"A Dictionary of Sea-Terms" 1863/1870

From "'American, [sic] Edition - The Young Sea Officer's Sheet Anchor; or a Key to the Leading of Rigging, and to Practical Seamanship.' by Darcy Lever Esq.r with Additions by George W. Blunt." New-York: E & G.W. Blunt. 1863.

In the "Preface to the Revised American Edition." (written at New York, December 7, 1870, by Geo. W. Blunt), revisions to the "Dictionary of Sea-terms" are described "...[as having] been carefully revised and enlarged, sixteen additional pages of terms, with their explanations, having been inserted."

FINDING TERMS AND PHRASES

Search for terms & phrases, or key words in a phrase; expect to find them not only as 'headwords' followed by definitions 'in the standard location', but buried elsewhere in the body of that definition or that of some other phrase. For example, in the hawse and Open hawse are not defined per se, but might be found in the body of the definition for HAWSE, viz.

HAWSE.

The situation of the cables before a vessel's stem, when moored. Also the distance upon the water a little in advance of the stem; as, a vessel sails athwart the hawse, or anchors in the hawse of another.

Open hawse. When a vessel rides by two anchors, without any cross in her cables.

TEXT FORMATTING

In the original, terms are given as capitalized words or phrases (headwords), italicized, rather than in all-capitals. Further, so that the entries would alphabetize usefully upon sorting in a computer database, headward phrases such as "To bitt the cable" have been written as "BITT THE CABLE, TO..." or "BITT THE CABLE: TO BITT THE CABLE." There are minor differences in placement of lines with respect to headwords and each other, encouraged by the 'html' definition-list format, which has been allowed to dominate.

Transcribed by Christopher Morrison, December 1997.

While the content of the "Dictionary..." itself is in the public domain, the typing involved in transcribing it was far from trivial; this transcription is therefore offered solely for non-commercial use only, viz., academic and personal use.

All new material (this prefatory commentary) copyright 1997, Christopher Morrison

ABACK

A sail is aback when its forward surface is acted upon by the wind.

ABAFT

The hinder part of a ship; behind: thus, abaft the fore-mast, means anything between the stern and the more-mast

ABOARD

In the ship: as, the cargo is aboard. A ship is said to fall aboard when she runs foul of another. To get aboard the main deck is to bring the clew of the main-sail down to the chess-tree.

ABOUT

A ship is said to be going about when in the act of tacking, the order for which is, "Ready about there!"

ABREAST

Opposite to.

ACCOMODATION LADDER

A temporary stairs at the sides of vessels, for the accomodation of officers and visitors.

ADRIFT

Broken loose from the moorings.

AFLOAT

Swimming; not touching the bottom.

AFORE

That part of the ship nearest to the stem or head.

AFT

Behind: as, "Stand farther aft!" that is, stand nearer to the stern.

AFTER

Hinder: as, the after ports, those ports nearest to the stern. After-sails, after-hatchways, &c.

AGROUND

Not having water enough to float the ship, which rests on the ground.

AHEAD

Before the ship.

A-HULL

The situation of a ship when all her sails are furled, and her helm is lashed to the lee-side.

A-LEE

The helm is a-lee when the tiller is put to the lee-side. Hard a-lee, when it is put as far as it will go in that direction.

ALL IN THE WIND

When the wind blows on the leaches or outward extremities of the sails, and causes them to shake.

ALL HANDS, HOY!

The word given to assemble the ship's company.

ALOFT

Up above; in the rigging; on the yards; at the mast-head, &c.

ALONGSIDE

Close to the ship.

ALOOF

At a distance. Keep aloof; that is, keep at a distance.

AMAIN

The old term for yield; but it now signifies anything done suddenly, or at once, by a number of men.

AMIDSHIPS

In the middle of the vessel. The helm is amidships when the tiller is not put over to either one side or the other.

ANCHORAGE

Ground fit to anchor in.

ANCHOR: TO ANCHOR

To let the anchor fall overboard, that it may hold the ship.

FOUL THE ANCHOR

To let the cable be twisted round the upper fluke, &c.

DRAG THE ANCHOR, TO

When the ship pulls it with her, from the violence of the wind.

A-COCKBILL: THE ANCHOR IS A-COCKBILL

When hanging by the ring or stopper at the cat-head.

A-PEAK: THE ANCHOR IS A-PEAK

When near to the ship. Thus, at different distances, it is called a long peak, a stay peak, a short stay peak.

AWEIGH: THE ANCHOR IS AWEIGH OR ATRIP

When loosened from the ground by heaving in the cable.

ATRIP: THE ANCHOR IS AWEIGH OR ATRIP

When loosened from the ground by heaving in the cable.

CATTED: THE ANCHOR IS CATTED

When drawn up to the cathead.

FISHED: THE ANCHOR IS FISHED

When its inner arm is drawn up by the fish pendent.

BACK THE ANCHOR, TO

To place another anchor, or any heavy material, at a certain distance before it, and attached to it by the cable of the former being fastened to it, which fixes it firmly in the ground.

WEIGH THE ANCHOR, TO

To heave it up by the capstan or windlass.

SHEET ANCHOR: THE SHEET ANCHOR

Is of the same size and weight as the two bower anchors and the spare anchor. It is a resource and dependence should either of the bowers part, for which purpose the cable or chain is always kept ready bend, with a long range, that it may be let go on an emergencey.

BEST BOWER [ANCHOR]

[one of] The two anchors which are in use [the other being the small bower]

SMALL BOWER [ANCHOR]

[one of] The two anchors which are in use [the other being the best bower]

STREAM ANCHOR: THE STREAM ANCHOR

Is used to bring the ship up with occasionally, or to steady her when she comes to a temporary mooring.

KEDGE ANCHOR: THE KEDGE ANCHOR

The smallest of the anchors, to which a hawser or cablet is generally bent.

AN-END

Any spar or mast placed perpendicularly. The topmasts are an end; that is, they are swayed up and fidded above the lower-mast. All an end; that is, all the masts are up in their proper stations.

A-PEEK (See ANCHOR.)

ASHORE

On land; aground.

ASTERN

behind the ship.

BACK ASTERN: TO BACK ASTERN

When rowing, to impel the boat with her stern foremost, by means of the oars.

ATHWART

Across. Athwart-hawse, across the stem. Athwart-ships, anything lying in a direction across the ship. Athwart the forefoot, a shot fired by another ship across the bows.

A-TRIP

The top-sails are atrip; that is, hoisted up. (See ANCHOR.)

AVAST

To cease hauling; to stop.

AWASH

Even with the surface of the water, and washed by it.

AWAY

To keep away; to go before the wind.

A-WEIGH

(See ANCHOR.)

A-WEATHER

The helm is said to be aweather when the tiller is put over to the windward side of the ship. Hard aweather, when it is put over as far as it will go in that direction.

AWNING

A canvas canopy placed over the deck when the sun is powerful.

AXIS OF ROTATION

An imaginary line round which the ship turns in obedience to the action of either the helm or sails.

BACK ASTERN: TO BACK ASTERN

To manage the oars in rowing in a direction contrary to the usual method.

BACK AND FILL: TO BACK AND FILL

To arrange the sails, when the ship is moving with the tide in a river, and against the wind, so as to keep her as near as possible in the middle of the stream, and to avoid obstacles by advancing or receding, as the case may be.

BACK THE SAILS: TO BACK THE SAILS

To expose their forward surfaces to the wind by hauling in the weather braces.

BACKSTAYS

Ropes fixed at the topmast and top-gallant-mast head, and extended to the chains on the ship's sides.

BAGPIPE THE MIZZEN: TO BAGPIPE...

To bring the sheet over to the weather mizzen shrouds, in order to lay it aback.

BALANCE REEF

The upper reef of a fore-and-aft mainsail or spanker, crossing the sail diagonally from a point on the mast near the throat to the leach, a little above the third reef.

BALANCE THE MIZZEN: TO BALANCE...

Rolling up a portion of it at the peak.

BALE, BALE THE BOAT

Throw the water out of her.

BALLAST

A quantity of iron, stone, gravel, &c., placed in the hold, to give a ship proper stability when she has no cargo, or but a small quantity of goods, &c.

BANDS

Pieces of canvas sewed across the sail, called reef-bands; also, a piece stuck on the middle of a sail to strengthen it, when half worn.

BAR

A shoal running across the mouth of a harbor.

BARS: CAPSTAN BARS

Pieces of timber put into the holes in the drum-head of the capstan (where they are secured with iron pins), to heave up the anchor.

BARE POLES

When a ship has no sail set, and in motion, she is under bare poles.

BARGE

The second class boat of a ship-of-war.

BATTENS

Slips of wood nailed on the slings of the yards, which are eight square; also, over the tarpaulings of a hatchway, to keep out the water in stormy weather.

BAYS

In men-of-war, the starboard and port sides between decks, before the bitts.

BEACON

a post or stake erected over a shoal or sand-bank, as a warning to seamen to keep at a distance; also, a signal placed at the top of hills. &c.

BEAMS

Strong pieces of timber across the ship, under the decks, bound to the side by knees. They support and keep the ship together.

BEAM ENDS: ON HER BEAM ENDS

A ship is said to be on her beam ends when she inclines so much to one side as to lie, as it were, on the ends of her beams.

BEAM: ON THE BEAM

When the wind blows at a right angle with the keel.

BEAM: BEFORE THE BEAM

When the wind or object bears on some point less than a right angle or ninety degrees from the ship's head.

BEAM: ABAFT THE BEAM

Whe the wind or object bears on a point which is more than a right angle, or ninety degrees from the ship's course.

BEAR A HAND!

Make haste, dispatch.

BEAR AWAY: TO...

To change the destination of the vessel through some necessity.

BEAR IN WITH: TO...

To sail toward; as, "to bear in with the land."

BEAR DOWN UPON: TO...

To approach a vessel from the windward.

BEAR OFF: TO...

To thrust or keep off from the ship's side, &c., any weight, when hoisting. To steer from the land.

BEAR UP: TO...

To change the course of a ship, so as to make her sail before the wind.

BEARING

The point of the compass on which any object appears. It is also applied to an object which lies opposite to any part of the ship; thus the buoy, &,., bears on the beam, the bow, the quarter, &c.

BEATING TO WINDWARD,

Tacking, and endeavoring to get to windward of some headland.

BECALMED

Having no wind to fill the sails. The ship being deprived of the power of the wind by the intervention of high land, a large ship, &c.

BECKETS

Short straps, having an eye in one end and a double walled-knot on the other, for suspending a yard, &c., till wanted; such are the beckets for the royal yards, for the bights of the sheets, &c.

BELAY, TO...

To make fast.

BEND

A kind of knot, as a sheet-bend, &c.; or a seizing, such as the bends of the cable.

BEND, TO...

To make fast; as, to bend the sails, the cable, &c.

BENDS

The streaks of thick stuff, or strongest planks in the ship's sides, on the broadest part. These are also called wales.

BERTH or BIRTH

A place of anchorage; a cabin or apartment.

BERTH-DECK

Deck where the sailors' hammocks are slung.

BETWEEN DECKS

Any part of the ship below, between two decks.

BIGHT

Any part of a rope between the ends. Also, a collar or eye formed by a rope.

BILGE

The flat part of a ship's bottom. To bilge, to break: as, The ship is bilged; that is, her planks are broken in by violence. Bilge-water, that which rests in the bilge, either from rain, shipping water, &c.

BINNACLE

The frame or box which contains the compass.

BITTER

The turn of the cable round the bitts. Bitter end, that part of the cable which stays within-board, round about the bitts, when the ship is at anchor.

BITTS

Large upright pieces of timber, with a cross-piece, over which the bight of the cable is put; also, smaller ones to belay ropes, such as top-sail sheets, &c.

BITT, TO...

To place a bight of the cable over the bitts.

BLOCKS

Instruments with sheaves or pulleys, used to increase the power of ropes.

BLOCK-AND-BLOCK

When the two blocks of a tackle are drawn so close together that there is no more of the fall left to haul upon; also termed Chock-a-block.

BOARD

To board a ship is to enter it in a hostile manner; to enter a ship.

MAKE A BOARD, TO

To tack.

MAKE A STERN-BOARD, TO

To drive a ship stern foremost by laying the sails aback.

BOARDING

Entering an enemy's ship by force. The men thus engaged are called Boarders.

BOARDING NETTING

Network triced round the ship to prevent boarders from entering.

BOATS

Small vessels. Those belonging to ships are the Launch or Long-boat, the Barge, the Pinnace, the Cutter, the Gig, the Jolly-boat, and the Yawl.

BOATSWAIN

The officer who has the charge of the cordage, boats, rigging, &c.

BOBSTAYS

Ropes reeved through or chains fastened to the cutwater, and set up with dead-eyes under the bowsprit, to act against the power of the forestays.

BOLD SHORE

A steep coast permitting the close approach of shipping.

BOLSTERS

Pieces of wood or canvas stuffed, placed on the lower trestle-trees, to keep the rigging from chafing.

BOLTS

Iron or copper fastenings, by which the ship is secured in her hull.

BOLT-ROPES

Ropes sewed round the edges of the sails.

BONNET OF A SAIL

An additional piece of canvas put to the sail in moderate weather to hold more wind. Lace on the bonnet! that is, fasten it to the sail. Shake off the bonnet! take it off.

BOOMS

Large poles used to extend the studding sails, spanker &c. Also, spare yards, masts, &c.

BOOM-IRONS

Iron caps fixed on the yard-arms, for the studding-sail booms to rest in.

BOOMING

The application of a boom to the sails. When a ship is said to come booming toward us, it signifies that she comes with all the sail she can make.

BOOT-TOPPING

Cleaning the upper part of a ship's bottom, or that part which lies immediately under the surface of the water, and daubing it over with tallow, or with a mixture of tallow, sulphur, rosin, &c.

BOTH SHEETS AFT

The situation of a ship sailing right before the wind.

BOW-GRACE

A frame of old rope or junk laid out at the bows, stems, and sides of ships, to prevent them from being injured by flakes of ice.

BOWS

The round part of the ship forward.

BOWSE, TO

To haul upon.

BOWER

The largest sized anchors.

BOWLINES

Ropes made fast to the leeches or sides of the sails, to pull them forward. To run on a bow-line, is to run right before the wind. [sic; cf. LARGE, SAILING]

BOWSPRIT

A mast projecting over the stem.

BOWSPRIT SHROUDS

(See SHROUDS.)

BOX-HAULING

a method of wearing or turning a ship from the wind.

BOXING OFF

Turning the ship's head from the wond by backing the head-sails.

BRACES

Ropes fastened to the yard-arms to brace them about. Also a security to the rudder, fixed to the stern-post.

BRAIL UP

The order to haul up a spanker or spencer.

BRAILS

Ropes applied to the after leach and foot of the mizzen and some of the stay-sails to draw them up.

BREAK BULK, TO

To begin to unload.

BREAK SHEER, TO

To swerve from the proper direction in which a ship should be when at anchor.

BREAMING

Burning the stuff collected on the ship's bottom during a long voyage.

BREAST-FAST

A rope employed to confine a ship sidewise to a wharf or other ship.

BREAST-HOOKS

Pieces of timber placed across the bows of the ship to keep them together.

BREASTWORK

Railing on the forepart of the quarter-deck where ropes are belayed.

BREECHING

A stout rope fixed to the cascabel of a gun, fastened to the ship's side, to prevent its running in.

BRIDLES

The upper part of the moorings laid in harbors for men-or-war. Also ropes attached from the leaches of the square ssils to the bowlines.

BRING UP, TO

To come to an anchor; to stop suddenly.

BRING TO, TO

To heave to: to make a ship stationary, stopping her way by bracing some of the sails aback and keeping others full, so that they counterpoise each other; also, to compel another vessel to heave to.

BRING TO THE WIND, TO

To put the helm to leeward.

BRING BY THE LEE, TO

When a ship is sailing with the wind very large, and flies off from it so as to bring it on the other side, the sails catching aback; she is then said to be brought by the lee; this is a dangerous position in a high sea.

BROACH TO, TO

Flying up in the wind so as to bring it on the other side, when blowing fresh.

BROADSIDE

A discharge of all the guns on one side of a ship, both above and below.

BROKEN-BACKED

The state of a ship when so loosened in her frame as to drop in the middle.

BULWARKS

The boarding of a vessel's side, between the deck and main rail.

BULKHEADS

Partitions in the ship.

BULL'S EYE

A wooden thimble.

BUMKIN or BOOMKIN

A short boom fitted to the bows of the ship for the purpose of hauling down the fore tack to. It is supported on each side by a shroud.

BUNT

The middle part of a square sail. Also, the fore leach of a quadrangular stay-sail.

BUNTLINE CLOTH

The lining sewed up the sail, to the direction of the buntline, to prevent that rope from chafing the sail.

BUNTLINES

Ropes attached to the foot of a square sail to haul up the bunt.

BUOY

A floating conical cask, moored upon shoals, to show where the danger is; it is also attached to anchors, to show where they lie, in case the cable breaks.

BURTON PENDANTS

The first piece of rigging which goes over the topmast head, to which is hooked a tackle, to set up the topmast shrouds.

BURY

That part of a mast which is below the deck.

BUSH

Metal let into the sheaves of blocks which have iron pins.

BUTT END

The end of a plank in the ship's side.

BUTTOCK

That part of the ship's hull under the stern, between the water line and wing transom.

BY THE BOARD

Over the side. A mast is said to go by the board when it is carried or shot away just above the deck.

BY THE HEAD

When a ship is deeper in the water forward than aft.

BY THE STERN

The reverse of By the head.

BY THE WIND

When a ship is as near to the wind as her head can lie with the sails filled.

CABIN

A room or apartment; also a bed-place.

CABLE

A large rope or chain by which the ship is secured to the anchor. Cables take thir names from the anchors to which they belong, as the sheet cable, the best bower cable, &c. They are generally 120 fathoms in length.

BITT THE CABLE, TO

(See Bitts.)

HEAVE IN THE CABLE, TO

To pull it into the ship by the capstan or windlass.

PAY OUT THE CABLE

To run it out of the hawse-hole.

VEER AWAY THE CABLE

To slacken it so that it may run out, as in paying out.

SERVE THE CABLE, TO

To wrap it round with rope, plat, or horse-hide, to keep it from chafing.

SLIP THE CABLE, TO

To let run clear out.

CABLE TIER

That part of the orlop deck where the cables are coiled. The coils or rolls of a cable.

CABOOSE

The place where the victuals are dressed in merchantmen. Also, the iron cook-stove or range for vessels.

CALL

A silver pipe or whistle used by the boatswain and his mates, by the sounding of which they call up the hands, direct them to haul, to veer, to belay, &c.

CANTED

Anything turned from its square position.

CANVAS

Strong cloth, of which the sails are made.

CAP

A block of wood which secures the top-mast to the lower mast.

CAPSIZE

To turn over.

CAPSTAN

A machine for drawing up the anchor by the messenger which is taken round it, and applied to the cable by the nippers.

CAREENING

Heaving a vessel down on one side, to clean or repair her bottom.

CARRICK BEND

A kind of knot.

CARRIED AWAY

Broken off; as, A ship has carried away her bowsprit.

CAST, TO

To pay a ship's head off, by backing the head-sails when heaving up the anchor so as to bring the wind on the side required.

CAT-BLOCK

A large double or three-fold block, used for drawing the anchor up to the cat-head.

CAT-HEAD

A large piece of timber or crane, projecting over the bow, for drawing up the anchor clear from the ship's side.

CAT-HARPINS

Short legs of rope seized to the upper part of the lower shrouds and futtock-staves, to keep them from bulging out by the strain of the futtock-shrouds, and to permit the bracing up of the lower yards.

CAT'S-PAW

A light air, perceived by its effect on the water, but not durable. Also, a twist made on the bight of a rope.

CALK, TO

To drive oakum into the seams of the sides, decks, &c.

CENTRE OF EFFORT

Two forces act upon a ship under sail, the propelling force of the wind upon the sails and the resisting force of the water upon the hull. The centre of effort is that point of each at which, if the whole force were concentrated instead of being diffused over the entire surface, the effect upon th ship would be the same.

CHAINS or CHANNELS

Broad planks on the sides of a ship, projecting out, and at which the shrouds are fastened, for the purpose of giving them a greater angle than they could have if fastened to the ship's side, and of course giving them a greater power to secure the mast.

CHAIN-PLATES

Links of iron bolted to the ship's side, having dead-eyes in the upper ends, to which the shrouds are connected by the laniards.

CHANNELS

Strong broad planks bolted to the sides, to keep the dead-eyes in the chains from the side, to spread the rigging farther out.

CHAPELING

A ship is said to build a chapel when, by neglect in light winds, she turns round so as to bring the wind on the same part which it was before she moved.

CHASE

A ship pursued by another. Bow-chaser, a gun in the forepart of the ship. Stern-chaser, a gun pointing astern in the after part of the ship.

CHASE, TO

To pursue; to follow.

CHEER, TO

To huzza. What cheer ho! a salutation.

CHEERLY

A term implying heartily, quickly, cheerfully.

CHESS-TREE

A piece of timber with a sheave in, secured to the sides of a ship, to extend the tack of the main course to windward; the sheet is then hauled aft to leeward.

CHOCK-A-BLOCK

(See Block-and-block.)

CLAP ON, TO

To make fast; as, "Clap on the stoppers, ["] &c.

CLAW OFF, TO

To beat to windward from a lee shore.

CLEAR

This word is variously applied. The weather is said to be clear when it is fair and open; the sea-coast is clear when the navigation is not interrupted by rocks, &c. It is applied to cordage, cables, &c., when they are disentangled, so as to be ready for immediate service. In all these senses it is opposed to foul. To clear the anchor, is to get the cable off the flukes, and to disencumber it of ropes, ready for dropping. Clear hawse, when the cables are directed to their anchors without lying athwart the stem. To clear the hawse, is to untwist the cables when entangled by either a cross, an elbow, or a round turn.

CLEATS

Pieces of wood to fasten ropes to.

CLEW

The main or principal corner of a sail at which the sheet is fixed. It comprehends the two lower corners of all square sails; also, the lower and after corner of all fore-and-aft sails, and the lower and inner corner of all studding-sails.

CLEW-ROPE

A short rope, larger than the bolt-rope on the sail, into which it is spliced at the after-corners of stay-sails, jibs, and boom-sails. In the corner is put a cringle, through two holes, to which the sheets are fastened.

CLEW-LINES

Ropes which come down from the yards to the lower corners of the sails, and by which the corners or clews of the sails are hauled up.

CLEW DOWN THE TOPSAILS, TOP-GALLANT SAILS, &c.

The order to haul the yards down upon the cap, by manning the clew-lines, &c.

CLEW UP THE TOPSAILS, TOP-GALLANT SAILS, &c.

The order to haul these sails up for furling.

CLINCHED

Made fast, as the cable is to the ring of the anchor.

CLOSE-HAULED

As near the wind as the ship can lie.

CLOSE-REEF

The fourth or lowest reef of a topsail, and uppermost reef of a fore-and-aft main-sail.

CLUB-HAULING

Tacking by means of an anchor.

COAMINGS

The borders of the hatchways which are raised above the deck.

COCK-BILL

To place the yards at an angle with the deck. To suspend an anchor to the cat-head by the ring only.

COILING

Laying a rope down in a circular form. To coil a rope, a cable, &c., to lay it round in a ring, one turn or fake over another.

COMING TO

The act of anchoring.

COMING UP

Luffing to the wind.

COME HOME, TO

The anchor is said to come home when it loosens from the ground by the effort of the cable, and drags.

COME TO THE WIND, TO

To broach to (which see).

COMPANION

A wooden covering over the cabin hatchway.

COURSE

The point of the compass on which the ship sails. The main-sail, fore-sail, and mizzen, are also called courses.

COXWAIN

The person who steers the boat.

CRAB

A portable or movable capstan.

CRANES

Swinging iron davits at a vessel's side, to hoist or suspend boats or spars.

CRANK

The ship is crank; that is, she has not a sufficient cargo or ballast to render her capable of bearing the sail without danger of oversetting.

CRINGLE

A short piece of rope, having each end spliced into the bolt-rope of a sail, and confining an iron ring or thimble.

CROSS-TREES

Pieces of oak at the mast-head, to sustain the tops on the lower masts, and to spread the top-gallant shrouds at the top-mast head.

CROW-FOOT

A number of small lines spread from the fore part of the tops by means of a piece of wood, through which they pass, and, being hauled taught upon the stays, they prevent the foot of the top-sails catching under the top rim; they are also used to suspend the awnings.

CUN THE SHIP, TO

To direct the helmsman how to steer.

CUT-WATER

The fore part of a ship's prow, that cuts the water.

CUTTER

The fourth class boat of a ship-of-war.

DAVITS

Projecting beams for hoisting or supporting. Fish-davits, for hoisting the lower end of the anchor. Boat-davits, for hoisting or suspending a boat. Quarter-davits are boat-davits on the quarter; and stern-davits, boat-davits on the stern.

DEADEN A SHIP'S WAY, TO

To impede her progress through the water.

DEAD-EYE

A block with three holes in it, to receive the laniard of a shroud or stay.

DEAD WATER

The eddy of water which appears like whirlpools closing in with the ship's stern as she sails on.

DECK-HOOKS

Pieces across the stern and stem posts to support the ends of the decks.

DINGY [sic]

The smallest boat of a ship-of-war.

DOG-VANE

A vane, placed on the weather-side of the quarter-deck.

DOG-WATCH

The watches from four to six and from six to eight in the evening.

DOLPHIN

A wreath of rope placed round a mast to support the pudding. A spar or buoy made fast to an anchor, supplied with a ring, to which a cable may be bent. A mooring-post, placed at the entrance of a dock, or on a quay or wharf.

DOLPHIN-STRIKER

A short, perpendicular spar, under the bowsprit end, used for guying down the head-stays. By some called martingal. [sic]

DOUSE, TO

To let fly by the halliards of a top-sail; to lower away briskly.

DOWN-HAULER

A rope to pull down the stay-sails, top-mast studding-sails, &c.

DRIFT

Driving to leeward; driving with the tide. Drifts are, also, those parts where the rails are cut off and end with scrolls.

DRIVER

A large sail suspended to the mizzen gaff.

DUNNAGE

Wood, &c., laid at the bottom of a ship, to keep the cargo dry.

EARINGS

Small ropes to make fast the upper corners of square sails, &c.

EASE OFF

To slacken.

EASE THE SHIP!

The command given by the pilot to the steersman, to put the helm hard a lee when the ship is expected to plunge her forepart deep in the water when close hauled.

EDGE AWAY, TO

To decline gradually from the shore, or from the line of the course which the ship formerly held, in order to go more large.

EDGE IN WITH, TO

To advance gradually toward the shore, or any other object.

END FOR END

To let a rope or cable run quite out.

END ON

When a ship's bows and head-sails are only seen.

ENTERING-ROPES

Ropes at the sides of the entering-ladder.

EVEN KEEL

When the keel is parallel with the horizon, a ship is said to be upon an even keel.

FAG END

The end of a rope which is untwisted.

FAIR-LEADERS

Holes for keeping a running rope in its place.

FAIR WAY

The channel of a narrow bay, river, or haven, in which ships usually advance in their passage up and down.

FAKE

One circle of a coil of rope.

FALLING OFF

When a ship moves from the wind farther than she ought.

FASHION-TIMBERS

the aftermost timbers, terminating the breadth, and forming the shape of the stern.

FID

A tapered piece of wood or iron to splice ropes with. Also, a piece of wood which supports one mast upon the trestle-trees of another.

FILL, TO

To brace the yards so that the wind may strike the sails on their after surfaces.

FISH

A piece of wood fastened lengthwise on another to strengthen it; as, To fish the mast.

FIXING

The act of sticking or forming the cringles in sails.

FLATTING-IN

Bringing the clew of the sail toward the middle of the vessel, to get more effect from the wind.

FLAW

A sudden breeze or gust of wind.

FLEMISH DOWN

To coil closely and carefully

FLUKES

The broad parts or palms of the anchor.

FOOT OF A SAIL

The lower edge or bottom.

FOOT-ROPE

The rope to which the lower edge of a sail is sewed or fixed.

FORE

That part of the ship nearest to the head.

FORE-AND-AFT

The lengthway of the ship, or in the direction of the keel.

FORECASTLE

A short deck in the forepart of the ship. In merchantmen, the forepart of the vessel, under the deck, where the sailors sleep.

FORE BRACES

Ropes applied to the fore-yard arms, to change the position of the fore-sail occasionally.

FORE-REACHING

Sailing better than another ship; passing ahead.

FORGING A HEAD

Forced ahead by the wind.

FOTHERED SAIL

A sail swung under the vessel, to cover a leak.

FOUL HAWSE

When the cables are twisted at anchor.

FOUNDER, TO

To sink.

FRESHEN, TO

When a gale increases, it is said to freshen. To freshen the hawse, to veer out or heave in a little cable, to let another part of it endure the stress of the hawse-hole. It is also applied to the act of renewing the service round the cable at the hawse-hole.

FRESHEN THE BALLAST

Divide or separate it.

FULL AND BY

(See Close-hauled.)

FURLING

Making fast the sails to the yards by the gaskets.

FURLING IN A BODY

A particular method of rolling up a topsail, only practised in harbor. [vs furling in the bunt.]

FURLING-LINES

Cords employed in furling. They are generally flat, and are also known by the name of gaskets.

GAFF

A spar or yard, to which the mizzen of a ship or the main-sail of a brig or cutter is bent.

GAGE or GUAGE

The depth of water of a ship, or what water she draws. The order of a line of battle, as Weather-gaga or Lee-gage.

GALLEY

Place where the caboose is. The kitchen of a ship-of-war.

GAMMON THE BOWSPRIT

Secure it by turns of a strong rope passed around it and into the cutwater, to prevent it from having too much motion.

GANG-PLANK

A plank laid from the shore to the gangway, on which to walk aboard.

GANGWAY

A platform, reaching from the quarter-deck to the forecastle on each side. Also, the place where persons enter the ship. Openings in the bulwarks, for admission of passengers and cargo.

GARBOARD STREAK

The first range or streak of planks laid in a ship's bottom, next the keel.

GARNET

A purchase on the main-stay, for hoisting cargo.

GASKET

A piece of plat to fasten the sails to the yard.

GIG

The fifth class boat of a ship-of-war.

GIMLETING

The action of turning the anchor round by the stock, so that the motion of the stock appears similar to that of the handle of a gimlet when employed to turn the wire.

GIRT

A ship is girted when her cables are too tight, which prevents her swinging.

GOING LARGE

Wind from one point forward the beam to three points abaft the beam.

GOOSE-NECK

An iron hook fitted to the inner end of a boom.

GOOSE-WINGS

The outer extremities of a main or fore sail when loose, the rest of it being furled.

GORING

Cutting a sail obliquely.

GRAVE

To burn off the filth from a ship's bottom.

GRIPE

A piece of timber which joins the keel and the cutwater.

GRIPING

When a ship carries her helm much to windward.

GROMMETS

Rope-rings worked in the sails to form eyelet-holes; pieces of rope laid into a circular form, and used for large boats' oars instead of rowlocks, and also for many other purposes.

GROUND TACKLE

Everything belonging to a ship's anchors, and which are necessary for anchoring or mooring, such as cables, hawsers, tow-lines, warps, buoy-ropes, &c.

GROUND TIER

The tier of water-casks which is lowest in the hold, and is among the shingle-ballast.

GUNWALE or GUNNEL

Fore-and-aft piece covering the top of the timbers, just above the level of the deck. The lower part of any port where any ordnance is.

GUY

A rope to steady a boom, &c.

GYBING

When (by the wind being large) it is necessary to shift the boom of a fore-and-aft sail.

HAIL, TO

To call out to another ship.

HALLIARDS

Tackles or ropes to hoist up the sails.

HANKS

Rings fixed upon the stays, upon which the stay-sails traverse when hoisted or lowered.

HAND, TO

The same as to furl.

HATCHWAY

A square hole in the deck, which communicates with the hold or another deck.

HAUL, TO

To direct the course of a ship. To pull.

HAUL HER WIND, TO

To change her course.

HAUL HOME, TO

To pull the clew of a sail, &c., as far as it will go.

HAUL UP THE COURSES

The order for clewing up the fore-sail, main-sail, and mizzen (if a square-sail).

HAWSE-HOLES

The holes through which the cables pass.

HAWSER

A small cable.

HAWSER-LAID ROPE

The same as cable-laid rope.

HEAD-FAST

A rope at the head of the ship, to fasten it to a wharf or other fixed object.

HEADLAND

A term nearly synonymous with cape, mull, or promontory.

HEAD LEDGES

The thwartship pieces which frame the hatchways or ladder-ways of ships.

HEAD RAILS

The elliptic rails at the head of a ship.

HEAD-ROPE

That part of a bolt-rope which terminates any sail on the upper edge to which it is fastened.

HEAD SAIL

A sail that is set forward of the fore-mast.

HEAD SEA

The waves that meet the head of a vessel, or roll against her course.

HEADWAY

The motion of advancing.

HEAD WIND

A wind blowing in an opposite direction to the ship's course

HEAVE, TO

To turn about a capstan; or other machine of the like kind, by means of bars, handspikes, &c.

HEAVE AHEAD, TO

To advance the ship by heaving in the cable or other rope fastened to an anchor at some distance before her.

HEAVE A-PEAK, TO

To heave in the cable till the anchor is a-peak.

HEAVE ASTERN

To heave a ship backward by an operation similar to heaving ahead.

HEAVE DOWN, TO

To careen.

HEAVE IN THE CABLE, TO

To draw the cable into the ship by turning the capstan.

HEAVE IN STAYS, TO

To bring a ship's head to the wind by a management of the sails and rudder, in order to get on the other tack.

HEAVE OUT, TO

To unfurl or loose a sail; more particularly applied to the stay-sails: thus, we say, "loose the top-sails, and heave out the stay-sail."

HEAVE SHORT, TO

To draw so much of the cable into the ship as that she will be almost perpendicularly over her anchor.

HEAVE TIGHT or TAUGHT

To turn the capstan round till the rope or cable becomes straightened.

HEAVE THE LEAD, TO

To throw the lead overboard in order to find the depth of water.

HEAVE THE LOG, TO

To throw the log overboard in order to find the velocity of the ship.

HEAVE THE CAPSTAN

Turn it round with the bars.

HEAVE TO, TO

To stop the vessel by bringing some of the sails aback. (See To bring to.)

HEAVE HANDSOMELY

Heave gently or leisurely.

HEAVE HEARTY

Heave strong and quick.

HEEL

The after part of a ship's keel; the lower end of a mast or boom; the lower end of the stern-post.

HEEL, TO

To incline to one side.

HELM

A wooden bar put through the head of a rudder; also called the tiller.

HELM DOWN

Tiller put to leeward.

HELM UP

Tiller put to windward.

HELM AMIDSHIPS

To keep the helm even with the middle of the ship.

HITCH, TO

To make fast.

HOGGED

State of a vessel when, bent by a strain, she droops at both ends, bring her centre up.

HOIST

That part of a fore-and-aft sail which is extended by hoisting, either on a mast or stay

HOLD

The lower apartment of a ship, where the provisions and goods are stowed.

STOW THE HOLD, TO

To place the things in it.

HOOKS

Curved timbers or knees, to bind the sides of the vessel together at the stem and stern posts outside. Those forward are breast-hooks; those aft, crutches; and those under the ends of the decks, deck-hooks.

HOUNDS

Projections at the mast head for the trestle-trees to rest upon.

HOUSING

Height from the step of the mast to the uppermost deck.

HORSE

A rope made fast to the yard on which the men stand.

HOVE TO

The vessel's way stopped by placing the sail or sails aback.

HULK

A ship without masts or rigging; also, a vessel employed in the removal of masts into or out of ships by means of sheers, when it is called a sheer hulk.

HULL

The body of a ship. Hull down is when a ship is so far off that you can only see her masts. To hull a ship, to fire cannon-balls into her hull within point-blank range. Hull to, the situation of a ship when she lies with all her sails furled, as in trying.

JACK-BLOCK

Block used in sending top-gallant masts up and down.

JACK-STAFF

Staff on the bowsprit cap, on which the union jack is hoisted.

JACK-STAYS

Ropes or strips of wood or iron stretched along the yard of a ship, to which the sails are bound.

JACOB'S LADDER

Rope ladder from the deck to the shrouds above the bulwarks.

JAMMING

Enclosing any object between two bodies, so as to render it immovable.

JEER-BLOCKS

The blocks through which jeers are reeved.

JEERS

The ropes by which the lower yards are suspended.

JEWEL-BLOCKS

Blocks at the top-sail and top-gallant yard arms for the studding-sail halliards.

JIB

The triangular sail of a ship set on a stay leading from the end of the jib-boom to the foremost top head. In cutters and sloops the jib is on the bowsprit, and extends toward the lower mast-head.

JIB TOP-SAIL

A jib high up on the stay.

JIBBER-JIB

The jib forward of the flying jib.

JIB-BOOM

A spar that runs out upon the bowsprit.

JIGGER

A purchase used in merchant-ships to hold on the cable.

JIGGER TACKLE

A small light tackle for hauling up the bunt of the topsail.

JOLLY-BOAT

A small boat used for going on shore, &c.

JUNK

Pieces of old cable, out of which mats, gaskets, &c., are made.

JURY-MASTS

Temporary masts, stepped when the others are carried or shot away.

KECKLING

Old rope passed round the cable at short distances.

KEDGE

A small anchor with an iron stock.

KEDGE, TO

To bring or drive down or up a river with the tide, and set the sails so as merely to avoid the shore when the wind is contrary.

KEEL

The principal piece of timber in a ship, which is usually first laid on the blocks in building.

KEEL-HAUL, TO

To drag a person backward and forward under a ship's keel for certain offences. (Now abolished.)

KEELAGE

Duty paid by a ship.

KEELER

A small tub for holding stuff used in calking vessels.

KEEP AWAY

To go from the wind.

KELSON

A piece of timber forming the interior or the keel, being laid on the middle of the floor timbers immediately over the keel, and serving to unite the former to the latter.

KENTLEDGE

Pigs of iron for ballast, laid upon the floor near the kelson fore and aft.

KINK

A twist or turn in a rope.

KNOT

A division of the logline, answering, in the calculation of the ship's velocity, to one mile.

KUMATAGE

A bright appearance in th horizon under the sun or moon, arising from the reflected light of those bodies from the small rippling waves on the surface of the water.

LABOR, TO

To pitch and roll heavily.

LACING

The rope or line used to confine the heads of sails to their yards or gaffs.

LADEN IN BULK

Freighted with a cargo not packed, but lying loose, as corn, salt, &c.

LAND-FALL

Discovering the land.

LAND-LOCKED

The situation of a ship surrounded with land, so as to exclude the prospect of the sea, unless over some intervening land.

LANIARDS

Of the shrouds are the small ropes at the ends of them, by which they are hove taught or tight.

LARBOARD

The left side of the ship looking forward. Obsolete: now called Port, which see.

LARGE

(See Wind.)

LAY

To come or go, as "lay aloft," "lay forward," "lay aft,", &c.

LARGE, SAILING

Advancing with a large wind, with the sheets slackened and flowing, and the bowlines entirely disused.

LASH

To bind.

LATCHINGS

Loops on the head of a bonnet by which it is laced to the foot of a sail.

LATEEN SAIL

A triangular sail frequently used by xebees [sic], poleacres, settees, and other vessels navigated in the Mediterranean.

LAUNCH

The first class boat of a ship-of-war; a long-boat.

LAUNCH HO!

To let go the top-rope when the topmast is fidded.

LAY AHOLD, TO

To bring as near the wind as possible.

LAY ALONG, TO

To heel over on the side.

LAY THE LAND, TO

To sail from it so that it sinks or disappears.

LEACH

The border or edge of a sail at the side. Written also leech.

LEACH-LINE

A rope for hauling up the leach of a sail.

LEACH ROPE

That part of the bolt rope to which the border or edge of a sail is sewed.

LEAD

A plummet or piece of lead used in sounding.

LEADING WIND

A fair wind for a ship's course.

LEE

That part of the hemisphere to which the wind is directed.

LEE-BOARD

A board let down into the water on the lee-side of flat-bottome[d] vessels, to oppose the action of the wind to drive them to leeward.

LEE-GAGE

A ship or fleet to leeward of another is said to have the lee gage.

LEE LURCHES

The sudden and violent rolls which a ship often takes to leeward in a high sea, particularly when a large wave strikes her on the weather-side.

LEE QUARTER

That quarter of a ship which is on the lee side.

LEE SHORE

Shore upon which the wind blows.

LEE SIDE

That half of a ship, lengthwise, which lies between a line drawn through the middle of her length and the side which is farthest from the point of wind.

LEEWARD, TO

Toward that part of the horizon to which the wind blows.

LEEWARD SHIP

A ship that falls much to leeward of her course when sailing close-hauled.

LEEWARD TIDE

A tide that sets to leeward.

LEEWAY

The lateral movement of a ship to leeward.

LEE BEAM, ON THE

In a direction to leeward, at right angles to the keel.

LEE, BY THE

Noting the situation of a vessel, going free when she has fallen off so much as to bring the wind round the stem [sic], so as to take the sails aback on the other side.

LEE: UNDER THE LEE OF

On the lee side of; under the shelter of, as "under the lee of the land."

LIE TO, TO

In a storm, to keep the vessel with her head to wind, with as little sail as possible.

LIFTS

The ropes which come to the ends of the yards from the mast-heads, and by which they are suspended when lowered down.

LIMBERS or LIMBER-HOLES

Square holes cut through the lower part of a ship's floor-timbers, very near the keel, forming a channel for water, and communicating with the pump-well throughout the whole length of the floor.

LIZARD

A small piece of rope with a thimble spliced into a larger one.

LOG

Apparatus for measuring the rate of a vessel's velocity. The log-book

LOG-BOARD

A board or tablet on which are marked the ship's velocity, as ascertained by the log, the course at the moment, direction of the wind, &c., which thence are copied into the log-book every twenty-four hours.

LOG-B0OK

A journal in which are recorded the contents of the log-board, with such other observations relating to navigation as may be made during the day; - called also the log.

LOOMING

The appearance of a distant object, such as a ship, the land, &c.

LOOSE, TO

To unfurl or cast loose any sail.

LUBBER

A sailor who does not know his duty.

LUFF.

A direction to the steersman to put the helm to leeward; to make the ship sail nearer the wind; luff round or luff-a-lee, is the extreme of this movement, intended to throw the ship's head into the wind. A ship springs her luff when whe yields to the helm in sailing near the wind.

LUFF TACKLE

A large tackle consisting of a double and a single block.

LUGGER

A small vessel, commonly with three masts, carrying lug sails.

LUG-SAIL

A small square sail bent upon a yard which lays obliquely to the mast; used in boats and small vessels.

LYING TO

(See To bring to.)

MAIN DECK

The principal deck, or deck below the spar deck.

MAIN MAST

The middle mast of a ship; the after-mast of a brig or schooner.

MAIN SAIL

The principal sail of a ship; the sail of the main-mast.

MAKE A PORT, TO

To come in sight of it.

MAKE FOR A PLACE, TO

To sail for it.

MAKE A BOARD, TO

To run a certain distance upon one tack in beating to windward.

MAKE FOUL WATER, TO

To muddy the water by running in shallow places, so that the ship's keel disturbs the mud at the bottom.

MAKE SAIL, TO

To increase the quantity of sail set, by unreefing or by setting others.

MAKE STERN-WAY, TO

To retreat or move with the stern foremost.

MAKE THE LAND, TO

To discover it from afar.

MAKE WATER, TO

To leak.

MAN THE YARDS, TO

To send men upon them.

MAN ROPES

Entering ropes.

MARLINE

A small line of two strands, but little twisted, used for winding round ropes or cables to prevent their being fretted.

MARLING HITCH

Hammock hitch; a hitch made with a half-knot.

MARLINE-SPIKE

An iron pin, sharpened at one end, with or without a short wooden handle, used in splicing ropes.

MARTINET or MARTNET

A small rope fastened to the leach of a sail.

MARTINGAL [sic]

A short perpendicular spar, under the bowsprit end, used for guying down the head stays.

MAST

The upright timber on which the yards and sails are set.

MAST CLOTH

The lining in the middle on the aft side of top-sails and top-gallant-sails, to prevent them being chafed by the masts.

MESSENGER

A rope attached to the cable to heave up the anchor by.

MIRAGE

An optical phenomenon arising from an irregular refraction or reflection of the light near the horizon.

MISS STAYS, TO

A ship is said to miss stays when her head will not fly up into the direction of the wind, in order to get her on the other tack.

MIZZEN or MIZEN MAST

The mast which stands abaft, and from which its rigging and sails are named; as of the sails, mizzen, mizzen top-sail, &c., And so, also, are the other sails, &c., named from the other masts.

MONKEY SAIL

A small sail above the main sail.

MOOR, TO

To secure a ship by more than one cable.

MOORINGS

The place where a vessel is moored. Also, anchors with chains and bridles laid in rivers for men-of-war to ride by.

MOUSE

A kind of ball or knob wrought upon the collar of the stay.

MUSTER

To assemble.

NEAP-TIDES

The tides when the moon is in the quarter, and which are the lowest tides.

NEAPED

A ship is said to be neaped when she is left on shore by these [neap] tides, and must wait for the next spring tides.

NEAR! or NO NEAR! [sic]

A direction to the helmsman to put the helm a little aweather, to keep the sails full; to let her come no nearer the wind.

NEAR THE LAND, TO

To approach the shore.

NIPPERS

A large kind of platted rope, which, being twisted round the messenger and cable in weighing, binds them together.

NOTHING OFF!

A direction to the steersman not to go from the wind.

NUN BUOY

The kind of buoys used by ships-of-war.

OAKUM

Old rope untwisted and pulled open.

OFF AND ON

Coming near the land on one tack, and leaving it on the other.

OFFING

Out to sea; from the land.

ON BOARD

Within the ship; as, He is come on board.

ON THE BEAM

Any distance from the ship on a line with the beams, or at right angles with the keel. (See Bearing.)

ON THE BOW

An arc of the horizon comprehending about four points of the compass on each side of that point to which the ship's head is directed. Thus, they say, the ship in sight bears three points on the starboard bow, i.e., three points toward the right hand, from that part of the horizon which is right ahead. (See Bearing.)

ON THE QUARTER

An arc of the horizon comprehending about four points of the compass on each side of that point to which the ship's stern is directed.

OPEN HAWSE

When the cables of a ship, at her moorings, lead straight to their respective anchors without crossing, she is said to ride with an open hawse.

ORLOP DECK

The lowest deck in the ship, lying on the beams of the hold; the place where the cables are coiled, and where other stores are kept.

OVERBOARD

Out of the ship.

OVERHAULING

To haul a fall of rope through a block till it is slack. Examining a ship, &c.

OVER-RAKE

When a ship at anchor is exposed to a head sea, the waves of which break in upon her, the waves are said to over-rake her.

OUT OF TRIM

The state of the ship when she is not properly balanced for the purposes of navigation.

PAINTER

A rope by which a boat is made fast.

PALM

(See Fluke.)

PARCEL A ROPE

To put a quantity of old canvas upon it before the service is put on. parcel a seam, to lay a narrow piece of canvas over it after it is calked, before it is payed.

PARLIAMENT HEEL

The situation of a ship when she is made to stoop a little to one side, so as to clean the upper part of her bottom on the other side. (See Boot-topping.)

PARRAL

The collar by which the yard is confined to the mast.

PARTING

Being driven from the anchors by the breaking of the cable.

PASS, TO

To hand anything from one to another, or to place a rope or lashing round a yard, &c.

PAWL [see also PAUL (Steel)]

A short bar of wood or iron, fixed close to the capstan or windlass of a ship, to prevent those engines from rolling back or giving way when they are charged with any great effort.

PAY, TO

To rub tar, pitch, &c., on anything with a brush.

PAY OFF, TO

To make a ship's head recede from the wind by backing the head-sails, &c.

PEAK

The angle formed by the gaff and mast of a fore-and-aft sail [sic]. To peak up, to raise the after end of a gaff. To ride a stay-peak is when the cable and the fore-stay form a line. To ride a short peak, is when the cable is so much in as to destroy the line formed by the stay-peak. To ride with the yards a-peak, is to have them topped up by contrary lifts, so as to represent St. Andrew's cross.

PEAKS OF THE HOLD

Fore-peak, narrow part of the lower hold forward. After-peak, the run or narrow part aft.

PENDANT

The long, narrow flag, worn at the mast-head by all ships of the navy. Brace pendants are those ropes which secure the brace-blocks to the yard-arms. Broad pendant, a broad flag, terminating in a point, used to distinguish the chief of a squadron. [also PENNANT]

PINNACE

The third class boat of a ship-of-war.

PITCHING

The movement of a ship, by which she plunges her head and after part alternately into the hollow of the sea.

PLANK-SHEER

The gunwale.

PLYING

Turning to windward.

POINTERS

The lowest of the breast-hooks.

POINTS

Platted ropes made fast to the sails for the purpose of reefing.

POLEACRE

A ship with three masts, each formed of one piece, with neither tops nor cross-trees, usually navigated in the Mediterranean.

POOP

The highest and aftermost deck of a ship.

POOPING

The shock of a high and heavy sea upon the stern or quarter of a ship, when she scuds before the wind in a tempest.

PORT

The left side, looking forward. Thes term is now used instead of the word larboard, to make a distinction from the affinity of sound in the word starboard.

PORTS

The holes in the ship's sides from which the guns are fired.

PRESS OF SAIL

All the sail that a ship can set or carry.

PREVENTER

Anything for temporary security, as a preventer brace, &c.

PUDDING AND DOLPHIN

Pads made of ropes, and put round the mast under the lower yards.

PURCHASE

Any sort of mechanical power employed in raising or moving heavy bodies.

QUARTER

That part of a ship's side between the main chains and the stern.

QUARTER-PIECES

Fashion-pieces.

QUARTER-TIMBERS

Fashion-timbers; bullock-timbers.

QUICK-SAVER

A spar sometimes used in veering under courses.

RACKING A FALL

Seizing the parts of a tackle-fall together by cross turns.

RAIL

(See Main-rail and Monkey-rail.)

RAKE

The projection of a ship at the stem and stern beyond the extent of the keel. Also, the inclination of a ship's masts, either forward or aft, from a perpendicular line.

RANGE OF CABLE

A sufficient length hauled up to permit the anchor to drop to the bottom.

RATLINES

The small ropes fastened to the shrouds, by which the men go aloft.

RATTLE DOWN THE SHROUDS, TO

To fix the ratlines on them.

REACH

The distance between any two points on the banks of a river wherein the current flows in an uninterrupted course.

READY ABOUT!

A command of the boatswain to the crew, and implies that all the hands are to be attentive and at their stations, for tacking.

REEF

Portion of a sail that is tied up to make it smaller.

REEF-BANDS

Pieces of canvas sewed across the sail to strengthen it where the eyelet-holes of the reefs are formed.

REEF-EYELETS

The rows of eyelets in the sails in which the reef-points are fastened.

REEF-LINES

Small ropes stretched across the reefs, and spliced into the cringles, for the men to catch hold of.

REEF-POINTS

The rows of plaits used to take in (tie up) the reefs.

REEF-TACKLE

A tackle upon deck, used to lighten the labor of reefing.

REEFED, CLOSE [orig: close-reefed]

When all the reefs of the top-sail are taken in.

REEF, TO

To reduce a sail by tying it round the yard with points.

REEVE, TO

To put a rope through a block, &c.

RENDERING

The giving way or yielding to the efforts of some mechanical power. It is used in opposition to jamming or sticking.

RIBS OF A SHIP

A figurative expression for the timbers.

RIDE, TO

To be held by the cable. To "ride easy" is when a ship does not labor much. To "ride hard" is when the ship pitches with violence.

RIG, TO

To fit the rigging to the masts.

RIGHT, TO

A ship is said to right when she rises to her upright position, after being laid down by a violent squall. To right the helm, to put it amidships, or in its fore-and-aft position, parallel to the keel.

ROACH

A curve in the foot of a square-sail, by which the clews are brought below the middle of the foot; the forward leach of a fore-and-aft sail.

ROBANDS or ROPE-BANDS,

Short, flat pieces of platted rope, having an eye worked at one end. They are used in pairs, to tie the upper edges of the square sails to their respective yards.

ROLLING

The motion by which a ship rocks from side to side, like a cradle.

ROUGH-TREE

A name applied to any mast, yard, or boom, placed, in merchant-ships, as a rail or fence above the vessel's side, from the quarter-deck to the forecastle.

ROUND IN, TO

To brace in a yard. Rounding in, the pulling upon any rope which passes through one or more blocks in a direction nearly horizontal; as, round in the weather-braces! Round to, is to stop.

ROUND-TOP

Same as top.

ROUSE IN, TO

To haul in the slack part of the cable.

ROW-LOCK

The niche in a boat's side in which the oars are used.

ROYALS

Sails spread immediately above the top-gallant-sails, to whose yard-arms the lower corners of them are attached. They are sometimes termed top-gallant royals, and are never used but in fine weather.

RUDDER

The machine by which the ship is steered.

RUDDER PENDANTS

Strong ropes spliced in the rings of the rudder-chain, to prevent the loss of the rudder.

RUN

The aftermost part of a ship's bottom, where it grows extremely narrow as the stern approaches the stern-post. Run is also the distance sailed by a ship, and is likewise used by sailors to imply the agreement to work a single passage from one place to another. To run down, when one ship sinks another by running over her. Running on a bow-line sailing with the wind right aft [sic; cf. LARGE, SAILING]. To let run, to make loose, as a rope; to slacken; to let go.

RUN OUT A WARP, TO

To carry the end of a rope out from a ship in a boat, and fasten it to some distant object, so that by it the ship may be removed by pulling on it.

RUN-TIMBERS

The timbers or ribs on each side of the run.

SAGGED

Depressed in the middle; the reverse of hogged.

SAG TO LEEWARD, TO

To make a considerable leeway.

SAIC

A sort of Grecian ketch, with neither top-gallant-sail nor mizzen-sail.

SCANTING

The variation of the wind, by which it becomes unfavorable to a ship's making great progress, as it deviates from being large, and obliges the vessel to steer close-hauled, or nearly so.

SCUD, TO

To run before the wind, in a storm, so as to keep ahead of the waves.

SCUTTLE A SHIP, TO

To make holes in her bottom to sink her.

SEA-ROOM

A sufficient distance from the coast or any dangerous rocks, &c., so that a ship may perform all nautical operations without danger of shipwreck.

SEIZING

The operation of fastening any two ropes or different parts of one rope together, with several round and cross turns of small cord or spun-yarn. Seizing also implies the cord which fastens them.

SERVE, TO

To wind anything round a cable or rope, to prevent its being chafed.

SERVICE

The materials, generally spun-yarn and old canvas, used for the above purpose.

SETTEE

A vessel (peculiar to the Mediterranean sea) of two masts, equipped with triangular or lateen sail.

SET SAIL, TO

To unfurl and expand the sails to the wind, in order to give motion to the ship.

SET UP, TO

To increase the tension of the shrouds, backstays, &c., by tackles, laniards, &c.

SHANK

The beam or shaft of an anchor. Shank-painter, the rope by which the shank of the anchor is held up to the ship's side. It is also made fast to a piece of iron chain, in which the shank of the anchor lodges.

SHEER

The sheer of a ship is the curve that is between the head and the stern upon her side. The ship sheers about; that is, she goes in and out

SHEERS

Are spars lsahed together and raised up for the purpose of getting out or in a mast.

SHEET

A rope fastened to one or both of the lower corners of a sail, in order to extend and retain it in a particular situation. When a ship sails with a side wind, the lower corners of the main and fore sails are fastened by a tack and a sheet, the former being to windward and the latter to leeward. The tack is never used with a stern wind, whereas the sail is never spread without the assistance of one or both of the sheets. The stay-sails and studding-sails have only one tack and one sheet each. The stay-sail-tacks are fastened forward and the sheets drawn aft, but the studding-sail-tacks draw the outer corner of the sail to the extremity of the boom, while the sheet is employed to extend the inner corner.

SHEET HOME, TO

To haul the sheets of a sail home to the block on the yard-arm.

SHIFT THE HELM, TO

To alter its position from right to left or from left to right.

SHIP, TO

To put anything on board. To set a thing, a mast, for instance, up in its place. Ship a sea, when the sea breaks into the ship.

SHIPSHAPE

In a seamanlike manner; as, That mast is not rigged shipshape, Put her about shipshape, &c.

SHIVER, TO

To make the sails shake.

SHOE OF THE ANCHOR

A small block of wood, convex on the back, and having a hole sufficiently large to contain the point of the anchor-fluke on the fore side. It is used to prevent the anchor from tearing the planks on the ship's bow when ascending or descending.

SHOOT AHEAD, TO

To advance forward.

SHORTEN SAIL, TO

Used in opposition to make sail.

SHOULDER-OF-MUTTON-SAIL,

A triangular sail similar to the lateen, but attached to a mast instead of a yard.

SHROUDS

A range of large ropes, extending from the mastheads to the right and left sides of a ship, to support the masts, and enable them to carry sail.

SINNETT

A small platted rope, made from rope-yarns.

SLAB-LINES

Small ropes, by which seamen truss up the main-sail or fore-sail.

SLACK

That part of a rope which hangs loose. Slack in stays, slow in going about. Slack water, the interval between the flux and reflux of the tide, when no motion is perceptible in the water.

SLATCH

The period of a transitory breeze.

SLINGS OF A YARD

Iron chains fixed to a hoop in the middle of a yard, and serving to suspend it for the greater ease of working.

SLIP THE CABLE, TO

To let it run quite out when there is not time to weigh the anchor.

SLUE, TO

To turn any cylindrical piece of timber about its axis without removing it; thus, to slue a mast or boom is to turn it in its cap or boom-iron. Also, to turn any package or cask round.

SMACK

A small vessel commonly rigged as a cutter, and used in the coasting and fishing trade.

SMOKE SAIL

A small sail hurled against the foremast, when the ship rides head to wind, to protect the quarter-deck from the smoke of the galley.

SNOW

A vessel equipped with two masts, resembling the fore and main masts of a ship, and a third small mast just abaft the main-mast, carrying a try-sail.

SOUND, TO

To find the bottom by a leaden plummet.

SOUNDING-LINE

A line to sound with, which is marked in the following manner: Black leather at 2 and 3 fathoms, white at 5, red at 7, black at 10, white at 13 (some seamen use black at 10 and 13), white at 15 as at 5, red at 17 as at 7, two knots at 10 fathoms, and an additional knot at every 10 fathoms, with a single knot midway between each 10 fathoms, to mark the line at every five fathoms.

SOUNDING-ROD

A rod or piece of iron used to ascertain the dapth of water in a ship's hold. It is let down in a groove by a pump.

SOUTHING

Course or distance south. Southing of the moon, the time at which the moon passes the meridian.

SPAN

A small line or cord, the middle of which is attached to a stay.

SPANKER

A ship's driver. A large sail occasionally set upon the mizzen yard or gaff, the foot being extended by a boom

SPAR-DECK

The upper deck.

SPELL, TO TAKE A

To be in turn on duty at the lead, the pump, &c.

SPENCER

A fore-and-aft sail, set with a gaff and no boom, and hoisting from a spencer-mast.

SPENCER-MAST

A small mast just abaft the fore and main masts.

SPILL, TO

To take the wind out of the sails by the braces, &c., in order to reef or hand them.

SPILLING-LINES

Ropes contrived to keep the sails from being blown away when they are clewed up in blowing weather.

SPLICE, TO

To join two ropes together by uniting the strands.

SPOONDRIFT

A continued flying of the spray and waves over the surface of the sea

SPRAY

The sprinkling of a sea driven occasionally from the top of a wave and not continual as a spoondrift.

SPRING, A

A rope made fast to the cable at the bow and taken in abaft, in order to expose the ship's side to any direction.

SPRING A MAST, TO

To crack or split it.

SPRING TIDES

The tides near the full and new moon, which are the highest tides.

SPRIT

A small boom or spar, which crosses the sail of a boat diagonally from the mast to the upper aft-most corner, which is used to extend and elevate.

SPUNYARN

A line or cord formed of two or more ropeyarns twisted together by a wrench.

SPURLING YARN

A line that goes round a small barrel abaft the barrel of the wheel, and, coming to the front beam of the poop-deck, moves the tell-tale with the turning of the wheel, and keeps it always in such position as to show the position of the tiller.

SPUR-SHOES

Large pieces of timber which come abaft the pump-well.

SQUALL

A sudden violent blast of wind.

SQUARE-RIGGED

A vessel is square-rigged when her principal sails are extended by yards, suspended by the middle, and not by stays, gaffs, boom, and lateen yards.

SQUARE-SAIL

A sail extended to a yard suspended by the middle.

STANDING RIGGING

The cordage or ropes which sustain the masts and remain fixed in their position. Such are the shrouds and stays.

STAND BY, TO

To be ready. To stand on, to keep in the course. To stand off, to sail from the land.

STARBOARD

The right side, looking forward.

STAY A SHIP, TO [see TACK]

To arrange the sails and move the rudder so as to bring the ship's head to the direction of the wind, in order to get her on the other tack.

STAYS

Large ropes coming from the mast-heads down before the masts, to prevent them from springing when the ship is sending deep.

STAY-SAIL

Any sail extended upon a stay.

STAY-HOLES

Holes made at certain distances along the hoist, through which the seizings of the hanks on the stay are passed.

STAYS: TO HEAVE IN STAYS

To get the head to the wind.

STAYS: TO BE IN STAYS

To lie with the head to the wind, and the sails so arranged as to check the vessel's progress.

STAYS: TO MISS STAYS

To fail in the attempt to go about.

STEADY!

The order to the helmsman to keep the ship in the direction she is going at that instant.

STEER, TO

To manage a ship by the movement of the helm.

STEERAGE-WAY

Such degree of progressive motion of a ship as will give effect to the motion of the helm.

STEEVING

The angle of elevation which a ship's bowsprit makes with the horizon. The bowsprit steeves too much, that is, it is too upright.

STEM

A circular piece of timber into which the two sides of a ship are united at the fore-end; the lower end is scarfed to the keel, and the bowsprit rests on the upper end.

STEM THE TIDE, TO

When a ship is sailing against the tide at such a rate as enables her to overcome its power, she is said to stem the tide.

STERNFAST

A rope confining a ship by her stern to any other ship or to a wharf.

STERNMOST

Farthest astern, as a ship or ships.

STERNPORT

A porthole in the stern.

STERNPOST

The aftermost timber in a ship, reaching from the after end of the keel to the deck.

STERNSON

The continuation of the keelson to which the sternpost is secured by bolts.

STERN-SHEETS

That part of a boat included between the stern and the aftermost seat of the rowers, generally furnished with seats for passengers.

STERNWAY

The motion by which a ship falls back with her stern foremost.

STIFF

The condition of a ship when she will carry a great quantity of sail without hazard of oversetting. It is used in opposition to crank.

STOPPER THE CABLE, TO

To keep it from running out by fastening short ropes to it, called Stoppers.

STOW, TO

To arrange and dispose a ship's cargo.

STRAND

One of the divisions of a rope. Stranded, when one of the divisions is broken. Also, when a ship is run on shore so that she cannot be got off, she is said to be stranded.

STREAM THE BUOY, TO

To let it fall from the ship's side into the water previously to casting anchor.

STRETCH, TO

To stand on different tacks under a press of sail.

STRETCH OUT!

A term used to men in a boat when they should pull strong.

STRIKE, TO

To beat against the bottom. Also to lower the flag in token of submission. Lowering the topmasts is commonly termed striking them.

STUDDING SAILS

Sails extended in moderate and steady breezes beyond the skirts of the principal sails, where they appear like wings upon the yard arms.

SUED or SEWED

When a ship is on shore and the water leaves her, she is said to be sued; if the water leaves her two feet, she sues or is sued two feet.

SURF

The swell of the sea that breaks upon shore or on any rock.

SURGE THE CAPSTAN, TO

To slacken the rope heaved round upon it.

SURGE THE MESSENGER, TO

To slacken it suddenly.

SWAY, TO

To hoist up the yards and topmasts. Sway away! hoist.

SWAMPED

Overwhelmed and filled by the waves or the surf.

SWEEPING

The act of dragging the bight or loose part of a rope along the surface of the ground in a harbor or road, in order to drag up something lost.

SWEEP OF A SAIL

The circular edge on a sail.

SWING, TO

To turn a ship from one side of her anchor to the other at the change of the tide.

TABLING

A broad hem formed on the skirts of sails to strengthen them in that part which is attached to the bolt rope.

TACK, TO

To turn a ship by the sails and rudder against the wind.

TACK

A rope to confine the foremost lower corners of the courses and staysails, when the wind crosses the ship's course obliquely. The part of a sail to which the tack is usually fastened. The reach to the starboard or port of the wind in beating.

TACK OF A FLAG

A line spliced into the eye at the bottom of the tabling, for securing the flag to the halliards.

TACKLE

The rigging and apparatus of a ship. Ground-tackle, anchors, cables, &c.

TACK-TACKLE

A small tackle to pull down the tacks of the principal sails.

TAFFEREL [taffarel, taffrail]

The uppermost part of a ship's stern.

TAKEN ABACK

The sails carried back suddenly by the wind. Laid aback, the sails purposely placed in that situation to give the ship sternway.

TAKING IN

The act of furling the sails. Used in opposition to setting.

TALLY To pull aft the sheets or lower corners of the main and fore sails.

TAMKIN or TOMKIN, TAMPION or TOMPION

The bung or piece of wood by which the mouth of a cannon is filled to keep out wet.

TARPAULING

A cloth of canvas covered with tar or some other composition, so as to make it water proof.

TAUGHT

A corruption of tight>

TAUNT

Long, lofty, particularly expressed of the masts.

TELLTALE

An instrument which traverses upon an index in front of the poop-deck to show the position of the tiller.

TENDER

A small vessel employed to attend a larger one, for supplying her with provisions and other stores, or to carry intelligence, and the like.

TENDING

The movement of a vessel in swinging at anchor.

THIMBLE

An iron ring, with a hollow or groove around its whole circumference, to receive the rope which is spliced about it.

THOLE

A pin inserted into the gunwale of a boat, to keep the oar in the row-lock, when used in rowing.

THROAT

The upper corner next the mast of any fore-and-aft sail which is set with a gaff.

THROAT-BRAILS

Brails attached to the gaff close to the mast.

THROAT HALLIARDS

Ropes or tackles applied to hoist the inner part of the gaff and its appendant portion of the sail.

THRUM

To insert short pieces of rope-yarn or spun-yarn in a sail or mast.

THUS! [see DYCE]

An order to the helmsman to keep the ship in her present situation when sailing with a scant wind.

TIDE

The flow of the water in the ocean and seas, twice in a little more than twenty-four hours. The flow or rising of the water is distinguished by the name of flood-tide, and the reflux or falling by that of ebb-tide.

TIDEGATE

A place where the tide runs with great velocity.

TIDEWAY

The channel in which the tide sets.

TIDE, TO

To work in or out of a river, harbor, or channel by favor of the tide, anchoring whenever it becomes adverse. Tide it up, to go with the tide against the wind.

TIER

The place where the cables are coiled.

TILLER

A large piece of wood or a beam put into the head of the rudder, and by means of which the rudder is moved.

TILLER-ROPE

The rope which connects the tiller and the wheel.

TIMBER-HEAD

The top end of a timber, rising above the gunwale, and serving for belaying-ropes, &c.; otherwise called kevel-head.

TIMONEER

A helmsman.

TOGGLE

A small wooden pin, tapering toward both ends.

TONNAGE

The cubical content or burden of a ship, in tons, or the amount of weight which she may carry. A duty or impost on ships.

TOP

A platform surrounding the head of the lower mast, and projecting on all sides, serving to extend the shrouds.

TOP-BLOCK

A block hung to an eye-bolt in the cap, used in swaying and lowering the top-mast.

TOP LINING

The lining sewed on the aft side of topsails to prevent chafing.

TOP-MAST

The second mast, or that which is next above the lower mast. Above that is the top-gallant-mast.

TOP-SAIL

A sail extended across the top-mast, above which is the top-gallant-sail.

TOP-TACKLE

A large tockle hooked to the lower end of the top-mast top-rope and to the deck.

TOPPING

Pulling one of the ends of a yard higher than the other.

TOPPING LIFT

A large tackle used in suspending or topping the outer end of a gaff, or of the boom of a mainsail in a brig or schooner.

TOW, TO

To draw a ship in the water by a rope fixed to a boat or other ship which is rowing or sailing on.

TRADE-WIND

A wind that blows constantly in the same direction, or a wind that blows for a number of months in one direction, and then, changing, blows as long in an opposite direction; so called because it favors trade.

TRANSHIP

To convey from one ship to another.

TRANSOMS

Certain beams or timbers extended across the sternpost of a ship to strengthen her after part, and to give it the figure most suitable to the service for which she is calculated.

TRANSPORT

A vessel employed for carrying soldiers, warlike stores, or provisions, from one place to another.

TRAVELLER

An iron thimble or thimbles, with a rope spliced around them, forming a kind of tail or species of grommet.

TRAVERSE

To sail on different courses. When a rope runs freely through a thimble, &c., it is said to traverse. To traverse a yard is to brace it aft.

TRAVERSE-BOARD

A small board, full of holes upon lines, showing the points of the compass upon it. By moving a peg upon this, the steersman keeps an account of the number of glasses a ship is steered on any point.

TRAVERSE-TABLE

A table of difference of latitude and departure.

TREENAILS or TRUNNELS

Long wooden pins employed to connect the planks of the ship's side and bottom to the corresponding timbers.

TRESTLE-TREES

Two strong bars of timber, fixed horizontally on the opposite sides of the lower mast-head, to support the frame of the top and the top-mast.

TRICE, TRICE UP

To haul up and fasten.

TRIM

The state or condition by which a ship is best calculated for the purposes of navigation. To trim the hold, to arrange the cargo regularly. To trim the sails, to dispose the sails in the best arrangement for the course which a ship is steering.

TRIP THE ANCHOR, TO

To loosen the anchor from the ground, either by design or accident.

TROUGH OF THE SEA

The hollow between waves.

TRUCK

A round piece of wood put upon the top of flag-staves, with sheaves on each side for the halliards of the flags to reeve in.

TRUSS

A machine to pull a lower yard close to the mast, and retain it firmly in that position.

TRYING

Laying to in a gale of wind under a small sail.

TRYSAIL

A small sail used by cutters and brigs in blowing weather.

TUG

A tow-boat.

TURNING TO WINDWARD

Tacking.

TURN OFF

Same as Pay off.

TWICE-LAID STUFF

Rope made from the yarns of a cable, &c., which has been half-worn.

UNBALLAST

To discharge the ballast from.

UNBEND, TO

To cast loose.

UNBITT, TO

To remove the turns of a cable from off the bitts.

UNDER FOOT

Is expressed of an anchor that is directly under the ship.

UNDER SAIL or UNDER WAY

When a ship is sailing, she is said to be under way.

UNFURL

Cast loose the gasket of the sail.

UNMOOR, TO

To reduce a ship to a single anchor after riding by two.

UNREEVE, TO

To pull a rope out of a block.

UNRIG, TO

To deprive a ship of her rigging.

UNSHIP, TO

To take anything from the place in which it was fixed.

UNSLING, TO

To take off the slings of a yard, a cask, &c.

UVROU

The piece of wood by which the legs of the crow-foot are extended.

VAN

The foremost division of a fleet in one line. It is likewise applied to the foremost ship of a division.

VANE

A small kind of flag worn at each mast-head.

VANGS

A sort of braces to steady the mizzen-gaff.

VEER [see WEAR]

To cause a ship to change her course from one board to the other, by turning her stern to the wind. Opposed to tacking, in which her head is turned to the wind.

VEER OUT, TO

To suffer to run out; to let out to a greater length, as to veer out a rope.

VEER AWAY, TO

To slacken and let run; as, to veer away the cable. This is also called paying out the cable.

VEER AND HAUL, TO

To pull tight and slacken alternately.

VIOL or VOYAL

A block through which the messenger passes in weighing the anchor. A large messenger is called a viol.

WAIST OF A SHIP

That part between the quarter-deck and forecastle. Also, a term sometimes used for the spare or waist anchor, from its being stowed near the fore-drift or forepart of the waist.

WAIST-CLOTHS

Coverings of canvas or tarpauling for the hammocks, which are stowed in the gangways, between the quarter-deck and forecastle.

WAKE

The path or track impressed on the water by the ship's passing through it, leaving a smoothness in the sea behind it. To be in the wake of a ship, is to be in her track, or in a line with her keel.

WALES

(See BENDS.)

WARD-ROOM

In a ship-or-war, a room over the gun-room, where the principal officers sleep and mess.

WARE or WEAR

Same as Veer.

WARP, TO

To move a ship by hawsers, &c.

WASH-BOARD

A piece of plank on the sill of a lower-deck port, to prevent the sea from breaking over.

WATCH

A division of the ship's company who keep the deck for a certain time. One is called the starboard, and the other the port watch.

WATER-LINE

A horizontal line, supposed to be drawn about a ship's bottom, at the surface of the water. This is higher or lower, according to the depth of water necessary to float her.

WATER-LOGGED

The state of a leaky ship when she is so full of water as to be heavy and unmanageable.

WATER-SAIL

A small sail used under a studding-sail or driver-boom.

WATER-SPOUT

A vertical column of water, raised from the surface of the sea, and driven furiously by the wind.

WATER-TIGHT

The state of a ship when not leaky.

WATER-WAY

In a ship's deck, a piece of timber forming a channel for conducting water to the scuppers.

WAYS

Same as stocks.

WAY OF A SHIP

Her progress through the water.

WAY: TO GET UNDER WAY

To get in motion, as when a ship begins to move. So, a ship is said to have headway when she moves forward in her course, and sternway, when she is driven astern. She is said, also, to gather way, or to lose way. Leeway is a movement of a ship aside of her course, or to the leeward.

WEATHER-BEATEN

Anything worn or damaged by bad weather.

WEATHER-BOARD

That side of the ship which is toward the wind. So, in other words, weather signifies toward the wind or windward, as in weather-bow, weather-braces, &c.

WEATHER-BOARDS

Pieces of plank placed in the ports of a ship, when laid up in ordinary.

WEATHER-BIT

A turn of the cable about the end of the windlass, without the knight-heads.