See_ CORKIR. ) A violet dye--archil, a test. 

CUDBERDUCE. The cuthbert-duck, a bird of the Farne Isles, offNorthumberland. 

CUDDIC, CUDDY, OR CUDLE. All derived from cuttle-fish varieties of sepiaused for baits. 

CUDDIE, OR CUDDIN. One of the many names for the coal-fish, a staplearticle of the coast of Scotland. The _Gadus carbonarius_ is takennearly all the year round by fishing from the rocks, and by means oflanding nets. If this fish be not delicate, it is at least nutritious, and as it contains much oil, it furnishes light as well as food. 

CUDDING. A northern name for the char. 

CUDDY. A sort of cabin or cook-room, generally in the fore-part, butsometimes near the stern of lighters and barges of burden. In theoceanic traders it is a cabin abaft, under the round-house or poop-deck, for the commander and his passengers. Also, the little cabin of a boat. 

CUDDY-LEGS. A name in the north for large herrings. 

CUIRASS. Armour or covering for the breast, anciently made of hide. 

CUIRASSIERS. Horse soldiers who wear the cuirass, a piece of defensivearmour, covering the body from the neck to the waist. 

CUISSES. Armour to protect the thighs. 

CULAGIUM. An archaic law-term for the laying up of a ship in the dock tobe repaired. 

CULCH. _See_ OYSTER-BED. 

CULLOCK. A species of bivalved mollusc on our northern shores, the_Tellina rhomboides_. 

CULMINATION, in nautical astronomy, is the transit or passage of anycelestial body over the meridian of a place. 

CULRING. An old corruption of _culverin_. 

CULTELLUS. _See_ COUTEL. 

CULVER. A Saxon word for pigeon, whence Culver-cliff, Reculvers, &c. , from being resorted to by those birds. [Latin, _columba_; _b_ and _v_are often interchanged. ]

CULVERIN. An ancient cannon of about 5-1/4 inches bore, and from 9 to 12feet long, carrying a ball of 18 pounds, with a first graze at 180paces. Formerly a favourite sea-gun, its random range being 2500 paces. The name is derived from a snake (_coluber_), or a dragon, beingsculptured upon it, thus forming handles. 

CULVER-TAIL. The fastenings of a ship's carlings into the beams. 

CULVER-TAILED. Fastened by dove-tailing--a way of letting one timberinto another, so that they cannot slip asunder. 

CULWARD. The archaic term for a coward. 

CUMULO-CIRRO-STRATUS. A horizontal sheet of cloud, with cirrus above andcumulus beneath; it is better known as the _nimbus_ or _rain-cloud_. 

CUMULO-STRATUS. This is the twain-cloud, so called because the stratusblends with the cumulus; it is most frequent during a changeable stateof the barometer. 

CUMULUS. A cloud indicative of fair weather, when it is small: it issometimes seen in dense heaps, whence it obtained the name of _stackencloud_. It is then a forerunner of change. 

CUND, TO. To give notice which way a shoal of fish is gone. 

CUNETTE. _See_ CUVETTE. 

CUNN, OR CON. _See_ CONN. 

CUNNENG. A northern name for the lamprey. 

CUP. A solid piece of cast-iron let into the step of the capstan, and inwhich the iron spindle at the heel of the capstan works. Also, colloquially used for come, as, "Cup, let me alone. "

CUPOLA-SHIP. Captain Coles's; the cupola being discontinued, now called_turret-ship_ (which see). 

CUR. An east-country term for the bull-head. 

CURE, TO. To salt meat or fish. 

CUR-FISH. A small kind of dog-fish. 

CURIET. A breast-plate made of leather. 

CURL. The bending over or disruption of the ice, causing it to pile. Also, the curl of the surf on the shore. 

CURL-CLOUD. The same as _cirrus_ (which see). 

CURLEW. A well-known coast bird, with a long curved bill, the _Numeniusarquatus_. 

CURRACH. A skiff, formerly used on the Scottish coasts. 

CURRA-CURRA. A peculiarly fast boat among the Malay Islands. 

CURRENT. A certain progressive flowing of the sea in one direction, bywhich all bodies floating therein are compelled more or less to submitto the stream. The _setting_ of the current, is that point of thecompass towards which the waters run; and the _drift_ of the current isthe rate it runs at in an hour. Currents are general and particular, theformer depending on causes in constant action, the latter on occasionalcircumstances. (_See_ DIRECTION. )

CURRENT SAILING. The method of determining the true motion of a ship, when, besides being acted upon by the wind, she is drifting by theeffect of a current. A due allowance must therefore be made by thenavigator. 

CURRIER. A small musketoon with a swivel mounting. 

CURSOR. The moving wire in a reading microscope. 

CURTAIN. In fortification, that part of the rampart which is between theflanks of two opposite bastions, which are thereby connected. 

CURTALL, OR CURTALD. An ancient piece of ordnance used in our earlyfleets, apparently a short one. 

CURTATE DISTANCE. An astronomical term, denoting the distance of a bodyfrom the sun or earth projected upon the ecliptic. 

CURTLE-AXE. The old term for cutlass or cutlace. 

CURVED FIRE. A name coming into use with the increasing application ofthe fire of heavy and elongated shells to long-range bombardment andcannonade. It is intermediate between horizontal and vertical fire, possessing much of the accuracy and direct force of the former, as wellas of the searching properties of the latter. 

CURVE OF THE COAST. When the shore alternately recedes and projectsgradually, so as to trend towards a curve shape. 

CUSEFORNE. A long open whale-boat of Japan. 

CUSHIES. Armour for the thighs. The same as _cuisses_. 

CUSK. A fine table-fish taken in cod-schools. _See_ TUSK or TORSK. 

CUSPS. The extremities of a crescent moon, or inferior planet. 

CUSSELS. The green-bone, or viviparous blenny. 

CUSTOM. The toll paid by merchants to the crown for goods exported orimported; otherwise called duty. --_Custom of the country_, a smallpresent to certain authorities in the less frequented ports, beingequally gift and bribe. 

CUSTOM-HOUSE. An office established on the frontiers of a state, or insome chief city or port, for the receipt of customs and duties imposedby authority of the sovereign, and regulated by writs or books of rates. 

CUSTOM-HOUSE AGENT. He who transacts the relative business of passinggoods, as to the entries required for the ship's clearance. 

CUSTOM-HOUSE OFFICERS. A term comprehending all the officials employedin enforcing the customs. 

CUT. A narrow boat channel; a canal. --_To cut_, to renounce acquaintancewith any one. 

CUT AND RUN, TO. To cut the cable for an escape. Also, to move offquickly; to quit occupation; to be gone. 

CUT AND THRUST. To give point with a sword after striking a slash. 

CUT A STICK, TO. To make off clandestinely. --_Cut your stick_, be off, or go away. 

CUTE. Sharp, crafty, apparently from _acute_; but some insist that it isthe Anglo-Saxon word _cuth_, rather meaning certain, known, or familiar. 

CUTH. A name given in Orkney and Shetland to the coal-fish, before it isfully grown; perhaps the same as _piltock_ (which see). 

CUTLAS, OR COUTELAS. A sabre which was slightly curved, but recentlyapplied to the small-handled swords supplied to the navy--the _cutlash_of Jack. By Shakspeare called a curtle-axe; thus Rosalind, preparing todisguise herself as a man, is made to say, "A gallant curtle-ax upon my thigh. "

CUT-LINE. The space between the bilges of two casks stowed end to end. 

CUT OFF. A term used to denote a vessel's being seized by stratagem bythe natives, and the crew being murdered. Also, to intercept a retreat. 

CUT OF THE JIB. A phrase for the aspect of a vessel, or person. 

CUT OUT, TO. To attack and carry a vessel by a boat force; one of themost dashing and desperate services practised by Nelson and Cochrane, ofwhich latter that of cutting out the _Esmeralda_ at Callao standsunequalled. 

CUTTER. A small single-masted, sharp-built broad vessel, commonlynavigated in the English Channel, furnished with a straight runningbowsprit, occasionally run in horizontally on the deck; except forwhich, and the largeness of the sails, they are rigged much like sloops. Either clincher or carvel-built, no jib-stay, the jib hoisting andhanging by the halliards alone. She carries a fore-and-aft main-sail, gaff-topsail, stay-foresail, and jib. The name is derived from theirfast sailing. The cutter (as H. M. S. _Dwarf_) has been made to set everysail, even royal studding-sails, sky-scrapers, moon-rakers, star-gazers, water and below-water sails, that could be set by any vessel on onemast. One of the largest which has answered effectually, was the_Viper_, of 460 tons and 28 guns; this vessel was very useful during theAmerican war, particularly by getting into Gibraltar at a criticalperiod of the siege. 

CUTTER-BRIG. A vessel with square sails, a fore-and-aft main-sail, and ajigger-mast with a smaller one. (_See_ KETCH. )

CUTTERS of a ship are broader for their length, deeper and shorter inproportion than the barge or pinnace; are fitter for sailing, andcommonly employed in carrying light stores, passengers, &c. , to and fromthe ships; some are clench-built. They generally row ten oars; others ofsimilar build only four, which last are termed jolly-boats. The cuttersfor ships of the line are carvel-built of 25 feet, and fit for anchorwork. 

CUTTER-STAY FASHION. The turning-in of a dead-eye with the end of theshroud down. 

CUT THE CABLE, TO. A manœuvre sometimes necessary for making a ship castthe right way, or when the anchor cannot be weighed. 

CUTTIE. A name on our northern coasts for the black guillemot (_Uriagrille_). 

CUTTING. The adjusting of a cask or spar, or turning it round. 

CUTTING A FEATHER. It is common when a ship has too broad a bow to say, "She will not cut a feather, " meaning that she will not pass through thewater so swift as to make less foam or froth. 

CUTTING DOWN. Taking a deck off a ship; as ships of the line areconverted into frigates, the _Royal Sovereign_ into a turret ship, &c. --_Cutting down_ is also a dangerous midshipman's trick, andsometimes practised by the men: it consists in cutting the laniard of acot or hammock in which a person is then asleep, and letting himfall--_lumpus_--either by the head or the feet. 

CUTTING-DOWN LINE. An elliptical curve line used by shipwrights in thedelineation of ships; it determines the depth of all the floor timbers, and likewise the height of the dead-wood fore and aft. It is limited inthe middle of the ship by the thickness of the floor timbers, and abaftby the breadth of the keelson, and must be carried up so high upon thestern as to leave sufficient substance for the breeches of the risingtimbers. 

CUTTING HIS PAINTER. Making off suddenly or clandestinely, or "departedthis life. "

CUTTING IN. Making the special directions for taking the blubber off awhale, which is flinched by taking off circularly ribbons of the skinwith blubber attached; the animal being made to turn in the water as thepurchases at the mast-heads heave it upwards. 

CUTTING-OUT. A night-meal or forage in the officer's pantry. 

CUTTING OUT OR IN. In polar phraseology, is performed by sawing canalsin a floe of ice, to enable a ship to regain open water. 

CUTTING RIGGING. This includes the act of measuring it. 

CUTTLE-FISH. A common marine animal of the genus _Sepia_, and class_Cephalopoda_. It has ten tentacles or arms ranged around the mouth, twobeing of much greater length than the others. When in danger it ejects ablack inky substance, darkening the water for some distance around. Theoval internal calcareous shell, "cuttle-bone, " often found lying on thebeach, was formerly much used in pharmacy. 

CUTTS. Flat-bottomed horse-ferry boats of a former day. 

CUTTY-GUN. A northern term for a short pipe. 

CUT-WATER. The foremost part of a vessel's prow, or the sharp part ofthe knee of a ship's head below the beak. It cuts or divides the waterbefore reaching the bow, which would retard progress. It is fayed to thefore-part of the main stem. (_See_ KNEE OF THE HEAD. )

CUVETTE, called also CUNETTE. A deeper trench cut along the middle of adry moat; a ditch within a ditch, generally carried down till there bewater to fill it. 

CWM, OR COMB. A British word signifying an inlet, valley, or low place, where the hilly sides round together in a concave form; the sides of a_glyn_ being, on the contrary, convex. 

CYCLE. A term generally applied to an interval of time in which the samephenomena recur. 

CYCLE OF ECLIPSES. A period of about 6586 days, which is the time of arevolution of the moon's node; after the lapse of this period theeclipses recur in the same order as before, with few exceptions. Thiscycle was known to the ancients under the name of Saros. 

CYCLOID. A geometrical curve of the higher kind. 

CYCLONE. _See_ TYPHOON. 

CYLINDER. The body of a pump; any tubular part of an engine. --_Chargecylinder_ of a gun, is the part which receives the powder and ball, theremaining portion being styled the _vacant cylinder_. Especially inmarine steam-engines, the cylindrical metal tube, with a diameterproportionate to the power of the engine, of which it may be termed thechief part, since it contains the active steam. Also, a cartridge boxfor the service of artillery. (_See_ CARTRIDGE-BOX. )

CYLINDER-COVER. In the steam-engine, is a metal lid with a hole in thecentre for the piston-rod to work through. 

CYLINDER CROSS-HEAD. An adaptation on the top of the piston-rod, stretching out athwart the cylinder, from the ends of which theside-rods hang. 

CYLINDER ESCAPE-VALVES. Small conical valves at each end of thecylinder, for the purpose of letting off any water that may collectabove or below the piston. 

CYLINDER POWDER. That made upon the improved method of charring the woodto be used as charcoal in iron cylinders. All British governmentgunpowder is now made thus. 

CYPHERING. A term in carpentry. (_See_ SYPHERED. )

D. 

D. In the _Complete Book_, D means dead or deserted; Dsq. , dischargedfrom the service, or into another ship. 

DAB. The sea-flounder. An old general term for a pleuronect or flat fishof any kind, but usually appropriated to the _Platessa limanda_. Theword is familiarly applied to one who is expert in anything. 

DABBERLACK. A kind of long sea-weed on our northern coasts. 

DAB-CHICK. The little grebe, _Podiceps minor_. A small diving birdcommon in lakes and rivers. 

DACOITS. _See_ DEKOYTS. 

DADDICK. A west-country term for rotten-wood, touch-wood, &c. 

DAGEN. A peculiar dirk or poignard. 

DAGGAR. An old term for a dog-fish. 

DAGGER-KNEE. A substitute for the hanging-knee, applied to the underside of the lodging-knee; it is placed out of the perpendicular to avoida port-hole. Anything placed aslant or obliquely, now generally termeddiagonal, of which, indeed, it is a corruption. 

DAGGER-PIECE, OR DAGGER-WOOD. A timber or plank that faces on to thepoppets of the bilge-ways, and crosses them diagonally, to keep themtogether. The plank securing the head is called the daggerplank. 

DAGGES. An old term for pistols or hand-guns. 

DAHLGREN GUN. A modification of the Paixhan gun, introduced into theUnited States service by Lieut. , now Admiral, Dahlgren, of that navy;having, in obedience to the results of ingenious experiment on thevarying force of explosion on different parts of a gun, what has beencalled the soda-water bottle or pear-shaped form. 

DAHM. An Arab or Indian decked boat. 

DAILY PROGRESS. A daily return when in port of all particulars relativeto the progress of a ship's equipment. 

DAIRS. Small unsaleable fish. 

DALE. A trough or spout to carry off water, usually named from theoffice it has to perform, as a pump-dale, &c. Also, a place forward, tosave the decks from being wetted, now almost abolished. 

DALLOP. A heap or lump in a clumsy state. A large quantity of anything. 

DAM. A barrier of stones, stakes, or rubble, constructed to stop orimpede the course of a stream. (_See_ INUNDATIONS and FLOATING DAM. )

DAMASCENED. The mixing of various metals in the Damascus blades, thekris, or other weapons; sometimes by adding silver, to produce a wateredeffect. 

DAMASCUS BLADE. Swords famed for the quality and temper of the metal, aswell as the beauty of the _jowhir_, or watering of the blades. 

DAMASK. Steel worked in the Damascus style, showing the wavy lines ofthe different metals; usually termed watered or twisted. 

DAMBER. An old word for lubberly rogue. 

DAMELOPRE. An ancient flat-floored vessel belonging to Holland, andintended to carry heavy cargoes over their shallow waters. 

DAMMAH. A kind of turpentine or resin from a species of pine, which isused in the East Indies for the same purposes to which turpentine andpitch are applied. It is exported in large quantities from Sumatra toBengal and other places, where it is much used for paying seams and thebottoms of vessels, for which latter purpose it is often mixed withsulphur, and answers admirably in warm climates. 

DAMPER. The means by which the furnace of each boiler in a steamer canbe regulated independently, by increasing or diminishing the draught tothe fire. 

DAMSEL. A coast name for the skate-fish. 

DANCERS. The coruscations of the aurora. (_See_ MERRY DANCERS. )

DANDIES. Rowers of the budgerow boats on the Ganges. 

DANDY. A sloop or cutter with a jigger-mast abaft, on which amizen-lug-sail is set. 

DANGER. Perils and hazard of the sea. Any rock or shoal which interfereswith navigation. 

DANK. Moist, mouldy: a sense in which Shakspeare uses it; also Tusser--

 "_Dank_ ling forgot will quickly rot. "

DANKER. A north-country term for a dark cloud. 

DANSKERS. Natives of Denmark. 

DARBIES. An old cant word for irons or handcuffs; it is still retained. 

DARE. An old word for to challenge, or incite to emulation; still infull use. 

DARE-DEVIL. One who fears nothing, and will attempt anything. 

DARKENING. Closing of the evening twilight. 

DARK GLASSES. Shades fitted to instruments of reflection for preventingthe bright rays of the sun from hurting the eye of the observer. 

DARKS. Nights on which the moon does not shine, --much looked to bysmugglers. 

DARKY. A common term for a negro. 

DARNING THE WATER. A term applied to the action of a fleet cruising toand fro before a blockaded port. 

DARRAG. A Manx or Erse term for a strong fishing-line made of black hairsnoods. 

DARSENA. An inner harbour or wet dock in the Mediterranean. 

DARTS. Weapons used in our early fleets from the round-tops. 

DASH. The present with which bargains are sealed on the coast of Africa. 

DASHING. The rolling and breaking of the sea. 

DATOO. West wind in the Straits of Gibraltar: very healthy. Also, aMalay term of rank, and four of whom form the council of the sultan ofthe Malayu Islands. 

DATUM. The base level. 

DAVID'S-STAFF. A kind of quadrant formerly used in navigation. 

DAVIE. An old term for davit. 

DAVIT. A piece of timber or iron, with sheaves or blocks at its end, projecting over a vessel's quarter or stern, to hoist up and suspend oneend of a boat. --_Fish-davit_, is a beam of timber, with a roller orsheave at its end, used as a crane, whereby to hoist the flukes of theanchor to the top of the bow, without injuring the planks of the ship'sside as it ascends, and called fishing the anchor; the lower end of thisdavit rests on the fore-chains, the upper end being properly secured bya tackle from the mast-head; to which end is hung a large block, andthrough it a strong rope is rove, called the fish-pendant, to the outerend of which is fitted a large hook, and to its inner end a tackle; theformer is called the fish-hook, the latter the fish-tackle. There isalso a davit of a smaller kind, occasionally fixed in the long-boat, andwith the assistance of a small windlass, used to weigh the anchor by thebuoy-rope, &c. 

DAVIT-GUYS. Ropes used to steady boats' davits. 

DAVIT-ROPE. The lashing which secures the davit to the shrouds when outof use. 

DAVIT-TOPPING-LIFT. A rope made fast to the outer end of a davit, androve through a block made fast to a vessel's mast aloft, with a tackleattached. Usually employed for bringing the anchor in-board. 

DAVY JONES. The spirit of the sea; a nikker; a sea-devil. 

DAVY JONES'S LOCKER. The ocean; the common receptacle for all thingsthrown overboard; it is a phrase for death or the other world, whenspeaking of a person who has been buried at sea. 

DAW-FISH. The _Scyllium catulus_, a small dog-fish. 

DAWK-BOAT. A boat for the conveyance of letters in India; _dawk_ beingthe Hindostanee for _mail_. 

DAY. The astronomical day is reckoned from noon to noon, continuouslythrough the twenty-four hours, like the other days. It commences atnoon, twelve hours after the civil day, which itself begins twelve hoursafter the nautical day, so that the _noon_ of the civil day, the_beginning_ of the astronomical day, and the _end_ of the nautical day, occur at the same moment. (_See the words_ SOLAR and SIDEREAL. )

DAY-BOOK. An old and better name for the log-book; a journal [Fr. ]

DAY-MATES. Formerly the mates of the several decks--now abolished. (_See_ SUB-LIEUTENANT. )

DAY-SKY. The aspect of the sky at day-break, or at twilight. 

DAY'S WORK. In navigation, the reckoning or reduction of the ship'scourses and distances made good during twenty-four hours, or from noonto noon, according to the rules of trigonometry, and thence ascertainingher latitude and longitude by _dead-reckoning_ (which see). 

D-BLOCK. A lump of oak in the shape of a D, bolted to the ship's side inthe channels to reeve the lifts through. 

DEAD-ANGLE. In fortification, is an angle receiving no defence, eitherby its own fire or that of any other works. 

DEAD-CALM. A total cessation of wind; the same as _flat-calm_. 

DEAD-DOORS. Those fitted in a rabbet to the outside of thequarter-gallery doors, with the object of keeping out the sea, in caseof the gallery being carried away. 

DEADEN A SHIP'S WAY, TO. To retard a vessel's progress by bracing in theyards, so as to reduce the effect of the sails, or by backing minorsails. Also, when sounding to luff up and shake all, to obtain a cast ofthe deep-sea lead. 

DEAD-EYE, OR DEAD MAN'S EYE. A sort of round flattish wooden block, oroblate piece of elm, encircled, and fixed to the channels by thechain-plate: it is pierced with three holes through the flat part, inorder to receive a rope called the laniard, which, corresponding withthree holes in another dead-eye on the shroud end, creates a purchase toset up and extend the shrouds and stays, backstays, &c. , of the standingand top-mast rigging. The term _dead_ seems to have been used becausethere is no revolving sheave to lessen the friction. In merchant-shipsthey are generally fitted with iron-plates, in the room of chains, extending from the vessel's side to the top of the rail, where they areconnected with the rigging. The dead-eyes used for the stays have onlyone hole, which, however, is large enough to receive ten or twelve turnsof the laniard--these are generally termed _hearts_, on account of theirshape. The _crowfeet dead-eyes_ are long cylindrical blocks with anumber of small holes in them, to receive the legs or lines composingthe crow-foot. Also called _uvrous_. 

DEAD-FLAT. The timber or frame possessing the greatest breadth andcapacity in the ship: where several timbers are thrown in, of the samearea, the middle one is reckoned a dead-flat, about one third of thelength of the ship from the head. It is generally distinguished as themidship-bend. 

DEAD-FREIGHT. The sum to which a merchant is liable for goods which hehas failed to ship. 

DEAD-HEAD. A kind of _dolphin_ (which see). Also, a rough block of woodused as an anchor-buoy. 

DEAD-HEADED. Timber trees which have ceased growing. 

DEAD-HORSE. A term applied by seamen to labour which has been paid forin advance. When they commence earning money again, there is in somemerchant ships a ceremony performed of dragging round the decks aneffigy of their fruitless labour in the shape of a horse, running him upto the yard-arm, and cutting him adrift to fall into the sea amidst loudcheers. 

DEAD-LIFT. The moving of a very inert body. 

DEAD-LIGHTS. Strong wooden shutters made exactly to fit the cabinwindows externally; they are fixed on the approach of bad weather. Also, luminous appearances sometimes seen over putrescent bodies. 

DEAD-LOWN. A completely still atmosphere. 

DEAD-MEN. The reef or gasket-ends carelessly left dangling under theyard when the sail is furled, instead of being tucked in. 

DEAD-MEN'S EFFECTS. When a seaman dies on board, or is drowned, hiseffects are sold at the mast by auction, and the produce charged againstthe purchasers' names on the ship's books. 

DEAD-MONTHS. A term for winter. 

DEAD-ON-END. The wind blowing directly adverse to the vessel's intendedcourse. 

DEAD-PAY. That given formerly in shares, or for names borne, but forwhich no one appears, as was formerly practised with _widows' men_. 

DEAD-RECKONING. The estimation of the ship's place without anyobservation of the heavenly bodies; it is discovered from the distanceshe has run by the log, and the courses steered by the compass, thenrectifying these data by the usual allowance for current, lee-way, &c. , according to the ship's known trim. This reckoning, however, should becorrected by astronomical observations of the sun, moon, and stars, whenever available, proving the importance of practical astronomy. 

DEAD-RISING. In ship-building, is that part of a ship which lies aftbetween the keel and her floor-timbers towards the stern-post; generallyit is applied to those parts of the bottom, throughout the ship'slength, where the sweep or curve at the head of the floor-timberterminates, or inflects to join the keel. (_See_ RISING-LINE. )

DEAD-ROPES. Those which do not run in any block. 

DEAD-SHARES. An allowance formerly made to officers of the fleet, fromfictitious numbers borne on the complement (_temp. _ Henry VIII. ), varying from fifty shares for an admiral, to half a share for the cook'smate. 

DEAD-SHEAVE. A scored aperture in the heel of a top-mast, through whicha second top-tackle pendant can be rove. It is usually a section of alignum-vitæ sheave let in, so as to avoid chafe. 

DEAD-TICKET. Persons dying on board, those discharged from the service, and all officers promoted, are cleared from the ship's books by adead-ticket, which must be filled up in a similar manner to the_sick-ticket_ (which see). 

DEAD UPON A WIND. Braced sharp up and bowlines hauled. 

DEAD-WATER. The eddy-water under the counter of a ship under way; socalled because passing away slower than the water alongside. A ship issaid to _make much dead-water_ when she has a great eddy following herstern, often occasioned by her having a square tuck. A vessel with around buttock at her line of floatation can have but little dead-water, the rounding abaft allowing the fluid soon to recover its state of rest. 

DEAD WEIGHT. A vessel's lading when it consists of heavy goods, butparticularly such as pay freight according to their weight and not their_stowage_. 

DEAD WOOD. Certain blocks of timber, generally oak, fayed on the upperside of the keel, particularly at the extremities before and abaft, where these pieces are placed upon each other to a considerable height, because the ship is there so narrow as not to admit of the two halftimbers, which are therefore scored into this dead wood, where the angleof the floor-timbers gradually diminishes on approaching the stem andstern-post. In the fore-part of the ship the dead wood generally extendsfrom the stemson, upon which it is scarphed, to the loof-frame; and inthe after-end, from the stern-post, where it is confined by the knee, tothe after balance frame. It is connected to the keel by strong spikenails. The dead wood afore and abaft is equal in depth to two-thirds ofthe depth of the keel, and as broad as can be procured, not exceedingthe breadth of the keel, _i. E. _ continued as high as the _cutting-down_line in both bodies, to afford a stepping for the heels of the canttimbers. 

DEAD-WOOD KNEES. The upper foremost and aftermost pieces of dead wood;being crooked pieces of timber, the bolting of which connects the keelwith the stem and stern posts. 

DEAD WORKS. All that part of the ship which is above water when she isladen. The same as _upper work_, or _supernatant_ (which see). 

DEAL BEACH. This coast consists of gravelly shingle; and a man who ispock-marked, or in galley-cant cribbage-faced, is figuratively said tohave been rolled on Deal beach. 

DEAL-ENDS. Applied to deal-planks when under 6 feet in length. 

DEATH OR MONEY BOATS. So termed from the risk in such frail craft. Theywere very long, very narrow, and as thin as the skiffs of our rivers. During the war of 1800-14 they carried gold between Dover and Calais, and defied the custom-house officers. 

DEATH-WOUND. A law-term for the starting of a butt end, or springing afatal leak. A ship had received her death-wound, but by pumping was keptafloat till three days after the time she was insured for: it wasdetermined that the risk was at an end before the loss happened, andthat the insurer was not liable. 

DEBARK, TO. To land; to go on shore. 

DEBENTURE. A custom-house certificate given to the exporter of goods, onwhich a bounty or drawback is allowed. Also, a general term for a billor bond. 

DEBOUCHE. The mouth of a river, outlet of a wood, defile, or narrowpass. In military language, troops defile or march out from. 

DECAGON. A plane geometrical figure that has ten equal sides, and asmany equal angles. 

DECAMP, TO. To raise the camp; the breaking up from a place where anarmy has been encamped. 

DECEPTIO VISUS. Any extraordinary instance of deception to the sight, occasioned by the effects of atmospheric media. (_See_ TERRESTRIALREFRACTION and MIRAGE. )

DECIMATION. The punishing every tenth soldier by lot, was truly_decimatio legionis_. 

DECIME. A small copper coin of France, equal to two sous, or one-tenthof a franc. 

DECK, TO. A word formerly in use for to trim, as "we deckt up oursails. "

DECK-BEAM KNEES. The same as _lodging-knees_. 

DECK-BEAMS. _See_ BEAMS. 

DECK-CARGO, otherwise _deck-load_ (which see). 

DECK-CLEATS. Pieces of wood temporarily nailed to the deck to secureobjects in bad weather, as guns, deck-load, &c. 

DECK-HOOK. The compass timber bolted horizontally athwart a ship's bow, connecting the stem, timbers, and deck-planks of the fore-part; it ispart and parcel of the _breast-hooks_. 

DECK-HOUSE. An oblong-house on the deck of some merchantmen, especiallyeast-country vessels, and latterly in passenger steamers, with a gangwayon each side of it. (Sometimes termed _round-house_. )

DECK-LOAD. Timber, casks, or other cargo not liable to damage from wet, stowed on the deck of merchant vessels. This, with the exception ofcarboys of vitriol, is not included in a general policy of insurance ongoods, unless it be specially stipulated. 

DECK-NAILS. A kind of spike with a snug head, commonly made in a diamondform; they are single or double deck-nails, and from 4 to 12 incheslong. 

DECK-PIPE. An iron pipe through which the chain cable is paid into thechain-locker. 

DECK-PUMPS. In a steamer, are at the side of the vessel, worked with alever by manual power, to supply additional water. In a ship-of-war, used for washing decks (one of the midship pumps). 

DECKS. The platforms laid longitudinally over the transverse beams; inships of war they support the guns. The terms in use for these decksare, assuming the largest ship of the line:--_Poop_, the deck whichincludes from the mizen-mast to the taffrail. The _upper_ or_spar-deck_, from stem to stern, having conventional divisions; as, _quarter-deck_, which is, when clear for action, the space abaft themain-mast, including the cabin; next, _the waist_, between the fore andmain masts, on which the spars and booms are secured. In some ships gunsare continued (always in flush-decked ships) along the gangway; then_the forecastle_, which commences on the gangway, from the main-tackchock forward to the bows. Small craft, as brigs and corvettes, aresometimes fitted with top-gallant forecastles, to shelter the men fromheavy seas which wash over. Next, the _main or gun-deck_, the entirelength of the ship. It is also divided conventionally into the variouscabins, the waist (under the gangway), the galley, from thefore-hatchway to the sick bay, and bows. Next below, is the _middledeck_ of a three-decker, or _lower_ of a two-decker, succeeded by lowerdeck and the orlop-deck, which carries no guns. The guns on theseseveral decks increase in size and number from the poop downwards. Thus, although a vessel termed a three-decker was rated 120 guns, the factstood thus:--

 Guns. Pounders. Lbs. Poop, 10 24 240 Quarter-deck, 22 24 long } 848 Forecastle, 10 32 cans. } Main-deck, 34 24 816 Middle, 36 24 864 Lower, 36 32 1152 ---- ---- 148 3920 ---- Broadside of 1960

But latterly, 56 and 84 pounders on the lower, and 32 on the middle, afforded a heavier weight of broadside. The _Santissima Trinidada_, taken from the Spaniards, carried four whole tiers of guns. Now, thetonnage of the largest of these would be insignificant. "Deckers" areexploded, and a _Pallas_ of the same tonnage (2372) carries 8 guns, a_Bellerophon_ (4272) carries 18 guns, ranging in size, however, from the64-pounder up to the 300-pounder. --_Flush-deck_, or deck flush fore andaft, implies a continued floor laid from stem to stern, upon one line, without any stops or intervals. --_Half-deck. _ In the Northumberlandcolliers the steerage itself is called the half-deck, and is usually thehabitation of the ship's crew. 

DECK-SEAM. The interstices between the planks. 

DECK-SHEET. That sheet of a studding-sail which leads directly to thedeck, by which it is steadied until set; it is also useful in taking itin, should the down-haul be carried away. 

DECK STANDARD-KNEES. Iron knees having two tails, the one going on thebottom of a deck-beam, the other on the top of a hold-beam, while themiddle part is bolted to the ship's side. 

DECK-STOPPER. (_See_ STOPPER OF THE CABLE. ) A strong stopper used forsecuring the cable forward of the capstan or windlass while it isoverhauled. Also abaft the windlass or bitts to prevent more cable fromrunning out. 

DECK-TACKLE. A purchase led along the decks. 

DECLARATION OF WAR. A ceremonial frequently omitted, and esteemed by thegreatest authorities rather a proof of magnanimity than a duty. TheRomans proclaimed it; but except Achaia, none of the Grecian states did. It would be to the interests of humanity and courtesy were it madeindispensable. It has been held (especially in the case of the _Leopard_and _Chesapeake_) that without a declaration of war, no hostile act atthe order of an admiral is legal. 

DECLINATION, of a celestial object, is the arc between its centre andthe equinoctial: with the sun, it is its angular distance from theequator, either north or south, and is named accordingly. 

DECLINATION, TO CORRECT. A cant phrase for taking a glass of grog atnoon, when the day's works are being reduced. 

DECOY. So to change the aspect of a ship-of-war by striking atopgallant-mast, setting ragged sails, disfiguring the sides bywhitewash or gunpowder, yellow, &c. , as to induce a vessel of inferiorforce to chase; when, getting within gun-shot range, she becomes an easycapture. Similar manœuvres are sometimes used by a single ship to inducean enemy's squadron to follow her into the view of her own fleet. 

DEEP. A word figuratively applied to the ocean. On the coast of Germany, to the northward of Friesland, it is of the same import as gulf on thecoasts of France, Spain, Italy, &c. Also, any depth over 20fathoms. --_Deep-sea fishing. _ In contradistinction to coast, or when thehand-lead reaches bottom at 20 fathoms. --_Hand deeps. _ Out of ordinaryleadsman's sounding. --A vessel is deep as regards her lading, and isalso said to sail deep when her expenses run high. 

DEEPENING. Running from shoal water by the lead. 

DEEP-SEA LINE. Usually a strong and water-laid line. It is used witha lead of 28 lbs. , and adapted to find bottom in 200 fathoms or more. It is marked by knots every ten fathoms, and by a small knot everyfive. The marks are now nearly superseded by Massey's patentsounding-machine. --_Marks and Deeps_, &c. , _see_ LEAD and LINE. 

DEEP-WAIST. That part of the open skids between the main and fore driftsin men-of-war. It also relates to the remaining part of a ship's deck, when the quarter-deck and forecastle are much elevated above the levelof the main-deck, so as to leave a vacant space, called the waist, onthe middle of the upper deck, as in many packets. 

DEESE. An east-country term for a place where herrings are dried. 

DEFAULTER'S BOOK. Where men's offences are registered against them, andmay be magnified without appeal. 

DEFECTS. An official return of the state of a ship as to what isrequired for her hull and equipment, and what repairs she stands in needof. Upon this return a ship is ordered to sea, into harbour, into dock, or paid out of commission. 

DEFICIENCY. What is wanting of a ship's cargo at the time of delivery. 

DEFILADE. In fortification, is the art of so disposing defensive works, _on irregular or commanded sites_, that the troops within them shall becovered from the direct fire of the enemy. 

DEFILE. A narrow pass between two heights, which obliges a forcemarching through to narrow its front. This may prove disastrous ifattacked, on account of the difficulty of receiving aid from the rear. 

DEFILING. Filing off, marching past. 

DEFINITIVE. Conclusive; decisive. 

DEFLECTION. The tendency of a ship from her true course; the departureof the magnetic needle from its true bearing, when influenced by iron orthe local attraction of the mass. In artillery, the deviation of a shotfrom the direction in which it is fired. The term is usually reserved tolateral deviations, especially those resulting from irregularcauses--those constant ones due to the regular motion of rifledprojectiles coming under either of the designations "constantdeflection, " "derivation, " borrowed from the French, or "drift, " fromthe Americans. These latter, according to the direction usually given tothe rifling in the present day, all tend away to the right, though theyinclude some subordinate curves not yet distinctly determined. 

DEFORMED BASTION. One out of shape from the irregularity of its linesand angles. 

DEGRADATION. Debasement and disgrace. The suspension of a petty officerfrom his station; and also the depriving an officer or soldier of hisarms previous to his being delivered over to the civil power forexecution. 

DEGREE. A degree of longitude is the 1-360th part of the greatequatorial circle, or any circle parallel to it. A degree of latitude isthe 90th part of the quadrant, or quarter of a great meridional circle. Each degree is divided into 60 minutes, and each minute into 60 seconds, according to the sexagesimal division of the circle. Also, rank orcondition. 

DEKOYTS, OR DACOITS. Robbers in India, and also pirates who infested therivers between Calcutta and Burhampore, but now suppressed by theimproved system of river police, and the establishment of fast rowingboats of light draught. 

DEL. Saxon for part. --_Del a bit_, not a bit, a phrase much altered forthe worse by those not aware of its antiquity. 

DEL CREDERE. A percentage on a cargo, under particular circumstances oftrust. Also, the commission under which brokers sometimes guarantee tothe insured the solvency of the underwriters. 

DELEGATES. Not heard of in the navy since the mutiny at the Nore. 

DELFYN. The old form of spelling _dolphin_. 

DELICTUM. To be actual, must unite intention and act. 

DELIVER. To yield, to rescue, to deliver battle, to deliver a broadside, a shot, or a blow. Also, to take goods from the ship to the shore. Todischarge a cargo from a vessel into the keeping of its consignees. 

DELIVERED. The state of the harpoon when imbedded in the body of a fish, so that the barbs hold fast. 

DELIVERERS. Particular artificers employed in our early ships of war, inconstructing the castles. 

DELL. A narrow valley, ravine, or small dale. 

DELTA. A name given by the Greeks to the alluvial tract inclosed betweenthe bifurcating branches of the Nile and the sea-line. It is well knownthat rivers which deposit great quantities of matter, do also very oftenseparate into two or more branches, previous to their discharge into thesea; thus forming triangular spaces, aptly called _deltas_ from theirresemblance to the Greek letter Δ. 

All deltas appear by their section to be formed of matter totallydifferent from that of the adjacent country. They are the creation ofthe rivers themselves, which, having brought down with their floods vastquantities of mud and sand from the upper lands, deposit them in thelowest place, the sea; at whose margin, the current which has hithertoimpelled them ceasing, they are deposited by the mere action of gravity. This is particularly illustrated on the western coast of Africa by theshoals off the Rio Grande, Rio Nunez, and others. The coast, as well asthe embouchures of the rivers, exhibit a deposit of deep mud, and yetfar at sea banks of clean siliceous sand arise. 

DEMAND. The official paper by which stores are desired for a ship, themaking out of which is the duty of the officer in whose charge thestores will be placed: they must be approved by the captain and admiralbefore being presented to the dockyard authorities. Also, whence from?where bound?

DEMI-BASTION. In fortification, a bastion which has a flank on one sideonly. 

DEMI-CANNON. An ancient name for a gun carrying a ball of 33 poundsweight, with a length of from 12 to 14 feet, and a diameter of bore of6-1/2 inches; its point-blank range was estimated at 162 paces, and itsrandom one at 2000. 

DEMI-CULVERIN. An ancient cannon which threw a ball of 9 pounds weight, was about 9 feet long, and 4 inches in diameter of bore; its point-blankrange was called 174 paces, and its random one about 1800. 

DEMIHAG. A long pistol, much used in the sixteenth century. 

DEMILANCE. A light horseman, who carried a light lance. 

DEMILUNE. In fortification, the outwork, more properly called a_ravelin_ (which see). 

DEMI-REVETMENT. In fortification, that form of retaining wall for theface of a rampart which is only carried up as high as cover exists infront of it, leaving above it the remaining height, in the form of anearthen mound at its natural slope, exposed to, but invulnerable byshot. 

DEMONSTRATION-SHIPS. Those kept in a certain state of preparation forwar, though on a peace establishment. 

DEMURRAGE. The compensation due to a ship-owner from a freighter forunduly delaying his vessel in port beyond the time specified in thecharter-party or bill of lading. It is in fact an extended freight. Aship unjustly detained, as a prize, is entitled to demurrage. Vesselschartered to convey government stores have a term given for discharge bygovernment aid. If not delivered within that period, demurrage, asstated in the document, is paid per diem for any "unavoidable delay. "

DEN. A sandy tract near the sea, as at Exmouth and other places. 

DEN AND STROND. A liberty for ships or vessels to run or come ashore. Edward I. Granted this privilege to the barons of the Cinque Ports. 

DE NAUTICO FŒNORE. Of nautical usury; bottomry. 

DENE. The Anglo-Saxon _dæne_; implying a kind of hollow or ravinethrough which a rivulet runs, the banks on either side being studdedwith trees. 

DENEB. The bright star in the constellation Cygnus, well known as astandard nautical star. 

DENSITY. The weight of a body in comparison with its bulk. 

DENTICE. An excellent fish, so named from being well furnished withteeth. It is of the _Sparidæ_ family, and frequents the Adriatic. 

DEPARTMENT. A term by which the divisions in the public services aredistinguished, as the civil, the commissariat, the military, the naval, the victualling, &c. 

DEPARTURE. The bearing of an object on the coast from which a vesselcommences her dead-reckoning and takes her departure. The distance ofany two places lying on the same parallel counted in miles of theequator. 

DEPOT. A magazine in which military stores are deposited. Also, acompany left in England for the purpose of recruiting when regiments areordered abroad. 

DEPRESS. The order to adjust the quoin in great-gun exercise; to depressthe muzzle to point at an object below the level, in contradistinctionto elevate. 

DEPRESSED POLE. That end of the earth's axis which is below the horizonof the spectator according to his being in the northern or southernhemisphere. Also applied to the stars. (_See_ POLAR DISTANCE. )

DEPRESSION, OF THE HORIZON. (_See_ DIP. ) In artillery, the angle belowthe horizon at which the axis of a gun is laid in order to strike anobject on a lower level. The depression required in batteries of veryelevated site (those of Gibraltar for example), for the laying the gunson near vessels, is so great as to necessitate a peculiar carriage. 

DEPTH OF A SAIL. The extent of the square sails from the head-rope tothe foot-rope, or the length of the after-leech of a staysail orboom-sail; in other words, it is the extent of the longest cloth ofcanvas in any sail. 

DEPTH OF HOLD. The height between the floor and the lower-deck; it istherefore one of the principal dimensions given for the construction ofa ship. It varies, of course, according to the end for which she isdesigned, trade or war. 

DERELICT [Lat. _derelictus_, abandoned]. Anything abandoned at sea. Aship is derelict either by consent or by compulsion, stress of weather, &c. , and yet, to save the owner's rights, if any cat, dog, or otherdomestic animal be found on board alive, it is not forfeited. The ownermay yet recover, on payment of salvage, within a year and aday--otherwise the whole may be awarded. (_See_ SALVAGE. )

DERIVATION. In artillery, the constant deflection of a rifledprojectile. (_See_ DEFLECTION. )

DERRICK. A single spar, supported by stays and guys, to which a purchaseis attached, used in loading and unloading vessels. Also, a small craneeither inside or outside of a ship. 

DERRICK, TO. A cant term for setting out on a small not over-creditableenterprise. The act is said to be named from a Tyburn executioner. 

DERRING-DO. A Spenserian term for deeds of arms. 

DESCENDING NODE. _See_ NODES. 

DESCENDING SIGNS. Those in which the sun appears to descend from thenorth pole, or in which his motion in declination is towards the south. 

DESCENDING SQUALL. A fitful gust of wind issuing from clouds which areformed in the lower parts of the atmosphere. It is usually accompaniedwith heavy showers, and the weatherwise observe that the squall isseldom so violent when it is followed as when it is preceded by rain. (_See_ WHITE SQUALL as a forerunner. )

DESCENSION. The same as _oblique ascension_ (which see). 

DESCENT. The landing of troops for the purpose of invading a country. The passage down a river. 

DESCRIPTION-BOOK. A register in which the age, place of birth, andpersonal description of the crew are recorded. 

DESERT. An extensive tract, either absolutely sterile, or having noother vegetation than small patches of grass or shrubs. Many portions ofthe present deserts seem to be reclaimable. 

DESERTER. One that quits his ship or the service without leave. He ismarked R (_run_) on the books, and any clothes or other effects he mayhave left on board are sold by auction at the mast, and the produceborne to account. 

DESERTION. The act of quitting the Army or Navy without leave, withintention not to return. 

DESERTION-MONEY. The sum of three pounds paid to him who apprehends adeserter, which is charged against the offender's growing pay--his wagesfor previous service having become forfeited from his having _run_. 

DESTROYING PAPERS. A ground of condemnation in the Admiralty court. 

DETACHED. On detached service. A squadron may be detached under acommodore or senior officer. 

DETACHED BASTION. A bastion cut off by a ditch about its gorge from thebody of the place, which latter is thus rendered in a degree independentof the fall of the former. 

DETACHED ESCARP. An escarp wall, originally invented by Carnot, andrevived by the Prussians, removed some distance to the front of therampart; which latter, being finished exteriorly at the natural slope ofthe earth, remains effective after the destruction of the wall by abesieger. It was at first intended, being kept low and covered by a nearcounterguard, to offer extraordinary difficulties to the besieger'sbreaching batteries; but improved artillery has nullified that supposedadvantage. 

DETACHED WORKS. Works included in the scheme of defence of a fortress, but separated from it, and beyond the glacis. 

DETACHMENT. A force detached from the main body for employment on anyparticular service. 

DETAIL OF DUTY. The captain's night orders. 

DETENTION OF A VESSEL: on just ground, as supposed war, suspiciouspapers, undue number of men, found hovering, or cargo not in conformitywith papers or law. 

DETONATING HAMMER. A modern introduction into the Royal Navy for firingthe guns. With the aid of an attached laniard, it is made to descendforcibly upon the percussion arm of the tube, and fires the pieceinstantaneously. It is, however, already generally superseded by the useof the _friction-tube_ (which see). 

DEVIATION. A voluntary departure from the usual course of the voyage, without any necessary or justifiable cause: a step which discharges theinsurers from further responsibility. Liberty to touch, stay, or tradein any particular place not in the usual course of the voyage must beexpressly specified in the contract, and even this is subordinate to thevoyage. The cases of necessity which justify deviation are--1, stress ofweather; 2, urgent want of repairs; 3, to join convoy; 4, succouringships in distress; 5, avoiding capture or detention; 6, sickness; 7, mutiny of the crew. It differs from a _change_ of voyage, which musthave been resolved upon before the sailing of the ship. (_See_CHANGE. )--_Deviation_ is also the attraction of a ship's iron on theneedle. It is a term recently introduced to distinguish a sort of secondvariation to be allowed for in iron vessels. 

DEVIL. A sort of priming made by damping and bruising gunpowder. 

DEVIL-BOLTS. Those with false clenches, often introduced intocontract-built ships. 

DEVIL-FISH. The _Lophius piscatorius_, a hideous creature, which hasalso obtained the name of fish-frog, monk-fish, bellows-fish, sea-devil, and other appellatives significant of its ugliness and bad manners. There is also a powerful _Raia_, which grows to an immense size in thetropics, known as the devil-fish, the terror of the pearl-divers. _Manta_ of Spaniards. 

DEVILRY. Spirited roguery; wanton mischief, short of crime. 

DEVIL'S CLAW. A very strong kind of split hook made to grasp a link of achain cable, and used as a stopper. 

DEVIL'S SMILES. Gleams of sunshine among dark clouds, either in theheavens or captain's face!

DEVIL'S TABLE-CLOTH. _See_ TABLE-CLOTH. 

DEVIL TO PAY AND NO PITCH HOT. The seam which margins the water-ways wascalled the "devil, " why only caulkers can tell, who perhaps found itsometimes difficult for their tools. The phrase, however, means serviceexpected, and no one ready to perform it. Impatience, and naught tosatisfy it. 

DEW-POINT. A meteorological term for the degree of temperature at whichthe moisture of the atmosphere would begin to precipitate; it may bereadily ascertained by means of the hygrometer. 

DHOLL. A kind of dried split pea supplied in India to the navy. 

DHONY, OR DHONEY. A country trading-craft of India from 50 to 150 tons;mostly flat-bottomed. (_See_ DONEY. )

DHOW. The Arab dhow is a vessel of about 150 to 250 tons burden bymeasurement--grab-built, with ten or twelve ports; about 85 feet longfrom stem to stern, 20 feet 9 inches broad, and 11 feet 6 inches deep. Of late years this description of vessel has been well built at Cochin, on the Malabar coast, in the European style. They have a great rise offloor; are calculated for sailing with small cargoes; and are fullyprepared, by internal equipment, for defence--many of them are sheathedon 2-1/2-inch plank bottoms, with 1-inch board, and the preparation ofchunam and oil, called _galgal_, put between; causing the vessel to bevery dry and durable, and preventing the encroachments of the worm or_Teredo navalis_. The worm is one of the greatest enemies in India totimber _in_ the water, as the white ant (_termites_) is out of it. Onthe outside of the sheathing board there is a coat of whitewash, madefrom the same materials as that between the sheathing and planks, andrenewed every season they put to sea. They have generally one mast and alateen sail. The yard is the length of the vessel aloft, and the mastrakes forward, for the purpose of keeping this ponderous weight clear inraising and lowering. The tack of the sail is brought to the stem-head, and sheets aft in the usual way. The halyards lead to the taffrail, having a pendant and treble purchase block, which becomes the backstay, to support the mast when the sail is set. This, with three pairs ofshrouds, completes the rigging, the whole made of _coir_ rope. Severalof these vessels were fitted as brigs, after their arrival in Arabia, and armed by the Arabs for cruising in the Red Sea and Arabian Gulf, aspiratical vessels. It was of this class of vessel that Tippoo Sultan'snavy at Onore consisted. The large dhows generally make one voyage inthe season, to the southward of Arabia; taking advantage of thenorth-east monsoon to come down, and the south-west to return with anexchange cargo. The Arabs who man them are a powerful well-grown people, and very acute and intelligent in trade. They usually navigate theirships to Bengal in perfect safety, and with great skill. This was wellknown to Captain Collier and his officers of the _Liverpool_ frigate, when they had the trial cruise with the Imam of Muscat's fine frigate in1820. 

DIACLE. An old term for a boat-compass. 

DIAGONAL BRACES, knees, planks, &c. , are such as cross a vessel'stimbers obliquely. (_See_ DIAGONAL TRUSSING. )

DIAGONAL RIBBAND. A narrow plank made to a line formed on thehalf-breadth plan, by taking the intersections of the diagonal line withthe timbers. (_See_ RIBBANDS. )

DIAGONALS. A line cutting the body-plan diagonally from the timbers tothe middle line. Diagonals are the several lines on the draughts, delineating the station of the harpings and ribs, to form the body by. 

DIAGONAL TRUSSING. A particular method of binding and strengthening avessel internally by a series of riders and truss-pieces placeddiagonally. 

DIAMETER. In geometry, a right line passing through the centre of anycircular figure from one point of its circumference to another. 

DIAMETER, APPARENT. The angle which the diameter of a heavenly bodysubtends at any time, varying inversely with its distance. The true isthe real diameter, commonly expressed in miles. 

DIAMOND-CUT. _See_ RHOMBUS. 

DIAMOND-KNOT. An ornamental knot worked with the strands of a rope, sometimes used for bucket-strops, on the foot-ropes of jib-booms, man-ropes, &c. 

DIBBS. A galley term for ready money. Also, a small pool of water. 

DICE. _See_ DYCE. 

DICHOTOMIZED. A term applied to the moon, when her longitude differs 90°from that of the sun, in which position only half her disc isilluminated. 

DICKADEE. A northern name for the sand-piper. 

DICK-A-DILVER. A name for the periwinkle on our eastern coasts. 

DICKER-WORK. The timbering of tide-harbours in the Channel. Wattlingbetween piles. 

DICKEY. An officer acting in commission. --_It's all dickey with him. _It's all up with him. 

DIDDLE, TO. To deceive. 

DIEGO. A very strong and heavy sword. 

DIE ON THE FIN, TO. An expression applied to whales, which when dyingrise to the surface, after the final dive, with one side uppermost. 

DIET. The regulated food for patients in sick-bays and hospitals. 

DIFFERENCE. An important army term, meaning firstly the sum to be paidby officers when exchanging from the half to full pay; and, secondly, the price or difference in value of the several commissions. 

DIFFERENCE OF LATITUDE. The distance between any two places on the samemeridian, or the difference between the parallels of latitude of any twoplaces expressed in miles of the equator. 

DIFFERENCE OF LONGITUDE. The difference of any place from anothereastward or westward, counted in degrees of the equator: that is, thedifference between two places is an arc of the equator contained betweentheir meridians, but measured in space on the parallel. Thus thedifference of a degree of longitude in miles of the meridian would be--

 At 20° lat. 56·4 miles " 40 " 38·6 " " 60 " 30·0 " " 80 " 10·4 "

DIFFERENTIAL OBSERVATION. Taking the differences of right ascension anddeclination between a comet and a star, the position of which has beenalready determined. 

DIFFICULTY. A word unknown to true salts. 

DIGHT [from the Anglo-Saxon _diht_, arranging or disposing]. Now appliedto dressing or preparing for muster; setting things in order. 

DIGIT. A twelfth part of the diameter; a term employed to denote themagnitude of an eclipse; as, so many _digits eclipsed_. 

DIKE. _See_ DYKE. 

DILL. An edible dark brown sea-weed, torn from the rocks at low-water. 

DILLOSK. The dried leaves of an edible sea-weed. (_See_ DULCE andPEPPER-DULSE. )

DILLY-WRECK. A common corruption of _derelict_ (which see). 

DIME. An American silver coin, in value the tenth of a dollar. 

DIMINISHED ANGLE. In fortification, that formed by the exterior side andthe line of defence. 

DIMINISHING PLANK. The same as _diminishing stuff_ (which see). 

DIMINISHING STRAKES. _See_ BLACK-STRAKE. 

DIMINISHING STUFF. In ship-building, the planking wrought under thewales, where it is thinned progressively to the thickness of the bottomplank. 

DIMINUTION OF OBLIQUITY. A slow approximation of the planes of theecliptic and the equator, at the present rate of 0·485″ annually. 

DIMSEL. A piece of stagnant water, larger than a pond and less than alake. 

DING, TO. To dash down or throw with violence. 

DING-DONG. Ships firing into each other in good earnest. 

DINGHEY. A small boat of Bombay, propelled by paddles, and fitted with asettee sail, the mast raking forwards; also, the boats in use on theHooghly; also, a small extra boat in men-of-war and merchant ships. 

DINGLE. A hollow vale-like space between two hills. A clough; also, asort of boat used in Ireland, a coracle. 

DINNAGE. _See_ DUNNAGE. 

DIP. The inclination of the magnetic needle towards the earth. (_See_DIPPING-NEEDLE. ) Also, the smallest candle formerly issued by thepurser. 

DIP, TO. To lower. An object is said to be dipping when by refraction itis visible just above the horizon. Also, to quit the deck suddenly. 

DIP OF THE HORIZON. The angle contained between the sensible andapparent horizons, the angular point being the eye of the observer; orit is an allowance made in all astronomical observations of altitude forthe height of the eye above the level of the sea. 

DIPPED. The limb of the sun or moon as it instantly dips below thehorizon. 

DIPPER. A name for the water-ousel (_Cinclus aquaticus_). A bird of thePasserine order, but an expert diver, frequenting running streams inmountainous countries. 

DIPPING-LADLE. A metal ladle for taking boiling pitch from the cauldron. 

DIPPING-NEEDLE. An instrument for ascertaining the amount of themagnet's inclination towards the earth; it is so delicately suspended, that, instead of vibrating horizontally, one end _dips_ or yields to thevertical force. This instrument has been so perfected by Mr. R. W. Foxof Falmouth, that even at sea in the heaviest gales of wind the dipcould instantly, by magnetic deflectors, be ascertained to _minutes_, far beyond what heretofore could be elicited from the most expensiveinstruments, observed over 365 days on shore. 

DIPPING-NET. A small net used for taking shad and other fish out of thewater. 

DIPS. _See_ LEAD-LINE. 

DIP-SECTOR. An ingenious instrument for measuring the true dip of thehorizon, invented by Dr. Wollaston, and very important, not only wherethe nature and quantity of the atmospherical refraction are to beexamined, but for ascertaining the rates of chronometers, and the exactlatitude in those particular regions where accidental refractions arevery great, for the difference between the calculated dip and thatobserved by the sector may exceed three minutes. It is a reflectinginstrument, of small compass, but requiring patience and practice in itsuse. 

DIPSY. The float of a fishing-line. 

DIRECT-ACTING ENGINE. A steam engine in which the connecting rod is ledat once from the head of the piston to the crank, thus communicating therotatory motion without the intervention of side-levers. 

DIRECT FIRE. One of the five varieties into which artillerists usuallydivide _horizontal fire_ (which see). 

DIRECTION OR SET OF THE WIND AND CURRENT. These are opposite terms; thedirection of the winds and waves being named from the point of thecompass _whence_ they come; but the direction of a current is the point_towards_ which it runs. A current running to leeward is said to have a_leeward set_, the opposite is a _windward set_. 

DIRECTION. _See_ ARC OF DIRECTION. 

DIRECT MOTION. _See_ MOTION. 

DIRK. A small _do-little_ sword or dagger, formerly worn by junior navalofficers on duty. 

DIRT-GABARD. A large ballast-lighter. 

DIRTY AULIN. A name for the arctic skua (_Cataractes parasiticus_), asea-bird, allied to the gulls. 

DIRTY DOG AND NO SAILOR OR SOLDIER. A mean, spiritless, and utterlyuseless rascal. 

DISABLED. To be placed _hors de combat_ by the weather or an enemy. 

DISAPPOINT. To counterwork an enemy's operations in mining. 

DISARM. To deprive people of their weapons and ammunition. 

DISBANDED. When the officers and men of a regiment are dismissed, on areduction of the army. 

DISC, OR DISK. In nautical astronomy, the circular visible surfacepresented by any celestial body to the eye of the observer. 

DISCARCARE. [Ital. ] An old term meaning to unlade a vessel. 

DISCHARGED. When applied to a ship, signifies when she is unladen. Whenexpressed of the officers or crew, it implies that they are disbandedfrom immediate service; and in individual cases, that the person isdismissed in consequence of long service, disability, or at his ownrequest. When spoken of cannon, it means that it is fired off. 

DISCHARGE-TICKET. On all foreign stations men are discharged by _foreignremove-tickets_, and in other cases by _dead_, _sick_, or _unserviceableticket_, whether at home or abroad. 

DISCHARGE-VALVE. In the marine engine, is a valve covering the top ofthe barrel of the air-pump, opening when pressed from below. 

DISCIPLINARIAN. An officer who maintains strict discipline and obedienceto the laws of the navy, and himself setting an example. 

DISCOURSE, TO. An old sea term to traverse to and fro off the propercourse. 

DISCOVERY SHIP. A vessel fitted for the purpose of exploring unknownseas and coasts. Discovery vessels were formerly taken from the merchantservice; they have latterly been replaced by ships of war, furnishedwith every improved instrument, and acting, on occasion, as activepilots leading in war service. 

DISCRETION. To surrender at discretion, implies an unconditionalyielding to the mercy of the conquerors. 

DISEMBARK. The opposite of embark; the landing of troops from any vesselor transport. 

DISEMBAY. To work clear out of a gulf or bay. 

DISEMBOGUE. The fall of a river into the sea; it has also been used forthe passage of vessels across the mouth of a river and out of one. 

DISGUISE. Ships in all times have been permitted to assume disguise toimpose upon enemies, and obtain from countries in their possessioncommodities of which they stand in need. 

DISH, TO. To supplant, ruin, or frustrate. 

DISLODGE. To drive an enemy from any post or station. 

DI-SLYNG. _See_ SLYNG. 

DISMANTLED. The state of a ship unrigged, and all her stores, guns, &c. , taken out, in readiness for her being laid up in ordinary, or going intodock, &c. &c. To dismantle a gun is to render it unfit for service. Thesame applies to a fort. 

DISMASTED. State of a ship deprived of her masts, by gales or by design. 

DISMISS. Pipe down the people. To dismiss a drill from parade is tobreak the ranks. 

DISMISSION. A summary discharge from the service; which a court-martialis empowered to inflict on any officer convicted of a breach of speciallaws, though it cannot for minor offences which formerly carried death!

DISMOUNT, TO. To break the carriages of guns, and thereby render themunfit for service. Also, in gun exercise, to lift a gun from itscarriage and deposit it elsewhere. 

DISMOUNTED. The state of a cannon taken off a carriage, or when, by theenemy's shot, it is rendered unmanageable. Also, cavalry on foot actingas infantry. 

DISOBEDIENCE. An infraction of the orders of a superior; punishable by acourt-martial, according to the nature and degree of the offence. 

DISORDER. The confusion occasioned by a heavy fire from an enemy. 

DISORGANIZE, TO. To degrade a man-of-war to a privateer by irregularity. 

DISPART, OR THROW OF THE SHOT. The difference between the semi-diameterof the base-ring at the breech of a gun, and that of the ring at theswell of the muzzle. On account of the dispart, the line of aim makes asmall angle with the axis; so that the elevation of the latter above thehorizon is greater than that of the line of aim: an allowance for thedispart is consequently necessary in determining the commencement of thegraduations on the tangent scale, by which the required elevation isgiven to the gun. 

DISPARTING A GUN. To bring the line of sight and line of metal to beparallel by setting up a mark on the muzzle-ring of a cannon, so that asight-line, taken from the top of the base-ring behind the touch-hole, to the mark set near the muzzle, may be parallel to the axis of thebore. (_See_ GUN. )

DISPART-SIGHT. A gun-sight fixed on the top of the secondreinforce-ring--about the middle of the piece--for point-blank orhorizontal firing, to eliminate the difference of the diameters betweenthe breech and the mouth of the cannon. 

DISPATCH. All duty is required to be performed with diligence. 

DISPATCHES. Not simply letters, but such documents as demand everyeffort for their immediate delivery. "Charged with dispatches" overridesall signals of hindrance on a voyage. 

DISPLACEMENT. The centre of gravity of the displacement relates to thepart of the ship under water, considered as homogeneous. The weight ofwater which a vessel displaces when floating is the same as the weightof the ship. (_See_ CENTRE OF CAVITY. )

DISPOSED QUARTERS. The distribution when the camp is marked about aplace besieged. 

DISPOSITION. A draught representing the several timbers that compose aship's frame properly disposed with respect to ports and other parts. Also, the arrangement of a ship's company for watches, quarters, reefing, furling, and other duties. In a military sense it means theplacing of a body of troops upon the most advantageous ground. 

DISRANK, OR DISRATE. To degrade in rank or station. 

DISREPAIR. A bar to any claim on account of sea-unworthiness in awarrantry. 

DISTANCE. The run which a ship has made upon the log-board. In speakingof double stars, it is the space separating the centres of the twostars, expressed in seconds of arc. (_See_ LUNAR DISTANCES. )

DISTILLING SEA-WATER. Apparatus for the conversion of sea-water intopotable fresh water have long been invented, though little used; but oflate the larger ships are effectively fitted with adaptations for thepurpose. 

DISTINCTION. Flags of distinction, badges, honourable note ofsuperiority. 

DISTINGUISHING PENDANT. In fleets and squadrons, instead of hoistingseveral flags to denote the number of the ship on the list of the Navy, pendants are used. Thus ten ships may be signalled separately. If more, then, as one answers, her pendant is hauled down, and then two pendantssucceed. (_See_ SIGNALS. )

DISTRESS. A term used when a ship requires immediate assistance fromunlooked-for damage or danger. (_See_ SIGNAL OF DISTRESS. )

DISTRICT ORDERS. Those issued by a general commanding a district. 

DISTURBANCE. _See_ SPANISH DISTURBANCE. 

DITCH. In fortification the excavation in front of the parapet of anywork, ranging in width from a few feet in field fortification to thirtyor forty yards in permanent works, having its steep side next therampart called the escarp: the opposite one is the counterscarp. Itsprincipal use is to secure the escarp as long as possible. There are wetditches and dry ones, the former being less in favour than the latter, since a dry ditch so much facilitates sorties, counter-approaches, andthe like. That kind which may be made wet or dry at pleasure is mostuseful. 

DITTY-BAG. Derives its name from the _dittis_ or Manchester stuff ofwhich it was once made. It is in use among seamen for holding theirsmaller necessaries. The ditty-bag of old, when a seaman prided himselfon his rig, as the result of his own ability to fit himself from clue toearing, was a treasured article, probably worked in exquisite device byhis lady-love. Well can we recollect the pride exhibited in its displaywhen "on end clothes" was a joyful sound to the old pig-tailed tar. 

DITTY-BOX. A small caddy for holding a seaman's stock of _valuables_. 

DIURNAL ARC. That part of a circle, parallel to the equator, which isdescribed by a celestial body from its rising to its setting. 

DIURNAL PARALLAX. _See_ PARALLAX. 

DIVE, TO. To descend or plunge voluntarily head-foremost under thewater. To go off deck in the watch. A ship is said to be "_diving intoit_" when she pitches heavily against a head-sea. 

DIVER. One versed in the art of descending under water to considerabledepths and abiding there a competent time for several purposes, as torecover wrecks of ships, fish for pearls, sponges, corals, &c. The diveris now a rating in H. M. Ships; he may be of any rank of seaman, but hereceives £1, 10_s. _ 5_d. _ per annum additional pay--one penny a-day forrisking life! Also, a common web-footed sea-bird of the genus_Colymbus_. 

DIVERGENT. A stream flowing laterally out of a river, contradistinguished from convergent. 

DIVERSION. A manœuvre to attract, wholly or partially, the enemy'sattention away from some other part of the operations. 

DIVIE-GOO. A northern term for the _Larus marinus_ or black-backed gull. 

DIVINE SERVICE. Ordered by the articles of war, whenever the weather ona Sunday will allow of it. 

DIVING-APPARATUS. Supplied to the flag-ship, and also a man with thetitle of diver, to examine defects below water. 

DIVING-BELL. Used in under-water operations for recovering treasure, raising ships, anchors, &c. 

DIVING-DRESS. India-rubber habiliments, the head-piece is of light metalfitted with strong glass eyes, and an attached pliable pipe to maintaina supply of air. The shoes are weighted. 

DIVISION. A select number of ships in a fleet or squadron of men-of-war, distinguished by a particular flag, pendant, or vane. A squadron may beranged into two or three divisions, the commanding officer of which isalways stationed in the centre. In a fleet the admiral divides it intothree squadrons, each of which is commanded by an admiral, and is againdivided into divisions; each squadron had its proper colours (nowdistinguishing mark) according to the rank of the admiral who commandedit, and each division its proper mast. The private ships carriedpendants of the same colour with their respective squadrons at the mastsof their particular divisions, so that the ships in the last division ofthe blue squadron carried a blue pendant at their main topgallant-masthead, the vane at the mizen. All these are superseded by the abolitionof the Red and Blue. The St. George's white ensign flag and pendantalone are used. 

DIVISIONS. The sub-classification of a ship's company under thelieutenants. Also, a muster of the crew. Also, of an army, a forcegenerally complete in itself, commanded by a major-general, of anaverage strength of eight or ten thousand men: it is itself composed ofseveral brigades, each of which again is composed of several battalions, besides the complement of artillery, transport-corps, and generally alsoof cavalry, for the whole. Of a battalion, a term sometimes used inexercise, when the companies of a battalion have been equalized as tostrength, for one of such companies. 

DJERME. _See_ JERME. 

DOA. A Persian trading vessel. 

DOASTA. An inferior spirit, often drugged or doctored for unwary sailorsin the pestiferous dens of filthy Calcutta and other sea-ports in India. 

DOB. The animal inhabiting the razor-shell (_solen_), used as a bait byfishermen. 

DOBBER. The float of a fishing-line. 

DOBBIN. A phrase on our southern coasts for sea-gravel mixed with sand. 

DOCK. An artificial receptacle for shipping, in which they can dischargeor take in cargo, and refit. --A _dry dock_ is a broad and deep trench, formed on the side of a harbour, or on the banks of a river, andcommodiously fitted either to build ships in or to receive them to berepaired or breamed. They have strong flood-gates, to prevent the fluxof the tide from entering while the ship is under repair. There arelikewise docks where a ship can only be cleaned during the recess of thetide, as she floats again on the return of the flood. Docks of thelatter kind are not furnished with the usual flood-gates; but the termis also used for what is more appropriately called a _float_ (whichsee). Also, in polar parlance, an opening cut out of an ice-floe, intowhich a ship is warped for security. 

DOCK-DUES. The charges made upon shipping for the use of docks. 

DOCKERS. Inhabitants of the town which sprang up between the docks andthe town of Plymouth. Dock solicited and obtained the royal license, in1823, to be called Devonport--a very inappropriate name, Plymouth beingwholly within the county of Devon, while Hamoaze is equally in Devon andCornwall. 

DOCK HERSELF, TO. When a ship is on the ooze, and swaddles a bed, she issaid to dock herself. 

DOCKING A SHIP. The act of drawing her into dock, and placing herproperly on blocks, in order to give her the required repair, cleansethe bottom, and cover it anew. (_See_ BREAMING. )

DOCK UP, OR DUCK UP. To clue up a corner of a sail that hinders thehelmsman from seeing. 

DOCKYARD DUTY. The attendance of a lieutenant and party in the arsenal, for stowing, procuring stores, &c. 

DOCKYARD MATIES. The artificers in a dockyard. In former times anestablished declaration of war between the mates and midshipmen _versus_the maties was hotly kept up. Many deaths and injuries never disclosedwere hushed up or patiently borne. It terminated about 1830. 

DOCKYARDS. Arsenals containing all sorts of naval stores and timber forship-building. In England the royal dockyards are at Deptford, Woolwich, Chatham, Sheerness, Portsmouth, Devonport, Pembroke. Those in ourcolonies are at the Cape of Good Hope, Gibraltar, Malta, Bermuda, Halifax, Jamaica, Antigua, Trincomalee, and Hong Kong. There HerMajesty's ships and vessels of war are generally moored during peace, and such as want repairing are taken into the docks, examined, andrefitted for service. These yards are generally supplied from the northwith hemp, pitch, tar, rosin, canvas, oak-plank, and several otherspecies of stores. The largest masts are usually imported from NewEngland. Until 1831 these yards were governed by a commissioner residentat the port, who superintended all the musters of the officers, artificers, and labourers employed in the dockyard and ordinary; he alsocontrolled their payment, examined their accounts, contracted and drewbills on the Navy Office to supply the deficiency of stores, and, finally, regulated whatever belonged to the dockyard. In 1831 thecommissioners of the Navy were abolished, and admirals and captainssuperintendent command the dockyards under the controller of the Navyand the Admiralty. 

DOCTOR. A name which seamen apply to every medical officer. Also, ajocular name for the ship's cook. 

DOCTOR'S LIST. The roll of those excused from duty by reason of illness. 

DODD. A round-topped hill, generally an offshoot from a higher mountain. 

DODECAGON. A regular polygon, having twelve sides and as many angles. 

DODECATIMORIA. The anastrous signs, or twelve portions of the eclipticwhich the signs anciently occupied, but have since deserted by theprecession of the equinoxes. 

DODGE. A homely but expressive phrase for shuffling conduct, or cunningof purpose. Also, to watch or follow a ship from place to place. 

DODMAN. A shell-fish with a hod-like lump. A sea-snail, otherwise called_hodmandod_. 

DOFF, TO. To put aside. 

DO FOR, TO. A double-barrelled expression, meaning alike to take care ofor provide for an individual, or to ruin or kill him. 

DOG. The hammer of a fire-lock or pistol; that which holds the flint, called also _dog-head_. Also, a sort of iron hook or bar with a sharpfang at one end, so as to be easily driven into a piece of timber, anddrag it along by means of a rope fastened to it, upon which a number ofmen can pull. _Dog_ is also an iron implement with a fang at each end, to be driven into two pieces of timber, to support and steady one ofthem while being dubbed, hewn, or sawn. --_Span-dogs. _ Used to lifttimber. A pair of dogs linked together, and being hooked at an extendedangle, press home with greater strain. 

DOG-BITCH-THIMBLE. An excellent contrivance by which thetopsail-sheet-block is prevented making the half cant or turn sofrequently seen in the clue when the block is secured there. 

DOG-BOLT. A cap square bolt. 

DOG-DRAVE. A kind of sea-fish mentioned in early charters. 

DOG-FISH. A name commonly applied to several small species of the sharkfamily. 

DOGG. A small silver coin of the West Indies, six of which make a bitt. Also, in meteorology, _see_ STUBB. 

DOGGED. A mode of attaching a rope to a spar or cable, incontradistinction to racking, by which slipping is prevented;half-hitched and end stopped back, is one mode. 

DOGGER. A Dutch smack of about 150 tons, navigated in the German Ocean. It is mostly equipped with a main and a mizen mast, and somewhatresembles a ketch or a galliot. It is principally used for fishing onthe Dogger Bank. 

DOGGER-FISH. Fish bought out of the Dutch doggers. 

DOGGER-MEN. The seafaring fishermen belonging to doggers. 

DOGS. The last supports knocked away at the launching of a ship. 

DOG'S-BODY. Dried pease boiled in a cloth. 

DOG-SHORES. Two long square blocks of timber, resting diagonally withtheir heads to the cleats. They are placed forward to support thebilge-ways on the ground-ways, thereby preventing the ship from startingoff the slips while the keel-blocks are being taken out. 

DOG-SLEEP. The uncomfortable fitful naps taken when all hands are keptup by stress. 

DOG'S TAIL. A name for the constellation Ursa Minor or Little Bear. 

DOG-STOPPER. Put on before all to enable the men to bit the cable, sometimes to fleet the messenger. 

DOG-TONGUE. A name assigned to a kind of sole. 

DOG-VANE. A small vane made of thread, cork, and feathers, or buntin, fastened on the end of a half-pike, and placed on the weather gunwale, so as to be readily seen, and show the direction of the wind. The termis also familiarly applied to a cockade. 

DOG-WATCH. The half-watches of two hours each, from 4 to 6, and from 6to 8, in the evening. By this arrangement an uneven number of watches ismade--seven instead of six in the twenty-four hours; otherwise therewould be a succession of the same watches at the same hours throughoutthe voyage or cruise. Theodore Hook explained them as _cur-tailed_. (_See_ WATCH. )

DOIT. A small Dutch coin, valued at about half a farthing; formerlycurrent on our eastern shores. 

DOLDRUMS. Those parts of the sea where calms are known to prevail. Theyexist between and on the polar sides of the trade-winds, but vary theirposition many degrees of latitude in the course of the year, dependingupon the sun's declination. Also applied to a person in low spirits. 

DOLE. A stated allowance; but applied to a scanty share or portion. 

DOLE-FISH. The share of fish that was given to our northern fishermen aspart payment for their labour. 

DOLING. A fishing-boat with two masts, on the coasts of Sussex and Kent;each of the masts carries a sprit-sail. 

DO-LITTLE, OR DO-LITTLE SWORD. The old term for a dirk. 

DOLLAR. For this universally known coin, see PIECE OF EIGHT. 

DOLLOP. An old word for a lump, portion, or share. From the Gaelic_diolab_. 

DOLPHIN. Naturalists understand by this word numerous species of smallcetaceous animals of the genus _Delphinus_, found in nearly all seas. They greatly resemble porpoises, and are often called by this name bysailors; but they are distinguished by having a longer and more slendersnout. The word is also generally, but less correctly, applied to afish, the dorado (_Coryphæna hippuris_), celebrated for the changinghues of its surface when dying. Also, a small light ancient boat, whichgave rise to Pliny's story of the boy going daily to school across theLucrine lake on a dolphin. Also, in ordnance, especially brass guns, twohandles nearly over the trunnions for lifting the guns by. Also, aFrench gold coin (_dauphine_), formerly in great currency. Also, astout post on a quay-head, or in a beach, to make hawsers fast to. Thename is also given to a spar or block of wood, with a ring-bolt at eachend, through which a hawser can be rove, for vessels to ride by; thesame as _wooden buoys_. 

DOLPHIN OF THE MAST. A kind of wreath or strap formed of plaitedcordage, to be fastened occasionally round the lower yards to preventnip, or as a support to the puddening, where the lower yards rest in thesling, the use of which is to sustain the fore and main yards by thejeers, in case the rigging or chains, by which those yards aresuspended, should be shot away in action. (_See_ PUDDENING. )

DOLPHIN-STRIKER. A short perpendicular gaff spar, under thebowsprit-end, for guying down the jib-boom, of which indeed it is thechief support, by means of the martingales. (_See_ MARTINGALE. )

DOLVER. The reclaimed fen-grounds of our eastern coasts. 

DOMESTIC NAVIGATION. A term applied to coasting trade. 

DOMINIONS. It is a settled point that a conquered country formsimmediately a part of the king's dominions; and a condemnation of shipswithin its harbours as droits of admiralty, is valid, although theconquest may not yet have been confirmed by treaty. 

DON. A general name for Spaniards. One of the "perfumed" terms of itstime. --_To don. _ To put on. 

DONDERBASS. _See_ BOMBARD. 

DONEY. The doney of the Coromandel coast is about 70 feet long, 20 feetbroad, and 12 feet deep; with a flat bottom or keel part, which at thebroadest place is 7 feet, and diminishes to 10 inches in the siding ofthe stem and stern-post. The fore and after bodies are similar in formfrom midships. Their light draught of water is about 4 feet, and whenloaded about 9 feet. These unshapely vessels in the fine season tradefrom Madras and Ceylon, and many of them to the Gulf of Manar, as thewater is shoal between Ceylon and the southern part of the continent. They have only one mast, and are navigated by the natives in the rudestway; their means for finding the latitude being a little square board, with a string fast to the centre, at the other end of which are certainknots. The upper edge of the board is held by one hand so as to touchthe north star, and the lower edge the horizon. Then the string isbrought with the other hand to touch the tip of the nose, and the knotwhich comes in contact with the tip of the nose tells the latitude. 

DONJON. The keep, or place of retreat, in old fortifications. A redoubtof a fortress; the highest and strongest tower. 

DONKEY-ENGINE. An auxiliary steam-engine for feeding the boilers of theprincipal engine when they are stopped; or for any other dutiesindependent of the ship's propelling engines. 

DONKEY-FRIGATE. Those of 28 guns, frigate-built; that is, having gunsprotected by an upper deck, with guns on the quarter-deck andforecastle; ship-sloops, in contradistinction to corvettes and sloops. 

DONNY. A small fishing-net. 

DOOLAH. A passage-boat on the Canton river. 

DOOTED. Timber rendered unsound by fissures. 

DORADO. The _Coryphæna hippuris_, an oceanic fish; often called"dolphin. "

DOREY. A flat-floored cargo-boat in the West Indies, named after thefish John Dory. 

DORNICLE. A northern name for the viviparous blenny. 

DORRA. From the Gaelic _dorga_; a crab-net. 

DORSAL FIN. The median fin placed upon the back of fishes. 

DORY. A fish, _Zeus faber_, commonly known as "John Dory, " or truly_jaune dorée_, from its golden hues. 

DOTTLE. The small portion of tobacco remaining unsmoked in the pipe. 

DOUBLE, TO. To cover a ship with an extra planking, usually of 4 inches, either internally or externally, when through age or otherwise she hasbecome loosened; the process strengthens her without driving out theformer fastenings. Doubling, however, is a term applied only where theplank thus used is not less than 2 inches thick. --To _double_ a cape. (_See_ DOUBLING A CAPE. )

DOUBLE-ACTING ENGINE. One in which the steam acts upon the pistonagainst a vacuum, both in the upward and downward movement. 

DOUBLE-BANK A ROPE, TO. To clap men on both sides. 

DOUBLE-BANKED. When two opposite oars are pulled by rowers seated on thesame thwart; or when there are two men labouring upon each oar. Also, 60-gun frigates which carry guns along the gangway, as was the customwith Indiamen, are usually styled _double-bankers_. 

DOUBLE-BITTED. Two turns of the cable round the bitts instead of one. 

DOUBLE-BLOCK. One fitted with a couple of sheaves, in holes side byside. 

DOUBLE-BREECHING. Additional breeching on the non-recoil system, orsecurity for guns in heavy weather. 

DOUBLE-CAPSTAN. One shaft so constructed as to be worked both on anupper and lower deck, as in ships of the line, or in Phillips' patentcapstan. 

DOUBLE-CROWN. A name given to a plait made with the strands of a rope, which forms part of several useful and ornamental knots. 

DOUBLE DECK-NAILS. _See_ DECK-NAILS. 

DOUBLE DUTCH COILED AGAINST THE SUN. Gibberish, or any unintelligible ordifficult language. 

DOUBLE EAGLE. A gold coin of the United States, of 10 dollars; value £2, 1_s. _ 8_d. _, at the average rate of exchange. 

DOUBLE-FUTTOCKS. Timbers in the cant-bodies, extending from thedead-wood to the run of the second futtock-head. 

DOUBLE-HEADED MAUL. One with double faces; top-mauls incontradistinction to pin-mauls. 

DOUBLE-HEADED SHOT. Differing from bar-shot by being similar todumb-bells, only the shot are hemispherical. 

DOUBLE-IMAGE MICROMETER. Has one of its lenses divided, and separable toa certain distance by a screw, which at the same time moves an indexupon a graduated scale. When fitted to a telescope for sea use, as inchase, it is called a _coming-up glass_. 

DOUBLE INSURANCE. Where the insured makes two insurances on the samerisks and the same interest. 

DOUBLE-IRONED. Both legs shackled to the bilboe-bolts. 

DOUBLE-JACK. _See_ JACK-SCREW. 

DOUBLE-LAND. That appearance of a coast when the sea-line is bounded byparallel ranges of hills, rising inland one above the other. 

DOUBLE-SIDED. A line-of-battle ship painted so as to show the ports ofboth decks; or a vessel painted to resemble one, as used to be frequentin the Indian marine. 

DOUBLE-STAR. Two stars so close together as to be separable only with atelescope. They are either optically so owing to their accidentalsituation in the heavens, or physically near each other in space, andone of them revolving round the other. 

DOUBLE-TIDE. Working double-tides is doing extra duty. (_See_ WORKDOUBLE-TIDES. )

DOUBLE UPON, TO. _See_ DOUBLING UPON. 

DOUBLE WALL-KNOT. With or without a crown, or a double crown, is made byintertwisting the unlaid ends of a rope in a peculiar manner. 

DOUBLE-WHIP. A whip is simply a rope rove through a single block; adouble whip is when it passes through a lower tail or hook-block, andthe standing end is secured to the upper block, or where it is attached. 

DOUBLING. (_See_ RANK. ) Putting two ranks into one. 

DOUBLING A CAPE. In navigation, is to sail round or pass beyond it, sothat the point of land separates the ship from her former situation. 

DOUBLING-NAILS. The nails commonly used in doubling. 

DOUBLING UPON. In a naval engagement, the act of inclosing any part of ahostile fleet between two fires, as Nelson did at the Nile. The van orrear of one fleet, taking advantage of the wind or other circumstances, runs round the van or rear of the enemy, who will thereby be exposed togreat danger and confusion. 

DOUBLOON. A Spanish gold coin, value 16 dollars: £3, 3_s. _ to £3, 6_s. _English. 

DOUGH-BOYS. Hard dumplings boiled in salt water. A corruption of_dough-balls_. 

DOUSE, TO. To lower or slacken down suddenly; expressed of a sail in asquall of wind, an extended hawser, &c. Douse the glim, your colours, &c. , to knock down. 

DOUT, TO. To put out a light; to extinguish; _do out_. Shakspeare makesthe dauphin of France say in "King Henry V. :"--

 "That their hot blood may spin in English eyes, And dout them. "

DOUTER, OR DOUSER. An extinguisher. 

D'OUTRE MER. From beyond the sea. 

DOVER COURT BEETLE. A heavy mallet. There is an old proverb: "A Dovercourt; all speakers and no hearers. "

 "A Dover court beetle, and wedges with steel, Strong lever to raise up the block from the wheel. "--_Tusser. _

DOVE-TAIL. The fastening or letting in of one timber into another by adove-tailed end and score, so that they hold firmly together, and cannotcome asunder endwise. The operation of cutting the mortise is calleddove-tailing. 

DOVE-TAIL PLATES. Metal plates resembling dove-tails in form, let intothe heel of the stern-post and the keel, to bind them together; and alsothose used for connecting the stem-foot with the fore end of the keel. 

DOWAL. A coak of metal in a sheave. 

DOWBREK. A northern term for the fish also called spärling or smelt. 

DOWEL. A cylindrical piece of hard wood about three inches in diameter, and the same in length, used as an additional security in scarphing twopieces of timber together. Dowels are also used to secure the joiningsof the felloes, or circumferential parts of wheels; and by coopers injoining together the contiguous boards forming the heads ofcasks. --_Dowel_, or _dowel-bit_, is the tool used to cut the holes forthe dowels. 

DOWELLING. The method of uniting the butts of the frame-timbers togetherwith a cylindrical piece or tenon let in at each end. 

DOWN ALL CHESTS! The order to get all the officers' and seamen's chestsdown below from off the gun-decks when clearing the ship for anengagement. 

DOWN ALL HAMMOCKS! The order for all the sailors to carry their hammocksdown, and hang them up in their respective berths in readiness to go tobed, or to lessen top-weight and resistance to wind in chase. 

DOWN ALONG. Sailing coastways down Channel. 

DOWN EAST. Far away in that bearing. This term, as _down west_, &c. , isan Americanism, recently adopted into our vernacular. 

DOWNFALLS. The descending waters of rivers and creeks. 

DOWN-HAUL. A rope passing up along a stay, leading through cringles ofthe staysails or jib, and made fast to the upper corner of the sail topull it down when shortening sail. Also, through blocks on the outerclues to the outer yard-arms of studding-sails, to take them insecurely. Also, the cockpit term for a great-coat. 

DOWN-HAUL TACKLES. Employed when lower yards are struck in bad weatherto prevent them from swaying about after the trusses are unrove. 

DOWN IN THE MOUTH. Low-spirited or disheartened. 

DOWN KILLOCK! Let go the grapnel; the corruption of keel-hook or anchor. 

DOWN OARS! The order on shoving off a boat when the men have had them"tossed up. "

DOWNS. An accumulation of drifted sand, which the sea gathers along itsshores. The name is also applied to the anchorage or sea-space betweenthe eastern coast of Kent and the Goodwin Sands, the well-knownroadstead for ships, stretching from the South to the North Foreland, where both outward and homeward-bound ships frequently make some stay, and squadrons of men-of-war rendezvous in time of war. It is defended bythe castles of Sandwich, Deal, and Dover. 

DOWN WIND, DOWN SEA. A proverbial expression among seamen between thetropics, where the sea is soon raised by the wind, and when that abatesis soon smooth again. 

DOWN WITH THE HELM! An order to put the helm a-lee. 

DOWSING CHOCK. A breast-hook or piece fayed athwart the apron and lappedon the knight-heads, or inside stuff, above the upper deck; otherwisetermed _hawse-hook_. 

DOYLT. Lazy or stupid. 

DO YOU HEAR THERE? An inquiry following an order, but very oftenneedlessly. 

DRABLER. A piece of canvas laced on the bonnet of a sail to give it moredrop, or as Captain Boteler says--"As the bonnet is to the course, so inall respects is the drabler to the bonnet. " It is only used when bothcourse and bonnet are not deep enough to clothe the mast. 

DRACHMA. A Greek coin, value sevenpence three farthings sterling; 14cents. American or Spanish real. 

DRAFT, OR DRAUGHT. A small allowance for waste on goods sold by weight. 

DRAFT OF HANDS. A certain number of men appointed to serve on board aparticular man-of-war, who are then said to be _drafted_. A transfer ofhands from one ship to complete the complement of another. 

DRAG. A machine consisting of a sharp square frame of iron encircledwith a net, and commonly used to rake the mud off from the platform orbottom of the docks, or to clean rivers, or for dragging on the bottomfor anything lost. Also, a creeper. 

DRAG FOR THE ANCHOR, TO. The same as _creep_ or _sweep_. 

DRAGGING. An old word for dredging. 

DRAGGING ON HER. Said of a vessel in chase, or rounding a point, whenshe is obliged to carry more canvas to a fresh wind than she otherwisewould. 

DRAG-NET. A trawl or net to draw on the bottom for flat-fish. 

DRAGOMAN. The name for a Turkish interpreter; it is corrupted from_tarij-mân_. 

DRAGON. An old name for a musketoon. 

DRAGON BEAM OR PIECE. A strut or abutment. 

DRAGONET. A sea-fish, the gowdie, or _Callionymus lyra_. 

DRAGON-VOLANT. The old name for a gun of large calibre used in theFrench navy, whence the term was adopted into ours. 

DRAGOON. Originally a soldier trained to serve alike on horse or foot, or as Dr. Johnson equivocally explains it, "who fights indifferently onfoot or on horseback. " (_See_ TROOP. ) The term is now applied to allcavalry soldiers who have no other special designation. 

DRAG-ROPES. Those used in the artillery by the men in pulling the gunbackwards and forwards in practice and in action. 

DRAGS. Whatever hangs over the ship into the sea, as shirts, coats, orthe like; and boats when towed, or whatever else that after this mannermay hinder the ship's way when she sails, are called _drags_. 

DRAG-SAIL. Any sail with its clues stopped so as when veered away overthe quarter to make a stop-water when veering in emergency. Thedrag-sail formed by the sprit-sail course was frequently used in formerwars to retard the ship apparently running away until the enemy gotwithin gun-shot. 

DRAG-SAW. A cross-cut saw. 

DRAG THE ANCHOR, TO. The act of the anchors coming home. 

DRAKE. An early piece of brass ordnance. 

DRAKKAR. A Norman pirate boat of former times. 

DRAUGHT, OR DRAFT. The depth of water a ship displaces, or of a body offluid necessary to float a vessel; hence a ship is said to draw so manyfeet of water when she requires that depth to float her, which, to bemore readily known, are marked on the stem and stern-post from the keelupwards. Also, the old name for a chart. Also, the delineation of a shipdesigned to be built, drawn on a given scale, generally a quarter-inchto the foot, for the builders. (_See_ SHEER-DRAUGHT. )

DRAUGHT-HOOKS. Iron hooks fixed on the cheeks of a gun-carriage fordragging the gun along by _draught-ropes_. 

DRAUGHTSMAN. The artist who draws plans or charts from instructions orsurveys. 

DRAW. A sail _draws_ when it is filled by the wind. A ship _draws_ somany feet of water. --_To let draw a jib_ is to cease from flattening-inthe sheet. --_Draw_ is also a term for halliards in some of the northernfishing-boats. --_To draw. _ To procure anything by official demand from adockyard, arsenal, or magazine. --_To draw up the courses. _ To takein. --_To draw upon a ship_ is to gain upon a vessel when in pursuit ofher. 

DRAWBACK. An abatement or reduction of duties allowed by thecustom-house in certain cases; as for stores to naval officers incommission. 

DRAW-BELLOWS. A northern term for _limber-holes_ (which see). 

DRAWING. The state of a sail when there is sufficient wind to inflateit, so as to advance the vessel in her course. 

DRAWING UP. Adjusting a ship's station in the line; the converse of_dropping astern_. 

DRAWING WATER. The number of feet depth which a ship submerges. 

DRAWN BATTLE. A conflict in which both parties claim the victory, orretire upon equal terms. 

DRAW-NET. Erroneously used for _drag-net_. 

DRAWN FOR THE MILITIA. When men are selected by ballot for the defenceof the country. 

DRAW THE GUNS. To extract the charge of wad, shot, and cartridge fromthe guns. 

DREDGE. An iron scraper-framed triangle, furnished with a bottom of hideand stout cord net above, used for taking oysters or specimens of shellsfrom the bottom. 

DREDGER-BOAT. One that uses the net so called, for turbots, soles, sandlings, &c. 

DREDGING. Fishing by dragging the dredge. 

DREDGING MACHINE. A large lighter, or other flat-bottomed vessel, equipped with a steam-engine and machinery for removing the mud and siltfrom the bottom, by the revolution of iron buckets in an endless chain. 

DREDGY. The ghost of a drowned person. 

DREINT. The old word used for drowned, from the Anglo-Saxon. 

DRESS, TO. To place a fleet in organized order; also, to arrange menproperly in ranks; to present a true continuous line in front. --_Todress a ship. _ To ornament her with a variety of colours, as ensigns, flags, pendants, &c. , of various nations, displayed from different partsof her masts, rigging, &c. , on a day of festivity. 

DREW. A name in our northern isles for the _Fucus loreus_, a narrowthong-shaped sea-weed. 

DRIBBLE. Drizzling showers; light rain. 

DRIES. A term opposed to _rains_ on the west coast of Africa. 

DRIFT. The altered position of a vessel by current or falling to leewardwhen hove-to or lying-to in a gale, when but little head-way is made bythe action of sails. In artillery, a priming-iron of modern introductionused to clear the vent of ordnance from burning particles after eachdischarge. Also, a term sometimes used for the constant deflection of arifled projectile. (_See_ DEFLECTION. )

DRIFTAGE. The amount due to lee-way. (_See_ DRIFT. )

DRIFT-BOLTS. Commonly made of steel, are used as long punches fordriving out other bolts. 

DRIFT-ICE. The debris of the main pack. (_See_ OPEN ICE. )

DRIFTING-UP. Is used as relating to sands which are driven by the winds. As at Cape Blanco, on the coast of Africa, off the tail of the Desert ofZahara, where the houses and batteries have been thus obliterated. 

DRIFT-MUD. Consisting chiefly of an argillaceous earth, brought down bythe rivers, floated about, and successively deposited in banks; formingthe alluvial and fertile European settlements of Guiana. 

DRIFT-NET. A large net, with meshes of one inch, used in the pilchardfishery in August; also, for herrings and mackerel in March: used indrifting in the Chops of the Channel. Also, of strong gauze, formolluscs. 

DRIFT-PIECES. Solid pieces fitted at the drifts, forming the scrolls onthe drifts: they are commonly mitred into the gunwale. 

DRIFTS. Detached masses of soil and underwood torn off the shore byfloods and floating about, often mistaken for rocks and dangers. Also, in ship-building, those parts where the sheer is raised, and the railsare cut off, ending with a scroll; as the drift of the quarter-deck, poop-deck, and forecastle. 

DRIFT-SAIL. A contrivance, by means of immersing a sail, to diminish thedrift of a ship during a gale of wind. (_See_ DRAGS. )

DRIFT-WAY. Synonymous with _lee-way_. 

DRILL. Systematized instruction in the practice of all militaryexercises. 

DRILL-SHIPS. A recent establishment of vessels in which the volunteerscomposing the Royal Naval Reserve are drilled into practice. 

DRINK-PENNY. Earnest money at rendezvous houses, &c. 

DRIP-STONE. The name usually given to filters composed of porous stone. 

DRIVE, TO [from the Anglo-Saxon _dryfan_]. A ship drives when her anchortrips or will not hold. She drives to leeward when beyond control ofsails or rudder; and if under bare poles, may drive before the wind. Also, to strike home bolts, tree-nails, &c. 

DRIVER. A large sail formerly used with the wind aft or quartering. Itwas a square sail cut like a studding-sail, and set with a great yard onthe end of the spanker-boom, across the taffrail. The name latterly hasbeen officially applied to the spanker, both being the aftermost sailsof a ship, the ring-tail being only an addition, as a studding orsteering sail. (_See_ STEERING-SAIL. ) Also, the foremost spur in thebilge-ways, the heel of which is fayed to the fore-side of the foremostpoppet, and the sides of it look fore and aft. Also, a sort offishing-boat. 

DRIVER-BOOM. The boom to which the driver is hauled out. 

DRIVING A CHARGE. Ramming home the loading of a piece of ordnance. 

DRIVING PILES. The motion of a ship bobbing in a head sea, compared tothe vertical fall of monkeys on pile heads. 

DROG. A Gaelic term, still in use, to express the agitation of the sea. 

DROGHER. A small craft which goes round the bays of the West India Islands, to take off sugars, rum, &c. , to the merchantmen. --_Lumber-drogher_ is avessel built solely for burden, and for transporting cotton and otherarticles coastwise. 

DROGHING. The carrying trade of the West India coasts. 

DROITS OF ADMIRALTY. Rights, or rather perquisites, which flowedoriginally from the king by grant or usage, and now reserved to thecrown by commission. They are of two kinds--viz. The civil, or thosearising from wrecks of the sea, flotsam, jetsam, and lagan, royalfishes, derelicts, and deodands, ejectamenta maris, and the goods ofpirates, traitors, felons, suicides, and fugitives within the admiraltyjurisdiction; and the prize droits, or those accruing in the course ofwar, comprehending all ships and goods taken without commission, allvessels improperly captured before hostilities have been formallydeclared, or found or by accident brought within the admiralty, salvagefor all ships rescued, and all ships seized, in any of the ports, creeks, or roads of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Irelandbefore any declaration of war or reprisals by the sovereign. 

DROM-FISH. A large fish taken and cured in quantities in the Portugueseharbours of South America, as well for ship's stores as for the times offast. 

DROMON. A Saracen term denoting the large king's ships from the ninth tothe fifteenth century. 

DROP, OR DROOP. When a line diverges from a parallel or a curve. It isalso a name generally used to the courses, but sometimes given to thedepth of the square sails in general; as, "Her main top-sail dropsseventeen yards. " The depth of a sail from head to foot amidships. --_Todrop anchor_ is simply to anchor:--underfoot, in calms, a kedge orstream is dropped to prevent drift. 

DROP ASTERN, TO. To slacken a ship's way, so as to suffer another one topass beyond her. Also, distancing a competitor. 

DROP DOWN A RIVER. Synonymous with _falling_ (which see). 

DROP-DRY. Completely water-tight. 

DROPPING. An old mode of salute by lowering flags or uppermost sails. 

DROPS. In ship-building, are small foliages of carved work in the sternmunnions and elsewhere. The term also means the fall or declivity of adeck, which is generally of several inches. 

DROUD. A fish of the cod kind, frequenting the west coast of Scotland. 

DROUGES. Quadrilateral pieces of board, sometimes attached to theharpoon line, for the purpose of checking in some degree the speed ofthe whale. 

DROW. An old northern term for a severe gust of wind accompanied withrain. 

DROWNED LAND. Extensive marshes or other water-covered districts whichwere once dry and sound land. 

DROWNING. An early naval punishment; Richard I. Enacted that whoeverkilled a man on ship-board, "he should be bound to the corpse, andthrown into the sea. "

DROWNING-BRIDGE. A sluice-gate for overflowing meadows. 

DROWNING THE MILLER. Adding too much water to wine or spirits; from theterm when too much water has been put into a bowl of flour. 

DRUB. To beat. (Captain's despatch. ) "We have drubbed the enemy. "

DRUDGE. A name truly applied to a cabin-boy. 

DRUGGERS. Small vessels which formerly exported fish from Dieppe andother Channel ports, and brought back from the Levant spices and drugs. 

DRUM. _See_ STORM-DRUM. 

DRUM-CAPSTAN. A contrivance for weighing heavy anchors, invented by SirS. Morland, who died in 1695. 

DRUMHEAD COURT-MARTIAL. Sudden court held in the field for the immediatetrial of thefts or misconduct. (_See_ PROVOST-MARSHAL. )

DRUMHEAD OF CAPSTAN. A broad cylindrical piece of elm, resembling amillstone, and fixed immediately above the barrel and whelps. On itscircumference a number of square holes are cut parallel to the deck, toreceive the bars. 

DRUMLER. An ancient transport. (_See_ DROMON. ) Also, a small piraticalvessel of war. 

DRUMMER. The marine who beats the drum, and whose pay is equivalent tothat of a private of fourteen years' standing. Also, a singular fish ofthe corvinas kind, which has the faculty of emitting musical noises, whence it has acquired the name of _crocros_. 

DRUXY. Timber in a state of decay, the condition of which is manifestedby veins or spots in it of a whitish tint. 

DRY-BULB THERMOMETER. The readings of this instrument, when comparedwith those of a wet-bulb thermometer, indicate the amount of moisture inthe air, and thence the probability of rain. 

DRY DOCK. An artificial receptacle for examining and repairing vessels. (_See_ GRAVING-DOCK. )

DRY DUCKING. Suspending a person by a rope a few yards above the surfaceof the water. 

DRY FLOGGING. Punishing over the clothes of a culprit. 

DRY GALES. Those storms which are accompanied with a clear sky, as the_northers_ of the Gulf of Mexico, the _harmattan_ of Africa, &c. 

DRY HOLY-STONING. _See_ HOLY-STONE. 

DRY-ROT. A disease destructive of timber, occasioned by a fungus, the_Merulius lachrymans_, which softens wood and finally destroys it; itresembles a dry pithy cottony substance, whence the name dry-rot, thoughwhen in a perfect state, its sinuses contain drops of clear water, whichhave given rise to its specific Latin name. Free ventilation andcleanliness appear to be the best preservatives against this costlyevil. 

DRY ROWING. "Row dry. " Not to dash the spray with the blade of the oarin the faces of those in the stern-sheets. 

D. S. Q. Means, in the complete book, discharged to sick quarters. 

DUB. A northern term for a pool of deep and smooth water in a rapidriver. 

DUBB, TO. To smooth and cut off with an adze the superfluous wood. --_Todubb a vessel bright_, is to remove the outer surface of the plankcompletely with an adze. Spotting to examine planks with the adze isalso dubbing. 

DUBBAH, OR DUBBER. A coarse leathern vessel for holding liquids inIndia. 

DUBHE. A standard nautical star in the Great Bear. 

DUCAT. A well-known coin in most parts of Europe; the average gold ducatbeing nine shillings and sixpence, and the silver three shillings andfourpence. 

DUCATOON. A coin of the Dutch Oriental Isles, of seven shillings. Also, a silver coin of Venice, value four shillings and eightpence. 

DUCK, TO. To dive, or immerse another under water; or to avoid a shot. 

DUCK. The finest canvas (No. 8) for small sails, is sometimes so called;but it is really a lighter cloth than canvas, and is greatly used byseamen and soldiers on tropical stations for frocks and trousers. 

DUCKING. A penalty which veteran sailors inflict on those who, for thefirst time, pass the tropics, the equator, or formerly even the Straitsof Gibraltar; and is usually performed in the grog-tub or half-butt, with the assistance of a few buckets of water; the usual fine, however, always prevents the penalty being inflicted. 

DUCKING AT THE YARD-ARM. A marine punishment unknown, except by name, inthe British navy; but formerly inflicted by the French for graveoffences, thus: the criminal was placed astride a short thick batten, fastened to the end of a rope which passed through a block hanging atthe yard-arm. Thus fixed, he was hoisted suddenly up to the yard, andthe rope being then slackened at once, he was plunged into the sea. Thischastisement was repeated several times; conformable to the sentence, agun advertised the other ships of the fleet thereof that their crewsmight become spectators. If the offence was very great, he was drawnunderneath the keel of the ship, which was called keel-hauling. (_See_KEEL-HAULING. )

DUCKS. The general name for a sailor's dress in warm climates. Also, themilitary English of Bombay. _See also_ JEMMY DUCKS, the keeper of thepoultry on board ship. Dried herrings, or Digby ducks in N. S. 

DUCK-UP! A term used by the steersman when the main-sail, fore-sail, orsprit-sail hinders his seeing to steer by a landmark, upon which hecalls out, "Duck-up the clue-lines of those sails, " that is, haul thesails out of the way. Also, when a shot is made by a chase-piece, if theclue of the sprit-sail hinders the sight, they call out, "Duck-up, " &c. 

DUDGEON. An old word for the box-handle of a dirk; it is mentioned byShakspeare with the blade of the ideal dagger which Macbeth saw beforehim. It also means offence, anger. 

DUDS. A cant term for clothes or personal property. The term is old, butstill in common use, though usually applied to clothing of an inferiorquality, and even rags and tatters. 

DUEL. A single combat at a time and place appointed in consequence of achallenge; a practice which had its uses and abuses, now prohibited. 

DUELLO. An Italian word expressive of duelling, long appropriated intoour language. 

DUFF. Pudding or dough. 

DUFFERS. Low pedlars; also those women who assist smugglers. Also, cowardly fellows. 

DUG-OUT. A canoe. 

DUKE OF YORK. A nickname for a particular storm trysail used in thenorthern seas. 

DULCE, DULSE, DELSE. _Iridea dulce_, one of the edible fuci. It is anarticle of trade in America and Holland, and is plentiful on the rockycoasts of Ireland and western England. It probably derived its name frombeing sweet and pleasant, not requiring cooking. 

DULEDGE PLATES. An old name for the tyre-streaks or iron plates on thecircumference of the wheel of a field-piece. Duledge was also used fordowel, the wooden pin connecting the felloes. 

DULL'D. When said of the wind, fallen or moderated. 

DULLISH. The Manx term for the marine eatable leaf _dillisk_. 

DUMB-CHALDER. A metal cleat bolted to the back of the stern-post for oneof the pintles to rest upon, to lessen both strain and friction. (_See_PINTLES. )

DUMB-CLEAT. Synonymous with _dumb-chalder_ and _thumb-cleat_. 

DUMB-CRAFT. Lighters, lumps, or punts, not having sails. Also, a namefor the screws used for lifting a ship on a slip. 

DUMB-PINTLE. A peculiar rudder-strap. (_See_ PINTLES. )

DUMB-SCRAPING. Scraping wet decks with blunt scrapers. 

DUMFOUNDER. To confuse or perplex. 

DUMMY. A wood frame landing-place in front of a pier. 

DUMP-BOLT. A short bolt driven in to the plank and timber as a partialsecurity previous to the thorough fastenings being put in. 

DUMPS. Nearly synonymous with _down in the mouth_. 

DUN. A hill, an eminence. 

DUNBAR MEDLAR. A salted herring. 

DUNDERHEAD. A term used for the devil, as also for a stupid fellow. 

DUN-DIVER. A name for the goosander (_Mergus merganser_) in immatureplumage. 

DUNES. An Anglo-Saxon word still in use, signifying mounds or ridges ofdrifted sands. (_See_ DOWNS. )

DUN-FISH. A peculiar preparation of cod for the American market, bywhich it retains a dun or dark yellow colour. Dunning is extensivelycarried on in the spring at Portsmouth and other places in NewHampshire. 

DUNGAREE-DUCK. A name given to a small dried fish in Bombay. 

DUNGAREE-STUFF. A blue or striped cotton cloth much worn by theseafaring classes in India. 

DUNGIYAH. A broad-beamed flat-bottomed Arabian coaster trading betweenthe Red Sea, Gulf of Persia, and the Malabar coast. 

DUN-HEAD. In east-country barges the after-planking which forms thecabin. 

DUNKIRKS. The well-known name for pirates who sailed out of Dunkirk. 

DUNLIN. The name of a species of sand-piper (_Tringa cinclus_). 

DUNN, OR DUIN. A Gaelic word for a fort, a hill, a heap, or a knoll. 

DUNNAGE. Loose wood or other substances, as horns, rattan, coir, &c. , tostow amongst casks and other cargo to prevent their motion. A vesseldunnages below the dry cargo to keep it from bilge-water. 

DUNNAGE BATTENS. An extra floor in a merchantman to preserve the cargofrom wet in the event of leakage. They are also used in magazines andsail-rooms so as to form a vacant space beneath the powder-barrels andceiling. 

DUNNAGED. Goods or packages secured with dunnage. 

DUNNAGE GRATINGS. Express gratings placed on a steamer's deck to placecargo upon, serving as dunnage. 

DUNTER. A northern designation of the porpoise. 

DUNTER-GOOSE. A name in the Orkneys for the _Somateria mollissima_, oreider-duck. 

DUR-MAST. An inferior oak of more rapid growth than the true English. 

DUST. The refuse of biscuit in the bread-room. Also used for money. Thisterm probably got into use in India, where the boat hire on the Gangeswas added to by the Ghât-Manjees, in the way of "Dustooree. " Moreover, atumult or uproar. 

DUTCH. Language, or rather gibberish, which cannot be understood by alistener. (_See_ DOUBLE DUTCH. )

DUTCH-CAPER. A light-armed vessel of the seventeenth century, adaptedfor privateering, and much used by the Dutch. 

DUTCH CONSOLATION. "Whatever ill befalls you, there's somebody that'sworse;" or "It's very unfortunate; but thank God it's no worse. "

DUTCH COURAGE. The excitement inspired by drinking spirits; falseenergy. 

DUTCH EEL-SKUYT. A flat-bottomed somewhat cutter-rigged sea-boat, carrying lee-boards, fitted with two water-tight bulk-heads, making awell for keeping live fish in, the water being admitted throughperforated plates fastened on inside the ribs. 

DUTCHIFYING. A term used for converting square sterns to round ones. 

DUTCHMAN'S BREECHES. The patch of blue sky often seen when a gale isbreaking, is said to be, however small, "enough to make a pair ofbreeches for a Dutchman. " Others assign the habiliment to a Welshman, but give no authority for the assumption. 

DUTCH PLAICE. The _Pleuronectes platessa_. When small, it is calledfleak; when large, Dutch plaice. 

DUTCH PUMP. A punishment so contrived that, if the prisoner would notpump hard, he was drowned. 

DUTCH RECKONING. A bad day's work, all in the wrong. 

DUTCH REDS. High-smoked herrings prepared in Holland. 

DUTIES. Taxes levied by the custom-house upon goods exported orimported. 

DUTTEES. Coarse brown calicoes of India. 

DUTY. The exercise of those functions which belong to the service, andare carried out from the highest to the lowest. 

DWANG-STAFF. This is otherwise the _wrain-staff_ (which see). 

DYCE. A langridge for the old hail-shot pieces. 

DYCE, OR THYST, "VERY WELL DYCE. " (_See_ THUS. )

DYELLE. A kind of mud-drag used for cleaning rivers on our easterncoasts. 

DYING MAN'S DINNER. A snatch of refreshment when the ship is in extremedanger. 

DYKE. From the Anglo-Saxon _dic_, a mound or bank; yet in some parts ofEngland the word means a ditch. 

DYKE-CAM. A ditch-bank. 

DYNAMOMETER. An instrument for measuring the amount of force, and usedfor indicating the thrust or force of a screw-propeller, or any othermotor. There are many, varying in mode according to the express purposeof each, but all founded on the same principle as the nameexpresses--_power_ and _measure_, so that a steel-yard is the simplestexponent. 

E. 

E. The second class of rating on Lloyd's books for the comparativeexcellence of merchant ships. (_See_ A. )

EAGER. _See_ EAGRE. 

EAGLE. The insignia of the Romans, borrowed also by moderns, as Fredericof Prussia and Napoleon. Also, a gold coin of the United States, of thevalue of five dollars, or £1, 0_s. _ 10_d. _ sterling, at the average rateof exchange. 

EAGLE, OR SPREAD-EAGLE. A punishment inflicted by _seizing_ the offenderby his arms and legs to the shrouds, and there leaving him for aspecified time. 

EAGRE, OR HYGRE. The reciprocation of the freshes of various rivers, asfor instance the Severn, with the flowing tide, sometimes presenting aformidable surge. The name seems to be from the Anglo-Saxon _eágor_, water, or _Ægir_, the Scandinavian god of the sea. (_See_ BORE andHYGRE. )

EAR. A west-country term for a place where hatches prevent the influx ofthe tide. 

EARING-CRINGLE, AT THE HEAD OF A SAIL. In sail-making it is an eyespliced in the bolt-rope, to which the much smaller head-rope isattached. The earings are hauled out, or lashed to cleats on the yardspassing through the head corners or cringles of the sails. 

EARINGS. Certain small ropes employed to fasten the upper corners of asail to its yard, for which purpose one end of the earing is passedthrough itself; and the other end is passed five or six times round theyard-arm, and through the cringle; the two first turns, which areintended to stretch the head of the sail tight along the yard, arepassed beyond the lift and rigging on the yard-arm, and are calledouter turns, while the rest, which draw it close up to the yard, and arepassed within the lift, &c. , are called inner turns. Below the above arethe _reef-earings_, which are used to reef the sail when thereef-tackles have stretched it to take off the strain. 

EARNE. _See_ ERNE. 

EARNEST. A sum paid in advance to secure a seaman's service. 

EARS. In artillery the lugs or ear-shaped rings fashioned on the largerbombs or mortar-shells for their convenient handling with shell-hooks. The irregularity of surface caused by the ears is intended to bemodified in future construction by the substitution of _lewis-holes_(which see). 

EAR-SHOT. The distance or range of hearing. 

EARS OF A BOAT. The knee-pieces at the fore-part on the outside at theheight of the gunwale. 

EARS OF A PUMP. The support of the bolt for the handle or break. 

EARTH. One of the primary planets, and the third in order from the sun. 

EARTH-BAGS. _See_ SAND-BAGS. 

EAR-WIGGING. Feeding an officer's ear with scandal against an absentindividual. 

EASE, TO STAND AT. To remain at rest. 

EASE AWAY! To slacken out a rope or tackle-fall. 

EASE HER! In a steamer, is the command to reduce the speed of theengine, preparatory to "stop her, " or before reversing for "turnastern. "

EASE OFF! EASE OFF HANDSOMELY, OR EASE AWAY THERE! To slacken out a ropeor tackle-fall carefully. 

EASE THE HELM! An order often given in a vessel close-hauled, to put thehelm down a few spokes in a head sea, with the idea that if the ship'sway be deadened by her coming close to the wind she will not strike theopposing sea with so much force. It is thought by some that extremerolling as well as pitching are checked by shifting the helm quickly, thereby changing the direction of the ship's head, and what istechnically called "giving her something else to do. "

EASE UP, TO. To come up handsomely with a tackle-fall. 

EAST. From the Anglo-Saxon, _y'st_. One of the cardinal points of thecompass. Where the sun rises due east, it makes equal days and nights, as on the equator. 

EAST-COUNTRY. A term applied to the regions bordering on the Baltic. 

EAST-COUNTRY SHIPS. The same as _easterlings_. 

EASTERLINGS. Traders of the Baltic Sea. Also, natives of the HanseTowns, or of the east country. 

EASTERN AMPLITUDE. An arc of the horizon, intercepted between the pointof the sun's rising and the east point of the magnetic compass. 

EAST INDIA HOY. A sloop formerly expressly licensed for carrying storesto the E. I. Company's ships. 

EASTING. The course made good, or gained, to the eastward. 

EASTINTUS. From the Saxon, _east-tyn_, an easterly coast or country. _Leg. Edward I. _

EAST WIND. This, in the British seas, is generally attended with a hazyatmosphere, and is so ungenial as to countenance the couplet--

 "When the wind is in the east, 'Tis good for neither man nor beast. "

EASY. Lower gently. A ship not labouring in a sea. --_Taking it easy. _Neglecting the duty. "Not so violent. "

EASY DRAUGHT. The same as _light draught of water_ (which see). 

EASY ROLL. A vessel is said to "roll deep but easy" when she movesslowly, and not with quick jerks. 

EATING THE WIND OUT OF A VESSEL. Applies to very keen seamanship, bywhich the vessel, from a close study of her capabilities, steals towindward of her opponent. This to be done effectually demands verypeculiar trim to carry weather helm to a nicety. 

EAVER. A provincial term for the direction of the wind. A quarter of theheavens. 

EBB. The lineal descendant of the Anglo-Saxon _ep-flod_, meaning thefalling reflux of the tide, or its return back from the highest of theflood, full sea, or high water. Also termed _sæ-æbbung_, sea-ebbing, byour progenitors. 

EBB, LINE OF. The sea-line of beach left dry by the tide. 

EBBER, OR EBBER-SHORE. From the Anglo-Saxon signifying shallow. 

EBB-TIDE. The receding or running out of the sea, in contradistinctionto flood. 

EBONY. A sobriquet for a negro. 

ECHELON. [Fr. ] Expressing the field-exercise of soldiers, when thedivisions are placed in a situation resembling the steps of a ladder, whence the name. 

ECHINUS. A word lugged in to signify the sweep of the tiller. (_See_SEA-EGG. )

ECLIPSE. An obscuration of a heavenly body by the interposition ofanother, or during its passage through the shadow of a larger body. An_eclipse of the sun_ is caused by the dark body of the moon passingbetween it and the earth. When the moon's diameter exceeds the sun's, and their centres nearly coincide, a _total eclipse_ of the sun takesplace; but if the moon's diameter be less, then the eclipse is_annular_. 

ECLIPTIC. The great circle of the heavens which the sun appears to us todescribe in the course of a year, in consequence of the earth's motionround that luminary. It is inclined to the equinoctial at an angle ofnearly 23° 28′, called the obliquity of the ecliptic, and cuts it in twopoints diametrically opposite to each other, called the equinoctialpoints. The time when the sun enters each of these points (which occursabout the 20th of March and 23d of September, respectively) is termedthe equinox, day and night being then equal; at these periods, especially about the time of the vernal equinox, storms, called theequinoctial gales, are prevalent in many parts of the globe. The twopoints of the ecliptic, which are each 90° distant from the equinoctialpoints, are called the solstitial points. That great circle which passesthrough the equinoctial points and the poles of the earth, is called theequinoctial colure; and that which passes through the solstitial pointsand the poles of the earth, the solstitial colure. 

ECLIPTIC CONJUNCTION. Is the moon in conjunction with the sun at thetime of new moon, both luminaries having then the same longitude, orright ascension. 

ECLIPTIC LIMITS. Certain limits of latitude within which eclipses takeplace, and beyond which they cannot occur. 

ECONOMY. A term expressive of the system and internal arrangementpursued in a ship. 

EDDY. Sometimes used for the dead-water under a ship's counter. Also, the water that by some interruption in its course, runs contrary to thedirection of the tide or current, and appears like the motion of awhirlpool. Eddies in the sea not unfrequently extend their influence toa great distance, and are then merely regarded as contrary or revolvingcurrents. It is the back-curl of the water to fill a space or vacuumformed sometimes by the faulty build of a vessel, having the after-bodyfuller than the fore, which therefore impedes her motion. It also occursimmediately after a tide passes a strait, where the volume of waterspreads suddenly out, and curves back to the edges. The Chinese pilotscall eddies, chow-chow water. 

EDDY-TIDE. When the water runs back from some obstacle to the freepassage of the stream. 

EDDY-WIND. That which is beat back, or returns, from a sail, bluff hill, or anything which impedes its passage; in other words, whenever theedges or veins of two currents of air, coming from opposite directions, meet, they form an eddy, or _whirlwind_ (which see). They are feltgenerally near high coasts intersected by ravines. The eddy-wind of asail escaping, in a curve, makes the sail abaft shiver. 

EDGE AWAY, TO. To decline gradually from the course which the shipformerly steered, by sailing larger, or more off, or more away frombefore the wind than she had done before. 

EDGE DOWN, TO. To approach any object in an oblique direction. 

EDGING OF PLANK. Sawing or hewing it narrower. 

EDUCTION PIPE. A pipe leading from the bottom of a steam-cylinder to theupper part of the condenser in a steam-engine. 

EEAST. The Erse term for a fish, still used in the Isle of Man. 

EEKING. _See_ EKEING. 

EEL. A well-known fish (_Anguilla vulgaris_), of elongated form, commonin rivers and estuaries, and esteemed for food. 

EELER. An adept at knowing the haunts and habits of eels, and themethods of taking them. 

EEL-FARES. A fry or brood of eels. 

EEL-GRASS. A name for the sea-wrack (_Zostera marina_); it is thrownashore by the sea in large quantities. 

EEL-POUT. A name for the burbot (_Molva lota_), a fresh-water fish. 

EEL-SKUYT. _See_ DUTCH EEL-SKUYT. 

EEL-SPEAR. A sort of trident with ten points for catching eels, calledin Lincolnshire an _eel-stang_. 

EFFECTIVE. Efficient, fit for service; it also means the being presentand at duty. 

EFFECTS. Personal property; sale of effects; or the auction of theproperty of deceased officers and seamen:

 "The _effects_ of that sail Will be a sale of _effects_. "

EFFLUENT, OR DIVERGENT, applied to any stream which runs out of a lake, or out of another river. All tributaries are affluents. 

EGG, TO. To instigate, incite, provoke, to urge on: from the Anglo-Saxon_eggion_. 

EGGS. These nutritious articles of food might be used longer at sea thanis usual. The shell of the egg abounds with small pores, through whichthe aqueous part of the albumen constantly exhales, and the egg inconsequence daily becomes lighter, and approaches its decomposition. Reaumur varnished them all over, and thus preserved eggs fresh for twoyears; then carefully removing the varnish, he found that such eggs werestill capable of producing chickens. Some employ, with the sameintention, lard or other fatty substance for closing the pores, andothers simply immerse the egg for an instant in boiling water, by whichits albumen is in part coagulated, and the power of exhalation therebychecked. Eggs packed in lime-water suffered to drain, have after threeyears' absence in the West Indies been found good; this does not destroyvitality. 

EGMONT, OR PORT EGMONT FOWLS. The large Antarctic gulls with dark-brownplumage, called _shoemakers_. 

EGRESS. At a transit of an inferior planet over the sun, this term meansthe passing off of the planet from his disc. 

EGYPTIAN HERRING. A northern coast name for the gowdanook, saury-pike, or _Scomberesox saurus_. 

EIDER DUCK. The _Somateria mollissima_. A large species of duck, inhabiting the coasts of the northern seas. The down of the breast, withwhich it lines its nest, is particularly valuable on account of itssoftness and lightness. 

EIGHEN. The index of the early quadrant. 

EILET-HOLE [Fr. _œillet_]. _Refer to_ EYELET-HOLES. 

EJECTAMENTA MARIS. Sea products thrown on the beach, whence they becomedroits of admiralty. (_See_ JETSAM. )

EKE, TO. [Anglo-Saxon _eácan_, to prolong. ] To make anything go far byreduction and moderation, as in shortening the allowance of provisionson a voyage unexpectedly tedious. 

EKEING. A piece of wood fitted, by scarphing or butting, to make good adeficiency in length, as the end of a knee and the like. The _ekeing_ isalso the carved work under the lower part of the quarter-piece, at theaft part of the quarter-gallery. 

ELBOW. That part of a river where it suddenly changes its direction, forming a reach to the next angle or turn. Also, a promontory. Also, acommunication in a steam-pipe. 

ELBOW-GREASE. Hard labour with the arms. 

ELBOW IN THE HAWSE. Two crosses in a hawse. When a ship, being moored ina tide-way, swings twice the wrong way, thereby causing the cables totake half a round turn on each other. (_See_ HAWSE. )

ELDEST. The old navy term for _first_, as applied to the seniorlieutenant. 

ELEMENTS. The first principles of any art or science. --The _elements ofan orbit_ are certain proportions which define the path of a heavenlybody in space, and enable the astronomer to calculate its position forpast or future times. 

ELEPHANTER. A heavy periodical rain of Bombay. 

ELEPHANT-FISH. The _Chimæra callorynchus_, named from the proboscis-likeprocess on its nose. Though inferior to many other fish, it is yetpalatable food. 

ELEVATE! In great-gun exercise, the order which prepares for adjustingthe quoin. 

ELEVATED POLE. That terrestrial pole which is above the horizon of aspectator. 

ELEVATION, IN SHIP-BUILDING. A vertical and longitudinal view of avessel, synonymous with _sheer-draught_ and _sheer-plan_. In otherwords, it is the orthographic design whereon the heights and lengths areexpressed. 

ELEVATION, ANGLE OF. In gunnery, that which the axis of the bore makeswith the plane of the horizon. It is attained by sinking the breech ofthe gun until its axis points above the object to be fired at, so thatthe shot may describe a curve somewhat similar to a parabola, counteracting the action of gravity during its flight, and alightingupon the mark. 

ELGER. An eel-spear, _Promptorium Parvulorum_, yielding many together. 

ELIGUGS. Aquatic birds of passage of the auk kind on our western coasts;called also razor-bills. 

ELITE. The élite of naval or military forces is the choicest selectionfrom them. 

ELLECK. The trivial name of the _Trigla cuculus_. 

ELLIOT-EYE. The Elliot-eye, introduced by the Hon. Admiral Elliot, secretary of the Admiralty, is an eye worked over an iron thimble in theend of a hempen bower-cable, to facilitate its being shackled to thechain for riding in very deep water. 

ELLIPSE. In geometry, an oval figure, formed of the section of a cone bya plane cutting through both its sides obliquely. 

ELMO'S FIRE, ST. _See_ COMPASANT. 

ELONGATION. The angular distance of a heavenly body from the suneastward or westward. 

ELVERS. The name of eels on the western coasts of England. 

EMBARGO. A temporary injunction or arrest laid on ships or merchandiseby public authority, sometimes general, to prevent all ships departing, and sometimes partial, as upon foreign ships only, or to prevent theircoming in. A breach of embargo, under the knowledge of the insured, discharges the underwriters from liability. 

EMBARK, TO. To go on board, or to put on board a vessel. 

EMBARKATION. Applies to the shipping of goods, troops, and stores. Also, the peculiar boats of a country. [Sp. _embarcation_. ]

EMBARMENT. An old term, meaning an embargo. 

EMBARRAS. An American term for places where the navigation of rivers orcreeks is rendered difficult by the accumulation of driftwood, trees, &c. 

EMBATTLE. To arrange forces for conflict. 

EMBATTLED. In buildings, crenellated or pierced with loop-holes. 

EMBEDDED. Firmly fixed in the mud or sand. 

EMBER-GOOSE (OR IMBER?). A name for the great northern diver or loon(_Colymbus glacialis_). 

EMBEZZLEMENT, or simple theft, by persons belonging to a merchant ship, is not deemed a peril of the sea. But robbery violently committed bypersons not belonging to the ship, is a peril for which the insurer isanswerable. --_To embezzle_ is to misappropriate by a breach of trust. 

EMBOUCHURE. A French word adopted as signifying the mouth of a river, bywhich its waters are discharged, or by which it is entered. The term isnow in general use. 

EMBRASURES. The cut or opening made through the parapet of a battery forthe muzzle of the gun and the passage of the shot. 

EMERALDERS. A term for the natives of Ireland, from its evergreenverdure. 

EMERGENCY. Imminent want in difficult circumstances. 

EMERSION. The prismatic space or solid raised out on the weather side bythe inclination of the ship. In astronomy it signifies the re-appearanceof a celestial object after undergoing occultation or eclipse. 

EMINENCE. A high or rising ground overlooking the country around. 

EMISSARY. A culvert or drain. 

EMPRISE. A hazardous attempt upon the enemy. 

EMPTIONS. Stores purchased. 

EMPTY. Cargo discharged. 

EMPTY BASTION. In fortification is a bastion whereof the terreplein, orterrace in rear of the parapet, not having been carried farther to therear than its regular distance, leaves a large space within it of alower level. 

EMPTY BOTTLE. _See_ MARINE OFFICER. 

ENCAMPMENT. _See_ CAMP. 

ENCEINTE. [Fr. ] A slightly bastioned wall or rampart line of defence, which sometimes surrounds the body of a place; when only flanked byturrets it is called a Roman wall. 

ENCIRCLING REEFS. A name given to a form of coral reef, the architectureof myriads of zoophytes in tropical seas. 

ENCOUNTER. The hostile meeting of two ships or squadrons; also, aconflict between troops. 

ENDANGER, TO. To expose to peril. 

ENDECAGON. In geometry, a plane figure of eleven sides and angles. 

ENDELONG. The old English word for lengthways. 

END FOR END. Reversing cordage, casks, logs, spars, &c. --To shift a rope_end for end_, as in a tackle, the fall is made the standing part, andthe standing part becomes the fall; or when a rope runs out all a block, and is unreeved; or in coming to an anchor, if the stoppers are not wellput on, and the cable runs all out end for end. (_See_ AN-END. )

END OF A TRENCH. The place where the trenches are opened. 

END-ON. Said particularly of a ship when only her bows and head-sailsare to be seen, but generally used in opposition to _broadside-on_. 

ENEMY. The power or people against whom war is waged. 

ENFIELD RIFLE. The name of the present regulation musket for infantry, as made at the government works at Enfield, on an improvement of theMinié principle; whether the breach-loading rifle, which it is intendedto substitute for this arm, will acquire the same title, remains to bedetermined. 

ENFILADE FIRE. Is that which sweeps a line of works or men from one endto the other; it is on land nearly the equivalent to "raking fire" atsea. 

ENGAGEMENT. In a naval sense, implies a battle at sea, or an action ofhostility between single ships, squadrons, or fleets of men-of-war. Also, a conflict between two contending armies. 

ENGINE, MARINE. (_See_ MARINE ENGINES. ) Engine was of old a militarymachine for warfare. 

ENGINE-BEARERS. Sleepers, or pieces of timber placed between thekeelson, in a steamer, and the boilers of the steam-engine, to form aproper seat for the boilers and machinery. 

ENGINEER. A duly qualified officer appointed to plan and direct theattack or defence of a fortification, as well as the construction offortified works. Engineers are also persons in charge of the machineryof steam-vessels. In government steamers they are in three classes, under warrant from the admiralty. 

ENGINE-ROOM TELEGRAPH. A dial-contrivance by which the officer on deckcan communicate with the engineer below. 

ENGLAND EXPECTS EVERY MAN WILL DO HIS DUTY. This is introduced into anaval vocabulary, not as wanting explanation, but that in recording themost remarkable signal ever made to a fleet, we may remind the tyro, that these words of Nelson are admirably adapted for all the varyingchanges of sea-life, whether in times of war or peace. 

ENGLISH. A term applied to the vessels and men of the whole empire, andits maritime population. "Indeed, " says Burke in a letter to AdmiralKeppel, "I am perfectly convinced that _Englishman_ and _seaman_ arenames that must live and die together. "

ENLARGE. The wind is said to enlarge when it veers from the side towardsthe stern. 

ENLISTMENT. The engaging recruits for the army or marines. 

ENNEAGON. A figure that has nine sides and as many angles. 

ENNIS, OR INNIS. A term for island on the west coast of Ireland and insome parts of Scotland. 

ENROL, TO. To enter the name on the roll of a corps. 

ENSCONCE, TO. To intrench; to protect by a slight fortification. 

ENSENADA [Sp. Bay]. This term is frequently used on the coasts of Chiliand Peru. 

ENSIGN. [From the Anglo-Saxon _segn_. ] A large flag or banner, hoistedon a long pole erected over the stern, and called the ensign-staff. Itis used to distinguish the ships of different nations from each other, as also to characterize the different squadrons of the navy; it wasformerly written _ancient_. Ensign is in the army the title of thejunior rank of subaltern officers of infantry; from amongst them aredetailed the officers who carry the colours. 

ENTERING AT CUSTOM-HOUSE. The forms required of the master of a merchantship before her cargo can be discharged. 

ENTERING-LADDERS. Are of two sorts; one of them being used by thevessel's side in harbour or in fair weather, the other is made of ropes, with small staves for steps, and is hung out of the gallery to comeaboard by, when the sea runs so high as to risk staving the boat ifbrought alongside; the latter are termed stern-ladders. 

ENTERING-PORTS. Ports cut down on the middle gun-deck of three-deckers, to serve as door-ways for persons going in and out of the ship. 

ENTERING-ROPES, OR SIDE-ROPES. Three are sometimes used to aid inclimbing the ship's side. They hang from the upper part on the right, left, and middle of the steps. (_See_ GANGWAY. ) The upper end of anentering-rope is rove through an eye in the iron stanchion at thegangway; it is walled, crowned, and otherwise ornamentally fitted. 

ENTERPRISE. An undertaking of difficulty and danger. 

ENTRANCE. A term for the bow of a vessel, or form of the _fore-body_under the load water-line; it expresses the figure of that whichencounters the sea, and is the opposite of _run_. Also, the firstappearance of a person on board after entry on the ship's books. Also, the fore-foot of a ship. Also, the mouth of a harbour. 

ENTRANCE MONEY. Payment on entering a mess. 

ENTRY. In the ship's books; first putting down the appearance or day onwhich a man joins. Also, the forcing into an enemy's ship. 

ENVELOPE. In astronomy, a band of light encircling the head of a cometon the side near the sun, and passing round it, so as to form thecommencement of the tail. --In fortification, a work of single linesthrown up to inclose a weak ground; usually a mere earth-work. 

EPAULE, OR SHOULDER. In fortification, that part of a bastion adjacentto the junction of a face with a flank. The actual meeting of these twolines forms the "angle of the shoulder. "

EPAULEMENT. In fortification, a covering mass raised to protect from thefire of the enemy, but differing from a parapet in having no arrangementmade for the convenient firing over it by defenders. It is usuallyadopted for side-passages to batteries and the like. 

EPAULET. The bullion or mark of distinction worn on the shoulders byofficers, now common to many grades, but till recently worn only bycaptains and commanders, whence the brackish poet--

 "Hail, magic power that fills an _epaulet_, No wonder hundreds for thee daily fret!"

the meaning of which is now pointless. 

EPHEMERIS, OR NAUTICAL ALMANAC. This in its wide sense, and recognizingits value to navigators and astronomers, must be pronounced one of themost useful of publications. How Drake and Magellan got on is matter ofmarvel, for sailors were not especially administered to till 1675, whenthe _Kalendarium Nauticum_, by Henry Seaman, Mariner, appeared; itcomprised the usual matter of annual almanacs, and was enriched withsuch precepts and rules in the practice of navigation and traffic as arein daily use. But in 1767 our nautical almanac, a tabular statement ofthe geocentric planetary positions, which may be said to have created anew era in voyaging, was published; and this book, with certainalterations, was in force up to 1830, when a commission of the RoyalSociety and astronomers established the present _Ephemeris_, now so muchvalued. It is published annually, but computed to four years in advance, to accommodate those proceeding on long voyages. Attempts have been madein other countries to publish _The Nautical Almanac_, improved andcorrected, but they are mere copies, corrected by the errata furnishedannually in advance. 

EPICYCLOID. A geometrical curve generated by making a circle roll uponthe circumference of another circle; it is found useful in determiningthe figure of the teeth of wheel-work, and other purposes in mechanics. If the generating circle proceeds along the convexity of the periphery, it is called an upper or exterior epicycloid; if along the concavity, alower or interior epicycloid. 

EPOCH. The time to which certain given numbers or quantities apply. 

EPROUVETTE. A small piece of ordnance specially fitted for testing theprojectile force of samples of gunpowder. 

EQUATED ANOMALY. This is also called the true anomaly, and is thedistance of the sun from the apogee, or a planet from its aphelion, seenfrom the sun. 

EQUATION, ANNUAL. _See_ ANNUAL EQUATION. 

EQUATION OF EQUINOXES. The difference between the mean and apparentplaces of the equinox. 

EQUATION OF THE CENTRE. The difference between the true and meananomalies of a planet. 

EQUATION OF TIME. The difference between mean and apparent time, or theacceleration or retardation of the sun's return to the meridian. 

EQUATOR. Called also the equinoctial line, or simply the line, being animaginary circle round the earth, dividing the globe into two equalparts, and equally distant from both poles. Extended to the heavens, itforms a circle called the celestial equator, which in like mannerdivides the heavens into two equal parts, the northern and southernhemispheres. 

EQUATORIAL CURRENT. The set, chiefly westerly, so frequently met withnear the equator, especially in the Atlantic Oceans. 

EQUATORIAL DOLDRUMS. _See_ DOLDRUMS. 

EQUATORIAL SECTOR. An instrument of large radius for finding thedifference in the right ascension and declination of two heavenlybodies. 

EQUATORIAL TELESCOPE. A glass so mounted that it enables the observer tofollow the stars as they move equatorially. 

EQUES AURATUS. An heraldic term for a knight. 

EQUILATERAL TRIANGLE. A figure of three equal straight sides, andtherefore of three equal angles. 

EQUINOCTIAL. Synonymous with _equator_ (which see). 

EQUINOCTIAL GALES. Storms which are observed to prevail about the timeof the sun's crossing the equator, at which time there is equal day andnight throughout the world. 

EQUINOCTIAL POINTS. _See_ ECLIPTIC. 

EQUINOXES. The two points of intersection of the ecliptic and theequator; so called, because on the sun's arrival at either of them, thenight is everywhere equal in length to the day. 

EQUIP, TO. A term frequently applied to the business of fitting a shipfor a trading voyage, or arming her for war. (_See_ FITTING. )

EQUIPAGE. An admiral's retinue. Camp equipage consists of tents, furniture, cooking utensils, &c. 

EQUIPMENT. The complete outfit of an officer. 

EQUITABLE TITLE. Either this, or a legal claim, are absolutely necessaryto establish an insurable interest in a ship or cargo. (_See_ QUALIFIEDPROPERTY. )

ERIGONE. A name sometimes applied to the constellation Virgo. 

ERNE. From the Anglo-Saxon _earne_, a vulture, a bird of the eagle kind. Now used to denote the sea-eagle. 

ERRATIC WINDS. _See_ VARIABLES. 

ESCALADE. The forcing a way over a rampart or other defence, properly bymeans of ladders or other contrivances for climbing. 

ESCAPE-VALVES. In marine engines. (_See_ CYLINDER ESCAPE-VALVES. )

ESCARP. In fortification, that steep bank or wall immediately in frontof and below the rampart, which is thus secured against being directlystormed by a superior force; it is generally the inner side of theditch. 

ESCHEATOR, THE KING'S. An officer at the exchequer of very ancientestablishment, under the lord-treasurer, whose business it is to informof escheats and casual profits of the crown, and to seize them into theking's hands. 

ESCORT. A guard of troops attending an individual by way of distinction. Also, a guard placed over prisoners on a march. 

ESCUTCHEON. The compartment in the middle of the ship's stern, where hername is written. [Derived from _ex-scutum_. ]

ESKIPPAMENTUM. An archaism for tackle or ship-furniture. 

ESKIPPER. Anglo-Norman to ship, and _eskipped_ was used for shipped. 

ESKIPPESON. An old law term for a shipping or passage by sea. 

ESNECCA. In the twelfth century, a royal yacht, though some deem it tohave been a kind of transport. 

ESPIALS. Night watches afloat, in dockyards and harbours; generally aboat named by the ordinary. 

ESPLANADE. Generally that space of level ground kept vacant between theworks of a fortress and neighbouring houses or other obstructions;though originally applied to the actual surface of the glacis. 

ESQUIMAUX. A name derived from _esquimantsic_, in the Albinaquislanguage, _eaters of raw flesh_. Many tribes in the Arctic regions arestill ignorant of the art of cookery. 

ESSARA. The prickly heat. 

ESTABLISHMENT. The regulated complement or quota of officers and men toa ship, either in time of war or peace. The equipment. The regulateddimensions of spars, cabin, rigging, &c. --_Establishment of a port. _ Anawkward phrase lately lugged in to denote the tide-hour of a port. 

ESTIVAL. _See_ ÆSTIVAL. 

ESTOC. A small stabbing sword. 

ESTUARY. An inlet or shoaly arm of the sea into which a river or riversempty, and subject to tidal influence. 

ESTURE. An old word for the rise and fall of water. 

ETESIAN WINDS. The _Etesiæ_ of the ancients; winds which blow constantlyevery year during the time of the dog-days in the Levant. 

ETIQUETTE. Naval or military observances, deemed to be law. 

EUPHROE. _See_ UVROU. 

EVACUATE. To withdraw from a town or fortress, in virtue of a treaty orcapitulation; or in compliance with superior orders. 

EVECTION. A term for the libration of the moon, or that apparentoscillatory inequality in her motion, caused by a change in theexcentricity of her orbit, whereby her mean longitude is sometimesincreased or diminished to the amount of 1° 20′, whereby we sometimessee a little further round one side than at others. 

EVE-EEL. A northern name for the conger; from the Danish _hav-aal_, orsea-eel. 

EVENING GUN. The warning-piece, after the firing of which the sentrieschallenge. 

EVEN KEEL. When a ship is so trimmed as to sit evenly upon the water, drawing the same depth forward as aft. Some vessels sail best whenbrought by the head, others by the stern. 

EVERY INCH OF THAT! An exclamation to belay a rope without rendering it. 

EVERY MAN TO HIS STATION. _See_ STATION. 

EVERY ROPE AN-END. The order to coil down the running rigging, or bracesand bowlines, after tacking, or other evolution. Also, the order, whenabout to perform an evolution, to see that every rope is clear forrunning. 

EVERY STITCH SET. All possible canvas spread. 

EVOLUTION. The change of form and disposition during manœuvres, whetherof men or ships; movements which should combine celerity with precisionand regularity. 

EWAGE. An old law term meaning the toll paid for water-passage. 

EXALTATION. A planet being in that sign in which it is supposed to exertits utmost influence. 

EXAMINATION. A searching by, or cognizance of, a magistrate, or otherauthorized officer. Now strict in navy and army. 

EXCENTRIC. In a steam-engine, a wheel placed on the crank-shaft, havingits centre on one side of the axis of the shaft, with a notch for the_gab-lever_. 

EXCENTRIC ANOMALY. An auxiliary angle employed to abridge thecalculations connected with the motion of a planet or comet in anelliptic orbit. 

EXCENTRICITY. In astronomical parlance, implies the deviation of anelliptic orbit from a circle. 

EXCENTRIC ROD, by its action on the gab-lever, which it catches eitherway, puts the engine into gear. 

EXCHANGE. A term in the mercantile world, to denote the bills by whichremittances are made from one country to another, without thetransmission of money. The removal of officers from one ship to another. Also, a mutual agreement between contending powers for exchange ofprisoners. 

EXCHEQUERED. Seized by government officers as contraband. Marked withthe broad arrow. It also refers to proceedings on the part of the crownagainst an individual in the Exchequer Court, where suits for debts orduties due to the crown are brought. 

EXECUTION. The Lords of the Admiralty have a right to issue theirwarrant, and direct the time and manner, without any special warrantfrom the crown for that purpose. --_Military execution_ is the ravagingand destroying of a country that refuses to pay contribution. 

EXECUTIVE BRANCH. The commissioned and working officers of the ship, asdistinguished from the civilian branch. 

EXERCISE. The practice of all those motions, actions, and management ofarms, whereby men are duly trained for service. Also, the practice ofloosing, reefing, and furling sails. --_Exercise_, in naval tactics, maybe applied to the forming a fleet into order of sailing, line of battle, &c. The French term is _évolutions_ or _tactiques_, and may be definedas the execution of the movements which the different orders anddisposition of fleets occasionally require, and which the several shipsare directed to perform by means of signals. (_See_ SIGNALS. )

EX LEX. An outlaw (a term of law). 

EXPANSION-VALVE. In the marine engine, a valve which shuts off the steamin its passage to the slide-valves, when the piston has travelled acertain distance in the cylinder, leaving the remaining part of thestroke to be performed by the expansion of the steam. 

EXPEDIENT. A stratagem in warfare. 

EXPEDITION. An enterprise undertaken either by sea or land, or both, against an enemy; it should be conducted with secrecy and rapidity ofmovement. 

EXPENDED. Used up, consumed, or asserted to be so. 

EXPENSE BOOKS. Accounts of the expenditure of the warrant officer'sstores, attested by the signing officers. 

EXPLOITING. Transporting trees or timber by a river. Exploit was an oldverb meaning to perform. 

EXPLORATOR. An examiner of a country. A scout. 

EXPORT, TO. To send goods or commodities out of a country, for thepurposes of traffic, under the general name of exports. 

EXPORTATION. The act of sending exports to foreign parts. 

EXPORTER. The person who sends the exports abroad. 

EXPOSED ANCHORAGE. An open and dangerous place, by reason of theelements or the enemy. 

EXTERIOR SIDE. The side of an imaginary polygon, upon which the plan ofa fortification is constructed. 

EXTERIOR SLOPE. In fortification, that slope of a work towards thecountry which is next outward beyond its superior slope. 

EXTERNAL CONTACT. In a transit of Mercury or Venus over the sun's disc, this expression means the first touch of the planet's and sun's edges, before any part of the former is projected on the disc of the luminary. 

EXTRAORDINARIES. Contingent expenses. 

EXTREME BREADTH. The extent of the midships, or dead flat, with thethickness of the bottom plank included. 

EXTREMITIES. The stem and stern posts of a ship. 

EY. _See_ EYGHT. 

EYE. The circular loop of a shroud or stay where it goes over themast. --_To eye_, to observe minutely. --_Flemish eye_, a phraseparticularly applied to the eye of a stay, which is either formed atthe making of the rope; or by dividing the yarns into two equal parts, knotting each pair separately, and pointing the whole over afterparcelling. This eye stopped by the mouse forms the collar. It is notstrong, soon rots, and seldom, if ever, used now where strength is ofmore importance than neatness. 

EYE-BOLTS. Those which have an eye or opening in one end, for hookingtackles to, or fastening ropes. 

EYELET-HOLES, are necessary in order to bend a sail to its yard or boom, or to reef it; they consist of round holes worked in a sail to admit acringle or small rope through, chiefly the robands (or rope-bands), andthe points of the reef-line. (_See_ SAIL. )

EYE OF A BLOCK-STROP. That part by which it is fastened or suspended toany particular place upon the sails, masts, or rigging; the eye issometimes formed by making two eye-splices, termed lashing eyes, on theends of the strop, and then seizing them together with a small line, soas to bind both round a mast, yard, or boom, as is deemed necessary. 

EYE OF AN ANCHOR. The hole in the shank wherein the ring is fixed. 

EYE OF A STAY. That part of a stay which is formed into a sort of collarto go round the mast-head; the eye and mouse form the collar. 

EYE OF THE WIND. The direction to windward from whence it blows. (_See_WIND'S-EYE. )

EYE-SHOT. Within sight. 

EYES OF A MESSENGER. Eyes spliced in its ends to lash together. 

EYES OF A SHIP. (_See_ EYES OF HER. )

EYES OF HER. The foremost part of the bay, or in the bows of a ship. Inolden times, and now in Spanish and Italian boats, as well as Chinesejunks, an eye is painted on each bow. The hawse-holes also are deemedthe "eyes of her. "

EYE-SORE. Any disagreeable object. 

EYE-SPLICE. (_See_ SPLICE. ) A kind of splice made by turning the end ofa rope back, and the strands passed through the standing part. --_Eye ofa splice_, the strand turned up, by the fid or marline-spike, to receivethe opposite strand. 

EYGHT. An alluvial river-island, where osiers usually grow, called also_ait_, _ayt_, _ey_, _eyet_, or _eyot_. Also, the thickest part of ascule of herrings; when this is scattered by the fishermen, it is termed"breaking the ey. "

F. 

FACE. The edge of a sharp instrument. Also, the word of command tosoldiers, marines, and small-arm men, to turn upon the heel a quarter orhalf a circle round in the direction ordered. 

FACED. Turned up with facings on the cuffs and collars of uniforms andregimentals. 

FACE OF A GUN. The surface of the metal at the extremity of the muzzle. 

FACE-PIECE. A piece of elm tabled on to the knee of the head, in thefore-part, to assist the conversion of the main piece; and likewise toshorten the upper bolts, and prevent the cables from rubbing againstthem as the knee gets worn. 

FACES OF A WORK. In fortification, are the two lines forming its mostprominent salient angle. 

FACHON. An Anglo-Norman term for a sword or falchion. 

FACING. Letting one piece of timber into another with a rabbet to giveadditional strength or finish. Also, a movement for forming soldiers andsmall-arm men. --_Facings. _ The front of regimentals and uniforms. 

FACK. _See_ FAKE. 

FACTOR. A commercial superintendent, or agent residing beyond sea, commissioned by merchants to buy or sell goods on their account by aletter of attorney. 

FACTORAGE. A certain percentage paid to the factor by the merchant onall he buys or sells. 

FACTORY. A place where a considerable number of factors reside; asLisbon, Leghorn, Calcutta, &c. Factory comprehends the business of afirm or company, as that of the India Company at Canton, or the Hudson'sBay Fur Company in North America. 

FACULÆ. Luminous streaks upon the disc of the sun, among which themaculæ, or dark spots, usually appear. 

FADOME. The old form used for _fathom_ (which see). 

FAFF, TO. To blow in flaws. 

FAG, TO. To tire. --_A fag. _ A deputy labouring-man, or one who workshard for another. 

FAG-END. Is the end of any rope. This term is also applied to the end ofa rope when it has become untwisted. 

FAGGOTS. Men who used to be hired to answer to names on the books, whenthe crew were mustered by the clerk of the cheque. Such cheating wasonce still more prevalent in the army. 

FAGOT. A billet for stowing casks. A _fascine_ (which see). 

FAG-OUT, TO. To wear out the end of a rope or end of canvas. 

FAIK, OR FALK. A name in the Hebrides for the sea-fowl razor-bill (_Alcatorda_). 

FAIR. A general term for the wind when favourable to a ship's course, inopposition to contrary or foul; _fair_ is more comprehensive than_large_, since it includes about 16 points, whereas large is confined tothe beam or quarter, that is, to a wind which crosses the keel at rightangles, or obliquely from the stern, but never to one right astern. (_See_ LARGE and SCANT. )--_Fair_, in ship-building, denotes the evennessor regularity of a curve or line. --_To fair_, means to clip the timbersfair. 

FAIR-CURVE. In delineating ships, is a winding line whose shape isvaried according to the part of the ship it is intended to describe. This curve is not answerable to any of the figures of conic sections, although it occasionally partakes of them all. 

FAIRING. Sheering a ship in construction. Also, the draught of a ship. To run off a great number of different lines or curves, in order toascertain the fairness in point of curvature of every part, and thebeauty of the whole. 

FAIR-LEAD. Is applied to ropes as suffering the least friction in ablock, when they are said to lead fair. 

FAIR-LEADER. A thimble or cringle to guide a rope. A strip of board withholes in it, for running-rigging to lead through, and be kept clear, soas to be easily distinguished at night. 

FAIR-MAID. A west-country term for a dried pilchard. 

FAIR-WAY. The navigable channel of a harbour for ships passing up ordown; so that if any vessels are anchored therein, they are said to liein the fair-way. (_See_ PILOT'S FAIR-WAY. ) Also, when the proper courseis gained out of a channel. 

FAIR-WEATHER. That to which a ship may carry the small sails. 

FAKE. One of the circles or windings of a cable or hawser, as it liesdisposed in a coil. (_See_ COILING. ) The fakes are greater or smaller inproportion to the space which a cable is allowed to occupy. 

FALCON. In early times a small cannon, having a length of about 7 feet, a diameter of bore of 3 inches, and throwing a ball of nearly 3 lbs. Weight, with a point-blank range of 130 paces, and a random one of 1500. 

FALCONET. A primitive cannon smaller than the falcon; it threw a ball of1-1/2 lb. 

FALK. _See_ FAKE. 

FALL. A vertical descent of a river through a narrow rocky pass, or overa ledge, to the impediment of navigation. Also, the loose end of atackle, or that part to which the power is applied in hoisting, and onwhich the people pull. Also, in ship-building, the descent of a deckfrom a fair-curve lengthwise, as frequently seen in merchantmen andyachts, to give height to the commander's cabin, and sometimes forwardat the hawse-holes. Also, a large cutting down of timber. Also, NorthAmerican English for autumn, when the navigation of northern inlandwaters is about to close till the succeeding spring. 

FALL, TO. A town or fortress is said to fall when it is compelled tosurrender to besiegers. 

FALL ABOARD OF, TO. To strike another vessel, or have a collision withit. Usually applied to the motion of a disabled ship coming in contactwith another. 

FALL! A FALL! The cry to denote that the harpoon has been effectivelydelivered into the body of a whale. 

FALL ASTERN, TO. To lessen a ship's way so as to allow another to getahead of her. To be driven backwards. 

FALL BACK, TO. To recede from any position previously occupied. 

FALL CALM, TO. Speaking of the weather, implies a total cessation of thewind. 

FALL CLOUD. _See_ STRATUS. 

FALL DOWN, TO. To sail, drift, or be towed to some lower part nearer ariver's mouth or opening. 

FALLEN-STAR. A name for the jelly-fish or _medusa_, frequently thrownashore in summer and autumn. 

FALL FOUL OF, TO. To reprimand severely. (_See_ FALL ABOARD OF. )

FALL IN, TO. The order to form, or take assigned places in ranks. (_See_ASSEMBLY. )

FALLING GLASS. When the mercury of the barometer is sinking in the tube. 

FALLING HOME. When the top-sides are inclined within the perpendicular;opposite of _wall-sided_. (_See_ TUMBLING HOME. )

FALLING OFF. The opposite of _griping_, or _coming up to the wind_; itis the movement or direction of the ship's head to leeward of the pointwhither it was lately directed, particularly when she sails near thewind, or lies by. Also, the angle contained between her nearest approachto the direction of the wind, and her furthest declination from it when_trying_. 

FALLING OUT. When the top-sides project beyond a perpendicular, as inflaring. 

FALLING STARS. Meteors which have very much the appearance of realstars. They were falsely regarded as foreboders of wind, as Seneca in_Hippolytus_, "Ocior cursum rapiente flamma stella cum ventis agitatalongos porrigit ignes. " Some are earthy, others metallic. 

FALLING TIDE, OR EBB OF TIDE. This phrase, implying a previous flow oftide towards high-water, requires here only a partial explanation: thesea, after swelling for about six hours, and thus entering the mouths ofrivers, and rising along the sea-shore more or less, according to themoon's age and other circumstances, rests for a quarter of an hour, andthen retreats or ebbs during the next six hours. After a similar pausethe phenomenon recommences, --occupying altogether about twelve hours andfifty minutes. A table of the daily time of high-water at each port isrequisite for the shipping. There are curious variations to this law, aswhen strong rivers rise and fall, and yet do not admit salt water. Theircurrents, indeed, of fresh water, are found far off the land, as in theTiber, and off several in the West Indies, South America, &c. (_See_TIDE. )

FALL IN WITH, TO. To meet, when speaking of a ship; to discover, whenspeaking of the land. 

FALL OF TIDE. An ebb. 

FALL OUT, TO. To increase in breadth. Among soldiers and small-arm men, to quit the ranks of a company. 

FALLS. When a ship is not flush, this is the term given to those risingsof some parts of her decks (which she may have) more than others. 

FALL-WIND. A sudden gust. 

FALMADAIR. An old word signifying rudder, or a pilot. 

FALSE ALARM. _See_ ALARM. 

FALSE ATTACK. A feigned assault, made to induce a diversion ordistraction of the enemy's forces, in order that the true objectelsewhere may be carried. 

FALSE COLOURS. To sail under false colours and chase is an allowablestratagem of war, but firing under them is not permitted by the maritimelaw of England. 

FALSE FIRE, BLUE FLAMES. A composition of combustibles filled into awooden tube, which, upon being set fire to, burns with a light blueflame from a half to several minutes. They are principally used asnight-signals, but often to deceive an enemy. 

FALSE KEEL. A kind of supplemental or additional keel secured under themain one, to protect it should the ship happen to strike the ground. 

FALSE KELSON, OR KELSON RIDER. A piece of timber wrought longitudinallyabove the main kelson. 

FALSE MUSTER. An incorrect statement of the crew on the ship's books, which if proved subjects the captain to cashiering. 

FALSE PAPERS. Frequently carried by slavers and smugglers. 

FALSE POST. _See_ FALSE STERN-POST. 

FALSE RAIL. A thin plank fayed at the head-rails as a strengthener. 

FALSE STEM. A hard timber fayed to the fore-part of the main stem, itstail covering the fore-end of the keel. (_See_ CUT-WATER. )

FALSE STERN. An additional stern fixed on the main one, to increase thelength and improve the appearance of a vessel. 

FALSE STERN-POST. A piece bolted to the after-edge of the mainstern-post to improve steerage, and protect it should the ship tailaground. 

FAMILY-HEAD. When the stem was surmounted with several full-lengthfigures, as was the custom many years ago. 

FAMLAGH. The Erse or Manx term for oar or ore weed, wrack, or manure ofsea-weed. 

FANAL [Fr. ] A lighthouse. 

FANCY-LINE. A line rove through a block at the jaws of a gaff, used as adown-haul. Also, a line used for cross-hauling the lee topping-lift. Also, a cord laid up neatly for sashed cabin-windows. Sometimes used for_tracing-line_. 

FANE. An old term for weather-cock: "a fayne of a schipe. " (_See_ VANE. )

FANG, TO. To pour water into a pump in order to fetch it, when otherwisethe boxes do not hold the water left on them. 

FANGS. The valves of the pump-boxes. 

FANIONS. Small flags used in surveying stations, named after thebannerets carried by horse brigades, and corrupted from the Italian word_gonfalone_, a standard. 

FANNAG-VARRY. The Erse term for a shag or cormorant, still in use on ournorth-western shores, and in the Isle of Man. 

FANNING. The technical phrase for breadthening the after-part of thetops. Also, widening in general. 

FANNING-BREEZE. One so gentle that the sail alternately swells andcollapses. 

FANTODS. A name given to the fidgets of officers, who are styledjib-and-staysail Jacks. 

FARDAGE. Dunnage; when a ship is laden in bulk. 

FARE [Anglo-Saxon, _fara_]. A voyage or passage by water, or the moneypaid for such passage. Also, a fishing season for cod; and likewise thecargo of the fishing vessel. (_See_ HOW FARE YE?)

FARE-CROFTS. The vessels that formerly plied between England and France. 

FARRANE. The Erse term for a gentle breeze, still used on ournorth-western shores. 

FARTHEL. An old word for furling sails. Also, a burden, according toShakspeare in _Hamlet_; and a weight, agreeably to the depositions ofthe "Portingalls" before Sir Francis Drake, _in re_ the great carrack'scargo in 1592; there were "ij^_c_ fardells of synamon:" of this famousprize the queen reserved to herself the lion's share. 

FASCINES. Faggots of brush or other small wood, varying according to theobject in view and the material available, from about 6 to 9 inches indiameter, and from 6 to 18 feet in length, firmly bound with withes atabout every 18 inches. They are of vast use in militaryfield-engineering. 

FASH. An irregular seam. The mark left by the moulds upon cast bullets. (Short for _fashion_--ship-fashion, soldier-fashion. )

FASHION-PIECES. The fashion of the after-part of a ship, in the plane ofprojection. They are the hindmost timbers in the run of a ship, whichterminate the breadth, and form the shape of the stern; they are unitedto the stern-post, and to the end of the wing-transom by a rabbet. 

FASKIDAR. A name of the _Cataractes parasiticus_, or Arctic gull. 

FAST. A rope, cablet, or chain by which a vessel is secured to a wharf;and termed bow, head, breast, quarter, or stern fasts, as the case maybe. 

FAST AGROUND. Immovable, or high and dry. 

FAST AND LOOSE. An uncertain and shuffling conduct. 

FASTENINGS. "Let go the fasts!" throw off the ropes from the bollards orcleats. Also used for the bolts, &c. , which hold together the differentparts of a ship. 

FASTNESS. A strong post, fortified by nature and art. 

FAST SAILER. A ship which, in nautical parlance, "has legs. "

FAST STAYING. Quick in going about. 

FAT, OR BROAD. If the tressing in or tuck of a ship's quarter underwater hangs deep, or is overfull, they say she has a _fat_ quarter. 

FATHER. The dockyard name given to the person who constructs a ship ofthe navy. 

FATHER-LASHER. A name of the scorpius or scorpion, _Cottus scorpius_, afish about 9 inches long, common near rocky coasts. 

FATHOM [Anglo-Saxon, _fædm_]. The space of both arms extended. A measureof 6 feet, used in the length of cables, rigging, &c. , and to divide thelead (or sounding) lines, for showing the depth of water. --_To fathom_, is to ascertain the depth of water by sounding. To conjecture anintention. 

FATHOM-WOOD. Slab and other offal of timber, sold at the yards, byfathom lots: cubic measurement. 

FATIGUE-PARTY. A party of soldiers told off to any labour-duty notstrictly professional. 

FAULCON. A small cannon. (_See_ FALCON. )

FAUN. Anglo-Norman for a flood-gate or water-gate. 

FAUSSEBRAYE. In fortification, a kind of counterguard or low rampart, intended to protect the lower part of the main escarp behind it frombeing breached, but considered in modern times to do more harm than goodto the defence. 

FAVOUR, TO. To be careful of; also to be fair for. --"_Favour her_" ispurely a seaman's term; as when it blows in squalls, and the vessel isgoing rap-full, with a stiff weather-helm and bow-seas, "favour her boy"is "ease the helm, let the sails lift, and head the sea. " So, in haulingin a rope, _favour_ means to trust to the men's force and elasticity, and not part the rope by taking a turn on a cleat, making a dead nip. Athorough seaman "favours" his spars and rigging, and sails his shipeconomically as well as expeditiously. 

FAY, TO. To fit any two pieces of wood, so as to join close and fairtogether; the plank is said to fay to the timbers, when it lies so closeto them that there shall be no perceptible space between them. 

FAY FENA. A kind of Japanese galley, of 30 oars. 

FEALTY. Loyalty and due devotion to the queen's service. 

FEARN. A small windlass for a lighter. 

FEAR-NOUGHT. Stout felt woollen cloth, used for port-linings, hatchwayfire-screens, &c. The same as _dread-nought_. 

FEATHER. (_See_ SWINE'S or SWEDISH FEATHER. ) It is used variously. (_Seealso_ FULL FEATHER and WHITE FEATHER. )

FEATHER, TO CUT A. When a ship has so sharp a bow that she makes thespray feather in cleaving it. 

FEATHER AN OAR, TO. In rowing, is to turn the blade horizontally, withthe top aft, as it comes out of the water. This lessens the resistanceof the air upon it. 

FEATHER-EDGED. A term used by shipwrights for such planks as are thickeron one edge than the other. 

FEATHERING-PADDLES. (Morgan's patent. )

FEATHER-SPRAY. Such as is observed at the cut-water of fast steamers, forming a pair of wing feathers. 

FEATHER-STAR. The _Comatula rosacea_, one of the most beautiful ofBritish star-fishes. 

FEAZE, TO. To untwist, to unlay ropes; to teaze, to convert it intooakum. 

FEAZINGS. The fagging out or unravelling of an unwhipped rope. 

FECKET. A Guernsey frock. 

FECKLESS. Weak and silly. 

FEEDER. A small river falling into a large one, or into a dock or float. _Feeders_, in pilot slang, are the passing spurts of rain which feed agale. 

FEEDING-GALE. A storm which is on the increase, sometimes getting worseat each succeeding squall. When a gale freshens after rain, it is saidto have fed the gale. 

FEEDING-PART OF A TACKLE. That running through the sheaves, inopposition to the standing part. 

FEED OF GRASS. A supply of any kind of vegetables. 

FEED-PUMP. The contrivance by which the boilers of a steamer aresupplied with water from the hot-well, while the engines are at work. 

FEED-WATER. In steamers, the water which supplies the boiler. 

FEEL THE HELM, TO. To have good steerage way, carrying tautweather-helm, which gives command of steerage. Also said of a ship whenshe has gained head-way after standing still, and begins to obey thehelm. 

FEINT. A mock assault, generally made to conceal a true one. 

FELL, TO. To cut down timber. To knock down by a heavy blow. _Fell_ isthe Anglo-Saxon for a skin or hide. 

FELL-HEAD. The top of a mountain not distinguished by a peak. 

FELL IN WITH. Met by chance. 

FELLOES [from _felly_]. The arch-pieces which form the rim orcircumference of the wheel, into which the spokes and handles arefitted. 

FELLOW. A sailor's soubriquet for himself; he will ask if you "haveanything for a fellow to do?"

FELLS. Upland levels and mountainous tracts. 

FELT. Stuff made of wool and hair. Patent felt is saturated with tar, and used to place inside the doubling or sheathing of a vessel's bottom. Employed also in covering the boilers and cylinders of steam-engines. 

FELUCCA. (_See_ LUNTRA. ) A little vessel with six or eight oars, frequent in the Mediterranean; its helm may be applied in the head orstern, as occasion requires. Also, a narrow decked galley-built vesselin great use there, of one or two masts, and some have a small mizen;they carry lateen sails. 

FEN. Low tracts inundated by the tides, capable, when in a dry state, ofbearing the weight of cattle grazing upon them; differing therein frombog or quagmire. When well drained, they form some of the best land inthe country. 

FENCE. A palisade. Also, the arm of the hammer-spring of a gun-lock. 

FENCIBLES. Bodies of men raised for limited service, and for a definiteperiod. In rank they are junior to the line and royal marines, butsenior to yeomanry or volunteers. 

FENCING. The art of using the small-sword with skill and address. 

FEND. An aphæresis from defend; to ward off. 

FEND OR FENDER BOLTS. Made with long and thick heads, struck into theoutermost bends or wales of a ship, to save her sides from hurts andbruises. 

FENDER-PILES. In a dock, &c. 

FENDERS. Two pieces of oak-plank fayed edgeways against the top-sides, abreast the main hatchway, to prevent the sides being chafed by thehoisting of things on board. They are not wanted where the yard-tacklesare constantly used. Also, pieces of old cable, or other materials, hungover the side to prevent it from chafing against a wharf; as also topreserve a small vessel from being damaged by a large one. The fendersof a boat are usually made of canvas, stuffed, and neatly painted. 

FEND OFF, TO. In order to avoid violent contact, is, by the applicationof a spar, junk, rattans, &c. , to prevent one vessel running againstanother, or against a wharf, &c. Fend off, with the boat-hook orstretchers in a boat. --_Fend the boat_, keep her from beating againstthe ship's side. 

FERNAN BAG. A small ditty-bag, often worn by sailors, for holdingtobacco and other things. They have applied the term to the pouches inmonkeys' cheeks, where they carry spare food. 

FERRARA. A species of broadsword, named after the famous Spanishsword-smith, Andrea Ferrara. 

FERRIAGE. An old right of the admiralty over all rivers between the seaand the first bridges. 

FERRY. A passage across a river or branch of the sea by boat. 

FERRY-BOATS. Vessels or wherries duly licensed for conveying passengersacross a river or creek. 

FETCH, TO. To reach, or arrive at; as, "we shall fetch to windward ofthe lighthouse this tack. "

FETCH HEAD-WAY OR STERN-WAY. Said of a vessel gathering motion ahead orastern. 

FETCHING THE PUMP. Pouring water into the upper part in order to expelthe air contained between the lower box and that of the pump-spear. (_See_ PUMP. )

FETCH OF A BAY OR GULF. The whole stretch from head to head, or point topoint. 

FETCH WAY, TO. Said of a gun, or anything which escapes from its placeby the vessel's motion at sea. 

FETTLE, TO. To fit, repair, or put in order. Also, a threat. 

FEU-DE-JOIE. A salute fired by musketry on occasions of publicrejoicing, so that it should pass from man to man rapidly and steadily, down one rank and up the other, giving one long continuous sound. 

FEZ. A red cloth skull-cap, worn by the people of Fez and Morocco, andin general use amongst Mediterranean sailors. 

F. G. The initials on a powder cask, denote _fine grain_. 

FICHANT. In fortification, said of flanking fire which impinges on theface it defends; that is, of a line of defence where the angle ofdefence is less than a right angle. 

FID. A square bar of wood or iron, with a shoulder at one end, used tosupport the weight of the top-mast when erected at the head of the lowermast, by passing through a mortise or hole at the lower end of theformer, and resting its ends on the trestle-trees, which are sustainedby the head of the latter; the fid, therefore, must be withdrawn everytime the mast is lowered; the topgallant-mast is retained at the head ofthe top-mast in the same manner. There is also a patent screw fid, whichcan be removed after hauling taut the mast rope, without having first tolift the mast. (_See_ MAST. ) A fid is also a conical pin of hard wood, of any size from 10 inches downwards, tapering to a point, used to openthe strands of a rope in splicing: of these some are large, for splicingcables, and some small, for the bolt-ropes of sails, &c. Fid isimproperly applied to metal of the same shape; they are then termed_marling-spikes_ (called _stabbers_ by sail-makers--which see). Also, the piece of oakum with which the vent of a gun is plugged. Some call itthe _vent-plug_ (which see). Also, colloquially used for a quid or chewof tobacco, or a small but thick piece of anything, as of meat in clumsycarving. 

FIDDED. When a mast has been swayed high enough the fid is theninserted, and the mast-rope relieved of the weight. 

FIDDLE. A contrivance to prevent things from rolling off the table inbad weather. It takes its name from its resemblance to a fiddle, beingmade of small cords passed through wooden bridges, and hauled very taut. 

FIDDLE-BLOCK. A long shell, having one sheave over the other, and thelower smaller than the upper (_see_ LONG-TACKLES), in contradistinctionto double blocks, which also have two sheaves, but one abreast of theother. They lie flatter and more snugly to the yards, and are chieflyused for lower-yard tackles. 

FIDDLE-FISH. A name of the king-crab (_Limulus polyphemus_), from itssupposed resemblance to that instrument. 

FIDDLE-HEAD. When there is no figure; this means that the termination ofthe head is formed by a scroll turning aft or inward like a violin: incontradistinction to the _scroll-head_ (which see). 

FIDE JUSSORS. Bail sureties in the instance court of the admiralty. 

FIDLER. A small crab, with one large claw and a very small one. Itburrows on drowned lands. 

FIDLER'S GREEN. A sort of sensual Elysium, where sailors are representedas enjoying, for "a full due, " those amenities for which Wapping, CastleRag, and the back of Portsmouth Point were once noted. 

FIELD. The country in which military operations are being carried on;the scene of a conflict. --_Taking the field_, quitting cantonments, andgoing on active service. 

FIELD-ALLOWANCE. A small extra payment made to officers, and sometimesto privates, on active service in the field, to compensate partly theenhanced price of all necessaries. 

FIELD-ARTILLERY. Light ordnance fitted for travel as to be applicable tothe active operations of the field. The term generally includes theofficers, men, and horses, also the service. According to the presentexcellent establishment of rifled field-guns for the British service, the Armstrong 12-pounder represents the average type. 

FIELD-DAY. A day of exercise and evolutions. 

FIELD-FORTIFICATION. Is the constructing of works intended to strengthenthe position of forces operating in the field; works of that temporaryand limited quality which may be easily formed with the means at hand. 

FIELD-GLASS. A telescope, frequently so termed. Also, the binocular oropera-glass, used for field-work, night-work, and at races. 

FIELD-GUN. _See_ FIELD-ARTILLERY. 

FIELD-ICE. A sheet of smooth frozen water of a general thickness, and ofan extent too large for its boundaries to be seen over from a ship'smast-head. Field-ice may be all adrift, but yet pressed together, andwhen any masses detach, as they suddenly do, they are termed floes. Theyas suddenly become pressed home again and cause nips. (_See_ NIP. )

FIELD-MARSHAL. The highest rank in the British army. 

FIELD-OFFICERS. The colonel, lieutenant-colonels, and majors of aregiment; so called because, not having the common duties in quarters, they are mostly seen when the troops are in the field. 

FIELD OF VIEW. That space which is visible in a telescope at one view, and which diminishes under augmenting eye-pieces. 

FIELD-PIECES. Light guns proper to be taken into field operations; oneor more of them is now carried by all ships of war for land service. 

FIELD-WORKS. The constructions of _field-fortification_ (which see). 

FIERY-FLAW, OR FIRE-FLAIRE. A northern designation of the sting-ray(_Raia pastinaca_). 

FIFE-RAILS. Those forming the upper fence of the bulwarks on each sideof the quarter-deck and poop in men-of-war. Also, the rail round themain-mast, and encircling both it and the pumps, furnished with belayingpins for the running rigging, though now obsolete under the iron rule. 

FIFER AND FIDLER. Two very important aids in eliciting exact discipline;for hoisting, warping, and heaving at the capstan in proper time; rateda second-class petty officer styled "musician, " pay £30, 8_s. _ perannum. 

FIG, OR FULL FIG. In best clothes. Full dress. 

FIGALA. An East Indian craft with one mast, generally rowed withpaddles. 

FIGGER. The soubriquet of a Smyrna trader. 

FIGGIE-DOWDIE. A west-country pudding, made with raisins, and much invogue at sea among the Cornish and Devon men. Cant west-country term forplum-pudding--figs and dough. 

FIGHT, SEA. _See_ BATTLE, ENGAGEMENT, EXERCISE, &c. 

FIGHTING-LANTERNS. Kept in their respective fire-buckets at quarters, inreadiness for night action only. There is usually one attached to eachgun; the bucket is fragile, but intended to screen the light, andfurnished with a fire-lanyard. 

FIGHTING-SAILS. Those to which a ship is reduced when going into action;formerly implying the courses and top-sails only. 

FIGHTING-WATER. Casks filled and placed on the decks, expressly for usein action. When the head was broken in, vinegar was added to prevent toomuch being taken by one man. 

FIGHTS. Waste-cloths formerly hung about a ship, to conceal the men fromthe enemy. Shakspeare, who knew everything, makes Pistol bombasticallyexclaim--

 "Clap on more sails: pursue, up with your fights. "

_Close fights_, synonymous with _close quarters_. 

FIGURE. The principal piece of carved work or ornament at the head of aship, whether scroll, billet, or figure-head. 

FIGURE-HEAD. A carved bust or full-length figure over the cut-water of aship; the remains of an ancient superstition. The Carthaginians carriedsmall images to sea to protect their ships, as the Roman Catholics dostill. The sign or head of St. Paul's ship was Castor and Pollux. 

FIGURE OF EIGHT. A knot made by passing the end of a rope over and roundthe standing part, up over its own part, and down through the bight. 

FIGURE OF THE EARTH. The form of our globe, which is that of an oblatespheroid with an ellipticity of about 1/299. 

FIKE. _See_ FYKE. 

FILADIERE. A small flat-bottomed boat of the Garonne. 

FILE. Originally a string of soldiers one behind the other, though inthe present formation of British troops, the length of the string hasbeen reduced to two. 

FILE. _An old file. _ A somewhat contemptuous epithet for a deep andcunning, but humorous person. 

FILE OFF, TO. To march off to a flank by files, or with a very smallfront. 

FILL, TO. To brace the yards so that the wind strikes the after side ofthe sails, and advances the ship in her course, after the sails had beenshivering, or braced aback. A ship may be forced backward or forward, ormade to remain in her place, with the same wind, by "backing, filling, "or shivering the sails. (_See_ BRACE, BACK, and SHIVER. ) Colliersgenerally _tide it_, "backing and filling" down the Thames until theygain the reaches, where there is room for tacking, or the wind is fairenough for them to lay their course. --An idle skulker, a fellow wholoiters, trying to avoid being seen by the officer of the watch, is saidto be "backing and filling;" otherwise, doing nothing creditably. 

FILL AND STAND ON. A signal made after "lying by" to direct the fleet toresume their course. 

FILLER. A filling piece in a made mast. 

FILLET. An ornamental moulding. Rings on the muzzle and cascabel ofguns. 

FILLET-HORSE. The horse employed in the shafts of the limbers. 

FILLING. In ship-carpentry, wood fitted on a timber or elsewhere to makeup a defect in the moulding way. This name is sometimes given to a_chock_. 

FILLING A SHIP'S BOTTOM. Implies covering the bottom of a ship withbroad-headed nails, so as to give her a sheathing of iron, to preventthe worms getting into the wood; sheathing with copper is foundsuperior, but the former plan is still used for piles in salt-water. 

FILLING IN. The replacing a ship's vacant planks opened for ventilation, when preparing her, from ordinary, for sea. 

FILLING POWDER. Taking gunpowder from the casks to fill cartridges, whenlights and fires should be extinguished. 

FILLING ROOM. Formerly a small place parted off and lined with lead, ina man-of-war magazine, wherein powder may be started loosely, in orderto fill cartridges. 

FILLINGS. Fir fayed in between the chocks of the head, and whereversolidity is required, as making the curve fair for the mouldings betweenthe edges of the fish-front and the sides of the mast, or making thespaces between the ribs and timbers of a vessel's frame solid. 

FILLING-TIMBERS. Blocks of wood introduced in all well-built vesselsbetween the frames, where the bilge-water may wash. 

FILLING-TRANSOM, is just above the deck-transom, securing the ends ofthe gun-deck plank and lower-transoms. 

FILL THE MAIN-YARD. An order well understood to mean, fill themain-topsail, after it has been aback, or the ship hove-to. 

FILTER. A strainer to free water from its impurities, usually termed byseamen _drip-stone_ (which see). 

FILUM AQUÆ. The thread or middle of any river or stream which dividescountries, manors, &c. --_File du mer_, the high tide of the sea. 

FIMBLE HEMP; _female hemp_, is that which is chiefly used for domesticpurposes, and therefore falls to the care of the women, as _carl_ or_male hemp_, which produces the flower, does to the maker of cordage. 

 "Wife, pluck fro thy seed hemp, the _fimble hemp_ clean, This looketh more yellow, the other more green; Use this one for thy spinning, leave Michael the t'other, For shoe-thread and halter, for rope and such other. "--_Tusser. _

FIN [Anglo-Saxon, _Finn_]. A native of Finland; those are _Fins_ wholive by fishing. We use the whole for a part, and thus lose the cluewhich the Fin affords of a race of fishermen. 

FIN-BACK. _See_ FINNER. 

FIND, TO. To provide with or furnish. 

FINDING. The verdict of a court-martial. 

FINDON HADDOCK. The Finnan Haddie, a species of haddock cured bysmoke-drying at Montrose and Aberdeen. 

FINE. A term of comparison, as fine ship, &c. , or _lean_ (which see). Also, _see_ FYEN. 

FINE BREEZES. Said of the wind when the flying-kites may be carried, butrequiring a sharp look-out. 

FINISHINGS. The carved ornaments of the quarter-galleries: _upper_ and_lower_, as above or below the stools. 

FINNER. Whales of the genus _Balænoptera_ are so termed, beingdistinguished from the right whales by the possession of a smalltriangular adipose dorsal fin. There are several species, some of whichgrow to a greater length than any other animals of the order, viz. 80 orperhaps 90 feet. They are very active and difficult to harpoon, yieldcomparatively little oil, and their baleen, or "whalebone, " is almostworthless; consequently, they suffer much less than the right whalesfrom the persecutions of the whalers. The finner, or great black fish, is feared by whalers in general. It is vicious, and can only be attackedby large boats in shallow water, as at the Bermudas, where thewhale-boats are about 50 or 60 feet long, and 12 feet beam. The fishyields one barrel of oil for every foot in length beyond thirty. (_See_RAZOR-BACK and RORQUAL. )

FINNIE. A northern name for salmon under a year old. 

FINNOCK. A white kind of small salmon taken on the west coast ofScotland. 

FINTRUM SPELDIN. A small dried haddock. 

FIN-WHALE. _See_ FINNER. 

FIORD. A Norwegian pilot term for good channels among islets, and deepinlets of the sea. 

FIRBOME. An old term for a beacon, and appears thus in the _PromptoriumParvulorum_. 

FIR-BUILT. Constructed of fir. 

FIRE! The order to put the match to the priming, or pull the trigger ofa cannon or other fire-arm so as to discharge it. The act of dischargingordnance. 

FIRE, LOSS BY. Is within the policy of insurance, whether it be byaccident, or by the fault of the master or mariners. Also, if a ship beordered by a state to be burnt to prevent infection, or if she be burntto prevent her falling into the hands of the enemy. 

FIRE-AND-LIGHTS. Nickname of the master-at-arms. 

FIRE-ARMS. Every description of arms that discharge missiles bygunpowder, from the heaviest cannon to a pistol. 

FIRE-ARROWS. Missiles in olden times carrying combustibles; much used inthe sea-fights of the middle ages. 

FIRE-AWAY. Go on with your remarks. 

FIRE-BALL. In meteorology, a beautiful phenomenon seen at times, theorigin of which is as yet imperfectly accounted for. It is also thepopular name for aërolites in general, because in their descent theyappear to be burning. 

FIRE-BALLS. Are used for destroying vessels run aground, and firingbuildings. They are made of a composition of meal-powder, sulphur, saltpetre, and pitch, moulded into a mass with suet and tow. 

FIRE-BARE. An old term from the Anglo-Saxon for _beacon_. 

FIRE-BARS. The range fronting a steam-boiler. 

FIRE-BILL. The distribution of the officers and crew in case of thealarm of fire, a calamity requiring judicious conduct. 

FIRE-BOOMS. Long spars swung out from a ship's side to prevent theapproach of fire-ships, fire-stages, or vessels accidentally on fire. 

FIRE-BOX. A space crossing the whole front of the boiler over thefurnace doors, opposite the smoke-box. 

FIRE-BUCKETS. Canvas, leather, or wood buckets for quarters, each fittedwith a sinnet laniard of regulated length, for reaching the water fromthe lower yards. (_See_ FIREMEN. )

FIRE-DOOR. An access to the fire-place of an engine. 

FIRE-DRAKE. A meteor, or the Corpo Santo. Also, a peculiar fire-work, which Shakspeare in _Henry VIII. _ thus mentions: "That fire-drake did Ihit three times on the head, and three times was his nose dischargedagainst me; he stands there like a mortar-piece to blow us. "

FIRE-EATER. One notoriously fond of being in action; much humbled byiron-clads. 

FIRE-FLAUGHTS. The _aurora borealis_, or northern lights. 

FIRE-HEARTH. The security base of the galley-range and all itsconveniences. 

FIRE-HEARTH-CARLINE. The timber let in under the beams on which thefire-hearth stands, with pillars underneath, and chocks thereon. 

FIRE-HOOPS. A combustible invented by the knights of Malta to throwamong their besiegers, and afterwards used in boarding Turkish galleys. 

FIRE-LOCK. Formerly the common name for a musket; the fire-arm carriedby a foot-soldier, marine, or small-arm man, until the generalintroduction of rifles. It carried a ball of about an ounce in weight. 

FIREMEN. A first and second man is stationed to each gun, in readinessfor active duty. The firemen, when called with the first and seconddivision of boarders, were an effective force. If for duty aloft, eachbucket had a lanyard which reached from the main-yard to the sea, so asto keep the lower sails well wet. The ship's engine was also manned bythe second division of boarders, while the first division and carpenterscut away obstacles. (For firemen in a steamer, see STOKER. )

FIRE-RAFTS. Timber constructions bearing combustible matters, used bythe Chinese to destroy an enemy's vessel. 

FIRE-RAILS. _See_ RAILS. 

FIRE-ROLL. A peculiar beat of the drum to order people to their stationson an alarm of fire. Summons to quarters. 

FIRE-SCREENS. Pieces of fear-nought, a thick woollen felt put round thehatchways in action. 

FIRE-SHIP. A vessel filled with combustible materials, and fitted withgrappling-irons, to hook and set fire to the enemy's ships. Notwithstanding what is said respecting the siege of Tyre, perhaps thepractice of using regular fire-ships ought to be dated from thedestruction of the fleet of Basilicus by the victorious Genseric nearCarthage. 

FIRE-SWAB. The bunch of rope-yarns sometimes secured to the tompion, saturated with water to cool the gun in action, and swab up any grainsof powder. 

FIRE-WORKS. _See_ PYROTECHNY. 

FIRING-PARTY. A detachment of soldiers, marines, or small-arm menselected to fire over the grave of an individual buried with militaryhonours. 

FIRMAUN. A Turkish passport. 

FIRST. The appellation of the senior lieutenant; also, senior lieutenantof marines, and first captain of a gun. 

FIRST FUTTOCKS. Timbers in the frame of a ship which come down betweenthe floor-timbers almost to the keel on each side. 

FIRST POINT OF ARIES. _See_ ARIES. 

FIRST QUARTER OF THE MOON. _See_ QUARTER, FIRST. 

FIRST WATCH. The men on deck-duty from 8 P. M. Till midnight. 

FIRTH. A corruption of _frith_, in Scotland applied to arms of the sea, and estuaries of various extent; also given to several channels amongstthe Orkneys. 

FISH, OR FISH-PIECE. A long piece of hard wood, convex on one side andconcave on the other; two are bound opposite to each other to strengthenthe lower masts or the yards when they are sprung, to effect which theyare well secured by bolts and hoops, or stout rope called woolding. Also, colloquially, an epithet given to persons, as a _prime_ fish, a_queer_ fish, a _shy_ fish, a _loose_ fish, &c. _As mute as a fish_, when a man is very silent. Also, _fish_ among whalers is expresslyapplied to whales. At the cry of "Fish! fish!" all the boats areinstantly manned. 

FISH, ROYAL. Whale and sturgeon, to which the sovereign is entitled wheneither thrown on shore or caught near the coasts. 

FISH-DAVIT. (_See_ DAVIT. ) That which steps into a shoe in thefore-chains, and is used for fishing an anchor. 

FISHER-BOYS. The apprentices in fishing vessels. 

FISHER-FISH. A species of _Remora_, said to be trained by the Chinese tocatch turtle. When a turtle is perceived basking on the surface of thesea, the men, avoiding all noise, slip one of their remoras overboard, tied to a long and fine cord. As soon as the fish perceives the floatingreptile he swims towards it, and fixes himself on it so firmly that thefishermen easily pull in both together. 

FISHERMAN'S BEND. A knot, for simplicity called the king of all knots. Its main use is for bending studding-halliards to the yard, by takingtwo turns round the yard, passing the end between them and the yard, andhalf hitching it round the standing part. (_See_ STUDDING-SAIL BEND. )

FISHERMAN'S WALK. An extremely confined space; "three steps andoverboard, " is often said of what river yachtsmen term theirquarter-decks. 

FISH-FAG. A woman who fags under heavy fish-baskets, but is applied alsoin opprobrium to slatterns. 

FISH-FLAKE. A stage covered with light spars for the purpose of dryingfish in Newfoundland. 

FISH-FRONT. The strengthening slab on a made mast. 

FISH-GARTH. The water shut in by a dam or weir by the side of a riverfor securing fish. 

FISH-GIG. A staff with three, four, or more barbed prongs of steel atone end, and a line fastened to the other; used for striking fish atsea. Now more generally called _grains_. 

FISH-HACK. A name of the _Gobius niger_. 

FISHICK. An Orkney name for the brown whistle-fish, _Gadus mustela_. 

FISHING. In taking celestial observations, means the sweeping to find astar or other object when near its approximate place. 

FISHING-BOAT. A stout fishing-vessel with two lug-sails. 

FISHING-FROG. A name of the _Lophius piscatorius_, angler or devil-fish, eaten in the Mediterranean. 

FISHING-GROUND. Any bank or shoal frequented by fish. 

FISHING-SMACK. A sloop having in the hold a well wherein to preserve thefish, particularly lobsters, alive. 

FISHING-TAUM. A northern designation of an angling line, or anglinggear. 

FISHING-VESSELS. A general term for those employed in the fisheries, from the catching of sprats to the taking of whales. 

FISH-LEEP. An old term for a fish-basket. 

FISH-ROOM. A space parted off by bulk-heads in the after-hold, now usedfor waste stores, but formerly used for stowing salt fish--an article offood long discontinued. In line-of-battle ships, a small store-room nearthe bread-room, in which spirits or wine, and sometimes coals, werestowed, with the stock-fish. 

FISH-SPEAR. An instrument with barbed spikes. 

FISH-TACKLE. A tackle employed to hook and draw up the flukes of aship's anchor towards the top of the bow, after catting, in order tostow it; formerly composed of four parts, viz. The pendant, the block, the hook, and the tackle, for which see DAVIT. 

FISH THE ANCHOR, TO. To turn up the flukes of an anchor to the gunwalefor stowage, after being catted. --_Other fish to fry_, a commoncolloquialism, expressing that a person has other occupation demandinghis attention. 

FISH-WIFE, OR FISH-WOMAN. A female carrier and vendor of fish in ournorthern cities. 

FIST, TO. To handle a rope or sail promptly; thus _fisting_ a thing isreadily getting hold of it. 

FIT FOR DUTY. In an effective state for service. 

FIT RIGGING, TO. To cut or fit the standing and running rigging to themasts, &c. 

FIT-ROD. A small iron rod with a hook at the end, which is put into theholes made in a vessel's side, to ascertain the length of the bolts ortree-nails required to be driven in. 

FITTED FURNITURE. Rudder-chocks, bucklers, hawse-plugs, dead-lights, pump-boxes, and other articles of spare supply, sent from the dockyard. 

FITTERS. Persons in the north who vend and load coals, fitting shipswith cargoes, &c. 

FITTING OUT A SHIP. The act of providing a ship with sufficient masts, sails, yards, ammunition, artillery, cordage, anchors, provisions, stores, and men, so that she is in proper condition for the voyage orpurpose to which she is appointed. 

FIUMARA. A term common to the Italian coasts for a mountain torrent. 

FIVE-FINGERS. The name given to the _Asterias_, or star-fish, found onour shore. Cocker in 1724 describes it thus: "_Five-fingers_, a fishlike a spur-rowel, destructive to oysters, to be destroyed by theadmiralty law. " They destroy the spat of oysters. 

FIVE-SHARE MEN. In vessels, as whalers, where the men enter on thechances of success, &c. , in shares. 

FIX BAYONETS! Ship them ready for use. 

FIXED AMMUNITION. Is, complete in each round, the cartridge beingattached to the projectile, to facilitate simultaneous loading. In theBritish service it is only used for small mountain-pieces, but in theFrench for field-artillery in general. It does not stow conveniently. 

FIXED BLOCKS. Solid pieces of oak let through the sides of the ship, andfitted with sheaves, to lead the tacks, sheets, &c. , of the coursesin-board. 

FIXED STAR. _See_ STARS (FIXED). 

FIZZ. The burning of priming. 

FLABBERGAST, TO. To throw a person aback by a confounding assertion; toproduce a state of extreme surprise. 

FLADDERMUS. A base silver German coin of four kreutzers' value. 

FLAG. A general name for the distinguishing colours of any nation. Also, a certain banner by which an admiral is distinguished at sea from theinferior ships of his squadron. The flags of the British navy wereseverally on a red, white, or blue field, and were displayed from thetop of the royal pole of the main, fore, or mizen mast, according to therank of the admiral, thus indicating nine degrees. This diversity ofcolour has now been long done away with. The white field, with the redSt. George's cross, and the sinister upper corner occupied by the union, is now alone used in the British navy--the blue being assigned to thereserve, and the red to the mercantile navy. An admiral still displayshis flag exclusively at the main truck; a vice-admiral at the fore; arear-admiral at the mizen. The first flag in importance is the royalstandard of Great Britain and Ireland, hoisted only when the king orqueen is on board; the second is the anchor of hope, for the lordhigh-admiral, or the lords-commissioners of the admiralty; and the thirdis the union flag, for the admiral of the fleet, who is the nextofficer under the lord high-admiral. The various other departments, suchas the navy board, custom-house, &c. , have each their respective flags. Besides the national flag, merchant ships are permitted to bear lesserflags on any mast, with the arms or design of the firm to which theybelong, but they "must not resemble or be mistaken for any of the flagsor signals used by the royal navy, " under certain penalties. When acouncil of war is held at sea, if it be on board the admiral's ship, aflag is hung on the main-shrouds; if the vice-admiral's, on thefore-shrouds; and if the rear-admiral's, on the mizen-shrouds. The flagsborne on the mizen were particularly called gallants. There are alsosmaller flags used for signals. The word _flag_ is often familiarly usedto denote the admiral himself. Also, the reply from the boat if anadmiral is on board--Flag!

FLAG-OFFICER. A term synonymous with _admiral_. 

FLAG OF TRUCE. A white flag, hoisted to denote a wish to parley betweenthe belligerent parties, but so frequently abused, with the design ofobtaining intelligence, or to cover stratagems, &c. , that officers arevery strict in its admission. It is held sacred by civilized nations. 

FLAG-SHARE. The admiral's share (one-eighth) in all captures made by anyvessels within the limits of his command, even if under the orders ofanother admiral; but in cases of pirates, he has no claim unless heparticipates in the action. 

FLAG-SHIP. A ship bearing an admiral's flag. 

FLAG-SIDE OF A SPLIT FISH. The side without the bone. 

FLAG-STAFF. In contradistinction to mast-head, is the staff on abattery, or on a ship's stern, where the colours are displayed. (_See_FLARE. )

FLAKE. A small shifting stage, hung over a ship's side to caulk orrepair a breach. (_See_ FISH-FLAKE. )

FLAM. Wedge-shaped. Also, a sudden puff of wind. Also, a shallow. 

FLAM-FEW. The brilliant reflection of the moon on the water. 

FLAN. An old word, equivalent to a flaw, or sudden gust of wind from theland. 

FLANCHING. The bellying out; synonymous with _flaring_. 

FLANGE. In steamers, is the projecting rim at the end of two iron pipesfor uniting them. (_See_ PORT-FLANGE. )

FLANK, TO. To defend that part; incorrectly used sometimes for firingupon a flank. 

FLANK OF AN ARMY. The right or left side or end, as distinguished fromthe front and rear--a vulnerable point. Also, the force composing orcovering that side. In fortification, a work constructed to afford flankdefence. 

FLANK-COMPANIES. The extreme right and left companies of a battalion, formerly called the grenadiers and light infantry, and wearingdistinctive marks in their dress; now the title, dress, and duties ofall the companies of a battalion are the same. 

FLANK-DEFENCE. A line of fire parallel, or nearly so, to the front ofanother work or position. 

FLANKED ANGLE. In fortification, a salient angle formed by two lines offlank defence. 

FLAP. The cover of a cartridge-box or scupper. 

FLAPPING. The agitation of a sail with sheet or tack carried away, orthe sudden jerk of the sails in light winds and a heavy swell on. 

FLARE. In ship-building, is flanching outwards, as at the bows ofAmerican ships, to throw off the bow-seas; it is in opposition totumbling home and wall-sided. 

FLARE. A name for the skate, _Raia batis_. 

FLARE, TO. To rake back, as of a fashion-piece or knuckle-timber. 

FLASH. The laminæ and grain-marks in timber, when cut into planks. Also, a pool. Also, in the west, a river with a large bay, which is againseparated from the outer sea by a reef of rocks. --_To make a flash_, isto let boats down through a lock; to flash loose powder at night to showposition. 

FLASHING-BOARD. To raise or set off. 

FLASHING-SIGNALS. By Captain Colomb's plan, the lime light being used onshore, and a plain white light at sea, is capable of transmittingmessages by the relative positions of long and short dashes of light bynight, and of collapsing cones by day. 

FLASH IN THE PAN. An expressive metaphor, borrowed from the false fireof a musket, meaning to fail of success after presumption. 

FLASH RIM. In carronades, a cup-shaped enlargement of the bore at themuzzle, which facilitates the loading, and protects the ports or riggingof the vessel from the flash of explosion. 

FLASH VESSELS. All paint outside, and no order within. 

FLASK. A horn or other implement for carrying priming-powder. Smallerones for fire-arms are usually furnished with a measure of the chargefor the piece on the top. 

FLAT. In ship-building, a straight part in a curve. In hydrography, ashallow over which the tide flows, and over the whole extent of whichthere is little or no variation of soundings. If less than threefathoms, it is called _shoal_ or _shallow_. 

FLAT-ABACK. When all the sails are blown with their after-surfaceagainst the mast, so as to give stern-way. 

FLAT-AFT. The sheets of fore-and-aft sails may be hauled flat-aft, asthe jib-sheet to pay her head off, the driver or trysail sheets to bringher head to the wind; hence, "flatten in the head-sheets. "

FLAT-BOTTOMED. When a vessel's lower frame has but little upwardinclination. 

FLAT CALM. When there is no perceptible wind at sea. 

FLAT-FISH. The _Pleuronectidæ_, a family of fishes containing the soles, flounders, turbots, &c. , remarkable for having the body greatlycompressed laterally; they habitually lie on one side, which is white, the uppermost being coloured, and having both the eyes placed on it. 

FLAT-NAILS. Small sharp-pointed nails with flat thin heads, longer thantacks, for nailing the scarphs of moulds and the like. 

FLATS. All the floor-timbers that have no bevellings in midships, orpertaining to the _dead-flat_ (which see). Also, lighters used in rivernavigation, and very flat-floored boats for landing troops. 

FLAT SEAM. The two edges or selvedges of canvas laid over each other andsewed down. 

FLAT SEIZING. This is passed on a rope, the same as a round seizing, butit has no riding turns. 

FLATTEN IN, TO. The action of hauling in the aftmost clue of a sail togive it greater power of turning the vessel; thus, if the mizen or aftersails are flatted in, it is to carry the stern to leeward, and the headto windward; and if, on the contrary, the head-sails are flatted in, theintention is to make the ship fall off when, by design or accident, shehas come so near as to make the sails shiver; hence _flatten in forward_is the order to haul in the jib and foretop-mast staysail-sheets towardsthe middle of the ship, and haul forward the fore-bowline; thisoperation is seldom necessary except when the helm has not sufficientgovernment of the ship, as in variable winds or inattentive steerage. 

FLAUT. _See_ FLUTE. 

FLAVER. An east-country term for froth or foam of surf. 

FLAWS. Sudden gusts of wind, sometimes blowing with violence; whenceShakspeare in _Coriolanus_:

 "Like a great sea-mark, standing every flaw. "

But flaws also imply occasional fickle breezes in calm weather. _Flaw_is also used to express any crack in a gun or its carriage. 

FLEACHES. Portions into which timber is cut by the saw. 

FLEAK. _See_ DUTCH PLAICE. 

FLEAM. A northern name for a water-course. 

FLEAT, OR FLEET. _See_ FLEETING. 

FLEATE, TO. To skim fresh water off the sea, as practised at the mouthsof the Rhone, the Nile, &c. The word is derived from the Dutch_vlieten_, to skim milk; it also means to float. (_See_ FLEET. )

FLECHE. The simplest form of field-work, composed of two faces meetingin a salient angle, and open at the gorge. It differs from the redanonly in having no ditch. 

FLECHERRA. A swift-sailing South American despatch vessel. 

FLECK. An east-country term for lightning. 

FLEECH. An outside portion of timber cut by the saw. 

FLEET [Teut. _flieffen_]. The old word for float: as "we fleeted downthe river with our boats;" and Shakspeare makes Antony say, "Our sever'd navy too Have knit again, and fleet, threat'ning most sea-like. "

_Fleet_ is also an old term for an arm of the sea, or running watersubject to the tide. Also, a bay where vessels can remain afloat. (_See_FLOAT. ) A salt-water tide-creek. 

FLEET. A general name given to the royal navy. Also, any number ofships, whether designed for war or commerce, keeping in company. Afleet of ships of war is usually divided into three squadrons, andthese, if numerous, are again separated into subdivisions. The admiralcommands the centre, the second in command superintends the vanguard, and the third directs the rear. The term in the navy was any numberexceeding a squadron, or rear-admiral's command, composed of fivesail-of-the-line, with any amount of smaller vessels. 

FLEET-DYKE. From the Teut. _vliet_, a dyke for preventing inundation. 

FLEETING. To _come up_ a rope, so as to haul to more advantage;especially the act of changing the situation of a tackle when the blocksare drawn together; also, changing the position of the dead-eyes, whenthe shrouds are become too long, which is done by shortening the bend ofthe shroud and turning in the dead-eye again higher up; the use offleeting is accordingly to regain the mechanical powers, when destroyedby the meeting of the blocks or dead-eyes. --_Fleet ho!_ the order givenat such times. (_See_ TACKLE. )

FLEET THE MESSENGER. When about to weigh, to shift the eyes of themessenger past the capstan for the heavy heave. 

FLEET-WATER. Water which inundates. 

FLEMISH, TO. To coil down a rope concentrically in the direction of thesun, or coil of a watch-spring, beginning in the middle without riders;but if there must be riding fakes, they begin outside, and that is thetrue _French coil_. 

FLEMISH ACCOUNT. A deficit in accounts. 

FLEMISH EYE. A kind of eye-splice, in which the ends are scraped down, tapered, passed oppositely, marled, and served over with spun yarn. Often called a _made-eye_. 

FLEMISH FAKE. A method of coiling a rope that runs freely when let go;differing from the French, and was used for the head-braces. Each bendis slipped under the last, and the whole rendered flat and solid to walkon. 

FLEMISH HORSE, is the outer short foot-rope for the man at the earing;the outer end is spliced round a thimble on the goose-neck of thestudding-sail boom-iron. The inner end is seized by its eye within thebrace-block-strop and head-earing-cleat. 

FLEMISHING. A forcing or scoring of the planks. 

FLENCH-GUT. The blubber of a whale laid out in long slices. 

FLENSE, TO. To strip the fat off a flayed seal, or the blubber from awhale. 

FLESHMENT. Being in the first battle; and "fleshing the sword" alludesto the first time the beginner draws blood with it. 

FLESH-TRAFFIC. The slave-trade. 

FLET. A name of the halibut. 

FLETCH, TO. To feather an arrow. 

FLEUZ. A north-country term for the fagged end of a rope. 

FLEXURE. The bending or curving of a line or figure. 

FLIBOAT. _See_ FLY-BOAT. 

FLIBUSTIER [Fr. ] A freebooter, pirate, &c. 

FLICKER, TO. To veer about. 

FLIDDER. A northern name for the limpet. 

FLIGHERS. An old law-term meaning masts of ships. 

FLIGHT. A Dutch vessel or passage-boat on canals. In ship-building, asudden rising, or a greater curve than sheer, at the cheeks, cat-heads, &c. 

FLIGHT OF A SHOT. The trajectory formed between the muzzle of the gunand the first graze. 

FLIGHT OF THE TRANSOMS. As their ends gradually close downwards onapproaching the keel, they describe a curve somewhat similar to therising of the floors; whence the name. 

FLINCH. In ship-building. (_See_ SNAPE. )

FLINCH-GUT. The whale's blubber; as well as the part of the hold intowhich it is thrown before being barrelled up. 

FLINCHING, FLENSING, OR FLINSING. _See_ FLENSE. 

FLINDERS. An old word for splinters; thus Walter Scott's Borderer--

 "The tough ash-spear, so stout and true, Into a thousand flinders flew. "

FLINT. The stone of a gun-lock, by which a spark was elicited for thedischarge of the loaded piece. 

FLIP. A once celebrated sea-drink, composed of beer, spirits, and sugar, said to have been introduced by Sir Cloudesley Shovel. Also, a smartblow. 

FLIPPER. The fin-like paw or paddle of marine mammalia; it is alsoapplied to the hand, as when the boatswain's mate exulted in having"taken a lord by the flipper. "

FLITCH. The outside cut or slab of a tree. 

FLITTER. The Manx name for limpet. 

FLITTERING. An old English word for floating. 

FLIZZING. The passage of a splinter [from the Dutch _flissen_, to fly]. 

FLO. An old English word for arrow, used by Chaucer. 

FLOAT [Anglo-Saxon _fleot_ or _fleet_]. A place where vessels float, asat Northfleet. Also, the inner part of a ship-canal. In wet-docks shipsare kept afloat while loading and discharging cargo. Two double gates, having a lock between them, allow the entry and departure of vesselswithout disturbing the inner level. Also, a raft or quantity of timberfastened together, to be floated along a river by a tide or current. 

FLOATAGE. Synonymous with _flotsam_ (which see). Pieces of wreckfloating about. 

FLOAT-BOARDS. The same as _floats_ of a paddle-wheel. 

FLOATING ANCHOR. A simple machine consisting of a fourfold canvas, stretched by two cross-bars of iron, rivetted in the centre, and swiftedat the ends. It is made to hang perpendicularly at some distance belowthe surface, where it presents great resistance to being dragged throughthe water, diminishing a ship's leeward drift in a gale where there isno anchorage. 

FLOATING BATTERY. A vessel expressly fitted for action in harbours orsheltered waters, having heavier offensive and defensive dispositions(generally including much iron-plating) than would be compatible with asea-going character. Also, a vessel used as a battery to cover troopslanding on an enemy's coast. Also, one expressly fitted for harbourdefence. 

FLOATING BETHEL. An old ship fitted up in a commercial port for thepurpose of public Worship. 

FLOATING BRIDGE. A passage formed across a river or creek by means ofbridges of boats, as over the Douro, Rhine, &c. 

FLOATING COFFIN. (_See_ FRAPPING A SHIP. ) A term for the old 10-gunbrigs. 

FLOATING DAM. A caisson used instead of gates for a dry-dock. 

FLOATING DOCK. _See_ CAISSON. 

FLOATING GRAVING-DOCK. A modified _camel_ (which see). 

FLOATING LIGHT. A vessel moored off rocks or sand-banks, hoisting lightsat night. 

FLOATING PIER. As the stage at Liverpool. 

FLOATING STAGE. For caulkers, painters, &c. 

FLOATS. Large flat-bottomed boats, for carrying blocks of stone. Also, the 'thwart boards forming the circumference and force of thepaddle-wheels of steamers. 

FLOE. A field of floating ice of any extent, as beyond the range ofvision, for notwithstanding its cracks the floes pressed together areassumed as one; hence, if ships make fast to the floe-edge, and it partsfrom the main body, sail is made, and the ship goes to the nextavailable floe-edge. 

FLOGGING THE GLASS. Where there is no ship time-piece the watches andhalf-hour bells are governed by a half-hour sand-glass. The run of thesand was supposed to be quickened by vibration, hence some weary soultowards the end of his watch was said to flog the glass. 

FLOME. An old word for a river or flood. 

FLOOD AND FLOOD-TIDE. The flux of the tide, or the time the watercontinues rising. When the water begins to rise, it is called a youngflood, next it is quarter-flood, half-flood, and top of flood, or highwater. 

FLOOD-ANCHOR. That which the ship rides by during the flood-tide. 

FLOOD-MARK. The line made by the tide upon the shore at its greatestheight; it is also called high-water mark. This denotes the jurisdictionof the High Court of Admiralty, or vice-admirals of counties. 

FLOOK, OR FLUCK. The flounder; but the name, which is of very oldstanding, is also applied to various other pleuronects or flat-fish. 

FLOOR. The bottom of a vessel on each side of the kelson; but strictlytaken, it is only so much of her bottom as she rests upon when aground. Such ships as have long and withal broad floors, lie on the ground withmost security; whereas others which are narrow in the floor, fall overon their sides and break their timbers. 

FLOOR-GUIDE. In ship-building, is a ribband placed between the floor andthe keel. 

FLOOR-HEAD. This, in marine architecture, is the third diagonal, terminating the length of the floors near the bilge of the ship, andbevellings are taken from it both forward and abaft. The upperextremities of a vessel's floor-timbers, plumb to the quarter-beam. 

FLOOR-HOLLOW. The inflected curve of the floor, extending from the keelto the back of the floor-sweep, which the floor does not take. 

FLOOR-PLANS. In naval architecture, are longitudinal sections, whereonare represented the water-lines and ribband-lines. 

FLOOR-RIBBAND. This is an important fir-timber which runs round a littlebelow the floor-heads, for the support of the floors. 

FLOOR-RIDERS. Knees brought in from side to side over the floor ceilingand kelson, to support the bottom, if bilged or weak, for heavy cargo. 

FLOORS, OR FLOOR-TIMBERS. Those parts of the ship's timbers which areplaced immediately across the keel, and upon which the bottom of theship is framed; to these the upper parts of the timbers are united, being only a continuation of floor-timbers upwards. 

FLOOR-SWEEPS. The radii that sweep the heads of the floors. The first inthe builder's draught, which is limited by a line in the body-plan, perpendicular to the plane of elevation, a little above the keel; andthe height of this line above the keel is called the _dead-rising_. 

FLOP, TO. To fall flat down: as "soused flop in the lee-scuppers. "

FLORY-BOATS. A local term for boats employed in carrying passengers toand fro from steamers which cannot get alongside of a quay at low-water. 

FLOSH. A swamp overgrown with weeds. 

FLOSK. The _Sepia loligo_, sea-sleeve, or anker-fish. 

FLOTA. A Spanish fleet. (_See_ GALLEON. )

FLOTAGES. Things accidentally floating on seas or rivers. 

FLOTA NAVIUM. An old statute term for a fleet of ships. 

FLOTE. An old English term for wave: thus Ariel tells Prospero that thedispersed ships--

 "All have met again, And are upon the Mediterranean flote. "

FLOTE-BOTE. An old term for a yawl--a rough-built river boat. 

FLOTERY. Floating, used by Chaucer and others. 

FLOTILLA. A fleet or squadron of small vessels. 

FLOT-MANN. A very early term for sailor. 

FLOTSAM. In legal phraseology, is the place where shipwrecked goodscontinue to float and become derelict property. Sometimes spelled_flotson_. 

FLOUNDER. A well-known pleuronect, better to fish for than to eat. Called also _floun-dab_. 

FLOW. In tidology, the rising of the tide; the opposite of ebb. Also, the course or direction of running waters. 

FLOWER OF THE WINDS. The mariner's compass on maps and charts. 

FLOWERING. The phenomenon observed usually in connection with thespawning of fish, at the distance of four leagues from shore. The waterappears to be saturated with a thick jelly, filled with the ova of fish, which is known by its adhering to the ropes that the cobles anchor withwhile fishing, for they find the first six or seven fathom of rope freefrom spawn, the next ten or twelve covered with slimy matter, and theremainder again free to the bottom; this gelatinous material may supplythe new-born fry with food, and protect them by clouding the water. 

FLOWING-HOPE. _See_ FORLORN HOPE. 

FLOWING-SHEET. In sailing free or large, is the position of the sheetsor lower clues of the principal sails when they are eased off to thewind, so as to receive it more nearly perpendicular than when they areclose-hauled, although more obliquely than when going before the wind; aship is therefore said to have a flowing-sheet, when the wind crossesthe line of her course nearly at right angles; that is to say, a shipsteering due north with the wind at east, or directly on her side, willhave a flowing-sheet; whereas, if the sheets were hauled close aft, shewould sail two points nearer the wind--viz. N. N. E. This explanation willprobably be better understood by considering the yards as plane faces ofwedges--the more oblique fore and aft, the less head-way force is given, until 22° before the transverse line or beam. This is the swiftest lineof sailing. As the wind draws aft of the beam the speed decreases(unless the wind increases), so that a vessel with the wind abeam, andevery sail drawing, goes much faster than she would with the same windbefore it. 

FLUCTUATION OF THE TIDE. The rising and falling of the waters. 

FLUE. _See_ FLUKES. 

FLUES. In a steamer's boiler, are a series of oblong passages from thefurnaces for the issue of heated air. Their object being, that the air, before escaping, shall impart some of its heat to the water in theboiler, thereby economizing fuel. 

FLUFFIT. The movement of fishes' fins. 

FLUID COMPASS. That in which the card revolves in its bowl floated byalcohol, which prevents the needle from undue vibrations. The pin isdownwards to prevent rising, as in the suspended compass-card. The body, or card, on which the points of the compass are marked, is constructedof two segments of a globe, having a diameter of 7 inches to the(double) depth of 1 inch at the poles. 

FLUKES. The two parts which constitute the large triangular tail of thewhale; from the power of these the phrase obtained among whalers of_fluking_ or _all-a-fluking_, when running with a fresh free wind. Flukes, or palms, are also the broad triangular plates of iron on eacharm of the anchor, inside the bills or extreme points, which havingentered the ground, hold the ship. Seamen, by custom, drop the _k_, andpronounce the word _flue_. 

FLUMMERY. A dish made of oatmeal, or oats soured, &c. 

FLURRY. The convulsive movements of a dying whale. Also, a light breezeof wind shifting to different points, and causing a little ruffling onthe sea. Also, hurry and confusion. 

FLUSH. An old word for even or level. Anything of fair surface, or incontinuous even lines. Colloquially the word means full of, or aboundingin pay or prize-money. 

FLUSH-DECK. A continued floor laid from the stem to the stern, upon onerange, without any break. 

FLUSHED. Excited by success; flushed with victory. 

FLUSTERED. Performing duty in an agitated and confused manner. Also, stupefied by drink. 

FLUTE, OR FLUYT. A pink-rigged fly-boat, the after-part of which isround-ribbed. Also, vessels only partly armed; as armed _en flute_. 

FLUTTERING. Used in the same sense as _flapping_. 

FLUVIAL, OR FLUVIATILE. Of or belonging to a river. 

FLUVIAL LAGOONS. Contradistinguished from marine lagoons, in beingformed by river deposits. 

FLUX. The flowing in of the tide. 

FLY OF A FLAG. The breadth from the staff to the extreme end thatflutters loose in the wind. If an ensign, the part which extends fromthe union to the outer part; the vertical height, to the head-toggle ofwhich the halliards are bent, or which is next to the staff, is calledthe _hoist_; the lower (which is a rope rove through the canvas heading, and into which the head-toggle is spliced) is the long tack; on thisrope the whole strain is sustained. 

FLY, OR COMPASS-CARD, placed on the magnetic-needle and supported by apin, whereon it turns freely. (_See_ COMPASS. )

FLY-AWAY. Fictitious resemblance of land; "Dutchman's cape, " &c. (_See_CAPE FLY-AWAY. )

FLY-BLOCK. The block spliced into the topsail-tye; it is large and flat, and sometimes double. 

FLY-BOAT. A large flat-bottomed Dutch vessel, whose burden is generallyfrom 300 to 600 tons. It is distinguished by a remarkably high stern, resembling a Gothic turret, and by very broad buttocks below. Also, aswift canal passage-boat. 

FLY-BY-NIGHT. A sort of square-sail, like a studding-sail, used insloops when running before the wind; often a temporary spare jib setfrom the topmast-head to the yard-arm of the square-sail. 

FLYER. A fast sailer; a clipper. 

FLYING ABOUT. Synonymous with _chop-about_ (which see). 

FLYING COLUMN. A complete and mobile force kept much on the move, forthe sake of covering the designs of its own army, distracting those ofthe enemy, or maintaining supremacy in a hostile or disaffected region. 

FLYING DUTCHMAN. A famous marine spectre ship, formerly supposed tohaunt the Cape of Good Hope. The tradition of seamen was that a Dutchskipper, irritated with a foul wind, swore by _donner_ and _blitzen_, that he would beat into Table Bay in spite of God or man, and that, foundering with the wicked oath on his lips, he has ever since beenworking off and on near the Cape. The term is now extended to falsereports of vessels seen. 

FLYING JIB. A light sail set before the jib, on the flying jib-boom. Thethird jib in large ships, as the inner jib, the jib, and the flying jib, set on the flying jib-boom. (_See_ JIB. )

FLYING JIB-BOOM. A spar which is pointed through the iron at thejib-boom end. It lies beside it, and the heel steps into the bowspritcap. 

FLYING-KITES. The very lofty sails, which are only set in fine weather, such as skysails, royal studding-sails, and all above them. 

FLYING-LIGHT. The state of a ship when she has little cargo, provisions, or water on board, and is very crank. 

FLYING-TO. Is when a vessel, from sailing free or having tacked, and herhead thrown much to leeward, is coming to the wind rapidly, the warningis given to the helmsman, "Look out, she is flying-to. "

FLY THE SHEETS, TO LET. To let them go suddenly. 

FLY-UP. A sudden deviation upwards from a sheer line; the term is nearlysynonymous with _flight_. --_To fly up in the wind_, is when a ship'shead comes suddenly to windward, by carelessness of the helmsman. 

FLY-WHEEL. The regulator of a machine. 

FOAM [Anglo-Saxon, _feám_]. The white froth produced by the collision ofthe waves, or by the bow of a ship when acted on by the wind; and alsoby their striking against rocks, vessels, or other bodies. 

FOCAL LENGTH. The distance between the object-glass and the eye-piece ofa telescope. 

FOCUS. A point where converging rays or lines meet. 

FOEMAN. An enemy in war; now used only by poets. One of Falstaff'srecruits, hight Shadow, presented no mark to the enemy: "The foeman maywith as great aim level at the edge of a pen-knife. "

FŒNUS NAUTICUM. Nautical usury, bottomry. 

FOG. A mist at sea, consisting of the grosser vapours floating in theair near the surface of the sea. The fog of the great bank ofNewfoundland is caused by the near proximity of warm and cold waters. The air over the Gulf Stream, being warmer than that over the banks ofNewfoundland, is capable of keeping much more moisture in invisiblesuspension; and when this air comes in contact with that above the coldwater, it parts with some of its moisture, or rather holds it in visiblesuspension. There are also dry fogs, which are dust held in suspension, as the so-called African dust, which often partially obscures the sun, and reddens the sails of ships as they pass through the north-easttrades. 

FOG-BANK. A dense haze, presenting the appearance of a thick cloudresting upon the horizon; it is known in high latitudes as the precursorof wind from the quarter in which it appears. From its frequentresemblance to land it has obtained the name of _Cape Fly-away_. 

FOG-BOW. A beautiful natural phenomenon incidental to high latitudes. Itappears opposite to the sun, and is usually broad and white, butsometimes assumes the prismatic colours. Indicative of clearing off ofmists. (_See_ FOG-EATER. )

FOG-DOGS. Those transient prismatic breaks which occur in thick mists, and considered good symptoms of the weather clearing. 

FOG-EATER. A synonym of _fog-dog_ and _fog-bow_. It may be explained asthe clearing of the upper stratum, permitting the sun's rays to exhibitat the horizon prismatic colours; hence "sun-gall. "

FOGEY. An old-fashioned or singular person; an invalid soldier orsailor. Often means a stupid but irascible fellow. 

FOGGY. Not quite sober. 

FOGRAM. Wine, beer, or spirits of indifferent quality; in fact, any kindof liquor. 

FOG-SIGNALS. The naval code established by guns to keep a fleettogether, to tack, wear, and perform sundry evolutions. Also, certainsounds made in fogs as warnings to other vessels, either with horns, bells, gongs, guns, or the improved fog-whistle. 

FOIL. A blunt, elastic, sword-like implement used in fencing. --_To foil_means to disconcert or defeat an enemy's intention. 

FOILLAN. The Manx or Erse term for a gull. 

FOIN. A thrust with a pike or sword. 

FOKE-SILL. Among old salts may be termed a curt or nicked form of_forecastle_. 

FOLDER. The movable sight of a fire-arm. 

FOLLIS. A net with very large meshes, principally for catchingthorn-backs. 

FOLLOWERS. A certain number of men permitted by the regulations of theservice to be taken by the captain when he removes from one ship toanother. Also, the young gentlemen introduced into the service by thecaptain, and reared with a father's care, moving with him from ship toship; a practice which produced most of our best officers formerly, butinnovation has broken through it, to the serious detriment of theservice and the country. 

FOLLOWING, NORTH OR SOUTH. _See_ QUADRANT. 

FOMALHAUT. A standard nautical star, called also α _Piscis australis_. 

FOOL. "He's no fool on a march, " a phrase meaning that such a person isequal to what he undertakes. 

FOOLEN. The space between the usual high-water mark in a river and thefoot of the wall on its banks, built to prevent its occasionallyoverflowing the neighbouring lands. 

FOOL-FISH. A name of the long-finned file-fish, and so called from itsapparently whimsical manner of swimming. 

FOOLISH GUILLEMOT. The web-footed diving-bird, _Uria troile_, common onour coasts. 

FOOT. The lower end of a mast or sail. Also, the general name ofinfantry soldiers. Also, the measure of 12 inches, or one-sixth of afathom. --_To foot. _ To push with the feet; as, "foot the top-sail outclear of the top-rim. "

FOOT-BANK. Synonymous with _banquette_ (which see). 

FOOT-BOARD. The same as _gang-board_, but not so sailor-like. (_See_STRETCHERS. )

FOOT-BOAT. A west-country term for a boat used solely to convey footpassengers. 

FOOT-CLUE OF A HAMMOCK. _See_ HAMMOCK. 

FOOT-HOOKS. Synonymous with _futtocks_. 

FOOTING. A fine paid by a youngster or landsman on first mounting thetop. Also, a slight payment from new comers on crossing the line, passing through the Straits of Gibraltar, entering the Arctic Seas, &c. 

FOOT IT IN. An order to stow the bunt of a sail snugly in furling, executed by the bunt-men dancing it in, holding on by the topsail-tye. Frequently when a bunt-jigger has parted men have fallen on deck. 

FOOT-RAILS. Narrow mouldings raised on a vessel's stern. 

FOOT-ROPE. The rope to which the lower edge of a sail is sewed. (_See_BOLT-ROPE. )

FOOT-ROPES. Those stretching under the yards and jib-booms for the mento stand on; they are the same with _horses of the yards_ (which see). 

FOOT-SPACE-RAIL. The rail that terminates the foot of the balcony, inwhich the balusters step, if there be no pedestal rail. 

FOOT-VALVE. A flat plate of metal filling up the passage between theair-pump and condenser. The lower valve of a steam-engine situatedanywhere between the bottom of the working barrel and that of thecondenser. 

FOOT-WALING. The inside planking or lining of a ship over thefloor-timbers; it is intended to prevent any part of her ballast orcargo from falling between her floor-timbers. 

FORAD. An old corruption of _foreward_--in the fore-part of the ship. 

FORAGE. Food for horses and cattle belonging to an army. Also, the actof a military force in collecting or searching for such forage, or forsubsistence or stores for the men; or, with ill-disciplined troops, forvaluables in general. Land-piracy. 

FORAGE-GUARD. A party detached to cover foragers, those wooding, watering, &c. 

FORAY. A plundering incursion. 

FOR-BY. Near to; adjacent. 

FORCAT. A rest for a musket in olden times. 

FORCE. A term which implies the sudden rush of water through a narrowrocky channel, and accompanied by a fall of the surface after theobstacle is passed. It is synonymous with _fall_. Also, the force ofeach ship stated agreeably to the old usage in the navy, according tothe number of guns actually carried. In these days of iron-clads, turret-ships, and heavy guns, this does not give a true estimate of aship's force. Also, the general force, ships, men, soldiers, &c. , engaged in any expedition; as expeditionary force. --Also, _force ofwind_, now described by numbers, 0 being calm, 12 the heaviestgale. --_To force_, is to take by storm; to force a passage by drivingback the enemy. --Colloquially, no force--gently. 

FORCED MARCH. One in which the marching power of the troops is forced orexerted beyond the ordinary limit. 

FORCED MEN. Those serving in pirate vessels, but who refused to signarticles. 

FORCER. The piston of a _forcing-pump_. 

FORCES. The army collectively, or naval and military forces engaged. 

FORCING-PUMP. Any pump used to force water beyond that force demanded todeliver at its level, as fire-engines, &c. 

FORD. The shallow part of a river, where troops may pass withoutinjuring their arms. 

FORE. The distinguishing character of all that part of a ship's frameand machinery which lies near the stem, or in that direction, inopposition to _aft_ or _after_. Boarders to the fore--advance!

FORE-AND-AFT. From head to stern throughout the ship's whole length, orfrom end to end; it also implies in a line with the keel; and is theopposite of _athwart-ships_, which is from side to side. 

FORE-AND-AFTER. A cocked hat worn with the peak in front instead ofathwart. Also, a very usual term for a schooner with only fore-and-aftsails, even when she has a crossjack-yard whereon to set a square-sailwhen occasion requires. 

FORE-AND-AFT SAILS. Jibs, staysails, and gaff-sails; in fact, all sailswhich are not set to yards. They extend from the centre line to the leeside of a ship or boat, so set much flatter than square-sails. 

FORE-BAY. A rising at a lock-gate flooring. Also, the galley or thesick-bay. 

FORE-BODY. An imaginary figure of that part of the ship afore themidships or dead-flat, as seen from ahead. 

FORE-BOWLINE. The bowline of the fore-sail. 

FORE-BRACES. Ropes applied to the fore yard-arms to change the positionof the fore-sail occasionally. 

FORECAST. A storm warning, or reasonable prediction of a gale from theinferences of observed meteorological instruments and phenomena. 

FORECASTLE. Once a short deck placed in the fore-part of a ship abovethe upper deck; it was usually terminated, both before and behind, invessels of war by a breast-work, the foremost part forming the top ofthe beak-head, and the hind part, of the fore-chains. It is now appliedin men-of-war to that part of the upper deck forward of the afterfore-shroud, or main-tack block, and which is flush with thequarter-deck and gangways. Also, a forward part of a merchantman underthe deck, where the seamen live on a platform. Some vessels have a shortraised deck forward, which is called a _top-gallant forecastle_; itextends from the bow to abaft the fore-mast, which it includes. 

FORECASTLE-DECK. The fore-part of the upper deck at a vessel's bows. 

FORECASTLE-JOKES. Practical tricks played upon greenhorns. 

FORECASTLE-MEN. Sailors who are stationed on the forecastle, and aregenerally, or ought to be, prime seamen. 

FORECASTLE-NETTINGS. _See_ HAMMOCK-NETTINGS. 

FORECASTLE-RAIL. The rail extended on stanchions across the after-partof the forecastle-deck in some ships. 

FORE CAT-HARPINGS. _See_ CAT-HARPINGS. 

FORE-COCKPIT. _See_ COCKPIT. 

FORE-COURSE. The _fore-sail_ (which see). 

FORE-DECK. That part from the fore-mast to the bows. 

FORE-FINGER, OR INDEX-FINGER. The pointing finger, which was calledshoot-finger by the Anglo-Saxons, from its use in archery, and is nowthe _trigger-finger_ from its duty in gunnery. (_See_ SHOOT-FINGER. )

FORE-FOOT. The foremost piece of the keel, or a timber which terminatesthe keel at the forward extremity, and forms a rest for the stem's lowerend; it is connected by a scarph to the extremity of the keel, and theother end of it, which is incurvated upwards into a sort of knee, isattached to the lower end of the stem; it is also called a gripe. As thelower arm of the fore-foot lies on the same level with the keel, so theupper one coincides with the middle line of the stem; its breadth andthickness therefore correspond with the dimensions of those pieces, andthe heel of the cut-water is scarphed to its upper end. Also, animaginary line of the ship's course or direction. 

FORE-GANGER OF THE CHAIN BOWER CABLES. Is a length of 15 fathoms ofstouter chain, in consequence of greater wear and tear near the anchor, and exposure to weather. Fore-ganger is also the short piece of ropeimmediately connecting the line with the shank of the harpoon, whenspanned for killing. 

FORE-GOER. The same as _fore-ganger_. 

FORE-GRIPE. _See_ GRIPE. 

FORE-GUY. A rope to the swinging-boom of the lower studding-sail. 

FORE-HAMMER. The sledge-hammer which strikes the iron on the anvilfirst, if it be heavy work, but the hand-hammer keeps time. 

FORE-HOLD. The part of the hold before the fore hatchway. 

FORE-HOODS. The foremost of the outside and inside planks of a vessel. 

FORE-HOOKS. The same as _breast-hooks_ (which see). 

FOREIGN. Of another country or society; a word used adjectively, beingjoined with divers substantives in several senses. 

FOREIGN-GOING. The ships bound on oceanic voyages, as distinguished fromhome-traders and coasters. 

FOREIGN JUDGMENT. _See_ JUDGMENT. 

FOREIGN REMITTANCE. _See_ WAGES REMITTED FROM ABROAD. 

FOREIGN REMOVE-TICKET. A document for discharging men from one ship toanother on foreign stations: it is drawn up in the same form as the_sick-ticket_ (which see). 

FOREIGN SERVICE. Vessels or forces stationed in any part of the worldout of the United Kingdom. The opposite of _home service_. 

FORELAND. A cape or promontory projecting into the sea: as the North andSouth Forelands. It is nearly the same with _headland_, only thatforelands usually form the extremes of certain lines of sea-coast. Also, a space left between the base of a canal bank, and an adjacent drainagecut or river, so as to favour the stability of the bank. 

FORE-LIGHTROOM. _See_ LIGHT-ROOM. 

FORELOCK. A flat pointing wedge of iron, used to drive through a mortisehole in the end of a bolt, to retain it firmly in its place. Theforelock is sometimes twisted round the bolt's point to prevent itsdrawing. Also, spring-forelock, which expands as it passes through. 

FORELOCK-BOLTS. Those with an eye, into which an iron forelock is drivento retain them in place. When secured in this way, the bolt is said tobe forelocked. 

FORELOCKS. The pins by which the cap-squares of gun-carriages aresecured. 

FORE-MAGAZINE. _See_ MAGAZINE. 

FORE-MAN AFLOAT. The dockyard officer in charge of the shipwrightsworking on board a ship not in dock. 

FORE-MAST. The forward lower-mast in all vessels. (_See_ MAST. )

FORE-MAST MAN. From "before the mast. " A private seaman as distinguishedfrom an officer of a ship. 

FOREMOST. Anything which is nearer to the head of a ship than another. 

FORE-NESS. An old term for a promontory. 

FORE-PART OF A SHIP. The bay, or all before the fore-hatches. 

FORE-PEAK. The contracted part of a vessel's hold, close to the bow;close forward under the lower deck. 

FORE-RAKE. That part of the hull which rakes beyond the fore-end of thekeel. 

FORE-REACH, TO. To shoot ahead, or go past another vessel, especiallywhen going in stays: to sail faster, reach beyond, to gain upon. 

FORERUNNER. A precursor, an avant-courier. 

FORERUNNERS OF THE LOG-LINE. A small piece of red bunting laid into thatline at a certain distance from the log, the space between them beingcalled the stray-line, which is usually from 12 to 15 fathoms, and is anallowance for the log to be entirely out of the ship's dead-water beforethey begin to estimate the ship's velocity, consequently the knots beginfrom that point. (_See_ LOG-LINE. )

FORE-SAIL. The principal sail set on the fore-mast. (_See_ SAIL. )

FORE-SHEET HORSE. An iron bar fastened at its ends athwart the deckbefore the mast of a sloop, for the foresail-sheet to traverse upon fromside to side. 

FORE-SHEETS OF A BOAT. The inner part of the bows, opposite tostern-sheets, fitted with gratings on which the bowman stands. 

FORE-SHEET TRAVELLER. An iron ring which traverses along on thefore-sheet horse of a fore-and-aft rigged vessel. 

FORE-SHIP. An archaic form of forecastle of a ship; it means thefore-part of a vessel. 

FORE-SHROUDS. _See_ SHROUDS. 

FORE-STAFF. An instrument formerly used at sea for taking the altitudesof heavenly bodies. The fore-staff, called also _cross-staff_, takes itsname hence, that the observer in using it turns his face towards theobject, in contradistinction to the back-staff, where he turns his backto the object. The fore or cross staff consists of a straight squarestaff, graduated like a line of tangents, and four crosses or vaneswhich slide thereon. The first and shortest of these vanes is called theten cross or vane, and belongs to that side of the instrument whereonthe divisions begin at 3° and end at 10°. The next longer vane is calledthe thirty cross, belonging to that side of the staff on which thedivisions begin at 10° and end at 30°, called the thirty scale. The nextis called the sixty cross, and belongs to that side where the divisionsbegin at 20° and end at 60°. The last and longest, called the ninetycross, belongs to that side whereon the divisions begin at 30° and endat 90°. 

FORE-STAGE. The old name for forecastle. 

FORE-STAY. _See_ STAY. 

FORE-TACK. Weather tack of the fore-sail hauled to the fore-boomkin whenon a wind. 

FORE-TACKLE. A tackle on the fore-mast, similar to the _main-tackle_(which see). It is used for similar purposes, and also in stowing theanchor, &c. 

FORE-THWART. The seat of the bowman in a boat. 

FORE-TOP. _See_ TOP. 

FORETOP-GALLANT-MAST. _See_ TOPGALLANT-MAST, to which may be added itsproper sail, yard, and studding-sail. 

FORETOP-MAST. _See_ TOP-MAST. 

FORETOP-MEN. Men stationed in the fore-top in readiness to set or takein the smaller sails, and to keep the upper rigging in order. 

FORE-TYE. _See_ TYE. 

FORE-YARD. (_See_ YARD. ) For the yards, sails, rigging, &c. , of the_top-mast_ and _topgallant-mast_ see those two articles. 

FORFEITURE. The effect or penalty of transgressing the laws. 

FORGE. A portable forge is to be found in every ship which bears a ratedarmourer; and it can be used either on board or ashore. 

FORGE AHEAD, TO. To shoot ahead, as in coming to an anchor--a motion ormoving forwards. A vessel forges ahead when hove-to, if the tide pressesher to windward against her canvas. 

FORGING OVER. The act of forcing a ship violently over a shoal, by theeffort of a great quantity of sail, steam, or other manœuvre. 

FORK-BEAMS. Short or half beams to support the deck where there is noframing, as in the intervention of hatchways. The _abeam arm fork_ is acurved timber scarphed, tabled, and bolted for additional security wherethe openings are large. 

FORKERS. Those who reside in sea-ports for the sake of stealing dockyardstores, or buying them, knowing them to be stolen. 

FORLORN HOPE. Officers and men detached on desperate service to make afirst attack, or to be the first in mounting a breach, or foremost instorming a fortress, or first to receive the whole fire of the enemy. Forlorn-hopes was a term formerly applied to the videttes of the army. This ominous name (the _enfants perdus_ of the French) is familiarizedinto a better one among soldiers, who call it the _flowing-hope_. Promotion is usually bestowed on the survivors. 

FORMATION. The drawing up or arrangement of troops, or small-arm men, incertain orders prescribed as the basis of manœuvres in general. Also, the particulars of a ship's build. 

FORMER. The gunner's term for a small cylindrical piece of wood, onwhich musket or pistol cartridge-cases are rolled and formed. The nameis also applied to the flat piece of wood with a hole in the centre usedfor making wads, but which is properly _form_. 

FORMICAS. Clusters of small rocks [from the Italian for ants]. Also, Hormigas [Sp. ]

FORMING THE LINE. _See_ LINE. 

FORMING THE ORDER OF SAILING. _See_ SAILING, ORDER OF. 

FORMS. The moulds for making wads by. (_See_ FORMER. )

FORT. In fortification, an inclosed work of which every part is flankedby some other part; though the term is loosely applied to all places ofstrength surrounded by a rampart. 

FORTALEZZA [Sp. ] A fort on the coast of Brazil. 

FORTALICE. A small fortress or fortlet; a bulwark or castle. 

FORTH. An inlet of the sea. 

FORTIFICATION. The art by which a place is so fortified that a givennumber of men occupying it may advantageously oppose a superior force. The same word also signifies the works that cover and defend a place. Fortification is _defensive_ when surrounding a place so as to render itcapable of defence against besiegers; and _offensive_ when comprehendingthe various works for conducting a siege. It is _natural_ when itopposes rocks, woods, marshes, ravines, &c. , to impede the progress ofan enemy; and _artificial_, when raised by human ingenuity to aid theadvantages of the ground. The latter is again subdivided into_permanent_ and _field_ fortification: the one being constructed atleisure and of permanent materials, the other raised only for temporarypurposes. 

FORTIFYING. The strengthening a ship for especial emergency, by doublingplanks, chocks, and additional timbers and knees, strongly secured. 

FORT-MAJOR. An officer on the staff of a garrison or fortress, who has, under the commanding officer, general charge of the routine duties andof the works. 

FORTUNE OF WAR. The usual consolation in reverses--"Fortune de laguerre, " or the chances of war. 

FORTY-THIEVES. A name given to forty line-of-battle ships ordered by theAdmiralty at one fell swoop, to be built by contract, towards the end ofthe Napoleon war, and which turned out badly. The writer served in one, the _Rodney 74_, which fully exposed her weakness in the first gale sheexperienced, and was sent home, thereby weakening the blockading fleet. Many never went to sea as ships of the line, but were converted intogood frigates. 

FORWARD. In the fore-part of the ship; the same as _afore_. Also, theword of command when troops are to resume their march after a temporaryinterruption. 

FORWARD THERE! The hail to the forecastle. 

FOSSE [Ital. ] Synonymous with _moat_ or _ditch_. 

FOTHER [Anglo-Saxon _foder_]. A burden; a weight of lead equal to 19-1/2cwts. Leaden pigs for ballast. 

FOTHERING. Is usually practised to stop a leak at sea. A heavy sail, asthe sprit-sail, is closely thrummed with yarn and oakum, and drawn underthe bottom: the pressure of the water drives the thrumming into theapertures. If one does not succeed others are added, using all the sailsrather than lose the ship. 

FOUGADE, OR FOUGASS. A small charged mine, from 6 to 8 feet under a postin danger of falling into the enemy's hands. 

FOUL. Generally used in opposition to _clear_, and implies entangled, embarrassed, or contrary to: as "a ship ran foul of us, " that is, entangled herself among our rigging. Also, to contaminate in any way. 

FOUL AIR. May be generated by circumstances beyond control: decomposingfungi, timber injected with coal tar, hatches battened down, and ashesor coal washed about. Whole crews on the coast of Africa, and in theWest Indies, have been thus swept away, despite every precaution. Butgenerally it may be avoided by cleanliness. 

FOUL ANCHOR. An anchor is said to be _foul_, or _fouled_, either when ithooks some impediment under water, or when the ship, by the windshifting, entangles her slack cable a turn round the stock, or round theupper fluke thereof. The last, from its being avoidable by a sharplook-out, is termed the seaman's disgrace. 

FOUL BERTH. When a ship anchors in the hawse of another she gives thelatter a foul berth; or she may anchor on one tide so near as to swingfoul on the change either of wind or tide. 

FOUL BILL. _See_ BILL OF HEALTH. 

FOUL BOTTOM. A ship to which sea-weed, shells, or other encumbrancesadhere. Also, the bottom of the sea if rocky, or unsafe from wrecks, andthence a danger of fouling the anchor. 

FOUL COAST. One beset with reefs and breakers, offering dangerousimpediments to navigation. 

FOUL FISH. Applied to salmon in the spawning state, or such as have notfor the current year made their way to the sea for purification;shedders. 

FOUL GROUND. Synonymous with _foul bottom_. 

FOUL HAWSE. When a vessel is riding with two anchors out, and the cablesare crossed round each other outside the stem by the swinging of theship when moored in a tide-way. (_See_ ELBOW IN THE HAWSE. )

FOUL ROPE. A rope entangled or unfit for immediate use. 

FOUL WEATHER. That which reduces a ship to snug-sail. 

FOUL-WEATHER BREEDER. A name given to the Gulf Stream from such a volumeof warm water occasioning great perturbations in the atmosphere whiletraversing the Atlantic Ocean. 

FOUL-WEATHER FLAG. Denotes danger for boats leaving the shore;watermen's fares increase with these signals. 

FOUL WIND. That which prevents a ship from laying her course. 

FOUNDER. The fall of portions of cliff, as along the coasts of Hampshireand Dorsetshire, occasioned by land-springs. 

FOUNDER, TO. To fill with water and go down. 

FOUR-CANT. A rope composed of four strands. 

FOWAN. The Manx term for a dry scorching wind; it is also applied by thenorthern fishermen to a sudden blast. 

FOX. The old English broadsword. Also, a fastening formed by twistingseveral rope-yarns together by hand and rubbing it with hard tarredcanvas; it is used for a seizing, or to weave a paunch or mat, &c. (_See_ SPANISH FOX. )

FOXEY. A defect in timber which is over-aged or has been indifferentlyseasoned, and gives the defective part a reddish hue. The word is veryold, and meant tainted or incipient rot. 

FOY. A local term for the charge made for the use of a boat. 

FOYING. An employment of fishermen or seamen, who go off to ships withprovisions, or to help them in distress. 

FOYST. An old name for a brigantine. The early voyagers applied the nameto some large barks of India, which were probably _grabs_. 

FRACTURES. Defects in spars which run across the fibres, being shortfractures marked by jagged lines. (_See_ SPRUNG. )

FRAISES. Principally in field fortification, palisades placedhorizontally, or nearly so, along the crest of the escarp, or sometimesof the counterscarp; being generally concealed from direct artilleryfire they very materially increase the difficulty of either of thoseslopes to an assailant. They project some 5 feet above the surface, andare buried for about the same length in the ground. 

FRAME. The outer frame timbers of a vessel consist of the keel, stem, stern-posts, and ribs, which when moulded and bolted form the frame. (_See_ TIMBERS. )

FRAME OF THE MARINE STEAM-ENGINE, is the strong supporter of thepaddle-shafts and intermediate shaft; it rests on columns, and is firmlybolted to the engine bottom. 

FRAMES. The bends of timbers constituting the shape of the ship'sbody--when completed a ship is said to be _in frame_. 

FRAME-TIMBERS. These consist of the floor-timbers, futtocks, andtop-timbers; they are placed upon the keel at right angles to it, andform the bottom and sides of the ship. 

FRAMING. The placing, scarphing, and bolting of the frame-timbers of aship. (_See_ WARPING. )

FRANC. A French silver coin of the value of 9-1/2_d. _, and consisting of100 centimes. The 20-franc piece in gold, formerly called _Louis_, now_Napoleon_, is current for 15_s. _ 10-1/2_d. _ English. 

FRANCESCONI. The dollars of Tuscany, in value 4_s. _ 5-1/4_d. _ sterling. They each consist of 10 paoli. 

FRANK. The large fish-eating heron of our lakes and pools. 

FRAP. A boat for shipping salt, used at Mayo, one of the Cape de VerdeIslands. 

FRAP, TO. To bind tightly together. To pass lines round a sail to keepit from blowing loose. To secure the falls of a tackle together by meansof spun yarn, rope yarn, or any lashing wound round them. To snap thefinger and thumb; to beat. 

FRAPPING. The act of crossing and drawing together the several parts ofa tackle, or other complication of ropes, which had already beenstrained to a great extent; in this sense it exactly resembles theoperation of bracing up a drum. The frapping increases tension, andconsequently adds to the security acquired by the purchase; hence thecat-harpings were no other than frappings to the shrouds. 

FRAPPING A SHIP. The act of passing four or five turns of a largecable-laid rope round a ship's hull when it is apprehended that she isnot strong enough to resist the violence of the sea. This expedient isonly made use of for very old ships, which their owners venture to sendto sea as long as possible, insuring them deeply. Such are termed, notunaptly, floating coffins, as were also the old, 10-gun brigs, or anyvessel deemed doubtful as to sea-worthiness. St. Paul's ship was"undergirded" or frapped. 

FRAPPING TURNS. In securing the booms at sea the several turns of thelashings are frapped in preparation for the succeeding turns; inemergency, nailed. 

FRAUDS, ACT OF. A statute of Charles II. , the object of which was tomeet and prevent certain practices by which the navigation laws wereeluded. 

FREDERIC. A Prussian gold coin, value 16_s. _ 6_d. _ sterling. 

FREE, TO. --_To free a prisoner. _ To restore him to liberty. --_To free apump. _ To disengage or clear it. --_To free a boat or ship. _ To clear itof water. 

FREE. A vessel is said to be _going free_ when the bowlines are slackedand the sheets eased; beyond this is termed large. (_See_ SAILINGLARGE. )

FREE-BOARD. _See_ PLANK-SHEER. 

FREEING. The act of pumping, or otherwise throwing out the water whichhas leaked into a ship's bottom. When all the water is pumped or baledout, the vessel is said to be free. Said of the wind when it exceeds 67°30′ from right-ahead. 

FREE PORT. Ports open to all comers free of entry-dues, as places ofcall, not delivery. 

FREE SHIP. A piratical term for one where it is agreed that every manshall have an equal share in all prizes. 

FREE TRADER. Ships trading formerly under license to India independentof the old East India Company's charter. Also, a common woman. 

FREEZE, TO. To congeal water or any fluid. Thus sea-water freezes at 28°5′ Fah. ; fresh water at 32°; mercury at 39° 5′ below zero. All fluidschange their degree of freezing in accordance with mixtures of alcoholor solutions of salt used for the purpose. Also, according to theatmospheric pressure; and by this law heights of mountains are measuredby the boiling temperature of water. 

FREIGHT. By former English maritime law it became the _mother of wages_, as the crew were obliged to moor the ship on her return in the docks orforfeit them. So severely was the axiom maintained, that if a ship waslost by misfortune, tempest, enemy, or fire, wages also were forfeited, because the freight out of which they were to arise had perished withit. This harsh measure was intended to augment the care of the seamenfor the welfare of the ship, but no longer holds, for by the merchantshipping act it is enacted that no right of wages shall be dependent onthe earning of freight; in cases of wreck, however, proof that a man hasnot done his utmost bars his claim. Also, for the burden or lading of aship. (_See_ DEAD-FREIGHT. ) Also, a duty of 50 sols per ton formerlypaid to the government of France by the masters of foreign vessels goingin or out of the several ports of that kingdom. All vessels not built inFrance were accounted foreign unless two-thirds of the crew were French. The Dutch and the Hanse towns were exempted from this duty offreight. --_To freight a vessel_, means to employ her for the carriage ofgoods and passengers. 

FREIGHT OF A SHIP. The hire, or part thereof, usually paid for thecarriage and conveyance of goods by sea; or the sum agreed upon betweenthe owner and the merchant for the hire and use of a vessel, at the rateof so much for the voyage, or by the month, or per ton. 

FREIGHTER. The party who hires a vessel or part of a vessel for thecarriage of goods. 

FREIGHTING. A letting out of vessels on freight or hire; one of theprincipal practices in the trade of the Dutch. 

FRENCH FAKE. A name for what is merely a modification of the Flemishcoil, both being extremely good for the object, that is, when a rope hasto be let go suddenly, and is required to run freely. _Fake_, incontradistinction to long coil is, run a rope backward and forward inone-fathom bends, beside each other, so that it may run free, as inrocket-lines, to communicate with stranded vessels. (_See_ FLEMISHFAKE. )

FRENCH LAKE. A soubriquet for the Mediterranean. 

FRENCH LEAVE. Being absent without permission. 

FRENCHMAN. Formerly a term among sailors for every stranger oroutlandish man. 

FRENCH SHROUD-KNOT. The shroud-knot with three strands single walledround the bights of the other three and the standing part. (_See_SHROUD-KNOT. )

FRENCH THE BALLAST. A term used for _freshen the ballast_. 

FRESCA. Fresh water, or rain, and land floods; old term. 

FRESH. When applied to the wind, signifies strong, but not violent;hence an increasing gale is said to freshen. (_See_ FORCE. ) Also usedfor sweet; as, fresh water. Also, bordering on intoxication; excitedwith drinking. Also, an overflowing or flood from rivers and torrentsafter heavy rains or the melting of mountain snows. Also, an increase ofthe stream in a river. Also, the stream of a river as it flows into thesea. The fresh sometimes extends out to sea for several miles, as offSurinam, and many other large rivers. 

FRESH BREEZE. A brisk wind, to which a ship, according to its stability, carries double or treble or close-reefed top-sails, &c. This is a verypeculiar term, dependent on the stability of the ship, her management, and how she is affected by it, on a wind or before it. It is numbered 6. Thus, a ship running down the trades, with studding-sails set, hadregistered "moderate and fine;" she met with a superior officer, close-hauled under close-reefed top-sails and courses, was compelled toshorten sail, and lower her boat; the log was then marked "freshbreezes. "

FRESHEN, TO. To relieve a rope of its strain, or danger of chafing, byshifting or removing its place of nip. 

FRESHEN HAWSE, TO. To relieve that part of the cable which has for sometime been exposed to friction in one of the hawse-holes, when the shiprolls and pitches at anchor in a high sea; this is done by applyingfresh service to the cable within board, and then veering it into thehawse. (_See_ SERVICE, KECKLING, or ROUNDING. )

FRESHEN THE BALLAST. Divide or separate it, so as to alter its position. 

FRESHEN THE NIP, TO. To veer a small portion of cable through thehawse-hole, or heave a little in, in order to let another part of itbear the stress and friction. A common term with tipplers, especiallyafter taking the meridian observation. 

FRESHEN WAY. When the ship feels the increasing influence of a breeze. Also, when a man quickens his pace. 

FRESHES. Imply the impetuosity of an ebb tide, increased by heavy rains, and flowing out into the sea, which it often discolours to aconsiderable distance from the shore, as with the Nile, the Congo, theMississippi, the Indus, the Ganges, the Rhone, Surinam, &c. 

FRESHET. A word long used for pools or ponds, when swollen after rain ortemporary inundations. It is also applied to a pond supplied by aspring. 

FRESH GALE. A more powerful wind than a _fresh breeze_ (which see). 

FRESH GRUB. The refreshments obtained in harbour. 

FRESH HAND AT THE BELLOWS. Said when a gale freshens suddenly. 

FRESH SHOT. A river swollen by rain or tributaries; it also signifiesthe falling down of any great river into the sea, by which fresh wateris often to be found on the surface a good way from the mouth of theriver. 

FRESH SPELL. Men coming to relieve a gang at work. 

FRESH WATER. Water fit to drink, in opposition to sea or salt water; nowfrequently obtained at sea by distillation. (_See_ ICEBERG. )

FRESH-WATER JACK. The same as _fresh-water sailor_. 

FRESH-WATER SAILOR. An epithet for a green hand, of whom an old sayinghas it, "whose shippe was drowned in the playne of Salsbury. "

FRESH-WATER SEAS. A name given to the extensive inland bodies of freshwater in the Canadas. Of these, Lake Superior is upwards of 1500 milesin circuit, with a depth of 70 fathoms near the shores, while Michiganand Huron are almost as prodigious; even Erie is 600 miles round, andOntario near 500, and Nepigon, the head of the system geographically, though the least important at present commercially, but just nowpartially explored, is fully 400. Their magnitude, however, appearslikely to be rivalled geographically by the lakes lately discovered inCentral Africa, the Victoria Nyanza and the Albert Nyanza. 

FRESH WAY. Increased speed through the water; a ship is said to "gatherfresh way" when she has tacked, or hove-to, and then fills her sails. 

FRET. A narrow strait of the sea, from _fretum_. 

FRET, TO. To chafe. 

FRET OF WIND. A squally flaw. 

FRETTUM, OR FRECTUM. The freight of a ship, or freight-money. 

FRETUM BRITANNICUM. A term used in our ancient writings for the Straitsof Dover. 

FRIAR-SKATE. The _Raia oxyrinchus_, or sharp-nosed ray. 

FRICTION-ROLLER. A cylinder of hard wood, or metal, with a concavesurface, revolving on an axis, used to lessen the friction of a ropewhich is passed over it. Friction-rollers are a late improvement in thesheaves of blocks, &c. , by which the pin is relieved of friction bythree rollers in the coak, placed equilaterally. 

FRICTION-TUBE. The means of firing a gun most in favour at present inthe British service; ignition is caused by the friction on suddenwithdrawal of a small horizontal metal bar from the detonating primingin the head of the tube. 

FRIDAY. The _dies infaustus_, on which old seamen were desirous of notgetting under weigh, as ill-omened. 

FRIEZE-PANEL. The lower part of a gun-port. 

FRIEZING. The ornamental carving or painting above the drift-rails, andlikewise round the stern or the bow. 

FRIGATE. In the Royal Navy, the next class vessel to a ship of the line;formerly a light nimble ship built for the purpose of sailing swiftly. The name was early known in the Mediterranean, and applied to a longkind of vessel, navigated in that sea, with sails and oars. The Englishwere the first who appeared on the ocean with these ships, and equippedthem for war as well as for commerce. These vessels mounted from 28 to60 guns, and made excellent cruisers. Frigate is now apocryphal, beingcarried up to 7000 tons. The _donkey-frigate_ was a late invention toserve patronage, and sprigs of certain houses were educated in them. They carried 28 guns, carronades, and were about 600 tons burden, commanded by captains who sometimes found a commander in a sloop whichcould blow him out of water. --_Frigate_ is also the familiar name of themembranous zoophyte, _Physalia pelagica_, or Portuguese man-of-war. 

FRIGATE-BIRD. _Tachypetes aquila_, a sea-bird generally seen in thetropics. It seems to live on the wing, is partially web-footed, and onlyvisits the land at breeding time. 

FRIGATE-BUILT. The disposition of the decks of such merchant ships ashave a descent of some steps from the quarter-deck and forecastle intothe waist, in contradistinction to those whose decks are on a continuedline for the whole length of the ship, which are called galley-built. (_See_ DECKS. )

FRIGATOON. A Venetian vessel, commonly used in the Adriatic, built witha square stern, and with only a main-mast, jigger mizen-mast, andbowsprit. Also applied to a ship sloop-of-war. 

FRINGING REEFS. Narrow fringes of coral formation, at a greater or lessdistance from the shore, according to the slopes of the land. 

FRISKING. The wind freshening. 

FRITH. Derived from _fretum maris_, a narrow strait: an arm of the seainto which a river flows. Synonymous with _firth_ (which see). 

FRITTERS. Tendinous fibres of the whale's blubber, running in variousdirections, and connecting the cellular substance which contains theoil. They are what remains after the oil has been _tried_ out, and areused as fuel to _try_ out the next whale. 

FROG. An old term for a seaman's coat or frock. 

FROG-BELT. A _baldrick_ (which see). 

FROG-FISH. _See_ FISHING-FROG. 

FROG-LANDERS. Dutchmen in colloquial language. 

FROG-PIKE. A female pike, so called from its period of spawning beinglate, contemporary with the frogs. 

FRONT. The foremost rank of a battalion, squadron, file, or other bodyof men. --_To front_, to face. 

FRONTAGE. The length or face of a wharf. 

FRONTIER. The limits or borders of a country. 

FRONT OF FORTIFICATION. The whole system of works included between thesalient angles, or the capitals prolonged, of any two neighbouringbastions. 

FROSTED STEEL. The damasked sword-blades. 

FROST-FISH. A small fish, called also _tommy-cod_; in North America theyare taken in large quantities in the depth of winter by fishing throughholes cut in the ice. 

FROST-RIME. _See_ FROST-SMOKE. 

FROST-SMOKE. A thick mist in high latitudes, arising from the surface ofthe sea when exposed to a temperature much below freezing; when thevapours as they rise are condensed either into a thick fog, or, with thethermometer about zero, hug the water in eddying white wreaths. Thelatter beautiful form is called in North America a "barber, " probablyfrom its resemblance to soap-suds. 

FROTH. _See_ FOAM. 

F. R. S. The sigla denoting a Fellow of the Royal Society. 

FRUMENTARIÆ. The ancient vessels which supplied the Roman markets withcorn. 

FRUSH. A northern term for wood that is apt to splinter and break. 

FRY. Young fishes. 

FUCUS MAXIMUS. An enormous sea-weed, growing abundantly round the coastsof Tristan d'Acunha, and perhaps the most exuberant of the vegetabletribe. Said to rise from a depth of many fathoms, and to spread over asurface of several hundred feet, it being very tenacious. 

FUDDLED. Not quite drunk, but unfit for duty. 

FUELL. An old nautical word signifying an opening between two headlands, having no bottom in sight. 

FU-FU. A well-known sea-dish of barley and treacle, in merchant ships. 

FUGITIVES OVER THE SEA. By old statutes, now obsolete, to depart thisrealm without the king's license incurred forfeiture of goods; andmasters of ships carrying such persons beyond seas, forfeited theirvessels. 

FUGLEMAN, or more properly FLUGELMAN. A corporal, or active adept, whoexhibits the time for each motion at the word of command, to enablesoldiers, marines, and small-arm men to act simultaneously. 

FULCRUM. The prop or support of a lever in lifting or removing a heavybody. 

FULL. The state of the sails when the wind fills them so as to carry thevessel ahead. 

FULL AND BY. Sailing close-hauled on a wind; when a ship is as close asshe will lie to the wind, without suffering the sails to shiver; hence_keep her full_ is the order to the helmsman not to incline too much towindward, and thereby shake the sails, which would retard the ship'svelocity. 

FULL BASTION. In fortification, is a bastion whereof the terreplein, orterrace in rear of the parapet, is extended at nearly the same levelover the whole of its interior space. 

FULL-BOTTOMED. An epithet to signify such vessels as are designed tocarry large cargoes. 

FULL DRIVE. Fully direct; impetuous violence. 

FULL DUE. For good; for ever; complete; belay. 

FULLER. The fluting groove of a bayonet. 

FULL FEATHER. Attired in best dress or full uniform. 

FULL FOR STAYS! The order to keep the sails full to preserve thevelocity, assisting the action of the rudder in tacking ship. 

FULL MAN. A rating in coasters for one receiving whole pay, as beingcompetent to all his duties; able seaman. 

FULL MOON. When her whole illuminated surface is turned towards us; sheis then in opposition, or diametrically opposite, to the sun. 

FULL PAY. The stipend allowed when on actual service. 

FULL RETREAT. When an army, or any body of men, retire with allexpedition before a conquering enemy. 

FULL REVETMENT. In fortification, that form of retaining wall which iscarried right up to the top of the mass retained, leaving no exteriorslope above it; the term is principally used with reference to the facesof ramparts. 

FULL SAILS. The sails well set, and filled by the wind. 

FULL SEA. High water. 

FULL SPEED! A self-explanatory order to the engineer of a steamer to gethis engine into full play. 

FULL SPREAD. All sail set. 

FULL SWING. Having full power delegated; complete control. 

FULMAR. A web-footed sea-bird, _Procellaria glacialis_, of the petrelkind, larger than the common gull; its eggs are taken in great quantityat St. Kilda and in the Shetlands. 

FUMADO. A commercial name of the pilchard, when garbaged, salted, smoked, pressed, and packed. 

FUMBLE-FISTED. Awkward in catching a turn, or otherwise handling a rope. 

FUMIGATE, TO. To purify confined or infectious air by means of smoke, sulphuric acid, vinegar, and other correctives. 

FUMIGATION-LAMP. An invention for purifying the air in hospital-shipsand close places. 

FUNERAL HONOURS. Obsequies with naval or military ceremonies. 

FUNGI. An almost incalculably numerous order of plants growing on deadvegetable matter, and often produced on a ship's lining bylong-continued damp. 

FUNK. Touch-wood. Also nervousness, cowardice, or being frightened. --_Tofunk. _ To blow the smoke of tobacco. 

FUNNEL. An iron tube used where necessary for carrying off smoke. Thecylindrical appendages to the furnaces of a steam-ship: the funnel isfastened on the top of the steam-chest, where the flues for both boilersmeet. Also, the excavation formed by the explosion of a mine. Also, inartillery, a cup-shaped funnel of leather, with a copper spout, forfilling powder into shells. 

FUNNEL-STAYS. The ropes or chains by which the smoke-funnel is securedin a steam-ship. 

FUNNY. A light, clinker-built, very narrow pleasure-boat for sculling, _i. E. _ rowing a pair of sculls. The stem and stern are much alike, bothcurved. The dimensions are variable, from 20 to 30 feet in length, according to the boat being intended for racing purposes (for which theyare mostly superseded by wager-boats), or for carrying one or moresitters. 

FUR. The indurated sediment sometimes found in neglected ships' boilers. (_See_ FURRING. )

FURL, TO. To roll up and bind a sail neatly upon its respective yard orboom. 

FURLING. Wrapping or rolling a sail close up to the yard, stay, or mast, to which it belongs, by hauling on the clue-lines and buntlines, andwinding a gasket or cord about it, to fasten it thereto and secure itsnugly. 

FURLING IN A BODY. A method of rolling up a top-sail only practised inharbour, by gathering all the loose part of the sail into the top, aboutthe heel of the top-mast, whereby the yard appears much thinner andlighter than when the sail is furled in the usual manner, which issometimes termed, for distinction sake, furling in the _bunt_. It isoften practised to point the yards, the earings and robins let go, andthe whole sail bunted in the top, and covered with tarpaulins. 

FURLING-LINE. Denotes a generally flat cord called a _gasket_. In badweather, with a weak crew, the top-sail is brought under control bypassing the top-mast studding-sail halliards round and round all, fromthe yard-arm to the bunt; then furling is less dangerous. 

FURLOUGH. A granted leave of absence. 

FURNACE. The fire-place of a marine boiler. 

FURNITURE. The rigging, sails, spars, anchors, cables, boats, tackle, provisions, and every article with which a ship is fitted out. Theinsurance risk may continue on them when put on shore, during a repair. 

FUROLE. The luminous appearance called the _corpo santo_ (which see). 

FURRENS. Fillings: those pieces supplying the deficiency of the timberin the moulding-way. 

FURRING. Doubling planks on a ship. Also, a furring in the ship'sframe. --_Furring the boilers_, in a steamer, cleaning off theincrustation or sediment which forms on their inner surfaces. 

FURROW. The groove or rabbet of a screw; the breech-sight or notch cuton the base-ring of a gun, and also on the swell of the muzzle, by whichthe piece is laid. 

FURTHER ORDERS. These are often _impedimenta_ to active service. 

FURTHER PROOF. In prize matters, a privilege, where the court is notsatisfied with that originally produced, by which it is allowed to statecircumstances affecting it. 

FURUBE. A fish taken in the Japanese seas, and considered to bedangerously poisonous. 

FURZE. Brushwood, prepared for breaming. 

FUSIL. Formerly a light musket with which sergeants of infantry and someparticular regiments were armed. 

FUSILIERS. Originally those regiments armed with fusils, by whom, thoughthe weapon is obsolete, the title is retained as a distinction. 

FUST. A low but capacious armed vessel, propelled with sails and oars, which formerly attended upon galleys; a _scampavia_, barge, or pinnace. 

FUSTICK. In commerce, a dyewood brought principally from the West Indiesand Spanish Main. 

FUTTLING. A word meaning _foot-waling_ (which see). 

FUTTOCK-HEAD. In ship-building, is a name for the 5th, the 7th, and the9th _diagonals_, the intervening bevellings being known as _sirmarks_. 

FUTTOCK-HOLES. Places through the top-rim for the futtock-plates. 

FUTTOCK-PLANK. The first plank of the ceiling next the kelson; thelimber-strake. 

FUTTOCK-PLATES. Iron plates with dead-eyes, crossing the sides of thetop-rim perpendicularly. The dead-eyes of the top-mast rigging are setup to their upper ends or dead-eyes, and the futtock-shrouds hook totheir lower ends. 

FUTTOCK-RIDERS. When a rider is lengthened by means of pieces batted orscarphed to it and each other, the first piece is termed the firstfuttock-rider, the next the second futtock-rider, and so on. 

FUTTOCKS, OR FOOT-HOOKS. The separate pieces of timber which compose theframe. There are four futtocks (component parts of the rib), andoccasionally five, to a ship. The timbers that constitute herbreadth--the middle division of a ship's timbers, or those parts whichare situated between the floor and the top timbers--separate timberswhich compose the frame. Those next the keel are called ground-futtocksor navel-timbers, and the rest upper futtocks. 

FUTTOCK-SHROUDS, OR FOOT-HOOK SHROUDS. Are short pieces of rope or chainwhich secure the lower dead-eyes and futtock-plates of top-mast riggingto a band round a lower mast. 

FUTTOCK-STAFF. A short piece of wood or iron, seized across the upperpart of the shrouds at equal distances, to which the cat-harping legsare secured. 

FUTTOCK-TIMBERS. _See_ FUTTOCKS. 

FUZE. Formerly called also _fuzee_. The adjunct employed with shells forigniting the bursting charge at the required moment. Time-fuzes, prepared with some composition burning at a known rate, are cut or setto a length proportionate to the time which the shell is destined tooccupy in its flight; concussion and percussion fuzes ignite the chargeon impact on the object: the former by the dislocation of some of itsparts throwing open new passages for its flame, and the latter by theaction of various mechanism on its inner priming of detonatingcomposition. They are made either of wood or of metal, and of variousform and size according to the kind of ordnance they are intended for. Time-fuzes of special manufacture are also applied to igniting thecharges of mines, subaqueous blasts, &c. 

FUZZY. Not firm or sound in substance. 

FYKE. A large bow-net used on the American coasts for taking the shad;hence called _shad-fykes_. Also, the _Medusa cruciata_, or Medusa'shead. 

FYRDUNG [the Anglo-Saxon _fyrd ung_, military service]. This appears onour statutes for inflicting a penalty on those who evaded going to warat the king's command. 

G. 

GAB. A notch on the eccentric rod of a steam-engine for fitting a pin inthe gab-lever to break the connection with the slide-valves. (_See_GABBE. )

GABARRE. Originally a river lighter; now a French store-ship. 

GABART, OR GABBERT. A flat vessel with a long hatchway, used in canalsand rivers. 

GABBE. An old but vulgar term for the mouth. --_Gift of the gab_, or_glib-gabbet_, facility and recklessness of assertion. 

GABBOK. A voracious dog-fish which infests the herring fisheries in St. George's Channel. 

GABELLE [Fr. ] An excise tribute. 

GABERDINE. An old name for a loose felt cloak or mantle. 

GABERT. A Scotch lighter. (_See_ GABART. )

GABIONADE. A parapet of gabions hastily thrown up. 

GABIONS. Cylindrical baskets open at both ends, about 3 feet high and 2feet in diameter, which, being placed on end and filled with earth, greatly facilitate the speedy formation of cover against an enemy'sfire. They are much used for revetments in field-works generally. 

GABLE, OR GABULLE. A term in early voyagers for _cable_. Thus, "Softe, ser, seyd the gabulle-rope, Methinke gode ale is in your tope. "

GABLICK, OR GAFFLOCK. An old term for a crow-bar. 

GABY. A conceited simpleton. 

GACHUPINS. The name given in South America to European Spaniards. 

GAD. A goad; the point of a spear or pike. 

GAD-YANG. A coasting vessel of Cochin-China. 

GAFF. A spar used in ships to extend the heads of fore-and-aft sailswhich are not set on stays. The foremost end of the gaff is termed thejaw, the outer part is called the peak. The jaw forms a semicircle, andis secured in its position by a jaw-rope passing round the mast; on itare strung several small wooden balls called _trucks_, to lessen thefriction on the mast when the sail is hoisting or lowering. --_To blowthe gaff_, said of the revealing a plot or giving convicting evidence. 

GAFF-HALLIARDS. _See_ HALLIARDS. 

GAFF-HOOK. In fishing, a strong iron hook set on a handle, supplementingthe powers of the line and fish-hook with heavy fish, in the same waythat the landing-net does with those of moderate size. 

GAFFLE. A lever or stirrup for bending a cross-bow. 

GAFF-NET. A peculiar net for fishing. 

GAFF-TOPSAIL. A light triangular or quadrilateral sail, the head beingextended on a small gaff which hoists on the top-mast, and the foot onthe lower gaff. 

GAGE. The quantity of water a ship draws, or the depth she is immersed. 

GAGE, WEATHER. When one ship is to windward of another she is said tohave the weather-gage of her; or if in the opposite position, thelee-gage. 

GAGE-COCKS. These are for ascertaining the height of the water in theboiler, by means of three or more pipes, having a cock to each. 

GAINED DAY. The twenty-four hours, or day and night, gained bycircumnavigating the globe to the eastward. It is the result of sailingin the same direction as the earth revolves, which shortens each day byfour minutes for every degree sailed. In the Royal Navy this run givesan additional day's pay to a ship's crew. 

GAIN THE WIND, TO. To arrive on the weather-side of some other vessel insight, when both are plying to windward. 

GAIR-FISH. A name on our northern coasts for the porpoise. 

GAIR-FOWL. A name of the great auk, _Alca impennis_. (_See_ AUK. )

GAIRG. A Gaelic name for the cormorant. 

GALAXY. A name of the Milky Way. (_See_ VIA LACTEA. )

GALEAS. _See_ GALLIAS. 

GALE OF WIND. Implies what on shore is called a storm, more particularlytermed a _hard gale_ or _strong gale_; number of force, 10. --_A stiffgale_ is the diminutive of the preceding, but stronger than abreeze. --_A fresh gale_ is a still further diminutive, and not toostrong for a ship to carry single-reefed top-sails whenclose-hauled. --_A top-gallant gale_, if a ship can carry her top-gallantsails. --_To gale away_, to go free. 

GALEOPIS. An ancient war-ship with a prow resembling the beak of asword-fish. 

GALITA. _See_ GUERITE. 

GALL. _See_ WIND-GALL. 

GALLANTS. All flags borne on the mizen-mast were so designated. 

GALLAN WHALE. The largest whale which visits the Hebrides. 

GALLED. The result of friction, to prevent which it is usual to cover, with skins, mats, or canvas, the places most exposed to it. (_See_SERVICE. )

GALLEON, OR GALION. A name formerly given to ships of war furnished withthree or four batteries of cannon. It is now retained only by theSpaniards, and applied to the largest size of their merchant shipsemployed in West India and Vera Cruz voyages. The Portuguese also haveships trading to India and the Brazils nearly resembling the galleons, and called caragues. (_See_ CARACK. )

GALLEOT, OR GALLIOT. A small galley designed only for chase, generallycarrying but one mast, with sixteen or twenty oars. All the seamen onboard act as soldiers, and each has a musket by him ready for use onquitting his oar. Also, a Dutch or Flemish vessel for cargoes, with veryrounded ribs and flattish bottom, with a mizen-mast stept far aft, carrying a square-mainsail and main-topsail, a fore-stay to themain-mast (there being no fore-mast), with fore-staysail and jibs. Somealso call the bomb-ketches galliots. (_See_ SCAMPAVIA. )

GALLERY. A balcony projecting from the admiral's or captain's cabin; itis usually decorated with a balustrade, and extends from one side of theship to the other; the roof is formed by a sort of vault termed a cove, which is frequently ornamented with carving. (_See_ STERN; alsoQUARTER-GALLERY. )

GALLERY OF A MINE. The passage of horizontal communication, asdistinguished from the shaft or vertical descent, made underground bymilitary miners to reach the required position, for lodging the charge, &c. ; it averages 4-1/2 feet high by 3 feet wide. 

GALLERY-LADDER. Synonymous with _stern-ladder_. 

GALLEY. A low, flat-built vessel with one deck, and propelled by sailsand oars, particularly in the Mediterranean. The largest sort, calledgalleasses, were formerly employed by the Venetians. They were about 160feet long above, and 130 by the keel, 30 wide, and 20 length ofstern-post. They were furnished with three masts and thirty banks ofoars, each bank containing two oars, and every oar managed byhalf-a-dozen slaves, chained to them. There are also _half-galleys_ and_quarter-galleys_, but found by experience to be of little utilityexcept in fine weather. They generally hug the shore, only sometimesventuring out to sea for a summer cruise. Also, an open boat rowing sixor eight oars, and used on the river Thames by custom-house officers, and formerly by press-gangs; hence the names "custom-house galley, ""press-galley, " &c. Also, a clincher-built fast rowing-boat, ratherlarger than a gig, appropriated in a man-of-war for the use of thecaptain. The _galley_ or _gally_ is also the name of the ship's hearthor kitchen, being the place where the grates are put up and the victualscooked. In small merchantmen it is called the caboose; and is generallyabaft the forecastle or fore-part of the ship. 

GALLEY-ARCHES. Spacious and well-built structures in many of theMediterranean ports for the reception and security of galleys. 

GALLEY-FOIST OR FUST. The lord-mayor's barge, and other vessels forholidays. (_See_ FUST. )

GALLEY-GROWLERS. Idle grumblers and skulkers, from whom discontent andmutiny generally derive their origin. Hence, "galley-packets, " newsbefore the mail arrives. 

GALLEY-NOSE. The figure-head. 

GALLEY-PACKET. An unfounded rumour. (_See_ GALLEY-GROWLERS. )

GALLEY-PEPPER. The soot or ashes which accidentally drop into victualsin cooking. 

GALLEY-SLANG. The neological barbarisms foisted into sea-language. 

GALLEY-SLAVE. A person condemned to work at the oar on board a galley, and chained to the deck. 

GALLEY-STOKER. A lazy skulker. 

GALLEY-TROUGH. _See_ GERLETROCH. 

GALLIAS. A heavy, low-built vessel of burden. Not to be confounded withgalley, for even Shakspeare, in the _Taming of the Shrew_, makes Traniosay:--

 "My father hath no less Than three great argosies; besides two galeasses, And twelve tight galleys. "

GALLIED. The state of a whale when he is seriously alarmed. 

GALLIGASKINS. Wide hose or breeches formerly worn by seamen also called_petticoat-trousers_. P. Penilesse, in his _Supplication to the Divell_, says: "Some gally gascoynes or shipman's hose, like the Anabaptists, "&c. 

GALLING-FIRE. A sustained discharge of cannon, or small arms, which byits execution greatly annoys the enemy. 

GALLIVATS. Armed row-boats of India, smaller than a grab; generally 50to 70 tons. 

GALLOON. Gold lace. [Fr. _galon_; Sp. _galon_. ]

GALLOPER. A small gun used by the Indians, easily drawn by one horse. 

GALLOW-GLASSES. Formerly a heavy-armed body of foot; more recentlyapplied to Irish infantry soldiers. 

GALLOWS. The cross-pieces on the small bitts at the main and forehatchways in flush-decked vessels, for stowing away the booms and sparsover the boats; also termed _gallowses_, _gallows-tops_, _gallows-bitts_, and _gallows-stanchions_. The word is used colloquiallyfor archness, as well as for notoriously bad characters. 

GALLS. Veins of land through which the water oozes. 

GALL-WIND. _See_ WIND-GALL. 

GALLY-GUN. A kind of culverin. 

GALOOT. An awkward soldier, from the Russian _golut_, or slave. Asoubriquet for the young or "green" marine. 

GALORE. Plenty, abundance. 

GAMBISON. A quilted doublet formerly worn under armour, to prevent itschafing. 

GAME-LEG. A lame limb, but not so bad as to unfit for duty. 

GAMMON, TO. To pass the lashings of the bowsprit. 

GAMMONING. Seven or eight turns of a rope-lashing passed alternatelyover the bowsprit and through a large hole in the cut-water, the betterto support the stays of the fore-mast; after all the turns are drawn asfirm as possible, the two opposite are braced together under thebowsprit by a frapping. Gammoning lashing, fashion, &c. , has a peculiarseamanlike meaning. The gammoning turns are passed from the standingpart or bolt forward, over the bowsprit, aft through the knee forward, making a cross lashing. It was the essence of a seaman's ability, andonly forecastle men, under the boatswain, executed it. Now galvanizedchain is more commonly used than rope for gammoning. 

GAMMONING-HOLE. A mortise-opening cut through the knee of the head, between the cheeks, through which the gammoning is passed. 

GAMMON-KNEE. A knee-timber fayed and bolted to the stem, a little belowthe bowsprit. 

GAMMON-PLATE. An iron plate bolted to the stem of some vessels for thepurpose of supporting the gammoning of the bowsprit. 

GAMMON-SHACKLE. A sort of triangular ring formed on the end of agammon-plate, for the gammoning lashing or chain to be made fast to. 

GAND-FLOOK. A name of the saury-pike, _Scomberesox saurus_. 

GANG. A detachment; being a selected number of a ship's crew appointedon any particular service, and commanded by an officer suitable to theoccasion. 

GANG-BOARD. The narrow platform within the side next the gunwale, connecting the quarter-deck to the forecastle. Also, a plank withseveral cleats or steps nailed to it to prevent slipping, for theconvenience of walking into or out of a boat upon the shore, where thewater is shallow. 

GANG-CASKS. Small barrels used for bringing water on board in boats;somewhat larger than _breakers_, and usually containing 32 gallons. 

GANGWAY. The platform on each side of the skid-beams leading from thequarter-deck to the forecastle, and peculiar to deep-waisted ships, forthe convenience of walking expeditiously fore and aft; it is fenced onthe outside by iron stanchions and ropes, or rails, and in vessels ofwar with a netting, in which part of the hammocks are stowed. Inmerchant ships it is frequently called the gang-board. Also, that partof a ship's side, and opening in her bulwarks, by which persons enterand depart, provided with a sufficient number of steps or cleats, nailedupon the ship's side, nearly as low as the surface of the water, andsometimes furnished with a railed accommodation-ladder projecting fromthe ship's side, and secured by iron braces. Also, narrow passages leftin the hold, when a ship is laden, in order to enter any particularplace as occasion may require, or stop a leak. Also, it implies athoroughfare of any kind. --_To bring to the gangway_, to punish a seamanby seizing him up to a grating, there to undergo flogging. 

GANNERET. A sort of gull. 

GANNET. The _Sula bassana_, or solan goose: a large sea bird of thefamily _Pelecanidæ_, common on the Scottish coasts. 

GANNY-WEDGE. A thick wooden wedge, used in splitting timber. 

GANTAN. An Indian commercial measure, of which 17 make a baruth. 

GANT-LINE. Synonymous with _girt-line_ (which see). 

GANT-LOPE, OR GAUNTLOPE (commonly pronounced _gantlet_). A _race_ whicha criminal was sentenced to _run_, in the navy or army, for any heinousoffence. The ship's crew, or a certain division of soldiers, weredisposed in two rows face to face, each provided with a knotted cord, or_knittle_, with which they severely struck the delinquent as he ranbetween them, stripped down to the waist. This was repeated according tothe sentence, but seldom beyond three times, and constituted "_runningthe gauntlet_. "

GANTREE, OR GANTRIL. A wooden stand for a barrel. 

GANZEE. Corrupted from Guernsey. (_See_ JERSEY. )

GAP. A chasm in the land, which, when near, is useful as a landmark. 

GAPE. The principal crevice or crack in shaken timber. --_The seamsgape_, or let in water. 

GARAVANCES. The old term for _calavances_ (which see). 

GARBEL. A word synonymous with _garboard_ (which see). 

GARBLING. The mixing of rubbish with a cargo stowed in bulk. 

GARBOARD-STRAKE, OR SAND-STREAK. The first range of planks laid upon aship's bottom, next the keel, into which it is rabbeted, and into thestem and stern-post at the ends. 

GARDE-BRACE. Anglo-Norman for armour for the arm. 

GARE. _See_ GAIR-FOWL. Also, the Anglo-Saxon for _ready_. (_See_ YARE. )

GARETTE. A watch-tower. 

GARFANGLE. An archaic term for an eel-spear. 

GAR-FISH. The _Belone vulgaris_, or bill-fish, the bones of which aregreen. Also called the guard-fish, but it is from the Anglo-Saxon _gar_, a weapon. 

GARGANEY. The _Querquedula circia_, a small species of duck, allied tothe teal. 

GARLAND. A collar of ropes formerly wound round the head of the mast, tokeep the shrouds from chafing. Also, a strap lashed to a spar whenhoisting it in. Also, a large rope grommet, to place shot in on deck. Also, in shore-batteries, a band, whether of iron or stone, to retainshot together in their appointed place. Also, the ring in a target, inwhich the mark is set. Also, a wreath made by crossing three smallhoops, and covering them with silk and ribbons, hoisted to themain-topgallant-stay of a ship on the day of the captain's wedding; buton a seaman's wedding, to the appropriate mast to which he is stationed. Also, a sort of cabbage-net, whose opening is extended by a hoop, andused by sailors to contain their day's provisions, being hung up to thebeams within their berth, safe from cats, rats, ants, and cockroaches. 

GARNET. A sort of purchase fixed to the main-stay of a merchant-ship, and used for hoisting the cargo in and out at the time of loading ordelivering her. A whip. --_Clue-garnet. _ (_See_ CLUE and CLUE-GARNETS. )

GARNEY. A term in the fisheries for the fins, sounds, and tongues of thecod-fish. 

GARNISH. Profuse decoration of a ship's head, stern, and quarters. Alsomoney which pressed men in tenders and receiving ships exacted from eachother, according to priority. 

GARR. An oozy vegetable substance which grows on ships' bottoms. 

GARRET, OR GARITA. A watch-tower in a fortification; an old term. 

GARRISON. A military force guarding a town or fortress; a term for theplace itself; also for the state of guard there maintained. 

GARRISON GUNS. These are more powerful than those intended for thefield; and formerly nearly coincided with naval guns; but now, theintroduction of armour-plating afloat leads to furnishingcoast-batteries with the heaviest guns of all. 

GARRISON ORDERS. Those given out by the commandant of a garrison. 

GARROOKA. A fishing-craft of the Gulf of Persia. 

GARTERS. A slang term for the ship's irons or bilboes. 

GARTHMAN. One who plies at a _fish-garth_, but is prohibited by statutefrom destroying the fry of fish. 

GARVIE. A name on our northern shores for the sprat. 

GASKET. A cord, or piece of plaited stuff, to secure furled sails to theyard, by wrapping it three or four times round both, the turns being ata competent distance from each other. --_Bunt-gasket_ ties up the bunt ofthe sail, and should consequently be the strongest; it is sometimes madein a peculiar net form. In some ships they have given place tobeckets. --_Double gaskets. _ Passing additional frapping-lines round theyards in very stormy weather. --_Quarter-gasket. _ Used only for largesails, and is fastened about half-way out upon the yard, which part iscalled the quarter. --_Yard-arm gasket. _ Used for smaller sails; the endis made fast to the yard-arm, and serves to bind the sail as far as thequarter-gasket on large yards, but extends quite into the bunt of smallsails. 

GAS-PIPE. A term jocularly applied to the newly-introducedbreech-loading rifle. 

GAT. A swashway, or channel amongst shoals. 

GATE. The old name for landing-places, as Dowgate and Billingsgate; alsoin cliffs, as Kingsgate, Margate, and Ramsgate; those in Greece and inItaly are called _scala_. Also, a flood, sluice, or water gate. 

GATE, OR SEA-GATE. When two ships are thrown on board one another by awave, they are said to be in a sea-gate. 

GATHER AFT A SHEET, TO. To pull it in, by hauling in slack. 

GATHER WAY, TO. To begin to feel the impulse of the wind on the sails, so as to obey the helm. 

GATH-LINN. A name of the north polar star; two Gaelic words, signifyingray and moisture, in allusion to its subdued brightness. 

GATT. A gate or channel, a term used on the Flemish coast and in theBaltic. The Hellegat of New York has become Hell Gate. 

GAUB-LINE. A rope leading from the martingale in-board. The same as_back-rope_. 

GAUGE. _See_ GAGE. 

GAUGE. An instrument for measuring shot, wads, &c. For round shot thereare two kinds, viz. The high gauge, a cylinder through which the shotmust pass; and the low gauge, a ring through which it must not pass. 

GAUGE-COCKS. A neat apparatus for ascertaining the height of the waterin a steamer's boiler. 

GAUGE-ROD. A graduated iron for sounding the pump-well. 

GAUGNET. The _Sygnathus acus_, sea-needle, or pipe-fish. 

GAUNTLET. (_See_ GIRT-LINE. ) Also, a rope round the ship to the loweryard-arms, for drying scrubbed hammocks. Of old the term denoted thearmed knight's iron glove. (_See_ GANT-LOPE, for _running thegauntlet_. )

GAUNTREE. The stand for a water or beer cask. 

GAUNTS. The great crested grebe in Lincolnshire. 

GAUT, OR GHAUT. In the East Indies, a landing-place; and also a chain ofhills, as the Western Gauts, on the Mysore coast. 

GAVELOCK. An iron crow. Of old, a pike; thus in Arthur and Merlin--

 "Gavelokes also thicke flowe So gnattes, ichil avowe. "

GAVER. A Cornish name for the sea cray-fish. 

GAW. A southern term for a boat-pole. 

GAWDNIE. The dragonet, or yellow gurnard; _Callionymus lyra_. 

GAW-GAW. A lubberly simpleton. 

GAWKY. A half-witted, awkward youth. Also, the shell calledhorse-cockle. 

GAWLIN. A small sea-fowl which the natives of the Western Isles ofScotland trust in, as a prognosticator of the weather. 

GAWN-TREE. _See_ GANTREE. 

GAWPUS. A stupid, idle fellow. 

GAWRIE. A name for the red gurnard; _Trigla cuculus_. 

GAZONS [Fr. ] Sods of earth or turf, cut in wedge-shaped form, to linethe parapet and face the outside of works. 

GAZZETTA. The name of a small coin in the Adriatic and Levant. It wasthe price of the first Venetian newspaper, and thereby gave the name tothose publications. In the Greek islands the word is used for ancientcoins. 

G. C. B. The initials for Grand Cross of the most honourable and MilitaryOrder of the Bath. 

GEAR [the Anglo-Saxon _geara_, clothing]. A general name for the riggingof any particular spar or sail; and in or out of gear implies anythingbeing fit or unfit for use. 

GEARING. A complication of wheels and pinions, or of shafts and pulleys, &c. 

GEARS. _See_ JEERS. 

GEE, TO. To suit or fit; as, "that will just gee. "

GELLYWATTE. An old term for a captain's boat, the original of_jolly-boat_. (_See_ Captain Downton's voyage to India in 1614, where"she was sent to take soundings within the sands. ")

GENERAL. The commander of an army: the military rank corresponding tothe naval one of admiral. The title includes all officers abovecolonels, ascending with qualifying prefixes, as brigadier-general, major-general, lieutenant-general, to general, above which is nothingsave the exceptional rank of field-marshal and of captain-general orcommander-in-chief of the land forces of the United Kingdom. 

GENERAL AVERAGE. A claim made upon the owners of a ship and her cargo, when the property of one or more has been sacrificed for the good of thewhole. 

GENERAL BREEZO. _See_ BREEZO. 

GENERALISSIMO. The supreme commander of a combined force, or of severalarmies in the field. 

GENERAL OFFICERS. All those above the rank of a colonel. 

GENERAL ORDERS. The orders issued by the commander-in-chief of theforces. 

GENERAL SHIP. Where persons unconnected with each other load goods onboard, in contradistinction to a _chartered_ ship. 

GENEVA PRINT. An allusion to the spirituous liquor so called, --

 "And if you meet An officer preaching of sobriety, Unless he read it in _Geneva print_, Lay him by the heels. "--_Massinger. _

GENOUILLERE [Fr. ] That part of a battery which remains above theplatform, and under the gun after the opening of the embrasure. Ofcourse a knee-step. 

GENTLE. A maggot or grub used as a bait by anglers. 

GENTLE GALE. In which a ship carries royals and flying-kites; force 4. 

GENTLEMEN. The messmates of the gun-room or cockpit--as mates, midshipmen, clerks, and cadets. 

GEOCENTRIC. As viewed from the centre of the earth. 

GEO-GRAFFY. A beverage made by seamen of burnt biscuit boiled in water. 

GEOGRAPHICAL POSITION. _See_ POSITION, GEOGRAPHICAL. 

GEORGIUM SIDUS. The planet discovered by Sir W. Herschel was so named atfirst; but astronomers adopted _Uranus_ instead, as safer to keep in theneutral ground of mythology. 

GERLETROCH. The _Salmo alpinus_, red char, or galley-trough. 

GERRACK. A coal-fish in its first year. 

GERRET. A samlet or parr. 

GERRICK. A Cornish name for a sea-pike. 

GERRON. A cant name for the sea-trout. 

GESERNE. Anglo-Norman for battle-axe. 

GESTLING. A meeting of the members of the Cinque Ports at Romney. 

GET AFLOAT. Pulling out a grounded boat. 

GET-A-PULL. The order to haul in more of a rope or tackle. 

GHAUT. _See_ GAUT. 

GHEE. The substitute for butter served out to ships' companies on theIndian station. 

GHOST. A false image in the lens of an instrument. 

GHRIME-SAIL. The old term for a smoke-sail. 

GIB. A forelock. 

GIBB. The beak, or hooked upper lip of a male salmon. 

GIBBOUS. The form of a planet's disc exceeding a semicircle, but lessthan a circle. 

GIB-FISH. A northern name for the male of the salmon. 

GIBRALTAR GYN. Originally devised there for working guns under a lowroof. (_See_ GYN. )

GIDDACK. A name on our northern coasts for the sand-launce or sand-eel, _Ammodytes tobianus_. 

GIFFOOT. A Jewish corruption of the Spanish spoken at Gibraltar and thesea-ports. 

GIFT-ROPE [synonymous with _guest-rope_]. A rope for boats at theguest-warp boom. 

GIG. A light narrow galley or ship's boat, clincher-built, and adaptedfor expedition either by rowing or sailing; the latter ticklish attimes. 

GILDEE. A name in the Scottish isles for the _Morhua barbata_, orwhiting pout. 

GILGUY. A guy for tracing up, or bearing a boom or derrick. Oftenapplied to inefficient guys. 

GILL. A ravine down the surface of a cliff; a rivulet through a ravine. The name is often applied also to the valley itself. 

GILLER. A horse-hair fishing line. 

GILLS. Small hackles for drying hemp. 

GILPY. Between a man and boy. 

GILSE. A common misnomer of _grilse_ (which see). 

GILT. A cant, but old term for money, on which Shakspeare (_Henry V. _act ii. Scene 1) committed a well-known pun--

 "Have for the gilt of France (O guilt indeed!)"

GILT-HEAD, OR GILT-POLL. The _Sparus aurata_, a fish of the European andAmerican seas, with a golden mark between the eyes. (_See_ SEDOW. )

GIMBALS. The two concentric brass rings, having their axles at rightangles, by which a sea-compass is suspended in its box, so as tocounteract the effect of the ship's motion. (_See_ COMPASS. ) Also usedfor the chronometers. 

GIMBLETING. The action of turning the anchor round on its fluke, so thatthe motion of the stock appears similar to that of the handle of agimlet when it is employed to bore a hole. To turn anything round on itsend. 

GIMLET-EYE. A penetrating gaze, which sees through a deal plank. 

GIMMART. _See_ GYMMYRT. 

GIMMEL. Any disposition of rings, as links, device of machinery. (_See_GIMBALS. )

GIN. A small iron cruciform frame, having a swivel-hook, furnished withan iron sheave, to serve as a pulley for the use of chain in dischargingcargo and other purposes. 

GINGADO. _See_ JERGADO. 

GINGAL. A long barrelled fire-arm, throwing a ball of from 1/4 to 1/2lb. , used throughout the East, especially in China; made to load at thebreach with a movable chamber. (_See also_ JINGAL. )

GINGERBREAD-HATCHES. Luxurious quarters--

 "Gingerbread-hatches on shore. "

GINGERBREAD WORK. Profusely carved decorations of a ship. 

GINGERLY. Spruce and smart, but somewhat affected in movement. 

GINNELIN. Catching fish by the hand; tickling them. 

GINNERS, OR GINNLES. The gills of fish. 

GINSENG. A Chinese root, formerly highly prized for its restorativevirtues, and greatly valued among the items of a cargo. It is now almostout of the _Materia Medica_. 

GIP, TO. To take the entrails out of fishes. 

GIRANDOLE. Any whirling fire-work. 

GIRD, TO. To bind; used formerly for striking a blow. 

GIRDLE. An additional planking over the wales or bends. Also, a frappingfor girding a ship. 

GIRT. The situation of a ship which is moored so taut by her cables, extending from the hawse to two distant anchors, as to be prevented fromswinging to the wind or tide. The ship thus circumstanced endeavours toswing, but her side bears upon one of the cables, which catches on herheel, and interrupts her in the act of traversing. In this position shemust ride with her broadside or stern to the wind or current, till oneor both of the cables are slackened, so as to sink under the keel; afterwhich the ship will readily yield to the effort of the wind or current, and turn her head thither. (_See_ RIDE. )

GIRT-LINE. A whip purchase, consisting of a rope passing through asingle block on the head of a lower mast to hoist up the riggingthereof, and the persons employed to place it; the girt-line istherefore the first rope employed to rig a ship. (Sometimes mis-called_gant-line_. )

GISARMS. An archaic term for a halbert or hand-axe. 

GIVE A SPELL. To intermit or relieve work. (_See_ SPELL. )

GIVE CHASE, TO. To make sail in pursuit of a stranger. 

GIVE HER SO AND SO. The direction of the officer of the watch to themidshipman, reporting the rate of sailing by the log, and which requirescorrection in the judgment of that officer, from winds, &c. , beforemarking on the log-board. 

GIVE HER SHEET. The order to ease off; give her rope. 

GIVE WAY. The order to a boat's crew to renew rowing, or to increasetheir exertions if they were already rowing. To hang on the oars. 

GIVE WAY TOGETHER. So that the oars may all dip and rise together, whereby the force is concentrated. 

GIVE WAY WITH A WILL. Pull heartily together. 

GIVING. The surging of a seizing; new rope stretching to the strain. 

GLACIS. In fortification, that smooth earthen slope outside the ditchwhich descends to the country, affording a secure parapet to the coveredway, and exposing always a convenient surface to the fire of the place. 

GLADENE. A very early designation of the sea-onion. 

GLAIRE. A broadsword or falchion fixed on a pike. 

GLANCE. (_See_ NORTHERN-GLANCE. ) Also, a name for anthracite coal. 

GLASAG. The Gaelic name of an edible sea-weed of our northern isles. 

GLASS. The usual appellation for a telescope (see the old sea song ofLord Howard's capture of Barton the pirate). Also, the familiar term fora barometer. _Glass_ is also used in the plural to denote time-glass onthe duration of any action; as, they fought yard-arm and yard-arm threeglasses, _i. E. _ three half-hours. --_To flog or sweat the half-hourglass. _ To turn the sand-glass before the sand has quite run out, andthus gaining a few minutes in each half-hour, make the watch tooshort. --_Half-minute and quarter-minute glasses_, used to ascertain therate of the ship's velocity measured by the log; they should beoccasionally compared with a good stop watch. --_Night-glass. _ Atelescope adapted for viewing objects at night. 

GLASS CLEAR? Is the sand out of the upper part? asked previously toturning it, on throwing the log. 

GLASSOK. A coast name for the say, seath, or coal-fish. 

GLAVE. A light hand-dart. Also, a sword-blade fixed on the end of apole. 

GLAYMORE. A two-handed sword. (_See_ CLAYMORE. )

GLAZED POWDER. Gunpowder of which the grains, by friction against oneanother in a barrel worked for the purpose, have acquired a fine polish, sometimes promoted by a minute application of black-lead; reputed to bevery slightly weaker than the original, and somewhat less liable todeterioration. 

GLEN. An Anglo-Saxon term denoting a dale or deep valley; still in usefor a ravine. 

GLENT, TO. To turn aside or quit the original direction, as a shot doesfrom accidentally impinging on a hard substance. 

GLIB-GABBET. Smooth and ready speech. 

GLIM. A light; familiarly used for the eyes. --_Dowse the glim_, put outthe light. 

GLOAMING. The twilight. Also, a gloomy dull state of sky. 

GLOBE RANGERS. A soubriquet for the royal marines. 

GLOBULAR SAILING. A general designation for all the methods on which therules of computation are founded, on the hypothesis that the earth is asphere; including great circle sailing. 

GLOG. The Manx or Erse term which denotes the swell or rolling of thesea after a storm. 

GLOOM-STOVE. Formerly for drying powder, at a temperature of about140°; being an iron vessel in a room heated from outside, butsteam-pipes are now substituted. 

GLOOT. _See_ GALOOT. 

GLOWER, TO. To stare or look intently. 

GLUE. _See_ MARINE GLUE. 

GLUM. As applied to the weather, overcast and gloomy. Socially, it is agrievous look. 

GLUT. A piece of wood applied as a fulcrum to a lever power. Also, a bitof canvas sewed into the centre of a sail near the head, with aneyelet-hole in the middle for the bunt-jigger or becket to go through. Glut used to prevent slipping, as sand and nippers glut the messenger;the fall of a tackle drawn across the sheaves, by which it is choked orglutted; junks of rope interposed between the messenger and the whelpsof the capstan. 

GLYN. A deep valley with convex sides. (_See_ CWM. )

GNARLED. Knotty; said of timber. 

GNARRE. An old term for a hard knot in a tree; hence Shakspeare's"unwedgeable and gnarled oak. "

GNOLL. A round hillock. (_See_ KNOLL. )

GNOMON. The hand; style of a dial. 

GO! A word sometimes given when all is ready for the launch of a vesselfrom the stocks. 

GO AHEAD! OR GO ON! The order to the engineer in a steamer. 

GO ASHORE, TO. To land on leave. 

GO ASHORES. The seamen's best dress. 

GOBARTO. A large and ravenous fish of our early voyagers, probably ashark. 

GOBBAG. A Gaelic name for the dog-fish. 

GOB-DOO. A Manx term for a mussel. 

GOBISSON. _Gambesson_; quilted dress worn under the habergeon. 

GOBLACHAN. A Gaelic name for the parr or samlet. 

GOB-LINE. _See_ GAUB-LINE. 

GOBON. An old English name for the whiting. 

GOB-STICK. A horn or wooden spoon. 

GO BY. Stratagem. --_To give her the go by_, is to escape by deceiving. 

GOBY. A name of the _gudgeon_ (which see). It was erroneously applied towhite-bait. 

GOD. We retain the Anglo-Saxon word to designate the ALMIGHTY;signifying good, to do good, doing good, and to benefit; terms such asour classic borrowings cannot pretend to. 

GODENDA. An offensive weapon of our early times, being a poleaxe with aspike at its end. 

GO DOWN. The name given to store-houses and magazines in the EastIndies. 

GODSEND. An unexpected relief or prize; but wreckers denote by the termvessels and goods driven on shore. 

GOE. A creek, smaller than a voe. 

GOELETTE [Fr. ] A schooner. Also, a sloop-of-war. 

GOGAR. A serrated worm used in the north for fishing-bait. 

GOGLET. An earthen vase or bottle for holding water. 

GOILLEAR. The Gaelic for a sea-bird of the Hebrides, said to come ashoreonly in January. 

GOING ABOUT. Tacking ship. 

GOING FREE. When the bowlines are slackened, or sailing with the windabeam. 

GOING LARGE. Sailing off the wind. 

GOING THROUGH THE FLEET. A cruel punishment, long happily abolished. Thevictim was sentenced to receive a certain portion of the floggingalongside the various ships, towed in a launch by a boat supplied fromeach vessel, the drummers beating the rogue's march. 

GOLDENEY. A name for the yellow gurnard among the northern fishermen. 

GOLD FISH. The trivial name of the _Cyprinus auratus_, one of the mostsuperb of the finny tribe. It was originally brought from China, but isnow generally naturalized in Europe. 

GOLD MOHUR. A well known current coin in the East Indies, varying alittle in value at each presidency, but averaging fifteen rupees, orthirty shillings. 

GOLE. An old northern word for a stream or sluice. 

GOLLETTE. The shirt of mail formerly worn by foot soldiers. Also, aFrench sloop-of-war, spelled goëlette. 

GOMER. A particular form of chamber in ordnance, consisting in a conicalnarrowing of the bore towards its inner end. It was first devised forthe service of mortars, and named after the inventor, Gomer, in the latewars. 

GOMERE [Fr. ] The cable of a galley. 

GONDOLA. A light pleasure-barge universally used on the canals ofVenice, generally propelled by one man standing on the stern with onepowerful oar, though the larger kinds have more rowers. The middle-sizedgondolas are upwards of 30 feet long and 4 broad, with a well furnishedcabin amidships, though exclusively black as restricted by law. Theyalways rise at each end to a very sharp point of about the height of aman's breast. The stem is always surmounted by the ferro, a bright ironbeak or cleaver of one uniform shape, seemingly derived from the ancientRomans, being the "rostrisque tridentibus" of Virgil, as may be seen inmany of Hadrian's large brass medals. The form of the gondola in thewater is traced back till its origin is lost in antiquity, yet (likethat of the Turkish caïques) embodies the principles of the wave-linetheory, the latest effort of modern ship-building science. Also, apassage-boat of six or eight oars, used on other parts of the coast ofItaly. 

GONDOLIER. A man who works or navigates a gondola. 

GONE. Carried away. "The hawser or cable is _gone_;" parted, broken. 

GONE-GOOSE. A ship deserted or given up in despair (_in extremis_). 

GONFANON [Fr. ] Formerly a cavalry banneret; corrupted from the_gonfalone_ of the Italians. 

GONG. A kind of Chinese cymbal, with a powerful and sonorous toneproduced by the vibrations of its metal, consisting mainly of copper andtutenag or zinc; it is used by some vessels instead of a bell. Acompanion of Sir James Lancaster in 1605 irreverently states that itmakes "a most hellish sound. "

GONGA. A general name for a river in India, whence comes Ganges. 

GOOD-AT-ALL-POINTS. Practical in every particular. 

GOOD-CONDUCT BADGE. Marked by a chevron on the lower part of the sleeve, granted by the admiralty, and carrying a slight increase of pay, topetty officers, seamen, and marines. One of a similar nature is in usein the army. 

GOOD MEN. The designation of the able, hard-working, and willing seamen. 

GOOD SHOALING. An approach to the shore by very gradual soundings. 

GOOLE. An old term for a breach in a sea-bank. 

GOOSANDER. The _Mergus merganser_, a northern sea-fowl, allied to theduck, with a straight, narrow, and serrated bill, hooked at the point. 

GOOSE-NECK. A curved iron, fitted outside the after-chains to receive aspare spar, properly the swinging boom, a davit. Also, a sort of ironhook fitted on the inner end of a boom, and introduced into a clamp ofiron or eye-bolt, which encircles the mast; or is fitted to some otherplace in the ship, so that it may be unhooked at pleasure. It is usedfor various purposes, especially for guest-warps and swinging booms ofall descriptions. 

GOOSE-WINGS OF A SAIL. The situation of a course when the buntlines andlee-clue are hauled up, and the weather-clue down. The clues, or lowercorners of a ship's main-sail or fore-sail, when the middle part isfurled or tied up to the yard. The term is also applied to the fore andmain sails of a schooner or other two-masted fore-and-aft vessel; whenrunning before the wind she has these sails set on opposite sides. 

GOOSE WITHOUT GRAVY. A severe starting, so called because no bloodfollowed its infliction. 

GORAB. _See_ GRAB. 

GORD. An archaism denoting a deep hole in a river. 

GORES. Angular pieces of plank inserted to fill up a vessel's plankingat any part requiring it. Also, the angles at one or both ends of suchcloths as increase the breadth or depth of a sail. (_See_ GORING-CLOTH. )

GORGE. The upper and narrowest part of a transverse valley, usuallycontaining the upper bed of a torrent. Also, in fortification, a linejoining the inner extremities of a work. 

GORGE-HOOK. Two hooks separated by a piece of lead, for the taking ofpike or other voracious fish. 

GORGET. In former times, and still amongst some foreign troops, a giltbadge of a crescent shape, suspended from the neck, and hanging on thebreast, worn by officers on duty. 

GORING, OR GORING-CLOTH. That part of the skirts of a sail cut on thebias, where it gradually widens from the upper part down to the clues. (_See_ SAIL. )

GORMAW. A coast name for the cormorant. 

GORSE. Heath or furze for breaming a vessel's bottom. 

GO SLOW. The order to the engineer to cut off steam without stopping theplay of the engine. 

GOSSOON. A silly awkward lout. 

GOTE. _See_ GUTTER. 

GOUGING. In ship-building (_see_ SNAIL-CREEPING). Also, a cruel practicein one or two American states, now extremely rare, in which a man's eyewas squeezed out by his rival's thumb-nail, the fingers being entangledin the hair for the necessary purchase. 

GOUGINGS. A synonym of _gudgeons_ (which see). 

GOUKMEY. One of the names in the north for the gray gurnard. 

GOULET. Any narrow entrance to a creek or harbour, as the _goletta_ atTunis. 

GOURIES. The garbage of salmon. 

GOVERNMENT. Generally means the constitution of our country as exercisedunder the legislature of king or queen, lords, and commons. 

GOVERNOR. An officer placed by royal commission in command of afortress, town, or colony. Governors are also appointed to institutions, hospitals, and other establishments. Also, a revolving bifurcatependulum, with two iron balls, whose centrifugal divergence equalizesthe motion of the steam-engine. 

GOW. An old northern term for the gull. 

GOWDIE. The _Callionymus lyra_, dragonet, or chanticleer. 

GOWK. The cuckoo; but also used for a stupid, good-natured fellow. 

GOWK-STORM. Late vernal equinoctial gales contemporary with the gowk orcuckoo. 

GOWT, OR GOTE. A limited passage for water. 

GOYLIR. A small sea-bird held to precede a storm; hence seamen call them_malifiges_. Arctic gull. 

GRAB. The large coasting vessel of India, generally with two masts, andof 150 to 300 tons. --_To grab. _ In familiar language, to catch or snatchat anything with violence. 

GRABBLE, TO. To endeavour to hook a sunk article. To catch fish by handin a brook. 

GRAB SERVICE. Country vessels first employed by the Bombay governmentagainst the pirates; afterwards erected into the Bombay Marine. 

GRACE. _See_ ACT OF GRACE. 

GRADE. A degree of rank; a step in order or dignity. 

GRAFTING. An ornamental weaving of fine yarns, &c. , over the strop of ablock; or applied to the tapered ends of the ropes, and termed pointing. 

GRAIN OF TIMBER. In a transverse section of a tree, two differentgrains are seen: those running in a circular manner are called the_silver grain_; the others radiate, and are called _bastardgrain_. --_Grain_ is also a whirlwind not unfrequent in Normandy, mixedwith rain, but seldom continues above a quarter of an hour. They may beforeseen, and while they last the sea is very turbulent; they may returnseveral times in the same day, a dead calm succeeding. 

GRAIN. In the _grain of_, is immediately preceding another ship in thesame direction. --_Bad-grain_, a sea-lawyer; a nuisance. 

GRAIN-CUT TIMBER. That which is cut athwart the grain when the grain ofthe wood does not partake of the shape required. 

GRAINED POWDER. That corned or reduced into grains from the cakes, anddistinguished from mealed powder, as employed in certain preparations. 

GRAINS. A five-pronged fish-spear, grains signifying branches. 

GRAIN UPSET. When a mast suffers by buckles, it is said to have itsgrain upset. A species of wrinkle on the soft outer grain which will befound corresponding to a defect on the other side. It is frequentlyproduced by an injudicious setting up of the rigging. 

GRAM. A species of pulse given to horses, sheep, and oxen in the EastIndies, and supplied to ships for feeding live-stock. 

GRAMPUS. A corruption of _gran pisce_. An animal of the cetacean orwhale tribe, distinguished by the large pointed teeth with which bothjaws are armed, and by the high falcate dorsal fin. It generally attainsa length of 20 to 25 feet, and is very active and voracious. 

GRAMPUS, BLOWING THE. Sluicing a person with water, especially practisedon him who skulks or sleeps on his watch. 

GRAND DIVISION. A division of a battalion composed of two companies, orordinary divisions, in line. 

GRANDSIRE. The name of a four-oared boat which belonged to Peter theGreat, now carefully preserved at St. Petersburg as the origin of theRussian fleet. 

GRANNY'S BEND. The slippery hitch made by a lubber. 

GRANNY'S KNOT. This is a term of derision when a reef-knot is crossedthe wrong way, so as to be insecure. It is the natural knot tied bywomen or landsmen, and derided by seamen because it cannot be untiedwhen it is jammed. 

GRAPESHOT. A missile from guns intermediate between case-shot and solidshot, having much of the destructive spread of the former with somewhatof the range and penetrative force of the latter. A round of grapeshotconsists of three tiers of cast-iron balls arranged, generally three ina tier, between four parallel iron discs connected together by a centralwrought-iron pin. For carronades, the grape, not being liable to such aviolent dispersive shock, they are simply packed in canisters withwooden bottoms. 

GRAPNEL, OR GRAPLING. A sort of small anchor for boats, having a ring atone end, and four palmed claws at the other. --_Fire grapnel. _Resembling the former, but its flukes are furnished with strongfish-hook barbs on their points, usually fixed by a chain on theyard-arms of a ship, to grapple any adversary whom she intends to board, and particularly requisite in fire-ships. Also, used to grapple ships onfire, in order to tow them away from injuring other vessels. 

GRAPNEL-ROPE. That which is bent to the grapnel by which a boat rides, now substituted by chain. 

GRAPPLE, TO. To hook with a grapnel; to lay hold of. First used byDuilius to prevent the escape of the Carthaginians. 

GRASP. The handle of a sword, and of an oar. Also, the small of the buttof a musket. 

GRASS. A term applied to vegetables in general. (_See_ FEED OF GRASS. )

GRASS-COMBERS. A galley-term for all those landsmen who enter the navalservice from farming counties. Lord Exmouth found many of them learntheir duties easily, and turn out valuable seamen. 

GRATING-DECK. A light movable deck, similar to the hatch-deck, but withopen gratings. 

GRATINGS. An open wood-work of cross battens and ledges forming coverfor the hatchways, serving to give light and air to the lower decks. Innautical phrase, he "who can't see a hole through a grating" isexcessively drunk. 

GRATINGS OF THE HEAD. _See_ HEAD-GRATINGS. 

GRATUITOUS MONEY. A term officially used for bounty granted tovolunteers in Lord Exmouth's expedition against Algiers. 

GRAVE, TO. To clean a vessel's bottom, and pay it over. 

GRAVELIN. A small migratory fish, commonly reputed to be the spawn ofthe salmon. 

GRAVELLED. Vexed, mortified. 

GRAVING. The act of cleaning a ship's bottom by burning off theimpurities, and paying it over with tar or other substance, while she islaid aground during the recess of the tide. (_See_ BREAMING. )

GRAVING BEACH OR SLIP. A portion of the dockyard where ships were landedfor a tide. 

GRAVING-DOCK. An artificial receptacle used for the inspecting, repairing, and cleaning a vessel's bottom. It is so contrived that afterthe ship is floated in, the water may run out with the fall of the tide, the shutting of the gates preventing its return. 

GRAVITATION. The natural tendency or inclination of all bodies towardsthe centre of the earth; and which was established by Sir Isaac Newton, as the great law of nature. 

GRAVITY, CENTRE OF. The centre of gravity of a ship is that point aboutwhich all parts of the body, in any situation, balance each other. (_See_ SPECIFIC GRAVITY. )

GRAWLS. The young salmon, probably the same as _grilse_. 

GRAY-FISH, AND GRAY-LORD. Two of the many names given to the _Gaduscarbonarius_ or coal-fish. 

GRAYLE. Small sand. Also, an old term for thin gravel. 

GRAYLING. A fresh-water fish of the Salmo tribe. (_See_ OMBRE. )

GRAYNING. A species of dace found on our northern coast. 

GRAY-SCHOOL. A particular shoal of large salmon in the Solway about themiddle of July. 

GRAZE. The point at which a shot strikes and rebounds from earth orwater. 

GRAZING-FIRE. That which sweeps close to the surface it defends. 

GREASY. Synonymous with dirty weather. 

GREAT CIRCLE. One whose assumed plane passes through the centre of thesphere, dividing it equally. 

GREAT-CIRCLE SAILING. Is a method for determining a series of points inan arc of a great circle between two points on the surface of the earth, for the purpose of directing a ship's course as nearly as possible onsuch arc; that is, on the curve of shortest distance between the placefrom which she sets out, and that at which she is to arrive. 

GREAT GUN. The general sea-term for cannons, or officers of greatrepute. 

GREAT GUNS AND SMALL-ARMS. The general armament of a ship. Also, a slangterm for the blowing and raining of heavy weather. 

GREAT-LINE FISHING. That carried on over the deeper banks of the ocean. (_See_ LINE-FISHING. ) It is more applicable to hand-fishing, as on thebanks of Newfoundland, in depths over 60 fathoms. 

GREAT OCEAN. The Pacific, so called from its superior extent. 

GREAT SHAKES. _See_ SHAKE. 

GREAVES. Armour for the legs. 

GRECALE. A north-eastern breeze off the coast of Sicily, _Greece_ lyingN. E. 

GREEN. Raw and untutored; a metaphor from unripe fruit--thus Shakspearemakes Pandulph say:

 "How green are you and fresh in this old world!"

GREEN-BONE. The trivial name of the viviparous blenny, or guffer, thebackbone of which is green when boiled; also of the gar-fish. 

GREEN-FISH. Cod, hake, haddock, herrings, &c. , unsalted. 

GREEN-HANDS. Those embarked for the first time, and consequentlyinexperienced. 

GREEN-HORN. A lubberly, uninitiated fellow. A novice of markedgullibility. 

GREENLAND DOVE. The puffinet; called _scraber_ in the Hebrides; aboutthe size of a pigeon. 

GREENLAND WHALE. _See_ RIGHT WHALE. 

GREEN-MEN. The five supernumerary seamen who had not been before in theArctic Seas, whom vessels in the whale-fishery were obliged to bear, toget the tonnage bounty. 

GREEN SEA. A large body of water shipped on a vessel's deck; it derivesits name from the green colour of a sheet of water between the eye andthe light when its mass is too large to be broken up into spray. 

GREEN-SLAKE. The sea-weed otherwise called _lettuce-laver_ (which see). 

GREEN TURTLE. The common name for the edible turtle, which does notyield tortoise-shell. 

GREENWICH STARS. Those used for lunar computations in the nauticalephemeris. 

GREEP. The old orthography of _gripe_. 

GREGO. A coarse Levantine jacket, with a hood. A cant term for a roughgreat-coat. 

GRENADE. Now restricted to hand-grenade, weighing about 2 lbs. , and thefuze being previously lit, is conveniently thrown by hand from the topsof ships on to an enemy's deck, from the parapet into the ditch, orgenerally against an enemy otherwise difficult to reach. A number ofgrenades, moreover, being quilted together with their fuzes outwards, called a "bouquet, " is fired short distances with good effect frommortars in the latter stages of a siege. 

GRENADIERS. Formerly the right company of each battalion, composed ofthe largest men, and originally equipped for using hand-grenades. Now-a-days the companies of a regiment are equalized in size and othermatters; and the title in the British army remains only to the fineregiment of grenadier guards. 

GRENADO. The old name for a live shell. Thuanus says that they werefirst used at the siege of Wacklindonck, near Gueldres; and that theirinventor, in an experiment in Venice, occasioned the burning oftwo-thirds of that city. 

GREVE. A low flat sandy shore; whence _graving_ is derived. 

GREY-FRIARS. A name given to the oxen of Tuscany, with which theMediterranean fleet was supplied. 

GREY-HEAD. A fish of the haddock kind, taken on the coast of Galloway. 

GREYHOUND. A hammock with so little bedding as to be unfit for stowingin the nettings. 

GRIAN. A Gaelic term for the bottom, whether of river, lake, or sea. 

GRIBAN. A small two-masted vessel of Normandy. 

GRID. The diminutive of _gridiron_. 

GRIDIRON. A solid timber stage or frame, formed of cross-beams of wood, for receiving a ship with a falling tide, in order that her bottom maybe examined. The Americans also use for a similar purpose an apparatuscalled a _screw-dock_, and another known as the _hydraulic-dock_. 

GRIFFIN, OR GRIFF. A name given to Europeans during the first year oftheir arrival in India; it has become a general term for aninexperienced youngster. 

GRIG. Small eels. 

GRILL, TO. To broil on the bars of the galley-range, as implied by itsFrench derivation. 

GRILSE. One of the salmon tribe, generally considered to be a youngsalmon on the return from its first sojourn at the sea; though by somestill supposed to be a distinct fish. 

GRIN AND BEAR IT. The stoical resignation to unavoidable hardship, which, being heard on board ship by Lord Byron, produced the fine stanzain "Childe Harold, " commencing "Existence might be borne. "

GRIND. A half kink in a hempen cable. 

GRIP. The Anglo-Saxon _grep_. The handle of a sword; also a small ditchor drain. To hold, as "the anchor grips. " Also, a peculiar groove inrifled ordnance. 

GRIPE. Is generally formed by the scarph of the stem and keel. (_See_FORE-FOOT. ) This is retained, or shaved away, according to the object ofmaking the vessel hold a better wind, or have greater facility inwearing. --_To gripe. _ To carry too much weather-helm. A vessel gripeswhen she tends to come up into the wind while sailing close-hauled. Shegripes according to her trim. If it continues it is remedied bylightening forward, or making her draw deeper aft. 

GRIPED-TO. The situation of a boat when secured by gripes. 

GRIPES. A broad plait formed by an assemblage of ropes, woven and fittedwith thimbles and laniards, used to steady the boats upon the deck of aship at sea. The gripes are fastened at their ends to ring-bolts in thedeck, on each side of the boat; whence, passing over her middle andextremities, they are set up by means of the laniards. Gripes for aquarter boat are similarly used. 

GRITT. An east-country term for the sea-crab. 

GROATS. An allowance for each man per mensem, assigned formerly to thechaplain for pay. 

GROBMAN. A west-country term for a sea-bream about two-thirds grown. 

GRODAN. A peculiar boat of the Orcades; also the Erse for a gurnard. 

GROG. A drink issued in the navy, consisting of one part of spiritsdiluted with three of water; introduced in 1740 by Admiral Vernon, as acheck to intoxication by mere rum, and said to have been named from hisgrogram coat. Pindar, however, alludes to the Cyclops diluting theirbeverage with ten waters. As the water on board, in olden times, becamevery unwholesome, it was necessary to mix it with spirits, but irontanks have partly remedied this. The addition of sugar and lemon-juicenow makes grog an agreeable anti-scorbutic. 

GROG-BLOSSOM. A red confluence on the nose and face of an excessivedrinker of ardent spirits; though sometimes resulting from other causes. 

GROG-GROG. The soft cry of the solan goose. 

GROGGY, OR GROGGIFIED. Rendered stupid by drinking, or incapable ofperforming duty by illness; as also a ship when crank, and birds whencrippled. 

GROGRAM. From _gros-grain_. A coarse stuff of which boat-cloaks weremade. From one which Admiral Vernon wore, came the term _grog_. 

GROINING. A peculiar mode of submarine embankment; a quay run outtransversely to the shore. 

GROMAL. An old word for gromet, or apprentice. 

GROMET. A boy of the crew of the ships formerly furnished by the CinquePorts (a diminutive from the Teutonic _grom_, a youth); his duty was tokeep ship in harbour. Now applied to the ship's apprentices. 

GROMMET, OR GRUMMET. A ring formed of a single strand of rope, laid inthree times round; used to fasten the upper edge of a sail to its stayin different places, and by means of which the sail is hoisted orlowered. Iron or wooden hanks have now been substituted. (_See_ HANKS. )Grommets are also used with pins for large boats' oars, instead ofrowlocks, and for many other purposes. 

GROMMET-WAD. A ring made of 1-1/2 or 2 inch rope, having attached to ittwo cross-pieces or diameters of the same material; it acts by the endsof these pieces biting on the interior of the bore of the gun. 

GROOVE-ROLLERS. These are fixed in a groove of the tiller-sweep in largeships, to aid the tiller-ropes, and prevent friction. 

GROPERS. The ships stationed in the Channel and North Sea. 

GROPING. An old mode of catching trout by tickling them with the handsunder rocks or banks. Shakspeare makes the clown in "Measure forMeasure" say that Claudio's offence was--

 "Groping for trouts in a peculiar river. "

GROSETTA. A minute coin of Ragusa, somewhat less than a farthing. 

GROUND, TO. To take the bottom or shore; to be run aground throughignorance, violence, or accident. --_To strike ground. _ To obtainsoundings. 

GROUNDAGE. A local duty charged on vessels coming to anchor in a port orstanding in a roadstead, as _anchorage_. 

GROUND-BAIT, OR GROUNDLING. A loach or loche. 

GROUND-GRU. _See_ ANCHOR-ICE. 

GROUND-GUDGEON. A little fish, the _Cobitis barbatula_. 

GROUND-ICE. _See_ ANCHOR-ICE. 

GROUNDING. The act of laying a ship on shore, in order to bream orrepair her; it is also applied to runnings aground accidentally whenunder sail. 

GROUND-PLOT. _See_ ICHNOGRAPHY. 

GROUND-SEA. The West Indian name for the swell called _rollers_, or inJamaica the _north sea_. It occurs in a calm, and with no otherindication of a previous gale; the sea rises in huge billows, dashesagainst the shore with roarings resembling thunder, probably due to the"northers, " which suddenly rage off the capes of Virginia, round to theGulf of Mexico, and drive off the sea from America, affecting the BahamaBanks, but not reaching to Jamaica or Cuba. The rollers set interrifically in the Gulf of California, causing vessels to founder orstrike in 7 fathoms, and devastating the coast-line. H. M. S. _Lily_foundered off Tristan d'Acunha in similar weather. In all the lattercases no satisfactory cause is yet assigned. (_See_ ROLLER. )

GROUND-STRAKE. A name sometimes used for _garboard-strake_. 

GROUND-SWELL. A sudden swell preceding a gale, which rises along shore, often in fine weather, and when the sea beyond it is calm. (_See_ROLLER. )

GROUND-TACKLE. A general name given to all sorts of ropes and furniturewhich belong to the anchors, or which are employed in securing a ship ina road or harbour. 

GROUND-TIER. The lowest water-casks in the hold before the introductionof iron tanks. It also implies anything else stowed there. 

GROUND-TIMBERS. Those which lie on the keel, and are fastened to it withbolts through the kelson. 

GROUND-WAYS. The large blocks and thick planks which support the cradleon which a ship is launched. Also, the foundation whereon a vessel isbuilt. 

GROUP. A set of islands not ranged in a row so as to form a chain, andthe word is often used synonymously with _cluster_. 

GROUPER. A variety of the snapper, which forms a staple article of foodin the Bermudas, and in the West Indies generally. 

GROWEN. _See_ GROWN-SEA. 

GROWING. Implies the direction of the cable from the ship towards theanchors; as, the cable _grows_ on the starboard-bow, _i. E. _ stretchesout forwards towards the starboard or right side. 

GROWING PAY. That which succeeds the _dead-horse_, or pay in prospect. 

GROWLERS. Smart, but sometimes all-jaw seamen, who have seen someservice, but indulge in invectives against restrictive regulations, rendering them undesirable men. There are also too many "civil growlers"of the same kidney. 

GROWN-SEA. When the waves have felt the full influence of a gale. 

GRUANE. The Erse term for the gills of a fish. 

GRUB. A coarse but common term for provisions in general--

 "In other words they toss'd the grub Out of their own provision tub. "

GRUB-TRAP. A vulgarism for the mouth. 

GRUFF-GOODS. An Indian return cargo consisting of raw materials--cotton, rice, pepper, sugar, hemp, saltpetre, &c. 

GRUMBLER. A discontented yet often hard-working seaman. Also, thegurnard, a fish of the blenny kind, which makes a rumbling noise whenstruggling to disengage itself on reaching the surface. 

GRUMMET. _See_ GROMMET. 

GRUNTER. A name of the _Pogonias_ of Cuvier (a fish also termed thebanded drum and young sheepskin); and several other fish. 

GRYPHON. An archaic term for the meteorological phenomenon now called_typhoon_. (_See_ TYPHOON. )

GUANO. The excrement of sea-birds, a valuable manure found in thickbeds on certain islets on the coast of Peru, indeed, in all tropicalclimates. The transport of it occupies a number of vessels, called_guaneros_. It is of a dingy yellow colour, and offensive ammoniacaleffluvium. Captain Shelvocke mentions it in 1720, having taken a smallbark laden with it. 

GUARA. The singular and ingenious rudder by which the rafts or balzas ofPeru are enabled to work to windward. It consists of long boards betweenthe beams, which are raised or sunk according to the required evolution. A device not unlike the sliding-keels or centre-boards latelyintroduced. 

GUARANTEE. An undertaking to secure the performance of articlesstipulated between any two parties. Also, the individual who soundertakes. 

GUARD. The duty performed by a body of men stationed to watch andprotect any post against surprise. A division of marines appointed totake the duty for a stated portion of time. "Guard, turn out!" the orderto the marines on the captain's approaching the ship. Also, the bow of atrigger and the hilt of a sword. 

GUARDA-COSTA. Vessels of war of various sizes which formerly cruisedagainst smugglers on the South American coasts. 

GUARD-BOARDS. Synonymous with _chain-wales_. 

GUARD-BOAT. A boat appointed to row the rounds amongst the ships of warin any harbour, &c. , to observe that their officers keep a goodlook-out, calling to the guard-boat as she passes, and not suffering hercrew to come on board without previously having communicated thewatch-word of the night. Also, a boat employed to enforce the quarantineregulations. 

GUARD-BOOK. Report of guard; a copy of which is delivered at theadmiral's office by the officer of the last guard. Also, a full set ofhis accounts kept by a warrant-officer for the purpose of passing them. 

GUARD-FISH. A corruption of the word _gar-fish_. 

GUARDIAN OF THE CINQUE PORTS. Otherwise _lord warden_ (which see). 

GUARD-IRONS. Curved bars of iron placed over the ornaments of a ship todefend them from damage. 

GUARDO. A familiar term applied equally to a guard-ship or any personbelonging to her. It implies "harbour-going;" an easy life. 

GUARDO-MOVE. A trick upon a landsman, generally performed in aguard-ship. 

GUARD-SHIP. A vessel of war appointed to superintend the marine affairsin a harbour, and to visit the ships which are not commissioned everynight; she is also to receive seamen who are impressed in time of war. In the great ports she carries the flag of the commander-in-chief. Eachship takes the guard in turn at 9 A. M. ; the vessel thus on duty hoiststhe union-jack at the mizen, and performs the duties afloat fortwenty-four hours. The officer of the guard is accountable to theadmiral for all transactions on the water during his guard. 

GUBB, OR GUBBEN. The Erse term for a young sea-gull. 

GUBBER. One who gathers oakum, driftwood, &c. , along a beach. The wordalso means black mud. 

GUDDLE, TO. To catch fish with the hands by groping along a stream'sbank. 

GUDGE, TO. To poke or prod for fish under stones and banks of a river. 

GUDGEON. The _Gobio fluviatilis_, a well-known river-fish, 6 or 7 inchesin length. 

GUDGEONS. The metal braces with eyes bolted upon the stern-post for thepintles of the rudder to work in, as upon hinges. Also, the notches madein the carrick-bitts for receiving the metal bushes wherein the spindleof a windlass works. 

GUEBRES. Fire-worshippers. (_See_ PARSEES. )

GUERDON. A reward or recompense for good service. 

GUERILLA. Originally an irregular warfare, but now used mostly for theirresponsible kind of partisan who carries it on. 

GUERITE, OR GALITA. In fortification, a projecting turret on the top ofthe escarp, whence a sentry may observe the outside of the rampart. 

GUERNSEY-FROCK. _See_ JERSEY. 

GUESS-WARP, OR GUEST-ROPE. A rope carried to a distant object, in orderto warp a vessel towards it, or to make fast a boat. (_See_ CHEST-ROPE. )

GUESTLINGS. The name of certain meetings held at the Cinque Ports. 

GUEST-WARP BOOM. A swinging spar (lower studding-boom) rigged from theship's side with a warp for boats to ride by. 

GUFFER. A British sea-fish of the blenny tribe, common under stones atlow-water mark, remarkable as being ovo-viviparous. 

GUIDE. _See_ FLOOR-GUIDE. 

GUIDE-RODS. The regulators of the cross-head of an engine's air-pump. 

GUIDES. Men supposed to know the country and its roads employed todirect a body of men on their march. The French and Belgians have "corpsde guides. "

GUIDON. The swallow-tailed silk flag in use by dragoon regiments, instead of a standard. Also, the sergeant bearing the same. 

GUIDOR. A name in our old statutes synonymous with _conder_ (which see). 

GUILLEM. A sea-fowl. (_See_ LAVY. )

GUILLEMOT. A web-footed diving sea-bird allied to the auks. 

GUIMAD. A small fish of the river Dee. 

GUINEA-BOAT. A fast-rowing galley, of former times, expressly built forsmuggling gold across the Channel, in use at Deal. 

GUINEAMAN. A negro slave-ship. 

GUINEA-PIGS. The younger midshipmen of an Indiaman. 

GUIST. The same as _guess_ or _guest_ (which see). 

GULDEN. A name for a water-fowl. 

GULF, OR GULPH. A capacious bay, and sometimes taking the name of a seawhen it is very extensive; such are the Euxine or Black Sea, otherwisecalled the Gulf of Constantinople; the Adriatic Sea, called also theGulf of Venice; the Mediterranean is itself a prodigious specimen. Agulf is, strictly speaking, distinguished from a sea in being smaller, and from a bay in being larger and deeper than it is broad. It isobserved that the sea is always most dangerous near gulfs, from thecurrents being penned up by the shores. 

GULF-STREAM. Is especially referable to that of Mexico, the waters ofwhich flow in a warm stream at various velocities over the banks betweenCuba and America, past the Bermudas, touch the tail of the great bank ofNewfoundland, and thence in a sweep to Europe, part going north, and theother southerly down to the tropics again. 

GULF-WEED. The _Fucus natans_, considered to belong to the Gulf Stream, and found floating in the Sargasso Sea in the North Atlantic. Many smallcrustacea live amongst it, and assume its bright orange-yellow hue. 

GUL-GUL. A sort of chunam or cement made of pounded sea-shells mixedwith oil, which hardens like a stone, and is put over a ship's bottom inIndia, so that worms cannot penetrate even when the copper is off. 

GULL. A well-known sea-bird of the genus _Larus_; there are manyspecies. Also, a large trout in the north. The name is, moreover, familiarly used for a lout easily deceived or cheated; thus Butler in_Hudibras_--

 "The paltry story is untrue, And forg'd to cheat such gulls as you. "

It is also applied to the washing away of earth by the violent flowingof water; the origin perhaps of the Kentish gull-stream. 

GULLET. A small stream in a water-worn course. 

GULL-SHARPER. One who preys upon Johnny Raws. 

GULLY. The channels worn on the face of mountains by heavy rains. Also, a rivulet which empties itself into the sea. 

GULLY SQUALL. Well known off tropical America in the Pacific, particularly abreast of the lakes of Leon, Nicaragua, &c. Monte Desoladogusts have dismantled many stout ships. 

GULPIN. An awkward soldier; a weak credulous fellow [from the Gaelic_golben_, a novice]. 

GUM. "Shaking the gum out of a sail" is said of the effect of badweather on new canvas. 

GUMPUS. A fish, called also _numscull_, for allowing itself to beguddled. 

GUN. The usual service name for a _cannon_ (which see); it wasoriginally called great gun, to distinguish it from the small or handguns, muskets, blunderbusses, &c. The general construction for guns ofcast metal is fairly represented by the old rule that the circumferenceat the breech ought to measure eleven calibres, at the trunnions nine, and at the muzzle seven, for iron; and in each instance two calibresless for brass guns. But the introduction of wrought-iron guns, built upwith outer jackets of metal shrunk on one above another, is developingother names and proportions in the new artillery. (_See_ BUILT-UP GUNS. )The weight of these latter, though differently disposed, and requirednot so much for strength as for modifying the recoil or shock to thecarriage on discharge, is not very much less, proportionally, for heavyguns of full power, than that of the old ones, being about 1-1/4 cwt. Ofgun for every 1 lb. Of shot; for light guns for field purposes it isabout 3/4 cwt. For every 1 lb. Of shot. Guns are generally designatedfrom the weight of the shot they discharge, though some few natures, introduced principally for firing shells, were distinguished by thediameter of their bore in inches; with the larger guns of the newsystem, in addition to this diameter, the weight in tons is alsospecified. --_Gun_, in north-country cant, meant a large flagon of ale, and _son of a gun_ was a jovial toper: the term, owed its derivation tolads born under the breast of the lower-deck guns in olden times, whenwomen were allowed to accompany their husbands. Even in 1820 the bestpetty officers were allowed this indulgence, about one to every hundredmen. Gunners also, who superintended the youngsters, took their wives, and many living admirals can revert to kindness experienced from them. These "sons of a gun" were tars, and no mistake. --_Morning gun_, asignal fired by an admiral or commodore at day-break every morning forthe drums or bugles to sound the reveillé. A gun of like name and natureis generally in use in fortresses; as is also the _evening gun_, firedby an admiral or commodore at 9 P. M. In summer, and 8 P. M. In winter, every night, on which the drums or bugles sound the retreat. 

GUN AND HEAD MONEY. Given to the captors of an enemy's ship of wardestroyed, or deserted, in fight. It was formerly assumed to be about£1000 per gun. 

GUNBOAT. A light-draught boat fitted to carry one or more cannon in thebow, so as to cannonade an enemy while she is end-on. They areprincipally useful in fine weather, to cover the landing of troops, orsuch other occasions. They were formerly impelled by sails and sweepsbut now by steam-power, which has generally increased their size, andmuch developed their importance. According to Froissart, cannon werefired from boats in the fourteenth century. 

GUN-CHAMBERS. In early artillery, a movable chamber with a handle, likea paterero, used in loading at the breech. In more recent times the namehas been used for the small portable mortars for firing salutes in theparks. 

GUN-COTTON. An explosive compound, having some advantages overgunpowder, but so irregular hitherto in its action that it is at presentused only for mining purposes. It consists of ordinary cotton treatedwith nitric and sulphuric acid and water, and has been named by chemists"pyroxylin, " "nitro-cellulose, " &c. 

GUN-DECK. _See_ DECKS. 

GUN-FIRE. The morning or evening guns, familiarly termed "the admiralfalling down the hatchway. "

GUN-GEAR. Everything pertaining to its handling. 

GUN-HARPOON. _See_ HARPOON. 

GUN-LADLE. _See_ LADLE. 

GUN-LOD. A vessel filled with combustibles, but rather for explosionthan as a fire-ship. 

GUN-METAL. The alloy from which brass guns are cast consists of 100parts of copper to 10 of tin, retaining much of the tenacity of theformer, and much harder than either of the components; but the lateimproved working of wrought-iron and steel has nearly superseded itsapplication to guns. 

GUNNADE. A short 32-pounder gun of 6 feet, introduced in 1814;afterwards termed the shell-gun. 

GUNNEL. _See_ GUNWALE. 

GUNNELL. A spotted ribbon-bodied fish, living under stones and amongrocks. 

GUNNER, OF A SHIP OF WAR. A warrant-officer appointed to take charge ofthe ammunition and artillery on board; to keep the latter properly fitted, and to instruct the sailors in the exercise of the cannon. The warrant ofchief-gunner is now given to first-class gunners. --_Quarter-gunners. _Men formerly placed under the direction of the gunner, one quarter-gunnerbeing allowed to every four guns. In the army, gunner is the proper titleof a private soldier of the Royal Artillery, with the exception of thosestyled drivers. 

GUNNER-FLOOK. A name among our northern fishermen for the _Pleuronectesmaximus_, or turbot. 

GUNNER'S DAUGHTER. The name of the gun to which boys were _married_, orlashed, to be punished. 

GUNNER'S HANDSPIKE. Is shorter and flatter than the ordinary handspike, and is shod with iron at the point, so that it bites with greatercertainty against the trucks of guns. 

GUNNER'S MATE. A petty officer appointed to assist the gunner. 

GUNNER'S PIECE. In destroying and bursting guns, means a fragment of thebreech, which generally flies upward. 

GUNNER'S QUADRANT. _See_ QUADRANT. 

GUNNER'S TAILOR. An old rating for the man who made the cartridge-bags. 

GUNNER'S YEOMAN. _See_ YEOMAN. 

GUNNERY. The art of charging, pointing, firing, and managing artilleryof all kinds. 

GUNNERY-LIEUTENANT. "One who, having obtained a warrant from a gunneryship, is eligible to large ships to assist specially in supervising thegunnery duties; he draws increased pay. "

GUNNERY-SHIP. A ship fitted for training men in the practice ofcharging, pointing, and firing guns and mortars for the Royal Navy. (_See_ SEAMEN-GUNNERS. )

GUNNING. An old term for shooting; it is now adopted by the Americans. After the wreck of the _Wager_, on hearing the pistols fired at Cozens, "it was rainy weather, and not fit for gunning, so that we could notimagine the meaning of it. "--_Gunning a ship. _ Fitting her withordnance. --_Gunning_, in mining, is when the blast explodes and does notrend the mass. --_Gunning_, signals enforced by guns. 

GUNNING-BOAT, OR GUNNING-SHOUT. A light and narrow boat in which thefen-men pursue the flocks of wild-fowl. 

GUNNY. Sackcloth or coarse canvas, made of fibres used in India, chieflyof jute. 

GUNNY-BAGS. The sacks used on the India station for holding rice, biscuit, &c. ; often as sand-bags in fortification. 

GUN-PENDULUM. _See_ BALLISTIC PENDULUM. 

GUN-PORTS. _See_ PORTS. 

GUNPOWDER. The well-known explosive composition which, for itsregularity of effect and convenience in manufacture and use, is stillpreferred for general purposes to all the new and more violent but morecapricious agents. In England it is composed of 75 parts saltpetre to 10sulphur and 15 charcoal; these proportions are varied slightly indifferent countries. The ingredients are mixed together with greatmechanical nicety, and the compound is then pressed and granulated. Onthe application of fire it is converted into gas with vast explosivepower, but subject to tolerably well-known laws. 

GUN-ROOM. A compartment on the after-end of the lower gun-deck of largeships of war, partly occupied by the junior officers; but in smallervessels it is below the gun-deck, and the mess-room of the lieutenants. 

GUNROOM-PORTS. In frigates, stern-ports cut through the gun-room. 

GUN-SEARCHER. An iron instrument with several sharp-pointed prongs and awooden handle: it is used to find whether the bore is honey-combed. 

GUN-SHOT. Formerly, the distance up to which a gun would throw a shotdirect to its mark, without added elevation; as the "line of metal"(which see) was generally used in laying, this range was about 800yards. But now that ranges are so greatly increased, with but slightadditions to the elevation, the term will include the distances ofordinary "horizontal fire" (which see); as between ships, with rifledguns, it will not quite reach two miles: though when the mark is large, as a town or dockyard, it is still within long range at five miles'distance. 

GUN-SIGHT. _See_ DISPART, or SIGHTS. 

GUN-SLINGS. Long rope grommets used for hoisting in and mounting them. 

GUN-STONES. An old term for cannon-balls, from stones having been firstsupplied to the ordnance and used for that purpose. Shakspeare makesHenry V. Tell the French ambassadors that their master's tennis-ballsshall be changed to gun-stones. This term was retained for a bullet, after the introduction of iron shot. 

GUN-TACKLE PURCHASE. A tackle composed of a rope rove through two singleblocks, the standing part being made fast to the strop of one of theblocks. It multiplies the power applied threefold. 

GUNTEN. A boat of burden in the Moluccas. 

GUNTER'S LINE. Called also the _line of numbers_, and the _line oflines_, is placed upon scales and sectors, and named from its inventor, Edmund Gunter. It is a logarithmic scale of proportionals, wherein thedistance between each division is equal to the number of meanproportionals contained between the two terms, in such parts as thedistance between 1 and 10 is 10, 000, &c. 

GUNTER'S QUADRANT. A kind of stereographic projection on the plane ofthe equinoctial; the eye is supposed in one of the poles, so that thetropic, ecliptic, and horizon form the arches of the circles, but thehour-circles are all curves, drawn by means of several altitudes of thesun, for some particular latitude, for every day in the year. The use ofthis instrument is to find the hour of the day, the sun's azimuth, andother common problems of the globe; as also to take the altitude of anobject in degrees. 

GUNWALE, OR GUNNEL. Nearly synonymous with _plank-sheer_ (which see);but its strict application is that horizontal plank which covers theheads of the timbers between the main and fore drifts. The _gunwale of aboat_ is a piece of timber going round the upper sheer-strake as abinder for its top-work. --_Gunwale-to. _ Vessels heeling over, so thatthe gunwale is even with the water. When a boat sails with a free wind, and rolls each side, or gunwale, to the water's edge, she rollsgunwale-to. 

GURGE. A gulf or whirlpool. 

GURNARD. A fish of the genus _Trigla_, so called from its peculiar gruntwhen removed from the water. Falstaff uses the term "soused gurnet" in amost contemptuous view, owing to its poorness; and its head being allskin and bone gave rise to the saying that the flesh on a gurnard's headis rank poison. 

GURNET-PENDANT. A rope, the thimble of which is hooked to thequarter-tackle of the main-yard; it is led through a hole in the deck, for the purpose of raising the breech of a gun, when hoisting in, to thelevel required to place it on its carriage. 

GUSSOCK. An east-country term for a strong and sudden gust of wind. 

GUST, OR GUSH. A sudden violent wind experienced near mountainous lands;it is of short duration, and generally succeeded by fine breezes. 

GUT. A somewhat coarse term for the main part of a strait or channel, asthe Gut of Gibraltar, Gut of Canso. 

GUTTER [Anglo-Saxon _géotan_, to pour out or shed]. A ditch, sluice, orgote. 

GUTTER-LEDGE. A cross-bar laid along the middle of a large hatchway insome vessels, to support the covers and enable them the better tosustain any weighty body. 

GUY. A rope used to steady a weighty body from swinging against theship's side while it is hoisting or lowering, particularly when, thereis a high sea. Also, a rope extended from the head of sheers, and madefast at a distance on each side to steady them. The jib-boom issupported by its guys. Also, the name of a tackle used to confine a boomforward, when a vessel is going large, and so prevent the sail fromgybing, which would endanger the springing of the boom, or perhaps theupsetting of the vessel. Also, a large slack rope, extending from thehead of the main-mast to the head of the fore-mast, and sustaining atemporary tackle to load or unload a ship with. 

GYBING. Another form for _jibing_ (which see). 

GYE. A west-country term for a salt-water ditch. 

GYMMYRT. The Erse or Manx for rowing with oars. 

GYMNOTUS ELECTRICUS. An eel from the Surinam river, several feet inlength, which inflicts electrical shocks. 

GYN. A three-legged machine fitted with a windlass, heaving in the fallfrom a purchase-block at the summit, much used on shore for mounting anddismounting guns, driving piles, &c. (_See_ GIBRALTAR GYN. )

GYP. A strong gasp for breath, like a fish just taken out of the water. 

GYVER. An old term for blocks or pulleys. 

GYVES. Fetters; the old word for handcuffs. 

H. 

HAAF. Cod, ling, or tusk deep-sea fisheries of the Shetland and Orkneyislanders. 

HAAF-BOAT. One fitted for deep-water fishing. 

HAAFURES. A northern term for fishermen's lines. 

HAAK. _See_ HAKE. 

HAAR. A chill easterly wind on our northern coasts. (_See_ HARR. )

HABERDDEN. Cod or stock-fish dried and cured on board; that cured atAberdeen was the best. 

HABERGEON. A coat of mail for the head and shoulders. 

HABILIMENTS OF WAR. A statute term, for arms and all provisions formaintaining war. 

HABLE. An Anglo-Norman term for a sea-port or haven; it is used instatute 27 Henry VII. Cap. 3. 

HACKATEE. A fresh-water tortoise in the West Indies; it has a long neckand flat feet, and weighs 10 to 15 lbs. 

HACKBUSH. A heavy hand-gun. (_See_ HAGBUT. )

HACKLE, HECKLE, OR HETCHEL. A machine for teazing flax. Also, awest-country name for the stickleback. 

HACK-SAW. Used for cutting off the heads of bolts; made of a scythefresh serrated. 

HACK-WATCH, OR JOB-WATCH (which see). 

HACOT. From the Anglo-Saxon _hacod_, a large sort of pike. 

HADDIE. A north-coast diminutive of haddock. 

HADDO-BREEKS. A northern term for the roe of the haddock. 

HADDOCK. The _Gadus æglefinus_, a species of cod fabled to bear thethumb-mark of St. Peter. 

HÆVER. _See_ EAVER. 

HAFNE. An old word for haven, from the Danish. 

HAFT. (_See_ HEFT. ) The handle of a knife or tool. 

HAG-BOAT. _See_ HECK-BOAT. 

HAGBUT. A wall-piece placed upon a tripod; the arquebuse. 

HAGBUTAR. The bearer of a fire-arm formerly used; it was somewhat largerthan a musket. 

HAGG. An arquebuse with a bent butt. Also, a swampy moss. 

HAG'S TEETH. (_See_ HAKE'S TEETH. ) Those parts of a matting or pointinginterwoven with the rest in an irregular manner, so as to spoil theuniformity. (_See_ POINTING. ) In soundings, _see_ HAKE'S TEETH. 

HAIK. _See_ HIKE UP. 

HAIL, TO. To hail "from a country, " or claim it as a birthplace. A shipis said to _hail_ from the port where she is registered, and thereforeproperly belongs to. When hailed at sea it is, "From whence do youcome?" and "where bound?"--"_Pass within hail_, " a special signal toapproach and receive orders or intelligence, when boats cannot belowered or time is precious. One vessel, the senior, lies to; the otherpasses the stern under the lee. --_Hail-fellows_, messmates well matched. 

HAILING. To call to another vessel; the salutation or accosting of aship at a distance. 

HAILING-ALOFT. To call to men in the tops and at the mast-head to "lookout, " too often an inconsistent bluster from the deck. 

HAIL-SHOT. Small shot for cannon. 

HAILSHOT-PIECE. A sort of gun supplied of old to our ships, with dice ofiron as the missile. 

HAIR. The cold nipping wind called _haar_ in the north: as in Beaumontand Fletcher, "Here all is cold as the hairs in winter. "

HAIR-BRACKET. The moulding at the back of the figure-head. 

HAIR-TRIGGER. A trigger to a gun-lock, so delicately adjusted that theslightest touch will discharge the piece. 

HAKE. An old term for a hand-gun. Also, the fish _Gadus merluccius_, awell-known gregarious and voracious fish of the cod family, often termedsea-pike. 

HAKE'S TEETH. A phrase applied to some part of the deep soundings in theBritish Channel; but it is a distinct shell-fish, being the _Dentalium_, the presence of which is a valuable guide to the Channel pilot in foggyweather. 

HALBAZ. _See_ KALBAZ. 

HALBERT. A sort of spear formerly carried by sergeants of infantry, thatthey, standing in the ranks behind the officers or the colours, shouldafford additional defence at those important points. 

HALCYON PISCATOR, OR KING-FISHER. This beautiful bird's floating nestwas fabled to calm the winds and seas while the bird sat. This occurringin winter gave rise to the expression "halcyon days. "

HALE. An old word for _haul_ (which see). 

HALF AN EYE, SEEING WITH. Discerning instantly and clearly. 

HALF-BEAMS. Short timbers, from the side to the hatchways, to supportthe deck where there is no framing. (_See_ FORK-BEAMS. )

HALF-BREADTH OF THE RISING. A ship-builder's term for a curve in thefloor-plan, which limits the distances of the centres of thefloor-sweeps from the middle line of the body-plan. 

HALF-BREADTH PLAN. In ship-building, the same as _floor-plan_. 

HALF-COCK. To go off at half-cock is an unexpected discharge of afire-arm; hurried conduct without due preparation, and consequentlyfailure. 

HALF-DAVIT. Otherwise _fish-davit_ (which see). 

HALF-DECK. A space between the foremost bulk-head of the steerage andthe fore-part of the quarter-deck. In the Northumberland colliers thesteerage itself is called the _half-deck_, and is usually the habitationof the crew. 

HALF-DROWNED LAND. Shores which are rather more elevated and bear moreverdure than _drowned land_ (which see). 

HALF-FLOOD. _See_ FLOOD. 

HALF-GALLEY. _See_ GALLEY. 

HALF-HITCH. Pass the end of a rope round its standing part, and bring itup through the bight. (_See_ THREE HALF-HITCHES. )

HALF-LAUGHS AND PURSER'S GRINS. Hypocritical and satirical sneers. 

HALF-MAN. A landsman or boy in a coaster, undeserving the pay of a_full-man_. 

HALF-MAST. The lowering a flag in respect for the death of an officer. 

HALF-MINUTE GLASS. _See_ GLASS. 

HALF-MOON. An old form of outwork somewhat similar to the ravelin, originally placed before the salients of bastions. 

HALF-PIKE. An iron spike fixed on a short ashen staff, used to repel theassault of boarders, and hence frequently termed a _boarding-pike_. 

HALF-POINT. A subdivision of the compass card, equal to 5° 37′ of thecircle. 

HALF-PORTS. A sort of one-inch deal shutter for the upper half of thoseports which have no hanging lids; the lower half-port is solid andhinged, having a semicircle cut out for the gun when level, and fallingdown outwards when ready for action; the upper half-port fits looselyinto rabbets, and is secured only by laniards. 

HALF-SEA. The old term for mid-channel. 

HALF SEAS OVER. Nearly intoxicated. This term was used by Swift. 

HALF-SPEED! An order in steam navigation to reduce the speed. (_See_FULL SPEED!)

HALF-TIDE ROCKS. Those showing their heads at half-ebb. (_See_ TIDE. )

HALF-TIMBERS. The short timbers or futtocks in the cant-bodies, answering to the lower futtocks in the square-body; they are placed soas to give good shiftings. 

HALF-TOP. The mode of making ships' tops in two pieces, which areafterwards secured as a whole by what are termed sleepers. 

HALF-TOPSAILS, UNDER. Said of a chase about 12 miles distant, the restbeing below the horizon. 

HALF-TURN AHEAD! An order in steam navigation. (_See_ TURN AHEAD!)

HALF-WATCH TACKLE. A luff purchase. (_See_ WATCH-TACKLE. )

HALIBUT. A large oceanic bank fish, _Hippoglossus vulgaris_, weighingfrom 300 to 500 lbs. Particularly off Newfoundland; it resembles plaice, and is excellent food, nor does it easily putrefy. 

HALLEY'S CHART. The name given to the protracted curves of the variationof the compass, known as the variation chart. 

HALLIARDS, HALYARDS, OR HAULYARDS. The ropes or tackles usually employedto hoist or lower any sail upon its respective yards, gaffs, or stay, except the cross-jack and spritsail-yard, which are always slung; but insmall craft the spritsail-yard also has halliards. (_See_ JEERS. )

HALO. An extensive luminous ring including, the sun or moon, whoselight, passing through the intervening vapour, gives rise to thephenomenon. Halos are called _lunar_ or _solar_, according as theyappear round the moon or sun. Prismatically coloured halos indicate thepresence of watery vapour, whereas white ones show that the vapour isfrozen. 

HALSE, OR HALSER. Archaic spelling for _hawser_. 

HALSTER. A west-country term for a man who draws a barge along by arope. 

HALT! The military word of command to stop marching, or any otherevolution. A halt includes the period of such discontinuance. 

HALVE-NET. A standing net used in the north to prevent fishes fromreturning with the falling tide. 

HALYARDS. _See_ HALLIARDS. 

HAMACS. Columbus found that the inhabitants of the Bahama Islands hadfor beds nets of cotton suspended at each end, which they called_hamacs_, a name since adopted universally amongst seamen. (_See_HAMMOCK. )

HAMBER, OR HAMBRO'-LINE. Small line used for seizings, lashings, &c. 

HAMMACOE. Beam battens. (_See_ HAMMOCK-BATTENS. )

HAMMER. The shipwright's hammer is a well-known tool for driving nailsand clenching bolts, differing from hammers in general. 

HAMMER, OF A GUN-LOCK. Formerly the steel covering of the pan from whichthe flint of the cock struck sparks on to the priming; but now the cockitself, by its hammer action on the cap or other percussion priming, discharges the piece. Whether the hammer will be superseded by theneedle remains to be determined. 

HAMMER-HEADED SHARK. The _Zygæna malleus_, a strange, ugly shark. Theeyes are situated at the extremities of the hammer-shaped head. Theyseldom take bait or annoy human beings. They are for the most partinert, live near the surf edge, and are frequently found washed up onsandy beaches. Chiefly found on the coasts of Barbary. 

HAMMERING. A heavy cannonade at close quarters. 

HAMMOCK. A swinging sea-bed, the undisputed invention of Alcibiades; butthe modern name is derived from the Caribs. (_See_ HAMACS. ) At presentthe hammock consists of a piece of canvas, 6 feet long and 4 feet wide, gathered together at the two ends by means of clews, formed by a grommetand knittles, whence the _head-clue_ and _foot-clue_: the hammock ishung horizontally under the deck, and forms a receptacle for the bed onwhich the seamen sleep. There are usually allowed from 14 to 20 inchesbetween hammock and hammock in a ship of war. In preparing for action, the hammocks, together with their contents, are all firmly corded, takenupon deck, and fixed in various nettings, so as to form a barricadeagainst musket-balls. (_See_ ENGAGEMENT. )

HAMMOCK-BATTENS OR RACKS. Cleats or battens nailed to the sides of avessel's beams, from which to suspend the seamen's hammocks. 

HAMMOCK-BERTHING. Forecastle-men forward, and thence passing aft, foretop-men, maintop-men, mizentop-men, waisters, after-guard, and boys. Quartermasters in the tiers. 

HAMMOCK-CLOTHS. To protect them from wet while stowed in the nettings ondeck. 

HAMMOCK GANT-LINES. Lines extended from the jib-boom end around theship, triced up to the lower yard-arms, for drying scrubbed hammocks. 

HAMMOCK-NETTINGS. Take their distinguishing names according to theirlocation in the ship, as forecastle, waist, quarter-deck. 

HAMMOCK-RACKS. _See_ HAMMOCK-BATTENS. 

HAMPER. Things, which, though necessary, are in the way in times of galeor service. (_See_ TOP-HAMPER. )

HAMPERED. Perplexed and troubled. 

HAMRON. An archaic term, meaning the hold of a ship. 

HANCES. Spandrels; the falls or descents of fife-rails. Also, thebreakings of the rudder abaft. (_See_ HAUNCH. )

HAND. A phrase often used for the word man, as, "a hand to the lead, ""clap more hands on, " &c. --_To hand a sail_, is to furl it. --_To lend ahand_, to assist. --_Bear a hand_, make haste. --_Hand in the leech_, acall in furling sails. To comprehend this it must be understood that theleech, or outer border of the sail, if left to belly or fill with wind, would set at naught all the powers of the men. It is thereforenecessary, as Falconer has it, "the tempest to disarm;" so by handing inthis leech-rope before the yard, the canvas is easily folded in, and thegasket passed round. 

HAND-GRENADE. A small shell for throwing by hand. (_See_ GRENADE. )

HAND-GUN. An old term for small arms in the times of Henry VII. AndVIII. 

HANDLASS. A west-country term for a small kind of windlass. 

HANDLE. The title prefixed to a person's name. --_To handle a ship well_, is to work her in a seamanlike manner. 

HAND-LEAD. A small lead used in the channels, or chains, whenapproaching land, and for sounding in rivers or harbours under 20fathoms. (_See_ LEAD. )

HANDLES OF A GUN. The dolphins. 

HAND-LINE. A line bent to the hand-lead, measured at certain intervalswith what are called _marks_ and _deeps_ from 2 and 3 fathoms to 20. 

HAND MAST-PIECE. The smaller hand mast-spars. 

HAND MAST-SPAR. A round mast; those from Riga are commonly over 70 feetlong by 20 inches diameter. 

HANDMAID. An old denomination for a tender; thus, in Drake's expeditionto Cadiz, two of Her Majesty's pinnaces were appointed to attend hissquadron as handmaids. 

HAND-OVER-HAND. Hauling rapidly upon any rope, by the men passing theirhands alternately one before the other, or one above the other if theyare hoisting. A sailor is said to go hand-over-hand if he lifts his ownweight and ascends a single rope without the help of his legs. Hand-over-hand also implies rapidly; as, we are coming up with the chasehand-over-hand. 

HAND-PUMP. The common movable pump for obtaining fresh water, &c. , fromtanks or casks. 

HAND-SAW. The smallest of the saws used by shipwrights, and used by onehand. 

HAND-SCREW. A handy kind of single jack-screw. 

HANDSOMELY. Signifies steadily or leisurely; as, "lower awayhandsomely, " when required to be done gradually and carefully. The term"handsomely" repeated, implies "have a care; not so fast; tenderly. "

HANDSPIKE. A lever made of tough ash, and used to heave round thewindlass in order to draw up the anchor from the bottom, or move anyheavy articles, particularly in merchant ships. The handle is round, butthe other end is square, conforming to the shape of the holes in thewindlass. (_See_ GUNNER'S HANDSPIKE. )

HANDS REEF TOP-SAILS! The order to reef by all hands, instead of thewatch, or watch and idlers. 

HAND-TIGHT. A rope hauled as taut as it can be by hand only. 

HAND-UNDER-HAND. Descending a rope by the converse of hand-over-handascent. 

HANDY-BILLY. A small jigger purchase, used particularly in tops or theholds, for assisting in hoisting when weak-handed. A watch-tackle. (_See_ JIGGER. )

HANDY-SHIP. One that steers easily, and can be worked with the watch; oras some seamen would express it, "work herself. "

HANG. In timber, opposed to _sny_ (which see). --_To hang. _ Said of amast that inclines; _it hangs forward_, if too much stayed; _hangs aft_, if it requires staying. --_To hang the mast. _ By some temporary means, until the mast-rope be fleeted. --_To hang on a rope or tackle-fall_, isto hold it fast without belaying; also to pull forcibly with the wholeweight. --_To hang aback. _ To be slack on duty. 

HANGER. The old word for the Persian dagger, and latterly for a shortcurved sword. 

HANG-FIRE. When the priming burns without igniting the cartridge, or thecharge does not rapidly ignite after pulling the trigger. Figuratively, _to hang fire_, is to hesitate or flinch. 

HANGING. A word expressive of anything declining in the middle partbelow a straight line, as the hanging of a deck or a sheer. Also, when aship is difficult to be removed from the stocks, or in manœuvre. 

HANGING-BLOCKS. These are sometimes fitted with a long and short leg, and lash over the eyes of the top-mast rigging; when under, they aremade fast to a strap. The topsail-tye reeves through these blocks, thetye-block on the yard, and the standing part is secured to themast-head. 

HANGING-CLAMP. A semicircular iron, with a foot at each end to receivenails, by which it is fixed to any part of the ship to hang stages to, &c. 

HANGING-COMPASS. A compass so constructed as to hang with its facedownwards, the point which supports the card being fixed in the centreof the glass, and the gimbals are attached to a beam over the observer'shead. There is usually one hung in the cabin, that, by looking up to it, the ship's course may be observed at any moment; whence it is alsotermed a tell-tale. 

HANGING HOOK-POTS. Tin utensils fitted for hanging to the bars beforethe galley-grate. 

HANGING-KNEES. Those which are applied under the lodging-knees, and arefayed vertically to the sides. 

HANGING-STAGE. Any stage hung over the side, bows, or stern, forpainting, caulking, or temporary repairs. 

HANGING STANDARD-KNEE. A knee fayed vertically beneath a hold-beam, withone arm bolted on the lower side of the beam. 

HANGING-STOVES. Used for ventilating or drying between decks. 

HANGING THE RUDDER. So as to allow the pintles to fall into theircorresponding braces, constantly in boats, and frequently also inwhaling vessels, but seldom in other ships: the rudder after beingshipped is generally secured by wood-locks to prevent its unshipping atsea. 

HANG ON HER! In rowing, is the order to stretch out to the utmost topreserve or increase head-way on the boat. 

HANK FOR HANK. In beating against the wind each board is thus sometimesdenoted. Also, expressive of two ships which tack simultaneously andmake progress to windward together in racing, &c. 

HANKS. Hoops or rings of rope, wood, or iron, fixed upon the stays, toseize the luff of fore-and-aft sails, and to confine the staysailsthereto, at different distances. Those of wood are used in lieu ofgrommets, being much more convenient, and of a later invention. Theyare framed by the bending of a rough piece of wood into the form of awreath, and fastened at the two ends by means of notches, therebyretaining their circular figure and elasticity; whereas the grommetswhich are formed of rope are apt to relax in warm weather, and adhere tothe stays, so as to prevent the sails from being readily hoisted orlowered. --_Iron hanks_ are more generally used now that stays are madeof wire. --_Hank_ is also a skein of line or twine. --_Getting into ahank_, irritated by jokes. 

HANSE-TOWNS. Established in the 13th century, for the mutual protectionof mercantile property. Now confined to Lübeck, Hamburg, and Bremen. 

HAPPY-GO-LUCKY. A reckless indifference as to danger. 

HAQUE. A little hand-gun of former times. 

HAQUEBUT. A form of spelling _arquebuse_. A bigger sort of hand-gun thanthe _haque_. 

HARASS, TO. To torment and fatigue men with needless work. 

HARBOUR. A general name given to any safe sea-port. The qualitiesrequisite in a good harbour are, that it should afford security from theeffects of the wind and sea; that the bottom be entirely free from rocksand shallows, but good holding ground; that the opening be of sufficientextent to admit the entrance or departure of large ships withoutdifficulty; that it should have convenience to receive the shipping ofdifferent nations, especially those which are laden with merchandises;and that it possess establishments for refitting vessels. To render aharbour complete, there ought to be good defences, a good lighthouse, and a number of mooring and warping buoys; and finally, that it haveplenty of fuel, water, provisions, and other materials for sea use. Sucha harbour, if used as a place of commercial transactions, is called aport. 

HARBOUR-DUES. _See_ PORT-CHARGES. 

HARBOUR-DUTY MEN. Riggers, leading men, and others, ordered to performthe dockyard or port duties, too often superannuated, or otherwiseunfit. 

HARBOUR-GASKETS. Broad, but short and well-blacked gaskets, placed atequal distances on the yard, for showing off a well-furled sail in port:there is generally one upon every other seam. 

HARBOUR-GUARDS. Men detached from the ordinary, as a working party. 

HARBOUR-LOG. That part of the log-book which consists solely of remarks, and relates only to transactions while the ship is in port. 

HARBOUR-MASTER. An officer appointed to inspect the moorings, and to seethat the ships are properly berthed, and the regulations of the harbourstrictly observed by the different ships frequenting it. 

HARBOUR-REACH. The reach or stretch of a winding river which leadsdirect to the harbour. 

HARBOUR-WATCH. A division or subdivision of the watch kept onnight-duty, when the ship rides at single anchor, to meet anyemergency. 

HARD. A road-path made through mud for landing at. (_See_ ARD. )

HARD-A-LEE. The situation of the tiller when it brings the rudder hardover to windward. Strictly speaking, it only relates to a tiller whichextends _forward_ from the rudder-head; now many extend _aft_, in whichcase the _order_ remains the same, but the tiller and rudder are bothbrought over to windward. Also, the order to put the tiller in thisposition. 

HARD AND FAST. Said of a ship on shore. 

HARD-A-PORT! The order so to place the tiller as to bring the rudderover to the starboard-side of the stern-post, whichever way the tillerleads. (_See_ HARD-A-LEE. )

HARD-A-STARBOARD. The order so to place the tiller as to bring therudder over to the port-side of the stern-post, whichever way the tillerleads. (_See_ HARD-A-LEE. )

HARD-A-WEATHER! The order so to place the tiller as to bring the rudderon the lee-side of the stern-post, whichever way the tiller leads, inorder to bear away; it is the position of the helm as opposed to_hard-a-lee_ (which see). Also, a hardy seaman. 

HARD BARGAIN. A useless fellow; a skulker. 

HARD FISH. A term indiscriminately applied to cod, ling, haddock, torsk, &c. , salted and dried. 

HARD GALE. When the violence of the wind reduces a ship to be under herstorm staysails, No. 10 force. 

HARD-HEAD. The _Clupea menhaden_, or _Alosa tyrannus_, an oily fishtaken in immense quantities on the American coasts, insomuch that theyare used for manuring land. Also, on our coasts the father-lasher orsea-scorpion, _Cottus scorpius_, and in some parts the grey gurnard, areso called. 

HARD-HORSE. A tyrannical officer. 

HARDING. A light kind of duck canvas made in the north. 

HARD UP. The tiller so placed as to carry the rudder close over toleeward of the stern-post. Also, used figuratively for being in greatdistress, or poverty-struck; obliged to bear up for Poverty Bay; clearedout. 

HARD UP IN A CLINCH, AND NO KNIFE TO CUT THE SEIZING. Overtaken bymisfortune, and no means of evading it. 

HARDS. _See_ ACUMBA. 

HARLE. Mists or thick rolling fogs from the sea, so called in the north. Also, a name of the _goosander_ (which see). 

HARMATTAN. A Fantee name for a singular periodical easterly wind whichprevails on the west coast of Africa, generally in December, January, and February; it is dry, though always accompanied by haze, the resultof fine red dust suspended in the atmosphere and obscuring the sun; thiswind is opposed to the sea-breeze, which would otherwise blow fresh fromthe west on to the land. 

HARNESS. An old statute term for the tackling or furniture of a ship. 

HARNESS-CASK. A large conical tub for containing the salt provisionsintended for present consumption. Alluding to the junk, which is oftencalled salt-horse, it has been described as the tub where the horse, andnot the harness, is kept. 

HARP-COCK. An old modification of the harpoon. 

HARPENS. _See_ HARPINGS. 

HARPER-CRAB. _See_ TOMMY HARPER. 

HARPINGS, OR HARPENS. The fore-parts of the wales which encompass thebow of a ship, and are fastened to the stem, being thicker than theafter-part of the wales, in order to strengthen the ship in that placewhere she sustains the greatest shock of resistance in plunging into thesea, or dividing it, under a great pressure of sail. Also, the pieces ofoak, similar to ribbands, but trimmed and bolted to the shape of thebody of the ship, which hold the fore and after cant bodies together, until the ship is planked. But this term is mostly applicable to thoseat the bow; hence arises the phrase "clean and full harpings. " Harpingsin the bow of a vessel are decried as rendering the ship uneasy. --_Catharpings. _ The legs which cross from futtock-staff to futtock-staff, below the tops, to girt in the rigging, and allow the lower yards tobrace sharp up. 

HARPOON, OR HARPAGO. A spear or javelin with a barbed point, used tostrike whales and other fish. The harpoon is furnished with a longshank, and has at one end a broad and flat triangular head, sharpened atboth edges so as to penetrate the whale with facility, but blunt behindto prevent its cutting out. To the other end a fore-ganger is bent, towhich is fastened a long cord called the whale-line, which liescarefully coiled in the boat in such a manner as to run out withoutbeing interrupted or entangled. Several coils, each 130 fathoms ofwhale-line (soft laid and of clean silky fibre) are in readiness; theinstant the whale is struck the men cant the oars, so that the roll maynot immerse them in the water. The line, which has a turn round thebollard, flies like lightning, and is intensely watched. One man pourswater on the smoking bollard, another is ready with a sharp axe to cut, and the others see that the lines run free. Seven or eight coils havebeen run out before the whale "sounds, " or strikes bottom, when he risesagain to breathe, and probably gets a similar dose. --_Gun harpoon. _ Aweapon used for the same purpose as the preceding, but it is fired outof a gun, instead of being thrown by hand; it is made entirely of steel, and has a chain or long shackle attached to it, to which the whale-lineis fastened. Greener's harpoon-gun is a kind of wall-piece fixed in acrutch, which steps into the bow-bollard of the whale-boat. The harpoonprojects about four inches beyond the muzzle. It consists of its barbedpoint attached to a long link, with a solid button at its opposite endto fit the gun; on one rod of this link is a ring which runs to themuzzle, and is there attached to the whale-line by a thong of seal orwalrus hide, wet. The gun being fired, the harpoon is projected, thering sliding up to the button, when the line follows. Some of theseharpoons or other engines have grenades--glass globules with prussicacid or other chemicals--which sicken the whale instantly, and littletrouble ensues. 

HARPOONER, HARPONEER, OR HARPINEER. The expert bowman in a whale-boat, whose duty it is to throw or fire the harpoon. 

HARP-SEAL. The _Phoca grœnlandica_, a species of seal from the Arcticseas; so called from the form of a dark-brown mark upon its back. 

HARQUEBUSS, OR ARQUEBUSS. Something larger than a musket. Sometimescalled caliver. (_See_ ARQUEBUSS. )

HARR, OR HARL. A sea-storm, from a northern term for snarling, inallusion to the noise. Also, a cold thick mist or fog in easterly winds;the _haar_. 

HARRY-BANNINGS. A north-country name for sticklebacks. 

HARRY-NET. A net with such small meshes, and so formed, as to take eventhe young and small fish. 

HARVEST-MOON. The full moon nearest the autumnal equinox, when forseveral successive evenings she rises at the same hour; and this name isgiven in consequence of the supposed advantage of the additional lengthof moonlight to agriculture. 

HASEGA. A corruption of _asseguay_ (which see). 

HASK. An archaism for a fish-basket. 

HASLAR HAGS. The nurses of the naval hospital Haslar. 

HASLAR HOSPITAL. A fine establishment near Gosport, for the receptionand cure of the sick and wounded of the Royal Navy. 

HASP. A semicircular clamp turning in an eye-bolt in the stem-head of asloop or boat, and fastened by a forelock in order to secure thebowsprit down to the bows. (_See_ SPAN-SHACKLE. )

HASTAN. The Manx or Erse term for a large eel or conger. 

HASTY-PUDDING. A batter made of flour or oatmeal stirred in boilingwater, and eaten with treacle or sugar at sea. This dish is notaltogether to be despised in need, although Lord Dorset--the sailorpoet--speaks of it disparagingly:

 "Sure hasty-pudding is thy chiefest dish, With bullock's liver, or some stinking fish. "

HATCH. A half-door. A contrivance for trapping salmon. (_See_ HECK. )

HATCH-BARS. To secure the hatches; are padlocked and sealed. 

HATCH-BOAT. A sort of small vessel known as a pilot-boat, having a deckcomposed almost entirely of hatches. 

HATCH-DECK. Gun brigs had hatches instead of lower decks. 

HATCHELLING. The combing and preparing hemp for rope-making. 

HATCHES. Flood-gates set in a river to stop the current of water. Also, coverings of grating, or close hatches to seal the holds. --_To lie underhatches, stowed in the hold. _ Terms used figuratively for being indistress and death. 

HATCHET-FASHION. Cutting at the heads of antagonists, instead ofthrusting. 

HATCH-RINGS. Rings to lift the hatches by, or replace them. 

HATCHWAY. A square or oblong opening in the middle of the deck of aship, of which there are generally three--the fore, main, andafter--affording passages up and down from one deck to another, andagain descending into the hold. The coverings over these openings arecalled hatches. Goods of bulk are let down into the hold by thehatchways. To lay anything in the hatchway, is to put it so that thehatches cannot be approached or opened. The hatches of a smaller kindare distinguished by the name of _scuttles_. 

HATCHWAY-NETTINGS. Nettings sometimes placed over the hatchways insteadof gratings, for security and circulation of air. They arrest the fallof any one from a deck above. 

HATCHWAY-SCREENS. Pieces of fear-nought, or thick woollen cloth, putround the hatchways of a man-of-war in time of action, to screen thepassages to the magazine. 

HATCHWAY-STOPPERS. Those for a hempen cable are fitted as aring-stopper, only a larger rope. They are rove through a hole on eachside of the coamings, in the corner of the hatchway; and both tails, made selvagee-fashion, are dogged along the cable. When a chain-cable isused, the stopper works from a beam on the lower deck. 

HAT-MONEY. A word sometimes used for _primage_, or the trifling paymentreceived by the master of a ship for care of goods. 

HAUBERK. _See_ AUBERK. 

HAUGH. Flat or marshy ground by the side of a river. 

HAUL, TO. An expression peculiar to seamen, implying to pull or bowse ata single rope, without the assistance of blocks or other mechanicalpowers upon it; as "haul in, " "haul down, " "haul up, " "haul aft, " "haultogether. " (_See_ BOWSE, HOIST, and ROUSE. ) A vessel _hauls her wind_ bytrimming the yards and sails so as to lie nearer to, or close to thewind, and by the power of the rudder shaping her course accordingly. 

HAUL ABOARD THE FORE AND MAIN TACKS. This is to haul them forward, anddown to the chess-trees on the weather-side. 

HAUL AFT A SHEET. To pull it in more towards the stern, so as to trimthe sail nearer to the wind. 

HAULAGE. A traction-way. 

HAUL-BOWLINGS. The old name for the able-bodied seamen. 

HAUL HER WIND. Said of a vessel when she comes close upon thewind. --_Haul your wind_, or _haul to the wind_, signifies that theship's head is to be brought nearer to the wind--a very usual phrasewhen she has been going free. 

HAUL IN, TO. To sail close to the wind, in order to approach nearer toan object. 

HAULING DOWN VACANCY. The colloquialism expressive of the promotion of aflag-lieutenant and midshipman on an admiral's hauling down his flag. 

HAULING-LINE. A line made fast to any object, to be hauled nearer or onboard, as a hawser, a spar, &c. 

HAULING SHARP. Going upon half allowance of food. 

HAUL MY WIND. An expression when an individual is going upon a new lineof action. To avoid a quarrel or difficulty. 

HAUL OF ALL! An order to brace round all the yards at once--a manœuvresometimes used in tacking, or on a sudden change of wind; it requires astrong crew. 

HAUL OFF, TO. To sail closer to the wind, in order to get further fromany object. 

HAUL OUT TO LEEWARD! In reefing top-sails, the cry when the weatherearing is passed. 

HAUL ROUND. Said when the wind is gradually shifting towards anyparticular point of the compass. Edging round a danger. 

HAULS AFT, OR VEERS AFT. Said of the wind when it draws astern. 

HAULSER. The old orthography for _hawser_. 

HAULS FORWARD. Said of the wind when it draws before the beam. 

HAUL UNDER THE CHAINS. This is a phrase signifying a ship's working andstraining on the masts and shrouds, so as to make the seams open andshut as she rolls. 

HAULYARDS. _See_ HALLIARDS. 

HAUNCES. The breakings of the rudder abaft. 

HAUNCH. A sudden fall or break, as from the drifts forward and aft tothe waist. The same as _hance_. 

HAVEN [Anglo-Saxon, _hæfen_]. A safe refuge from the violence of windand sea; much the same as harbour, though of less importance. A goodanchorage rather than place of perfect shelter. Milford Haven is anexception. 

HAVENET. This word has appeared in vocabularies as a small haven. 

HAVEN-SCREAMER. The sea-gull, called _hæfen_ by the Anglo-Saxons. 

HAVERSACK. A coarse linen bag with a strap fitting over the shoulderworn by soldiers or small-arm men in marching order, for carrying theirprovision, instead of the knapsack. 

HAVILLER. _See_ HUFFLER. 

HAVOC. Formerly a war cry, and the signal for indiscriminate slaughter. Thus Shakspeare, "Cry havoc! and let slip the dogs of war. "

HAWK'S-BILL. _Chelone imbricata_, a well-known turtle frequenting theAtlantic and Indian Oceans, so named from having a small mouth like thebeak of a hawk; it produces the tortoise-shell of commerce. The flesh isindifferent, but the eggs very good. 

HAWSE. This is a term of great meaning. Strictly, it is that part of avessel's bow where holes are cut for her cables to pass through. It isalso generally understood to imply the situation of the cables beforethe ship's stem, when she is moored with two anchors out from forward, one on the starboard, and the other on the port bow. It also denotes anysmall distance between her head and the anchors employed to ride her, as"he has anchored in our hawse, " "the brig fell athwart our hawse, " &c. Also, said of a vessel a little in advance of the stem; as, she sails_athwart hawse_, or has anchored _in the hawse_. If a vessel drives ather anchors into the hawse of another she is said to "_foul the hawse_"of the vessel riding there; hence the threat of a man-of-war's-man, "Ifyou foul my hawse, I'll cut your cable, " no merchant vessel beingallowed to approach a ship-of-war within certain limits, and never tomake fast to the government buoys. --_A bold hawse_ is when the holes arehigh above the water. "Freshen hawse, " or "veer out more cable, " is saidwhen part of the cable that lies in the hawse is fretted or chafed, andmore should be veered out, so that another part of it may rest in thehawse. "Freshen hawse" also means, clap a service on or round the cablein the hawses to prevent it from fretting; hemp cables only are roundedor cackled. Also, a dram after fatiguing duty. "Clearing hawse, " isuntwisting or disentangling two cables that come through differentholes, and make a foul hawse. 

HAWSE-BAGS. Canvas bags filled with oakum, used in heavy seas to stopthe hawse-holes and prevent the water coming in. 

HAWSE-BLOCKS. Bucklers, or pieces of wood made to fit over thehawse-holes when at sea, to back the hawse-plugs. 

HAWSE-BOLSTERS. Planks above and below the hawse-holes. Also, pieces ofcanvas stuffed with oakum and roped round, for plugging when the cablesare bent. 

HAWSE-BOX, OR NAVAL HOOD. Pieces of plank bolted outside round each ofthe hawse-holes, to support the projecting part of the hawse-pipe. 

HAWSE-BUCKLERS. Plugs of wood to fit the hawse-holes, and hatches tobolt over, to keep the sea from spurting in. 

HAWSE-FALLEN. To ride hawse-fallen, is when the water breaks into thehawse in a rough sea, driving all before it. 

HAWSE-FULL. Riding hawse-full; pitching bows under. 

HAWSE-HOLES. Cylindrical holes cut through the bows of a ship on eachside of the stem, through which the cables pass, in order to be drawninto or let out of the vessel, as occasion requires. 

HAWSE-HOOK. A compass breast timber which crosses the hawse-timber abovethe ends of the upper-deck planking, and over the hawse-holes. (_See_BREAST-HOOKS. )

HAWSE-PIECES. The timbers which compose the bow of a vessel, and theirsides look fore and aft; it is a name given to the foremost timbers of aship, whose lower ends rest upon the knuckle-timbers. They are generallyparallel to the stem, having their upper ends sometimes terminated bythe lower part of the beak-head and otherwise by the top of the bow. Also, timbers through which the hawse-holes are cut. 

HAWSE-PIPE. A cast-iron pipe in the hawse-holes to prevent the cablefrom cutting the wood. 

HAWSE-PLUGS. Blocks of wood made to fit into the hawse-pipes, and put infrom the outside to stop the hawses, and thereby prevent the water fromwashing into the manger. The plug, coated with old canvas, is firstinserted, then a mat or swab, and over it the buckler or shield, whichbolts upward and downward into the breast-hooks. 

HAWSER. A large rope or cablet, which holds the middle degree betweenthe cable and tow-line, being a size smaller than the former, and asmuch larger than the latter; curiously, it is not hawser but cable laid. 

HAWSER-LAID ROPE. Is rope made in the usual way, being three or fourstrands of yarns laid up right-handed, or with the sun; it is used forsmall running rigging, as well as for standing rigging, shrouds, &c. ; inthe latter case it is generally tarred to keep out rain. It is supposedthat this style of rope is stronger in proportion to the number of yarnsthan cable or water-laid rope, which is more tightly twisted, eachstrand being a small rope. This latter is more impervious to water, andtherefore good for cables, hawsers, &c. ; it is laid left-handed, oragainst the sun. 

HAWSE-TIMBERS. The upright timbers in the bow, bolted on each side ofthe stem, in which the hawse-holes are cut. 

HAWSE-WOOD. A general name for the hawse-timbers. 

HAY. A straight rank of men drawn up exactly in a line. 

HAYE. A peculiar ground-shark on the coast of Guinea. 

HAYLER. An archaism for halliard. 

HAZE. A grayish vapour, less dense than a fog, and therefore does notgenerally exclude objects from sight. 

HAZE, TO. To punish a man by making him do unnecessary work. 

HEAD. The upper part or end of anything, as a mast-head, a timber-head. Also, an ornamental figure on a ship's stem expressive of her name, oremblematical of her object, &c. (_See_ BILLET-HEAD, BUST-HEAD, FAMILY-HEAD, FIDDLE-HEAD, FIGURE-HEAD, SCROLL-HEAD, &c. ) Also, in a moreenlarged sense, the whole fore-part of a ship, including the bows oneach side; the head therefore opens the column of water through whichthe ship passes when advancing; hence we say, _head-way_, _head-sails_, _head-sea_, &c. It is evident that the fore-part of a ship is called itshead, from its analogy to that of a fish, or any animal while swimming. Also, in a confined sense, to that part on each side of the stem outsidethe bows proper which is appropriated to the use of the sailors forwringing swabs, or any wet jobs, for no wet is permitted in-board afterthe decks are dried. Also, hydrographically, the upper part of a gulf, bay, or creek. --_By the head_, the state of a ship which, by her lading, draws more water forward than aft. This may be remedied withoutreference to cargo in ships-of-war, by shifting shot, guns, &c. Vessels_by the head_ are frequently uneasy, gripe and pitch more than when _bythe stern_. 

HEAD AND GUN-MONEY. An encouragement in the prize acts by which £5 ahead is given to the captors for every person on board a captured vesselof war, or pirate. 

HEAD-BOARDS. The berthing or close-boarding between the head-rails. 

HEAD-CLUE OF A HAMMOCK. Where the head rests. (_See_ HAMMOCK. )

HEAD-CRINGLES. Earing-cringles at the upper clues or corners of a sail. 

HEAD-EARINGS. The laniards to haul out the earings. (_See_ EARINGS. )

HEADER. The person in the Newfoundland fishing vessels who is engagedto cut open the fish, tear out the entrails, break off the head, andpass it over to the _splitter_, who sits opposite to him. 

HEAD-FAST. A rope or chain employed to fasten the head of a ship or boatto a wharf or buoy, or to some other vessel alongside. --_Head-fast of aboat_, the tow-rope or painter. 

HEAD-HOLES. The eyelet-holes where the rope-bands of a sail are fitted;they are worked button-hole fashion, over grommets of twine of severalthicknesses; sometimes of cod-line. 

HEADING. As to ships in company, one advancing by sail or steam fasterthan another heads her. 

HEADING UP THE LAND WATER. When the flood-tide is backed by a wind, sothat the ebb is retarded, causing an overflow. 

HEAD-KNEES. Pieces of moulded compass timber fayed edgeways to thecut-water and stem, to steady the former. These are also called_cheek-knees_. 

HEADLAND. Wherever the coast presents a high cliffy salient angle to thesea, without projecting far into it, it is called a headland; but if thepoint be low, it is a spit, tongue, or point. (_See_ BLUFF. )

HEADMOST. The situation of any ship or ships which are the most advancedin a fleet, or line of battle. The opposite of _sternmost_. 

HEAD-NETTING. An ornamental netting used in merchant ships instead ofthe fayed planking to the _head-rails_. 

HEAD OF A COMET. The brighter part of a comet, from which the tailproceeds. 

HEAD OF A MAST, OR MAST-HEAD. The upper part of any mast, or thatwhereon the caps or trucks are fitted. 

HEAD OF A WORK. In fortification, the part most advanced towards theenemy. In progressive works, such as siege-approaches and saps, it isthe farthest point then attained. 

HEAD OF WATER. Water kept to a height by winds, or by artificial damsand sluice-gates. The vertical column which dock-gates have to bear. 

HEAD-PIECE. A term for the helmet. 

HEAD-PUMP. A small pump fixed at the vessel's bow, its lower endcommunicating with the sea: it is mostly used for washing decks. 

HEAD-QUARTERS. The place where the general, or commanding officer, takesup his quarters. Also, the man-of-war, or transport, which carries thestaff of an expedition. 

HEAD-RAILS. The short rails of the head, extending from the back of thefigure to the cat-head: equally useful and ornamental. There are two oneach side, one straight and the other curved. (_See_ FALSE RAIL. ) Also, used familiarly for teeth. 

HEAD-ROPE. That part of the bolt-rope which terminates any sail on theupper edge, and to which it is accordingly sewed. (_See_ BOLT-ROPE. )Also, the small rope to which a flag is fastened, to hoist it to themast-head, or head of the ensign-staff. 

HEAD-SAILS. A general name for all those sails which may be set on thefore-mast and bowsprit, jib, and flying jib-boom, and employed toinfluence the fore-part of the ship. 

HEAD-SEA. A name given to the waves when they oppose a ship's course, asthe ship must rise over, or cut through each. Their effect depends upontheir height, form, and speed; sometimes they are steep, quick, andirregular, so that a ship is caught by a second before she has recoveredfrom the first; these render her wet and uneasy. 

HEAD-SHEETS. Specially jibs and staysail sheets, before the fore-mast. 

HEAD-STICK. A short round stick with a hole at each end, through whichthe head-rope of some triangular sails is thrust, before it is sewed on. Its use is to prevent the head of the sail from twisting. 

HEAD TO WIND. The situation of a ship or boat when her head is pointeddirectly to windward. The term is particularly applied in the act oftacking, or while lying at anchor. 

HEAD-WAY. A ship is said to gather head-way when she passes any objectthrown overboard at the bow, and it passes astern into her wake. A shipmay also, by the action of swell, forge ahead. 

HEAD-WIND. A breeze blowing from the direction of the ship's intendedcourse. Thus, if a ship is bound N. E. A N. E. Wind is a head-wind "deadon end, " as seamen express it. --_The wind heads us_, that is, veerstowards the direction of the ship's course. 

HEALD. The _heel_ over of a grounded ship. 

HEALTH-GUARD. Officers appointed to superintend the due observance ofthe quarantine regulations. 

HEART. A block of wood forming a peculiar sort of triangular dead-eye, somewhat resembling the shape of a heart; it is furnished with only onelarge hole in the middle, grooved for the rope instead of the threeholes. It is principally used to the stays, as the dead-eyes are to theshrouds. (_See_ DEAD-EYE. )

HEARTH. Applied to the ship's fire-place, coppers, and galley generally. 

HEARTY. Open and free. "My hearties, " a cheerful salute to shipmates andseamen in general. "What cheer, my hearties?" how fare ye? what's yournews?

HEART-YARNS. The centre yarns of a strand. Also, the heart-yarn orcentre, on which four-stranded rope is formed. 

HEATH. Various broom-stuffs used in breaming. 

HEAVE, TO. To throw anything overboard. To cast, as heaving the log orthe lead. Also, to drag, prize, or purchase, as heaving up the anchor. 

HEAVE ABOUT, TO. To go upon the other tack suddenly. 

HEAVE AND A-WASH. An encouraging call when the ring of the anchor risesto the surface, and the stock stirs the water. 

HEAVE AND A-WEIGH. Signifies that the next effort will start the anchorfrom its bed, and make it _a-trip_. "Heave and a-weigh, sir, " from theforecastle, denotes that the anchor is a-weigh; it inspirits the men torun it to the bows rapidly. 

HEAVE AND IN SIGHT. A notice given by the boatswain to the crew when theanchor is drawn up so near the surface of the water as to be seen by itsmuddy water surrounding it. 

HEAVE AND PAUL. Is the order to turn the capstan or windlass till thepaul may be put in, by which it is prevented from coming up, and issomething similar to _belay_, applied to a running rope. 

HEAVE AND RALLY! An encouraging order to the men at the capstan to heavewith spirit, with a rush, and thereby force the anchor out of theground. When there is a rising sea "heave and rally" implies, "heave andstand to your bars, " the pauls taking the strain, and the next waveprobably lifting the anchor. 

HEAVE AND SET. The ship's motion in rising and falling to the waves whenat anchor. 

HEAVE HANDSOMELY. Gently. 

HEAVE HEARTY. Heave strong and with a will. 

HEAVE OF THE SEA. The power that the swell of the sea exerts upon a shipin driving her out of, or faster on in, her course, and for whichallowance must be made in the day's work. It is a similar, or the sameaction in force as in a head-sea. 

HEAVE OUT THERE! The order to hasten men from their hammocks. 

HEAVER. A wooden bar or staff, sometimes tapered at the ends; it isemployed as a lever or purchase on many occasions, such as setting upthe top-mast shrouds, stropping large blocks, seizing the standingrigging, &c. Also, a name on the Kentish shores for the haviler crab. 

HEAVE SHORT, TO. To heave in on the cable until the vessel is nearlyover her anchor, or sufficiently near it for sail being made before theanchor is tripped. Short, is when the fore-stay and cable are in line. 

HEAVE THE LEAD. To take soundings with the hand lead-line. "Get a castof the lead, " with the deep-sea lead and line. 

HEAVE THE LOG. Determine the ship's velocity by the log line and glass. 

HEAVE-TO, TO. To put a vessel in the position of _lying-to_, byadjusting her sails so as to counteract each other, and thereby checkher way, or keep her perfectly still. In a gale, it implies to setmerely enough sail to steady the ship; the aim being to keep the sea onthe weather bow whilst the rudder has but little influence, the sail ischiefly set on the main and mizen-mast; as hove-to under a close-reefedmain-topsail, or main-trysail, or driver. It is customary in a foul windgale, and a last resource in a fair one. 

HEAVING AHEAD. Is the act of advancing or drawing a ship forwards byheaving on a cable or rope made fast to some fixed point before her. 

HEAVING AND SETTING. Riding hard, pitching and sending. 

HEAVING ASTERN. Causing a ship to recede or go backwards, by heaving ona cable or other rope fastened to some fixed point behind her. This moreimmediately applies to drawing a vessel off a shoal. 

HEAVING A STRAIN. Working at the windlass or capstan with more thanusual exertion. 

HEAVING DOWN. (_See_ CAREENING. ) The bringing one of a ship's sides downinto the water, by means of purchases on the masts, in order to repairany injury which is below her water-line on the other. 

HEAVING IN. Shortening in the cable. Also, the binding a block and hookby a seizing. 

HEAVING IN STAYS. The act of tacking, when, the wind being ahead, greatpressure is thrown upon the stays. 

HEAVING KEEL OUT. The utmost effect to be produced by careening, viz. Toraise the keel out of the water in order to repair or clean it. (_See_HEAVING DOWN. )

HEAVING OUT. The act of loosing or unfurling a sail; particularlyapplied to the staysails; or in the tops, footing the sail out of thetop. 

HEAVING TAUT. The act of turning the capstan, &c. , till the rope appliedthereto becomes straight and ready for action. 

HEAVING THROUGH ALL. The surging or slipping of the cable when thenippers do not hold. 

HEAVY DRIFT-ICE. Dense ice, which has a great depth in the water inproportion to its size, and is not in a state of decay, thereforedangerous to shipping. 

HEAVY GALE. A strong wind, in which a ship is reduced to storm-staysailsand close-reefed main-topsail. Force 10. 

HEAVY METAL, OR HEAVY ORDNANCE. Ordnance of large calibre. 

HEAVY SEA. High and strong waves. 

HEBBER-MAN. An old name for a fisherman on the Thames below LondonBridge, who took whitings, smelts, &c. , commonly at ebbing-water. 

HEBBING-WEIR. Contrivances for taking fish at ebbing-water. 

HECK-BOAT. The old term for pinks. Latterly a clincher-built boat withcovered fore-sheets, and one mast with a trysail. 

HECKLE. Said to be from the Teutonic _heckelen_, to dress flax forrope-making. Also, an artificial fly for fishing. 

HECKLE-BACK. A name of the fifteen-spined stickleback, _Gasterosteusspinachia_. 

HEDA. An early term for a small haven, wharf, or landing-place. 

HEDAGIUM. A toll or duty paid at the wharf for landing goods, &c. 

HEDGEHOGS. A name formerly applied to vessels which rowed with manyoars. Also, small stunted trees unfit for timber. 

HEEL. The after end of a ship's keel, and the lower end of thestern-post to which it is connected. Also, the lower end of any mast, boom, bowsprit, or timber. Also, that part of the end of the butt of amusket which is uppermost when at the firing position. --_To heel. _ Tolie over, or incline to either side out of the perpendicular: usuallyapplied to a ship when canted by the wind, or by being unequallyballasted. (_See_ CRANK, STIFF, and TRIM. )

HEEL-BRACE. A piece of iron-work applicable to the lower part of arudder, in case of casualty to the lower pintles. 

HEELING GUNWALE TO. Pressing down sideways to her upper works, particularly applied to boats running before a heavy sea, when they mayroll their weather gunwales to. 

HEEL-KNEE. The compass-piece which connects the keel with thestern-post. 

HEEL-LASHING. The rope which secures the inner part of a studding-sailboom to the yard; also, that which secures the jib-boom. 

HEEL OF A MAST. The lower end, which either fits into the step attachedto the keel, or in top-masts is sustained by the fid upon thetrestle-trees. Heeling is the square part of the spar through which thefid hole is cut. 

HEEL-ROPE. That which hauls out the bowsprit in cutters, and the jib andstudding-sail booms, or anything else where it passes through the heelof the spar, except in the case of top-masts and topgallant-masts, whereit becomes a _mast-rope_. 

HEELS. _Having the heels of a ship_; sailing faster. 

HEEL-TACKLES. The luff purchases for the heels of each sheer previous totaking in masts, or otherwise using them. 

HEEVIL. An old northern term for the conger. 

HEFT. The Anglo-Saxon _hæft_; the handle of a dirk, knife, or anyedge-tool; also, the handle of an oar. 

HEIGHT. Synonymous with hill, and meaning generally any ground above thecommon level of the place. Our early navigators used the word as asynonym of latitude. 

HEIGHT OF THE HOLD. Used for the depth of the hold. 

HEIGHT OF BREADTH. In ship-building, is a delineation generally in twolines--upper and lower--determining the height of the broadest place ofeach timber. 

HELIACAL. A star rises heliacally when it first becomes visible in themorning, after having been hidden in the sun's rays; and it setsheliacally when it is first lost in the evening twilight, owing to thesun's proximity. 

HELIER. A cavern into which the tide flows. 

HELIOCENTRIC. As seen from, or having reference to, the centre of thesun. 

HELIOMETER. An instrument designed for the accurate measurement of thediameters of the sun or planets. 

HELIOSTAADT, OR HELIOTROPE. This instrument reflects the sun's rays by asilvered disc, used in the great trigonometrical surveys. It has beenvisible at 100 miles' distance, from Cumberland to Ireland. 

HELL-AFLOAT. A vessel with a bad name for tyranny. 

HELM. Properly is the tiller, but sometimes used to express the rudder, and the means used for turning it, which, in small vessels and boats, ismerely a tiller, but in larger vessels a wheel is added, which suppliesthe leverage for pulling the tiller either way; they are connected byropes or chains. --_A-lee the helm_, or _Down with the helm!_ So placethe tiller that the rudder is brought on the weather side of thestern-post. These, and the following orders, were established whentillers extended forward from the rudder-head, but now they often extendaft, which requires the motion of the tiller to be reversed. With thelatter style of tiller the order "down with the helm" is carried out bybringing the tiller _up_ to the weather side of the ship; which beingdone, the order "Helm's a lee" follows. --_Bear up the helm. _ That is, let the ship go more large before the wind. --_Ease the helm. _ To let thehelm come more amidships, when it has been put hard up or down. --It iscommon to ease the helm before a heavy sea takes the ship whenclose-hauled. --_Helm amidships_, or _right the helm_. That is, keep iteven with the middle of the ship, in a line with the keel. --_Helm over. _The position of the tiller to enable a vessel steaming ahead to describea curve. --_Port the helm. _ Place the tiller so as to carry the rudder tostarboard. (_See_ _A-lee the helm_. )--_Shift the helm. _ Put it from portto starboard, and _vice versâ_, or it may be amidships. --_Starboard thehelm. _ Place the tiller so as to carry the rudder to port. --_Up with thehelm. _ Place the tiller so as to carry the rudder to leeward. (_See__A-lee the helm_. )

HELMED. An old word for steered; it is metaphorically used by Shakspearein _Measure for Measure_. 

HELMET. A piece of defensive armour; a covering for the head. 

HELM-PORT. The round hole or cavity in a ship's counter, through whichthe head of the rudder passes into the trunk. 

HELM-PORT TRANSOM. The piece of timber placed across the lower counter, withinside the height of the helm-port, and bolted through every timberfor the security of that part of the ship. 

HELMSMAN. The timoneer, or person, who guides the ship or boat by themanagement of the helm. The same as _steersman_. 

HELM-WIND. A singular meteorological phenomenon which occurs in thenorth of England. Besides special places in Cumberland and Westmoreland, it suddenly rushes from an immense cloud that gathers round the summitof Cross-Fell, covering it like a helmet. Its effects reach thesea-board. 

HELMY. Rainy [from an Anglo-Saxon phrase for rainy weather]. 

HELTER-SKELTER. Hurry and confusion. Defiance of good order. Privateerism. 

HELVE. The handle of the carpenter's mauls, axes, and adzes; also of anoar, &c. 

HELYER. _See_ HELIER. 

HEMISPHERE. Half the surface of a globe. The celestial equator dividesthe heavens into two hemispheres--the northern and the southern. 

HEMP. _Cannabis sativa. _ A manufactorial plant of equal antiquity withflax. The produce of hemp in fibre varies from three to six hundredweight per acre, and forms the best of all cordage and ropes. It ismixed with opium in the preparation of those rich drugs called_hashishe_ in Cairo and Constantinople. Those who were in the constantuse of them were called _hashishin_ (herb-eaters); and being often bytheir stimulative properties excited almost to frenzy and to murder, theword "assassin" is said to have been derived by the crusaders from thissource. While the French army was in Egypt, Napoleon I. Was obliged toprohibit, under the severest penalties, the sale and use of thesepernicious substances. 

HENDECAGON. A right-lined figure with eleven sides; if it be regular, the sides and angles are all equal. 

HEN-FRIGATE. A ship wherein the captain's wife interfered in the duty orregulations. 

HEN'S-WARE. A name of the edible sea-weed _Fucus esculentus_. 

HEP-PAH, OR HIPPA. A New Zealand fort, or space surrounded with stoutpalisades; these rude defences have given our soldiers and sailors muchtrouble to reduce. (_See_ PAH. )

HEPTAGON. A right-lined figure with seven sides; if it be regular, thesides and angles are all equal. 

HERCULES. The large mass of iron by the blows of which anchors arewelded. 

HERE-AWAY. A term when a look-out man announces a rhumb or bearing ofany object in this quarter. 

HERE-FARE [Anglo-Saxon]. An expedition; going to warfare. 

HERISSON. A balanced barrier to a passage in a fort, of the nature of aturnstile. 

HERLING. A congener of the salmon species found in Scotland; it issmall, and shaped like a sea-trout. 

HERMAPHRODITE OR BRIG SCHOONER, is square-rigged, but without a topforward, and schooner-rigged abaft; carrying only fore-and-aft sails onthe main-mast; in other phrase, she is a vessel with a brig's fore-mastand a schooner's main-mast. 

HERMIT-CRAB. A name applied to a group of crabs (family _Paguridæ_), ofwhich the hinder part of the body is soft, and which habitually lodgethemselves in the empty shell of some mollusc. Also called_soldier-crabs_. 

HERMO. A Mediterranean term for the meteor called _corpo santo_. 

HERNE. A bight or corner, as Herne Bay, so called from lying in anangle. 

HERNSHAW AND HERNE. Old words for the heron. 

HERON. A large bird of the genus _Ardea_, which feeds on fish. 

HERRING. A common fish--the _Clupea harengus_; Anglo-Saxon _hæring_ and_hering_. 

HERRING-BONING. A method of sewing up rents in a sail by smallcross-stitches, by which the seam is kept flat. 

HERRING-BUSS. A peculiar boat of 10 or 15 tons, for the herring fishery. (_See_ BUSS. )

HERRING-COB. A young herring. 

HERRING-GUTTED. _See_ SHOTTEN-HERRING. 

HERRING-HOG. A name for the porpoise. 

HERRING-POND. The Atlantic Ocean. 

HETERODROMOUS LEVERS. The windlass, capstan, crank, crane, &c. 

HETEROPLON. A kind of naval insurance, where the insurers only run therisk of the outward voyage; when both the going out and return of avessel is insured, it is called amphoteroplon. 

HETTLE. A rocky fishing-ground in the Firth of Forth, which gives nameto the fish called Hettle-codling. 

HEUGH. A craggy dry dell; a ravine without water. 

HEXAGON. A right-lined figure with six sides; if it be regular, thesides and angles are all equal. 

HEYS-AND-HOW. An ancient sea-cheer. 

HI! Often used for _hoy_; as, "Hi, you there!" Also, the old term for_they_, as in Sir Ferumbras--

 "Costroye there was, the Admiral, With vitaile great plente, And the standard of the sowdon royal, Toward Mantrible ridden hi. "

HIDDEN HARBOUR. That of which the outer points so overlap as to causethe coast to appear to be continuous. 

HIDE, TO. To beat; to rope's-end or drub. Also, to secrete. 

HIE, TO. To flow quickly in a tide-way. 

HIE ALOFT. Away aloft. 

HIGH. In gunnery, signifies tightly fitting the bore; said of shot, wads, &c. Also, a gun is said to be laid high when too much elevated. 

HIGH-AND-DRY. The situation of a ship or other vessel which is aground, so as to be seen dry upon the strand when the tide ebbs from her. 

HIGH ENOUGH. Said in hoisting in goods, water, or masts. 

HIGH FLOOD. _See_ FLOOD. 

HIGH LATITUDES. Those regions far removed from the equator towards thepoles of the earth above the 50th degree. 

HIGH TIDE, OR HIGH WATER. Figuratively, a full purse. Constance, inShakspeare's _King John_, uses the term _high tides_ as denoting thegold-letter days or holidays of the calendar. 

HIGH-WATER. The greatest height of the flood-tide. (_See_ TIDE. )

HIGH-WATER MARK. The line made by the water upon the shore, when at itsgreatest height; it is also designated the _flood-mark_ and _spring-tidemark_. This constitutes the boundary line of admiralty jurisdiction asto the soil. 

HIGH WIND. _See_ HEAVY GALE. 

HIGRE. _See_ BORE and EAGRE. 

HIKE. A brief equivalent to "Be off, " "Go away. " It is generally used ina contemptuous sense; as, he was "hiked off"--that is, dismissed atonce, or in a hurry. To swing. 

HIKE UP, TO. To kidnap; to carry off by force. 

HILL. In use with the Anglo-Saxons. An insulated rise of the ground, usually applied to heights below 1000 feet, yet higher than a _hillock_or _hummock_ (which see). 

HILLOCK. A small coast-hill, differing from a _hummock_ in having apeaked or pointed summit. 

HILT. The handle and guard of a sword. 

HIND-CASTLE. A word formerly used for the poop, as being opposed to_fore-castle_. 

HIPPAGINES, OR HIPPAGOGÆ. Ancient transports for carrying cavalry. 

HIPPER, OR HIPPING-STONES. Large stones placed for crossing a brook. 

HIPPOCAMPUS. A small fish, so termed from the head resembling that of ahorse. They live among reeds and long fuci, to which they cling withprehensile tails. 

HIPPODAMES. An old word for sea-horses. 

HIPSY. A drink compounded of wine, water, and brandy. 

HIRE, TO. To take vessel or men on service at a stipulated remuneration. 

HIRECANO. An old word for hurricane. 

HIRST. The roughest part of a river-ford. A bank. 

HITCH. A species of knot by which one rope is connected with another, orto some object. They are various; as, clove-hitch, racking-hitch, timber-hitch (stopped), rolling-hitch, running-hitch, half-hitch, blackwall-hitch, magnus-hitch, marline-spike hitch, harness-hitch, &c. (_See_ BEND and KNOT. ) It also signifies motion by a jerk. Figuratively, it is applied to an impediment. A seaman often _hitches up_ histrowsers, which "have no lifts or braces. "--_To hitch_ is to make fast arope, &c. , to catch with a hook. Thus of old, when a boat was to behoisted in, they said--"Hitch the tackles into the rings of the boat. "

HITCHER. An old term for a boat-hook. 

HO! OR HAY! An exclamation derived from our Danish ancestors, andliterally meaning _stop!_

HOAKY. A common petty oath--"By the hoaky!" by your hearth or fire. 

HOAM. The dried fat of the cod-fish. 

HOASTMEN. An ancient guild at Newcastle dealing in coals. 

HOAY, OR HOY! a word frequently added to an exclamation bespeakingattention, as "Main-top, hoay!" and is chiefly used to persons aloft orwithout the ship. 

HOB-A-NOB. To drink cosily; the act of touching glasses in pledging ahealth. An early and extensive custom falling into disuse. 

HOBBLE. A perplexity or difficulty. --_Hobbles_, irons or fetters. 

HOBBLER. A coast-man of Kent, a bit of a smuggler, and an unlicensedpilot, ever ready for a job in either of these occupations. Also, a manon land employed in towing a vessel by a rope. Also, a sentinel who keptwatch at a beacon. 

HOBITS. Small mortars of 6 or 8 inches bore mounted on gun-carriages; inuse before the howitzer. 

HOBRIN. A northern designation of the blue shark, _Squalus glaucus_. 

HOC. The picked dog-fish, _Squalus acanthias_. 

HOCK-SAW. A fermented drink along the coasts of China, partaking more ofthe nature of beer than of spirit, and therefore less injurious than_sam-tsin_. 

HOD. A hole under a bank or rock, forming a retreat for fish. 

HODDY-DODDY. A west-country name for a revolving light. 

HODMADODS. The name among early navigators for Hottentots. 

HODMANDODS. _See_ DODMAN. 

HODOMETRICAL. A method of finding the longitude at sea by dead-reckoning. 

HOE. _See_ HOWE. 

HOE-MOTHER, OR HOMER. The basking shark, _Squalus maximus_. 

HOE-TUSK. _Squalus mustela_, smooth hound-fish of the Shetlanders. 

HOG. A kind of rough, flat scrubbing broom, serving to scrape a ship'sbottom under water, particularly in the act of _boot-topping_ (whichsee); formed by inclosing a multitude of short twigs of birch, or thelike, between two pieces of plank, which are firmly attached to eachother; the ends of the twigs are then cut off even, so as to form abrush of considerable extent. To this is fitted a long staff, togetherwith two ropes, the former of which is used to thrust the hog under theship's bottom, and the latter to guide and pull it up again close to theplanks, so as to rub off all the dirt. This work is usually performed inthe ship's boat. 

HOG-BOAT. _See_ HECK-BOAT. 

HOGGED. A significant word derived from the animal; it implies that thetwo ends of a ship's decks droop lower than the midship part, consequently, that her keel and bottom are so strained as to curveupwards. The term is therefore in opposition to that of _sagging_. 

HOG-IN-ARMOUR. Soubriquet for an iron-clad ship. 

HOGO. From the French _haut-gout_, a disagreeable smell, but ratherapplied to ill-ventilated berths than to bilge-water. 

HOISE. The old word for hoist. 

HOIST. The perpendicular height of a sail or flag; in the latter it isopposed to the fly, which implies its breadth from the staff to theouter edge: or that part to which the halliards are bent. 

HOIST, OR HOISE, TO. To raise anything; but the term is speciallyapplied to the operation of swaying up a body by the assistance oftackles. It is also invariably used for the hauling up the sails alongthe masts or stays, and the displaying of flags and pendants, though bythe help of a single block only. (_See_ SWAY, TRACING-UP, and WHIP. )

HOISTING-TACKLE. A whip, a burton, or greater purchase, as yard-armtackles, &c. 

HOISTING THE FLAG. An admiral assuming his command "hoists his flag, "and is saluted with a definite number of guns by all vessels present. 

HOISTING THE PENDANT. Commissioning a ship. 

HOLD. The whole interior cavity of a ship, or all that part comprehendedbetween the floor and the lower deck throughout her length. --_Theafter-hold_ lies abaft the main-mast, and is usually set apart for theprovisions in ships of war. --_The fore-hold_ is situated about thefore-hatchway, in continuation with the main-hold, and serves the samepurposes. --_The main-hold_ is just before the main-mast, and generallycontains the fresh water and beer for the use of the ship'scompany. --_To rummage the hold_ is to examine its contents. --_To stowthe hold_ is to arrange its contents in the most secure and commodiousmanner possible. --_To trim the hold_ (_see_ TRIM OF THE HOLD). Also, anAnglo-Saxon term for a fort, castle, or stronghold. --_Hold_ is alsogenerally understood of a ship with regard to the land or to anothership; hence we say, "Keep a good hold of the land, " or "Keep the landwell aboard, " which are synonymous phrases, implying to keep near theland; when applied to a ship, we say, "She holds her own;" _i. E. _ goesas fast as the other ship; holds her wind, or way. --_To hold. _ Toassemble for public business; as, to hold a court-martial, a survey, &c. --_Hold!_ An authoritative way of separating combatants, according tothe old military laws at tournaments, &c. ; stand fast!

HOLD A GOOD WIND, TO. To have weatherly qualities. 

HOLD-ALL. A portable case for holding small articles required bysoldiers, marines, and small-arm men on service. 

HOLD-BEAMS. The lowest range of beams in a merchantman. In a man-of-warthey support the orlop-deck. (_See_ ORLOP-BEAMS. )

HOLDERS. The people employed in the hold duties of a ship. 

HOLD-FAST. A rope; also the order to the people aloft, when shaking outreefs, &c. , to suspend the operation. In ship-building, it means a boltgoing down through the rough tree rail, and the fore or after part ofeach stanchion. 

HOLDING-ON. The act of pulling back the hind part of any rope. 

HOLDING ON THE SLACK. Doing nothing. (_See_ EYELIDS. )

HOLDING WATER. The act of checking the progress of a boat by holding theoar-blades in the water, and bearing the flat part strongly against thecurrent alongside, so as to meet its resistance. (_See_ BACK ASTERN, OAR, and ROW. )

HOLD OFF. The keeping the hove-in part of a cable or hawser clear of thecapstan. 

HOLD ON. Keep all you have got in pulling a rope. --_Hold on a minute. _Wait or stop. --_Hold on with your nails and eyelids. _ A derisiveinjunction to a timid climber. 

HOLD ON, GOOD STICKS! An apostrophe often made when the masts complainin a fresh squall, or are over-pressed, and it is unadvisable to shortensail. 

HOLD-STANCHIONS. Those which support the hold-beams amidships, and reston the kelson. 

HOLD UP, TO. In meteorological parlance, for the weather to clear upafter a gale; to stop raining. 

HOLE. A clear open space amongst ice in the Arctic seas. 

HOLEBER. A kind of light horseman, who rode about from place to place inthe night, to gain intelligence of the landing of boats, men, &c. , onthe Kentish coast. 

HOLES, EYELET OR ŒILLET. The holes in sails for points and rope-bandswhich are fenced round by stitching the edge to a small log-linegrommet. In the drumhead of a capstan, the holes receive thecapstan-bars. 

HOLIDAY. Any part left neglected or uncovered in paying or painting, blacking, or tarring. 

HOLLANDS. The spirit principally distilled in Holland. 

HOLLARDS. The dead branches and loppings of trees. 

HOLLEBUT. A spelling of _halibut_. 

HOLLOA, OR HOLLA. An answer to any person calling from a distance, toshow they hear. Thus, if the master intends to give any order to thepeople in the main-top, he previously calls, "Main-top, hoay. " It isalso the first answer received when hailing a ship. (_See_ HAILING andHOAY. )

HOLLOW. The bore of a rocket. In naval architecture, a name for thefifth or _top-timber-sweep_ (which see). Also, hollow or curved leechesof sails, in contradistinction to straight. 

HOLLOW BASTION. In fortification, a bastion of which the terreplein orinterior terrace is not continued beyond a certain distance to the rearof the parapet, and thus leaves a central area at a lower level. 

HOLLOW-MOULD. The same as _floor-hollow_ (which see). 

HOLLOWS AND ROUNDS. Plane-tools used for making mouldings. 

HOLLOW SEA. The undulation of the waves after a gale; long hollow-jawedsea; ground-swell. 

HOLLOW SHOT. Introduced principally for naval use before the horizontalfiring of shells from guns became general. Their weight was abouttwo-thirds that of the solid shot; thus they required less charge ofpowder and weight of gun than the latter, whilst their smashing effectand first ranges were supposed to be greater. It is clear, however, thatif filled with powder, their destructive effect must be immenselyincreased. 

HOLLOW SQUARE. The square generally used by British infantry; aformation to resist cavalry. Each side is composed of four ranks of men, the two foremost kneeling with bayonets forming a fence breast high; theinclosed central space affords shelter to officers, colours, &c. Withbreech-loading muskets this defence will become less necessary. (_Seealso_ RALLYING SQUARE. )

HOLM. (_See_ CLETT. ) A name both on the shores of Britain and Norway fora small uninhabited island used for pasture; yet in old writers itsometimes is applied to the sea, or a deep water. Also, an ill-definedname applied to a low islet in a river, as well as the flat land by theriver side. 

HOLOMETRUM GEOMETRICUM. A nautical instrument of brass, one of which, price £4, was supplied to Martin Frobisher in 1576. 

HOLSOM. A term applied to a ship that rides without rolling orlabouring. 

HOLSTER. A case or cover for a pistol, worn at the saddle-bow. 

HOLT [from the Anglo-Saxon]. A peaked hill covered with a wood. 

HOLUS-BOLUS. Altogether; all at once. 

HOLY-STONE. A sandstone for scrubbing decks, so called from beingoriginally used for Sunday cleaning, or obtained by plunderingchurchyards of their tombstones, or because the seamen have to go ontheir knees to use it. 

HOME. The proper situation of any object, when it retains its full forceof action, or when it is properly lodged for convenience. In the formersense it is applied to the sails; in the latter it usually refers to thestowage of the hold. The anchor is said _to come home_ when it loosens, or drags through the ground by the effort of the wind or current. (_See_ANCHOR. )--_Home_ is the word given by the captain of the gun when, bythe sense of his thumb on the touch-hole, he determines that the chargeis home, and no air escapes by the touch-hole. It is the word given todenote the top-sail or other sheets being "home, " or butting. --_Sheethome!_ The order to extend the clues of sails to the yard-arms. --_Thewind blows home. _ When it sets continuously over the sea and land withequal velocity. When opposed by vertical or high land, the breeze losesits force as the land is neared: then it does not blow home, as aboutGibraltar and Toulon. 

HOME-SERVICE. The Channel service; any force, either naval or military, stationed in and about the United Kingdom. 

HOME-TRADERS. The contradistinction of foreign-going ships. 

HOMEWARD-BOUND. Said of a ship when returning from a voyage to the placewhence she was fitted out; or the country to which she belongs. 

HOMEWARD-BOUNDER. A ship on her course home. 

HOMMELIN. The _Raia rubus_, or rough ray. 

HONEST-POUNDS. Used in contradistinction to "_purser's pounds_" (whichsee). 

HONEYCOMB. A spongy kind of flaw in the metal of ordnance, generally dueto faulty casting. 

HONG. Mercantile houses in China, with convenient warehouses adjoining. Also, a society of the principal merchants of the place. 

HONOURS OF WAR. Favourable terms granted to a capitulating enemy onevacuating a fortress; they vary in degree, according to circumstances;generally understood to mean, to march out armed, colours flying, &c. , but to pile arms at a given point, and leave them, and be sent home, orgive parole not to serve until duly exchanged. 

HOO. _See_ HOWE. 

HOOD. A covering for a companion-hatch, skylight, &c. Also, the piece oftarred or painted canvas which used to cover the eyes of rigging toprevent water from damaging them; now seldom used. Also, the name givento the upper part of the galley chimney, made to turn round with thewind, that the smoke may always go to leeward. --_Naval hoods or whood. _Large thick pieces of timber which encircle the hawse-holes. 

HOOD-ENDS. The ends of the planks which fit into the rabbets of the stemand stern posts. 

HOOD OF A PUMP. A frame covering the upper wheel of a chain-pump. 

HOODS, OR HOODINGS. The foremost and aftermost planks of the bottom, within and without. Also, coverings to shelter the mortar inbomb-vessels. 

HOOK. There are several kinds used at sea, as boat-hooks, can-hooks, cat-hooks, fish-hooks, and the like. A name given to reaches, or angularpoints in rivers, such as Sandy Hook at New York. --_Laying-hook. _ Awinch used in rope-making. --_Loof-tackle hooks_, termed _luffs_. Atackle with two hooks, one to hitch into a cringle of the main or foresail in the bolt-rope, and the other to hitch into a strap spliced tothe chess-tree. They pull down the sail, and in a stiff gale help tohold it so that all the stress may not bear upon the tack. 

HOOK AND BUTT. The scarphing or laying two ends of planks over eachother. (_See_ BUTT-AND-BUTT and HOOK-SCARPH. )

HOOK-BLOCK. Any block, of iron or wood, strapped with a hook. 

HOOK-BOLTS. Those used to secure lower-deck ports. 

HOOKER, OR HOWKER. A coast or fishing vessel--a small hoy-built craftwith one mast, intended for fishing. They are common on our coasts, andgreatly used by pilots, especially off the Irish ports. Also, Jack'sname for his vessel, the favourite "old hooker. " Also, a term for ashort pipe, probably derived from _hookah_. 

HOOKEY. _See_ HOAKY. 

HOOKING. In ship-carpentry this is the act of working the edge of oneplank into that of another, in such a manner that they cannot be drawnasunder. 

HOOK OF THE DECKS. _See_ BREAST-HOOKS. 

HOOK-POTS. Tin cans fitted to hang on the bars of the galley range. 

HOOK-ROPES. A rope 6 or 8 fathoms long, with a hook and thimble splicedat one end, and whipped at the other: it is used in coiling hempencables in the tiers, dragging chain, &c. 

HOOK-SCARPH. In ship-carpentry, the joining of two pieces of wood by astrong method of hook-butting, which mode of connecting is termed _hookand butt_. 

HOOP. The principal hoops of different kinds used for nautical purposes, are noticed under their several names, as mast-hoops, clasp-hoops, &c. In wind-bound ships in former times the left hands of several boys weretied to a hoop, and their right armed with a nettle, they being nakeddown to the waist. On the boatswain giving one a cut with his cat, theboy struck the one before him, and each one did the same, beginninggently, but, becoming irritated, they at last laid on in earnest. Also, a nautical punishment for quarrelsome fighters was, that two offenders, similarly fastened, thrashed each other until one gave in. The cravenwas usually additionally punished by the commander. 

HOOPS. The strong iron bindings of the anchor-stock to the shank, thoughsquare, are called hoops. 

HOPE. A small bay; it was an early term for valley, and is still used inKent for a brook, and gives name to the adjacent anchorages. Johnsondefines it to be any sloping plain between two ridges of hills. 

HOPPER-PUNT. A flat-floored lighter for carrying soil or mud, with a_hopper_ or receptacle in its centre, to contain the lading. 

HOPPO. The chief of the customs in China. 

HOPPO-MEN. Chinese custom-house officers. 

HORARY ANGLE. The apparent time by the sun, or the sidereal time of themoon, or planets, or stars, from the meridian. 

HORARY MOTION. The march or movement of any heavenly body in the spaceof an hour. 

HORARY TABLES. Tables for facilitating the determination of horaryangles. 

HORIE-GOOSE. A northern name for the _Anser bernicla_, or brent-goose. 

HORIOLÆ. Small fishing-boats of the ancients. 

HORIZON. The apparent or visible circle which bounds our vision at sea;it is that line which is described by the sky and water appearing tomeet. This is designated as the _sensible_ horizon; the _rational_, or_true_ one, being a great circle of the heavens, parallel to thesensible horizon, but passing through the centre of the earth. 

HORIZON-GLASSES. Two small speculums on one of the radii of a quadrantor sextant; the one half of the fore horizon-glass is silvered, whilethe other half is transparent, in order that an object may be seendirectly through it: the back horizon-glass is silvered above and below, but in the middle there is a transparent stripe through which thehorizon can be seen. 

HORIZONTAL. A direction parallel to the horizon, or what is commonlytermed lying flat. One of the greatest inconveniences navigators have tostruggle with is the frequent want of a distinct sight of the horizon. To obviate this a _horizontal spinning speculum_ was adopted by Mr. Lerson, who was lost in the _Victory_ man-of-war, in which ship he wassent out to make trial of his instrument. This was afterwards improvedby Smeaton, and consists of a well-polished metal speculum about 3-1/2inches in diameter, inclosed within a circular rim of brass, so fittedthat the centre of gravity of the whole shall fall near the point onwhich it spins. This is the end of a steel axis running through thecentre of the speculum, above which it finishes in a square for theconvenience of fitting a roller on it, bearing a piece of tape woundround it. The cup in which it spins is made of agate flint, or otherhard substance. Sextants, with spirit-levels attached, have latterlybeen used, as well as Becher's horizon; but great dexterity is demandedfor anything like an approximation to the truth; wherefore thiscontinues to be a great desideratum in navigation. 

HORIZONTAL FIRE. From artillery, is that in which the piece is laideither direct on the object, or with but small elevation above it, thelimit on land being 10°, and afloat still less. It is the most tellingunder ordinary circumstances, and includes all other varieties, with theexception of vertical fire, which has elevations of from 30° andupwards; and, according to some few, curved fire, an intermediate kind, of limited application. 

HORIZONTAL PARALLAX. _See_ PARALLAX. 

HORIZONTAL PLAN. In ship-building, the draught of a proposed ship, showing the whole as if seen from above. 

HORIZONTAL RIBBAND LINES. A term given by shipwrights to those lines, oroccult ribbands, by which the cant-timbers are laid off, and trulybevelled. 

HORN. The arm of a cleat or kevel. 

HORN-CARD. Transparent graduated horn-plates to use on charts, either asprotractors or for meteorological purposes, to represent the directionof the wind in a cyclone. 

HORNED ANGLE. That which is made by a right line, whether tangent orsecant, with the circumference of a circle. 

HORNEL. A northern term for the largest species of sand-launce orsand-eel. 

HORN-FISC. Anglo-Saxon for the sword-fish. 

HORN-FISTED. Having hands inured to hauling ropes. 

HORNING. In naval architecture, is the placing or proving anything tostand square from the middle line of the ship, by setting an equaldistance thereon. 

HORN-KECK. An old term for the _green-back_ fish. 

HORNOTINÆ. Ancient vessels which were built in a year. 

HORNS. The points of the jaws of the booms. Also, the outer ends of thecross-trees. Also, two extreme points of land inclosing a bay. 

HORNS OF THE MOON. The extremities of the lunar crescent, in which formshe is said to be horned. 

HORNS OF THE RUDDER. _See_ RUDDER-HORN. 

HORNS OF THE TILLER. The pins at the extremity. 

HORN-WORK. In fortification, a form of outwork having for its head abastioned front, and for its sides two long straight faces, which areflanked by the guns of the body of the place. Sometimes it is a detachedoutwork. 

HOROLOGIUM UNIVERSALE. An old brass nautical instrument, one of whichwas supplied to Martin Frobisher, at an expense of £2, 6_s. _ 8_d. _, whenfitting out on his first voyage for the discovery of a north-westpassage. 

HORS DE COMBAT. A term adopted from the French, signifying so fardisabled as to be incapable of taking farther share in the action. 

HORSE. A foot-rope reaching from the opposite quarter of a yard to itsarms or shoulders, and depending about two or three feet under the yard, for the sailors to tread on while they are loosing, reefing, or furlingthe sails, rigging out the studding-sail booms, &c. In order to keepthe horse more parallel to the yard, it is usually attached thereto atproper distances, by certain ropes called stirrups, which have an eyespliced into their lower ends, through which the horse passes. (_See_STIRRUPS and FOOT-ROPES. ) Also, a rope formerly fast to the fore-mastfore-shrouds, with a dead-eye to receive the spritsail-sheet-pendant, and keep the spritsail-sheets clear of the flukes of the anchor. Also, the breast-rope which is made fast to the shrouds to protect theleadsman. Also, applied to any pendant and thimble through whichrunning-rigging was led, now commonly called a lizard. Also, a thickrope, extending in a perpendicular direction near the fore or after sideof a mast, for the purpose of hoisting some yard, or extending a sailthereon; when before the mast, it is used for the square-sail, whoseyard is attached to the horse by means of a traveller or bull's-eye, which slides up and down. When it is abaft the mast, it is intended forthe trysail of a snow; but is seldom used in this position, except inthose sloops of war which occasionally assume the appearance of snows todeceive the enemy. Also, the name of the sawyer's frame or trestle. Also, the round iron bar formerly fixed to the main-rail at the headwith stanchions; a fir rail is now used, and the head berthed up. Also, in cutters or schooners, one horse is a stout iron bar, with a largethimble, which spans the vessel from side to side close to the deckbefore the fore-mast. To this the forestaysail-sheet is hauled, andtraverses. The other horse is a similar bar abaft, on which themain-boom sheet traverses. Also, cross-pieces on the tops of standards, on which the booms or spare-spars or boats are lashed between the foreand main masts. Horses are also termed jack-stays, on which sails arehauled out, as gaff-sails. Horse is a term of derision where an officerassumes the grandioso, demanding honour where honour is not his due. Also, a strict disciplinarian, in nautical parlance. Also, tough saltbeef--_salt horse_. --_Flemish horse_ is the horse which has an ironthimble in one end, which goes over the iron point of the yard-armbefore the studding-sail boom-iron is put on; in the other, a lashingeye, which is secured near the head earing of the top-sail. It isintended for the men at the earing in reefing, or when setting thetop-gallant-studding-sails. 

HORSE-ARTILLERY. A branch of field artillery specially equipped tomanœuvre with cavalry, having lighter guns, and all its gunners mountedon horseback. Its service demands a rare combination of soldierlyqualities. 

HORSE-BUCKETS. Covered buckets for carrying spirits or water in. 

HORSE-BUCKLE. The great whelk. 

HOUSE-COCKLE. _See_ GAWKY. 

HORSE-FOOT. A name of the _Limulus polyphemus_ of the shores of America, where from its shape it is called the horse-shoe or lantern crab. 

HORSE-LATITUDES. A space between the westerly winds of higher latitudesand the trade-winds, notorious for tedious calms. The name arose fromour old navigators often throwing the horses overboard which they weretransporting to America and the West Indies. 

HORSE-MACKEREL. A large and coarse member of the Scomber family, remarkably greedy, and therefore easily taken, but unwholesome. 

HORSE-MARINE. An awkward lubberly person. One out of place. 

HORSE-MUSSEL. _See_ DUCK-MUSSEL. 

HORSE-POTATOES. The old word for yams. 

HORSE-POWER. A comparative estimate of the capacity of steam-engines, byassuming a certain average effective pressure of steam, and a certainaverage linear velocity of the piston. The pressure multiplied by thevelocity gives the effective force of the engine exerted through a givennumber of feet per minute; and since the force called a horse-powermeans 33, 000 lbs. Acting thus one foot per minute, it follows that thenominal power of the engine will be found by dividing the effectiveforce exerted by the piston, multiplied by the number of feet per minutethrough which it acts by 33, 000. 

HORSES. Blocks in whalers for cutting blubber on. (_See_ WHITE-HORSE. )

HORSE-SHOE. In old fortification, a low work of this plan sometimesthrown up in ditches. 

HORSE-SHOE CLAMP. The iron or copper straps so shaped, used as thefastenings which connect the gripe with the fore-foot at the scarph ofthe keel and stem. 

HORSE-SHOE HINGES. Those by which side-scuttles or ventilators to thecabins are hung. 

HORSE-SHOE RACK. A sweep curving from the bitt-heads abaft the main-mastcarrying a set of nine-pin swivel-blocks as the fair leaders of thelight running gear, staysail, halliards, &c. 

HORSE-TONGUE. A name applied to a kind of sole. 

HORSE-UP. _See_ HORSING-IRON. 

HORSING-IRON. An iron fixed in a withy handle, sometimes only lashed toa stick or tree-nail, and used with a beetle by caulkers. --_Tohorse-up_, or harden in the oakum of a vessel's seams. 

HOSE (for watering, &c. ) An elastic pipe. 

HOSE-FISH. A name for a kind of cuttle-fish. 

HOSPITAL. A place appointed for the reception of sick and wounded men, with a regular medical establishment. (_See_ NAVAL HOSPITALS. )

HOSPITAL-SHIP. A vessel fitted to receive the sick, either remaining inport, or accompanying a fleet, as circumstance demands. She carries thechief surgeons, &c. The _Dreadnought_, off Greenwich, is a freehospital-ship for seamen of all nations. 

HOSTAGE. A person given up to an enemy as a pledge or security for theperformance of the articles of a treaty. 

HOSTILE CHARACTER is legally constituted by having landed in an enemy'sterritory, and by residing there, temporary absence being immaterial; bypermanent trade with an enemy; and by sailing under an enemy's flag. 

HOST-MEN. An ancient guild or fraternity at Newcastle, to whom we areindebted for the valuable sea-coal trade. (_See_ HOASTMEN. )

HOT COPPERS. Dry fauces; morning thirst, but generally applied to thosewho were drinking hard over-night. 

HOT-PRESS. When the press-gangs were instructed, on imminent emergency, to impress seamen, regardless of the protections. 

HOT-SHOT. Balls made red-hot in a furnace. Amongst the savages inBergou, the women are in the rear of the combatants, and they heat theheads of the spears, exchanging them for such as are cooled in thefight. 

HOT-WELL. In a steamer, a reservoir from whence to feed the boiler withthe warm water received out of the condenser; it also forms part of thedischarge passage from the air-pump into the sea. 

HOUND-FISH. The old Anglo-Saxon term for dog-fish--_húnd-fisc_. 

HOUNDS. Those projections at the mast-head serving as supports for thetrestle-trees of large and rigging of smaller masts to rest upon. Withlower masts they are termed _cheeks_. 

HOUNSID. A rope bound round with service. 

HOUR-ANGLE. The angular distance of a heavenly body east or west of themeridian. 

HOUR-GLASS. The sand-glass: a measure of the hour. 

HOUSE, TO. To enter within board. To house a topgallant-mast, is tolower it so as to prevent the rigging resting or chafing on the cap, andsecuring its heel to the mast below it. This admits of double-reefedtop-sails being set beneath. 

HOUSE-BOAT. One with a cabin; a _coche d'eau_. 

HOUSED. The situation of the great guns upon the lower gun-decks whenthey are run in clear of the port, and secured. The breech being letdown, the muzzle rests against the side above the port; they are thensecured by their tackles, muzzle-lashings, and breechings. Over themuzzle of every gun are two strong eye-bolts for the muzzle-lashings, which are 3-1/2-inch rope. When this operation is well performed, noaccident is feared, as every act is one of mechanical skill. A gun issometimes housed fore and aft to make room, as in the cabin, &c. Shipsin ordinary, not in commission, are housed over by a substantialroofing. 

HOUSEHOLD TROOPS. A designation of the horse and foot guards, who enjoymany immunities and privileges for attending the sovereign. 

HOUSEWIFE. _See_ HUZ-ZIF. 

HOUSING, OR HOUSE-LINE. A small line formed of three fine strands, smaller than rope yarn; principally used for seizings of theblock-strops, fastening the clues of sails to their bolt-ropes, andother purposes. (_See_ MARLINE, TWINE. )

HOUSING-IN. After a ship in building is past the breadth of her bearing, and that she is brought in too narrow to her upper works, she is said tobe _housed in_, or pinched. (_See_ TUMBLING HOME. )

HOUSING OF A LOWER MAST. That part of a mast which is below deck to thestep in the kelson; of a bowsprit, the portion within the_knight-heads_. 

HOUSING-RINGS. Ring-bolts over the lower deck-ports, through thebeam-clamps, to which the muzzle-lashings of the guns are passed whenhoused. 

HOUVARI. A strong land wind of the West Indies, accompanied with rain, thunder, and lightning. 

HOUZING. A northern term for lading water. 

HOVE DOWN, properly _hove out_ or _careened_. The situation of a shipwhen heeled or placed thus for repairs. --_Hove off_, when removed fromthe ground. --_Hove up_, when brought into the slips or docks by cradleson the gridiron, &c. 

HOVE-IN-SIGHT. The anchor in view. Also, a sail just discovered. 

HOVE-IN-STAYS. The position of a ship in the act of going about. 

HOVE KEEL OUT. Hove so completely over the beam-ends that the keel isabove the water. 

HOVELLERS. A Cinque-Port term for pilots and their boatmen; butcolloquially, it is also applied to sturdy vagrants who infest thesea-coast in bad weather, in expectation of wreck and plunder. 

HOVERING, AND HOVERING ACTS. Said of smugglers of old. 

HOVE-SHORT. The ship with her cable hove taut towards her anchor, whenthe sails are usually loosed and braced for canting; sheetedhome. --_Hove well short_, the position of the ship when she is drawn bythe capstan nearly over her anchor. 

HOVE-TO. From the act of heaving-to; the motion of the ship stopped. Itis curious to observe that seamen have retained an old word which hasotherwise been long disused. It occurs in Grafton's _Chronicle_, wherethe mayor and aldermen of London, in 1256, understanding that Henry III. Was coming to Westminster from Windsor, went to Knightsbridge, "and_hoved_ there to salute the king. "

HOW. An ancient term for the carina or hold of a ship. 

HOWE, HOE, OR HOO. A knoll, mound, or elevated hillock. 

HOW FARE YE? Are you all hearty? are you working together? a good oldsea phrase not yet lost. 

HOWITZER. A piece of ordnance specially designed for the horizontalfiring of shells, being shorter and much lighter than any gun of thesame calibre. The rifled gun, however, throwing a shell of the samecapacity from a smaller bore, and with much greater power, issuperseding it for general purposes. 

HOWKER. _See_ HOOKER. 

HOWLE. An old English word for the hold of a ship. When the foot-hooksor futtocks of a ship are scarphed into the ground-timbers and bolted, and the plank laid up to the orlop-deck, then they say, "the ship beginsto howle. "

HOY. A call to a man. Also, a small vessel, usually rigged as a sloop, and employed in carrying passengers and goods, particularly in shortdistances on the sea-coast; it acquired its name from stopping whencalled to from the shore, to take up goods or passengers. In Holland thehoy has two masts, in England but one, where the main-sail is sometimesextended by a boom, and sometimes without it. In the naval servicethere are _gun-hoy_, _powder-hoy_, _provision-hoy_, _anchor-hoy_, allrigged sloop-fashion. 

HOYSE. The old word for hoist. 

HUBBLE-BUBBLE. An eastern pipe for smoking tobacco through water, whichmakes a bubbling noise. 

HUDDOCK. The cabin of a keel or coal-barge. 

 "'Twas between Ebbron and Yarrow, There cam on a varry strong gale; The skipper luicked out o' th' huddock, Crying, 'Smash, man, lower the sail!'"

HUDDUM. The old northern term for a kind of whale. 

HUER. A man posted on an elevation near the sea, who, by concertedsignals, directs the fishermen when a shoal of fish is in sight. Synonymous with _conder_ (which see). Also, the hot fountains in the seanear Iceland, where many of them issue from the land. 

HUFFED. Chagrined, offended, often needlessly. 

HUFFLER. One who carries off fresh provisions to a ship; a Kentish term. 

HUG, TO. --_To hug the land_, to sail as near it as possible, the landhowever being to windward. --_To hug the wind_, to keep the ship asclose-hauled to the wind as possible. 

HUGGER-MUGGER. In its Shakspearian bearing may have meant secretly, orin a clandestine manner, but its nautical application is to expressanything out of order or done in a slovenly way. 

HUISSIERS. The flat-bottomed transports in which horses were embarked inthe Crusades. 

HULCOCK. A northern name for the _Squalus galeus_, or smooth hound-fish. 

HULK. Is generally applied to a vessel condemned as unfit for the risksof the sea, and used as a store-vessel and housing for crews whilerefitting the vessels they belong to. There are also hulks for convicts, and for masting, as _sheer-hulk_. (_See_ SHEERS. )

HULL. The Gothic _hulga_ meant a husk or external covering, and hencethe body of a ship, independent of masts, yards, sails, rigging, andother furniture, is so called. --_To hull_, signifies to hit with shot;to drive to and fro without rudder, sail, or oar; as Milton--

 "He looked and saw the ark hull on the flood. "

--_To strike hull_ in a storm, is to take in her sails and lash the helmon the lee side of the ship, which is termed _to lie a-hull_. 

HULL-DOWN. Is said of a ship when at such a distance that, from theconvexity of the globe, only her masts and sails are to be seen. 

HULLING. Lying in wait at sea without any sails set. Also, to hit withshot. 

HULLOCK OF A SAIL. A small part lowered in a gale. 

HULL-TO. The situation of a ship when she is lying a-hull, or with allher sails furled. 

HULLY. A long wicker-trap used for catching eels. 

HUMBER-KEEL. A particular clincher-built craft used on the Humber. 

HUMLA-BAND. A northern term for the grommet to an oar-pin or thole. 

HUMMOCK. A hill with a rounded summit or conical eminence on thesea-coast. When in pairs they are termed _paps_ by navigators (whichsee). 

HUMMOCKS OF ICE. Protuberant lumps of ice thrown up by some pressureupon a _field_ or _floe_, or any other frozen plane. The pieces whichrise when large fragments come in contact, and bits of pack are frozentogether and covered with snow. 

HUMMUMS. From the Arabic word _hammam_, a bagnio or bath. 

HUMP-BACKED WHALE. A species of whalebone whale, the _Megapteralongimana_, which attains to 45 or 50 feet in length, and isdistinguished by its low rounded dorsal fin. 

HURD. The strand of a rope. 

HURDICES. Ramparts, scaffolds, fortifications, &c. 

HURDIGERS. Particular artificers employed in constructing the castles inour early ships. 

HURLEBLAST. An archaic term for _hurricane_. 

HURRICANE. _See_ TYPHOON. 

HURRICANE-DECK. A light deck over the saloon of some steamers. 

HURRICANE-HOUSE. Any building run up for temporary purposes; the name isoccasionally given to the round-house on a vessel's deck. 

HURRICANO. Shakspeare evidently makes King Lear use this word as awater-spout. 

HURRY. A staith or wharf where coals are shipped in the north. 

HURST. Anglo-Saxon to express a wood. 

HURT. A wound or injury for which a compensation can be claimed. 

HURTLE, TO. To send bodily on by a swell or wind. 

HUSBAND, OR SHIP'S HUSBAND. An agent appointed by deed, executed by allthe owners, with power to advance and lend, to make all payments, toreceive the prices of freights, and to retain all claims. But thisoffice gives him no authority to insure or to borrow money; and he is torender a full account to his employers. 

HUSH. A name of the lump-fish, denoting the female. 

HUSSAR, OR HUZZAR. A Hungarian term signifying "twentieth, " as the firsthussars were formed by selecting from various regiments the ablest manin every twenty; now generally a light-cavalry soldier equipped somewhatafter the original Hungarian fashion. 

HUT. The same as _barrack_ (which see). 

HUTT. The breech-pin of a gun. 

HUZZA! This was originally the _hudsa_, or cry, of the Hungarian lighthorse, but is now also the national shout of the English in joy andtriumph. 

HUZ-ZIF. A general corruption of _housewife_. A very useful contrivancefor holding needles and thread, and the like. 

HYDRAULIC DOCK. _See_ CAISSON. 

HYDRAULIC PRESS. The simple yet powerful water-press invented by Bramah, without which it would have been a puzzle to float the enormous _GreatEastern_. 

HYDRAULIC PURCHASE. A machine for drawing up vessels on a slip, in whichthe pumping of water is used to multiply the force applied. 

HYDRAULICS. _See_ HYDROLOGY. 

HYDROGRAPHER. One who surveys coasts, &c. , and constructs true maps andcharts founded on astronomical observations. The hydrographer to theadmiralty presides over the hydrographical office. 

HYDROGRAPHICAL CHARTS OR MAPS. Usually called _sea-charts_, areprojections of some part of the sea and its neighbouring coast for theuse of navigation, and therefore the depth of water and nature of thebottom are minutely noted. 

HYDROGRAPHICAL OFFICE. A department of the admiralty where the laboursof the marine surveyors of the Royal Navy are collected and published. 

HYDROGRAPHY. The science of marine surveying, requiring the principalpoints to be astronomically fixed. 

HYDROLOGY. That part of physics which explains the properties of water, and is usually divided into hydrostatics and hydraulics. The formertreats of weighing water and fluids in general, and of ascertainingtheir specific gravities; the latter shows the manner of conveying waterfrom one place to another. 

HYDROMETER. An instrument constructed to measure the specific gravitiesof fluids. That used at sea for testing the amount of salt in the wateris a glass tube containing a scale, the bottom of the tube swelling outinto two bulbs, of which the lower is laden with shot, which causes theinstrument to float perpendicularly, and as it displaces its own weightof water, of course it sinks deeper as the water is lighter, which isrecorded by the scale. 

HYGRE. (_See_ BORE and EAGRE. ) An effect of counter-currents. 

HYGROMETER. An instrument for ascertaining the quantity of moisture inthe atmosphere. 

HYPERBOLA. One of the conic sections formed by cutting a cone by a planewhich is so inclined to the axis, that when produced it cuts also theopposite cone, or the cone which is the continuation of the former, onthe opposite side of the vertex. 

HYPOTHECA. A mortgage. In the civil law, was where the thing pledgedremained with the debtor. 

HYPOTHECATION. An authority to the master, amounting almost to a powerof the absolute disposal of the ship in a foreign country; he mayhypothecate not only the hull, but his freight and cargo, for necessaryand urgent repairs. 

HYTHE. A pier or wharf to lade or unlade wares at [from the Anglo-Saxon_hyd_, coast or haven]. 

I. 

I. The third class of rating on Lloyd's books, for the comparativeexcellence of merchant ships. (_See_ A. )

ICE-ANCHOR. A bar of round iron tapered to a point, and bent as apot-hook; a hole is cut in the ice, the point entered, and the hawserbent to the shorter hook; by this vessels ride safely till any motion ofthe ice capsizes it, and then it is hauled in. The ice is usuallyentered by a lance, which cuts its hole easily. 

ICE-BEAMS. Strengtheners for whalers. (_See_ FORTIFYING. )

ICEBERG. An insulated mountain of ice, whether on Arctic lands orfloating in the sea. Some have been known to be aground in 120 fathomswater, and rise to the height of 150 feet above it. Cook's obtainingfresh water from floating icebergs was not a new discovery. The Hudson'sBay ships had long made use of it; and in July, 1585, Captain Davis metwith ice "which melted into very good fresh water. "

ICE-BIRDS. Small sea-fowl in the polar regions. 

ICE-BLINK. A streak or stratum of lucid whiteness which appears over theice in that part of the atmosphere adjoining the horizon, and proceedsfrom an extensive aggregation of ice reflecting the rays of light intothe circumambient air. 

ICE-BOAT. A peculiar track-schuyt for the Dutch canals in winter. 

ICE-BOUND. A vessel so surrounded by ice as to be prevented fromproceeding on her voyage. 

ICE-CHISEL. A large socket-chisel into which a pole is inserted, used tocut holes in the ice. 

ICE-CLAWS. A flat claw with two prongs spread like a can-hook; the sameas a single span or claw-dog. 

ICE-FENDERS. Fenders of any kind, used to protect a vessel from injuryby ice; usually broken spars hanging vertically where the strain isexpected. 

ICE LANE OR VEIN. A narrow temporary channel of water in the packs orother large collections of ice. 

ICE-MASTER. A pilot, or man of experience, for the Arctic Sea. 

ICE-PLANK. _See_ SPIKE-PLANK. 

ICE-QUAKE. The rending crash which accompanies the breaking of floes ofice. 

ICE-SAW. A huge saw for cutting through ice; it is made of 2/8 to 3/8inch plates of iron, and varies in length from 10 to 24 feet. 

ICE-SLUDGE. Small comminuted ice, or bay-ice broken up by the wind. 

ICE-TONGUE. _See_ TONGUE. 

ICHNOGRAPHY. A ground plot or plan of a fortification, showing thedetails of the construction as if cut horizontally through. 

ICK. An Erse or Manx term for a creek or gullet. 

IDLER. A general designation for all those on board a ship-of-war, who, from being liable to constant day duty, are not subjected to keep thenight-watch, but must go on deck if all hands are called during thenight. Surgeons, marine-officers, paymasters, and the civil department, are also thus denominated. 

IDOLEERS. The name by which the Dutch authorities are known in theiroriental colonies, the designation being a corruption of _edle herren_. 

IGNORANCE. If a loss happen through the ignorance of the master of aship, it is not considered as a peril of the sea; consequently theassurers are not liable. Nor is his ignorance of admiralty-lawadmissible as an excuse. 

IGUANA. A large lizard used for food in tropical climates. 

ILAND. The Saxon _ealand_ (_See_ ISLAND. )

ILDE, AND ILE. Archaic terms for _island_. 

ILET. Lacing holes. (_See_ EYELET-HOLES. )

ILLEGAL VOYAGE. (_See_ VOYAGE. )

IMMER. A water-fowl (_See_ EMBER-GOOSE). The _Colymbus immer_ of Linn. , the great plunger of Buffon. 

IMMERSION. The prismatic solid carried under water on the lee-side of aship by its inclination. --_Centre of immersion_, the mean centre of thepart immersed. (_See_ CENTRE OF CAVITY. ) Astronomically, immersion meansthe disappearance of a heavenly body when undergoing eclipse. 

IMP. One length of twisted hair in a fishing-line. 

IMPEDIMENTA. The ancient term for the baggage of an army. 

IMPORT, IMPORTATION, AND IMPORTER, being exactly the reverse of_export_, _exportation_, and _exporter_, refer to those terms, and takethe opposite meaning. To import is therefore to bring commodities into acountry for the purpose of traffic. 

IMPOSSIBLE. A hateful word, generally supplanted among good seamen by"we'll try. " A thing which is impossible in law, is pronounced to be allone with a thing impossible in nature. 

IMPOST. The tax received for such foreign merchandises as are broughtinto any haven within a prince's dominions. 

IMPREGNABLE. Said of a fortress or position supposed to be proof againstany attack. 

IMPRESS, TO. To compel to serve. 

IMPRESSION. The effect produced upon any ship, place, or body of troops, by a hostile attack. 

IMPRESSMENT. The system and act of pressing seamen, and compellingthem--under plea of state necessity--to serve in our men-of-war. 

IMPREST. Charge on the pay of an officer. 

IMPREST-MONEY. That paid on the enlistment of soldiers. 

IN. The state of any sails in a ship when they are furled or stowed, inopposition to _out_, which implies that they are set, or extended toassist the ship's course. Hence, _in_ is also used as an order toshorten sail, as "In topgallant-sails. " It was moreover an old word forembanking and inclosing; thus Sir Nicholas L'Estrange (_Harleian MS. 6395_) speaks of him who had "the patent for _inning_ the salt marshes. "

IN AND OUT. A term sometimes used for the scantling of timbers, themoulding way, and particularly for those bolts that are driven into thehanging and lodging knees, drawn through the ship's sides, and termed_in-and-out bolts_. 

IN-BOARD. Within the ship; the opposite of _out-board_. 

IN-BOATS! The order to hoist the boats in-board. 

IN-BOW! The order to the bowman to throw in his oar, and prepare hisboat-hook, previous to getting alongside. 

INCH. The smallest lineal measure to which a name is given; but it hasmany subdivisions. Also, a general name for a small coast islet on thenorthern shores, from the old Gaelic word. 

INCIDENCE, ANGLE OF. That which the direction of a ray of light, &c. , makes at the point where it strikes with a line drawn perpendicularly tothe surface of that body. 

INCLINATION. In geometry, is the mutual tendency of two lines or planestowards each other, so as to form an angle. 

INCLINATION OF AN ORBIT. The angle which the path of a comet or planetmakes with the plane of the ecliptic. 

INCLINATORY NEEDLE. An old term for the _dipping-needle_ (which see). 

INCLINOMETER. An invention by Wales in Cook's second voyage, whereparticulars are given. 

INCOMPETENCY, OR INSUFFICIENCY, OF A MERCHANTMAN'S CREW. A bar to anyclaim on warrantry; as it is an implied condition in the sea-worthinessof a ship, that at sailing she must have a master of competent skill, and a crew sufficient to navigate her on the voyage. 

INDEMNIFICATION. A stipulated compensation for damage done. 

INDEMNITY. Amnesty; security against punishment. 

INDENTED LINE. In fortification, a connected line of works composed offaces which offer a continued series of alternate salient andre-entering angles. It is conveniently applied on the banks of a riverentering a town, and was to be seen on the James river in Virginia, nearRichmond, in 1864. 

INDENTED PARAPET. One of which the interior slope is indented with aseries of vertical cavities, enabling the men stationed within them tofire across the proper front. 

INDENTING FOR STORES. An indispensable duty to show that every articlehas been actually received. 

INDENTURES, PAIR OF. A term for _charter-party_. 

INDEX. The flat bar which carries the nonius scale and index-glass of aquadrant, octant, quintant, or sextant. 

INDEX-ERROR. The reading of the verniers of the above-named instruments. It is the correction to be applied to the + or - reading of a vernierwhen the horizon and index-glasses are parallel. 

INDEX-GLASS. A plane speculum, or mirror of quick-silvered glass, whichmoves with the index, and is designed to reflect the image of the sun orother object upon the horizon glass, whence it is again reflected to theeye of the observer. 

INDEX-ROD. A graduated indicator. 

INDIAMAN. A term occasionally applied to any ship in the East Indiatrade, but in strict parlance the large ships formerly officered by theEast India Company for that trade, and generally armed. 

INDIAN INK. Properly Chinese; compounded of a peculiar lamp-black andgum. 

INDIAN OCEAN. The great Oriental Ocean. 

INDRAUGHT. A particular flowing of the ocean towards any contractingpart of a coast or coasts, as that which sets from the Atlantic into theStraits of Gibraltar, and on other coasts of Europe and Africa. Itusually applies to a strong current, apt to engender a sort of vortex. 

INDUCED MAGNETISM. The magnetic action of the earth, whereby everyparticle of soft iron in certain positions is converted into a magnet. 

INDULTO. The duty formerly exacted by the crown of Spain upon colonialcommodities. 

INEQUALITY, SECULAR. A small irregularity in the motions of planets, which becomes important only after a long lapse of years. The _greatinequality_ of Jupiter and Saturn is a variation of their orbitalpositions, caused by the disturbing action of one planet on the other. 

INERTIA. The passive principle by which bodies persist in a state ofmotion or rest, and resist as much as they are resisted. (_See_ VISINERTIÆ. )

INFANTRY. Foot soldiers of the regular army; so called throughout Europeafter the original Spanish "infanteria, " or troops of the infanta orqueen of Spain, who first developed on a large scale the importance ofthe arm. 

INFERIOR CONJUNCTION. Mercury or Venus is said to be in inferiorconjunction, when it is situated in the same longitude as the sun, andbetween that luminary and the earth. 

INFERIOR PLANETS. This name, the opposite of superior, is applied toMercury and Venus, because they revolve in orbits interior to theearth's path. 

INFORMATION. In admiralty courts, implies a clause introduced into acitation, intimating that in the event of a party cited not appearing, the court will proceed in his absence. 

INGS. An old word said to be left here by the Danes; it signifies lowgrounds or springy meadows near a river, or creek, liable to occasionaloverflowings. 

IN-HAULER. The rope used for hauling in the clue of a boom-sail, orjib-traveller: it is the reverse of _out-hauler_. 

INITIAL VELOCITY. The velocity of a projectile at the moment ofdischarge from a gun. 

INJECTION-PIPE. This is fixed in the interior of a marine steam-engine, is fitted with a cock, and communicates with the water outside: it isfor the purpose of playing into the condenser while the engine isworking, and creating a vacuum. 

INLAND SEA. Mediterranean. Implies a very large gulf surrounded by land, except at the communication with the ocean, as the Baltic, Red, andMediterranean Seas. 

INLAND TRADE. That which is wholly managed at home, and the term is incontradistinction to commerce. In China it is applied to canal-trade. 

INLET. A term in some cases synonymous with _cove_ and _creek_ (whichsee), in contradistinction to outlet, when speaking of the supply anddischarge of lakes and broad waters, or an opening in the land, forminga passage to any inclosed water. 

INNER AND OUTER TURNS. Terms applied to the passing of the reef-earings, besides its over and under turns. 

INNER JIB-STAY. A temporary stay lashed half-way in, on the jib-boom; itsets up with lashing-eyes at the fore top-mast head. 

INNER POST, OR INNER STERN-POST. The post on which the transoms areseated. An oak timber brought on and fayed at the fore-edge of themain-post, and generally continued as high as the wing-transom, to seatthe other transoms upon, and strengthen the whole. (_See_ STERN-POST. )It applies to the main stern-post in steamers, the screw acting betweenit and the outer, on which the rudder is hung. 

INNINGS. Coast lands recovered from the sea by draining. 

INNIS. An old Gaelic term for an island, still in use. 

INQUIRY, COURT OF, is assembled by order of a commanding officer toinquire into matters of an intricate nature, for his information; buthas no power of adjudication whatever: but too like the Star Chamber. 

INSHORE. The opposite of _offing_. --_Inshore tack. _ Standing in fromsea-ward when working to windward on a coast. 

INSHORED. Come to shore. 

INSIDE MUSTER-PAPER. A description of paper supplied from the dockyards, ruled and headed, for making ships' books. 

INSPECTION. The mode of working up the dead-reckoning by computednautical tables. Also, a general examination or survey of all parts of asea or land force by an officer of competent authority. 

INSTALMENT. A partial payment. 

INSTANCE COURT. A department of the admiralty court, governed by thecivil law, the laws of Oleron, and the customs of the admiralty, modified by statute law. 

INSTITUTION. An establishment founded partly with a view to instruction;as the Royal United Service Institution in London. 

INSTRUCTIONS. _See_ PRINTED INSTRUCTIONS. 

INSTRUMENT. A term of extensive application among tools and weapons; butit is here introduced as an official conveyance of some right, or therecord of some fact. 

INSUFFICIENCY OF A MERCHANTMAN'S CREW. This bars the owner's claim onthe sea-worthy warrant. (_See_ INCOMPETENCY. )

INSURANCE. _See_ MARINE INSURANCE. 

INSURED. The party who obtains the policy and pays the premium. 

INSURER. The party taking the risk of a policy. (_See_ UNDERWRITERS. )

INTACT. Unhurt; undamaged. 

INTENSITY OF LIGHT. The degree of brightness of a planet or comet, expressed as a number varying with the distance of the body from the sunand earth. 

INTERCALARY. Any period of time interpolated in the calendar for thepurpose of accommodating the mode of reckoning with the course of thesun. 

INTEREST POLICY. _See_ POLICY. 

INTERLOPER. A smuggling or forced trade vessel. As a nautical phrase itwas generally applied to the "letters of marque" on the coasts of SouthAmerica, or a cruiser off her admiral's limits (poaching). 

INTERMEDIATE SHAFT. In a steamer, is the iron crank common to bothengines. 

INTERNAL CONTACT. This, in a transit of Mercury or Venus across thesolar disc, occurs when the planet is just within the sun's margin. 

INTERNAL PLANKING. This is termed _ceiling_ of the ship. 

INTERNAL SAFETY-VALVE. A valve opening from the outside of a steamer'sboiler, in order to allow air to enter the boiler when the pressurebecomes too weak within. 

INTERROGATORIES. The practice in the prize court is, on the breaking outof a war, to prepare standing commissions for the examination ofwitnesses, to which certain interrogatories are annexed; to these theexamination is confined. Private interrogatories are inadmissible asevidence. 

INTERSECTION. The point in which one line crosses another. 

INTERTROPICAL. The space included between the tropics on each side ofthe equator, making a zone of nearly 47°. 

INTERVAL. In military affairs, the lateral space between works or bodiesof troops, as distinguished from distance, which is the depth ormeasurement in a direction from front to rear. 

IN THE WIND. The state of a vessel when thrown with her head into thewind, but not quite _all in the wind_ (_see_ ALL). It is figurativelyused for being nearly intoxicated. 

INTRENCHMENT. Any work made to fortify a post against an enemy, butusually implying a ditch or trench, with a parapet. 

INUNDATIONS. In ancient Egypt officers estimated the case of sufferersfrom the inundations of the Nile. The changes of property in Bengal, byalluvion, are equally attended to. _Inundation_ is also a method ofimpeding the approach of an enemy, by damming up the course of a brookor river, so as to intercept the water, and set the neighbourhoodafloat. In Egypt the plan was diametrically opposite; for by floodingLake Mareotis, our gunboats were enabled greatly to annoy the Frenchgarrison at Alexandria. 

INVALID. A maimed or sick soldier or sailor. --_To invalid_ is to causeto retire from active service from inability. 

INVER. A Gaelic name, still retained in Scotland, for the month of ariver. 

INVESTMENT. The first process of a siege, in taking measures to seizeall the avenues, blocking up the garrison, and preventing relief gettinginto the place before the arrival of the main army with the siege-train. 

INVINCIBLE. A name boastfully applied both to naval and military forces, which have nevertheless been utterly vanquished. 

INVOICE. An account from a merchant to his factor, containing theparticulars and prices of each parcel of goods in the cargo, with theamount of the freight, duties, and other charges thereon. 

INWARD. The opposite of _outward_ (which see). 

INWARD CHARGES. Pilotage and other expenses incurred in entering anyport. 

IODINE. A substance chiefly obtained from kelp or sea-weed, extensivelyemployed in medicine and the arts. Its vapour has a beautiful violetcolour. 

IRIS EARS. A name applied to the shells of the Haliotis--a univalvemollusc found clinging like limpets to rocks; very abundant in Guernsey. 

IRISH HORSE. Old salt beef: hence the sailor's address to his saltbeef--

 "Salt horse, salt horse, what brought you here? You've carried turf for many a year. From Dublin quay to Ballyack You've carried turf upon your back, " &c. 

IRISH PENNANTS. Rope-yarns hanging about on the rigging. Loosereef-points or gaskets flying about, or fag-ends of ropes. 

IRON-BOUND. A coast where the shores are composed of rocks which mostlyrise perpendicularly from the sea, and have no anchorage near to them, therefore dangerous for vessels to borrow upon. 

IRON-BOUND BLOCKS. Those which are fitted with iron strops. 

IRON-CLAD, CASED, COATED, OR PLATED VESSEL. One covered entirely, or inspecial parts, with iron plates intended to resist ordinary missiles. Where parts only are so protected, of course it may be done moreeffectually. 

IRON GARTERS. A cant word for bilboes, or fetters. 

IRON-HORSE. The iron rail of the head; the horse of the fore-sheet orboom-sheet traveller. 

IRON-PLATED SHIPS. _See_ ARMOUR-CLAD. 

IRONS. A ship is said to be in irons when, by mismanagement, she ispermitted to come up in the wind and lose her _way_; so that, having nosteerage, she must either be boxed off on the former tack, or fall offon the other; for she will not cast one way or the other, withoutbracing in the yards. Also, _bilboes_ (which see). Also, the tools usedby the caulkers for driving oakum into the seams. (_See also_BOOM-IRONS. )

IRON-SICK. The condition of vessels when the iron work becomes loose inthe timbers from corrosion by gallic acid, and the speeks or sheathingnails are eaten away by rust. 

IRON-SIDES. Formerly a sobriquet for favourite veteran men-of-war, butlatterly applied to iron and iron-clad ships. 

IRON WEDGES. Tapered iron wedges on the well-known mechanical principle, for splitting out blocks and for other similar purposes. 

IRON-WORK. A general name for all pieces of iron, of whatever figure orsize, which are used in the construction and equipment of ships. 

IRREGULAR BASTION. One whose opposite faces or flanks do not correspond;this, as well as the constant irregularity of most real fortification, is generally the result of the local features of the neighbourhood. 

ISLAND. May be simply described as a tract of land entirely surroundedwith water; but the whole continuous land of the Old World forms oneisland, and the New World another; while canals across the isthmuses ofSuez and Panama would make each into two. The term properly only appliesto smaller portions of land; and Australia, Madagascar, Borneo, andBritain are among the larger examples. Their materials and form areequally various, and so is their origin; some having evidently beenupheaved by volcanic eruption, others are the result of accretion, andstill more revealing by their strata that they were formerly attached toa neighbouring land. The sudden emergence of Sabrina, in the Atlantic, has occasioned wonder in our own day. So has that of Graham's Island, near the south coast of Sicily; and the Archipelago is daily at work. 

ISLAND HARBOUR. That which is protected from the violence of the sea byone or more islands or islets screening its mouth. 

ISLAND OF ICE. A name given to a great quantity of ice collected intoone solid mass and floating upon the sea; they are often met with on thecoasts of Spitzbergen, to the great danger of the shipping employed inthe Greenland fishery. 

ISLE. A colloquial abbreviation of _island_. 

ISLE OF WIGHT PARSON. A cormorant. 

ISLET, OR ISLOT. Smaller than an island, yet larger than a key; aninsular spot about a couple of miles in circuit. 

ISOSCELES. A triangle with only two of its sides equal. 

ISSUE. The act of dispensing slops, tobacco, beds, &c. , to the ship'scompany; a distribution. 

ISSUE-BOOK. That which contains the record of issues to the crew, andthe charges made against them. 

ISTHMUS. A narrow neck of land which joins a peninsula to its continent, or two islands together, or two peninsulas, without reference to size. The Isthmus of Suez alone prevents Africa from being an island, as thatof Darien connects the two Americas. 

IURRAM. A Gaelic word signifying a boat-song, intended to regulate thestrokes of the oars. Also, a song sung during any kind of work. 

IVIGAR. A name in our northern isles for the sea-urchin, _Echinusmarinus_. 

IVORY GULL, OR SNOW-BIRD. The _Larus eburneus_ of Arctic seas. It has ayellowish beak, jet black legs, and plumage of a dazzling white. 

J. 

JAB, TO. To pierce fish by prodding. 

JABART. A northern term for a fish out of season. 

JABB. A peculiar net used for catching the fry of the coal-fish. 

JACK. In the British navy the jack is a small _union_ flag, formed bythe intersection of St. George's and St. Andrew's crosses (which see), usually displayed from a staff erected on the outer end of a ship'sbowsprit. In merchant ships the union is bordered with white or red. (_See_ UNION-JACK. ) Also, a common term for the jack or cross-trees. Also, a young male pike, _Esox lucius_, under a foot in length. Also, adrinking vessel of half-pint contents. (_See_ BLACK-JACK. )--_Jack_, or_Jack Tar_, a familiar term for a sailor. A fore-mast man and an ableseaman. It was an early term for short coats, jackets, and a sort ofcoat-of-mail or defensive lorica, or upper garment. 

JACK ADAMS. A stubborn fool. 

JACK AFLOAT. A sailor. Euripides used almost the same term in _floater_, for a seaman. 

JACKASSES. Heavy rough boats used in Newfoundland. 

JACKASS PENGUIN. A bird, apt while on shore to throw its head backwards, and make a strange noise, somewhat resembling the braying of an ass. 

JACK-BARREL. A minnow. 

JACK-BLOCK. A block occasionally attached to the topgallant-tie, andthrough which the top-gallant top-rope is rove, to sway up or strike theyard. 

JACK-BOOTS. Large coverings for the feet and legs, outside all, worn byfishermen. 

JACK CROSS-TREES. Single iron cross-trees at the head of longtopgallant-masts, to support royal and skysail masts. 

JACKEE-JA. A Greenland canoe. 

JACKET. A doublet; any kind of outer coat. --_Cork jacket_, is lined withcork in pieces, in order to give it buoyancy, and yet a degree offlexibility, that the activity of the wearer may not be impeded inswimming. 

JACKETS. The casings of the passages by which steam is delivered intothe cylinders of steam-engines. They are non-conductors of heat to checkits escape. 

JACKETTING. A starting, or infliction of the rope's-end. 

JACK-HERN. A name on our southern coasts for the heron. 

JACKING. Taking the skin off a seal. 

JACK IN OFFICE. An insolent fellow in authority. 

JACK IN THE BASKET. A sort of wooden cap or basket on the top of a pole, to mark a sand-bank or hidden danger. 

JACK IN THE BOX. A very handy engine, consisting of a large wooden malescrew turning in a female one, which forms the upper part of a strongwooden box, shaped like the frustum of a pyramid. It is used by means oflevers passing through holes in it as a press in packing, and for otherpurposes. 

JACK IN THE BREAD-ROOM, OR JACK IN THE DUST. The purser's steward'sassistant in the bread and steward's room. 

JACK-KNIFE. A horn-handled clasp-knife with a laniard, worn by seamen. 

JACKMAN. A musketeer of former times, wearing a short mail jack orjacket. 

JACK NASTY-FACE. A cook's assistant. 

JACK OF DOVER. An old sea-dish, the composition of which is now lost. Chaucer's host in rallying the cook exclaims, "And many a _Jack of Dover_ hast thou sold, That hath been twies hot and twies cold. "

JACK O' LANTERN. The _corpo santo_, or St. Elmo's light, is sometimes socalled. 

JACK-PINS. A name applied to the fife-rail pins, also called_Tack-pins_. 

JACK ROBINSON. --_Before you could say Jack Robinson_, is a very oldexpression for a short time, --

 "A warke it ys as easie to be doone, As tys to saye Jacke Robyson. "

JACK'S ALIVE. A once popular sea-port dance. 

JACK-SCREW. A small machine used to cant or lift weighty substances, andin stowing cotton or other elastic goods. It consists of a wooden framecontaining cogged iron wheels of increasing powers. The outer one, whichmoves the rest, is put in motion by a winch on the outside, and iscalled either single or double, according to its increasing force. Thepinions act upon an iron bar called the _spear_. 

JACK-SHARK. A common sobriquet of the _Squalus_ tribe. 

JACK-SHARP. A small fresh-water fish, otherwise known as _prickly-back_. 

JACK'S QUARTER-DECK. The deck elevation forward in some vessels, oftencalled a top-gallant forecastle. 

JACK-STAFF. A short staff raised at the bowsprit-cap, upon which theunion-jack is hoisted. 

JACK-STAYS. Ropes, battens, or iron bars placed on a yard or spar andset taut, either for bending the head of a sail to, or acting as atraveller. Frequently resorted to for the staysails, square-sail yard, &c. 

JACOB'S LADDER. The assemblage of shakes and short fractures, rising oneabove another, in a defective single-tree spar. Also, short ladders madewith wooden steps and rope sides for ascending the rigging. 

JACOB'S STAFF, OR CROSS-STAFF. A mathematical instrument to takealtitudes, consisting of a brass circle, divided into four equal partsby two lines cutting each other in the centre; at each extremity ofeither line is fixed a sight perpendicularly over the lines, with holesbelow each slit for the better discovery of distant objects. The crossis mounted on a staff or stand for use. Sometimes, instead of foursights, there are eight. 

JACULATOR. A fish whose chief sustenance is flies, which it secures byshooting a drop of water at them from its mouth. 

JAG, TO. To notch an edge irregularly. --_Jagged_, a term applied todenticulated edges, as in jagged bolts to prevent their coming out. 

JAGARA, OR JOGGAREE. A coarse brown sugar of India. 

JAGS. Splinters to a shot-hole. 

JAIL-BIRD. One who has been confined in prison, from the old term of_cage_ for a prison; a felon absurdly (and injuriously to the country)sentenced to serve in the navy. 

JALIAS. Small craft on the Arracan and Pegu coasts. 

JAM, TO. Anything being confined, so that it cannot be freed withouttrouble and force; the term is also applied to the act of confining it. To squeeze, to wedge, to press against. (_See_ JAMBING. )

JAMAICA DISCIPLINE. The buccaneer regulations respecting prize shares, insisting that all prizes be divided among the captors. 

JAMBEAUX. Armour to protect the legs. 

JAMBING, OR JAMMING. The act of inclosing any object between two bodies, so as to render it immovable while they continue in that position;usually applied to a running rope, when, from pressure, it cannot travelin the blocks; the opposite of _rendering_ (which see). 

JAMBS. Door-posts in general; but in particular thick broad pieces ofoak, fixed up endways, between which the lights of the powder magazineare fitted. 

JAMMED IN A CLINCH. The same as _hard up in a clinch_ (whichsee). --_Jammed in a clinch like Jackson_, involved in difficulty of asecondary degree, as when Jackson, after feeding for a week in thebread-room, could not escape through the scuttle. 

JANGADA. A sort of fishing float, or rather raft, composed of three orfour long pieces of wood lashed together, used on the coasts of Peru andBrazil. The owner is called a _jangadeira_, but the term is evidently anapplication of _jergado_ (which see). 

JANGAR. A kind of pontoon constructed of two boats with a platform laidacross them, used by the natives in the East Indies to convey horses, cattle, &c. , across rivers. 

JANISSARY. A term derived from _jeni cheri_, meaning _new soldiers_, inthe Turkish service. 

JANTOOK, OR CHUNTOCK. A Chinese officer with vice-regal powers: he ofCanton was called _John Tuck_ by our seamen. 

JANTY, OR JAUNTY. A vessel in showy condition; dressed in flags. 

JAPANESE WHALE-BOAT. A long, open, and sharp rowing-boat of Japan. 

JARGANEE. A Manx term for small worms on the sea-shore, and used asbait. 

JARRING. The vibrations and tremblings occasioned in some steam-vesselsby the machinery. 

JAVA POT. A kind of sponge of the species _Alcyonium_. 

JAVELS. An old term for dirty, idle fellows, wandering about quays anddocks. 

JAW. The inner, hollowed, semicircular end of a gaff or boom, whichpresses against the mast; the points of the jaw are called _horns_. Also, coarse and often petulant loquacity. --_Long-jawed_ applies to arope or cable, when by great strain it untwists, and exhibits onerevolution where four were before; similar to long and short threads ofthe screw. 

JAW-BREAKERS. Hard and infrequent words. 

JAWING-TACKS. When a person speaks with vociferous fluency, he is saidto have hauled his jawing-tacks on board. 

JAW-ME-DOWN. An arrogant, overbearing, and unsound loud arguer. 

JAW OF A BLOCK. The space in the shell where the sheave revolves. 

JAW-ROPE. A line attached to the horns of the jaws to prevent the gafffrom coming off the mast. It is usually furnished with bull's eyes(perforated balls) to make it shift easily up or down the mast. 

JAYLS. The cracks and fissures of timber in seasoning. 

JEER-BITTS. Those to which the jeers are fastened and belayed. 

JEER-BLOCKS. Are twofold or threefold blocks, through which thejeer-falls are rove, and applied to hoist, suspend, or lower the mainand fore yards. 

JEER-CAPSTAN. One placed between the fore and main masts, serving tostretch a rope, heave upon the jeers, and take the viol to. Very seldomused. It is indeed deemed the spare capstan, and is frequently housed inby sheep-pens and fowl-racks. 

JEERS. Answer the same purpose to the main-sail, fore-sail, and mizen, as halliards do to all inferior sails. The tye, a sort of runner, orthick rope, is the upper part of the jeers. Also, an assemblage ofstrong tackles by which the lower yards are hoisted up along the mast, or lowered down, as occasion requires; the former of which operations iscalled _swaying_, and the latter _striking_ (both of which see). 

JEFFERY'S GLUE. _See_ MARINE GLUE. 

JELBA. A large coasting-boat of the Red Sea. 

JELLY-FISH. A common name for the _Medusæ_, soft gelatinous marineanimals, belonging to the class _Acalephæ_. 

JEMMY. A finical fellow in the usual sense, but adopted as a nauticalterm by the mutineers of '97, to express the _nobs_, or _heads_ ofofficers. Also, a handy crow-bar or lever. 

JEMMY DUCKS. The ship's poulterer. A sobriquet which has universallyobtained in a man-of-war. 

JERBE. _See_ JELBA. 

JERGADO, OR GINGADO. An early term for a light skiff (_circa_ 1550). 

JERK. A sudden snatch or drawing pull; particularly applied to thatgiven to the trigger of a lock. (_See_ SACCADE. )

JERKED BEEF. Charqui. Meat cured by drying in the open air, with orwithout salt. Also, the name of an American coin. 

JERKIN. An old name for a coatee, or skirted jacket. 

JERKING. A quick break in a heavy roll of the sea. 

JERME. A trading vessel of Egypt. 

JERQUER. A customs officer, whose duty is to examine the land-waiters'books, and check them. 

JERQUING A VESSEL. A search performed by the jerquer of the customs, after a vessel is unloaded, to see that no unentered goods have beenconcealed. 

JERSEY. Fine wool, formerly called gearnsey, ganzee, orguernsey. --_Jersey frocks_, woollen frocks supplied to seamen. 

JETSAM, OR JETSON. In legal parlance, is the place where goods thrownoverboard sink, and remain under water. Also, the goods cast into thesea. 

JETTISON, OR JETSEN. The act of throwing goods overboard to lighten aship in stress of weather. The loss forms a subject for general average. 

JETTY, JETTEE, OR JUTTY. A name given in the royal dockyards to thatpart of a wharf which projects beyond the rest, but more particularlythe front of a wharf, the side of which forms one of the cheeks of a dryor wet dock. Such a projection, whether of wood or stone, from the outerend of a wharf, is called a _jetty-head_. 

JEW-BALANCE. A Mediterranean name of the _Zygæna malleus_, orhammer-headed shark. 

JEWEL. The starting of a wooden bridge. Also, the pivot of awatch-wheel. 

JEWEL-BLOCKS. Are attached to eye-bolts on those yards wherestudding-sails are hoisted, and carry these sails to the extreme ends ofthe yards. When these jewel-blocks are removed, it is understood thatthere is no intention to proceed to sea, and _vice versâ_. Thehalliards, by which the studding-sails are hoisted, are passed throughthe jewel-block, whence, communicating with a block on the severalmast-heads, they lead downwards to the top or decks, where they may beconveniently hoisted. (_See_ SAIL. )

JEWELS. _See_ JOCALIA. 

JEW'S-HARP. The shackle for joining a chain-cable to the anchor-ring. 

JIB. A large triangular sail, set on a stay, forward. It extends fromthe outer end of the jib-boom towards the fore top-mast head; in cuttersand sloops it is on the bowsprit, and extends towards the lowermast-head. (_See_ SAIL. ) The jib is a sail of great command with anyside wind, in turning her head to leeward. There are other jibs, asinner jib, standing-jib, flying-jib, spindle-jib, jib of jibs, jib-topsails, &c. --_Jib_ is also used for the expression of the face, asthe _cut of his jib_. Also, the arm of a crane. --_To jib_, is when, before the wind, the sail takes over to the opposite quarter; dangerousin strong breezes. (_See_ GYBING. )--_Clear away the jib!_ The order toloose it, preparatory to its being set. --_Flying-jib. _ A sail set uponthe flying jib-boom. --_Middle or inner jib. _ A sail sometimes set on astay secured to the middle of the jib-boom. 

JIB AND STAYSAIL JACK. A designation of inexperienced officers, who aretroublesome to the watch by constantly calling it unnecessarily to trim, make, or shorten sail. 

JIBBER THE KIBBER. A cant term for a diabolical trick for decoyingvessels on shore for plunder, by tying a lantern to a horse's neck, oneof whose legs is checked; so that at night the motion has somewhat theappearance of a ship's light. --_Jib_ or _jibber_ means a horse thatstarts or shrinks; and Shakspeare uses it in the sense of a worn-outhorse. 

JIB-BOOM. A continuation of the bowsprit forward, being a spar run outfrom the extremity in a similar manner to a top-mast on a lower-mast, and serving to extend the foot of the jib and the stay of theforetop-gallant-mast, the tack of the jib being lashed to it. It isusually attached to the bowsprit by means of the cap and the saddle, where a strong lashing confines it. --_Flying jib-boom. _ A boom extendedbeyond the preceding, to which it is secured by a boom-iron andheel-lashing; to the outer end of this boom the tack of the flying-jibis hauled out, and the fore-royal-stay passes through it. 

JIB-FORESAIL. In cutters, schooners, &c. , it is the stay-foresail. 

JIB-GUYS. Stout ropes which act as backstays do to a mast, by supportingthe jib-boom against the pressure of its sail and the ship's motion. 

JIBING, OR GYBING. A corruption of _jibbing_. The act of shifting overthe boom of a fore-and-aft sail from one side of the vessel to theother. By a boom-sail is meant any sail the bottom of which is extendedby a boom, which has its fore-end jawed or hooked to its respectivemast, so as to swing occasionally on either side of the vessel, describing an arc, of which the mast will be the centre. As the wind orthe course changes, the boom and its sail are jibed to the other side ofthe vessel, as a door turns on its hinges. 

JIB OF JIBS. A sixth jib on the bowsprit, only known to flying-kite-men:the sequence being--storm, inner, outer, flying, spindle, jib of jibs. 

JIB-STAY. The stay on which the jib is set. 

JIB-TOPSAIL. A light sail set on the topmost stay of a fore-and-aftrigged vessel. 

JIB-TRAVELLER. An iron ring fitted to run out and in on the jib-boom, for the purpose of bringing outwards or inwards the tack, or the outercorner of the sail; to this traveller the jib-guys are lashed. 

JIB-TYE. A rope rove through a sheave or block on the fore-topmast head, for hoisting the jib. 

JIFFY. A short space of time, a moment. "In a jiffy, " in an instant;equivalent with crack, trice, &c. 

JIG. The weight furnished with hooks, used in _jigging_ (which see). 

JIGGAMAREE. A mongrel makeshift manœuvre. Any absurd attempt tosubstitute a bad contrivance for what the custom of the sea may be. 

JIGGER. A light tackle used to hold on the cable when it is heaved intothe ship. (_See_ HOLDING-ON. ) Also, a small sail rigged out on a mastand boom from the stern of a cutter, boat, &c. --_Fleet-jigger. _ A termused by the man who holds on the jigger, when by its distance from thewindlass it becomes necessary to _fleet_, or replace it in a properstate for action. When the man gives the above notice, another at thewindlass immediately fixes his handspike between the deck and the cable, so as to jam the latter to the windlass, and prevent it from running outtill the jigger is replaced on the cable near the windlass. 

JIGGER, CHIGRE. A very teazing sand-flea, which penetrates and breedsunder the skin of the feet, but particularly at the toes. It must beremoved, or it occasions dreadful sores. The operation is effected by aneedle; but the sac which contains the brood must not be broken, or thewhole foot would be infected, if any remained in it. 

JIGGERED-UP. Done up; tired out. 

JIGGER-MAST. In large vessels it is an additional aftermost mast; thusany sail set on the ensign-staff would be a jigger. 

JIGGER-TACKLE. A small tackle consisting of a double and a single block, and used by seamen on sundry occasions about the decks or aloft. 

JIGGING. A mode of catching fish by dropping a weighted line withseveral hooks set back to back amongst them, and jerking it suddenlyupwards; the weight is frequently cast in the form of a small fish. Also, short pulls at a tackle fall. 

JILALO. A large passage-boat of Manilla, fitted with out-riggers. 

JILL. A fourth part of a pint measure; a seaman's daily allowance ofrum, which formerly was half a pint. 

JIMMAL, OR JIMBLE. _See_ GIMBALS. 

JINGAL. A kind of long heavy musket supported about the centre of itslength on a pivot, carrying a ball of from a quarter to half a pound, and generally fired by a matchlock; much used in China and the Indies. It is charged by a separate chamber, dropped into the breech and keyed. 

JINNY-SPINNER. One of the names for the cockroach. 

JIRK, TO. To cut or score the flesh of the wild hog on the innersurface, as practised by the Maroons. It is then smoked and otherwiseprepared in a manner that gives the meat a fine flavour. 

JOB. A stipulated work. 

JOBATION. A private but severe lecture and reprimand. 

JOB CAPTAIN. One who gets a temporary appointment to a ship, whoseregular commander is a member of parliament, &c. 

JOB-WATCH, OR HACK-WATCH, for taking astronomical sights, which savestaking the chronometer on deck or on shore to note the time. 

JOCALIA. An Anglo-Norman law-term signifying jewels, which, with goldand silver, were exempted in our smuggling enactments. 

JOCKS. Scotch seamen. 

JOG. The shoulder or step of the rudder. 

JOGGING. A protuberance on the surface of sawn wood. 

JOGGLE. The cubic joints of stones on piers, quays, and docks. Also, notches at the ends of paddle-beam iron-knees outside, to act as a stopto the diagonal iron-stay, which is extended between the arms of eachknee. (_See_ JUGLE. )

JOG-THE-LOO! A command in small vessels to work the pump-brake, or topump briskly. 

JOHN. A name given to dried fish. (_See_ POOR JOHN. )

JOHN BULL. The origin of this nickname is traced to a satire written inthe reign of Queen Anne, by Dr. Arbuthnot, to throw ridicule on thepolitics of the Spanish succession. 

JOHN COMPANY. The former board of directors for East India affairs. 

JOHN DORY. A corruption of _jaune doré_, which is the colour of thisfish. It is one of the _Scombridæ_, _Zeus faber_. John Dory was also thename of a celebrated French pirate. 

JOHNNY RAW, OR JOHNNY NEWCOME. An inexperienced youngster commencing hiscareer; also applied to landsmen in general. (_See_ RAW. )

JOHNNY SHARK. A common sobriquet of the _Squalus_ tribe. 

JOHN-O'-GROAT'S BUCKIE. A northern name for the _Cypræa pediculus_, asmall shell found on our sea-coasts. 

JOHN TUCK. The galley corruption of _chantuck_, or _jantook_, a Chineseviceroy, specially meaning the viceroy of Canton. 

JOIN, TO. To repair to a ship, and personally to enter on an officialposition on board her. So also the junction of one or more ships witheach other. 

JOINER. One who is a cabinet-maker, and performs neat work as captain'sjoiner. 

JOINT. The place where any two pieces of timber or plank are united. Itis also used to express the lines which are laid down in the mould-loftfor shaping the timbers. 

JOLLY. This term is usually applied to a comely and corpulent person, but afloat it is a familiar name for a soldier. --_Tame jolly_, amilitiaman; _royal jolly_, a marine. 

JOLLY-BOAT. A smaller boat than the cutter, but likewise clincher-built. It is generally a hack boat for small work, being about 4 feet beam to12 feet length, with a bluff bow and very wide transom; a kind ofwashing-tub. (_See_ GELLYWATTE and CUTTER. )

JOLLY JUMPERS. Sails above the moon-rakers. 

JOLLY ROGER. A pirate's flag; a white skull in a black field. 

JONATHAN. A name often applied to Americans in general, but reallyappropriate to the Quakers in America, being a corruption of JohnNathan. 

JONK. _See_ JUNK. 

JORUM, OF GROG, &c. A full bowl or jug. 

JOURNAL. Synonymous at sea with _log-book_; it is a daily register ofthe ship's course and distance, the winds and weather, and a generalaccount of whatever is of importance. In sea-journals, the day, ortwenty-four hours, used to terminate at noon, because the ship'sposition is then generally determined by observation; but the shoreaccount of time is now adopted afloat. In machinery, _journal_ is thebearing part of a shaft, upon which it rests on its Y's or bearings. 

JOURNEY-WORK. Work performed by the day. 

JOVIALL. Relating to the system of the planet Jupiter. 

JOVICENTRIC. As seen from, or having relation to, the centre of Jupiter. 

JOWDER. A term on our western coasts to denote a retail dealer in fish. 

JOWL. The head of a fish. (Also, _see_ BLOCK. )--_Cheek by jowl. _ Closetogether. 

JUAN-MOOAR. The Manx and Erse term for the black-backed gull. 

JUBALTARE. The early English word for Gibraltar. 

JUDGE-ADVOCATE OF THE FLEET, OR TO THE FORCES. A legal officer whoseduty it is to investigate offences previous to determining on sendingthem before a court-martial, and then to report on the sentence awarded. He has civil deputies in Great Britain; but officers (generallysecretaries to admirals, or pursers) are appointed by the courts abroad. 

JUDGE-ADVOCATE, DEPUTY. An officer appointed to assist the court uponsome general courts-martial for the trial of officers, seamen, andmarines, accused of a breach of the articles of war. 

JUDGMENT. In prize matters, the sentences of foreign courts, even thoughsuch decisions be manifestly unjust, are conclusive in ours by comity. The tribunals of France are not so complacent. 

JUFFER. _See_ UPHROE. 

JUGGLE-MEER. A west-country word for a coast quagmire. 

JUGLE, OR JOGGLE. In ship-building, a notch in the edge of a plank toadmit the narrow butt of another, as of the narrow end of asteeling-strake. 

JULIAN PERIOD. A period of 7980 years, dating from B. C. 4713; being theproduct of the numbers 15, 19, and 28 multiplied into each other, theybeing respectively the lengths, in Julian years, of the Indiction, Metonic Cycle, and Solar Cycle. The Julian year was a period of 365-1/4days, which was adopted as the length of the year after the reformationof the calendar by Julius Cæsar. 

JULIO. An Italian coin, worth about sixpence. 

JUMPERS. The short external duck-frock worn by sail-makers, artificers, riggers, &c. , to preserve the clothing beneath. 

JUMP-JOINTED. When the plates of an iron vessel are flush, as in thosethat are carvel-built. 

JUNCO. _See_ PURRE. 

JUNGADA. A balza, or simple kind of raft, of several logs of wood, fitted with a tilt, and used on the coasts of Peru. It has a mast andsails, and by means of a rudder, not unlike a sliding keel in principle, is capable of working to windward. (_See_ GUARA. )

JUNGLE. A wilderness of wood; in Bengal the word is also applied to atract covered with long grass, which grows to an extraordinary height. Jungles are dreaded for the fevers they engender. 

JUNK. The Chinese junk is the largest vessel built by that nation, andat one period exceeding in tonnage any war-vessels then possessed byEngland. The extreme beam is one-third from the stern; it shows no stem, it being chamfered off. The bow on deck is square, over which theanchors slide fore and aft. Having no keel, and being very full at thestern, a huge rudder is suspended, which at sea is lowered below thedepth of the bottom. The masts are immense, in one piece. The cane sailsare lug and heavy. The hull is divided into water-tight compartments, like tanks. --_Junk_ is also any remnants or pieces of old cable, orcondemned rope, cut into small portions for the purpose of making_points_, _mats_, _swabs_, _gaskets_, _sinnet_, _oakum_, and the like(which see). Also, a dense cellular tissue in the head of thesperm-whale, infiltrated with spermaceti. Also, salt beef, as tough tothe teeth as bits of rope, whence the epithet. 

JUNKET. A long basket for catching fish. --_Junketting_, good cheer andhearty jollification. 

JUPITER. The longest known of the superior planets, and the largest inthe solar system; it is accompanied by four satellites. 

JURATORY CAUTION. A process in the instance court of the admiralty, towhich a party is discretionally admitted on making oath that he isunable to find sureties. 

JUREBASSO. A rating in former times given to a handy man, who was partlyinterpreter and partly purchaser of stock. 

JURISDICTION. Right, power, or authority which magistrates or courtshave to administer justice. --_Within jurisdiction of civil powers_, asregards naval matters, is within a line drawn from headland to headlandin sight of each other, and forming part of the same county. Theadmiralty jurisdiction is confined to three miles from the coast incivil matters, but exists wherever the flag flies at sea in criminal. 

JURY-MAST. A temporary or occasional mast erected in a ship in the placeof one which has been carried away in a gale, battle, &c. Jury-masts aresometimes erected in a new ship to navigate her down a river, or to aneighbouring port, where her proper masts are prepared for her. Suchjury-masts are simply less in dimension for a light-trimmed vessel; as afrigate would have a brig's spars. 

JURY-RUDDER. A contrivance, of which there are several kinds, forsupplying a vessel with the means of steering when an accident hasbefallen the rudder. 

JUS PISCANDI. The right of fishing. 

JUWAUR. The spring-flood of the Ganges and adjacent rivers. 

K. 

KAAG. A Manx or Gaelic term for a forelock, stopper, or linch-pin. 

KABBELOW. Cod-fish which has been salted and hung for a few days, butnot thoroughly dried. Also, a dish of cod mashed. 

KABOZIR. A chief or governor on the African coast. 

KABURNS. The old name for nippers. 

KAFILA. A well-known Eastern word, meaning a party with camelstravelling or sojourning; but it was also applied by our early voyagersto convoys of merchant ships. 

KAIA. An old term for a quay or wharf. 

KAIQUE. _See_ CAIQUE. 

KALBAZ, OR HALBAZ. Pronounced _kalva_; one of the best Turkishdelicacies, composed of honey, must, and almonds, beat up together. 

KALENDAR. Time accommodated to the uses of life. (_See_ ALMANAC. )

KALI. _Salsola kali_, a marine plant, generally burned to supply sodafor the glass manufactories. Sub-carbonate of potass. 

KAMSIN. A south-westerly wind which blows over Egypt in March and April, generally not more than three successive days at a time. Its namesignifies the wind of fifty days, not as blowing for such a period, butbecause it only occurs during fifty days of March and April. 

KANJIA. A passage-boat of the Nile. 

KANNA. A name for _ginseng_ (which see). 

KARAVALLA. _See_ CARAVEL. 

KARBATZ. A common boat of Lapland. 

KAT. A timber vessel used on the northern coasts of England. 

KATABATHRA. Subterraneous passages in certain mountains in Greece, through which the superfluous waters are discharged. 

KATAN. A Japanese sword, otherwise _cattan_. 

KATTAN. A corruption of _yataghan_ (which see). 

KATTY. _See_ CATTY. 

KAULE. A license for trade, given by the authorities in India to ourearly voyagers. 

KAVA. A beverage, in the South Sea Islands, made by steeping the _Piperinebrians_ in water. 

KAVER. A word used in the Hebrides for a gentle breeze. 

KAY, OR KEY [probably from the Dutch _kaayen_, to haul]. A place towhich ships are hauled. Knoll or head of a shoal--_kaya_, Malay. 

KAYAK. A fishing-boat in all the north polar countries; most likely acorrupted form of the eastern _kaique_ by our early voyagers. 

KAYNARD. A term of reproach amongst our early voyagers, probably from_canis_. 

KAYU-PUTIH, OR CAJEPUTI OIL. From the Malay words _kayu_, wood; and_putih_, oil; the useful oil obtained from the _Melaleuca leucadendron_. 

KAZIE. A Shetland fishing-boat. 

K. C. B. Sigla of Knight Commander of the most honourable military orderof the Bath. 

KEAVIE. A coast name for a species of crab that devours cuttle-fishgreedily. 

KEAVIE-CLEEK. In the north a crooked piece of iron for catching crabs. 

KECKLING, OR CACKLING. Is covering a cable spirally (in opposition to_rounding_, which is close) with three-inch old rope to protect it fromchafe in the hawse-hole. 

KEDELS. _See_ KIDDLES. 

KEDGE, OR KEDGER. A small anchor used to keep a ship steady and clearfrom her bower-anchor while she rides in harbour, particularly at theturn of the tide. The kedge-anchors are also used to warp a ship fromone part of a harbour to another. They are generally furnished with aniron stock, which is easily displaced for the convenience of stowing. The old English word _kedge_ signified brisk, and they are generally runin to a quick step. (_See_ ANCHOR, WARP. )--_To kedge. _ To warp a shipahead, though the tide be contrary, by means of the kedge-anchor andhawser. 

KEDGER. A mean fellow, more properly _cadger_; one in everybody's mess, but in no one's watch. An old term for a fisherman. 

KEDGE-ROPE. The rope which belongs to the kedge-anchor, and restrainsthe vessel from driving over her bower-anchor. 

KEDGING. The operation of tide-working in a narrow channel or river, bykedge-hauling. 

KEEL. The lowest and principal timber of a ship, running fore and aftits whole length, and supporting the frame like the backbone inquadrupeds; it is usually first laid on the blocks in building, beingthe base of the superstructure. Accordingly, the stem and stern-postsare, in some measure, a continuation of the keel, and serve to connectthe extremities of the sides by transoms, as the keel forms and unitesthe bottom by timbers. The keel is generally composed of several thickpieces placed lengthways, which, after being scarphed together, arebolted and clinched upon the upper side. In iron vessels the keel isformed of one or more plates of iron, having a concave curve, or limberchannel, along its upper surface. --_To give the keel_, is tocareen. --_Keel_ formerly meant a vessel; so many "keels struck thesands. " Also, a low flat-bottomed vessel used on the Tyne to carry coals(21 tons 4 cwt. ) down from Newcastle for loading the colliers; hence thelatter are said to carry so many keels of coals. [Anglo-Saxon _ceol_, asmall bark. ]--_False keel. _ A fir keel-piece bolted to the bottom of thekeel, to assist stability and make a ship hold a better wind. It istemporary, being pinned by stake-bolts with spear-points; so when avessel grounds, this frequently, being of fir or Canada elm, floats andcomes up alongside. --_Rabbets of the keel. _ The furrow, which iscontinued up stem and stern-post, into which the garboard and otherstreaks fay. The butts take into the gripe ahead, or after-deadwood andstern-post abaft. --_Rank keel. _ A very deep keel, one calculated to keepthe ship from rolling heavily. --_Upon an even keel. _ The position of aship when her keel is parallel to the plane of the horizon, so that sheis equally deep in the water at both ends. 

KEELAGE. A local duty charged on all vessels coming into a harbour. 

KEEL-BLOCKS. Short log ends of timbers on which the keel of a vesselrests while building or repairing, affording access to work beneath. 

KEEL-DEETERS. The wives and daughters of keelmen, who sweep and cleanthe keels, having the sweepings of small coal for their trouble. 

KEEL-HAULING. A severe punishment formerly inflicted for variousoffences, especially in the Dutch navy. The culprit was suspended by arope from one fore yard-arm attached to his back, with a weight upon hislegs, and having another rope fastened to him, leading under the ship'sbottom, and through a block at its opposite yard-arm; he was then letfall into the sea, when, passing under the ship's bottom, he was hoistedup on the opposite side of the vessel to the other yard-arm. Aptlydescribed as "under-going a great hard-ship. "

KEELING. Rolling on her keel. Also, a sort of cod-fish; some restrictthe term to the _Gadus morhua_, or large cod. 

KEEL LEG OR HOOK. Means any anchor; as, "she has come to a keelock. "

KEELMEN. A rough and hardy body of men, who work the _keels_ ofNewcastle. Sometimes termed keel-bullies. They are recognized asmariners in various statutes. 

KEEL-PIECES. The parts of the keel which are of large timber. 

KEEL-RAKE. Synonymous with _keel-haul_. _See_ KEEL-HAULING. 

KEEL-ROPE. A coarse rope formerly used for cleaning the limber-holes. 

KEELS. An old British name for long vessels--formerly written _ceol_ and_cyulis_. Verstegan informs us that the Saxons came over in three largeships, styled by themselves _keeles_. 

KEELSON, OR KELSON. An internal keel, laid upon the middle of thefloor-timbers, immediately over the keel, and serving to bind alltogether by means of long bolts driven from without, and clinched on theupper side of the keelson. The main keelson, in order to fit with moresecurity upon the floor-timbers, is notched opposite to each of them, and there secured by spike-nails. The pieces of which it is formed areusually less in breadth and thickness than those of the keel. 

KEELSON-RIDER. _See_ FALSE KELSON. 

KEEL-STAPLES. Generally made of copper, from six to twelve inches long, with a jagged hook to each end. They are driven into the sides of themain and false keels to fasten them. 

KEEP. A strong donjon or tower in the middle of a castle, usually thelast resort of its garrison in a siege. Also, a reservoir for fish bythe side of a river. --_To keep_, a term used on several occasions innavigation; as, "_Keep her away_, " alter the ship's course to leeward, by sailing further off the wind. The reverse is, "_Keep your wind, keepyour luff_, " close to the wind. 

KEEP A GOOD HOLD OF THE LAND. Is to hug it as near as it can safely bedone. 

KEEP HER OWN. Not to fall off; not driven back by tide. 

KEEPING A GOOD OFFING. To keep well off shore while under sail, so as tobe clear of danger should the wind suddenly shift and blow towards theshore. 

KEEPING A WATCH. To have charge of the deck. Also, the act of being onwatch-duty. 

KEEPING FULL FOR STAYS. A necessary precaution to give the sails fullforce, in aid of the rudder when going about. 

KEEPING HER WAY. The force of steady motion through the water, continuedafter the power which gave it has varied or diminished. 

KEEPING THE SEA. The term formerly used when orders were issued for thearray of the inhabitants of the sea-coasts. 

KEEP OFF. To fall to a distance from the shore, or a ship, &c. (_See_OFFING. )

KEEP THE LAND ABOARD. Is to sail along it, or within sight, as much aspossible, or as close as danger will permit. 

KEEP YOUR LUFF. An order to the helmsman to keep the ship close to thewind, _i. E. _ sailing with a course as near as possible to the directionfrom which the wind is coming. (_See_ CLOSE-HAULED. )

KEG. A small cask, of no fixed contents. Used familiarly for takingoffence, as _to keg_, is to irritate. --_To carry the keg. _ To continue;originally a smuggler's phrase. 

KEGGED. Feeling affronted or jeered at. 

KELDS. The still parts of a river, which have an oily smoothness whilethe rest of the water is ruffled. 

KELF. The incision made in a tree by the axe when felling it. 

KELING. A large kind of cod. Thus in Havelok:--

 "Keling he tok, and tumberel, Hering, and the makerel. "

KELKS. The milt or roe of fish. 

KELLAGH. The Erse term for a wooden anchor with a stone in it, but inlater times is applied to any grapnel or small anchor. 

KELP. _Salsola kali_; the ashes produced by the combustion of variousmarine algæ, and used in obtaining iodine, soda, &c. 

KELPIE. A mischievous sea-sprite, supposed to haunt the fords andferries of the northern coasts of Great Britain, especially in storms. 

KELT. A salmon that has been spawning; a foul fish. 

KELTER. Ships and men are said to be in prime kelter when in fine orderand well-rigged. 

KEMP. An old term for a soldier, camper, or camp man. Also a kind ofeel. 

KEMSTOCK. An old term for capstan. 

KEN, TO. Ang. -Sax. Descrying, as Shakspeare in _Henry VI. _:--

 "And far as I could ken thy chalky cliffs. "

--_Ken_, a speck, a striking object or mark. 

KENNETS. Large cleats. (_See_ KEVELS. ) Also, a coarse Welsh cloth ofcommerce; see statute 33 Henry VIII. C. 3. 

KENNING BY KENNING. A mode of increasing wages formerly, according towhaling law, by seeing how a man performed his duty. 

KENNING-GLASS. A hand spy-glass or telescope. 

KEN-SPECKLED. Conspicuous; having distinct marks. 

KENTLEDGE. Pigs of iron cast for permanent ballast, laid over thekelson-plates, or if in the limbers, then called limber-kentledge. 

KENTLEDGE GOODS. In lieu of ballast. 

KENT-PURCHASE. A misspelling of _cant_-purchase, or one used to turn awhale round during the operation of _flensing_. 

KEPLER'S LAWS. Three famous laws of nature detected by Kepler early inthe seventeenth century:--1. The primary planets revolve about the sunin ellipses, having that luminary in one of the foci. 2. The planetsdescribe about the sun equal areas in equal times. 3. The squares of theperiodic times of the planets are to each other as the cubes of theirmean distances from the sun. 

KEPLING. _See_ CAPLIN. 

KERFE. The furrow or slit made by the saw in dividing timber. 

KERLANGUISHES. The swift-sailing boats of the Bosphorus. The namesignifies swallows. 

KERMES. A little red gall, occasioned by the puncture of the _Coccusilicis_ on the leaves of the _Quercus coccifera_, or Kermes oak; anarticle of commerce from Spain, used in dyeing. 

KERNEL. Corrupted from _crenelle_; the holes in a battlement made forthe purpose of shooting arrows and small shot. 

KERNES. Light-armed Irish foot soldiers of low degree, who cleared theway for the heavy _gallow-glasses_. 

KERS. An Anglo-Saxon word for water-cresses. 

KERT. An old spelling for _chart_. 

KERVEL. _See_ CARVEL. 

KETCH. A vessel of the galliot order, equipped with two masts--viz. Themain and mizen masts--usually from 100 to 250 tons burden. Ketches wereprincipally used as yachts for conveying great personages from one placeto another. The peculiarity of this rig, affording so much space beforethe main-mast, and at the greatest beam, caused them to be used formortar-vessels, hence--_Bomb-ketches_, which are built remarkablystrong, with a greater number of riders than any other vessel of war, asrequisite to sustain the violent shock produced by the discharge oftheir mortars. (_See_ BOMB-VESSEL, MORTAR, and SHELL. )

KETERINS. Marauders who formerly infested the Irish coast and channel. 

KETOS, OR CETUS. An ancient ship of large dimensions. 

KETTLE. The brass or metal box of a compass. 

KETTLE-BOTTOM. A name applied to a ship with a flat floor. 

KETTLE-NET. A net used in taking mackerel. 

KETTLE OF FISH. To have made a pretty kettle of fish of it, implies aperplexity in judgment. 

KEVEL-HEADS. The ends of the top timbers, which, rising above thegunwale, serve to belay the ropes, or to be used as kevels. 

KEVELING. A coast name for the skate. 

KEVELS, OR CAVILS. Large cleats, or also pieces of oak passing through amortice in the rail, and answer the purpose of timber-heads for belayingropes to. 

KEY. In ship-building, means a dry piece of oak or elm, cut tapering, todrive into scarphs that have hook-butts, to wedge deck-planks, or tojoin any pieces of wood tightly to each other. Iron forelocks. 

KEY, OR CAY [derived from the Spanish _cayos_, rocks]. What in lateryears have been so termed will be found in the old Spanish charts ascayos. The term was introduced to us by the buccaneers as small insularspots with a scant vegetation; without the latter they are merely termedsand-banks. Key is especially used in the West Indies, and often appliedto the smaller coral shoals produced by zoophytes. 

KEY, OR QUAY. A long wharf, usually built of stone, by the side of aharbour, and having posts and rings, cranes, and store-houses, for theconvenience of merchant ships. 

KEYAGE, OR QUAYAGE. Money paid for landing goods at a key or quay. Thesame as _wharfage_. 

KEYLE. (_See_ KEEL. ) The vessel of that name. 

KEY-MODEL. In ship-building, a model formed by pieces of board laid oneach other horizontally. These boards, being all shaped from the lineson the paper, when put together and fairly adjusted, present the trueform of the proposed ship. 

KEY OF THE RUDDER. (_See_ WOOD-LOCKS. ) In machinery, applies to wedges, forelocks, &c. 

KHALISHEES. Native Indian sailors. 

KHAVIAR. _See_ CAVIARE. 

KHIZR. The patron deity of the sea in the East Indies, to whom smallboats, called _beera_, are annually sacrificed on the shores and rivers. 

KIBE. A flaw produced in the bore of a gun by a shot striking againstit. 

KIBLINGS. Parts of a small fish used for bait on the banks ofNewfoundland. 

KICK. The springing back of a musket when fired. Also, the violentrecoil by which a carronade is often thrown off the slide of itscarriage. A comparison of excellence or novelty; the very kick. 

KICKSHAW. Applied to French cookery, or unsubstantial trifles. 

KICK THE BUCKET, TO. To expire; an inconsiderate phrase for dying. 

KICK UP A DUST, TO. To create a row or disturbance. 

KID. A presuming man. --_Kiddy fellow_, neat in his dress. Also, acompartment in some fishing-vessels, wherein the fish are thrown as theyare caught. Also, a small wooden tub for grog, with two ears; orgenerally for a mess utensil of that kind. (_See_ KIT. )

KIDDLES. Stakes whereby the free passage of boats and vessels ishindered. Also, temporary open weirs for catching fish. 

KIDLEYWINK. A low beershop in our western ports. 

KIDNAP, TO. To crimp or carry off by artifice. 

KIDNEY. Men of the same kidney, _i. E. _ of a similar disposition. 

KIFTIS. The large passage-boats of India, fitted with cabins on eachside from stem to stern. 

KIHAIA. An officer of Turkish ports in superintendence of customs, &c. ;often deputy-governor. 

KILDERKIN. A vessel containing the eighth part of a hogshead. 

KILE. _See_ KYLE. 

KILL. A channel or stream, as Cats-kill, Schuylkill, &c. 

KILL-DEVIL. New rum, from its pernicious effects. 

KILLER. A name for the grampus, _Orca gladiator_, given on account ofthe ferocity with which it attacks and destroys whales, seals, and othermarine animals. (_See_ GRAMPUS. )

KILLESE. The groove in a cross-bow. 

KILLING-OFF. Striking the names of dead officers from the navy list by a_coup de plume_. 

KILLOCK. A small anchor. Flue of an anchor. (_See_ KELLAGH. )

KILLY-LEEPIE. A name on our northern shores for the _Tringa hypoleucos_or common sand-piper. 

KILN. The dockyard building wherein planks are steamed for the purposeof bending them to round the extremities of a ship. 

KIN. _See_ KINN. 

KING ARTHUR. A game played on board ship in warm climates, in which aperson, grotesquely personating King Arthur, is drenched with buckets ofwater until he can, by making one of his persecutors smile or laugh, change places with him. 

KING-CRAB. The _Limulus polyphemus_ of the West Indies. 

KING-FISH. The _Zeus luna_. Carteret took one at Masafuero 5-1/2 feetlong, and weighing 87 lbs. Also, the _Scomber maximus_ of the WestIndies. 

KING-FISHER. The _Alcedo ispida_; a small bird of brilliant plumagefrequenting rivers and brooks, and feeding upon fish, which it catcheswith great dexterity. (_See_ HALCYON. )

KING JOHN'S MEN. The Adullamites of the navy. 

KING'S BARGAIN: GOOD OR BAD; said of a seaman according to his activityand merit, or sloth and demerit. 

KING'S BENCHER. The busiest of the galley orators: also galley-skulkers. 

KING'S HARD BARGAIN. A useless fellow, who is not worth his hire. 

KING'S LETTER MEN. An extinct class of officers, of similar rank withmidshipmen. The royal letter was a kind of promise that if theyconducted themselves well, they should be promoted to the rank oflieutenant. 

KING'S OWN. All the articles supplied from the royal magazines, andmarked with the broad arrow. Salt beef or junk. 

KING'S PARADE. A name given to the quarter-deck of a man-of-war, whichis customarily saluted by touching the hat when stepping on it. 

KINK. An accidental curling, twist, or doubling turn in a cable or rope, occasioned by its being very stiff, or close laid, or by being drawn toohastily out of the coil or tier in which it was coiled. (_See_COILING. )--_To kink. _ To twist. 

KINKLINGS. A coast name for periwinkles. 

KINN. From the Gaelic word for head; meaning, in local names, a hill orpromontory. 

KINTLE. A dozen of anything. Remotely corrupted from _quintal_. 

KINTLIDGE. A term for iron-ballast. (_See_ KENTLEDGE. )

KIOCK, OR BLUE-BACK. An alosa fish, used by the American and otherfishermen as a bait for mackerel. 

KIOSK. A pavilion on the poop of some Turkish vessels. 

KIPLIN. The more perishable parts of the cod-fish, cured separately fromthe body. 

KIPPAGE. An old term for equipage, or ship's company. 

KIPPER. Salmon in the act of spawning; also, the male fish, andespecially beaked fish. Kipper is also applied to salmon which hasundergone the process of _kippering_ (which see). 

KIPPERING. A method of curing fish in which salt is little used, butmainly sugar, pepper, and drying in the sun, and occasionally somesmoke. Salmon thus treated is considered a dainty, though the cure isfar less lasting than with salt. 

KIPPER-TIME. The time during which the statutes prohibit the taking ofsalmon. 

KISMISSES. The raisins issued in India, resembling the sultanas of theLevant. The word is derived from the Turkish. They seldom have seeds. 

KIST. A word still in use in the north for chest. 

KIT. A small wooden pail or bucket, wherewith boats are baled out;generally with an ear. (_See_ KID. ) Also, a contemptuous term for total;as, the whole kit of them. 

KITT, OR KIT. An officer's outfit. Also, a term among soldiers andmarines to express the complement of regimental necessaries, which theyare obliged to keep in repair. Also, a seaman's _wardrobe_. 

KITTIWAKE. A species of gull of the northern seas; so called from itspeculiar cry: the _Larus tridactylus_. 

KITTY-WITCH. A small kind of crab on the east coast. 

KLEG. The fish _Gadus barbatus_. 

KLEPTES. The pirates of the Archipelago; literally the Greek forrobbers. 

KLICK-HOOKS. Large hooks for catching salmon in the daytime. 

KLINKER. A flat-bottomed lighter or praam of Sweden and Denmark. 

KLINKETS. Small grating-gates, made through palisades for sallies. 

KLIPPEN. The German for cliffs; in use in the Baltic. --_Blinde Klippen_, reefs of rocks under water. 

KLOSH. Seamen of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. 

KNAGGY. Crotchety; sour-tempered. 

KNAGS. Points of rocks. Also, hard knots in wood. 

KNAP [from the Anglo-Saxon _cnæp_, a protuberance]. The top of a hill. Also, a blow or correction, as "you'll knap it, " for some misdeed. 

KNAPSACK. A light water-proof case fitted to the back, in which thefoot-soldier carries his necessaries on a march. 

KNARRS. Knots in spars. (_See_ GNARRE. )

KNECK. The twisting of rope or cable as it is veering out. 

KNEE. Naturally grown timber, or bars of iron, bent to a right angle, orto fit the surfaces, and to secure bodies firmly together, as hangingknees secure the deck-beams to the sides. They are divided into_hanging-knees_, _diagonal hanging-knees_, _lodging-knees or deck-beamknees_, _transom-knees_, _helm-post transom-knees_, _wing transom-knees_(which see). 

KNEE OF THE HEAD. A large flat piece of timber, fixed edgeways, andfayed upon the fore-part of a ship's stem, supporting the ornamentalfigure. (_See_ HEAD. ) Besides which, this piece is otherwise useful asserving to secure the boom or bumkin, by which the fore-tack is extendedto windward, and by its great breadth preventing the ship from fallingto leeward, when close-hauled, so much as she would otherwise be liableto do. It also affords security to the bowsprit by increasing the angleof the bobstay, so as to make it act more perpendicularly on thebowsprit. The _knee of the head_ is a phrase peculiar to shipwrights; byseamen it is called the _cut-water_ (which see). 

KNEES. _Dagger-knees_ are those which are fixed rather obliquely to avoidan adjacent gun-port, or where, from the vicinity of the next beam, thereis not space for the arms of two lodging-knees. --_Lodging-knees_ are fixedhorizontally in the ship's frame, having one arm bolted to the beam, andthe other across two or three of the timbers. --_Standard-knees_ are thosewhich, being upon a deck, have one arm bolted down to it, and the otherpointing upwards secured to the ship's side; such also, are the bits andchannels. 

KNEE-TIMBER. That sort of crooked timber which forms at its back orelbow an angle of from 24° to 45°; but the more acute this angle is, themore valuable is the timber on that account. Used for knees, risingfloors, and crutches. Same as _raking-knees_. 

KNETTAR. A string used to tie the mouth of a sack. 

KNIFE. An old name for a dagger: thus Lady Macbeth--

 "That my keen knife see not the wound it makes. "

KNIGHT-HEADS. Two large oak timbers, one on each side of the stem, risingup sufficiently above it to support the bowsprit, which is fixed betweenthem. The term is synonymous with _bollard timbers_. --_Knight-heads_also formerly denoted in many merchant ships, two strong frames oftimber fixed on the main-deck, a little behind the fore-mast, whichsupported the ends of the windlass. They were frequently called the_bitts_, and then their upper parts only were denominated theknight-heads, from having been embellished with a carved head. (_See_WINDLASS. ) Also, a name formerly given to the lower jear-blocks, whichwere then no other than bitts, containing several sheaves, and nearlyresembling our present topsail-sheet bitts. 

KNIGHTHOOD. An institution by princes, either for the defence ofreligion, or as marks of honour on officers who have distinguishedthemselves by their valour and address. This dignity being personal, dies with the individual so honoured. The initials of our own ordersare:--K. G. , Knight of the Garter; K. T. , Knight of the Thistle; K. S. P. , Knight of St. Patrick; G. C. B. , Grand Cross of the Bath; K. C. B. , KnightCommander of the Bath; G. C. H. , Knight Grand Cross of the HanoverianGuelphic Order; K. H. , Knight of the Hanoverian Guelphic Order; G. C. M. G. , Grand Cross of St. Michael and George; E. S. I. , Most Exalted Star ofIndia. The principal foreign orders worn by our navy are those ofHanover, St. Ferdinand and Merit, the Tower and Sword, Legion of Honour, Maria Theresa, St. Bento d'Avis, Cross of Charles III. , San Fernando, St. Louis, St. Vladimir, St. Anne of Russia, Red Eagle of Prussia, Redeemer of Greece, Medjidie of Turkey, Leopold of Austria, Iron Crownof Austria, William of the Netherlands. 

KNIGHTS. Two short thick pieces of wood, formerly carved like a man'shead, having four sheaves in each, one of them abaft the fore-mast, called _fore-knight_, and the other abaft the main-mast, called_main-knight_. 

KNITTLE. _See_ NETTLES. 

KNOB, OR KNOBBE. An officer; perhaps from the Scotch term _knabbie_, thelower class of gentry. 

KNOCKER. A peculiar and fetid species of West Indian cockroach, socalled on account of the knocking noise they make in the night. 

KNOCK OFF WORK AND CARRY DEALS. A term used to deride the idea of anywork, however light, being relaxation; just as giving up taking in heavybeams of timber and being set to carry deals, is not really knocking offwork. 

KNOLL. The top of a rounded hill; the head of a bank, or the mostelevated part of a submarine shoal. [Perhaps derived from _nowl_, aprovincialism for head. ]

KNOPP. _See_ KNAP. 

KNOT. A large knob formed on the extremity of a rope, generally byuntwisting its ends, and interweaving them regularly among each other;of these there are several sorts, differing in form, size, and name, asdiamond knot, kop knot, overhand knot, reef knot, shroud knot, stopperknot, single wall knot, double wall knot. The bowline knot is so firmlymade, and fastened to the cringles of the sails, that they must break, or the sails split, before it will slip. (_See_ RUNNING BOWLINE. ) Thesheepshank knot serves to shorten a rope without cutting it, and may bepresently loosened. The wall-knot is so made with the lays of a ropethat it cannot slip, and serves for sheets, tacks, and stoppers. Knotsare generally used to act as a button, in preventing the end of a ropefrom slipping through the hole of a dead-eye, or through the turns of alaniard, by which they are sometimes made fast to other ropes. --_Knot_also implies a division on the log line, bearing a similar proportion toa mile, which half a minute does to an hour; that is, it is 1/120 of amile; hence we say, the ship was going 8 knots, signifying 8 miles perhour. Indeed, in nautical parlance, the words knot and mile aresynonyms, alluding to the geographical mile of 60′ to a degree oflatitude. 

KNOWL. A term commonly given to the summits of elevated lands in thewest of England, therefore probably the same as _knoll_. 

KNOWLEDGE. In admiralty law, opposed to ignorance, and the want of whichis liable to heavy penalty. 

KNUCKLE. A sudden angle made on some timbers by a quick reverse ofshape, such as the knuckles of the counter-timbers. 

KNUCKLE-RAILS. Those mouldings which are placed at the knuckles of thestern-timbers. 

KNUCKLE-TIMBERS. The top-timbers in the fore-body, the heads of whichstand perpendicular, and form an angle with the flare or hollow of thetop-side. 

KNUCKLE-UNDER. Obey your superior's order; give way to circumstances. 

KNURRT. Stunted; not freely grown. 

KOFF. A large Dutch coasting trader, fitted with two masts, and sailsset with sprits. 

KOMETA. A captain formerly elected in the Spanish navy by twelveexperienced navigators. 

KOOLIE, OR COOLIE. An Indian day-labourer and porter. 

KOOND. A large cistern at a watering-place in India. 

KOPEK. A Russian copper coin, 100 of which make a rouble; in valuenearly a halfpenny, and named from _kopea_, a spear, because formerlystamped with St. George spearing the dragon. 

KOROCORA. A broad-beamed Molucca vessel, with high stem and stern, andan out-rigger. It is common among the Malay islands. 

KOTA. An excellent turpentine procured in India. 

KOUPANG. A gold coin of Japan and the Moluccas, of various value, from25 to 44 shillings. 

KOWDIE. The New Zealand pine spars. 

KRABLA. A Russian vessel, usually from Archangel, fitted for killing thewhale, walrus, and other Arctic quarry. 

KRAKEN. The fictitious sea-monster of Norway. 

KRANG. The body of a whale when divested of its blubber, and thereforeabandoned by the whalers. 

KRAYER. A small vessel, but perhaps larger than the cogge, being thusmentioned in the _Morte Arthure_--

 "Be thanne cogge appone cogge, krayers and other. "

KREE, TO. A north-country word: to beat, or bruise. 

KREEL. A framework of timber for the catching of fish, especiallysalmon. Also a crab-pot, made of osiers, on the principal of a wiremouse-trap. Also, a sportsman's fishing basket. 

KRENNEL. The smaller cringle for bowline bridles, &c. 

KRINGLE, TO. To dry and shrivel up. Also a form of _cringle_ (whichsee). 

KRIS. The formidable dagger used by the Malays. 

KROO-MEN, OR CREW-MEN. Fishmen. A tribe of African negroes inhabitingCape Palmas, Krou-settra, and Settra-krou, subjects of Great Britain, and cannot be made slaves; they are specially employed in wooding andwatering where hazardous to European constitutions. 

KUB-HOUSE, OR CUBBOOS. _See_ CABOOSE. 

KYAR. Cordage made in India from the fibres which envelope the cocoanut, and having the advantage of elasticity and buoyancy, makes capitalcables for country ships. (_See_ COIR. )

KYDLE. A dam in a river for taking fish--

 "Fishes love soote smell; also it is trewe Thei love not old kydles as thei doe the newe. "

KYLE. A bay, or arm of the sea, on our northern shores, as the Kyles ofBute, &c. 

KYNTALL. An old form of _quintal_ (which see). 

L. 

L. The three L's were formerly vaunted by seamen who despised the use ofnautical astronomy; viz. Lead, latitude, and look-out, all of themadmirable in their way. Dr. Or Captain Halley added the fourth L--thegreatly desired longitude. 

LAAS. An obsolete term for an illegal net or snare. 

LABARUM. A standard in early days. 

LABBER, TO. To struggle in water, as a fish when caught. To splash. 

LABOUR. In the relative mechanical efforts of the human body labouringin various posture, 682-1/3 have been given for the rowing effort, 476for the effort at a winch, and 209-1/3 for the effort at a pump. 

LABOURING. The act of a ship's working, pitching, or rolling heavily, in a turbulent sea, by which the masts, and even the hull, are greatlyendangered. 

LABOURSOME. Said of a ship which is subject to roll and pitch violentlyin a heavy sea, either from some defect in her construction, or improperstowage of her hold. 

LACE, TO. To apply a bonnet by lacing it to a sail. Also, to beat orpunish with a rattan or rope's-end. Also, the trimmings of uniforms. 

LACHES. In law, loose practice, or where parties let matters sleep forabove seven years, when by applying to the admiralty court they mighthave compelled the production of an account. 

LACING. Rope or cord used to lace a sail to a gaff, or a bonnet to asail. Also, one of the principal pieces that compose the knee of thehead, running up as high as the top of the hair-bracket. Also, a pieceof compass or knee timber, fayed to the back of the figure-head and theknee of the head, and bolted to each. 

LACUSTRINE. Belonging or referring to a lake. 

LADDER. The _accommodation ladder_ is a sort of light staircaseoccasionally fixed on the gangway. It is furnished with rails andman-ropes; the lower end of it is kept at a proper distance from theship's side by iron bars or braces to render it more convenient. (_See_GANGWAY. )--_Forecastle-ladder_ and _hold-ladder_, for getting into orout of those parts of a ship. --_Jacob's ladder_, abaft top-gallantmasts, where no ratlines are provided. --_Quarter_ or _stern ladders_. Two ladders of rope, suspended from the right and left side of a ship'sstern, whereby to get into the boats which are moored astern. 

LADDER-WAYS. The hatchways, scuttles or other openings in the decks, wherein the ladders are placed. 

LADE. Anglo-Saxon _lædan_, to pour out. The mouth of a channel or drain. To _lade_ a boat, is to throw water out. 

LADE-GORN, OR LADE-PAIL. A bucket with a long handle to lade water with. 

LADEN. The state of a ship when charged with materials equal to hercapacity. If the goods be heavy, her burden is determined by weight; butif light, she carries as much as she can conveniently stow. A ton inmeasure is estimated at 2000 lbs. In weight; a vessel of 200 tons oughttherefore to carry a weight equal to 400, 000 lbs. ; but if she cannotfloat high enough with as great a quantity of it as her hold willcontain, then a diminution of it becomes necessary. Vessels carry heavygoods by the ton of 20 cwt. , but lighter goods by a ton of cubic feet, which varies according to the custom of the port; in London it is 40, inIndia from 50 to 52, depending on the goods. Vessels can carry (notsafely) twice their tonnage. 

LADEN IN BULK. A cargo neither in casks, bales, nor cases, but lyingloose in the hold, only defended from wet by mats and dunnage. Such areusually cargoes of salt, corn, &c. 

LADIA. An unwieldy boat in Russia, for transporting the produce of theinterior. 

LADIE'S LADDER. Shrouds rattled too closely. 

LADING. A vessel's cargo. 

LADLE, FOR A GUN. An instrument for charging with loose powder; formedof a cylindrical sheet of copper-tube fitted to the end of a longstaff. --_Paying-ladle. _ An iron ladle with a long channelled spoutopposite to the handle; it is used to pour melted pitch into the seams. 

LADRON. A term for thief, adopted from the Spanish. 

LADRONE SHIP. Literally a pirate, but it is the usual epithet applied bythe Chinese to a man-of-war. 

LADY OF THE GUN-ROOM. A gunner's mate, who takes charge of theafter-scuttle, where gunners' stores are kept. 

LAGAN, OR LAGAM. Anglo-Saxon _liggan_. A term in derelict law for goodswhich are sunk, with a buoy attached, that they may be recovered. Also, things found at the bottom of the sea. Ponderous articles which sinkwith the ship in wreck. 

LAGGERS. On canals, men who lie on their backs on the top of the lading, and pushing against the bridges and tunnels pass the boats through. Also, a transported convict; a lazy fellow. --_To lag. _ To loiter. 

LAGGIN. The end of the stave outside a cask or tub. 

LAGOON. An inland broad expanse of salt water, usually shallow, andconnected with the sea by one or more channels, or washes over the reef. 

LAGOON ISLANDS. Those produced by coral animals; they are of variousshapes, belted with coral, frequently with channels by which ships mayenter, and lie safely inside. They are often studded with the cocoa-nutpalm. (_See_ ATOLLS. )

LAGUNES. The shallows which extend round Venice; their depth between thecity and the mainland is 3 to 6 feet in general; they are occasioned bythe quantities of sand carried down by the rivers which descend from theAlps, and fall into the Adriatic along its north-western shores. 

LAG-WOOD. The larger sticks from the head of an oak-tree when felled. 

LAID. A fisherman's name for the pollack. Also, a term in rope-making, the twist being the lay; single-laid, is one strand; hawser-laid, threestrands twisted into a rope; cablet-laid, three ropes laid together;this is also termed water-laid. 

LAID ABACK. _See_ ABACK. 

LAID TO. A term used sometimes for _hove to_, but when a vessel lays tothe sails are kept full. As in a gale of wind, under staysails, or closereefs, &c. 

LAID UP. A vessel dismantled and moored in a harbour, either for want ofemployment, or as unfit for further service. 

LAKE. A large inland expanse of water, with or without communicationwith the sea. A lake, strictly considered, has no visible affluent oreffluent; but many of the loughs of Ireland, and lochs of Scotland, partake of the nature of havens or gulfs. Moreover, some lakes haveaffluents without outlets, and others have an outlet without any visibleaffluent; therein differing from lagoons and ponds. The water of lakesentirely encompassed by land is sometimes _salt_; that communicatingwith the sea by means of rivers is fresh. 

LAKE-LAWYER. A voracious fish in the lakes of America, called also the_mud-fish_. 

LAMANTIN. A name used by the early voyagers for the manatee. 

LAMB'S-WOOL SKY. A collection of white orbicular masses of cloud. 

LAMBUSTING. A starting with a rope's-end. 

LAMPER-EEL. A common corruption of _lamprey_. 

LAMPREY. An eel-like cyclostomous fish, belonging to the genus_Petromyzon_. There are several species, some marine, others fluviatile. 

LAMPRON. The old name for the lamprey. 

LAMP-SHELLS. A name applied to the _Terebratulæ_ of zoologists. 

LANCE-KNIGHT. A foot-soldier of old. 

LANCEPESADO. From Ital. _lancia spezzata_, or broken lance; originally asoldier who, having broken his lance on the enemy, and lost his horse infight, was entertained as a volunteer till he could remount himself;hence _lance-corporal_, one doing corporal's duty, on the pay of aprivate. 

LANCHANG. A Malay proa, carrying twenty-five or thirty men. 

LAND. In a general sense denotes _terra firma_, as distinguished fromsea; but, also, _land-laid_, or to _lay the land_, is just to lose sightof it. --_Land-locked_ is when land lies all round the ship. --_Land isshut in_, signifies that another point of land hides that from which theship came. --_The ship lies land to_, implies so far from shore that itcan only just be discerned. --_To set the land_, is to see by compass howit bears. --_To make the land. _ To sight it after an absence. --_To landon deck. _ A nautical anomaly, meaning to lower casks or weighty goods ondeck from the tackles. 

LAND-BLINK. On Arctic voyages, a peculiar atmospheric brightness onapproaching land covered with snow; usually more yellow than_ice-blink_. 

LAND-BREEZE. A current of air which, in the temperate zones, and stillmore within the tropics, regularly sets from the land towards the seaduring the night, and this even on opposite points of the coast. Itresults from land losing its heat quicker than water; hence the airabove it becomes heavier, and rushes towards the sea to establishequilibrium. 

LANDES. The heathy track between Bordeaux and the Basses Pyrénées; butalso denoting uncultivated or unreclaimable spots. 

LAND-FALL. Making the land. "A good land-fall" signifies making the landat or near the place to which the course was intended, while "a badland-fall" implies the contrary. 

LAND-FEATHER. A sea-cove. 

LAND HO! The cry when land is first seen. 

LAND-ICE. Flat ice connected with the shore, within which there is nochannel. 

LANDING-STRAKE. In boats, the upper strake of plank but one. 

LANDING-SURVEYOR. The custom-house officer who appoints and superintendsthe landing-waiters. 

LANDING-WAITERS. Persons appointed from the custom-house to inspectgoods discharged from foreign parts. 

LAND-LOUPER. [Dutch. ] Meaning he who flies from this country for crimeor debt, but not to be confounded with _land-lubber_ (which see). 

LAND-LUBBER. A useless longshorer; a vagrant stroller. Applied bysailors to the mass of landsmen, especially those without employment. 

LANDMARK. Any steeple, tree, windmill, or other object, serving to guidethe seaman into port, or through a channel. 

LAND-SHARKS. Crimps, pettifogging attorneys, slopmongers, and thecanaille infesting the slums of sea-port towns. 

LAND-SLIP. The fall of a quantity of land from a cliff or declivity; theland sliding away so as often to carry trees with it still standingupright. 

LANDSMEN. The rating formerly of those on board a ship who had neverbeen at sea, and who were usually stationed among the waisters orafter-guard. Some of those used to small craft are more ready about thedecks than in going aloft. The rating is now Second-class Ordinary. 

LAND-TURN. A wind that blows in the night, at certain times, in most hotcountries. 

LAND-WAITERS. _See_ LANDING-WAITERS. 

LANE. "Make a lane there!" An order for men to open a passage and allowa person to pass through. 

LANE OR VEIN OF ICE. A narrow channel between two fields. Any opencracks or separations of floe offering navigation. 

LANGREL, OR LANGRAGE. A villanous kind of shot, consisting of variousfragments of iron bound together, so as to fit the bore of the cannonfrom which it is to be discharged. It is seldom used but by privateers. 

LANGUET. A small slip of metal on the hilt of a sword, which overhangsthe scabbard; the ear of a sword. 

LANIARD, OR LANNIERS. A short piece of rope or line made fast toanything to secure it, or as a handle. Such are the laniards of thegun-locks, of the gun-ports, of the buoy, of the cat-hook, &c. Theprincipal laniards are those which secure the shrouds and stays, termedlaniards of lower, top-mast, or other rigging. (_See_ DEAD-EYE andHEART. )

LANTCHA. A large Malay craft of the Indian Archipelago. 

LANTERN. Ships of war had formerly three poop-lanterns, and one in themain-top, to designate the admiral's ship; also deck-lanterns, fighting-lanterns, magazine-lanterns, &c. The signal-lanterns arepeculiar. The great ship lantern, hanging to the poop, appears on theTrajan Column. 

LANTERN-BRACES. Iron bars to secure the lanterns. 

LANTERN-FISH. A west-country name for the smooth sole. 

LANTIONE. A Chinese rowing-boat. 

LANYARDS. _See_ LANIARD. 

LAP-JOINTED. The plates of an iron vessel overlapping each other, as in_clincher work_. 

LAPLAND WITCHES. People in Lapland who profess to sell fair winds, thusretaining a remnant of ancient classical superstition. 

LAP OVER OR UPON. The mast carlings are said to lap upon the beams byreason of their great depth, and head-ledges at the ends lap over thecoamings. 

LAPPELLE, OR LAPEL. The facing of uniform coats. Until the introductionof epaulettes in 1812, the _white lapelle_ was used as synonymous withlieutenant's commission. Hence the brackish poet, in the cravenmidshipman's lament--

 "If I had in my country staid, I then had learnt some useful trade, And scorned the white lapelle. "

LAPPING. The undulations occasioned in the waves by the paddle-wheels ofa steam-boat. In the polar seas, lapping applies to the young or thinice, one plate overlapping another, so dangerous to boats and theircrews. Also, the overlaying of plank edges in working. 

LAPS. The remaining part of the ends of carlings, &c. , which are to beara great weight or pressure; such, for instance, as the capstan-step. 

LAP'S COURSE. One of the oldest and most savoury of the regularforecastle dishes. (_See_ LOBSCOUSE. )

LARBOARD. The left side of a ship, when the spectator's face is towardsthe bow. The Italians derive starboard from _questa borda_, "this side, "and larboard from, _quella borda_, "that side;" abbreviated into _staborda_ and _la borda_. Their resemblance caused so many mistakes that, by order of the admiralty, larboard is now thrown overboard, and _port_substituted. "Port the helm" is even mentioned in Arthur Pit's voyage in1580. 

LARBOARD-WATCH. The old term for port-watch. The division of a ship'scompany called for duty, while the other, the starboard, is relievedfrom it. (_See_ WATCH. )

LARBOLINS, OR LARBOLIANS. A cant term implying the larboard-watch, theopposite of starboard:--

 "Larbolins stout, you must turn out, And sleep no more within; For if you do, we'll cut your clue, And let starbolins in. "

LARGE. Sailing large: going with the wind free when studding-sails willdraw. 

LARK. A small boat. Also, frolicsome merriment. (_See_ SKY-LARKING. )

LARRUP, TO. An old word meaning to beat with a rope's-end, strap, orcolt. 

LASCAR. A native sailor in the East Indies; also, in a military sense, natives of India employed in pitching tents, or dragging artillery, asgun-lascars. 

LASH. A string, or small cord, forming the boatswain's cat. --_To lash_or _lace_. To bind anything with a rope or line. 

LASH AND CARRY. The order given by the boatswain and his mates on pipingup the hammocks, to accelerate the duty. 

LASH AWAY. A phrase to hasten the lashing of hammocks. 

LASHER. _See_ FATHER-LASHER. 

LASHER BULL-HEAD. A name for the fish _Cottus scorpius_. 

LASHING. A rope used to fasten any movable body in a ship, or about hermasts, sails, and rigging. 

LASHING-EYES. Fittings for lower stays, block-strops, &c. , by loops madein the ends of ropes, for a lashing to be rove through to secure them. 

LASK, TO. To go large. --_Lasking along. _ Sailing away with a quarteringwind. 

LASKETS. Small lines like hoops, sewed to the bonnets and drablers of asail, to secure the bonnets to the courses, or the drablers to thebonnets. 

LAST. A dry measure containing 80 bushels of corn. A cargo. A weight of4000 lbs. A last of cod or white herrings is 12 barrels. Last, orship-last, a Swedish weight of 2 tons. 

LASTAGE. This is a commercial term for the general lading of a ship. Itis also applied to that custom which is paid for wares sold by the last, as herrings, pitch, &c. 

LASTER. The coming in of the tide. 

LAST QUARTER. _See_ QUARTER, LAST. 

LATCH. An old term for a cross-bow; _temp. _ Henry VII. --_Lee-latch. _Dropping to leeward of the course. 

LATCHES. The same as _laskets_ (which see; also _keys_). 

LATCHINGS KEYS. Loops on the head-rope of a bonnet, by which it is lacedto the foot of the sail. 

LATEEN SAIL AND YARD. A long triangular sail, bent by its foremost leechto a lateen yard, which hoists obliquely to the mast; it is mostly usedby xebecs, feluccas, &c. , in the Mediterranean. A gaff-topsail, iftriangular and set on a yard, is lateen. The term _lateen-rigged_, wheresails have short tacks, is wrong. These latter are nothing more or lessthan clumsy lugs or quadrilaterals. The lateen tack is the yard-armbowsed amidships. 

LATHE. A term for a sort of a cross-bow once used in the fleet. 

LATHER, TO. To beat or drub soundly. 

LATITUDE. In wide terms, the extent of the earth from one pole to theother; but strictly it is the distance of any place from the equator indegrees and their parts; or an arc of the meridian intercepted betweenthe zenith of the place and the equinoctial. Geographical latitude iseither northern or southern, according as the place spoken of is on thisor that side of the equator. Geocentric latitude is the angular distanceof a place from the equator, as corrected for the oblateness of theearth's form; in other words, it is the geographical latitude diminishedby the angle of the vertical. 

LATITUDE BY ACCOUNT. That estimated by the log-board, and the lastdetermined by observation. 

LATITUDE BY OBSERVATION. The latitude determined by observations of thesun, star, or moon, by meridional, as also by double altitudes. 

LATITUDE OF A CELESTIAL OBJECT. An arc of a circle of longitude betweenthe centre of that object and the ecliptic, and is north or southaccording to its position. 

LAUNCE. A term when the pump sucks--from the Danish _lœns_, exhausted. Also, a west-country term for the sand-eel, a capital bait for mackerel. 

LAUNCE-GAY. An offensive weapon used of old, but prohibited by statuteso far back as 7 Richard II. C. 13. 

LAUNCH. The largest or long boat of a ship of war. Others of greatersize for gunboats are used by the French, Spaniards, Italians, &c. , inthe Mediterranean. A launch being proportionably longer, lower, and moreflat-bottomed than the merchantman's long-boat, is in consequence lessfit for sailing, but better calculated for rowing and approaching a flatshore. Its principal superiority consists in being much fitter tounder-run the cable, lay out anchors, &c. , which is a very necessaryemployment in the harbours of the Levant, where the cables of differentships are fastened across each other, and frequently render suchoperations necessary. 

LAUNCH, TO. To send a ship, craft, or boat off the slip on shore intothe water, "her native element, " as newspapers say. Also, to movethings; as, _launch forward_, or _launch aft_. _Launch_ is also themovement by which the ship or boat descends into the water. 

LAUNCH-HO! The order to let go the top-rope after the top-mast has beenswayed up and fidded. It is literally "high enough. " So in pumping, whenthe spear sucks, this term is "Cease. "

LAUNCHING-WAYS. In ship-building, the bed of timber placed on theincline under the bottom of a ship; otherwise called _bilge-ways_. Onthis the cradles, which are movable vertical shores, to keep the shipupright, slide. Sometimes also termed _bilge-ways_. 

LAVEER, TO. An old sea-term for beating a ship to windward; to tack. 

LAVER. An edible sea-weed--the _Ulva lactuca_, anciently _lhavan_. Fromthis a food is made, called _laver-bread_, on the shores of S. Wales. 

LAVY. A sea-bird nearly as large as a duck, held by the people of theHebrides as a prognosticator of weather. 

LAW OF NATIONS. It was originally merely the necessary law of natureapplied to nations, as in the instance of receiving distressed shipswith humanity. By various conventional compacts, the Law of Nationsbecame positive; thus flags of truce are respected, and prisoners arenot put to death. One independent state is declared incompetent toprescribe to another, so long as that state is innoxious to itsneighbours. The Law of Nations consists of those principles andregulations, founded in reason and general convenience, by which themutual intercourse between independent states is everywhere conducted. 

LAX. A term for salmon when ascending a river, on the north coast ofScotland. 

LAX-FISHER. A taker of salmon in their passage from the sea. 

LAY, BY THE. When a man is paid in proportion to the success of thevoyage, instead of by the month. This is common in whalers. 

LAY, TO. To come or go; as, _lay aloft_, _lay forward_, _lay aft_, _layout_. This is not the neuter verb _lie_ mispronounced, but the activeverb _lay_. (_See_ LIE OUT!)

LAY A GUN, TO. So to direct it as that its shot may be expected tostrike a given object; for which purpose its axis must be pointed abovethe latter, at an angle of elevation increasing according to itsdistance. 

LAY-DAYS. The time allowed for shipping or discharging a cargo; and ifnot done within the term, fair weather permitting, the vessel comes ondemurrage. Thus Captain Cuttle--

 "A rough hardy seaman, unus'd to shore ways, Knew little of ladies, but much of lay-days. "

LAY HER COURSE, TO. To be able to sail in the direction wished for, however barely the wind permits it. 

LAY IN. The opposite of _lay out_. The order for men to come in from theyards after reefing or furling. It also applies to manning, or _layingin_, to the capstan-bars. 

LAYING OR LYING OUT ON A YARD. To go out towards the yard-arms. 

LAYING OR LYING ALONG. Pressed down sideways by a stiff gale. 

LAYING A ROPE. Arranging the yarns for the strands, and then the strandsfor making a rope, or cable. 

LAYING DOWN, OR LAYING OFF. The act of delineating the various lines ofa ship to the full size on the mould-loft floor, from the draught given. 

LAYINGS. A sort of pavement of culch, on the mud of estuaries, forforming a bed for oysters. 

LAYING-TOP. A conical piece of wood, having three or four scores ornotches on its surface, used in rope-making to guide the lay. 

LAY IN SEA-STOCK, TO. To make provision for the voyage. 

LAY IN THE OARS. Unship them from the rowlocks, and place them fore andaft in the boat. 

LAY LORDS. The civil members of the admiralty board. 

LAY OF A ROPE. The direction in which its strands are twisted; hawser isright-handed; cablet left-handed. 

LAY OR LIE ON YOUR OARS! The order to desist rowing, without laying theoars in. --_Lay out on your oars!_ is the order to give way, or pull withgreater force. 

LAY OUT. _See_ LIE OUT!

LAY THE LAND, TO. Barely to lose sight of it. 

LAY-TO. To bring the weather-bow to the sea, with one sail set, and thehelm lashed a-lee. (_See_ LIE-TO. )

LAY UP A SHIP, TO. To dismantle her. 

LAZARETTO. A building or vessel appointed for the performance ofquarantine, in which all persons are confined coming from placesinfected with the plague or other infectious diseases. Also, a placeparted off at the fore part of the 'tween decks, in some merchantmen, for stowing provisions and stores in. 

LAZARUS. The game at cards, called also _blind-hookey_ and _snogo_. 

LAZY GUY. A small tackle or rope to prevent the spanker-boom fromswaying about in fine weather. 

LAZY PAINTER. A small temporary rope to hold a boat in fine weather. 

LEAD, SOUNDING. An instrument for discovering the depth of water; it isa tapered cylinder of lead, of 7, 14, or 28 lbs. Weight, and attached, by means of a strop, to the lead-line, which is marked at certaindistances to ascertain the fathoms. (_See_ HAND-LINE. )--_Deep-sea lead. _A lead of a larger size, being from 28 to 56 lbs. In weight, andattached to a much longer line. (_See_ DEEP-SEA LINE. )--_To heave thelead. _ To throw it into the sea as far ahead as possible, if the ship isunder way. 

LEAD. The direction in which running ropes lead fair, and come down tothe deck. Also, in Arctic seas, a channel through the ice; synonymouswith _lane_. To lead into battle, or into harbour. 

LEADER. A chief. Also, the conducting ship, boat, or man in anenterprise. Also, the guide in firing rockets. 

LEADING-BLOCKS. The several blocks used for guiding the direction of anypurchase, as hook, snatch, or tail blocks. 

LEADING-MARKS. Those objects which, kept in line or in transit, guidethe pilot while working into port, as trees, spires, buoys, &c. 

LEADING-PART. The rope of a tackle which runs between the fall and thestanding part. Generally confused with the fall. It is that part of thefall which is to be hauled on, or overhauled, to ease the purchase. 

LEADING-STRINGS. The yoke-lines for steering a boat. 

LEADING-WIND. Wind abeam or quartering; more particularly a free or fairwind, and is used in contradistinction to a scant wind. (_See_ WIND. )

LEAD-LINE. A line attached to the upper end of the sounding-lead. (_See_HAND-LINE and DEEP-SEA LINE. )

LEAD-NAILS. Small round-headed composition nails for nailing lead. 

LEADSMAN. The man who heaves the hand-lead in the channels. In Calcuttathe young gentlemen learning to be pilots are called leadsmen. 

LEAF. The side of a lock-gate. 

LEAGUE. A confederacy; an alliance. Also, a measure of length consistingof three nautical miles, much used in estimating sea-distances; = 3041fathoms. 

LEAGUER. An old term for a camp. Also, _leaguers_, the longestwater-casks, stowed next the kelson, of 159 English imperial gallonseach. Before the invention of water-tanks, leaguers composed the wholeground tier of casks in men-of-war. 

LEAK [Anglo-Saxon _leccinc_]. A chink in the deck, sides, or bottom of aship, through which the water gets into her hull. When a leak begins, avessel is said to have _sprung_ a leak. 

LEAKAGE. Loss by the act of leaking out of a cask. Also, an allowance of12 per cent. , to merchants importing wine, by the customs. 

LEAKIES. Certain irregularities of tide in the Firth of Forth. 

LEAKY. The state of a ship admitting water, and a cask or other vesselletting out its contents. 

LEAN. Used in the same sense as _clean_ or sharp; the reverse of _full_or bluff in the form of a ship. 

LEAN-BOW. Having a sharp entrance; a thin narrow bow being opposed tobold bow. _Fine forward_, very fine is _lean as a lizard_. 

LEAP. The sudden fall of a river in one sheet. Also, a weel, made oftwigs, to catch fish in. 

LEAPER. _See_ LIPPER. 

LEAT. A canal leading from a pool to a mill-course. 

LEATHAG. A Celtic name for the plaice or flounder. 

LEATHER. _See_ LATHER. 

LEATHER-JACKET. A tropical fish with a very thick skin. 

LEAVE. Permission to be absent from the ship for the day. (_See_ABSENCE, LIBERTY. )--_French leave. _ Going on shore withoutpermission. --_Long leave. _ Permission to be absent for a number of days. 

LEAVE-BREAKING. A liberty man not being back to his time. 

LEAVE-TICKET. _See_ LIBERTY-TICKET. 

LEAX. _See_ LEX. 

LEDGE. A compact line of rocks running parallel to the coast, and whichis not unfrequent opposite sandy beaches. The north coast of Africa, between the Nile and the Lesser Syrtis, is replete with them. 

LEDGES. The 'thwart-ship pieces from the waste-trees to the roof-treesin the framing of the decks, let into the carlings, to bear gratings, &c. Any cross-pieces of fir or scantling. 

LEDO. A barbarous Latin law-term (_ledo -onis_) for the rising water, orincrease of the sea. 

LEE. From the Scandinavian word _lœ_ or _laa_, the sea; it is the sideopposite to that from which the wind is blowing; as, if a vessel has thewind on her port side, that side will be the weather, and the starboardwill be the lee side. --_Under the lee_, expresses the situation of avessel anchored or sailing near the weather-shore, where there is alwayssmoother water than at a great distance from it. --_To lay a ship by thelee_, or _to come up by the lee_, is to let her run off until the windis brought on the lee-quarter, so that all her sails lie flat againstthe masts and shrouds. 

LEE-ANCHOR. The leeward one, if under weigh; or that to leeward to whicha ship, when moored, is riding. 

LEE-BEAM. On the lee-side of the ship, at right angles with the keel. 

LEE-BOARDS. Wooden wings or strong frames of plank affixed to the sidesof flat-bottomed vessels, such as Dutch schuyts, &c. ; these traversingon a stout bolt, by being let down into the water, when the vessel isclose-hauled, decrease her drifting to leeward. 

LEECHES. The borders or edges of a sail, which are either sloping orperpendicular; those of the square sails are denominated from the ship'sside, as the starboard-leech of the main-sail, &c. ; but the sails whichare fixed obliquely on the masts have their leeches named from theirsituation with regard to the ship's length, as the hoist or luff, orfore-leech of the mizen, the after-leech of the jib, &c. 

LEECH-LINES. Ropes fastened to the leeches of the main-sail, fore-sail, and cross-jack, communicating with blocks under the tops, and serving totruss those sails up to the yards. (_See_ BRAILS. )--_Harbourleech-lines. _ Ropes made fast at the middle of the topsail-yards, thenpassing round the leeches of the top-sails, and through blocks upon thetopsail-tye, serving to truss the sails very close up to the yard, previous to their being furled in a body. 

LEECH-ROPE. A name given to that vertical part of the bolt-rope to whichthe border or edge of a sail is sewed. In all sails whose oppositeleeches are of the same length, it is terminated above by the earing, and below by the clue. (_See_ BOLT-ROPE, CLUE, and EARINGS. )

LEE-FANG. A rope rove through the cringle of a sail, for hauling in, soas to lace on a bonnet. 

LEE-FANGE. The iron bar upon which the sheets of fore-and-aft sailstraverse, in small vessels. (_See_ HORSE. )

LEE-GAUGE. Implies being farther from the point whence the wind blows, than another vessel in company. 

LEE-GUNWALE UNDER. A colloquial phrase for being sorely over-pressed, bycanvas or other cause. 

LEE-HATCH, TAKE CARE OF THE! A word of caution to the helmsman, not tolet the ship fall to leeward of her course. 

LEE-HITCH. The helmsman getting to leeward of the course. 

LEE-LURCHES. The sudden and violent rolls which a ship often takes toleeward when a large wave strikes her on the weather-side. 

LEE-SHORE. A ship is said to be on a lee-shore, when she is near it, with the wind blowing right on to it. 

LEE-SIDE. All that part of a ship or boat which lies between the mastand the side farthest from the wind, the other half being theweather-side. 

LEE-SIDE OF THE QUARTER-DECK. Colloquially called the midshipman'sparade. 

LEE-TIDE. A tide running in the same direction as the wind, and forcinga ship to leeward of the line upon which she appears to sail. 

LEEWARD. The lee-side. (_See_ LEE. ) The opposite of _lee_ is _weather_, and of _leeward_, _windward_. 

LEEWARDLY. Said of a ship or vessel which presents so little resistanceto the water, when on a wind, as to bag away to leeward. It is thecontrary to _weatherly_. 

LEE-WAY. What a vessel loses by drifting to leeward in her course. Whenshe is sailing close-hauled in a smooth sea with all sail set, sheshould make little or no lee-way; but a proportionate allowance must bemade under every reduction of sail or increase of sea, the amountdepending on the seaman's skill, and his knowledge of the vessel'squalities. 

LEE-WHEEL. The assistant to the helmsman. 

LEG. The run made on a single tack. Long and short legs (_see_ TACK ANDHALF-TACK). 

LEG ALONG. Ropes laid on end, ready for manning. 

LEG-BAIL. Dishonest desertion from duty. The phrase is not confined toits nautical bearing. 

LEGGERS. _See_ LEAGUER. 

LEGS. (_See_ ANGLE. ) A fast-sailing vessel is said to have legs. --_Legs_are used in cutters, yachts, &c. , to shore them up in dry harbours whenthe tide leaves them. The leech-line cringles have also been calledlegs. Also, the parts of a point which hang on each side of the sail. 

LEGS OF THE MARTINETS. Small lines through the bolt-ropes of thecourses, above a foot in length, and spliced at either end intothemselves, making a small eye into which the martinets are hitched. 

LEGS AND WINGS. _See_ OVER-MASTED. 

LEISTER. A three-pronged dart for striking fish, used in the north ofEngland. 

LEIT. A northern term for a snood or link of horse-hair for afishing-line. 

LEITH. A channel on the coast of Sweden, like that round the point ofLandfoort to Stockholm. 

LEMBUS. A light undecked vessel, used by ancient pirates. 

LEMING-STAR. An old name for a comet. 

LEMON-ROB. The inspissated juice of limes or lemons, a powerfulanti-scorbutic. 

LEND A FIST OR A HAND. A request to another to help. 

LEND US YOUR POUND HERE! A phrase demanding assistance in man-weight;alluding to the daily allowance of beef. 

LENGTHENING. The operation of cutting a ship down across the middle, andadding a certain portion to her length. This is done by sawing herplanks asunder in different parts of her length, on each side of themidship-frame, to prevent her from being weakened too much in one place. One end is then drawn apart to the required distance. An intermediatepiece of timber is next added to the keel, and the vacancy filled up. The two parts of the keelson are afterwards united. Finally, the planksof the side are prolonged, so as to unite with each other, and those ofthe ceiling refitted. 

LENGTHENING-PIECE. The same as _short top-timber_ (which see). 

LENS. The glass of a telescope, or of a microscope, with curved surfaceslike a lentil, whence the name. 

LENT. The spring fast, during which butchers were prohibited to killflesh unless for victualling ships, except by special license. 

LENTRIÆ. Ancient small vessels, used on rivers. 

LENUNCULI. Ancient fishing-boats. 

LEO. The fifth sign of the zodiac, which the sun enters about the 22d ofJuly. It is one of the ancient constellations. 

LEPPO. A sort of chunam, used on the China station, for paying vessels. 

LERRICK. A name of the water-bird also called sand-lark or sand-piper. 

LESSER CIRCLE. One whose plane does not pass through the centre of thesphere, and therefore divides it unequally. (_See_ GREAT CIRCLE. )

LET DRAW! The order to let the wind take the after-leeches of the jibs, &c. , over to the lee-side, while tacking. 

LET DRIVE, TO. To slip or let fly. To discharge, as a shot from a gun. 

LET FALL! The order to drop a sail loosed from its gaskets, in order toset it. 

LET FLY, TO. To let go a rope at once, suddenly. 

LET GO AND HAUL! OR AFORE HAUL! The order to haul the head-yards roundby the braces when the ship casts on the other tack. "Let go, " alludingto the fore-bowline and lee head-braces. 

LET GO UNDER FOOT. _See_ UNDER FOOT. 

LET IN, TO. To fix or fit a diminished part of one plank or piece oftimber into a score formed in another to receive it, as the ends of thecarlings into the beams. 

LET OUT, OR SHAKE OUT, A REEF, TO. To increase the dimensions of a sail, by untying the points confining a reef in it. 

LET-PASS. Permission given by superior authority to a vessel, to beshown to ships of war, to allow it to proceed on its voyage. 

LET RUN, OR LET GO BY THE RUN. Cast off at once. 

LETTER-BOARD. Another term for _name-board_ (which see). 

LETTER-BOOK. A book wherein is preserved a copy of all letters andorders written by the captain of a ship on public service. 

LETTER MEN. _See_ KING'S LETTER MEN. 

LETTERS. _See_ CIRCULARS and OFFICIAL LETTERS. 

LETTERS OF MART OR MARQUE. A commission formerly granted by the lords ofthe admiralty, or by the admiral of any distant station, to amerchant-ship or privateer, to cruize against and make prizes of theenemy's ships. The ship so commissioned is also called a _letter ofmarque_. The act of parliament requires that on granting letters ofmarque and reprisal, the captain and two sureties shall appear and givesecurity. In 1778 it was decided that all the ships taken from France byvessels having letters of marque only against the Americans, becamedroits of admiralty. This commission was forfeitable for acts of crueltyor misconduct. 

LETTERS OF REPRISAL. The same as _letters of marque_. 

LETTUCE-LAVER. The edible sea-weed _Ulva lactuca_. 

LEVANT. A wind coming from the east, which freshens as the sun rises, and subsides as it declines--_To levant_, to desert. 

LEVANTER. A strong and raw easterly wind in the Mediterranean. 

LEVANTS. Land-springs on the coasts of Sussex and Hampshire. 

LEVEE. A French word for a mole or causeway, adopted of late for riverembankments of magnitude, as those of the Po, the Thames, and theMississippi. 

LEVEL-ERROR. The microscopic deviation of the axis of a transitinstrument from the horizontal position. 

LEVELING. The art of finding how much higher or lower horizontally anygiven point on the earth's surface is, than another point on the same;practised in various ways. 

LEVELLED OUT. Any line continued out from a given point, or intersectionof an angle, in a horizontal direction. 

LEVEL-LINES. Lines determining the shape of a ship's body horizontally, or square from the middle line of the ship. 

LEVELS. Horizontal lines; or as a base square to a perpendicular bob. 

LEVER. In the marine steam-engine, the lever and counter-balance weightare fixed upon the wiper-shaft, to form an equipoise to the valves. There is one on each side of the cylinder. (_See_ SPANNER. )--Also, aninflexible bar of iron or wood to raise weights, which takes rank as thefirst and most simple of the mechanical powers. --_To lever. _ An old wordfor unloading a ship. 

LEVERAGE. The amount of a lever power. 

LEVES. Very light open boats of the ancients. 

LEVET. The blast of a trumpet or horn. 

LEVIN. The old term for lightning. 

LEVY. An enrolment or conscription. --_To levy. _ To raise recruits. 

LEWER. A provincialism for handspike; a corrupt form of _lever_. 

LEWIS-HOLES. Two holes in the surface of a mortar, superseding ears. 

LEWTH [from the Anglo-Saxon _lywd_]. A place of shelter from the wind. 

LEX, OR LEAX. The Anglo-Saxon term for salmon. 

L. G. These uncials on a powder-barrel mean large-grain powder. 

LIBERA PISCARIA. A law-term denoting a fishery free to any one. 

LIBERTY. Permission to go on shore or ship-visiting. 

LIBERTY-DAY. A day announced for permitting a part of the crew to goashore. 

LIBERTY-LIQUOR. Spirits formerly allowed to be purchased when seamen hadvisitors; now forbidden. 

LIBERTY-MEN. Those on leave of absence. 

LIBERTY-TICKET. A document specifying the date and extent of the leavegranted to a seaman or marine proceeding on his private affairs. 

LIBRA. The seventh sign of the zodiac, which the sun enters about the21st of September; the commencement of this constellation, where theequator intersects the ecliptic, is called the _autumnal equinox_, fromnight and day being equal. 

LIBRATION OF THE MOON. _See_ EVECTION. 

LIBURNA, OR LIBURNICA. Light ancient galliots, both for sails and oars;of the latter from one rank to five; so called from the Liburni, piratesof the Adriatic. 

LICENSE. An official permission from the Board of Trade, to such personsas it thinks fit to supply seamen or apprentices for merchant-ships inthe United Kingdom. (_See_ RUNNER, LICENSED. )

LICK. In common parlance is a blow. To do anything partially, is to_give it a lick and a promise_, as in painting or blacking. --_To lick_, to surpass a rival, or excel him in anything. --_Lick of the tar-brush_, a seaman. 

LICORN. An old name for the howitzer of the last century, then but akind of mortar fitted on a field-carriage to fire shells at low angles. 

LIDO. A borrowed term signifying the shore or margin of the sea. 

LIE A HULL. Synonymous with _hull to_, or _hulling_. 

LIE ALONG, TO. (_See_ ALONG. ) A ship is said to lie along when she leansover with a side wind. --_To lie along the land_, is to keep a courseparallel with it. 

LIE ATHWART, TO. When the tide slackens, and the wind is across tide, itmakes a vessel ride athwart. 

LIE BY, TO. Dodging under small sail under the land. 

LIE IN! The order to come in from the yards when reefing, furling, orother duty is performed. 

LIEN. A claim to property, and a consequent right of retention. Butships cannot be the subjects of a specific lien to the creditors whosupply them with necessaries, because a lien presumes possession by thecreditor, and therein the power of holding it till his demands aresatisfied. To prevent manifest impediment to commerce, the law ofEngland rejects almost wholly the doctrine of lien as regards ships. 

LIE OFF! An order given to a boat to remain off on her oars tillpermission is given for her to come alongside. 

LIE OUT! The order to the men aloft to distribute themselves on theyards for loosing, reefing, or furling sails. 

LIE OVER. A ship heeling to it with the wind abeam. 

LIESTER. _See_ LISTER. 

LIE THE COURSE, TO. When the vessel's head is in the direction wished. 

LIE-TO, TO. To cause a vessel to keep her head steady as regards a gale, so that a heavy sea may not tumble into her. She has perhaps amain-topsail or trysails, and comes up to within six points, and fallsoff to wind abeam, forging rather ahead, but should not altogether falltoo much to leeward. 

LIE UNDER ARMS, TO. To remain in a state of preparation for immediateaction. 

LIEUTENANT, IN THE ROYAL NAVY. The officer next in rank and power belowthe commander. There are several lieutenants in a large ship, and theytake precedence according to the dates of their commissions. The seniorlieutenant, during the absence of the commander, is charged with thecommand of the ship, as also with the execution of whatever orders hemay have received from the commander relating to the queen's service;holding another's place, as the name implies in French. --_Lieutenant inthe army. _ The subaltern officer next in rank below the captain. 

LIEUTENANT-AT-ARMS. Formerly the junior lieutenant, who, with themaster-at-arms, was charged with the drilling of the small-arm men. 

LIEUTENANT-COLONEL. The next below the colonel, generally having theactive command in the regiment, whether in cavalry, infantry, orartillery, the full colonels being mostly on staff employ, or even inretirement. 

LIEUTENANT-GENERAL. The officer taking the next place to a general, ranking with vice-admiral. 

LIEUTENANT'S STORE-ROOM. More commonly called the _ward-room store-room_(which see). 

LIFE-BELT. An india-rubber or cork girdle round a person's waist to buoyhim up in the water. 

LIFE-BOAT. One of such peculiar construction that it cannot sink or beswamped. It is equipped for attending wherever a wreck may happen, andsaving the lives of the crew: really one of the greatest blessingsconferred by civilization and humanity on mariners. Life-boats wereinvented by Admiral Samuel Graves, who died in 1787. The Royal NationalLife-boat Institution has saved by its boats, or by special exertionsfor which it has granted rewards, 14, 980 lives, from the year of itsestablishment, 1824, to the end of 1865. 

LIFE-BUOYS. Are of various descriptions. A very useful one, patented byCook, is supplied to all Her Majesty's ships. It is composed of twocopper cylinders, and has a balanced stem carrying a fuse, burningtwenty minutes. It is kept suspended on the quarter, can be let go, andignited instantaneously, and will support two men for a considerabletime. 

LIFE-GUARDS. A greatly-privileged body of cavalry, specially assigned tothe guarding of the sovereign's person. 

LIFE-KITE. A contrivance for saving the lives of shipwrecked persons byforming a communication between the wreck and a lee-shore. 

LIFE-LINES. Stretched from gun to gun, and about the upper deck in badweather, to prevent the men being washed away. The life-lines aloft arestretched from the lifts to the masts to enable seamen to stand securelywhen manning yards, as in a salute to admirals, &c. 

LIFE-PRESERVER. An air-tight apparatus for saving people in cases ofwreck. 

LIFT. A term applied to the sails when the wind catches them on theleeches and causes them to ruffle slightly. Also implies help in work inhand, as "give us a lift. "

LIFT AN ANCHOR, TO. Either by the purchase; or a ship if she has notsufficient cable on a steep bank _lifts_, or shoulders, her anchor. 

LIFTED. Promoted somewhat unexpectedly. 

LIFTER. _See_ WIPER. 

LIFTING. The rising of fog or haze from the surface of the water. 

LIFTING-JACK. A portable machine for lifting heavy objects, acting bythe power either of the lever, the tooth and pinion, or the screw. 

LIFTS. Ropes which reach from each mast-head to their respectiveyard-arms to steady and suspend the ends. Their use is to keep the yardin equilibrium, or to raise one of its extremities higher than the otherif necessary, but particularly to support the weight when a number ofmen are employed on it, furling or reefing the sail. The yards are saidto be squared by the lifts when they hang at right angles with themasts. --_Topping-lifts. _ (_See_ TOPPING-LIFTS. )

LIG. A fish-hook, with lead cast round its upper part in order to sinkit. 

LIGAN. _See_ LAGAN. 

LIGGER. A line with a float and bait, used for catching pike. Anight-hook laid for a pike or eel. 

LIGHT, TO. To move or lift anything along; as "light over to windward, "the cry for helping the man at the weather-earing when taking in a reef. Each man holding by a reef-point helps it over, as the lee-earing cannotbe passed until the man to windward calls out, "Haul out to leeward. "

LIGHT AIRS. Unsteady and faint flaws of wind. 

LIGHT ALONG! Lend assistance in hauling cables, hawsers, or large ropesalong, and lifting some parts in a required direction. 

LIGHT-BALLS. Are thrown from mortars at night to discover the enemy'sworking parties, &c. They are composed of saltpetre, sulphur, resin, andlinseed-oil, and burn with great brilliancy. The _parachute light-ball_, which suspends itself in the air by the action of the heated gas fromthe light against the parachute, is most convenient. 

LIGHT BOBS. The old soubriquet for _light infantry_ (which see). 

LIGHT BREEZES. When light airs have become steady. 

LIGHTEN, TO. To throw ballast, stores, cargo, or other things, overboardin stress of weather, to render the vessel more buoyant. 

LIGHTER. A large, open, flat-bottomed boat, with heavy bearings, employed to carry goods to or from ships. --_Ballast lighter. _ A vesselfitted up to raise ballast from the bottom of a harbour. --_Covered orclose lighter. _ One furnished with a deck throughout her whole length, in order to secure such merchandise as might be damaged by wet, and toprevent pillage. 

LIGHTERAGE. The charge made for the hire of a lighter. 

LIGHTERMAN. A man employed in a lighter. 

LIGHT-HANDED. Short of the complement of men. 

LIGHT-HORSE. A name formerly given to all mounted men who were notencumbered with armour. 

LIGHT-HORSEMAN. An old name for the light boat, since called a gig. (_See_ WALLMIA. )

LIGHTHOUSE. A sort of tower, erected upon a headland, islet, or rock, whose lights may be seen at a great distance from the land to warnshipping of their approach to these dangers. --A _floating light_, or_light vessel_, strongly moored, is used to mark dangers under water. Lights are variously distinguished, as by the number, colour, andcontinuity of their lights, whether flashing, revolving, &c. 

LIGHT ICE. That which has but little depth in the water; it is notconsidered dangerous to shipping, as not being heavy. 

LIGHT INFANTRY. Troops specially trained to the extended and rapidmovements necessary to cover the manœuvres of the main body. 

LIGHTNING-CONDUCTOR. The lightning-conductor (introduced by Sir SnowHarris) is a plate connected from the royal mast-head down to the deck, thence by the beams to the ship's copper into the sea. Another kind is acopper-wire chain or rope hoisted to the truck, then passing down by thebackstays over the channels into the sea. 

LIGHT-PORT. A scuttle made for showing a light through. Also, a port intimber ships kept open until brought deep by cargo. It is then securedand caulked in. (_See_ RAFT-PORT. )

LIGHT-ROOM. In a ship-of-war, a small space parted off from themagazine, having double-glass windows for more safely transmitting thelight by which the gunner and his assistants fill their cartridges. Large ships generally have two light-rooms, the after and the fore. 

LIGHTS. In men-of-war, all the seamen's lights are extinguished by 8P. M. , the officers' at 10, unless the commanding officer gives hispermission, through the master-at-arms, for a longer time, as occasionmay require. 

LIGHT SAILS. All above the topgallant-sails; also the studding-sails andflying jib. Men-of-war carry topgallant-sails over double reef. 

LIGHT SHIP. In contradistinction to laden; a ship is said to be lightwhen she has no cargo, or merely in ballast. When very crank, she issaid to be _flying light_. Also, a vessel bearing a light as a guide tonavigators. 

LIGHT WATER-DRAUGHT. The depth of water which a vessel draws when she isempty, or nearly so. 

LIGHT WATER-LINE. The line showing the depression of the ship's body inthe water when just launched, or quite unladen. (_See_ WATER-LINE. )

LIGNAMINA. Timber fit for building. 

LIGNUM VITÆ. _Guaiacum officinale. _ A West Indian tree, of the wood ofwhich sheaves of blocks are made. It was allowed to be imported free ofall duties. 

LIMB. The graduated arc of an astronomical or surveying instrument. Inastronomy, it is the edge or border of the disc of the sun, moon, or oneof the planets; in which sense we say the upper limb, the lower limb, the sun or moon's nearest limb, &c. 

LIMBER. In artillery, the two-wheeled carriage to which the trail of afield gun-carriage is attached for travel. --_Limber-boxes_ are thechests fitted above the axle-tree of the limber for ammunition. --_Limberup!_ is the command so to raise and attach. 

LIMBER BOARDS OR PLATES. Short movable pieces of plank; a part of thelining of a ship's floor, close to the keelson, and immediately abovethe limbers. They are occasionally removed to clear them of any rubbishby which they may be clogged, so as to interrupt the passage of water tothe pump-well. 

LIMBER-BOX. Synonymous with _limber-trunk_. 

LIMBER-CLEARER. A small chain rove fore-and-aft through thelimber-passage to clear it when necessary, by hauling backwards andforwards. 

LIMBER-PASSAGE. The line of limber-holes throughout the whole length ofthe floor, on each side of the keelson, for the water to have freeaccess to the pumps. 

LIMBER-PLATES. _See_ LIMBER-BOARDS. 

LIMBER-STREAK. The streak of foot-waling nearest the keelson, wroughtover the lower ends of the first futtocks. 

LIMBO. Restraint, durance, confinement under arrest, or in the bilboes. Dante uses this term for a division of the infernal regions. 

LIMB-TANGENT. The accurate touch of the edge of a celestial body to thehorizon. 

LIME OR LEMON JUICE. A valuable anti-scorbutic, included by act ofparliament in the scale of provisions for seamen. It has latterly beenso much adulterated that scurvy has increased threefold in a few years. 

LIME-POTS. Formerly supplied among the munitions of war to ships. 

LIMITING PARALLELS. The parallels of latitude upon the earth's surface, within which occultations of stars or planets by the moon are possible. They are given in the _Nautical Almanac_ for each occultation. 

LIMMER. The side-rope to a poop or other ladder. 

LIMPET. A well-known shell-fish, giving rise to the brackish proverb, "Sticking fast like a limpet to a rock. "

LINCH OR LINS PIN. The iron pin which keeps the trucks of a gun-carriageconfined to the axle-tree. 

LINE, TO. To cover one piece with another. Also, to mark out the work ona floor for determining the shape of a vessel's body. --_To line a ship_, is to strike off with a batten, or otherwise, the directional lines forpainting her. (_See_ TOE A LINE. )

LINE. The general appellation of a number of small ropes in a ship, asbuntlines, clue-lines, bowlines, &c. Also, the term in common parlancefor the equator. Also, in the army, distinguishes the regular numberedregiments of cavalry and infantry from the artillery and guards, to whomexceptional functions are assigned. In fortification, it means a trench, approaches, &c. In a geometrical sense, it signifies length withoutbreadth; and in military parlance, it is drawing up a front ofsoldiers. --_Concluding line. _ A small rope, which is hitched to themiddle of every step of a stern-ladder. --_Deep-sea line. _ A long line, marked at every five fathoms with small strands of line, knotted, andused with the deep-sea lead. The first 20 fathoms are marked as follows:2 and 3 fathoms with black leather; 5 with white bunting; 7 with red; 10with leather and a hole in it. Then 13, 15, and 17 repeat the previousmarks of 3, 5, and 7. Two knots indicate 20, three knots 30, four knots40 fathoms, and so on, with an additional knot for every ten. Meanwhilea single knot indicates the intermediate fives. Besides this system somepilots prefer their own marks, as in the Hooghly, where they alwaysmeasure the line for themselves. The term "deep-sea line" must not nowbe confined to the use of the lead for the ordinary purposes of safenavigation; deep-sea soundings for scientific purposes are recorded inthousands of fathoms, in which case the line is sometimes made of silk, the object being to obtain the largest amount of strength with a smallweight. --_Fishing-lines. _ Particular kinds of lines, generally used forfishing snood, mackerel, whiting, cod, albacore, &c. --_Hand-line. _ Aline about 20 fathoms long, marked like the first 20 fathoms of thedeep-sea line. It is made fast to a hand-lead of from 7 to 14 lbs. , andused to determine the depth of water in going in or out of a harbour, river, channel, &c. --_Hauling-line. _ Any rope let down out of a top, &c. , to haul up some light body by hand. --_Knave-line. _ A rope fastenedto the cross-trees, under the main or fore top, whence it comes down bythe ties to the ram-head, and there it is rove through a piece of woodabout 2 feet long, and so is brought to the ship's side, and therehauled up taut to the rails. --_Life-line. _ A rope occasionally extendedin several situations for persons to lay hold of, to prevent theirfalling. --_Mar-line. _ A particular kind of small line, composed of twostrands very little twisted; there is both tarred and white mar-line. That supplied for the gunner and for bending light sails isuntarred. --_Navel-line. _ A rope depending from the heads of the main andfore masts, and passed round to the bight of the truss to keep it up, whilst the yard is being swayed up, or when the truss, in bracing sharpup, is overhauled to the full. --_Spilling-lines. _ Ropes fixedoccasionally to the square sails, particularly the main and fore coursesin bad weather, for reefing or furling them more conveniently; they arerove through blocks upon the yard, whence leading round the sail theyare fastened abaft the yard, so that the sail is very closelyconfined. --_White-line. _ That which has not been tarred, incontradistinction to _tarred line_. 

LINE-BREADTH. _See_ BREADTH LINE. 

LINE OF BATTLE. A disposition of the fleet at the moment of engagement, by signal or previous order, on which occasion the vessels are usuallydrawn up as much as possible in a specified bearing, as well to gain andkeep the advantage of the wind, as to run the same board, about 1 cable, or 100 fathoms distant from each other. The line-of-battle in sea-fightsoccurs both in Plutarch (_Themistocles_) and Froissart. 

LINE-OF-BATTLE SHIPS. Formerly those of 74 guns and upwards; or in theseiron days, any vessel capable of giving and taking the tremendous blowsof the larger ordnance. 

LINE OF BEARING. A previously determined bearing given out by acommander-in-chief, as well as line-of-battle. "From line of battle formline of bearing, " or reverse. The line of bearing must be that point ofthe compass on which the ships bear from each other, and from which theline of battle can readily be formed without losing speed or ground. 

LINE OF COLLIMATION. _See_ COLLIMATION, LINE OF. 

LINE OF DEFENCE. In fortification, the face of a work receiving flankdefence, together with its prolongation to the flanking work. 

LINE OF DEMARCATION. A line which is drawn by consent, to ascertain thelimits of territories belonging to different powers. 

LINE OF LINE. _See_ GUNTER'S LINE. 

LINE-OF-METAL ELEVATION. That which the axis of a gun has above theobject when its line of metal is pointed on the latter; it averages1-1/2° in guns of the old construction. 

LINE OF NODES. The imaginary line joining the ascending and descendingnodes of the orbit of a planet or comet. 

LINE OF OPERATIONS. In strategy, the line an army follows to attain itsobjective point. 

LINE OUT STUFF. To mark timber for dressing to shape. 

LINERS. Line-of-battle ships. Also, a designation of such packet orpassenger ships as trade periodically and regularly to and from portsbeyond sea, in contradistinction to chance vessels. Also, a term appliedby seamen to men-of-war and to their crews. 

LINES. With shipwrights, are the various plans for determining the shapeand form of the ship's body on the mould-loft floor. Also, a species offield-works, consisting of a series of fronts, constructed in order tocover the front and form the immediate defence of an army or thefrontiers of a state. 

LINES OF FLOTATION. Those horizontal marks supposed to be described bythe surface of the water on the bottom of a ship, and which areexhibited at certain depths upon the sheer-draught. (_See_ LIGHTWATER-LINE, and LOAD WATER-LINE. )

LING. A brushwood useful in breaming. Also, a fish, the _Lota molva_; itinvariably inhabits the deep valleys of the sea, while the cod is alwaysfound on the banks. When sun-dried it is called stock-fish. 

LINGET. Small langridge; slugs. 

LINGO. A very old word for tongue or dialect, rather than language orspeech. 

LININGS. The reef-bands, leech and top linings, buntline cloths, andother applied pieces, to prevent the chafing of the sails. Inship-building, the term means thin dressed board nailed over any roughsurface to give it a finish. 

LINKISTER. An interpreter; linguist. 

LINKS. A northern phrase for the windings of a river; also for flatsands on the sea-shore, and low lands overflowed at spring tides. 

LINK WORMING. Guarding a cable from friction, by worming it with chains. 

LINNE. A Gaelic term for pool, pond, lake, or sea. 

LINSEY-WOLSEY. A stuff in extensive use commercially; it is a mixture offlax and wool. 

LINSTOCK. In olden times it was a staff about 3 feet long, having asharp point at the foot to stick in the deck, and a forked head to holda lighted match. It gave way to the less dangerous match-tub, and sincethat to gun-locks, friction-tubes, &c. Shakspeare in _Henry V. _ says:

 "And the nimble gunner With _linstock_ now the devilish cannon touches, And down goes all before them. "

LINTRES. Ancient canoes capable of carrying three lintrarii. 

LIP. Insolence and bounce. 

LIPPER. A sea which washes over the weather chess-tree, perhaps_leaper_. Also, the spray from small waves breaking against a ship'sbows. 

LIPPING. Making notches on the edge of a cutlass or sword. 

LIPS OF SCARPHS. The substance left at the ends, which would otherwisebecome sharp, and be liable to split. 

LIQUORS. A term applicable to all fluids, but at sea it is expresslyapplied to alcoholic spirits. 

LIRA. An Italian coin. A silver coin of about tenpence sterling. 

LISBONINE. A national denomination for the moidore. 

LISSOM. Active, supple. 

LIST, TO. To incline to one side; as "the ship has a list to port, "_i. E. _ leans over to that side. 

LIST. A roll of names, as the army and navy lists; but usually at sea itmeans the doctor's list. Also, the abbreviation for _enlist_. "Why didyou list?" said when a man is grumbling who has entered a servicevoluntarily. 

LIST AND RECEIPT. The official document sent with officers or men of anydescription, discharged from one ship to another; it merely states thenames and qualities, with the date of discharge. 

LISTER. A sort of three-pronged harpoon used in the salmon fisheries;also, a light spear for killing fish in general. 

LISTING. A narrow strip cut off the edge of a plank, in order to exposefor examination, and get at, a vessel's timbers. 

LITTER. A sort of hurdle bed, on which to carry wounded men from thefield to the boats. 

LITTORAL. Relating to a coast; often used as synonymous with sea-board. 

LITTORARIÆ. Ancient coasting vessels. 

LIVE, TO. To be able to withstand the fury of the elements; said of aboat or ship, &c. 

LIVE-LUMBER. Passengers, _ladies_, landsmen, cattle, sheep, pigs, andpoultry. 

LIVELY. To lift lightly to the sea; as a boat, &c. 

LIVER-FACED. Mean and cowardly, independent of complexion. 

LIVERY-ARROW. A missile formerly supplied to our ships of war. 

LIVE-SHELL. One filled with its charge of powder or other combustible. It is also called a _loaded shell_. 

LIVID SKY. That blackish red and blue which pervade the sky, previous toan easterly gale, at sea:--

 "Deep midnight now involves the livid skies Where eastern breezes, yet enervate, rise. "--_Falconer. _

LIZARD. A piece of rope, sometimes with two legs, and one or more ironthimbles spliced into it. It is used for various purposes; one is oftenmade fast to the topsail-tye, for the buntlines to reeve through, toconfine them to the centre of the yard. A lizard with a tail and thimbleis used as a fair lead, to lead out where the lift runs in a line withthe object. The lower boom topping-lift is thus helped by carrying thelizard out to the fore-brace block. In yards sent aloft ready forcrossing, the lizard confines the yard rope until the order is given, "Sway across, " when, letting the lizard run, all cross simultaneously. 

LIZIERE. In fortification, a word sometimes used for _berm_ (which see). A narrow bank of earth supporting the parapet when deformed by fire. 

LLANOS [Sp. _plains_]. Immense plains in S. America, with alternate aridpatches and verdure. 

LLOYD'S. An establishment which, from a subscription coffee-house, hasgrown to a society which has transacted the bulk of the Britishinsurance business regularly since 1601; and even before that periodassurers had met there "time out of mind. " A register is kept of everyship, whether foreign or English, with the place where it was built, thematerials used in its construction, its age, state of repair, andgeneral character. 

LLOYD'S AGENTS. Persons appointed in all parts of the commercial world, to forward accounts of the arrivals and departures of vessels, or anyinformation interesting to the underwriters. 

LLOYD'S LIST. A gazette, published formerly twice a week, but latterlydaily, under the superintendence of a committee chosen by thesubscribers, and transmitted over the whole world. 

LLOYD'S REGISTER. An annual list of British and foreign shipping, rankedby letter and number in different classes. 

LLOYD'S SURVEYORS. Practical persons specially appointed in London, andmost of the out-ports of the United Kingdom, to investigate the stateand condition of merchant-ships for the underwriters. 

LOADED-SHELL. A shell filled with lead, to be thrown from a mortar. Theterm is also used for _live-shells_. 

LOADING-CHAMBER. The paterero, or inserting piece in breech-loading. 

LOADING OF A SHIP. _See_ CARGO and LADING. 

LOADSMAN. A pilot, or person who conducts into or out of harbours. 

LOADSTONE. _See_ MAGNET and DIPPING-NEEDLE. 

LOAD WATER-LINE. The draught of water exhibited when the ship isproperly loaded; in a word, her proper displacement, not alwayssufficiently considered. 

LOAD WATER-SECTION. A horizontal section at the load water-line in theship-builder's draught. 

LOAFER. One who hangs about a dock, ready for every job except a hardone. 

LOATH TO DEPART. Probably the first line of some favourite song;formerly the air was sounded in men-of-war, when going foreign, for thewomen and children to quit the ship. 

LOB. A sluggish booby; whence _lubber_. Also, that part of a tree whereit first divides into branches. 

LOBBY. A name sometimes given to an apartment close before the greatcabin bulk-head. 

LOB-COCK. A lubber; an old term of utter contempt. 

LOBLOLLY. A name formerly applied to pottage, burgoo, or gruel. 

LOBLOLLY-BOY. A man who attended the surgeon and his assistants, tosummon the sick, and attend on them. A man is now stationed in the bay, under the designation of _sick-berth attendant_. 

LOBSCOUSE. An olla-podrida of salt-meat, biscuit, potatoes, onions, spices, &c. , minced small and stewed together. (_See_ LAP'S COURSE. )

LOBSTER. A well-known marine crustacean, _Astacus marinus_. Also, red-coats of old; whence _lobster-box_, a colloquialism for barracks. 

LOBSTER-BOAT. A bluff, clincher-built vessel, fitted with a well, topreserve the lobsters alive. 

LOBSTER-TOAD. _See_ DEEP-SEA CRAB. 

LOB-TAILING. The act of the sperm whale in violently beating the waterwith its tail. 

LOB-WORM. A worm found at low-water in sand, esteemed for bait. 

LOCAL ATTRACTION. The effect of the iron in a ship on her compasses; itvaries with the position of a compass in a ship, also with that of aship on the earth's surface, and with the direction of the ship's head. In iron ships it is affected by the line of direction in which they arebuilt. Its detection and remedies are amongst the most important studiesof navigators of iron ships and steamers. 

LOCAL MARINE-BOARD. _See_ MARINE BOARDS. 

LOCH. Gaelic for lake, in Scotland and Ireland. In Scotland also an armof the sea, where the tides ebb and flow; on the east coast called a_firth_, though on the west mostly termed a _loch_. 

LOCHABER AXE. A formidable weapon once used by the Highlanders. 

LOCK. The striking instrument by which fire is produced for thedischarge of a gun, containing the cock, the hammer, the pan, &c. It wasfirst introduced in naval ordnance by Sir Charles Douglas, and has nowgiven way to the _detonating hammer_ and friction-tube, as the old matchand the salamander did to the lock. 

LOCK. A spelling of _loch_ (which see). Also, the general name for anyworks made to confine or raise the water of a river; a canal inclosedbetween the sluice-gate above and the flood-gate below. 

LOCK, TO. To entangle the lower yards when tacking. 

LOCKAGE. The cost of passing vessels through canal-locks. 

LOCKER. Divisions in cabins and store-rooms. --_Boatswain's locker. _ Achest in small craft wherein material for working upon rigging iskept. --_Chain-locker_ or _chain-well_, where the chain-cables are kept;best abreast the main-mast, as central weight, but often before thefore-mast. --_Davy Jones' locker. _ The bottom of the sea, where nothingis lost, because you know where it is. --_Shot-lockers_, near thepump-well in the hold. Also, the receptacle round the coamings ofhatchways. 

LOCKET. The chape of a sword-scabbard. 

LOCK-FAST. A modified principle in the breech-loading of fire-arms. 

LOCKING-IN. The alternate clues and bodies of the hammocks when hung up. 

LOCK, STOCK, AND BARREL. An expression derived from fire-arms, andmeaning the whole. 

LOC-MEN, OR LOCO-MEN. An old term for pilots. 

LOCOMOTIVE-POWER. The force of sails and wind, or steam. 

LODE-MANAGE, OR LODEMANSHIP. The hire of a pilot. It also meant bothpilotage and seamanship; whence Chaucer--

 "His herborough, his moone, and his lodemanage, There was none such from Hull to Cartage. "

LODE-MEREGE. In the laws of Oleron, seems identical with _lode-manage_. 

LODE-SHIP. A pilot boat, which was also employed in fishing; it ismentioned in statute 31 Edward III. C. 2. 

LODESMEN. An Anglo-Saxon word for pilots. 

LODE-STAR. The north star. But Spenser alludes to any star as a guide tomariners:--

 "Like as a ship, whose lode-star, suddenly Cover'd with clouds, her pilot hath dismay'd. "

Shakspeare coincides with this, in comparing Hermia's eyes tolode-stars. 

LODGE ARMS. The word of command to an armed party preparatory to theirbreaking off. 

LODGEMENT. In fortification, an established footing, such as a besiegermakes by throwing up hasty cover, against the fire of the defenders, onany freshly gained post. 

LODGING-KNEES, OR DECK-BEAM KNEES. Those riding on the hanging ordagger-knees, and fixed horizontally in the ship's frame. 

LODIA. A large trading boat of the White Sea. 

LOE, OR LAWE. An eminence, whether natural or artificial. 

LOFTY SHIPS. Once a general name for square-rigged vessels:--

 "A mackerel sky and mares' tails Make lofty ships carry low sails. "

LOG-BOARD. Two boards shutting together like a book, and divided intoseveral columns, in which to record, through the hours of the day andnight, the direction of the wind and the course of the ship, with allthe material occurrences, together with the latitude by observation. From this table the officers work the ship's way, and compile theirjournals. The whole being written by the mate of the watch with chalk, is rubbed out every day at noon. Now a slate is more generally used. 

LOG-BOOK. Mostly called the log, is a journal into which the log-boardis daily transcribed, together with any other circumstance deservingnotice. The intermediate divisions or watches are usually signed by thecommanding officer. It is also divided into _harbour-log_ and _sea-log_. 

LOG-CANOE. One hollowed out of a single log. (_See_ CANOE. )

LOGGED. Entered in the log. A very serious punishment, not long disused, as a mark of disgrace, by recording the omissions of an officer. It mayyet be demanded if arrest ensues. 

LOGGED. When a ship is on her beam ends, or in that state in which sheis unmanageable at sea. (_See_ WATER-LOGGED. )

LOGGERHEAD, OR LOGGER-HEAT. A round ball of iron attached to a longhandle with a hook at the end of it. It heats tar by being made hot inthe fire, and then plunged into the tar-bucket. It was also used topound cocoa before chocolate was supplied. Also, an upright roundedpiece of wood, near the stern of a whale-boat, for catching a turn ofthe line to. Also, a name given to a well-known turtle, _Cheloniacaouana_, from its having a great head; it is sometimes called the_whooper_ or _whapper_. (_See_ TURTLE. )

LOG-GLASS. The sand-glass used at heaving the log to obtain the rate ofsailing. It is a 28 seconds glass for slow sailing, and 14 seconds forfast sailing. 

LOG-LINE AND LOG-SHIP. A small line about 100 fathoms long, fastened tothe log-ship by means of two legs, one of which passes through a hole atthe corner, and is knotted on the opposite side, while the other leg isattached by a pin fixed into another hole so as to draw out when _stop_is called, _i. E. _ when the glass has run out. This line, from thedistance of 10, 12, or 15 fathoms of the log-ship, has certain knots ordivisions, which ought to be 47 feet 4 inches from each other, though itwas the common practice at sea not to have them above 42 feet. Theestimate of the ship's way or distance run is done by observing thelength of the line unwound whilst the glass is running; for so manyknots as run out in that time, so many miles the ship sails in anhour. --_To heave the log_ is to throw it into the water on the lee-side, well out of the wake, letting it run until it gets beyond the eddies, then a person holding the glass turns it up just as the first mark, orstray-line, goes out, from which the knots begin to be reckoned. The logis, however, at best, a precarious way of computing, and must becorrected by experience. The inventor of it is not known, and no mentionis made of it till the year 1607, in an East India voyage, published byPurchas. The mode before, and even now in some colliers, and in nativecraft in the East Indies, is to throw a _log_ or chip overboard at theforemost channel-plate, and to walk aft, keeping up with it until itpasses the stern, thus estimating (and closely too by practice) the rateof motion. Other methods have been invented by various people, but_Massey's Patent Log_ gives the most accurate measurement. The sameprinciple is also applied to the deep-sea sounding-lead. 

LOGWOOD. Dyewood, _Hæmatoxylon campechianum_. It occurs on both sides ofthe American coasts near the Isthmus of Darien, and is a great articleof trade, varying from £5 to £10 per ton. Recent discoveries of theproducts of coal have reduced the price. 

LOICH. A statute term, comprehending the fishes lobbe, ling, and cod. 

LONDAGE. An old term for landing from a boat. 

LONDON WAGGON. The tender which carried the impressed men from off thetower to the receiving-ship at the Nore. 

LONGÆ. Roman row-boats built to carry a large number of men. 

LONG AND SHORT BOARDS. _See_ TACK AND HALF-TACK. 

LONG BALLS. Engaging beyond the reach of carronades. 

LONG BOAT. Is carvel-built, full, flat, and high, and is usually thelargest boat belonging to a ship, furnished with spars and sails, andmay be armed and equipped for cruizing short distances; her principalemploy, however, is to bring heavy stores on board, and also to go upsmall rivers to fetch water, wood, &c. At sea it is stowed between thefore and main masts. Not used in the navy. (_See_ LAUNCH. )

LONG-BOW. A noted weapon formerly supplied to our men-of-war. 

LONG CHALKS. Great strides. (_See_ CHALKS. )

LONGER. Each row of casks in the hold, athwart. Also, the fore and aftspace allotted to a hammock; the longers reckoned similarly to last. 

LONG-GASKETS. Those used for sea service; the opposite of_harbour-gaskets_ (which see). 

LONGIE. A name of the foolish guillemot, _Uria troile_, in the north. 

LONGITUDE. Is an arc of the equator, or any parallel of latitude, contained between the meridian of a place and that of Greenwich, or anyother first meridian. These arcs being similar, are expressed by thesame number of degrees and miles, though the absolute distance on theearth's surface decreases as the latitude increases, for which seeDEPARTURE. East longitude extends 180 degrees to the right, when lookingnorth, and west longitude as many to the left of the first meridian. 

LONGITUDE, GEOCENTRIC. The angular distance of a heavenly body from thefirst point of Aries, measured upon the ecliptic, as viewed from theearth. 

LONGITUDE, HELIOCENTRIC. The angular distance of a body from the firstpoint of Aries, measured upon the ecliptic, as viewed from the sun. 

LONGITUDE BY ACCOUNT. The distance east and west, as computed from theship's course and distance run, carried forward from the lastastronomical determination. 

LONGITUDE BY CHRONOMETER. Is estimated by the difference between thetime at the place, and the time indicated by chronometer. 

LONGITUDE BY LUNAR OBSERVATION. The longitude calculated by observingthe moon's angular distance from the sun or a fixed star. It is the onlycheck on chronometers, and very valuable in long voyages, though nowmuch neglected, since the establishment of compulsory examination in themerchant service, which does not require lunars. 

LONGITUDE OF A CELESTIAL BODY. An arc of the ecliptic, contained betweenthe first point of Aries and a circle of longitude passing through thecentre of the body. 

LONGITUDINAL SECTION. In ship-building, a line which cuts the draught ofa vessel lengthwise. 

LONG-JAWED. The state of rope when its strands are straightened bybeing much strained and untwisted, and from its pliability will coilboth ways. 

LONG-LEAVE. Permission to visit friends at a distance. 

LONG-LEGGED. Said of a vessel drawing much water. --_Long leggers_, leanschooners. Longer than ordinary proportion to breadth. Swift. 

LONG OYSTER. A name of the sea cray-fish. 

LONG-SERVICE. A cable properly served to prevent chafing underparticular use. 

'LONGSHORE. A word used rather contemptuously for _alongshore_; landusage. --_'Longshore fellows_, landsmen pretenders. --_'Longshore owners_, those merchants who become notorious for sending their ships to seascantily provided with stores and provisions. 

LONG-SHOT. A distant range. It is also used to express a long way; afar-fetched explanation; something incredible. 

LONG STERN-TIMBERS. _See_ STERN-TIMBERS. 

LONG STROKE. The order to a boat's crew to stretch out and hang on her. 

LONG-TACKLES. Those overhauled down for hoisting up top-sails to bebent. Long-tackle blocks have two sheaves of different sizes placed oneabove the other, as in fiddle-blocks. 

LONG-TAILS. A sobriquet for the Chinese. 

LONG TIMBERS, OR LONG TOP-TIMBERS. Synonymous with _double futtocks_. Timbers in the cant-bodies, reaching from the dead-wood to the head ofthe second futtock, and forming a floor. 

LONG TOGS. Landsman's clothes. 

LONG TOM, OR LONG TOM TURKS. Pieces of lengthy ordnance for chasers, &c. 

LONG VOYAGE. One in which the Atlantic Ocean is crossed. 

LONG-WINDED WHISTLERS. Chase-guns. 

LOO, OR LOE. A little round hill or heap of stones. --_Under the loo_, isshelter from the wind; to leeward. 

LOOF. The after part of a ship's bow, before the chess-tree, or thatwhere the planks begin to be incurvated as they approach the stem. Hence, the guns which lie here are called _loof-pieces_. 

LOOF. Usually pronounced and spelled _luff_ (which see). 

LOOK, TO. The bearing or direction, as, _she looks up_, is approachingher course. --_A plank looks fore and aft_, means, is placed in thatdirection. 

LOOK-OUT. Watchful attention; there is always a look-out kept from theforecastle, foretopsail-yard, or above, to watch for any dangerousobject lying near a ship's track, for any strange sail heaving in sight, &c. ; the officer of the watch accordingly calls frequently from thequarter-deck to the mast-head-man appointed for this service, "Look outafore there. "

LOOK OUT FOR SQUALLS. Beware; cautionary. 

LOOM. The handle of an oar. Also, the track of a fish. 

LOOM, TO. An indistinct enlarged appearance of any distant object inlight fogs, as the coast, ships, &c. ; "that land looms high, " "that shiplooms large. " The effect of refraction. 

LOOM-GALE. An easy gale of wind, in which a ship can carry her wholetop-sails a-trip. 

LOON, OR LUNDE. The great northern diver, _Colymbus glacialis_. A birdabout the size of a goose, which frequents the northern seas, where "asstraight as a loon's leg, " is a common comparison. 

LOOP. A bight or bend. The winding of a river. 

LOOP-HOLES. Small openings made in the walls of a castle, or afortification, for musketry to fire through. Also, certain aperturesformed in the bulk-heads, hatches, and other parts of a merchant-ship, through which small arms might be fired on an enemy who boarded her, andfor close fight. They were formerly called _meurtrières_, and wereintroduced in British slave-vessels. 

LOOPS OF A GUN-CARRIAGE. The iron eye-bolts to which the tackles arehooked. 

LOOSE, TO. To unfurl or cast loose any sail, in order to its being set, or dried after rain. 

LOOSE A ROPE, TO. To cast it off, or let it go. 

LOOSE FALL. The losing of a whale after an apparently good opportunityfor striking it. 

LOOSE ICE. A number of pieces near each other, but through which theship can make her way. 

LOOSERS. Men appointed to loose the sails. 

LOOSING FOR SEA. Weighing the anchor. 

LOOT. Plunder, or pillage; a term adopted from China. 

LOOVERED BATTENS. The battens that inclose the upper part of the well. (_See_ LOOVER-WAYS. )

LOOVER-WAYS. Battens or boards placed at a certain angle, so as to admitair, but not wet; a kind of Venetian-blind. 

LOP AND TOP. The top and branches of a felled tree. 

LOP-SIDED. Uneven; one side larger than the other. 

LORCHA. A swift Chinese sailing vessel carrying guns. 

LORD OF MISRULE. _See_ MASTER OF MISRULE. 

LORDS COMMISSIONERS. _See_ COMMISSIONERS. 

LORD WARDEN OF THE CINQUE PORTS. A magistrate who has the jurisdictionof the ports or havens so called. Generally held by one high in office, or an old minister. 

LORICA. A defensive coat-armour made of leather; when iron plates wereapplied, it became a _jack_. 

LORN. A northern name for the crested cormorant, _Phalacrocoraxcristatus_. 

LORRELL. An old term for a lubberly fellow. 

LOSE WAY, TO. When a ship slackens her progress in the water. 

LOSING THE NUMBER OF THE MESS. Dead, drowned, or killed. (_See_ NUMBER. )

LOSING GROUND. Dropping to leeward while working; the driftage. 

LOSS. Total loss is the insurance recovered under peril, according tothe invoice price of the goods when embarked, together with the premiumof insurance. Partial loss upon either ship or goods, is that proportionof the prime cost which is equal to the diminution in value occasionedby the damage. (_See_ INSURANCE. )

LOSSAN. A Manx or Erse term for the luminosity of the sea. 

LOST. The state of being foundered or cast away; said of a ship when shehas either sunk, or been beat to pieces by the violence of the sea. 

LOST DAY. The day which is lost in circumnavigating the globe to thewestward, by making each day a little more than twenty-four hours long. (_See_ GAINED DAY. )

LOST HER WAY. When the buoy is streamed, and all is ready for droppingthe anchor. 

LOST! LOST! When a whale _flukes_, _dives_, or takes tail up to"_running_, " and the boats have no chance in chasing. 

LOST OR NOT LOST. A phrase originally inserted in English policies ofinsurance, in cases where a loss was already apprehended. It is nowcontinued by usage, and is held not to make the contract a wager, normore hazardous. 

LOT. The abbreviation of allotment, or allowance to wife or mother. (_See_ ALLOTMENT. )

LOTMAN. An old term for pirate. 

LOUGH. _See_ LOCH. 

LOUND. Calm, out of wind. 

LOW. An old term for a small hill or eminence. 

LOW AND ALOFT. Sail from deck to truck: "every stitch on her. "

LOWE. A flame, blaze. The torch used in the north by fish-poachers. 

LOWER, TO. The atmosphere to become cloudy. Also, to ease downgradually, expressed of some weighty body suspended by tackles or ropes, which, being slackened, suffer the said body to descend as slowly, orexpeditiously, as occasion requires. 

LOWER-BREADTH-SWEEP. The second on the builder's draught, representingthe lower height of breadth, on which line is set off the mainhalf-breadth of the ship at its corresponding timber. 

LOWER COUNTER. The counter between the upper counter and the rail underthe lights. 

LOWER-DECKERS. The heaviest armament, usually on the lower deck. 

LOWER-FINISHING. _See_ FINISHINGS. 

LOWER HANDSOMELY, LOWER CHEERLY. Are opposed to each other; the formerbeing the order to lower gradually, and the latter to lowerexpeditiously. 

LOWER-HEIGHT. _See_ MAIN-BREADTH. 

LOWER-HOLD. The space for cargo in a merchant-vessel, fitted with'tween-decks. 

LOWER-HOLD-BEAMS. The lowest range of beams in a merchantman. 

LOWER-HOPE. A well-known reach in the Thames where ships wait for theturn of the tide. 

LOWER-LIFTS. The lifts of the fore, main, and crossjack-yards. 

LOWER MASTS. _See_ MAST. 

LOWER TRANSIT. The opposite to the upper transit of a circumpolar star:the passage _sub polo_. 

LOW LATITUDES. Those regions far removed from the poles of the earthtowards the equator, 10° south or north of it. 

LOW SAILS. The courses and close-reefed top-sails. 

LOW WATER. The lowest point to which the tide ebbs. (_See_ TIDE. ) Also, used figuratively for being in distress, without money. 

LOXODROMIC. The line of a ship's way when sailing oblique to themeridian. 

LOXODRONIUS. The _traverse table_. 

LOZENGE. The diamond-cut figure. (_See_ RHOMBUS. )

LUBBER, OR LUBBART. An awkward unseamanlike fellow; from a northern wordimplying a clownish dolt. A boatswain defined them as "fellows fittedwith teeth longer than their hair, " alluding to their appetites. 

LUBBER-LAND. A kind of El Dorado in sea-story, or country of pleasurewithout work, all sharing alike. 

LUBBER'S HOLE. The vacant space between the head of a lower-mast and theedge of the top, so termed from timid climbers preferring that as aneasier way for getting into the top than trusting themselves to thefuttock-shrouds. The term has been used for any cowardly evasion ofduty. 

LUBBER'S POINT. A black vertical line or mark in the compass-bowl in thedirection of the ship's head, by which the angle between the magneticmeridian and the ship's line of course is shown. 

LUBRICATOR. The oil or similar material applied to the bearings ofmachinery to obviate friction. Also, special preparations of the sameincluded in cartridges for rifled fire-arms, to prevent the fouling fromthe burnt powder adhering to the interior of the bore. 

LUCE. The old word for a full-grown pike or jack, immortalized byShakspeare. 

LUCIDA. The bright star or α of each constellation. 

LUCKEN. An unsplit haddock half-dry. 

LUCKY MINIE'S LINES. The long stems of the sea-plant _Chorda filum_. 

LUCKY-PROACH. A northern term for father-lasher, _Cottus scorpius_. 

LUFF, OR LOOFE. The order to the helmsman, so as to bring the ship'shead up more to windward. Sometimes called springing a luff. Also, theair or wind. Also, an old familiar term for lieutenant. Also, thefullest or roundest part of a ship's bows. Also, the weather-leech of asail. 

LUFF AND LIE. A very old sea-term for hugging the wind closely. 

LUFF AND TOUCH HER! Try how near the wind she will come. (_See_TOUCHING. )

LUFF INTO A HARBOUR, TO. To sail into it, shooting head to wind, gradually. A ship is accordingly said to spring her luff when she yieldsto the effort of the helm, by sailing nearer to the wind, or coming to, and does not shake the wind out of her sails until, by shortening all, she reaches her anchorage. 

LUFF ROUND, OR LUFF A-LEE. The extreme of the movement, by which it isintended to throw the ship's head up suddenly into the wind, in order togo about, or to lessen her way to avoid danger. 

LUFF-TACKLE. A purchase composed of a double and single block, thestanding end of the rope being fast to the single block, and the fallcoming from the double. This name is given to any large tackle notdestined for any particular place, but to be variously used as occasionmay require. It is larger than the jigger-tackle, but smaller than thefore and main yard-tackles or the stay-tackles. (_See_ LUFF UPON LUFF. )

LUFF UPON LUFF. One luff-tackle applied to the fall of another, toafford an increase of purchase. 

LUG. The _Arenicola piscatorum_, a sand-worm much used for bait. Also, of old, the term for a perch or rod used in land-measuring, containing16-1/2 feet, and which may have originated the word _log_. 

LUGAR [Sp. ] A name for watering-places on the Spanish coast. 

LUG-BOAT. The fine Deal boats which brave the severest weather; they arerigged as luggers, and dip the yards in tacking. They really constitutea large description of life-boat. 

LUGGER. A small vessel with quadrilateral or four-cornered cut sails, set fore-and-aft, and may have two or three masts. French coastersusually rig thus, and are called _chasse marées_; but with us it isconfined to fishing craft and ships' boats; some carry top-sails. Duringthe war of 1810 to 1814 French luggers, as well as Guernsey privateers, were as large as 300 tons, and carried 18 guns. One captured inside theNeedles in 1814, carried a mizen-topsail. The _Long Bet_ of Plymouth, awell-known smuggler, long defied the Channel gropers, but was taken in1816. 

LUGS. The ears of a bomb-shell, to which the hooks are applied inlifting it. 

LUG-SAIL. A sail used in boats and small vessels. It is in form like agaff-sail, but depends entirely on the rope of the luff for itsstability. The yard is two-thirds of the breadth at foot, and is slungat one-fourth from the luff. On the mast is an iron hoop or traveller, to which it is hoisted. The tack may be to windward, or at the heel ofthe mast amidships. It is powerful, but has the inconvenience ofrequiring to be lowered and shifted on the mast at every tack, unlessthe tack be secured amidships. Much used in the barca-longa, navigatedby the Spaniards. 

LULL. The brief interval of moderate weather between the gusts of windin a gale. Also, an abatement in the violence of surf. 

LULL-BAG. A wide canvas hose in whalers for conducting blubber into thecasks, as it is "made off. "

LUMBER. Logs as they arrive at the mills. Also, timber of any size, sawed or split for use. Also, things stowed without order. 

LUMBERER. One who cuts timber (generally in gangs) in the forests ofNorth America during the winter, and, on the melting of the snow, navigates it, first by stream-driving the separate logs down the springtorrents, then in bays or small rafts down the wider streams, andfinally in rafts of thousands of square yards of surface down thenavigable rivers, to the mills or to the port of shipment. 

LUMIERE CENDREE. A term adopted from the French to signify theash-coloured faint illumination of the dark part of the moon's surfaceabout the time of new moon, caused by sunlight reflected from the earth. 

LUMP. A stout heavy lighter used in our dockyards for carrying anchors, chains, or heavy stores to or from vessels. Also, the trivial name ofthe baggety, an ugly fish, likewise called the sea-owl, _Cyclopteruslumpus_. Also, undertaking any work by the lump or whole. --_By thelump_, a sudden fall out of the slings or out of a top; altogether. 

LUMPERS. So named from labouring at lump or task work. Labourersemployed to load and unload a merchant ship when in harbour. In thenorth the term is applied to those who furnish ballast to ships. 

LUMP SUM. A full payment of arrears, and not by periodical instalmentsof money. 

LUNAR. The brief epithet for the method of finding the longitude by themoon and sun or moon and stars. (_See_ WORKING A LUNAR. )

LUNAR DAY. The interval between a departure and return of the moon tothe meridian. 

LUNAR DISTANCES. An important element in finding the longitude at sea, by what is termed nautical astronomy. It is effected by measuring theapparent distance of the moon from the sun, planet, or certain brightstars, and comparing it with that given in the nautical almanac, forevery third hour of Greenwich time. 

LUNAR INEQUALITY. _See_ VARIATION OF THE MOON. 

LUNAR OBSERVATIONS. The method of observing the apparent distancesbetween given celestial objects, and then clearing the angles from theeffects of parallax and refraction. 

LUNAR TABLES. The tabulated logarithmic aid for correcting the apparentdistance, and facilitating the reduction of the observations. 

LUNATION. The period in which the moon goes through every variety ofphase; that is, one synodical revolution. 

LUNETTE. In fortification, a work composed of two faces meeting in asalient angle, from the inner extremities of which two short flanks runtowards the rear, leaving an open gorge; it is generally applied only inconnection with other works. Prize-masters will recollect that _lunette_is also the French name for a spy-glass or telescope. 

LUNGE [a corruption of _allonge_]. A pass or thrust with a sword; ashove with a boarding-pike. 

LUNI-SOLAR. A chronological term; it is the moon's cycle multiplied intothat of the sun. 

LUNI-SOLAR PRECESSION. _See_ PRECESSION. 

LUNT. A match-cord to fire great guns--a match for a linstock. 

LUNTRA. _See_ FELUCCA. 

LURCA. An old term for a small Mediterranean coaster. 

LURCH. A heavy roll, weather or lee, as occasioned by a sea suddenlystriking or receding from the weather-bilge of the vessel. --_To be leftin the lurch_ is to be left behind in a case where others make theirescape. 

LUSH. Intoxicating fluids of any kind. Also, a northern term forsplashing in water. 

LUSORIÆ. Ancient vessels of observation or pleasure. 

LUST. An archaism of _list_. (_See_ LIST. )

LUTE-STERN. Synonymous with _pink-stern_. 

LUTINGS. The dough stoppages to the seams of the coppers, &c. , whendistilling sea water. 

LYING. The situation of a whale when favourable for sticking--the "lie"usually occurs after feeding. 

LYING ALONG. _See_ LAYING ALONG. 

LYING ON HIS OARS. Taking a rest; at ease. 

LYING-TO. _See_ LIE-TO. 

LYM. From the Celtic _leim_, a port; as Lyme and Lymington. 

LYMPHAD. The heraldic term for an old-fashioned ship or galley. 

LYNCH-LAW. A word recently imported into our parlance from America, signifying illegal and revengeful execution at the wish of a tumultuousmob. 

LYRA. One of the ancient northern constellations. Also, a name of thegray gurnard, or _crooner_ (which see). 

LYRIE. The name in the Firth of Forth for the _Cottus cataphractus_, orarmed bull-head. 

LYTER. The old orthography for _lighter_ (which see). 

LYTHE. A name for the pollack, _Gadus pollachius_. Also, the coal-fishin its fourth year. 

M. 

MAASH. A large trading vessel of the Nile. 

MACE. A war-club of old. 

MACHICOULIS. A projecting gallery over gateways, or walls insufficientlyflanked: being open at the bottom between its supporting corbels, itallows of defending the foot of the wall. 

MACKEREL. The _Scomber vulgaris_, a well-known sea-fish. 

MACKEREL-BOAT. A stout clinch-worked vessel, with a large fore-sail, sprit-sail, and mizen. 

MACKEREL-SKY. _See_ CIRRO-CUMULUS. 

MACKEREL-STURE. A northern name for the tunny, _Scomber thynnus_. 

MACULÆ. Dark temporary spots which are very frequently observed upon thesun's disc: they are of various forms, surrounded by a lighter shade orpenumbra. 

MAD. The state of a compass needle, the polarity of which has beeninjured. 

MADDY, OR MADDIE. A large species of mussel abundant among the rocks ofthe western islands of Scotland and Wales. 

MADE. A professional term for having obtained a commission, or beingpromoted. Also, in some points synonymous with _built_. (_See_ MADEMASTS, &c. )

MADE-EYE. Synonymous with _Flemish eye_ (which see). 

MADE MASTS. The large masts made in several pieces. A ship's lower mastis a made spar; her top-mast is a whole spar. --_Made block_ is onehaving its shell composed of different pieces. 

MADRIERS. Long and broad planks, used for supporting the earth inmining. Also, an old term for sheathing. 

MAGAZINE. A place built for the safe-keeping of ammunition; afloat it isconfined to a close room, in the fore or after part, or both, of aship's hold, as low down as possible; it is lighted occasionally bymeans of candles fixed in the light-room adjoining it, and no person isallowed to enter it with a lamp or candle. (_See_ LIGHT-ROOM. )

MAGELLANIC CLOUDS. A popular term for the two _Nubeculæ_, or greatcloudy-looking spots in the southern heavens, which are found to consistof a vast number of nebulæ and clusters of stars. 

MAGELLAN JACKET. A name given to a watch-coat with a hood, worn in highlatitudes--first used by Cook's people. 

MAGGED. Worn, fretted, and stretched rope, as a magged brace. Also, reproved. 

MAGNET. _See_ COMPASS. 

MAGNETIC AMPLITUDE. The angle between the east or west point of acompass and any heavenly body at its rising or setting. 

MAGNETIC AZIMUTH. An arc of the horizon intercepted between the azimuthcircle of a celestial object and the magnetic meridian. 

MAGNETIC COMPENSATOR. An iron plate fixed near the compass, toneutralize the effect of local attraction upon the needle. 

MAGNETIC NEEDLE. Applied to theodolites, ships' compasses, &c. Abalanced needle, highly magnetized, which points to the magnetic pole, when not influenced by the local attraction of neighbouring iron. Themagnetism may be discharged by blows, or a fall; hence, after an actionat sea, the needles are often found to be useless, until re-magnetized. 

MAGNETIC STORM. An extraordinary magnetic action indicated by delicatemagnetometers in a magnetic observatory, not perceptible on ordinarymagnets. 

MAGNETIC TELEGRAPH. An instrument for communicating messages by means ofmagnetism. 

MAGNITUDE OF AN ECLIPSE. The proportion which the eclipsed part of thesurface of the sun or moon bears to the diameter; it is sometimesexpressed in digits, but more frequently as a decimal, the diameterbeing taken as unity. 

MAGNITUDES OF STARS. The relative degrees of apparent size in which thefixed stars are arranged, and classed according to the intensity oftheir light. The first six classes, designated by Greek letters, includeall those which are distinctly visible to the naked eye. 

MAHONE, MAHONNA, OR MAON. A former Turkish flat-bottomed vessel ofburden, mentioned among the ships of Soliman Pasha, in the siege of Diu. 

MAID. A coast name of the skate. 

MAIDEN. A fortress which has never been taken. 

MAIL. A coat of armour. Also, a number of rings interwoven net-wise, andused for rubbing off the loose hemp from white cordage after it is made. 

MAIL-SHELL. A name for the chiton. 

MAIN. A continent or mainland. Also, figuratively, the ocean. 

MAIN-BODY. The body of troops that marches between the advance-guard andthe rear-guard of an army. 

MAIN-BOOM. The spar which stretches the foot of the boom-mainsail in afore-and-aft rigged vessel. 

MAIN-BRACE. A purchase attached to the main-yard for trimming it to thewind. 

MAIN-BREADTH. The broadest part of a ship at any particular timber orframe, distinguished by upper and lower heights of breadth lines. 

MAIN-CAPSTAN. The after one, as distinguished from the jeer-capstan. 

MAIN-COURSE. The main-sail. 

MAIN-GUARD. The principal guard of a garrison town, usually posted inthe place-of-arms, or the market-place. 

MAIN-HOLD. That part of a ship's hold which lies near the main-hatch. 

MAIN-ICE. A body of impenetrable ice apparently detached from the land, but immovable; between which and the land are lanes of water. 

MAIN-JEERS. Jeers for swaying up the main-yard. 

MAIN-KEEL. The principal keel, as distinguished from the false-keel andthe keelson. 

MAIN-PIECE. The strong horizontal beam of the windlass, supported at theends by iron spindles in the _windlass-bitts_. 

MAIN-PIECE OF THE RUDDER. The _rudder-stock_, or piece which isconnected by the _rudder-bands_ to the stern-post. 

MAIN-POST. The stern-post, as distinguished from the false-post andinner-post. 

MAIN ROYAL-MAST. That above the main topgallant-mast. 

MAIN-SAIL. This, in a square-rigged vessel, is distinguished by theso-termed _square main-sail_; in a fore-and-aft rigged vessel it obtainsthe name of _boom main-sail_. Brigs carry both. 

MAIN-SAIL HAUL! The order given to haul the after-yards round when theship is nearly head to wind in tacking. 

MAIN-SHAFT. The principal shaft in machinery. 

MAINSHEET-HORSE. A kind of iron dog fixed at the middle of a woodenbeam, stretching across a craft's stern, from one quarter stanchion tothe other; on it the mainsheet-block travels. 

MAIN-SPRING. The source of continuous motion in a time-keeper. Also, that part of a musket-lock which is sunk into the stock. 

MAIN-STAYSAIL. A storm-sail set between the fore and main masts. 

MAIN-TACK BLOCK. A block forming part of the purchase used for haulingthe main-tack down to. 

MAIN-TACKLE. A large and strong tackle, hooked occasionally upon themain pendant, and used for various purposes, particularly in securingthe mast, by setting up the rigging, stays, &c. 

MAIN-TACKLE PENDANT. A stout piece of rope with a hook in one end, and athimble in the other, sometimes used for hauling the main-tackle down. 

MAIN-TOP BOWLINE. The bowline of the main-topsail. It is used to haulthe weather-leech forward when on a wind, which makes the sail standbetter. 

MAIN-TOPSAIL HAUL! The order used instead of _main-sail haul_, when themain-sail is not set. 

MAIN-TRANSOM. A term often applied to the _wing-transom_ (which see). 

MAIN-WALES. The lower wales, which are generally placed on the lowerbreadth, and so that the main-deck knee-bolts may come into them. 

MAIN-YARD MEN. Those in the doctor's list. 

MAISTER. _See_ MASTER. 

MAIZE. Indian corn, an article of extensive commerce in many countries. In Italy it is called _Turkey grain_ and _grano d'India_; in Americasimply _corn_, all other grains retaining their distinctive names. 

MAJOR. The next rank below that of lieutenant-colonel; the juniorfield-officer. 

MAJOR AXIS. In the orbit of a planet, means the line joining itsaphelion and perihelion. 

MAJOR-GENERAL. The next in rank below the lieutenant-general. 

MAJOR OF BRIGADE. _See_ BRIGADE-MAJOR. 

MAKE, TO. Is variously applied in sea-language. 

MAKE A GOOD BOARD. _See_ BOARD. 

MAKE A LANE THERE! The order of the boatswain for the crew to separateat muster, to facilitate the approach of any one whose name is called. (_See_ LANE. )

MAKE BAD WEATHER, TO. A ship rolling, pitching, or leaking violently ina gale. 

MAKE FAST. A word generally used for tying or securing ropes. Tofasten. 

MAKE FREE WITH THE LAND, TO. To approach the shore closely. 

MAKE HEAD-WAY. A ship makes head-way when she advances through thewater. 

MAKE IT SO. The order of a commander to confirm the time, sunrise, noon, or sunset, reported to him by the officer of the watch. 

MAKE LEE-WAY, TO. To drift to leeward of the course. 

MAKE READY! Be prepared. 

MAKES. This expresses coming on; as, the tide makes, &c. 

MAKE SAIL, TO. To increase the quantity of sail already set, either byletting out reefs, or by setting additional sails. 

MAKE STERN-WAY, TO. To retreat, or move stern foremost. 

MAKE THE LAND, TO. To see it from a distance after a voyage. 

MAKE WATER, TO. Usually signifies the act of a ship leaking, unless theepithet _foul_ be added. (_See_ FOUL WATER. )

MAKING IRON. One of the caulker's tools; it has a groove in it, and isused after the caulking iron to finish off the seam. (_See_ MEAKING. )

MAKING OFF. Cutting the flensed blubber of a whale into pieces, fittedto pass in at the bilge-holes of the butts which receive it. 

MALA FIDES. In admiralty law, not to be presumed, even under concealmentof letters, or deviation from truth in formal papers. 

MALDUCK. One of the names given to the fulmar, _Procellaria glacialis_. 

MALKIN. A joint-staff sponge, for cleaning out a piece of ordnance. 

MALINGERER [Fr. _malingre_]. One who counterfeits illness for thepurpose of avoiding duty. 

MALLARD. The male of the wild duck (_Anas boschas_). 

MALLEMAK, OR MOLLYMAUK. A sea-bird; the _Procellaria glacialis_, calledalso _fulmar_ (which see). 

MALLEMAROKING. The visiting and carousing of seamen in the Greenlandships. 

MALLET. A wooden hammer, of which there are several sorts. --_A caulkingmallet_ is employed to drive the oakum into the seams of a ship. Thehead of this mallet is long, cylindrical, and hooped withiron. --_Serving mallet. _ A cylindrical piece of wood with a groove onone side and a handle on the other. It is used in serving the rigging, binding the spun yarn more firmly about it than could be done by hand. 

MALLOW. A northern name for the sea-plant _Zostera marina_. 

MALTHA. Mineral pitch. 

MAN. A ship is frequently spoken of as _man_; as man-of-war, merchantman, Guineaman, East or West Indiaman, Greenlandman, &c. 

MAN, TO. To provide a competent number of hands for working and fightinga ship; to place people for duty, as "Man the barge;" "Man the capstan;""Man the yards, " &c. 

MAN, ISLE OF, BATTERY. A name given to the three guns mounted on ships'turrets. 

MANACLE. A handcuff. 

MANARVEL, TO. To pilfer small stores. 

MANATEE, MANATI, OR SEA-COW (_Manatus americanus_). A herbivorousaquatic animal of the order _Sirenia_, found in the West Indies andSouth American rivers. Another species (_Manatus senegalensis_) inhabitsthe west coast of Africa. 

MAN-BOUND. Detained in port in consequence of being short of complement. 

MAN-BROKER. Synonymous with _crimp_ (which see). 

MANBY'S MORTAR. An efficient apparatus for throwing a shell with a lineand chain attached to it, over a stranded vessel, and thereby opening acommunication between the wreck and the shore. 

MANCHE OF MANGALORE. A flat-bottomed boat of burden, about 25 to 35 feetlong, 6 or 7 feet broad, and 4 or 5 feet deep, for landing the cargoesof the _patamars_, which are discharged and loaded at the mouth of theriver. These boats are sewed together like the Masulah boats ofMadras. --The _Manché of Calicut_ is very similar to the foregoing, withthe exception of a raking stem for the purpose of taking the beach. 

MANCHINEEL. _Hippomane mancinella_, a tree which grows to a vast size onthe coasts of the Caribbee Isles and neighbouring continent. The fruitand sap are highly poisonous; but sleeping beneath the branches does notcause death, as was erroneously supposed. 

MANDARIN. A Portuguese word derived from _mandare_, "to command. " It isunknown to the Chinese and Tonquinese, who style their dignitaries"quahn. "

MANDILION. A loose boat-cloak of former times. 

MANDRIL. A wooden cylinder for forming paper cartridges. 

MANGER. A small berthing in the bows, extending athwart the deck of aship-of-war immediately within the hawse-holes, and separated on theafter-part from the rest of the deck by the _manger-board_, a strongcoaming rather higher than the hawse-holes, serving to prevent theingress of the sea when the cables are bent; this water is returned tothe sea through the manger-scuppers, which are made large for thatpurpose. 

MANGONEL. An ancient military engine in the form of a giganticcross-bow, discharging large darts and stones, used in batteringfortified places: a kind of ballista. 

MANGONIZE, TO. To traffic in slaves. 

MAN-HANDLE, TO. To move by force of men, without levers or tackles. 

MAN-HOLE. The aperture, secured by a door, in the upper part of asteam-boiler, which allows a person to enter for repairing it orremoving the deposit or crust of salt. 

MAN-HUNTING. The impress service. 

MANIFEST. An official inventory of the cargo of a merchant ship, specifying the name and tonnage of the vessel, the description of goods, the names of shippers and consignees, and the marks of each package. 

MANILLA ROPE. A valuable cordage made in the Philippines, which, notbeing subject to rot, does not require to be tarred. 

MANIPLE. A small armed party; a term derived from the subdivision of aRoman cohort. 

MANŒUVRE. A dexterous management of anything connected with the ship. 

MAN-OF-WAR. Any vessel in the royal navy. 

MAN-OF-WAR BIRD, OR FRIGATE BIRD. _Fregata aquila_, a sea-bird of thefamily _Pelecanidæ_, found in the tropics, remarkable for the length ofits wings and rapidity of its flight. 

MAN-OF-WAR FASHION. A state of order, tidiness, and good discipline. 

MAN-OF-WAR'S MAN. A seaman belonging to the royal navy. 

MANOMETER. A steam-gauge. 

MAN OVERBOARD! A cry which excites greater activity in a ship than anyother, from the anxious desire to render assistance. 

MAN SHIP! Is to range the people on the yards and rigging in readinessto give three cheers, as a salute on meeting, parting company, or otheroccasions; a good old custom now slackening. In war, as instanced by the_Nymphe_ and _Cleopatra_, the meeting of enemies was truly chivalrous;though there was a case where the response was so moderated as to belaughed at as "a cheer with the chill on. "

MANSIONS OF THE MOON. _See_ LUNAR MANSIONS. 

MANTILLIS. A kind of shield anciently fixed upon the tops of ships as acover for archers. 

MANTLETS. Large movable musket-proof blinds used by besiegers at thehead of a sap, now mostly fitted to embrasures to protect the gunnersfrom sharpshooters: they are best when made of plaited rope. 

MANUAL-EXERCISE. The regulated series of motions for handling andcarrying the musket, except what is connected with firing it. 

MANUBALIST. A stout cross-bow. 

MANXMAN. A seaman or native of the Isle of Man. 

MANZERA. A vessel used in the Adriatic for carrying cattle. 

MAON. _See_ MAHONE. 

MAR. Latin _mare_, the sea: a prefix, as Margate, the sea-way, &c. 

MARABUT. A sail which galleys hoisted in bad weather. Also, smalledifices on Barbary headlands, occupied by a priest. 

MARCHES. Borders or confines of a country, as the marches of Ancona, &c. 

MARCHING ORDER. A soldier fully equipped with arms, ammunition, and aportion of his kit, carries from 30 to 35 lbs. In _service marching_order, by the addition of provisions and some campaigning necessaries, he carries nearly 50 lbs. But _heavy marching_ order, which was yetheavier, is now happily abolished. 

MARCO-BANCO. An imaginary coin of Hamburg commerce, equal to 1_s. _5-3/4_d. _ sterling. 

MARE'S TAILS. A peculiar modification of the cirrus, indicating wind. 

MARGIN LINE. A line or edge parallel to the upper side of the wingtransom, and just below it, where the butts of the after bottom planksterminate. 

MARINARIUS. An old statute term for a mariner or seaman. 

MARINATE, TO. To salt fish, and afterwards preserve it in oil orvinegar. 

MARINE. Belonging to the sea. It is a general name for the royal ormercantile navy of any state; also the whole economy of nauticalaffairs. 

MARINE BAROMETER. A barometer, the tube of which is contracted in onepart to prevent the sudden oscillations of the mercury by the ship'smotion. 

MARINE BOARDS. Establishments at our different ports for carrying intoeffect the provisions of the Merchant Shipping Act. 

MARINE BUILDINGS. Those constructed for making or preserving ships, asdocks, arsenals, store-houses, &c. 

MARINE CLOTHING-ROOM. A compartment of the after-platform, to receivethe clothes and stores of the royal marines. 

MARINE ENGINES. Those steam engines which are used to propel ships, whether on the ocean or in rivers, in contradistinction to locomotiveson shore. 

MARINE GLUE, OR JEFFREY'S GLUE. A well-known adhesive composition ofgreat importance in ship carpentry, and in various nautical uses. Thesubstance is said to consist of caoutchouc, gum, and mineral oil. 

MARINE INSURANCE. A contract by which an individual or a company agreeto indemnify the losses or damages happening to a ship or cargo during avoyage. For this agreement the ship-owner pays a sum in advance, calledthe premium, which falls to the insurer in case the ship arrives safe ina specified harbour. If the ship or cargo, however, be lost by defaultof the person insured, the insurer shall not be accountable. Among theRomans, the state made good losses by shipwreck, which occasioned manyfrauds. It is mentioned in the laws of Oleron, but was regulated underits present bearings in England in 1601. 

MARINE LAGOON. A lake or inlet formed by the encroachments of the sea, and the deposits of fluviatile action. 

MARINE OFFICER. An officer of the Royal Marines. Jocularly and witlesslyapplied to an empty bottle, as being "useless;" but better rendered ashaving "done its duty, and ready to do it again. "

MARINER. One who obtains his living on the sea, in whatever rank. Butwith our old voyagers mariners were able seamen, and sailors only_ordinary_ seamen. Thus, Middleton's ship sailed from Bantam in 1605, leaving 18 men behind, "of whom 5 were mariners, and 13 sailors. "

MARINE RAILWAY. A term which has been applied to a slip for haulingvessels on to repair. 

MARINER'S COMPASS. _See_ COMPASS. 

MARINER'S NEEDLE. The magnetized bar of a mariner's compass. 

MARINES, THE ROYAL. A body of officers and soldiers raised to serve onboard men-of-war, and trained to fight either at sea or on shore: theirchosen body of artillery was esteemed one of the best under the crown. (_See_ ARTILLERY. ) "Tell that to the marines" was a common rejoinder toany improbable assertion, when those fine fellows had not acquired theirpresent high estimation. 

MARINE STORES. A general term for the iron-work, cordage, sails, provisions, and other outfit, with which a vessel is supplied. 

MARITIMA ANGLIÆ. The profit and emolument formerly arising to the kingfrom the sea, but which was afterwards granted to the lord high admiral. 

MARITIME. Pertaining to sea affairs: all but synonymous with _marine_(which see. )

MARITIME COUNTRY. A country which has its shores washed by the sea. 

MARITIME INTEREST. _See_ BOTTOMRY. 

MARITIME LAW. That branch of international law, or the law of nations, which consists of general principles, chiefly derived from ancient codesof law, and admitted by civilized nations, as to commercial intercoursewith enemies and neutrals. 

MARITIME LIEN. A privileged claim in respect of service done to, orinjury caused by, a ship, to be carried into effect by legal process. 

MARITIME POSITIONS. The intersection of the geographical co-ordinates ofthe latitudes and longitudes of places on the globe. 

MARITIME POWERS. Those states which possess harbours, &c. , on thecoasts, and a powerful navy to defend them. 

MARK. A certain regulated length for Spanish sword-blades, under penaltyof fine, and the weapon to seizure. Also, any object serving for theguidance of ships, as sea-marks, land-marks, leading-marks, &c. Also, apiece of twine on a running rope, as a brace, &c. , to show when, bybeing near the belaying pin or the bitts, it has been sufficientlyhauled in. "Mark of the fore-brace down, sir;"--answer, "Belay, oh. "

MARKAB. The lucida, or chief star, in the ancient constellation_Pegasus_. 

MARKS AND DEEPS. Marks are the measured notifications on the handlead-line, with white, blue, and red bunting, leather, and knots; deepsare the estimated fathoms between these marks. They are thus noted: mark2 leather; mark 3 blue; deep 4; mark 5 white; deep 6; mark 7 red; deep8; deep 9; mark 10 leather; deep 11; deep 12; mark 13 blue; deep 14;mark 15 white; deep 16; mark 17 red; deep 18; deep 19; mark 20 twoknots. 

MARL, TO. To souse fish in vinegar to be eaten cold. _See_ SOUSE. 

MARLE, TO. To wind marline, spun-yarn, twine, &c. , about a rope, so thatevery turn is secured by a kind of knot, and remains fixed, in case therest should be cut through by friction. It is commonly used to fastenslips of canvas, called parsling, upon the surface of a rope, to preventits being galled, or to attach the foot of a sail to its bolt-rope, &c. , with marling hitches, instead of sewing it. 

MARLINE. _See_ LINE. 

MARLINE-HOLES. Holes made for marling, or lacing the foot-rope and cluesin courses and top-sails. 

MARLINE-SPIKE. An iron pin tapering to a point, and principally used toseparate the strands of a rope, in order to introduce the ends of someother through the intervals in the act of knotting or splicing; it isalso used as a lever in marling, fixing seizings, &c. (_See_ FID. )

MARLINE-SPIKE HITCH. A peculiar hitch in marling, made by laying themarline-spike upon the seizing stuff, and then bringing the end of thatseizing over the standing part, so as to form a jamming bight. 

MARMIT. A pot fitted with a hook for hanging it to the bars of thegalley-range. 

MAROON. A name for a bright light of that colour used for signals; andalso for an explosive ball of prepared paste-board. 

MAROONING. A custom among former pirates, of putting an offender onshore on some desolate cape or island, with a gun, a few shot, a flaskof powder, and a bottle of water. 

MARQUE. _See_ LETTERS OF MARQUE. 

MARQUEE. An officer's oblong tent; has two poles, and curtains allround; it is often assigned to various staff purposes. 

MARROT. A name for the guillemot. 

MARRY, TO, THE ROPES, BRACES, OR FALLS. To hold both together, and bypressure haul in both equally. Also so to join the ends of two ropes, that they will pass through a block. 

MARS. One of the ancient superior planets, the next to the earth inorder of distance from the sun. 

MARSH [Anglo-Saxon _mersc_, a fen]. Low land often under water, andproducing aquatic vegetation. Those levels near the sea coast areusually saturated with salt water. 

MARSILIANA. A Venetian ship of burden, square-sterned. 

MART. A commercial market. Also a colloquialism for marque, as a letterof _mart_ or _marque_. 

MARTELLO TOWER. So named from a tower in the Bay of Mortella, inCorsica, which, in 1794, maintained a very determined resistance againstthe English. A martello tower at the entrance of the bay of Gaeta beatoff H. M. S. _Pompée_, of 80 guns. A martello is built circular, and thusdifficult to hit, with walls of vast thickness, pierced by loop-holes, and the bomb-proof roof is armed with one heavy traversing gun. They are30 to 40 feet high, surrounded by a dry fosse, and the entrance is by aladder at a door several feet from the ground. 

MARTIAL LAW. The law of war, obtaining between hostile forces, orproclaimed in rebellious districts; it rests mainly on necessity, customin like cases, and the will of the commander of the forces; thusdiffering from _military law_ (which see). Martial law is proclaimedwhen the civil law is found to be insufficient to preserve the peace; inthe case of insurrection, mutiny, &c. , the will and judgment of theofficer in command becomes law. 

MARTIN. A cat-sized creature with a valuable fur imported from Hudson'sBay and Canada in prodigious numbers. --"_My eye and Betty Martin_, " is acommon expression implying disbelief; a corruption of the Romish _mihi, beate Martine!_

MARTINET. A rigid disciplinarian; but one who, in matters of inferiormoment, harasses all under him. 

MARTINGALE. A rope extending downwards from the jib-boom end to a kindof short gaff-shaped spar, fixed perpendicularly under the cap of thebowsprit; its use is to guy the jib-boom down in the same manner as thebobstays retain the bowsprit. The spar is usually termed the_dolphin-striker_, from its handy position whence to strike fish. 

MARTNETS. The leech-lines of a sail--they were said to be _topped_ whenthe leech was hauled by them close to the yard. 

MARYN [Anglo-Nor. ] The sea-coast. 

MARYNAL. An ancient term for mariner. 

MASCARET. A peculiar movement of the sea near Bordeaux in summer, at lowwater. 

MASK. A cruive or crib for catching fish. A battery is said to be maskedwhen its external appearance misleads the enemy. 

MAST [Anglo-Saxon _mæst_, also meant chief or greatest]. A longcylindrical piece of timber elevated perpendicularly upon the keel of aship, to which are attached the yards, the rigging, and the sails. It iseither formed of one piece, and called a pole-mast, or composed ofseveral pieces joined together and termed a made mast. A lower mast isfixed in the ship by _sheers_ (which see), and the foot or keel of itrests in a block of timber called the step, which is fixed upon thekeelson. --_Expending a mast_, or carrying it away, is said, when it isbroken by foul weather. --_Fore-mast. _ That which stands near the stem, and is next in size to the main-mast. --_Jury-mast. _ (_See_JURY-MAST. )--_Main-mast. _ The largest mast in a ship. --_Mizen-mast. _The smallest mast, standing between the main-mast and thestern. --_Over-masted_, or _taunt-masted_. The state of a ship whosemasts are too tall or too heavy. --_Rough-mast_, or _rough-tree_. A sparfit for making a mast. (_See_ BOWSPRIT and JIB-BOOM. )--_Springing amast. _ When it is cracked horizontally in any place. --_Top-mast. _ Atop-mast is raised at the head or top of the lower-mast through a cap, and supported by the trestle-trees. --_Topgallant-mast. _ A mast smallerthan the preceding, raised and secured to its head in the samemanner. --_Royal-mast. _ A yet smaller mast, elevated through irons at thehead of the topgallant-mast; but more generally the two are formed ofone spar. --_Under-masted_ or _low-masted ships_. Vessels whose masts aresmall and short for their size. --_To mast a ship. _ The act of placing aship's masts. 

MAST-CARLINGS. Those large carlings which are placed at the sides of themasts from beam to beam, to frame the partners and give support. 

MAST-COAT. A conical canvas fitted over the wedges round the mast, toprevent water oozing down from the decks. 

MASTER. The epithet for the captain or commander of a merchant vessel. When England first became a maritime power, ships with sailors, and amaster to navigate, were furnished by the Cinque Ports, &c. , and thefighting part of the men was composed of soldiers sent on board, commanded by generals, &c. Among the early voyagers there was adistinction between _master_ and _maister_, the latter being the office;as, "we spoke the _Dragon_, whereof Master Ivie was maister, " in Welsh's_Voyage to Benin_, A. D. 1590. In most applications, _master_ denoteschief; as master boat-builder, master caulker, master sail-maker, &c. 

MASTER OF A SHIP-OF-WAR. An officer appointed by the commissioners ofthe navy to attend to the navigating a ship under the direction of thecaptain, the working of a ship into her station in the order of battle, and in other circumstances of danger, but he reports to the firstlieutenant, who carries out any necessary evolution. It is likewise hisduty, in concert with lieutenants on surveys, to examine and report onthe provisions. He is moreover charged with their stowage. For theperformance of these services he is allowed several assistants, who aretermed second-masters, master's assistants, &c. This officer's stationhas been termed the meridional altitude of the lower order ofmidshipmen, but it is requisite that he be both a good officer and aseaman. He ranks after lieutenants according to date, but is subordinatein command to all lieutenants. 

MASTER AND COMMANDER. A title which, in 1814, was simplified tocommander, the next degree above lieutenant; he ranks with, but after, alieutenant-colonel. 

MASTER-AT-ARMS. In former times was an officer appointed to command thepolice-duty of a ship, to teach the crew the exercise of small arms, toconfine by order of superiors any prisoners, and to superintend theirconfinement. Also, to take care that fires and lights were put out atthe proper hour, and no spirituous liquors brought on board. He wasassisted by _ship's corporals_, who also attended the gangway with thesentinels. Until 1816, the junior lieutenant was nominallylieutenant-at-arms, and drilled the seamen, assisted by the serjeant ofmarines. 

MASTER-ATTENDANT. An officer in the royal dockyards appointed to assistin the fitting or dismantling, removing or securing vessels of war, &c. , at the port where he resides; to inspect the moorings in the harbour, tovisit all the ships in ordinary, and to attend at the general musters inthe dockyard, taking care that all the individuals registered in thenavy-book are present at their duty. 

MASTER MARINER. Shipmaster or captain of a merchant vessel. 

MASTER OF MISRULE. An officer of an hour or two, when the hands werepiped "to mischief. " The lord or abbot of misrule on shore hasimmemorially been a person selected to superintend the diversions ofChristmas. In these larks, however, malicious mischief was unknown. 

MASTER OF THE FLEET. A master on board the commander-in-chief's ship, who has a general superintendence of the stores issued to the fleet, andreports to the flag-captain any deviations from rule which he mayobserve. 

MASTER-SHIPWRIGHT. The chief superintendent in the building andrepairing of ships in the royal dockyards. 

MAST-HEAD. The upper part of a mast above the rigging. 

MAST-HEADING. A well-known marine punishment, said to give midshipmenthe best time for reading. A court-martial, as a substitute, punishesthe parents as well as the thoughtless youth. 

MAST-HEAD MEN. The men stationed aloft to keep a look-out. 

MAST-HEAD PENDANTS. _See_ PENDANT. 

MAST-HIGH. A figurative expression of height. 

MAST-HOLES. The apertures in the deck-partners for stepping the masts. 

MAST-HOOPS. The iron hoops on made or built masts. 

MAST-HOUSE. In dockyards, where masts are made. 

MASTIC. An excellent cement latterly introduced into ship-building, instead of putty and other appliances, to protect the heads of bolts. 

MAST-ROPE [Anglo-Saxon _mæst-ràp_]. That which is used for sending mastsup or down. 

MASULAH OR MASSOOLAH BOATS. Madras boats, of which the planks are sewedtogether with coir yarn, crossing the stitches over a wadding of coir orstraw, which presses on the joints, and prevents much leakage. Thevessel is thus rendered pliable, and yields to the shock on taking theground in the surf, which at times runs from 10 to 16 feet high. Theyare rowed by twelve men, in double banks, with oars formed by an ovalpiece of board lashed to the end of a rough piece of wood. They areguided by one man with a long steer-oar, who stamps and yells withexcitement as he urges the men to pull when a rolling surf is coming upastern. These boats are from 30 to 35 feet in length, 10 to 11 feet inbreadth, and 7 to 8 feet in depth. 

MAT. To prevent chafing, a thick mat is woven from strands of old rope, spun yarn, or foxes, containing each a greater or lesser number ofrope-yarns, in proportion to the intended mat to be made. The largestand strongest kinds are called _paunch-mats_. The _thrum-mat_ isprecisely similar to the present cocoa-nut fibre door-mats. Where it ispossible, rounding is now used instead of mats, it being neater andholding less water. 

MATCH. A wager of emulation by rowing, sailing, manœuvring, &c. (_See_QUICK MATCH. )--_Slow match_, used by artillerymen, is a very loose ropesteeped in a solution of nitre, and burns at the rate of about one inchan hour, and is either used alone, or for lighting the port-fires, bywhich guns are yet fired for salutes on shore. 

MATCHLOCK. A musket fired with a match fixed on the cock opening thepan; long out of use, except in China and some parts of India. 

MATCH-TUBS. Conical tubs about 18 inches in height, which have a sunkenhead perforated with holes, to admit the slow match to hang with thelighted end downwards. 

MATE. Generally implies adjunct or assistant. 

MATE OF A MERCHANT-SHIP. The officer who commands in the absence of themaster, and shares the duty with him at sea. (_See_ CHIEF MATE orOFFICER. ) There are first, second, third, and fourth mates. 

MATE OF A WATCH. The senior or passed midshipman is responsible to theofficer of the watch. He heaves the log, inserts on the log-board allincidents occurring during his watch, musters the men of the watch, andreports to the officer in charge, who, when he is relieved, writes hisinitials on the log-board. 

MATE OF THE LOWER-DECK. An officer of considerable importance in formertimes in ships of the line; he was responsible for the state andcondition of the lower deck, and the residents there. 

MATE OF THE MAIN-DECK. The officer appointed to superintend all theduties to be executed upon the main-deck during the day. 

MATERIAL MEN. The persons who furnish all tackles and stores, &c. , torepair or fit out ships. The high court of Admiralty allows material mento sue against remaining proceeds in the registry, notwithstanding pastprohibitions. 

MATERIEL. A French word that has been naturalized in speaking of navalor military stores. 

MATHEMATICS. The science which treats of every kind of quantity that canbe numbered or measured. 

MATIES, OR MATEYS. Dockyard artificers, shipwrights, carpenters, &c. 

MATO. A shell formerly of some commercial value on the west coast ofAfrica. 

MATRASS. The square head of an arrow called _quarril_. In chemistry itis the Florence oil flask used for evaporation. From its thinness itwill stand great gradual heat. 

MATROSS. Formerly an assistant gunner in the artillery. 

MATTHEW WALKER. A knot, so termed from the originator. It is formed by ahalf hitch on each strand in the direction of the lay, so that the ropecan be continued after the knot is formed, which shows as a transversecollar of three strands. It is the knot used on the end of the laniardsof rigging, where dead-eyes are employed. 

MAUD. A salmon-net fixed in a square form by four stakes. 

MAUL. A heavy iron hammer, used for driving tree-nails or bolts; it hasone end faced, and the opposite pointed, whence it is often called apin-maul. --_Top-maul_ is distinguished by having an iron handle, with aneye at the end, by which it is tied fast to the mast-head. It is keptaloft for driving the iron fid in or out of the top-mast. 

MAUND. An Indian weight, which varies in amount depending on the part ofthe country. Also, a basket used by fishermen; a measure of small fish. 

MAUNJEE. The native boatmen of the river Hooghly. 

MAVIS-SKATE. The sharp-nosed ray. (_See_ FRIAR-SKATE. )

MAW, OR SEA-MAW. The common gull, _Larus canus_. 

MAY. _See_ VENDAVAL. 

MAYHEM, OR MAHIM. The law-term for maim. 

MAZE. In the herring trade, 500 fishes. 

MAZOLET. An Indian bark boat, caulked with moss. 

MEAKER. A west-country term for a minnow. 

MEAKING IRON. The tool used by caulkers to run old oakum out of theseams before inserting new. 

MEALED. Mixed or compounded. --_Mealed powder_, gunpowder pulverized bytreating with spirits of wine. 

MEALES, OR MIOLS. Immense sand-banks thrown up by the sea on the coastsof Norfolk, Lancashire, &c. 

MEAN. As a general term implies the medium, but a mean of badobservations can never make a good one. 

MEAN ANOMALY. _See_ ANOMALY. 

MEAN DISTANCE. The average distance of a planet from the sun; it isequal to half the longer axis of the ellipse, and hence is frequentlytermed the semi-axis major. 

MEAN EQUINOX. The position of the equinox independent of the effects ofnutation. 

MEAN MOTION. The rate at which a body moving in an elliptic orbit wouldproceed at an equal velocity throughout. 

MEAN NOON. The noon of a mean day supposing the year to be divided intodays of equal length. It differs from _apparent noon_ by the amount ofthe equation of time for that date. 

MEAN OBLIQUITY. The obliquity of the ecliptic, unaffected with nutation. 

MEAN PLACE OF A STAR. Its position at a given time, independent ofaberration and nutation. 

MEAN SUN. _See_ TIME. 

MEAN TIME. _See_ TIME. 

MEASURE. A comprehensive term including length, surface, time, weight, solidity, capacity, and force of gravity. 

MEASURING LINE. The old term for the first meridian reckoned off from aship's longitude. Also, the five-fathom line used by the boatswain. 

MECHANICS. The science which explains the properties of moving bodies, and of the machines from which they receive their impetus. Themechanical powers consist of six primary instruments, the lever, thebalance, the pulley, the wheel, the screw, and the wedge: to which issometimes added the inclined plane; and of some, or all of these, everycompound machine consists. 

MECK. A notched staff in a whale-boat on which the harpoon rests. 

MEDICAL BOARD. A number of medical officers convened to examine sick andwounded officers and men, for invaliding or discharge. 

MEDICINE-CHEST. A large chest containing the medical necessaries thatmay be required for 100 men during the cruize. Several chests are thusfitted and supplied in proportion to the ship's crew, ready for detachedservice. 

MEDICINES. Merchantmen are legally bound to carry medicines inproportion to their crew, with instructions for their use if there be nosurgeon on board. 

MEDICO. A familiar appellation for the ship's surgeon. 

MEDITERRANEAN OR INLAND SEA. A term applied to a sea surrounded on allsides, except its immediate entrance, by land; as the Mediterranean, sostyled _par excellence_; also, the Baltic, the Red Sea, &c. 

MEDITERRANEAN PASS. A document formerly granted by the Lords of theAdmiralty to registered vessels, which was valuable when the Barbarypowers were unchecked. (_See_ PASS. )

MEDIUM. _See_ RESISTING MEDIUM. 

MEERMAID. A name given by our northern fishermen to the _Lophiuspiscatorius_, or frog-fish, without reference to the _mermaid_ (whichsee). 

MEER-SWINE. The porpoise [from the German _meerschwein_]. 

MEET HER! The order to adjust the helm, so as to check any furthermovement of the ship's head in a given direction. 

MEGANESE [Gr. ] A large portion of land, inferior in extent to acontinent, but which, though insular, is too large to be termed anisland, as New Holland. 

MEMORIAL. An official petition on account of services performed. 

MEN. The ship's company in general. 

MEND SAILS, TO. To loose and skin them afresh on the yards. 

MEND THE SERVICE. Put on more service to the cable, or any part of therigging chafed. 

MERCANTILE MARINE. _See_ MARINE. 

MERCANTILE MARINE FUND. A public fund accumulated by fees payable to theBoard of Trade on account of the merchant shipping. 

MERCATOR'S CHART OR PROJECTION. Introduced by Gerard Mercator, _circa_1556: it is a projection of the surface of the earth in the plane, withall the meridians made parallel with each other, consequently thedegrees of longitude all equal, the degrees of latitude increasing in acorresponding ratio towards the poles. This is the chart most commonlyused in navigation; and its use appears to have obtained quickly, for in1576, among the items of Martin Frobisher's outfit, we find, "For agreate Mappe Universall of Mercator, in prente, £1, 6_s. _ 8_d. _"

MERCATOR'S SAILING. Performed loxodromically, by means of Mercator'scharts. 

MERCHANTMAN. A trading vessel employed in importing and exporting goodsto and from any quarter of the globe. 

MERCHANT SERVICE. The mercantile marine. 

MERCHANT-VENTURERS. A company of merchants who traded with Russia, Turkey, and other distant parts. In the _Affectionate Shepheard_, 1594, we find--

 "Well is he tearm'd a merchant venturer, Since he doth venter lands, and goods, and all; When he doth travell for his traffique far, Little he knowes what fortune may befall. "

MERCURIAL GAUGE. A curved tube partly filled with mercury, to show thepressure of steam in an engine. 

MERCURY. One of the ancient inferior planets, and the nearest to thesun, as far as we yet know. (_See_ TRANSIT OF. ) Also, a name forquicksilver; the fluid metal so useful in the construction of the marinebarometer, thermometer, and artificial horizon. 

MERE. An Anglo-Saxon word still in use, sometimes meaning a lake, andgenerally the sea itself. 

MERIDIAN, OF THE EARTH. Is an imaginary great circle passing through thezenith and the poles, and cutting the equator at right angles. When thesun is on the meridian of any place, it is mid-day there, and at allplaces situated under the same meridian. --_First meridian_ is that fromwhich the longitude is reckoned. Magnetic meridian is not a great circlebut a wavy line uniting those poles. In common acceptation, a meridianis any line supposed to be drawn from the north to the south pole;therefore a place being under the same meridian as another place, iseither due north or south of it. --_Plane of the meridian_ is the planeof this great circle, and its intersection with the sensible horizon iscalled the _meridian line_. --The _meridian transit_ of a heavenly bodyis the act of passing over the said plane, when it is either due northor south of the spectator. --_Ante meridiem_, or A. M. , beforenoon. --_Post meridiem_, or P. M. , after noon. 

MERIDIAN ERROR. The deviation of a transit-instrument from the plane ofthe meridian at the horizon; it is also termed the _azimuthal error_. 

MERLON. That part of the parapet of a battery between two adjacentembrasures, 15 or 20 feet long in general. 

MERMAID. A fabulous sea-creature of which the upper half was said toresemble a woman, the lower half a fish. 

MERMAID'S GLOVE. The name of a peculiar sponge, _Spongia palmata_, abundant at Bermuda. 

MERMAID'S PURSE. The oblong horny cases with long filiform appendagesdeveloped from each of the four corners, found on the sea-shore, beingthe outer covering of the eggs of several species of rays and sharks. Also, the hollow root of the sea-weed _Fucus polyschides_. 

MERRY DANCERS. The glancings and coruscations of the _aurora borealis_, or northern lights. 

MERRY MEN OF MAY. Dangerous currents formed by the ebb-tides. 

MESON. A very old form of spelling _mizen_. 

MESS. Any company of the officers or crew of a ship, who eat, drink, andassociate together. (_See_ NUMBER. ) Also, the state of a ship in asudden squall, when everything is let go and flying, and nothing hauledin. 

MESS-DECK. The place where a ship's crew mess. 

MESSENGER. A large cable-laid rope, used to unmoor or heave up theanchor of a ship, by the aid of the capstan. This is done by binding apart of the messenger to the cable by which the ship rides, in severalplaces, with pliant nippers, and by winding another part of it aboutthe capstan. The messenger has an eye-splice at each end, through whichseveral turns of a strong lashing are passed, forming an endless rope. So that by putting on fresh nippers forward, and taking them off as theyare hove aft, the capstan may be kept constantly going, and the cable iswalked in without stopping. (_See_ VIOL. ) A superior plan is nowadopted, in which the messenger, consisting of a pitch chain which has adouble and single link alternately, works in iron spurs fastened abovethe lower rim of the capstan. This avoids the trouble of shifting orfleeting the messenger while heaving in. Again, the cable itself iscommonly brought to the capstan. --_Light forward the messenger!_ is theorder to pull the slack of it towards the hawse holes, on the slack oropposite side, so as to be ready to fasten upon the cable which is beinghove in, as it comes off the manger-roller at the bows. 

MESSENGERS. Boys appointed to carry orders from the quarter-deck. Insome ships they wore winged caps of the Mercury type. 

MESS-KID. A wooden tub for holding cooked victuals or cocoa. 

MESSMATE. A companion of the same mess-table, hence comrades in manyways; whence the _saw_: "Messmate before a shipmate, shipmate before astranger, stranger before a dog. "

MESS-TRAPS. The kids, crockery, bowls, spoons, and other articles ofmess service. 

META-CENTRE. That point in a ship where a vertical line drawn from thecentre of cavity cuts a line perpendicular to the keel, passing throughthe centre of gravity. As this depends upon the situation of the centreof cavity, the meta-centre is often called the _shifting-centre_. Safetyrequires this point to be above the centre of gravity. 

METAL. A word comprehending the great guns, or ordnance generally, of aship or battery. 

METEINGS. The measurement and estimate of timber. 

METEOR. _See_ COMPASANT, WATER-SPOUT, &c. 

METEORITES. Meteoric stones which fall from the atmosphere, composed ofearthy and metallic substances, in which iron, nickel, &c. , enterlargely. 

METEOROLOGIC TELEGRAPHY. The sending of telegrams to various stations athome and abroad, with the object of improving the science ofmeteorology, and issuing storm warnings, &c. 

METONIC CYCLE. A cycle of 19 years, which contains 235 lunations, andresults in a correspondence of the solar and lunar years. The discoveryof this astronomical period may be safely assigned to Meton in 432 B. C. 

MEW [Anglo-Saxon _mæw_]. A name for the sea-gull. 

MIASMA. An impure effluvium in the air--proceeding from marshes or moistground acted upon by solar heat--by which malaria fevers, particularlyintermittents, are produced. 

MICROMETER. An instrument used to measure small angles, diameters, anddistances of heavenly bodies. 

MID. The intermediate or middle part of anything. Also, _percontractionem_, a midshipman. 

MID-CHANNEL. Implies half way across any river, channel, &c. 

MIDDLE BAND. One of the bands of a sail, to give additional strength. 

MIDDLE-LATITUDE SAILING. A method of converting departure in differenceof longitude, and _vice versâ_, by using the middle latitude instead ofthe meridional parts, as in Mercator's sailing. 

MIDDLE-TIMBER. That timber in the stern which is placed amidships. 

MIDDLE-TOPSAIL. A deep-roached sail, set in some schooners and sloops onthe heel of their top-masts between the top and the cap. A modificationof this, under the name of a lower top-sail, is now very common indouble-topsail-yarded ships. (Cunningham's top-sails. )

MIDDLE-WALES. The three or four thick strakes worked along each sidebetween the lower and middle-deck-ports in three-deckers. 

MIDDLE-WATCH. The portion of the crew on deck-duty from midnight to 4A. M. 

MIDDLE-WATCHER. The slight meal snatched by officers of the middle-watchabout five bells (or 2·30 A. M. )

MIDDLING A SAIL. Arranging it for bending to the yard. 

MIDDY. An abbreviation for the younger midshipmen, synonymous with_mid_. 

MIDRIB. A narrow canal or culvert. 

MIDSHIPMAN. A naval cadet appointed by the admiralty, with the exceptionof one in each ship appointed by the captain. No person can be appointedmidshipman until he has served one year, and passed his examinations;nor a lieutenant without having previously served six years in the royalnavy as midshipman, and having further passed two severeexaminations--one in seamanship and one in gunnery. A midshipman is thenthe station in which a young volunteer is trained in the severalexercises necessary to attain a knowledge of steam, machinery, discipline, the general movements and operations of a ship, and qualifyhim to command. 

MIDSHIPMAN'S NUTS. Broken pieces of biscuit as dessert. 

MIDSHIPMAN'S ROLL. A slovenly method of rolling up a hammocktransversely, and lashing it endways by one clue. 

MIDSHIPS. The middle part of the vessel, either with regard to herlength or breadth. (_See_ AMIDSHIPS. )

MILDERNIX. A strong canvas of which courses were formerly made; itappears in old statutes. 

MILE. The statute mile is 5280 feet; but that used at sea, termed themean nautic mile, consists of 6075·6 feet, or 60 to a degree. 

MILITARY EXECUTION. The levying contributions from a country by militaryoccupation and force. 

MILITARY LAW. That under which soldiers and sailors are governed, founded on the acts of parliament passed to that end. 

MILITIA. A military force raised by ballot. 

MILKY WAY. _See_ VIA LACTEA. 

MILL. A boxing match, whether standing up or nailed to a chest. 

MILLAR'S SIGHT. General Millar's simple dispart--a sliding pillarbearing a scale graduated to tangents of degrees for setting the gun by. 

MILLED LEAD. Sheet lead. 

MILLER, TO DROWN THE. To put an overdose of water to grog. 

MILLER'S THUMB. A fresh-water fish, the _Cottus cataphractus_. 

MILT. The soft roe, or spermatic part, of the male fish. 

MINE. A passage made under ground, with a chamber at the end, under theplace intended to be blown up; it is entered by the shaft, which leadsthrough the gallery to the chamber. 

MINERAL OIL. _See_ PETROLEUM. 

MINIE RIFLE. This has acquired a great name, though not yet in generaluse. 

MINION. An old four-pounder gun about 7 feet long. Its point-blank rangewas 120 paces, with a random one of 1500. Bourne, in 1578, mentions theminion as requiring shot 3 inches in diameter. 

MINISTER. A minister, though termed plenipotentiary, has no power togrant protection to vessels or cargoes otherwise subject to theoperations and laws of hostilities. 

MINNIS. An old British word for a rock or piece of rising ground. 

MINNOW. A small fresh-water fish--the _Leuciscus phoxinus_. The term wasused in contempt by Shakspeare and the elders. 

MINOR AXIS. In a planetary orbit, signifies the line perpendicular tothe major axis, and passing through the centre of the ellipse. 

MINOR PLANETS. _See_ ASTEROIDS. 

MINUTE MILE. The sixtieth part of a degree of longitude or latitude; inthe latter case it is the sixtieth part of a degree of a great circle, in the former it decreases in length as the latitude increases. 

MINUTE AND HALF-MINUTE GLASSES. _See_ GLASS. 

MINUTE-GUNS. Fired at intervals of a minute each during the progress ofimportant funerals. 

MINUTES. Short notices taken in writing of any important proceedings. 

MIRA. A remarkable variable star in Cetus. 

MIRACH. One of the bright stars in Andromeda. 

MIRAGE, OR LOOM. A word, which has crept into use since the Frenchexpedition to Egypt, to express the extraordinary refraction which lightundergoes when strata of air, of different densities, extend above eachother. The mirage, reflecting objects at a great height, inverts anddoubles the image. 

MIRE-BUMPER AND MIRE-DRUM. North-country names of the bittern. 

MIRKLES. The radicle leaves of the _Fucus esculentus_, a sea-weed eatenon our northern coasts. 

MIRROR. The speculum of a quadrant, or any silvered or polishedreflecting surface. 

MISCHIEF. _See_ MASTER OF MISRULE. 

MISREPRESENTATION TO THE UNDERWRITERS, of any fact or circumstancematerial to the risk of insuring, whether by the insured or his agent, and whether fraudulent or innocent, renders the contract null and void. (_See_ REPRESENTATION. )

MISSILES. Projectiles of every kind propelled by force. 

MISSING. If a vessel is not heard of within six months after herdeparture (or after the last intelligence of her) from any port inEurope, and within twelve months from other parts of the world, she isdeemed to be lost. Presumptive proof will suffice if none of her crewappear. 

MISSING STAYS. To fail in going about from one tack to another; when, after a ship gets her head to the wind, she comes to a stand, and beginsto fall off on the same tack. 

MIST [Anglo-Saxon]. A thin vapour, between a _fog_ and _haze_, and isgenerally wet. 

MISTICO. Equivalent to our _hermaphrodite_, being a small Mediterraneanvessel, between a xebec and a felucca. (_See_ XEBEC. )

MISTRAL. A cold N. W. Wind experienced on the Mediterranean shores ofFrance. [Corrupted from _maestrale_. ]

MITTS. A protection for the hand, covering the thumb in one space andthe fingers in another, so that men wearing them can still handle ropes. 

MIXED MATHEMATICS. Pure mathematics when applied to practical subjects, as astronomy, optics, hydrography, gunnery, engineering, and the like. 

MIZAR. The star ζ in Ursa Major; the middle one in the tail. 

MIZEN. The spanker or driver is often so named. 

MIZEN-MAST. The aftermost mast of a ship (_see_ SHROUDS, STAY, YARD, &c. ), observing only that the epithet of fore, main, or mizen, is addedto each term, to distinguish them from each other. (_See_ BONAVENTURE. )

MIZEN MAST-HEAD. Rear-admirals carry their flag at their mizen. 

MIZEN STAYSAIL. A fore-and-aft sail of various shapes set on the mizenstay. 

MOAT. Synonymous with _ditch_ (which see). 

MOBILIZATION. The organizing a body of men for active service. Also, aterm in naval tactics, applied to the movement of fleets. 

MOCCASIN. A slipper made of green hide, and worn in cases of necessity;a term derived from the North American Indians. 

MODERATE BREEZE. When all the flying kites may be pleasantly carried. 

MODERATE GALE. In which a ship carries double reefs in her top-sails. 

MOHUR. A gold coin in the East Indies, value 30_s. _ to 32_s. _

MOIDORE. A Portuguese gold coin, the sterling value of which is £1, 7_s. _

MOINEAU. A little flat bastion formerly raised before a curtain, otherwise too long. 

MOIST DAUGHTERS. Spenser's term for the Hyades, a group of seven starsin the head of the Bull. 

MOKES. The meshes of a fishing-net. 

MOLE. A long pier of massy masonry, covering the entrance of a harbour. Also applied to the harbours formed by them, as those of Genoa, Marseilles, Naples, &c. 

MOLLY-MAWK. A bird which follows in the wake of a ship rounding theCape. It is a small kind of albatross. 

MOMENTUM. Is the product of a weight multiplied by its velocity; thatis, in marine dynamics, by its distance from a point determined as thecentre of momentum; or from a line called the axis of the momentum. 

MONERES, OR MONOCRATA. Galleys with only one rank of oars. 

MONEY-BOUND. A phrase expressive of such passengers as are detained onboard till a remittance arrives for paying the passage made. 

MONGER. A trader. (_See_ MONKEY. )

MONITION. Legal notice or warning. 

MONITOR. A very shallow, semi-submerged, heavily-armoured steamer, carrying on her open deck either one or two plated revolving turrets, each containing either one or two enormous guns: originally designed byEricson in the United States during the recent war, to combine themaximum of gun power with the minimum of exposure; they have been veryformidable in sheltered and intricate waters, but it remains yet to beshown that they would be effective on the open sea. 

MONKEY. A machine composed of a long pig of iron, traversing in agroove, which is raised by a pulley, and let fall suddenly on the headof large bolts for driving them. A larger kind is used in_pile-driving_. Also, a kind of wooden kid for grog. Also, in QueenElizabeth's reign, a small trading vessel. Also, passion; as a man's"monkey is up. " Also, a machine with which the _hercules_ facilitatesthe welding of anchors. 

MONKEY-BLOCK. A small single block strapped with a swivel. Also, thosenailed on the topsail-yards of some merchantmen, to lead the buntlinesthrough. 

MONKEY-BOAT. A half-decked boat above-bridge on the Thames. 

MONKEY-JACKET. A warm jacket for night-watches, &c. 

MONKEY-PUMP. Straws or quills for sucking the liquid from a cask, through a gimlet-hole made for the purpose--a practice as old as thetime of Xenophon, who describes this mode of drinking from the prizejars of Armenia. 

MONKEY-SPARS. Reduced masts and yards for a vessel devoted to theinstruction and exercise of boys. 

MONKEY-TAIL. A lever for training a carronade. 

MONK-FISH. The _Squatina angelus_. (_See_ DEVIL-FISH. )

MONK'S SEAM. That made after sewing the edges of sails together, oneover the other, by stitching through the centre of the seam. Also, thefash left at the junction of the moulds when a ball is cast. 

MONMOUTH CAP. A flat worsted cap formerly worn by soldiers and sailors. In the old play _Eastward Ho_, it is said, "Hurl away a dozen ofMonmouth caps or so, in sea ceremony to your bon voyage. "

MONOXYLON [Gr. ] Boats in the Ionian Isles propelled with one oar. 

MONSOON [from the Persian _monsum_, season]. The periodical winds incertain latitudes of India and the Indian Ocean. They continue five orsix months from one direction, and then alter their course, and blow(after the tempestuous tumult of their shifting has subsided) during anequal space of time from an opposite point of the compass, with the sameuniformity. They are caused by the unequal heating of land and water, and occur in the tropics, where the "trade" would constantly blow if itwere not for the presence of land. (_See_ WINDS. ) The south-west monsoonis called by the Arabs _khumseen_, denoting fifty, as they suppose it toprecede the overflowing of the Nile by fifty days. (_See_ KAMSIN. )

MONTE PAGNOTE. In former days an eminence out of cannon shot ofoperations, where spectators were not exposed to danger. 

MONTERO. A military cap and hood formerly worn in camp. 

MONTHLY ALLOWANCE. A sum paid monthly to warrant and petty officers notallowed to draw bills; and to seamen, marines, and boys serving onboard. Wages are now paid regularly. 

MONTHLY NOTES. _See_ ALLOTMENT. 

MOON. Our satellite; she performs her revolution in 27 days, 7 hours, 43minutes. (_See_ FULL MOON and NEW MOON. ) A hazy or pale colour of themoon, revealing the state of our atmosphere, is supposed to foreboderain, and a red or copper colour to forebode wind. 

MOON-BLINK. A temporary evening blindness occasioned by sleeping in themoonshine in tropical climates; it is technically designated_nyctalopia_. 

MOON-CULMINATORS. Certain stars near the same parallel of declination asthe moon, and not differing greatly from her in right ascension, givenin the Ephemeris as proper objects for comparison with her, to determinethe longitudes of places. 

MOONEY. Not quite intoxicated, but unfitted for duty. 

MOON IN DISTANCE. When the angle between her and the sun, or a star, admits of measurement for lunar observation. 

MOONISH. Variable, as with Shakspeare's Rosalind. 

MOON-RAKERS. Sails above the skysails. They are usually designatedmoon-sails. 

MOON-SHEERED. A ship the upper works of which rise very high, fore andaft. 

MOONSHINE. Illicit hollands, schiedam, and indeed smuggling in general;excused as a _matter of moonshine_. A mere nothing. 

MOON-STRUCK. An influence imputed to the moon in the tropics, by whichfish, particularly of the _Scomber_ class, though recently taken, becomeintenerated, and even spoiled; while some attribute poisonous qualitiesto them in this state. Human beings are also said to be injured bysleeping in the moon's rays. 

MOOR. An upland swamp, boggy, with fresh water. Also, an open common. 

MOOR, TO. To secure a ship with anchors, or to confine her in aparticular station by two chains or cables, either fastened to themooring chains or to the bottom; a ship is moored when she rides by twoanchors. 

MOOR A CABLE EACH WAY, TO. Is dropping one anchor, veering out twocables' lengths, and letting go another anchor from the opposite bow;the first is then hove in to one cable, or less according tocircumstances, while the latter is veered out as much, whereby the shiprides between the two anchors, equally distant from both. This isusually practised in a tide-way, in such manner that the ship rides byone during the flood, and by the other during the ebb. 

MOOR ACROSS, TO. To lay out one of the anchors across stream. 

MOOR ALONG, TO. To anchor in a river with a hawser on shore to steadyher. 

MOOR-GALLOP. A west-country term for a sudden squall coming across themoors. 

MOORING-BRIDLE. The fasts attached to moorings, one taken into eachhawse-hole, or bridle-port. 

MOORING-CHOCKS. Large pieces of hard wood with a hole in the centre, shod with iron collars, and fastened between two stanchions in largeships, for the moorings to pass through. 

MOORING POSTS OR PALLS. Strong upright posts fixed into the ground, forsecuring vessels to the landing-place by hawsers or chains. Also, strongpieces of oak inserted into the deck of a large ship for fastening themoorings to when alongside a quay. 

MOORING-RINGS. Iron swivel rings fixed on piers or buoys, &c. , forsecuring vessels to. 

MOORINGS. Indicated by buoys to which ships are fastened; they areattached by bridles to heavy anchors and cables laid down in the mostconvenient parts of rivers and harbours. They are termed "_swinging_, "or "_all fours_, " depending on whether the ship is secured by the bowonly, or by bow and stern. By their means many more ships are secured ina certain space than would be possible if they used their own anchors. 

MOOR QUARTER-SHOT, TO. To moor quartering, between the two ways ofacross and along. 

MOOR THE BOAT, TO. To fasten her with two ropes, so that the one shallcounteract the other, and keep her in a steady position. 

MOOR WITH A SPRING ON THE CABLE, TO. _See_ SPRING. 

MOOTER. A spike, bolt, tree-nail. 

MOOTING. In ship-building, making a tree-nail exactly cylindrical to agiven size or diameter, called the _moot_. 

MOP. A young whiting. 

MOPPAT. An early name for the sponge of a cannon. 

MOPUSSES. A cant term for money in general. 

MORASS. Nearly the same thing as a marsh or swamp. In tropical regionsthey are often overflowed with salt water, yet covered with mangrove andmany aquatic plants. 

MORGLAY. A great sword, alluded to formerly. 

MORION. An ancient steel casque or helmet, without beaver or visor. According to Chaucer it was of more uses than one:--

 "Their beef they often in their morion stewed. "

MORNING GUN. The gun fired from the admiral's or senior officer's ship, to announce day-break, which is answered by the muskets of the sentriesin the other ships. 

MORNING STAR. An offensive weapon of the mediæval times, consisting of astaff, to which was attached an iron ball covered with spikes. Also, theplanet which is near the meridian at day-dawn. 

MORNING WATCH. Those of the crew on watch from 4 to 8 A. M. 

MORRA. An ancient game still played in Italy with extraordinary zest, bytwo persons raising the right hand, and suddenly and contemporaneouslythrowing it down with only some of the fingers extended, when the aim isto guess what they unitedly amount to. Also, a term for a headland orpromontory on the coasts of Chili and Peru. Also, a round tower or fort, as at Havana [from the Spanish _morro_, round]. 

MORRIS-PIKE. A formidable Moorish weapon, the precursor of theboarding-pike. 

MORSE. _See_ WALRUS. 

MORSING POWDER. An old term for priming powder. 

MORTAR. A short piece of ordnance used for throwing shells, so that theymay fall nearly vertical; they thus acquire force for breaking throughroofs, decks, &c. It is fired at a fixed angle of elevation, generallyat 45°, the charge of powder varying according to the range required. 

MORTAR-BED AND BED-BEAMS. _See_ BOMB-BEDS, &c. 

MORTAR-VESSEL. _See_ BOMB-VESSEL. 

MORTGAGE. A registered ship, or share therein, which has been made asecurity for a money-loan, or other valuable consideration, is termed amortgage in the Merchant Shipping Act. 

MORTICE. A morticed block is one made out of a single block of wood, chiselled for one or more sheaves; in distinction from a _made block_. The chisel used for morticing is peculiar to that purpose. 

MORUACH. A peculiar seal, which has been frequently mistaken on ournorthern shores for a mermaid. 

MOSES. A flat-bottomed boat used in the West Indies for bringing offhogsheads of sugar; it is termed single or double, according to itssize. 

MOSES' LAW. The term among pirates for inflicting thirty-nine lashes onthe bare back--forty save one. 

MOSQUITO. A term applied to a gnat-like species of stinging insects, found chiefly in low marshy places and the neighbourhood of rivers. 

MOSQUITO FLEET. An assemblage of small craft. 

MOSQUITO NET. A light curtain spread over a cot or bed in warm climates, to protect the sleeper from mosquitoes. 

MOSS-BONKER. The name given by American fishermen to the _hard-head_(which see). 

MOTHER CARY'S CHICKEN. The stormy petrel, _Procellaria pelagica_. 

MOTHER CARY'S GOOSE. The name given by Captain Cook's people to anoceanic brown bird, _Procellaria gigantea_, which Pernety calls_Quebranta huesos_ (bone-breaker). 

MOTHER-OF-PEARL. The iridescent nacreous inner layer of several speciesof shells, especially the "pearl-oyster" (_Meleagrina margaritifera_). 

MOTHERY [probably from the Dutch _mœder_, mud]. Thick and mouldy;generally applied to decomposing liquors. 

MOTION. Change of place; it is termed _direct_, in the sky, when it isin the direction of the earth's annual revolution; _retrograde_, when itproceeds contrary to these conditions; by _sidereal_ is meant the motionof a body with respect to the fixed stars. --_Tropical motion_ is themovement of a body in respect to the equinox or tropic, which has itselfa slow motion among the stars, as shown under precession. (_See_ PROPERMOTION. )--_Motion_, in mechanics, is either simple or compound, as oneor more powers are used. The momentum of a moving body, or quantity ofmotion, arises from its velocity multiplied into the quantity of matterit contains. 

MOTION, CENTRE OF. That point of a body which remains at rest whilst allthe other parts are in motion about it: as the mathematical centre of arevolving sphere. 

MOTOR. The prime mover in machinery. 

MOULDED. The size of the timber, the way the mould is laid; cut to themould. 

MOULDED BREADTH. The measure of beam from outside to outside of thetimbers, without the thickness of the plank. 

MOULDING DIMENSION. In ship-building, implies the depth or thickness ofany piece of timber. 

MOULDING EDGE. That edge of a timber to which, in shaping it, the mouldis applied. 

MOULDINGS OF A GUN. The several rings and ornaments. 

MOULD-LOFT. A long building, on the floor of which the intended vesselis laid off from the several draughts in full dimensions. 

MOULDS. In naval architecture, are thin flexible pieces of board used onthe mould-loft floors as patterns. 

MOUNT, OR MOUNTAIN. An Anglo-Saxon term still in use, usually held tomean eminences above 1000 feet in height. In a fort it means the_cavalier_ (which see). 

MOUNT, TO. When said of a ship-of-war, implies the number of guns shecarries. --_To mount_, in a military sense, is also to furnish withhorses. 

MOUNT A GUN, TO. To place it on its carriage. 

MOUNT AREEVO! [Sp. _montar arriba_]. Mount aloft; jump up quickly. 

MOUNTEBANK. The _Gammarus arcticus_, or arctic shrimp. 

MOURNING. A ship is in mourning with her, ensign and pennant half-mast, her yards topped awry, or apeek, or alternately topped an-end. If thesides are painted blue instead of white, it denotes deep mourning; thislatter, however, is only done on the ship where the admiral or captainwas borne, and in the case of merchant ships on the death of the owner. 

MOUSE. A kind of ball or knob, wrought on the collars of stays by meansof spun-yarn, higher parcelling, &c. The mouse prevents the running eyefrom slipping. (_See_ PUDDENING. ) Also, a match used in firing a mine. Also, a mark made upon braces and other ropes, to show their squaring ortallying home. --_To mouse a hook_, to put a turn or two of rope-yarnround the point of a tackle-hook and its neck to prevent itsunhooking. --_To raise a mouse_, to strike a blow which produces a lump. 

MOUTH [the Anglo-Saxon _muda_]. The embouchure opening of a port oroutlet of a river, as Yarmouth, Tynemouth, Exmouth, &c. 

MOVE OFF, TO. To defile. 

MOVER. Synonymous with _motor_. 

MOVING SANDS. Synonymous with _quicksands_. 

MOWELL. The old English name for _mullet_. 

MOYAN. A species of early artillery. 

MOYLE, TO. To defile; an old term. 

MUCK. _See_ AMOK. 

MUD-DRAGS. Implements and machines for clearing rivers and docks. 

MUD OR BALLAST DREDGER. A vessel of 300 tons or more, fitted withsteam-engine beams and metal buckets. By this powerful machine forcutting or scraping, loose gravel banks, &c. , are removed from theentrances to docks and rivers. 

MUD-FISH. The _Lepidosiren_, a very remarkable fish of the Gambia andother African rivers. 

MUD-HOLE. An orifice with steam-tight doors in a marine engine, throughwhich the deposit is removed from the boilers. 

'MUDIAN, 'MUGIAN, OR BERMUDIAN. A boat special to the Bermuda Islands, usually decked, with the exception of a hatch; from two to twenty tonsburden; it is short, of good beam, and great draft of water abaft, thestem and keel forming a curved line. It carries an immense quantity ofiron, or even lead, ballast. Besides a long main and short jib-boom, ithas a long, tapering, raking mast, stepped just over the fore-foot, generally unsupported by shrouds or stays; on it a jib-headed main-sailis hoisted to a height of twice, and sometimes three times, the lengthof the keel. This sail is triangular, stretched at its foot by a longboom. The only other sail is a small fore-sail or jib. They claim to bethe fastest craft in the world for working to windward in smooth water, it being recorded of one that she made five miles dead to windward inthe hour during a race; and though they may be laid over until they fillwith water, they will not capsize. 

MUD-LANDS. The extensive marshes left dry by the retiring tide inestuaries and river mouths. 

MUD-LARKS. People who grovel about bays and harbours at low water foranything they can find. 

MUD-LIGHTER. Large heavy punts which receive the mud or other matterfrom a dredging vessel. It is the _Marie Salope_ of the French. (_See_HOPPER-PUNT. )

MUD-PATTENS. Broad clogs used for crossing mud-lands in the south ofEngland by those who take sea-fowl. 

MUD-SHORES. Are not unfrequent on an open coast. The most remarkableinstance, perhaps, is that of the Guiana; the mud brought down by theriver being thrown up by the current, and silted, with belts ofmangroves in patches. 

MUFFLED DRUM. The sound is thus damped at funerals: passing the sparecord, which is made of drummer's plait (to carry the drum over theshoulder), twice through the snares or cords which cross the lowerdiameter of the drum. 

MUFFLE THE OARS, TO. To put some matting or canvas round the loom whenrowing, to prevent its making a noise against the tholes, or in therowlocks. For this service thole-pins are best. In war time, rowingguard near the ships or batteries of the enemy, or cutting out, many apea-jacket has been sacrificed for this purpose. Whale-boats have theiroars muffled to prevent frightening the whales. 

MUFTI. Plain clothes. The civilian dress of a naval or military officerwhen off duty. This, though not quite commendable, is better than thehalf and half system, for a good officer should be either in uniform orout of it. 

MUGGY. Half intoxicated. A sheet in the wind. Also used to express damp, oppressive weather. 

MULCT. A fine in money for some fault or misdemeanour. Also, finesformerly laid on ships by a trading company, to raise money for themaintenance of consuls, &c. 

MULET. A Portuguese craft, with three lateen sails. 

MULL. Derived from the Gaelic _mullach_, a promontory or island; as Mullof Galloway, Mull of Cantyre, Isle of Mull. Also, when things aremismanaged; "we have made a mull of it. "

MULLET. A well-known fish, of which there are several species. The graymullet, _Mugil capito_, and the red mullet, _Mullus surmuletus_, are themost common on the British coast. 

MULLS. The nickname of the English in Madras, from mulligatawney havingbeen a standard dish amongst them. 

MULREIN. A name in the Firth of Forth for the frog-fish, _Lophiuspiscatorius_. 

MULTIPLE STARS. When several stars appear in close proximity to eachother, they are spoken of, collectively, as a multiple star. 

MUMBO JUMBO. A strange minister of so-called justice on the Gold Coast, who is usually dressed up for the purpose of frightening women andchildren. He is the arbiter of domestic strife. 

MUNDUC. A sailor employed at the pearl-fishery, to haul up the diver andoysters. 

MUNDUNGUS [from the Spanish _mondongo_, refuse, offal]. Bad, rank, anddirty tobacco. 

MUN-FISH. Rotten fish, used in Cornwall for manure. 

MUNITION BREAD. Contract or commissariat bread; _Brown George_. 

MUNITIONS. Provisions; naval and military stores. 

MUNITION SHIPS. Those which carry the naval stores for a fleet, asdistinguished from the victuallers. 

MUNJAK. A kind of pitch used in the Bay of Honduras for vessels'bottoms. 

MUNNIONS, OR MUNTINS. The divisional pieces of the stern-lights; thepieces that separate the lights in the galleries. 

MURÆNA. An eel-like fish, very highly esteemed by the ancient Romans. 

MURDERER. The name formerly used for large blunderbusses, as well as forthose small pieces of ordnance which were loaded by shifting metalchambers placed in the breech. 

MURLOCH. The young pickled dog-fish. 

MURRE. The Cornish name for the razor-bill, _Alca torda_. 

MURROCH. A term for shell-fish in general on the west coast of Scotland. 

MUSKET. The regulation fire-arm for infantry and small-arm men. That ofthe English service, when a smooth bore, threw its bullet of about anounce 250 yards with good effect; now, rifling has trebled its range, whilst breech-loading has done at least as much by its rapidity of fire. 

MUSKET-ARROWS. Used in our early fleets, and for conveying notices in1815. 

MUSKETEERS. An early name for those soldiers who were armed withmuskets. 

MUSKETOON. A short kind of blunderbuss with a large bore, to carryseveral musket or pistol bullets; it was much used on boat service. Theywere mounted on swivel crutches, and termed top-pieces; quarter piecesin barges and pinnaces, where timbers were especially fitted for them. 

MUSKET-PROOF. Any bulk-head, parapet, or substance which effectuallyresists the force of a musket-ball. 

MUSKET-SHOT. Was the computed distance of 400 yards, now undergoingchange. 

MUSLIN, OR DIMITY. The flying kites of a ship. "Give her the muslin, " or"Spare not the dimity, " frequently used in tropical chase of slavers. 

MUSTER, TO. To assemble in order that the state and condition of the menmay be seen, and also at times to inspect their arms and clothing. 

MUSTER-BOOK. A copy of a ship of war's open list, drawn up for the useof the clerk of the check, in calling over the crew. A copy of themuster-book is to be transmitted every two months to the admiralty. 

MUSTER-PAPER. A description of paper supplied from the dockyards, ruledand headed, for making ships' books. 

MUSTER-ROLL. A document kept by the master of every British vessel, specifying the name, age, quality, and country of every person of theship's company; even neutrals are compelled to produce such a paper intime of war. 

MUSTER THE WATCH. A duty performed nightly at 8 P. M. , and repeated whenthe watch is relieved up to 4 A. M. 

MUTCHKIN. A pint measure. 

MUTILATION. The crime of self-maiming to avoid serving. 

MUTINOUS. Showing symptoms of sedition. 

MUTINY. Revolt or determined disobedience of regular authority bysoldiers or sailors, and punishable with death. Shakspeare makes Hamletsleep

 "Worse than the _mutines_ in the bilboes. "

MUTINY-ACT. On this document the Articles of War are founded. 

MUTTON-SNAPPER. A large fish of the _Mesoprion_ genus, frequentingtropical seas, and prized in the Jamaica markets. (_See_ SNAPPER. )

MUZZLE OF A PIECE OF ORDNANCE. The forward extremity of the cylinder, and the metal which surrounds it, extending back to the neck, where itmeets the chase, marked by a moulded ring in old guns. 

MUZZLE-LASHINGS. The ropes which confine the muzzles of lower-deck gunsto the housing bolts. 

MUZZLE-RING. That which encompassed and strengthened the muzzle or mouthof a cannon; now disused. 

MUZZLE TO THE RIGHT, OR MUZZLE TO THE LEFT! The order given to trim thegun to the object. 

MUZZY. Half-drunk. 

MYLKERE. The old English name for the milt of a fish. 

MYOPARA. An ancient corsair's vessel. 

MYRMIDON [from _mur-medon_, a sea-captain]. The Myrmidons were a peopleof Thessaly, said to have first constructed ships. 

MYSERECORD. A thin-bladed dagger with which a grievously wounded warriorwas despatched as an act of mercy. 

MYTH. Obelisk, tower, land, or anything for directing the course bysight. 

N. 

NAB. The bolt-toe, or cock of a gun-lock. 

NABB. A cant term for the head. Also, a protuberance on the rocky summitof a hill; a rocky ledge below water. 

NACA, OR NACELLE. A French boat without mast or sail, used as early asthe twelfth century. 

NACRE. The mother-of-pearl which lines some shells, both univalve andbivalve. 

NACTA. A small transport vessel of early times. 

NADIR. The lower pole of the rational horizon, the other being thezenith. 

NAID. A northern term for a lamprey, or large eel. 

NAIL, TO. Is colloquially used for binding a person to a bargain. Inweighing articles of food, a nail is 8 lbs. 

NAILING A GUN. Synonymous with _cloying_ or _spiking_. When necessary toabandon cannon, or when the enemy's artillery, though seized, cannot betaken away, it is proper to spike it, which is done by driving a steelor other spike into the vent. The best method sometimes to render a gunserviceable again is to drill a new vent. (_See_ SPIKING. )

NAILS OF SORTS. Nails used in carpentry under the denominations of 4, 6, 8, 10, 24, 30, and 40 penny-nails, all of different lengths. 

NAKE! The old word to unsheath swords, or make them naked. 

NAKED. State of a ship's bottom without sheathing. Also, a place withoutmeans of defence. 

NAKHADAH, OR NACODAH. An Arab sea-captain. 

NAME. The name of a merchant ship, as well as the port to which shebelongs, must be painted in a conspicuous manner on her stern. Ifchanged, she must be registered _de novo_, and the old certificatecancelled. 

NAME-BOARD. The arch-board, or part whereon the ship's name and port arepainted. 

NAME-BOOK. The Anglo-Saxon _nom-bóc_, a mustering list. 

NANCY. An east-country term for a small lobster. 

NANCY DAWSON. A popular air by which seamen were summoned to grog. 

NANKIN. A light fawn-coloured or white cotton cloth, almost exclusivelyworn at one time in our ships on the India station. It was supplied fromChina, but is now manufactured in England, Malta, and the United States. 

NANT. A brook, or small river, on the coasts of Wales. 

NAPHTHA. A very inflammable, fiercely burning fluid, which oozes fromthe ground or rock in many different localities, and may be obtained bythe distillation of coal, cannel, and other substances. It is nearlyrelated to _petroleum_ (which see), and is used for lighting, combustible, and various other purposes. 

NAPIER'S BONES. Small rods, arranged by Lord Napier to expeditearithmetical calculations. In _Hudibras_:

 "A moon-dial, with Napier's bones, And several constellation stones. "

NARKE. A ray of very wonderful electric powers. 

NARROWING OF THE FLOOR-SWEEP. For this peculiar curve, _see_ HALF-BREADTHOF THE RISING. 

NARROWS. The most confined part of a channel between two lands, or anycontracted part of a navigable river. 

NARWHAL. The _Monodon monoceros_, an animal of the cetacean order, foundin the Arctic seas, and distinguished by the single long pointed tuskprojecting straight forward from its upper jaw, whence it is also termedsea-unicorn. 

NATURAL FORTIFICATION. Those obstacles, in the form or nature of thecountry, which impede the approaches of an enemy. 

NATURAL MOTION. A term applied to the descending parabolic curve of ashot or shell in falling. 

NAUFRAGIATE, TO. An old expression, meaning to suffer shipwreck. Itoccurs in Lithgow's _Pilgrime's Farewell_, 1618. 

NAULAGE. A freight or fare. 

NAUMACHIA. An artificial piece of water whereon the ancient Romansrepresented a sea-fight, supposed to have originated in the first Punicwar. 

NAUROPOMETER. An instrument for measuring the amount of a ship's heel orinclination at sea. 

NAUSCOPY. The tact of discovering ships or land at considerabledistances. 

NAUTICAL. Relating to navigation, sailors, or maritime affairs ingeneral. 

NAUTICAL ALMANAC. A book of the first necessity to navigators. (_See_EPHEMERIS. )

NAUTICAL ASSESSORS. Persons of nautical experience appointed to assistthe judge of the admiralty and other courts in technical difficulties. 

NAUTICAL ASTRONOMY. That part of the celestial science which treats ofthe planets and stars so far as relates to the purposes of navigation. 

NAUTICAL DAY. This day commences at noon, twelve hours before the civilday, and ends at noon of the day following. (_See_ DAY. )

NAUTICAL MILE (MEAN) = 6075·6 feet. 

NAUTICAL STARS. About 72 of the brightest, which have been selected fordetermining the latitude or the longitude, by lunar distances, andinserted, corrected to the year, in the Nautical Ephemeris. 

NAUTICAL TABLES. Those especially computed for resolution of mattersdependent on nautical astronomy, and navigation generally. 

NAUTICUM FŒNUS. Marine usury; bottomry. 

NAUTILUS. The pearly nautilus, _N. Pompilius_, is a marine animal, belonging to the same class (_Cephalopoda_) as the cuttle-fish, butprotected by a beautiful, chambered, discoid shell. The paper-nautilus(_Argonauta argo_) belongs to a different family of the same class, andhas a simple, delicate, boat-like shell. 

NAVAL. Of or belonging to a ship, or, as now commonly adopted, to theroyal navy; hence, naval stores, naval officers, &c. 

NAVAL ARCHITECTURE. The construction, or art and science, of buildingships. 

NAVAL ARMAMENT. A fleet or squadron of ships of war, fitted out for aparticular service. 

NAVAL CADET. _See_ CADET. 

NAVAL HOSPITALS. Greenwich is styled by eminence _the Royal Hospital_, yet the naval medical establishments in England and the colonies areall royal. At home they are Haslar, Plymouth, Yarmouth, Haulbowline, Chatham, and Woolwich; abroad, Malta, Jamaica, Halifax, Bermuda, Cape ofGood Hope, and Hong Kong. Besides these useful hospitals, there areother stations of relief around the coasts. 

NAVAL OFFICER. One belonging to the royal navy. Also, the person incharge of the stores in a royal dockyard abroad. 

NAVAL RESERVE. A body of volunteers, consisting of coasters and ablemerchant seamen, who are drilled for serving on board our ships of warin case of need. They receive a fixed rate of compensation, becomeentitled to a pension, and enjoy other privileges. They are largelyofficered from their own body. 

NAVAL SCIENCE. A knowledge of the theory of ship-building, seamanship, navigation, nautical astronomy, and tactics. 

NAVAL STORES. All those particulars which are made use of, not only inthe royal navy, but in every other kind of navigation. There are variousstatutes against stealing or embezzling them. 

NAVAL STORE-SHIP. A government vessel, appropriated to carrying storesand munitions of war to different stations. 

NAVAL TACTICS. The warlike evolutions of fleets, including suchmanœuvres as may be judged most suitable for attack, defence, orretreat, with precision. The science of tactics happens never to haveproceeded from naval men. Thus Père la Hoste among the French, and alawyer among the English, are the prime authorities. Moreover, it is afact well known to those who served half a century back, when LordKeith, Sir P. Durham, Sir P. Malcolm, and B. Hallowell practised theirsquadrons, that questions remained in dispute and undecided for at leastsixteen years. 

NAVE-HOLE. The hole in the centre of a gun-truck for receiving the endof the axle-tree. 

NAVEL HOODS. Those hoods wrought above and below the hawse-holes, outside a ship, where there are no cheeks to support a bolster. 

NAVEL LAVER. The sea-weed _Ulva umbilicus_. 

NAVEL LINE. _See_ LINE. 

NAVIGABLE. Any channel capable of being passed by ships or boats. 

NAVIGANT. An old word for sailor. 

NAVIGATION. The art of conducting vessels on the sea, not only by thepeculiar knowledge of seamanship in all its intricate details, but alsoby such a knowledge of the higher branches of nautical astronomy asenables the commander to hit his port, after a long succession of badweather, and an absence of three or four months from all land. Any manwithout science may navigate the entire canals of Great Britain, but maybe unable to pass from Plymouth to Guernsey. 

NAVIGATION ACTS. Various statutes by which the legislature of GreatBritain has in a certain degree restricted the intercourse of foreignvessels with her own ports, or those of her dependent possessions; theobject being to promote the increase of British shipping. 

NAVIGATOR. A person skilled in the art of navigation. In old times, theship's _artist_. Also, one who plies merely on canals. Also, the _navvy_who works on embankments, cuttings, &c. 

NAVITHALAMUS. A word in Law-Latin signifying a yacht. 

NAVVIES. The vigorous labourers employed in cutting canals, railroads, or river works in temporary gangs. 

NAVY. Any assembly of ships, whether for commerce or war. Moreparticularly the vessels of war which, belonging to the government ofany state, constitute its maritime force. The Royal Navy of GreatBritain is conducted under the direction of the lords-commissioners forexecuting the office of lord high-admiral, and by the followingprincipal officers under them:--the controller of the navy, controllingdockyards, building, &c. , with his staff; the accountant-general, store-keeper general, and controller of victualling. These several lordsmeet as a board at Somerset House on special days to give the affairsthe force of the board of admiralty. 

NAVY AGENTS. Selected mercantile houses, about fourteen, who manage theaffairs of officers' pay, prizes, &c. , for which the law authorizes acertain percentage. They hold powers of attorney to watch the interestsof their clients. 

NAVY BILLS. Bills of removal, transfer, &c. , are not negotiable, nor canthey be made other use of. 

NAVY BOARD. The commissioners of the navy collectively considered, butlong since abolished. 

NAVY TRANSPORT. _See_ TRANSPORT. 

NAVY-YARD. A royal arsenal for the navy. 

NAY-WORD. The old term for the watch-word, parole, or countersign. 

NAZE. _See_ NESS. 

NEALED. _See_ ARMING. 

NEALED-TO. A shore, with deep soundings close in. 

NEAPED. The situation of a ship which, within a bar-harbour, is leftaground on the spring-tides so that she cannot go to sea or be floatedoff till the return of the next spring-tides. 

NEAP-TIDES. A term from the Ang. -Sax. _nepflods_. They are but mediumtides, in respect to their opposites, the springs, being neither sohigh, so low, nor so rapid. The phenomenon is owing to the attractionsof the sun and moon then partly counteracting each other. 

NEAR, AND NO NEAR. Synonymous terms used as a warning to the helmsmanwhen too near the wind, not to come closer to it, but to keep theweather-helm in hand. 

NEAT. _See_ NET, as commercial weight. 

NEB. This word, the Ang. -Sax. _nebb_, face as well as nose, is sometimesused for _ness_ (which see). Also, a bird's beak. 

NEBULA. An old term for a cluster of stars looking like a cloudy spottill separated by telescopic power; but the term is also now correctlyapplied to masses of nebulous matter only. 

NECESSARIES. Minor articles of clothing or equipment, prescribed byregulation, but provided by the men out of their own pay. 

NECESSARY MONEY. An extra allowance formerly allowed to pursers for thecoals, wood, turnery-ware, candles, and other necessaries provided bythem. 

NECESSITY. If a ship be compelled by necessity to change the order ofthe places to which she is insured, this is not deemed deviation, andthe underwriters are still liable. 

NECK. The elbow or part connecting the blade and socket of a bayonet. _Goose-neck_, at the ends of booms, to connect them with the sides, orat the yard-arm for the studding-sail boom-iron. 

NECK OF A GUN. The narrow part where the chase meets the swell of themuzzle. 

NECKED. Tree-nails are said to be necked where they are cracked, bent, or nipped between the outside skin and the timbers of a vessel, whetherfrom bad driving or severe straining. 

NECKING. A small neat moulding at the foot of the taffrail over thelight. 

NECKLACE. A ring of wads placed round a gun, as sometimes practised, forreadiness and stowage. Also, a strop round a lower mast carryingleading-blocks. Also, the chain necklace, to which the futtock-shroudsare secured in some vessels. 

NECK OF LAND. Dividing two portions of water, or it may be the neck of apeninsula. 

NECK OF THE CASCABLE. The part between the swell of the breech of a gunand the button. Its narrowest part within the button. 

NECKUR. A Scandinavian sea-sprite, whence some derive our "Old Nick" inpreference to St. Nicholas, the modern patron of sailors. 

NEEDLE. The Ang. -Sax. _nædl_. (_See also_ MAGNETIC NEEDLE. )

NEEDLE-FISH. The shorter pipe-fish, stang, or sting, _Sygnathus acus_. 

NEEDLE-GUN. One wherein the ignition for the cartridge is produced bythe penetration of the detonating priming by a steel spike working inthe lock. It is the Prussian musket. 

NEEDLES. Used by sail-makers, are _seaming_, _bolt-rope_, or _roping_needles, all three-sided, and of very fine steel. --The _Needles_ of theIsle of Wight are the result of cracks in the rocks, through which thesea has worn its way, as also at Old Harry, Swanage Bay. As the chalkformation stretches westward, the structure changes in hardness until atPortland we meet with Portland stone. In California many of the needlerocks are of volcanic origin; others again are basaltic columns. 

NEGLECT. A charge not exceeding £3, from the wages of a seaman, in theComplete Book, for any part of the ship's stores lost overboard, ordamaged, from his gross carelessness. 

NEGLIGENCE. If agent or broker engages to do an act for another, and heeither wholly neglects it, or does it unskilfully, an action on the casewill lie against him. 

NEGOTIATE, TO. The duty of a diplomatist; the last resource and bestargument being now 12-ton guns. 

NEGRO-BOAT. _See_ ALMADIA. 

NEGROHEAD. Hard-rolled tobacco. 

NEGRO-HEADS. The brown loaves issued to ships in ordinary. 

NELLY. _Diomedea spadicea_, a sea-bird of the family _Procellaridæ_, which follows in the wake of a ship when rounding the Cape of Good Hope:it is very voracious of fat blubber. 

NEPTUNE. A superior planet, recently discovered; it is the most distantmember of the solar system yet known, and was revealed by the effectwhich its attraction had produced upon the movements of Uranus; this wasone of the most admirable solutions in modern mathematical science. Neptune, so far as is yet known, has no satellites. 

NEPTUNES. Large brass pans used in the Bight of Biafra for obtainingsalt. 

NEPTUNE'S GOBLETS. The large cup-shaped sponges found in the easternseas; _Raphyrus patera_. 

NEPTUNE'S SHEEP. Waves breaking into foam, called white horses. 

NESS [Ang. -Sax. _næs_]. A projection of land, as Dungeness, Sheerness, &c. It is common in other European languages, as the French _nez_, Italian _naso_, Russian _noss_, Norwegian _naze_, &c. Our Dunnose is anexample. 

NEST. _See_ CROW'S NEST. 

NET. In commerce, is the weight of a commodity alone, without thepackage. 

NET AND COBLE. The means by which sasses or flood-gates are allowed infishings on navigable rivers. 

NETTING. Network of rope or small line for the purpose of securinghammocks, sails, &c. --_Boarding netting. _ A stout netting formerlyextended fore and aft from the gunwale to a proper height up therigging. Its use was to prevent an enemy from jumping onboard. --_Splinter netting. _ Is stretched from the main-mast aft to themizen-mast, in a horizontal position, about 12 feet above thequarter-deck. It secures those engaged there from injury by the fall ofany objects from the mast-heads during an action:

 "And has saved the lives of many men Who have fallen from aloft. "

NETTLES. Small line used for seizings, and for hammock-clues. (_See_KNITTLE. )--_To nettle_, is to provoke. 

NEUTRALS. Those who do not by treaty owe anything to either party inwar; for if they do they are confederates. They are not to interferebetween contending powers; and the right of security justifies abelligerent in enforcing the conditions. They are not allowed to tradefrom one port of the enemy to another, nor to be habitually employed inhis coasting trade. Indeed the simple conveyance of any article to theopponent of the blockading squadron, at once settles the non-admission, or even hovering. 

NEVER SAY DIE! An expressive phrase, meaning do not despair, there ishope yet. --_Nil desperandum!_ As Cowper says, "Beware of desperate steps. The darkest day, Wait till to-morrow, will have passed away. "

NEW ACT. The going on shore without leave, and which though thus termednew, is an old trick. 

NEWCOME. An officer commencing his career. Any stranger or fresh handnewly arrived. 

NEWELL. An upright piece of timber to receive the tenon of the railsthat lead from the breast-hook to the gangway. 

NEWGATE BIRDS. The men sent on board ship from prisons; but the term hasalso been immemorially used, as applied to some of the _Dragon's_ men inthe voyage of Sir Thomas Roe to Surat, 1615. 

NEW MOON. The moon is said to be new when she is in conjunction with thesun, or between that luminary and the earth. 

NEWS. "Do you hear the news?" A formula used in turning up the reliefwatch. 

NICE STEERAGE. That which is required in tide-ways and intricatechannels, chasing or chased. 

NIDGET. A coward. A term used in old times for those who refused to jointhe royal standard. 

NIGHT-CAP. Warm grog taken just before turning in. 

NIGHTINGALES. _See_ SPITHEAD NIGHTINGALES. 

NIGHT ORDER-BOOK. A document of some moment, as it contains thecaptain's behests about change of course, &c. , and ought to be legiblywritten. 

NIGHT-WALKER. A fish of a reddish colour, about the size of a haddock, so named by Cook's people from the greatest number being caught in thenight; probably red-snapper. 

NIGHT WARD. The night-watch. 

NILL. Scales of hot iron at the armourer's forge. Also, the stars ofrockets. 

NIMBUS. Ragged and hanging clouds resolving into rain. (_See_CUMULO-CIRRO-STRATUS. )

NINE-PIN BLOCK. A block in that form, mostly used for a _fair-leader_under the cross-pieces of the forecastle and quarter-deck bitts. 

NINES, TO THE. An expression to denote complete. 

NINGIM. A corruption of _ginseng_ (which see). 

NIP. A short turn in a rope. Also, a fishing term for a bite. In Arcticparlance, a nip is when two floes in motion crush by their oppositeedges a vessel unhappily entrapped. Also, the parts of a rope at theplace bound by the seizing, or caught by jambing. Also, _Nip in thehawse_; hence "freshen the nip, " by veering a few feet of the serviceinto the hawse. 

NIPCHEESE. The sailor's name for a purser's steward. 

NIPPER. The armourer's pincers or tongs. Also, a hammock with so littlebedding as to be unfit for stowing in the nettings. 

NIPPERING. Fastening nippers by taking turns crosswise between the partsto jam them; and sometimes with a round turn before each cross. Theseare called racking-turns. 

NIPPER-MEN. Foretop-men employed to bind the nippers about the cablesand messenger, and to whom the boys return them when they are taken off. 

NIPPERS. Are formed of clean, unchafed yarns, drawn from condemned rope, unlaid. The yarns are stretched either over two bolts, or cleats, and afair strain brought on each part. They are then "marled" from end toend, and used in various ways, viz. To bind the messenger to the cable, and to form slings for wet spars, &c. The nipper is passed at themanger-board, the fore-end pressing itself against the cable; afterpassing it round cable and messenger spirally, the end is passed twiceround the messenger, and a foretop-man holds the end until it reachesthe fore-hatchway, when a maintop-man takes it up, and at themain-hatchway it is taken off, a boy carrying it forward ready coiledfor further use. --_Selvagee nippers_ are used when from a very greatstrain the common nippers are not found sufficiently secure; selvageesare then put on, and held fast by means of tree-nails. (_See_ SELVAGEEand TREE-NAILS. )--_Buoy and nipper. _ Burt's patent for sounding. By thiscontrivance any amount of line is loosely veered. So long as the leaddescends, the line runs through the nipper attached to a canvas inflatedbuoy. The instant it is checked or the lead touches bottom, the backstrain nips the line, and indicates the vertical depth that the lead hasdescended. 

NIPPLE. In ship-building. Another name for _knuckle_ (which see). Also, the nipple of a gun or musket lock; the perforated projection whichreceives the percussion-cap. 

NISSAK. The Shetland name for a small porpoise. 

NITRE. _Potassæ nitras_, a salt formed by the union of nitric acid withpotash; the main agent in gunpowder. 

NITTY. A troublesome noise; a squabble. 

NOAH'S ARK. Certain clouds elliptically parted, considered a sign offine weather after rain. 

NOB. The head; therefore applied to a person in a high station of life. (_See_ KNOB. )

NOCK. The forward upper end of a sail that sets with a boom. Also, aterm used for _notch_. 

NOCTURNAL, NOCTURLABIUM. An instrument chiefly used at sea, to take thealtitude or depression of some of the stars about the pole, in order tofind the latitude and the hour of the night. 

NOCTURNAL ARC. That part of a circle, parallel to the equator, which isdescribed by a celestial object, between its setting and rising. 

NODDY. The _Sterna solida_, a dark web-footed sea-bird, common about theWest Indies. Also, a simpleton; so used by Shakspeare in the _TwoGentlemen of Verona_. 

NODES. Those points in the orbit of a planet or comet where itintersects the ecliptic. The ascending node is the point where itpasses from the south to the north side of the ecliptic; the descendingnode is the opposite point, where the latitude changes from north tosouth. (_See_ LINE OF NODES. )

NOG. A tree-nail driven through the heels of the shores, to secure them. 

NOGGIN. A small cup or spirit-measure, holding about 1/4 of a pint. 

NOGGING. The act of securing the shores by tree-nails. Also, warmingbeer at the galley-fire. 

NO HIGHER! _See_ NEAR. 

NO-HOWISH. Qualmy; feeling an approaching ailment without being able todescribe the symptoms. 

NO-MAN'S LAND. A space in midships between the after-part of the belfryand the fore-part of a boat when it is stowed upon the booms, as isoften done in a deep-waisted vessel; this space is used to contain anyblocks, ropes, tackles, &c. , which may be necessary on the forecastle, and probably derives its name from being neither on the starboard norport side, neither in the waist, nor on the forecastle. 

NONAGESIMAL DEGREE. The point of the ecliptic which is at the greatestaltitude above the horizon. 

NON-COMBATANTS. A term applied erroneously to the purser, mastersurgeon, &c. , of a man-of-war, for all men on board may be called on, more or less, to fight. 

NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS. In familiar parlance, _non-coms. _ are thesergeants, corporals, and others, appointed under special regulations, by the orders of the commanding officer. 

NON-CONDENSING ENGINE. A high-pressure steam-engine. 

NONIUS SCALE, OR VERNIER. That fixed to the oblong opening near thelower end of the index-bar of a sextant or quadrant; it divides degreesinto minutes, and these again into parts of seconds. 

NO! NO! The answer to the night-hail by which it is known that amidshipman or warrant officer is in the boat hailed. 

NON-RECOIL. This was effected by securing the breeching while the gunwas run out: often practised in small vessels. 

NOOK. A small indentation of the land; a little cove in the inner partsof bays and harbours. 

NOOK-SHOTTEN. A Shakspearian expression for a coast indented with bays;as in _Henry V. _ Bourbon speaks contemptuously of "that nook-shottenisle of Albion. "

NOON. Mid-day. 

NOOSE. A slip or running knot. 

NORE. The old word for north. Also, a canal or channel. 

NORIE'S EPITOME. A treatise on navigation not to be easily cast aside. 

NORLAND. Of, or belonging to, the north land. 

NORMAL LEVEL OF A BAROMETER. A term reckoned synonymous with _par-line_(which see). 

NORMAN. A short wooden bar thrust into one of the holes of the windlassor capstan in a merchantman, whereon to veer a rope or fasten the cable, if there be little strain upon it. Also fixed through the head of therudder, in some ships, to prevent the loss of the rudder. Also, a pinplaced in the bitt-cross-piece to confine the cable from falling off. 

NORRIE, AND TAMMIE NORRIE. The Scotch name for the puffin. 

NORTH. From the Anglo-Saxon _nord_. 

NORTH-AWAY YAWL. The old term for _Norway yawl_ (which see). 

NORTH-EAST PASSAGE. To the Pacific, or round the north of Europe, hasbeen divided into three parts, thus: 1. From Archangel to the riverLena; 2. From the Lena, round Tschukotskoi-ness to Kamtschatka; and 3. From Kamtschatka to Japan. They have been accomplished at various times, but not successively. 

NORTHERN DIVER. The _Colymbus glacialis_, a large diving-bird. 

NORTHERN-GLANCE. The old sea-name of the _aurora borealis_ (which see). 

NORTHERN LIGHTS. _See_ NORTHERN-GLANCE. 

NORTHERS. Those winds so well known to all seamen who have frequentedthe West Indies, and which are preceded by the appearance of a vastquantity of fine cobwebs or gossamer in the atmosphere, which clings toall parts of a vessel's rigging, thus serving as a warning of anapproaching gale. Northers alternate with the seasons in the Gulf ofMexico, the Florida Channel, Jamaica, Cuba, &c. Their cold is intense. 

NORTH FOLLOWING. For this and _north preceding_, _see_ QUADRANT. 

NORTH PASSAGE TO THE INDIES. The grand object of our maritimeexpeditions at a remote period, prosecuted with a boldness, dexterity, and perseverance which, although since equalled in the same pursuit, have not yet been surpassed:--

 "I will undertake To find the north passage to the Indies sooner, Than plough with your proud heifer. "--_Massinger. _

NORTH SEA. The Jamaica name for the north swell. (_See_ GROUND-SEA. )

NORTH-WESTER. This wind in India usually commences or terminates with aviolent gust from that quarter, with loud thunder and vivid lightning. Also, gales which blow from the eastern coast of North America in theAtlantic during the autumn and winter. 

NORTH-WEST PASSAGE. By Hudson's Bay into the Pacific Ocean has been morethan once attempted of late years, but hitherto without success. Somegreatly doubted the practicability of such an enterprise; but thenorth-west passage, as far as relates to the flow of the sea beneath theice, was satisfactorily solved by H. M. S. _Investigator_, Sir R. Maclure, reaching the western end of Barrow's Straits. The former question, up toMelville Island, which Sir R. Maclure reached and left his notice at in1852, having been already thoroughly established by Sir E. Parry in1820. 

NORTH WIND. This wind in the British seas is dry and cold, andgenerally ushers in fair weather and clear skies. The barometer riseswith the wind at north, and is highest at N. N. E. ; the air forming thiswind comes from colder latitudes, and has therefore lost most of itsmoisture. 

NORWAY SKIFF. A particularly light and buoyant boat, which is both swiftand safe in the worst weather. 

NORWAY YAWL. This, of all small boats, is said to be the best calculatedfor a high sea; it is often met with at a distance from land, when astout ship can hardly carry any sail. The parent of the _peter-boat_. 

NOSE. Often used to denote the stem of a ship. Also, a neck of land:_naes_, or _ness_. 

NOTARY. The person legally empowered to attest deeds, protests, or otherdocuments, in order to render them binding. 

NOTCH. The gaffle of a cross-bow. 

NOTCH-BLOCK. _See_ SNATCH-BLOCK. 

NOTCH-SIGHT OF A GUN. A sight having a V-shaped notch, wherein the eyeeasily finds the lowest or central point. 

NOTHING OFF! A term used by the man at the conn to the steersman, directing him to keep her close to the wind; or "nothing off, and verywell thus!" (_See_ THUS. )

NOTIONS. An American sea-term for a cargo in sorts; thus a notion-vesselon the west coast of America is a perfect bazaar; but one, which sold amixture--logwood, bad claret, and sugar--to the priests for sacramentwine had to run for it. 

NOUD. A term in the north for fishes that are accounted of little value. 

NOUP. A round-headed eminence. 

NOUS. An old and very general term for intelligent perception, evidentlyfrom the Greek. 

NOUST. A landing-place or indent into the shore for a boat to be mooredin; a term of the Orkney Isles. 

NOZZLE-FACES. Square plates of brass raised upon the cylinder; one roundeach of the steam-ports, for the valve-plates to slide upon. 

NOZZLES. In steamers, the same as steam-ports; they are oblong passagesfrom the nozzle-faces to the inside of the cylinder; by them the steamenters and returns above and below the piston. Also pump nozzles. 

NUBECULÆ, MAJOR AND MINOR. The _Magellanic clouds_ (which see). 

NUCLEUS OF A COMET. The condensed or star-like part of the head. 

NUDDEE. A Hindostanee word for a river. 

NUGGAR. A term in the East Indies for a fort, and also for an alligator. 

NULLAH. A ravine or creek of a stream in India. 

NUMBER. The number on the ship's books is marked on the clothing ofseamen; that on a man's hammock or bag corresponds with his number onthe watch and station bill. The ships of the royal navy are denoted byflags expressing letters, and when passing or nearing each other thenames are exchanged by signals. --_Losing the number of the mess_, is aphrase for dying suddenly; being killed or drowned. 

NUMERARY OR MARRYAT'S SIGNALS. A useful code used by the mercantilemarine, by an arrangement of flags from a cypher to units, and thence tothousands. (_See_ SIGNALS. )

NUN-BUOY. A buoy made of staves, somewhat in the form of a double cone;large in the middle, and tapering rapidly to the ends; the slinging ofwhich is a good specimen of practical rigging tact. 

NURAVEE YAWL. A corruption of _Norway yawl_ (which see). 

NURSE. An able first lieutenant, who in former times had charge of ayoung boy-captain of interest, but possessing no knowledge for command. Also, a small kind of shark with a very rough skin; a dog-fish. 

NUT. A small piece of iron with a female screw cut through the middle ofit, for screwing on to the end of a bolt. 

NUTATION. An oscillatory motion of the earth's axis, due chiefly to theaction of the moon upon the spheroidal figure of our globe. 

NUTS OF AN ANCHOR. Two projections either raised or welded on the squarepart of the shank, for securing the stock to its place. 

NYCTALOPIA. _See_ MOON-BLINK. 

O. 

O. The fourth class of rating on Lloyd's books for the comparativeexcellence of merchant ships. But insured vessels are rarely so low. (_See_ A. )

O! OR HO! An interjection commanding attention or possibly the cessationof any action. 

OAK. _Quercus_, the valuable monarch of the woods. "Hearts of oak areour ships, " as the old song says. 

OAKUM [from the Anglo-Saxon _æcumbe_]. The state into which old ropesare reduced when they are untwisted and picked to pieces. It isprincipally used in caulking the seams, for stopping leaks, and formaking into twice-laid ropes. Very well known in workhouses. --_WhiteOakum. _ That which is formed from untarred ropes. 

OAKUM-BOY. The caulker's apprentice, who attends to bring oakum, pitch, &c. 

OAR. A slender piece of timber used as a lever to propel a boat throughthe water. The blade is dipped into the water, while the other endwithin board, termed the loom, is small enough to be grasped by therower. The _silver oar_ is a badge of office, similar to the staff of apeace-officer, which on presentation, enables a person intrusted with awarrant to serve it on board any ship he may set foot upon. --_To boatthe oars_, is to cease rowing and lay the oars in the boat. --_Get youroars to pass!_ The order to prepare them for rowing, or shipping them. 

OAR, TO SHOVE IN AN. To intermeddle, or give an opinion unasked. 

OAR-PROPULSION. The earliest motive power for vessels; it may be by thebroadside in rowlocks abeam, by sweeps on the quarters fore and aft, orby sculling with one oar in the notch of the transom amidships. (_See_STERN-OAR. )

OARS! The order to cease rowing, by lifting the oars from the water, andpoising them on their looms horizontally in their rowlocks. --_Look toyour oars!_ Passing any object or among sea-weed. --_Double-banked oars_(which see). 

OASIS. A fertile spot in the midst of a sandy desert. 

OATH. A solemn affirmation or denial of anything, before a personauthorized to administer the same, for discovery of truth and right. (_See_ CORPORAL OATH. ) Hesiod ascribes the invention of oaths todiscord. The oath of supremacy and of the Protestant faith was formerlytaken by an officer before he could hold a commission in the royal navy. 

OAZE. Synonymous with the Ang. -Sax. _wase_ when applied to mud. (_See_OOZE. )

OBEY. A word forming the fulcrum of naval discipline. 

OBI. A horrible sorcery practised among the negroes in the West Indies, the infliction of which by a threat from the juggler is sufficient tolead the denounced victim to mental disease, despondency, and death. Still the wretched trash gathered together for the obi-spell is not moreridiculous than the amulets of civilized Europe. 

OBLATE. Compressed or flattened. 

OBLIGATION. A bond containing a penalty, with a condition annexed forpayment of money or performance of covenants. 

OBLIMATION. The deposit of mud and silt by water. 

OBLIQUE-ANGLED TRIANGLE. Any other than a right-angled triangle. 

OBLIQUE ASCENSION. An arc between the first point of Aries and thatpoint of the equator which comes to the horizon with a star, or otherheavenly body, reckoned according to the order of signs. It is the sumor difference of the right ascension and ascensional difference. 

OBLIQUE BEARINGS. Consist in determining the position of a ship, byobserving with a compass the bearings of two or more objects on theshore whose places are given on a chart, and drawing lines from thoseplaces, so as to make angles with their meridians equal to the observedbearings; the intersection of the line gives on the chart the positionof the ship. This is sometimes called the method of cross-bearings. 

OBLIQUE SAILING. Is the reduction of the position of the ship from thevarious courses made good, oblique to the meridian or parallel oflatitude. If a vessel sails north or south, it is simply a distance onthe meridian. If east or west, on the parallel, and refers to parallelsailing. If oblique, it is solved by middle latitude, or Mercatorsailing. 

OBLIQUE STEP. A movement in marching, in which the men, while advancing, gradually take ground to the right or left. 

OBLIQUITY OF THE ECLIPTIC. The angle between the planes of the eclipticand the equator, or the inclination of the earth's equator to the planeof her annual path, upon which the seasons depend: this amounts atpresent to about 23° 27′. 

OBLONG SQUARE. A name improperly given to a parallelogram. (_See_THREE-SQUARE. )

OBSERVATION. In nautical astronomy, denotes the taking the sun, moon, orstars' altitude with a quadrant or sextant, in order thereby to find thelatitude or time; also, the lunar distances. 

OBSERVE, TO. To take a bearing or a celestial observation. 

OBSIDIONAL CROWN. The highest ancient Roman military honour; thedecoration of the chief who raised a siege. 

OBSTACLES. Chains, booms, abattis, snags, palisades, or anything placedto impede an enemy's progress. Unforeseen hindrances. 

OBTURATOR. A cover or valve in steam machinery. 

OBTUSE ANGLE. One measuring above 90°, and therefore beyond a rightangle; called by shipwrights _standing bevellings_. 

OBTUSE-ANGLED TRIANGLE. That which has one obtuse angle. 

OCCIDENT. The west. 

OCCULTATION. One heavenly body eclipsing another; but in nauticalastronomy it is particularly used to denote the eclipses of stars andplanets by the moon. 

OCCUPY, TO. To take military possession. 

OCEAN. This term, in its largest sense, is the whole body of salt waterwhich encompasses the globe, except the collection of inland seas, lakes, and rivers: in a word, that glorious type of omnipotent power, whether in calm or tempest:--

 "Dark, heaving, boundless, endless, and sublime, The image of Eternity. "

In a more limited sense it is divided into--1. The Atlantic Ocean. 2. The Pacific Ocean. 3. The Indian Ocean. 4. The Southern Ocean. 

OCEAN-GOING SHIP. In contradistinction to a coaster. 

OCHRAS. A Gaelic term for the gills of a fish. 

OCTAGON. A geometrical figure which has eight equal sides and angles. 

ODHARAG. The name of the young cormorant in our northern isles. 

OE. An island [from the Ang. -Sax. ] _Oes_ are violent whirlwinds off theFaeroe Islands, said at times to raise the water in syphons. 

OFERLANDERS. Small vessels on the Rhine and the Meuse. 

OFF. The opposite to _near_. Also applied to a ship sailing from theshore into the open sea. Also, implies abreast of, or near, as "We wereoff Cape Finisterre. "--_Nothing off!_ The order to the helmsman not tosuffer the ship to fall off from the wind. 

OFFAL. Slabs, chips, and refuse of timber, sold in fathom lots at thedockyards. 

OFF AND ON. When a ship beating to windward approaches the shore by oneboard, and recedes from it when on the other. Also used to denote anundecided person. Dodging off a port. 

OFF AT A TANGENT. Going in a hurry, or in a testy humour. 

OFF DUTY. An officer, marine, or seaman in his watch below, &c. Anofficer is sometimes put "off duty" as a punishment. 

OFFENCES. Crimes which are not capital, but by the custom of the servicecome under the articles of war. 

OFFICER. A person having some command. A term applied both in the royaland mercantile navies to any one of a ship's company who ranks above thefore-mast men. 

OFFICER OF THE DAY. A military officer whose immediate duty is to attendto the interior economy of the corps to which he belongs, or of thosewith which he may be doing duty. 

OFFICER OF THE WATCH. The lieutenant or other officer who has charge of, and commands, the watch. 

OFFICERS' EFFECTS. The effects of officers who die on board are notgenerally sold; but should they be submitted to auction, the sale is tobe confined entirely amongst the officers. 

OFFICIAL LETTERS. All official letters which are intended to be laidbefore the commander-in-chief, must be signed by the officersthemselves, specifying their rank under their signatures. Allapplications from petty officers, seamen, and marines, relative totransfer, discharge, or other subjects of a similar nature, are to bemade through the captain or commanding officer. They ought to be writtenon foolscap paper, leaving a margin, to the left hand, of one-fourth ofthe breadth, and superscribed on the cover "On H. M. Service. "

OFFING. Implies to sea-ward; beyond anchoring ground. --_To keep a goodoffing_, is to keep well off the land, while under sail. 

OFF-RECKONING. A proportion of the full pay of troops retained fromthem, in special cases, until the period of final settlement, to covervarious expected charges (for ship-rations and the like). 

OFF SHE GOES! Means run away with the purchase fall. Move to the tune ofthe fifer. The first move when a vessel is launched. 

OFF THE REEL. At once; without stopping. In allusion to the way in whichthe log-line flies off the reel when a ship is sailing fast. 

OFFWARD. The situation of a ship which lies aground and leans from theshore; "the ship heels offward, " and "the ship lies with her stern tothe offward, " is when her stern is towards the sea. 

OGEE. In old-pattern guns, the doubly curved moulding added, by way offinish, to several of the rings. 

OGGIDENT. Jack's corruption of _aguardiente_ [Sp. ], a fiery and veryunwholesome spirit. 

OIL-BUTT. A name for the black whale. 

OILLETS, OR ŒILLETS. Apertures for firing through, in the walls of afort. 

OITER. A Gaelic word still in use for a sand-bank. 

OJANCO SNAPPER. A tropical fish of the Mesoprion family, frequenting thedeep-water banks of the West Indies. 

OKE. A Levant weight of 2-3/4 lbs. , common in Mediterranean commerce. 

OLD COUNTRY. A very general designation for Great Britain among theAmericans. The term is never applied to any part of the continent ofEurope. 

OLD HAND. A knowing and expert person. 

OLD HORSE. Tough salt-beef. 

OLD ICE. In polar parlance, that of previous seasons. 

OLD-STAGER. One well initiated in anything. 

OLD-STAGERISM. An adherence to established customs; sea conservatism. 

OLDSTERS. In the old days of cockpit tyranny, mids of four years'standing, and master's-mates, &c. , who sadly bullied the youngsters. 

OLD WIFE. A fish about 2 feet long, and 9 inches high in the back, having a small mouth, a large eye, a broad dorsal fin, and a blue body. Also, the brown long-tailed duck of Pennant. 

OLD WOMAN'S TOOTH. A peculiar chisel for stub morticing. 

OLERON CODE. A celebrated collection of maritime laws, compiled andpromulgated by Richard Cœur-de-Lion, at the island of Oleron, near thecoast of Poitou, the inhabitants of which have been deemed able marinersever since. It is reckoned the best code of sea-laws in the world, andis recorded in the black book of the admiralty. 

OLICK. The torsk or tusk, _Gadus callarias_. 

OLIVER. A west-country term for a young eel. 

OLPIS. A classic term for one who, from a shore eminence, watched thecourse which shoals of fish took, and communicated the result to thefishers. (_See_ CONDER. )

OMBRE. A fish, more commonly called grayling, or _umber_. 

ON. The sea is said to be "on" when boisterous; as, there is a high seaon. 

ON A BOWLINE. Close to the wind, when the sail will not stand withouthauling the bowlines. 

ONAGER. An offensive weapon of the middle ages. 

ON A WIND. Synonymous with _on a bowline_. 

ON BOARD. Within a ship; the same as _aboard_. 

ONCIA. A gold coin of Sicily; value three ducats, or 10_s. _ 10_d. _sterling. 

ONCIN. An offensive weapon of mediæval times, consisting of a staff witha hooked iron head. 

ON DECK THERE! The cry to call attention from aloft or below. 

ONE-AND-ALL. A mutinous sea-cry used in the Dutch wars. Also, a rallyingcall to put the whole collective force on together. 

ON EITHER TACK. Any way or every way; a colloquialism. 

ON END. The same as _an-end_ (which see). Top-masts and topgallant-mastsare on end, when they are in their places, and sail can be set on them. 

ONE O'CLOCK. _Like one o'clock. _ With speed; rapidly. 

ONERARIÆ. Ancient ships of burden, with both sails and oars. 

ONE, TWO, THREE! The song with which the seamen bowse out the bowlines;the last haul being completed by belay O!

ONION-FISH. The _Cepola rubescens_, whose body peels into flakes likethat vegetable. It is of a pale red colour. 

ON SERVICE. On duty. 

ON-SHORE WINDS. Those which blow from the offing, and render baysuncomfortable and insecure. 

ON THE BEAM. Implies any distance from a ship on a line with her beams, or at right angles with the keel. 

ON THE BOW. At any angle on either side of the stem up to 45°; then itis either four points on the bow, or four points before the beam. 

ON THE QUARTER. Being in that position with regard to a ship, as to beincluded in the angles which diverge from right astern, to four pointstowards either quarter. 

OOMIAK. A light seal-skin Greenland boat, generally worked in fineweather by the women, but in bad weather by the men. 

OPEN. The situation of a place which is exposed to the wind and sea. Also, applied in meteorology, to mild weather. Also, open to attack, notprotected. Also, said of any distant visible object. 

OPEN HAWSE. When a vessel rides by two anchors, without any cross in hercables. 

OPEN ICE. Fragments of ice sufficiently separate to admit of a shipforcing or boring through them under sail. 

OPENING TRENCHES. The first breaking of ground by besiegers, in order tocarry on their approaches towards a besieged place. 

OPEN LIST. One of a ship's books, which contains the whole of the namesof the actual officers and crew, in order to regulate their victualling. The crew are mustered by the open list. 

OPEN LOWER DECKERS, TO. To fire the lower tier of guns. Also said of aperson using violent language. 

OPEN ORDER. Any distance ordered to be preserved among ships, exceedinga cable's length. 

OPEN PACK. A body of drift ice, the pieces of which, though very neareach other, do not generally touch. It is opposed to close pack. 

OPEN POLICY. Where the amount of the interest of the insured is notfixed by the policy, but is left to be ascertained by the insured, incase a loss shall happen. 

OPEN ROADSTEAD. A place of hazard, as affording no protection eitherfrom sea or wind. 

OPERATIONS. Field movements, whether offensive or defensive. 

OPHIUCHUS. One of the ancient constellations, of which the lucida is_Ras-al-ague_, one of the selected nautical objects at Greenwich. Thisasterism is sometimes called _Serpentarius_, its Latin name, instead ofits Greek. 

OPINION. An experienced witness, who never saw the ship, yet may legallyprove that from the description of her by another witness she was notsea-worthy. 

OPOSSUM-SHRIMP. A crustacean, so named from its young being carriedabout in a sort of pouch for some little time after being hatched; the_Mysis flexuosus_ of naturalists. 

OPPIGNORATION. The pawning of part of the cargo to get money for thepayment of the duty on the remainder. 

OPPOSITE TACKS. Making contrary boards. Also, a colloquialism for crosspurposes. 

OPPOSITION. A celestial body is said to be in opposition to the sun whentheir longitudes differ 180°, or half the circumference of the heavens. 

OPTICK. An old term for a magnifying-glass. 

ORAGIOUS. An old term for stormy or tempestuous weather:--

 "The storme was so outrageous, And with rumlings oragious, That I did feare. "

ORAMBY. A sort of state-barge used in the Moluccas; some of them arerowed by 40, 80, or even, it is said, 100 paddles each. 

ORARIÆ. Ancient coasting vessels. 

ORB. The circular figure made by a body of troops. 

ORBIT. The path described by a planet or comet round the sun. 

ORBITAL. Relating to the orbit of a heavenly body. 

ORC. Wrack or sea-weed, used as manure on some of the coasts of England. 

ORCA. A classical name for a large voracious sea-animal, probably agrampus. Anglicized as ork or orc; thus in the second song of Drayton'sstrange _Polyolbion_--

 "The ugly orks, that for their lord the ocean woo. "

And Milton afterwards introduces them--

 "An island salt and bare, The haunt of seals and orcs, and sea-mews clang. "

ORDER ARMS! The word of command, with muskets or carbines, to bring thebutt to the ground, the piece vertical against the right side, trigger-guard to the front. --_Open order_ and _close order_, are termsfor keeping the fleet prepared for any particular manœuvre. 

ORDER-BOOK. A book kept for the purpose of copying such occasionalsuccessive orders as the admiral, or senior officer, may find itnecessary to give. 

ORDERLY. The bearer of official messages, and appointed to wait uponsuperior officers with communications. 

ORDERLY OFFICER. In the army. _See_ OFFICER OF THE DAY. 

ORDER OF BATTLE. The arranging of ships or troops so as to engage theenemy to the best advantage. 

ORDER OF SAILING. _See_ SAILING, ORDER OF. 

ORDERS. Societies of knights. (_See_ KNIGHTHOOD. )

ORDERS IN COUNCIL. Decrees given by the privy council, signed by thesovereign, for important state necessities, independently of any act ofparliament; but covered by an act of indemnity when it is assembled. 

ORDINARY. The establishment of the persons formerly employed to takecharge of the ships of war which are laid up in ordinary at severalharbours adjacent to the royal dockyards. These duties are now under thesuperintendent of the dockyard. Also, the state of such men-of-war andvessels as are out of commission and laid up. 

ORDINARY SEAMAN. The rating for one who can make himself useful onboard, even to going aloft, and taking his part on a top-sail ortopgallant-yard, but is not a complete sailor, the latter being termedan able seaman. It would be well if our merchant seamen consisted ofapprentices and A. B. 's. 

ORDINARY STEP. The common march of 110 paces in a minute. 

ORDNANCE. A general name for all sorts of great guns which are used inwar. Also, all that relates to the artillery and engineer service. 

ORDNANCE-HOY. A sloop expressly fitted for transporting ordnance storesto ships, and from port to port. 

OREILLET. The ear-piece of a helmet. 

OREMBI. A small _korocora_ (which see). 

ORGUES. Long-pointed beams shod with iron, hanging vertically over agateway, to answer as a portcullis in emergency. 

ORIENT. The east point of the compass. 

ORIFLAMME. The banner of St. Dennis; but the term is often applied tothe flags of any French commander-in-chief. 

ORIGIN. Merchant ships claiming benefit for importation, must obtain andproduce certificates of _origin_, in respect to the goods they claimfor. (_See_ PRODUCTION. )

ORIGINAL ENTRY. The date at which men enter for the navy, and repair onboard a guard-ship, or tender, where bedding or slops may be supplied tothem, and are forwarded with them to their proper ships. 

ORILLON. In fortification, a curved projection formed by the face of abastion overlapping the end of the flank; intended to protect the latterfrom oblique fire; modern ricochet fire renders it of littleconsequence. 

ORION. One of the ancient constellations, of which the lucida is thewell-known nautical star _Betelgeuze_. 

ORISONT. The horizon; thus spelled by our early navigators. 

ORLOP. The lowest deck, formerly called "over-lop, " consisting of aplatform laid over the beams in the hold of ships of war, whereon thecables were usually coiled, and containing some cabins as well as thechief store-rooms. In trading vessels it is often a temporary deck. 

ORLOP-BEAMS, OR HOLD-BEAMS. Those which support the orlop-deck, but arechiefly intended to fortify the hold. 

ORNAMENTS. The carvings of the head, stern, and quarters of the oldships. 

ORNITHÆ. An ancient term for the periodical winds by which migratorybirds were transported. 

ORTHODROMIC. The course which lies on a meridian or parallel. 

ORTHOGRAPHIC PROJECTION. The profile, or representation of a verticalsection, of a work in fortification. 

ORTIVE AMPLITUDE. The eastern one. 

OSCILLATING MARINE-ENGINE. A steam-engine where the top of thepiston-rod is coupled with the crank, and the piston-rod moves backwardand forward in the direction of the axis of the cylinder, while itsextremity revolves in a circle with the crank. 

OSCILLATING PUMP-SPEAR. A contrivance by which the pumps of a largevessel are worked, connected with a crank-shaft and fly-wheel, driven byhandles in the same way as a winch. 

OSMOND. The old term for pig-iron; a great article of lading. 

OSNABURG. In commerce, a coarse linen cloth manufactured in Scotland, but resembling that made at Osnaburg in Germany. 

OSPREY. The fish-hawk, _Pandion haliætus_; Shakspeare, in _Coriolanus_, says--

 "I think he'll be to Rome As is the osprey to the fish. "

OS SEPIÆ. The commercial term for the sepia, or cuttle-fish bones. 

OSTMEN. A corrupted form of _Hoastmen_. 

OTSEGO BASS. _Coregonus otsego_, a fish of the American lakes. 

OTTER-PIKE. The lesser weever, _Trachinus draco_; also calledsea-stranger. 

OTTOMITES. An old term for Turks. See Shakspeare in _Othello_. 

OUNDING. Resembling or imitating waves; used by Chaucer and others. 

OUSTER LE MER. The legal term for excuse, when a man did not appear incourt on summons, for that he was then beyond the seas. 

OUT-AND-OUTER. An old phrase signifying thorough excellence; a man up tohis duty, and able to perform it in style. 

OUT-BOARD. The outside of the ship: the reverse of _in-board_. 

OUT-BOATS. The order to hoist out the boats. 

OUT-EARING CLEAT. This is placed on the upper side of the gaff, to passthe outer earing round from the cringle. 

OUTER-JIB. In sloops, where the head-sails are termed foresail-jib andouter-jib, if set from the foremast-head. It is now very common for_ships_ to set two standing jibs, the stay and tack of the inner onebeing secured at the middle of the jib-boom. 

OUTER TURNS AND INNER TURNS. The _outer turns_ of the earing serve toextend the sail outwards along its yard. The _inner turns_ are employedto bind the sail close to the yard. 

OUTFIT. The stores with which a merchant vessel is fitted out for anyvoyage. Also, the providing an individual with clothes, &c. 

OUT-FLANK, TO. By a longer front, to overlap the enemy's opposite line, and thus gain a chance to turn his flank. 

OUT-HAUL, OR OUT-HAULER. A rope used for hauling out the tack of a jiblower studding-sail, or the clue of a boom-sail. The reverse of_in-haul_. 

OUT-HOLLING. Clearing tide-ports, canals, and channels of mud. 

OUTLANDISH. Foreign; but means with Jack a place where he does not feelat home, or a language which he does not understand. 

OUTLET. The effluent or stream by which a lake discharges its water. Also applied to the spot where the efflux commences. 

OUT-LICKER. A corruption of _out-rigger_ (which see). 

OUT-LIER. A word which has been often used for _out-rigger_, but appliesto outlying rocks, visible above water. 

OUT-OARS. The order to take to rowing when the sails give but little wayon a boat. 

OUT OF COMMISSION. A ship where officers and men are paid off, andpennant hauled down. 

OUT OF TRIM. A ship not properly balanced for fast sailing, which may beby a defect in the rigging or in the stowage of the hold. 

OUT OF WINDING. Said of a plank or piece of timber which has a fair andeven surface without any twists: the opposite of _winding_. 

OUT OR DOWN. An exclamation of the boatswain, &c. , in ordering men outof their hammocks, _i. E. _ turn out, or your laniard will be cut. 

OUT-PENSIONERS. Those entitled to pensions from Greenwich Hospital, butnot admitted to "the house. "

OUT-PORTS. Those commercial harbours which lie on the coasts; all portsin the United Kingdom out of London. (_See_ CLOSE-PORTS. )

OUTREGANS. Canals or ditches navigable by boats. 

OUT-RIGGER. A strong beam, of which there are several, passed throughthe ports of a ship, and firmly lashed at the gunwale, also assisted byguys from bolts at the water-line, to secure the masts in the act ofcareening, by counteracting the strain they suffer from the tackles onthe opposite side. Also, any boom rigged out from a vessel to hang boatsby, clear of the ship, when at anchor. Also, any spar, as the boomkin, for the fore-tack, or the jigger abaft to haul out the mizen-sheet, orextend the leading blocks of the main braces. Also, a small spar used inthe tops and cross-trees, to thrust out and spread the breast backstaysto windward. Also, a counterpoising log of wood, rigged out from theside of a narrow boat or canoe, to prevent it from being upset. 

OUT-SAIL, TO. To sail faster than another ship, or to make a particularvoyage with greater despatch. 

OUTSIDE MUSTER-PAPER. A paper with the outer part blank, but the innerportion ruled and headed; supplied from the dock yards to form the coverof ships' books. 

OUTSIDE PLANKING. Such are the wales, the plank-sheer, thegarboard-strakes, and the like. 

OUTWARD. A vessel is said to be entered outwards or inwards according asshe is entered at the custom-house to depart for, or as having arrivedfrom, foreign parts. 

OUTWARD CHARGES. Pilotage and other dues incurred from any port: thereverse of _inward charges_. 

OUTWORKS. Works included in the scheme of defence of a place, butoutside the main rampart; if "detached, " they are moreover outside theglacis. 

OUVRE L'ŒIL. A mark on French charts over supposed dangers. 

OVER AND UNDER TURNS. Terms applied to the passing of an earing, besidesits inner and outer turns. 

OVER-ANENT. Opposite to. 

OVER-BEAR. One ship overbears another if she can carry more sail in afresh wind. 

OVERBOARD. The state of any person or thing in the sea which had been ina ship. --_Thrown overboard_ also means cast adrift by the captain;withdrawal of countenance and support. 

OVER-BOYED. Said of a ship when the captain and majority of thequarter-deck officers are very young. 

OVERFALL. A rippling or race in the sea, where, by the peculiarities ofbottom, the water is propelled with immense force, especially when thewind and tide, or current, set strongly together. (_See_ RIPPS. )

OVER-GUNNED. Where the weight of metal is disproportioned to the ship, and the quarters insufficient for the guns being duly worked. 

OVERHAND KNOT. Is made by passing the end of a rope over its standingpart, and through the bight. 

OVERHAUL. Has many applications. A tackle when released is overhauled. To get a fresh purchase, ropes are overhauled. To reach an object, ortake off strain, weather-braces are overhauled. A ship overhauls anotherin chase when she evidently gains upon her. Also, overhauls a strangerand examines her papers. Also, is overhauled, or examined, to determinethe refit demanded. 

OVER-INSURANCE. _See_ RE-INSURANCE, and DOUBLE INSURANCE. 

OVERLAP. A designation of the hatches of a ship; planks in clinch-builtboats. Points of land _overlap_ a harbour's mouth at a particularbearing. --_To overlap_, to fay upon. 

OVERLAY DAYS. Days for which demurrage can be charged. 

OVER-LOFT. An old term for the upper deck of a ship. 

OVER-LOOKER. Generally an old master appointed by owners of ships tolook after everything connected with the fitting out of their vesselswhen in harbour in England. 

OVER-MASTED. The state of a ship whose masts are too high or too heavyfor her weight to counter-balance. 

OVER-PRESS, TO. To carry too much sail on a ship. 

OVER-RAKE. When a ship rides at anchor in a head-sea, the waves of whichfrequently break in upon her, they are said to over-rake her. 

OVER-RIGGED. A ship with more and heavier gear than necessary, so as tobe top-hampered. 

OVER-RISEN. When a ship is too high out of the water for her length andbreadth, so as to make a trouble of lee-lurches and weather-rolls. Suchwere our 80-gun three-deckers and 44's on two decks, happily now nomore. 

OVER-RUNNING. (_See_ UNDER-RUN. ) Applied to ice, when the young iceoverlaps, and is driven over. 

OVER-SEA VESSELS. Ships from foreign parts, as distinguished fromcoasters. 

OVER-SETTING. The state of a ship turning upside down, either bycarrying too much sail or by grounding, so that she falls on one side. (_See_ UPSET. )

OVERSHOOT, TO. To give a ship too much way. 

OVERSLAUGH. From the Dutch _overslag_, meaning the bar of a river orport. Also, in military parlance, the being passed over in the rosterfor some recurring duty without being assigned to it in turn. 

OVER-SWACK. An old word, signifying the reflux of the waves by the forceof the wind. 

OVERWHELM. A comprehensive word derived from the Ang. -Saxon _wylm_, awave. Thus the old song--

 "Lash'd to the helm, should seas o'erwhelm. "

OWLER. An old term on our southern coast for smuggler. Particularlypersons who carried wool by night, in order to ship it contrary to law. 

OWN, TO. To be a proprietor in a ship. 

OWNERS. The proprietors of ships. They are bound to perform contractsmade by their masters, who are legally their agents. 

OXBOWS. Bends or reaches of a river. 

OX-EYE. A small cloud, or weather-gall, seen on the coast of Africa, which presages a severe storm. It appears at first in the form of anox-eye, but soon overspreads the whole hemisphere, accompanied by aviolent wind which scatters ships in all directions, and many are sunkdownright. Also, a water-fowl. Also, the smaller glass bull's eyes. 

OXYGON. A triangle which has three sharp or acute angles. 

OXYRINCHUS. A large species of the skate family. 

OYSE. An inlet of the sea, among the Shetlands and Orkneys. 

OYSTER-BED. A "laying" of culch, that is, stones, old shells, or otherhard substances, so as to form a bed for oysters, which would be chokedin soft mud. 

OYSTER-CATCHER, OR SEA-PYE. The black and white coast-bird, _Hæmatopusostralegus_. 

OZELLA. A Venetian coin both in gold and silver; the former being £1, 17_s. _ 4_d. _, and the latter 1_s. _ 7_d. _, in sterling value. 

P. 

PACE. A measure, often used for reconnoitring objects. The common paceis 2-1/2 feet, or half the geometrical pace. The pace is also oftenroughly assumed as a yard. 

PACIFIC OCEAN. A name given by the Spaniards to the "Great Ocean, " fromthe fine weather they experienced on the coast of Peru. Other parts, however, prove this a misnomer. 

PACK-ICE. A large collection of broken floe huddled together, butconstantly varying its position; said to be open when the fragments donot touch, and close when the pieces are in contact. 

PACKING-BOXES. Recesses in the casing of a steamer, directly facing thesteam-ports, filled with hemp-packing and tallow, in order to formsteam-tight partitions. 

PACKS. Heavy thunder clouds. 

PAD, OR PAD-PIECE. In ship-building, a piece of timber placed on the topof a beam at its middle part, in order to make up the curve or round ofthe deck. 

PADDLE. A kind of oar, used by the natives of India, Africa, America, and by most savages; it is shorter and broader in the blade than thecommon oar. --_To paddle_, is to propel a boat more purely by hand, thatis, without a fulcrum or rowlock. 

PADDLE-BEAMS. Two large beams projecting over the sides of a steamer, between which the paddle-wheels revolve. (_See_ SPONSON. )

PADDLE-BOX. The frame of wood which encircles the upper part of thepaddle-wheel. 

PADDLE-BOX BOATS. Boats made to fit the paddle-box rim, stowed bottomupwards on each box. 

PADDLE-SHAFT. The stout iron axis carrying the paddle-wheels, whichrevolves with them when keyed. 

PADDLE-STEAMER. A steam-ship propelled through the water bypaddle-wheels. 

PADDLE-WHEELS. The wheels on each side of a steamer, suspendedexternally by a shaft, and driven by steam, to propel her by the actionof the floats. 

PADDY, OR PADI. Rice in the husk, so called by the Malays, from whoselanguage the word has found its way to all the coasts of India. 

PADDY-BOATS. A peculiar Ceylon boat, for the conveyance of rice andother necessaries. 

PADDY'S HURRICANE. Not wind enough to float the pennant. 

PADRONE. (_See_ PATRON or MASTER. ) This word is not used in largervessels than coasters. 

PADUAN. A small Malay vessel, armed with two guns, one aft and the otherforward, for piratical purposes. 

PAGODA. Tall tapering buildings erected by the Chinese and other easternnations, to note certain events, or as places for worship, of which thegreat pagoda of Pekin may be taken as an example. They are rathernumerous on the banks of the Canton River. (_See_ STAR-PAGODA. )

PAH. A New Zealand stronghold. (_See_ HEP-PAH. )

PAHI. The large war-canoe of the Society Islands. 

PAID OFF. _See_ PAYING OFF. 

PAINTER. A rope attached to the bows of a boat, used for making herfast: it is spliced with a thimble to a ring-bolt inside the stem. "Cutyour painter, " make off. 

PAIR-OAR. A name of the London wherry of a larger size than the scull. 

PAIXHAN GUN. Introduced by the French General Paixhan about 1830, forthe horizontal firing of heavy shells; having much greater calibre, butproportionally less metal, than the then current solid-shot guns. 

PALABRAS. Sp. Words; hence _palaver_ amongst natives of new countrieswhere the Spaniards have landed. 

PALADIN. A knight-errant. 

PALANQUIN. The covered litter of India. 

PALAVER. _See_ PALABRAS. 

PALES AND CROSS-PALES. The interior shores by which the timbers of aship are kept to the proper breadth while in frame. 

PALISADES. [Sp. ] Palings for defensive purposes, formed of timber orstout stakes fixed vertically and sharpened at the head. 

PALLET. A ballast-locker formerly used, to give room in the hold forother stowage. 

PALLETTING. A slight platform made above the bottom of the magazines, tokeep the powder from moisture. 

PALM. The triangular face of the fluke of an anchor. Also, ashield-thimble used in sewing canvas, rope, &c. It consists of a flatthimble to receive the head of the needle, and is fixed upon a piece ofcanvas or leather, across the _palm_ of the hand, hence the name. 

PALMAIR. An old northern word for rudder. Also, a pilot. 

PALMETTO. One of the palm tribe, from the sheath of which sennit isworked for seamen's (straw) hats. 

PALM-WINE. A sub-acid and pleasant fermented tropical drink. (_See_TODDY. )

PAMBAN MANCHE, OR SNAKE-BOAT OF COCHIN. A canoe used on the numerousrivers and back-waters, from 30 to 60 feet long, and cut out of thesolid tree. The largest are paddled by about twenty men, double-banked, and, when pressed, they will go as much as 12 miles an hour. 

PAMPAS. The Savannah plains of South America, so extensive that, asHumboldt observes, whilst their northern extremity is bounded bypalm-trees, their southern limits are the eternal snows of theMagellanic straits. 

PAMPERO. A violent squall of wind from the S. W. , attended with rain, thunder, and lightning, over the immense plains or pampas of the Rio dela Plata, where it rages like a hurricane. 

PAN. In fire-arms, is a small iron cavity of the old flint lock, adjacent to the touch-hole of the barrel, to contain the priming powder. 

PANCAKES. Thin floating rounded spots of snow ice, in the Arctic seas, and reckoned the first indication of the approach of winter, in August. 

PANDEL. A Kentish name for the shrimp. 

PANDOOR. A northern name for a large oyster, usually taken at theentrance of the pans. 

PANGAIA. A country vessel of East Africa, like a barge, with onemat-sail of cocoa-nut leaves, the planks being pinned with wooden pins, and sewed with twine. 

PANNIKIN. A small tin pot. 

PANNYAR. Kidnapping negroes on the coast of Africa. 

PANSHWAY. A fast-pulling passenger-boat used on the Hooghly. 

PANTOGRAPH. An instrument to copy or reduce drawings. 

PANTOMETER. An instrument for taking angles and elevations, andmeasuring distances. 

PAOLO. A Papal silver coin, value 5-1/4_d. _; ten paoli make a crown. 

PAPS. Coast hills, with rounded or conical summits; the lofty paps ofJura are three in number. 

PAR, OR PARR. In ichthyology, the samlet, brannock, or branling. Also, acommercial term of exchange, where the moneys are equalized. 

PARA. A small Turkish coin of 3 aspers, 1-1/2 farthing. 

PARABOLA. A geometrical figure formed by the section of a cone when cutby a plane parallel to its side. 

PARADE. An assembling of troops in due military order. Also, the openspace where they parade or are paraded. The quarter-deck of a man-of-waris often termed the sovereign's parade. 

PARALLACTIC ANGLE. The angle made at a star by arcs passing through thezenith and pole respectively. 

PARALLAX. An apparent change in the position of an object, arising froma change of the observer's station, and which diminishes with thealtitude of an object in the vertical circle. Its effect is greatest inthe horizon, where it is termed the _horizontal parallax_, and vanishesentirely in the zenith. The positions of the planets and comets, asviewed from the surface of the earth, differ from those they wouldoccupy if observed from its centre by the amount of parallax, the dueapplication of which is an important element. The stars are so distantthat their positions are the same from whatever part of the earth theyare seen; but attempts have been made to detect the amount of variationin their places, when observed from opposite points of the earth'sorbit, the minute result of which is termed the _annual parallax_; andthe former effect, due to the observer's station on our globe, is calledthe _diurnal parallax_. 

PARALLEL. A term for those lines that preserve an equal distance fromeach other. It is sometimes used instead of latitude, as, "Our orderswere to cruise in the parallel of Madeira. " More definitely, they areimaginary circles parallel with the equator, ninety in the northern, andninety in the southern hemispheres. 

PARALLEL-BAR. In the marine steam-engine, forms a connection with thepump-rods and studs along the centre line of the levers. 

PARALLEL OF LATITUDE. Is a circle parallel to the equator passingthrough any place. _Almucantar_ is the Arabic name. 

PARALLELOGRAM. A right-lined quadrilateral figure, the opposite sides ofwhich are parallel and equal. 

PARALLELOPIPED. A prism or solid figure contained under sixparallelograms, the opposite sides of which are equal and parallel. 

PARALLELS. The trenches or lines made by a besieger parallel to thegeneral defence of a place, for the purpose of connecting and supportinghis several approaches. 

PARALLEL SAILING. Sailing nearly on a given parallel of latitude. 

PARALLELS OF DECLINATION. Secondary circles parallel to the celestialequator. 

PARANZELLO. A small Mediterranean vessel, pink-sterned, with a lateenmain-sail and mizen, and a large jib. 

PARAPET. A breast-high defence against missiles; its top is usuallysloped away to the front, that the defenders may conveniently fire overit; and it is preferred of earth, of a thickness proportionate to thekind of fire it is intended to resist; its height also is often muchincreased. 

PARASANG. A Persian military measure, sometimes assumed as a league, butequal to about 4 English miles. 

PARBUCKLE. A method of hauling up or lowering down a cask, or anycylindrical object, where there is no crane or tackle; the middle of arope is passed round a post, the two ends are then passed under the twoquarters of the cask, bringing the ends back again over it, and theybeing both hauled or slackened together, either raise or lower the cask, &c. , as may be required. The parbuckle is frequently used inpublic-house vaults. Guns are parbuckled up steep cliffs without theircarriages, and spars in timber-yards are so dealt with. 

PARCEL, TO. To wind tarred canvas round a rope. 

PARCELLING. Narrow strips of old canvas daubed with tar and frequentlywound about a rope like bandages, previous to its being served. 

PARCLOSE. A name of the limber-hole. 

PARDON. The gazetted amnesty or remission of penalty for deserters whoreturn to their duty; the same as _act of grace_. 

PARGOS. A fish resembling a large bream, from which the crews of Quirosand Cook suffered violent pains and bad effects. The porgy of Africa andthe West Indies. 

PARHELION. A mock or false sun; sometimes more than one. 

PARIAH. The low-caste people of Hindustan; outcasts. --_Pariah-dogs_;also outcasts of no known breed. 

PARK. A piece of ground (other than a battery) appointed for the rangingof guns or of ordnance stores. 

PARLEY. That beat of drum by which a conference with the enemy isdesired. Synonymous with chamade. --_To parley. _ To bandy words. 

PARLIAMENT-HEEL. The situation of a ship when careened by shift ofballast, &c. ; or the causing her to incline a little on one side, so asto clean the side turned out of water, and cover it with freshcomposition, termed _boot-topping_ (which see). 

PAR-LINE. A term signifying the normal level of a barometer for a givenstation, or the mean pressure between 32° and the sea-level, to whichlast the observations are all to be corrected and reduced. 

PAROLE. The word of honour given by a prisoner of war until exchanged. Also, synonymous with _word_ (which see). 

PAROLE-EVIDENCE. In insurance cases it is a general rule, that thepolicy alone shall be conclusive evidence of the contract, and that noparole-evidence shall be received to vary the terms of it. 

PARRALS, OR PARRELS. Those bands of rope, or sometimes iron collars, bywhich the centres of yards are fastened at the slings to the masts, soas to slide up and down freely when requisite. 

PARREL-ROPE. Is formed of a single rope well served, and fitted with aneye at each end; this being passed round the yard is seized fast on, thetwo ends are then passed round the after-part of the mast, and one ofthem being brought under, and the other over the yard, the two eyes arelashed together; this is seldom used but for the top-gallant and smalleryards. 

PARREL WITH RIBS AND TRUCKS, OR JAW PARRELS. This is formed by passingthe two parts of the parrel-rope through the two holes in the ribs, observing that between every two ribs is strung a truck on each part ofthe rope. (_See_ RIBS and TRUCKS. ) The ends of the parrel-rope are madefast with seizings; these were chiefly used on the topsail-yards. 

PARREL WITH TRUCKS. Is composed of a single rope passing through anumber of bull's-eye trucks, sufficient to embrace the mast; these areprincipally used for the cheeks of a gaff. 

PARSEES. The great native merchants of Bombay, &c. , and a very usefulclass as merchants and shopkeepers all along the Malabar coast. They arethe remains of the ancient Persians, and are Guebres, orfire-worshippers. 

PART, TO. To break a rope. To part from an anchor is in consequence ofthe cable parting. 

PARTAN. A name on our northern coasts for the common sea-crab. 

PARTING. The state of being driven from the anchors by breaking thecables. The rupture or stranding of any tackle-fall or hawser. 

PARTIZAN, OR PERTUISAN. A halbert formerly much used. Thus in Shakspeare(_Antony and Cleopatra_), "I had as lief have a reed that will do me noservice, as a partizan I could not heave. " Also, a useful stirring man, fit for all sorts of desultory duties. 

PARTIZAN WARFARE. Insurrectionary, factional, and irregular hostilities. 

PARTNERS. A framework of thick plank, fitted round the several scuttlesor holes in a ship's decks, through which the masts, capstans, &c. , pass; but particularly to support it when the mast leans against it. 

PARTNERSHIP with a neutral cannot legalize commerce with a belligerent. 

PART OWNERS. Unlike any other partnership, they may be imposed upon eachother without mutual consent, whence arises a frequent appeal to bothcivil and common law. (_See_ SHIP-OWNER. )

PARTRIDGES. Grenades thrown from a mortar. 

PARTY. The detachment of marines serving on board a man-of-war. Also, agang of hands sent away on particular duties. 

PASHA. Viceroy. A Turkish title of honour and command. 

PASS. A geographical term abbreviated from passage, and applied to anydefile for crossing a mountain chain. Also, any difficult strait whichcommands the entrance into a country. Also, a certificate of leave ofabsence for a short period only. Also, a thrust with a sword. 

PASS, OR PASSPORT. A permission granted by any state to a vessel, tonavigate in some particular sea without molestation; it contains allparticulars concerning her, and is binding on all persons at peace withthat state. It is also a letter of licence given by authority, grantingpermission to enter, travel in, and quit certain territories. 

PASS, TO. To give from one to another, and also to take certain turns ofa rope round a yard, &c. , as "Pass the line along;" "pass the gasket;""pass a seizing;" "pass the word there, " &c. 

PASSAGE. A voyage is generally supposed to comprise the outward andhomeward passages. Also, a west-country term for ferry. (_See_ VOYAGE. )

PASSAGE-BOAT. A small vessel employed in carrying persons or luggagefrom one port to another. Also, a ferry-boat. 

PASSAGE-BROKER. One who is licensed to act in the procuring of passagesby ships from one port to another. 

PASSAGE-MONEY. The allowance made for carrying official personages in aroyal ship. Also, the charge made for the conveyance of passengers in apacket or merchant-vessel. 

PASSAGES. Cuts in the parapet of the covered way to continue thecommunication throughout. 

PASSANDEAU. An ancient 8-pounder gun of 15 feet. 

PASSAREE, OR PASSARADO. A rope in use when before the wind with lowerstudding-sail booms out, to haul out the clues of the fore-sail totail-blocks on the booms, so as to full-spread the foot of that sail. 

PASSED. The having undergone a regular examination for preferment. 

PASSED BOYS. Those who have gone through the round of instruction givenin a training-ship. 

PASSE-VOLANT. A name applied by the French to a _Quaker_ or wooden gunon board ship; but it was adopted by our early voyagers as alsoexpressing a movable piece of ordnance. 

PASSPORT. _See_ PASS. 

PASS-WORD. The countersign for answering the sentinels. 

PATACHE. A Portuguese tender, from 200 to 300 tons, for carryingtreasure: well armed and swift. 

PATACOON. A Spanish piece of eight, worth 4_s. _ 6_d. _

PATALLAH. A large and clumsy Indian boat, for baggage, cattle, &c. 

PATAMAR. An excellent old class of advice-boats in India, especially onthe Bombay coast, both swift and roomy. They are grab-built, that is, with a prow-stern, about 76 feet long, 21 feet broad, 11 feet deep, and200 tons burden. They are navigated with much skill by men of the Mopilacaste and other Mussulmans. 

PATAMOMETER. An instrument for measuring the force of currents. 

PATAXOS. A small vessel formerly used by the Spaniards as anadvice-boat. 

PATCH. The envelope used with the bullet in old rifles. --_Muzzle-patch_is a projection on the top of the muzzle of some guns, doing away withthe effect of dispart in laying. 

PATELLA. The limpet, of which there are 250 known species. 

PATERERO. A kind of small mortar sometimes fired for salutes orrejoicing, especially in Roman Catholic countries on holidays. 

PATERNOSTER-WORK. The framing of a chain-pump. 

PATH. The trajectory of a shell. 

PATOO-PATOO. A formidable weapon with sharp edges, used by thePolynesian Islanders and New Zealanders as a sort of battle-axe tocleave the skulls of their enemies. 

PATROL. The night-rounds, to see that all is right, and to insureregularity and order. 

PATRON, OR PADRONE. The master of a merchant vessel or coaster in theMediterranean. Also, a cartridge-box, _temp. _ Elizabeth. 

PAUL BITT. A strong timber fixed perpendicularly at the back of thewindlass in the middle, serving to support the system of pauls which arepinned into it, as well as to add security to the machine. 

PAULER, THAT IS A. A closer or stopper; an unanswerable or puzzlingdecision. 

PAUL RIM. A notched cast-iron capstan-ring let into the ship's deck forthe pauls to act on. 

PAULS, OR PAWLS. A stout but short set of bars of iron fixed close tothe capstan-whelps, or windlass of a ship, to prevent them fromrecoiling and overpowering the men. Iron or wood brackets suspended tothe paul-bitts of a windlass, and dropping into appropriate scores, actas a security to the purchase. To the windlass it is vertical; forcapstans, horizontal, bolted to the whelps, and butting to the deck-rim. 

PAUL THERE, MY HEARTY. Tell us no more of that. Discontinue yourdiscourse. 

PAUNCH-MAT. A thick and strong mat formed by interweaving sinnet orstrands of rope as close as possible; it is fastened on the outside ofthe yards or rigging, to prevent their chafing. 

PAVILION. A state tent. 

PAVILLON [Fr. ] Colours; flag; standard. 

PAVISER. Formerly a soldier who was armed with a pavise or buckler. 

PAWK. A young lobster. 

PAWL. _See_ PAULS. 

PAY. A buccaneering principle of hire, under the notion of plunder andsharing in prizes, was, _no purchase no pay_. 

PAY, TO [from Fr. _poix_, pitch]. To pay a seam is to pour hot pitch andtar into it after caulking, to defend the oakum from the wet. Also, tobeat or drub a person, a sense known to Shakspeare as well as to seamen. 

PAY A MAST OR YARD, TO. To anoint it with tar, turpentine, rosin, tallow, or varnish; tallow is particularly useful for those masts uponwhich the sails are frequently hoisted and lowered, such as top-mastsand the lower masts of sloops, schooners, &c. 

PAY A VESSEL'S BOTTOM, TO. To cover it with tallow, sulphur, rosin, &c. (_See_ BREAMING. )

PAY AWAY. The same as _paying out_ (which see). To pass out the slack ofa cable or rope. --_Pay down. _ Send chests or heavy articles below. 

PAYING OFF. The movement by which a ship's head falls off from the wind, and drops to leeward. Also, the paying off the ship's officers and crew, and the removal of the ship from active service to ordinary. 

PAYING OUT. The act of slackening a cable or rope, so as to let it runfreely. When a man talks grandiloquently, he is said to be "paying itout. "

PAYMASTER. The present designation of the station formerly held by thepurser; the officer superintending the provisioning and making paymentsto the crew. 

PAY ROUND, TO. To turn the ship's head. 

PAY-SERJEANT, IN THE ARMY. A steady non-commissioned officer, selectedby the captain of each company, to pay the subsistence daily to the men, after the proper deductions. 

PEA-BALLAST. A coarse fresh-water sand used by ships in the China tradefor stowing tea-chests upon. 

PEA OR P. -JACKET. A skirtless loose rough coat, made of Flushing orpilot cloth. 

PEAK. The more or less conical summit of a mountain whether isolated orforming part of a chain. Also, the upper outer corner of those sailswhich are extended by a gaff. 

PEAK, TO. To raise a gaff or lateen yard more obliquely to the mast. _Tostay peak_, or _ride a short stay peak_, is when the cable and fore-stayform a line: a long peak is when the cable is in line with themain-stay. 

PEAK DOWN-HAUL. A rope rove through a block at the outer end of the gaffto haul it down by. 

PEAK HALLIARDS. The ropes or tackles by which the outer end of a gaff ishoisted, as opposed to the _throat-halliards_ (which see). 

PEAK OF AN ANCHOR. The bill or extremity of the palm, which, as seamenby custom drop the _k_, is pronounced pea; it is tapered nearly to apoint in order to penetrate the bottom. 

PEAK PURCHASE. A purchase fitted in cutters to the standingpeak-halliards to sway it up taut. 

PEARL. A beautiful concretion found in the interior of the shells ofmany species of mollusca, resulting from the deposit of nacreoussubstance round some nucleus, mostly of foreign origin. The _Meleagrinamargaritifera_, or pearl oyster of the Indian seas, yields the mostnumerous and finest specimens. 

PECTORAL FINS. The pair situated behind the gills of fishes, corresponding homologically to the fore limbs of quadrupeds and thewings of birds. 

PEDESTAL-BLOCKS. Synonymous with _plumber-blocks_ (which see). 

PEDESTAL-RAIL. A rail about two inches thick, wrought over thefoot-space rail, and in which there is a groove to steady the heel ofthe balusters of the galleries. 

PEDRO. An early gun of large calibre for throwing stone-balls. 

PEDRO-A-PIED [_Pedro-pee_]. The balance on one leg in walking a plank asa proof of sobriety. A man placed one foot on a seam and flourished theother before and behind, singing, "How can a man be drunk when he candance Pedro-pee, " at which word he placed the foot precisely before theother on the seam, till he proved at least he had not lost hisequilibrium. This was an old custom. 

PEECE. An old term for a fortified position. 

PEEGAGH. The Manx or Erse term for a large skate. 

PEEK. _See_ PEAK. 

PEEL. A stronghold of earth and timber for defence. Also, the wash of anoar. 

PEGASUS. One of the ancient northern constellations, of which the lucidais Markab. 

PEKUL. A Chinese commercial weight of about 130 or 132 lbs. 

PELAGIANS. Fishes of the open sea. 

PELICAN. A well-known water-bird. Also, the old six-pounder culverin. 

PELL [from the British _pwll_]. A deep hole of water, generally beneatha cataract or any abrupt waterfall. Also, a large pond. 

PELLET. An old word for shot or bullet. 

PELLET-POWDER. Has its grains much larger and smoother, and is intendedto act more gradually than service gunpowder, but by the English it isat present considered rather weak. 

PELTA. An ancient shield or buckler, formed of scales sewed on skins. 

PEMBLICO. A small bird whose cry was deemed ominous at sea as presagingwind. 

PEMMICAN. Condensed venison, or beef, used by the hunters aroundHudson's Bay, and largely provided for the Arctic voyages, as containingmuch nutriment in a small compass. Thin slices of lean meat are driedover the smoke of wood fires; they are then pounded and mixed with anequal weight of their own fat. It is generally boiled and eaten hotwhere fire is available. 

PEN. A cape or conical summit. Also, the Creole name for houses andplantations in the country. Also, an inclosure for fishing on thecoast. 

PENA, OR PENON. High rocks on the Spanish coasts. 

PENANG LAWYER. A cane, with the administration of which debts were wontto be settled at Pulo-Penang. 

PENCEL. A small streamer or pennon. 

PENDANT. _See_ PENNANT. 

PENDANT. A strop or short piece of rope fixed on each side, under theshrouds, upon the heads of the main and fore masts, from which it hangsas low as the cat-harpings, having an iron thimble spliced into an eyeat the lower end to receive the hooks of the main and fore tackles. There are besides many other pendants, single or double ropes, to thelower extremity of which is attached a block or tackle; such are thefish-pendant, stay-tackle-pendant, brace-pendant, yard-tackle-pendant, reef-tackle-pendant, &c. , all of which are employed to transmit the effortsof their respective tackles to some distant object. --_Rudder-pendants. _Strong ropes made fast to a rudder by means of chains. Their use is toprevent the loss of the rudder if by any accident it should getunshipped. 

PENDULUM. A gravitating instrument for measuring the motion of a shipand thereby assisting the accuracy of her gunnery in regulatinghorizontal fire. 

PENGUIN. A web-footed bird, of the genus _Aptenodytes_, unable to fly onaccount of the small size of its wings, but with great powers ofswimming and diving: generally met with in high southern latitudes. 

PENINSULA. A tract of land joined to a continent by a comparativelynarrow neck termed an isthmus. 

PENINSULAR WAR. A designation assigned to the Duke of Wellington'scampaigns in Portugal and Spain. 

PENKNIFE ICE. A name given by Parry to ice, the surface of which iscomposed of numberless irregular vertical crystals, nearly closetogether, from five to ten inches long, about half an inch broad, andpointed at both ends. Supposed to be produced by heavy drops of rainpiercing their way through the ice rather than by any peculiarcrystallization while freezing. 

PENNANT. A long narrow banner with St. George's cross in the head, andhoisted at the main. It is the badge of a ship-of-war. Signal pennantsare 9 feet long, tapering from 2 feet at the mast to 1 foot. They denotethe vessels of a fleet; there are ten pennants, which can be variedbeyond any number of ships present. When the pennant is half mast, itdenotes the death of the captain. When hauled down the ship is out ofcommission. Broad pennant denotes a commodore, and is a swallow-tailedflag, the tails tapering, and would meet, if the exterior lines wereprolonged; those of a cornet could not. 

PENNANT-SHIP. Generally means the commodore, and vessels in the employof government. It is also an authority delegated by the commander ofconvoy to some smart merchant ship to assist in the charge, and collectstragglers. 

PENNOCK. A little bridge thrown over a water-course. 

PENNY-WIDDIE. A haddock dried without being split. 

PENSIONERS. Disabled soldiers or sailors received into the superbinstitutions of Chelsea and Greenwich, or, "recently if they choose, "receiving out-pensions. 

PENSTOCK. A flood-gate to a mill-pond. Also used in fortification, forthe purpose of inundating certain works. 

PENTAGON. A right-lined figure of five equal sides and angles. 

PENUMBRA. The lighter shade which surrounds the dark shadow of the earthin an eclipse of the moon. Also, the light shade which usually encirclesthe black spots upon the sun's disc. 

PEON-WOOD. _See_ POON-WOOD. 

PEOTTA. A craft of the Adriatic, of light burden, propelled by oars andcanvas. 

PEPPER-DULSE. _Halymenia edulis_; a pungent sea-weed, which, as well as_H. Palmata_, common dulse, is eaten in Scotland. 

PER-CENTAGE. A proportional sum by which insurance, brokerage, freight, del credere, &c. , are paid. 

PERCER. A rapier; a short sword. 

PERCH. A pole stuck up on a shoal as a beacon; or a spar erected on orprojected from a cliff whence to watch fish. 

PERCUSSION. The striking of one body by another. 

PERDEWS. A corruption from _enfans perdus_, to designate those soldierswho are selected for the _forlorn hope_ (which see). 

PERIGEE. That point in the moon's orbit where she is nearest to theearth; or the point in the earth's orbit where we are nearest to thesun. 

PERIHELION. That point in the orbit of a planet or comet which isnearest to the sun. 

PERIKO. An undecked boat of burden in Bengal. 

PERIL, OR PERIL OF THE SEA. Does not mean danger or hazard, butcomprises such accidents as arise from the elements, and which could notbe prevented by any care or skill of the master and crew. (_See_ ACT OFGOD. )

PERIMETER. The sum of all the sides of a geometrical figure takentogether. 

PERIODICAL WINDS. _See_ MONSOON and TRADE-WINDS. 

PERIODIC INEQUALITIES. Those disturbances in the planetary motions, caused by their reciprocal attraction in definite periods. 

PERIODIC TIME. The interval of time which elapses from the moment when aplanet or comet leaves any point in its orbit, until it returns to itagain. 

PERIPHERY. The circumference of any curved figure. 

PERISHABLE MONITION. The public notice by the court of admiralty for thesale of a ship in a perishable condition, whose owners have provedcontumacious. 

PERIWINKLE. The _win-wincle_ of the Ang. -Sax. , a favourite littleshell-fish, the pin-patch, or _Turbo littoreus_. 

PERMANENT MAGNETISM. The property of attraction and repulsion belongingto magnetized iron. (_See_ INDUCED MAGNETISM. )

PERMANENT RANK. That given by commission, and which does not cease withany particular service. 

PERMIT. A license to sell goods that have paid the duties or excise. 

PERPENDICLE. The plumb-line of the old quadrant. 

PERPENDICULAR. A right line falling from or standing upon anothervertically, and making the angle of 90° on both sides. 

PERRY. An old term for a sudden squall. 

PERSONNEL. A word adopted from the French, and expressive of all theofficers and men, civil and military, composing an army or a navalforce. 

PERSPECTIVE. The old term for a hand telescope. Also, the science bywhich objects are delineated according to their natural appearance andsituation. 

PERSUADER. A rattan, colt, or rope's end in the hands of a boatswain'smate. Also, a revolver. 

PERTURBATIONS. The effects of the attractions of the heavenly bodiesupon each other, whereby they are sometimes drawn out of their ellipticpaths about the central body, as instanced by the wondrous discovery ofNeptune. 

PESAGE. A custom or duty paid for weighing merchandise, or other goods. 

PESETA, OR PISTOREEN. A Spanish silver coin: one-fifth of a piastre. 

PESSURABLE, OR PESTARABLE, of our old statutes, implied such merchandiseas take up much room in a ship. 

PETARD. A hat-shaped metal machine, holding from 6 to 9 lbs. Ofgunpowder; it is firmly fixed to a stout plank, and being applied to agate or barricade, is fired by a fuse, to break or blow it open. (_See_POWDER-BAGS. )

PETARDIER. The man who fixes and fires a petard, a service of greatdanger. 

PET-COCK. A tap, or valve on a pump. 

PETER. _See_ BLUE PETER. 

PETER-BOAT. A fishing-boat of the Thames and Medway, so named after St. Peter, as the patron of fishermen, whose cross-keys form part of thearmorial bearings of the Fishmongers' Company of London. These boatswere first brought from Norway and the Baltic; they are generally short, shallow, and sharp at both ends, with a well for fish in the centre, 25feet over all, and 6 feet beam, yet in such craft boys were wont toserve out seven years' apprenticeship, scarcely ever going on shore. 

PETER-MAN, OR PETERER. A fisherman. Also, the Dutch fishing vessels thatfrequented our eastern coast. 

PETITORY SUITS. Causes of property, formerly cognizable in the admiraltycourt. 

PETREL. The _Cypselli_ of the ancients, and _Mother Cary's chickens_ ofsailors; of the genus _Procellaria_. They collect in numbers at theapproach of a gale, running along the waves in the wake of a ship;whence the name _peterel_, in reference to St. Peter's attempt to walkon the water. They are seen in all parts of the ocean. The largest ofthe petrels, _Procellaria fuliginosa_, is known by seamen as MotherCary's goose. 

PETROLEUM. Called also rock, mineral, or coal, oil. A natural oil widelydistributed over the globe, consisting of carbon and hydrogen, in theproportion of about 88 and 12 per cent. It burns fiercely with a thickblack smoke; and attempts, not yet successful, have been made to adaptit as a fuel for steamers. 

PETRONEL. An old term for a horse-pistol; also for a kind of carbine. 

PETTAH. A town adjoining the esplanade of a fort. 

PETTICOAT TROWSERS. A kind of kilt formerly worn by seamen in general, but latterly principally by fishermen. (_See_ GALLIGASKINS. )

PETTY AVERAGE. Small charges borne partly by a ship, and partly by acargo, such as expenses of towing, &c. 

PETTY OFFICER. A divisional seaman of the first class, ranking with asergeant or corporal. 

PHALANX. An ancient Macedonian legion of varying numbers, formed into asquare compact body of pikemen with their shields joined. 

PHARONOLOGY. Denotes the study of, and acquaintance with, lighthouses. 

PHAROS. A lighthouse; a watch-tower. 

PHASELUS. An ancient small vessel, equipped with sails and oars. 

PHASES. The varying appearances of the moon's disc during a lunation;also those of the inferior planets Venus and Mercury, as they revolveround the sun. 

PHILADELPHIA LAWYER. "Enough to puzzle a Philadelphia lawyer" is acommon nautical phrase for an inconsistent story. 

PHINAK. A species of trout. (_See_ FINNOCK. )

PHYSICAL ASTRONOMY. That department of the science which treats of thecauses of the motions of the heavenly bodies. 

PHYSICAL DOUBLE-STAR. _See_ DOUBLE-STAR and BINARY SYSTEM. 

PIASTRE. A Spanish silver coin, value 4_s. _ 3_d. _ sterling. Also, aTurkish coin of 40 paras, or 1_s. _ 7_d. _

PICARD. A boat of burden on the Severn, mentioned in our old statutes. 

PICCANINNY. A negro or mulatto infant. 

PICCAROON. A swindler or thief. Also, a piratical vessel. 

PICCARY. Piratical theft on a small scale. 

PICKERIE. An old word for stealing; under which name the crime waspunishable by severe duckings. 

PICKET. A pointed staff or stake driven into the ground for variousmilitary purposes, as the marking out plans of works, the securinghorses to, &c. (_See also_ PIQUET, an outguard. )

PICKETS. Two pointers for a mortar, showing the direction of the objectto be fired at, though it be invisible from the piece. 

PICKLE-HARIN. A sea-sprite, borrowed from the Teutonic. 

PICKLING. A mode of salting naval timber in our dockyards, to insure itsdurability. (_See_ BURNETTIZE. )

PICK UP A WIND, TO. Traverses made by oceanic voyagers; to run from onetrade or prevalent wind to another, with as little intervening calm aspossible. 

PICTARNIE. A name on our northern coasts for the _Sterna hirundo_, thetern, or sea-swallow. 

PICUL. _See_ PEKUL. 

PIE. The beam or pole that is erected to support the _gun_ for loadingand unloading timber. Also called _pie-tree_. 

PIECE OF EIGHT. The early name for the coin of the value of 8 reals, thewell-known Spanish dollar. 

PIER. A quay; also a strong mound projecting into the sea, to break theviolence of the waves. 

PIERCER. Used by sail-makers to form eyelet-holes. 

PIGGIN. A little pail having a long stave for a handle; used to balewater out of a boat. 

PIG-IRON. (_See_ SOW. ) An oblong mass of cast-iron used for ballast;there are also pigs of lead. 

 "A nodding beam or pig of lead May hurt the very ablest head. "

PIG-TAIL. The common twisted tobacco for chewing. 

PIG-YOKE. The name given to the old Davis quadrant. 

PIKE. (_See_ HALF-PIKE. ) A long, slender, round staff, armed at the endwith iron. (_See_ BOARDING-PIKE and PYKE. ) Formerly in general use, butwhich gave way to the bayonet. Also, the peak of a hill. Also, a fish, the _Esox lucius_, nicknamed the fresh-water shark. 

PIKE-TURN. _See_ CHEVAUX DE FRISE. 

PIL, OR PYLL. A creek subject to the tide. 

PILCHARD. The _Clupea pilchardus_, a fish allied to the herring, whichappears in vast shoals off the Cornish coast about July. 

PILE. A pyramid of shot or shell. --_To pile arms_, is to plant threefire-locks together, and unite the ramrods, to steady the outspreadbutt-ends of the pieces resting on the ground. A pile is also a beam ofwood driven into the ground to form by a number a solid foundation forbuilding upon. A _sheeting-pile_ has more breadth than thickness, and ismuch used in constructing coffer-dams. 

PILE-DRIVER. A machine adapted for driving piles. Also, applied to aship given to pitch heavily in a sea-way. 

PILGER. An east-country term for a fish-spear. 

PILING ICE. In Arctic parlance, where from pressure the ice is raised, slab over slab, into a high mass, which consolidates, and is oftenmistaken for a berg. 

PILL. (_See_ PIL. ) A term on the western coast for a draining rivulet, as well as the creek into which it falls. 

PILLAGE. Wanton and mostly iniquitous plunder. But an allowed ancientpractice, both in this and other countries, as shown by the seaordinances of France, and our black book of the admiralty. 

PILLAN. A northern coast name for the shear-crab. 

PILLAR OF THE HOLD. A main stanchion with notches for descent. 

PILLAW. A dish composed at sea of junk, rice, onions, and fowls; itfigured at the marriage feast of Commodore Trunnion. It is derived fromthe Levantine _pillaf_. 

PILLOW. A block of timber whereon the inner end of the bowsprit issupported. 

PILMER. The fine small rain so frequent on our western coasts. 

PILOT. An experienced person charged with the ship's course near thecoasts, into roads, rivers, &c. , and through all intricate channels, inhis own particular district. --_Branch pilot. _ One who is duly authorizedby the Trinity board to pilot ships of the largest draft. 

PILOTAGE. The money paid to a pilot for taking a ship in or out of port, &c. 

PILOT CUTTER. A very handy sharp-built sea-boat used by pilots. 

PILOT-FISH. _Naucrates ductor_, a member of the _Scomber_ family, theattendant on the shark. 

PILOT'S-ANCHOR. A kedge used for dropping a vessel in a stream ortide-way. 

PILOT'S FAIR-WAY, OR PILOT'S WATER. A channel wherein, according tousage, a pilot must be employed. 

PINCH-GUT. A miserly purser. 

PINCH-GUT PAY. The short allowance money. 

PINE. A genus of lofty coniferous trees, abounding in temperateclimates, and valuable for its timber and resin. The masts and yards ofships are generally of pine. (_See_ PITCH-PINE. )--_Pine_ is also anorthern term for drying fish by exposure to the weather. 

PING. The whistle of a shot, especially the rifle-bullets in theirflight. 

PINGLE. A small north-country coaster. 

PINK. A ship with a very narrow stern, having a small square part above. The shape is of old date, but continued, especially by the Danes, forthe advantage of the quarter-guns, by the ship's being contracted abaft. Also, one of the many names for the minnow. --_To pink_, to stab, as, between casks, to detect men stowed away. 

PINKSTERN. A very narrow boat on the Severn. 

PIN-MAUL. _See_ MAUL. 

PINNACE. A small vessel propelled with oars and sails, of two, and eventhree masts, schooner-rigged. In size, as a ship's boat, smaller thanthe barge, and, like it, carvel-built. The armed pinnace of the Frenchcoasts was of 60 or 80 tons burden, carrying one long 24-pounder and 100men. In _Henry VI. _ Shakspeare makes the pinnace an independent vessel, though Falstaff uses it as a small vessel attending on a larger. Also, metaphorically, an indifferent character. 

PINNOLD. A term on our southern shores for a small bridge. 

PINS. --_Belaying pins. _ Short cylindrical pieces of wood or iron fixedinto the fife-rail and other parts of a vessel, for making fast therunning-rigging. 

PINTADOS. Coloured or printed chintzes, formerly in great demand fromIndia, and among the fine goods of a cargo. 

PIN-TAIL. The _Anas acuta_, a species of duck with a long pointed tail. Also, in artillery, the iron pin on the axle-tree of the limber, towhich the trail-eye of the gun-carriage is attached for travel. 

PINTLES. The rudder is hung on to a ship by pintles and braces. Thebraces are secured firmly to the stern-post by jaws, which spread andare bolted on each side. The pintles are hooks which enter the braces, and the rudder is then wood-locked; a dumb pintle on the heel finallytakes the strain off the hinging portions. 

PIONEERS. A proportion of troops specially assigned to the clearing(from natural impediments) the way for the main body; hence, usedgenerally in the works of an army, its scavenging, &c. Labourers of thecountry also are sometimes so used. 

PIPE. A measure of wine containing two hogsheads, or 125 gallons, equalto half a tun. Also, a peculiar whistle for summoning the men to duty, and directing their attention by its varied sounds. (_See_ CALL. )

PIPE-CLAY. Known to the ancients under the name of _paretonium_;formerly indispensable to soldiers as well as the jolly marines. 

PIPE DOWN! The order to dismiss the men from the deck when a duty hasbeen performed on board ship. 

PIPE-FISH. A fish of the genus _Syngnathus_, with an elongated slenderbody and long tubular mouth. 

PIPER. A half-dried haddock. Also, the shell _Echinus cidaris_. Also, the fish _Trigla lyra_. 

PIQUET. A proportion of a force set apart and kept on the alert for thesecurity of the whole. --The _outlying piquet_, some distance from themain body, watches all hostile approach. --The _inlying piquet_ is readyto act in case of internal disorder, or of alarm. 

PIRACY. Depredation without authority, or transgression of authoritygiven, by despoiling beyond its warrant. Fixed domain, public revenue, and a certain form of government, are exempt from that character, therefore the Barbary States were not treated by Europe as such. TheCourt of Admiralty is empowered to grant warrants to commit any personfor piracy, only on regular information upon oath. By common law, piracyconsists in committing those acts of robbery and depredation upon thehigh seas, which, if committed on land, would have amounted to felony, and the pirate is deemed _hostis humani generis_. 

PIRAGUA [Sp. _per agua_]. _See_ PIROGUE. 

PIRATE. A sea-robber, yet the word _pirata_ has been formerly taken fora sea-captain. Also, an armed ship that roams the seas without any legalcommission, and seizes or plunders every vessel she meets; theircolours are said to be a black field with a skull, a battle-axe, and anhour-glass. (_See_ PRAHU. )

PIRIE. An old term for a sudden gust of wind. 

PIRLE. An archaic word signifying a brook or stream. 

PIROGUE, OR PIRAGUA. A canoe formed from the trunk of a large tree, generally cedar or balsa wood. It was the native vessel which theSpaniards found in the Gulf of Mexico, and on the west coasts of SouthAmerica; called also a dug-boat in North America. 

PISCARY. A legal term for a fishery. Also, a right of fishing in thewaters belonging to another person. 

PISCES. The twelfth sign of the zodiac, which the sun enters about the21st of February. 

PISCIS AUSTRALIS. One of the ancient southern constellations, the lucidaof which is Fomalhaut. 

PISTOL. An old word for a swaggering rogue; hence Shakspeare's characterin _Henry V. _

PISTOLA. A Papal gold coin of the sterling value of 13_s. _ 11_d. _

PISTOLE. A Spanish gold coin, value 16_s. _ 6_d. _ sterling. 

PISTOLET. This name was applied both to a small pistol and a Spanishpistole. 

PISTOLIERS. A name for the heavy cavalry, _temp. _ Jac. I. 

PISTOL-PROOF. A term for the point of courage for which a man waselected captain by pirates. 

PISTON. In the marine steam-engine, a metal disc fitting the bore of thecylinder, and made to slide up and down within it easily, in order, byits reciprocating movement, to communicate motion to the engine. 

PISTON-ROD. A rod which is firmly fixed in the piston by a key driventhrough both. 

PIT. In the dockyards. _See_ SAW-PIT. 

PITCH. Tar and coarse resin boiled to a fluid yet tenacious consistence. It is used in a hot state with oakum in caulking the ship to fill thechinks or intervals between her planks. Also, in steam navigation, thedistance between two contiguous threads of the screw-propeller, istermed the _pitch_. Also, in gunnery, the throw of the shot. --_Topitch_, to plant or set, as tents, pavements, pitched battles, &c. 

PITCH-BOAT. A vessel fitted for boiling pitch in, which should be veeredastern of the one being caulked. 

PITCHED. A word formerly used for _stepped_, as of a mast, and also for_thrown_. 

PITCH-HOUSE. A place set apart for the boiling of pitch for the seamsand bottoms of vessels. 

PITCH IN, TO. To set to work earnestly; to beat a person violently. (Acolloquialism. )

PITCHING. The plunging of a ship's head in a sea-way; the verticalvibration which her length makes about her centre of gravity; a verystraining motion. 

PITCH-KETTLE. That in which the pitch is heated, or in which it iscarried from the _pitch-pot_. 

PITCH-LADLE. Is used for paying decks and horizontal work. 

PITCH-MOP. The implement with which the hot pitch is laid on to ships'sides and perpendicular work. 

PITCH-PINE. _Pinus resinosa_, commonly called Norway or red pine. (_See_PINE. )

PITH. Well known as the medullary part of the stem of a plant; butfiguratively, it is used to express strength and courage. 

PIT-PAN. A flat-bottomed, trough-like canoe, used in the Spanish Mainand in the West Indies. 

PIT-POWDER. That made with charcoal which has been burned in pits, notin cylinders. 

PIVOT. A cylinder of iron or other metal, that may turn easily in asocket. Also, in a column of troops, that flank by which the dressingand distance are regulated; in a line, that on which it wheels. 

PIVOT-GUN. Mounted on a frame carriage which can be turned radially, soas to point the piece in any direction. 

PIVOT-SHIP. In certain fleet evolutions, the sternmost ship remainsstationary, as a pivot upon which the other vessels are to form the lineanew. 

PLACE. A fortress, especially its main body. 

PLACE FOR EVERYTHING, AND EVERYTHING IN ITS PLACE. One of the goldenmaxims of propriety on board ship. 

PLACE OF ARMS. In fortification, a space contrived for the convenientassembling of troops for ulterior purposes; the most usual are those atthe salient and re-entering angles of the covered-way. 

PLACER. A Spanish nautical term for shoal or deposit. Also, for depositsof precious minerals. 

PLACES OF CALL. Merchantmen must here attend to two general rules:--Ifthese places of call are enumerated in the charter-party, then such mustbe taken in the order laid down; but if leave be given to call at all, or any, then they must be taken in their geographical sequence. 

PLAGES [Lat. ] An old word for the divisions of the globe; as, _plages ofthe north_, the northern regions. 

PLAIN. A term used in contradistinction to mountain, though far fromimplying a level surface, and it may be either elevated or low. 

PLAN. The area or imaginary surface defined by, or within any describedlines. In ship-building, the _plan of elevation_, commonly called the_sheer-draught_, is a side-plan of the ship. (_See_ HORIZONTAL PLAN andBODY-PLAN, or plan of projection. )

PLANE. In a general sense, a perfectly level surface; but it is a termused by shipwrights, implying the area or imaginary surface containedwithin any particular outlines, as the plane of elevation, orsheer-draught, &c. 

PLANE-CHART. One constructed on the supposition of the earth's being anextended plane, and therefore but little in request. 

PLANE OF THE MERIDIAN. _See_ MERIDIAN. 

PLANE-SAILING. That part of navigation which treats a ship's course asan angle, and the distance, difference of latitude, and easting orwesting, as the sides of a right-angled triangle. The easting or westingis called departure. To convert this into difference of longitude, parallel, middle latitude, or Mercator's sailing is needed, depending oncircumstances. Plane-sailing is so simple that it is colloquially usedto express anything so easy that it is impossible to make a mistake. 

PLANE TRIANGLE. One contained by three right lines. 

PLANETS, PRIMARY. Those beautiful opaque bodies which revolve about thesun as a centre, in nearly circular orbits. (_See_ INFERIOR, MINOR, andSUPERIOR. )

PLANETS, SECONDARY. The satellites, or moons, revolving about some ofthe primary planets--the moon being our satellite. 

PLANIMETRY. The mensuration of plane surfaces. 

PLANK. Thick boards, 18 feet long at least, from 1-1/2 to 4 inchesthick, and 9 or 10 inches broad; of less dimensions, it is called_board_ or _deal_ (which see), the latter being 8 or 9 inches wide, by14 feet long. 

PLANKING. The outside and inside casing of the vessel. 

PLANK IT, TO. To sleep on the bare decks, choosing, as the galley sayinghas it, the softest plank. 

PLANK-SHEER. Pieces of plank covering the timber-heads round the ship;also, the gunwale or covering-board. The space between this and the lineof flotation has latterly been termed the free-board. 

PLAN OF THE TRANSOMS. The horizontal appearance of them, to which themoulds are made, and the bevellings taken. 

PLANT. A stock of tools, &c. Also, the fixtures, machinery, &c. , required to carry on a business. 

PLANTER. In Newfoundland it means a person engaged in the fishery; andin the United States the naked trunk of a tree, which, imbedded in ariver, becomes one of the very dangerous snag tribe. 

PLASH, TO. To wattle or interweave branches. 

PLASTRON. A pad used by fencers. Also, the shield on the under surfaceof a turtle. 

PLATE. In marine law, refers to jewels, plate, or treasure, for whichfreight is due. Thus, _plate-ship_ is a galleon so laden. 

PLATE. _Backstay-plate. _ A piece of iron used instead of a chain toconfine the dead-eye of the backstay to the after-channel. --_Foot-hookor futtock plates. _ Iron bands fitted to the lower dead-eyes of thetopmast-shrouds, which, passing through holes in the rim of the top, areattached to the upper ends of the futtock-shrouds. 

PLATE-ARMOUR. Thick coverings or coatings for ships on the newprinciple, to render them impervious to shot and shell, if kept justoutside of _breaking-plate_ distance. 

PLATEAU. An upland flat-topped elevation. 

PLATFORM. A kind of deck for any temporary or particular purpose: theorlop-deck, having store-rooms and cabins forward and aft, and themiddle part allotted to the stowage of cables. Also, the flooringelevation of stone or timber on which the carriage of a gun is placedfor action. Hence, in early voyages, a fort or battery, withwell-mounted ordnance, is called "the platform. "

PLATOON. Originally a small square body or subdivision of musketeers;hence, _platoon exercise_, that which relates to the loading and firingof muskets in the ranks; and _platoon firing_, _i. E. _ by subdivisions. 

PLAY. Motion in the frame, masts, &c. Also said of the marinesteam-engine when it is in action or in play. Also, in long voyages ortedious blockades, play-acting may be encouraged with benefit; for theexcitement and employment thus afforded are not only goodanti-scorbutics, but also promoters of content and good fellowship: insuch--

 "Jack is not bound by critics' crabbed laws, But gives to all his unreserved applause: He laughs aloud when jokes his fancy please-- Such are the honest manners of the seas. And never--never may he ape those fools Who, lost to reason, laugh or cry by rules. "

PLAYTE. An old term for a river-boat. 

PLEDGET. The string of oakum used in caulking. Also, in surgery, a smallplug of lint. 

PLEIADES. The celebrated cluster of stars in Taurus, of which seven oreight are visible to the naked eye; the assisted vision numbers over200. 

PLENY TIDES. Full tides. 

PLICATILES. Ancient vessels built of wood and leather, which could betaken to pieces and carried by land. 

PLONKETS. Coarse woollen cloths of former commerce. (_See_ statute 1 R. III. C. 8. )

PLOT, OR PLOTT. A plan or chart. (_See_ ICHNOGRAPHY. )

PLOTTING. The making of the plan after an actual survey of the place hasbeen obtained. 

PLOUGH. An instrument formerly used for taking the sun's altitude, andpossessed of large graduations. When a ship cuts briskly through the seashe is said to plough it. 

PLUCKER. The fishing frog, _Lophius piscatorius_. 

PLUG. A conical piece of wood to let in or keep out water, when fittedto a hole in the bottom of a boat. --_Hawse-plugs. _ To stop thehawse-holes when the cables are unbent, and the ship plunges in ahead-sea. --_Shot-plugs. _ Covered with oakum and tallow, to stopshot-holes in the sides of a ship near the water-line; being conical, they adapt themselves to any sized shot-holes. 

PLUMB. Right up and down, opposed to parallel. --_To plumb. _ To form thevertical line. Also, to sound the depth of water. 

PLUMBER-BLOCKS. These, in a marine steam-engine, are Y's, wherein arefixed the bushes, in which the shafts or pinions revolve. 

PLUMMET. A name sometimes given to the hand-lead, or any lead or ironweight suspended by a string, as used by carpenters, &c. 

PLUNDER. A name given to the effects of the officers and crew of aprize, when pillaged by the captors, though the act directs that"nothing shall be taken out of a prize-ship till condemned. " (_See_PILLAGE. )

PLUNGING FIRE. A pitching discharge of shot from a higher level, at suchan angle that the shot do not ricochet. 

PLUNGING SPLASH. The descent of the anchor into the water when let go. 

PLUSH [evidently from _plus_]. The overplus of the grog, arising frombeing distributed in a smaller measure than the true one, and assignedto the cook of each mess, becomes a cause of irregularity. (_See_ TOT. )

PLUVIOMETER, OR RAIN-GAUGE. A measurer of the quantity of rain whichfalls on a square foot. There are various kinds. 

PLY, TO. To carry cargoes or passengers for short trips. Also, _to workto windward_, to beat. Also, _to ply an oar_, to use it in pulling. 

PLYMOUTH CLIMATE. 

 "The west wind always brings wet weather, The east wind wet and cold together; The south wind surely brings us rain, The north wind blows it back again. "

PLYMOUTH CLOAK. An old term for a cane or walking stick. 

P. M. [Lat. _post meridiem_. ] Post meridian, or after mid-day. 

P. O. Mark for a petty officer. 

POCHARD. A kind of wild duck. 

POCKET. A commercial quantity of wool, containing half a sack. Also, thefrog of a belt. 

POD. A company of seals or sea-elephants. 

POGGE. The miller's thumb, _Cottus cataphractus_. 

POHAGEN. A fish of the herring kind, called also _hard-head_ (whichsee). 

POINT. A low spit of land projecting from the main into the sea, almostsynonymous with promontory or head. Also, the rhumb the winds blow from. 

POINT A GUN, TO. To direct it on a given object. 

POINT A SAIL, TO. To affix points through the eyelet-holes of the reefs. (_See_ POINTS. )

POINT-BEACHER. A low woman of Portsmouth. 

POINT-BLANK. Direct on the object; "blank" being the old word for themark on the practice-butt. 

POINT-BLANK FIRING. That wherein no elevation is given to the gun, itsaxis being pointed for the object. 

POINT-BLANK RANGE. The distance to which a shot was reckoned to rangestraight, without appreciable drooping from the force of gravity. Itvaried from 300 to 400 yards, according to the nature of gun; and wasmeasured by the first graze of the shot fired horizontally from a gun onits carriage on a horizontal plane. The finer practice of rifled guns ismuch abating the use of the term, minute elevations being added to thepoint-blank direction for even the very smallest ranges. 

POINT BRASS OR IRON. A large sort of plumb for the nice adjustment ofperpendicularity for a given line. 

POINT-DE-GALLE CANOE. Consists of a single stem of _Dúp_ wood, 18 to 30feet long, from 1-1/2 to 2-1/2 feet broad, and from 2 to 3 feet deep. Itis fitted with a balance log at the ends of two bamboo out-riggers, having the mast, yard, and sail secured together; and, when sailing, ismanaged in a similar way to the catamaran. They sail very well in strongwinds, and are also used by the natives of the Eastern Archipelago, especially at the Feejee group, where they are very large. 

POINTER. The index or indicator of an instrument. --_Station pointer. _ Abrass graduated circle with one fixed and two radial legs; by placingthem at two adjoining angles taken by a sextant between three knownobjects, the position of the observer is fixed on the chart. 

POINTER-BOARD. A simple contrivance for duly training a ship's guns. 

POINTERS. Stout props, placed obliquely to the timbers of whalers, tosustain the shock of icebergs. All braces placed diagonally across thehold of any vessel, to support the bilge and prevent loose-working, arecalled pointers. Also, the general designation for the stars α and β inthe Great Bear, a line through which points nearly upon the pole-star. 

POINT-HOLES. The eyelet-holes for the points. 

POINTING. The operation of unlaying and tapering the end of a rope, andweaving some of its yarns about the diminished part, which is very neatto the eye, prevents it from being fagged out, and makes it handy forreeving in a block, &c. 

POINT OF THE COMPASS. The 32d part of the circumference, or 11° 15′. 

POINTS. _See_ REEF-POINTS. --_Armed at all points_, is when a man isdefended by armour cap-à-pie. 

POINTS OF SERVICE. The principal details of duty, which ought to beexecuted with zeal and alacrity. 

POLACRE. A ship or brig of the Mediterranean; the masts are commonlyformed of one spar from truck to heel, so that they have neither topsnor cross-trees, neither have they any foot-ropes to their upper yards, because the men stand upon the topsail-yards to loose and furl thetop-gallant sails, and upon the lower yards to loose, reef, or furl thetop-sails, all the yards being lowered sufficiently for that purpose. 

POLANS. Knee-pieces in armour. 

POLAR CIRCLES. The Arctic and the Antarctic; 23° 28′ from either pole. 

POLAR COMPRESSION. _See_ COMPRESSION OF THE POLES. 

POLAR DISTANCE. The complement of the _declination_. The angulardistance of a heavenly body from one of the poles, counted on from 0° to180°. 

POLARIS. _See_ POLE-STAR. 

POLAR REGIONS. Those parts of the world which lie within the Arctic andAntarctic circles. 

POLDAVIS, OR POLDAVY. A canvas from Dantzic, formerly much used in ournavy. A kind of sail-cloth thus named was also manufactured inLancashire from about the year 1500, and regulated by statute 1 Jac. Cap. 24. 

POLE. The upper end of the highest masts, when they rise above therigging. 

POLEAXE, OR POLLAX. A sort of hatchet, resembling a battle-axe, whichwas used on board ship to cut away the rigging of an adversary. Also inboarding an enemy whose hull was more lofty than that of the boarders, by driving the points of several into her side, one above another, andthus forming a kind of scaling-ladder; hence were called boarding-axes. 

POLEMARCH. The commander-in-chief of an ancient Greek army. 

POLE-MASTS. Single spar masts, also applied where the top-gallant androyal masts are in one. (_See_ MAST. )

POLES. Two points on the surface of the earth, each 90° distant from allparts of the equator, forming the extremities of the imaginary linecalled the earth's axis. The term applies also to those points in theheavens towards which the terrestrial axis is always directed. --_Underbare poles. _ The situation of a ship at sea when all her sails arefurled. (_See_ SCUD and TRY. )

POLE-STAR. α _Ursæ minoris_. This most useful star is the lucida of theLittle Bear, round which the other components of the constellation andthe rest of the heavens appear to revolve in the course of theastronomical day. 

POLICY. A written contract, by which the insurers oblige themselves toindemnify sea-risks under various conditions. An _interest_ policy, iswhere the insurer has a real assignable interest in the thing insured; a_wager_ policy, is where the insurer has no substantial interest in thething insured; an _open_ policy, is where the amount of interest is notfixed, but left to be ascertained in case of loss; a _valued_ policy, iswhere an actual value has been set on the ship or goods. 

POLLACK. The _Merlangus pollachius_, a well-known member of the codfamily. 

POLLUX. β _Geminorum_. A bright and well-known star in the ancientconstellation Gemini, of which it is the second in brightness. 

POLRON. That part of the armour which covered the neck and shoulders. 

POLTROON. Not known in the navy. 

POLYGON. A geometrical figure of any number of sides more than four;regular or irregular. In fortification the term is applied to the planof a piece of ground fortified or about to be fortified; and hence, insome countries, to a fort appropriated as an artillery and engineeringschool. 

POLYMETER. An instrument for measuring angles. 

POLYNESIA. A group of islands: a name generally applied to the islandsof the Pacific Ocean collectively, whether in clusters or straggling. 

POMELO, OR PUMELO. _Citrus decumana. _ A large fruit known by this namein the East Indies, but in the West by that of shaddock, after CaptainShaddock, who introduced it there. 

POMFRET. A delicate sea-fish, taken in great quantities in Bombay andMadras. 

POMMELION. A name given by seamen to the cascable or hindmost knob onthe breech of a cannon. 

PONCHES. Small bulk-heads made in the hold to stow corn, goods, &c. 

PONCHO. A blanket with a hole in the centre, large enough for the headto pass through, worn by natives of South and Western America. 

POND. A word often used for a small lagoon, but improperly, for pondsare formed exclusively from springs and surface-drainage, and have noaffluent. Also, a cant name for the Mediterranean. Also, thesummit-level of a canal. 

PONENT. Western. 

PONIARD. A short dagger with a sharp edge. 

PONTAGE. A duty or toll collected for the repair and keeping of bridges. 

PONTONES. Ancient square-built ferry-boats for passing rivers, asdescribed by Cæsar and Aulus Gellius. 

PONTOON. A large low flat vessel resembling a barge of burden, andfurnished with cranes, capstans, tackles, and other machinery necessaryfor careening ships; they are principally used in the Mediterranean. Also, a kind of portable boat specially adapted for the formation of thefloating bridges required by armies: they are constructed of variousfigures, and of wood, metal, or prepared canvas (the latter being mostin favour at present), and have the necessary superstructure and gearpacked with them for transport. 

POO. A small crab on the Scottish coast. 

POOD. A Russian commercial weight, equal to 36 lbs. English. 

POODLE. An old Cornish name for the English Channel. Also, a slang termfor the aide-de-camp of a garrison general. 

POOL. Is distinguished from a _pond_, in being filled by springs orrunning water. Also, a _pwll_ or port. 

POOP. [From the Latin _puppis_. ] The aftermost and highest part of alarge ship's hull. Also, a deck raised over the after-part of aspar-deck, sometimes called the _round-house_. A frigate has no poop, but is said to be pooped when a wave strikes the stern and washes onboard. 

POOPING, OR BEING POOPED. The breaking of a heavy sea over the stern orquarter of a boat or vessel when she scuds before the wind in a gale, which is extremely dangerous, especially if deeply laden. 

POOP-LANTERN. A light carried by admirals to denote the flag-ship bynight. 

POOP-NETTING. _See_ HAMMOCK-NETTINGS. 

POOP-RAILS. The stanchions and rail-work in front of the poop. (_See_BREAST-WORK and FIFE-RAILS. )

POOP-ROYAL. A short deck or platform placed over the aftmost part of thepoop in the largest of the French and Spanish men-of-war, and serving asa cabin for their masters and pilots. This is the topgallant-poop of ourshipwrights, and the former round-house cabin of our merchant vessels. 

POOR JOHN. Hake-fish salted and dried, as well as dried stock-fish, andbad _bacalao_, or cod, equally cheap and coarse. Shakspeare mentions itin _Romeo and Juliet_. 

POPLAR. The tree which furnishes charcoal for the manufacture ofgunpowder. 

POPLER. An old name for a sea-gull. 

POPPETS. Upright pieces of stout square timber, mostly fir, between thebottom and bilge-ways, at the run and entrance of a ship about to belaunched, for giving her further support. Also, poppets on the gunwaleof a boat support the wash-strake, and form the rowlocks. 

POPPLING SEA. Waves in irregular agitation. 

PORBEAGLE. A kind of shark. 

PORPESSE, PORPOISE, OR PORPUSS. The _Phocœna communis_. One of thesmallest of the cetacean or whale order, common in the British seas. 

PORT. An old Anglo-Saxon word still in full use. It strictly means aplace of resort for vessels, adjacent to an emporium of commerce, wherecargoes are bought and sold, or laid up in warehouses, and where thereare docks for shipping. It is not quite a synonym of _harbour_, sincethe latter does not imply traffic. Vessels hail from the port they havequitted, but they are compelled to have the name of the vessel and ofthe port to which they belong painted on the bow or stern. --_Port_ isalso in a legal sense a refuge more or less protected by points andheadlands, marked out by limits, and may be resorted to as a place ofsafety, though there are many ports but rarely entered. The left side ofthe ship is called _port_, by admiralty order, in preference to_larboard_, as less mistakeable in sound for starboard. --_To port thehelm. _ So to move the tiller as to carry the rudder to the starboardside of the stern-post. --_Bar-port. _ One which can only be entered whenthe tide rises sufficiently to afford depth over a bar; this in manycases only occurs at spring-tides. --_Close-port. _ One within the body ofa city, as that of Rhodes, Venice, Amsterdam, &c. --_Free-port. _ One openand free of all duties for merchants of all nations to load and unloadtheir vessels, as the ports of Genoa and Leghorn. Also, a term used fora total exemption of duties which any set of merchants enjoy, for goodsimported into a state, or those exported of the growth of the country. Such was the privilege the English enjoyed for several years after theirdiscovery of the port of Archangel, and which was taken from them onaccount of the regicide in 1648. 

PORTABLE SOUP, and other preparations of meat. Of late years a veryvaluable part of naval provision. 

PORTAGE. Tonnage. Also, the land carriage between two harbours, oftenhigh and difficult for transport. Also, in Canadian river navigationmeans the carrying canoes or boats and their cargo across the land, where the stream is interrupted by rocks or rapids. 

PORT ARMS! The military word of command to bring the fire-lock acrossthe front of the body, muzzle slanting upwards; a motion preparatory forthe "charge bayonets!" or for inspecting the condition of the locks. 

PORT-BARS. Strong pieces of oak, furnished with two laniards, by whichthe ports are secured from flying open in a gale of wind, the barsresting against the inside of the ship; the port is first tightly closedby its hooks and ring-bolts. 

PORT-CHARGES, OR HARBOUR-DUES. Charges levied on vessels resorting to aport. 

PORTCULLIS. A heavy frame of wooden or iron bars, sliding in verticalgrooves within the masonry over the gateway of a fortified town, to belowered for barring the passage. When hastily made, it was termed asarrazine. 

PORTE. _See_ SUBLIME PORTE. 

PORT-FIRE. A stick of composition, generally burning an inch a minute, used to convey fire from the slow-match or the like to the priming ofordnance, though superseded with most guns by locks or friction-tubes. With a slightly altered composition it is used for signals; also forfiring charges of mines. 

PORT-FLANGE. In ship-carpentry, is a batten of wood fixed on the ship'sside over a port, to prevent water or dirt going into the port. 

PORT-GLAIVE. A sword-bearer. 

PORT-LAST, OR PORTOISE. Synonymous with _gunwale_. 

PORT-MEN. A name in old times for the inhabitants of the Cinque Ports;the burgesses of Ipswich are also so called. 

PORT-MOTE. A court held in haven towns or ports. 

PORT-NAILS. These are classed double and single: they are similar toclamp-nails, and like them are used for fastening iron work. 

PORT-PENDANTS. Ropes spliced into rings on the outside of the port-lids, and rove through leaden pipes in the ship's sides, to work the port-lidsup or down by the tackles. 

PORT-PIECE. An ancient piece of ordnance used in our early fleets. 

PORT-PIECE CHAMBER. A paterero for loading a port-piece at the breech. 

PORT-REEVE. A magistrate of certain sea-port towns in olden times. 

PORT-ROPES. Those by which the ports are hauled up and suspended. 

PORTS, OR PORT-HOLES. The square apertures in the sides of a shipthrough which to point and fire the ordnance. Also, aft and forward, asthe _bridle-port_ in the bows, the _quarter-port_ in round-sternvessels, and _stern-ports_ between the stern-timbers. Also, square holescut in the sides, bow, or stem of a merchant ship, for taking in anddischarging timber cargoes, and for other purposes. --_Gunroom-ports. _Are situated in the ship's counter, and are used for stern-chasers, andalso for passing a small cable or a hawser out, either to moor head andstern, or to spring upon the cable, &c. (_See_ MOOR andSPRING. )--_Half-port. _ A kind of shutter which hinges on the lower sideof a port, and falls down outside when clear for action; when closed ithalf covers the port to the line of metal of the gun, and is firmlysecured by iron hooks. The upper half-port is temporary and loose, willnot stand a heavy sea, and is merely secured by two light inch-ropelaniards. 

PORT-SALE. A public sale of fish on its arrival in the harbour. 

PORT-SASHES. Half-ports fitted with glass for the admission of lightinto cabins. 

PORT-SHACKLES. The rings to the ports. 

PORT-SILLS. In ship-building, pieces of timber put horizontally betweenthe framing to form the top and bottom of a port. 

PORT-TACKLES. Those falls which haul up and suspend the lower-deckports, so that since the admiralty order for using the word _port_instead of _larboard_, we have _port port-tackle falls_. 

PORTUGUESE. A gold coin, value £1, 16_s. _, called also _moiadobras_. 

PORTUGUESE MAN-OF-WAR. A beautiful floating acalephan of the tropicalseas; the _Physalia pelagica_. 

POSITION. Ground (or water) occupied, or that may be advantageouslyoccupied, in fighting order. 

POSITION, GEOGRAPHICAL, of any place on the surface of the earth, is thedetermination of its latitude and longitude, and its height above thelevel of the sea. 

POSSESSORY. A suit entered in the admiralty court by owners for theseizing of their ship. 

POST. Any ground, fortified or not, where a body of men can be in acondition for defence, or fighting an enemy. Also, the limits of asentinel's charge. 

POST-CAPTAIN. Formerly a captain of three years' standing, now simplycaptain, but equal to colonel in the army, by date of commission. 

POSTED. Promoted from commander to captain in the navy; a word no longerofficially used. 

POSTERN. A small passage constructed through some retired part of abastion, or other portion of a work, for the garrison's minorcommunications with the town, unperceived by the enemy. 

POSTING. Placing people for special duty. Also, publicly handing out abad character. 

POST OF HONOUR. The advance, and the right of the lines of any army. 

POUCH. A case of strong leather for carrying ammunition, used bysoldiers, marines, and small-arm men. Also, the crop of a shark. 

POUCHES. Wooden bulk-heads across the hold of cargo vessels, to preventgrain or light shingle from shifting. 

POULDRON. A shoulder-piece in armour. Corrupted from _epauldron_. 

POULTERER. Called "Jemmy Ducks" on board ship; he assists the butcher inthe feeding and care of the live stock, &c. 

POUND. A lagoon, or space of water, surrounded by reefs and shoals, wherein fish are kept, as at Bermuda. 

POUND-AND-PINT-IDLER. A sobriquet applied to the purser. 

POUNDER. A denomination applied to guns according to the weight of theshot they carry; at present everything larger than the 100-pounder isdescribed by the diameter of its bore, coupled with its total weight. 

POW. A name on the Scotch shores for a small creek. Also, a mole. 

POWDER. _See_ GUNPOWDER. 

POWDER, TO. To salt meat slightly; as Falstaff says, "If thou embowel meto-day, I'll give you leave to powder me, and eat me too, to-morrow. "--_Powdering-tub. _ A vessel used for pickling beef, pork, &c. 

POWDER-BAGS. Leathern bags containing from 20 to 40 lbs. Of powder;substituted for petards at the instance of Lord Cochrane, as being moreeasily placed. They have lately been called Ghuznee bags. 

POWDER-HOY. An ordnance vessel expressly fitted to convey powder fromthe land magazine to a ship; it invariably carries a red distinguishingflag, and warns the ship for which the powder is intended, to put outall fires before she comes alongside. 

POWDER-MAGAZINE. The prepared space allotted for the powder on boardship. 

POWDER-MONKEY. Formerly the boy of the gun, who had charge of thecartridge; now powder-man. 

POWDER-VESSEL. A ship used as a floating magazine. 

POWER. Mechanical force; in the steam-engine it is esteemed effective, expansive, or full. (_See_ HORSE-POWER. )

POZZOLANA. Volcanic ashes, used in cement, especially if required underwater. 

PRACTICABLE. Said of a breach in a rampart when its slope offers a fairmeans of ascent to an assaulting column. 

PRACTICAL ASTRONOMY. A branch of science which includes thedetermination of the magnitude, distance, and phenomena of the heavenlybodies; the ready reduction of observations for tangible use innavigation and geography; and the expert manipulation of astronomicalinstruments. 

PRÆCURSORIÆ. Ancient vessels which led or preceded the fleets. 

PRÆDATORIÆ, OR PRÆDATICÆ. Long, swift, light ancient pirates. 

PRAHU. [Malay for boat. ] The larger war-vessels among the Malays, rangefrom 55 to 156 feet in length, and carry 76 to 96 rowers, with about 40to 60 fighting men. The guns range from 2 inches to 6 inches bore, areof brass, and mounted on stock-pieces, four to ten being the average. These boats are remarkable for their swiftness. 

PRAIA [Sp. _playa_]. The beach or strand on Portuguese coasts. 

PRAIRIE. The natural meadows or tracts of gently undulating, wonderfullyfertile land, occupying so vast an extent of the great river-basins ofNorth America. 

PRAM, OR PRAAM. A lighter used in Holland, and the ports of the Baltic, for loading and unloading merchant ships. Some were fitted by the Frenchwith heavy guns, for defending the smaller ports. 

PRANKLE. A Channel term for the _prawn_. 

PRATIQUE. A Mediterranean term, implying the license to trade andcommunicate with any place after having performed the requiredquarantine, or upon the production of a clean bill of health. 

PRAWN. A marine crustacean larger than a shrimp, much esteemed as anarticle of food. 

PRAYER-BOOK. A smaller hand-stone than that which sailors call "bible;"it is used to scrub in narrow crevices where a large holy-stone cannotbe used. (_See_ HOLY-STONE. )

PRECEDENCE. The order and degree of rank among officers of the twoservices. (_See_ RANK. )

PRECESSION OF THE EQUINOXES. A slow motion of the equinoctial points inthe heavens, whereby the longitudes of the fixed stars are increased atthe present rate of about 50-1/4″ annually, the equinox having aretrograde motion to this amount. This effect is produced by theattraction of the sun, moon, and planets upon the spheroidal figure ofthe earth; the luni-solar precession is the joint effect of the sun andmoon only. 

PREDY, OR PRIDDY. A word formerly used in our ships for "get ready;" as, "Predy the main-deck, " or get it clear. 

PRE-EMPTION. A right of purchasing necessary cargoes upon reasonablecompensation to the individual whose property is thus diverted. Thisclaim is usually restricted to neutrals avowedly bound to the enemy'sports, and is a mitigation of the former practice of seizing them. (_See_ COMMEATUS. )

PREMIUM. Simply a reward; but in commerce it implies the sum of moneypaid to the underwriters on ship or cargo, or parts thereof, as theprice of the insurance risk. 

PREROGATIVE. A word of large extent. By the constitution of England thesovereign alone has the power of declaring war and peace. The crown isnot precluded by the Prize Act from superseding prize proceedings bydirecting restitution of property seized, before adjudication, andagainst the will of the captors. 

PRESENT! The military word of command to raise the musket, take aim, andfire. 

PRESENT ARMS! The military word of command to salute with the musket. 

PRESENT USE. Stores to be immediately applied in the fitting of a ship, as distinguished from the supply for future sea use. 

PRESERVED MEAT AND VEGETABLES. The occasional use of such food andlime-juice at sea, is not only a great luxury, but in many casesessential to the health of the crew, as especially instanced by theincrease of scurvy in ships where this precaution is neglected. 

PRESIDENT. At a general court-martial it is usual for the authorityordering it to name the president, and the office usually falls upon thesecond in command. 

PRESS, TO. To reduce an enemy to straits. (_See_ IMPRESSMENT. )

PRESS-GANG. A party of seamen who (under the command of a lieutenant)were formerly empowered, in time of war, to take any seafaring men--onshore or afloat--and compel them to serve on board men-of-war. Those whowere thus taken were called _pressed men_. 

PRESS OF SAIL. As much sail as the state of the wind, &c. , will permit aship to carry. 

PRESSURE-GAUGE. The manometer of a steam-engine. 

PREST. Formerly signified quick or ready, and a _prest man_ was onewilling to enlist for a stipulated sum--the very reverse of the _pressedman_ of later times. (_See_ PRESS-GANG. )

PRESTER. An old name for a meteor. 

PRESUMPTIVE EVIDENCE. Is such as by a fair and reasonable interpretationis deducible from the facts of a case. 

PREVENTER. Applied to ropes, &c. , when used as additional securities toaid other ropes in supporting spars, &c. , during a strong gale; aspreventer-backstays, braces, shrouds, stays, &c. 

PREVENTER-PLATES. Stout plates of iron for securing the chains to theship's side; one end is on the chain-plate bolt, the other is bolted tothe ship's side below it. 

PREVENTER-STOPPERS. Short pieces of rope, knotted at each end, forsecuring the clues of sails or rigging during action, or when strained. 

PREVENTIVE SERVICE. The establishment of coast-guards at numerousstations along the shores of the United Kingdom for the prevention ofsmuggling. 

PRICKER. A small marline-spike for making and stretching the holes forpoints and rope-bands in sails. Also, the priming-wire of a gun. Also, anorthern name for the basking-shark. 

PRICKING A SAIL. The running a middle seam between the two seams whichunite every cloth of a sail to the next adjoining. This is rarely donetill the sails have been worn some time, or in the case of heavy canvas, storm-sails, &c. It is also called middle-stitching. 

PRICKING FOR A SOFT PLANK. Selecting a place on the deck for sleepingupon. 

PRICKING HER OFF. Marking a ship's position upon a chart by the help ofa scale and compasses, so as to show her situation as to latitude, longitude, and bearings of the place bound to. 

PRIDE OF THE MORNING. A misty dew at sunrise; a light shower; the end ofthe land breeze followed by a dead calm in the tropics. 

PRIEST'S-CAP. An outwork which has three salient angles at the head andtwo inwards. 

PRIMAGE. Premium of insurance. Also, a small allowance at the water sideto master and mariner for each pack or bale of cargo landed by them:otherwise called _hat-money_. 

PRIMARY PLANET. (_See_ PLANETS, PRIMARY. )

PRIME. The fore part of the artificial day; that is, the first quarterafter sunrise. 

PRIME, TO. To make ready a gun, mine, &c. , for instantaneous firing. Also, to pierce the cartridge with the priming-wire, and apply thequill-tube in readiness for firing the cannon. --_To prime a fire-ship. _To lay the train for being set on fire. --_To prime a match. _ Put alittle wet bruised powder made into the paste called devil, upon the endof the rope slow-match, with a piece of paper wrapped round it. 

PRIME VERTICAL. That great circle which passes through the zenith andthe east and west points of the horizon. 

PRIMING-IRONS. Consist of a pointed wire used through the vent to prickthe cartridge when it is "home, " and of a flat-headed one similarlyinserted after discharge to insure its not retaining any ignitedparticles. 

PRIMING-VALVES. The same with escape-valves. 

PRINTED INSTRUCTIONS. The name of the volume formerly issued by theadmiralty to all commanders of ships and vessels for their guidance; nowsuperseded by Queen's Regulations. 

PRISE, TO. To raise, or slue, weighty bodies by means of a leverpurchase or power. (_See_ PRIZING. )

PRISE-BOLTS. Knobs of iron on the cheeks of a gun-carriage to keep thehandspike from slipping when prising up the breech. 

PRISM. In dioptrics, is a geometrical solid bounded by threeparallelograms, whose bases are equal triangles. 

PRISMATIC COMPASS. One so fitted with a glass prism for reading byreflection, that the eye can simultaneously observe an object and readits compass bearing. 

PRISONER AT LARGE. Free to take exercise within bounds. 

PRISONERS OF WAR. Men who are captured after an engagement, who aredeprived of their liberty until regularly exchanged, or dismissed ontheir parole. 

PRISONER UNDER RESTRAINT. Suspended from duty; deprived of command. 

PRISON-SHIP. One fitted up for receiving and detaining prisoners of war. 

PRITCH. A dentated weapon for striking and holding eels. 

PRIVATE. The proper designation of a soldier serving in the ranks of thearmy, holding no special position. 

PRIVATEER PRACTICE, OR PRIVATEERISM. Disorderly conduct, or anything outof man-of-war rules. 

PRIVATEERS, or men-of-war equipped by individuals for cruising againstthe enemy; their commission (_see_ LETTERS OF MARQUE) is given by theadmiralty, and revocable by the same authority. They have no property inany prize until it is legally condemned by a competent court. Theadmiral on the station is entitled to a tenth of their booty. Thisinfamous species of warfare is unhappily not yet abolished amongcivilized nations. 

PRIVATE PROPERTY. Commissions of privateers do not extend to the captureof private property on land; a right not even granted to men-of-war. Private armed ships are not within the terms of a capitulationprotecting private property generally. 

PRIVATE SIGNAL. Understood by captains having the key, but totallyincomprehensible to other persons. 

PRIVY-COAT. A light coat or defence of mail, concealed under theordinary dress. 

PRIZE. A vessel captured at sea from the enemies of a state, or frompirates, either by a man-of-war or privateer. Vessels are also lookedupon as _prize_, if they fight under any other standard than that of thestate from which they have their commission, if they have nocharter-party, and if loaded with effects belonging to the enemy, orwith contraband goods. In ships of war, the prizes are to be dividedamong the officers, seamen, &c. , according to the act; but inprivateers, according to the agreement between the owners. By statute 13Geo. II. C. 4, judges and officers failing in their duty in respect tothe condemnation of prizes, forfeit £500, with full costs of suit, onemoiety to the crown, and the other to the informer. Prize, according tojurists, is altogether a creature of the crown; and no man can have anyinterest but what he takes as the mere gift of the crown. Partialinterest has been granted away at different times, but the statute ofQueen Anne (A. D. 1708) is the first which gave to the captors the wholeof the benefit. 

PRIZE ACT OF 1793. Ordained that the officers and sailors on board everyship and vessel of war shall have the sole property in all captures, being first adjudged lawful prize, to be divided in such proportions andmanner as His Majesty should order by proclamation. In 1746 a man, though involuntarily kept abroad above three years in the service of hiscountry, was deemed to have forfeited his share to Greenwich. 

PRIZE-ACTS. Though expiring with each war, are usually revived nearly inthe same form. 

PRIZEAGE. The tenth share belonging to the crown out of a lawful prizetaken at sea. 

PRIZE-COURT. A department of the admiralty court; (_oyer et terminer_)to hear and determine according to the law of nations. 

PRIZE-GOODS. Those taken upon the high seas, _jure belli_, from theenemy. 

PRIZE-LIST. A return of all the persons on board, whether belonging tothe ship, or supernumeraries, at the time a capture is made; those whomay be absent on duty are included. 

PRIZE-MASTER. The officer to whom a prize is given in charge to carryher into port. 

PRIZE-MONEY. The profits arising from the sale of prizes. It was dividedequally by chart. 5 Hen. IV. 

PRIZING. The application of a lever to lift or move any weighty body. Also, the act of pressing or squeezing an article into its package, sothat its size may be reduced in stowage. 

PROA, OR FLYING PROW. _See_ PRAHU. 

PROBATION. The noviciate period of cadets, midshipmen, apprentices, &c. 

PROBE. A surgical sounder. --_To probe. _ To inquire thoroughly into amatter. 

PROCEEDS. The product or produce of prizes, &c. 

PROCESSION. A march in official order. At a naval or military funeral, the officers are classed according to seniority, the chiefs last. 

PROCURATION, LETTERS OF. Are required to be exhibited in the purchase ofships by agents in the enemy's country. 

PROCYON. α _Canis minoris_, the principal star of the Lesser Dog. 

PROD. A poke or slight thrust; as in _persuading_ with a bayonet. 

PRODD. A cross-bow for throwing bullets, _temp. _ Hen. VII. 

PRODUCTION. For obtaining the benefits of trading with our colonies, itis necessary that the goods be accompanied by a "certificate ofproduction" in the manner required by marine law. (_See_ ORIGIN. )

PROFILE DRAUGHTS. In naval architecture, a name applied to two drawingsfrom the sheer draught: one represents the entire construction anddisposition of the ship; the other, her whole interior work andfittings. 

PROFILE OF A FORT. _See_ ORTHOGRAPHIC PROJECTION. 

PROG. A quaint word for victuals. Swift says, "In town you may findbetter prog. " It is also a spike. 

PROGRESSION. _See_ ARC OF DIRECTION. 

PROJECTILES. Bodies which are driven by any one effort of force from thespot where it was applied. 

PROJECTION. A method of representing geometrically on a plane surfacevaried points, lines, and surfaces not lying in any one plane: used incharts and maps, where it is of various kinds, as globular, orthographic, Mercator's, &c. In ship-building, an elevation takenamidship. (_See_ BODY-PLAN. )

PROKING-SPIT. A long Spanish rapier. 

PROMISCUI USUS. A law term for those articles which are equallyapplicable to peace or war. 

PROMONTORY. A high point of land or rock projecting into a sea or lake, tapering into a neck inland, and the extremity of which, towards thewater, is called a cape, or headland, as Gibraltar, Ceuta, Actium, &c. 

PROMOVENT. The plaintiff in the instance-court of the admiralty. 

PRONG. Synonymous with _beam-arm_ or _crow-foot_ (which see). 

PROOF. The trial of the quality of arms, ammunition, &c. , before theirreception for service. Guns are proved by various examinations, and bythe firing of prescribed charges; powder by examinations, and bycarefully measured firings from each batch. 

PROOFS OF PROPERTY. Attestations, letters of advice, invoices, to showthat a ship really belongs to the subjects of a neutral state. 

PROOF TIMBER. In naval architecture, an imaginary timber, expressed byvertical lines in the sheer-draught, to prove the fairness of the body. 

PROPELLER. This term generally alludes to the Archimedean screw, orscrew-propeller. 

PROPER MOTION OF THE STARS. A movement which some stars are found topossess, independent of the apparent change of place due to theprecession of the equinoxes, the accounting for which is as yet onlyingenious conjecture. 

PROPORTION. In naval architecture, the length, breadth, and height of avessel, having a due consideration to her rate, and the object she isintended for. 

PROPPETS. Those shores that stand nearly vertical. 

PROSPECTIVE, OR PROSPECT GLASS. An old term for a deck or handtelescope, with a terrestrial eye-piece. (_See_ SPY-GLASS. )

PROTECTIONS, ON PAPER, against impressment, were but little regarded. Yet seafaring men above 55, and under 18, were by statute exempted, aswere all for the first two years of their going to sea, foreignersserving in merchant ships or privateers, and all apprentices for threeyears. 

PROTEST. A formal declaration drawn up in writing, and attested before anotary-public, a justice of the peace, or a consul in foreign parts, bythe master of a merchant-ship, his mate, and a part of the ship's crew, after the expiration of a voyage in which the ship has suffered in herhull, rigging, or cargo, to show that such damage did not happen throughneglect or misconduct on their part. 

PROTRACTOR. An instrument for laying off angles on paper, having an openmark at the centre of the circle, with a radial leg, and vernier, whichis divided into degrees (generally 90). 

PROVE, TO. To test the soundness of fire-arms, by trying them withgreater charges than those used on service. 

PROVEDORE [Sp. ] One who provided victuals for ships. 

PROVENDER. Though strictly forage, is often applied to provisions ingeneral. 

PROVISIONS. All sorts of food necessary for the subsistence of the armyand navy. Those shipped on board for the officers and crew of anyvessel, including merchant-ships, are held in a policy of insurance, aspart of her outfit. 

PROVISO. A stern-fast or hawser carried to the shore to steady by. Aship with one anchor down and a shore-fast is moored _a proviso_. Also, a saving clause in a contract. 

PROVOST-MARSHAL. The head of the military police. An officer appointedto take charge of prisoners at a court-martial, and to carry thesentences into execution. The executive and summary police in war. 

PROW. Generally means the foremost end of a vessel. Also, a name for thebeak of a xebec or felucca. 

PUCKA. A word in frequent use amongst the English in the East Indies, signifying sterling, of good quality. 

PUCKER. A wrinkled seam in sail-making. Also, anything in a state ofconfusion. 

PUDDENING, OR PUDDING. A thick wreath of yarns, matting, or oakum(called a _dolphin_), tapering from the middle towards the ends, graftedall over, and fastened about the main or fore masts of a ship, directlybelow the trusses, to prevent the yards from falling down, in case ofthe ropes by which they are suspended being shot away. Puddings are alsoplaced on a boat's stem as a kind of fender; and also laid round therings of anchors to prevent hempen cables or hawsers from chafing. 

PUDDING AND DOLPHIN. A larger and lesser pad, made of ropes, and putround the masts under the lower yards. 

PUDDLE-DOCK. An ancient pool of the Thames, the dirtiness of whichafforded Jack some pointed sarcasms. 

PUDDLING. A technical term for working clay to a plastic state in aninclosed space, until it is of the requisite consistence for arrestingthe flow of water. A term in iron furnace work. 

PUFF. A sudden gust of wind. A whistle of steam. 

PUFFIN. The _Fratercula arctica_, a sea-bird with a singular bill, formerly supposed to be a bird in show, but a fish in substance, inconsequence of which notion the pope permitted its being eaten in Lent. 

PULAS. An excellent twine, made by the Malays from the _kaluwi_, aspecies of nettle. 

PULL-AWAY-BOYS. A name given on the West Coast of Africa to the nativeKroo-men, who are engaged by the shipping to row boats and do other worknot suited to Europeans in that climate. 

PULL FOOT, TO. To hasten along; to run. 

PULLING. The act of rowing with oars; as, "Pull the starboard oars, ""Pull together. "

PULL-OVER. An east-country term for a carriage-way. 

PULO. The Malay word for island, and frequently met with in the islandsof the Eastern seas. 

PULWAR. A commodious kind of passage-boat on the Ganges. 

PUMMEL. The hilt of a sword, the end of a gun, &c. --_To pummel. _ To drubor beat. 

PUMP. A well-known machine used for drawing water from the sea, ordischarging it from the ship's pump-well. --_Chain-pump_, consists of along chain, equipped with a sufficient number of metal discs armed withleather, fitting the cylinders closely, and placed at proper distances, which, working upon two wheels, one above deck and the other below, inthe bottom of the hold, passes downward through a copper or wooden tube, and returning upward through another, continuously lifts portions ofwater. It is worked by a long winch-handle, at which several men may beemployed at once; and it thus discharges more water in a given time thanthe common pump, and with less labour. --_Main pumps. _ The largest pumpsin a ship, close to the main-mast, in contradistinction to _bilgepumps_, which are smaller, and intended to raise the water from thebilges when a ship is laying over so that it cannot run to the mainpump-well. _Hand-pump_, is the distinctive appellation of the commonsmall pump. Superseded by Downton and others. 

PUMP-BARREL. The wooden tube which forms the body of the machine, andwherein the piston moves. 

PUMP-BOLTS. Saucer-headed bolts to attach the brake to the pump-standardand pump-spear. 

PUMP-BRAKE. The handle or lever of the old and simplest form of pump. 

PUMP-CARLINES. The framing or partners on the upper deck, between whichthe pumps pass into the wells. 

PUMP-CHAINS. The chains to which the discs, &c. , are attached in thechain-pump. 

PUMP-CISTERNS. Are used to prevent chips and other matters getting to, and fouling the action of, the chain-pumps. 

PUMP-COAT. A piece of stout canvas nailed to the pump-partners where itenters the upper deck, and lashed to the pump, to prevent the water fromrunning down when washing decks, &c. 

PUMP-DALES. Pipes or long wooden spouts extending from the chain-pumpsacross the ship, and through each side, serving to discharge the waterwithout wetting the decks. 

PUMP-FOOT. The lower part, or well-end, of a pump. 

PUMP-GEAR. A term implying any materials requisite for fitting orrepairing the pumps, as boxes, leather, &c. 

PUMP-HOOK. An iron rod with an eye and a hook, used for drawing out thelower pump-box when requisite. 

PUMPKIN, OR POMPION. _Cucurbita pepo_, a useful vegetable for sea use. 

PUMP SHIP! The order to the crew to work the pumps to clear the hold ofwater. 

PUMP-SPEAR. The rod of iron to which the upper box is attached--and tothe upper end of which the brake is pinned--whereby the pump is put inmotion. 

PUMP SUCKS. The _pump sucks_ is said when, all the water being drawn outof the well, and air admitted, there comes up nothing but froth andwind, with a whistling noise, which is music to the fagged seaman. 

PUMP-TACKS. Small iron or copper tacks, used for nailing the leather onthe pump-boxes. 

PUNCH. An iron implement for starting bolts in a little, or for drivingthem out, called a _starting_ or _teeming punch_. Also, a well-knownsea-drink, now adopted in all countries. It was introduced from the EastIndies, and is said to derive its name from _panch_, the Hindostaneeword for _five_, in allusion to the number of its ingredients. (_See_BOULEPONGES. )

PUNISHMENT. The execution of the sentence against an offender, asawarded by a court-martial, or adjudged by a superior officer. 

PUNISHMENT DRILL. Fatiguing exercise or extra drill for pettydelinquencies. 

PUNK. The interior of an excrescence on the oak-tree; used as tinder, and better known as touch-wood. (_See_ SPUNK. )

PUNT. An Anglo-Saxon term still in use for a flat-bottomed boat, used byfishermen, or for ballast lumps, &c. 

PUOYS. Spiked poles used in propelling barges or keels. 

PURCHASE. Any mechanical power which increases the force applied. It isof large importance to nautical men in the combinations of pulleys, aswhip, gun-tackle, luff-tackle, jeer, viol, luff upon luff, runner, double-runner, capstan, windlass, &c. 

PURCHASE A COMMISSION, TO. A practice in our army, which has been aptlytermed the "buying of fetters;" it is the obtaining preferment atregulated prices. At present the total value of a commission in aregiment of infantry of the line ranges from £450 for an ensigncy, up to£4540 for a lieutenant-colonelcy, and higher in the other branches ofthe service. 

PURCHASE-BLOCKS. All blocks virtually deserve this name, but it isdistinctively given to those used in moving heavy weights. 

PURCHASE-FALLS. The rope rove through purchase-blocks. 

PURRE. A name for the dunlin, _Tringa alpina_, a species of sand-piperfrequenting our shores and the banks of rivers in winter. 

PURSE-NET. A peculiar landing-net in fishing. It is used in the seineand trawl to bewilder the fish, and prevent their swimming out whenfairly inside; like a wire mouse-trap. 

PURSER. An officer appointed by the lords of the admiralty to takecharge of the provisions and slops of a ship of war, and to see thatthey were carefully distributed to the officers and crew, according tothe printed naval instruction. He had very little to do with moneymatters beyond paying for short allowance. He was allowed one-eighth forwaste on all provisions embarked, and additional on all provisionssaved; for which he paid the crew. The designation is now discarded forthat of _paymaster_. 

PURSER'S DIP. The smallest dip-candle. 

PURSER'S GRINS. Sneers. 

PURSER'S NAME. An assumed one. During the war, when pressed men caughtat every opportunity to desert, they adopted _aliases_ to avoiddiscovery if retaken, which alias was handed to the purser for entryupon the ship's books. 

PURSER'S POUND. The weight formerly used in the navy, by which thepurser retained an eighth for waste, and the men received onlyseven-eighths of what was supplied by government. One of the complaintsof the mutiny was, having the purser's instead of an honest pound. Thisallowance was reduced to one-tenth. 

PURSER'S SHIRT. "Like a purser's shirt on a handspike;" a comparison forclothes fitting loosely. 

PURSER'S STEWARD. The official who superintended and noted down theexact quantity and species of provisions issued to the respective messesboth of officers and men. 

PURSER'S STOCKING. A slop article, which stretched to any amount putinto it. (_See_ SHOW A LEG. )

PURSUE, TO. To make all sail in chase. 

PUSH, TO. To move a vessel by poles. 

PUSHING FOR A PORT. Carrying all sail to arrive quickly. 

PUT ABOUT. Go on the other tack. 

PUT BACK, TO. To return to port--generally the last left. 

PUTHAG. A name on the Scottish shores for the porpoise; it is a Gaelicword signifying _the blower_. 

PUT INTO PORT, TO. To enter an intermediate or any port in the course ofa voyage, usually from stress of weather. 

PUT OFF! OR PUSH OFF. The order to boats to quit the ship or the shore. 

PUTTING A SHIP IN COMMISSION. The formal ceremony of hoisting thepennant on the ship to be fitted. This act brought the crew undermartial law. 

PUTTING A STEAM-ENGINE IN GEAR. This is said when the gab of theeccentric rod is allowed to fall upon its stud on the gab-lever. 

PUTTOCK. A cormorant; a ravenous fellow. 

PUTTOCK-SHROUDS. Synonymous with _futtock_; a word in use, but notwarranted. 

PUT TO SEA, TO. To quit a port or roadstead, and proceed to thedestination. 

PYKAR. A herring-boat, or small vessel, treated of in statute 31 EdwardIII. C. 2. 

PYKE, TO. A old word signifying to haul on a wind. 

PYKE-MAW. The great tern, _Larus ridibundus_; a species of sea-gull. 

PYKE OFF, TO. To go away silently. 

PYPERI. A sort of vessel made of several pieces of wood merely lashedtogether; hardly superior to a raft, but sharp forward to cut the water. 

PYRAMID. A solid, the base of which is any right-lined plane figure, andits sides are triangles, having their vertices meeting in one point, named its vertex. 

PYROTECHNY. The science of artificial fire-works, including not onlysuch as are used in war, but also those intended for amusement. 

Q. 

QUADE. An old word for unsteady. --_Quade wind_, a veering one. 

QUADRANT. A reflecting instrument used to take the altitude above thehorizon of the sun, moon, or stars at sea, and thereby to determine thelatitude and longitude of the place, &c. &c. It was invented by Hadley. Also, in speaking of double stars, or of two objects near each other, the position of one component in reference to the other is indicated bythe terms, _north following_, _north preceding_, _south following_, or_south preceding_, the word quadrant being understood. --_A gunner'squadrant_, for determining the gun's angle of _elevation_. The long armis inserted into the bore, while the short one remains outside, with agraduated arc and plummet, showing the inclination. For _depression_, onthe contrary, the long arm must be applied to the face of the piece. Also, a graduated arc on the carriage showing, by an index on thetrunnion, the gun's elevation above the plane of its platform; firstapplied by the gallant Captain Broke. --The _mural quadrant_, was framedand fitted with telescope, divisions, and plumb-line, firmly attached tothe side of a wall built in the plane of the meridian; only used inlarge observatories. --_Senical quadrant_, consists of several concentricquadratic arcs, divided into eight equal parts by radii, with parallelright lines crossing each other at right angles. It was made of brass, or wood, with lines drawn from each side intersecting one another, andan index divided by sines also, with 90° on the limb, and two sights onthe edge, to take the altitude of the sun. Sometimes, instead of sines, they were divided into equal parts. It was in great use among the Frenchnavigators, from its solving the problems of plane sailing. 

QUADRATE, TO. To trim a gun on its carriage and its trucks; to adjust itfor firing on a level range. 

QUADRATURE. The moon is said to be in quadrature at the first and lastquarter, when her longitude differs 90° from that of the sun. 

QUADROON [from L. _quatuor_, four]. The offspring of a mulatto woman anda white man. 

QUAGMIRE. A marsh in which, from its concave and impermeable bottom, thewaters remain stagnant, rendering the surface a quaking bog. 

QUAKER. A false or wooden gun; so called in allusion to the "Friends"not fighting. 

QUALIFIED PROPERTY. Not only those who have an absolute property inships and goods, but those also who have but a qualified propertytherein, may insure them. (_See_ EQUITABLE TITLE. )

QUALITIES. The register of the ship's trim, sailing, stowage, &c. , allof which are necessary to her _behaviour_. 

QUAMINO. A negro. 

QUANT. An old term for a long pole used by the barge-men on our eastcoast; it is capped to prevent the immerged end from sticking in themud. 

QUARANTINE. Is, at most, a seclusion of forty days, from a freecommunication with the inhabitants of any country, in order to preventthe importation of the plague, or any other infectious disorder, eitherby persons or goods. The quarantine laws originated in the Council ofHealth at Venice in the fourteenth or fifteenth century. (_See_LAZARETTO. )

QUARRIL. The short dart or arrow shot from a cross-bow; or the bricolleof the middle ages. 

QUARRY. The prey taken by whalers; a term borrowed from falconers. 

QUARTE. In sword defence was one of the four guards, and also a positionin fencing. 

QUARTER. This term literally implies one quarter of the ship, but incommon parlance applies to 45° abaft the beam. Thus the log is hove overthe lee-quarter; quarter boats hang abaft the mizen-mast, &c. Again, thequarters apply to the divisional batteries, as forward, main, middle, orlower-decks, forecastle, and quarter-deck, and yet these comprise bothsides. Close-quarters may be on any point, and the seaman ratherdelights in the bow attack, using the bowsprit as his bridge. --_Givingquarter. _ The custom of asking and giving quarter in warfare originated, it is said, between the Dutch and Spaniards, that the ransom of anofficer or soldier should be a _quarter_ of his year's pay. No quarteris given to pirates, but it is always given to a vanquished honourableopponent. --_On the quarter_, 45° abaft the beam. 

QUARTER, FIRST. When the moon appears exactly as a half-moon, 90° fromthe sun towards the east, she is in the first quarter, with her westernhalf illuminated. 

QUARTER, LAST. When the moon appears exactly as a half-moon, and herangular distance from the sun 90°, but towards the west, she is said tobe in the last quarter, with her eastern half illuminated. 

QUARTER-BADGE. Artificial galleries; a carved ornament near the stern ofthose vessels which have no quarter-galleries. 

QUARTER-BILL. A list containing the different stations to which theofficers and crew are quartered in time of action, with their names. 

QUARTER-BLOCKS. Blocks fitted under the quarters of a yard, on each sidethe slings, for the topsail-sheets, topsail-cluelines, andtopgallant-sheets to reeve through. 

QUARTER-BOAT. Any boat is thus designated which is hung to davits overthe ship's quarter. 

QUARTER-CASK. One-half of a hogshead, or 28 imperial gallons. 

QUARTER-CLOTHS. Long pieces of painted canvas, extended on the outsideof the quarter-netting, from the upper part of the gallery to thegangway. 

QUARTER-DAVITS. Pieces of iron or timber with sheaves or blocks at theirouter ends, projecting from a vessel's quarters, to hoist boats up to. 

QUARTER-DECK. That part of the upper deck which is abaft the main-mast. (_See_ DECKS, and JACK'S QUARTER-DECK. )

QUARTER-DECKERS. Those officers more remarkable for etiquette than for aknowledge of seamanship. 

QUARTER-DECKISH. Punctilious, severe. 

QUARTER-DECK NETTINGS. _See_ NETTING. 

QUARTER-DECK OFFICERS. A term implying the executive in general;officers whose places in action are there, in command. 

QUARTER-FAST. _See_ FAST. 

QUARTER-FLOOD. _See_ FLOOD. 

QUARTER-GALLERY. A sort of balcony with windows on the quarters of largeships. (_See_ GALLERY. )

QUARTER-GALLEY. A Barbary cruiser. 

QUARTER-GUARD. A small guard posted in front of each battalion in camp. 

QUARTER-GUNNER. _See_ GUNNER. 

QUARTER-LADDER. From the quarter-deck to the poop. 

QUARTERLY ACCOUNT OF PROVISIONS. A return sent to the Admiral andVictualling Board, at the expiration of every three months. 

QUARTERLY BILL. The document by which officers draw three months'personal pay. 

QUARTERLY RETURNS. Those made every three months to the admiral, orsenior officer, of the offences and punishments, the officers serving onboard, &c. 

QUARTER-MAN. A dockyard officer employed to superintend a certain numberof workmen. 

QUARTER-MASTER. A petty officer, appointed to assist the master andmates in their several duties, as stowing the hold, coiling the cables, attending the binnacle and steerage, keeping time by the watch-glasses, assisting in hoisting the signals, and keeping his eye on generalquarter-deck movements. In the army, a commissioned officer, rankingwith subalterns, charged with the more immediate supervision ofquarters, camps, and the issue of arms, ammunition, rations, stores, &c. , for his own regiment. 

QUARTER-MASTER GENERAL. Is the head of that department of the army whichhas charge of the quartering, encamping, embarking, and moving oftroops, and of the supply of stores connected therewith. 

QUARTER-NETTINGS. The places allotted on the quarters for the stowage ofhammocks, which, in action, serve to arrest musket-balls. 

QUARTER-PIECES. Projections at the after-part of the quarter, formingthe boundaries of the galleries. 

QUARTER-POINT. A subdivision of the compass-card, equal to 2° 48′ 45″ ofthe circle. 

QUARTER-PORTS. Those made in the after side-timbers, and especially inround-stern vessels. They are inconvenient for warping, and generallyfitted with rollers. 

QUARTER-RAILS. Narrow moulded planks, reaching from the stern to thegangway, and serving as a fence to the quarter-deck, where there are noports or bulwarks. 

QUARTERS. The several stations where the officers and crew of a ship ofwar are posted in time of action. (_See_ BATTLE, ENGAGEMENT, &c. ) Butthis term differs in the army, for the soldier's quarters are his placeof rest. (_See_ HEAD-QUARTERS, WINTER-QUARTERS, &c. )

QUARTER-SIGHTS. The engraved index on the base-rings of cannon inquarter degrees from point-blank to two or three degrees of elevation. 

QUARTER-SLINGS. Are supports attached to a yard or other spar at one orboth sides of (but not in) its centre. 

QUARTERS OF THE YARDS. The space comprehended between the slings, ormiddle and half-way out on the yard-arms. 

QUARTER-STANCHIONS. Strong iron stanchions in a square-sterned vessel, connecting the main-rail with the taffrail; used for ridge-ropes toextend the awnings. 

QUARTER-TACKLE. A strong tackle fixed occasionally upon the quarter ofthe main-yard, to hoist heavy bodies in or out of the ship. 

QUARTER-TIMBERS. The framing timbers in a vessel's quarter. 

QUARTER-WATCH. A division of one-fourth of the crew into watches, whichin light winds and well-conducted ships is enough; but the officers arein three, and they must not be found nodding. 

QUARTER-WIND. Blowing upon a vessel's quarter, abaft the main-shrouds. 

QUASHEE. The familiar designation of a West India negro. 

QUATUOR MARIA, OR BRITISH SEAS, are those four which surround GreatBritain. 

QUAY. _See_ KEY. 

QUEBRADA. From the Spanish for ravine, or broken ground. 

QUEBRANTA HUESOS [Sp. ] Literally, _bone-breaker_. The great petrel, _Procellaria gigantea_. 

QUECHE. A small Portuguese smack. 

QUEEN ANNE'S FREE GIFT. A sum of money formerly granted to surgeonsannually, in addition to their monthly twopences from each man, or asoften as they passed their accounts. 

QUEEN'S COCKPIT. A mess of dissolute mates and midshipmen of the old_Queen_, 98, who held a sort of examination of ribaldry for a rank belowthat of gentleman. 

QUEEN'S OWN. Sea provision (when a queen reigns); similar to _king'sown_. 

QUEEN'S PARADE. The quarter-deck. 

QUERCITRON. _Quercus tinctoria_, the name of a North American oak, whichaffords a valuable yellow dye. 

QUERIMAN. A mullet of Guiana, found in turbid waters, where it lives bysuction. 

QUERPO [Sp. _cuerpo_, body]. A close short jacket:

 "Long-quartered pumps, with trowsers blue, And querpo jacket, which last was new. "

QUICKEN, TO. In ship-building, to give anything a greater curve; as, _toquicken the sheer_, opposed to straightening it. 

QUICKLIME. That which is unslacked, good for cleaning and white-washingships' holds. 

QUICK-MARCH, OR QUICK-STEP. The ordinary pace is 3-1/4 miles to thehour, or 110 paces (275) feet to the minute. 

QUICK MATCH. Used as a train to any charge to be fired rapidly, is madeof cotton threads treated with a composition of gunpowder, gum, andwater; and burns nearly as would a train of loose powder. 

QUICK RELIEF. One who turns out speedily to relieve the watch before thesound is out of the bell. 

QUICK-SAND. A fine-grained loose sand, into which a ship sinks by herown weight as soon as the water retreats from her bottom. 

QUICK SAVER. A span formerly used to prevent the courses from bellyingtoo much when off the wind. 

QUICK-STEP. _See_ QUICK-MARCH. 

QUICK-WORK. Generally signifies all that part of a ship which is underwater when she is laden; it is also applied to that part of the innerupper-works of a ship above the covering board. Also, the short planksworked inside between the ports. In ship-building the term strictlyapplies to that part of a vessel's side which is above the chain-walesand decks, as well as to the strakes which shut in between thespirkettings and clamps. In general parlance quick-work is synonymouswith _spirketting_. 

QUID. The chaw or dose of tobacco put into the mouth at a time. _Quidest hoc?_ asked one, tapping the swelled cheek of his messmate; _Hoc estquid_, promptly replied the other. 

QUIETUS. A severe blow, a settler. 

QUIHI. The sobriquet of the English stationed or resident in Bengal, theliteral meaning being, "Who is there?" It is the customary call for aservant; one always being in attendance, though not in the room. 

QUILKIN. A west-country term for a frog. 

QUILL-DRIVER. Captain's clerk, purser's secretary, _et hoc genus omne_. 

QUILL-TUBES. Those in use with port-fires for firing guns before theintroduction of detonating and friction-tubes. (_See_ TUBES. )

QUILTING. A kind of coating formed of sinnet, strands of rope, &c. , outside any vessel containing water. Also, the giving a man a beatingwith a rope's end. 

QUINCUNX. Forming a body of men chequerwise. A method of surveying acoast by five vessels in quincunx was proposed by A. Dalrymple to theadmiralty, when that board would not have allowed of the employment ofone. 

QUINK. A name in the Orkneys for the golden-eyed duck, _Anas clangula_. 

QUINTAL. A commercial weight of a hundred pounds. 

QUINTANE. An early military sport, to try the agility of our countryyouth. 

QUINTE. The fifth guard in fencing. 

QUISCHENS. The old term for _cuisses_, the pieces of armour whichprotected the thighs. 

QUITTANCE. A release or discharge in writing for a sum of money or otherduty, which ought to be paid or done on the ship's account. 

QUOD. Durance, prison. 

QUOIN. A wooden wedge adjusted to support the breech of a gun, so as togive the muzzle the required elevation or depression. Also, one of themechanical powers. 

QUOINS. Are employed to wedge off casks of liquids from each other, andsteady them, in order that their bilges may not rub at sea, and occasionleaks. 

QUOST. The old spelling of _coast_. See Eliot's _Dictionarie_, 1559. 

QUOTA-MEN. Those raised for the navy at enormous expense by Pitt'squota-bill, in 1795, under bounties of from £20 to £60. 

R. 

R. In the muster-book means _run_, and is placed against those who havedeserted, or missed three musters. 

R. A. _See_ RIGHT ASCENSION. 

RABANET, OR RABINET. A small slender piece of ordnance, formerly usedfor ships' barricadoes. It had a one-inch bore, which carried about ahalf-pound ball. 

RABBET, OR REBATE. An angular incision cut longitudinally in a piece oftimber, to receive the ends of a number of planks, to be securelyfastened therein. Thus the ends of the lower planks of a ship's bottomterminate upon the stem afore, and on the stern-post abaft. The surfaceof the garboard streak, whose edge is let into the keel, is in the samemanner level with the side of the keel at the extremities of the vessel. They are therefore termed stem, stern, or keel rabbets. 

RACE. Strong currents producing overfalls, dangerous to small craft. They may be produced by narrow channels, crossing of tides, or unevenbottoms. Such are the races of Portland, Alderney, &c. Also, amill-race, or tail-course. 

RACE, TO. Applies to marking timber with the race-tool. 

RACE-HORSE. (_Alca?_) A duck of the South Seas; thus named, says Cook, for "the great swiftness with which they run on the water. " Now called asteamer. 

RACK. The superior stratum of clouds, or that moving rapidly above thescud. The line in which the clouds are driven by the wind, is called therack of the weather. In Shakspeare's beautiful thirty-third sonnet thesun rises in splendour, but--

 "Anon permits the basest clouds to ride With ugly rack on his celestial face, And from the forlorn world his visage hide, Stealing unseen to west with this disgrace. "

Also, a frame of timber containing several sheaves, as a fair leader. Also, various rails for belaying pins. --_To rack. _ To seize two ropestogether, with racking or cross-turns. 

RACK-BAR. A billet of wood used for twisting the bight of a swifterround, in order to bind a raft firmly together. 

RACK-BLOCK. A range of sheaves cut in one piece of wood, for runningropes to lead through. 

RACK-HURRY. The tram-way on which coal-waggons run to a _hurry_. 

RACKING. Spun-yarn or other stuff used to rack two parts of a ropetogether. 

RACKING A TACKLE OR LANIARD. The fastening two running parts togetherwith a seizing, so as to prevent it from rendering through the blocks. 

RACKING-TURNS. _See_ NIPPERING. 

RACK-RIDER. The name of the samlet in northern fisheries, so calledbecause it generally appears in bad weather. 

RADDLE, TO. To interlace; as in making boats' gripes and flat gaskets. 

RADE [Fr. ] An old spelling of the sea-term _road_. (_See_ ROAD. )

RADIUS. The semi-diameter of a circle, limb of a sextant, &c. 

RADIUS-BAR OF PARALLEL MOTION. An intervening lever for guiding theside-rods of a steam-engine. 

RADIUS-VECTOR. An imaginary line joining the centres of the sun and aplanet or comet in any point of its orbit. 

RADUS. A term used for the constellation Eridanus. 

RAFT. A sort of float formed by an assemblage of casks, planks, orpieces of timber, fastened together with swifters and raft-dogs side byside, as well as tier upon tier. The timber and plank with whichmerchant ships are laden in the different ports of the Baltic, areattached together in this manner, in order to float them off to theshipping; but the rafts of North America are the most gigantic in theworld. Also, a kind of floating bridge of easy construction for thepassage of rivers by troops, &c. 

RAFT-DOG. A broad flat piece of iron, having a sharp point at each end, with the extremities bent at right angles. There are also _dog-hooks_, having the shoulder bent into a hook, by which the raft-chains aresecured, or suddenly thrown off and released. 

RAFTING. Conveying goods by floating, as by raft-chains, lashings, &c. 

RAFT-PORT. A large square hole, framed and cut through the buttocks ofsome ships, immediately under the counter--or forward between thebreast-hooks of the bow--to load or unload timber. 

RAG-BOLTS. Those which are jagged or barbed, to prevent working in theirholes, and to make them hold more securely. The same as _barb-bolts_. 

RAILS. Narrow pieces of wood, with mouldings as ornaments, mortised intothe heads of stanchions, or nailed for ornament on several parts of aship's upper works. 

RAILS OF THE HEAD. Curved pieces of timber extending from the bows oneach side to the continuation of the ship's stem, to support the knee ofthe head, &c. 

RAILS OF THE STERN. (_See_ STERN-RAILS. )

RAINBOW. 

 "A rainbow towards night, Fair weather in sight. Rainbow at night, Sailor's delight; Rainbow in morning, Sailors, take warning. "

RAIN-CLOUD. _See_ NIMBUS. 

RAINS. Belts or zones of calms, where heavy rain prevails; they existbetween the north-east and south-east trade-winds, changing theirlatitude several degrees, depending on the sun's declination. In India"the rains" come in with the S. W. Monsoon. 

RAISE, TO. To make an object subtend a larger angle by approaching it, which is the foundation of perspective, and an effect increased by thesphericity of our globe: the opposite of _laying_ (which see). 

RAISE A SIEGE, TO. To abandon or cause the abandonment of a siege. 

RAISED UPON. When a vessel is heightened in her upper works. 

RAISE-NET. A kind of staked net on our northern shores, so called fromrising and falling with the tide. 

RAISE OR RISE TACKS AND SHEETS. The lifting the clues of the courses, previously to bracing round the yards in tacking or wearing. 

RAISE THE METAL TO. To elevate the breech, and depress thereby themuzzle of a gun. 

RAISE THE WIND, TO. To make an exertion; to cast about for funds. 

RAISING A MOUSE. The process of making a lump on a stay. (_See_ MOUSE. )

RAISING A PURCHASE. The act of disposing certain machines, so that, bytheir mutual effects, they may produce sufficient force to overcome theweight or resistance of the object to which this machinery is applied. 

RAKE. The projection of the upper parts of a ship, at both ends, beyondthe extremities of the keel. Also, the deviation of the masts from the_vertical line of position_, reckoned from the keel forward or aft. 

RAKING. Cannonading a ship, so that the shot shall range in thedirection of her whole length between decks, called a raking fire; andis similar to military enfilading. 

RAKISH. Said of a ship when she has the appearance of force and fastsailing. 

RALLYING SQUARE. That formed by skirmishers or dispersed troops whensuddenly menaced by cavalry, each man as he runs in successively placinghimself with his back close against those already formed. 

RAM. A long spar, iron-hooped at the ends, used for driving out blocksfrom beneath a vessel's keel, and for driving planks an end while onlywedged to the ship's side. Also, a new rating in the navy. (_See_STEAM-RAM. )

RAMBADE. The elevated platform built across the prow of a galley, forboarding, &c. 

RAMED. The state of a ship on the stocks, when all the frames are setupon the keel, the stem and stern-post put up, and the whole adjusted bythe ram-line. 

RAM-HEAD. An old word for halliard-block. 

RAM HOME, TO. To drive home the ammunition in a gun. 

RAMMER. A cylindrical block of wood nearly fitting the bore of a cannon, and fastened on a wooden staff; used in loading to drive home the chargeof a cannon. 

RAMP. An oblique or sloping interior road to mount the _terreplein_ ofthe rampart. 

RAMPART. An artificial embankment surrounding a fortified place, capableof covering the buildings from view, and of resisting the cannon of anenemy. Generally having a parapet on its top, and a wall for its front. 

RAMPER-EEL. A name of the _lamprey_, _Petromyzon marinus_. 

RAM-REEL. Synonymous with _bull-dance_. 

RAMROD. In muzzle-loading, is the implement used in charging a piece, todrive home the powder and shot. 

RAMSHACKLE. Out of repair and ungainly; disorderly. 

RAN. Yarns coiled on a spun-yarn winch. 

RANCE. The strut or support of a Congreve rocket. 

RANDAN. A mode of rowing with alternate long and short oars. 

RANDOM SHOT. A shot, or _coup perdu_, made when the muzzle is highlyelevated; the utmost range may be at an angle of 45°, which is supposedto carry about ten times as far as the point blank; but improved gunneryhas now put the term out of use. 

RANGE. Placed in a line or row; a term hydrographically applied tohills, as "the coast-range. " Also, _galley-range_, or fire-grate. 

RANGE, TO. To sail in a parallel direction, and near to; as "we rangedthe coast;" "the enemy came ranging up alongside of us. "

RANGE-HEADS. The _windlass-bitts_ (which see). 

RANGE OF A GUN. The horizontal distance which it will send a shot, at astated elevation, to the point of its first graze. Also, a place wheregun-practice is carried on. Also, a _level range_ implies the gun lyinghorizontal. The various positions between this and 45° are called_intermediate ranges_. 

RANGE OF CABLE. A sufficient quantity of cable left slack to allow theanchor to reach the ground before the cable is checked by the doubleturns round the bitts, the object being to let the anchor hook thebottom quickly, and to prevent the heavy shock which would be caused ifits weight were suddenly brought upon the bitts. 

RANGES, HORNED. Pieces of timber containing belaying pins, inside aship. Also, pieces of oak placed round the hatchways to contain shot. 

RANK. Degree of dignity; officers of the navy rank with those of thearmy according to the following table:--

 1. The Admirals of the Fleet rank with Field-marshals. 2. Admirals " Generals. 3. Vice-admirals " Lieutenant-generals. 4. Rear-admirals " Major-generals. 5. Captains of the Fleet } 6. Commodores } " Brigadier-generals. 7. Captains of 3 years " Colonels. 8. Captains under 3 years " Lieutenant-colonels. 9. Commanders next to Do. 10. Lieutenants, 8 years rank with Majors. 11. Lieutenants, under 8 years " Captains. 12. Sub-lieutenants " Lieutenants. 13. Midshipmen " Ensigns. 

Also, the order or straight line made by men drawn up side by side. 

RANK AND FILE. This word includes corporals as well as privates, allbelow sergeants. (_See_ FILE. )

RANSACK, TO. To pillage; but to ransack the hold is merely to overhaulits contents. 

RANSOM. Money paid for the liberty of a war-prisoner, a city, or for therestoration of a captured vessel: formerly much practised at sea. Itthen fell into disuse, but was revived for a time in the seventeenthcentury. At length the greater maritime powers prohibited the offeringor accepting such ransoms. By English law, all such securities shall beabsolutely void; and he who enters into any such contract shall forfeit£500 on conviction. A privateer taking ransom forfeits her letters ofmarque, and her commander is punishable with a heavy penalty andimprisonment. 

RAPER. An old term for a rope-maker. 

RAP-FULL. Applies to a ship on a wind, when "keep her rap-full!" means, do not come too close to the wind, or lift a wrinkle of the sail. 

RAPID. A slope, down which water runs with more than ordinary rapidity, but not enough to be called a "fall;" and sometimes navigable by boats. 

RAPPAREE. A smuggler, or one who lives on forced hospitality. 

RASE. An archaism for a channel of the sea, and not a mispronunciationof _race_ (which see). 

RASEE. A line-of-battle ship with her upper works taken off, or reduceda deck, to lighten her; some of the old contract-built ships of theline, yclept "Forty Thieves, " were thus converted into heavy frigates, as the _Duncan_, _America_, _Warspite_, &c. 

RASH. A disease which attacks trees that have ceased to grow. 

RASING. Marking timber by the _rasing-knife_, which has a peculiar bladehooked at its point, as well as a centre-pin to describe circles. 

RASING-IRON. A tool for clearing the pitch and oakum out of the seams, previous to their being caulked afresh. 

RAT. A term for one who changes his party for interest: from ratsdeserting vessels about to sink. These mischievous vermin are said tohave increased after the economical expulsion of cats from ourdockyards. Thus, in the petition from the ships-in-ordinary, to beallowed to go to sea, even to carry passengers, we read:--

 "Tho' it was hemigrants or sodgers-- Anything afore them rats, Which now they is our only lodgers; For well they knows, the artful dodgers, The Board won't stand th' expense of cats. "

Injury done by rats is not included in a policy of insurance. Also, arapid stream or race, derived from sharp rocks beneath, which injure thecable. 

RATCHER. An old term for a rock. 

RATCHET. A saw-toothed wheel in machinery, as the winch, windlass, &c. , in which the paul catches. 

RATE. A tariff or customs roll. Also, the six orders into which theships of war were divided in the navy, according to their force andmagnitude. Thus the _first rate_ comprehended all ships of 110 guns andupwards, having 42-pounders on the lower deck, diminishing to 6-pounderson the quarter-deck and forecastle. They were manned with 850 to 875men, including officers, seamen, marines, servants, &c. --_Second rate. _Ships carrying from 90 to 100 guns. --_Third rate. _ Ships from 80 to 84guns. --_Fourth rate. _ Ships from 60 to 74 guns; these were comprehendedunder the general names of frigates, and never appeared in the line ofbattle. --_Fifth rate. _ Mounting from 32 to 40, or even 60 guns. --And_Sixth rate_. Mounting from any number, or no guns, if commanded bycaptains; those commanded by commanders were deemed sloops. Since thelate introduction of massive iron, a captain may command but one gun. 

RATE A CHRONOMETER, TO. To determine its daily gaining or losing rate onmean time. 

RATED SHIP. Synonymous with _post-ship_ in former times; the term _ship_alone now infers that it is a captain's command, whilst _sloop_ means acommander's. 

RATH. A Gaelic term in use for _raft_--a timber raft; it is also anancient earthen fort. 

RATING. The station a person holds on the ship's books. 

RATION. Each man's daily allowance of provisions; including, in thearmy, fuel and forage to man and horse. 

RATIONAL HORIZON. _See_ HORIZON. 

RATLINES, OR RATLINGS. Small lines which traverse the shrouds of a ship(at distances of 15 or 16 inches) horizontally from the deck upwards, and are made firm by jamming clove-hitches; they form a series of steps, like the rounds of a ladder. 

RAT'S-TAIL. The tapering end of a rope. Also, the round tapered file forenlarging holes in metal. 

RATTAN [Malay, _rotan_]. One of the genus _Calamus_, used forwicker-work, seats of chairs, &c. In the eastern seas they constitutethe chief cables, even to 42 inches circumference, infinitely strongerthan hemp, light, and not easily chafed by rocks; very useful also toseamen for brooms, hoops, hanks for sails, &c. 

RATTLE DOWN RIGGING, TO; OR, TO RATTLE THE SHROUDS. To fix the ratlinesin a line parallel to the vessel's set on the water. 

RAUN. An old Manx term for a seal. In the north it implies the roe ofsalmon, used as a bait. 

RAUNER. A northern term for the female salmon, as having the raun orroe. 

RAVE-HOOK. In ship carpentry, a hooked iron tool used when enlarging thebutts for receiving a sufficient quantity of oakum. 

RAVELIN. In fortification, an outwork consisting of two long facesmeeting in a salient angle, covering the curtain, and, generally, theshoulders of the bastions; it affords a powerful defence to the groundin front of the latter, which may rarely be approached till after thefall of the ravelin. 

RAVINE. A deep chasm through which the rains are carried off elevatedlands. 

RAY. A line of sight. Also, a flat rhomboidal fish with a rough skin;genus, _Raia_. 

RAZE, TO. To level or demolish (applicable to works or buildings). 

RAZED. Fortifications are said to be razed when totally demolished. 

RAZOR-BACK. The fin-whale (_Balænoptera_), so called from its prominentdorsal fin. It usually attains the length of 70 feet. 

RAZOR-BILL. A sea-fowl allied to the auks, _Alca torda_. 

REACH, OR RATCH. A straight part of a navigable river; the distancebetween any two elbows on the banks, wherein the current flows inuninterrupted course. 

REACHING. Sometimes used for standing off and on: a vessel is also saidto be on a reach, when she is sailing by the wind upon any tack. Avessel also _reaches_ ahead of her adversary. 

READY ABOUT! OR READY OH! The order to prepare for tacking, each man tohis station. (_See_ ABOUT. )

READY WITH THE LEAD! A caution when the vessel is luffed up to deadenher way, followed by "heave. "

REAL. A silver coin of Spain, value 5_d. _ sterling. One-eighth of adollar. 

REALILLO. A small Spanish silver coin, value half a real. 

REAM OR REEM OUT, TO. To enlarge the bore of a cannon with a specialtool, so that it may take a larger projectile. 

REAMING. Fishing vessels shifting their quarters while fishing. Thisword is often used for _reeming_ (which see). 

REAR. An epithet for anything situated behind another, as the hindmostportion of a fleet or army. (_See_ DIVISION. ) To _rear_ an object inview, is to _rise_ or approach it. 

REAR-ADMIRAL. The officer in command of the third division of a fleet, whose flag is at the mizen. 

REAR-GUARD. That part of the army which brings up and protects the rear. 

REARING. The upper-works tumbling home, or being wall-sided. 

REAR-RANK. The last rank of a body of men drawn up in simple line. 

REAR-SHIP. The sternmost ship of a fleet. 

RE-ASSEMBLE. To gather together a fleet, or convoy, after having beenscattered. 

REASTY. Rancid or rusty pork or butter, &c. 

REAVEL, OR RAFFLE. To entangle; to knot confusedly together. 

REBALLING. The catching of eels with earth-worms attached to a ball oflead suspended by a string from a pole. 

REBATE. _See_ DISCOUNT. 

REBATES. The grooves formed on each side of the keel, stem, orstern-post, to receive the planks. (_See_ RABBET. )

REBELS. Revolters and mutineers; in admiralty law the same as enemies. 

RECEIVERS OF DROITS OF ADMIRALTY. Now termed _receivers of wreck_ (whichsee). 

RECEIVERS OF WRECK. Persons specially charged with wrecked property forthe benefit of the shipping interests. 

RECEIVING-SHIP. At any port, to receive supernumerary seamen, or enteredor impressed men for the royal navy. 

RECIPROCATE. The alternate motion balancing a steam-engine. 

RECIPROCITY. The enlarging or contracting particular admiralty statutes, to meet the usages of foreign powers. 

RECKONING, SHIP'S. The ship's position resulting from the coursessteered, and distances run by log, brought up from the last astronomicalobservations. If unaccompanied by corrections for longitude bychronometer, and for latitude, it is termed only the dead-reckoning. 

RECOIL. The running in of a gun when discharged, which backward motionis caused by the force of the fire. 

RECONNAISSANCE. A word adopted from the French, as meaning a military ornautical examination of a place. 

RECONNOITRING. Sailing within gun-shot of an enemy's port to ascertainhis strength and capabilities for offence and defence. Also, a rapidexamination of coasts and countries, for correcting the defects of manyprevious maps and charts. 

RECREANT. This term was for him who had yielded in single combat. 

RECTA PRISA REGIS. In law, the sovereign's right to prisage, or one pipeof wine before, and another behind the masts, as customary in everycargo of wine. 

RECTIFIER. An instrument used for determining the variation of thecompass, in order to rectify the ship's course, &c. It consists of twocircles, either laid upon or let into one another, and so fastenedtogether in their centres that they represent two compasses, the onefixed, the other movable; each is divided into 32 points of the compass, and 360°, and numbered both ways from the north and the south, ending atthe east and west in 90°. The fixed compass represents the horizon, inwhich the north and all the other points are liable to variation. 

REDAN. The simplest form of regular fortification, consisting of twofaces meeting in a salient angle; generally applied in connection withother works. 

REDD. The spawn of fish. Also, the burrow scooped out by salmon in whichto deposit their ova. 

REDD-FISH. A northern general term for fishes in the spawning state, butparticularly applied to salmon. 

REDEMPTIONER. One who purchases his release from obligation to themaster of a ship, by his services; or one whose services are sold to paythe expenses of his passage to America or elsewhere. 

REDHIBITION. An action to annul or set aside a contract of sale. 

RED-HOT BALLS. Shot made red-hot in a furnace, and in that statedischarged at the enemy. The loading is managed with wet wads. 

REDOUBT. An inclosed work, differing from a fort, in that its parts donot flank one another. 

RED PINE. _Pinus rubra_, the red spruce; the timber of which ispreferred throughout the United States for yards, and imported for thatpurpose into Liverpool from Nova Scotia. 

REDUCE, TO. To degrade to a lower rank; or to shorten the allowance ofwater or provisions. 

REDUCE A CHARGE, TO. To diminish the contents of a cartridge, sometimesrequisite during heavy firing. 

REDUCE A PLACE, TO. To compel its commander to surrender, or vacate itby capitulation. 

REDUCTION OF CELESTIAL OBSERVATIONS. The process of calculation, bywhich observations are rendered subservient to utility. 

REEF. A certain portion of a sail comprehended between the head of asail and any of the reef-bands. The intention of each reef is to reducethe sail in proportion to the increase of the wind; there are also reefsparallel to the foot or bottom of large sails, extended uponbooms. --_Close-reefed_ is when all the reefs of the top-sails are takenin. --_Reef_ is also a group or continuous chain of rocks, sufficientlynear the surface of the water to occasion its breaking over them. (_See_FRINGING REEFS and BARRIER REEFS. )

REEF-BAND. A narrow band of canvas sewed on the reef-line to support thestrain of the reef-points. It is pierced with eyelet-holes, throughwhich the points are passed each way with a running eye. 

REEF-CRINGLES. _See_ CRINGLE. 

REEF-EARINGS. _See_ EARINGS. 

REEFED TOP-MAST. When a top-mast is sprung in or near the cap, the lowerpiece is cut off, and a new fid-hole cut, by which the mast is reefed orshortened. 

REEFERS. A familiar term for midshipmen, because they have to attend inthe tops during the operation of taking in reefs. 

REEF-KNOT. Is one in which the ends fall always in a line with the outerparts; in fact, two loops, easy to untie, never jamming. That with thesecond tie across, is termed a granny's knot. 

REEF-LINE. Casual aids in bad weather to help the men at the earings. When the vessel was going free, and the sail could not be "spilled, " themen were, if blowing hard, often aided by passing the studding-sailhalyards loosely round the sail, clewed up spirally from yard-arm tobunt. 

REEF-PENDANT. A rope going through a cringle in the after-leech of aboom main-sail, and through a check sheave-hole in the boom, with atackle attached to its end to bowse the after-leech down to the boom bywhich the sail is held reefed. On the lower yards it is a pendant for asimilar purpose as the reef-tackle. 

REEF-POINTS. Small flat pieces of plaited cordage or soft rope, taperingfrom the middle towards each end, whose length is nearly double thecircumference of the yard, and used for the purpose of tying up thesail in the act of reefing; they are made fast by their eyes on eachside of the eyelet-holes. 

REEF-TACKLES, are indeed pendants and tackles. The pendant is rovethrough the sister-block, then a sheave in the yard-arm, and secured toa strong cringle beneath the close reef, sometimes through a block, andthe end secured to the yard-arm. Within the sister-block it becomes agun-tackle purchase, with the fall leading on deck. The reef-tackles arehauled out, and the other aids complete, before the men are sent aloft. 

REEF-TACKLE SPAN. Two cringles in the bolt-rope, about a couple of feetapart, when a block is used. 

REELS. Well-known wheels moving round an axis, and serving to windvarious lines upon, as the log-reel for the log-line, deep-sea reel(which contains the deep-sea line, amounting to 150 or 200 fathoms), spun-yarn reel, &c. "She went 10 knots off the reel"--_i. E. _ by thelog-line. 

REEMING. A term used by caulkers for opening the seams of the plank withreeming-irons, that the oakum may be more readily admitted. This may bea corruption of _rimer_, for opening circular holes in metal. 

REEMING-BEETLE. A caulker's largest mallet. 

REEMING-IRON. The larger iron used by caulkers in opening the seams. 

RE-ENTERING ANGLE. In fortification, is an angle whose vertex pointsinward, or towards the place. 

REEVE, TO. To pass the end of a rope through any cavity or aperture, asthe channel of a block; to _unreeve_ is the opposite. 

REEVING. In polar voyaging, following up serpentine channels in the ice, till the vessel reaches open water, or _reeves the pack_. 

REFITTING. Repairing any damages which a ship may have sustained. 

REFLECTING CIRCLE. An instrument used instead of a sextant, quintant, orquadrant; but the quintant embraces as much--viz. 152 degrees. Theinstrument reflects a celestial or any distant object so as to bring theimage into contact with any object seen direct, by which their angulardistance is measured, as in lunar distances. 

REFLECTION, ANGLE OF. Whether the instance be a ray of light or acannon-ball, the angle of reflection will always be found equal to theangle of incidence. 

REFLUX. The ebbing of the tide, or reflow of the waters, which have beenpressed back. 

REFORMADES. The sons of the nobility and gentry who served in the navyunder letters from Charles II. , and were allowed table-money and otherencouragements to raise the character of the service. 

REFRACTING TELESCOPE. That through which objects are seen directlythrough its double object-glass. 

REFRACTION. An inflection of the rays of light: that property of theatmosphere which bends the rays of light in their passage to the eyefrom a different density, and causes the altitude of heavenly bodies toappear greater than it really is, especially near the horizon. (_See_TERRESTRIAL REFRACTION. )

REFUSAL OF A PILE. Its stoppage or obstruction, when it cannot be drivenfurther in. 

REGAL FISHES. In statute law, these are whales and sturgeons. 

REGARDERS. Inspectors of the felling of timber. 

REGATTA. A rowing-match formerly peculiar to the republic of Venice; butnow the term is applied to yacht and boat races in general. 

REGIMENT. A body of men commanded by a colonel, complete in its ownorganization, and divided into companies of infantry or troops ofcavalry. 

REGIMENTAL ORDERS. Such as the commanding officer may deem it necessaryto issue for the discipline of the regiment. 

REGIMENTALS. The regulation dress for the individuals of a regiment. 

REGIMENTAL STAFF-OFFICERS. The surgeon, adjutant, paymaster, assistant-surgeon, and quarter-master of each regiment. 

REGION. Any large tract of land or water on the earth's surface, havingsome feature common to every part of itself, and different from whatexists elsewhere; as northern, southern, or intertropical region;mountainous region; region of perpetual congelation, &c. 

REGISTER. A purchaser has no title to a ship, either at law or inequity, unless he be mentioned in the register. If a vessel, not dulyregistered, exercise any of the privileges of a British ship, she isliable to forfeiture. 

REGISTER ANEW. When any registered ship is so altered as not tocorrespond with the "particulars" relating to the description in herregister-book, either a new certificate of registry, or an officialindorsement of the old one, is necessary. 

REGISTER OF VICE-ADMIRALTY COURT. Not responsible for money transmittedunder proper precautions, and in the usual course of business, butafterwards lost by the failure of the consignee. 

REGISTER SHIP. A Spanish plate-ship or galleon. 

REGISTRY OF SEAMEN. A record of merchant seamen kept by theregistrar-general of seamen. 

REGNI POPULI. An old law-term given to the people of Surrey and Sussex, and on the sea-coasts of Hampshire. 

REGULATOR. A name for the governor of a steam-engine. Also, avalve-cock. The _regulator_ of a clock is the shortening or lengtheningpendulum or escapement. 

REGULUS. α Leonis; the principal star in the old constellation Leo. 

REIGNING WINDS. The prevalent winds on any particular coast or region. (_See_ WIND. )

REIN. A crack or vein in a musket-barrel. 

REINFORCE, TO. To strengthen a fleet, squadron, army, or detachment, byadditional means and munitions. 

REINFORCE. In artillery, that increase, beyond its general conicaloutline, of the metal towards the breech, which was marked on oldpattern guns by rings. They are generally in cast guns omitted now, though the principle of the reinforce remains, yet less defined innature and number, in the recent wrought and built-up guns. 

RE-INSURANCE. To insure the same property a second time by otherunderwriters. If an underwriter find that he has incautiously boundhimself to a greater amount than he can discharge, he may shift it, orpart of it, from himself to others, by a re-insurance policy made on thesame risk. 

REIS. Small coins of Portugal, of which 4800 go to the moidore. 

RELIEF. The change of watches. Also, the person relieving a particularstation. Also, a fresh detachment of troops, ordered to replace thosealready on duty. In fortification, the total height of the crest of theparapet above the bottom of the ditch. 

RELIEVE, TO. To put fresh men or ships upon a stipulated duty. 

RELIEVING TACKLES. Those which are occasionally hooked to the tiller, inorder to steer by in bad weather or in action, when any accident hashappened to the wheel or tiller-rope. 

REMA, OR REUME. The tide. 

REMAIN. The quantity of stores left on charge for survey, after avoyage. 

REMARK-BOOK. This contains hydrographical observations of every portvisited, and is sent annually to the admiralty, together with anycharts, plans, or views which have been taken. Often a very dullmiscellany, though kept by intelligent masters. 

REMBERGE. A long narrow rowing vessel of war, formerly used by theEnglish. Its name is derived from _remo_ and _barca_, and it seems tohave been the precursor of the Deal luggers. 

REMBLAI. The mass of earth requisite for the construction of therampart. An embankment. 

REMORA. The _sucker-fish_. It has a long oval plate on the top of thehead, by which, having exhausted the air in it, it clings to a ship'sbottom, to the sides of a shark, or to turtle. 

REMOVAL FROM THE LIST. Dismission, or dropping an officer out of theservice. 

RENDERING. The act of yielding to any force applied. For instance, therope of a laniard or tackle is said to render when, by pulling upon onepart, each other part takes its share of the strain. Any rope, hawser, or cable is "rendered" by easing it round the bitts, particularly inriding with a strain to freshen the nip. 

RENDEZVOUS. The port or place of destination where the several ships ofa fleet are appointed to join company. 

REPEATING FIRE-ARM. One by which a number of charges, previouslyinserted, may be fired off in rapid succession, or after various pauses. The principle is very old, but the effective working of it is new. 

REPEAT SIGNALS, TO. Is to make the same signal exhibited by the admiral, in order to its being more readily distinguished at a distance, orthrough smoke, &c. Frigates and small vessels out of the line weredeemed repeating ships, and enforced signals by guns. The _repeat_ froma superior intended to convey rebuke for inattention, is usuallyaccompanied by one gun, or several. 

REPLENISH, TO. To obtain supplies of water and provisions up to theoriginal amount. 

REPORT OF GUARD. The document rendered in by the guard-boat, of everyvessel boarded during her hours of duty, with their arrivals, sailings, and other occurrences. 

REPORT OF SURVEY. The opinion of surveys officially signed by surveyingofficers. 

REPORT ONE'S SELF, TO. When an officer returns on board from duty, orfrom leave of absence. 

REPRESENTATION. A collateral statement of such facts not inserted on thepolicy of insurance, as may give the underwriters a just estimate of therisk of the adventure. (_See_ WARRANTY. )

REPRIMAND. A formal reproof for error or misconduct, conveyed sometimespublicly, sometimes confidentially, sometimes by sentence ofcourt-martial, or on the judgment, mature or otherwise, of a superior. 

REPRISAL. The taking one thing in satisfaction for another, as theseizing of ships and goods for injury inflicted; a right exerted, thoughno actual war be commenced. It is authorized by the law of nations ifjustice has been solemnly called for and denied. The word is synonymouswith _marque_ in our admiralty courts. 

REPRISE, OR REPRISAL. Is the retaking a vessel from the enemy before shehas arrived in any neutral or hostile port. If a vessel thus retaken hasbeen 24 hours in the possession of an enemy, she is deemed a lawfulrecapture; but if within that time, she is merely _detenu_, and must bewholly restored to the owner. An amount of salvage is sometimes awardedto the re-captors. Also, if a vessel has from any cause been abandonedby the enemy, before he has taken her into any port, she is to berestored to the original proprietor. (_See_ SALVAGE. )

REQUISITION. An official demand for stores, &c. 

RESCUE. Any vessel recovered by the insurrection of prisoners on boardof her, or by her being forced by stress of weather into our ports, sheis restored on _salvage_. There is no rule prescribed by the law ofEngland in the case of foreign property rescued; with British subjectsthe court usually adopts the proportion of recapture. In respect toforeigners the only guide is that of "quantum meruit. "

RESERVE. A portion drawn out from the main body, and stationed in therear for a special object. 

RE-SHIP. To ship again, or ship goods that have been imported orconveyed by water. 

RESIDENT. A British subject residing in an enemy's country may tradegenerally with the natives, but not in contraband. 

RESISTING MEDIUM. An assumed thin ethereal fluid, which, from theretardation of Encke's comet, may be supposed to pervade the planetaryspace--perhaps the _spiritus subtilissimus_ of Newton--in virtue ofwhich periodical comets seem to have their velocity diminished, andtheir orbits contracted at every revolution. 

RESOLVE, TO. To reduce a traverse, or day's work, to its exact limits. 

RESOURCE. Expedient. A good seaman is ever a man of resources. 

RESPONDENTIA. A loan made upon goods laden in a ship, for which theborrower is personally responsible; differing therein from bottomry, where the ship and tackle are liable. In bottomry the lender runs norisk, though the goods should be lost; and upon respondentia the lendermust be paid his principal and interest, though the ship perish, provided the goods be safe. 

RESPONSIBILITY. Often a wholesome restraint; but the bugbear of aninefficient officer. 

REST. A pole with an iron fork at the top for the support of the oldheavy musket. 

RET, TO. To soak in water, as in seasoning timber, hemp, &c. 

RETINUE. Applied strictly to the admiral's suite or followers, though itmeans an accompanying train in general. 

RETIRE. The old war-term for retreat. Thus Shakspeare makes RichardPlantagenet exclaim--

 "Ne'er may he live to see a sunshine day, That cries Retire, if Warwick bid him stay. "

RETIRED LIST. A roll whereon deserving officers are placed whose health, age, or want of interest justifies their retirement from active service. 

RETIRED PAY. A graduated pension for retired officers; but the term isnearly synonymous with _half pay_. 

RETRACTUS AQUÆ. An old law-term for the ebb or return of tide. 

RETREAT. The order in which a fleet or squadron declines engagement. Orthe retrograde movement of any body of men who retire from a hostileforce. Also, that beat of drum about sunset which orders the guards andpiquets to take up their night duties. 

RETRENCHMENT. A defence with a ditch and breast-work behind another postor defence, whereby the besieger, on forcing the original work, isconfronted by a fresh one. 

RETROGRADATION. An apparent motion of the planets contrary to the orderof the signs, and to their orbital march. The arc of retrogradation isthe angular distance thus apparently traversed. Mars may be watched asan instance. 

RETROGRADE MOTION. _See_ MOTION. 

RETURN. A ship on a return voyage is not generally liable; but if shesailed on the outward voyage under false papers, the liability toconfiscation continues. 

RETURN A SALUTE, TO. Admirals are saluted, but return two guns less foreach rank that the saluting officer is below the admiral. 

RETURNS. All the various reports and statements required by officers incommand to be made periodically. (_See_ SUPPLIES AND RETURNS. )

REVEILLE. The beat of drum at break of day, when night duties cease. 

REVENUE. In cases of revenue proceedings, the law harshly provides thatthe _onus probandi_ is to be on the claimant, however injured. 

REVENUE-CUTTERS. Sharp-built single-masted vessels armed, for thepurpose of preventing smuggling, and enforcing the custom-houseregulations. They are usually styled _revenue-cruisers_. 

REVERSE. A change; a vicissitude. Also, the flank at the other extremityfrom the pivot of a division is termed the reverse flank. 

REVETMENT. A sloping wall of brick-work, or any other attainablematerial, supporting the outer face of the rampart, and lining the sideof the ditch. 

REVIEW. The inspection of a fleet or army, or of any body of men underarms. 

REVOLUTION, TIME OF. In relation to a planet or comet, this is the timeoccupied in completing a circuit round the sun, and is synonymous with_periodic time_. 

RHE. A very old word signifying an overflow of water. 

RHILAND-ROD. A Dutch measure of 12 English feet, formerly in use withus: it is more properly _Rhine-land rod_. 

RHODIAN LAWS. A maritime code, asserted, but without sufficient proof, to be the basis of the Roman sea-laws. The code published by Leunclaviusand others, as a body of Rhodian laws, is a mere forgery of moderntimes. 

RHODINGS. The brass cleats on which the axles of the pumps work. 

RHOMBOID. An oblique parallelogram, having its opposite sides equal andparallel, but its angles not right angles. 

RHOMBUS. A lozenge-shaped figure, having four equal sides, but itsangles not right angles. 

RHUMB, OR RHOMB. A vertical circle of any given place, or theintersection of a part of such a circle with the horizon. Rhumbs, therefore, coincide with points of the world, or of the horizon; andhence seamen distinguish the rhumbs by the same names as the points andwinds, as marked on the fly or card of the compass. The _rhumb-line_, therefore, is a line prolonged from any point of the compass in anautical chart, except the four cardinal points; or it is a line which aship, keeping in the same collateral point or rhumb, describesthroughout its whole course. 

RHYDAL [from the Celtic _rhydle_]. A ford or channel joining lakes orbroad waters. 

RIBADOQUIN. A powerful cross-bow for throwing long darts. Also, an oldpiece of ordnance throwing a ball of one or two pounds. 

RIBBANDS. In naval architecture, long narrow flexible pieces of firnailed upon the outside of the ribs, from the stem to the stern-post ofa ship, so as to encompass the body lengthways, and hold the timberstogether while in frame. 

RIBBING-NAILS. Similar to deck-nails, but not so fine; they have largeround heads with rings, so as to prevent their heads from splitting thetimbers, or being drawn through. 

RIBBONS. The painted mouldings along a ship's side. Also, the tatters ofa sail in blowing away. 

RIBS. The frame timbers which rise from the bottom to the top of aship's hull: the hull being as the body, the keel as the backbone, andthe planking as the skin. 

RIBS AND TRUCKS. Used figuratively for fragments. 

RIBS OF A PARREL. An old species of parrel having alternate ribs andbull's-eyes; the ribs were pieces of wood, each about one foot inlength, having two holes in them through which the two parts of theparrel-rope are reeved with a bull's-eye between; the inner smooth edgeof the rib rests against, and slides readily up and down, the mast. 

RICKERS. Lengths of stout poles cut up for the purpose of stowing flax, hemp, and the like. Spars supplied for boats' masts and yards, boat-hookstaves, &c. 

RICOCHET. The bound of a shot. _Ricochet fire_, that whereby, a lesscharge and a greater elevation being used, the shot or shell is made tojust clear a parapet, and bound along the interior of a work. 

RIDDLE. A sort of weir in rivers. --_To riddle. _ To fire through andthrough a vessel, and reduce her to a sieve-like condition. 

RIDE, TO. To ride at anchor. A vessel rides easily, apeak, athwart, headto wind, out a gale, open hawse, to the tide, to the wind, &c. A roperides, as when round the capstan or windlass the strain part overliesand jams the preceding turn. --_To ride between wind and tide. _ Said of aship at anchor when she is acted upon by wind and tide from differentdirections, and takes up a position which is the result of both forces. 

RIDEAU. A rising ground running along a plain, nearly parallel to theworks of a place, and therefore prejudicial. 

RIDERS. Timbers laid as required, reaching from the keelson to theorlop-beams, to bind a ship and give additional strength. They arevariously termed, as _lower futtock-riders_ and _middle futtock-riders_. When a vessel is weak, or has broken her floors or timbers, riders areintroduced to secure the ship, and enable her to reach a port where shecan be properly repaired. Stringers are also used, but these runhorizontally. --_Riders_ are also upper tiers of casks, or any stowedabove the ground tier in the hold. 

RIDING A PORT-LAST. With lower yards on the gunwales. 

RIDING-BITTS. Those to which the cable is made fast. 

RIDING-DOWN. The act of the men who throw their weight on the head of asail to stretch it. Also, of the man who comes down a stay, &c. , to tarit; or foots the bunt in. 

RIDGE. Hydrographically means a long narrow stretch of shingle or rocks, near the surface of the sea, (_See_ REEF and SHALLOWS. ) Geographically, the intersection of two opposite slopes, or a range of hills, or thehighest line of mountains. 

RIDGE-ROPES, are of various kinds. Thus the centre-rope of an awning, and those along the rigging to which it is stretched, the man-ropes tothe bowsprit, safety lines from gun to gun in bad weather--all obtainthis name. 

RIFE. An old provincial term for a salt-water pond. 

RIFLED ORDNANCE. That which is provided with spiral grooves in theinterior of the bore, to give rotatory motion to the projectile, therebymuch increasing its accuracy of flight, and permitting the use ofelongated shot and shell. 

RIFLE-PIT. Cover hastily thrown up by one or two skirmishers, butcontributing, when a line of them is joined together, to form workssometimes of much importance. 

RIG. Colloquially, mischievous frolic not carried to excess. 

RIG, TO. To fit the shrouds, stays, braces, and running-rigging to theirrespective masts, yards, and sails. Colloquially, it means todress. --_To rig in a boom_, is to draw it in. --_To rig out a boom_, isto run it out from a yard, in order to extend the foot of a sail uponit, as with studding-sail booms, &c. 

RIGEL. β _Orionis_, one of the bright stars in Orion. 

RIGGED. Completely equipped. 

RIGGERS. Men employed on board ships to fit the standing and runningrigging, or to dismantle them. The riggers in the naval yards, who rigships previous to their being commissioned, are under themaster-attendant, and perform all anchor, mooring, and harbour dutiesalso. 

RIGGING. A general name given to all the ropes or chains employed tosupport the masts, and arrange the sails according to the direction ofthe wind. Those are termed "standing" which are comparative fixtures, and support the masts, &c. ; and those "running, " which are in constantuse, to trim the yards, and make or shorten sail, &c. 

RIGGING-LOFT. A long room or gallery in a dockyard, where rigging isfitted by stretching, serving, splicing, seizing, &c. , to be inreadiness for the ship. 

RIGGING-MATS. Those which are seized upon a vessel's standing rigging, to prevent its being chafed. 

RIGGING OUT. A term for outfitting. Also, a word used familiarly toexpress clothing of ship or tar. 

RIGGING-STOPPER. _See_ STOPPER OF THE CABLE. 

RIGHT. As to direction, fully or directly; thus, right ahead, or rightaway, &c. 

RIGHT ANGLE. An angle formed by a line rising or falling perpendicularlyupon another, and measuring 90°, or the quadrant of a circle. 

RIGHT-ANGLED TRIANGLE. That which has one right angle. 

RIGHT ASCENSION. An arc of the equator between the first point of Aries, and the hour circle which passes through any planet or star; or thatpoint of the equinoctial, which comes to the meridian with any heavenlyobject, and is therefore similar to terrestrial longitude. 

RIGHT ATHWART. Square, or at right angles with the keel. 

RIGHT AWAY! It is a habit of seamen answering when a sail is discoveredfrom the mast-head; "Right away on the beam, sir, " or "on the bow, " &c. 

RIGHT-HAND ROPE. That which is laid up and twisted with the sun, that isto the right hand; the term is opposed to _water-laid rope_, which isleft-handed. 

RIGHTING. The act of a ship recovering her upright position after shehas been laid upon a careen, which is effected by casting loose thecareening tackles, and, if necessary, heaving upon the relievingtackles. A ship is also said _to right_ at sea, when she rises with hermasts erect, after having been listed over on one side by grounding, orforce of wind. 

RIGHT THE HELM! The order to put it amidships, that is, in a line withthe keel. 

RIGHT ON END. In a continuous line; as the masts should be. 

RIGHT SAILING. Running a course on one of the four cardinal points, soas to alter only a ship's latitude, or longitude. 

RIGHT UP AND DOWN. Said in a dead calm, when the wind is no way at all. Or, in anchor work, when the cable is in that condition, the boatswaincalls, "Up and down, sir, " whereupon "Thick and dry (nippers) forweighing" are ordered. 

RIGHT WAY. When the ship's head casts in the desired direction. Also, when she swings clear at single anchor. 

RIGHT WHALE. A name applied to the whale with a very large head and nodorsal fin, which yields the whalebone and train-oil of commerce, inopposition to the fin-backs or rorquals, which are scarcely worthcatching. There are several species found both in the Arctic andSouthern seas, but never within the tropics. 

RIG OF A SHIP. The disposition of the masts, cut of sails, &c. , whethersquare or fore-and-aft rigs. In fact, the rig denotes the character ofthe vessel. 

RIG THE CAPSTAN, TO. To fix the bars in the drumhead in readiness forheaving; not forgetting to pin and swift. (_See_ CAPSTAN. )

RIG THE GRATINGS. Prepare them for punishment. 

RILE. An old corruption of _rail_. To ruffle the temper; to vex. 

RILL. A very small run of fresh water, less than a rivulet. 

RIM, OR BRIM. A name given to the circular edge of a top. (_See_ TOP. )

RIM-BASE. The shoulder on the stock of a musket. 

RIME. Hoar-frost; condensed vapour. 

RIMER. A palisade in fortification; but for its naval application, _see_REEMING. Also, a tool for enlarging holes in metal plates, &c. 

RIMS. Those pieces which form the quarter-galleries between the stools. Also, the cast-iron frame in which the dropping pauls of a capstantraverse, and bring up the capstan. 

RING. A commercial measure of staves, or wood prepared for casks, andcontaining four shocks. Also, the iron ring to which the cable is bentto the anchor in the summit of the shank. 

RING-BOLT. An iron bolt with an eye at one end, wherein is fitted acircular ring. They are more particularly used for managing cannon, andare for this purpose fixed on each side of the port-holes. They aredriven through the plank and the corresponding timber, and retained inthis position by a clinching ring. 

RING-DOGS. Iron implements for hauling timber along: made by connectingtwo common dogs by a ring through the eyes. When united with cordagethey form a _sling-dog_ (which see). 

RING-ROPES. Ropes rove through the ring of the anchor, to haul the cablethrough it, in order to bend or make it fast in bad weather; they arefirst rove through the ring, and then through the hawse-holes, when theend of the cable is secured to them. 

RINGS. The annual circular layers in timber. Also, grommets, or circlesof metal for lifting things by hand, or securing the points of bolts, &c. , as hatch or port rings. 

RING-STOPPER. A long piece of rope secured to an after ring-bolt, andthe loop embracing the cable through the next, and others in successionnip the cable home to each ring-bolt in succession. It is a precautionin veering cable in bad weather. 

RING-TAIL. A kind of studding-sail hoisted beyond the after edge ofthose sails which are extended by a gaff and a boom over the stern. Thetwo lower corners of this sail are stretched to a boom, called a_ring-tail boom_, which rigs in and out upon the main or driver boom. 

RINK. A space of ice devoted to certain recreations, as a skating or acurling rink: generally roofed in from the snow in Canada. 

RIONNACK. A name of the horse-mackerel among the Scottish islands. 

RIP. A pannier or basket used for carrying fish. --_To rip_, to strip offa ship's planks. 

RIPARIA. A law-term for the water running between the banks of a river. 

RIPARY. Inhabiting the sea-shore. 

RIPE [from the Latin, _ripa_]. The banks of a tide-river, and thesea-shore: a term in use on our southern coasts. 

RIPPERS, OR RIPIERS. Men from the sea-shores, who sell fish to theinland towns and villages. 

RIPPING-IRON. A caulker's tool for tearing oakum out of a seam, orstripping copper or sheathing from a ship's bottom. (_See_ REEMING. )

RIPPLE. The small waves raised on the surface of the water by thepassage of a slight breeze, or current, caused by foul bottom. 

RIPPLE-MARKS. The ripply appearance left at low water on the flat partof a sandy beach. 

RIPPS. _See_ TIDE-RIP. Also, strange overfalls, the waves of which, evenin calm weather, will throw their crests over the bulwarks. 

RISBERM. Fascines placed to oppose the violence of the surf. 

RISING-FLOORS. The floor-timbers, which rise gradually from the plane ofthe midship floor, so as to sharpen the form of a vessel towards the bowand stern. 

RISINGS OF BOATS. A narrow strake of board fastened withinside tosupport the thwarts. 

RISING-SQUARE. In ship-carpentry, a square used in the whole moulding, upon which is marked the height of the rising line above the keel. 

RISK A RUN, TO. To take chance without convoy. 

RISKS. The casualties against which insurances are made on ships andcargoes. 

RITTOCH. An Orkney name for the tern, _Sterna hirundo_. 

RIVAGE. An old term, from the French, for a coast or shore of the sea, or a river. 

RIVAGIUM. A law-term for a duty paid to the sovereign on some rivers forthe passage of boats or vessels. 

RIVAILE. An Anglo-Norman term for a harbour. 

RIVE. The sea-shore. Also, as a verb, to split wood. 

RIVER-BOATS. Wherries, and the like, which ply in harbours and riversfor the conveyance of passengers. 

RIVER-HARBOUR. That which is situated in the channel of a river, especially such as are at the embouchure with a bar in front. 

RIVER-LAKES. Large pools of water occupying a portion of the valleys orhollows through which the courses of rivers lie. 

RIVER-RISK. A policy of insurance from the docks to the sea, at anyport. 

RIVET. The roe of a fish. Also, a hinge-pin, or any piece of rivetedwork. The soft iron pin by which the ends of a cask hoop, or the platesof a boiler, &c. , are secured by clinching. 

RIVIERA. An Italian term for a coast, as the _Riviera di Genoa_. 

RIX-DOLLAR. A silver coin common in northern Europe, of the averagevalue of 4_s. _ 6_d. _

ROACH. The hollow curvature of the lower parts of upper square-sails, toclear the stays when the yards are braced up. 

ROAD, OR ROADSTEAD. An off-shore well-known anchorage, where ships mayawait orders, as St. Helen's at Portsmouth, Cowes, Leith, Basque Roads, Saugor, and others, where a well-found vessel may ride out a gale. 

ROADSTER, OR ROADER. Applied chiefly to those vessels which work bytides, and seek some known road to await turn of tide or change of wind. If a vessel under sail strike against any roader and damage her, theformer is obliged by law to make good the damages. 

ROAST-BEEF DRESS. Full uniform; probably from its resemblance to that ofthe royal beef-eaters. 

ROAST BEEF OF OLD ENGLAND. A popular air, by which officers are summonedto the dinner-table. 

ROBANDS, OR ROBBENS. (_See_ ROPE-BANDS. )

ROBINET. An ancient military machine for throwing darts and stones; nowthe name of some useful cocks in the steam-engine, as for gauge, brine, trial, and steam-regulator. 

ROCK. An extensive geological term, but limited in hydrographicalparlance to hard and solid masses of the earth's surface; when theserise in insulated masses nearly to the surface of the sea, they rendernavigation especially dangerous. --_Half-tide rock. _ A rock whichappears above water at half-ebb. 

ROCK-COD. A species of cod found on a rocky bottom. 

ROCKET. The well-known pyrotechnical preparation, but modified to suitvarious purposes. A cylindrical case charged with a fiercely burningcomposition, the gases of which, rushing out from the after-end againstthe resisting atmosphere, propel the whole forward at a rate continuallyincreasing, until the composition be expended. It is generally kept inbalance by a long light stick or tail attached. The case is made ofmetal or paper, and variously headed to the amount of 32 lbs. If itspurpose be war (_see_ CONGREVE-ROCKETS); life-saving (by conveying aline over a stranded vessel); even the killing of whales, when reducedto 1, 2, or 3 lbs. ; or, lastly, signals, for which it is fired straightupwards. 

ROCKET-BOAT. Flat-bottomed boats, fitted with rocket-frames to fireCongreve rockets from, in naval bombardment. 

ROCKET-BRIGADE. A body of horse-artillery assigned to rocket service. 

ROCKET-FRAME. The stand from which Congreve rockets are fired. 

ROCK-HIND. A large fish of tropical regions, _Serranus catus_. 

ROCK-SCORPION. A name applied to persons born at Gibraltar. 

ROD. The connecting and coupling bars of the steam-engine. (_See_SOUNDING-ROD. )

RODD. A sort of cross-bow formerly in use in our navy. 

RODDEN-FLEUK. A northern name for the turbot. 

RODDING TIME. The season for fish-spawning. 

RODE OF ALL. Improperly so written for _rowed of all_ (which see). Theorder to throw in and boat the oars. 

RODGERS' ANCHOR. The excellent small-palmed, very strong andgood-holding anchor. It is the result of many years' study andexperiment by Lieutenant Rodgers, R. N. 

RODMAN GUN. One cast on the excellent method of Captain Rodman, formerlyof the United States Ordnance--viz. On a core artificially kept cool;whereby the outer metal, cooling last, shrinks on to and compresses theinner, instead of drawing outwards and weakening it, as it must do whencooled first in a solid casting. 

ROGER. The black flag hoisted by pirates. (_See_ JOLLY ROGER. )

ROGER'S BLAST. A provincialism denoting a sudden and local motion of theair, resembling a miniature whirlwind. 

ROGUE'S MARCH. The tune appropriated to drumming a bad character out ofa ship or out of a regiment. 

ROGUE'S YARN. A yarn twisted the contrary way to the rest of a rope, fordetecting theft or embezzlement. Being tarred if in a white rope, butwhite in a tarred rope, it is easily discovered. It is placed in themiddle of each strand in all the cordage made for the royal navy. Latelythe rogue's yarn has been superseded by a thread of worsted: a differentcoloured worsted being used in each dockyard, so that any defective ropemay be traced to the place where it was made. 

ROLE D'EQUIPAGE. An important document in admiralty law. (_See_MUSTER-ROLL. )

ROLL. A uniform beat of the drum, without variation, for a considerabletime. The divisions are summoned by roll of drum, one roll for each. (_See_ MUSTER-ROLL. )

ROLLER. A mighty oceanic swell said to precurse the northers of theAtlantic, and felt in great violence at Tristan d'Acunha, where H. M. S. _Lily_ foundered with all hands in consequence, and several vessels atSt. Helena have been driven from their anchors and wrecked. These wavesroll in from the north, and do not break till they reach soundings, whenthey evince terrific power, rising from 5 to 15 feet above the usuallevel of the waters. A connection with volcanoes has been suggested as acause. 

ROLLERS. Cylindrical pieces of timber, fixed either horizontally orvertically in different parts of a ship above the deck, so as to revolveon an axis, and prevent the cables, hawsers, and running rigging frombeing chafed, by lessening their friction. The same as _friction-roller_. Also, movable pieces of wood of the same figure, which are occasionallyplaced under boats, pieces of heavy timber, &c. 

ROLLING. That oscillatory motion by which the waves rock a ship fromside to side. The larger part of this disturbance is owing to the depthof the centre of gravity below the centre of figure, the formerexercising a violent reaction when disturbed from its rest by passingseas; therefore it is diminished by raising the weights, and must by nomeans be confounded with heeling. 

ROLLING-CHOCK, OR JAW-PIECE. Similar to that of a gaff, fastened to themiddle of an upper yard, to steady it. 

ROLLING-CLEAT. Synonymous with _rolling-chock_. 

ROLLING DOWN TO ST. HELENA. Running with a flowing sheet by thetrade-wind. 

ROLLING-HITCH. Pass the end of a rope round a spar or rope; take itround a second time, riding the standing part; then carry it across, andup through the bight. 

ROLLING-SWELL. That heaving of the sea where the waves are very distant, forming deep troughs between. 

ROLLING-TACKLES. Used to prevent the yards from swaying to and fro underheavy rolling motion. 

ROLLSTER, OR ROSTER. A rotation list of officers. 

ROLL UP A SAIL, TO. To hand it quickly. 

ROMAN CEMENT. A cement which hardens under water; used for piers, docks, &c. , as pozzolana, Aberthaw limestone, &c. 

ROMBOWLINE, OR RUMBOWLINE. Condemned canvas, rope, and the like. Alsothe coarse rope used to secure new coils. 

RONDEL. An old term for a light, round shield. 

RONE. A northern term for the roe of a fish. 

RONNAL. A northern term for a female fish, as kipper is for the male. 

ROOBLE. A Russian coin. (_See_ RUBLE. )

ROOD-GOOSE. A name for the brent-goose. 

ROOF-TREE. _See_ ROUGH-TREE. 

ROOKE, OR ROUKE. A mist, dampness, or fog. 

ROOM. A name given to some reserved apartment in a ship, as--_Thebread-room. _ In the aftermost part of the hold: properly lined toreceive the bread, and keep it dry. --_The cook-room. _ (_See_GALLEY. )--_The gun-room. _ On the after gun-deck of ships of the line, orsteerage of frigates; devoted to the gun-room officers. --_Light-room. _Attached to the magazine. --_Sail-rooms_, devoted to the sails, are onthe orlop deck, and are inclosed for the reception of the sparesails. --_Slop-room. _ Devoted to slop-clothing. --_Spirit-room. _ A securespace in the after-part of a ship's hold, for the stores of wine, brandy, &c. --_Steward's-room. _ The office devoted to the purser'ssteward of former times, now paymaster's steward, whence he issues mostof the light provisions to the ship's company. --_Ward-room. _ A room overthe gun-room in ships of the line, where the lieutenants and otherprincipal officers sleep and mess. The term _sea-room_ is applied when aship obtains a good offing, is clear of the coast dangers, and is freeto stand on a long course without nearing danger. 

ROOM, ROOMER, OR GOING ROOM. The old term for going large, or from, thewind. (_See_ LASK and LARGE. ) It is mentioned by Bourne in 1578. 

ROOMING. An old word to signify running to leeward. --_To go room. _ Tobear down. 

ROOST. A phrase applied to races of strong and furious tides, which setin between the Orkney and Shetland Islands, as those of Sumburgh and theStart. 

ROPE. Is composed of hemp, hide, wire, or other stuff, spun into yarnsand strands, which twisted together forms the desired cordage. The wordis very old, being the actual representative of the Anglo-Saxon_ráp_. --_To rope a sail. _ To sew the bolt-rope round its edges, tostrengthen it and prevent it from rending. 

ROPE-BANDS. Small plaited lines rove through the eyelet holes with arunning eye, by which the head of a sail, after the earings are secured, is brought to the yard or jack-stay. 

ROPE-HOUSE. A long building in a dockyard, where ropes are made. 

ROPE-LADDER. Such as hangs over the stern, to enable men to go intoboats, &c. 

ROPE-MAKER. A first-class petty officer in the navy. 

ROPE OF SAND. A term borrowed from a Greek proverb signifying attemptingimpossibilities; without cohesion. Said of people who ought, but willnot combine to effect a necessary object. 

ROPES. A general name given to all the cordage above one inch incircumference used in rigging a ship; but the name is severally appliedto the awning, bell, boat, bolt, breast, bucket, buoy, davit, entering, grapnel, guest or guist, guy, heel, keel, man, parral, passing, ring, rudder, slip, swab, tiller, top, and yard: all which see under theirrespective heads. Ropes are of several descriptions, viz. :--_Cable-laid_, consists of three strands of already formed hawser-laid or twistedleft-hand, laid up into one opposite making nine strands. --_Hawser-laid_, is merely three strands of simple yarns twisted right, but laid upleft. --_Four-strand_ is similarly laid with four strands, and a corescarcely twisted. --_Sash-line_ is plaited and used for signalhalliards. --_Rope-yarn_ is understood to be the selected serviceableyarns from condemned rope, and is worked into twice-laid. The refuse, again, into rumbowline for temporary purposes, not demanding strength. 

ROPES, HIGH. _On the high ropes_. To be ceremonious, upstart, investedwith brief authority. 

ROPE'S END. The termination of a fall, and should be pointed or whipped. Formerly much used for illegal punishment. 

ROPE-YARN. The smallest and simplest part of any rope, being one of thelarge threads of hemp or other stuff, several of which being twistedtogether form a strand. 

ROPING-NEEDLES. Those used for roping, being strong accordingly. 

RORQUAL, OR FURROWED WHALE. A name of Scandinavian origin applied to thefin-back whales, distinguished from the right whales by the small sizeof their heads, shortness of their whalebone, the presence of a dorsalfin, and of a series of conspicuous longitudinal folds or furrows in theskin of the throat and chest. 

ROSE, OR STRAINER. A plate of copper or lead perforated with smallholes, placed on the heel of a pump to prevent choking substances frombeing sucked in. Roses are also nailed, for the like purpose, upon theholes which are made on a steamer's bottom for the admission of water tothe boilers and condensers. 

ROSE-LASHING. This lashing is middled, and passed opposite ways; whenfinished, the ends appear as if coiled round the crossings. 

ROSINA. A Tuscan gold coin, value 17_s. _ 1_d. _ sterling. 

ROSS. A term from the Celtic, signifying a promontory. 

ROSTER, OR ROLLSTER. A list for routine on any particular duty. (_See_ROLLSTER. )

ROSTRAL-CROWN. The naval crown anciently awarded to the individual whofirst boarded an enemy's ship. 

ROSTRUM. A prow; also a stand for a public speaker. 

ROTATION. The motion of a body about its axis. 

ROTHER. This lineal descendant of the Anglo-Saxon _róter_ is still inuse for _rudder_ (which see). 

ROTTEN ROW. A line of old ships-in-ordinary in _routine_ order. 

ROUBLE. _See_ RUBLE. 

ROUGH BOOKS. Those in which the warrant officers make their immediateentries of expenditure. 

ROUGH-KNOTS, OR ROUGH NAUTS. Unsophisticated seamen. 

ROUGH MUSIC. Rolling shot about on the lower deck, and other discordantnoises, when seamen are discontented, but without being mutinous. 

ROUGH-SPARS. Cut timber before being worked into masts, &c. 

ROUGH-TREE. An unfinished spar: also a name given in merchant ships toany mast, or other spar above the ship's side; it is, however, with morepropriety applied to any, mast, &c. , which, remaining rough andunfinished, is placed in that situation. 

ROUGH-TREE TIMBER. Upright pieces of timber placed at intervals alongthe side of a vessel, to support the rough-tree. They are also calledstanchions. 

ROUND. _To bear round up. _ To go before the wind. --_To round a point_, is to steer clear of and go round it. 

ROUND-AFT. The outward curve or segment of a circle, that the sternpartakes of from the wing transom upwards. 

ROUND AND GRAPE. A phrase used when a gun is charged at close quarterswith round shot, grape, and canister; termed a belly-full. 

ROUND DOZEN. A punishment term for thirteen lashes. 

ROUND-HOUSE. A name given in East Indiamen and other large merchantships, to square cabins built on the after-part of the quarter-deck, andhaving the poop for its roof; such an apartment is frequently called the_coach_ in ships of war. Round, because one can walk round it. In sometrading vessels the round-house is built on the deck, generally abaftthe main-mast. 

ROUND-IN, TO. To haul in on a fall; the act of pulling upon any slackrope which passes through one or more blocks in a direction nearlyhorizontal, and is particularly applied to the braces, as "Round-in theweather-braces. " It is apparently derived from the circular motion ofthe rope about the sheave or pulley, through which it passes. 

ROUNDING. A service wrapped round a spar or hawser. Also, old ropeswound firmly and closely about the layers of that part of a cable whichlies in the hawse, or athwart the stem, &c. It is used to prevent thecable from being chafed. (_See_ KECKLING and SERVICE. )

ROUNDING-UP. Is to haul through the slack of a tackle which hangs in aperpendicular direction, without sustaining or hoisting any weightybody. 

ROUNDLY. Quickly. 

ROUND-RIBBED. A vessel of burden with very little run, and a flattishbottom, the ribs sometimes almost joining the keel horizontally. 

ROUND ROBBIN [from the French _ruban rond_]. A mode of signing names ina circular form, after a complaint or remonstrance, so that no one cantell who signed first. 

ROUNDS. General discharges of the guns. Cartridges are usually reckonedby rounds, including all the artillery to be used; as, fifty rounds ofammunition. Also, going round to inspect sentinels. The general visitingof the decks made by officers, to see that all is going on right. Also, the steps of a ladder. 

ROUND SEAM. The edges or selvedges sewed together, without lapping. 

ROUND SEIZING. This is made by a series of turns, with the end passedthrough the riders, and made fast snugly. In applying this the ropedoes not cross, but both parts are brought close together, and theseizing crossed. 

ROUND SHOT. The cast-iron balls fitting the bores of their respectiveguns, as distinguished from grape or other shot. 

ROUNDS OF THE GALLEY. The opposite of what is termed Coventry; for it isfigurative of a man incurring the expressed scorn of his shipmates. 

ROUND SPLICE. One which hardly shows itself, from the neatness of therope and the skill of the splicer. Properly a long splice. 

ROUND STERN. The _segmental stern_, the bottom and wales of which arewrought quite aft, and unite in the stern-post: it is now used in ournavy, thus securing an after battery for the ship. It had long obtainedin the Danish marine. 

ROUND THE FLEET. A diabolical punishment, by which a man, lashed to aframe on a long-boat, was towed alongside of every ship in a fleet, toreceive a certain number of lashes by sentence of court-martial. 

ROUND-TO, TO. To bring to, or haul to the wind by means of the helm. Togo round, is to tack or wear. 

ROUND-TOP. A name which has obtained for modern tops, from the shape ofthe ancient ones. (_See_ TOP. )

ROUND-TURN IN THE HAWSE. A term implying the situation of the two cablesof a ship, which, when moored, has swung the wrong way three timessuccessively; if after this she come round till her head is directed thesame way as at first, this makes a _round turn and elbow_. A round turnis also the passing a rope completely round a timber-head, or any properthing, in order to hold on. (_See_ HOLDING-ON. ) Also, to pass a ropeover a belaying pin. Also, the bending of any timber or plank upwards, but especially the beams which support the deck, and curve upwardstowards the middle of the deck. This is for the purpose of strength, andfor the convenience of the run of water to the scuppers. --_To round up_a fall or tackle, is to gather in the slack; the reverse of overhaul. 

ROUND UP OF THE TRANSOMS. That segment of a circle to which they aresided, or of beams to which they are moulded. 

ROUNDURE. An old English word for circle. 

ROUSE, TO. To man-handle. "Rouse in the cable, " haul it in, and make ittaut. 

ROUSE AND BIT. The order to turn out of the hammocks. 

ROUST. A word used in the north of Scotland to signify a tumultuouscurrent or tide, occasioned by the meeting of rapid waters. (_See_ROOST. )

ROUT. The confusion and disorder created in any body of men whendefeated and dispersed. 

ROUTE. The order for the movement of a body of men, specifying itsvarious stages and dates of march. 

ROUTINE. Unchanging adherence to official system, which, if carried toofar in matters of service, often bars celerity, spirit, and consequentlysuccess. 

ROVE. A rope when passed through a block or sheave-hole. 

ROVENS. A corruption of _rope-bands_ (which see). Also, the ravellingsof canvas or buntin. 

ROVER. A pirate or freebooter. (_See_ PIRATE. ) Also, a kind of piraticalgalley of the Barbary States. 

ROVING COMMISSION. An authority granted by the Admiralty to a selectofficer in command of a vessel, to cruise wherever he may see fit. [Fromthe Anglo-Saxon _ròwen_. ]

ROW, TO. To propel a boat or vessel by oars or sweeps, which are managedin a direction nearly horizontal. (_See_ OAR. )

ROW DRY! The order to those who row, not to splash water into the boat. 

ROWED OF ALL! The orders for the rowers to cease, and toss their oarsinto the boat simultaneously, in naval style. 

ROW IN THE SAME BOAT, TO. To be of similar principles. 

ROWL. The iron or wooden shiver, or wheel, for a whip-tackle. 

ROWLE. A light crane, formerly much used in clearing boats and holds. 

ROWLOCKS. Those spaces in the gunwale, or upper edge of a boat's side, wherein the oars work in the act of rowing. 

ROW-PORTS. Certain scuttles or square holes, formerly cut through thesides of the smaller vessels of war, near the surface of the water, forthe purpose of rowing them along in a calm or light wind, by heavysweeps, each worked by several men. (_See_ SWEEPS. )

ROYAL. The name of a light sail spread immediately next above thetop-gallant sail, to whose yard-arms the lower corners of it areattached; it used to be termed top-gallant royal, and is never used butin fine weather. Also, the name of a small mortar. 

ROYAL FISH. Whales, porpoises, sturgeons, &c. , which, when driven onshore, become droits of admiralty. 

ROYAL MARINE ARTILLERY. Originally selected from the royal marines, nowspecially enlisted. (_See_ ARTILLERY, ROYAL MARINE. )

ROYAL MARINES. _See_ MARINES. 

ROYAL MERCHANT. A title of the Mediterranean, traders of the thirteenthcentury, when the Venetians were masters of the sea. 

ROYAL MORTAR. A brass one of 5-1/2 inches diameter of bore, and 150 lbs. Weight, throwing a 24-pounder shell up to 600 yards; most convenient foradvanced trenches and boat work. 

ROYAL NAVAL RESERVE. _See_ NAVAL RESERVE. 

ROYALS. A familiar appellation for the marines since the mutiny of 1797, when they were so distinguished for the loyalty and steadiness theydisplayed. Also called _royal jollys_. (_See_ JOLLY. )

ROYAL STANDARD. _See_ STANDARD. 

ROYAL YACHT. A vessel built and equipped expressly for the use of thesovereign. 

ROYAL YACHT CLUB. A very useful and honourable association. (_See_ YACHTCLUB. )

ROYAL YARD. The fourth yard from the deck, on which the royal is set. 

ROYNES. An archaic term for streams, currents, or other usual passagesof rivers and running waters. 

RUBBER. A small instrument used to rub or flatten down the seams of asail, in sail-making. 

RUBBLE-WORK. A mass of masonry, formed of irregular stones and pebblesimbedded in mortar. It is used in the interior of docks, piers, andother erections, and is opposed to ashlar-work. 

RUBLE. A Russian silver coin of 100 kopeks, in value about 3_s. _ 2_d. _sterling, so called from _rubli_, a notch; derived from the time whenbars of silver, marked with notches at different distances to representdifferent values, were used in Russia instead of coin, portions of thebar being cut off as required. 

RUDDER. The appendage attached by pintles and braces to the stern-postof a vessel, by which its course through the water is governed. It isformed of several pieces of timber, of which the main one is generallyof oak, extending the whole length. Tiphys is said to have been itsinventor. The Anglo-Saxon name was _steor-roper_. 

RUDDER BANDS OR BRACES. The iron or composition hinges on which a rudderturns. 

RUDDER-CASE. The same as _rudder-trunk_ (which see). 

RUDDER-CHAINS. Strong copper chains connected with the aft side of therudder by a span clamp and shackles. They are about 6 feet in length; ahempen pendant is then spliced into the outer link, and allowing forslack to permit the rudder free motion, they are stopped to eye-boltsalong the stern-moulding, terminating on the fore-side of the stools ofthe quarter galleries. They are, when the rudder or tiller is damaged, worked by tackles hooked to the after-channel bolts. But their principaluse in later times is to save the rudder if unshipped by striking on areef or shoal. 

RUDDER-CHALDER. The same as _gudgeon_ (which see) and _chalder_. 

RUDDER-CHOCKS. _See_ CHOCK. 

RUDDER-COAT. A canvas coat affixed to the rudder, encasing the openingin the counter, to prevent the sea from rushing in through thetiller-hole. 

RUDDER-GUDGEON. Those secured to a ship are termed braces; gudgeon ismore applicable to boats or small vessels. 

RUDDER-HEAD. The upper end of the rudder-stock. Also, the flat surfaceof the trunk, which in cabins and ward-rooms forms a very convenienttable. 

RUDDER-HORN. A kind of iron crutch bolted to the back of the rudder, forattaching the rudder chains to in case of necessity. 

RUDDER-HOUSE. Synonymous with _wheel-house_. 

RUDDER-IRONS. The pintles, gudgeons, and braces of the rudder arefrequently so called, though they were usually of copper. 

RUDDER-PENDANTS. (_See_ RUDDER-CHAINS. ) Hempen pendants fastened to therudder-chains, for steering in cases of accident, and towing the rudderto prevent its being lost if it gets unshipped. 

RUDDER-PINTLES. The hooks attached to the rudder, which enter thebraces, and hang it. 

RUDDER-RAKE. The aftermost part of the rudder. 

RUDDER-STOCK. The main piece of a rudder. 

RUDDER-TACKLES. Attached to the rudder-pendants. 

RUDDER-TRUNK. A casing of wood fitted or boxed firmly into a cavity inthe vessel's counter, called the helm port, through which therudder-stock is introduced. 

RUFFLE. A low vibrating sound of the drum, continuous like the roll, butnot so loud: it is used in complimenting officers of rank. 

RUFFLERS. Certain fellows who begged about formerly, under pretext ofhaving served in the wars. 

RULE OF THUMB. That rule suggested by a practical rather than ascientific knowledge. In common matters it means to estimate by guess, not by weight or measure. 

RULES OF THE SEA. Certain practices and regulations as to steerage, which are recognized by seamen as well as by law, in order to preventthe collision of ships, or to determine who has contravened them;precedents in one sense, custom in another. 

RULE-STAFF. A lath about 4 inches in breadth, used for curves inship-building. 

RUMBELOW. A very favourite burden to an old sea-song, of which vestigesstill remain. 

RUMBO. Rope stolen from a royal dockyard. 

RUM-GAGGER. A cheat who tells wonderful stories of his sufferings at seato obtain money. 

RUMMAGE. The search by custom-house officers for smuggled goods. 

RUN. The distance sailed by a ship. Also, used among sailors to implythe agreement to work a single passage from one place to another, asfrom Jamaica to England, and so forth. --_To make a run. _ To sway withalacrity. 

RUN, CLEAN. When the after part of a ship's form exhibits a long cleancurvature approaching to a wedge. --_Full run. _ When it is otherwise. 

RUN OF THE ICE. In Arctic parlance, implies that the ice is suddenlyimpelled by a rushing motion, arising from currents at a distance. 

RUN, TO LOWER BY THE. To let go altogether, instead of lowering with aturn on a cleat or bitt-head. 

RUN ATHWART A SHIP'S COURSE, TO. To cross her path. 

RUN AWAY WITH HER ANCHOR. Said of a ship when she drags or "shoulders"her anchor; drifting away owing to the anchor not holding, for want, perhaps, of sufficient range of cable. 

RUN AWAY WITH IT! The order to men on a tackle fall, when light goodsare being hoisted in, or in hoisting top-sails, jib, or studding-sails. 

RUNDLE. That part of a capstan round which the messenger is wound, including the drumhead. (_See_ WHELPS. )

RUN DOWN A COAST, TO. To sail along it, keeping parallel to or skirtingits dangers. 

RUN DOWN A VESSEL, TO. To pass over, into, or foul her by runningagainst her end-on, so as to jeopardize her. 

RUNE [from the Teutonic _rennen_, to flow]. A water-course. 

RUNGS. The same as the floor or ground timbers, and whose ends are therung-heads. Also, a spoke, and the step or round of a ladder. 

RUNLET. A measure of wine, oil, &c. , containing eighteen gallons and ahalf. 

RUN-MONEY. The money paid for apprehending a deserter, and chargedagainst his wages. Also, the sum given to seamen for bringing a shiphome from the West Indies, or other places, in time of war. Coasters aresometimes paid by the run instead of by the month. 

RUNNER-PURCHASE. The addition of a tackle to a single rope, then termeda pendant, passing through a block applied to the object to be moved; asit might be the laniard of a shroud, the end of the runner pendant beingfast to some secure fixed object; as in backstays, &c. 

RUNNERS. Ships which risk every impediment as to privateers or blockade, to get a profitable market. 

RUNNERS OF FOREIGN GOODS. Organized smugglers. 

RUNNING AGREEMENT. In the case of foreign-going ships making voyagesaveraging less than six months in duration, running agreements canlegally be made with the crew to extend over two or more voyages. 

RUNNING-BLOCKS. Those which are made fast to the running rigging ortackles. 

RUNNING BOWLINE-KNOT. Is made by taking the end round the standing part, and making a bowline upon its own part. 

RUNNING BOWSPRIT. One which is used in revenue cutters and smacks; itcan be reefed by sliding in, and has fid holes for that purpose. (_See_SLOOP. )

RUNNING-DOWN CLAUSE. A special admission into policies of marineinsurance, to include the risk of loss or damage in consequence of thecollision of the ship insured with other vessels. 

RUNNING-DOWN THE PORT. A method practised in the ruder state ofnavigation, when the longitude was very doubtful, by sailing into itsparallel of latitude, and then working for it on its parallel. 

RUNNING FOUL. A vessel, by accident or bad steerage, falling in contactwith another under sail. (_See_ ATHWART HAWSE. ) The law and custom ofthe sea requires that the ship on the port tack shall bear up and giveway to that on the starboard tack. Foreigners observe this generalcustom. Steamers however are always bound to give way to vessels undercanvas, having the power to alter course without altering sails, orendangering the vessel. 

RUNNING GOODS. Landing a cargo of contraband articles. 

RUNNING OUT, AND RUNNING IN, THE LOWER DECK GUNS. The old practice ofmorning and evening evolutions in a line-of-battle ship, wind andweather permitting. 

RUNNING PART OF A TACKLE. Synonymous with the fall, or that part onwhich the man power is applied to produce the intended effect. 

RUNNING THE GANTLET. _See_ GANT-LOPE (pronounced _gantlet_). 

RUN OUT A WARP, TO. To carry a hawser out from the ship by a boat, andfasten it to some distant place to remove the ship towards that place, or to keep her steady whilst her anchors are lifted, &c. 

RUPEE. The well-known coin of the East Indies. There are gold rupees ofnearly 30 shillings in value; but the current rupee is of silver, varying a little from 2 shillings, according to its being named Bombay, Arcot, or Sicca. 

RUSPONE. A gold Tuscan coin of the value of £1, 8_s. _ 7_d. _ sterling. 

RUT OF THE SEA. The point of impact where it dashes against anything. 

RUT OF THE SHORE. The sea breaking along the coast. 

RUTTER, OR ROUTIER. The old word for an outline chart for ships' tracks[from _route_]. It was also applied to a journal or log-book; or to aset of sailing instructions, as a directory. 

RYDE. A small stream. 

RYNE. An Anglo-Saxon word still in use for a water-course, or streamletwhich rises high with floods. 

S. 

S. A bent iron, called a crooked catch, or pot-hook, in anchors, &c. 

SABANDER. The familiar of _shah-bander_, an eastern title for captain orgovernor of a port. 

SABATINES. Steel coverings for the feet; sometimes slippers or clogs. 

SABRE. A sword with a broad and rather heavy blade, thick at the back, and curved towards the point, intended for cutting more than forthrusting. 

SABRETACHE. A flat leathern case or pocket suspended at the left side ofa cavalry officer's sword-belt. 

SACCADE. The sudden jerk of the sails in light winds and a heavy swell. 

SACCOLEVA, OR SACOLEGE. A Levantine small craft of great sheer, carryinga sail with an enormous sprit, so called. 

SACK, TO [from the Anglo-Saxon _sæc_]. To pillage a place which has beentaken by storm. 

SACKS OF COALS. The seaman's name for the black _Magellanic clouds_, orpatches of deep blue sky in the milky-way near the south pole. 

SADDLE HILL. A high land visible from the coast, having a centre lesselevated than its ends, somewhat like a riding-saddle. 

SADDLES. Chocks of notched wood embracing spars, to support othersattached to them; thus we have a saddle-crutch for the main or driverboom on the taffarel; another on the bowsprit to support the heel of thejib-boom. 

SAFE-CONDUCT. A security passport granted to an enemy for his safe entryand passage through the realm. 

SAFEGUARD. Protection given to secure a people from oppression in timeof trouble. 

SAFETY-KEEL. A construction of keel for further security, by OliverLang. 

SAFETY-PIN. To secure the head of the capstan-bar. 

SAFETY-VALVE. A conical valve on the top of the steam-chest, communicating with the boiler of a steam-engine, and opening outwardly;it is so adapted and loaded, that when the steam in the boiler exceedsits proper pressure, it raises the valve, and escapes by a pipe calledthe waste steam-pipe. 

SAGG, TO. To bend or give way from heavy weight; to press down towardsthe middle; the opposite of _hogging_. In _Macbeth_ the word isfiguratively applied--

 "The mind I sway by, and the heart I bear, Shall never sagg with doubt, nor shake with fear. "

SAGGING TO LEEWARD. To drift off bodily to leeward. The movement bywhich a ship makes a considerable lee-way. 

SAGITTA. One of the ancient northern constellations. 

SAGITTARII. The name in our records for some small vessels with oars andsails, used in the twelfth century. 

SAGITTARIUS. The ninth sign of the zodiac, which the sun enters aboutthe 21st of November. 

SAGUM. An ancient military cloak. 

SAIC. A sort of Greek ketch, which has no top-gallant nor mizen sails, but still spreads much canvas. 

SAIL. The terms applicable to the parts of a sail comprise:--Seaming thecloths together; cutting the gores; tabling and sewing on the reef, belly, lining, and buntline bands, roping, and marling on the clues andfoot-rope. The _square sails_ comprise courses, top-sails, topgallant-sails, royals, skysails on each mast. The _fore and aft_, arejibs, staysails, trysails, boom main-sails and fore-sails, gafftop-sails, to which may be added the studding-sails and the flyingkites. Also, a distant ship is called a sail. 

SAIL BURTON. A purchase extending from topmast-head to deck, for sendingsails aloft ready for bending; it usually consists of two single blocks, having thimbles and a hook; a leading block on the slings through whichthe fall leads to bear the top-sail clear of the top-rim. 

SAIL HO! The exclamation used when a strange ship is first discerned atsea--either from the deck or from the mast-head. 

SAIL-HOOK. A small hook used for holding the seams of a sail while inthe act of sewing. 

SAILING. The movement of a vessel by means of her sails along thesurface of the water. _Sailing_, or the _sailings_, is a term applied tothe different ways in which the path of a ship at sea, and thevariations of its geographical position, are represented on paper, allwhich are explained under the various heads of great circle sailing, Mercator's sailing, middle latitude sailing, oblique sailing, parallelsailing, plane sailing. 

SAILING, ORDER OF. The general disposition of a fleet of ships whenproceeding on a voyage or an expedition. It is generally found mostconvenient for fleets of ships of war to be formed in three parallellines or columns. But squadrons of less than ten sail of the line areplaced in two lines. 

SAILING CAPTAIN. An officer in some navies, whose duties are similar tothose of our masters in the royal navy. 

SAILING DIRECTIONS. Works supplied by the admiralty to Her Majesty'sships, which advise the navigator as to the pilotage of coasts andislands throughout the world. 

SAILING ICE. A number of loose pieces floating at a sufficient distancefrom each other, for a ship to be able to pick her way among them. Otherwise termed _open ice_; when she forces her way, pushing the iceaside, it is termed boring. 

SAILING LARGE. With a quartering wind. (_See_ LARGE. )

SAILING ORDERS. Written instructions for the performance of any proposedduty. 

SAIL-LOFT. A large apartment in dockyards where the sails are cut outand made. 

SAIL-LOOSERS. Men specially appointed to loose the sails when gettingunder weigh, or loosing them to dry. 

SAIL-MAKER. A qualified person who (with his mates) is employed on boardship in making, repairing, or altering the sails; whence he usuallyderives the familiar sobriquet of _sails_. 

SAIL-NETTING. The fore-topmast staysail, main-topmast staysail, and mainstaysail are generally stowed in the nettings. 

SAILOR. A man trained in managing a ship, either at sea or in harbour. Athorough sailor is the same with mariner and seaman, but as every one ofthe crew is dubbed a sailor, there is much difference in the absolutemeaning of the term. (_See_ MARINER and SEAMAN. )

SAILORS' HOME. A house built by subscription, for the accommodation ofseamen on moderate terms, and to rescue them from swindlers, crimps, &c. Sailors' homes are a great boon also to shipwrecked mariners. Homes formarried seamen and their families are now contemplated, and it is hopedthat the admiralty will set the example, by building them for the royalnavy, and letting them at moderate rents. 

SAILOR'S PLEASURE. A rather hyperbolic phrase for a sailor's overhaulinghis ditty-bag at a leisure moment, and restowing his little hoard. 

SAILS, TO LOOSE. To unfurl them, and let them hang loose to dry; or themovement preparatory to "making sail. "--_To make sail_, to spread thesails to the wind in order to begin the action of sailing, or toincrease a ship's speed. --_To shorten sail_, to take in part of or allthe sails, either by reefing or furling, or both. --_To strike sail_, tolower the upper sails. A gracious mode of salute on passing a foreignerat sea, especially a superior. 

SAINT CUTHBERT'S DUCK. The _Anas mollissima_; the eider, or great blackand white duck of the Farne Islands. 

SAINT ELMO'S LIGHT. _See_ COMPASANT. 

SAINT SWITHIN. The old notion is, that if it should rain on thisbishop's day, the 15th of July, not one of forty days following will bewithout a shower. 

SAKER. A very old gun, 8 or 9 feet long, and of about 5 lbs. Calibre:immortalized in _Hudibras_:--

 "The cannon, blunderbuss, and saker, He was th' inventer of, and maker. "

The name is thought to have been derived from the French oath _sacre_. 

SALADE. An Anglo-Norman term for a light helmet or head-piece. 

SALADIN. The first coat-of-arms; so called because the crusaders assumedit in imitation of the Saracens, whose chief at that time was theredoubtable Saladin. 

SALAM, TO. To salute a superior; a very common term, borrowed fromIndia. Overdoing it does not please Jack, for he dislikes to see hiscommander "salamming like a captured Frenchman. "

SALAMANDER. The heated iron formerly used for firing guns, especially insalutes, as it ensures regularity. 

SALE OF COMMISSIONS. The regulated disposal of full-pay, unattached, retired, and half-pay commissions in the army. 

SALE OF EFFECTS. _See_ EFFECTS, of dead men sold by auction "at themast. "

SALIENT ANGLE. In fortification, one of which the point projectsoutwards. 

SALINAS, OR SALINES. Salt-ponds, natural or artificial, near thesea-coast. 

SALINOMETER. A brine-gauge for indicating the density of brine in theboilers of marine steam-engines, to show when it is necessary to blowoff. 

SALLY. A sudden expedition out of a besieged place against the besiegersor some part of their works; also called a _sortie_. --_To sally. _ Tomove a body by jerks or rushes; a sudden heave or set. Thus, when avessel grounds by the bow or stern, and the hawsers are severely taut, the sally is practised. This is done by collecting all hands at thepoint aground, and then by a simultaneous rush reaching the part afloat. 

SALLY-PORT. An opening cut in the glacis of a place to afford freeegress to the troops in case of a sortie. Also, a large port on eachquarter of a fire-ship, out of which the officers and crew make theirescape into the boats as soon as the train is fired. Also, a place atPortsmouth exclusively set apart for the use of men-of-war's boats. Also, the entering port of a three-decker. 

SALMAGUNDI. A savoury sea dish, made of slices of cured fish and onions. 

SALMON. The well-known fish, _Salmo salar_. It is partly oceanic andpartly fluviatile, ascending rivers in the breeding season. 

SALMON-LADDER. A short trough placed suitably in any fall where thewater is tolerably deep, leaving a narrow trough at intervals for thefish to pass through, with barriers to break the force of the water. 

SALOON. A name for the main cabin of a steamer or passenger ship. 

SALT, OR OLD SALT. A weather-beaten sailor. One of the old seamen whonot only have known but have felt what war was. 

SALT-BOX. A case for keeping a temporary supply of cartridges for theimmediate use of the great guns; it is under the charge of thecabin-door sentry. 

SALT-EEL. A rope's-end cut from the piece for starting the _homodelinquens_. 

SALT-JUNK. Navy salt beef. (_See_ JUNK. )

SALTPETRE. The neutral salt; also called _nitre_ (which see). 

SALT-PITS. Reservoirs to contain sea-water for the purpose of makingsalt. 

SALUTE. A discharge of cannon or small arms, display of flags, orcheering of men, in deference, by the ships of one nation to those ofanother, or by ships of the same nation to a superior or an equal. Also, the proper compliment paid by troops, on similar occasions, whether withthe sword, musket, or hand. 

SALVAGE. Originally meant the thing or goods saved from wreck, fire, orenemies. It now signifies an allowance made to those by whose means theship or goods have been saved. These cases, when fairly made out, arereceived with the most liberal encouragement. Goods of British subjects, retaken from the enemy, are restored to the owners, paying for salvageone eighth of the value to ships-of-war; one-sixth to privateers. When aship is in danger of being stranded, justices of the peace are tocommand the constables to assemble as many persons as are necessary topreserve it; and on its being thus preserved, the persons assistingtherein shall, in thirty days after, be paid a reasonable reward for thesalvage; otherwise the ship or goods shall remain in the custody of theofficers of the customs as a security for the same. 

SALVAGE LOSS. A term in marine insurance implying that the underwritersare liable to pay the amount insured on the property lost in the ship, but taking credit for what is saved. 

SALVAGER. One employed on the sea-coast to look to the rights ofsalvage, wreck, or waif. 

SALVO. A discharge from several pieces simultaneously, as a salute. 

SALVOR. The person claiming and receiving salvage for having saved aship and cargo, or any part thereof, from impending peril, or recoveredafter actual loss. 

SAMAKEEN. A Turkish coasting trader. 

SAMBUCCO. A pinnace common among the Arabs on the east coast of Africa, as at Mombaze, Melinda, &c. The name is remarkable, as Athenæusdescribes the musical instrument _sambuca_ as resembling a ship with aladder placed over it. 

SAMPAAN, OR SAMPAN. A neatly-adjusted kind of hatch-boat, used by theChinese for passengers, and also as a dwelling for Tartar families, witha comfortable cabin. 

SAMPHIRE. _Crithmum maritimum_, a plant found on sea-shores and saltmarshes, which forms an excellent anti-scorbutic pickle. 

SAMS-CHOO. A Chinese spirit distilled from rice; it is fiery, fetid, andvery injurious to European health. 

SAMSON'S POST. A movable pillar which rests on its upper shoulderagainst a beam, with the lower tenons into the deck, and standing at anangle of 15° forward. To this post, at 4 feet above the deck, a leadingor snatch-block is hooked, and any fore-and-aft purchase is led by itacross the deck to one similar, so that, from the starboard bow to thestarboard aft Samson-post, across to the port-post and forward, thewhole crew can apply their force for catting and fishing the anchor, orhoisting in or out boats; top-tackle falls, &c. , are usually so treated. 

SANDAL. A long narrow Barbary boat, of from 15 to 50 tons; open, andfitted with two masts. 

SAND-BAGS. Small square cushions made of canvas and painted, for boats'ballast. Also, bags containing about a cubical foot of earth or sand, used for raising a parapet in haste, and making temporary loop-holes formusketry; also, to repair any part beaten down or damaged by the enemy'sfire. 

SAND AND CORAL BANK. An accumulation of sand and fragments of coralabove the surface of the sea, without any vegetation; when it becomesverdant it is called a _key_ (which see). 

SAND-DRIFTS. Hillocks of shifting sands, as on the deserts of Sahara, &c. 

SANDERLING. A small wading bird, _Calidris arenaria_. 

SAND-HILLS. Mounds of sand thrown up on the sea-shore by winds andeddies. They are mostly destitute of verdure. 

SAND-HOPPER. A small creature (_Talitra_), resembling a shrimp, whichabounds on some beaches. 

SAND-LAUNCE. _Ammodytes tobianus_, a small eel-like fish, which buriesitself in the sand. 

SAND-PIPER. A name applied to many species of small wading birds foundon the sea-shore and banks of lakes and rivers, feeding on insects, crustaceans, and worms. 

SAND-SHOT. Those cast in moulds of sand, when economy is of moreimportance than form or hardness; the small balls used in case, grape, &c. , are thus produced. 

SAND-STRAKE. A name sometimes given to the garboard-strake. 

SAND-WARPT. Left by the tide on a shoal. Also, striking on a shoal athalf-flood. 

SANGAREE. A well known beverage in both the Indies, composed of port ormadeira, water, lime-juice, sugar, and nutmeg, with an occasionalcorrective of spirits. The name is derived from its being blood-red. Also, arrack-punch. 

SANGIAC. A Turkish governor; the name is also applied to the bannerwhich he is authorized to display, and has been mistaken for St. Jacques. 

SAP. That peculiar method by which a besieger's zig-zag approaches arecontinuously advanced in spite of the musketry of the defenders; gabionsare successively placed in position, filled, and covered with earth, bymen working from behind the last completed portion of the trench, thehead of which is protected by a moving defence called a _sap-roller_. Its progress is necessarily slow and arduous. There is also the _flyingsap_, used at greater distances, and by night, when a line of gabions isplanted and filled by a line of men working simultaneously; and the_double sap_, used when zig-zags are no longer efficient, consisting oftwo contiguous single saps, back to back, carried direct towards theplace, with frequent returns, which form traverses against enfilade; the_half-double sap_ has its reverse side less complete than the last. 

SARABAND. A forecastle dance, borrowed from the Moors of Africa. 

SARACEN. A term applied in the middle ages indiscriminately to allPagans and Mahometans. 

SARDINE. _Engraulis meletta_, a fish closely allied to the anchovy;found in the Mediterranean and Atlantic. 

SARGASSO. _Fucus natans_, or gulf-weed, the sea-weed always to be foundfloating in large quantities in that part of the Atlantic south of theAzores, which is not subject to currents, and which is called theSargasso Sea. 

SARKELLUS. An unlawful net or engine for destroying fish. (_Inquisit. Justic. Anno 1254. _)

SAROS. _See_ CYCLE OF ECLIPSES. 

SARRAZINE. A rough portcullis. 

SARRE. An early name for a long gun, but of smaller dimensions than abombard. 

SASH. A useful mark of distinction worn by infantry and marine officers;it is made of crimson silk, and intended as a waist-band, but latterlythrown over the left shoulder and across the body. Also, now worn by thenaval equerries to the queen. Serjeants of infantry wear it of the samecolour in cotton. 

SASSE. A kind of weir with flood-gate, or a navigable sluice. 

SATELLITES. Secondary planets or moons, which revolve about some of theprimary planets. The moon is a satellite to the earth. 

SATURN. One of the ancient superior planets remarkable for the luminousrings with which his globe is surrounded, and for his being accompaniedby no fewer than eight moons. 

SAUCER, OR SPINDLE OF THE CAPSTAN. A socket of iron let into a woodenstock or standard, called the step, resting upon, and bolted to, thebeams. Its use is to receive the spindle or foot on which the capstanrests and turns round. 

SAUCER-HEADED BOLTS. Those with very flat heads. 

SAUCISSON, OR SAUCISSE. A word formerly used for the _powder-hose_, alinen tube containing the train of powder to a mine or fire-ship, theslow match being attached to the extremity to afford time for theparties to reach positions of safety. 

SAUCISSONS. Faggots, differing from fascines only in that they arelonger, and made of stouter branches of trees or underwood. 

SAUVE-TETE. _See_ SPLINTER-NETTING. 

SAVANNAH [Sp. _Sabana_]. A name given to the wonderfully fertile naturalmeadows of tropical America; the vast plains clear of wood, and coveredin general with waving herbage, in the interior of North America, arecalled _prairies_ (which see). 

SAVE-ALL, OR WATER-SAIL. A small sail sometimes set under the foot of alower studding-sail. 

SAW-BILL. A name for the goosander, _Mergus merganser_. 

SAW-BONES. A sobriquet for the surgeon and his assistants. 

SAW-FISH. A species of shark (_Pristis antiquorum_) with the bones ofthe face produced into a long flat rostrum, with a row of pointed teethplaced along each edge. 

SAY-NAY. A Lancashire name for a lamprey. 

SAYTH. A coal-fish in its third year. 

SCAFFLING. A northern term for an eel. 

SCALA. Ports and landing-places in the Levant, so named from the oldcustom of placing a ladder to a boat to land from. Gang-boards are nowused for that purpose. 

SCALDINGS! Notice to get out of the way; it is used when a man with aload wishes to pass, and would lead those in his way to think that hewas carrying hot water. 

SCALE. An old word for commercial emporium, derived from _scala_. Also, the graduated divisions by which the proportions of a chart or plan areregulated. Also, the common measures of the sheer-draught, &c. (_See_GUNTER'S LINE. )

SCALENE TRIANGLE. That which has all three sides unequal. 

SCALING. The act of cleaning the inside of a ship's cannon by theexplosion of a reduced quantity of powder. Also, attacking a place bygetting over its defences. 

SCALING-LADDERS. Those made in lengths which may be carried easily, andquickly fitted together to any length required. 

SCAMPAVIA. A fast rowing war boat of Naples and Sicily; in 1814-15 theyranged to 150 feet, pulled by forty sweeps or oars, each man having hisbunk under his sweep. They were rigged with one huge lateen at one-thirdfrom the stem; no forward bulwark or stem above deck; a long brass6-pounder gun worked before the mast, only two feet above water; thejib, set on a gaff-like boom, veered abeam when firing the gun. Abaft alateen mizen with top-sail, &c. 

SCANT. A term applied to the wind when it heads a ship off, so that shewill barely lay her course when the yards are very sharp up. 

SCANTLING. The dimensions of a timber when reduced to its standard size. 

SCAR. In hydrography applies to a cliff; whence are derived the namesScarborough, Scarnose, &c. Also, to rocks bare only at low water, as onthe coasts of Lancashire. Also, beds of gravel or stone in estuaries. 

SCARBRO' WARNING. Letting anything go by the run, without due notice. Heywood in his account of Stafford's surprise of Scarborough castle, in1557, says:--

 "This term _Scarborow warning_ grew (some say), By hasty hanging for rank robbery theare, Who that was met, but suspected in that way, Straight he was truss't, whatever he were. "

SCARFED. An old word for "decorated with flags. "

SCARP. A precipitous steep; as either the escarp or counterscarp of afort: but a bank or the face of a hill may also be _scarped_. 

SCARPH, OR SCARFING. Is the junction of wood or metal by sloping off theedges, and maintaining the same thickness throughout the joint. The stemand stern posts are scarfed to the keel. 

SCARPHS OF THE KEEL. The joints, when a keel is made of several pieces. (_See_ SCARPH. )

SCARRAG. Manx or Erse for a skate or ray-fish. 

SCAT. A west of England term for a passing shower. 

SCAUR. _See_ SCAR. 

SCAW. A promontory or isthmus. 

SCAWBERK. An archaism for scabbard. 

SCEITHMAN. An old statute term signifying _pirate_. 

'SCENDING [from _ascend_]. The contrary motion to pitching. (_See_SEND. )

SCENOGRAPHY. Representation of ships or forts in some kind ofperspective. 

SCHEDAR. The lucida of the ancient constellation Cassiopeia, and one ofthe nautical stars. 

SCHEMER. One who has charge of the hold of a North Sea ship. 

SCHNAPS. An ardent spirit, like Schiedam hollands, impregnated withnarcotic ingredients; a destructive drink in common use along the shoresof the northern seas. 

SCHOCK. A commercial measure of 60 cask staves. (_See_ RING. )

SCHOOL. A term applied to a shoal of any of the cetacean animals. 

SCHOONER. Strictly, a small craft with two masts and no tops, but thename is also applied to fore-and-aft vessels of various classes. Thereare two-topsail schooners both fore and aft, main-topsail schooners, with two square top-sails; fore-topsail schooners with one squaretop-sail. Ballahou schooners, whose fore-mast rakes forward; and wealso have three-masted vessels called schooners. 

SCHOUT. A water-bailiff in many northern European ports, whosuperintends the police for seamen. 

SCHRIVAN. An old term for a ship's clerk. 

SCHULL. _See_ SCHOOL. 

SCHUYT. A Dutch vessel, galliot rigged, used in the river trade ofHolland. 

SCIMETAR. An eastern sabre, with a broad, very re-curved blade. 

SCOBS. The scoria made at the armourer's forge. 

SCONCE. A petty fort. Also, the head; whence Shakspeare's pun in makingDromio talk of having his sconce ensconced. Also, the Anglo-Saxon for adangerous candle-holder, made to let into the sides or posts in a ship'shold. Also, _sconce of the magazine_, a close safe lantern. 

SCOODYN. An old word to express the burring which forms on vessels'bottoms, when foul. 

SCOOP. A long spoon-shaped piece of wood to throw water, when washing aship's sides in the morning. _Scooping_ is the same as _baling_ a boat. 

SCOPE. The riding scope of a vessel's cable should be at least threetimes the depth of water under her, but it must vary with the amount ofwind and nature of the bottom. 

SCORE. Twenty; commercially, in the case of certain articles, six scorewent to the hundred--a usage thus regulated:

 "Five score's a hundred of men, money, and pins: Six score's a hundred of all other things. "

Also an angular piece cut out of a solid. Also, an account or reckoning. 

SCORE OF A BLOCK, OR OF A DEAD EYE. The groove round which the ropepasses. 

SCORPIO. The eighth sign of the zodiac, which the sun enters about the22d of October. α Scorpii, _Antares_; a nautical star. 

SCOT, OR SHOT. Anglo-Saxon _sceat_. A share of anything; a contributionin fair proportion. 

SCOTCHMAN. A piece of stiff hide, or batten of wood, placed over thebackstays fore-swifter of the shrouds, &c. , so as to secure the standingrigging from being chafed. Perhaps so called from the scotch or notchwhere the seizing is passed. 

SCOTCH MIST. Mizzle, or small soaking rain. 

SCOTCH PRIZE. A mistake; worse than no prize, or one liable to hamperthe captors with heavy law expenses. 

SCOTIA. Carved mouldings and grooves. 

SCOUR A BEACH, TO. To pour a quick flanking fire along it, in order todislodge an enemy. 

SCOURER, OR SCOURING-STICK. Spring-searcher. An implement to clean theinterior of musket barrels. 

SCOURGE. A name of the boatswain's cat. 

SCOUR THE SEAS, TO. To infest the ocean as a pirate. 

SCOUSE. A dish made of pounded biscuit and salt beef cut into smallpieces, boiled up with seasoning. (_See_ LOBSCOUSE. )

SCOUTS. Small vessels of war for especial service. (_See_ SKOUTS. ) Also, intelligent men sent in advance to discover the enemy, and give anaccount of his force. 

SCOW. A large flat-bottomed boat, used either as a lighter, or forferrying. 

SCOW-BANKER. A manager of a scow. Also, a contemptuous term for alubberly fellow. 

SCOWRING. The cleansing and clearing a harbour by back-water, orotherwise. Also an old term for tropical flux or dysentery. 

SCRABBLE. A badly written log. This term is used by the translators ofthe Bible at David's feigned madness, when he "scrabbled on the doors ofthe gate. "

SCRABER. The puffinet, _Colymbus grille_. (_See_ GREENLAND DOVE. )

SCRAPER [from the Anglo-Saxon _screope_]. A small triangular ironinstrument, having two or three sharp edges. It is used to scrape theship's side or decks after caulking, or to clean the top-masts, &c. Thisis usually followed by a varnish of turpentine, or a mixture of tar andoil, to protect the wood from the weather. Also, metaphorically, acocked hat, whether shipped fore-and-aft or worn athwart-ships. 

SCRATCH-RACE. A boat-race where the crews are drawn by lot. 

SCRAWL. The young of the dog-crab, or a poor sort of crab itself. 

SCREEN-BERTH. Pieces of canvas temporarily hung round a berth, forwarmth and privacy. (_See_ BERTH. )

SCREW-DOCK. _See_ GRIDIRON. 

SCREW-GAMMONING FOR THE BOWSPRIT. A chain or plate fastened by a screw, to secure a vessel's bowsprit to the stem-head, allowing for the tricingup of the bowsprit when required. 

SCREW-PROPELLER. A valuable substitute for the cumbersome paddle-wheelsas a motive-power for steam-vessels: the Archimedean screw plying underwater, and hidden by the counter, communicates motion in the directionof its axis to a vessel, by working against the resisting medium ofwater. (_See_ TWIN-SCREW. )

SCREWS. Powerful machines for lifting large bodies. (_See_ BED, BARREL, and JACK SCREWS. )

SCREW-WELL. A hollow trunk over the screw of a steamer, for allowing thepropeller to be disconnected and lifted when required. 

SCRIMP. Scant. A word used in the north; as, a scrimp wind, a very lightbreeze. 

SCRIVANO. A clerk or writer; a name adopted in our early ships from the_Portuguese_ or _Spanish_. 

SCROLL-HEAD. A slightly curved piece of timber bolted to the knees ofthe head, in place of a figure: finished off by a volute turningoutwards, contrary to the _fiddle-head_. 

SCROVIES. An old name given to the worthless men picked up by crimps, and sent on board as A. B. 's. 

SCRUFF. The matter adhering to the bottoms of foul vessels. 

SCUD. The low misty cloud. It appears to fly faster than others becauseit is very near the earth's surface. When scud is abundant, showers maybe expected. --_To scud. _ To run before a gale under canvas enough tokeep the vessel ahead of the sea: as, for instance, a close-reefed maintop-sail and fore-sail; without canvas she is said to scud under _barepoles_, and is very likely to be pooped. When a vessel makes a suddenand precipitate flight, she is said to scud away. --_Scud like a'Mudian. _ Be off in a hurry. 

SCUDO. A coin of Italy, varying in value in the different provinces. 

SCUFFLE. A confused and disorderly contention--

 "Then friends and foes to battle they goes; But what they all fights about--nobody knows. "

SCULL. A short oar of such length that a pair of them, one on each side, are conveniently managed by a single rower sitting in the middle of theboat. Also, a light metal-helmet worn in our early fleet. --_To scull. _To row a boat with a pair of sculls. Also, to propel a boat by aparticular method of managing a single oar over the boat's stern, andreversing the blade each time. It is in fact the half-stroke of thescrew rapidly reversed, and closely resembles the propelling power ofthe horizontal tail of the whale. 

SCULPTURES. The carved decorations of the head, stern, and quarter of anold ship-of-war. Also, the copper plates which "adorned" the formerbooks of voyages and travels. 

SCUM OF THE SEA. The refuse seen on the line of tidal change; the driftsent off by the ebbing tide. Or (in the neighbourhood of the rains), thefresh water running on the surface of the salt and carrying with it aline of foam bearing numerous sickly gelatinous marine animals, andphysaliæ, commonly called Portuguese men-of-war, affected by the freshwater and other small things often met with on the surface sea. 

SCUM-O'-THE-SKY. Thin atmospheric vapours. 

SCUPPER-HOSE. A canvas leathern pipe or tube nailed round the outside ofthe scuppers of the lower decks, which prevents the water fromdiscolouring the ship's sides. 

SCUPPER-LEATHER. A flap-valve nailed over a scupper-hole, serving tokeep water from getting in, yet letting it out. 

SCUPPER-NAILS. Short nails with very broad flat heads, used to nail theflaps of the scuppers, so as to retain the hose under them: they arealso used for battening tarpaulins and other general purposes. 

SCUPPER-PLUGS. Are used to close the scuppers in-board. 

SCUPPERS. Round apertures cut through the water ways and sides of a shipat proper distances, and lined with metal, in order to carry the wateroff the deck into the sea. 

SCUPPER-SHOOTS. Metal or wooden tubes which carry the water from thedecks of frigates to the sea-level. 

SCURRY. Perhaps from the Anglo-Saxon _scur_, a heavy shower, a suddensquall. It now means a hurried movement; it is more especially appliedto seals or penguins taking to the water in fright. 

SCUTTLE. A small hole or port cut either in the deck or side of a ship, generally for ventilation. That in the deck is a small hatchway. 

SCUTTLE, TO. To cut or bore holes through part of a ship when she isstranded or over-set, and continues to float, in order to save any partof her contents. Also, a trick too often practised by boring holes belowwater, to sink a ship, where fictitious cargo is embarked and the vesselinsured beyond her value. (_See_ BARRATRY. )

SCUTTLE OR SCUTTLED BUTT. A cask having a square piece sawn out of itsbilge and lashed in a convenient place to hold water for present use. 

SCUTTLE-HATCH. A lid or hatch for covering and closing the scuttles whennecessary. 

SEA. Strictly speaking, _sea_ is the next large division of water after_ocean_, but in its special sense signifies only any large portion ofthe great mass of waters almost surrounded by land, as the Black, theWhite, the Baltic, the China, and the Mediterranean seas, and in ageneral sense in contradistinction to land. By sailors the word is alsovariously applied. Thus they say--"We shipped a heavy sea. " "There is agreat sea on in the offing. " "The sea sets to the southward, " &c. Hencea ship is said to head the sea when her course is opposed to thedirection of the waves. --_A long sea_ implies a uniform motion of longwaves, the result of a steady continuance of the wind from nearly thesame quarter. --_A short sea_ is a confused motion of the waves when theyrun irregularly so as frequently to break over a vessel, caused bysudden changes of wind. The law claims for the crown wherever the seaflows to, and there the admiralty has jurisdiction; accordingly, no actcan be done, no bridge can span a river so circumstanced without thesanction of the admiralty. It claims the fore-shore unless speciallygranted by charter otherwise, and the court of vice-admiralty hasjurisdiction as to flotsam and jetsam on the fore-shore. But all crimesare subject to the laws, and are tried by the ordinary courts as withinthe body of a county, comprehended by the chord between two headlandswhere the distance does not exceed three miles from the shore. Beyondthat limit is "the sea, where high court of admiralty has jurisdiction, but where civil process cannot follow. "

SEA-ADDER. The west-country term for the pipe-fish _Syngnathus_. Thename is also given to the nest-making stickleback. 

SEA-ANCHOR. That which lies towards the offing when a ship is moored. 

SEA-ATTORNEY. The ordinary brown and rapacious shark. 

SEA-BANK. A work so important that our statutes make it felony, withoutbenefit of clergy, maliciously to cut down any sea-bank whereby landsmay be overflowed. 

SEA-BEANS. Pods of the acacia tribe shed into the rivers about the Gulfof Mexico, and borne by the stream to the coasts of Great Britain, andeven further north. 

SEA-BEAR. A name applied to several species of large seals of the genus_Otaria_, found both in the northern and southern hemispheres. Theydiffer from the true seals, especially in the mode in which they usetheir hind limbs in walking on land. 

SEA-BOARD. The line along which the land and water meet, indicating thelimit common to both. 

SEA-BOAT. A good sea-boat implies any vessel adapted to bear the seafirmly and lively without labouring heavily or straining her masts orrigging. The contrary is called _a bad sea-boat_. 

SEA-BORNE. Arrived from a voyage: said of freighted ships also afloat. 

SEA-BOTTLE. The pod or vesicle of some species of _sea-wrack_ or _Fucusgigantea_ of Cape Horn and the Straits of Magellan. 

SEA-BREEZE. A wind from the sea towards the land. In tropical climates(and sometimes during summer in the temperate zone) as the day advancesthe land becomes extremely heated by the sun, which causes an ascendingcurrent of air, and a wind from the sea rushes in to restoreequilibrium. Above the sea-breeze is a counter current, which wasclearly shown in Madras, where an æronaut waited until the sea-breezehad set in to make his ascent, expecting to be blown inland, but afterrising to a certain height found himself going out to sea, and in hishaste to descend he disordered the machinery, and could not close thevalve which allowed the gas to escape, so fell into the sea about threemiles from the land, but clung to his balloon and was saved. Also, acool sea drink. 

SEA-BRIEF. A specification of the nature and quantity of the cargo of aship, the place whence it comes, and its destination. (_See_ PASSPORT. )

SEA-CALF. A seal, _Phoca vitulina_. 

SEA-CAP. The white drift or breaks of a wave. _White horses_ of trades. 

SEA-CARDS. The old name for charts. 

SEA-CAT. A name of the wolf-fish, _Anarrhicas lupus_. 

SEA-CATGUT. The _Fucus filum_, or sea-thread. 

SEA-COAST, OR SEA-BORD. The shore of any country, or that part which iswashed by the sea. 

SEA COCOA-NUT, OR DOUBLE COCOA-NUT. The fruit of the _Lodoiceaseychellarum_, a handsome palm growing in the Seychelles Islands. It wasonce supposed to be produced by a sea-weed, because so often foundfloating on the sea around. 

SEA-COULTER. The puffin or coulter-neb, _Fratercula arctica_. 

SEA-COW. One of the names given to the _manatee_ (which see). 

SEA-CRAFTS. In ship-building, a term for the scarphed strakes otherwisecalled _clamps_. For boats, _see_ THWART-CLAMPS. 

SEA-CROW. A name on our southern coast for the cormorant. 

SEA-CUCKOO. The _Trigla cuculus_, or red gurnard, so called from theunmusical grunt which it emits. 

SEA-CUNNY. A steersman in vessels manned with lascars in the East Indiacountry trade. 

SEA-DEVIL. A name for the _Lophius piscatorius_, or angler, a fish witha large head and thick short body. 

SEA-DOG. A name of the common seal. 

SEA-DOGG. The meteor called also _stubb_ (which see). 

SEA-DRAGON. An early designation of the _stinging-weever_. 

SEA-EAGLE. A large ray-fish with a pair of enormous fins stretching outfrom either side of the body, and a long switch tail, armed with abarbed bone, which forms a dangerous weapon. _Manta_ of the Spaniards. 

SEA-EDGE. The boundary between the icy regions of the "north water" andthe unfrozen portion of the Arctic Sea. 

SEA-EEL. The _conger_ (which see). 

SEA-EGG. A general name for the _echinus_, better known to seamen as the_sea-urchin_ (which see). 

SEA-FARDINGER. An archaic expression for a seafaring man. 

SEA-FISHER. An officer in the household of Edward III. 

SEA-FRET. A word used on our northern coasts for the thick heavy mistgenerated on the ocean, and rolled by the wind upon the land. 

SEA-FROG. A name for the _Lophius piscatorius_, or angler. 

SEA GATE OR GAIT. A long rolling swell: when two ships are thrown aboardone another by its means, they are said to be in a sea-gate. 

SEA-GAUGE. An instrument used by Drs. Hale and Desaguliers toinvestigate the depth of the sea, by the pressure of air into a tubeprepared for the purpose, showing by a mark left by a thin surface oftreacle carried on mercury forced up it during the descent into whatspace the whole air is compressed, and, consequently, the depth of waterby which its weight produced that compression. It is, however, anuncertain and difficult instrument, and superseded by Ericson's patent, working on the same principle, but passing over into another tube thevolume of water thus forced in. (_See_ WATER-BOTTLE. )

SEA-GOING. Fit for sea-service abroad. 

SEA-GREEN. The colour which in ancient chivalry denoted inconstancy. 

SEA-GROCER. A sobriquet for the purser. 

SEA-GULL. A well-known bird. When they come in numbers to shore, andmake a noise about the coast, or when at sea they alight on ships, sailors consider it a prognostic of a storm. This is an old idea; seeVirg. Georg. Lib. I. , and Plin. Lib. Xviii. C. 35. 

SEA-HARE. _Aplysia_, a molluscous animal. 

SEA-HEN. A name of the fish _Trigla lyra_, or _crooner_ (which see). 

SEA-HOG. A common name for the porpoise, _Phocœna communis_. 

SEA-HORSE. A name for the walrus, _Trichecus rosmarus_. Also, the_hippocampus_ (which see). 

SEA-ICE. Ice within which there is a separation from the land. 

SEAL [from the Anglo-Saxon _seolh_]. The well-known marine piscivorousanimal. 

SEA-LAKE. Synonymous with _lagoon_ (which see). 

SEA-LAWS. The codes relating to the sea; as, the laws of Rhodes, Oleron, Wisbuy, &c. 

SEA-LAWYER. An idle litigious 'longshorer, more given to question ordersthan to obey them. One of the pests of the navy as well as of themercantile marine. Also, a name given to the tiger-shark. 

SEALED ORDERS. Secret and sealed until the circumstances arise whichauthorize their being opened and acted on. Often given to preventofficers from divulging the point to which they are ordered. 

SEA-LEGS. Implies the power to walk steadily on a ship's decks, notwithstanding her pitching or rolling. 

SEA-LETTER. _See_ PASSPORT. 

SEA-LION. A large seal of the genus _Otaria_, distinguished from thesea-bear, to which it otherwise has a great resemblance, by the shaggymane on its neck and shoulders. 

SEA-LOG. That part of the log-book relating to whatever happens whilethe ship is at sea. 

SEA-LUMP. _See_ LUMP. 

SEAM. The sewing together of two edges of canvas, which should haveabout 110 stitches in every yard of length. Also, the identicalAnglo-Saxon word for a horse-load of 8 bushels, and much looked to incarrying fresh fish from the coast. Also, the opening between the edgesof the planks in the decks and sides of a ship; these are filled with aquantity of oakum and pitch, to prevent the entrance of water. (_See_CAULKING. )

SEA-MALL. A name for a sea-gull. 

SEAMAN. This is a term seldom bestowed among seafaring men upon theirassociates, unless they are known to be pre-eminent in every duty of thethorough-paced tar; one who never issues a command which he is notcompetent to execute himself, and is deemed an authority on every matterrelating to sea-craft. --The _able seaman_ is the seafaring man who knowsall the duties of common seamanship, as to rig, steer, reef, furl, takethe lead, and implicitly carry out the orders given, in a seamanlikemanner. His rating is A. B. ; pay in the navy, 24_s. _ to 27_s. _ permonth. --The _ordinary seaman_ is less qualified; does not take theweather-helm, the earing, or lead; pay about 21_s. _ to 23_s. _ permonth. --The _landsman_ is still less qualified. 

SEAMAN'S DISGRACE. A foul anchor. 

SEAMANSHIP. The noble practical art of rigging and working a ship, andperforming with effect all her various evolutions at sea. 

SEAMAN'S WAGES. A proper object of the admiralty jurisdiction. 

SEA-MARK. A point or object distinguishable at sea, as promontories, steeples, rivers, trees, &c. , forming important beacons, and noted oncharts. By keeping two in a line, channels can be entered with safety, and thus the errors of steerage, effect of tide, &c. , obviated. Theseerections are a branch of the royal prerogative, and by statute 8 Eliz. Cap. 13, the corporation of the Trinity House are empowered to set upany beacons or sea-marks wherever they shall think them necessary; and, if any person shall destroy them, he shall forfeit £100, or, in case ofinability to pay, he shall be, _ipso facto_, outlawed. 

SEAMEN-GUNNERS. Men who have been trained in a gunnery ship, and therebybecome qualified to instruct others in that duty. 

SEA-MEW. A sea-gull. 

SEA-MOUSE. The _Aphrodita aculeata_, a marine annelid, remarkable forthe brilliant iridescence of the long silky hairs with which its sidesare covered. 

SEA-NETTLE. An immemorial name of several zoophytes and marine creaturesof the class _Acalephæ_, which have the power of stinging, particularlythe _Medusæ_. 

SEA-OWL. A name of the lump-fish, _Cyclopterus lumpus_. 

SEA-PAY. That due for actual service in a duly-commissioned ship. 

SEA-PERIL. Synonymous with _sea-risk_. 

SEA-PIE. The pied oyster-catcher, _Hæmatopus ostralegus_. Also, afavourite sea-dish in rough weather, consisting of an olla of fish, meat, and vegetables, in layers between crusts, the number of whichdenominate it a two or three decker. 

SEA-PINCUSHION. The name among northern fishermen for a kind ofstar-fish of the genus _Goniaster_. 

SEA-POACHER. A name of the pogge, _Cottus cataphractus_. 

SEA-PORCUPINE. Several fish of the genera _Diodon_ and _Tetraodon_, beset with sharp spines, which they can erect by inflating themselveswith air. 

SEA-PORK. The flesh of young whales in the western isles of Scotland;the whale-beef of the Bermudas, &c. It is also called sea-beef. 

SEA-PORT. A haven near the sea, not situated up a river. 

SEA-PURSE. _See_ MERMAID'S PURSE. 

SEA-QUADRANT. The old name of Jacob's cross-staff. 

SEA-QUAKE. The tremulous motion and shock of an earthquake felt throughthe waves. 

SEA-RATE. The going of a chronometer as established on board, instead ofthat supplied from the shore. This may be done by lunars. From motionand other causes their rates after embarkation are frequently useless, and rates for their new ever-changing position are indispensable. Thisrate is sometimes _loosely_ deduced between two ports; but as themeridian distances are never satisfactorily known, even as to the spotsof observation, they cannot be relied on but as comparative. 

SEARCH. If the act of submitting to search is to subject neutral vesselsto confiscation by the enemy, the parties must look to that enemy whosethe injustice is for redress, but they are not to shelter themselves bycommitting a fraud upon the undoubted rights of the other country. 

SEARCH, RIGHT OF. _See_ VISITATION. 

SEARCHER. A custom-house officer employed in taking an account of goodsto be exported. Also, _see_ GUN-SEARCHER. 

SEA-REACH. The straight course or reach of a winding river whichstretches out to sea-ward. 

SEA-RISK. Liability to losses by _perils of the sea_ (which see). 

SEA-ROKE. A cold fog or mist which suddenly approaches from the sea, andrapidly spreads over the vicinity of our eastern shores, to a distanceof 8 or 10 miles inland. 

SEA-ROOM. Implies a sufficient distance from land, rocks, or shoalswherein a ship may drive or scud without danger. 

SEA-ROVERS. Pirates and robbers at sea. 

SEA-SERGEANTS. A society of gentlemen, belonging to the four maritimecounties of South Wales, holding their anniversaries at sea-port towns, or one within the reach of tidal influence. It was a secret associationof early date, revived in 1726, and dissolved about 1765. 

SEA-SLATER. The _Ligia oceanica_, a small crustacean. 

SEA-SLEECH. _See_ SLEECH. 

SEA-SLEEVE. A name of the flosk or squid, _Loligo vulgaris_. 

SEA-SLUG. The _Holothuria_. An animal of the class _Echinodermata_, withelongated body, and flexible outer covering. 

SEASONED TIMBER. Such as has been cut down, squared, and stocked for oneseason at least. 

SEASONING. The keeping a vessel standing a certain time after she iscompletely framed, and dubbed out for planking. A great prince of thismaritime country in passing a dockyard, inquired what those_basket-ships_ were for!

SEA-SPOUT. The jetting of sea-water over the adjacent lands, when forcedthrough a perforation in a rocky shore; both its egress and ingress areattended with a rumbling noise, and the spray is often very injurious tothe surrounding vegetation. 

SEA-STAR. A common rayed or star-like animal, belonging to the class_Echinodermata_. Also called _star-fish_ (_Asteria_). 

SEA-STREAM. In polar parlance, is when a collection of bay-ice isexposed on one side to the ocean, and affords shelter from the sea towhatever is within it. 

SEA-SWABBER. A reproachful term for an idle sailor. 

SEA-SWALLOW. The tern, a bird resembling the gull, but more slender andswift. 

SEA-SWINE. The porpoise. 

SEAT. A term often applied to the peculiar summit of a mountain, as theQueen of Spain's Seat near Gibraltar, the Bibi of Mahratta's Seat nearBombay, Arthur's Seat at Edinburgh, &c. 

SEA-TANG. Tangle, a sea-weed. 

SEAT-LOCKERS. Accommodations fitted in the cabins of merchantmen forsitting upon, and stowing cabin-stores in. 

SEAT OF WATER. Applies to the line on which a vessel sits. 

SEA-TRANSOM. That which is bolted to the counter-timbers, above theupper, at the height of the port-sills. 

SEA-TURN. A tack into the offing. 

SEA-URCHIN. The _Echinus_, an animal of the class _Echinodermata_, ofglobular form, and a hard calcareous outer covering, beset with movablespines, on the ends of which it crawls about. 

SEA-WALLS. Elevations of stones, stakes, and other material, to preventinundations. 

SEA-WARD. Towards the sea, or offing. 

SEA-WARE. The sea-weed thrown up by surges on a beach. 

SEA-WATER. "The quantity of solid matter varies considerably indifferent seas, but we may assume that the average quantity of salinematter is 3-1/2 per cent. , and the density about 1·0274" (_Pereira_). The composition of the water of the English Channel according toSchweitzer is--

 Grains. Water 964·74372 Chloride of Sodium 27·05948 " Potassium 0·76552 " Magnesium 3·66658 Bromide of Magnesium 0·02929 Sulphate of Magnesia 2·29578 " Lime 1·40662 Carbonate of Lime 0·03301 ---------- 1000·00000

SEA-WAY. The progress of a ship through the waves. Also, said when avessel is in an open place where the sea is rolling heavily. 

SEA-WAY MEASURER. A kind of self-registering log invented by Smeaton, the architect of the Eddystone lighthouse. 

SEA-WEASEL. An old name of the lamprey. 

SEA-WOLF. The wolf-fish, _Anarrhicas lupus_. 

SEA-WOLVES. A name for privateers. 

SEA-WORTHY. The state of a ship in everyway fitted for her voyage. It isthe first stipulation in every policy of insurance, or other contract, connected with a vessel: "for she shall be tight, staunch, and strong, sufficiently manned, and her commander competent to his duty. " (_See_OPINION. )

SEA-WRACK GRASS. _Zostera marina_; used in Sweden and Holland formanuring land. At Yarmouth it is thrown on shore in such abundance thatmounds are made with it to arrest the encroachments of the sea. It isalso used as thatch. 

SECANT. A line drawn from the centre of a circle to the extremity of thetangent. 

SECCA. A shoal on Italian shores and charts. 

SECOND. The sixtieth part of a minute. A division of a degree of acircle. A term applied both to time and to space. Also, second in aduel; a very important part to play, since many a life may be savedwithout implicating honour. 

SECONDARY PLANET. _See_ SATELLITES. 

SECOND-CAPTAIN. Commanders under captains in the navy, of late. 

SECOND-COUNTER. _See_ COUNTER. 

SECOND-FUTTOCKS. The frame-timbers scarphed on the end of thefuttock-timbers. 

SECOND-HAND. A term in fishing-boats to distinguish the second incharge. 

SECOND OFFICER. Second mate in merchantmen. 

SECOND-RATE. Vessels of seventy-four guns (on the old scale). 

SECTION. A draught or figure representing the internal parts of a shipcut by a plane at any particular place athwart ships or longitudinally. 

SECTOR. _See_ DIP-SECTOR. 

SECULAR ACCELERATION. _See_ ACCELERATION OF THE MOON. 

SECULAR INEQUALITY. _See_ INEQUALITY. 

SECURE ARMS! Place them under the left arm, to guard the lock from theweather or rain. 

SEDITION. Mutinous commotion against the constituted authorities, especially dangerous at sea. 

SEDOW. The old English name for the fish called gilt-head; _Sparusauratus_. 

SEDUCE, TO. To inveigle a man to desertion. 

SEELING. A sudden heeling over, and quick return. 

SEER. The tumbler of a gun-lock. 

SEE-SAW. Reciprocating motion. 

SEGE. An old law-term for the seat or berth in which a ship lies. 

SEGMENT. In geometry, any part of a circle which is bounded by an arcand its chord, or so much of the circle as is cut off by that chord. 

SEGMENTAL STERN. _See_ ROUND STERN. 

SEGMENT-SHELL. For use with rifled guns; an elongated iron shell havingvery thin sides, and built up internally with segment-shaped pieces ofiron, which, offering the resistance of an arch against pressure fromwithout, are easily separated by the very slight bursting charge within;thereby retaining most of their original direction and velocity afterexplosion. 

SEIN, OR SEINE. The name of a large fishing-net. Also, a flat seam. 

SEIN-FISH. By statute (3 Jac. I. C. 12) includes that sort taken with asein. 

SEIZING. Fastening any two ropes, or different parts of one ropetogether, with turns of small stuff. 

SEIZINGS. The cords with which the act of seizing is performed; theyvary in size in proportion to the rope on which they are used. 

SEIZLING. A young carp. 

SEIZURE. The right of naval officers to seize anywhere afloat, islegally established: a ship, therefore, although incapable of cruising, may still make a seizure in port. 

SELCHIE. The northern name for the seal, _Phoca vitulina_. 

SELENOCENTRIC. Having relation to the centre of the moon. 

SELENOGRAPHY. The delineation of the moon's surface. 

SELLING OUT. An officer in the army wishing to retire from the service, may do so by disposing of his commission. 

SELLOCK. _See_ SILLOCK. 

SELVAGE. The woven edge of canvas formed by web and woof. See _Boke ofCurtasye_ (14th century):--

 "The overnape shal doubulle be layde, To the utter side the selvage brade. "

SELVAGEE. A strong and pliant hank, or untwisted skein of rope-yarnmarled together, and used as a strap to fasten round a shroud or stay, or slings to which to hook a tackle to hoist in any heavy articles. 

SEMAPHORE. An expeditious mode of communication by signal; it consistsof upright posts and movable arms, now chiefly used for railway signals, electric telegraphs being found better for great distances. 

SEMEBOLE. An old term for a pipe, or half a tun of wine. 

SEMI-AXIS MAJOR. _See_ MEAN DISTANCE. 

SEMICIRCLE. A figure comprehended between the diameter of a circle andhalf the circumference. 

SEMI-DIAMETER. The angle subtended by half the diameter of a heavenlybody; in the cases of the sun and moon it is much used in navigation. 

SEMI-DIURNAL ARC. Half the arc described by a heavenly body between itsrising and setting. 

SEMI-ISLET. An old term for _bridge-islet_ (which see). 

SEND, TO. To rise after pitching heavily and suddenly between two waves, or out of the trough of the sea. 

SENDING, OR 'SCENDING. The act of being thrown about violently whenadrift. 

SENIORITY. The difference of rank, or standing in priority, according todates of commissions; or if on the same day, the order in which theystand on the official printed lists. 

SENIOR OFFICER. The commanding officer for the time being. 

SENNIT. A flat cordage formed by plaiting five or seven rope-yarnstogether. Straw, plaited in the same way for hats, is calledplat-sennit; it is made by sailors in India from the leaf of the palm, for that well-known straw-hat, adorned with flowing ribbons, whichformerly distinguished the man-of-war's man. 

SENSIBLE HORIZON. _See_ HORIZON. 

SENTINEL, OR SENTRY. A soldier, marine, or seaman placed upon any post, to watch and enforce any specific order with which he may be intrusted. 

SENTRY GO! The order to the new sentry to proceed to the relief of theprevious one. 

SEQUIN. A Turkish and Venetian gold coin of the current value of 6_s. _11_d. _

SERANG. A boatswain of Lascars. 

SERASKIER. A Turkish general. 

SERGEANT. The senior non-commissioned rank in the army and marines. 

SERGEANT-MAJOR. The senior sergeant in a regiment, or firstnon-commissioned officer; usually a zealous and thorough soldier. 

SERON. A commercial package of Spanish America, made of greenbullock's-hide with the hair on. 

SERPENTARIUS. _See_ OPHIUCHUS. 

SERPENTIN. An ancient 24-pounder gun, the dolphins of which representedserpents; it was 13 feet long, and weighed 4360 lbs. 

SERPENTINE POWDER. An old term for a peculiar granulated gunpowder. 

SERRATED. Notched like the edge of a saw. 

SERVE, TO. To supply the gun with powder and shot. Also, to handle itthrough all the changes of station. 

SERVE THE VENT, TO. To stop it with the thumb. 

SERVICE. The profession; as a general term, expresses every kind of dutywhich a naval or military man can be called upon to perform. Also, implying any bold exploit. --_To see service_, is a common expression, which implies actual contest with the enemy. --_Service_, of served rope, is the spun-yarn wound round a rope by means of a _serving-board_ or_mallet_. 

SERVICEABLE. Both as respects men and stores, capable of or fit forduty. 

SERVING-BOARD. A flattened piece of hard wood with a handle, for passingservice on the smaller ropes. 

SERVING-MALLET. The mallet, grooved on the under side, with whichspun-yarn, or other small stuff, is wrapped tightly round a rope. 

SERVING OUT SLOPS. Distributing clothing, &c. Also, a cant term todenote punishment at the gangway. 

SET. The direction in which a current flows, or of the wind. (_See_DIRECTION. )--_To set_, is to observe the bearings of any distant objectby the compass. (_See_ BEARING. ) Also applied to the direction of thetide, as "the tide setting to the south, " is opposed to a swelling seasetting to the north-west. Also, when applied to sails, implies theloosing and spreading them, so as to force the ship through the water onweighing. When in chase, or other emergency, the term is sometimes usedas synonymous with _make sail_. 

SET-BOLTS. Used in drifting out bolts from their position. Also employedfor forcing the planks and other works, bringing them close to oneanother, as Blake's bringing-to bolts, with wood screws, eyes, andrings. 

SET FLYING. Sails that do not remain aloft when taken in, but are hauledon deck or stowed in the tops, as skysails, studding-sails, &c. 

SET IN. Said when the sea-breeze or weather appears to be steady. 

SET ON! The order to set the engine going on board a steamer. 

SETT. A kind of shipwright's power, composed of two ring-bolts and awrain-staff, with cleats and lashings. Also, the particular spot in ariver or frith, where stationary nets are fixed. 

SETTEE. A single-decked Mediterranean vessel with a long and sharpprow, without top-masts, and carrying lateen sails. They were mostlyused as transports to galleys. 

SET THE CHASE, TO. To mark well the position of the vessel chased bybearing, so that by standing away from her on one tack, she may be cutoff on the other. 

SETTING. The operation of moving a boat or raft by means of poles. Also, arranging the sights of a gun, or pointing it. 

SETTING POLE. A pole, generally pointed with iron, forced into the mud, by which boats and barges are moored in shallow water. 

SETTING THE WATCH. The military night guard or watch at the eveninggun-fire. Naval watches are not interfered with by time. 

SETTING-UP. Raising a ship from her blocks, shores, &c. , by wedgesdriven between the heels of the shore and the dock foundation. 

SETTLE. Now termed the _stern-sheets_ [derived from the Anglo-Saxon_settl_, a seat]. --_To settle. _ To lower; also to sink, as "the deck hassettled;" "we settled the land. " (_See_ LAYING. ) "Settle the maintop-sail halliards, " _i. E. _ ease them off a little, so as to lower theyard, as on shaking out a reef. 

SETTLING. Sinking in the water. 

SET UP. Soldiers, mariners, and small-arm men, well drilled, andinstructed to be upright and soldierlike in their carriage, are "wellset up. "

SET UP RIGGING, TO. To take in the slack of the shrouds, stays, andbackstays, to bring the same strain as before, and thus secure themasts. 

SEVERALTY. The denomination under which disagreements respectingaccounts amongst the part-owners of a ship are referred, either toequity courts, or the common law. 

SEVERE. Effectual; as, a _severe_ turn in belaying a rope. 

SEW, OR SUE. Pronounced _sue_. (_See_ SEWED. )

SEWANT. A north-country name for the plaice. 

SEWARD, OR SEA-WARD. An early name for the _custos maris_, or he whoguards the sea-coast. 

SEWED. A ship resting upon the ground, where the water has fallen, so asto afford no hope of floating until lightened, or the return tide floatsher, is said to be sewed, by as much as the difference between thesurface of the water, and the ship's floating-mark. If not left quitedry, she sews to such a point; if the water leaves her a couple of feet, she is sewed two feet. 

SEWIN. A white kind of salmon taken on the coast of Wales. Sometimesthis word is used for the dish called _sowens_. 

SEXAGESIMAL DIVISIONS. The circumference of the circle is divided into360 degrees, each degree into 60 minutes, and each minute into 60seconds. The Americans afterwards used 60 thirds, but Europeanastronomers prefer decimals. 

SEXTANT. A mathematical instrument for taking altitudes of, andmeasuring the angular distances between, the heavenly bodies. It isconstructed on a principle similar to Hadley's quadrant; but the arccontains a sixth part of a circle, and measures angles up to 120°. 

SHACKLE [from the Anglo-Saxon _sceacul_]. A span with two eyes and abolt, attached to open links in a chain-cable, at every 15 fathoms; theyare fitted with a movable bolt, so that the chain can there be separatedor coupled, as circumstances require. Also, an iron loop-hooked boltmoving on a pin, used for fastening the lower-deck port-bars. 

SHACKLE-BREECHING. Two shackles are turned into the breeching, by whichit is instantly disconnected from the port-ringbolts. Also, the lug ofthe cascable is cut open to admit of the bight of the breeching fallinginto it, thus obviating the loss of time by unreeving. 

SHACKLE-CROW. A bar of iron slightly bent at one end like the commoncrow, but with a shackle instead of a claw at the bent end. It is usedfor drawing bolts or deck-nails. (_See also_ SPAN-SHACKLE. )

SHACKLE-NET. The northern term for flue-net. 

SHACKLES. Semicircular clumps of iron sliding upon a round bar, in whichthe legs of prisoners are occasionally confined to the deck. _Manacles_when applied to the wrists. (_See_ BILBOES. )

SHAD. The _Clupea alosa_, a well-known fish, of very disputed culinarymerit, owing perhaps to its own dietetic habits. 

SHADES. Coloured glasses for quadrants, sextants, and circles. (_See_DARK GLASSES, or SCREENS. )

SHAFT OF A MINE. The narrow perpendicular pit by which the gallery isentered, and from which the branches of the mine diverge. 

SHAG. A small species of cormorant, _Phalacrocorax graculus_. 

SHAG-BUSH. An old term for a harquebus, or hand-gun. 

SHAKE, TO. To cast off fastenings, as--_To shake out a reef. _ To let outa reef, and enlarge the sail. --_To shake off a bonnet_ of a fore-and-aftsail. --_To shake a cask. _ To take it to pieces, and pack up the parts, then termed "shakes. " Thus the term expressing little value, "No greatshakes. "

SHAKE IN THE WIND, TO. To bring a vessel's head so near the wind, whenclose-hauled, as to shiver the sails. 

SHAKES. A name given by shipwrights to the cracks or rents in any pieceof timber, occasioned by the sun or weather. The same as _rends_ or_shans_ (which see). 

SHAKING A CLOTH IN THE WIND. In galley parlance, expresses the beingslightly intoxicated. 

SHAKINGS. Refuse of cordage, canvas, &c. , used for making oakum, paper, &c. 

SHALLOP, SHALLOOP, OR SLOOP. A small light fishing vessel, with only asmall main-mast and fore-mast for lug-sails. They are commonly goodsailers, and are therefore often used as tenders to men-of-war. Also, alarge heavy undecked boat, with one mast, fore-and-aft main-sail, andjib-foresail. The gunboats on the French coasts were frequently termedchaloupes, and carried one heavy gun, with a crew of 40 men. Also, asmall boat rowed by one or two men. 

SHALLOWS. A continuation of shoal water. 

SHALLOW-WAISTED. Flush-decked vessels are thus termed, incontradistinction to the deep-waisted. 

SHAN. A defect in spars, most commonly from bad collared knots; aninjurious compression of fibres in timber: the turning out of thecortical layers when the plank has been sawed obliquely to the centralaxis of the tree. 

SHANK. An arrangement of deep-water fishing lines. Also, a handle orshaft. Also the bar or shaft of an anchor, constituting its main piece, at one end of which the stock is fixed, and at the other the arms. 

SHANK-PAINTER. The stopper which confines the shank of the anchor to theship's side, and prevents the flukes from flying off the bill-board. Where the bill-board is not used, it bears the weight of the fluke endof the anchor. 

SHANTY. A small hut on or near a beach. 

SHAPE. The lines and form of a vessel. --_To shape a course. _ To assignthe route to be steered in order to prosecute a voyage. 

SHARE AND SHARE ALIKE. The golden rule of all messes at sea. 

SHARK. A name applied to many species of large cartilaginous fish of thefamily _Squalidæ_. Their ferocity and voracity are proverbial. Also, applied to crimps, sharpers, and low attorneys. 

SHARP. Prompt and attentive. --_Be sharp!_ Make haste. --_Look sharp!_Lose no time. Also, an old term for a sword. 

SHARP BOTTOM. Synonymous with a sharp floor; used in contradistinctionto a flat floor: the epithet denotes vessels intended for quick sailing. 

SHARP LOOK-OUT BEFORE! The hail for the forecastle look-out men to beextremely vigilant. 

SHARP UP. Trimmed as near as possible to the wind, with the yards bracedup nearly fore and aft. 

SHAVE. A close run; a narrow escape from a collision. 

SHEAF. A bundle of arrows, as formerly supplied to our royal ships. 

SHEAL. A northern term for a fisherman's hut, whence several of themtogether became _sheals_ or _shields_. 

SHEAR. An iron spear, of three or more points, for catching eels. 

SHEAR-HOOKS. A kind of sickle formerly applied to the yard-arms, forcutting the rigging of a vessel running on board. 

SHEARS. _See_ SHEERS. 

SHEAR-WATER. A sea-fowl, _Puffinus anglorum_. 

SHEATHING. Thin boards formerly placed between the ship's body and thesheets of copper, to protect the planks from the pernicious effects ofthe worm. Tar and hair, or brown paper dipped in tar and oil, is laidbetween the sheathing and the bottom. In 1613 a junk of 800 or 1000 tonswas seen in Japan all sheeted with iron; and yet it was not attempted inEurope till more than a hundred years afterwards. But by 1783 ships ofevery class were coppered. 

SHEATHING-NAILS. These are used to fasten wood-sheathing, and preventthe filling-nails from tearing it too much. Those used forcopper-sheathing are of mixed metal, cast in moulds about one inch and aquarter long. The heads are flat on the upper side, and counter-sunkbelow, with the upper side polished to prevent the adhesion of weeds. 

SHEAVE. The wheel on which the rope works in a block; it is generallyformed of lignum vitæ, sometimes of brass, and frequently of both; theinterior part, or that which sustains the friction against the pin, being of brass, let into the exterior, which is of lignum vitæ, and isthen termed a sheave with a brass coak, _bouche_, or bush. The name alsoapplies to a cylindrical wheel made of hard wood, movable round a stoutpin as its axis; it is let through the side and chess-trees for leadingthe tacks and sheets. Also, the number of tiers in coiling cables andhawsers. 

SHEAVE-HOLE. A channel cut in masts, yards, or timber, in which to fix asheave, and answering the place of a block. It is also the groove cut ina block for the ropes to reeve through. 

SHEBEEN. A low public-house, yet a sort of sailor trap. 

SHED. A pent-house or cover for the ship's artificers to work under. 

SHEDDE. An archaic term for the slope of a hill. 

SHEDDERS. Female salmon. (_See_ FOUL FISH. )

SHEDELE. A channel of water. 

SHEEN-NET. A large drag-net. 

SHEEPSHANK. A hitch or bend made on a rope to shorten it temporarily;and particularly used on runners, to prevent the tackle from comingblock and block. It consists in making two long bights in a rope, whichshall overlay one another; then taking a half hitch over the end of eachbight, with the standing part, which is next to it. 

SHEER. The longitudinal curve of a ship's decks or sides; the hanging ofthe vessel's side in a fore-and-aft direction. Also, a fishing-spear inuse on the south coast. (_See_ SHEAR. ) Also, the position in which aship is sometimes kept when at single anchor, in order to keep her clearof it [evidently from the Erse _sheebh_, to drift]. 

SHEER, TO BREAK. To deviate from that position, and thereby risk foulingthe anchor. Thus a vessel riding with short scope of cable breaks hersheer, and bringing the force of the whole length of the ship at rightangles, tears the anchor out of the ground, and drifts into deep water. 

SHEER-BATTEN. A batten stretched horizontally along the shrouds, andseized firmly above each of their dead-eyes, serving to prevent thedead-eyes from turning at that part. This is also termed a _stretcher_. 

SHEER-DRAUGHT. In ship-building, a section supposed to be cut by a planepassing through the middle line of the keel, the stem, and thestern-post: it is also called the _plan of elevation_, and it exhibitsthe out-board works, as the wales, sheer-rails, ports, drifts, height ofwater-line, &c. 

SHEERED. Built with a curved sheer. (_See_ MOON-SHEERED. )

SHEER-HULK. An old ship fitted with sheers, &c. , and used for taking outand putting in the masts of other vessels. 

SHEERING. The act of deviating from the line of the course, so as toform a crooked and irregular path through the water; this may beoccasioned by the ship's being difficult to steer, but more frequentlyarises from the negligence or incapacity of the helmsman. For _sheering_or _shearing_ in polar seas, _see_ LAPPING. 

SHEER-LASHING. Middle the rope, and pass a good turn round both legs atthe cross. Then take one end up and the other down, around and over thecross, until half of the lashing is thus expended; then ride both endsback again on their own parts, and knot them in the middle. Frap thefirst and riding turns together on each side with sennit. 

SHEER-MAST. The peculiar rig of the rafts on the Guayaquil river; alsoof the piratical prahus of the eastern seas, and which might be imitatedin some of our small craft with advantage: having a pair of sheers(instead of a single mast) within which the fore-and-aft main-sailworks, or is hoisted or slung. 

SHEER-MOULD. Synonymous with _ram-line_ (which see). 

SHEER OFF, TO. To move to a greater distance, or to steer so as to keepclear of a vessel or other object. 

SHEER-PLAN. The draught of the side of a proposed ship, showing thelength, depth, rake, water-lines, &c. 

SHEER-RAIL. The wrought-rail generally placed well with the sheer ortop-timber line; the narrow ornamental moulding along the top-side, parallel to the sheer. 

SHEERS. Two or more spars, raised at angles, lashed together near theirupper ends, and supported by guys; used for raising or taking in heavyweights. Also, to hoist in or get out the lower masts of a ship; theyare either placed on the side of a quay or wharf, on board of an oldship cut down (_see_ SHEER-HULK), or erected in the vessel wherein themast is to be planted or displaced, the lower ends of the props restingon the opposite sides of the deck, and the upper parts being fastenedtogether across, from which a tackle depends; this sort of sheers issecured by stages extending to the stem and stern of the vessel. 

SHEER-SAIL. A drift-sail. 

SHEER TO THE ANCHOR, TO. To direct the ship's bows by the helm to theplace where the anchor lies, while the cable is being hove in. 

SHEER UP ALONGSIDE, TO. To approach a ship or other object in an obliquedirection. 

SHEER-WALES. Strakes of thick stuff in the top-sides of three-deckedships, between the middle and upper deck-ports. Synonymous with_middle-wales_. 

SHEET. A rope or chain fastened to one or both the lower corners of asail, to extend and retain the clue down to its place. When a ship sailswith a side wind, the lower corners of the main and fore sails arefastened by a tack and a sheet, the former being to windward, and thelatter to leeward; the tack is, however, only disused with a stern wind, whereas the sail is never spread without the assistance of one or bothof the sheets; the staysails and studding-sails have only one tack andone sheet each; the staysail-tacks are fastened forward, and the sheetsdrawn aft; but the studding-sail tacks draw to the extremity of theboom, while the sheet is employed to extend the inner corner. 

SHEET-ANCHOR. One of four bower anchors supplied, two at the bows, andone at either chest-tree abaft the fore-rigging; one is termed thesheet, the other the spare anchor; usually got ready in a gale to let goon the parting of a bower. To a sheet anchor a stout hempen cable isgenerally bent, as lightening the strain at the bow, and being moreelastic. 

SHEET-BEND. A sort of double hitch, made by passing the end of one ropethrough the bight of another, round both parts of the other, and underits own part. 

SHEET-CABLE. A hempen cable used when riding in deep water, where theweight of a chain cable would oppress a ship. 

SHEET-COPPER. Copper rolled out into sheets, for the sheathing of ships'bottoms, &c. 

SHEET-FISH. The _Silurus glanis_, a large fish found in many Europeanrivers and lakes. 

SHEET HOME! The order, after the sails are loosed, to extend the sheetsto the outer extremities of the yards, till the clue is close to thesheet-block. Also, when driving anything home, as a blow, &c. 

SHEET IN THE WIND. Half intoxicated; as the sail trembles and isunsteady, so is a drunken man. 

SHELDRAKE. The _Anas tadorna_, a large species of wild duck. 

SHELF. A dangerous beach bounded by a ledge of flat rocks a-wash. In icyregions, (_see_ TONGUE). 

SHELF-PIECES. Strakes of plank running internally in a line with thedecks, for the purpose of receiving the ends of the beams. They are alsocalled _stringers_. 

SHELKY. A name for the seal in the Shetland Isles. 

SHELL. In artillery, a hollow iron shot containing explosive materials, whether spherical, elongated, eccentric, &c. , and destined to burst atthe required instant by the action of its _fuse_ (which see). --_Commonshells_ are filled with powder only, those fired from mortars beingspherical, and having a thickness of about one-sixth of their diameter. (_See_ also SEGMENT-SHELL and SHRAPNEL SHELL. ) Also, the hard calcareousexternal covering of the mollusca, crustacea, and echinoderms. 

SHELL-FISH. A general term applied to aquatic animals having a hardexternal covering or shell, as whelks, oysters, lobsters, &c. These arenot, however, properly speaking, fish. 

SHELLING. The act of bombarding a fort, town, or position. 

SHELL OF A BLOCK. The outer frame or case wherein the sheave or wheel iscontained and traverses about its axis. 

SHELL-ROOM. An important compartment in ships of war, fitted up withstrong shelves to receive the shells when charged. 

SHELL, SHRAPNEL. _See_ SHRAPNEL SHELL. 

SHELVES. A general name given to any dangerous shallows, sand-banks, orrocks, lying immediately under the surface of the water. 

SHELVING. A term expressive of step-like rocks lying in nearlyhorizontal strata, or inclining very gradually; as a "shelving bottom, "or a "shelving land. " Applied to the shore, it means that it ascendsfrom the sea, and passes under it at an extremely low angle, so thatvessels of draught cannot approach. 

SHERE. An archaic sea-term for running aground. 

SHEVO. An entertainment, thought by some to be derived from the gaietyof the chevaux, or horse-guards; more probably from _chez-vous_. 

SHIBAH. A small Indian vessel. 

SHIELD-SHIP. A vessel fitted with one or more massive iron shields, eachprotecting a heavy gun or guns. The name was applied to an improvementon the "cupola-ship, " before the latter was perfected into the"turret-ship. "

SHIELD TOWER OR TURRET. A revolving armoured cover for guns. 

SHIEVE, TO. To have head-way. To row the wrong way, in order to assistthe steersman in a narrow channel. 

SHIFT. In ship-building, when one butt of a piece of timber or plankoverlaunches the butt of another, without either being reduced inlength, for the purpose of strength and stability. --_To shift_ [thoughtto be from the Anglo-Saxon _scyftan_, to divide]. To change or alter theposition of; as, to shift a sail, top-mast, or spar; to shift the helm, &c. Also, to change one's clothes. 

SHIFT A BERTH, TO. To move from one anchorage to another. 

SHIFTED. The state of a ship's ballast or cargo when it is shaken fromone side to the other, either by the violence of her rolling, or by hertoo great inclination to one side under a great press of sail; thisaccident, however, rarely happens, unless the cargo is stowed in bulk, as corn, salt, &c. 

SHIFTER. A person formerly appointed to assist the ship's cook inwashing, steeping, and shifting the salt provisions; so called fromhaving to change the water in the steep-tub. 

SHIFTING A TACKLE. The act of removing the blocks of a tackle to agreater distance from each other, in order to extend their purchase;this operation is otherwise called _fleeting_ (which see). 

SHIFTING BACKSTAYS, ALSO PREVENTER. Those which can be changed from oneside of a ship to the other, as the occasion demands. 

SHIFTING BALLAST. Pigs of iron, bags of sand, &c. , used for ballast, andcapable of being moved to trim the vessel. Also, a term applied tomessengers, soldiers, and live-stock. 

SHIFTING-BOARDS. One or more wooden bulk-heads in a vessel's hold, putup fore-and-aft, and firmly supported, for preventing a cargo which isstowed in bulk from shifting. 

SHIFTING-CENTRE. _See_ META-CENTRE. 

SHIFTING SAND. A bank, of which the sand, being incoherent, is subjectto removal or being driven about by the violence of the sea or the powerof under-currents. Very accurate experiments have proved that the sandsat the mouths of rivers are differently acted on during every hour oftide (or wind together); hence sands shift, and even stop up or rendersome channels unsafe. 

SHIFTING THE MESSENGER. Changing its position on the capstan from rightto left, or _vice versâ_. 

SHIFTING WINDS. Variable breezes, mostly light. 

SHIFT OF WIND. Implies that it varies, or has changed in its direction. 

SHIFT THE HELM! The order for an alteration of its position, by movingit towards the opposite side of the ship; that is, from port tostarboard, or _vice versâ_. 

SHIMAL. A severe gale of wind from the N. W. In the Gulf of Persia andits vicinity; it is accompanied by a cloudless sky, thus differing fromthe _shurgee_. 

SHINDY. A kind of dance among seamen; but also a row. Apparentlymodernized from the old Erse _sheean_, clamour. 

SHINE. _To take the shine out of_. To excel another vessel in amanœuvre. To surpass in any way. 

SHINER. The familiar name for a lighthouse. Also, a name for the _dace_(which see). Also, money; Jack's "shiners in my sack. "

SHINGLE. Coarse gravel, or stones rounded by the action of water; it isused as ballast. 

SHINGLES. Thin slips of wood, used principally in America, in lieu ofslate or tiles in roofing. In very old times a planked vessel was termeda "shyngled or clap-boarded ship. "

SHINGLE-TRAMPER. A coast-guard man. 

SHIN UP, TO. To climb up a rope or spar without the aid of any kind ofsteps. 

SHIP [from the Anglo-Saxon _scip_]. Any craft intended for the purposesof navigation; but in a nautical sense it is a general term for alllarge square-rigged vessels carrying three masts and a bowsprit--themasts being composed of a lower-mast, top-mast, and topgallant-mast, each of these being provided with tops and yards. --_Flag-ship. _ The shipin which the admiral hoists his flag; whatever the rank of the commanderbe; all the lieutenants take rank before their class in otherships. --_Line-of-battle ship. _ Carrying upwards of 74 guns. --_Ship ofwar. _ One which, being duly commissioned under a commissioned officer bythe admiralty, wears a pendant. The authority of a gunboat, no superiorbeing present, is equal to that of an admiral. --_Receiving ship. _ Theport, guard, or admiral's flag-ship, stationed at any place to receivevolunteers, and bear them _pro. Tem. _ in readiness to join any ship ofwar which may want hands. --_Store-ship. _ A vessel employed to carrystores, artillery, and provisions, for the use of a fleet, fortress, orGarrison. --_Troop-ship. _ One appointed to carry troops, formerly calleda transport. --_Hospital-ship. _ A vessel fitted up to attend a fleet, andreceive the sick and wounded. Scuttles are cut in the sides forventilation. The sick are under the charge of an experienced surgeon, aided by a staff of assistant-surgeons, a proportional number ofassistants, cook, baker, and nurses. --_Merchant ship. _--A vesselemployed in commerce to carry commodities of various sorts from one portto another. (_See_ MERCHANTMAN. )--_Private ship of war. _ (_See_PRIVATEERS, and LETTERS OF MARQUE. )--_Slaver_, or _slave-ship_. A vesselemployed in carrying negro slaves. --_To ship. _ To embark men ormerchandise. It also implies to fix anything in its place, as "Ship theoars, " _i. E. _ place them in their rowlocks; "Ship capstan-bars. " Also, to enter on board, or engage to join a ship. --_To ship a sea. _ A wavebreaking over all in a gale. Hence the old saying--

 "Sometimes we ship a sea, Sometimes we see a ship. "

_To ship a swab. _ A colloquialism for mounting an epaulette, orreceiving a commission. 

SHIP-BOY. Boys apprenticed to learn their sea-duties, but generallyappointed as servants. 

SHIP-BREAKER. A person who purchases old vessels to break them to piecesfor sale. 

SHIP-BROKER. One who manages business matters between ship-owners andmerchants, in procuring cargoes, &c. , for vessels. 

SHIP-BUILDER. Synonymous with naval constructor. 

SHIP-BUILDING, OR NAVAL ARCHITECTURE. The art of constructing a ship soas to answer a particular purpose either for war or commerce. It is nowexpanding into a science. 

SHIP-CHANDLER. A tradesman who supplies ships with their miscellaneousmarine stores. (_See_ MATERIAL MEN. )

SHIP-CONTRACTOR. The charterer or freighter of a vessel. 

SHIP-CRAFT. Nearly the same as the Anglo-Saxon _scyp-cræft_, an earlyword for navigation. 

SHIP CUT DOWN. One which has had a deck cut off from her, whereby athree-decker is converted into a two-decker, and a two-decker becomes afrigate. They are then termed razées. 

SHIP-GUNS. Those cast expressly for sea-service. 

SHIP-KEEPER. An officer not much given to going on shore. Also, the manwho has charge of a ship whilst she is without any part of her crew. 

SHIP-LANGUAGE. The shibboleth of nautic diction, as _tau'sle_, _fok'sle_, for top-sail, forecastle, and the like. 

SHIP-LAST. _See_ LAST. 

SHIP-LAUNCH. _See_ LAUNCH. 

SHIP-LOAD. The estimated lading or cargo of a vessel. 

SHIP-LOG. _See_ LOG-BOOK. 

SHIP-LORD. A once recognized term for the owner of a ship. 

SHIPMAN [Anglo-Saxon _scyp-mann_]. The master of a barge, who in thedays of Chaucer had but "litel Latin in his mawe, " and who, though "ofnice conscience toke he no kepe, " was certainly a good fellow. 

SHIPMAN'S CARD. A chart; thus Shakspeare's first witch in _Macbeth_ hadwinds--

 "And the very ports they blow, All the quarters that they know I' the shipman's card. "

SHIPMASTER. The captain, commander, or padrone of a vessel. (_See_MASTER. )

SHIPMATE. A term once dearer than brother, but the habit of shortcruises is weakening it. 

SHIPMENT. The act of shipping goods, or any other thing, on board a shipor vessel. 

SHIP-MONEY. An imposition charged throughout this realm in the time ofCharles I. , but which was declared illegal. 

SHIP-OWNER. A person who has a right of property in a ship. The interestof part-owners is quite distinct, so that one cannot dispose of theshare of the other, or effect any insurance for him, without specialauthority. 

SHIPPER. He who embarks goods; also mentioned in some of our statutes asthe master of a ship. (_See_ SKIPPER. )

SHIPPING AFFAIRS. All business of a maritime bearing. 

SHIPPING GOODS. Receiving and stowing them on board. 

SHIPPING GREEN SEAS. When heavy seas tumble over the gunwale either towindward or leeward; sometimes resulting from bad steerage andseamanship, or over-pressing the vessel. 

SHIPPING MANIFEST. _See_ MANIFEST. 

SHIPPING MASTERS. Persons officially appointed and licensed to attend tothe entering and discharging of merchant seamen. 

SHIP-PROPELLER. _See_ SCREW-PROPELLER. 

SHIP RAISED UPON. One of which the upper works have been heightened byadditional timbers. About the year 1816 several creditable corvettes of600 tons were constructed; after three had been tried, the mistakenorder was issued to make them into frigates. Hence the term donkey andjackass frigates, _Athol_ and _Niemen_ to wit. 

SHIP'S BOOKS. The roll of the crew, containing every particular inrelation to entry, former ships, &c. 

SHIP-SHAPE. In colloquial phrase implies, in a seamanlike manner; as, "That mast is not rigged ship-shape;" "Put her about ship-shape, " &c. (_See_ BRISTOL FASHION. )

SHIP'S HUSBAND. The agent or broker who manages her accounts with regardto work performed, repairs, &c. , under refit or loading. 

SHIP-SLOOP. Commanders were appointed to 24-gun sloops, but when thesame sloops were commanded by captains, they were rated ships. 

SHIP'S LUNGS. Dr. Hall's name for the bellows with which he forced thefoul air out of ships. 

SHIP'S PAPERS. Documents descriptive of a vessel, her owners, cargo, destination, and other particulars necessary for the instance court. Also, those documents required for a neutral ship to prove her such. 

SHIP'S REGISTRY AND CERTIFICATE. An official record of a ship's size, the bills of lading, ownership, &c. 

SHIP'S STEWARD. The person who manages the victualling or messdepartments. In the navy, paymaster's steward. 

SHIP-STAR. The Anglo-Saxon _scyp-steora_, an early name for thepole-star, once of the utmost importance in navigation. 

SHIP-TIMBER. Contraband in time of war. 

SHIPWRECK. The destruction of a vessel by her beating against rocks, theshore, &c. --too often including loss of life. In early times the seizureof goods, and even the murder of the mariners, was apt to be theconsequence. 

SHIPWRIGHT. A builder of ships. The art of bending planks by fire isattributed to Pyrrhon, the Lydian, who made boats of severalconfigurations. 

SHIPYARD. Synonymous with _dockyard_. 

SHIVER. Synonymous with _sheave_. 

SHIVERING. To trim a ship's yards so that the wind strikes on the edgesor leaches of the sails, making them flutter in the wind. The sameeffect may be intentionally produced by means of the helm. 

SHOAL. A danger formed by sunken rocks, on which the sea does not break;but generally applied to every place where the water is shallow, whatever be the ground. (_See_ FLAT SHOAL, SHOLE, or SCHOLE. ) Also, denotes a great quantity of fishes swimming in company--_squamosæcohortes_. Also, a vessel is said to shoalen, or shoal her water, whenshe comes from a greater into a less depth. 

SHOALED-HARBOUR. That which is secured from the violence of the sea, bybanks, bars, or shoals to sea-ward. 

SHOD, OR SHODE. An anchor is said to be shod when, in breaking it fromits bed, a quantity of clayey or oozy soil adheres to the fluke andshank. 

SHOE. The iron arming to a handspike, polar-pile, &c. 

SHOE OF THE ANCHOR. A flat block of hard wood, convex on the back, andhaving a hole sufficiently large to contain the bill of the anchor-flukeon the fore-side; used to prevent the anchor from tearing the planks onthe ship's bow when fishing it, for which purpose the shoe slides up anddown along the bow. Where vessels ease the anchor down to "a cock-bill, "it is also sometimes used. --_To shoe or clamp an anchor. _ To cover thepalms with broad triangular pieces of thick plank, secured by iron hoopsand nails. Its use is to give the anchor a greater resisting surfacewhen the mud is very soft. Also, for transporting on shore. 

SHOE OF THE FORE-FOOT. _See_ FORE-FOOT, GRIPE, HORSE. 

SHOE-PIECE. A board placed under the heel of a spar, or other weightymass, to save the deck. In some cases intended to slip with it. 

SHOLES. _See_ SOLE. 

SHOOT, TO. To move suddenly; as "the ballast shoots on one side. " Also, a ship shoots ahead in stays. Also, to push off in a boat from the shoreinto a current; to descend a rapid. The term is well used thus amongstthe powerful rivers of N. America, of which perhaps the finest exampleis given by the St. Lawrence at La Chine, there reported to rush inspring-time at the rate of 40 miles an hour. Thus the shooting OldLondon Bridge was the cause of many deaths, and gave occasion to theadmirable description in the _Loves of the Triangles_ (anti-Jacobin), when all were agreed:

 "'Shoot we the bridge, ' the vent'rous boatmen cry; 'Shoot we the bridge, ' th' exulting fare reply. "

SHOOT-FINGER. This was a term in use with the Anglo-Saxons from itsnecessity in archery, and is now called the trigger-finger from itsequal importance in modern fire-arms. The mutilation of this member wasalways a most punishable offence; for which the laws of King Alfredinflicted a penalty of fifteen shillings, which at that time probablywas a sum beyond the bowman's means. 

SHOOTING-GLOVES. These were furnished to the navy when cross-bows, long-bows, and slur-bows were used. 

SHOOTING OF NETS. The running out of nets in the water, as seins, drift-nets, herring-nets, &c. ; but it does not apply to trawls. 

SHOOTS, OR SHUTS. A large pipe or channel to lead away water, dirt, ballast, shot, &c. , is called a shoot. The overfalls of a river, wherethe stream is narrowed by its banks, whether naturally or artificially, especially the arches of a bridge, constitute a shoot. 

SHOOT THE COMPASS, TO. To shoot wide of the mark. 

SHOOT THE SUN, TO. To take its meridional altitude; literally aiming atthe reflected sun through the telescope of the instrument. "Have youobtained a shot?" applied to altitudes of the meridian, as for time, lunar distances, &c. 

SHORE. A prop fixed under a ship's sides or bottom, to support her whenlaid aground or on the stocks. Shores are also termed _legs_ when usedby a cutter or yacht, to keep the vessel upright when the water leavesher. (_See_ LEGS. ) Also, the general name for the littoral of anycountry against which the waves impinge, while the word _coast_ isapplied to that part of the land which only lies contiguous to thesea. --_Bold shore. _ A coast which is steep-to, permitting the nearapproach of shipping without danger; it is used in contradistinction toa _shelving-shore_. 

SHORE-ANCHOR. That which lies between the shore and the ship whenmoored. 

SHORE-BOATS. Small boats or wherries plying for hire at sea-ports. 

SHORE-CLEATS. Heavy cleats bolted on to the sides of vessels to supportthe shore-head, and sustain the ship upright. 

SHORE-FAST. A hawser carried out to secure a vessel to a quay, mole, oranchor buried on shore. 

SHORE REEF. The same as fringing reef. 

SHORT, SHORT STAY, SHORT APEEK. "Heave short, " means to heave in thecable till it is nearly up and down, and would hold the vessel securelyuntil she had set all common sail, and would not drag or upset theanchor. If, however, the wind be free, and the making sail unimportant, _short_ would probably be _short apeek_, or up and down, the last moveof weighing awaiting perhaps signal or permission to part. 

SHORT ALLOWANCE. When the provisions will not last the period expected, they may be reduced in part, as two-thirds, half-allowance, &c. , andthus _short-allowance money_ becomes due, which is the nominal value ofthe provisions stopped, and paid in compensation. 

SHORT BOARDS. Frequent tacking, where there is not room for long boards, or from some other cause, as weather or tide, it is required to work towindward on short tacks in a narrow space. 

SHORTEN, TO. Said of a ship's sails when requisite to reduce those thatare set. And _shorten in_, when alluding to the anchor, by heaving incable. 

SHORT-HANDED. A deficient complement of men, or short-handed by manybeing on the sick-list. 

SHORT-LINKED CHAIN. A cable without studs, and therefore with shorterlinks than those of stud-chains; such are slings and chains generallyused in rigging bobstays, anchor-work, &c. Cables only have studs. 

SHORT-SEA. A confused cross sea where the waves assume a jerkingrippling action, and set home to the bows or sides; especially tiresometo boats, hampering the oars, and tumbling in-board. Also, a race. 

SHORT-SERVICE. Chafing geer put on a hemp cable for a short range. 

SHORT-SHEETS. Belong to shifting sails, such as studding-sails, &c. 

SHORT-TACKS. _See_ SHORT BOARDS. 

SHORT-TIME OR SAND GLASS. One of 14 seconds, used in heaving the logwhen the ship is going fast. 

SHOT. All sorts of missiles to be discharged from fire-arms, those forgreat guns being mainly of iron; for small-arms, of lead. When usedwithout prefix, the term generally means the solid shot only, as firedfor a heavy blow, or for penetration. Also, a synonym of _scot_, areckoning at an inn, and has immemorially been thus understood. BenJonson's rules are

 "As the fund of our pleasure, let each pay his shot. "

Also, a lot or quantity. Also, the particular spot where fishermen takea draught with their nets, and also the draught of fishes made by a net. Also, the sternmost division of a fishing-boat. Also, arrows, darts, oranything that was shot. Also, a kind of trout. Also, a foot-soldier whocarried a fire-lock. --_To be shot of_, signifies to get rid of, turnedout. --_To shot the guns. _ In active service the guns were generallyloaded, but not shotted, as, from corrosion, it was found difficult todraw the shot; and the working and concussion not unfrequently startedit, and consequently, if the gun was fired before re-driving it "home, "it was in danger of bursting. 

SHOT-LOCKER. A compartment built up in the hold to contain the shot. 

SHOT-NET. A mackerel-net. 

SHOT-PLUGS. Tapered cones to stop any sized shot-hole. 

SHOT-RACKS. Wooden frames fixed at convenient distances to contain shot. There are also, of recent introduction, iron rods so fitted as toconfine the shot. 

SHOTTEN-HERRING. A gutted herring dried for keeping. Metaphorically, aterm of contempt for a lean lazy fellow. 

SHOULDER OF A BASTION. The part of it adjacent to the junction of a facewith a flank. The _angle of the shoulder_ is that formed by these twolines. 

SHOULDER ARMS! The military word of command to carry the musketvertically at the side of the body, and resting against the hollow ofthe shoulder; on the left side with the long rifle, on the right withthe short. 

SHOULDER-OF-MUTTON SAIL. A kind of triangular sail of peculiar form, used mostly in boats. It is very handy and safe, particularly as amizen. It is the Bermuda or 'Mugian rig. 

SHOULDER THE ANCHOR. When a seaman forgets his craft, and gives his shiptoo little cable to ride by, she may be thrown across tide, lift orshoulder her anchor, and drift off. 

SHOUT. A light and nearly flat-bottomed boat used in our eastern fensfor shooting wild-duck. (_See_ GUNNING-BOAT. )

SHOUTE-MEN. The old name for the lightermen of the Thames. 

SHOVEL. A copper implement for removing a cartridge from a gun withoutinjuring it. Formerly used, and as late as 1816 by the Turks, to conveythe powder into the chamber without using cartridges: also used towithdraw shot where windage was large. (_See_ LADLE. )

SHOVELL, OR SHOVELLER. _Spatula clypeata_, a species of duck with abroad bill. Formerly written _schevelard_. Also applied to a hoverer orsmuggler. 

SHOVE OFF! The order to the bowman to put the boat's head off with hisboat-hook. 

SHOW A LEG! An exclamation from the boatswain's mate, or master-at-arms, for people to show that they are awake on being called. Often "Show aleg, and turn out. "

SHRAB. A vile drugged drink prepared for seamen who frequent the filthypurlieus of Calcutta. (_See_ DOASTA. )

SHRAPNEL SHELL. Invented by General Shrapnel to produce, at a longrange, the effect of common case; whence they have been also called_spherical case_. They have a thickness of only one-tenth of theirdiameter; so that, on the action of the fuse, they are opened by a verysmall bursting charge, and allow the bullets with which they are filledto proceed with much the same direction and velocity that the shell hadat the moment of explosion. They require, however, extremely nicemanagement. 

SHRIMP. The small crustacean _Crangon vulgaris_, well known as anarticle of food. 

SHROUD-KNOT. _See_ KNOT. 

SHROUD-LAID. The combination in the larger cordage, also known ashawser-laid. 

SHROUD-ROPE. A finer quality of hawser-laid rope than is commonly usedfor other purposes. It is also termed purchase-rope; but four-strandedrope is frequently used for standing rigging. All the strands are finer, of better hemp, and pass the gauge. Thus the patent shroud-laid rope, made from clean Petersburgh hemp, was found to break at a strain between6-3/4 and 7-1/4 cwt. Per inch of girth in inches squared. Thus a patentrope of 5 inches would require 175 cwt. Common rope, 25 threads in eachstrand, broke with 5 cwt. Per inch, and fell off at 130 threads to 4cwt. Per inch. Thus, cwt. Qrs. Lbs. A common 10-inch cable weighed per 100 fathoms, 19 0 21 A superior " " 21 0 3

SHROUDS. The lower and upper standing-rigging. They are always dividedinto pairs or couples; that is to say, one piece of rope is doubled, andthe parts fastened together at a small distance from the middle, so asto leave a sort of noose or collar to fix upon the mast-head; the endshave each a dead-eye turned in, by which they are set up by laniards tothe channel. (_See_ CHAINS and DEAD-EYE. )--_Bentinck-shrouds. _ Strongropes fixed on the futtock-staves of the lower rigging, and extending tothe opposite channels, where they are set-up by means of dead-eyes andlaniards, or gun-tackle runner purchases, in the same manner as theother shrouds. Their use is to support the masts when the shiprolls. --_Bowsprit shrouds_ are now generally made of chain. They supportthe bowsprit in the same way that other shrouds support themasts. --_Bumkin or boomkin shrouds. _ Strong chains fixed as stays to thebumkin ends, to support the strain exerted by the fore-tacks uponthem. --_Futtock or foot-hook shrouds. _ Portions of rigging (nowsometimes chain) communicating with the futtock-plates above the top, and the cat-harpings below, and forming ladders, whereby the sailorsclimb over the top-brim. _Top-gallant shrouds_ extend to thecross-trees, where, passing through holes in the ends, they continueover the futtock-staves of the top-mast rigging, and descending almostto the top, are set up by laniards passing through thimbles instead ofdead-eyes. --_Topmast-shrouds_ extend from the top-mast head to the edgesof the tops, and are set up to the futtock dead-eyes. 

SHROUD-STOPPER. A stout rope-stopper made fast above and below a part ofthe shroud which has been damaged by an enemy's shot, or otherwise. 

SHROUD-TRUCKS. Small pieces of wood with holes in them, but no sheaves;they are seized on the standing-rigging as fair leaders for therunning-rigging. (_See_ BULL'S-EYE. )

SHUNT. A term recently introduced among engineers and gunners; buttraceable back to the year 931, a "zunte-stone" being placed on a spotwhere the road deviated. 

SHURGEE. A prevailing S. E. Wind in the Gulf of Persia; it is usuallypreceded by a heavy dew, which is quite the reverse with the _shimal_. 

SHUT IN, TO. Said of landmarks or points of land, when one is brought totransit and overlap the other, or intercept the view of it. 

SHUTTING ON. Joining the arms of an anchor to its shank. Also, weldingone piece of iron to another to lengthen it. 

SICK-BAY. A portion of the fore-part of the main-deck, reserved for theaccommodation of the sick and wounded; any other place set apart forinvalids is called the _sick-berth_. 

SICK-BERTH ATTENDANT. _See_ LOBLOLLY-BOY. 

SICK-BOOK. An account of such officers and men as are on the sick liston board, or are sent to an hospital, hospital-ship, or sick-quarters. 

SICK-FLAG. The yellow quarantine flag, hoisted to prevent communication;whence the term of the yellow flag, and yellow admirals. There are twoothers--one with a black ball, the other with a square in thecentre--denoting plague, or actual diseases. 

SICK-MESS. A table for those on the doctor's list. When seamen are thusplaced, their provisions are turned over to the surgeon, who accountsfor their re-purchase by government, if not consumed, and the proceedsare applied to purchase comforts beyond those allowed by the service. 

SICK-TICKET. A document given to an officer, seaman, or marine, whensent to an hospital, certified by the signing officer and the surgeon, stating the entry, rank, rating, &c. , together with other particulars. 

SIDE. All that part of a ship which extends from stem to stern inlength, and from the upper edge of the gunwale above, to the lower edgeof the main-wale, below which the _bottom_ commences. 

SIDE-BOYS, OR SIDE-MEN. Those appointed to attend the gangways whenboats come alongside, and offer the man-ropes to the officer ascending. 

SIDE COUNTER-TIMBER. The stern timber which partakes of the shape of thetop-side, and heels upon the end of the wing-transom. 

SIDE-KEELSONS. A name for sister-keelsons. First used in mortar-vesselsto support the bomb-beds; later they have crept in to support theengines in steamers, and furnish a free flow beneath their flooring forthe water, as well as for ventilation. 

SIDE-LADDER, OR ACCOMMODATION-LADDER. A complete staircase structureused in harbour by most large ships. 

SIDE-LEVER. A lever on each side of the cylinder of a marinesteam-engine, resembling the beam of the ordinary land-engine. (_See_LEVER. )

SIDE OUT FOR A BEND, TO. The old well-known term to draw the bight of ahempen cable towards the opposite side, in order to make room for thebight being twined to coil it in the tier. The most expert and powerfulseamen were selected for this duty, now rare. 

SIDE-PIECES. Parts of a made mast. 

SIDEREAL ASTRONOMY. That branch of the science which relates to thefixed stars. 

SIDEREAL DAY. The interval between the departure and return of a star tothe meridian; in other words, its two successive transits. 

SIDEREAL PERIOD. _See_ REVOLUTION. 

SIDEREAL TIME. The time shown by a clock regulated by the fixed stars, and compensated to accelerate upon mean time by the daily amount of 3minutes 56·56 seconds. 

SIDE-RODS. Rods hanging from each of the cross-heads, one on each sideof the cylinder of a steam-engine, and connected to the pins of theside-levers below; their duty is to cause a simultaneous movement. 

SIDE-SCALE. A simple graduation, adopted by Sir Philip Broke in the_Shannon_, for the quick elevation or depression of the guns. 

SIDE-STEPS. Pieces of wood bolted to the side of a ship for theconvenience of ascending; in smaller vessels they have a ladder made ofrope with wooden thwarts, which hooks to the gangway. 

SIDING OR SIDED. The dimensions or size of timber, the contrary way towhich the mould side is placed; one side sided smooth, to work from orto fit. 

SIDING DIMENSION. The breadth of any piece of timber. 

SIEGE. A continued endeavour, by systematic military means, such asbatteries, trenches, mines, &c. , to overpower the defences of a placeand take possession of it. 

SIEGE-ARTILLERY. The ordnance (guns, mortars, howitzers, &c. ) used foroverpowering the fire and destroying the defences of a fortified place;their weight and power, limited mainly by the kind of transport at hand, seldom exceed those of the light 100-pounder rifled gun, and are mostlyabove those of _guns of position_, such as the old 18-pounder, or the40-pounder rifle. 

SIEGE-TRAIN. Properly, the whole of the material, with its transport, required for carrying on a siege; but more frequently used for thenecessary _siege artillery_, together with its ammunition, carriages, machines, and appliances of all kinds. 

SIESTA. The hour of the afternoon in hot climates, when Spaniards, Italians, &c. , retire to repose during the heat of the day. 

SIGHTING THE LAND. Running in to catch a view. 

SIGHTS. The fixed marks on fire-arms, by which their direction isregulated in aiming: generally, two small fittings of brass or iron, that near the breech having a notched head, and that towards the muzzlea pointed one. (_See_ DISPART. )--_Astronomical sights. _ Observationstaken to determine the time or latitude, as well as for chronometerrates. 

SIGHT THE ANCHOR, TO. To heave it up in sight, in order to prove that itis clear, when, from the ship having gone over it, there is suspicionthat it may be fouled by the slack cable. 

SIGHT-VANES. _See_ VANES. 

SIGNALIZE, TO. To distinguish one's self; a word also degraded to themeaning of communicating intelligence by means of signals or telegraph. 

SIGNAL-MAN. The yeoman of the signals; a first-class petty officer inthe navy. 

SIGNAL OF DISTRESS. When a ship is in imminent danger, she hoists hernational flag upside down, and, if she is armed, fires minute guns; alsolets fly top-gallant sheets, &c. ; indeed does anything to attractobservation. 

SIGNAL-OFFICER. In a repeating frigate, a signal-midshipman; in aflag-ship, a flag-lieutenant. 

SIGNALS. Codes of signals have been used for centuries and changedfrequently. Their use is too well known to need explanation. They areconveyed by flags, semaphores, balls, guns, lights, rockets, bells, horns, whistles, &c. , and half a century since were carried on withincredible ability. It may be also observed that signal officers ofthose days became subsequently the élite of the navy; _signal-officer_being then a proud term of distinction. --_Fog-signals_, certainoperations which emit sound. --_Night-signals_, either lanterns disposedin certain figures, flashes, or false fires, &c. 

SIGNIFER. The zodiac. 

SIGNING OFFICERS. The captain, senior lieutenant, master, and purser(now paymaster); but where the document relates to the stores in chargeof any stated officer, that officer is to sign it instead of the purser. 

SIGNS OF THE ZODIAC. The emblems of the twelve divisions, into which theancients divided the zodiac. 

SILL. A northern term for the young of a herring. 

SILLOCK. The podling, or young of the coal-fish, affording food and oilon the Scottish coasts; they are grayish, and are taken when somewhatless than a herring. 

SILL OF A DOCK. The timber at the base against which the gates shut; andthe depth of water which will float a vessel in or out of it, ismeasured from it to the surface. 

SILLON. An old word for envelope. In fortification, formerly, acounterguard. 

SILLS. The upper and lower parts of the framing of the ports. The bottompieces of any ports, docks, scuttles, or hatches. 

SILT. Sediment; ooze in a harbour, or at a lock-gate. 

SILT-GROUNDS. Deep-water banks off Jamaica, where _silt-snappers_ arefished for. 

SILT-UP, TO. To be choked with mud or sand, so as to obstruct vessels. 

SILVER-CÆDUA. A statute term for wood under twenty years' growth. 

SILVER-OAR. One of the badges of the civil court afloat, conferring thepower to arrest for debt if not less than £20. 

SILVER-THAW. The term for ice falling in large flakes from the sails andrigging, consequent on a frost followed suddenly by a thaw. 

SIMOOM. The Arabian name for the _sirocco_ (which see). The simoom, sirocco, samiel, and kamsin seem to be modifications of the same windfrom the desert. 

SIMULATION. The vice of counterfeiting illness or defect, for thepurpose of being invalided. 

SINE. A right sine in geometry, is a right line drawn from one end of anarc perpendicularly upon the radius from the centre to the other end ofthe arc; or it is half the chord of twice the arc. 

SINET. An old Chaucerian term for zenith. 

SINGING. The chaunt by which the leadsman in the chains proclaims hissoundings at each cast:--

 "To heave the lead the seaman sprung, And to the pilot cheerly sung, By the deep--nine. "

SINGLE, TO. To unreeve the running part of top-sail sheets, &c. , to letthem run freely, or for harbour duty. 

SINGLE-ACTION ENGINE. _See_ ATMOSPHERIC STEAM-ENGINE. 

SINGLE ANCHOR. A ship unmoored, having hove up one bower, rides by theother. 

SING SMALL. To make a bullying boaster _sing small_, by lowering hisarrogance. 

SINICAL QUADRANT. _See_ QUADRANT. 

SINNET. _See_ SENNIT. 

SIR. Once a scholastic title applied to priests and curates; now toknights. "Aye, aye, sir, " is the well-known answer from seamen, denoting'cuteness, combined with good humour and obedience. 

SIRIUS. The principal star, α, of the constellation Canis Major, and thebrightest in the heavens; the dog-star. 

SIROCCO. An oppressively hot parching wind from the deserts of Africa, which in the southern part of Italy and Sicily comes from thesouth-east; it sometimes commences faintly about the summer solstice. 

SISERARA, OR SURSERARA. A tremendous blow; or a violent rebuke. 

SISSOO. An Indian timber much used in the construction of country ships. 

SISTER OR CISTERN BLOCK. A turned cylindrical block having twosheave-holes, one above the other. It fits in between the first pair oftop-mast shrouds on each side, and is secured by seizings below thecat-harpings. The topsail-lift reeves through the lower, and thereef-tackle pendant through the upper. 

SISTER-KEELSONS. Square timbers extending along the floors, by the mainkeelson, leaving sufficient space on each side for the limbers. (_See_SIDE-KEELSONS. )

SISTROID ANGLE. One like a sistrum, the Egyptian musical instrument. 

SITCH. A little current of water, generally dry in summer. 

SIX-UPON-FOUR. Reduced allowance; four rations allotted to six men. 

SIX-WATER GROG. Given as a punishment for neglect or drunkenness, instead of the usual _four-water_, which is one part rum, and four partswater, lime-juice, and sugar. 

SIZE, TO. To range soldiers, marines, and small-arm men, so that thetallest may be on the flanks of a party. 

SIZE-FISH. A whale, of which the whalebone blades are six feet orupwards in length; the harpooner gets a bonus for striking a"size-fish. "

SIZES. A corruption for _six-upon-four_ (which see). 

SKARKALLA. An old machine for catching fish. 

SKART. A name of the cormorant in the Hebrides. 

SKATE. A well-known cartilaginous fish of the ray family, _Raia batis_. 

SKATE-LURKER. A cant word for a begging impostor dressed as a sailor. 

SKEDADDLE, TO. To stray wilfully from a watering or a working party. Anarchaism retained by the Americans. 

SKEDDAN. The Manx or Erse term for herrings. 

SKEEL. A cylindrical wooden bucket. A large water-kid. 

SKEER, OR SCAR. A place where cockles are gathered. (_See_ SCAR. )

SKEET. A long scoop used to wet the sides of the ship, to prevent theirsplitting by the heat of the sun. It is also employed in small vesselsfor wetting the sails, to render them more efficacious in light breezes;this in large ships is done by the fire engine. 

SKEE-TACK. A northern name for the cuttle-fish. 

SKEGG. A small and slender part of the keel of a ship, cut slanting, andleft a little without the stern-post; not much used now, owing to itscatching hawsers, and occasioning dead water. The after-part of the keelitself is also called the skegg. 

SKEGG-SHORES. Stout pieces of plank put up endways under the skegg ofthe ship, to steady the after-part when in the act of being launched. 

SKELDRYKE. An old term for a small passage-boat in the north. 

SKELETON OF A REGIMENT. Its principal officers and staff. 

SKELLY. The _Leuciscus cephalus_, or chub. In the northern lakes it isoften called the fresh-water herring. 

SKELP, TO. To slap with the open hand: an old word, said to have beenimported from Iceland:--

 "I canno' tell a'; Some gat a skelp, and some gat a claw. "

SKENE, OR SKAIN. A crooked sword formerly used by the Irish. 

SKENY. A northern term to express an insulated rock. 

SKER, OR SKERRY. A flat insulated rock, but not subject to theoverflowing of the sea: thus we have "the Skerries" in Wales, theChannel Islands, &c. 

SKEW. Awry, oblique; as a skew bridge, skew angle, &c. Also, inCornwall, drizzling rain. Also, a rude-fashioned boat. 

SKEWER-PIECES. When the salt meat is cut up on board ship by the pettyofficers, the captain and lieutenants are permitted to select _whole_pieces of 8 or 16 lbs. , for which they are charged 2 or 4 lbs. Extra. The meat being then divided into messes, the remnants are cut into smallpieces termed skewer-pieces, and being free from bone, are charged _adlib. _ to those who take them. 

SKID-BEAMS. Raised stanchions in men-of-war over the main-deck, parallelto the quarter-deck and forecastle beams, for stowing the boats andbooms upon. 

SKIDDY-COCK. A west-country term for the water-rail. 

SKIDER. A northern term for the skate. 

SKIDS. Massive fenders; they consist of long compassing pieces oftimber, formed to answer the vertical curve of a ship's side, in orderto preserve it when weighty bodies are hoisted in or lowered against it. They are mostly used in whalers. Boats are fitted with permanentfenders, to prevent chafing and fretting. Also, beams resting on blocks, on which small craft are built. Also, pieces of plank put under avessel's bottom, for launching her off when she has been hauled up ordriven ashore. 

SKIFF. A familiar term for any small boat; but in particular, oneresembling a yawl, which is usually employed for passing rivers. Also, asailing vessel, with fore-and-aft main-sail, jib fore-sail, and jib:differing from a sloop in setting the jib on a stay, which is eased inby travellers. They have no top-mast, and the main-sail hauls out to thetaffrail, and traverses on a traveller iron horse like a cutter'sfore-sail. 

SKILLET. A small pitch-pot or boiler with feet. 

SKILLY. Poor broth, served to prisoners in hulks. Oatmeal and water inwhich meat has been boiled. Hence, _skillygalee_, or burgoo, the drinkmade with oatmeal and sugar, and served to seamen in lieu of cocoa aslate as 1814. 

SKIN. This term is frequently used for the inside planking of a vessel, the outside being the _case_. 

SKIN OF A SAIL. The outside part when a sail is furled. To furl in aclean skin, is the habit of a good seaman. --_To skin up a sail in thebunt. _ To make that part of the canvas which covers the sail, next themast when furled, smooth and neat, by turning the sail well up on theyard. 

SKIP-JACK. A dandified trifling officer; an upstart. Also, themerry-thought of a fowl. Also, a small fish of the bonito kind, whichfrequently jumps out of the water. A name applied also to smallporpoises. 

SKIPPAGE. An archaism for tackle or ship furniture. 

SKIPPER. The master of a merchant vessel. Also, a man-of-war's man'sconstant appellation for his own captain. Also, the gandanock, orsaury-pike, _Esox saurus_. 

SKIRLING. A fish taken on the Welsh coasts, and supposed to be the fryof salmon. 

SKIRMISH. An engagement of a light and irregular character, generallyfor the purpose of gaining information or time, or of clearing the wayfor more serious operations. 

SKIRTS. The extreme edges of a plain, forest, shoal, &c. 

SKIS-THURSDAY. "The Lady-day in Lent" of the Society of Shipwrights atNewcastle, instituted in 1630. 

SKIT. An aspersive inuendo or for fun. 

SKIVER. A dirk to stab with. 

SKOODRA. A Shetland name for the ling. 

SKOOL. The cry along the coast when the herrings appear first for theseason: a corruption of _school_. 

SKOORIE. A northern term for a full-grown coal-fish. 

SKOTTEFER [Anglo-Sax. _scot_, an arrow or dart]. Formerly, an archer. 

SKOUTHER. A northern name for the stinging jelly-fish. 

SKOUTS. Guillemots or auks, so called in our northern islands from theirwary habits. 

SKOW. A flat-bottomed boat of the northern German rivers. 

SKRAE-FISH. Fish dried in the sun without being salted. 

SKUA. A kind of sea-gull. 

SKUNK-HEAD. An American coast-name for the pied duck. 

SKURRIE. The shag, _Phalacrocorax graculus_. Applied to frightenedseals, &c. 

SKY-GAZER. The ugly hare-lipped _Uranoscopus_, whose eyes are on thecrown of its head; the Italians call him _pesce-prete_, or priest-fish. Also, a sail of very light duck, over which un-nameable sails have beenset, which defy classification. 

SKY-LARKING. In olden times meant mounting to the mast-heads, andsliding down the royal-stays or backstays for amusement; but of late theterm has denoted frolicsome mischief, which is not confined to boys, unless three score and ten includes them. --_Skying_ is an old word forshying or throwing. 

SKYLIGHT. A framework in the deck to admit light vertically into thecabin and gun-room. 

SKYSAIL. A small light sail above the royal. 

SKYSAIL-MAST. The pole or upper portion of a royal mast, when longenough to serve for setting a skysail; otherwise a skysail-mast is aseparate spar, as _sliding gunter_ (which see). 

SKY-SCRAPER. A triangular sail set above the skysail; if square it wouldbe a moonsail, and if set above that, a star-gazer, &c. 

SLAB. The outer cut of a tree when sawn up into planks. (Alburnum. )

SLAB-LINES. Small ropes passing up abaft a ship's main-sail orfore-sail, led through blocks attached to the trestle-trees, and thencetransmitted, each in two branches, to the foot of the sail, where theyare fastened. They are used to truss up the slack sail, after it hasbeen "disarmed" by the leech and buntlines. 

SLACK. The part of a rope or sail that hangs loose. --_To slack_, is todecrease in tension or velocity; as, "Slack the laniard of ourmain-stay;" or "The tide slackens. "

SLACK HELM. If the ship is too much by the stern, she will carry herhelm too much _a-lee_. 

SLACK IN STAYS. Slow in going about. Also applied to a lazy man. 

SLACK OFF, OR SLACKEN! The order to ease away the rope or tackle bywhich anything is held fast; as, "Slack up the hawser. "

SLACK WATER. The interval between the flux and reflux of the tide, asbetween the last of the ebb and first of the flood, or _vice versâ_, during which the water remains apparently quiescent. 

SLADE [the Anglo-Saxon _slæd_]. A valley or open tract of country. 

SLAKE. An accumulation of mud or ooze in the bed of a river. 

SLANT OF WIND. An air of which advantage may be taken. 

SLANT TACK. That which is most favourable to the course when working towindward. 

SLAVER. A vessel employed in the odious slave-trade. 

SLED. The rough kind of sleigh in North America, used for carryingproduce, too heavy for amusement. 

SLEE. A sort of cradle placed under a ship's bottom in Holland, fordrawing her up for repairs. 

SLEECH. A word on our southern coasts for mud or sea-sand used inagriculture. 

SLEEP. A sail sleeps when, steadily filled with wind, it bellies to thebreeze. 

SLEEPERS. Timbers lying fore and aft in the bottom of the ship, nowgenerally applied to the knees which connect the transoms to the aftertimbers on the ship's quarter. They are particularly used in Greenlandships, to strengthen the bows and stern-frame, to enable them to resistthe shocks of the ice. Also, any wooden beams used as supports. Also, ground tier casks. 

SLEEVE. The word formerly used to denote the narrows of a channel, andparticularly applied to the Strait of Dover, still called _La Manche_ bythe French. When Napoleon was threatening to invade England, he wasrepresented trying to get into a coat, but one of the sleeves utterlybaffled him, whence the point: "_Il ne peut pas passer La Manche. _"

SLEEVE-FISH. A name for the calamary, _Loligo vulgaris_, an animalallied to the cuttle-fish. 

SLICE. A bar of iron with a flat, sharp, spear-shaped end, used instripping off sheathing, ceiling, and the like. The _whaler's slice_ isa slender chisel about four inches wide, used to cut into, and flinchthe fish. 

SLICES. Tapering wedges of plank used to drive under the false keel, andbetween the bilge-ways, preparatory to launching a vessel. 

SLICK. Smooth. This is usually called an Americanism, but is a very oldsea-term. In the _Book for Boys and Girls_, 1686, it is aptlyillustrated:

 "The mole's a creature very smooth and slick, She digs i' th' dirt, but 'twill not on her stick. "

SLIDE-VALVE CASING. A casing on one side of the cylinder of an engine, which covers the nozzles or steam-ports, and confines the slide-valves. 

SLIDE-VALVE ROD. A rod connecting the slide-valves of an engine, toboth of which it is joined; it passes through the casing cover, theopening of which is kept steam-tight. 

SLIDE-VALVES. The adaptations used in a marine-engine to change theadmission of the steam into, and its eduction from, the cylinder, by theupper and lower steam-ports alternately. 

SLIDING BAULKS, OR SLIDING-PLANKS. Those timbers fitted under the bottomof a ship, to descend with her upon the bilge-ways when launched. 

SLIDING BILGE-BLOCKS. Those logs made to slide under the bilge of a shipin order to support her. 

SLIDING GUNTERS. Masts fitted for getting up and down with facilityabaft the mast; generally used for _kites_, as royals, skysails, and thelike. 

SLIDING-KEEL. A contrivance to prevent vessels from being driven toleeward by a side-wind; it is composed of planks of various breadths, erected vertically, so as to slide up and down, through the keel. 

SLING, TO. To pass the top-chains round the yards when going intoaction. Also, to set any large article, in ropes, so as to put a tackleon, and hoist or lower it. When the clues are attached to a cot orhammock, it is said to be slung; also water-kegs, buoys, &c. , are slung. 

SLING-DOGS. In timber lifting, a dog is an iron implement with a fang atone end, and an eye at the other, in which a rope may be made fast forhauling anything along. Two of these fastened together by a shacklethrough the eyes are called sling-dogs. (_See_ DOG. ) Also, an ancientpiece of ordnance. (_See_ SLYNG. )

SLING-HOOP. That which suspends the yard from the mast, by which it ishoisted and lowered. 

SLINGS. A rope fitted to encircle any large article, and suspend itwhile hoisting and lowering. Also, leather straps made fast to both endsof a musket, serving for the men to hang them by on their shoulders, that both hands may be free. --_Boat-slings. _ Strong ropes, furnishedwith hooks and iron thimbles, whereby to hook the tackles to keel, stem, and stern bolts, in order to hoist the boats in or out of theship. --_Buoy-slings_ are special fittings adopted in order that a buoymay securely ride on the wave, and mark the position of the anchor, thebuoy-rope being attached to an eye in the slings. --_Butt-slings_ arethose used in slinging casks; they may be described as a running eyeover one end, and a similar one made with two half hitches over thestanding part on the other; all of which jam close home when the strainis brought on the bight. --_Yard-slings. _ The rope or chain used tosupport a yard which does not travel up and down a mast. The slings of ayard also imply that part on which the slings are placed. --_Slings_ isalso a term on the American coast for drams, or a drink of spirits andwater; the custom of _slinging_ prevails there extensively, even whereintoxication is despised. 

SLIP. An inclined plane by the water side, on which a ship may be built. There are also slips up which vessels may be drawn for receivingrepairs. Also, a short memorandum of the proposed insurance of a ship, which is sometimes offered to the underwriters for subscription, previous to the effecting of a policy. Also, in steam navigation, thedifference between the pitch of the propelling screw, and the spacethrough which the screw actually progresses in the water, during onerevolution. --_To slip_, is to let go the cable with a buoy on the end, and quit the position, from any sudden requirement, instead of weighingthe anchor. --_To slip by the board. _ To slip down by the ship's side. 

SLIP-BEND. When a man makes a false step, and slips down a hatchway, oroverboard. 

SLIP-KNOT, OR SLIPPERY-HITCH. One which will not bear any strain, butwill either become untied, or will traverse along the other part of therope. 

SLIP-ROPE. A rope passed through anything in such a manner that it willrender or may be slipped instantaneously, as in canting to make sail, &c. 

SLIP-SHACKLE. A shackle with a lever-bolt, for letting go suddenly; yet, when ringed, is sufficient to secure the ship. 

SLIVE, OR SLIVER. An old term for a sluice. Also, any thin piece ofsplit wood used as a filling. Also, a short slop wrapper, formerlycalled a _sliving_. 

SLOOP. In general parlance is a vessel similar to a cutter; thebowsprit, however, is not running, and the jib is set on a standing staywith hanks. In North America the sloop proper sets only a main-sail andfore-sail, the latter jib-shaped, on a short standing bowsprit, and hasno top-mast. The rig is greatly used for yachts there, and is mosteffective in moderate weather. Sloop in the royal navy is a termdepending on the rank of the officer in command. Thus, the donkeyfrigate _Blossom_ was one cruise rated a _ship_, when commanded by acaptain--the next, a _sloop_, because only commanded by a commander. 

SLOP-BOOK. A register of the slop clothing, soap, and tobacco, issued tothe men; also of the religious books supplied. 

SLOPE OF WIND. A breeze favouring a long tack near to the requiredcourse, and which may be expected to veer to fair. 

SLOP-ROOM. The place appointed to keep the slops in, for the ship'scompany; generally well aft and dry. 

SLOPS. A name given to ready-made clothes, and other furnishings, forseamen, by Maydman, in 1691. In Chaucer's time, _sloppe_ meant a sort ofbreeches. In a MS. Account of the wardrobe of Queen Elizabeth, is anorder to John Fortescue for the delivery of some Naples fustian for"Sloppe for Jack Greene, our Foole. "

SLOP-SHOP. A place where ready-made clothing for seamen is sold, not atall advantageously to Jack. 

SLOT. An archaic term for a castle or fort. Also, a groove or hole wherea pin traverses. 

SLOT-HOOP. The same as _truss-hoops_. 

SLOW HER! In steam navigation, the same as "Ease her!"

SLOW MATCH. _See_ MATCH. 

SLOW TIME. In marching, means 75 paces to a minute. 

SLUDGE. A wet deposit formed by streams. Also, a stratum of young ice inrough seas. Also, in polar parlance, comminuted fragments of brash ice. 

SLUDGE-HOLES. Adaptations at the ends of the water-passages between theflues of a steamer's boilers, by which the deposits can be raked out. 

SLUE, TO. To turn anything round or over _in situ_: especiallyexpressing the movement of a gun, cask, or ship; or when a mast, boom, or spar is turned about in its cap or boom iron. 

SLUED. When a man staggers under drink; unable to walk steadily. 

SLUE-ROPE. A rope peculiarly applied for turning a spar or other objectin a required direction. 

SLUR-BOW. A species of cross-bow formerly used for discharging firearrows. 

SLUSH. The fat of the boiled meat in the coppers, formerly theperquisite of the ship's cook. Also applied to anything like plashyground, but most commonly to snow in a thaw. Any wet dirt. 

SLUSH-BUCKET. A bucket kept in the tops, to grease the masts, sheets, &c. , to make all run smoothly. 

SLUSH-ICE. The first layer which forms when the surface is freezing. 

SLY-GOOSE. A northern term for the sheldrake, _Tadorna vulpanser_. 

SLYNG. An ancient piece of sea-ordnance: there were also _di-slyngs_. 

SMACK. A vessel, sometimes like a cutter, used for mercantile purposes, or for carrying passengers; the largest of which, the Leith smacks, attained the size of 200 tons. 

SMACK-SMOOTH. Level with the surface; said of a mast which has gone bythe board. 

SMALL. The narrow part of the tail of a whale, in front of the flukes. Also, that part of the anchor-shank which is immediately under thestock. 

SMALL-ARM MEN. Those of the crew selected and trained to the use ofsmall-arms. When they have effected their boarding, they seldom retainmore than their pistol and cutlass. 

SMALL-ARMS. The muskets, pistols, cutlasses, tomahawks, andboarding-pikes, in charge of the gunner, on board ship. 

SMALL-HELM. One of the principal results of sound seamanship is theproper trim of the vessel and the sail carried; by which means theaction of the rudder is reduced to a minimum, not requiring the tillerto be moved either hard up or hard down. Also used to denote that aturbulent jaw-me-down bully has been brought to his senses by a morevigorous mind. 

SMALL SAILS. Top-gallant-studding-sails and the _kites_. 

SMALL STUFF. The term for spun-yarn, marline, and the smallest kinds ofrope, even for yarns. 

SMART. Ready, active, and intelligent. 

SMART-MONEY. A pension given to a wounded man, according to the extentof the injury and his rank. Thus a lieutenant gets £91, 5_s. _ for theloss of a leg, and a captain £300. 

SMART-TICKET. The certificate from a captain and surgeon, by which onlythe smart-money is obtainable. 

SMASHERS. Anything large or powerful. Also, pieces of ordnance of largecalibre, in form between the gun and the carronade. Also, a very generalepithet for north-country seamen. 

SMELT [Anglo-Saxon, _smylt_]. The fry of salmon, samlet, or _Salmoeperlanus_. 

SMEW. The white-headed goosander, _Mergus albellus_. 

SMITER. An archaism for a scimitar. In the legend of Captain Jones, 1659, we are told:

 "His fatal _smiter_ thrice aloft he shakes, And frowns; the sea, and ship, and canvas quakes. "

SMITING-LINE. A line by which a yarn-stoppered sail is loosed, withoutsending men aloft. If well executed, marks the seaman. 

SMOKE-BALLS. A pyrotechnical preparation, thrown to short distances frommortars, to choke men out of mines, to conceal movements, &c. Theycontinue to smoke densely from 25 to 30 minutes. 

SMOKE-BOX. A part which crosses the whole front of a marine boiler, overthe furnace doors; or that part between the end of tubes furthest fromthe fire-place and bottom of the funnel. 

SMOKES. Dense exhalations, mixed with the finer particles of sand, onthe Calabar shores and borders of the Great Zahara desert, which prevailin autumn. Also, the indications of inhabitants when coasting new lands. For its meaning in Arctic voyages, _see_ VAPOUR. 

SMOKE-SAIL. A small sail hoisted against the fore-mast when a ship rideshead to wind, to give the smoke of the galley an opportunity of rising, and to prevent its being blown aft on to the quarter-deck. 

SMOOTH. A Cornish term applied when the surf abates its fury for a shortspace. Also, the lee of a ship or of a rock. 

SMUG-BOATS. Contraband traders on the coast of China; opium boats. 

SMUGGLING. Defrauding the public revenue by importing or exporting goodswithout paying the customs dues chargeable upon them. 

SMURLIN. A bivalve mollusc, _Mya truncata_, used as food in the ShetlandIslands. 

SNAGGLE, TO. To angle for geese with a hook and line properly baited. 

SNAGS. The old word for lopped branches and sharp protuberances, but nowchiefly applied to sunken obstructions in the American rivers. 

SNAIL-CREEPING. Gouging out the surfaces of timbers in crooked channels, to promote a circulation of air. 

SNAKE-PIECES. _See_ POINTERS. 

SNAKING. The passing of small stuff across a seizing, with marlinehitches at the outer turns; or the winding small ropes spirally round alarge one, the former lying in the intervals between the strands of thelatter. (_See_ WORM. ) The stays and backstays, when the _Shannon_ engagedthe _Chesapeake_, were snaked with half-inch rope from fathom to fathom, to prevent their falling if shot away. Also, the finishing touch to neatseizings, to prevent the parts from separating when becoming slack bydrying. 

SNAPE, TO. In ship-carpentry, is to hance or bevel the end of anything, so as to fay upon an inclined plane: it is also designated _flinch_. 

SNAP-HAUNCE. An old word for a fire-lock or musket; a spring-lock forfire-arms. 

SNAPING-POLE. An old term for a fishing-rod. 

SNAPPER. A well-known fish of the Mesoprion tribe, highly valued as foodin the West Indies and tropics generally. 

SNAPPING-TURTLE. A well-known fresh-water tortoise of the rivers in theUnited States; _Chelydra serpentina_. 

SNARES. The cords which pass across the diameter of one hoop at the endof a drum. 

SNARLEY-YOW. A discontented, litigious grumbler. An old guard-shipauthority who knows when to play the courtier. 

SNARL-KNOT. A northern expression for a knot that cannot be drawn loose. 

SNATCH. Any open lead for a rope: if not furnished with a sheave, it istermed a _dumb snatch_, as on the bows and quarters for hawsers. 

SNATCH-BLOCK. A single iron-bound block, with an opening in one sideabove the sheave, in which the bight of a rope may be laid, instead ofreeving the end through, which in some circumstances would be veryinconvenient, as when warps are led to the capstan, &c. The same as_notch-block_. 

SNEER. To "make all sneer again" is to carry canvas to such an extent asto strain the ropes and spars to the utmost. 

SNEEZER. A stiff gale of wind. 

SNIFTING-VALVE. In the marine engine (_see_ TAIL-VALVE). 

SNIGGLING. A peculiar mode of catching eels in small streams and ponds, described by Izaak Walton. 

SNIKKER-SNEE. A combat with knives; also, a large clasp-knife. 

SNOGO. A cockpit game at cards, called also _blind hookey_, apparentlyaffording equal chances, but easily managed to his own advantage by aknavish adept. 

SNOOD [Anglo-Saxon, _snod_]. A short hair-line or wire to which hooksare fastened below the lead in angling. Or the link of hair uniting thehook and fishing-line. 

SNOOK. A fish of the family _Scombridæ_, _Thyrsites atun_, abundant inTable Bay, whence it is exported, when salted, to the Mauritius. 

SNOTTER. The lower support of the _sprit_ (which see). 

SNOW. A vessel formerly much in use. It differs slightly from a brig. Ithas two masts similar to the main and fore masts of a ship, and closeabaft the main-mast a trysail-mast. Snows differ only from brigs in thatthe boom-mainsail is hooped to the main-mast in the brig, and traverseson the trysail-mast in the snow. 

SNUBBING HER. Bringing a ship up suddenly with an anchor, and shortrange of cable, yet without jerking. [Said to be from the Icelandic_snubba_. ]

SNUG. Under proper sail to meet a gale. 

SNY. A gentle bend in timber, curving upwards: when it curves downwards, it is said to _hang_. 

SO! An order to desist temporarily from hauling upon a rope, when it hascome to its right position. 

SOAK AND SEND! The order to pass wet swabs along. 

SOAM. The dried air-bladder of herrings. 

SOCKETS. The holes in which swivel-pintles, or the capstan or windlassspindles move. 

SOD-BANK. A peculiar effect of refraction sometimes seen in calmweather, showing all objects on the water multiplied or magnified. Apoor name for a fine phenomenon. 

SOFT-LAES. A term on our northern coast for the small coves and baysformed by the waves on the more friable parts of cliffs. 

SOFT-PLANK. Picking a soft plank in the deck, is choosing an easy berth. (_See_ PLANK IT. )

SOFT TOMMY, OR SOFT TACK. Loaves of bread served out instead of biscuit. 

SOLAN-GOOSE. The gannet, _Sula bassana_, a well-known sea fowl, frequenting the coasts of many countries in the northern hemisphere inthe summer to lay its eggs, and then migrating. 

SOLANO. An oppressive wind, blowing from Africa into the Mediterranean;synonymous with _sirocco_. 

SOLAR DAY. Is the interval which elapses between two successive meridiantransits of the sun, and is the unit of time in common use. 

SOLAR SPECTRUM. The coloured image of the sun produced by refractionthrough a prism. 

SOLAR SPOTS. _See_ MACULÆ. 

SOLAR SYSTEM. The sun, planets, and comets, which are assumed to form asystem, independent of the surrounding fixed stars. 

SOLDIER. One that has enlisted to serve his government in peace or war;receiving pay, and subject to the Mutiny Act and Articles of War. 

SOLDIER-CRAB. A name for the _hermit-crab_ (which see). 

SOLDIER'S WIND. One which serves either way; allowing a passage to bemade without much nautical ability. 

SOLE. A common flat-fish, _Solea vulgaris_. Also, the decks of the cabinand forecastle in some ships, respectively called the _cabin_ and_forecastle soles_. Also, the lining of the bilge-ways, rudder, and thelike. 

SOLENT SEA. The old name of the narrow strait between Hampshire and theIsle of Wight. 

SOLE OF A GUN-PORT. The lower part of it, more properly called_port-sill_. 

SOLE OF THE RUDDER. A piece of timber attached to its lower part torender it nearly level with the false keel. 

SOLLERETS. Pieces of steel which formed part of the armour for the feet. 

SOLSTICES. The epochs when the sun passes through the solstitial points. 

SOLSTITIAL COLURE. A great circle passing through the poles andsolstitial points. 

SOLSTITIAL POINTS. The two points where the tropics meet the ecliptic, in longitude 90° and 270°. 

SOMA. A Japan junk of burden. 

SONG. The call of soundings by the leadsman in the channels. Songs arealso used to aid the men in keeping time when pulling on a rope, where afife is not available. They are very common in merchant ships. Thewhalers have an improvised song when cutting docks in the ice in Arcticseas. 

SON OF A GUN. An epithet conveying contempt in a slight degree, andoriginally applied to boys born afloat, when women were permitted toaccompany their husbands to sea; one admiral declared he literally wasthus cradled, under the breast of a gun-carriage. 

SOPS. A northern term for small detached clouds, hanging about the sidesof a mountain. 

SORT. "That's your sort, " means approval of a deed. 

SORTIE. _See_ SALLY. 

SOUGH. An old northern term for the distant surging of the sea; a hollowmurmur or howling, or the moaning of the wind before a gale. 

SOUND [Anglo-Saxon, _sund_]. An arm of the sea over the whole extent ofwhich soundings may be obtained, as on the coasts of Norway and America. Also, any deep bay formed and connected by reefs and sand-banks. On theshores of Scotland it means a narrow channel or strait. Also, theair-bladder of the cod, and generally the swimming-bladder or "soundesof any fysshes. " Also, a cuttle-fish. 

SOUND, VELOCITY OF. May be freely assumed at nearly 1142 feet in asecond of time, when not affected by the temperature or wind; subject tocorrections when great accuracy is required. 

SOUND DUES. A toll formerly levied by the Danes on all merchant vesselspassing the sound or strait between the North Sea and the Baltic. 

SOUNDING. The operation of ascertaining the depth of the sea, and thequality of the ground, by means of a lead and line, sunk from a ship tothe bottom, where some of the ooze or sand adheres to the tallow in thehollow base of the lead. Also, the vertical diving of a whale whenstruck. It is supposed to strike the bottom, and will take 3 or 4 coilsof whale-line, equal to 2000 feet. 

SOUNDING-LEAD. _See_ LEAD. 

SOUNDING-LINE. This line, with a plummet, is mentioned by Lucilius; andwas the _sund-gyrd_ of the Anglo-Saxons. 

SOUNDING-ROD. A slight rod of iron marked with feet and inches, whichbeing let down by a line in a groove of the side of the pump, indicateswhat water there is in the well, and consequently whether the shiprequires pumping out or not. 

SOUNDINGS. To be in soundings implies being so near the land that adeep-sea lead will reach the bottom, which is seldom practicable in theocean. As soundings may, however, be obtained at enormous depths, and atgreat distances from the land, the term is limited in common parlance toparts not far from the shore, and where the depth is about 80 or 100fathoms. Also, a name given to the specimen of the ground brought upadhering to the tallow stuck upon the base of the deep-sea lead, anddistinguishing the nature of the bottom, as sand, shells, ooze, &c. 

SOUNDLESS. Places assumed formerly to be bottomless, but thousands offathoms are now measured. Our elders little thought of a submarinetelegraph across the Atlantic Ocean!

SOURCE. The spring or origin of a stream or river, or at least one ofthe tributaries of supply. 

SOURS. An old word for a rise, or rapid ascent. 

SOUSE. A method of pickling fish by immersing them in vinegar afterbeing boiled. (_See_ MARL. )

SOUSED GURNET. Best expressed by Falstaff's--"If I be not ashamed of mysoldiers, I am a soused gurnet. "

SOUTHERN CROSS. The popular name of a group of stars near the SouthPole, which are somewhat in the figure of a cross. 

SOUTHERN-LIGHTS. _See_ AURORA AUSTRALIS. 

SOUTHING. In navigation, implies the distance made good towards thesouth: the opposite of _northing_. 

SOUTHING OF THE MOON. The time at which the moon passes the meridian ofany particular place. Popularly the term is used to denote the meridiantransit of any heavenly body south of the observer. 

SOUTH SEA. _See_ PACIFIC OCEAN. 

SOUTH-WESTER. A useful water-proof hat for bad weather. 

SOUTH-WIND. A mild wind in the British seas with frequent fogs; itgenerally brings rain or damp weather. 

SOW. The receptacle into which the molten iron is poured in agun-foundry. The liquid iron poured from it is termed _pig_, whence theterm pig-ballast. 

SPADE. In open speaking, to call a spade a spade is to give a man hisreal character. The phrase is old and still in use. 

SPADO, OR SPADROON. A cut-and-thrust sword [from the Spanish]. 

SPAKE-NET. A peculiar net for catching crabs. 

SPALDING-KNIFE. A knife used for splitting fish in Newfoundland. 

SPALDINGS. A north-country name for whitings and other small fish, splitand dried. 

SPALES. In naval architecture, internal strengthening by crossartificial beams. (_See_ CROSS-SPALES. )

SPAN. A rope with both ends made fast, so that a purchase may be hookedto its bight. Also, a small line or cord, the middle of which is usuallyattached to a stay, whence the two ends branch outwards to the right andleft, having either a block or thimble attached to their extremities. Itis used to confine some ropes which pass through the correspondingblocks or thimbles as a fair leader. 

SPAN-BLOCKS. Blocks seized into each bight of a strap, long enough to goacross a cap, and allow the blocks to hang clear on each side, asmain-lifts, top-mast studding-sail, halliards, blocks, &c. 

SPAN IN THE RIGGING, TO. To draw the upper parts of the shrouds togetherby tackles, in order to seize on the cat-harping legs. The rigging isalso "spanned in" when it has been found to stretch considerably onfirst putting to sea, but cannot be set up until it moderates. 

SPANISH-BURN. A specious method of hiding defects in timber, by choppingit in pieces. 

SPANISH-BURTON. The _single_ is rove with three single blocks, or twosingle blocks and a hook in the bight of one of the running parts. The_double_ Spanish-burton is furnished with one double and two singleblocks. 

SPANISH DISTURBANCE. An epithet given to the sudden armament on theNootka Sound affair, in 1797, an epoch from which many of our seamendated their service in the late wars. 

SPANISH MACKEREL. An old Cornish name for the tunny, or a scomber, larger than the horse-mackerel. 

SPANISH REEF. The yards lowered on the cap. Also, a knot tied in thehead of the jib. 

SPANISH WINDLASS. A wooden roller, or heaver, having a rope wound aboutit, through the bight of which an iron bolt is inserted as a lever forheaving it round. This is a handy tool for turning in rigging, heavingin seizings, &c. 

SPANKER. A fore-and-aft sail, setting with a boom and gaff, frequentlycalled the _driver_ (which see). It is the aftermost sail of a ship orbark. 

SPANKER-EEL. A northern term for the lamprey. 

SPANKING. Going along with a fresh breeze when the spanker tells, as theaft well-boomed out-sail. The word is also used to denote strength, spruceness, and size, as a _spanking breeze_, a _spanking frigate_, &c. 

SPANNER. An instrument by which the wheel-lock guns and pistols werewound up; also used to screw up the nuts of the plummer boxes. Also, animportant balance in forming the radius of parallel motion in asteam-engine, since it reconciles the curved sweep which the side-leversdescribe with the perpendicular movement of the piston-rod, by means ofwhich they are driven. 

SPANNING A HARPOON. Fixing the line which connects the harpoon and itsstaff. The harpoon iron is a socketed tool, tapering 3 feet to thebarb-heads; on that iron socket a becket is worked; the staff fits inloosely. The harpoon line reeves upwards from the socket through thisbecket, and through another on the staff, so that on striking the whalethe staff leaps out of the socket and does not interfere with the iron, which otherwise might be wrenched out. 

SPAN OF RIGGING. The length of shrouds from the dead-eyes on one side, over the mast-head, to the dead-eyes on the other side of the ship. 

SPAN-SHACKLE. A large bolt running through the forecastle and spar-deckbeams, and forelocked before each beam, with a large triangular shackleat the head, formerly used for the purpose of receiving the end of thedavit. Also, a bolt similarly driven through the deck-beam, for securingthe booms, boats, anchors, &c. 

SPAR. The general term for any mast, yard, boom, gaff, &c. Inship-building, the name is applied to small firs used in making staging. 

SPAR-DECK. This term is loosely applied, though properly it signifies atemporary deck laid in any part of a vessel, and the beams whereon itrests obtain the name of skid-beams in the navy. It also means thequarter-deck, gangways, and forecastle of a deep-waisted vessel; and, rather strangely, is applied to the upper entire deck of a double-bankedvessel, without an open waist. 

SPARE. An epithet applied to any part of a ship's equipage that lies inreserve, to supply the place of such as may be lost or renderedincapable of service; hence we say, spare tiller, spare top-masts, &c. 

SPARE ANCHOR. An additional anchor the size of a bower. 

SPARE SAILS. An obvious term. They should be pointed before stowing themaway in the sail-room. 

SPARLING. A name on the Lancashire coasts for the smelt (_Osmeruseperlanus_). 

SPARTHE. An Anglo-Saxon term for a halbert or battle-axe. 

SPAT. The spawn or ova of the oyster. 

SPEAK A VESSEL, TO. To pass within hail of her for that purpose. 

SPECIFIC GRAVITY. The comparative weights of equal bulks of differentbodies, water being generally represented as unity. 

SPECK-BLOCKS. _See_ FLENSE. 

SPECK-FALLS, OR PURCHASE. Ropes rove through two large purchase-blocksat the mast-head of a whaler, and made fast to the _blubber-guy_, forhoisting the blubber from a whale. 

SPECKTIONEER. The chief harpooner in a Greenland ship. He also directsthe cutting operations in clearing the whale of its blubber and bones. 

SPECTRUM. The variously coloured image into which a ray of light isdivided on being passed through a prism. 

SPEED-INDICATOR. A modification of Massey's log. 

SPELL. The period wherein one or more sailors are employed in particularduties demanding continuous exertion. Such are the spells to thehand-lead in sounding, to working the pumps, to look out on themast-head, &c. , and to steer the ship, which last is generally calledthe "trick at the wheel. " _Spel-ian_, Anglo-Saxon, "to supply another'sroom. " Thus, _Spell ho!_ is the call for relief. 

SPENCER. The fore-and-main trysails; fore-and-aft sails set with gaffs, introduced instead of main-topmast and mizen staysails. 

SPENT. From _expend_: said of a mast broken by accident, incontradistinction to one shot away. 

SPENT SHOT. A shot that has lost its penetrative velocity, yet capableof inflicting grave injury as long as it travels. 

SPERM WHALE. Otherwise known as the cachalot, _Physeter macrocephalus_. A large cetacean, belonging to the division of delphinoid or toothedwhales. It is found in nearly all tropical and temperate seas, and ismuch hunted for the valuable sperm-oil and spermaceti which it yields. When full grown, it may attain the length of 60 feet, of which the headoccupies nearly one-third. 

SPERONARA. A Mediterranean boat of stouter build than the _scampavia_, yet rowed with speed: in use in the south of Italy and Malta. 

SPHERA NAUTICA. An old navigation instrument. In 1576 Martin Frobisherwas supplied with a brass one, at the cost of £4, 6_s. _ 8_d. _

SPHERE. The figure formed by the rotation of a circle. A termsingularly, but very often, misapplied in parlance for orbit. 

SPHERICAL CASE-SHOT. _See_ SHRAPNEL SHELL. 

SPHERICAL TRIANGLE. That contained under three arcs of great circles ofa sphere. 

SPHEROID. The figure formed by the rotation of an ellipse, differinglittle from a circle. 

SPICA, OR α VIRGINIS. The lucida of Virgo, a standard nautical star. 

SPIDER. An iron out-rigger to keep a block clear of the ship's side. 

SPIDER-HOOP. The hoop round a mast to secure the shackles to which thefuttock-shrouds are attached. Also, an iron encircling hoop, fitted withbelaying pins round the mast. 

SPIDER-LINES. A most ingenious substitution of a spider's long threadsfor wires in micrometer scales, intended for delicate astronomicalobservations. 

SPIKE-NAILS. _See_ DECK-NAILS. 

SPIKE-PLANK. (_Speak-plank?_) In Polar voyages, a platform projectingacross the vessel before the mizen-mast, to enable the ice-master tocross over, and see ahead, and so pilot her clear of the ice. Itcorresponds with the bridge in steamers. 

SPIKE-TACKLE AND CANT-FALLS. The ropes and blocks used in whalers tosling their prey to the side of the ship. 

SPIKE-TUB. A vessel in which the fat of bears, seals, and minor quarryis set aside till a "making off" gives an opportunity for adding it tothe blubber in the hold. 

SPIKING A GUN. Driving a large nail or iron spike into the vent, whichwill render the cannon unserviceable until removed. (_See_ CLOY. )

SPILE. A stake or piece of wood formed like the frustum of a cone. Avent-peg in a cask of liquor. Small wooden pins which are driven intonail-holes to prevent leaking. 

SPILINGS. In carpentry and ship-building, the dimensions taken from astraight line, a mould's edge, or rule-staff, to any given sny or curveof a plank's edge. 

SPILL, TO. Whether for safety or facility, it is advisable to shiver thewind out of a sail before furling or reefing it. This is done either bycollecting the sail together, or by bracing it bye, so that the wind maystrike its leech and shiver it. A very effeminate captain was accustomedto order, "Sheevar the meezen taus'le, and let the fore-topmast staysaillie dormant in the brails!"

SPILLING LINES. Ropes contrived to keep the sails from blowing away whenthey are clued up, being rove before the sails like the buntlines so asto disarm the gale, in contradistinction to clue-lines, &c. , which causethe sails to belly full. 

SPIN A TWIST OR A YARN, TO. To tell a long story; much prized in adreary watch, if not tedious. 

SPINDLE. The vertical iron pin upon which the capstan moves. (_See_CAPSTAN. ) Also, a piece of timber forming the diameter of a made mast. Also, the long-pin on which anything revolves. A windlass turns onhorizontal spindles at each extremity. 

SPINGARD. A kind of small cannon. 

SPIRE-VAPOUR. A name suggested to Captain Parry for certain littlevertical streams of vapour rising from the sea or open water in theArctic regions, resembling the _barber_ in North America (which see). 

SPIRIT-ROOM. A place or compartment abaft the after-hold, to contain theship's company's spirits. 

SPIRKITTING. That strake of planks which is wrought, anchor-stock-fashion, between the water-way and the lower sill of thegun-ports withinside of a ship of war. --_Spirkitting_ is also used todenote the strake of ceiling between the upper-deck and the plank-sheerof a merchantman; otherwise known as _quick-work_. 

SPIT. A bank, or small sandy projection, with shallow water on it, generally running out from a point of land. Also, meteorologically, veryslight rain. 

SPITFIRE-JIB. In cutters, a small storm-jib of very heavy canvas. 

SPITHEAD NIGHTINGALES. Boatswains and boatswains' mates, when windingtheir calls, especially when piping to dinner. 

SPLA-BOARDS. Planks fixed at an obtuse angle, to reflect light into amagazine. 

SPLICE. The joining of two ropes together. Familiarly, two personsjoined in wedlock. --_To splice. _ To join the two untwisted ends of arope together. There are several methods of making a splice, accordingto the services for which it is intended; as:--_The long rolling splice_is chiefly used in lead-lines, log-lines, and fishing-lines, where theshort splice would be liable to separation, as being frequently loosenedby the water. --_The long splice_ occupies a great extent of rope, but bythe three joinings being fixed at a distance from each other, theincrease of bulk is divided; hence it resembles a continuous lay, andis adapted to run through the sheave-hole of a block, &c. , for which useit is generally intended. --_The short splice_ is used upon cables, slings, block-strops, and, in general, all ropes which are not intendedto run through blocks. --_Spliced eye_ forms a sort of eye or circle atthe end of a rope, and is used for splicing in thimbles, bull's-eyes, &c. , and generally on the end of lashing block-strops. (_See_EYE-SPLICE. )

SPLICE THE MAIN BRACE. In nautical parlance, to serve out an extraallowance of grog in bad weather or after severe exertion. 

SPLICING FID. A tapered wooden pin for opening the strands when splicinglarge ropes; it is sometimes driven by a large wooden mallet called a_commander_. 

SPLINTER-NETTING. A cross-barred net formed of half-inch rope lashed atevery rectangular crossing, and spread from rigging to rigging betweenthe main and mizen masts, to prevent wreck from aloft, in action, fromwounding the men at the upper-deck guns. They are frequently used at theopen hatchways to prevent accidents. 

SPLITTER. A man engaged in the Newfoundland fisheries to receive thefish from the _header_, and, with a sharp knife, dexterously to lay itopen. 

SPLITTING OUT. To remove the blocks on which a vessel rests in a dock, or at launching, when the pressure is too great for them to be driven, but by splitting. 

SPLITTING THE BOOKS. The making of a new complete-book after payment, inwhich the dead, run, or discharged men are omitted; but the numberswhich stood against the men's names in the first list must be continued. 

SPOKES. The handles of the wheel, not the radii. --_To put a spoke in aman's wheel_, is to say something of him to his advantage, or otherwise. 

SPOKE-SHAVE. That useful instrument similar to the carpenter'sdrawing-knife, for smoothing rounds or hollows. 

SPOLIATION OF A SHIP'S PAPERS. An act which, by the maritime law ofevery court in Europe, not only excludes further proof, but does, _perse_, infer condemnation. Our own code has so far relaxed that thiscircumstance shall not be damnatory. The suppression of ships' papers, however, is regarded in the admiralty courts with great suspicion. 

SPONSON. The curve of the timbers and planking towards the outer part ofthe _wing_, before and abaft each of the paddle-boxes of a steamer. 

SPONSON-RIM. The same as _wing-wale_ (which see). 

SPONTOON. A light halbert. 

SPOOM, TO. An old word frequently found in Dryden, who thus uses it, "When virtue _spooms_ before a prosp'rous gale, My heaving wishes help to fill the sail. "

SPOON-DRIFT. A showery sprinkling of the water swept from the tops ofthe waves in a brisk gale. Driving snow is also sometimes termedspoon-drift. 

SPOONING, OR SPOOMING. Driving under a heavy gale, such as forces a shipto run before it without any canvas set. 

SPOON-WAYS. In slave-ships, stowing the poor wretches so closely lockedtogether, that it is difficult to move without treading upon them. 

SPOTS ON THE SUN. _See_ MACULÆ. 

SPOUT. A term applied to the blowing or breathing of whales and othercetaceans. The expired air, highly charged with moisture from the lungs, has frequently been mistaken for a stream of water. (_See also_WATER-SPOUT. )

SPOUTER. A whaling term for a South Sea whale. 

SPRAT WEATHER. The dark days of November and December, so called fromthat being the most favourable season for catching sprats. 

SPREAD A FLEET, TO. To keep more open order. 

SPREAD EAGLE. A person seized in the rigging; generally a passenger thusmade to pay his entrance forfeit. 

SPREE. Uproarious jollity, sport, and merriment. 

SPRING. A crack running obliquely through any part of a mast or yard, which renders it unsafe to carry the usual sail thereon, and the spar isthen said to be sprung. Also, a hawser laid out to some fixed object toslue a vessel proceeding to sea. (_See_ WARP. )--_To spring. _ To split orbreak. --_To spring a butt. _ To start the end of a plank on the outsideof a ship's bottom. (_See_ BUTT. )--_To spring a leak_, is when a vesselis suddenly discovered to leak. --_To spring the luff_, easing the helmdown to receive a breeze; to bring a vessel's head closer to the wind insailing. Thus a vessel coming up sharply to the wind under full wayshoots, and may run much to windward of her course, until met by acontrary helm. --_To spring a mine. _ To fire its charge. 

SPRING-BEAM. In a steamer, a fore-and-aft beam for connecting the twopaddle-beams, and supporting the outer end of the paddle-shaft. 

SPRING-FORELOCK. One jagged or split at the point, thereby formingsprings to prevent its drawing. 

SPRING-SEARCHER. A steel-pronged tool to search for defects in the boreof a gun. 

SPRING-STAYS. Are rather smaller than the stays, and are placed abovethem, being intended as substitutes should the main one be shot away. 

SPRING-TIDE. The periodical excess of the elevation and depression ofthe tide, which occurs when both the sun and moon act in the samedirection. 

SPRIT [Anglo-Saxon, _spreotas_]. A small boom which crosses the sail ofa boat diagonally from the mast to the upper aftmost corner: the lowerend of the sprit rests in a sort of becket called the snotter, whichencircles the mast at that place. These sails are accordingly calledsprit-sails. Also, in a sheer-hulk, a spur or spar for keeping thesheers out to the required distance, so that their head should plumbwith the centre of the ship when taking out or putting in masts. 

SPRIT-SAIL. A sail formerly attached to a yard which hung under thebowsprit, and of importance in naval actions of old. 

SPRIT-SAIL SHEET KNOT. May be crowned and walled, or double-walled, andis often used as a stopper-knot. 

SPRIT-SAIL TOP-SAIL. A sail extended above the sprit-sail by a yard, which hung under the jib-boom. --_Top-gallant sprit-sail_ was set uponthe flying jib-boom in the same manner that the sprit-sail was set uponthe inner jib-boom. The sprit-sail course, top-sail, and topgallant-sailwere similar in effect to those on the fore-mast, and in former times, when the bowsprit stood more erect, it was indeed the bowsprit or mast. 

SPRIT-SAIL YARD. A yard slung across the bowsprit, lashed to theknight-heads, and used to spread the guys of the jib and flyingjib-boom. To this yard the sprit-sail was formerly bent. 

SPRIT-SAIL YARDING. A cruelty in which some fishermen wreak vengeance onsharks, dog-fish, &c. , that encroach on their baits, and foul theirnets. They thrust a piece of wood through the gills of the unconsciousoffender, and in that condition turn it adrift upon the ocean. 

SPROKET-WHEEL. That at the upper extremities of the chain-pump-tubes, worked by crank-handles. 

SPRUNG. Damaged in various ways. Also, the ship slued round by means ofguys. In ship-building, it indicates that a plank is strained so as tocrack or fly open. 

SPUEING THE OAKUM. When the ship's labouring forces the caulking out ofher seams. 

SPUN. The being turned back or rejected, on being examined touchingqualifications. 

SPUNGE. A cylindrical block of wood covered with sheepskin, used toclean the interior of a gun after firing, and to extinguish any sparksthat may remain behind. The _rope-sponge_, fixed on a strong ropeinstead of a staff, has a rammer-head on its opposite end: it is usedfor service with lower-deck guns in bad weather when the ports cannot beopened except at moments for firing. 

SPUNK. A fungus (_Polyporus fomentarius_ and others) growing on thetrunks of trees, from which tinder is made. 

SPUN-YARN. A small line, formed of two, three, or more old rope-yarnsnot laid, but twisted together by hand or winch. Spun-yarn is used forvarious purposes, as seizing and serving ropes, weaving mats, &c. 

SPUR. A projecting portion of a cliff. In fortification, spurs are wallsthat cross a part of the rampart and join to the town-wall. Also, in asheer-hulk, the same as _sprit_ (which see). 

SPURKETS, OR SPIRKETS. The spaces between the timbers along a ship'sside betwixt the upper and lower futtocks, or betwixt the rungs fore andaft. 

SPURLING-LINE. The line which formed the communication between the wheeland the tell-tale: it went round a small barrel, abaft the barrel of thewheel, and made the pointer show the position of the tiller. Also, aline with thimbles as fair-leaders for running rigging. Now out of use. 

SPURN-WATER. A channel left above the ends of a deck, to prevent waterfrom coming any further. The water-ways. 

SPURS, OR SPUR-SHORES. Large pieces of timber in launching, the lowerends of which are fixed to the bilge-ways, and the upper ends fayed andbolted to the ship's bottom for additional security. 

SPURS OF THE BEAMS. Curved pieces of timber, serving as half-beams, tosupport the decks, where a whole one cannot be placed, on account of thehatchways. 

SPURS OF THE BITTS. The same as _standards_ (which see). 

SQUAD. A diminutive of _squadron_. Also, a small party of soldiersassembled for drill or inspection. 

SQUADRON. A division of a fleet, as van, centre, and rear squadrons. Aflying squadron may be commanded by a rear-admiral, and consist of anyclass of vessels. Also, a body of cavalry consisting of two troops, orfrom 80 to 150 men. Squadron is the ordinary unit in reckoning thecavalry force of an army. 

SQUALL. A sudden gust of wind, frequently occasioned by the interruptionand reverberation of the wind from high mountains. These are veryfrequent in the Mediterranean, particularly in the Levant. --_A blacksquall. _ One attended with a dark cloud and generally heavy rain. --_Awhite squall. _ This furious and dangerous gust occurs in clear weather, without any other warning than the white foam it occasions on thesurface of the sea, and a very thin haze. When this squall reaches aship, copious rain attends it. It is very destructive to the flying-kiteschool, and many lives have been sacrificed by it. 

SQUARE. An instrument formed by a stock and a tongue fixed at rightangles. Also, in the army, a formation of infantry devised to resistcavalry. (_See_ HOLLOW SQUARE and RALLYING SQUARE. ) Also, a termpeculiarly appropriated to the yards and their sails. Thus, when theyards hang at right angles with the mast they are said to be "square bythe lifts;" when perpendicular to the ship's length, they are "square bythe braces;" but when they lie in a direction perpendicular to the planeof the keel, they are "square by the lifts and braces. " The yards aresaid to be very square when they are of extraordinary length, and thesame epithet is applied to their sails with respect to their breadth. Also, a figure composed of four equal sides and four right angles, isthe square of geometry. 

SQUARE-BUTTED. The yard-arms of small shipping so made that asheave-hole can be cut through without weakening the yard. 

SQUARE-FRAMES. In marine architecture, implies those frames which aresquare with the line of the keel, having no bevelling upon them. 

SQUARE IN THE HEAD. Very bluff and broad in the fore-body. 

SQUARE-KNOT. The same as _reef-knot_. 

SQUARE MAIN-SAIL. _See_ MAIN-SAIL. 

SQUARE OR SQUARING MARKS. Marks placed upon the lifts and braces. 

SQUARE RIBBONS. A synonym of _horizontal lines_, or _horizontalribbons_. 

SQUARE-RIGGED. Ships having chiefly square sails; a term used incontradistinction to all vessels which do not use them. It is alsoapplied to vessels with unusually long yards. The term is alsofamiliarly used to denote a person's being full-dressed. 

SQUARE-SAIL. The flying sail, set on the fore-yard of a schooner, or thespread-yard of a cutter or sloop. 

SQUARE-SAIL BOOM. A boom hooked on to an eye-bolt in the fore-part ofthe fore-mast of a fore-and-aft vessel, to boom out the square-sail. 

SQUARE-SAILS. Colloquially applied to the courses; but the term may beused for any four-cornered sail extended to a yard suspended by themiddle. 

SQUARE-STERNED. Implies a stern where the wing-transom is at rightangles with the stern-post. (_See_ PINK and ROUND STERN. )

SQUARE-STERNED AND BRITISH BUILT. A phrase to express the peculiarexcellence of our first-class merchantmen. 

SQUARE TIMBERS. Those timbers which stand square with, or perpendicularto, the keel. 

SQUARE-TOPSAIL SLOOP. Sloops which carry standing yards. 

SQUARE TUCK. The after-part of a ship's bottom, when terminated in thesame direction up and down as the wing-transom. 

SQUARE YARDS! The order to attend to the lifts and braces, for goingbefore the wind. --_To square a yard. _ In working ship, means to bring itin square by the marks on the braces. Figuratively, to settle accounts. 

SQUARING THE DEAD-EYES. Bringing them to a line parallel to the sheer ofthe ship. 

SQUARING THE RATLINES. Seeing that all are horizontal and ship-shape. 

SQUATTER. The flutter of sea-birds along the water. Also, one whosettles, without a title. The hybrid but expressive Americanism_absquatulate_, means to clear off; the reverse of to _squat_. 

SQUAW. A woman of the North American Indians. 

SQUEEGEE. An effective swabbing implement, having a plate ofgutta-percha fitted at the end of a broom handle. 

SQUETEE. The Yankee name of a labrus, very common in the waters of LongIsland Sound and adjacent bays, but never found in rivers. 

SQUID. An animal allied to the cuttle-fish, belonging to the class_Cephalopoda_; the calamary or _Loligo_ of naturalists. 

SQUILGEE, OR SQUILLAGEE. A small swab made of untwisted yarns. Figuratively, a lazy mean fellow. 

SQUIRM. A wriggling motion like that of an eel. Also, a twist in a rope. 

STABBER. A pegging awl; the same as _pricker_. 

STABILITY. A quality implying a ship's capacity to bear every motion ofthe sea. 

STACK. A precipitous rock rising out of the sea, in northernhydrography. 

STACKEN CLOUD. The same as _cumulus_ (which see). 

STADE. The Anglo-Saxon _stæde_, still in use. A station for ships. Fromstade is derived _staith_ (which see). 

STAFF. A light pole erected in different parts of a ship, whereon tohoist and display the colours; as, _the ensign-staff_, rearedimmediately over the stern; _the jack-staff_, fixed on the bowsprit-cap. In military affairs, the staff includes all officials not having directand specific military command, as the adjutant-general, quartermaster-general, majors of brigade, aides-de-camp, &c. This termhas been unaccountably pilfered by the admiralty lately from the army, as a prefix to a naval title. 

STAFF-CAPTAIN. A designation conferred in 1863 upon masters of thefleet. 

STAFF-COMMANDERS. A designation conferred in 1863 on masters of fifteenyears' seniority. 

STAFF-OFFICER. On the general staff of the army, or of a combined force. _See_ STAFF. 

STAG. A name given to a rock that should be watched for, as off theLizard, Castlehaven, &c. 

STAGE. Planks let over the ship's sides by ropes, whereon the people maystand when repairing, &c. --_A floating stage_ is one which does not needthe support of ropes. --_Stage-gangway_ (_see_ BROW). 

STAGER. A resident or practised person. _See_ OLD-STAGER. 

STAGGERING UNDER IT. A ship's labouring under as much canvas as she canbear. 

STAGNES. A statute term for pools of standing water. 

STAITH [Anglo-Saxon _stæde_]. An embankment on the river bank whence toload vessels. Also, a large wooden wharf, with a timber frame of eithershoots or drops, according to circumstances. 

STAKES. A _weir_ (which see) for taking fish, as black-stakes, &c. 

STAL-BOAT. A peculiar fishing-boat, mentioned in statute 27 Eliz. C. 21. 

STALKERS. Certain fishing-nets mentioned in old statutes. 

STAMMAREEN. The after or helmsman's seat in a Shetland fishing-boat. 

STAMP AND GO! The order to step out at the capstan, or with hawsers, topsail-halliards, &c. , generally to the fife or fiddle. 

STANCH. _See_ STAUNCH. 

STANCHIONS. Any fixed upright support. Also, those posts of wood or ironwhich, being placed pillar-wise, support the waist-trees and guns. 

STANCHIONS OF THE NETTINGS. Slender bars of iron or wood, the lower endsof which are fixed in iron sockets at proper distances. 

STAND, TO. The movement by which a ship advances towards a certainobject, or departs from it; as, "The enemy stands in shore;" "We sawthree sail standing to the southward. " "That ship has not a maststanding, " implies that she has lost all her masts. 

STANDARD. Formerly, in ship-building, was an inverted knee, placed uponthe deck instead of beneath it, and having its vertical branch pointedupwards from that which lay horizontally. --_Royal standard. _ A flag inwhich the imperial ensigns of England, Scotland, and Ireland arequartered. It is never hoisted on board a ship unless when visited bythe royal family, and then it is displayed at the mast-head allotted tothe rank; at the main only for the sovereign. 

STANDARD-DEALS. Those planks of the pine or fir above 7 inches wide and6 feet long: under that length they are known as _deal-ends_. 

STANDARD-KNEES. _See_ DECK STANDARD-KNEES. 

STAND BY! The order to be prepared; to look out to fire whendirected. --To _stand by_ a rope, is to take hold of it; _the anchor_, prepare to let go. 

STAND CLEAR OF THE CABLE! A precautionary order when about to let go theanchor, that nothing may obstruct it in running out of the hawse-holes. Also, a warning when idlers obstruct quarter-deck duty. 

STANDEL. In our statutes, is a young store oak-tree. 

STAND FROM UNDER! A notice given to those below to keep out of the wayof anything being lowered down, or let fall from above. 

STANDING BACKSTAYS. The rigging proper. (_See_ BACKSTAYS. )

STANDING BEVELLING. The alteration made obtuse or outside a square, inhewing timber, as opposed to acute, or _under-bevelling_, which iswithin a square. 

STANDING BOWSPRIT. One that is fixed permanently in its place, not the_running-in bowsprit_ of a cutter. 

STANDING-JIB. The jib, as distinguished from the other jibs. 

STANDING-LIFTS. Ropes from the mast-heads to the ends of the upperyards, to keep them square and steady when the sail is not set. 

STANDING ORDERS. Special regulations remaining constant for someparticular branch of service. 

STANDING PART OF A HOOK. That part which is attached to a block, chain, or anything which is to heave the hook up, with a weight hanging to it;the part opposite to the point. 

STANDING PART OF A SHEET. That part which is secured to a ring at theship's bow, quarter, side, &c. 

STANDING PART OF A TACKLE OR ROPE. The part which is made fast to themast, deck, or block, in contradistinction to that which is pulled upon, and is called the fall, or running part. 

STANDING PULL. One with the face towards the tackle, being about 2 feeteach pull. 

STANDING RIGGING. That part which is made fast, and not hauled upon;being the shrouds, backstays, and stays for the support of the masts. 

STANDING UP. A ship in good trim, and well attended to, is said _tostand well up to her canvas_. 

STANDING WARRANTS. Those officers who remain with a ship in ordinary, oron the stocks, as the gunner, carpenter, boatswain, and cook, and till1814 the purser. 

STANDING WATER. Water where there is no current or tide. 

STAND IN SHORE, TO. To sail directly for the land. 

STAND OF ARMS. A complete set for one man; now-a-days, simply a musketand bayonet. Also, an arm-stand holding the muskets and cutlasses on thequarter-deck--ornamental, and ready for salute or service. 

STAND RIGHT UNDER! Jocularly, "Get out of the way. "

STAND SQUARE, TO. To stand or be at right angles relatively to someobject. 

STANGS. Poles put across a river. Also, eel-spears. 

STANK. An old statute term for _staunch_ (which see). 

STAPLE. _Merchants of the staple_ formerly meant those who exported thestaple wares of the country. 

STAPLE-KNEES, OR STAPLE-LODGING KNEES. The same as _deck standard-knees_(which see). 

STAR, DOUBLE. _See_ DOUBLE-STAR. 

STAR, TEMPORARY. _See_ TEMPORARY STARS. 

STAR, VARIABLE. _See_ VARIABLE STARS. 

STARBOARD. The opposite of _larboard_ or _port_; the distinguishing termfor the right side of a ship when looking forward [from the Anglo-Saxon_stéora-bórd_]. 

STARBOARD THE HELM! So place the helm that the rudder is brought on theport side of the stern-post. (_See_ HARD-A-STARBOARD. )

STARBOLINS. The old familiar term for the men of the starboard watch, aslarbolin was for the larboard or port watch. 

STAR-FISHES. _See_ SEA-STAR. 

STAR-FORTS. Those traced in the form of a star, with alternate salientand re-entering angles. They are not in much favour, being expensive inconstruction, of small interior space, and having much dead space intheir ditches. 

STAR-GLINT. A meteorite. 

STAR-PAGODA. A gold coin of the East Indies. In Madras its value is7_s. _ 6_d. _

STARS, FIXED. Those innumerable bodies bespangling the heavens from poleto pole, distinguishable from the planets by their apparent fixity; itis, however, certain that many of them move through space at a ratevastly greater than that of the earth in her orbit, though, from theirenormous distance, we can with difficulty perceive it. 

START. A long handle or tail; whence, by analogy, "start point. " Butsometimes applied by navigators to any point from which a departure istaken. Also, the expected place of a struck whale's rising, after havingplunged or sounded. --_To start_, applied to liquids, is to empty; but ifto any weight, as the anchor, &c. , implies to move. --_To start bread. _To turn it out of bags or casks, and stow it in bulk. --_To start abutt-end. _ When a plank has loosened or sprung at the butt-end, by theship's labouring, or other cause. --_To start a tack or sheet. _ To slackit off, as in tacking or manœuvring, "raise tacks and sheets. "

STARTING. An irregular and arbitrary mode of punishment with canes orropes' ends, long since illegal in the British navy. 

STARTING-BOLT, OR DRIFT-BOLT. A bolt used to drive out another; it isusually a trifle smaller. 

STASH IT THERE! An old order to cease or be quiet. 

STATE-ROOM. A sleeping cabin, or small berth, detached from the maincabin of merchantmen or saloon of passenger vessels. 

STATION. The allotted places of the duties of each person on board. Inmost merchantmen the cry of "Every man to his station, and the cook tothe fore-sheet, " is calling the hands and the idlers. 

STATIONARIÆ. Those vessels of a Roman fleet ordered to remain at anchor. 

STATIONARY POINTS. Those points in a planet's orbit in which, as viewedfrom the earth, it appears to have no motion amongst the stars. 

STATION-BILL. A list containing the appointed posts of the crew whenperforming any evolution but action. 

STATIONER. One who has had experience, or who has been some time on aparticular station. 

STATIONING A SHIP'S COMPANY. Arranging the crew for the ready executionof the evolutionary duties of a ship. 

STATION-POINTER. A circular instrument furnished with one standardradius, and two movable. By laying off two observed angles right andleft from a central object, and laying the instrument over the objectson a chart, the position of the observer is instantly fixed. 

STATIONS FOR STAYS! Repair to your posts to tack ship. 

STAUNCH. A flood-gate crossing a river to keep up a head of water, and, by producing a rush in dry weather, floating the lighters over theadjacent shallows. 

STAVE, TO. To break a hole in any vessel. Also, to drive in the head ofa cask, as of spirits, to prevent the crew from misusing it in case ofwreck. --_To stave off. _ To boom off; to push anything off with a pole. 

STAVES. Wood prepared for the component parts of a cask. In 1781, staveswere ruled not to be a naval store, unless it were shown that the Frenchat Brest were in some peculiar want of casks. Also, the wood of lances, formerly an object of great care, insomuch that Shakspeare makes RichardIII. Say:--

 "Look that my staves be sound, and not too heavy. "

STAY. A large strong rope extending from the upper end of each masttowards the stem of the ship, as the shrouds are extended on each side. The object of both is to prevent the masts from springing, when the shipis pitching deep. Thus stays are fore and aft; those which are led downto the vessel's side are _backstays_. --_The fore-stay_ is that whichreaches from the foremast-head towards the bowsprit end. --_Themain-stay_ is that which extends to the ship's stem. --_The mizen-stay_is that which is stretched to a collar on the main-mast, immediatelyabove the quarter-deck. --_The fore-topmast stay_ is that which comes tothe end of the bowsprit, a little beyond the fore-stay, on which thefore-topmast staysail runs on hanks. --_The main-topmast stay_ isattached to the hounds of the fore-mast, or comes on deck. --_Themizen-topmast stay_ is that which comes to the hounds of the main-mast. The top-gallant, royal, or any other masts, have each a stay, namedafter their respective masts. --_Spring-stay_ is a kind of substitutenearly parallel to the principal stay, and intended to help theprincipal stay to support its mast. --_Stay of a steamer. _ An iron barbetween the two knees which secure the paddle-beams. (_See_FUNNEL-STAYS. )--_To stay. _ To tack, to bring the ship's head up to thewind for going about; hence to _miss stays_, is to fail in the attemptto go about. --_In stays_, or _hove in stays_, is the situation of avessel when she is staying, or in the act of going about; a vessel inbad trim, or lubberly handled, is sure to be _slack in stays_, and_refuses stays_, when she has to wear. 

STAY APEEK. When the cable and fore-stay form a line. (_See_ APEEK. )

STAY-BARS, OR STAY-RODS. Strong malleable iron bars for supporting theframings of the marine steam-engine. 

STAYED FORWARD. This term is applied to masts when they incline forwardout of the vertical line; the opposite of _rake_ (which see. )

STAYSAIL. A triangular sail hoisted upon a stay. 

STAYSAIL-NETTING. _See_ BOWSPRIT-NETTING. 

STAYSAIL-STAY. The stay on which a staysail is set. 

STAY-TACKLES, FORE AND MAIN. Special movable purchases for hoisting inand out boats, anchors, &c. They plumb the fore and main hatchways, working in conjunction with fore and main yard tackles. 

STEADY! The order given to the steersman, in a fair wind, to steer theship on her course without deviating; to which he answers, _Steady itis, sir_. 

STEADY-FAST. A hawser carried out to some fixed object to keep a vesselsteady in a tide-way, or in preparation for making sail from a fast. 

STEADY GALE. A fresh breeze pretty uniform in force and direction. 

STEALING. The gaining of a rat-line or two in height while waiting onthe lower part of the rigging for the order to go aloft. Also, a vesselis said _to steal ahead_ when she moves with the lightest breath of air. 

STEAM-CHEST. The reservoir for steam above the water of the boiler;sometimes termed _steam-chamber_. 

STEAM-CRANE. A crane worked by means of a steam-engine. 

STEAM-CYLINDER. _See_ CYLINDER. 

STEAM-FRIGATE. A large armed steamer commanded by a captain in the navy. 

STEAM-HOIST. A machine in dockyards for driving piles, working pumps, &c. 

STEAM NAVIGATION. The management of vessels propelled by steam-power. 

STEAM-PACKET. A steamer employed in trading regularly between two placeswith goods and passengers. 

STEAM-PIPE. _See_ WASTE STEAM-PIPE. 

STEAM-PORTS. Oblong passages leading from the nozzle-faces to the insideof the cylinder; by them the steam enters and returns, above and belowthe piston. 

STEAM-RAM. A new order of war-vessel, fitted for running prow on againstan enemy's ship, to stave her in by crushing. 

STEAM SLOOP-OF-WAR. One commanded by a commander. 

STEAM-TUG. A vessel fitted with a marine steam-engine, and expresslyemployed for towing ships. 

STEAM-WINCH. A machine for hoisting out cargo or working a ship's pumps. 

STEATÆ. Broad low vessels used by the ancient pirates. 

STEELER, OR STEALER. The foremost and aftermost plank in a strake, whichdrops short of the stem or stern-post. 

STEEP-TO. [Anglo-Saxon _stéap_. ] Said of a bold shore, admitting of thelargest vessels coming very close to the cliffs without touching thebottom. (_See_ BOLD-SHORE. )

STEEP-TUB. A large tub in which salt provisions are soaked previous tobeing cooked. 

STEERAGE. The act of steering. (_See_ NICE STEERAGE. ) Also, that part ofthe ship next below the quarter-deck, immediately before the bulk-headof the great cabin in most ships of war. The portion of the 'tween-decksjust before the gun-room bulk-head. In some ships the second-classpassengers are called _steerage passengers_. The admiral's cabin on themiddle deck of three-deckers has been called the _steerage_. 

STEERAGE-WAY. When a vessel has sufficient motion in the water to admitof the helm being effective. 

STEER HER COURSE, TO. Going with the wind fair enough to lay her course. 

STEERING [Anglo-Saxon _stéoran_]. The perfection of steering consists ina vigilant attention to the motion of the ship's head, so as to checkevery deviation from the line of her course in the first instant of itscommencement, and in applying as little of the power of the helm aspossible, for the action of the rudder checks a ship's speed. 

STEERING-SAIL. An incorrect name for a studding-sail. 

STEER LARGE, TO. To go free, off the wind. Also, to steer loosely. 

STEER SMALL, TO. To steer well and within small compass, not draggingthe tiller over from side to side. 

STEERSMAN. The helmsman or timoneer; the latter from the French _timon_, helm. 

STEEVING. Implies the bowsprit's angle from the horizon: formerly itstood at an angle of 70 to 80 degrees, and was indeed almost a bow mastor sprit. Also, the stowing of cotton, wool, or other cargo, in amerchantman's hold with a jack-screw. 

STEM. The foremost piece uniting the bows of a ship; its lower endscarphs into the keel, and the bowsprit rests upon its upper end. Theoutside of the stem is usually marked with a scale of feet and inches, answering to a perpendicular from the keel, in order to ascertain theship's draught of water forward. --_False stem. _ When a ship's stem istoo flat, so that she cannot keep a wind well, a false stem, or gripe, is fayed on before the right one, which enables her to hold a betterwind. --_From stem to stern_, from one end of the ship to the other. --_Tostem_, to make way against any obstacle. "She does not stem the tide, "that is, she cannot make head against it for want of wind. 

STEM-KNEE. In ship-building, the compass-timber which connects the keelwith the stem. (_See_ DEAD-WOOD KNEES. )

STEMSON. An arching piece of compass-timber, worked within the apron toreinforce the scarph thereof, in the same manner as the apron supportsthat of the stem. The upper end is carried as high as the upper deck, the lower being scarphed on to the kelson. 

STEP. A large clamp of timber fixed on the kelson, and fitted to receivethe tenoned heel of a mast. The steps of the main and fore masts ofevery ship rest upon the kelson; that of the mizen-mast sometimes restsupon the lower-deck beams. --_To step a boat's mast. _ To erect and secureit in its step in readiness for setting sail. 

STEP OF THE CAPSTAN. A solid block of wood fixed between two of theship's beams to receive the iron spindle and heel of the capstan. 

STEP OUT, TO. To move along simultaneously and cheerfully with atackle-fall, &c. 

STEPPES. The specific application is to the vast level plains ofSouth-east and Asiatic Russia, resembling the Landes of France. (_See_LANDES. )

STEPPING. The sinking a rabbet in the dead-wood, wherein the heels ofthe timbers rest. (_See_ BEARDING-LINE. )

STEPS OF THE SIDE. Pieces of quartering nailed to the sides amidships, from the wale upwards; for the people ascending or descending the ship. 

STERE'S-MAN. A pilot or steerer, from the Anglo-Saxon _stéora_. 

STERE-TRE. An archaic word for rudder. 

STERN. The after-part of a ship, ending in the taffarel above and thecounters below. --_By the stern. _ The condition of a vessel which drawsmore water abaft than forward. 

STERNAGE. The after-part of a ship, and therefore Shakspeare's term issimple enough for any but commentators. Henry V. 's fleet is sailingaway:--

 "O, do but think, You stand upon the rivage, and behold A city on the inconstant billows dancing; For so appears this fleet majestical, Holding due course to Harfleur. Follow, follow! Grapple your minds to sternage of this navy. "

STERN-ALL. A term amongst whalers, meaning to pull the boat sternforemost, to back off after having entered an iron (_harpoon_). 

STERN-BOARD. This term is familiarly known to seamen as tacking bymisadventure in stays; or purposely, as a seamanlike measure, to effectthe object. Thus a ship in a narrow channel is allowed to fly up head towind until her stem nearly touches a weather danger; the head-yards arethen quickly braced abox, and the helm shifted. Thus she makes stern-wayuntil all the sails are full, when she is again skilfully brought to thewind before touching the danger under her lee. Generally speaking, however, it refers to bad seamanship. 

STERN-CHASERS. The guns which fire directly aft. 

STERN-DAVITS. Pieces of iron or timber projecting from the stern, withsheaves or blocks at their outer ends, for hoisting boats up to. 

STERN-FAST. A rope used to confine the stern of a vessel to a wharf, &c. 

STERN-FRAME. That strong and ornamental union based on the stern-post, transom, and fashion-pieces. 

STERN-KNEE. Synonymous with _stern-son_ (which see). 

STERN-LADDER. Made of ropes with wooden steps, for getting in and out ofthe boats astern. 

STERNMOST. Implies anything in the rear, or farthest astern, as opposedto headmost. 

STERN-PORTS. The ports made between the stern-timbers. 

STERN-POST. The opposite to the _stem_; scarphed into the keel, andsuspending the rudder. In steam-ships, where a screw is fitted, it worksbetween this and an after stern-post which carries the rudder. 

STERN-SHEETS. That part of a boat between the stern and the aftmostthwart, furnished with seats for passengers. 

STERN-SON. A knee-piece of oak-timber, worked on the after dead-wood;the fore-end is scarphed into the kelson, and the after-side fayed intothe throats of the transoms. 

STERN-WALK. The old galleries formerly used to line-of-battle ships. 

STERN-WAY. The movement by which a ship goes stern foremost. Theopposite of _head-way_. 

STEVEDORE, OR STIVADORE. A stower; one employed in the hold in loadingand unloading merchant vessels. 

STEWARD. There are several persons under this appellation in most ships, according to their size, appointed to the charge of the sea-stores ofthe various grades. The paymaster's steward has most to do, having toserve the crew, and therefore has assistants, distinguished by thesobriquet of Jack-o'-the-dust, &c. In large passenger ships which do notcarry a purser, part of his duties devolves upon the captain's steward. In smaller merchant ships the special duties of the steward are notheavy, so that he assists in the working of the ship, and in tacking;his station is, _ex officio_, the main-sheet. 

STICHLING. A grown perch, thus described by old Palsgrave: "Styckelyng, a maner of fysshe. "

STICKLEBACK. A very small fish, armed with sharp spines on its back. 

STICKS. A familiar phrase for masts. 

STIFF. Stable or steady; the opposite to _crank_; a quality by which aship stands up to her canvas, and carries enough sail without heelingover too much. 

STIFF BOTTOM. A clayey bottom. 

STIFF BREEZE. One in which a ship may carry a press of sail, when alittle more would endanger the spars. 

STIFFENING ORDER. A custom-house warrant for making a provision in theshipping of goods, before the whole inward cargo is discharged, toprevent the vessel getting too light. 

STILL WATER. Another name for _slack-tide_; it is also used for waterunder the lee of headlands, or where there is neither tide nor current. 

STING-RAY. A fish, _Trygon pastinaca_, which wounds with a serrate bone, lying in a sheath on the upper side of its tail; the wound is painful, as all fish-wounds are, but not truly poisonous, and the smart islimited by superstition to the next tide. 

STINK-BALLS. A pyrotechnical preparation of pitch, rosin, nitre, gunpowder, colophony, assafœtida, and other offensive and suffocatingingredients, formerly used for throwing on to an enemy's decks at closequarters, and still in use with Eastern pirates, in earthen jars orstink-pots. 

STIPULATION. A process in the instance-court of the admiralty, which isconventional when it regards a vessel or cargo, but prætorian andjudicial in proceedings against a person. 

STIREMANNUS. The term in _Domesday Book_ for the pilot of a ship orsteersman. 

STIRRUP. An iron or copper plate that turns upwards on each side of aship's keel and dead-wood at the fore-foot, or at her skegg, and boltsthrough all: it is a strengthener, but not always necessary. 

STIRRUPS. Ropes with eyes at their ends, through which the foot-ropesare rove, and by which they are supported; the ends are nailed to theyards, and steady the men when reefing or furling sails. 

STIVER. A very small Dutch coin. "Not worth a stiver" is a colloquialismto express a person's poverty. 

STOACH-WAY. The streamlet or channel which runs through the silt or sandat low-water in tidal ports; a term principally used on our southernshores. 

STOAKED. The limber-holes impeded or choked, so that the water cannotcome to the pump-well. 

STOCADO. A neat thrust in fencing. 

STOCCADE. A defensive work, constructed of stout timber or trunks oftrees securely planted together. Originally written _stockade_. 

STOCKADE. Now spelled _stoccade_. 

STOCK AND FLUKE. The whole of anything. 

STOCK-FISH. Ling and haddock when sun-dried, without salt, were calledstock-fish, and used in the navy, but are now discontinued, from beingthought to promote the scurvy. 

STOCK OF AN ANCHOR. A cross-beam of wood, or bar of iron, secured to theupper end of the shank at right angles with the flukes; by its meansthe anchor is canted with one fluke down, and made to hook theground. --_Stock of a gun, musket, or pistol_, is the wooden part towhich the barrel is fitted, for the convenience of handling and firingit. _Stock_ is also applied to stores laid in for a voyage, assea-stock, live-stock, &c. --_To stock to_, in stowing an anchor, is, bymeans of a tackle upon the upper end of the stock, to bowse it into aperpendicular direction, which tackle is hence denominated thestock-tackle. 

STOCKS. A frame of blocks and shores whereon to build shipping. It has agradual declivity towards the water. 

STOER-MACKEREL. A name for the young tunny-fish. 

STOITING. An east-country term for the jumping of fishes above thesurface of the water. 

STOKE, TO. To frequent the galley in a man-of-war, or to trim fires. 

STOKE-HOLE. A scuttle in the deck of a steamer to admit fuel for theengine. Also, the space for the men to stand in, to feed and trim thefires. 

STOKER, OR FIREMAN. The man who attends to feed and trim the fires forthe boilers in a steam-vessel. 

STOMACH-PIECE. _See_ APRON. 

STONACRE. A sloop-rigged boat employed to carry stone on the Severn. 

STONE. The old term for a gun-flint. 

STONE-BOW. A cross-bow for shooting stones. 

STOOL. A minor channel abaft the main channels, for the dead-eyes of thebackstays. (_See_ BACKSTAY-STOOLS. )

STOOLS. Chocks introduced under the lowest transoms of a ship'sstern-frame, to which the lower ends of the fashion-pieces are fastened;they form the securities of the quarter-galleries. Also, the thickpieces of plank, fayed together edgeways, and bolted to the sides of theship for backstays. Also, the ornamental block for the poop-lantern tostand upon. 

STOP. A small projection on the outside of the cheeks of a lower mast, at the upper parts of the hounds. Also, the word given by him who holdsthe glass in heaving the log, to check the line and determine how fastshe is going. --_To stop. _ To tie up with small stuff; as a sail is_stopped_ when sending it aloft to prevent the wind from blowing itaway; a flag is _stopped_ to make a wheft, &c. 

STOP HER! An order to check the cable in being payed out. Also, aself-explanatory phrase to direct the engineer of a steamer to stop theaction of the engines. 

STOPPAGE IN TRANSITU. A valuable privilege under which an unpaidconsigner or broker may stop or countermand his goods upon their passageto the consignee on the insolvency of the vendee. 

STOPPER OF THE ANCHOR. A strong rope attached to the cat-head, which, passing through the anchor-ring, is afterwards fastened to atimber-head, thereby securing the anchor on the bow. 

STOPPER OF THE CABLE. Commonly called a deck-stopper. A piece of ropehaving a large knot at one end, and hooked or lashed to a ring-bolt inthe deck by the other; it is attached to the cable by a laniard, whichis passed securely round both, by several turns passed behind the knot, or round the neck of the stopper, by which means the cable is restrainedfrom running out of the ship when she rides, and is an additionalsecurity to the bitted cable. --_Dog-stopper. _ A strong rope clenchedround the main-mast, and used on particular occasions to relieve andassist the preceding when the ship rides in a heavy sea, or otherwiseveering with a strain on the cable. --_Wing-stoppers. _ Similar pieces ofrope clenched round one of the beams near the ship's side, and servingthe same purpose as the preceding. --_Rigging-stoppers_ have a knot and alaniard at each end; they are used when the shrouds, stays, or backstaysare stranded in action, or in a gale; they are then lashed above andbelow, in the same manner as those of the cables, to the wounded partsof the shroud, &c. , which are thereby strengthened, so as to be fit forservice. Other rigging-stoppers have dead-eyes and tails, so that bysecuring one dead-eye above and the other below the injury, they can beset up by their laniard, and brought to an even strain with the othershrouds. Stoppers are also pieces of rope used to prevent therunning-rigging from coming up whilst being belayed. Sometimes they havea knot at one end, and a hook at the other, for various purposes aboutthe decks. 

STOPPERING. The act of checking or holding fast any rope or cable bymeans of a stopper. 

STOPPER-KNOT. Single and double wall, without crowning, and the endsstopped together. 

STOP THE VENT, TO. To close it hermetically by pressing the thumb to it. 

STOP-WATER. Anything tending to impede the sailing of a ship, by towingoverboard. Also, a name for particular tree-nails. 

STORE-KEEPER. An officer in the royal dockyards, invested with thegeneral charge of naval stores, as the sails, anchors, cordage, &c. 

STORES. A general term for the arms, clothing, ropes, sails, provisions, and other outfit, with which a ship is supplied. 

STORE-SHIP. A government vessel appropriated for carrying munitions andstores. 

STORM, TO. To take by vigorous assault, in spite of the resistance ofthe defenders. 

STORM-BREEDERS. Heavy cumulo-stratus clouds. 

STORM-DRUM. A canvas cylinder 3 feet in length, expanded at each end bya strong wooden hoop 3 feet in diameter. Fitzroy's is painted black, andpresents, when suspended, the appearance of a black square of 3 feet, from all points of view. 

STORM-FINCH. The petrel, or Mother Cary's chicken. 

STORM-JIB. In cutters, the fifth or sixth size: the inner jib ofsquare-rigged ships. 

STORM-KITE. A contrivance for sending a hawser from a stranded vessel tothe shore. 

STORMS [from the Anglo-Saxon _steorm_]. Tempests, or _gales of wind_ innautic language, are of various kinds, and will be found under theirrespective designations. But that is a storm which reduces a ship to herstorm staysails, or to her bare poles. 

STORM-SAIL. A sail made of stout No. 1 canvas, of reduced dimensions, for use in a gale. 

STORM-SIGNAL. The hoisting of a danger-flag. Also, Fitzroy's drum andcone, which show the direction of the expected gale. 

STORM-TRYSAIL. A fore-and-aft sail, hoisted by a gaff, but having noboom at its foot, and only used in foul weather. 

STORM-WARNING. _See_ FORECAST. 

STORM-WAVE. A wave which tumbles home without being accompanied by wind. Sometimes the result of a gale elsewhere. 

STORMY PETREL. A small dark coloured sea-bird, _Procellaria pelagica_. 

STOVE. Broken in; thus, when violent damage is done to the upper part ofa ship's hull, she is said to be _stove_; when on any portion of herbottom, she is _bilged_. --_A stove_, is a kind of kiln for warpingtimber in. --_Hanging stoves_ are also used on board ship for airing the'tween decks. 

STOWAGE. An important art more practised than understood, for the stowerseldom consults the specialities of the vessel's construction; it is thegeneral disposition of the ballast, cargo, &c. , contained in a ship'shold, with regard to their shape, size, or solidity, agreeably to theform of the vessel, and its probable centre of gravity. A badly stowedvessel cannot be properly handled, and is indeed dangerous to the livesof all on board. Owners and masters are legally liable to the losses bybad stowage or deficient dunnage. (_See_ WET. )

STOWAGE GOODS. Those which usually pay freight according to bulk. 

STOWED IN BULK. _See_ BULK. 

STOWING HAMMOCKS. Placing them in a neat and symmetrical order in thehammock-netting. 

STOWING-STRAKE. _See_ STEELER. 

STRAGGLING-MONEY. If a man be absent from his duty without leave, butnot absent long enough to be logged as _run_, and is brought on board, adeduction is to be made from his wages at the discretion of the captain;not, however, to exceed the sum of £1. 

STRAIGHT OF BREADTH. The space before and abaft the dead-flat, in whichthe ship is of the same uniform breadth as at the dead-flat. 

STRAIN-BANDS. Bands of canvas sustaining the strain on the belly of thesails, and reinforced by the linings, &c. 

STRAIT, OR STRAIGHT. A passage connecting one part of a sea withanother; as, the Straits of Gibraltar, of Sunda, of Dover, &c. This wordis often written in the plural, but without competent reason. 

STRAIT GULF. An arm of the sea running into the land through a narrowentrance channel, as the Gulf of Venice. The Mediterranean itself is buta vast strait gulf. 

STRAKE. One breadth of plank in a ship, either within or without board, wrought from the stem to the stern-post. --_Garboard-strake. _ The lowestrange of planks, faying into the keel-rabbets. --_Wash-strake_ guardsspray. 

STRAND. A number of rope-yarns twisted together; one of the twists ordivisions of which a rope is composed. The part which passes through toform the eye of a splice. Also, a sea-margin; the portion alternatelyleft and covered by tides. Synonymous with _beach_. It is not alteredfrom the original Anglo-Saxon. 

STRANDED. A rope is stranded when one of its strands is broken bychafing, or by a strain. A vessel is stranded when driven on shore, inwhich case the justices of the peace may call in assistance. The term"stranded on the beach, " is not so incorrect as has been asserted; andcomes under the usual exception in charter-parties and bills of lading, of "all and every dangers of the seas, rivers, and navigation ofwhatsoever nature or kind;" and in all policies of insurance it fallsunder the general words of "all other perils, losses, or misfortunes, "against the risk of which the insurance is made. 

STRANGE SAIL. A vessel heaving in sight, of which the particulars areunknown. 

STRAPS OF THE RUDDER. _See_ PINTLES. 

STRATAGEM. A plan devised to throw dust into the eyes of an enemy, inorder to deceive him. 

STRATEGY. The science of the naval and military combinations whichcompel movements and battles, or the contrary, but not including theoperations of actual battle, which belong to _tactics_. 

STRATUS. A low cloud which forms a horizontal line. The higher cloud ofthe same shape is called _cirro-stratus_. 

STRAW! A word of command, now obsolete, formerly given to dismisssoldiers who were to remain in readiness to fall in again at a moment'snotice. 

STRAY LINE OF THE LOG. About 10 or 12 fathoms of line left unmarked nextthe log-ship, in order that it may get out of the eddy of the ship'swake before the measuring begins, or the glass is turned. 

STRAY-MARK. The mark at the junction of the stray and log lines. 

STREAM. Anglo-Saxon for _flowing water_, meaning especially the middleor most rapid part of a tide or current. 

STREAM-ANCHOR. A smaller one by two-thirds than the bowers, and largerthan the kedges, used to ride steady, or moor with occasionally. Incertain cases it is used for warping. 

STREAM-CABLE. A hawser smaller than the lower cables, and used with thestream-anchor to moor the ship in a sheltered river or haven; it is nowmore generally a small chain. 

STREAMER. Formerly described thus:--"A streamer shall stand in the toppeof a shippe, or in the forecastle, and therein be putt no armes, but aman's conceit or device, and may be of the length of 20, 30, 40, or 60yardes. "

STREAM-ICE. A collection of pieces of drift or bay ice, joining eachother in a ridge following in the line of current. (_See_ SEA-STREAM. )

STREAM-LAKE. One which communicates with, the sea by means of a river. 

STREAM THE BUOY, TO. To let the buoy fall from the after-part of theship's side into the water, preparatory to letting go the anchor, thatit may not foul the buoy-rope as it sinks to the bottom. 

STREMES. An old English word for "the rays of the sun. "

STRENGTH. In naval architecture, means giving the various pieces of aship their proper figures, so that by their combination and dispositionthey may be united into a firm and compact frame. In regimental affairsit implies merely the number of men actually serving. 

STRENGTH OF THE TIDE. Where it runs strongest, which in serpentinecourses will be found in the hollow curves. 

STRESS. Hard pressure by weather or other causes. Stress of weatheroften compels a ship to put back to the port whence she sailed. 

STRETCH. A word frequently used instead of tack; as, "We shall make agood stretch. "--_To stretch. _ To sail by the wind under a crowd ofcanvas. 

STRETCH ALONG A BRACE, TO. To lay it along the decks in readiness forthe men to lay hold of; called _manning it_. 

STRETCHER. _See_ SHEER-POLE. 

STRETCHERS. Narrow pieces of wood placed athwart the bottom of a boat, for the rowers to place their feet against, that they may communicategreater effort to their oars. Also, cross-pieces placed between a boat'ssides to keep them apart when hoisted up and griped. Colloquially, a_stretcher_ means a lie exaggerated to absurdity. 

STRETCH OUT! In rowing, is the order to pull strong; to bend forward tothe utmost. 

STRICTLAND. An archaic term for an isthmus. 

STRIKE, TO. A ship strikes when she in any way touches the bottom. Also, to lower anything, as the ensign or top-sail in saluting, or as theyards, topgallant-masts, and top-masts in a gale. It is alsoparticularly used to express the lowering of the colours in token ofsurrender to a victorious enemy. 

STRIKE DOWN! The order to lower casks, &c. , into the hold. 

STRIKERS. Men furnished with harpoons or grains to attack fish; hencethe term _dolphin-striker_ (which see), where these men placethemselves. 

STRIKE SOUNDINGS, TO. To gain bottom, or the first soundings, by thedeep-sea lead, on coming in from sea. 

STRING [Anglo-Saxon _stræng_]. In ship-building, a strake within side, constituting the highest range of planks in a ship's ceiling, and itanswers to the sheer-strake outside, to the scarphs of which it givesstrength. 

STRINGERS. A name sometimes applied to _shelf-pieces_ (which see). Also, heavy timber similarly carried round a ship to fortify her for specialheavy service, as whaling, &c. 

STRIPPED TO THE GIRT-LINE. All the standing-rigging and furniture havingbeen cleared off the masts in the course of dismantling. 

STRIPPING. An inconvenient fault of many lead-coated projectiles--thethrowing off portions of their coating on discharge from the gun. 

STRIP THE MASTS, TO. To clear the masts of their rigging. 

STROKE. A pull or single sweep of the oars in rowing; hence the order, "Row a long stroke, " which is intended to move the boat forward moresteadily. 

STROKE-OAR. The aftermost oar in a boat, from which the others taketheir time. 

STROKE OF THE SEA. The shock occasioned to a vessel by a heavy seastriking her. 

STROKE-SIDE OF A BOAT. That in which the after starboard rowlock isplaced, or where the after oar is rowed if single-banked. 

STROKESMAN. The man who rows the aftmost oar in a boat. 

STROM. An archaism of storm or tempest. 

STROMBOLO. Bits of ampelite or cannel-coal found on our southern coasts, charged with bitumen, sulphur, and salt. The name is referred to theIsland of Stromboli, but the Brighton people insist that it is from theFlemish _strom-bollen_, meaning stream or tide balls. 

STRONG-BACK. The same with _Samson's post_ (which see). Also, anadaptation of a strong piece of wood over the windlass, to lift theturns of a chain-cable clear of it. 

STRONG BREEZE. That which reduces a ship to double-reefed top-sails, jib, and spanker. 

STRONG GALE. That strength of wind under which close-reefed top-sailsand storm-staysails are usually carried when close-hauled. 

STROP, OR STRAP. A piece of rope, spliced generally into a circularwreath, and used to surround the body of a block, so that the latter maybe hung to any particular situation about the masts, yards, or rigging. Strops are also used occasionally to fasten upon any large rope for thepurpose of hooking a tackle to the eye or double part of the strop, inorder to extend or pull with redoubled effort upon the same rope; as insetting up the rigging, where one hook of the tackle is fixed in a stropapplied to the particular shroud, and the other to its laniard. 

STROP-BOUND BLOCK. A single block used in the clue of square-sails forthe clue-lines to lead through; it has a shoulder left on each side toprevent the strop from chafing. --_Iron-strop_, a hoop of iron, in lieuof rope, round the shell of a block. 

STRUCK BY A SEA. Said of a ship when a high rolling wave breaks on boardof her. 

STRUT. A stanchion or sustaining prop to the lower beams. 

STUBB, OR DOGG. The lower part of a rainbow visible towards the horizon, and betokening squally weather: it is fainter than the wind-gall. On thebanks of Newfoundland they are considered precursors of clearer weather, and termed fog-dogs. 

STUD, OR BAR. A small piece of cast-iron introduced across the middle ofeach link of the larger chain-cables, where, acting as a strengthener, it prevents collapse, and keeps the links endways to each other. 

STUDDING-SAIL BOOM. A spar rigged out for the purpose of setting astudding-sail, and taking its name from the sail it belongs to. 

STUDDING-SAILS. Fine-weather sails set outside the square-sails; theterm "scudding-sails" was formerly used. --_Top-mast and top-gallantstudding-sails. _ Those which are set outside the top-sails andtopgallant-sails. They have yards at the head, and are spread at thefoot by booms, which slide out on the extremities of the lower andtop-sail yards, and their heads or yards are hoisted up to the top-sailand top-gallant yard-arms. 

STUDDING-SAIL YARD. The spar to which the head of the studding-sail isextended. 

STUFF. A _coat of stuff_, a term used for any composition laid on toships' spars, bottom, &c. Also, square timber of different thicknesses. 

STUFFING-BOX. A contrivance on the top of a steam cylinder-cover, packedwith hemp, and kept well soaked with tallow, to prevent steam frompassing through while the piston-rod is working. 

STUMP. A derogatory but well-known name in navigating our eastern coastsfor the beautiful tower of Boston church. (_See_ SNAGS. )

STUMP TOPGALLANT-MASTS. Those without a royal pole. 

STUN-SAILS. A corruption of _studding-sails_ (which see). 

STURGEON. _Acipenser sturio_, a large fish; it has a cartilaginousskeleton, with a small circular and tubular mouth. It is found in theEuropean seas and larger rivers. The roes are made into _caviare_, andthe sounds and muscular parts into isinglass. It is a royal fish inEngland. 

STURRE-MANNE. An old name for a sea-captain. 

SUBALTERNS. All commissioned army officers ranking below captains. 

SUB-LIEUTENANT. A rank lately reproduced, to which a midshipman isentitled on passing for lieutenant; formerly styled mate. 

SUBMARINE BANK. An extensive sandy plateau with deep water over it. 

SUBMARINE TELEGRAPH. Consists of a steel wire-rope, containing a heartof gutta-percha and other soft materials, in which are inclosed thecopper wires through which the communication by electricity is conveyed. Rapid progress has been made in the art of making and handling thisrope, as is proved by the existence of two cables between Ireland andAmerica, one of which was recovered from the deep sea by creeping. 

SUBMARINE THERMOMETER. An instrument for trying the temperature of thesea at different depths. It consists of a hollow weighted cylinder inwhich a Six's thermometer is placed; the cylinder being provided with avalve at each end, opening upwards, so that as it sinks the valves open, allowing a free course of water through the cylinder: when it reachesthe required depth the line is checked and the valves close; it is thenhauled gently in, and the thermometer reaches the surface surrounded bywater of the required depth, indicating its temperature. 

SUBSIDY. A stipulated sum of money paid by one ruler to another, inpursuance of a treaty of alliance for offensive and defensive war. Also, a sum allowed for the conveyance of mails. 

SUBSISTENCE. The amount to be issued to troops as daily pay, aftermaking the regulated deductions for rations, necessaries, &c. 

SUCCADES. Sweetmeats entered at the custom-house; formerly a large partof the cargo of Spanish West Indiamen. 

SUCCOUR. An enterprise undertaken to relieve a place besieged orblockaded, by either forcing the enemy from before it, or throwing insupplies. 

SUCKING. The action of the pump when the well is nearly dry, or at leastso low at the pump-foot as to admit air. 

SUCK-STONE. An archaic name for the remora. 

SUCK THE MONKEY, TO. To rob the grog-can. (_See_ MONKEY. )

SUCTION. The rising of a fluid by the pressure of the atmosphere into aspace where a vacuum has been created. 

SUFFERANCE. A permission on the custom-house _transire_ (which see. )

SUFFERANCE WHARF. _See_ WHARF. 

SUFFOLK BANG. A very poor and hard kind of cheese, which was indignantlyrefused in our North Sea fleet. It was, as farmer's boy Bloomfieldadmitted, "too hard to bite. "

SUGAR-LOAF. A term applied to conical hills along a sea-coast. 

SUGAR-LOAF SEA. High turbulent waves with little wind. 

SUGG, TO. To move or rock heavily on a bank or reef. 

SUIT OF SAILS. The whole of the sails required to be bent for a vessel. 

SULLAGE. The deposition of mud and silt by water. 

SULLIT. A broad Dutch fishing-boat. 

SULPHUR. A mineral which forms a principal ingredient in the manufactureof gunpowder, and greatly increases the rapidity of its combustion. 

SUMMER-BLINK. A transient gleam of sunshine in bad weather. 

SUMMER COUTS. A northern name for the _aurora borealis_. 

SUMMER SOLSTICE. _See_ CANCER. 

SUMP. A bog or swamp. Also, a patent fuse used in mining. 

SUMPIT. An arrow blown from the sumpitan, in Borneo. The sumpitan isabout 7 feet long; the arrow has been driven with some force at 130yards. Some suppose it to be poisoned. 

SUN. The central body of our planetary system, and the source of lightand heat; it is 850, 000 miles in diameter. --_With the sun_, _i. E. _ fromleft to right. --_Against the sun_, from right to left. 

SUN AND MOON IN DISTANCE. When the angle between those bodies admits ofmeasurement for lunars (about 130°). 

SUNDAY. Ought to be a day of rest at sea as well as on shore, whenreligious services might generally be performed. Though called thenegro's holiday, it often brings but little cessation from work in somemerchantmen; they sail on a Sunday, not because of exigency, but becauseit is otherwise a leisure day, and thereby gained to the owners. 

SUN-FISH. The _Orthagoriscus mola_, a whimsical-looking creature, likethe head of a large fish severed from its body. Also, a name in thesouth for the basking shark, from its habit of lying in the sunshine. 

SUNKEN ROCK. That which lies beneath the surface of the sea, and isdangerous to navigation. 

SUNK LAND. Shallows and swamps. 

SUN-STAR. The _Solaster papposus_, one of the largest and handsomest ofour radiated star-fishes. 

SUPERANNUATED. Applied to such as have permission to retire from theservice on a stated pension, on account of age or infirmity. 

SUPER-CARGO. A person charged with the accounts and disposal of thecargo, and all other commercial affairs in the merchant-ship in which hesails. 

SUPER-HEATED. Said of steam, the heat of which has been raised afterbeing generated. 

SUPER-HEATER. A contrivance for increasing the temperature of the steamto the extent that it would lose on its way from the boiler, untilexhausted from the cylinder. 

SUPERIOR CONJUNCTION. When an inferior planet is situated in the samelongitude as the sun, and has that luminary between it and the earth, itis said to be in superior conjunction. 

SUPERIOR PLANETS. Those which revolve about the sun as a centre, outsidethe earth's orbit; the opposite of _inferior_. 

SUPERIOR SLOPE. The inclined upper surface of a parapet. 

SUPERNATANT PART OF A SHIP. That part which, when afloat, is above thewater. This was formerly expressed by the name _dead-work_. 

SUPERNUMERARIES. Men over and above the established complement of aship, who are entered on a separate list in the ship's books forvictuals and wages. 

SUPPLEMENT OF LONGITUDE. The term usually applied to its complement, orwhat it wants of 180°. 

SUPPORT A FRIEND, TO. To make every exertion to assist a vessel indistress, from whatever cause. Neglect of this incurs punishment. 

SUPPORTERS. Circular knee-timbers placed under the cat-heads for theirsupport and security. 

SURA. The drink otherwise called _toddy_ (which see). 

SURDINY. An old name for the fish _sardine_. 

SURE, OR SHORE. _See_ SHORE. 

SURES. Peculiar southerly winds which blow on the coasts of Chili, Peru, and Mexico, accompanied by a fog or vapour, called _sures pardos_. 

SURF. The swell and foam of the sea, which breaks upon the shore, or anyrock lying near the surface. The most violent surfs are those whichbreak upon a flat shore, as on the Coromandel and African coasts. 

SURFACE CURRENT. A current which does not extend more than 8 or 10 feetbelow the surface. Also, fresh water running over salt at the mouths ofgreat rivers. 

SURF-BOAT. A peculiar kind of flat-bottomed boat, varying according tolocal exigencies, for landing men, or goods, in surf. (_See_ MASULAHBOATS. )

SURGE. A large swelling wave. Also, the tapered part of the whelpsbetween the chocks of the capstan, upon which the messenger is readilysurged. --_To surge_, is to slacken up suddenly a portion of a rope whereit renders round a pin, windlass, or capstan; as, "Surge the messenger. "A ship is said _to surge_ on a reef when she rises and falls with theheave of the sea, so as to strike heavily. 

SURGE HO! The notice given when a rope or cable is to be surged. 

SURGEON. A competent medical officer, appointed to attend the sick andwounded on board a ship of war, for which purpose he has, according tothe rate of the ship, from one to two assistants, once called surgeon'smates, but latterly _assistant-surgeons_ (which see). 

SURGE THE CAPSTAN, TO. To slacken the rope heaved round upon its barrel, to prevent its parts from riding or getting foul. 

SURINGER. An archaism for surgeon. 

SURMARKS. In ship-building, the points on the moulds where thebevellings are to be applied to the timbers. 

SURROGATES. Those substituted or appointed in the room of others; asnaval captains formerly acting for judges in Newfoundland. 

SURVEY. An inspection or examination made by several practical officersinto the condition of any stores belonging to a ship. Also, thoseimportant astronomical observations, soundings, and other data, collected by officers who are employed in constructing charts and plansof seas, shoals, rocks, harbours, &c. 

SURVEYING VESSELS. Those equipped for examining coasts, dangers, &c. ;their utility is unquestionable. Some of the smaller vessels of war onevery station might be profitably employed in thus examining allreported dangers. 

SURVEYORS AT LLOYD'S. _See_ LLOYD'S SURVEYORS. 

SURVEYORS OF THE NAVY. Two officers who formerly sat at the navy board, being invested with the charge of building and repairing the royal shipsat the different dockyards of the kingdom; for which they were trainedto the theory and practice of ship-building. 

SUSPENSION OF ARMS. A short truce agreed upon by contending forces, fora special object of importance. 

SUTILES. Ancient cobles made of strong staves sewed together, andcovered with leather or skins. 

SUTLER. A victualler who follows the camp to sell provisions to thetroops. In garrisons and garrison-towns there are also sutlers whoprovide victuals of every kind; but Drayton's sutlers must have beenvery petty traders, as, when at Agincourt, Isambert's "rascals" werenoted--

 "For setting on those with the luggage left, A few poor sutlers with the campe that went, They basely fell to pillage and to theft. "

SWAB. A sort of long mop, formed of rope-yarns of old junk, used forcleaning and drying the decks and cabins of a ship. Also, a sobriquetfor a sot. Also, for an epaulette. --_Hand-swab. _ A small swab for wipingdry the stern-sheets of a boat, washing plates and dishes, &c. 

SWABBER. Formerly a petty officer on board ships of war, whoseemployment was to see that the decks were kept clean. Also, a manformerly appointed to use the swabs in drying up the decks. He wassometimes called ship's sweeper; more commonly captain of swabbers. 

SWAB-ROPE. A line bent to the eye of a swab for dipping it overboard inwashing it. 

SWAB-WASHER. The principal swab-washer, or captain of the head, in largeships. 

SWAB-WRINGERS. People appointed to wash the swabs and wring them out, ready for use. 

SWAD, OR SWADKIN. A newly raised soldier. Also, a fish-basket. 

SWADDIE. A discharged soldier. 

SWAGG, TO. To sink down by its own weight; to move heavily or bend. Synonymous with _sagg_. Also, the bellying of a heavy rope. 

SWAKE. A provincial term for a pump-handle. 

SWALLOW. The score of a block. 

SWALLOW'S TAIL. In fortification, an old form of outwork, having itsfront broken into a re-entering angle, and its two long flanksconverging towards the rear. 

SWALLOW-TAILS. The points of a burgee. Also, the tails of a coat. 

SWAMP. A tract of land or bog on which, from its impermeable bottom, thecollected fresh water remains stagnant. 

SWAPE. A wooden support for a small light. Also, a pump-handle; a lever. Also, a long oar used in working a coal-keel in the north. 

SWART-BACK. The _Larus marinus_, or great black and white gull. 

SWARTS. A name formerly applied by voyagers to Indians and negroes. 

SWASH. A sudden surge of the sea. Also, a shoal in a tide-way or mouthof a river, over which the water flows, and the tide ripples in ebbingor flowing. 

SWASHWAY. A channel across a bank, or among shoals, as the notedinstance between the Goodwin Sands. 

SWATHE. The entire length of a sea-wave. 

SWAY, TO, OR SWAY AWAY. To hoist simultaneously; particularly applied tothe lower yards and top-masts, and topgallant-masts and yards. --_To swayaway on all top-ropes. _ To go great lengths (colloquially). 

SWAY UP, TO. To apply a strain on a mast-rope in order to lift the sparupwards, so that the fid may be taken out, previous to lowering themast. Or sway yards aloft ready for crossing. 

SWEARING. A vulgar and most irrational vice, which happily is fast goingout. Habitual swearing was usually typical of a bad officer. It may haveoriginated in the custom too often demanded by law, of solemnasseverations on frivolous subjects. 

SWEATING THE PURSER. Wasting his stores. Burning his candles, &c. 

SWEEP. The trending or inclination of a coast to a crescent. Also, thatpart of the mould of a ship, where she begins to compass in therung-heads. Also, a large kind of oar. --_To sweep a coast. _ To sailalong at a reasonable distance with a vigilant inspection. 

SWEEPING. The act of dragging the bight or loose part of a small ropealong the ground, in a harbour or roadstead, in order to recover a sunkanchor or wreck. The two ends of the rope are fastened to two boats, aweight being suspended to the middle, to sink it to the ground, so that, as the boats row ahead, it may drag along the bottom. Also, a term usedfor rapidly scrutinizing a certain portion of the heavens in quest ofplanets, comets, &c. 

SWEEP OF THE TILLER. A semicircular frame on which the tiller traversesin large ships; it is fixed under the beams near the fore-end of thetiller, which it supports. 

SWEEP-PIECE. A block at the bottom of the port-sill for receiving thechock of the gun-carriage, and to aid in training the gun. 

SWEEPS. Large oars used on board ships of war in a calm, either toassist the rudder in turning them round, or to propel them ahead whenchasing in light winds. Brigs of 386 tons have been swept at 3 knots ormore. 

SWEETENING COCK. A wholesome contrivance for preventing fetid effluviain ships' holds, by inserting a pipe through the ship's side, with acock at its inner end, for admitting water to neutralize the accumulatedbilge-water, as also to supply the wash-deck pump. 

SWELCHIE. A rapid current formed by the tide of the Pentland Firthagainst the Isle of Stroma. Also, a seal in those parts. 

SWELL. A rolling wave which seldom breaks unless it meets resistance, generally denoting a continuous heaving, which remains for some timeafter the wind which caused it has subsided. Also, the gradualthickening of the muzzle of a gun, hounds of a mast, &c. 

SWIFT. When the lower rigging becomes slack at sea, single blocks areplaced on each shroud about 8 feet above the deck, a hawser rove throughthem, and the rigging swifted in, to bring a fair strain. The bars ofthe capstan are swifted, by passing a rope-swifter over all their ends, and bowsing it well taut. The rigging is also swifted down preparatoryto replacing the ratlines truly horizontal after setting up. 

SWIFTER. A strong rope, sometimes encircling a boat, about 9 inchesbelow her gunwale, both to strengthen her and protect her in cases ofcollision. (_See_ FENDERS. )

SWIFTERS. A pair of shrouds, fixed on the starboard and port sides ofthe lower mast, above the pendants, and before all the other shrouds:they are never confined to the cat-harpings. 

SWIFTING A SHIP. Either bringing her aground or upon a careen; alsopassing cables round her bottom and upper-works, to help to keep herfrom straining--the "undergirding" mentioned by St. Paul in hisshipwreck. 

SWIG OFF, TO. To pull at the bight of a rope by jerks, having its lowerend fast; or to gain on a rope by jumping a man's weight down, insteadof hauling regularly. 

SWILKER, TO. A provincialism for splashing about. 

SWILL. A wicker fish-basket. The air-bladder of a fish. --_To swill. _ Todrink greedily. 

SWIM, TO [from the Anglo-Saxon _swymm_]. To move along the surface ofthe water by means of the simultaneous movement of the hands and feet. With the Romans this useful art was an essential part of education. 

SWIMS. The flat extremities of east-country barges. 

SWINE-FISH. A northern name of the wolf-fish, _Anarhichas lupus_. 

SWINE'S FEATHER. The spike or tuck on the top of a musket-rest[corrupted from _sweyn_, a boar's bristle]. 

SWING, TO. A ship is said to swing to the wind or tide, when they changetheir direction while she is lying at anchor. --_To swing ship for localattraction and adjustment of compasses. _ This is done by taking thebearings of a very distant object at each point of the compass to whichher head is brought; also, by using a theodolite on shore, and takingits bearing from the ship, and the observer's head from the theodolite. 

SWINGING-BOOM. The spar which stretches the foot of a lowerstudding-sail; in large ships they have goose-necks in one end whichhook to the foremost part of the fore-chains to iron strops fitted forthe purpose. In port they are hooked to bolts at the bends, which, bybringing them lower down, enables the boats to ride easier by them asguest-warp booms. 

SWIPES. The weak beer supplied to ships on the home station. A swipe isan implement for drawing water for a brewery, the name of which has thusbeen transferred to the beer. 

SWIRL. An eddying blast of wind; a whirling wavy motion. Also, a knot intimber. 

SWISH. An old term for the light driving spray of the sea. 

SWIVEL. A pivot working freely round in a socket. They are fitted inboats' bows, ships' tops and bulwarks, &c. , for bearing small cannon of1/2 lb. Or 1 lb. Calibre, which are worked by hand, and called swivels. Also, a strong link of iron used in mooring chains, &c. , which permitsthe bridles to be turned repeatedly round, as occasion requires. Also, aswivel-link in chain-cables, made so as to turn upon an axis, and keepthe turns out of the chain. 

SWONA WELLS. Whirlpools much dreaded by the sailors of the PentlandFirth. They seem to be caused by the rapidity of the tide and theposition of Swona, which exactly crosses the stream. 

SWORD-FISH. A large fish of the family _Scombridæ_, remarkable for theprolongation of the nose into a straight, pointed, sword-like weapon. The European species, common in the Mediterranean, is the _Xiphiasgladius_ of naturalists. 

SWORD-MAT. A mat made with shoulders to protect the laniards of thelower rigging, boats' gripes, &c. , and worked by a piece of woodsomewhat resembling a sword in shape, to drive home the roving threads. 

SYKE [from the Anglo-Saxon _sych_]. A streamlet of water that flows inwinter and dries up in summer. 

SYMPIESOMETER, OR OIL-BAROMETER. A convenient portable instrument formeasuring the weight of the atmosphere by the compression of a gaseouscolumn; capital for small cabins. 

SYNODICAL MONTH. The period in which the moon goes through every varietyof phase, as from one conjunction to another. 

SYNODICAL PERIOD OR REVOLUTION. If the interval of periodic time of aplanet, or comet, be taken in reference to its passages through eitherof the nodes, its circuit is called synodical. 

SYPHERED. One edge of a plank overlapping that of another, so that bothplanks shall make a plane surface with their bevelled edges, though nota flat or square joint. 

SYSTEM. The method of disposing the correlative parts of afortification, proposed variously by many eminent engineers. 

SYSTEM OF THE UNIVERSE. _See_ COPERNICAN SYSTEM. 

SYZIGEE. Either conjunction or opposition, in reference to the orbit ofthe moon. 

T. 

TAB. The arming of an archer's gauntlet or glove. 

TABERIN. A species of shark greatly dreaded by the pearl-fishers ofCeylon. 

TABERNACLE. A strong trunk on the deck of river barges, forming a kindof hinge to enable them to lower the mast when going under bridges. Also, used to elongate the mast of any boat by stepping it in atabernacle. 

TABLE-CLOTH. A fleecy-looking cloud which sometimes covers the "table"or flat top of Table Mountain, at the Cape of Good Hope; it is theforerunner of a south-easter, being the condensation of moisture in thesea-air as it ascends the mountain side. 

TABLE-LAND. Land which is flat-topped, however it may be raised more orless above the ordinary level of the vicinity. 

TABLE-MONEY. An allowance to admirals and senior officers, in additionto their pay, to meet the expenses of their official guests. 

TABLES. _See_ ASTRONOMICAL TABLES, and NAUTICAL TABLES. 

TABLE-SHORE. A low level shore. 

TABLET. _See_ TRAPEZOID. Also, a flat coping stone placed at the top ofthe revêtement of the escarp, to protect the masonry from the weather. 

TABLING. A broad hem on the edges of a ship's sails, to strengthen themin that part which is sewed to the bolt-rope. Also, letting one piece oftimber into another, similar to the _hooking_ of planks, so that theycannot be pulled asunder. 

TACES. _See_ TAISHES. 

TACK. A rope to confine the weather lower corners of the courses andstaysails when the wind crosses the ship's course obliquely. Also, therope employed to haul out the lower outer clue of a studding-sail to theboom-end. With jibs and fore-and-aft sails, the tack confines themamidships. A ship is said to be _on the tack_ of the side from which thewind comes: even if it be on the quarter. --_To tack. _ To go about, tochange the course from one board to another from the starboard to theport tack, or _vice versâ_. It is done by turning the ship's headsuddenly to the wind, whereby her head-sails are thrown aback, and causeher to fall off from the wind to the other tack. The opposite to_wearing_. 

TACK AND HALF-TACK. Working to windward, or along shore, by long andshort boards, or legs, alternately. 

TACKLE. A purchase formed by the connection of a fall, or rope, with twoor more blocks. When a power sustains a weight by a rope over a fixedsheave, the weight and power will be equal; but if one end of the ropebe fixed, and the sheave be movable with the weight, then the power willbe but half the weight; but in a combination of sheaves, or pulleys, thepower will be to the weight as 1 to the numbers of parts of thefall. --_Ground-tackle. _ Anchors, cables, &c. --_Tack-tackle. _ A smalltackle used to pull down the tacks of the principal sails to theirrespective stations, and particularly attached to the main-sails ofbrigs, sloops, cutters, and schooners. 

TACKLE-FALL. The part hauled upon in any tackle, simple or compound. 

TACK OR SHEET. A man's saying that he will not start tack or sheetimplies resolution. 

TACK-PINS. The belaying pins of the fife-rail; called also Jack-pins. 

TACTICS. The art of disposing and applying naval or military forces inaction with the enemy, in whose presence strategy gives place totactics. 

TAFFIA. A bad spirit, made and sold at Mauritius. 

TAFFRAIL, OR TAFFAREL. The upper part of a ship's stern, a curvedrailing, the ends of which unite to the quarter-pieces. 

TAIL. A rope spliced into the strop or round of any block, leaving along end for making fast to rigging, spars, &c. --_To tail on to a bank. _To be aground abaft only. --_To tail up_ or _down a stream_. When atanchor in a river, is as a ship's stern swings. 

TAIL-BLOCK. A rope-stropped block, having an end of rope attached to itas a tail, by which it may be fastened to any object at pleasure. 

TAIL OF A GALE. The latter part of a gale, when its violence is dyingout. 

TAIL ON, OR TALLY ON. The order to clap on to a rope. 

TAIL-RACE. The water which leaves the paddles of a steam-boat. Also, thewater-course of a mill beyond the water-wheel. 

TAIL-TACKLE. A luff-tackle purchase, with a hook in the end of thesingle block, and a tail to the upper end of the double block. Synonymous with _watch-tackle_. 

TAIL UP. When a whale dives perpendicularly. In this case whalers expectthe fish to rise near the same spot. Also termed _fluking_. 

TAIL-VALVE. A valve in the air-pump at the opposite side from thecondenser, and connected with the latter by a pipe under the air-pump:it opens when pressed by steam entering the condenser by theblow-through valve, but the weight of the atmosphere is sufficient tokeep it shut so long as there is a vacuum in the condenser. 

TAINT. By admiralty law, the taint of contraband extends to all propertyon board belonging to the owners of detected contraband articles. 

TAISHES. Armour for the thighs. 

TAISTE. A northern name for the black guillemot. 

TAJASO. The jerked beef supplied to ships on some parts of the coast ofAmerica. 

TAKE. The draught of fishes in a single drag of the net. Also, _totake_, in a military sense, to take or adopt any particular formation, as to take open order, or to take ground to the right or the left. --To_take_ an astronomical observation, so to ascertain the position of acelestial body as to learn from it the place of the ship. 

TAKEL [Anglo-Saxon]. The arrows which used to be supplied to the fleet;the _takill_ of Chaucer. 

TAKEN AFT. Complained of on the quarter-deck. 

TAKE-UP. The part between the smoke-box and the bottom of the funnel ina marine boiler. Also, a seaman _takes up slops_ when he applies to thepurser for articles of ready-made clothes, to be charged against hiswages. Also, an officer _takes up the gauntlet_ when he accepts achallenge, though no longer in the form of a glove. 

TAKE WATER ON BOARD, TO. To ship a sea. 

TAKING A DEPARTURE. Determining the place of a ship by means of thebearing and distance of a known object, and assuming it as the point tobe calculated from. 

TAKING IN. The act of brailing up and furling sails at sea; generallyused in opposition to setting. (_See_ FURL and SHORTEN. ) Also said of aship when loading. 

TAKING OFF. Said of tides, when decreasing from the spring-tides. 

TALARO. A silver coin of Ragusa, value 3_s. _ sterling: also of Venice, value 4_s. _ 2_d. _

TALE [from Anglo-Saxon _tael_, number]. Taylor thus expressed it in1630--

 "Goods in and out, which daily ships doe fraight By guesse, by tale, by measure, and by weight. "

TALLANT. The upper hance, or break of the rudder abaft. 

TALL SHIP. A phrase among the early voyagers for square-rigged vesselshaving top-masts. 

TALLY, TO. To haul the sheets aft; as used by Falconer--

 "And while the lee clue-garnet's lower'd away, Taut aft the sheet they tally, and belay. "

TALUS. The old word in fortification for slope. 

TAMBOUR. A projecting kind of stockade, attached to ill-flanked walls, &c. 

TAN AND TANNED SAILS. Those steeped in oak-bark. 

TANG, OR TANGLE. _Fucus digitatus_, and other sea-weed, which are usedas manure. 

TANGENT. A right line raised perpendicularly on the extremity of aradius, touching the circle without cutting it. 

TANGENT-SCALE. Fitted to the breech of a gun for admeasuring itselevation; it is a sliding pillar marked with degrees and theirsubdivisions (according to the distance between the sights on the gun), and bears a notch or other sight on its head. With rifled guns avernier, reading the minutes, is generally added. 

TANGENT-SCREW. A screw acting tangentially to a circle, by means ofwhich a slow motion may be given to the vernier of any instrument. 

TANG-FISH. A northern name for the seal. 

TANK. A piece of deep water, natural as well as artificial. Also, aniron cistern for containing fresh water--a great improvement on woodencasks for keeping water sweet. 

TANKA. A covered Chinese shore-boat for conveying passengers to ships;worked by women only. 

TANTARA. An old word for the noise of a drum. 

TAPERED. A term applied to ropes which decrease in size towards one end, as tacks and sheets. Also termed _rat-tailed_. 

TAPERED CLEAT. A piece of wood bolted under the beams, to support themwhen pillars are not used. 

TAPPING A BUOY. Clearing it of the water which has entered it byleakage, and would otherwise prevent its watching. 

TAP THE ADMIRAL. Opprobriously applied to those who would "drinkanything;" from the tale of the drunkard who stole spirits from the caskin which a dead admiral was being conveyed to England. 

TAR [Anglo-Saxon _tare_]. A kind of turpentine which is drained frompines and fir-trees, and is used to preserve standing rigging, canvas, &c. , from the effects of weather, by rendering them water-proof. Also, aperfect sailor; one who knows his duty thoroughly. (_See_ JACKTAR. )--_Coal_ or _gas tar_. A fluid extracted from coal during theoperation of making gas, &c. ; chiefly used on wood and iron, in theplace of paint. 

TARBET, OR TARBERT. Applied to low necks of land in Scotland that dividethe lakes from the sea. It literally means boat-carrying, and isanalogous to the Canadian "portage. "

TAR-BRUSH, TOUCH OF THE. A nautical term applied to those who areslightly darkened by mixed blood. 

TARGET [Anglo-Saxon _targe_]. A leathern shield. A mark to aim at. 

TARGIA. An archaic term for a vessel, since called a _tartan_. 

TARI. A coin of Italy, value 8_d. _ sterling. 

TARIFF. List of duties payable upon exported and imported goods. 

TARITA. An ancient term for a ship of burden. 

TARN. A small mountain lake [probably from the Icelandic _tiaurn_]. 

TARPAULIN. Canvas well covered with tar or paint to render itwater-proof. Also, the foul-weather hats and jackets of seamen; oftenapplied to the men themselves. Properly _paulin_ when paint is used. 

TARRED WITH THE SAME BRUSH. Equivalent to "birds of a feather. "

TARRING AND FEATHERING. A punishment now obsolete, --inflicted bystripping the delinquent, then smearing him with tar, covering him withflocks and feathers, and towing him ashore. It was ordered in the navalenactments of Richard I. For theft. 

TARROCK. The kittiwake, _Larus tridactylus_, a small species of gull. 

TARRY-BREEKS. A north-country name for a sailor. 

TARTAN. A small coasting vessel of the Mediterranean, with one mast anda bowsprit, lateen-rigged. 

TARTAR. A domineering commanding officer. --_To catch a Tartar. _ Said ofa vessel which mistakes her enemy's force, and is obliged to yield. 

TASKING. Examining a vessel to see whether her timbers are sound. 

TASTING TIMBER. Chipping it with an adze, and boring it with an augur, to ascertain its quality. 

TATOOING. The Burmese, South Sea Islanders, and others, puncture theskin until it bleeds, and then rub in fine soot and other colouringmatter. The practice has become common amongst sailors. 

TATTIES. Mats hung before doors and windows in India, on which water isthrown, to cool the air inside by evaporation. 

TATTOO. The evening sound of drum or trumpet, after which the roll iscalled, and all soldiers not on leave of absence should be in theirquarters. 

TAUNT. High or tall, commonly applied to very long masts. --_All ataunto_ is a ship having all her light and long spars aloft. 

TAURUS. The second sign of the zodiac, which the sun enters about the20th of April. 

TAUT [from the Anglo-Saxon _tought_]. Tight. 

TAUT BOWLINE. A ship sailing close-hauled is "on a taut bowline. "

TAUT HAND. A strict disciplinarian. 

TAUT HELM, OR TAUT WEATHER-HELM. A ship with a side wind is said tocarry a taut weather-helm, when the water presses heavily on the leeside of the rudder; often the result of her being too much by the head. 

TAUT LEECH. A sail well set on a wind, and well filled. 

TEACH, TO. In marine architecture, is applied to the direction which anyline or curve seems to point out. 

TEAGLE. A northern word for a crane for lifting goods. 

TEAK. _Tectona grandis_, a stately tree, the pride of Indian and Burmeseforests, used extensively in ship-building; having the valuable propertyof not shrinking, and, by means of its essential oil, preserving theiron bolts driven into it from rusting. 

TEAL. A small species of wild duck, _Querquedula crecca_. 

TEAM. Ships blockading a port, being generally formed in a line, aresaid to be "in the team. "

TEAM-BOAT. A ferry-boat worked with horses by paddle-wheel propulsion. 

TEA-WAGGON. A name given to the old East India Company's ships onaccount of their cargo. 

TEAZED OAKUM. Oakum worked out for caulking. (Tow). 

TE DEUM. A hymn sung in thanksgiving for victory obtained. In many casesthe causes of war are such that chanting the Te Deum is rank blasphemy. 

TEE-IRON. An instrument for drawing the lower box in the barrel of apump. T-shaped clamp, knee, or other piece of iron-work. 

TEETH. A name for the guns in a ship. 

TEE-TOTALLER. A very old and general amplification of _totally_, recently borrowed from sea diction to mark a class who wholly abstainfrom alcoholic drinks. 

TELEGRAPH, TO. To convey intelligence to a distance, through the mediumof signals. 

TELESCOPIC OBJECTS. All those which are not visible to the unassistedeye. 

TELL OFF, TO. To divide a body of men into divisions and subdivisions, preparatory to a special service. 

TELL-TALE. A compass hanging face downwards from the beams in the cabin, showing the position of the vessel's head. Also, an index in front ofthe wheel to show the position of the tiller. 

TELL-TALE SHAKE. The shake of a rope from aloft to denote that it wantsletting go. 

TELL THAT TO THE MARINES! A sailor's exclamation when an improbablestory is related to him. 

TEMOINS. _See_ WITNESSES. 

TEMPEST. A word not much used by seamen. It is, however, synonymous with_storm_, _gales_, &c. (_See_ STORMS. )

TEMPORARY RANK. That owing to an acting commission, or to localcircumstances, ceasing with a particular service. 

TEMPORARY STARS. Those which have suddenly become visible, and afterattaining considerable brightness, have as suddenly vanished: that seenby Tycho in 1572 is a notable instance. 

TENAILLE. In fortification, a long low outwork traced on the inwardprolongation of the faces of the bastions. It covers the curtain, andconveniently defends the interior of the ravelin and its redoubt. 

TENAILLON. In fortification, a low outwork of two faces meeting in asalient angle, sometimes attached to ravelins to afford nearer flankingfire. 

TENCH. _Tinca vulgaris_, a well-known fresh-water fish. 

TEND, TO. To watch a vessel at anchor on the turn of a tide, and casther by the helm, and some sail if necessary, so as to keep the cableclear of the anchor or turns out of her cables when moored. 

TENDER. A small vessel duly commanded, and employed to attend a largerone, to supply her with stores, to carry intelligence or volunteers andimpressed men to receiving ships, &c. An enemy's ship captured bycutters or boats fitted out as tenders by men-of-war, but without anycommission or authority from the admiralty, will not insure a prize tothe benefit of the ship. The condemnation will be as a droit ofadmiralty, on the principle that an officer does not retain hiscommission for the purposes of prize on board another ship; but ifcaptured by one of her boats, and brought to the ship, she is goodprize, as with slaves. _Tender_ is also a synonym of _crank_; thus, aspar may be _tender_. 

TENDING. The movement by which a ship turns or swings round when atsingle anchor, or moored by the head, at every change of tide or wind. 

TENON. The square heel of a mast, cut for fitting into the step. Also, the end of any piece of timber which is fashioned to enter into amortise in another piece; they are then said to be tenoned together; as, for instance, the stern-post is tenoned into the keel. 

TEN-POUNDER. A name given to a bony mullet-shaped fish of the WestIndies. 

TENSILE STRAIN. The greatest effort to extend, stretch, or draw asunder, as in proving bars of iron, chain-cables, &c. 

TENT. A canvas shelter pitched upon a pole or poles, and stayed withcords and pegs. Also, a roll of lint, or other material, used insearching a wound. Also, a small piece of iron which kept up the cock ofa gun-lock. 

TEREDO NAVALIS. A worm which, furnished with a peculiar augur adaptationat its head, bores into timber, forming a shell as it progresses. Theyattain the length of three feet or more, with a diameter of one inch orless. Even if the ship be destroyed by them, the loss is not within thepolicy of insurance. 

TERMINAL VELOCITY OF ANY GIVEN BODY. The greatest velocity it canacquire by falling freely through the air; the limit being arrived atwhen the increase of the atmospheric resistance becomes equal to theincrease of the force of gravity. 

TERMINATOR. The line separating the illuminated from the dark portion ofthe moon's disc. 

TERM-PIECES, OR TERMS. Pieces of carved work on each side of thetaffrail upon the side stern-timber, and extending down as low as thefoot-rail of the balcony. 

TERN, OR SEA-SWALLOW. A species of sea-bird, allied to the gulls, butof smaller and lighter make, and with longer and more pointed wings andtail; genus _Sterna_. 

TERNARY SYSTEM. Three stars in close proximity, and found to be inphysical connection, as, for instance, ζ Cancri. 

TERRADA. An Indian boat, otherwise called _tonee_. A large 'longshoreboat of the Gulf of Persia. 

TERRAPIN (contracted by sailors into _turpin_ and _tenopen_). Afresh-water tortoise, plentiful in America, and much esteemed for food. 

TERREPLEIN. In fortification, the horizontal surface of the rampart inrear of the parapet. 

TERRESTRIAL REFRACTION. The property of the atmosphere by which objectsappear to be higher than they really are, and in certain cases producingthe effect called _deceptio visus_, and _fata morgana_. 

TERRITORY. The protection of neutral territory operates to therestitution of enemy's property captured within its limits. Since theintroduction of fire-arms that distance has usually been recognized tobe almost three English miles. 

TERTIATE, TO. To examine whether a piece of ordnance is truly bored andhas its due proportion of metal in every part, especially at the vent, the trunnions, and the muzzle. 

TESTING A CHAIN-CABLE. Trying its strength by the hydraulic machine, which strains it beyond what it is likely to undergo when in use. 

TESTONE. A silver Papal coin, value 1_s. _ 3_d. _ A testone is also acurrent coin in Portugal, consisting of 100 reis. 

TETE DE PONT. A work covering the farther end of a bridge from assaultfrom the country beyond. 

TEW, TO. To beat hemp. 

THAUGHTS (properly ATHWARTS). _See_ THWARTS. 

THEODOLITE. The theodolite, as used in land-surveying, levelling, &c. , is well known. But the great theodolite, with its vertical circle andtelescope adapted to the observation of the heavenly bodies, as used bynautical astronomers, commonly called an alt-azimuth instrument, isalmost an observatory _per se_. By this alone, within three hours oneach side of noon, the longitude, latitude, and magnetic variation of aposition may be determined. 

THERE! A word added in hailing any part of a ship; as, "Forecastlethere!" "Mast-head there!"

THERE AWAY! A phrase accompanied by pointing on a bearing, or to anobject in sight. Thereabout, in that quarter. 

THERMOMETER. An instrument to measure the amount of heat by theexpansion of a fluid (generally quicksilver) contained in a glass bulb, in connection with which is a hermetically closed tube, up which thefluid rises as the heat increases. This tube is graduated differently indifferent countries. 

THERMOMETRIC SAILING. A scheme for detecting the approach to shoal waterby the diminution of temperature, and found to be useful in someplaces, such as the Agulhas and Newfoundland Banks; in the latter adifference of 20° has been observed, on quitting the Gulf Stream andgaining soundings in 100 fathoms. 

THICK-AND-DRY FOR WEIGHING! To clap on nippers closely, just at startingthe anchor from the ground. 

THICK AND THIN BLOCK, OR FIDDLE-BLOCK. A block having one sheave largerthan the other, sometimes used for quarter-blocks. 

THICK STUFF. Sided timber, or naval planks, under one foot, and above 4inches in thickness. 

THIEVES' CAT. A cat o' nine tails having knots upon it, and only usedfor the punishment of theft. 

THIMBLE. An iron ring with a concave outer surface to contain snugly inthe cavity a rope, which is spliced about it. Its use is to defend therope which surrounds it from being injured by another rope, or the hookor a tackle which passes through it. 

THIMBLE-EYES. Are thimble-shaped apertures in iron-plates where sheavesare not required; frequently used instead of dead-eyes for thetopmast-rigging, futtock-plates, and backstays in the channels. 

THODS. An old northern term for sudden gusts of wind. 

THOKES. Fish with broken bellies, which are prohibited to be mixed orpacked with tale fish. 

THOLE, THOLE-PIN, OR THOWEL [from the Anglo-Saxon _thol_]. Certain pinsin the gunwale of a boat, instead of the rowlock-poppets, and serving toretain the oars in position when pulling; generally there is only onepin to each oar, which is retained upon the pin by a grommet, or a cleatwith a hole through it, nailed on the side of the oar. The principal useis to allow the oar, in case of action, suddenly to lie fore-and-aftover the side, and take care of itself. This was superseded by theswinging thowel, or metal crutch, in 1819, and by admiralty order atPortsmouth Yard in 1830. 

THORN-BACK. A well-known fish of the ray kind, _Raia clavata_. 

THOROUGH-PUTS, OR THOROUGH-FOOTS, are kinks or tangles in a rope; orparts of a tackle not leading fair by reason of one of the blocks havingbeen passed round part of the fall, and so _getting a turn_. 

THOUGHT. An old spelling of _thwart_. 

THRASHER, OR THRESHER. A species of shark with a long tail, _Carchariasvulpes_. Also applied to a kind of grampus, which was supposed to attackthe whale by leaping out of the water and inflicting blows with itspowerful tail. 

THREAD [Ang. -Sax. _thréd_]. The middle of a river or stream. --_Tothread. _ To run a ship through narrow and intricate channels amongislands. 

THREE-COCKED HAT. A silly article of sea-wear now happily passing away, retained only by coachmen, lord-mayor's men, and parish beadles. 

THREE-DECKERS. Ships with three full batteries. 

THREE HALF-HITCHES ARE MORE THAN A KING'S YACHT WANTS. An exclamatoryremark to a green hand, meaning that two are enough. 

THREE SHEETS IN THE WIND. Unsteady from drink. 

THREE SISTERS. Formerly the badge of office of boatswains' mates andmasters-at-arms, made of three rattans bound together with waxed twine. 

THREE-SQUARE. An odd word applied to staysails, or anything triangular, as was the oblong square to a parallelogram. 

THRIFT. _Armeria_, a genus of handsome plants growing on the sea-coast. 

THROAT. The widened and hollowed end of a gaff next the mast; opposed to_peak_, the outer end. Also, the midship portion of the floor-timbersand transoms. The contrary of _breech_. 

THROAT-BOLTS. Eye-bolts fixed in the lower part of tops, and thejaw-ends of gaffs, for hooking the throat-halliards to. 

THROAT-BRAILS. Those which are attached to the gaff for trussing up thesail close to the gaff as well as the mast. (_See_ BRAILS, andTOPMAST-STAYSAILS. ) Falconer says:--

 "For he who strives the tempest to disarm, Will never first embrail the lee yard-arm. "

Brail thus applies to leech-lines, clue-lines, &c. 

THROAT-HALLIARDS. Ropes or tackles applied to hoist the inner part ofthe gaff, and its portion of the sail, and hook on to the throat-bolts, as above. 

THROAT-SEIZING. In blocks, confines the hook and thimble in the strophome to the scores. Also, in turning in rigging, the throat-seizing ispassed with riding turns, through which the end is hove taut, and beingturned up sharply, is well seized to the standing part of the rigging, making it a severe cross nip, which cannot render or slip. 

THROT. That part of the mizen-yard close to the mast. 

THROTTLE-VALVE. A valve in the steam-pipe of an engine for preventingthe escape of steam, or regulating the velocity of its passage from theboiler to the cylinder. 

THROUGH ALL. Carrying canvas in heavy squalls without starting a stitch. It demands not only courage, but seamanlike judgment. Also applied tothe cable, or any purchase where, by reason of its slipperiness, thepurchase does not nip; she is then said to be "heaving through all. ""Fresh nippers, thick and dry, for weighing, " are then called for, andsand applied to overcome the slipping. 

THROUGH FASTENINGS. Applied to bolts and tree-nails driven through boththe timber and plank of the sides. 

THROUGH-PIECES. _See_ GRAVING-PIECES. 

THROUGH THE FLEET. A seaman's being sentenced by court-martial to betowed by a boat from every ship through the fleet, and receive alongsideeach a proportion of the lashes to be inflicted. But this was onlyawarded where the offence deserved a less punishment than death, and isnow discontinued, solitary confinement or penal servitude beingsubstituted. 

THROW. A cast of the hand-lead. 

THROWING A STEAM-ENGINE OUT OF GEAR. Disconnecting the eccentric rodfrom the gab-lever. 

THRUM. Any coarse woollen or hempen yarn. It is used for mops, &c. , inthe cabins; also for mats, which are worked on canvas with a largebolt-rope needle. --_To thrum. _ A vessel, when leaky, is thrummed byworking some heavy spare sail, as the sprit-sail, into a thrummed mat, greasing and tarring it well, passing it under the bottom, and heavingall parts tight. The pressure forces the tarred oakum into the openings, and thus, in part, arrests the ingress of water. 

THRUMMED MAT. A small mat faced with rope-yarn or spun yarn, which isused in a vessel's rigging to prevent chafing. 

THRUST. The effort of a screw-propeller. 

THUD. The sound of a bullet on hitting the intended object. 

THULE [Gaelic _thuath_]. An extreme object to the north. 

THUMB-CLEAT. In shape resembling a thumb. They arrest thetopsail-reef-earings from slipping, and are also lashed to the riggingwith a hollow, cut out to act as a hook, to suspend the bight of a rope, as the truss-pendants on the lower masts. 

THUNDERING. A sailor's emphatic word for anything choice, large, fine, or powerful. 

THUNDER SQUALL. This is similar to the black squall, only that it isalways preceded and attended by lightning and thunder, and accompaniedby extremely heavy rain. 

THUNNY. _See_ TUNNY. 

THUS, VERY WELL THUS, OR DYCE. The order to the helmsman to keep theship in her present direction, when sailing close-hauled. This trulysailor's motto was adopted by the Earl St. Vincent. 

THWART CLAMPS OR KNEES. Those which secure the after, main, and forethwarts to the rising and gunwales, and which support the masts. 

THWART-MARKS, TO A HARBOUR. Two objects on the land, which, brought intoline with each other, mark the safe course between shoals, as those onSouthsea Common act for the Needles, Swashways, &c. 

THWARTS (properly ATHWARTS). The seats or benches athwart a boat whereonthe rowers sit to manage their oars. 

THWART-SHIPS. Across the ship, or from one side to the other. (_See_ATHWART. )

TIBRIC. An old name for the coal-fish. 

TIBURON [Sp. ] The shark. 

TICKET. An official warrant of discharge, so that a heavy penaltyattaches to the loss of any of the blank ones in the captain's charge. It is always used in counterparts, which are ordered to be perfectduplicates of each other. 

TICKET-BOOK. A register for accounting for all tickets and certificatesreceived and used. 

TICKLING OF FISH. The same as _gennelin_. (_See_ GROPING. )

TIDAL WAVE. The wave caused by the combined action of the sun and moon:its greatest influence is felt some time after the moon has passed themeridian of any place. 

TIDE. A regular periodical current of waters, setting alternately in aflux and reflux; it is owing to the attraction of the sun and moon, butchiefly to the latter. The highest as well as most rapid, perhaps, arein the Gulf of Fundy and the river Wye; and on the contrary the lowest, as well as feeblest, are in the Mediterranean generally. --_To tide_, isto work up or down a river or harbour, with a fair tide in a head windor a calm; coming to anchor when the tide turns. 

TIDE OR TIDAL HARBOUR. A port which can only be entered at a certaintime of flood. 

TIDE AND HALF-TIDE. Those roadsteads affected by several rivers orchannels leading into them; as, for instance, Spithead. 

TIDE-BALL. A ball hoisted to denote when the depth of water permitsvessels to enter a bar-harbour, or to take the bar outside, from theknown depth within. 

TIDE-GATE. A place where the tide runs strong. 

TIDE-GAUGE. An instrument contrived for measuring the height of thetides. 

TIDE, EBB OF. The falling tide. 

TIDE-POOL. A sort of basin worn in seaside rocks. 

TIDE-RIP. Those short ripplings which result from eddies, or the passageof the tide over uneven bottom; also observed in the ocean where twocurrents meet, but not appearing to affect a ship's course. 

TIDE-RODE. The situation of a vessel at anchor when she swings by theforce of the tide. In opposition to _wind-rode_. 

TIDE'S WORK. The amount of progress a ship has made during a favourabletide. Also, a period of necessary labour on a ship during the ebbing andslack water of a tide. That is when the sea has left the vessel agroundbetween two tides, so as to enable workmen to repair defects down to acertain depth, laid bare by the receding tide. 

TIDE-WAY. The mid-stream; or a passage or channel through which the tidesets, and runs strongly. 

TIE-FOR-TYE. Mutual obligation and no favour; as in the case of the_tie-mate_, the comrade who, in the days of long hair, performed the tiefor tie on the tails. (_See_ TYE. )

TIER. A regular row of anything. Also, a range in the hold; hence theterms, ground tier, second and upper tier, &c. , of casks or goods stowedthere. --_Cable-tier. _ The space in a ship where hempen cables werecoiled. 

TIERCE. Is specially applied to provision casks, and is the third of apipe; but the beef-tierce contains 280 lbs. , or 28 galls. , whilst thatof pork only contains 260 lbs. , or 26 galls. Now the beef-tierce oftencontains 336 lbs. , and the pork 300 lbs. 

TIERERS. Men formerly stationed in the tiers for coiling away thecables, where strength, activity, and ability shone conspicuously. 

TIER-SHOT. That kind of grapeshot which is secured in tiers by paralleliron discs. 

TIES. An old name for mooring bridles. Also, stops to a sail. (_See_TYE. )

TIGHT. Close, free from leaks. Hence a ship is said to be tight when nowater leaks in; and a cask is called tight when none of the liquid leaksout. Applied to ropes or chains this word becomes _taut_. 

TILLER. A straight-grained timber beam, or iron bar, fitted into orround the head of the rudder, by means of which the latter is moved. (_See_ HELM. )

TILLER-HEAD. The extremity of the tiller, to which the tiller-ropes areattached. 

TILLER-ROPES. The ropes which form a communication between the end ofthe tiller and the barrel of the wheel; they are frequently made ofuntarred rope, though hide is much better; and iron chains are alsoused. By these the tiller is worked and the vessel steered. 

TILLER-SWEEP. _See_ SWEEP OF THE TILLER. 

TILT. A small canopy extended over the stern-sheets of a boat, supportedby iron or wood work, to keep off rain, as an awning is used to keep offthe sun. --_To tilt. _ To lift up a little on one side or end of anything. 

TILT-BOAT. One expressly fitted like a tilt-waggon, to preserve powderor other fragile stores from the weather. 

TIMBER [Anglo-Saxon]. All large pieces of wood used in ship-building, as_floor-timbers_, _cross-pieces_, _futtocks_, _frames_, and the like (allwhich see). 

TIMBER AND ROOM, is the distance between two adjoining timbers, whichalways contain the breadth of two timbers, and two or three inchesbesides. The same as _room and space_, or _berth and space_. 

TIMBER-CONVERTER. A dockyard official who has the charge of convertingtimber for its different purposes in ship-building. 

TIMBER-HEADS. The heads of the timbers that rise above the decks, andare used for belaying hawsers, large ropes, &c. (_See_ KEVEL-HEADS. )These being such important parts of a ship, men of acknowledged talentin the royal navy are styled "the _timber-heads_ of the profession. "

TIMBER-HITCH, is made by taking the end of a rope round a spar, andafter leading it under and over the standing part, passing two or threeturns round its own part, making in fact a running but self-jamming eye. 

TIMBERS. The incurvated ribs of a ship which branch outwards from thekeel in a vertical direction, so as to give strength, figure, andsolidity to the whole fabric. One timber is composed of several pieces. (_See_ FRAME. )--_Cant or square timbers_, are those which are placedobliquely on the keel towards the extremities of a ship, forming thedead solid wood of the gripe, and of the after heel. --_Filling timbers. _Those which are put up between the frames. One mould serves fortwo timbers, the fore-side of the one being supposed to unite withthe after-side of the one before it, and so make only oneline. --_Knuckle-timbers_ are the foremost cant-timbers on a ship's bow:the hindmost on the quarter are termed _fashion-pieces_. 

TIMBER-TASTER. One appointed to examine and pronounce upon the fitnessof timber. 

TIME, MEAN, OR MEAN SOLAR TIME. That shown by a clock or watch whencompensated for the unequal progress of the sun in the ecliptic, andwhich thence forms an equable measure of time. --_To take time_ is for anassistant to note the time by a chronometer at each instant that theobserver calls "stop, " on effecting his astronomical observation foraltitude of a heavenly body, or for contact with the sun and moon, ormoon and star. 

TIME-KEEPER, TIME-PIECE, OR CHRONOMETER. An instrument adapted formeasuring mean time. The result of many years of study and experiment byour best horologists. (_See_ LONGITUDE. )

TIMENOGUY. Formerly a rope carried taut between different parts of avessel, to prevent the sheet or tack of a course from getting foul inworking ship; specially from the fore-rigging to the anchor-stock, toprevent the fouling of the fore-sheet. 

TIMONEER [derived from the French]. The helmsman. Also, one on thelook-out, who directs the helmsman. 

TIMONOGY. This term properly belongs to steering, and is derived from_timon_, the tiller, and the twiddling-lines, which worked in oldentimes on a gauge in front of the poop, in ships of the line, by whichthe position of the helm was easily read even from the forecastle. 

TINDAL. A Lascar boatswain's-mate. 

TINKER. A small mortar formerly used on the end of a staff, nowsuperseded by the Coehorn. Also, a small mackerel. 

TINKERMEN. Fishermen who destroyed the fry of fish on the Thames bynets, and other unlawful contrivances, till suppressed by the mayor andcorporation of London. 

TIN-POTTER. A galley skulker, shamming Abraham. 

TIPPET. A snood for a fishing-line. 

TIPPING ALL NINES, OR TIPPED THE NINES. Foundering from press of sail. 

TIPPING THE GRAMPUS. Ducking a skulker for being asleep on his watch. (_See_ BLOWING THE GRAMPUS. )

TIRE. Synonymous with _tier_. 

TITIVATE, TO; OR TITIVATE OFF TO THE NINES. To freshen the paint-work;to put into the highest kelter. 

TOAD-FISH. The _Lophius piscatorius_, or fishing-frog. 

TOBACCO. Has been supplied for the use of the ships' companies in theroyal navy from the 1st January, 1799. 

TOBACCO-CHARTS. The worthless charts formerly sold by ship-chandlers. 

TOD-BOAT. A broad flat Dutch fishing-boat. 

TODDY. The sura or juice extracted from various kinds of palm, and oftencalled palm-wine. A mixture of spirits, water, and sugar is also calledtoddy. (_See_ ARRACK. )

TOE A LINE! The order to stand in a row. 

TOGGLE. A strong pin of wood, sometimes used instead of a hook in fixinga tackle, or it is put through the bight or eye of a rope, bolt, orblock-strop, to keep it in its place. In ships of war it is usual to fixtoggles upon the running parts of the topsail-sheets, the jears, &c. , when preparing for action, so that if the rope is shot away below, thetoggle may stop the yard from coming down. The toggle is used in mastingoperations, in securing the standing part of fore and main sheets, butespecially in whaling operations, cutting in, flensing, &c. , a hole iscut in the blubber, the eye of the purchase strop passed through andtoggled. In cold weather especially it is preferred to the hook, whichat low temperatures is apt to snap suddenly, and is, moreover, heavierto handle. The term is also used for putting the bights of the sheets inthe beckets. (_See_ BECKET. )

TOGGLE-BOLT. This bolt is used to confine the ensign-staff, and thelike, into its place by means of a strap; it has a flat head, and amortice through it, that receives a toggle or pin. 

TOGS. A very old term for clothes. --_Togged to the nines_, in fulldress. --_Sunday togs_, the best clothes. 

TOISE. The French fathom, nearly approaching to ours: the proportion ofthe English yard to the French demi-toise being as 36 to 38·35. Thetoise is equal to 6·3946 English feet. 

TOKE. A drink made from honey in Madagascar; very dangerous toEuropeans. 

TOKO FOR YAM. An expression peculiar to negroes for crying out beforebeing hurt. 

TOLEDO. An esteemed Spanish sword, so called from the place ofmanufacture. 

TOLL. A demand, &c. , at the Sound; hence the epithet of _Sound dues_. 

TOM. A pet bow-chaser, a 9 or 12-pounder. (_See_ LONG TOM. )

TOMAHAWK. A weapon somewhat resembling a hand poleaxe, much used inboarding an enemy, as it is not only effective in combat, but useful inholding on, and in cutting away fasts and rigging when required. Thename is derived from the hatchet of the North American Indians. 

TOM ASTONERS. Dashing fellows; from astound or "astony, " to terrify. 

TOM COX'S TRAVERSE. Up one hatchway and down another: others say threeturns round the long boat, and a pull at the scuttle. It means the workof an artful dodger, all jaw, and no good in him. 

TOMMY COD. A very small variety of the _Gadus morrhua_, which mostlyappears in the winter months; whence it is also called frost-fish atHalifax and in Newfoundland. 

TOM NORIE. A name of the puffin, _Fratercula arctica_. 

TOM PEPPER. A term for a liar; he having, according to nautic tradition, been kicked out of the nether regions for indulging in falsehood. 

TOMPION. A circular plug of wood, used to stop the muzzle of a gun, andthereby keep out the wet at sea. The tompions are carefully encircledwith tallow or putty for the same purpose. Also, the stopper fitted togo between the powder and shell in a mortar. This name is oftenpronounced as well as written _tompkin_. 

TOM-TOM. A small drum, made from the stem of a hollowed tree, generallyof the palm-tribe, as the centre is pithy and the skin flinty. It iscovered by the skin of a lizard or shark, and beaten with the fingers. It is used throughout the tropics, and produces a hollow monotonoussound. In the East Indies it is used to proclaim public notices, and todraw attention to conjurors, snake-charmers, &c. 

TON, OR TUN [from the Anglo-Saxon _tunne_]. In commerce, 20 cwt. , or2240 lbs. , but in the cubical contents of a ship it is the weight ofwater equal to 2000 lbs. , by the general standard for liquids. A tun ofwine or oil contains 4 hogsheads. A ton or load of timber is a measureof 40 cubic feet in the rough, and of 50 when sawn: 42 cubic feet ofarticles equal one ton in shipment. 

TONEE. A canoe of some burden, made of the hollowed trunk of a tree inearly use on the Malabar coast. (_See_ TERRADA. )

TON FOR TON AND MAN FOR MAN. A phrase implying that ships sailing asconsorts, ought fairly to divide whatever prize they take. 

TONGUE [Anglo-Saxon _tunga_]. The long tapered end of one piece oftimber made to fay into a scarph at the end of another piece, to gainlength. Also, a low salient point of land. Also, a dangerous mass of iceprojecting under water from an iceberg or floe, nearly horizontally; itwas on one of these shelves that the _Guardian_ frigate struck. 

TONGUE OF A BEVEL. The movable part of the instrument by which theangles or bevellings are taken. 

TONNAGE. A custom or impost formerly granted to the crown formerchandise imported or exported. Also, the admeasurement of a ship, andthence to ascertain her cubical contents converted into tons. (_See_BURDEN. )

TOP. A sort of platform placed over the head of the lower mast, fromwhich it projects like a scaffold. The principal intention of the top isto extend the topmast-shrouds, so as to form a greater angle with themast, and thereby give it additional support. It is sustained by certaintimbers bolted fore-and-aft on the bibbs or shoulders of the mast, andcalled the trestle-trees; athwart these are the cross-trees. In ships ofwar it is used as a kind of redoubt, and is fortified accordingly. It isalso very convenient for containing the materials for setting the smallsails, fixing and repairing the rigging, &c. The tops are named aftertheir respective masts. This top was formerly fenced on the after-sideby a rail about three feet high, between the stanchions of which anetting was usually constructed, and stowed in action with hammocks. This was covered with red baize, or canvas painted red, and called thetop-armour. Top-armours were in use with the Spaniards in 1810. 

TOP-ARMINGS. Hammocks stowed inside the rigging for the protection ofriflemen. 

TOP A YARD OR BOOM, TO. To raise up one end of it by hoisting on thelift, as the spanker-boom is lifted before setting the sail. 

TOP-BLOCK. A large single block with an iron strop and hook, by which itis hooked into an eye-bolt under the lower cap, and is used for thetop-pendant to reeve through in swaying up or lowering down thetop-masts. 

TOP BURTON-TACKLE. _See_ BURTON. 

TOP-CASTLES. Castellated ledgings surrounding the mast-heads of ourearly ships, in which the pages to the officers were stationed to annoythe enemy with darts, &c. 

TOP-CHAIN. A chain to sling the yards in time of battle, in case of theropes by which they are hung being shot away. 

TOPE. A small-sized Chinese junk. Also, the _Galeus vulgaris_, a kind ofshark. Also, a small grove of trees in India. 

TOP-GALLANT. In the Cotton MSS. This word appears as "top-garland. "

TOPGALLANT-FORECASTLE. A short deck forward above the upper deck, mostlyused as a galley, but in some merchantmen a berthing place for theircrews, though generally very wet and uncomfortable for want of a fewnecessary fittings. Also, it facilitates working the head-sails. --Inseveral of the iron-clad frigates, chase-guns are fitted there. 

TOPGALLANT-MAST. The third mast above the deck; the uppermost before thedays of royals and flying kites. 

TOP-GALLANT QUARTER-BOARDS, OR TOP-GALLANT BULWARKS. _See_QUARTER-BOARDS. 

TOPGALLANT-SAILS. The third sails above the decks: they are set abovethe topsail-yards, in the same manner as the top-sails above the loweryards. 

TOP-HAMPER. Any unnecessary weight either on a ship's decks or about hertops and rigging. Also, applied to flying-kites and their gear. Also, toan officer overclothing himself. 

TOP-LANTERN, OR TOP-LIGHT. A large signal-lantern placed in theafter-part of a top, in ships where an admiral's flag or commodore'spendant flies. 

TOP-LINING. A lining on the after-part of sails, to prevent theirchafing against the top-rim. Also, a platform of thin board nailed uponthe upper part of the cross-trees on a vessel's top. 

TOP-MAST. The second division of a mast above the deck. (_See_ MAST. )

TOP-MAUL. A large hammer used to start the top-mast fid, and to beatdown the top, when setting up topmast-rigging. 

TOP-MEN. Selected smart seamen stationed in the several tops, to attendthe taking in or setting of the upper sails. 

TOP-NETTINGS. _See_ TOP. 

TOPPING. Pretentious; as, topping the officer; also, fine, gallant, &c. 

TOPPING-LIFTS. Those lifts which support a spar, davit, &c. 

TOP-RAIL. A rail supported on stanchions across the after-part of eachof a ship's tops. 

TOP-RIDERS. _See_ UPPER FUTTOCK-RIDERS. 

TOP RIM OR BRIM. The circular sweep of the fore part of a vessel's top, and covering in the ends of the cross-trees and trestle-trees, toprevent their chafing the top-sail. 

TOP-ROPE. The mast-rope employed to sway up a top-mast ortopgallant-mast, in order to fix it in its place, or lower it. Thetop-rope is rove through a block which is hooked on one side of the cap, and passing through the sheave-hole of the mast, is brought upwards onthe opposite side, and fastened to an eye-bolt in the foremost part ofthe cap. To the lower end of the top-mast top-rope a tackle is fixed. (_See_ TOP-TACKLE. ) "Swaying on all top-ropes;" figuratively, "going thewhole hog" in joviality or any trickery. 

TOP-SAIL HAUL! OR MAIN-TOPSAIL HAUL! When the main-sail is not set, thisis the order given to haul the after-yards round when the ship is nearlyhead to wind in tacking. 

TOP-SAILS. The second sails above the decks, extending across thetop-masts, by the topsail-yards above, and by the lower yards beneath, being fastened to the former by earings and robands, and to the latterby the topsail-sheets, which, passing through two great blocks or cheeksfixed on its extremities, and thence to two other blocks fixed on theinner part of the yard close by the mast, lead downwards to thedeck. --_Paying debts with flying top-sails_, or _with a flyingfore-topsail_, is leaving them unpaid. Vessels not having topsail-yardsrigged aloft, set top-sails flying, as cutters, yachts, schooners, &c. 

TOPSAIL-SCHOONER. Is full schooner-rigged, but carries a square-topsailon the fore-mast; the fore-sail not bent, but set as a square-sail. Shemay also carry a main-topsail, and is then termed a two-topsailschooner. 

TOPSAIL-SHEET BITTS. Standing bitt-heads through which thetopsail-sheets lead, and to which they are belayed. 

TOP-SAWYER. The leading man in any undertaking. One who excels; inasmuchas the man of most intellect guides the saw, and No. 2 gets the sawdustin his face. 

TOP-SIDE. All that part of a ship's side which is above the main-wales:that is, those strakes between the sheer-strake and upper black-strake. 

TOP-SWIVEL. Once a favourite arm for ships' tops, but from the confinedspace and elevation rather an encumbrance than a useful addition. 

TOP-TACKLE. A large tackle, or properly pendant, hooked to the lower endof the top-mast top-rope, and to the deck, in order to increase themechanical power in lifting the top-mast in order to fid it. It iscomposed of two strong iron-bound double or triple blocks, the hooks ofwhich work on a swivel. 

TOP-TACKLE PENDANT. The pendant used with the above. The top-mast isswayed up by a top-rope or hawser. The pendant, which is of bettermaterial, and hawser-laid, has an eye and thimble spliced in one end, and is pointed at the other. This pendant is barely long enough tolower the top-mast temporarily in bad weather, and when the top-mast ishigh enough for fidding, the purchase is block and block, and cannotlift it higher. (_See_ TOP-ROPE. )

TOP THE GLIM, TO. To snuff the candle. 

TOP THE OFFICER, TO. To arrogate superiority. 

TOP-TIMBER BREADTH. The distance between the upper part of the sametimber and the middle line. 

TOP-TIMBER HOLLOW. A name sometimes given to the back sweep which formsthe upper part of the top-timber. 

TOP-TIMBERS. The first general tier which reach the top are called longtop-timbers, and those below short top-timbers. 

TOP YOUR BOOM. _See_ BOOM. 

TOR. A high rock or peak: also a tower, thus retaining the same meaningit had, as _torr_, with the Anglo-Saxons. 

TORMENTER. The large two-pronged iron fork used by the ship's cook, tofish out the cooked meat from the copper. 

TORMENTUM. A pistol; a gun; a piece of ordnance. 

TORNADO. A peculiar squall, accompanied with rain and lightning, similarin suddenness to the white squall of the West Indies, and experiencedoff the equatorial region of the west coast of Africa between Decemberand June. It appears first as a small black spot in the east, and barelyaffords time to put the ship before the wind and clue up all. The windveers round the compass, and lasts a very short time. 

TORPEDO. A cartilaginous fish allied to the rays, furnished withelectrical organs, by means of which it is able to give powerful shocks. Also, a contrivance for blowing up ships of war by means of a submergedapparatus. 

TORRENT. A land flood rushing from mountainous tracts, often withdestructive effect. It is produced by an accumulation of water fromrains or the melting of snows. 

TORSE. A coarse kind of hemp, better known as cordilla in commerce. 

TORSION OF CABLES. All ropes formed by twisting have a contrary turn, and a disposition to kink from torsion. 

TORSK. _See_ TUSK. 

TORTS. Private wrongs either to persons or property afloat. They arecognizable by the admiralty court, according to locality. 

TORTUE DE MER. A turtle. Also a French gabarre, troop, or store ship, with very high 'tween decks. 

TOSHING. A cant word for stealing copper sheathing from vessels'bottoms, or from dockyard stores. 

TOSS IN YOUR OARS! The order to desist rowing, and throw the oars in outof the rowlocks. 

TOSS THE OARS UP! Throw them up out of the rowlocks, and raise themperpendicularly an-end; the act is intended as a compliment to asuperior officer rowing by. Also, the order to a boat's crew to get theoars ready for rowing, and to salute the officer on his entering theboat. 

TOSS UP THE BUNT, TO. In furling a sail, to make its final package atthe centre of the yard when in its skin. 

TOT, OR TOTT. A drinking-cup somewhat smaller than the regulationhalf-pint, by which a surplus is left in the distribution of the regularallowance of grog, and awarded to the cook of each mess, for the day, for his trouble. 

TOTAL LOSS. A term in marine insurance, implying that the underwritersare to pay the amount insured without salvage. 

TOTE. An abbreviation of total. --_To tote. _ To watch, to spy, or tocarry, whence the very singular fish on the southern coasts of America, which carries small pebbles on its little sharp horns for making a_nest_ is called the _stone-toter_. 

TOTTY-LAND. Certain heights on the side of a hill [probably derived fromthe Anglo-Saxon _totian_, to elevate]. 

TOUCH. In ship-building, the broadest part of a plank workedtop-and-butt. Also, the angles of the stern-timbers at the counters. Also, _keeping touch_ is fulfilling the terms of an agreement--speakingof the faith between seamen and their employers. 

TOUCH-AND-GO. Said of anything within an ace of ruin; as in rounding aship very narrowly to escape rocks, &c. , or when, under sail, she rubsagainst the ground with her keel, without much diminution of hervelocity. 

TOUCH-AND-TAKE. An old proverb which Nelson applied to a ship about toencounter her opponent. A Nelsonian maxim. 

TOUCH-BOX. The receptacle for lighted tinder when match-locks were used. 

TOUCH-HOLE. The small aperture at the end of a musket or pistol, bywhich the fire of the priming was communicated to the charge. In guns, called the vent. 

TOUCHING. The state of a ship's sails when they first begin to lift orshiver with their edges in the direction of the wind. It is occasionedeither by a change in the wind or in the ship's course. (_See_ FULL ANDBY. )--_Luff and touch her!_ is the order to the helmsman to bring thevessel up, and see how near she will come to the wind, or to givefacility for taking in a reef when about to lower the top-sails, or fordeadening the ship's way. 

TOUCHING AT. Stopping or anchoring at some intermediate port in thecourse of a voyage. 

TOUCH OF THE TAR-BRUSH. A nautical phrase expressive of those officerswho are seamen as well as _quarter-deckers_. Also said of a white personin whose ancestry there has been some admixture of one of the darkraces. 

TOUCH UP IN THE BUNT, TO. To mend the sail on the yard; figuratively, togoad or remind forcibly. 

TOUCH-WOOD. _See_ PUNK. 

TOURNIQUET. Screw-bandages used for stopping the flow of blood. Theyare distributed about the quarters before action, and a number of menare taught to apply them. A handkerchief and toggle, or stick of anykind, is sometimes substituted. 

TOUT, TO. An old term for looking out, or keeping a prying watch; whencethe revenue cruisers and the customs officers were called touters. Thename is also given to crimps. 

TOW, TO. To draw or drag a ship or boat by means of a rope attached toanother vessel or boat, which advances by steam-power, rowing, orsailing. The Roman method, as appears by the triumphal arch at Orange, was by a rope fastened to a pulley at the top of the mast. They alsofastened a rope to the head of a boat, and led it over men's shoulders, as practised on our canals at the present day. 

TOWAGE. The towing of a vessel through the water. Also, the money givenfor being towed. Vessels thus relieved give claim for salvage service. 

TOW-BLOWEN. A term on our eastern coasts for a blown herring. 

TOWEL. A word very absurdly introduced into marine law. "If a mariner, "says Molloy, "shall commit a fault, and the master shall lift up thetowel three times before any mariner, and he shall not submit, themaster at the next place of land may discharge him. " Some think thatthis refers to an oaken stick, but it is no doubt corrupted from the_oster la touaille_, or turning a delinquent out of his mess, of thelaws of Oleron. 

TOWING-BRIDLE. A stout chain with a hook at each end for attaching atow-rope to; also, a large _towing-hook_ in the bight of the chain. 

TOWING-HOOK. _See_ TOWING-BRIDLE. 

TOWING OVERBOARD. Drawing anything after a ship or boat when she issailing or rowing. As a manœuvre to deceive an enemy, and induce him tochase, it was common to tow a sail astern by a hawser, at the same timekeeping the three masts in line, so as to deceive the chaser as todistance. 

TOWING-PATH. The hauling-way along a canal or artificial harbour. 

TOWING-POST. A substantial timber fixed through the deck of a steam-tugfor making the tow-rope fast to. Also, a similar post in canal barges tokeep the tow-line up clear of the path. 

TOW-LINE [Anglo-Saxon _toh-line_]. A small hawser or warp used to move aship from one part of a harbour or road to another by means of boats, steamers, kedges, &c. 

TOWN-MAJOR. An officer in a garrison specially supervising the detail ofthe guards, and of other local current duties. 

T-PLATES. Iron plates in the form of the letter T placed under thechannels to add strength. 

TRABACCOLO. An Adriatic trading craft. 

TRABALEO. Ancient coasting vessels. 

TRABARIÆ. Ancient canoes, made of hollowed trees, capable of carryingtwo or three men. 

TRACE. In fortification, the horizontal disposition of the works; also, a plan of the same. 

TRACK-BOAT [from the Dutch _treck-schuyt_]. A vessel used on a canal ornarrow stream. 

TRACKING. Hauling any vessel or floating body along a canal or river bya rope dragged along the bank by men or horses. 

TRACK OF A SHIP. The line of a ship's course through the water. (_See_WAKE. )

TRADE. Implies the constant destination of any particular merchantvessels, as the Lisbon trade, West India trade, &c. 

TRADER. A vessel employed regularly in any particular branch ofcommerce, whether sea-borne or coasting, British or foreign. 

TRADE-ROOM. A part of the steerage of a Yankee notion-trader where lightgoods and samples of the cargo are kept for general business. 

TRADE-WINDS. Currents of air moving from about the 30th degree oflatitude towards the equator. The diurnal motion of the earth makes themincline from the eastward, so that in the northern hemisphere they arefrom the N. E. , and in the southern hemisphere from the S. E. Theirgeographical position in latitude varies with the declination of thesun. In some parts of the world, as the Bay of Bengal and China Sea, theaction of the sun on the neighbouring land has the power of reversingthe trades; the winds are there called _monsoons_. 

TRADING-VESSEL. _See_ TRADER. 

TRAIL A PIKE, TO. To hold the spear end in the right hand, and the butttrailed behind the bearer. 

TRAIL-BOARDS. A carved board on each side of the stem, reaching from itto the figure, or to the brackets. The carved work between thecheek-knees of the head at the heel of the figure. 

TRAIN OR TRAIL OF ARTILLERY. A certain number of pieces of ordnance, completely mounted and fitted with appurtenances and retinue ofattendants, ready to follow in rear of an army, &c. (_See_ BATTERINGGUNS. ) Also, the hinder part of a gun-carriage. --_Train_ also signifiesa line of gunpowder or other combustible material forming acommunication with any body intended to be set on fire or exploded. 

TRAINING-LEVEL. A gravitating instrument for the same purpose as thetraining-pendulum. 

TRAINING-PENDULUM. An improved pendulum to facilitate the accurateelevation and depression of guns on board ship, by means of colouredspirits or quicksilver confined in a tube. 

TRAINING-SHIP FOR THE MERCHANT SERVICE. A vessel properly equipped withinstructors and means to rear able-bodied lads for the merchant service. 

TRAINING-SHIP FOR NAVAL CADETS. H. M. S. _Britannia_, commanded by acaptain and complement of officers for the primary training of navalcadets. They are nominated by the first lord, examined as to ability andconstitution, and entered on trial. If they pass a pretty rigidexamination, they are nominated to ships; but if they fail, they are notadmitted into the navy. Great interest is required for a nomination. 

TRAIN-TACKLE. A tackle which is during action hooked to an eye-bolt inthe train of a gun-carriage, and to a ring-bolt in the deck; its use isto prevent the gun from running out of the port whilst loading, and forrunning it in when fired. 

TRAJECTORY. An astronomical term for the orbital curve described by aplanet or comet, now seldom used in that science, but generally employedfor the path described by a shot or shell. 

TRAMMEL. A large drag-net for the cod fishery. 

TRAMONTANA. The north wind in general in the Mediterranean, but alsodenoting a peculiar cold and blighting wind, very hurtful in theArchipelago. 

TRAN. A Norwegian word for fish-oil, adopted in our northern fisheries. 

TRANKEH, OR TRANKIES. A large boat of the Gulf of Persia. 

TRANSFER. There can be no legal transfer of property captured at sea, without a legal condemnation in the admiralty court, and therefore thesale or occupancy of vessels and goods by pirates does not alter orextinguish the loser's right of property. Transfer is the legal state ofa registered ship, or shares in her, to persons qualified to be ownersof British ships. Also, the turning over men or companies from one shipto another. 

TRANSHIPMENT OF TREASURE. Ships on a distant station receiving treasurefor conveyance to some other man-of-war about to proceed to England, from another port on the same station. Both captains partake of thefreight, relatively as to distance and deposit. 

TRANSIRE. A custom-house document specifying the goods shipped by acoasting vessel, docketted with a sufferance for their discharge onarriving at the place of destination. 

TRANSIT. The precise culmination of a heavenly body over the meridian ofa place. 

TRANSIT OF MERCURY OR VENUS. These planets being situated between thesun and the earth, occasionally appear to us to pass over his disc, fromeast to west. 

TRANSIT INSTRUMENT. A telescope fitted with vertical wires, andrevolving on an axis in the plane of the meridian, with which the timemay be obtained by observing the passage of the stars and planetscompared with their computed time. 

TRANSITU. Goods of an enemy's colony surrendering between the time ofsailing and capture do not change their hostile character _in transitu_;though the owners may have become British subjects by capitulation, uponthe principle that the national character cannot be altered _intransitu_. (_See_ STOPPAGE IN TRANSITU. )

TRANSMISSION. The property in a merchantman, or a share therein, transmitted in consequence of the authenticated death, bankruptcy, orinsolvency of any registered owner. 

TRANSOM. The vane of a cross-staff, made to slide along it by means of asquare socket; it may be set to any of the graduations. 

TRANSOM OF A GUN-CARRIAGE. A cross piece of timber uniting the cheeks;generally between the trunnion-holes and the fore axle-tree. 

TRANSOM-KNEES. Curved timbers, or pieces of iron, which bind and connectthe ship's quarter to the transoms, being bolted to the latter, and tothe after timbers. Knees which have one arm applied to either end of atransom, and the other running diagonally along, and bolted to theship's side. 

TRANSOMS. 'Thwart-ship pieces forming the buttocks of a ship, extended across the stern-post, to which they are bolted, and giveher after-part the figure most suitable to the service for which she isintended. --_Deck-transom. _ That on which all the lower deck planks arerabbeted. The first, second, third transoms, &c. , are respectivelybelow the preceding. --_Helm-post transom. _ That which is at the headof the stern-post, and forms the upper part of the gun-roomports. --_Wing-transom. _ The next below, and forming the lower part. 

TRANSPORT. A private ship hired by government for carrying troops, stores, and munitions of war. The proportion of tonnage for troopsembarked in transports is two tons per man. 

TRANSPORTING. Moving a ship by means of hawsers only, from one part of aharbour to another. 

TRANSPORTING-BLOCKS. Two snatch-blocks, fitted one on each side abovethe taffrail, to admit a hawser, when transporting a ship. 

TRANSPORT OFFICE. Formerly a department under government directed bycommissioners, who chartered vessels and appointed officers forconveying troops to or from this country: they were also to provideaccommodation and provision for all prisoners of war, as well as toregulate their exchange by cartel, &c. Now under a naval director oftransport. 

TRANS-SHIP, TO. To remove a cargo from one ship to another. 

TRANSVERSE AXIS. The first or principal diameter of an ellipse; thatwhich crosses it lengthwise. (_See_ MAJOR AXIS. )

TRANSVERSE SECTION. A 'thwart-ship view of any part of a ship when cutby a plane at right angles to the keel. 

TRANTER. One who carries fish for sale. 

TRAP-CREEL. A basket for catching lobsters. 

TRAPEZIUM. A quadrilateral figure that has only two of its four sidesparallel. 

TRAPEZOID, OR TABLET. Has all its four sides and angles unequal, and nosides parallel. 

TRAVADO, OR TRAVAT [from _tornado_]. A heavy squall, with sudden gustsof wind, lightning, and rain, on the coast of North America; like theAfrican tornado, it commences with a black cloud in calm weather and aclear sky. 

TRAVEL, TO. For a thimble, block, &c. , to run along on beams or ropes. 

TRAVELLER. One or more iron thimbles with a rope spliced round them, sometimes forming a kind of tail, but more generally a species ofgrummet. --_Traveller of boat's masts_, _jib-boom_, &c. An iron ringfitted so as to slip up and down a spar, to run in and out on a boom orgaff, for the purpose of extending or drawing in the outer corner ortack of the sail. 

TRAVELLER-IRON. To a cutter's fore-sail, boom-mainsail, or spanker-boom;generally termed traveller horse. (_See_ HORSE. )

TRAVELLING-BACKSTAYS, are generally the breast-backstays, which set upwith a runner purchase in the channels on the weather side; that toleeward is let go in stays. The traveller is a strong parrel-strop whichpasses round the mast, and through two thimbles of which the breastbackstays reeve. As the yard is hoisted this slips up, but when a reefis taken in it is rode down by the feet of two men close to thetye-block, and thus supports the mast from the top-rim to the parrel. 

TRAVELLING-GUYS. The jib traveller guys are seized on to the traveller, and are shortened in and set up when the jib is eased in. 

TRAVELLING-MARTINGALE. A similar contrivance adapted to a martingale tosupport the jib-boom in that particular part where the jib-tack isfixed. (_See_ MARTINGALE. )

TRAVERSE. Denotes the several courses a ship makes under the changes ofwind or manœuvres. It is self-evident that if she steered a course therewould be no traverse. But her course being north, and the wind from thenorth, it is evident she could have but two courses open to her, E. N. E. , or W. N. W. The reduction of the distances run on each course, correctedfor variation and lee-way, constitutes the traverse table, from whichthe reckoning is deduced each day up to noon. From this zig-zag set oflines we have the term _Tom Cox's traverse_ (which see). Also, infortification, a mound, often of parapet form, raised to cover fromenfilade or reverse fire. Also, to traverse a gun or mortar. To alterits direction from right to left, or _vice versâ_, with handspikes, tackles, &c. 

TRAVERSE A YARD, TO. To get it fore and aft. 

TRAVERSE-BOARD. A thin circular piece of board, marked with all thepoints of the compass, and having eight holes bored in each, and eightsmall pegs hanging from the centre of the board. It is used to determinethe different courses run by a ship during a watch, by sticking one peginto the point on which the ship has run each half hour. It is useful inlight and variable winds. 

TRAVERSE-HORSE. _See_ JACK-STAYS. 

TRAVERSE QUESTIONS. Cross examinations at a court-martial. 

TRAVERSE SAILING. Resolving a traverse is merely a general term for thedetermination of a single course equivalent to a series of successivecourses steered, whatever be the manner of finding the lengths of thelines forming the triangles. 

TRAVERSE-TABLE. A table which gives the difference of latitude anddeparture corresponding to a certain course and distance, and _viceversâ_. It is generally calculated to every quarter of a point ordegree, and up to a distance of 300 miles. 

TRAVERSE-WIND. A wind which sets right in to any harbour, and preventsthe departure of vessels. 

TRAVERSIER. A small fishing vessel on the coast of Rochelle. 

TRAVERSUM. A archaic term for a ferry. 

TRAWL. A strong net or bag dragged along the bottom of fishing-banks, bymeans of a rope, a beam, and a pair of iron trawl-heads. 

TRAYERES. An archaic term for a sort of long-boat. 

TREADING A SEAM, OR DANCING PEDRO-PEE. _See_ PEDRO-A-PIED. 

TREAD OF A SHIP OR KEEL. The length of her keel. 

TREAD WATER, TO. The practice in swimming by which the body is sustainedupright, and the head kept above the surface. 

TREBLE-BLOCK. One fitted with three sheaves or rollers. 

TREBLING. Planking thrice around a whaler's bows in order the moreeffectually to withstand the pressure of the ice. 

TREBUCHET. An engine of old to cast stones and batter walls. 

TRECK-SCHUYT. A canal boat in Holland for carrying goods and passengers. 

TREEING. In the Arctic regions, refraction sometimes causes the ice toresemble a huge wall, which is considered an indication of open water inthat quarter. 

TREE-NAILS. Long cylindrical oak or other hard wood pins, driven throughthe planks and timbers of a vessel to connect her various parts. 

TREE-NAIL WEDGE. A cross is cut in the tree-nail end, and wedges drivenin, caulked; or sometimes a wedge is driven into its inner end, and thetree-nail is thus secured. 

TREES OF A SHIP. The chess-trees, the cross-trees, the rough-trees, thetrestle-trees, and the waste-trees. 

TRELAWNEY. A poor mess composed of barley-meal, water, and salt. 

TRENCHES. The earthworks by which a besieger approaches a fortifiedplace; generally half sunk in the ground, the other half formed by theexcavated earth thrown, as a parapet, to the front. 

TRENCHMAN. _See_ TRUGMAN. 

TRENCH THE BALLAST, TO. To divide the ballast in a ship's hold to get ata leak, or to trim and stow it. 

TREND, TO. To bend or incline, speaking of a coast; as, "The land trendsto the south-west. " Also, the course of a current or stream. 

TREND OF AN ANCHOR. The lower end of the shank, where it thickenstowards the arms, usually at one-third from the crown. In round terms, it is the same distance on the shank from the throat that the armmeasures from the throat to the bill. 

TRENNEL. _See_ TREE-NAILS. 

TREPANG. An eastern name for the _Holothuria_, or _bêche-de-mer_, frequently called the sea-slug; used as an article of food by theChinese. 

TRESTLE-TREES. Two strong bars of timber fixed horizontally fore-and-afton each side of the lower mast-head, to support the top-mast, the lowercross-trees, and top; smaller trestle-trees are fitted on a topmast-headto support the topgallant-mast and top-mast cross-trees. 

TRIANGLE, OR TRIGON. A geometrical figure consisting of three sides andas many angles. Also, a machine formed by spars for lifting weights, water-casks, &c. Also, a stage hung round a mast, to scrape, paint, orgrease it. 

TRIANGULUM. One of the ancient northern constellations. 

TRIATIC STAY. A rope secured at each end of the heads of the fore andmain masts, with thimbles spliced in its bight to hook the stay-tacklesto. This term applies also to the jumper-stay, extending in schoonersfrom the mainmast-head to the foremast-head, clearing the end of thefore gaff. 

TRIBUTARY. Any stream, large or small, which directly or indirectlyjoins another stream. 

TRICE, TO. To haul or lift up by means of a lashing or line. 

TRICE UP--LIE OUT! The order to lift the studding-sail boom-ends whilethe top-men move out on the yards, preparatory to reefing or furling. 

TRICING BATTENS. Those used for the hammocks, or tricing up the bagsbetween the beams on the lower-deck. 

TRICING-LINE. A small cord, generally passing through a block orthimble, and used to hoist up any object to render it less inconvenient;such are the tricing-lines of the yard-tackle, &c. 

TRICK. The time allotted to a man on duty at the helm. The same as_spell_. 

TRICKER. An old spelling for the trigger of a gun. 

TRIE. An old word for trim. --_Out of trie_, crank. 

TRIGGER. In ship-building, is the letting fall the paul of the cradle bywhich the dog-shore falls flush, and offers no further obstruction tothe ship gliding down the ways into her absurdly termed "nativeelement. " Also, a small catch under the lock of fire-arms, by drawingwhich back, when the piece is cocked, it is discharged. 

TRIGGER-FINGER. _See_ FORE-FINGER. 

TRIGGER-LINE. A line by which the gun is fired. 

TRIG-MEAT. A western term for any kind of shell-fish picked up at lowwater. 

TRIGON. _See_ TRIANGLE. 

TRIGONOMETRY. The science which deals with measuring triangles, ordetermining their unknown sides and angles, plane or spherical. 

TRIM. The set of a ship on the water, whether by the head or the stern, or on an even keel. It is by the disposition of the ballast, cargo, masts, and other weight which she carries, that a vessel is best adaptedfor navigation. Also, the working or finishing of any piece of timber orplank to its proper shape or form. --_In trim_, is neat and regular. --_Totrim_, is to arrange the sails so that they may receive the fulladvantage of the wind. 

TRIM OF THE HOLD. The arrangement of the cargo, &c. , by which a vesselcarries sail well, and becomes under control as well as sea-worthy. 

TRIMMED. Sails properly set, and yards well braced after tacking. 

TRIMMED SHARP. The arrangement of a ship's sails in a slant wind, sothat she may keep as close as possible to the breeze. 

TRIMMING A JACKET. Rope's-ending the wearer. 

TRIMONIER. A corruption of _timoneer_, but formerly a rating on ships'books. 

TRIM THE BOAT! The order to sit in the boat in such a manner as that sheshall float upright. Also, to edge aft, so that her steerage becomeseasier, and she does not ship heavy seas. 

TRINK. An old contrivance for catching fish. (Statute 2 Hen. VI. C. 15. )

TRIP. An outward-bound passage or short voyage, particularly in thecoasting trade. It also denotes a single board in plying to windward. Also, the movement by which an anchor is loosened from its bed andraised clear of the bottom, either by its cable or buoy-rope. --_Theanchor's a-trip_, _i. E. _ no longer holds. 

TRIPLE STAR. Three stars situated in close proximity, but apparentlyonly optically connected. (_See_ TERNARY SYSTEM. )

TRIPPING. Giving a yard the necessary cant by a tripping-line. Also, thelifting an upper mast to withdraw its fid, in order that it may belowered by means of the mast-rope. 

TRIPPING-LINE. A small rope serving to unrig the lower top-gallantyard-arm of its lift and brace, when in the act of sending it down ondeck. Also, the line used for tripping an upper mast. 

TROACHER, OR TROAKER. A dealer in smuggled goods. 

TROCHOID, OR CYCLOID. A geometrical curve, resulting from a circle beingmade to run along a right line, whence the French designate it_roulette_. But if a circle be made to roll along the circumference ofanother circle, it becomes an _epicycloid_ (which see). 

TROITE. An archaism for the cuttle-fish. 

TROLLING. Drawing the bait along the water to imitate the swimming of areal fish; this is generally done by a long line attached to the sternof a sailing-boat. The word of old signified sauntering or idling about. 

TROMBONE. A species of blunderbuss for boat service, taking its namefrom its unseemly trumpet mouth. 

TRONA. An article of export from Tripoli and Egypt; the _natron_ ofcommerce, and _over munnoo_ of the East Indies. Sesqui-carb. Of sodamixed with salt and sulphate of soda. 

TROOP. A company of cavalry, commanded by a captain, generally fromforty to sixty strong. Also, an assembling beat of the drum. --_Troopingthe guard_, or _the colours_, are special military ceremonies connectedwith guard-mounting. --_Troop the guard. _ A ceremony daily practised inlarge ships by the marines at morning muster. 

TROOP-BOATS. Are built with great flatness of floor, with extremebreadth, carried well forward and aft, and possessing the utmostbuoyancy, as well as capacity for stowage. They were carried aspaddle-box boats (inverted), and thus protected the paddles as well asbeing ready for use. 

TROOP-SHIPS. A class of vessel of excellent account, during war, in thehands of government; far preferable to hired transports for the purposeof conveying soldiers, especially cavalry and their horses. They wereusually, in the last French war, 50's and 64's; and with the lower-deckguns taken out, were roomy and airy. 

TROPHY. Anything captured from an enemy and shown or treasured as atoken of victory. 

TROPICAL MOTION. _See_ MOTION. 

TROPICAL REVOLUTION. If the periodic time of a circuit round the sun betaken in reference to the equinoxes or tropics, it is called a tropicalrevolution. 

TROPIC-BIRD. _Phaethon æthereus_, a well-known sea-bird, distinguishedby two very long feathers in its tail; also termed _boatswain-bird_, from the tail feathers resembling a marline-spike. 

TROPICS. Two imaginary lines upon the globe, or lesser circles of thesphere, parallel to the equator, and at 23-1/2° distance on each side ofit; they touch the ecliptic at its greatest distances from the equator, and from the boundaries of the sun's declination, north and south. 

TROUGH [from the Anglo-Saxon _troh_]. A small boat broad at both ends. Also, the hollow or interval between two waves, which resembles a broadand deep trench perpetually fluctuating. As the set of the sea isproduced by the wind, the waves and the trough are at right angles withit; hence a ship rolls heaviest when she is in the trough of the sea. 

TROUL. The action of silt being rolled along by a tide. 

TROUNCE, TO. To beat or punish. An old word; in Mathew's translation ofthe Bible, 1537, we find, "The Lord trounced Sisera. "

TROUNCER. An old word for a waister. 

TROUS DE LOUP. Holes dug in the form of an inverted cone, with a sharppicket or stake in each, to break the march of an enemy's column whenadvancing to the attack. 

TROW. A clinker-built, flat-floored barge used on the Severn, &c. Also, a sort of double boat with an interval between, and closed at the ends;it is used on the Tyne for salmon-fishing, the fisherman standing acrossthe opening, leister in hand, ready to strike the quarry which passes. 

TRUCE. The exhibition of a flag of truce has been religiously respectedamongst civilized nations. It is a request by signal to desist fromfarther warfare, until the object of the truce requested has beenacceded to or rejected. 

TRUCHMAN. _See_ TRUGMAN. 

TRUCK. A Cornish word for the trough between two surfs. Also, exchange, as fish for grog, &c. 

TRUCKLE. A Welsh coracle. 

TRUCKS. Pieces of wood of various forms, though mostly round; they arefor different purposes, as wheels on which the gun-carriagesrun. --_Trucks of the flag-staves or at the mast-head. _ Circular caps onthe upper mast-heads; they are generally furnished with two or moresmall sheaves, through which the signal halliards are rove. --_Trucks ofthe parrels. _ Spherical pieces of wood, termed bull's-eyes, having ahole through them, in which is inserted the rope of the parrel. (_See_PARRALS. )--_Trucks for fair leaders_, are similar to bull's-eyes, butare scored to fit the shrouds to which they are seized. The ropes arethus kept from getting jammed between the yards and the rigging; theyare also useful, especially at night, as guides to particular ropes. 

TRUE ANOMALY. _See_ ANOMALY. 

TRUE-BLUE. A metaphorical term for an honest and hearty sailor: "true tohis uniform, and uniformly true. "

TRUE-HORIZON. _See_ HORIZON. 

TRUE TIDE. Opposed to _cross-tide_ (which see). 

TRUE WATER. The exact depth of soundings. 

TRUFF. A west-country name for a trout. 

TRUG. A rough basket for carrying chips of timber. 

TRUGMAN. An early word for interpreter, being a corruption of dragoman;also called _trench-man_, but not _trencher-man_, as a worthyMediterranean consul wrote it. 

TRUMPETER. A petty officer and musician stationed on the poop, to soundsalutes and various evolutionary orders. 

TRUNCHEON. A field-marshal's baton; also a constable's. 

TRUNDLE-HEAD. The lower drumhead of a capstern, when it is double, andworked on one shaft both on an upper and lower deck. 

TRUNDLE-SHOT. An iron bolt 16 or 18 inches long, with sharp points, anda ball of lead just inside each head. 

TRUNK. (_See_ RUDDER-TRUNK. ) Also, a large species of turtle. Also, aplace for keeping fish in. Also, an iron hoop with a bag, used to catchcrabs and lobsters. --_Fire-trunks. _ Funnels fixed in fire-ships underthe shrouds, to convey the flames to the masts, rigging, and sails. 

TRUNK-ENGINE. A direct-acting steam-engine, in which the end of theconnecting-rod is attached to the bottom of a hollow trunk, passingsteam-tight through the cylinder cover. 

TRUNK-FISH. A name of the _Ostracion_, a fish remarkable for having itsbody encased in an inflexible armour of hard octagonal plates, the fins, mouth, and gill-openings passing through holes in this casing. 

TRUNNION-RING. The ring round a cannon next before the trunnions, nowdisused. 

TRUNNIONS. The arms, or two pieces of metal projecting from the oppositesides of a gun, by which it rests and swings upon its carriage, actingas an axis of elevation or depression. Also, pieces of well-seasonedwood, used in securing the ship's timbers. 

TRUSS. The trusses or parrels of the lower yards serve to bind them totheir masts and are bowsed taut when the yards are trimmed, in order toarrest motion and friction. But the introduction of an iron goose-neck, centering and securing the yard well free of the mast, very muchsupersedes the use of trusses. 

TRUSS-HOOPS. Synonymous with clasp-hoops for masts or spars; they areopen iron hoops, so made that their ends, being let into each other, maybe well fastened by means of iron wedges or forelock keys. 

TRUSS-PARREL. That part of a rope-truss which goes round the yard. 

TRUSS-PENDANT. That part of a rope-truss into which the truss-tackleblocks are seized. 

TRUSS-PIECES. The fillings in between the frame compartments of theriders, in diagonal trussing. 

TRUSS-TACKLE. A gun-tackle purchase applied to the ends of thetruss-pendants, to bowse them taut home to the mast. 

TRUSS UP, TO. To brail up a sail suddenly; to toss up a bunt. 

TRY, TO, OR LIE-TO, IN A GALE, is, by a judicious balance of canvas, tokeep a ship's bow to the sea, and, with as much as she can safely show, prevent her rolling to windward in the trough of a sea. Close-hauledunder all sail, a vessel gains head-way within six points of the wind;but in _trying_ she may come up to five and fall off to seven: so that avessel does not hold her own. If the vessel be in proper trim, orproperly stowed, she will naturally keep to the wind; but custom, anddeficiency of seamanlike ability, have induced the lazy habit of lashingthe helm a-lee. 

TRY BACK FOR A BEND, TO. To pay back some of the bight of a cable, inorder to have sufficient to form the bend. 

TRY DOWN, TO. To boil out the oil from blubber at sea in whalers. 

TRYING THE RANGE. A lubberly mode of estimating the distance of anenemy's ship or fort by firing a shot at it. 

TRYSAIL. A reduced sail used by small craft in lieu of their main-sailduring a storm. Also, a fore-and-aft sail, set with a boom and gaff, inships, synonymous with the spencers of brigs and schooners, and thespanker or driver of ships. (_See_ STORM-TRYSAIL. )

TRYSAIL-MAST. A spar abaft the fore and main mast, for hoisting thetrysail. 

TRY-WORKS. Large copper boilers, for boiling the blubber in whalers. 

TUB, GROG. A half-cask, set apart for mixing the daily allowance ofspirit with water, lime-juice, and sugar, prior to its being served outto the ship's company. 

TUB, MATCH. A conical tub used to guard the slow match in action. Theywere formerly about five-gallon capacity, the head being sunk about twoinches, and four holes bored to insert slow matches. They are now almostdisused, except to keep a light ready for signal purposes, as rockets, blue lights, &c. , by night. 

TUBES. _See_ CHAIN-PUMP. 

TUBES, FOR GUNS. A kind of portable priming, for insertion into thevent, --of various patterns. (_See_ FRICTION-TUBE, QUILL-TUBES, &c. )

TUBS, TOPSAIL-HALLIARD. Circular framed racks in which thetopsail-halliards are coiled clear for running, and are prevented fromfouling by being sent adrift in a gale. 

TUBULAR BOILERS. Those in which the flame and hot gases, after leavingthe furnaces, pass through a great number of small iron or brass tubessurrounded by water, by which means these gases are made to impart someof their heat to the water before they escape; thus fuel is economized. 

TUCK. The after-part of a ship, immediately under the stern or counter, where the ends of the bottom planks are collected and terminate by thetuck-rail. Thus the fir frigates of 1812-14 had flat, square transomssimilar to boats, or heart-shaped. Hence our square-tucked frigates, brigs, &c. 

TUG. A vessel for towing in and out of harbours and the like. (_See_STEAM-TUG. )

TUG, TO [from the Anglo-Saxon _teogan_, to pull]. It now signifies tohang on the oars, and get but little or nothing ahead. 

TUGG. A heavy sort of wain or cart, on which the ship-timber for navalarsenals was formerly conveyed from Sussex. 

TUMBLE IN. _See_ TUMBLING HOME. 

TUMBLER. One of the numerous names for the porpoise, _Phocœna communis_. Also, a contrivance to avoid the necessity of having copper nailed onthe mast to prevent a gaff from chafing it. 

TUMBLE UP! A requisition of the boatswain's mates, &c. , to quicken thehands after being piped up. The cry is well understood, though socontrary to the known tendency of gravitation. 

TUMBLING HOME. The opposite of wall-sided, or flaring out. That part ofa ship's side which curves inwardly above the extreme breadth. In allold sea-books this narrowing of a ship from the extreme breadth upwardsis called housing in. (_See_ UPPER-WORKS. )

TUMBLING SEA. The increased rolling before a gale. 

TUMBRIL. A covered cart for conveying ammunition and pioneers' tools. 

TUM-TUM. A West India dish, consisting of boiled plantain beat into apaste and fried. 

TUNGULA. A small boat in the Moluccas and Borneo. 

TUNNY. A well-known large fish of the family _Scombridæ_. It forms animportant branch of Mediterranean commerce. 

TURBONADA. A roaring squall, or short hurricane, of frequent occurrencein the Pacific Ocean [a mimo-phonetic term adopted from the Spaniards]. 

TURBOT. The _Pleuronectes maximus_, a flat fish in the highest esteemwith all ichthyophagi. 

TURKEY-GRAIN. A name for maize. 

TURK'S HEAD. An ornamental knot, so called from resembling a turban, used on side-ropes, &c. ; it is worked with a piece of small line byfollowing the lead till it is formed with three parts to each cross. 

TURN, TO TAKE OR CATCH A. To pass a rope once or twice round a cleat, pin, kevel, or any other thing, to keep it fast. 

TURN AHEAD! A self-explanatory order to the engineer, in regulating themovement of a steamer. 

TURN A TURTLE, TO. To take the animal by seizing a flipper, andthrowing him on his back, which renders him quite helpless. Also appliedto a vessel capsizing; or throwing a person suddenly out of his hammock. 

TURN IN, TO. To go to bed. --_To turn out. _ To get up. 

TURN IN A DEAD-EYE OR HEART, TO. To seize the end of a shroud or stay, &c. , securely round it. 

TURNING IN RIGGING. The end of a vessel's shrouds carried round thedead-eyes, laid back and secured by seizings. 

TURNING-ROOM. Space in a narrow channel for a ship to work in. 

TURN IN THE HAWSE. Two crosses in a cable. 

TURN OF THE TIDE. The change from ebb to flood, or the contrary. 

TURN OUT THE GUARD! The order for the marines of the guard to fall in, on the quarter-deck, in order to receive a superior officer on board. 

TURN OVER MEN, TO. To discharge them out of one ship into another. 

TURN THE GLASS. The order in throwing the log when the stray line ispayed out. 

TURN THE HANDS UP, TO. To summon the entire crew on deck. 

TURN TO WINDWARD, TO. To gain on the wind by alternate tacking. It iswhen a ship endeavours to make progress against the wind by a compoundcourse inclined to the place of her destination; otherwise called plyingor beating to windward. 

TURNPIKE-SAILORS. Rascals who go about dressed as sailors pretendingthat they have been shipwrecked, and soliciting charity. 

TURPIS CAUSA. An unsustainable suit for wages, on the part of a Britishpilot, for navigating a foreign ship to an enemy's port. 

TURRET-SHIP. A vessel, more or less armoured, fitted with one or moreheavily plated revolving turrets, each carrying one or more guns of theheaviest class, which look out above the deck; the whole worked bysteam-power. It represents the present improvement on the inventions ofthe cupola-ship, shield-ship, and monitor. 

TURTLE. The well-known marine reptile described by early navigators as"reasonable toothsom meate. " The horny covering of the shell of somespecies furnishes the substance commonly known as _tortoise-shell_. 

TURTLE-CRAWL. A shallow lagoon, wherein turtles are kept. 

TURTLE-PEG. A socketed pointed iron on a staff; it is slightly barbed, and is a special tool for sticking turtle. 

TUSK. The _Brosmius vulgaris_, a savoury fish taken in the northernseas, about the size of the ling, but with a broader tail. 

'TWEEN OR 'TWIXT DECKS. The one under the gun deck, where sailorsusually mess. 

TWICE-LAID. Rope made from a selection of the best yarns of old rope. Also, a sea-dish made of the salt-fish left from yesterday's dinner, andbeaten up with potatoes or yams. 

TWIDDLING-LINE. A piece of small rope ornamentally fitted and used forsteadying the steering-wheel when required: no longer used. 

TWIG, TO. To pull upon a bowline. Also, in familiar phrase, tounderstand or observe. 

TWIG-AIT. A river islet where osiers grow. 

TWINE. A kind of strong thread used in sail-making; it is of two kinds:extra, for sewing the seams; and ordinary, for the bolt-ropes. (_See_WHIPPING-TWINE. ) Irish twine or thumb-line, like nettles, is worked bythe fingers from fine yarns drawn from bolt-rope. 

TWIN-SCREW. A steamer fitted with two propellers and independentengines, to enable her to turn rapidly on her own axis. The twin-screwprinciple is not new, but latterly it has been so perfected that speedin turning is no longer a matter of doubt. 

TWO-BLOCKS. The same as _chock-a-block_ (which see). 

TWO-HANDED FELLOWS. Those who are both seamen and soldiers, orartificers; as the marines and, specially, marine artillerymen. 

TWO-HANDED SAW. A very useful instrument in ship-carpentry; it is muchlonger than the hand-saw, and requires two men to use it. 

TWO-MONTHLY BOOK. A book kept by the captain's clerk, to be forwardedevery two months, when possible, in order to prevent frauds; and in theevent of a ship being lost, to have the accounts to the nearest period. 

TWO MONTHS' ADVANCE. _See_ ADVANCE MONEY. 

TWO-PENCES. A deduction from each man, per mensem, formerly assigned tothe surgeon for wages. 

TWO-TOPSAIL-SCHOONER. _See_ TOPSAIL-SCHOONER. 

TWY. A meteor squall on the coasts of Wiltshire, Hampshire, &c. 

TYE. A runner of thick rope or chain, which forms part of the purchaseused for hoisting the top-sail and top-gallant yards. 

TYE-BLOCK. The block on the yard through which the tye is rove, andpasses on to be secured at the mast-head. The block secured to the lowerend of the tye is the fly-block. 

TYMOOM. A Chinese river craft. 

TYNDARIDES. The ancient name of the meteor called _corpo santo_. 

TYPHOON, TY-FONG, OR TAI-PHON. The Chinese word for a _great wind_, applied to hurricanes or cyclones. They are revolving storms of immenseforce, occurring most frequently in those parts of the world which aresubject to monsoons, and take place at those seasons when the monsoonsare changing. They seem to be eddies formed by the meeting of opposingcurrents of air--for instance, the westerly winds near the equator andthe easterly winds of higher latitudes--which accounts for the importantfact that these storms revolve in opposite directions in the twohemispheres--in the southern with, in the northern against, the hands ofa watch; but the circular tendency in both supports the name ofcyclone. 

U. 

UGLY. A term applied to a threatening heavy atmosphere, also to ahead-sea. Also, to an ugly craft, as a mischievous foe, or a pirate. 

ULCUS. An old term for the hulk of a ship of burden (_leg. _ Ethelred). 

ULIGINOUS CHANNELS. Those connecting the branches of rivers, by cutsthrough the soil. 

ULLAGE. The remainder in a cask or package which has leaked or beenpartially used. --_Ullaged_ is used for damaged, short of contents. 

ULTIMATUM. The final conditions upon which any proposition or treatywith an enemy can be ratified. 

ULTRA MARE. Beyond seas--a naval law term. 

ULTRA VIRES. Beyond the power of might or right to interfere. 

ULTRA-ZODIACAL. Beyond the limits of the zodiac; applied to thoseasteroids that revolve outside the ancient zodiac. 

UMBRA. The dark shadow of the moon, earth, or any other planet. 

UMBRELLA-WARPING. A contrivance similar to an umbrella, by which shipsin a calm can be warped ahead. 

UNATTACHED. In military phraseology, an officer not belonging to any onecompany or regiment, or on half-pay. 

UNBEND, TO. To cast off or untie; to remove the sails from their yardsand stays; to cast loose the cables from their anchors, or to untie onerope from another. 

UNBITT, TO. To remove the turns of a cable from off the bitts. (_See_BITTS. )

UNCLAIMED, AS DERELICT. Vessels found at sea without a human being, or adomestic animal, on board are good prizes, if not claimed within 366days. If so claimed, full salvage, or half her value, is assigned to thesalvors. 

UNDECAGON. A geometrical figure of eleven equal sides and angles. 

UNDER BARE POLES. The condition of a ship under no canvas, or when thewind is too violent to allow of any sail being set on her. 

UNDER-BEVELLING. The alteration made inside a square in hewing timber, as opposed to standing bevelling. 

UNDER-BRIGHT. A meteorological term for the strong light which sometimesappears below clouds near the horizon. 

UNDER CANVAS. Synonymous with _under sail_. 

UNDER-CURRENT. A stream which sets beneath the surface-water of the seawhilst that is either in a quiescent state or moving in a contrarydirection. Swift rivers may run out at top whilst the flood-tide runs inbelow. 

UNDER DECK. The floor of a cabin, or 'tween decks. 

UNDER FOOT. Under the ship's bottom; said of an anchor which is droppedwhile she has head-way. An anchor is often dropped under foot when calmprevails and the drift would be towards danger. --_To drop an anchorunder foot_, is to let it go and veer a little of the riding cable whenthe coming home, or parting of the one by which she is riding, isfeared. 

UNDER LEVEL. _See_ BEVELLING. 

UNDER-MANNED. When a ship has an insufficient complement, or isshort-handed. 

UNDER-MASTED. When the masts are either too small or too short, so thata ship cannot spread the sail necessary to give her proper speed. 

UNDER METAL. The condition of a gun when the muzzle is depressed, andthe metal, _i. E. _ the breech, raised; the proper position when not inuse, to prevent moisture collecting in the chamber. 

UNDER-RUN A HAWSER OR WARP, TO. To haul a boat along underneath it, inorder to clear it, if any part happens to be foul. _To under-run atackle_, is to separate the several parts of which it is composed, andrange them in order, so that the general effort may not be interruptedwhen it is put in motion by the parts crossing, or by thorough-foots. 

UNDER SAIL. The state of a ship when she is in motion from the action ofwind on her sails. 

UNDER-SET. Wherever the wind impels the surface-water directly upon theshore of a bay, the water below restores equilibrium by taking adirection contrary to the wind. The _resaca_, or under-set, isparticularly dangerous on those beaches where heavy surf prevails. 

UNDER-SHORE, TO. To support or raise a thing by putting a spar or propunder it, as a ship is shored up in dock. 

UNDER-SKINKER. Assistant to the purser's steward. 

UNDER THE LEE. Sheltered from the wind by some intervening object, as aship under the lee of the land. 

UNDER THE SEA. A ship lying-to in a heavy gale, and making bad weatherof it. 

UNDER THE WIND. So situated to leeward of something as not to feel thewind. 

UNDER-TOW. An under current especially noticed at the mouths of greatrivers, or where tide and half-tides prevail, completely hampering thesails even with a good breeze. (_See_ UNDER-CURRENT. )

UNDER WAY. A ship beginning to move under her canvas after her anchor isstarted. Some have written this _under weigh_, but improperly. A ship is_under weigh_ when she has _weighed_ her anchor: she may be with orwithout canvas, or hove-to. As soon as she gathers way she is _underway_. This a moot point with old seamen. 

UNDERWRITERS. The parties who take upon themselves the risk ofinsurance, and so called from subscribing their names at the foot of thepolicy. They are legally presumed to be acquainted with every custom ofthe trade whereon they enter a policy. 

UNICORN. The old name for the howitzer, as improved from the licorn, borrowed from the Turks during the last century by the Russians, andfrom the latter by Europe generally. 

UNICORN-FISH, OR SEA-UNICORN. A name for the _narwhal_ (which see). 

UNIFORM. The dress prescribed by regulation for officers and men of thearmy, navy, marines, &c. 

UNION. The national flag of Great Britain, on shore or afloat. It is acomposition of the crosses of St. George of England, St. Andrew ofScotland, and St. Patrick of Ireland, the last having been brought in in1801. It was formerly inscribed, "For the Protestant Religion and forthe Liberty of England. " It is in the upper canton of all Britishensigns. At the main it is the proper flag of an admiral of the fleet;and was thus flown by Lord Howe at the battle of June 1, 1794. 

UNION DOWN. When a ship hoists her ensign upside down it is a signal ofdistress or of mourning. 

UNION-JACK. The union flag used separately; in the merchant service itmust have a broad white border. 

UNLIMBER, TO. With a gun on a travelling-carriage, to release it fromthe limber, by lifting the trail off the pintle and placing it on theground, thus bringing it to the position for action. 

UNLIVERY. Expenses of unlivery and appraisement are a charge in thefirst instance against the captors of a prize, to be afterwardsapportioned by them ratably against the cargo. 

UNMANAGEABLE. When a vessel refuses to answer her helm, has lost herrudder, or is crippled in masts or sails. 

UNMOORED. Having one anchor weighed; lying at single anchor. 

UNREEVING. The act of withdrawing a rope from any block, thimble, dead-eye, &c. , through which it had formerly passed. (_See_ REEVE. )

UNRIG, TO. To dismantle a ship of her standing and running rigging. --_Tounrig the capstan_ is to take out the bars. 

UNROOMAGED. An antiquated sea term, which, from its application by SirW. Raleigh, in his account of Sir R. Granville's action, may mean "outof trim. "

UNROVE HIS LIFE-LINE. Departed this life. 

UNSERVICEABLE TICKET. This is made out in the same manner, and requiresthe same notations, as a _sick-ticket_ (which see), only that noinventory of clothes and other effects is necessary. 

UNSHIP, TO. The opposite of _to ship_. To remove any piece of timberfrom its situation in which it is generally used, as "unship the oars, "lay them in the boat from the rowlocks; "unship the capstan bars, " &c. 

UNWHOLESOME SHIP. One that will neither hull, try, nor ride, withoutlabouring heavily in a sea. Also applied to a sugar ship diverted fromher former trade, and not properly cleansed, even before taking in acargo of timber. 

UP ALONG. Sailing from the mouth of the channel upwards. 

UP ANCHOR. Pipe to weigh; every man to his station. 

UP AND DOWN. The situation of the cable when it has been hove insufficiently to bring the ship directly over the anchor. (_See_ RIGHT UPAND DOWN. )

UP-AND-DOWN TACKLE. A purchase used in bowsing down the eyes of thelower rigging over the mast-heads; lifting objects from the hold;getting anchors over the side, &c. 

UP BOATS! The order to hoist the boats to the stern and quarter davits. 

UP COURSES! The order to haul them up by the clue-garnets, &c. 

UPHAND-SLEDGE. A large sledge-hammer used in blacksmith's work, andlifted with both hands, in contradistinction to the short stroke by themaster smith. 

UPHROE. _See_ UVROU. 

UPMAKING. Pieces of plank or timber piled on each other as filling-up inbuilding, more especially those placed between the bilge-ways and ship'sbottom preparatory to launching. 

UPPER COUNTER. The counter between the wing transom and the rail. (_See_COUNTER. )

UPPER DECK. The highest of those decks which are continued throughoutthe whole length of a ship without falls or interruptions, as thequarter-deck, waist, and forecastle of frigates, &c. 

UPPER FINISHING. _See_ FINISHINGS. 

UPPER MASTS. The top-mast, topgallant-mast, and royal-mast; any sparsabove these are termed poles. (_See_ POLE-MASTS. )

UPPER STRAKE OR WASH OF BOATS. A strake thicker than those of thebottom, wrought round the gunwales, and lined within the poppets. 

UPPER OR TOP-RIDER FUTTOCKS. These timbers stand nearly the same as_breadth-riders_, and very much strengthen the top-side. 

UPPER TRANSIT. The passage of a circumpolar star over the meridian abovethe pole; the opposite of the _lower transit_. 

UPPER-WORKS. That part of a ship which rises from the water's surfacewhen she is properly trimmed for a voyage. 

UP SCREW! The order in steamers to lift the screw on making sail. 

UP WITH THE HELM. Put it a-weather; that is, over to the windward side, or (whichever way the tiller is shipped) so as to carry the rudder toleeward of the stern-post. 

URANOGRAPHY. The delineation of constellations, nebulæ, &c. , oncelestial charts or globes. 

URANOSCOPUS. _See_ SKY-GAZER. 

URANUS. A superior planet discovered by the elder Herschel in 1781; ithas four known satellites, but possibly six, according to the impressionof the discoverer. 

URCA. An armed Spanish fly-boat. 

URSA MAJOR. One of the ancient northern constellations. 

URSA MINOR. An ancient northern constellation, in which the north polarstar is situated. 

USAGES. Besides the general laws of merchants, there are certaincommercial and seafaring usages which prevail in particular countrieswith the force of law. Underwriters are bound by usages; and they arelegal precedents, binding in courts-martial. 

USHANT TEAM. The sobriquet given to that portion of the Channel fleetwhich blockaded Brest. 

UTLAGHE. An outlaw; whence by corruption _laggers_, people transportedby sentence of law. 

UVROU. The circular piece of wood, with holes in it, by which the legsof a crow-foot are extended for suspending an awning. 

V. 

VACUUM. A space utterly empty, even of air or vapour. 

VADMEL. Coarse woollen manufacture of the Orkneys. (_See_ WADMAREL. )

VAIL, TO. An old word signifying to lower, to bend in token ofsubmission; as, "Vail their top-gallants. " Thus in the old play _Georgea-Green_, "Let me alone, my lord; I'll make them vail their plumes. "

VAKKA. A large canoe of the Friendly Islands, with an out-rigger. 

VALE, OR DALE (which see). Also, gunwale. --_To vale_, was an old termfor "dropping down, " as in a river. 

VALUATION. In cases of restitution after property has been sold, andaccount of sales cannot be obtained, it may be taken at the invoiceprice, and 10 per cent profit; but this mode of estimating it does notinclude freight, even though the ship and cargo belong to the sameperson. 

VALUED POLICY. Is where a value has been set upon the ships or goodsinsured, and this value inserted in the policy in nature of liquidateddamages, to save the necessity of proving it, in case of a total loss. 

VALVES. See under their respective particular names. 

VAMBRACE. Armour for the front of the arm. 

VAN [formerly _vant_, contracted from _avant_]. That part of a fleet, army, or body of men, which is advanced in the first line orfront. --_Vanguard. _ The advanced division. 

VANE. A piece of buntin extended on a wooden stock, which turns upon aspindle at the mast-head; it shows the direction of the wind. --_Adistinguishing vane_, denotes the division of a fleet to which a ship ofthe line belongs, according to the mast on which it is borne. --_Dog-vane. _A small light vane, formed of thin slips of cork, stuck round withfeathers, and strung upon a piece of twine. It is usually fastened tothe top of a half-pike, and placed on the weather side of thequarter-deck, in order to show the helmsman the direction of the wind. 

VANES. The sights of cross-staffs, fore-staffs, quadrants, &c. , arepieces of brass standing perpendicularly to the plane of the instrument;the one opposite to the fore horizon-glass is the foresight-vane, theother the backsight-vane. 

VANE-SPINDLE. The pivot on which the mast-head-vane turns; it shouldnever be made of metal, lest it attract lightning, unless the masts befitted with Sir W. Snow Harris's conductors. 

VANFOSSE. A wet ditch at the outer foot of the glacis. 

VANG. A rope leading from the end of the gaff to the rail, one on eachside, so that the two form guys attached to the outer ends of the gaffsto steady them, and when the sails are not set keep them amidships. 

VANGEE. A contrivance for working the pumps of a vessel by means of abarrel and crank-breaks. 

VAPOUR, OR SMOKE. In polar parlance, a peculiar but natural result ofthe conversion of water into ice, which is too often supposed toindicate open water. 

VARIABLES. Those parts of the sea where a steady wind is not expected. 

VARIABLE STARS. Those which are found to exhibit periodical fluctuationsof brightness; of which Algol and Mira Ceti are notable examples. 

VARIATION. A term applied to the deviation of the magnetic needle orcompass, from the true north point towards either east or west; calledalso the _declination_. The variation of the needle is properly definedas the angle which a magnetic needle suspended at liberty makes with themeridian line on a horizontal plane; or an arc of the horizon, comprehended between the true and the magnetic meridian. (_See_ ANNUALVARIATION. )

VARIATION CHART. The well-known chart produced by Halley, whereon anumber of curved lines show the variation of the compass in the placesthey pass through. The admiralty variation chart has been brought togreat perfection. 

VARIATION OF THE MOON. An inequality in the movement of our satellite, amounting at certain times to 37′ in longitude: it was the first lunarinequality explained by Newton on the principles of gravitation. 

VARIATION OF THE VARIATION. Is the change in the declination of theneedle observed at different times in the same place. 

VEDETTE. One or two cavalry soldiers stationed on the look-out. 

VEER, TO. To let out, to pay out, to turn or change. Also, to veer orwear, in contradistinction from tacking. In tacking it is a necessarycondition that the ship be brought up to the wind as close-hauled, andput round against the wind on the opposite tack. But in veering orwearing, especially when strong gales render it dangerous, unseamanlike, or impossible, the head of the vessel is put away from the wind, andturned round 20 points of the compass instead of 12, and, without strainor danger, is brought to the wind on the opposite tack. Manydeep-thinking seamen, and Lords St. Vincent, Exmouth, and Sir E. Owen, issued orders to wear instead of tacking, when not inconvenient, deemingthe accidents and wear and tear of tacking, detrimental to the sails, spars, and rigging. 

VEER A BUOY IN A SHIP'S WAKE, TO. To slack out a rope to which a buoyhas been attached, and let it go astern, for the purpose of bringing upa boat, or picking up a man who may have fallen overboard. 

VEER AND HAUL, TO. To gently tauten and then slacken a rope three timesbefore giving a heavy pull, the object being to concentrate the force ofseveral men. The wind is said to veer and haul when it alters itsdirection; thus it is said, to veer aft, and haul forward. 

VEER AWAY THE CABLE, TO. To slack and let it run out. 

VEERING CABLE, THE. That cable which is veered out in unmooring, and notunspliced or unshackled in clearing hawse. 

VEGA. α Lyræ. The bright lucida of the old northern constellation Lyra. 

VEIN. The clear water between the openings of floes of ice. The same as_ice-lane_. Also, a very limited current of wind--a cat's-paw. 

VELOCITY. In naval architecture, designing for velocity is giving thatform to a ship's body by which she will pass through the water in thequickest space of time. 

VELOCITY OF TIDE OR CURRENT, depends on several circumstances. First, the tide varies with the state of the moon, running strongest at thesprings, and the force of the ebb is much increased by rains, landfreshes, &c. The currents also vary, especially when wind and tidecombine to accelerate their action. 

VENDAVAL [Sp. South wind, _tiempo di vendavales_]. A stormy time on thecoast of Mexico, in the autumn, with violent thunder, lightning, andrain. 

VENDUE MASTER. A commercial and marine auctioneer. 

VENE-SEANDES. The old commercial term for Venetian sequins. 

VENT. In artillery, the small aperture near the breech by which the fireof the priming is communicated to the charge. 

VENT-BIT. A peculiar augur or screw gimlet used for clearing the vent ofa gun when obstructed. 

VENT-FIELD OF A GUN. The raised tablet in the metal near the breech inwhich the vent is bored. 

VENTILATOR. The name of various machines contrived to expel the foul airfrom the store-rooms and hold, and introduce fresh in its stead. 

VENT-PIECE. The movable fitment which closes the breech and contains thevent in Armstrong breech-loading guns. 

VENT-PLUG. A fid or stopple made of leather or oakum fitting in the ventof a piece to stop it against weather, &c. 

VENTRAL FIN. The posterior pair of fins under the body of fishes, corresponding to the hind legs of terrestrial quadrupeds. 

VENUS. One of the inferior planets, and the second in order of distancefrom the sun. (_See_ TRANSIT OF VENUS. )

VERIFICATION OF SHIP'S PAPERS. In this necessary process it is declaredthat papers of themselves prove nothing, and require to be supported bythe oaths of persons in a situation to give them validity. 

VERITAS. A register of shipping established in Paris, on the principleof Lloyd's List. 

VERNAL EQUINOX. The point where the sun crosses the equator, goingnorth. It is opposite the place of the autumnal equinox. (_See_EQUINOXES. )

VERNIER, OR NONIUS. A graduated scale for the measurement of minutedivisions, especially on the arcs of astronomical instruments, sextants, &c. The thousandth part of a degree can be taken by the naked eye; theten thousandth by a microscope. 

VERSED SINE. In geometry, is the part of the radius intercepted betweenthe arc and its sine. 

VERTEX. The zenith, the point overhead; the apex of a conical mountain. 

VERTICAL ANGLES. Opposite angles made by two lines cutting or crossingeach other, and are always equal. (_See_ ANGLE OF THE VERTICAL. )

VERTICAL CIRCLES. Great circles of the sphere intercepting each other inthe zenith and nadir, and cutting the horizon at right angles. 

VERTICAL FIRE. In artillery, that directed upward at such an angle asthat it will fall vertically, or nearly so, to its destination. Itincludes all elevations above 30°, though the most usual is 45°. It isvery effective with shells; but with small balls, as proposed by Carnotand others, who have ill reckoned the retardation by the atmosphere, itis insignificant. 

VERTICAL FORCE. The centre of displacement is also that of the centre ofvertical force that the water exerts to support the immersed vessel. Also, the dip of the magnetic needle, measured by vibrations of thedipping needle over certain arcs, and referable to some fixed position, as Greenwich, where corresponding observations with the same needle havebeen previously, as well as subsequently, made. 

VERTICAL PLAN. _See_ ORTHOGRAPHIC PROJECTION. 

VERTICITY. The tendency of the loadstone to point towards the magneticnorth and south. 

VESSEL. A general name for all the different sorts of ships, boats, &c. , navigated on the ocean or on rivers and canals. 

VETAYLE. An archaism for victuals. 

VIA LACTEA. That well-known irregular luminous band, stretching acrossthe sky from horizon to horizon: it consists of myriads of small stars, and has passed under the names of Milky Way, Galaxy, Jacob's Ladder, Watling-strete, &c. 

VICE-ADMIRAL. The rank in the fleet next to that of an admiral; hecarries his flag at the fore. 

VICE-ADMIRALTY COURTS. Branches of the High Court of Admiralty, instituted for carrying on the like duties in several of our colonies, prize-courts, &c. (_See_ ADMIRALTY, HIGH COURT OF. )

VICE-CONSUL. An officer appointed in sea-ports to aid the consul inaffairs relating to merchant vessels. If there be a resident consul, thevice-consul is appointed and paid by him. Vice-consuls wait oncommanders, consuls on captains, captains on consuls-general--the navalauthority providing boats. 

VICE-NAIL. A screw. 

VICTUALLER. A vessel which carries provisions. In the early age of thenavy, each man-of-war had a victualler especially attached to her; as, in Henry VIII. 's reign, we find the _Nicholas Draper_, of 140 tons and40 men, was victualler to the _Trinity Sovereign_; the _Barbara_ ofGreenwich to the _Gabriel Royal_, and so on. 

VICTUALLING-BILL. A custom-house document, warranting the shipment ofsuch bonded stores as the master of an outward-bound merchantman mayrequire for his intended voyage. 

VICTUALLING-BOOK. A counterpart of the ship's open list, which is keptby the purser, to enable him to make the necessary entries in it. 

VICTUALLING-YARDS FOR THE ROYAL NAVY. Large magazines where provisionsand similar stores are deposited, conveniently contiguous to the royaldockyards. The establishments in England and Ireland are at Deptford, Gosport, Plymouth, and Cork; and abroad at Malta, Gibraltar, Cape ofGood Hope, Jamaica, Halifax, Trincomalee, and Hongkong. 

VIDETTE. _See_ VEDETTE. 

VI ET ARMIS. With force of arms. 

VIGIA [Sp. Look-out]. A hydrographical warning on a chart to denote thatthe pinnacle of a rock, or a shoal, may exist thereabout. 

VINTINER [from _vigintinarius_]. An officer in our early fleet whocommanded a company of twenty men. 

VIOL, OR VOYOL. A large messenger formerly used to assist in weighing ananchor by the capstan. 

VIOL OR VOYOL BLOCK. A large single-sheaved block through which themessenger passed when the anchor was weighed by the fore or jeercapstan; its block was usually lashed to the main-mast. Thisvoyol-purchase was afterwards improved thus: the voyol-block wassecurely lashed to the cable at the manger-board, the jeer-fall rovethrough it, and brought to the jeer-capstan, and the standing partbelayed to the bitts; thus a direct runner purchase instead of a deadnip was obtained. It was only used when other means failed, and, afterthe introduction of Phillipps' patent capstan, was disused. 

VIOLENCE. The question in tort, as to the amount of liability incurredby the owners for outrages and irregularities committed by the master. 

VIRE. The arrow shot from a cross-bow; also called a quarril. 

VIRGILIÆ. A denomination of the Pleiades. 

VIRGO. The sixth sign of the zodiac, which the sun enters about the 21stAugust. Spica, α Virginis, is a star of the first magnitude. 

VIS INERTIÆ. That physical property in all bodies by which they resist apower that endeavours to put them in motion, or to change any motionthey are possessed of; it is in proportion to their weight. 

VIS INSITA. The innate force of matter; another name for _vis inertiæ_. It is that by which a vessel "keeps her way. "

VISITATION AND SEARCH. The law of nations gives to every belligerentcruiser the right of visitation and search of all merchant ships;wherefore, resistance to such search amounts to a forfeiture ofneutrality. 

VISNE. A neighbouring place; a term often used in law in actions ofmarine replevin. 

VIS VIVA. The whole effective force or power of acting which resides ina given moving body. 

VITRY. A light and durable canvas. 

VITTORY. A fine canvas, of which the waist-cloths were formerly made. 

VIVANDIERE. A kind of female sutler. In the French army they areattached to regiments, which they accompany, sometimes even into theskirts of action. 

VIVIER. A French fishing-boat, the same as the _well-boats_ of theEnglish coasts, in having a well amidships in which to keep the fishalive until arrival in port. 

VIZY, OR VIZE. An old name for the muzzle-sight on a musket. 

VOCABULARY. The system of naval signals based on Sir Home Popham'simprovements. 

VOES. Arms or inlets of the sea, or sounds, in the Shetland and OrkneyIsles. Also applied to creeks and bays. 

VOGOVANS. From _voguer_ and _avant_, chief rowers in the galleys. 

VOLANT. A piece of steel on a helmet, presenting an acute angle to thefront. 

VOLCANO. A burning mountain or vent for subterranean fire; also appliedto one which vomits only mud and water. 

VOLLEY. The simultaneous discharge of a number of fire-arms. 

VOLLIGUE. A small boat used on the shores of Asia Minor. 

VOLUME. The contents of the globe of a planet, usually given in itsproportion to that of the earth; or any named mass, solid, fluid, orvaporous. 

VOLUNTARY CHARGE. A document delivered with the purser's accountsrespecting provisions. 

VOLUNTARY STRANDING. The beaching or running a vessel purposely agroundto escape greater danger; this act is treated as particular averageloss, and not a damage to be made good by general contribution. 

VOLUNTEER. One who freely offers himself for a particular service. Formerly, in the army, a gentleman who, without any certain post oremployment, served in the hope of earning preferment, or frompatriotism. Latterly, also a civilian who has enrolled himself in acorps of volunteers, for organization and training for the defence ofthe country. 

VOLUNTEERING FROM A MERCHANTMAN INTO THE NAVY. Any seaman can leave hisship for the purpose of forthwith entering into the royal navy; and thusleaving his ship does not render him liable to any forfeiture whatever. 

VOLUTE. _See_ SCROLL-HEAD. 

VOLVELLE. The contrivance of revolving graduated circles, for makingcalculations, in old scientific works. 

VORTEX. A whirlwind, or sudden, rapid, or violent motion of air or waterin gyres or circles. 

VOUCHER. A written document or proof, upon which any account or publiccharge is established. 

VOYAGE. A journey by sea. It usually includes the outward and homewardtrips, which are called passages. 

VOYOL. _See_ VIOL. 

VRACH. Sea-weed used as a manure in the Channel Islands. Also, a Manxterm for the mackerel. 

VULFE. A rapid whirlpool or race on the coast of Norway. 

W. 

WABBLE, TO [from the Teutonic _wabelen_]. To reel confusedly, as waveson a windy day in a tide-way. It is a well-known term among mechanics toexpress the irregular motion of engines or turning-lathes when loose intheir bearings, or otherwise out of order. A badly stitched seam in asail is wabbled. It is also applied to the undulation of thecompass-card when the motion of the vessel is considerable andirregular. 

WAD. A kind of plug, closely fitting the bore of a gun, which is rammedhome over the shot to confine it to its place, and sometimes alsobetween the shot and the cartridge: generally made of coiled junk, otherwise a rope grommet, &c. 

WADE, TO. An Anglo-Saxon word, meaning to pass through water withoutswimming. In the north, the sun was said to wade when covered by a denseatmosphere. 

WAD-HOOK. An iron tool shaped like a double cork-screw on the end of along staff, for withdrawing wads or charges from guns; called also a_worm_. 

WADMAREL. A hairy, coarse, dark-coloured stuff of the north, once ingreat demand for making pea-jackets, pilot-coats, and the like. 

WAFT [said to be from the Anglo-Saxon _weft_], more correctly written_wheft_. It is any flag or ensign, stopped together at the head andmiddle portions, slightly rolled up lengthwise, and hoisted at differentpositions at the after-part of a ship. Thus, at the ensign-staff, itsignifies that a man has fallen overboard; if no ensign-staff exists, then half-way up the peak. At the peak, it signifies a wish to speak; atthe mast-head, recalls boats; or as the commander-in-chief or particularcaptain may direct. 

WAFTORS. Certain officers formerly appointed to guard our coastfisheries. Also, swords blunted to exercise with. 

WAGER POLICY. An engagement upon interest or no interest; theperformance of the voyage in a reasonable time and manner, and not thebare existence of the ship or cargo, is the object of insurance. 

WAGES OR PAY OF THE ROYAL NAVY is settled by act of parliament. In themerchant service seamen are paid by the month, and receive their wagesat the end of the voyage. 

WAGES REMITTED FROM ABROAD. When a ship on a foreign station has beencommissioned twelve calendar months, every petty officer, seaman, andmarine serving on board, may remit the half of the pay due to them to awife, father, mother, grandfather, grandmother, brother, or sister. 

WAGGON. A place amidships, on the upper deck of guard-ships, assignedfor the supernumeraries' hammocks. 

WAGGONER. A name applied to an atlas of charts, from a work of thisnature published at Leyden in 1583, by Jans Waghenaer. 

WAIF. Goods found and not claimed; derelict. Also used for _waft_. 

WAIST. That portion of the main deck of a ship of war, contained betweenthe fore and main hatchways, or between the half-deck and galley. 

WAIST-ANCHOR. An additional or spare anchor stowed before thechess-tree. (_See_ SPARE ANCHOR. )

WAIST-BOARDS. The berthing made to fit into a vessel's gangway on eitherside. 

WAIST-CLOTHS. The painted canvas coverings of the hammocks which arestowed in the waist-nettings. 

WAISTERS. Green hands, or worn seamen, in former times stationed in thewaist in working the ship, as they had little else of duty but hoistingand swabbing the decks. 

WAIST-NETTINGS. The hammock-nettings between the quarter-deck andforecastle. 

WAIST-RAIL. The channel-rail or moulding of the ship's side. 

WAIST-TREE. Another name for _rough-tree_ (which see). 

WAIVE, TO. To give up the right to demand a court-martial, or to enforceforfeitures, by allowing people who have deserted, &c. , to return totheir duties. 

WAIVING. The action of dispensing with salutes--by signal, by motion ofthe hand to guards, &c. , and to vessels, which may be, in accordancewith old custom, passing under the lee to be hailed and examined. 

WAIVING AMAIN. A salutation of defiance, as by brandishing weapons, &c. 

WAKE. The transient, generally smooth, track impressed on thesurface-water by a ship's progress. Its bearing is usually observed bythe compass to discover the angle of lee-way. A ship is said to be inthe wake of another, when she follows her upon the same track. Twodistant objects observed at sea are termed in the wake of each other, when the view of the farthest off is intercepted by the one that isnearer. (_See_ CROSSING A SHIP'S WAKE. )

WALE-REARED. Synonymous with _wall-sided_. 

WALES. The thickest strakes of wrought stuff in a vessel. Strong planksextending all along the outward timbers on a ship's side, a little aboveher water-line; they are synonymous with _bends_ (which see). Thechannel-wale is below the lower-deck ports, and the main-wale betweenthe top of those ports and the sills of the upper-deck ports. 

WALK AWAY! The order to step out briskly with a tackle fall, as inhoisting boats. 

WALK BACK! A method in cases where a purchase must not be lowered by around turn, as "Walk back the capstan;" the men controlling it by thebars and walking back as demanded. 

WALKER'S KNOT. _See_ MATTHEW WALKER. 

WALKING A PLANK. An obsolete method of destroying people in mutiny andpiracy, under a plea of avoiding the penalty of murder. The victim iscompelled to walk, pinioned and blindfolded, along a plank projectingover the ship's side, which, canting when overbalanced, heaves him intothe sea. Also, for detecting whether a man is drunk, he is made to walkalong a quarter-deck plank. 

WALKING AWAY WITH THE ANCHOR. Said of a ship which is dragging, or_shouldering_, her anchor; or when, from fouling the stock or upperfluke, she trips the anchor out of the ground. 

WALKING SPEAKING-TRUMPET. A midshipman repeating quarter-deck orders. 

WALK SPANISH, TO. To quit duty without leave; to desert. 

WALK THE QUARTER-DECK, TO. A phrase signifying to take the rank of anofficer. 

WALK THE WEATHER GANGWAY NETTING. A night punishment in a man-of-war forthose of the watch who have missed their muster. 

WALL. A bank of earth to restrain the current and overflowing of water. (_See_ SEA-BANK. )

WALL-KNOT, OR WALE-KNOT. A particular sort of large knot raised upon theend of a rope, by untwisting the strands, and passing them among eachother. 

WALL-PIECE. A very heavy powerful musket, for use in fortified places. 

WALL-SIDED. The sides of a ship continuing nearly perpendicular down tothe surface of the water, like a wall. It is the mean between _tumblinghome_ and _flaring out_. 

WALRUS [Dan. _hval-ros_]. The _Trichecus rosmarus_, a large amphibiousmarine animal, allied to the seals, found in the Arctic regions. Itsupper canines are developed into large descending tusks, of considerablevalue as ivory. It is also called morse, sea-horse, and sea-cow. Thisanimal furnished Cook, as well as our latest Arctic voyagers, with_Arctic beef_. The skin is of the utmost importance to the Esquimaux, aswell as to the Russians of Siberia, &c. 

WALT. An old word, synonymous with _crank_; or tottering, like a sprungspar. 

WANE. In timber, an imperfection implying a want of squareness at one ormore of its corners; under this deficiency it is termed _wane-wood_. 

WANE-CLOUD. _See_ CIRRO-STRATUS. 

WANGAN. A boat, in Maine, for carrying provisions. 

WANY. Said of timber when spoiled by wet. 

WAPP, OR WHAP. A name formerly given to any short pendant and thimble, through which running-rigging was led. Also, a rope wherewith riggingwas set taut with wall-knots, one end being fast to the shroud, and theother brought to the laniard. But any shroud-stopper is a _wapp_. 

WAR. A contest between princes or states, which, not being determinableotherwise, is referred to the decision of the sword. It may existwithout a declaration on either side, and is either _civil_, _defensive_, or _offensive_. 

WAR-CAPERER. A privateer. 

WARDEN. _See_ LORD WARDEN. 

WARD-ROOM. The commissioned officers' mess-cabin, on the main-deck inships of the line. 

WARD-ROOM OFFICERS. Those who mess in the ward-room, namely: thecommander, lieutenants, master, chaplain, surgeon, paymaster, marine-officers, and assistant-surgeons. 

WARE, TO. _See_ VEER. 

WAREHOUSING SYSTEM. The use of bonding places under charge of officersof the customs, in which goods may be deposited, without any duty uponthem being exacted, until they be cleared for home use, or forexportation. 

WAR ESTABLISHMENT. Increased force of men and means. 

WARM-SIDED. Mounting heavy metal, whether a ship or a fort. 

WARNER. A sentinel formerly posted on the heights near sea-ports to givenotice of the approach of vessels. Also, beacons, posts, buoys, lights, &c. , warning vessels of danger by day as well as by night. 

WARNING-SIGNAL. Hoisted to warn vessels not to pass a bar. Also, towarrant higher pay to watermen plying between Portsmouth and Spithead, &c. , according to severity of weather. 

WARP. A rope or light hawser, employed occasionally to transport a shipfrom one place to another in a port, road, or river. Also, an east-coastterm for four herrings. Also, land between the sea-banks and thesea. --_Warp of lower rigging. _ A term used in the rigging-loft, as, before cutting out a gang of rigging, it is warped. Also, to form thewarp of spun-yarn in making sword-mats for the rigging-gripes, slings, &c. --_To warp. _ To move a vessel from one place to another by warps, which are attached to buoys, to other ships, to anchors, or to certainfixed objects on shore. Also, to flood the lands near rivers inYorkshire. 

WARPING AND FRAMING THE TIMBERS. Putting in the beam-knees, coamings, &c. , and dividing the spaces between the beams for fitting the carlines. 

WARPING-BLOCK. A block made of ash or elm, used in rope-making forwarping off yarn. 

WARRANT. A writ of authority, inferior to a commission; in formerdays it was the name given to the deed conferring power on thoseofficers appointed by the navy board, while those granted by theadmiralty were styled commissions. Also, a document, under properauthority, for the assembling of a court-martial, punishment, execution, &c. Also, a tabulated regulation for cutting standingand running rigging, as well as for supply of general stores, aswarranted by the admiralty. --_Brown-paper warrants. _ Those givenby a captain, and which he can cancel. 

WARRANT-OFFICER. Generally one holding his situation from particularboards, or persons authorized by the sovereign to grant it. In the royalnavy it was an officer holding a warrant from the navy board, as themaster, surgeon, purser, boatswain, gunner, carpenter, &c. In the year1831, when the commissioners of the navy, or navy board, were abolished, all these powers reverted to the admiralty, but the commissions andwarrants remain in effect the same. 

WARRANTY. The contract of marine insurance, expressing a certaincondition on the part of the insured, upon which the contract is to takeeffect; it is always a part of the written policy, and must appear onthe face of it. In this it differs from _representation_ (which see). 

WARREN-HEAD. A northern term for a dam across a river. 

WAR-SCOT. A contribution for the supply of arms and armour, in the timeof the Saxons. 

WAR-SHIP. Any ship equipped for offence and defence; whereas_man-of-war_ generally signifies a vessel belonging to the royal navy. 

WARTAKE. An archaic term for a rope-fast, or spring. In that earlysea-song (_temp. _ Henry VI. ) which is in the library of Trinity College, Cambridge, the skipper of the ship carrying a cargo of "pylgryms"exclaims, "Hale in the wartake!"

WARTH. An old word signifying a ford. Also, a flat meadow close to astream. 

WASH. An accumulation of silt in estuaries. Also, a surface covered byfloods. Also, a shallow inlet or gulf: the east-country term for thesea-shore. Also, the blade of an oar. Also, a wooden measure oftwo-thirds of a bushel, by which small shell-fish are sold atBillingsgate, equal to ten strikes of oysters. --_Wash_, or _a-wash_. Even with the water's edge. 

WASH-BOARD, OR WASH-STRAKE. A movable upper strake which is attached bystud-pins on the gunwales of boats to keep out the spray. Wash-boardsare also fitted on the sills of the lower-deck ports for the samepurpose. 

WASH-BOARDS. A term for the white facings of the old naval uniform. 

WASHERMAN. A station formerly for an old or otherwise not very usefulperson on board a man-of-war. 

WASHERS. Leather, copper, lead, or iron rings interposed at the end ofspindles, before a forelock or linch-pin, to prevent friction, orgalling the wood, as of a gun-truck. Also used in pump-gear. 

WASHING-PLACE. In 1865, baths and suitable washing-places were fittedfor personal use in the ships of the royal navy. Both hot and cold waterare supplied. Shades of Drake, Frobisher, and Raleigh, think of that!

WASHING THE HAND. A common hint on leaving a ship disliked. 

WASH-WATER. A ford. 

WATCH. The division of the ship's company into two parties, one calledthe starboard, and the other the larboard or port watch, alluding to thesituation of their hammocks when hung up; these two watches are, however, separated into two others, a first and second part of each, making four in all. The crew can also be divided into three watches. Theofficers are divided into three watches, in order to lighten their duty;but it is to be borne in mind that the watch may sleep when theirservices are not demanded, whereas it is a crime, liable to death, foran officer to sleep on his watch. In a ship of war the watch isgenerally commanded by a lieutenant, and in merchant ships by one of themates. The word is also applied to the _time_ during which the watchremains on deck, usually four hours, with the exception of thedog-watches. --_Anchor-watch. _ A quarter watch kept on deck whilethe ship rides at single anchor, or remains temporarily inport. --_Dog-watches. _ The two reliefs which take place between 4 and 8o'clock P. M. , each of which continues only two hours, the intentionbeing to change the turn of the night-watch every twenty-fourhours. --_First watch. _ From 8 P. M. Till midnight. --_Middle-watch. _ Frommidnight till 4 A. M. --_Morning-watch. _ From 4 to 8 A. M. --_Watch_ is alsoa word used in throwing the deep-sea lead, when each man, on letting gothe last turn of line in his hand, calls to the next abaft him, "Watch, there, watch!" A buoy is said to _watch_ when it floats on the surfaceof the water. 

WATCH AND WATCH. The arrangement of the crew in two watches. 

WATCH-BILL. The pocket "watch and station bill, " which each officer isexpected to produce if required, and instantly muster the watch, or themen stationed to any specific duty. 

WATCHET. A light blue, or sky-coloured cloth worn formerly by Englishsailors, especially by the boats' crews of men-of-war. 

WATCH-GLASSES. The half-hour glasses employed to measure the periods ofthe watch, so that the several stations therein may be regularly keptand relieved, as at the helm, pump, look-out, &c. (_See_ GLASS. )

WATCHING A SMOOTH. Looking for a temporary subsidence of the waves of ahead-sea, previous to easing down the helm, in tacking ship. 

WATCH-SETTING. In the army, retreat, or the time for mounting thenight-guards. 

WATCH-TACKLE. A small luff purchase with a short fall, the double blockhaving a tail to it, and the single one a hook. Used for variouspurposes about the decks, by which the watch can perform a duty withoutdemanding additional men. 

WATER, TO. To fill the casks or tanks; to complete water. 

WATERAGE. The charge for using shore-boats. 

WATER-BAILIFF. An officer in sea-port towns for the searching ofvessels. 

WATER-BALLAST. Water when used to stiffen a ship, whether carried incasks, tanks, bags, or otherwise. The iron screw-colliers of the presentday have immense tanks constructed in their floors, on the upper part ofwhich the coals rest; when they are discharged, the tanks are allowed tofill with water, which acts as ballast for the return voyage, and ispumped out by the engine as the coals are taken in. 

WATER-BARK. A small decked vessel or tank, used by the Dutch forcarrying fresh water. 

WATER-BATTERY. One nearly on a level with the water--_à fleur d'eau_; aposition of much power when vessels cannot get close to it. 

WATER-BEWITCHED. Bad tea, _geo-graffy_, 5-water grog, and the likegreatly diluted drinks. 

WATER-BORNE. When a ship just floats clear of the ground. Also, goodscarried by sea, or on a river. 

WATER-CROW. The lesser cormorant, or shag. 

WATER-DOG. _See_ WATER-GALL. 

WATER-FLEAS. The groups of crustaceous organisms classed as_Entomostraca_. 

WATER-GAGE. A sea wall or bank. Also, an instrument to measure the depthof inundations. 

WATER-GALL. A name of the _wind-gall_ (which see). Shakspeare, in the_Rape of Lucrece_, uses the term thus:--

 "And round about her tear-distained eye Blue circles stream'd, like rainbows in the sky. These water-galls in her dim element Foretell new storms to those already spent. "

WATER-GAVEL. A rent paid for fishing in some river, or other benefitderived therefrom. 

WATER-GUARD. Custom-house officers employed to prevent fraud on therevenue in vessels arriving at, or departing from, a port. 

WATER HIS HOLE. A saying used when the cable is up and down, toencourage the men to heave heartily, and raise the shank of the anchorso that the water may get down by the shank, and relieve the anchor ofthe superincumbent mud. 

WATER-HORSE. Cod-fish stacked up in a pile to drain, under the processof cure. 

WATER-LAID ROPE. The same as _cablet_; it coils against the sun, or tothe left hand. 

WATER-LINE. In former ships of war, a fine white painted line or bend, representing the deep line of flotation, on the coppered edge. --_Loadwater-line. _ That which the surface of the water describes on a shipwhen she is loaded or ready for sea. 

WATER-LINE MODEL. The same as _key-model_ (which see). 

WATER-LOGGED. The state of a ship full of water, having such a buoyantcargo that she does not sink. In this dangerous and unmanageablesituation there is no resource for the crew except to free her by thepumps, or to abandon her by taking to the boats; for the centre ofgravity being no longer fixed, the ship entirely loses her stability, and is almost totally deprived of the use of her sails, which may onlyoperate to accelerate her destruction by over-setting her, or pressingher head under water. Timber-laden vessels, water-logged, frequentlyfloat for a very long period. 

WATER-PADS. Fellows who rob ships and vessels in harbours and rivers. 

WATER-PLOUGH. A machine formerly used for taking mud and silt out ofdocks and rivers. 

WATER-SAIL. A _save-all_, or small sail, set occasionally under thelower studding-sail or driver-boom, in a fair wind and smooth sea. 

WATER-SCAPE. A culvert, aqueduct, or passage for water. 

WATER-SHED. A term introduced into geography to denote the dividingridges in a hilly country. In geology, it implies that the water is shedthence naturally, by the inclination, to the valley base. As regardsnautical men in search of water, it is therefore expedient to look forthe depressed side of the strata. 

WATER-SHOT, OR QUARTER-SHOT. When a ship is moored, neither across thetide, nor right up and down, but quartering between both. 

WATER-SHUT. An old name for a flood-gate. 

WATER-SKY. In Arctic seas, a dark and dull leaden appearance of theatmosphere, the reflected blue of the sea indicating clear water in thatdirection, and forming a strong contrast to the pale _blink_ over landor ice. 

WATER-SNAKES. A group of snakes (_Hydrophis_), whose habitat is the sea. Some of them are finely coloured, and generally very like land-snakes, except that their tails are broader, so as to scull or propel themthrough the water. 

WATER-SPACE. The intervening part between the flues of a steamer'sboiler. 

WATER-SPOUT. A large mass of water collected in a vertical column, andmoving rapidly along the surface of the sea. As contact with one hasbeen supposed dangerous, it has been suggested to fire cannon at them, to break the continuity by aërial concussion. In this phenomenon, heatand electricity seem to take an active part, but their cause is notfully explained, and any facts respecting them by observers favourablyplaced will help towards further researches into their nature. (_See_WHIRLWIND. )

WATER-STANG. A spar or pole fixed across a stream. 

WATER-STEAD. An old name for the bed of a river. 

WATER-STOUP. A northern name for the common periwinkle. 

WATER-TAKING. A pond, the water of which is potable. 

WATER-TANKS. _See_ TANK. 

WATER-TIGHT. Well caulked, and so compact as to prevent the admission ofwater. The reverse of _leaky_. 

WATER-WAYS. Certain deck-planks which are wrought next to the timbers;they serve to connect the sides of a ship to her decks, and form achannel to carry off any water by means of scuppers. 

WATER-WAR. A name for the bore or hygre of the Severn. 

WATER-WITCH. A name of the dipper. 

WATER-WRAITH. Supposed water-spirits, prognosticating evil, in theShetland Islands. 

WATH. A passage or ford through a river. 

WATTLES. A kind of hair or small bristles near the mouth and nostrils ofcertain fish. Also, hurdles made by weaving twigs together. 

WAVE [from the Anglo-Saxon _wæg_]. A volume of water rising in surgesabove the general level, and elevated in proportion to the wind. 

WAVESON. Such goods as after shipwreck appear floating on the waves. (_See_ FLOTSAM. )

WAVING. Signals made by arm or otherwise to a vessel to come near orkeep off. 

WAY. Is sometimes the same as the ship's _rake_ or _run_, forward orbackward, but is most commonly understood of her sailing. _Way_ is oftenused for _wake_. Thus when she begins her motion she is said to be_under way_; and when that motion increases, to have _fresh-way_ throughthe water. Hence, also, she is said to have _head-way_ or _stern-way_, to _gather way_ or to _lose way_, &c. (_See_ WIND'S-WAY. )--_Gangway_, means a clear space to pass. The gangway is the side space between theforecastle and quarter-deck. 

'WAY ALOFT! OR 'WAY UP! The command when the crew are required aloft toloose, reef, furl sails, or man yards, &c. 

WAY-GATE. The tail-race of a mill. 

WAYS. Balks laid down for rolling weights along. --_Launching-ways. _ Twoparallel platforms of solid timber, one on each side of the keel of avessel while building, and on which her cradle slides on launching. 

WEAL. A wicker basket used for catching eels. 

WEAR. _See_ WEIR. --_To wear. _ (_See_ VEER. )

WEAR AND TEAR. The decay and deterioration of the hull, spars, sails, ropes, and other stores of a ship in the course of a voyage. 

WEATHER [from the Anglo-Saxon _wæder_, the temperature of the air]. Thestate of the atmosphere with regard to the degree of wind, to heat andcold, or to dryness and moisture, but particularly to the first. It is aword also applied to everything lying to windward of a particularsituation, hence a ship is said to have the weather-gage of anotherwhen further to windward. Thus also, when a ship under sail presentseither of her sides to the wind, it is then called the _weather-side_, and all the rigging situated thereon is distinguished by the sameepithet. It is the opposite of _lee_. To weather anything is to go towindward of it. The land to windward, is a weather shore. 

WEATHER-ANCHOR. That lying to windward, by which a ship rides whenmoored. 

WEATHER-BEAM. A direction at right angles with the keel, on the weatherside of the ship. 

WEATHER-BITT. Is that which holds the weather-cable when the ship ismoored. 

WEATHER-BOARD. That side of the ship which is to windward. 

WEATHER-BOARDS. Pieces of plank placed in the ports of a ship when laidup in ordinary; they are in an inclined position, so as to turn off therain without preventing the circulation of air. 

WEATHER-BORNE. Pressed by wind and sea. 

WEATHER-BOUND. Detained by foul winds; our forefathers used the term_wæder fæst_. 

WEATHER-BREEDERS. Certain appearances in the heavens which indicate agale, as wind-galls, fog-dogs, &c. 

WEATHER-CLOTHS. Coverings of painted canvas or tarpaulin, used topreserve the hammocks when stowed, from injury by weather. 

WEATHER-COIL. When a ship has her head brought about, so as to lie thatway which her stern did before, as by the veering of the wind; or themotion of the helm, the sails remaining trimmed. 

WEATHER-COILING. A ship resuming her course after being taken aback;rounding off by a stern-board, and coming up to it again. 

WEATHER-EYE. "Keep your weather-eye open, " be on your guard; look outfor squalls. 

WEATHER-GAGE. A vessel has the weather-gage of another when she is towindward of her. Metaphorically, to get the weather-gage of a person, isto get the better of him. 

WEATHER-GALL:--

 "A weather-gall at morn, Fine weather all gone. "

(_See_ WIND-GALL. )

WEATHER-GLASS. A familiar term for the barometer. 

WEATHER-GLEAM. A peculiar clear sky near the horizon, with greatrefraction. 

WEATHER-GO. The end of a rainbow, as seen in the morning in showeryweather. 

WEATHER-HEAD. The secondary rainbow. 

WEATHER-HELM. A ship is said to carry a weather-helm when she isinclined to gripe, or come too near the wind, and therefore requires thehelm to be kept constantly a little to windward. 

WEATHER-LURCH. A heavy roll to windward. 

WEATHERLY. Said of a well-trimmed ship with a clean bottom, when sheholds a good wind, and presents such lateral resistance to the water, that she makes but little lee-way while sailing close-hauled. 

WEATHER ONE'S DIFFICULTIES, TO. A colloquial phrase meaning to contendwith and surmount troubles. 

WEATHER-ROLLS. Those inclinations, so inviting to coming waves, which aship makes to windward in a heavy sea; the sudden rolls which she makesto leeward being termed lee-lurches. 

WEATHER-ROPES. An early term for those which were tarred. 

WEATHER-SHEETS. Those fast to the weather-clues of the sails. --"Haulover the weather-sheets forward, " applies to the jib when a vessel hasgot too close to the wind and refuses to answer her helm. 

WEATHER-SHORE. The shore which lies to windward of a ship. 

WEATHER-SIDE. That side of a ship on which the wind blows; it is thepromenade for superior officers. (See also its synonym WINDWARD. )

WEATHER THE CAPE, TO. To become experienced; as it implies sailing roundCape Horn, or the Cape of Good Hope. 

WEATHER-TIDE. The reverse of _lee-tide_. That which, running contrary tothe direction of the wind, by setting against a ship's lee-side whileunder sail, forces her up to windward. 

WEATHER-WARNING. The telegraphic cautionary warning given by hoistingthe storm-drum on receiving the forecast. 

WEATHER-WHEEL. The position of the man who steers a large ship, from hisstanding on the weather-side of the wheel. 

WEAVER. One of the popular names of the fish _Trachinus vipera_. 

WEDGE [from the Anglo-Saxon _wege_]. A simple but effective mechanicalforce; a triangular solid on which a ship rests previous to launching. Many of the wedges used in the building and repairing of vessels arecalled _sett-wedges_. 

WEDGE-FIDS. For top and top-gallant masts; in two parts, lifting byshores and sett-wedges. (_See_ SETTING-UP. )

WEDGE-SHAPED GULF. One which is wide at its entrance, and graduallynarrows towards its termination, as that of California. 

WEDGING UP. Gaining security by driving wedges. 

WEED, TO. To clear the rigging of stops, rope-yarns, and pieces ofoakum. 

WEEKLY ACCOUNT. A correct return of the whole complement made every weekwhen in harbour to the senior officer. Also, a sobriquet for the whitepatch on a midshipman's collar. 

WEEL. A kind of trap-basket, or snare, to catch fish, made of twigs andbaited; contrived similarly to a mouse-trap, so that fish have a readyadmittance, but cannot get out again. 

WEEPING. The oozing of water in small quantities through the seams of aship. 

WEEVIL [from the Anglo-Saxon _wefl_]. _Curculio_, a coleopterous insectwhich perforates and destroys biscuit, wood, &c. 

WEFT. _See_ WAFT. 

WEIGH, TO [from the Anglo-Saxon _woeg_]. To move or carry. Applied toheaving up the anchor of a ship about to sail, but also to the raisingany great weight, as a sunken ship, &c. 

WEIGHAGE. The charge made for weighing goods at a dock. 

WEIGH-SHAFT. In the marine-engine, the same as _wiper-shaft_. 

WEIGHT-NAILS. Somewhat similar to deck-nails, but not so fine, and withsquare heads; for fastening cleats and the like. 

WEIGHT OF METAL. The weight of iron which the whole of the guns arecapable of projecting at one round from both sides when single-shotted. (_See_ BROADSIDE WEIGHT. )

WEIR. An old word for sea-weed. Also, a fishing inclosure; and again, adam, or strong erection across a river, to divert its course. 

WELD, TO. To join pieces of iron or other metal by placing in contactthe parts heated almost to fusion, and hammering them into one mass. 

WELKIN [from, the Anglo-Saxon, _weal can_]. The visible firmament. 

 "One cheer more to make the welkin ring. "

WELL [from the Anglo-Saxon _wyll_]. A bulk-headed inclosure in themiddle of a ship's hold, defending the pumps from the bottom up to thelower deck from damage, by preventing the entrance of ballast or otherobstructions, which would choke the boxes or valves in a short time, andrender the pumps useless. By means of this inclosure the artificers maylikewise more readily descend into the hold, to examine or repair thepumps, as occasion requires. 

WELL, OR TRUNK OF A FISHING-VESSEL. A strong compartment in the middleof the hold, open to the deck, but lined with lead on every side, andhaving the bottom perforated with small holes through the floor, so thatthe water may pass in freely, and thus preserve the fish alive which areput into it. Lobster-boats are thus fitted. 

WELL-CABINS. Those in brigs and small vessels, which have noafter-windows or thorough draught. 

WELL-END. _See_ PUMP-FOOT. 

WELL FARE YE, MY LADS! An exclamation of approbation to the men at ahard heave or haul. 

WELL FOUND. Fully equipped. 

WELL-GROWN. A term implying that the grain of the wood follows the shaperequired, as in knee-timber and the like. 

WELL OFF, TO. A mode of shutting off a leak by surrounding it by timbersscrewed home through the lining to the timbers, and carrying up thistrunk, like a log-hut, above the water-line. 

WELL-ROOM OF A BOAT. The place in the bottom where the water lies, between the ceiling and the platform of the stern-sheets, from whence itis baled into the sea. 

WELL THERE, BELAY! Synonymous with _that will do_. 

WELSHMAN'S BREECHES. _See_ DUTCHMAN'S BREECHES. 

WEND A COURSE, TO. To sail steadily on a given direction. 

WENDING. Bringing the ship's head to an opposite course. Turning as aship does to the tide. 

WENTLE. An old term signifying to roll over. 

WENTLE-TRAP. The _Scalaria pretiosa_, a very elegant univalve shell, much valued by collectors. 

WEST-COUNTRY PARSON. A fish, the hake (_Gadus merluccius_), is socalled, from a black streak on its back, and from its abundance alongour western coast. 

WESTER, OR WASTER. A kind of trident used for striking salmon in thenorth. 

WESTING. This term in navigation means the distance made by course ortraverses to the westward; or the sun after crossing the meridian. 

WESTWARD [Anglo-Saxon _weste-wearde_]. --_Westward-hoe. _ To the west! Itwas one of the cries of the Thames watermen. 

WEST WIND. This and its collateral, the S. W. , prevail nearlythree-fourths of the year in the British seas, and though boisterous attimes, are very genial on the whole. 

WET. The owners and master of a ship are liable for all damage by wet. (_See_ STOWAGE. )

WET-BULB THERMOMETER. One of which the bulb is kept moist by thecapillary attraction of cotton fibres from an attached reservoir. 

WET-DOCK. A term used for _float_ (which see), and also _dock_. 

WETHERS. The flukes or hands of a harpoon. 

WETTING A COMMISSION. Giving an entertainment to shipmates on receivingpromotion. 

WHALE. A general term for various marine animals of the order _Cetacea_, including the most colossal of all animated beings. From their generalform and mode of life they are frequently confounded with fish, fromwhich, however, they differ essentially in their organization, as theyare warm-blooded, ascend to the surface to breathe air, produce theiryoung alive, and suckle them, as do the land mammalia. The cetacea aredivided into two sections:--1. Those having horny plates, called baleen, or "whalebone, " growing from the palate instead of teeth, and includingthe right whales and rorquals, or finners and hump-backs (see theseterms). 2. Those having true teeth and no whalebone. To this groupbelong the sperm-whale, and the various forms of bottle-noses, black-fish, grampuses, narwhals, dolphins, porpoises, &c. To the largerspecies of many of these the term "whale" is often applied. 

WHALE-BIRD. A beautiful little bird seen hovering in flocks over theSouthern Ocean, in search of the small crustaceans which constitutetheir food. 

WHALE-BOAT. A boat varying from 26 to 56 feet in length, and from 4 to10 feet beam, sharp at both ends, and admirably adapted to the intendedpurpose, combining swiftness of motion, buoyancy, and stability. 

WHALE-CALF. The young whale. 

WHALE-FISHERIES. The places at which the capture of whales, or"whale-fishery, " is carried on. The principal are the coasts ofGreenland and Davis Straits, for the northern right whale; Bermuda, forhump-backs; the Cape of Good Hope and the Australian seas, for thesouthern right whale; the North Pacific, for the Japanese right whale;and various places in the intertropical and southern seas, for thesperm-whale. But the constant persecution to which these animals aresubjected causes a frequent change in their habitats. They have beennearly exterminated, or rendered so scarce as not to be worth following, in many districts where they formerly most abounded, and in order tomake the trade remunerative, new grounds have to be continually sought. Maury's "whale charts" give much valuable information on this subject. 

WHALER. A name for a vessel employed in the whale-fisheries. 

WHALE'S FOOD. The name given in the North Sea to the _Clio borealis_, awell-known mollusk, on which whales feed. 

WHANGERS, OR COD-WHANGERS. Fish-curers of Newfoundland. An old term fora large sword. 

WHAPPER. The largest of the turtle kind, attaining 7 or 8 cwts. , offAscension. [The name is supposed to be derived from _guapa_, Sp. , grandor fine. ] (_See_ LOGGERHEAD. )

WHARF, OR QUAY. An erection of wood or stone raised on the shore of aroad or harbour for the convenience of loading or discharging vessels bycranes or other means. A wharf is of course built stronger or slighterin proportion to the effort of the tide or sea which it is intended toresist, and the size of vessels using it. --_Wharf_, in hydrography, is ascar, a rocky or gravelly concretion, or frequently a sand-bank, as MadWharf in Lancashire, where the tides throw up dangerous ripples andoverfalls. 

WHARFAGE DUES. The dues for landing or shipping goods at a wharf;customs charges in particular. Thus for goods not liable to duty, andforcibly taken for examination, wharfage charges are demanded even froma ship of war!

WHARFINGER. He who owns or keeps a wharf and takes account of all thearticles landed thereon or removed from it, for which he receives acertain fee. 

WHARF-STEAD. A ford in a river. 

WHAT CHEER, HO? Equivalent among seamen to, _How fare ye?_

WHAT SHIP IS THAT? A question often put when a _jaw-breaking_ word hasbeen intrusively uttered by _savants_. 

WHAT WATER HAVE YOU? The question to the man sounding, as to the depthof water which the lead-line gives. 

WHAUP. The larger curlew, _Numenius arquatus_. 

WHEAT. An excellent article for sea-diet; boiled with a proportion ofmolasses, it makes a most nutritious breakfast. As it stows well, andwould even yield nearly the same weight in bread, it should be made anarticle of allowance. 

WHEEL. A general name for the helm, by which the tiller and rudder areworked in steering the ship; it has a barrel, round which thetiller-ropes or chains wind, and a wheel with spokes to assist in movingit. 

WHEEL AND AXLE. A well-known mechanical power, to which belong allturning or wheel machines, as cranes, capstans, windlasses, cranks, &c. 

WHEEL-HOUSE. A small round-house erected in some ships over thesteering-wheel for the shelter of the helmsman. 

WHEEL-LOCK. A small machine attached to the old musket for producingsparks of fire. 

WHEEL-ROPES. Ropes rove through a block on each side of the deck, andled round the barrel of the steering-wheel. Chains are also used forthis purpose. 

WHEELS. _See_ TRUCKS. 

WHEFT. More commonly written _waft_ (which see). Although _wheft_ isgiven in the official signal-book, bibliophilists ignore the term. 

WHELK. A well-known shell-fish, _Buccinum undatum_. 

WHELPS. The brackets or projecting parts which rise out of the barrel ormain body of the capstan, like buttresses, to enlarge the sweep, so thata greater portion of the cable, or whatever rope encircles the barrel, may be wound about it at one turn without adding much to the weight ofthe capstan. The whelps reach downwards from the lower part of thedrumhead to the deck. The pieces of wood bolted on the main-piece of awindlass, or on a winch, for firm holding, and to prevent chafing, arealso called whelps. 

WHERE AWAY? In what bearing? a question to the man at the mast-head todesignate in what direction a strange sail lies. 

WHERRY. A name descended from the Roman _horia_, the _oare_ of our earlywriters. It is now given to a sharp, light, and shallow boat used inrivers and harbours for passengers. The wherries allowed to ply aboutLondon are either scullers worked by one man with two sculls, or by twomen, each pulling an oar. Also, a decked vessel used in fishing indifferent parts of Great Britain and Ireland: numbers of them werenotorious smugglers. 

WHETHER OR NO, TOM COLLINS. A phrase equivalent to, "Whether you will ornot, such is my determination, not to be gainsaid. "

WHICH WAY DOES THE WIND LIE? What is the matter?

WHIFF. The _Rhombus cardina_, a passable fish of the pleuronect genus. Also, a slight fitful breeze or transient puff of wind. 

WHIFFING. Catching mackerel with a hook and line from a boat goingpretty fast through the water. 

WHIFFLERS. The old term for fifers, preceding the body of archers whocleared the way, but more recently applied to very trifling fellows. Smollett named Captain Whiffle in contempt. 

WHIMBREL. The smaller species of curlew, _Numenius phæopus_. 

WHIMSEY. A small crane for hoisting goods to the upper stories ofwarehouses. 

WHINYARD. A sort of hanger, serving both as a weapon and a knife. Anarchaism for a cutlass. See the Gentleman in the _Cobler ofCanterburie_, 1590:--

 "His cloake grew large and sid, And a faire winniard by his side. "

WHIP. A single rope rove through a single block to hoist in lightarticles. Where greater and steadier power is demanded, a block isadded, and the standing part is made fast near the upper block. Thus itbecomes _a double whip_. --_To whip. _ To hoist by a whip. Also, to tietwine, whipping fashion, round the end of a rope to prevent itsuntwisting. 

WHIP, OR WHIP-STAFF. A strong staff fastened into the helm for thesteersman to move the rudder thereby. 

WHIP-JACK. An old term, equivalent to fresh-water sailor, or asham-shipwrecked tar. (_See_ TURNPIKE-SAILORS. )

WHIPPERS. Men who deliver the cargoes of colliers in the river Thamesinto lighters. 

WHIPPING-TWINE. Used to whip the ends of ropes. 

WHIP-RAY. A ray with a long tail ending in a very fine point. It isarmed with a dangerous serrated spine, jagged like a harpoon. Calledalso _sting-ray_ and _stingaree_. 

WHIP-SAW. The largest of that class of useful instruments, being thatgenerally used at the saw-pit. 

WHIP UPON WHIP. A sort of easy purchase, much used in colliers. Itconsists of one whip applied to the falls of another. 

WHIRL, OR ROPE-WINCH. Small hooks fastened into cylindrical pieces ofwood which communicate by a leather strap with a spoke-wheel, wherebythree of them are set in motion at once. Used for spinning yarn forropes. Now more commonly made of iron. 

WHIRLER, OR TROUGHTON'S TOP. An ingenious instrument invented byTroughton, and intended to serve as an artificial horizon at sea; but itwas found that its centrifugal force was incapable of counteracting theordinary motion of a ship. 

WHIRLPOOL. An eddy or vortex where the waters are continually rushinground. In rivers they are very common, from various accidents, and areusually of little consequence. In the sea they are more dangerous, asthe classical Charybdis, and the celebrated Maelstrom and Saltenstrom, both on the coast of Norway. 

WHIRLWIND. A revolving current of wind of small diameter that risessuddenly, but is soon spent. 

WHISKERS. Two booms, half-yards, or iron spars projecting on each sidebefore the cat-heads; they are for spreading the guys of the jib-boom, instead of having a spritsail-yard across. In many vessels thesprit-sail (then termed spread-yard) is lashed across the forecastle soas to rest before the cat-heads on the gunwale, and the guys rovethrough holes bored in it, and set up in the fore-channels. 

WHISTLE. From the Ang. -Sax. _wistl_. (_See_ CALL. )

WHISTLE FOR THE WIND, TO. A superstitious practice among old seamen, whoare equally scrupulous to avoid whistling during a heavy gale. --_To wetone's whistle. _ To take a drink. Thus Chaucer tells us that the millerof Trumpington's lady had

 "Hir joly whistle wel ywette. "

WHISTLING PSALMS TO THE TAFFRAIL. Expending advice to no purpose. 

WHITE BAIT OR BITE. The _Clupea alba_, a well-known fish caught in theThames, but strictly a sea-fish, erroneously held to be mere fry till1828, when Yarrell raised it to the rank of a perfect fish. 

WHITE BOOT-TOP. A painted white line carried fore and aft on thehammock-netting base. It gives a longer appearance to a ship. 

WHITE CAPS. Waves with breaking crests, specially between the east endof Jamaica and Kingston; but obtaining generally when the sea-breeze, coming fresh over the waves, and travelling faster, turns their tops:termed also _white-horses_. 

WHITE FEATHER. The figurative symbol of cowardice: a white feather in acock's tail being considered a proof of cross-breeding. 

WHITE-FISH. A fish of the salmon family, found in the lakes of NorthAmerica; also a name of the _hard-head_ (which see). It is a generalname for ling, cod, tusk, haddock, halibut, and the like, and for roach, dace, &c. , from the use of their scales to form artificial pearls. Alsoapplied to the beluga or white whale (_Beluga leucas_), a cetacean foundin the Arctic seas and the Gulf of St. Lawrence. It is from 12 to 15feet long. 

WHITE-HERRING. A pickled herring in the north, but in other parts afresh herring is so called. 

WHITE-HORSE. A name of the _Raia fullonica_. (_See also_ WHITE CAPS. )

WHITE-LAPPELLE. A sobriquet for a lieutenant, in allusion to his formeruniform. (_See_ LAPPELLE. )

WHITE-ROPE. Rope which has not been tarred. Manilla, coir, and someother ropes, do not require tarring. 

WHITE SQUALL. A tropical wind said to give no warning; it sweeps thesurface with spoon-drift. 

WHITE-TAPE. A term amongst smugglers for hollands or gin. 

WHITE-WATER. That which is seen over extensive sandy patches, where, owing to the limpidity and shallowness of the sea, the light of the skyis reflected. 

WHITING. The name given in Cumberland to the _Salmo albus_, or whitesalmon. Also the _Gadus merlangus_, both split or dried. 

WHITTLE [from the Anglo-Saxon _hwytel_]. A knife; also used for a sword, but contemptuously. --_To whittle. _ To cut sticks. 

WHITWORTH GUN. A piece rifled by having a twisted hexagonal bore, andthrowing a more elongated shot with a sharper twist than the Armstronggun, with results experimentally more beautiful, but not yet sopractically useful. 

WHO COMES THERE? The night challenge of a sentry on his post. 

WHOLE-MOULDING. The old method of forming the principal part of avessel. Boats are now the only vessels in which this method ispractised. 

WHOLESOME SHIP. One that will try, hull, and ride well, without heavylabouring in the sea. 

WHOODINGS. Those ends of planks which are let into the rabbets of thestem, the stern-posts, &c. (_See_ RABBET and HOOD-ENDS. )

WHO SAYS AMEN? Who will clap on with a will?

WHO SHALL HAVE THIS? An impartial sea method of distributing the sharesof short commons. One person turns his back on the portions, and namessome one, when he is asked, "_Who shall have this?_"

WICH. A port, as Harwich, Greenwich, &c. 

WICK [Anglo-Saxon _wyc_]. A creek, bay, or village, by the side of ariver. 

WICKET. A small door in the gate of a fortress, for use byfoot-passengers when the gate is closed. 

WIDDERSHINS. A northern term signifying a motion contrary to the courseof the sun. The Orkney fishermen consider themselves in imminent dangerat sea, if, by accident, their vessel is turned _against the sun_. 

WIDE-GAB. A name of the _Lophius piscatorius_, toad-fish, orfishing-frog. 

WIDOWS' MEN. Imaginary sailors, formerly borne on the books as A. B. 'sfor wages in every ship in commission; they ceased with the consolidatedpay at the close of the war. The institution was dated 24 Geo. II. Tomeet widows' pensions; the amount of pay and provisions for two men ineach hundred was paid over by the paymaster-general of the navy to thewidows' fund. 

WILD. A ship's motion when she steers badly, or is badly steered. A_wild roadstead_ implies one that is exposed to the wind and sea. 

WILDFIRE. A pyrotechnical preparation burning with great fierceness, whether under water or not; it is analogous to the ancient Greek fire, and is composed mainly of sulphur, naphtha, and pitch. 

WILD-WIND. An old term for _whirlwind_. 

WILL, WITH A. With all zeal and energy. 

WILL. A term on our northern shores for a sea-gull. 

WILLICK. A northern name for the _Fratercula arctica_, or puffin. 

WILLIE-POURIT. A northern name for the seal. 

WILLIWAW. A sort of whirlwind, occurring in Tierra del Fuego. 

WILLOCK. A name for the guillemot, _Uria troile_. 

WIMBLE. The borer of a carpenter's centre-bit. 

WINCH [from the Anglo-Saxon _wince_]. A purchase formed by a shaft whoseextremities rest in two channels placed horizontally or perpendicularly, and furnished with cranks, or clicks, and pauls. It is employed as apurchase by which a rope or tackle-fall may be more powerfully appliedthan when used singly. A small one with a fly-wheel is used for makingropes and spun-yarn. Also, a support to the windlass ends. Also, thename of long iron handles by which the chain-pumps are worked. Also, asmall cylindrical machine attached to masts or bitts in vessels, for thepurpose of hoisting anything out of the hold, warping, &c. 

WINCH-BITTS. The supports near their ends. 

WIND [precisely the Anglo-Saxon word]. A stream or current of air whichmay be felt. The horizon being divided into 32 points (_see_ COMPASS), the wind which blows from any of them has an assignable name. 

WINDAGE. The vacant space left between a shot and the bore of the pieceto which it belongs, generally expressed by the difference of theirdiameters; it is for facility of loading, but the smaller it is thebetter will be the performance of the gun. 

WIND AND WATER LINE. That part of a ship lying at the surface of thewater which is alternately wet and dry by the motion of the waves. 

WIND A SHIP OR BOAT, TO. To change her position by bringing her sternround to the place where the head was. (_See_ WENDING. )

WIND AWAY, TO. To steer through narrow channels. 

WIND-BANDS. Long clouds supposed to indicate bad weather. 

WIND-BOUND. Detained at an anchorage by contrary winds. 

WIND-FALL. A violent gust of wind rushing from coast-ranges andmountains to the sea. Also, some piece of good luck, a turtle, fish, vegetables, or a prize. 

WIND-GAGE. _See_ ANEMOMETER. 

WIND-GALL. A luminous halo on the edge of a distant cloud, where thereis rain, usually seen in the wind's eye, and looked upon as a sureprecursor of stormy weather. Also, an atmospheric effect of prismaticcolours, said likewise to indicate bad weather if seen to leeward. 

WINDING A CALL. The act of blowing or piping on a boatswain's whistle, to communicate the necessary orders. (_See_ CALL. )

WINDING-TACKLE. A tackle formed of one fixed triple three-sheaved block, and one double or triple movable block. It is principally used to hoistany weighty materials, as the cannon, into or out of a ship. 

WINDING-TACKLE PENDANT. A strong rope made fast to the lower mast-head, and forming the support of the winding-tackle. 

WIND IN THE TEETH. Dead against a ship. 

WINDLASS [from the Ang. -Sax. _windles_]. A machine erected in thefore-part of a ship which serves to ride by, as well as heave in thecable. It is composed of the carrick-heads or windlass-heads, which aresecured to all the deck-beams beneath, and backed by long sleeper kneeson deck. The main-piece is whelped like the capstan, and suspended atits ends by powerful spindles falling into metal bearings in the carrickor windlass heads. Amidships it is supported by chocks, where it is alsofurnished with a course of windlass-pawls, four taking at separateangles on a main ratchet, and bearing on one quadrant of thecircumference. The cables have three turns round this main-piece (onecable on each side): holes are cut for the windlass-bars in each eighthof the squared sides. The windlass may be said also to be supported orreinforced by the pawl-bitts, two powerful bitt-heads at thecentre. --_Spanish windlass. _ A machine formed of a handspike and asmall lever, usually a tree-nail, or a tree-nail and a marline-spike, toset up the top-gallant rigging, heave in seizings, or for any othershort steady purchase. 

WINDLASS-BITTS. _See_ CARRICK-BITTS. 

WINDLASS-CHOCKS. Those pieces of oak or elm fastened inside the bows ofsmall craft, to support the ends of the windlass. 

WINDLASS-ENDS. Two pieces which continue the windlass outside thebitt-heads. 

WINDLASS-LINING. Pieces of hard wood fitted round the main-piece of awindlass to prevent chafing, and also to enable the cable to hold onmore firmly. 

WINDLESTRAY. A sort of bent or seaside grass. 

WINDLIPPER. The first effects of a breeze of wind on smooth water, before waves are raised. 

WIND-RODE. A ship is wind-rode when the wind overcomes an opposite tidalforce, and she rides head to wind. 

WINDS. _Local_ or _peculiar_. --_Trade-winds_ occur within and beyond thetropical parallels. They are pretty regular in the North Atlantic, asfar as 5° N. , where calms may be expected, or the south-east trade mayreach across, depending on the season; but when near land they yield tothe _land and sea breezes_. Thus at 10° N. The land-breeze will be at E. From 11 P. M. Until 6 A. M. , then calm intervenes up to 10 A. M. , when thesea-breeze sets in, probably W. , and blows home fresh. Yet at 20 milesoff shore the trade-wind may blow pretty strong from N. E. Or E. N. E. --The_harmattan_ is a sudden dry wind blowing off the coast of Africa, socharged with almost impalpable dust that the sun is obscured. It sucksup all moisture, cracks furniture and earthenware, and prostrates animalnature. The rigging of vessels becomes a dirty brown, and the dustadhering to the blacking cannot be removed. --The _tornado_ lasts for ashort time, but is of great force during its continuance. --The_northers_ in the Gulf of Mexico, or off the Heads of Virginia, are notonly very heavy gales, but are attended with severe cold. On a Decemberday, off Galveston, the temperature in a calm was at sunset 86°. Thenorther came on about midnight, and at 8 A. M. The temperature had fallento 12°, and icicles were hanging from the eaves of the houses. The_Tiempo di Vendavales_, or southers of Western America, is an opposite, blowing heavily home to the coast. The _taifung_ of China, or typhoon ofthe Indian seas, is indeed precisely similar to the hurricane of theWest Indies. 

WIND-SAIL. A funnel of canvas employed to ventilate a ship by conveyinga stream of fresh air down to the lower decks. It is suspended by a whipthrough the hatchways, and kept open by means of hoops; the upper partis also open on one side, and guyed to the wind. Ships of war in hotclimates have generally three or four of these wind-sails. 

WIND-TAUT. A vessel at anchor, heeling over to the force of the wind. 

WIND-TIGHT. A cask or vessel to contain water is said to be wind-tightand water-tight. 

WINDWARD. The weather-side; that on which the wind blows; the oppositeof _leeward_ (which see). Old sailors exhort their neophytes to thrownothing over the weather-side except ashes or hot water: a hint notmistakable. 

WINDWARD SAILING, OR TURNING TO WINDWARD. That mode of navigating a shipin which she endeavours to gain a position situated in the directionwhence the wind is blowing. In this case progress is made by frequenttacking, and trimming sail as near as possible to the wind. 

WINDWARD SET. The reverse of _leeward set_. 

WINDWARD TIDE. _See_ WEATHER-TIDE. 

WINE OF HEIGHT. A former perquisite of seamen on getting safely througha particular navigation. 

WING. The projecting part of a steamer's deck before and abaft each ofthe paddle-boxes, bounded by the _wing-wale_. 

WING-AND-WING. A ship coming before the wind with studding-sails on bothsides; also said of fore-and-aft vessels, when they are going with thewind right aft, the fore-sail boomed out on one side, and the main-sailon the other. 

WINGERS. Small casks stowed close to the side in a ship's hold, wherethe large casks would cause too great a rising in that part of the tier. 

WINGS. Those parts of the hold and orlop-deck which are nearest to thesides. This term is particularly used in the stowage of the severalmaterials contained in the hold, and between the cable-tiers and theship's sides. In ships of war they are usually kept clear, that thecarpenter and his crew may have access round the ship to stop shot-holesin time of action. Also, the skirts or extremities of a fleet, whenranged in a line abreast, or when forming two sides of a triangle. It isusual to extend the wings of a fleet in the daytime, in order todiscover any enemy that may fall in their track; they are, however, generally summoned by signal to form close order before night. Inmilitary parlance, the right and left divisions of a force, whetherthese leave a centre division between them or not. --_Wing-transom. _ Theuppermost transom in the stern-frame, to which the heels of thecounter-timbers are let on and bolted. 

WING UP BALLAST, TO. To carry the dead weight from the bottom as high asconsistent with the stability of a ship, in order to ease her quickmotion in rolling. 

WING-WALE. A thick plank extending from the extremity of a steamer'spaddle-beam to her side; it is also designated the _sponson-rim_. 

WINNOLD-WEATHER. An eastern-county term for stormy March weather. 

WINTER-FISH. This term generally alludes to cured cod and ling. 

WINTER-QUARTERS. The towns or posts occupied during the winter by troopswho quit the campaign for the season. Also, the harbour to which ablockading fleet retires in wintry gales. In Arctic parlance, the spotwhere ships are to remain housed during the winter months--from the 1stOctober to the 1st July or August. 

WINTER-SOLSTICE. _See_ CAPRICORNUS. 

WIPER. A cogged contrivance in machinery by which a rotatory motion isconverted into a reciprocating motion. 

WIPER-SHAFT. An application to the valve equipoise of a marine-engine:their journals or bearings lie in bushes, which are fixed upon the frameof the engine. 

WIRE-MICROMETER. An instrument necessary for delicate astronomicalmeasurements. It contains vertical and horizontal wires, orspider-lines, acting in front of a comb or scale for distances, and on agraduated circle on the screw-head for positions. 

WIRE-ROPE. Rigging made of iron wire galvanized, and laid up like commoncordage. 

WISBUY LAWS. A maritime code which, though framed at a town in the nowobscure island of Gothland, in the Baltic, was submissively adopted byEurope. 

WISHES [from the British _usk_, water]. Low lands liable to beoverflowed. 

WISHY-WASHY. Any beverage too weak. Over-watered spirits. 

 "His food the land-crab, lizard, or the frog; His drink a wish-wash of six-water grog. "

WITH. An iron instrument fitted to the end of a boom or mast, with aring to it, through which another boom or mast is rigged out andsecured. Also, in mechanics, the elastic withe handles of cold chisels, set-tools, &c. , which prevent a jar to the assistant's wrist. 

WITH A WILL. Pull all together. 

WITHERSHINS. _See_ WIDDERSHINS. 

WITHEYS. Any low places near rivers where willows grow. 

WITHIN-BOARD. Inside a ship. 

WITHOUT. Outside, as, studding-sail without studding-sail; or, _withoutboard_, outside a ship. 

WITH THE SUN. Ropes coiled from the left hand towards the right; butwhere the sun passes the meridian north of the observer, it is of coursethe reverse. 

WITNESSES, OR TEMOINS, are certain piles of earth left in digging docks, or other foundations, to judge how many cubic feet of earth have beenremoved. 

WITTEE-WITTEE. The ingeniously-constructed fish-hook of the Pacificislanders, made of mother-of-pearl, with hair tufts, serving at onceboth as hook and bait. 

WOARE. An old term for sea-weed. Also, the shore margin or beach. 

WOBBLE, TO. In mechanics, to sway or roll from side to side. (_See_WABBLE. )

WOLD. An extensive plain, covered with grass and herbs, but bare oftrees. 

WOLF. A kind of fishing-net. 

WOLF-FISH. _Anarhichas lupus_, also called cat-fish. A fish of thenorthern seas, from 2 to 3 feet long, with formidable teeth, with whichit crushes the shells of the crustaceans and mollusks on which itfeeds. 

WOLYING. The old way of spelling _woolding_. 

WONDER-CHONE. An old term, mentioned by Blount as a contrivance forcatching fish. 

WONGS. A term on our east coast, synonymous with low lands or _wishes_(which see). 

WOOD, TO. A gun is said to wood when it takes the port-sills orport-sides, or the trucks the water-ways. --_To wood. _ Whenwooding-parties are sent out to cut or procure wood for a ship. 

WOOD AND WOOD. When two pieces of timber are so let into each other asto join close. Also, when a tree-nail is driven through, its point beingeven with the inside surface. 

WOODEN BUOYS. Buoyant constructions of wood of various shapes, with aring-bolt at each end, to which vessels can make fast for a time. (_See_DOLPHIN. )

WOOD-ENDS. _See_ HOOD-ENDS. 

WOODEN WALLS. A term signifying the fleet, and though thought to bepeculiarly English, was used by the Delphic oracle, when applied to bythe Athenians on the Persian invasion: "Defend yourselves by woodenwalls. "

WOODEN-WINGS. The lee-boards, for keeping barges to windward. 

WOOD-LOCKS OF THE RUDDER. Pieces of timber sheathed with copper, incoppered ships, placed in the throating or scores of the stern-post, toprevent the rudder from rising or unshipping. 

WOOD-MULLS. Large thick hose worn by the men in coasters andfishing-boats. 

WOOD-SHEATHING. All plank applied to strengthen a vessel. (_See_DOUBLE. )

WOOF. A northern name of the gray gurnard. 

WOOLDERS. Bandages. The bolt of a Spanish windlass is called a woolder. 

WOOLDING. The act of winding a piece of rope about a mast or yard, tosupport it where it is fished, or when it is composed of several pieces. Also, the rope employed in this service. 

WOOL-PACKS. In meteorology, light clouds in a blue sky. 

WORD. The watch-word; the parole and countersign, which, being issued tothe authorized persons at guard-mounting, become a test whereby spies orstrangers are detected. 

WORK, TO. Said of a ship when she strains in a tempestuous sea, so as toloosen her joints. 

WORK ABACK. This is said of a steam-engine if reversed, to propel thevessel astern. 

WORK A SHIP, TO. To adapt the sails to the force and direction of thewind. 

WORK DOUBLE-TIDES, TO. Implying that the work of three days is done intwo, or at least two tides' work in twenty-four hours. 

WORKING A DAY'S WORK. Reducing the dead-reckoning and meridian altitudesto noon of each day. 

WORKING A LUNAR. Reducing the observations of the sun and moon, or moonand stars, in order to find the longitude. Also, a phrase used when aman sleeps during a conversation. 

WORKING AN OBSERVATION. Reducing the altitudes or distances of heavenlybodies by calculation. 

WORKING PARTIES. Gangs of hands employed on special duties out of theship or dockyard. 

WORKING TO WINDWARD. Sailing against the wind by alternate tacks. (_See_BEATING. )

WORKING UP. The keeping men at work on needless matters, beyond theusual hours, for punishment. 

WORKS. All fortificational constructions, whether permanent, field, ormakeshifts of the moment; from the most solid bastion to the rudestrifle-pit. 

WORK UP JUNK, TO. To draw yarns from old cables, &c. , and therewith tomake foxes, points, gaskets, sinnet, or spun-yarn. 

WORM. An iron tool shaped like a double cork-screw on the end of a longstaff, for withdrawing charges, ignited remains of cartridges, &c. , fromfire-arms. Called also a wad-hook in artillery. (_See also_ TEREDONAVALIS. )--_To worm. _ The act of passing a rope spirally between thelays of a cable; a smaller rope is wormed with spun-yarn. Worming isgenerally resorted to as a preparative for serving. (_See_ LINK WORMING. )

WORM-EATEN, OR WORMED. The state of a plank or of a ship's bottom whenperforated by a particular kind of boring mollusk, _Teredo navalis_, which abounds in the tropics. 

WORMS. Timber is preserved against worms by several coats of commonwhale-oil, or by the patents of Payne, Sir W. Burnett, Kyan, and others. 

WRACK. The English name for the fucus; the sea-weed used for themanufacture of kelp, and in some places artificially grown for thatpurpose. 

WRACK-RIDER. A species of brandling faintly barred on both sides. 

WRAIN-BOLT. A ring-bolt with two or more forelock-holes in it, occasionally to belay or make fast towards the middle. It is used, withthe wrain-staff in the ring, for _setting-to_ the planks. 

WRAIN-STAFF. A stout billet of tough wood, tapered at its ends, so as togo into the ring of the wrain-bolt, to make the necessary setts forbringing-to the planks or thick stuff to the timber. 

WRASSE. The _Crenilabrus tinca_, a sea-fish, sometimes called old-wife. 

WRECK. The destruction of a ship by stress of weather, rocks, &c. ; alsothe ruins of the ship after such accidents; also the goods and fragmentswhich drive on shore after a ship is stranded. It is said that the termis derived from the sea-weed called _wrack_, denoting all that the seawashes on shore as it does this weed. A ship cast on shore is no wreck, in law, when any domestic animal has escaped with life in her. Thecustody of the cargo or goods belongs to the deputy of the vice-admiral, and they are restored to the proprietors without any fees or salvage, but what the labour of those who saved them may reasonably deserve. 

WRECKAGE. Spars, rigging, or goods floating about after a wreck. 

WRECKERS. A name which includes both meritorious salvors of ships indistress, and the felonious brutes who merely hasten to wrecks forplunder. One of our British colonies deemed it so entirely a legalprocedure to make a wreck of or cripple a vessel on the reef, that anaval officer was threatened with legal proceedings by a lawyer whom heprevented from carrying out his practice afloat. 

WRECK-FREE. Is to be exempt from the forfeiture of shipwrecked goods andvessels: a privilege which Edward I. Granted by charter to the barons ofthe Cinque Ports. 

WRIGHT'S SAILING. Synonymous with _Mercator's sailing_. 

WRING A MAST, TO. To bend, cripple, or strain it out of its naturalposition by setting the shrouds up too taut. The phrase, _to wring_, isalso applied to a capstan when by an undue strain the component parts ofthe wood become deranged, and are thereby disunited. The head of a mastis frequently wrung by bracing up the lower yards beyond the dictates ofsound judgment. 

WRONG, TO. To out-sail a vessel by becalming her sails is said to wrongher. 

WRONG WAY. When the ship casts in the opposite direction to thatdesired. Also, a ship swinging in a tide's way, out of the directionwhich would keep her hawse clear. 

WRUNG-HEADS. An old term for that part of a ship near the floor-headsand second futtock-heels, which, when she lies aground, bears thegreatest strain. 

X. 

XEBEC, OR ZEBEC. A small three-masted vessel of the Mediterranean, distinguished from all other European vessels by the great projection ofher bow and overhanging of her stern. Being generally equipped as acorsair, the xebec was constructed with a narrow floor, for speed, andof great breadth, to enable her to carry a great press of sail. On theBarbary coast the xebec rig was deemed to vary from the felucca, whichin hull is the same, by having the fore-mast square-rigged. 

XERAFEEM. A Malabar coin of the value of 1_s. _ 4_d. _ sterling. 

XEROONITZ. A Russian coin of two roubles, or 9_s. _ sterling. 

XERO-POTAMO. A term common on the coasts of Greece for fiumare, ortorrents, which are dry at certain seasons. 

XUGIA. The second bank of rowers in an ancient trireme. 

XYLOSTROMA. Oak-leather, a peculiar fungus found within growing oaks. 

Y. 

YACHT. A vessel of state or pleasure: the former is usually employed toconvey great personages. One of the designs of a yacht beingaccommodation, they are usually fitted up with great comfort; theirpropulsion is by sails or steam. Small yachts, rigged as sloops, wereformerly used by the commissioners of the navy; they were originallyroyal yachts, and one at Chatham was renowned as the yacht of QueenElizabeth, the same plate being in use in her up to a very late date. Private pleasure-boats, when sufficiently large for a sea voyage, arealso termed yachts. (_See_ ROYAL YACHT. )

YACHT CLUB, ROYAL. An institution embodied by a number of noblemen andgentlemen about the year 1820, to which certain privileges are attached. It was originally established at Cowes, but several ports, as well asthe Thames, have their special clubs, and similar privileges. 

YAM. The tubers of the _Dioscorea sativa_, and others; a valuablevegetable on long voyages. _D. Aculeata_ frequently produces tubers 3feet long, and weighing 30 lbs. Also, the West India word for food;"Toko for yam, " the negro's punishment--blows but no food. 

YANKEE. An appellation often erroneously given to North Americans ingeneral, whereas it is strictly applicable to those of the New Englandstates only; it is not used complimentarily in the back settlements. 

YARD. A measure of length, consisting of 3 feet. 

YARD [Anglo-Saxon _gyrde_]. A long cylindrical timber suspended upon themast of a vessel to spread a sail. They are termed square, lateen, orlug: the first are suspended across the masts at right angles, and thetwo latter obliquely. The square yards taper from the middle, which iscalled the slings, towards the extremities, which are termed theyard-arms; and the distance between is divided by the artificers intoquarters, called the first, second, third quarters, and yard-arms. Themiddle quarters are formed into eight sides, and each of the end partsis figured like the frustum of a cone: on the alternate sides of theoctagon, in large spars, oak battens are brought on and hooped, so as tostrengthen, and yet not greatly increase, the weight. --_To brace theyards. _ To traverse them about the masts, so as to form greater orlesser angles with the ship's length. (_See_ BRACE. )--_To square theyards. _ (_See_ SQUARE. )

YARD-ARM. That part of a yard outside the quarter, which is on eitherside of the mast beyond the battens, when it lies athwart the ship. Itgenerally means the extremity of the yard, and it is fitted withsheave-holes for reeving sheets through. 

YARD-ARM AND YARD-ARM. The situation of two ships lying alongside oneanother, so near that their yard-arms nearly touch each other, or evencross. The term implies close action and no mistake. 

YARD-ARM CLEATS. Wooden wedges fixed on the yards at those points wherethey support the lifts and braces, and where the head-earings aresecured. The reef-cleats on the topsail-yards are beyond the lifts andbraces. 

YARD-ARM PIECE. An octagonal piece of timber supplied to replace ayard-arm if shot away. It is one-third the length of the main-yard. 

YARD-ROPE. Is only used for temporary purposes; the most usualapplication of the term is that by which a yard is hoisted for crossing, or sent down. Also, rove for execution. The yard-rope of the lighteryards is the halliards, which, when the yard is crossed, is made intotie and halliards by a peculiar mode of toggling on the halliardpurchase, as in the order, "Toggle the halliards!"

YARDS. _See_ DOCKYARDS. 

YARDS APEEK. When they are topped, so as to resemble St. Andrew's cross;it is done as a token of mourning, or for convenience when vessels liealongside of each other, as in the docks. 

YARD-TACKLES. Tackles attached to the fore and main yards of a ship, whereby, with the assistance of the stay-tackles, the boats and otherweights are hoisted in and out. Yard-tackles are sometimes hooked to apendant, which is secured to the top-mast head, and hauled out to theyard-arm by means of a small tackle, until the yard-tackle plumbs thespot where it is wished to work. 

YARE [Ang. -Sax. For dexterous or quick]. It was formerly a favouritenautical phrase, as "Be yare at the helm;" and is used by Shakspeare'sboatswain in the _Tempest_. 

YAREMLEK. A silver Turkish coin of 20 paras, or 9_d. _ sterling. 

YARMOUTH CAPON. A red herring; a bloater. 

YARMOUTH HERRING-BOAT. A clincher-built vessel with lug-sails, similarto the drift or mackerel boats. 

YARN. One of the threads of which ropes are composed. A number of theseare twisted together to form a strand, in proportion to the size of theproposed rope. Three strands are then twisted into one another, whichcompletes the process of ordinary rope-making; but cables, hawsers, andother ground tackling, are composed of three strands, each of which isformed of three lesser ones. (_See_ CABLE, HAWSER, &c. )--_A tough yarn. _A long story, or tale, hard to be believed. 

YARN-SPINNING. A figurative expression for telling a story. 

YATAGHAN. A crooked sabre used in the Levant. Also, the knife-swords ofIndia. 

YAUGH. An archaic term for a little bark, pinnace, or yacht. 

YAW. The quick movement by which a ship deviates from the direct line ofher course towards the right or left, from unsteady steering. 

YAWL. A man-of-war's boat, resembling the pinnace, but rather smaller;it is carvel-built, and generally rowed with twelve oars. The yawl inthe Customs Act is a carvel-built vessel of the cutter class, buthaving a jigger or mizen lug, the boom-mainsail being curtailed, so thatits boom traverses clear of the mizen-mast: used also by yachts. Also, asmall fishing-vessel. 

YAW-SIGHTED. A nautical term for those who squint. 

YAW-YAW. A nickname for the seamen of the shores of the Baltic. 

YEAR. The duration of the earth's revolution round the sun, or of theapparent revolution of the sun in the ecliptic. 

YELL. An old sea-term to express a rolling motion. 

YELLOW ADMIRAL. A retired post-captain, who, not having served his timein that rank, is not entitled to his promotion to the active flag. 

YELLOW-BELLY. A name given to a person born in the fens along oureastern shores: also occasionally to half-castes, &c. 

YELLOW FEVER. A cant term for drunkenness at Greenwich Hospital; thesailors when punished wearing a parti-coloured coat, in which yellowpredominates. 

YELLOW-FLAG. The signal of quarantine. 

YELLOWING. The passing over of captains at a flag promotion. 

YELLOW-TAIL. A well-known tropical fish, often in company withwhip-rays; it is about 4 feet long, with a great head, large eyes, andmany fins. _Leiostomas_. 

YEO-HEAVE-YEOING. The chant or noise made at the windlass andpurchase-falls in a merchantman, to cheer and lighten labour, but notpermitted in a man-of-war. 

YEOMAN. An experienced hand placed in charge of a store-room, who shouldbe able to keep the accounts of supply and expenditure. 

YESTY [from the Anglo-Saxon _gist_]. A foaming breaking sea. Shakspearein _Macbeth_ gives great power to this state of the waters:--

 "Though the yesty waves Confound, and swallow navigation up. "

YOKE. A transverse board or metal bar, a substitute for the tiller, which crosses the head of a boat's rudder, and having two linesextending from its opposite extremities to the stern-sheets of the boat, whereby she is steered. 

YOKE-LINES. The ropes by which the boat's steerage is managed. 

YOUNG. A word often used for uninitiated. --_Young gentlemen_, a generaldesignation for midshipmen, whatever their age. 

YOUNG FLOOD. _See_ FLOOD. 

YOUNG ICE. Nearly the same as bay-ice, except that it is only applied toice very recently formed, or of the present season. 

YOUNGSTER, OR YOUNKER [an old term; from the Anglo-Saxon _junker_]. Avolunteer of the first-class, and a general epithet for a stripling inthe service. 

YOUNG WIND. The commencement of the land or sea breeze. 

YOU, SIR! The irritating mode in which some officers address the seamen. The late Lord Collingwood never permitted it. 

YOW-YOW. A smaller kind of Chinese sampan. 

Y'S OF AN INSTRUMENT. The Y-shaped bearings for the telescope axis, onthe precision of which the value of an astronomical observation muchdepends: similar to the bearings of steam-engines, &c. 

Z. 

ZAFAR. A coil of Spanish rope. 

ZAMBO. A term on the Spanish Main for a race produced by the union ofthe negro and the Indian; it literally means _bow-legged_. 

ZEAL. A quality essentially requisite in forming the character of anefficient officer, since it comprehends ardour for the service, promptobedience to orders, cheerful disposition, and a studious application toprofessional science. 

ZECCHINO [from _zecca_, a mint]. A gold coin of Italy; average value, 9_s. _ 6_d. _

ZECHIN. A Turkish coin. (_See_ SEQUIN. )

ZENITH. The pole of the horizon, or that point in the heavens directlyoverhead, as nadir is that which is directly under our feet. 

ZENITH-DISTANCE. The angular distance of any celestial object from thezenith at the time of observation. In navigation the meridionalzenith-distance of a heavenly body is much used for finding thelatitude. 

ZEPHYR. The west wind, but generally considered to apply to any lightpleasant breeze. 

ZERO. The cypher or nought at the beginning of a graduated arc. 

ZETETIC. The analytic method of investigating a mathematical problem. 

ZIG-ZAG. The winding trench of approach of a besieger, directed by shortturns alternately right and left of the defences of the place, to avoidbeing enfiladed by them. Called also a _boyau_. 

ZIG-ZAG COURSE. Working to windward by very short tacks or angularturning boards. 

ZODIAC. A broad zone or belt of the heavens, the middle of which is theecliptic, extending 9° on either side of it. It is divided into twelvesigns, each measuring 30° along the ecliptic. 

ZODIACAL LIGHT. A pyramidal cone of light, apparently emanating from therising and setting sun, commonly seen in the tropics; in higherlatitudes most visible about the time of the equinoxes. 

ZOLL, OR SAUL. An Indian timber, much used in the construction ofcountry vessels. 

ZONE. _See_ BELT. 

ZONE OF DECLINATION. A belt of the heavens included between certainparallels of declination. 

ZONES, IN GEOGRAPHY, are longitudinal belts into which the surface ofthe earth is divided, according to their various relation to the sun'sapparent motion. They are--the _torrid_ or _equatorial zone_, bounded bythe two _tropics_ (which see), to every part of which, at some time orother, the sun is vertical; the _frigid zones_, from the poles to thepolar circles, to every part of which in succession, periodically, thesun is at mid-day below the horizon; and the _temperate zones_, intermediate between the two former, to all of which the sun rises everyday in the year. 

ZOOPHYTE. A term compounded of two Greek words, signifying animal-plant, vaguely applied to various low forms of animal organizations, as thesea-anemones and coral animals, which present a certain superficialresemblance to plants. 

ZOPISSA. Tar or pitch scraped off the bottoms of old ships, and thoughtto be astringent and good for ulcers. Also, a highly preservativevarnish in use by the ancients for ships' bottoms, sarcophagi, &c. 

ZUHN. A species of Indian rush, from which an inferior kind of cordageand canvas is made. 

ZUMBRA. A Spanish skiff or yawl. 

GLASGOW: W. G. BLACKIE AND CO. , PRINTERS, VILLAFIELD. 

Transcriber's Notes and Amendments:

In keeping with the original publication, whether due to typographicallimitations or for ease of reference, accented capital letters do notappear in the text. 

Hyphenation has been standardised. Compound words heading a definitionin the text have been taken to be the preferred form in most cases. Additionally, where one form of a compound word has been used in a clearmajority of instances, the least common form has been amended. Hyphenation remains as printed when used for emphasis or humourouseffect, within quotations, or when no clear preference exists. 

Several invalid links between definitions existed in the original text. Such errors caused by confusion between singular and plural forms, orword order, have been corrected without note. 

Significant amendments, unresolved invalid links and further notes havebeen listed below. 

 P. 14, ABOX, 'BRACE-ABOX' amended to _BRACE ABACK_. 

 P. 15, ACATER, 'Devil of an Ass' amended to _The Devil is an Ass_. 

 P. 16, ACKER, 'EAGOR' amended to _AIGRE_. 

 P. 23, AFFECTIONATE FRIENDS, 'Phil. . More' amended to _Phillimore_. 

 P. 24, AFTER, 'mizzen' amended to _mizen_; AFTER-FACE, 'BACK OF THE STERN-POST' amended to _BACK OF THE POST_. 

 P. 29, ALBACORE, 'Scomberidæ' amended to _Scombridæ_. 

 P. 32, ALMURY, duplicate, out-of-sequence entry removed. 

 P. 35, AMAIN, 'STRIKING' amended to _STRIKE_; 'WAVE' amended to _WAVING_. 

 P. 37, AMPHOTEROPLON, 'HETOROPLON' amended to _HETEROPLON_. 

 P. 38, ANCHOR, 'grappling' amended to _grapling_. 

 P. 41, ANEMONE, 'SEA-ANEMONE' amended to _ANIMAL FLOWERS_; ANGLE, invalid links: '_curvilinear_' and '_rectilinear_'. 

 P. 42, ANGULAR CRAB, 'Gonophlex angulatus' amended to _Goneplax angulata_. 

 P. 45, ANTICHTHONES, originally 'ANTICTHONES'. 

 P. 46, APAGOGE, originally 'APAGOG'. 

 P. 52, ARM, 'tressel-trees' amended to _trestle-trees_. 

 P. 54, ARREST, 'her Majesty service' amended to _Her Majesty's service_. 

 P. 59, ATAGHAN, originally 'ATAGAN'; 'YATAGAN' amended to _YATAGHAN_. 

 P. 62, AUTOMATIC BLOW-OFF APPARATUS, originally 'AUTOMIC . .. '; 'BLOWING-OFF' amended to _BLOW-OFF-PIPE_. 

 P. 64, AWNING, 'EUPHRÆ' amended to _EUPHROE_. 

 P. 67, BACKSTAYS, 'salvigee' amended to _selvagee_. 

 P. 68, BAD-RELIEF, invalid link: 'ONE-BELL'. 

 P. 69, BAIDAR, 'KAIACK' amended to _KAYAK_. 

 P. 70, BALANCE, 'COMPENSATION' amended to _CHRONOMETER_. 

 P. 74, BANANA, 'Musa paradisaica' amended to _Musa paradisiaca_; BANG, 'amuk' amended to _amok_. 

 P. 76, BANK OF OARS, 'DOUBLE-BANK' amended to _DOUBLE-BANKED_. 

 P. 80, BAROMETER, 'foretel' amended to _foretell_. 

 P. 84, BASTARD-MACKEREL, 'Scomberidæ' amended to _Scombridæ_. 

 P. 85, BATTENING THE HATCHES, 'BATTENS' amended to _BATTENS OF THE HATCHES_. 

 P. 86, BATTERING GUNS, 'GARRISON ARTILLERY' amended to _GARRISON GUNS_. 

 P. 90, BEAR, 'rowsed' amended to _roused_. 

 P. 97, BERMUDA SAILS, ''MUGIAN' amended to _'MUDIAN_. 

 P. 98, BIBBS, 'tressel-trees' amended to _trestle-trees_. 

 P. 99, BILBO, 'Bilboa' amended to _Bilbao_. 

 P. 102, BIRD'S-FOOT SEA-STAR, 'Arteriadæ' amended to _Asterinidæ_; BIRD'S NEST, invalid link: 'EDIBLE BIRD'S NEST', see AGAL-AGAL. 

 P. 105, BLADDER-FISH, 'tetrodon' amended to _tetraodon_. 

 P. 110, BLUBBER, invalid link: 'SEA-BLUBBER', see JELLY-FISH. 

 P. 113, BOATSWAIN-BIRD, 'Phaeton œthereus' amended to _Phaethon æthereus_. 

 P. 116, BOLSTERS, 'tressel-trees' amended to _trestle-trees_. 

 P. 118, BOOK, 'muslins, bastas' amended to _muslin, bast_. 

 P. 120, BORE, 'Hoogley' amended to _Hooghly_. 

 P. 123, BOUND, 'NEAP' amended to _NEAPED_. 

 P. 125, BOWSE, 'pullies' amended to _pulleys_. 

 P. 126, BOXING, invalid link: 'BOXING OF RUDDER'. 

 P. 127, BRAB, 'sinnot' amended to _sinnet_; BRACE ABACK, 'COUNTER-BRACING' amended to _COUNTER-BRACE_. 

 P. 130, BREADTH, 'TOP BREADTH' amended to _TOP-TIMBER BREADTH_; BREAKERS, 'BARECA' amended to _BAREKA_. 

 P. 136, BRISMAK, 'Brosmus vulgaris' amended to _Brosmius vulgaris_. 

 P. 137, BROCAGE, invalid link: '_brokerage_'; BROCLES, invalid link: 'STRAKE-NAILS'. 

 P. 141, BUILDING, 'rabetting' amended to _rabbeting_. 

 P. 142, BULK-HEADS, 'rabetted' amended to _rabbeted_. 

 P. 147, BURGOO, 'SKILLAGALEE' amended to _SKILLY_; BURNETTIZE, originally 'BURNETIZE'; BURTON, 'pullies' amended to _pulleys_. 

 P. 148, BUSY AS THE DEVIL IN A GALE OF WIND, 'Fidgetty' amended to _Fidgety_; BUTESCARLI, '_the_ EQUIPMENT OF' amended to _EQUIPMENT_. 

 P. 149, BYRTH, 'BIRTH or BERTH' amended to _BURDEN or BURTHEN_. 

 P. 151, CABLE, TO COIL A, 'CACKLING, KECKLING' amended to _KECKLING_; CABONS, 'KABURUS' amended to _KABURNS_. 

 P. 155, CAMP, 'LEAVING THE CAMP' amended to _DECAMP_. 

 P. 156, CANNON, 'pomelion' amended to _pommelion_. 

 P. 157, CANTEEN, 'suttling-house' amended to _sutling-house_. 

 P. 159, CAPE-HEN, 'MOLLY-MOK' amended to _MOLLY-MAWK_. 

 P. 160, CAP-SHORE, 'tressle-tree' amended to _trestle-tree_. 

 P. 161, CAPSTAN-BARS, 'hiccory' amended to _hickory_. 

 P. 162, CAPTAIN OF THE PORT, invalid link: 'PORT-CAPTAIN'. 

 P. 164, CARL, 'FEMBLE' amended to _FEMALE_. 

 P. 165, CARR, 'KARR' amended to _CAR_. 

 P. 169, CASTLE, 'AFTER-CASTLE' amended to _AFT-CASTLE_. 

 P. 170, CAST OF THE LEAD, 'HEAVE and SOUND' amended to _HEAVE THE LEAD and SOUNDING_; CASTOR AND POLLUX, 'COMPOSANT and CORPO SANTO' amended to _COMPASANT and CORPOSANT_. 

 P. 174, CENTINEL, 'SENTRY' amended to _SENTINEL_. 

 P. 175, CETINE, 'Heyschius' amended to _Hesychius_. 

 P. 177, CHALDRICK, 'Hæmantopus ostralegus' amended to _Hæmatopus ostralegus_; CHAMBER, 'MURTHERER' amended to _MURDERER_. 

 P. 178, CHAMFER, originally 'CHAMPFER'. 

 P. 179, CHART, invalid link: '_globular charts_'. 

 P. 182, CHEEKS OF THE MAST, 'TRESTLE-TREE BIBS' amended to _BIBBS_. 

 P. 183, CHEST-ROPE, 'GUEST-ROPE' amended to _GUESS-WARP_; CHEWING OF OAKUM, 'SPACE' amended to _SEAM_. 

 P. 187, CIPHERING, 'SYPHERING' amended to _SYPHERED_; CIRCLES, 'LESS' amended to _LESSER_. 

 P. 188, CLAMS, 'DEEP-SEA CLAM' amended to _CLAM_. 

 P. 189, CLASP-HOOK, invalid link: 'SPAR-HOOK'; CLEAN DONE, invalid link: 'WEATHERED'. 

 P. 190, CLEAR THE PENDANT, invalid link: 'UP AND CLEAR THE PENDANT'. 

 P. 192, CLOSE-BUTT, 'rabbetted' amended to _rabbeted_; CLOSE PACK, 'PACK' amended to _PACK-ICE_. 

 P. 194, CLOY, 'NAIL and SPIKE' amended to _NAILING and SPIKING_; CLUBBOCK, 'Gunellus vulgaris' amended to _Gunnellus vulgaris_. 

 P. 195, CLUMP-BLOCKS, invalid link: 'TACK-AND-SHEET'. 

 P. 196, COAST-BLOCKADE, 'SEA FENCIBLES' amended to _FENCIBLES_. 

 P. 198, COCOA-NUT TREE, 'PALMA' amended to _PALMETTO_. 

 P. 199, COD-FISHER'S CREW, invalid link: 'FISHERIES'. 

 P. 202, COMBUSTION, invalid link: 'SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION'. 

 P. 204, COMMUNICATION, invalid link: 'LINE OF COMMUNICATION'. 

 P. 210, CONTACT, 'MEASUREMENT BY SEXTANT' amended to _SEXTANT_. 

 P. 212, COOP, invalid link: 'HEN-COOP'. 

 P. 213, CORACORA, 'KORACORA' amended to _KOROCORA_. 

 P. 215, COSTS AND DAMAGE, invalid link: 'EXPENSES'. 

 P. 222, CREPUSCULUM, invalid link: 'TWILIGHT'. 

 P. 225, CROW-FOOT, 'uvrow' amended to _uvrou_; CROWNING, 'WALL' amended to _WALL-KNOT_. 

 P. 227, CUDBERDUCE, 'Farn Isles' amended to _Farne Isles_; CUMULO-CIRRO-STRATUS, originally 'CUMULO-CIRRUS-STRATUS'. 

 P. 232, CYPHERING, 'SYPHERING' amended to _SYPHERED_. 

 P. 235, DEAD-EYE, 'uvrows' amended to _uvrous_. 

 P. 236, DEAD-RISING, invalid link: 'RISING-LINE'. 

 P. 239, DECKS, assuming the accuracy of the rest of the table, the final figures in the lbs. Column, originally '3960' and '1980', have been corrected to _3920_ and _1960_; DECK-STOPPER, 'STOPPER' amended to _STOPPER OF THE CABLE_. 

 P. 246, DIAGONAL BRACES, 'TRUSSING' amended to _DIAGONAL TRUSSING_. 

 P. 248, DILLOSK, 'DULSE' amended to _DULCE_. 

 P. 252, DISTINGUISHING PENDANT, 'SIGNALLING' amended to _SIGNALS_. 

 P. 258, DORNICLE, 'vivaparous' amended to _viviparous_. 

 P. 262, DRAGOON, 'TROOPER' amended to _TROOP_. 

 P. 263, DREW, 'Fucus lorcus' amended to _Fucus loreus_; DRIFT-ICE, 'ICE' amended to OPEN ICE. 

 P. 265, DROPS, 'munions' amended to _munnions_; DRUMHEAD COURT-MARTIAL, 'PROVOST MARTIAL' amended to _PROVOST-MARSHAL_. 

 P. 273, EEKING, 'EIKING' amended to _EKEING_. 

 P. 274, EJECTAMENTA MARIS, 'JETSOM' amended to _JETSAM_. 

 P. 277, ENGINE, MARINE, 'STEAM-ENGINE' amended to _MARINE ENGINES_. 

 P. 280, ERRATIC WINDS, 'VARIABLE WINDS' amended to _VARIABLES_. 

 P. 284, EYELET-HOLES, 'robans' amended to _robands_; EYE OF THE WIND, invalid link: 'WIND'S-EYE'; EYE-SPLICE, 'SPLICED-EYE' amended to _SPLICE_; EYGHT, 'alluvian' amended to _alluvial_. 

 P. 287, FALLING OUT, 'flairing' amended to _flaring_. 

 P. 290, FAUSSEBRAYE, 'counter-gard' amended to _counterguard_. 

 P. 293, FIDDLE-BLOCK, 'LONG-TACKLE BLOCKS' amended to _LONG-TACKLES_. 

 P. 296, FINE, invalid link: 'FYEN'. 

 P. 298, FIRE-BUCKETS, 'sinnett' amended to _sinnet_. 

 P. 299, FIRST QUARTER OF THE MOON, 'QUARTER' amended to _QUARTER, FIRST_; FISHERMAN'S BEND, invalid link: 'STUDDING-SAIL BEND'. 

 P. 308, FLOW, 'tideology' amended to _tidology_. 

 P. 309, FLUE, 'FLUKE OF ANCHOR' amended to _FLUKES_. 

 P. 312, FOLLOWING, 'QUADRANT OF DOUBLE-STARS' amended to _QUADRANT_. 

 P. 316, FORERUNNERS, 'LOG' amended to _LOG-LINE_. 

 P. 318, FORMING THE ORDER OF SAILING, 'SAILING' amended to _SAILING, ORDER OF_. 

 P. 320, FOUL HAWSE, 'ELBOW AND HAWSE' amended to _ELBOW IN THE HAWSE_; FOX, invalid link: 'SPANISH FOX'. 

 P. 323, FRESH, 'WIND, FORCE OF' amended to _FORCE_; FRESHEN HAWSE, 'CACKLING' amended to _KECKLING_. 

 P. 324, FRESH WATER, 'ICE' amended to _ICEBERG_. 

 P. 325, FRIGATE, 'Physalis pelagica' amended to _Physalia pelagica_. 

 P. 326, F. R. S. , 'siglæ' amended to _sigla_. 

 P. 332, GALLEY-FOIST, 'FUSTE' amended to _FUST_. 

 P. 333, GALLIGASKINS, 'Sap to the Divell' amended to _Supplication to the Divell_. 

 P. 335, GARNET, 'CLUE GARNET-BLOCK' amended to _CLUE-GARNETS_. 

 P. 338, GEOGRAPHICAL POSITION, 'POSITION' amended to _POSITION, GEOGRAPHICAL_. 

 P. 340, GIRT, 'RIDING' amended to _RIDE_; GIVE A SPELL, 'SPELL-O!' amended to _SPELL_. 

 P. 343, GONDOLA, 'rostrique tridentibus' amended to _rostrisque tridentibus_. 

 P. 346, GRAIN UPSET, 'buccles' amended to _buckles_. 

 P. 347, GRAPPLE, 'Duillius' amended to _Duilius_; GRASS, 'FEED' amended to _FEED OF GRASS_; GRATINGS OF THE HEAD, invalid link: 'HEAD-GRATINGS'. 

 P. 348, GRAYLING, 'UMBER' amended to _OMBRE_; GREAT-LINE FISHING, invalid link: 'LINE-FISHING'; GREEN, 'Pandulp' amended to _Pandulph_;

 P. 352, GAUGE, originally 'GUAGE'; 'guage' amended to _gauge_; re-indexed (p. 337); GAUGE-ROD, originally 'GUAGE-ROD'; re-indexed as above. 

 P. 354, GUIDOR, 'condor' amended to _conder_. 

 P. 355, GULF-WEED, 'crustaceæ' amended to _crustacea_. 

 P. 358, GUN-PORTS, 'PORT-HOLES' amended to _PORTS_. 

 P. 361, HADDOCK, 'Gadus ægilfinus' amended to _Gadus æglefinus_; HAKE, 'Gadus merlucius' amended to _Gadus merluccius_. 

 P. 363, HAMACS, 'HAMMOCKS AND HAMMACS' amended to _HAMMOCK_. 

 P. 364, HAMMOCK, 'Caribbs' amended to _Caribs_. 

 P. 366, HANGING-KNEES, 'loding-knees' amended to _lodging-knees_. 

 P. 369, HARPER-CRAB, invalid link: 'TOMMY HARPER'. 

 P. 370, HATCH, invalid link: 'HECK'. 

 P. 371, HAUL, 'ROWSE' amended to _ROUSE_. 

 P. 384, HOIST, 'SWAYING' and 'WHIPPING' amended to _SWAY_ and _WHIP_; invalid link: 'TRACING-UP'. 

 P. 385, HOLD, 'TRIM' amended to _TRIM OF THE HOLD_; HOLDING ON THE SLACK, invalid link: 'EYELIDS'; HOLDING WATER, 'ROWING' amended to _ROW_. 

 P. 392, HORSE-MUSSEL, invalid link: 'DUCK-MUSSEL'. 

 P. 393, HOUNDS, 'tressel-trees' amended to _trestle-trees_; HOUSING, 'THUMB-LINE, IRISH TWINE' amended to _TWINE_. 

 P. 394, HOWE, originally 'HOW'. 

 P. 398, ICE-TONGUE, 'TONGUE OF ICE' amended to _TONGUE_. 

 P. 399, ILET, 'EYELET' amended to _EYELET-HOLES_. 

 P. 407, JACK-PINS, 'Tackspins' amended to _Tack-pins_. 

 P. 408, JACK-STAYS, 'staystails' amended to _staysails_. 

 P. 409, JAVA POT, 'Alcyonum' amended to _Alcyonium_. 

 P. 410, JERME, originally 'JEROME'. 

 P. 411, JIB, 'GYBE' amended to _GYBING_. 

 P. 413, JOHN DORY, 'Scomberidæ' amended to _Scombridæ_; JOHNNY RAW, invalid link: 'RAW'. 

 P. 414, JUFFER, 'UPHER' amended to _UPHROE_. 

 P. 415, JUNCO, 'PURR' amended to _PURRE_; JUNK, 'sinnot' amended to _sinnet_. 

 P. 417, KAYU-PUTIH, 'putih' usually translates as 'white', however the translation of 'oil' has been retained; K. C. B. , 'siglæ' amended to _sigla_. 

 P. 424, KNAGGY, 'Crochetty' amended to _Crotchety_. 

 P. 426, KNUCKLE-TIMBERS, 'flair' amended to _flare_. 

 P. 432, LAP'S COURSE, 'LOBS-SCOUSE' amended to _LOBSCOUSE_. 

 P. 436, LEAD, SOUNDING, 'HAND LEAD-LINE' amended to _HAND-LINE_; 'DEEP-SEA LEAD-LINE' amended to _DEEP-SEA LINE_. 

 P. 438, 'LEE-GUAGE' amended to _LEE-GAUGE_. 

 P. 440, LET GO UNDER FOOT, 'ANCHOR UNDER FOOT' amended to _UNDER FOOT_. 

 P. 441, LICENSE, invalid link: 'RUNNER, LICENSED'. 

 P. 444, LIFTS, 'TOPPING' amended to _TOPPING-LIFTS_; LIGHT-HORSEMAN, invalid link: 'WALLMIA'. 

 P. 451, LOBSTER-TOAD, invalid link: 'DEEP-SEA CRAB'. 

 P. 455, LONG STERN-TIMBERS, invalid link: 'STERN-TIMBERS'. 

 P. 458, LUFF AND TOUCH HER!, 'TOUCH' amended to _TOUCHING_. 

 P. 462, MADE, 'MASTS' amended to _MADE MASTS_; MAGELLANIC CLOUDS, 'Nebiculæ' amended to _Nubeculæ_. 

 P. 465, MAKE WATER, invalid link: 'FOUL WATER'. 

 P. 466, MANCHE OF MANGALORE, 'patamirs' amended to _patamars_; MANGONEL, 'balista' amended to _ballista_. 

 P. 467, MAN-OF-WAR BIRD, 'Frigata aquila' amended to _Fregata aquila_; 'Pelicanidæ' amended to _Pelecanidæ_; MANSIONS OF THE MOON, invalid link: 'LUNAR MANSIONS'; MAON, 'MAHONE, PORT OF' amended to _MAHONE_. 

 P. 471, MAST, 'JURY' amended to _JURY-MAST_. 

 P. 474, MAUL, 'trenails' amended to _tree-nails_; MAY, 'VENDABALES' amended to _VENDAVAL_. 

 P. 480, MISCHIEF, 'MASTER OF MISCHIEF' amended to _MASTER OF MISRULE_. 

 P. 481, MOCCASIN, originally 'MOCCASSIN'. 

 P. 486, MOTHER CARY'S GOOSE, 'Quebranta-huessos' amended to _Quebranta huesos_. 

 P. 487, MUCK, 'AMOCK' amended to _AMOK_. 

 P. 488, MUD-SHORES, 'Guiyana' amended to _Guiana_. 

 P. 491, NAILING A GUN, 'SPIKE' amended to _SPIKING_; NARROWING, 'RISING HALF-BREADTH' amended to _HALF-BREADTH OF THE RISING_. 

 P. 496, NEGRO-BOAT, 'ALMODIE' amended to _ALMADIA_; NET AND COBLE, 'sassine' amended to _sasses_. 

 P. 503, OAR-PROPULSION, invalid link: 'STERN-OAR'; OAZE, invalid link: 'OOZE'. 

 P. 504, OE, 'Ferroe Islands' amended to _Faeroe Islands_. 

 P. 506, OLICK, 'Gadus callaris' amended to _Gadus callarias_; OLPIS, 'CONDOR' amended to _CONDER_. 

 P. 508, ORDER OF SAILING, 'SAILING' amended to _SAILING, ORDER OF_. 

 P. 510, OTSEGO BASS, 'Corregonus otsego' amended to _Coregonus otsego_. 

 P. 513, OVER-SETTING, invalid link: 'UPSET'; OVERSLAUGH, 'roaster' amended to _roster_; OXYRINCHUS, originally 'OXYRHINCUS'. 

 P. 524, PEON-WOOD, invalid link: 'POON-WOOD'. 

 P. 525, PERIWINKLE, originally 'PERRIWINKLE'; re-indexed (p. 524). 

 P. 527, PICKLING, 'BURNETIZE' amended to _BURNETTIZE_; PILCHARD, 'Clupea pilcardus' amended to _Clupea pilchardus_. 

 P. 530, PIT, invalid link: 'SAW-PIT'. 

 P. 536, POLES, 'SCUDDING' amended to _SCUD_; 'TRYING' amended to _TRY_. 

 P. 537, POOR JOHN, 'baccalao' amended to _bacalao_. 

 P. 539, PORTE, invalid link: 'SUBLIME PORTE'. 

 P. 540, PORTUGUESE MAN-OF-WAR, 'Physalis pelagica' amended to _Physalia pelagica_. 

 P. 546, PROFILE OF A FORT, 'ORTHOGRAPHY' amended to _ORTHOGRAPHIC PROJECTION_. 

 P. 547, PROSPECTIVE, invalid link: 'SPY-GLASS'. 

 P. 550, PURSER'S STOCKING, 'SHEW A LEG' amended to _SHOW A LEG_. 

 P. 557, RACKING A TACKLE, 'LANNIARD' amended to _LANIARD_. 

 P. 558, RAILS OF THE STERN, invalid link: 'STERN-RAILS'. 

 P. 563, REBATE, invalid link: 'DISCOUNT'. 

 P. 570, RETURNS, invalid link: 'SUPPLIES AND RETURNS'. 

 P. 573, RIGGING-STOPPER, 'STOPPERS' amended to _STOPPER OF THE CABLE_. 

 P. 574, RIMER, 'REEMER' amended to _REEMING_. 

 P. 575, RIPPING-IRON, 'REEMER' amended to _REEMING_; RIPPS, 'TIDE-RIPPS' amended to _TIDE-RIP_. 

 P. 576, RITTOCH, 'Sterna hirnudo' amended to _Sterna hirundo_. 

 P. 581, ROUND SEIZING, originally split into two entries when carried over to the next page. 

 P. 583, ROVE, 'sheeve-hole' amended to _sheave-hole_. 

 P. 590, SAINT CUTHBERT'S DUCK, 'Feroe Islands' amended to _Farne Islands_; SAINT SWITHIN, '6th of July' amended to _15th of July_. 

 P. 593, SARDINE, 'Engraulus maletta' amended to _Engraulis meletta_, although this applies to the anchovy. 

 P. 594, SAW-FISH, 'Pritis antiquorum' amended to _Pristis antiquorum_; SCALE, 'GUNTER'S SCALE' amended to _GUNTER'S LINE_. 

 P. 595, SCENOGRAPHY, originally 'SCHENOGRAPHY'; re-indexed; SCHEDAR, 'Cassiopæa' amended to _Cassiopeia_. 

 P. 596, SCOTCHMAN, 'skotch' amended to _scotch_. 

 P. 599, SEA, 'flotsom and jetsom' amended to _flotsam and jetsam_. 

 P. 601, SEA-GAUGE, invalid link: 'WATER-BOTTLE'. 

 P. 602, SEA-LAWS, 'Wisboy' amended to _Wisbuy_. 

 P. 603, SEA-POACHER, 'Cataphractus schonveldii' amended to _Cottus cataphractus_. 

 P. 604, SEA-SLEECH, originally 'SEA-SLETCH'; re-indexed; link likewise amended. 

 P. 606, SECTION, 'logitudinally' amended to _longitudinally_. 

 P. 607, SELLOCK, 'SILLUK' amended to _SILLOCK_. 

 P. 616, SHINER, invalid link: '_dace_'. 

 P. 617, SHIP, 'MERCHANT' amended to _MERCHANTMAN_; SHIP-LOG, 'LOG' amended to _LOG-BOOK_. 

 P. 618, SHIPPER, 'SCHIPPER' amended to _SKIPPER_. 

 P. 622, SHOVELL, 'Spathulea clypeata' amended to _Spatula clypeata_. 

 P. 623, SHROUDS, 'CHANNEL' amended to _CHAINS_. 

 P. 624, SHURGEE, originally 'SHURQEE'. 

 P. 627, SIMOOM, 'klamsin' amended to _kamsin_; SISTER-KEELSONS, 'SIDE KEELS' amended to _SIDE-KEELSONS_. 

 P. 629, SKIP-JACK, 'boneta' amended to _bonito_. 

 P. 632, SLING-DOGS, 'SPAN-DOGS' amended to _DOG_. 

 P. 636, SNAKING, 'WORMING' amended to _WORM_; SNOOK, 'Scomberidæ' amended to _Scombridæ_. 

 P. 641, SPECK-BLOCKS, 'FLENSING' amended to _FLENSE_. 

 P. 649, STAMP AND GO!, 'topsail-haliards' amended to _topsail-halliards_. 

 P. 654, STEAM-PIPE, invalid link: 'WASTE STEAM-PIPE', see SAFETY-VALVE. 

 P. 662, STRETCHER, invalid link: 'SHEER-POLE', see SHEER-BATTEN. 

 P. 663, STUBB, 'wearer' amended to _weather_. 

 P. 666, SUN-STAR, 'Solaster paposa' amended to _Solaster papposus_. 

 P. 667, SURF-BOAT, 'MASSOOLAH-BOAT' amended to _MASULAH BOATS_. 

 P. 670, SWORD-FISH, 'Scomberidæ' amended to _Scombridæ_. 

 P. 674, TANG, 'Fucus digitata' amended to _Fucus digitatus_. 

 P. 680, THROAT-BRAILS, invalid link: 'TOPMAST-STAYSAILS'; THROUGH-PIECES, invalid link: 'GRAVING-PIECES'. 

 P. 686, TOP, 'bibs' amended to _bibbs_. 

 P. 687, TOP-GALLANT QUARTER-BOARDS, invalid link: 'QUARTER-BOARDS'. 

 P. 689, TORTUE DE MER, 'gabare' amended to _gabarre_. 

 P. 699, TROPIC-BIRD, 'Phaeton ætherius' amended to _Phaethon æthereus_. 

 P. 700, TRUCKS, 'PARREL' amended to _PARRALS_. 

 P. 702, TUNNY, 'Scomberidæ' amended to _Scombridæ_; TURBOT, 'icthyophagi' amended to _ichthyophagi_. 

 P. 703, TUSK, 'Brosmus vulgaris' amended to _Brosmius vulgaris_. 

 P. 707, UNLIMBER, 'pintail' amended to _pintle_. 

 P. 712, VERTICAL PLAN, 'ORTHOGRAPHY' amended to _ORTHOGRAPHIC PROJECTION_. 

 P. 715, WAFT, 'recals' amended to _recalls_. 

 P. 717, WALL-SIDED, 'flairing' amended to _flaring_. 

 P. 723, WAY, invalid link: 'WIND'S-WAY'. 

 P. 727, WEST-COUNTRY PARSON, 'Gadus marlucius' amended to _Gadus merluccius_. 

 P. 728, WHAUP, 'Numenius arcuatus' amended to _Numenius arquatus_. 

 P. 729, WHIMBREL, 'Numenius phæpus' amended to _Numenius phæopus_. 

 P. 730, WHISTLE, 'BOATSWAIN'S CALL' amended to _CALL_. 

 P. 736, WOLF-FISH, 'Anarrichas lupus' amended to _Anarhichas lupus_. 

 P. 738, WORK UP JUNK, 'sinnit' amended to _sinnet_.