by David Steel, Sr. and/or Jr.
London: Printed for P[enelope]. Steel, at the
Navigation-Warehouse, Little Tower Hill. 1805.
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 are found in the body of
the definition for HAWSE, viz.
Although terms appear with essentially the same definitions in
several dictionaries of the age; and since I am pressed for time; and
there's little point to duplication of entries (in substance, if not
verbatim): in the midst of a project to collect in HTML files on a
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in one physical place rather than in several books in different
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Steel, begun with the intention of screening out entries that appeared
with essentially the same definition(s) elsewhere, the overwhelming
majority of entries from Steel were being retained. It appeared clearly
faster to simply type them all in and skip the screening. This policy
was adopted starting with the 'D's; though some entries before the 'D's
are missing, thenceforth the transcription is unabridged.
There are minor text formatting differences between the original and
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While the content of the "Explanation..." itself is in the public
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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
- AFTER BODY.
- That part of the ship's body abaft the midships or dead-flat.
(See BODIES. See also DEAD FLAT.) This term is, however more
particularly used in expressing the figure or shape of
that part of the ship. (see BODY PLAN, Plate I.)
- AIR FUNNEL.
- A cavity framed in the openings of the timbers, to admit
fresh air into the ship, and convey the foul air out of it. They are,
generally, and should be, placed in the largest openings so as to be
clear for passing the air freely. (See Figure of the Air Funnel, on
Plate I.)
- AMIDSHIPS.
- In midships, or in the middle of the ship, either with regard
to her length or breadth. Hence that timber, or frame, which has the
greatesg breadth and capacity in the ship is denominated the midship
bend. (See DEAD FLAT. See also Sheer Draught, Plate I.)
- ANCHOR LINING
- The short pieces of plank, or of board, fastened to the sides
of the ship, or to stantions [sic] under the fore channel, to prevent
the bill of the anchor from tearing the ship's side. when fishing or
drawing up the anchor. (See SHEER DRAUGHT, Plate I.) It is only used in
the navy, and many ships upon which it was fitted have lately had it
taken away.
- BADGE.
- A sort of ornament fixed on the quarters of small vessels
near the stern, and containing, either a sash for the convenience of
the cabin, or the representation of it. It is commonly decorated with
carved work, as marine figures, martial instruments, &c.
- BAG OF THE HEAD RAILS.
- The lowest part of the head-sails, or that part which partakes
of the horizontal position. (See Sheer Draught, Plate I.)
- BALCONY.
- The gallery in the stern of large ships. (See Sheer Draught, and
Perpendicular View of the Stern, Plate I.)
- BALUSTERS.
- The ornamental pillars, placed along, or in front of, the
balcony in the stern and quarters of large ships.
- BARK.
- A name given to small ships, especially to
ships, having no head-rails, and to such as have three masts without a
mizen top-sail.
- BASE.
- The foot or lowest part of a pillar; or that part of a body over
which rests, or is designed to rest.
- BEAK-HEAD.
- The short platform at the fore-part of the upper-deck, in
large ships, placed at the height of the ports from the deck, for the
convenience of the chase-guns. Its termination aft is the bulk-head
called the beak-head bulk-head, which incloses the fore-part of
the ship. (See Sheer Draught, Plate I.)
- BEAK-HEAD BEAM.
- The same as CAT BEAM, which see under the article BEAMS.
- BEAK-HEAD CARLINGS.
- Large carlings which are used to frame the beak-head instead of
a collar beam.
- CAT-BEAM, THE, or BEAK-HEAD BEAM,
- is the broadest beam in the ship, generally made in two
breadths, tabled and bolted together. The fore-side is placed far
enough forward to receive the heads of the stantions of the beak-head
bulk-head. (See Inboard Works, Plate IV., and Half-breadth Plan, Plate
I.)
- COLLAR-BEAM, THE.
- is the beam upon which the stantions of the beak-head
bulk-head stand. The upper side of it is kept well with the upper side
of the upper deck port-sills, and lets down upon the spirketting at the
side. But its casting over the bow-sprit, in the middle, giving it a
form which in timber is not to be gotten without difficulty, a framing
of two large carlings, and a stantion on each side of the bowsprit, is
now generally substituted in its place. (See Inboard Works, Plate IV.)
- PALLETING BEAMS,
- are those beams under the flat of the magazine, bread-room, and
powder-room, where there is a double palleting. Those of the
upper tier are of fir, and rabbets taken out of their edges to form
scuttles.
- BEAM LINE.
- A line rated along the inside of the ship, fore and aft, shewing
the uppersides of the beams at the side of the ship.
- BED or BARREL SCREWS.
- (See SCREWS.)
- BELLFRY.
- An ornamental framing, made of stantions at the after beams
of the forecastle, with a covering or top, under which the ship's bell
is hung. In large ships the stantions are supported by knees. In small
ships it is frequently built over the windlass.
- BILLS.
- The ends of compass or KNEE TIMBER.
- BINNACLE. (Formerly BITTACLE).
- A wooden case, or chest, which contains the compasses and the
lights to shew them, by night, &c. It is divided into three
compartments, with sliding shutters. Those at the side have a compass
in each, and that in the middle is fitted to hold a lamp, or candles,
which emit light on the compasses through a pane of glass on each side.
In small vessels it is sometimes fixed before the companion, and the
lights put in from the captain's ladderway, without going upon deck. On
the deck of a ship of war there are always two binnacles, one for the
use of the man who steers, and the other for him who cons, or
superintends the steerage.
- BITTS.
- A frame of oak timber, whereon the cables or ropes are
occasionally fastened. It consists of two upright pieces of oak, called
Bitt-pinns, when the bitts are large, or of knees,
when the bitts are small, with a cross-piece fastened
horizontally athwartships near the head of them. The largest Bitts
are commonly called the Riding Bitts, and are those to which
the cables are fastened, when the ship rides at anchor. There are also
small Bitts to belay ropes to, as the Bow-line and Brace
Bitts, situated near the masts; the Fore Jear and Topsail
Sheet Bitts, situated on the forecastle, and round the foremast;
the Main Jear and Topsail Sheet Betts, which tenon
into the foremost beam of the quarter deck. The Bitts
round the mizen mast are generally formed with knees, and have
sheave-holes for the topsail sheets, &c. (See Sheave-holes. See
also Plans and Inboard Works, Plate III. and IV.)
- BITT-PINNS.
- The upright pieces of oak timber, let in and bolted to the beams
of two decks at least, and to which the Cross-pieces are let on
and bolted. (See Inboard Works, Plate IV.)
- BLOCK.
- The large piece of elm out of which the figure is carved at the
head of the ship. (See Sheer Draught, Plate I.)
- BLOCKS FIXED,
- are solid pieces of oak, let through the sides of the ship,
and fitted with sheaves to lead the tacks, sheets, traces [sic],
&c. into the ship. The block to lead in the main-tack, is fixed at
the after end of the fore channel, or before the chestree, and
close up under the sheer-strakes. The block for leading
in the fore and spritsail sheets is fixed in the side close up
under the sheer-strakes, and just before the fenders or
steps of the gangway. The block for leading in the main-sheet
is fixed through the side, clear of the wardroom
bulkhead, or just before it on the upper deck of large ships. In
frigates and smaller ships it is fayed upon the planksheer, abreast of
the mizen-mast. The block for the main-brace and studding sail
sheet is fixed on the plank sheer close aft. The blocks for the
main and fore lifts are kevel-headed, and are fixed either
inside or out abreast their respective masts. The blocks for
the dorrick and the top and lift blocks, are fixed
outside, a little abaft the mizen-mast; the former on the starboard,
and the latter on the larboard side.
- BLOCKS
- to lead in the catfall are fixed on the plank-sheer
over the catheads. A sheave-hole is cut in each, with a snatch,
that the fall may lead in fair upon deck. The hole need not be cut
through on the outside. (See Sheer Draught, Plate I.)
- BLOCKS FOR TRANSPORTING
- the ship, are two solid pieces of elm or oak, one fixed on each
side of the stem, above the taffarel, and a snatch with a large
score cut each way in the middle. When used, the hawser
is hauled in through the snatch.
- BOATS
- Small vessels, either open or decked. Rowing boats are open,
and others are generally decked over. Boats are managed on the water by
rowing and sailing, and are occasionally slight or strong, sharp or
flat bottomed, open or decked, plain or ornamented, as they may be
designed either celerity or burthen, for deep or shallow water, for
sailing in a harbor or at sea, for convenience or pleasure.
The construction and the names of boats are different,
according
to the various purposes for which they are calculated, and the services
required of them.
The largest that ships take to sea is the LONG-BOAT, (Plate
IV.), built very strongly, and furnished with masts and sails.
The LAUNCH is a sort of LONG-BOAT, and is now generally taken
to
sea in its stead; but it is not built upon a principle of sailing, it
being more flat, is broader, and more useful for weighing small anchors
than the LONG-BOAT.
The BARGE is next in size, but very different from the former
in
its construction, having a slighter frame, and being more ornamented.
It is constructed for rowing or sailing, having conveniences for ten or
twelve oars, and two or three masts, and is chiefly used for the
conveyance of admirals and other officers of rank to and from the ship.
The PINNACE is of the same form as the barge, but is something
smaller, and never rows more than eight oars. It is for smaller ships,
or for the use of officers of subordinate rank.
A YAWL is something less than the pinnace, nearly of the same
form,
and used for similar purposes. They are generally rowed with six oars.
The above boats are all carvel-built.
CUTTERS for ships are clincher-built, and are used for
the
conveyance of seamen, or the lighter stores. They are shorter and
broader in proportion to their length than the long boat, and
constructed either for rowing or sailing.
- BOBSTAY-HOLES.
- Holes cut through the fore part of the knee of the head,
between the cheeks, large enough to admit the bobstay-collars, to which
the bobstays are set up for the security of the bowsprit.
- RING and EYE BOLTS,
- for securing GUNS, &c. have the part that enters into the
wood cylindrical. Those for ring-bolts have the rings turned into an
eye made at the head of the bolt. The rings are sometimes made angular,
to receive many turns of lashing; such are the bolts for lashing the
booms and spare anchors. Eye bolts have only an eye made at the
head of the bolt, to which the tackles, &c. may be hooked. (See
Midship Sections, Plate III.) Some eye-bolts have a shoulder to them,
to resist a great strain, as the fish-tackle eye-bolt, which has a
plate, or long strap, made under the eye to prevent its burying into
the plank. The TOGGLE-BOLT [see Steel's "Art of Mastmaking."] has a
flat head and a mortise through it, that receives a toggle or pin. Its
use is to confine the ensign staff, &c. into its place, by means of
a strap.
- WRAIN BOLT, A.
- is a ring bolt, with two or more forelock holes in it,
occasionally to belay or make fast towards the middle. It is used, with
the wrain staff in the ring. for setting-to the planks.
- BOMB-VESSEL.
- A vessel of war, particularly designed for throwing shells
from mortars. It was invented by the French, and said to have been
first used in the bombardment of Algiers. Prior to that time the
throwing of shells from sea was supposed impossible.
- BOMB-BED-BEAMS.
- The beams which support the bomb-bed in bomb-vessels.
- BOXING.
- A projection of wood formerly left on the hawse-pieces, in
wake of the hawse-holes, and which projected as far out as the plank
inside and out. This method of fitting the hawse-holes is now, however,
generally laid aside; as, among other advantages which attend the
present practice, it is found that, as the method of boxing consumed an
unnecessary quantity of large timber, this expence is now avoided;
beside which, the planks, without boxing, run forward to the stem, and
thereby strengthen the bow. The purpose of boxing is much better
answered by a pipe of lead let through the holes, and turned with a
flap inside and out, the undersides of which are the thickest, to allow
for the wearing of the cable.
The term BOXING is also applied to the scarph of the lower
piece
of stem, let flatwise into the forefoot. (See Sheer Draught, Plate I.)
- BRACES
- formerly called POINTERS, are also square pieces of timber
fixed diagonally across the hold, to support the bilge and prevent the
ship's working loose. (See Midship's Section, Plate III.) Braces were
formerly fitted to extend from the bilge to the middle of the beam
above.
- BRACKETS.
- Short crooked timbers, resembling knees, for support or
ornament. The HAIR-BRACKET is the boundary of the aft part of the
figurehead, and its lower part finishes with the fore part of the upper
deck. (See Sheer Draught, Plate I.)
The CONSOLE BRACKET is a light piece of ornament, at the fore part of
the quarter gallery, sometimes called a CANTING-LIVRE.
- STERN-BRACKETS
- are carved ornaments on the munions, under the taffarel, at the
arch of the cove, and sometimes under the balcony, &c.
- BREAD-ROOM.
- A place parted off below the lower deck, close abaft, for the
reception of the bread. It should always be very completely covered
with tin or other metal not so liable to corrode. (See STORE ROOMS.)
- BREADTH-SWEEPS
- (See Frames.)
- BREAST-RAIL.
- The upper rail of the balcony, or of the breast-work
at the fore part of the quarter deck. (See Sheer Draught and
Perpendicular view of the Stern, Plate I., Inboard Works, Plate IV.,
and Plan of the Deck, Plate III.)
- BREAST-WORK.
- The stantions, with their rails, at the fore part of the
quarter-deck. The breast-work fitted on the upper deck of such ships as
have no quarter-deck serves to make a separation from the main-deck.
(See Inboard Works, Plate IV., and Plan of the upper Deck, Plate III.)
- BRIG or BRIGANTINE.
- A merchant vessel, having two masts, with the mainsail fore
and aft, and not athwartships as in ships. In the Royal Navy, when
cutter-built vessels are thus rigged, they are called CUTTER-BRIGS.
- BUCKLERS.
- Pieces of elm plank barred close against the inside of the hawse-holes,
to a cant below
and under the hook above, to prevent the water from coming in. Those
used at sea, denominated BLIND-BUCKLERS, have no aperture; but those
used in a harbor, &c. when a ship is at anchor, and called
RIDING-BUCKLERS, are made in two pieces, the upper piece rabbeting on
the lower piece at the middle of the hawse-hole, and the two pieces,
when joining, have a hole in the middle, large enough to admit the
cable.
- BULGEWAYS
- (See BILGEWAYS.)
- BULKHEADS.
- The various partitions which separate one part of a ship from
another. Those in the hold are mostly built with rabbetted or cyphered
plank, as are those of the magazine, to keep the powder securely from
the cargo, ballast, or stowage in the hold. Thus likewise are the fish
and bread-room bulkheads. Those upon the decks are mostly to separate
the officers from the seamen; as the ward-room bulkhead, which is
composed of doors and panels of joiner's work. Thus, also, the cabin
and screen bulkheads, in large ships, inclose the cabin from the walk
abaft, or balcony;
and, forward, the gallery is inclosed by the beak-head bulk-head.
- BUM-KIN, or more properly BOOM-KIN [bumkin,
boomkin]
- A projecting piece of oak or fir, on each bow of a ship,
fayed down upon the false-rail, or upper rail of the head, with its
heel cleated against the knight-head in large, and the bow in small
ships. It is secured, outwards, by an iron strap, and rod or rope
lashing, which confine it downwards to the knee or bow. It is ueed for
the purpose of hauling down the fore-tack of the fore-sail.
- BUSHED.
- Cased with harder metal, as that inserted into the holes of
braces or sheaves to prevent their wearing, and, consequently, to take
off friction.
- CALLIPERS [calipers]
- Compasses with circular legs, for taking correctly the
diameter or size of the timber. There is a smaller sort for taking the
diameter of bolts or any thing cylindrical.
- CALVES TONGUE.
- (See TONGUE.)
- CANTING.
- The act of turning any thing completely over, so that the under
surface shall lie upwards. It is otherwise said to be half or
quarter canted.
- CANTING LIVRE.
- The same as console bracket. (See BRACKETS.)
- CAST, TO.
- To stretch over any thing, as [CAST-KNEES]
- CAST-KNEES,
- or those hanging-knees which croak or arch over the corner of a
gun-port, rider, &c.
- CATS-TAIL.
- The inner part of the cathead, that fays down upon the cat
beam, in large ships, and under the forecastle beams of smaller ships.
- CHASE.
- A score cut lengthwise for a tenon to be fixed in, as the tenon
at the heels of pillars, &c. Ledges may be chased-about
into the carlings, or the carlings into the beams, by cutting the score
or chase large enough at one end for it to sweep about into its place.
- CHASE PORTS.
- The ports at the bows, and through the stern of the ship. The
former are made for the purpose of firing at an enemy a-head, and are
called bow-chasers. The latter for the purpose of firing upon an enemy
in pursuit, or for dismasting an enemy that may lie athwart the stern,
in order to rake the ship.
- CHEEKS.
- Knees of oak timber which support the knee of the head, and
which they also ornament by their shape and mouldings. They form the
basis of the head, and connect the whole to the bows, through which and
the knee they are bolted. (See Sheer Draught, Plate I.)
- CHEEKS
- are also the circular pieces on the aftside of the carrick
bitts. (See Windlass, in Plate IV.)
- CHESTREES.
- Pieces of oak timber, fayed and bolted to the topsides, one
on each side, abaft the fore-channels, with a sheave fitted in the
upper part for the convenience of hauling home the main-tack. Its true
situation is half the length of the main-yard before the centre of the
man-mast. (See Sheer Draught, Plate I.)
- CROSS-CHOCKS
- are larger [than CHOCKS?] pieces of oak timber fayed
acrossthe dead-wood and heels of the first-futtocks, to make them equal
in height with the floor. In merchant ships they are seldom used. Elm
for this purpose may be used with the same advantage as oak, as along
the midships it will be equally durable, and is less liable to split.
(See Midship Section, Plate III.)
- CHOCKS or ROWLOCK CHOCKS OF BOATS,
- are a sort of cleat, fastened on the gunwale to support the
sholes [sic]. WINDLASS CHOCKS are fastened inside the bows of small
craft, to support the ends of the windlass.
- CLINCHER-BUILT.
- A term applied to the construction of some vessels and boats,
when the planks of the bottom are so disposed, that the lower edge of
every plank overlays the next under it, and the fastenings go through
and clinch or turn upon the timbers. It is opposed to the term CARVEL
WORK.
- CLINCHING or CLENCHING.
- Spreading the point of a bolt upon a ring, &c. by beating it
with a hammer, in order to prevent its drawing.
- CLOSE-QUARTERS.
- Strong barriers, or bulkheads, stretching athwart a merchant
ship, in several places, and behind which the crew may retreat when
boarded by an enemy. They are therefore fitted with several loop-holes,
through which the small arms may be fired, with other conveniences for
the defense of the ship, and the annoyance of the adversary.
- COACH or COUCH.
- An apartment before the captain's cabin.
- COAMING CARLINGS.
- Those carlings that inclose the bomb-beds of bomb-vessels, and
which are called carlings because they are shifted occasionally.
- COBOOSE. [CABOOSE]
- A small shifting kind of shed or galley, to cover the fire
place of some merchant ships. It generally stands against the barricade
on the fore-part of the quarter-deck, or shifts occasionally.
- COCK PIT.
- That part of the after platform, under the lower deck,
between the store-rooms, where the wounded are taken down to be dressed
in time of action, and where the surgeon has a repository for his
medicines, &c.
- COME UP, TO
- To cast loose the forelocks or lashings of a sett, in order to
take in closer to the plank.
- COMPANION.
- In ships of war, the framing and sash lights upon the
quarter-deck or round-house, through which the light passes to the
commander's apartments; and, from the upper deck to the gun or messroom
in frigates. In merchant ships it is the birthing or hord [sic] round
the ladder-way, leading to the master's cabin, and in small ships is
chiefly for the purpose of keeping the sea from beating down. (See
Inboard Works, Plate IV. and Plan, Plate III.)
- CONVERSION.
- The art of lining and moulding timber, plank, &c. with
the least possible waste, and one that the student can never make
himself too well acquainted with.
- COPING.
- Turning the ends of iron lodging knees so that they may hook
into the beams.
- COUNTER.
- A part of the stern; the lower counter being that arched
part of the stern immediately above the wing transom. Above the lower
counter is the second counter,
the upper part of which is the under part of the lights or windows. The
counters are parted by their rails, as the lower counter springs from
the tuck-rail, and is terminated on the upper part by the lower
counter-rail. From the upper part of the latter, springs the upper or
second counter, its upper part terminating in the upper counter rail,
which is immediately under the lights. (See Sheer Draught and
Perpendicular View of the Stern, Plate I.)
- COUNTER MOULD.
- The converse of the mould. (See MOULDING.) If, when a piece
of timber, moulded on both sides, as the keelson, breast-hooks, riders,
&c. is intended to fay at once, the operation is performed thus:
after one edge is accurate trimmed to the mould, the windings or
bevellings are taken square from the piece, and accurately applied to
the part to which it is to be fayed, and one or sometimes three square
spots set off on the counter-side. Then the counter-mould, after being
exactly fayed, and the square spots marked, is laid on the piece, to
answer the corresponding square spots there; and, they agreeing, the
piece may be trimmed through to the fist moulding edge, and will not
fail to answer. If there should be wanes on the piece, the mould had
better be tacked fast to the side of the piece, and the edge of the
mould taken square in; and, to be the more exact, the rase, or the wood
to the edge of the mould, had better be taken away with a chisel, and
dubbed through afterwards.
- COUNTER RAILS.
- The ornamented rails athwart the stern, into which the
counters finish. (See Sheer Draught and Perpendicular View of the
Stern, Plate I.)
- COUNTER TIMBERS.
- The right-aft timbers which form the stern. The longest run
up and form the lights, while the shorter run up only to the under part
of them, and help to strengthen the counter. The side counter timbers
are mostly formed of two pieces, scarphed together in consequence of
their peculiar shape, as they not only form the right-aft figure of the
stern, but partake of the shape of the top-side also. Sometimes those
right-aft are made in two. (See Sheer Draught, and Perpendicular View
of the Stern, Plate I.)
- COVE.
- The arched moulding sunk in at the foot or lower part of the
taffarel. (See Sheer Draught, and Perpendicular View of the Stern,
Plate I.)
- CRAB.
- A smaller sort of capstan, formed of a wooden piller, and
three or more small whelps, whose lower end works in a socket, whilst
the middle traverses or turns round in partners which clip it in a
circle. Above the whelps are two holes to receive bars, that act as
levers, and by which it is turned round. It serves as a capstan for
raising of weights, &c.
By a machine of this kind, so simple in its construction, may
be
heaved up the frame timbers, &c. of vessels when building. For this
purpose it is placed between two floor timbers, while the partners
which clip it in the middle may be of four or five inch plank fastened
on the same floors. A block is fastened beneath in the slip, with a
central hole for its lower end to work in, as Fig. 5. on Plate III.
Besides the crab described here, there is another sort which is
shorter and portable. The latter is fitted in a frame composed of
cheeks, across which are the partners, and at the bottom a small
platform to receive the spindle, as Fig. y, Plate III. [see photo of
landborne version in Bunting, "A Day's Work", p. 151]
- CRADLE.
- A strong frame of timber, &c. placed under the bottom of a
ship in order to conduct her steadily in her ways till she is
safely launched into water sufficient to float her. (See Frontispiece.)
- CRANKS.
- Pieces of iron, shaped as an elbow, &c. and attached to
the beams of the quarter-deck for the capstan bars to be stowed
thereon; they are sometimes fitted to stow the bars under the
boatskids. Others are drive in the upper part of the taffarel, to
support the stern lanterns.
- CROAKY.
- A term applied to plank when it curves or compasses much in
short lengths.
- CROSS-BORED.
- Bored with holes alternately on the edges of planks, &c.
to separate the fastenings, so as to avoid splitting the timbers or
beams.
- CROSS-SPALES.
- Deals, or fir plank, nailed in a temporary manner to the
frames of the ship at a certain height, and by which the frames are
kept to their proper breadths, until the deck-knees are fastened. The
main and top-timber breadths are the heights mostly taken for spaling
the frames, but the height of the ports is much better; yet this may be
thought too high if the ship is long in building, or the ground not to
be depended upon.
- CROW.
- An iron lever, used to prize about the timbers, or any
weight, particularly when in such a situation as not to be handled.
Crows are if various sorts; some are opened at the end, with a claw for
drawing nails, others have a moveable staple at the end for drawing
small bolts or large nails. The latter are commonly called Engine
Crows.
- CROW-FOOT
- The same as BEAM-ARM. [q.v.]
- CRUTCHES or CLUTCHES.
- The crooked timbers fayed and bolted upon the foot-waling
abaft, for the security of the heels of the half-timbers. (See Inboard
Works, Plate IV.) Also stantions of iron or wood, whose upper parts are
forked to receive rails, spare masts, yards, &c. and which are
fixed along the sides and gangways.
- CUDDY.
- The cabin abaft, under the round house of East India ships, for
the captain's apartment.
- CUP.
- A solid piece of cast iron, let into the step of the capstan,
and in which the iron spindle works which is at the heel of the
capstan.
- CUTTER.
- A swift sailing vessel with one mast, more particularly
described hereafter.
- CUTTING-DOWN LINE.
- The elliptical curve line, forming the upper side of the
floor timbers at the middle line of the ship. Also the line that forms
the upper part of the knee of the head, above the cheeks. (See Inboard
Works, Plate IV. on which the cutting down line is represented as
limiting the depth of every floor timber at the middle line, and also
the height of the upper part of the deadwood afore and abaft.)
- CUTWATER.
- The knee of the head. (See that Article.)
- DAGGER.
- A piece of timber that faces on to the poppets on the
bilgeways, and crosses them diagonally to keep them together. The plank
that secures the heads of the poppets is called the dagger plank.
The dagger seems to apply to any thing that stands diagonally
or aslant.
- DAGGER-KNEES.
- Knees to supply the place of hanging knees. Their side arms
are brought up aslant, or nearly to the underside of the beams
adjoining. They are chiefly used to the lower deck beams of merchant
ships, in order to preserve as much stowage in the hold as possible.
Any straight hanging knees, not perpendicular to the side of the beam,
are in general termed dagger knees. (See Inboard Works, Plate
IV.)
- DAGGER PLANK.
- (See DAGGER, above.)
- DAVIT.
- A short beam of fir, trimmed eight square towards the
outer-end, and used as a crane, whereby the flukes of the anchor are
hoisted to the gunwale without injuring the planks of the side.
- DEAD-DOORS.
- Doors made of whole deal, with slit deal lining, fitted in a
rabbet to the outside of the gallery doors, and bolted withinside, to
prevent the water from flowing into the ship in case the quarter
gallery should be carried away. [same idea as DEAD-LIGHTS. (CM)]
- DEAD-EYES.
- Oblate pieces of elm, fixed at the outer edges of the
channels, with three holes in each of them, through which the laniards
of the shrouds are reeved. (See Sheer Draught, Plate I. and Midship
Section, Plate III.)
- DEAD-FLAT.
- A name given to that timber or frame which has the greatest
breadth and capacity in the ship, and which is generally called the midship
bend.
In those ships where there are several frames or timbers of equal
breadth or capacity, that which is in the middle should be always
considered as dead-flat, and distinguished as such by the
character ['+' surrounded by a circle]. The timbers before dead-flat
are marked A, B, C, &c. in order; and those abaft dead-flat by the
figures 1, 2, 3, &c. The timbers adjacent to dead-flat, and which
have no rising, are distinguished by the characters (A) (B) &c. and
(1) (2) &c. (See Sheer Draught, Plate I.)
- DEAD-LIGHTS.
- Shutters for the stern and gallery lights, to prevent the
water from gushing into the ship in a high sea. They are made of whole
deal, with slit deal linings, fitted on the outside, and bolted or
otherwise fastened within, in bad weather.
- DEAD-RISING, or RISING LINE OF THE FLOOR.
- Those parts of the floor or bottom throughout the ship's
length, where the sweep or curve at the head of the floor timber is
terminated, or inflects to join the keel. Hence, although the rising of
the floor at the midship flat is but a few inches above the keel at
that place, its height forward and aft increases according to the
sharpness of form in the body. Therefore the rising of the floor in the
sheer plan, is a curve [sic] line drawn at the height of the
ends of the curve of the floor timbers, and limited at the main frame,
or dead-flat, by the dead-rising; appearing in flat ships nearly
parallel to the keel for some timbers afore and abaft the midship
frame; for which reason these timbers are called flats: but in
sharp ships it rises gradually from the main frame, and ends on the
stem and post.
- DEAD-WATER.
- The eddy-water which the ship draws after her at her seat, or
line of floatation in the water, particularly close aft. To this
particular great attention should be paid in the construction of a
vessel, especially in those with square tucks, for such being carried
too low in the water, will be attended with great eddies or much dead-water.
Vessels with a round buttock have but little or no dead-water, because,
by the rounding or arching of such vessels abaft, the water more easily
recovers its state of rest.
- DEAD-WOOD.
- That part of the basis of a ship's body, forward and aft,
which is formed by solid pieces of timber scarfed together lengthwise
on the keel. These should be sufficiently sided to admit of a stepping
or rabbet for the heels of the timbers, that the latter may not be
countinued downwards to sharp edges; and they should be sufficiently
high to seat the floors. Afore and abaft the floors the deadwood is
continued to the cutting-down line, for the purpose of securing the
heels of the cant-timbers. (See Sheer Draught, Plate I.)
- DEAD-WORK.
- (See SUPERNATANT.)
- DEALS.
- Fir wood, of similar thickness to plank.
- DECKS.
- The decks are in a ship what floors are in a house. They are
to support the artillery, stores, &c. and, with the beams, to
connect the ship together. Their names arise from their situation, as Lower
Deck, Middle Deck, Upper Deck, and Quarter Deck. When a
deck stretches fore and aft upon one line, without any falls or
intervals, it is called a Flush Deck. The space before the
foremast bulkhead, under the quarter-deck, is often called the Half
Deck; and, in some north country ships, the steerage is frequently
called by this name.
- DEEP WAISTED.
- A term signifying that the height of the topsides is much above
the upper deck, as they are in most vessels in the Royal Navy.
- DEPTH IN THE HOLD.
- The height between the floor and the lower deck. This is one
of the principal dimensions given for the construction of a ship. It
varies according to the height at which the guns are required to be
carried from the water; or according to the trade for which a vessel is
designed.
- DIAGONAL LINE.
- A line cutting the body-plan diagonally from the timbers to
the middle line. It is square with, or perpendicular to, the shape of
the timbers, or nearly so, till it meets the middle line. (See Body
plan, Plate I.)
- DIAGONAL RIBBAND.
- A narrow plank, made to a line formed on the half-breadth
plan, by taking the intersections of the diagonal line with the timbers
in the body-plan to where it cuts the middle line in its direction, and
applying it to their respective stations on the half-breadth plan,
which forms a curve to which the ribband is made as far as the cant
body extends and the square frane adjoining. (Sed RIBBANDS.)
- DISPOSITION.
- A draught or drawing representing the several timbers that
compose the frame of the ship, so that they may be properly disposed
with respect to the ports, &c. (See Disposition of the Frame in
Plate III.) [analogous to a plating expansion drawing in metal hull
construction (CM)]
- DOG.
- An iron implement used by shipwrights, having a fang at one,
or sometimes at each end, to be driven into any piece for supporting it
while hewing, &c. Another sort has a fang in one end and an eye at
the other, in which a rope may be fastened, and used to haul any thing
along.
- DOG SHORE.
- A shore particularly used in launching.
- DOUBLING.
- Planking of ships' [sic] bottoms twice. It is sometimes done
to new ships when the original planking is thought to be too thin; and,
in repairs, it strengthens the ship, without driving out the former
fastenings.
- DOVE-TAIL.
- A score at the end of a piece of wood resembling the end of a
dove's tail, and into which a corresponding piece is fitted. It is cut
larger within than without for the purpose of holding the two pieces
together the more firmly. (See Perpendicular View of the Stern, Plate
I.)
- DOVE-TAIL PLATES.
- Metal plates, formed like dove-tails, and used to confine the
heel of the stern-post and keel together.
- DOWSING CHOCKS.
- Pieces fayed athwart the apron and lapped on the knight-heads or
inside stuff above the upper deck.
- DRAUGHT.
- The drawing or design of the ship, upon paper, describing the
different parts, and from which the ship is to be built. it is mostly
drawn by a scale of one quarter of an inch to a foot, so divided or
graduated that the dimensions may be taken to one inch. (See Sheer
Draught, Plate I.)
- DRAUGHT OF WATER.
- The depth of water a ship displaces when she is afloat. (See
Sheer Draught, Plate I.)
- DROP.
- The fall or declivity of a deck, which is generally of
several inches. Drops are also small foliages of carved work in the
stern-munions, &c.
- DRIFT-PIECES.
- Solid pieces, fitted at the drifts, to form the scroles. They
are commonly mitered into the gunwale, but should rather be let in with
square butts, as the caulking will stand better. (See Sheer Draught,
Plate I.)
- DRIFTS.
- Those parts where the sheer is raised according to the
heights of the decks or gangways, and where the rails are cut off and
ended by scroles. (See Sheer Draught, Plate I.)
- DRIVER.
- The foremost spur on the bilgeways; the heel of which is
fayed to the foreside of the foremost poppet, and cleated on the
bilgeways, and the sides of it stand fore and aft. It is now seldom
used.
- DRUMHEAD.
- The head of a capstan, formed of semi-circular pieces of elm,
which, framed together, form the circle into which the capstan bars are
fixed. (See CAPSTAN.)
- DRUXEY.
- A state of decay in timber with white spungy [sic] veins, the
most deceptive of any defect.
- DUBBING.
- Working with an adze.
- DUMB PINTLE.
- (See PINTLE.)
- DUNNAGE-BATTENS
- Pieces of oak or fir, about two inches square, nailed athwart
the flat of the orlop, to prevent wet from damaging the cables, and to
admit air. Dunnage battens are also used in sail-rooms, and in
magazines, so as to form a vacant space beneath the sails and powder
barrels. DUNNAGE, in general, signifies light wood, or similar
materials, used to elevate the stowage.
- EARS OF BOATS.
- The knee-pieces at the fore-part on the outside, at the height
of the gunwale. (See Long Boat, Plate IV.)
- EDGING OF PLANK.
- Sawing or hewing it narrower.
- EKEING.
- Making good a deficiency in the length of any piece, by
scarphing or butting, as at the end of deck-hooks, cheeks, or knees.
The ekeing at the lower part of the supporter under the
cat-head, is only to continue the shape and fashion of that part, being
of no other service. We make this remark, because, if the supporter
were stopt short without an ekeing, it would be better, as it [the
ekeing] causes the side to rot, and it commonly appears fair to the eye
in but one direction. The EKEING is also the piece of carved work under
the lower part of the quarter-piece, at the aft part of the quarter
gallery. (See Sheer Draught, Plate I.)
- ELEVATION.
- The orthographic draught, or perpendicular plan of a ship,
whereon the heights and lengths are expressed. It is called by
shipwrights the SHEER DRAUGHT. (See Plate I.)
- ENTRANCE.
- A term applied to the fore part of a ship under the
load-water line, expressive of its figure; as, "she has a fine
entrance," &c.
- EVEN KEEL.
- A ship is said to swim on an even keel when she draws the same
quantity of water abaft as forwards.
- EYE-BOLT.
- (See BOLTS.)
- FACE-PIECE.
- A piece of elm, generally tabled on to the fore part of the
knee of the head, to assist the conversion of the main piece, and
likewise to shorten the upper bolts, and prevent the cables from
rubbing against them as the knee gets worn.
- FACING.
- Letting one piece, about an inch in thickness, on to another, in
order to strengthen it.
- FAIR.
- A term to denote the evenness or regularity of a curve or line.
- FALL.
- The descent of a deck from a fair curve lengthwise, as
frequently in the upper deck of yachts, or merchant ships, to give
height to the commander's cabin, and sometimes forward at the
hawse-holes.
- FALLING-HOME, or by some, TUMBLING-HOME.
- The inclination which the topside has within a perpendicular.
(See FLAIRING.)
- FALSE-KEEL.
- A second keel, composed of elm-plank, or thick-stuff,
fastened in a slight manner under the main keel, to prevent it from
being rubbed. Its advantages also are, that, if the ship should strike
the ground, the false keel will give way, and thus the main keel will
be saved; and it will be the means of causing the ship to hold the wind
better. (See Sheer Draught, Plate I.)
- FALSE-POST.
- A piece tabled on to the aft part of the heel of the main
part of the stern post. It is to assist the conversion and preserve the
main post, should the ship tail aground. (See Sheer Draught, Plate I.)
- FALSE-RAIL.
- A rail fayed down upon the upperside of the main or upper
rail of the head. It is to strengthen the head-rail, and forms the seat
of ease at the after end next the bow.
- FASHION PIECES.
- The timbers so called from their fashioning the after part of
the ship in the plane of projection, by terminating the breadth and
forming the shape of the stern. They are united to the ends of the
transoms and to the dead-wood. (See Sheer Draught, Plate I.)
- FAY, To.
- To join one piece so close to another that there shall be no
perceptible space between them.
- FENDERS.
- Two pieces of oak-plank fayed edgeways, perpendicularly,
against the topsides abreast the main hatchway, to prevent the sides of
the ship from being rubbed by the hoisting of any thing on board. It
appears, however from the construction of these fenders, that their
only use, in the Royal Navy, can be, when any thing is to be parbuckled
up the side; and, as this is very unusual, most weights being hoisted
on board by the yard-tackles, or a derrick, so that the articles never
touch ths sides, they are of little use, and had better be dispensed
with, as thy are the means of rotting the sides in the parts on which
they are affixed. (See Sheer Draught, Plate I.)
- FIFE-RAIL.
- A rail formerly let over the timber-heads above the
plank-sheers of the quarter-deck and forecastle, and formerly worked
similar to the plank-sheer, but lately planked up to it, excepting the
taffarel fife-rail. (See Stern, Plate I.)
- FIGURE.
- The principal piece of carved work or onrnament at the head of
the ship.
- FILLING ROOM.
- A small place in the magazine, lined with lead, and wherein the
powder is started loosely to fill the cartridges.
- FILLING-TIMBERS.
- The intermediate timbers between the frames that are gotten
up into their places singly after the frames are ribbanded and shored.
(See the Disposition of them in Plate III.)
- FILLINGS.
- Pieces of fir fayed between the cheeks of the head; and the
pieces in general, to which no particular denomination is otherwise
given, applied or affixed wherever solidity is required; such as those,
of oak, between the floors to which the kelson is fayed; and between
the timbers, to receive the chain and preventer bolts, &c.
- FINISHINGS.
- The carved ornaments of the quarter galleries. Those below the
lower stool are called the lower finishings; and those above
the upper stool, the upper finishings. (See Sheer Draught,
Plate I.)
- FIRE-HEARTH.
- The fire-place and conveniencies in the gallery [sic] for
cooking the provisions for the people. It is composed of a grate,
iron-boilers, ovens, a smoke-jack, &c.
- FISH-ROOM.
- A place parted off in the after-hold, by bulkheads, between
the spirit-room, bread-room, and powder-room. It was formerly used for
stowing the salt-fish to be consumed on board; a practice long since
discontinued. It is now used for the stowage of coals, and sometimes
for spirits, which the ship is destined for a long voyage.
- FIXED BLOCKS.
- Those blocks that come through the sides and are bolted, as the
sheet, tack, and brace blocks. (See BLOCKS.)
- FLAIRING.
- The reverse of falling or tumbling-home. As this
can be only in the fore-part of the ship, it is said that a ship has a flairing-bow,
when the topside falls outward fraom a perpendicular. Its uses are, to
shorten the cathead, and yet keep the anchor clear of the bow. It also
prevents the sea from breaking in upon the forecastle. (See Fore Body
Plan, Plate I.)
- FLATS.
- A name given to the timbers a-midships that have no
bevelings, and are similar to dead-flat, which is distinguished by
these characters ['+' surrounded by a circle], (A) (B) (1) (2) &c.
(See DEAD FLAT. See also Sheer Draught, Plate I.)
- FLEXURE.
- The binding or curving of a line or figure. (See Inflected
Curves.)
- FLIGHT.
- A sudden rising, or a greater curve than sheer, at the cheeks,
catheads, &c.
- FLIGHT OF THE TRANSOMS.
- As the ends or arms of the transoms, being gradually closed
in proportion to their distance from the wing transoms downwards,
become more narrow as they approach the keel, the general figure or
curve which they thus describe, similar to the rising of the floors, is
called the flight of the transoms.
- FLOOR.
- The bottom of a ship, or all that part on each side of the
keel, which approaches nearer to a horizontal than a perpendicular
direction, and whereon the ship rests when aground.
- FLOOR-HOLLOW.
- The inflected curve that terminates the floor next the keel, and
to which the floor hollow mould is made. (See Long-Boat on
Plate IV.)
- FLOOR-RIBBAND.
- The ribband next below the floor-heads which supports the
floors. This ribband should be well shored, and great pains should be
taken to keep it fair and level, as the whole fabric depends very much
thereon. (See RIBBANDS.)
- FLOOR-SWEEPS.
- The radii that sweep the heads of the floors. (See FRAMES. See
also Sheer Draught and Body Plan, Plate I.)
- FLOORS, or FLOOR-TIMBERS.
- The timbers that are fixed athwart the keel, and upon which
the whole frame is erected. They generally extend as far forward as the
fore-mast, and as far aft as the after square timber; and, sometimes,
one or two cant-floors are added. (See FRAMES. See also Midship Section
on Plate III.)
- FLUSH.
- With a continued even surfce; as a FLUSH DECK, which is a
deck upon one continued line, without interruption, from fore to aft.
- FLY-UP.
- Is a term similar to the article FLIGHT, signifying a sudden
deviation upwards from a sheer line, as the clamps of the lower deck fly
-up abaft to prevent their great sny.
- FOOT SPACE RAIL.
- The rail that terminates the foot of the balcony, and in
which the balusters step, if there be no pedestal rail. It rabbets over
the ends of the deals of the deck. (See Sheer Draught and Perpendicular
View of the Stern, Plate I.)
- FOOT-WALING, or FUTTLING, or CEILING.
- The inside plank of the ship's bottom. (See Midship Section,
Plate III.)
- FORE.
- The distinguishing character of all that part of a ship's frame
and materials which lie towards the stem.
- FORE AND AFT.
- In the direction of the ship's length from head to stern.
- FORE BODY.
- That part of the ship's body, afore the midships or
dead-flat. (See BODIES.) This term is more particularly used in
expressing the figure or shape of that part of the
ship. (See Body Plan, Plate I.)
- FORE-CASTLE
- The short deck above the upper deck forward.
- FORE-FOOT.
- The foremost piece of the keel. (See Sheer Draught, Plate I.)
- FORE-LOCK.
- A thin circular wedge of iron, used to retain a bolt in its
place, by being thrust through a mortise hole at the point of the bolt.
It is sometimes turned or twisted round the bolt to prevent its
drawing.
- FORE-MOST.
- Nearest to the head of the ship.
- FORE-PECK [sic].
- Close forward under the lower deck.
- FORK-BEAM.
- (See BEAMS.)
- FORWARD.
- In the fore-part of the ship.
- FOXEY.
- A defect in timber, of a reddish cast or hue, proceeding from
over-age, &c.
- FRAMES.
- The bends of timber which form the body of the ship, each of
which is composed of one floor-timber, two or three futtocks,
and a top-timber
on each side; which being united together, form the frame. Of these
frames or bends, that which incloses the greatest space is called the midship
or main frame or bend.
The arms of the floor-timber form a very obtuse angle; and, in the
other frames, this angle decreases or gradually becomes sharper, fore
and aft, with the middle line of the ship. Those floors which form the
acute angles afore and abaft are called the rising-floors. (See
Body Plan, Plate I. and Midship Section, Plate III.)
A frame of timbers is commonly formed by arches of circles
called sweeps, of which there are generally five. 1st. The floor-sweep,
which is limited by a line in the body-plan, perpendicular to the plane
of elevation, a little above the keel; and the height of this line
above the keel is called the dead-rising. The upper part of
this arch forms the head of the floor-timber. 2d. The lower breadth
sweep; the centre of which is in the line representing the lower
height of breadth. 3d. The reconciling sweep;
this sweep joins the two former, without intersecting either [a
geometrically precise way of saying "faired in" (cm)]; and makes a fair
curve from the lower height of breadth to the rising line. If a
straight line be drawn from the upper ecge of the keel to cut the back
of the floor-sweep, the form of the midship frame below the lower
height of breadth will be obtained. 4th. The upper breadth sweep;
the centre of which is the line representing the upper height of
breadth of the timbers. This sweep, described upwards, forms the lower
part of the top-timber. 5th. The top-timber sweep, or back-sweep,
is that which forms the hollow of the top-timber. This hollow is,
however, very often formed by a mould, so placed as to touch the upper
breadth sweep, and pass through the point, limiting the half-breadth of
the top-timber.
- FRAME TIMBERS.
- The various timbers that compose a frame bend; as the
floor-timber, the first, second, third, and fourth, futtocks, and
top-timber, which are united, by a proper shift, to each other, and
bolted through each shift. They are often kept open, for the advantage
of the air, and fillings fayed between them in wake of the bolts. Some
ships are composed of frames only, and are supposed to be of equal
strength with others of larger scantling. (See Disposition, and Midship
Section, Plate III.)
- FRIEZING.
- The ornamental carving or painting above the drift-rails, and
likewise round the stern or bow. It is generally a representation of
foliage or emblematic trophies of war, &c.
- FULCRUM.
- The prop of support of a lever in lifting or removing a heavy
body.
- FURRENS.
- Pieces to supply the deficiency of timber the moulding way.
- FUTTLING.
- (See FOOTWALING.)
- FUTTOCKS.
- The separate pieces of timber wo which the frame timbers are
composed. They are named according to their situation, that nearest the
keel being called the first futtock, the next above, the second
futtock, &c. (See FRAMES. See also Midship Section, Plate III.)
- GALLERY.
- The long narrow compartment, or balcony, projecting from the
stern and quarters of a large ship. The stern gallery is usually
decorated with a balustrade. (See QUARTER GALLERIES. See also Sheer
Draught, Plate I.)
- GALLEY.
- The place appointed for the fire-hearth and the use of the
cooks. It is generally under the forecastle or the fore-part of the
ship.
- GAMMONING-HOLE.
- A mortise hole cut through the knee of the head, between the
cheeks, through which the rope passes that gammons the bowsprit. (See
Head, Plate I.)
- GANG-BOARDS.
- The narrow platforms within the sides, next the gunwales,
which connect the quarter-deck to the forecastle. Each is composed of
three or four Prussia deals fayed and bolted together edgewise.
- GANGWAY.
- The entrance into the ship by the steps on the side, which,
of course, is best when flush with the quarter-deck. (See Sheer
Draught, Plate I.)
- A FIXT [sic] GANGWAY
- is a continuation of the quarter-deck to a knee before it, so
as to form the gangway when the quarter-deck of itself reaches not
forward enough. There is sometimes a fixed gangway, made at the aftpart
of the forecastle in large ships, when the waist is longer than the
customary length of a deal.
- GARLANDS.
- (See SHOT GARLANDS.)
- GARBOARD STRAKE.
- That strake of the bottom which is wrought next the keel, and
rabbets therein. (See Planking, Plate III.)
- GOOGINGS or GUDGEONS.
- The hinges upon which the rudder traverses. (See Rudder, in
Sheer Draught, Plate I.) Also the metal pieces upon which a windlass
works.
- GOOSE-NECK.
- A large iron hook, fixed with a strap at the after end od the
main channel, to stow the studding sail boom in.
- A SHIFTING GOOSE NECK
- is a sort of iron cleat, confined near the foremost end of
the tiller, by means of thin iron plates, one on each side, which are
bolted through the tiller, so that the goose-neck may move forward
between the plate as in a groove. Its use is to shift forward as the
tiller may shrink and go aft, to be kept fast in the rudder. The
goose-neck is fastened by two screw eye-bolts, which go through it and
jamb it upon the tiller.
- GRAIN-CUT.
- Cut athwart the grain; as when the grain of the wood does not
partake of the shape required; for instance, if a knee be cut out of a
broad straight-grained plank, it is evident that the grain, being cut
across, would be very short in one or both arms.
- GRATINGS.
- The lattice coverings of the hatchways, which are made with
openings to admit air, or light, by cross battens and ledges. The
openings should never be so large as to admit the heel of a man's shoe,
as they may otherwise endanger those that pass over them.
- GRIPE.
- A piece of elm timber, that completes the lower part of the
knee of the head, and makes a finish with the fore-foot. It bolts to
the stem, and is farther secured by two plates of copper in form of a
horseshoe, and therefore called by that name. (See Sheer Draught, Plate
I.)
- GROMMETS. (for boats.)
- Wreaths of rope which confine the oars to the pine in the
gunwale.
- GROUNDWAYS.
- Large pieces of timber, generally defective, which are laid
upon piles driven in the ground, across the dock or slip, in order to
make a good foundation to lay the blocks on, upon which the ship is to
rest.
- GUARD-IRONS.
- Curved or arched bars of iron fixed over the carved work of
yachts, &c. particularly over the head and quarter pieces, to
prevent their being damaged.
- GUNNER's STORE ROOM.
- (See STORE ROOMS.)
- GUN ROOM.
- The after-part of the lower deck, parted off for the
accomodation of the subaltern officers.
- GUNWALE.
- That horizontal plank which covers the heads of the timbers
between the main and fore drifts. (See Sheer Draught, Plate I.)
- GUY.
- A rope extended from the head of sheers, and made fast at a
distance on each side, by which they are kept steady.
- HAIR BRACKET.
- The moulding which terminates the fore ends of the head
rails, comes at the back of the figure, and breaks in fair with the
upper cheek. (See Sheer Draught, Plate I.)
- HALF-BREADTH-PLAN.
- (See PLAN.)
- HALF-BREADTH OF THE RISING.
- A curve in the floor plan, which limits the distances of the
centres of the floor-sweeps from the middle line of the body-plan. (See
Half Breadth Plan, Plate I.)
- HALF-PORTS.
- A sort of shutters [sic] made of deal, and fitted to the
slope of those ports which have no hanging lids. They have a hole cut
in them for the gun to go through.
- HALF-TIMBERS.
- The short timbers in the cant-bodies, which are answerable to
the lower futtocks in the square body. (See Disposition in Plate III.)
- HAMMACOE, or HAMMOCK-RACKS.
- The battens nailed to the sides of the beams, and to which the
sailors hang their hammocks and bedding.
- HAMMERS.
- The tools used by shipwrights for driving nails and clenching
bolts. Claw-hammers
are the most convenient for the former purpose, having a claw at one
end to draw the nail out if it splits or rocks in driving. Clench-hammers
should be made of hard steel, with one end flat for clenching, and a
face for smoothing the clench.
- HANCE or HANCH.
- A sudden fall or break, as from the drifts forward and aft to
the waist. Also those breaks in the rudder, &c. at those parts
where it suddenly becomes narrower. (See Sheer Draught, Plate I.)
- HANDSPEC. [cf. handspike]
- A wooden bar, made of tough ash, and used as a lever to prize or
remove great weights.
- HAND SCREWS or JACKS, DOUBLE or SINGLE.
- The engine represented in the margin [illus.] used to cant
beams, or other weighty timbers. It consists of a box of elm,
containing cogged iron wheels, of increasing powers. The outer one,
which moves the rest, is put in motion by a winch on the outside, and
is called either single or double, according to its increasing force.
The outer figure here shewn represents the inside work separately.
[crank turns pinion, which turns wheel w/ coaxial pinion, which works a
rack]
- HANGING.
- Declining in the middle part from a horizontal right line, as
the hanging of the decks, hanging of the sheer, &c.
- HANGING-CLAMP.
- A semi-circular iron, with a foot at each end, to receive
nails, by which it is fixed to any part of a ship, to hang stages to,
&c.
- HANGING-KNEE.
- Those knees against the sides whose arms hang vertically or
perpendicularly. (See Midship Sections, plate III.)
- HARPINS.
- Pieces of oak similar to ribbands, but trimmed and bevelled
to the shape of the body of the ship, and holding the fore and after
cant bodies together undil the ship is planked. But this term is mostly
applicable to those at the bow; hence arises the phrase "clean and full
harpins," as the ship at this part is more or less acute. (See
Fore-part of the Half-breadth Plan, Plate I.)
- HARRIS-CUT.
- This term is applied when the edges of planks are cut to an
under bevelling, to fay one upon another, as the birthing or sides of
the well, so that no ballast may get in at the joints.
- HATCHES.
- The coverings for the hatchways.
- HATCHWAYS.
- The square or oblong openings in the middle of the decks, for
the convenience of lowering down goods; forming also the passages from
one deck to another and into the hold, &c. (See Plans of Decks,
Plates III. and IV.)
- HAWSE-HOOK.
- The breasthook over the hawse-holes. (See Inboard Works, Plate
IV.)
- HAWSE-PIECES.
- The timbers which form the bow of the ship, whose sides stand
fore and aft or nearly so; that is, parallel to the middle line of the
ship. (See Sheer Draught, plate I.)
- HEAD.
- The upper end of any thing; but more particularly applied to
all the work fitted afore the stem, as the figure, the knees, rails,
&c. (See Sheer Draught, Plate I.)
- SCROLL HEAD, A
- signifies that there is no carved or ornamental figure at the
head, but that the termination is formed and finished of by a volute,
or scroll turning outwards. A FIDDLE HEAD signifies a similar kind of
finish, but with the scroll turning aft or inwards.
- HEAD-LEDGES.
- The thwartship pieces which frame the hatchways and ladderways.
(See Plans, Plates III. and IV.)
- HEAD-RAILS.
- Those rails in the head which extend from the back of the
figure to the cat-head and bows, which are not only ornamental to the
frame but useful to that part of the ship. (See Sheer Draught, Plate
I.)
- HEAD-TIMBERS.
- The pieces that cross the rails of the head vertically. They
are bolted through their heels to the cutting down of the knee, and
unite the whole together. (See Sheer Draught, Plate I.)
- HEEL.
- The lower end of a timber, &c. A ship is also said to heel
when she is not upright.
- HEIGHT OF BREADTH LINES, UPPER and LOWER.
- The two curved lines described on the sheer-plan, at the
height of the main-breadth, or broadest part of the ship, at each
timber. In the body-plan, they are horizontal lines at those heights on
which the main-breadths of each timber are set off. In those lines are
found the centres for sweeping the lower and upper breadth sweeps. (See
MAIN BREADTH. See also Sheer Draught, and Body Plan, Plate I.)
- HELM.
- The whole of the machinery astern, which serves to steer or
guide the ship, as the rudder, the tiller, the wheel, &c.
- HELP-PORT.
- That hole through the counter, through which the head of the
rudder passes. (See Sheer Draught, Plate I.)
- HELM-PORT TRANSOMS.
- The piece of timber placed athwart the inside of the counter
timbers at the height of the helm-port. It is bolted through every
stern timber, and kneed at each end for the security of that part of
the ship. (See Perpendicular View of the Stern, in Plate I.)
- HELVE.
- The handle of axes, adzes, mauls, &c.
- BROKEN-BACKED or HOGGED.
- The condition of a ship when the sheer has departed from that
regular and pleasing curve with which it was originally built. This is
often occasioned by the improper situation of the centre of gravity,
when so posited as not to counterbalance the effort of the water in
sustaining the ship, or by a great strain, or from the weakness of
construction. The latter is the most common circumstance, particularly
in some French ships, owing partly to their great length, sharpness of
floor, or general want of strength in the junction of the component
parts. (See HOGGING.)
- HOGGING. (See BROKEN BACKED.)
- A ship is said to hog when the middle part of her keel
and bottom are so strained as to curve or arch upwards. This term is
therefore opposed to sagging, which, applied in a similar
manner, means by a different sort of strain, to curve downwards.
In order to elucidate this subject, let us suppose a vessel to
be acted upon by several forces as in the figure a b, [a simple
"force" diagram] with the forces or weight, e, f, acting
downwards [at either end], and c, d,
the pressure of the water, acting upwards [amidships; could be a single
force; that there are two of them emphasizes the notion that the
upwards force is applied to some extent over the length of the ship,
but predominantly amidships]; the vessel may in this state be
maintained in equilibrio, provided that it has a sufficient degree of
strength; but, so soon as it begins to give way, we see that it must
bend in a convex manner, since its middle would obey the forces c
and d, acting upward, whilst its extremities would be actually
forced downwards by the forces or weights e and f.
Vessels deficient in strength are generally found in such a
situation; and, since similar effects continually act whilst the vessel
is immersed in the water, it has happened but too often that the keel
has experienced the bad effect of a strain.
Hence it is evident, that hogging may arise either from
want of strength in the component parts of a vessel, or from
disarrangement in the stowage.
Many long, deep, straight floored vessels, too slightly built,
have
been found to hog, owing to the great upward pressure of the water upon
the broad part of the bottom; and it has been found that, the longer
and larger ships are, the more easily have their bottoms bent or
hogged, even when the stowage has been correct; and much more so when
it has been unequally distributed towards the head and stern.
Ships deeply laden, with very heavy cargoes or materials nearly
amidships, have, on the contrary, been sometimes found to sag
downwards, in proportion as the weight of the cargo has exceeded the
upward pressure of the water.
But, according to the present practice of building in Great
Britain, these disadvantages are little to be feared; although, in a
less advanced state of the art, they were frequently found in British
vessels, and are still as frequently found in vessels of foreign
construction; many of the latter being of too small scantlings and too
slightly constructed. Even sharp built vessels of this country, upon
the present construction, are seldom found to hog; and we presume that
no vessel constructed agreeably to the Table of Dimensions and
Scantlings, given hereafter, will be found so to do. But it is to be
particularly observed, that these dimensions, with respect to the
strength of the body, will not admit of diminution.
If, however, the relative dimensions be changed; and,
if the
length be increased, as recommended in some cases, in order to produce
an increase in the velocity, or, if the ship is intended to be laden
with very heavy materials, as lead, &c. the strength may be
proportionably increased by enlarging the scantlings of the thickstuff
at the joints of the timbers, &c.
- HOLD.
- That part of the ship below the lower deck, between the
bulk-heads, which is reserved for the stowage of ballast, water, and
provisions, in a ship of war; and for that of the cargo, in merchant
vessels.
- HOLLOW-MOULD.
- The same with Floor-hollow, which see. Sometimes the
back sweep which forms the upper part of the top-timber is called the top-timber
hollow.
- HOOD.
- The name given to all the foremost and aftermost planks of
the bottom, both withinside and without. Also a covering to shelter the
mortar in bomb-vessels. In merchant ships it is the birthing round the
ladderway. (See COMPANION.)
- HOODING-ENDS. [hood ends]
- These ends of the planks which bury in the rabbets of the stem
and stern post.
- HOOK of the DECKS.
- (See BREAST-HOOKS.)
- HOOKING.
- The act of working the edge of one plank, &c. into that
of another, in such a manner that they cannot be drawn asunder endways.
(See Kelson Scarphs, Inboard Works, Plate IV. and Planking, Plate III.)
- HORIZONTAL RIBBANDS.
- Those ideal ribbands, used in laying off, which are taken off
level or square with the middle line of the ship's body. (See
RIBBANDS.)
- HORN or HORNING.
- Placing or proving any thing to stand square from the middle
line of the ship, by setting an equal distance thereon from each side
of the middle line; then bringing the same distance equally from some
fixed spot in the middle line by a batten or staff of some length.
- HORSE.
- The round bar of iron which is fixed to the main rail and
back of the figure in the head, with stantions, and to which is
attached a netting for the safety of the men who have occasion to be in
the head. Also the cross-pieces of timber tenoned on to the heads of
the bitts for the booms to rest upon.
- HORSE-IRON.
- An iron fixed in a handle, and used with a beetle by caulkers,
to horse-up or harden in the oakhams [oakums, presumably].
- HORSE-SHOES.
- Large straps of iron or copper shaped like a horse-shoe and
let into the stem, which gripe on opposite sides, through which they
are bolted together to secure the gripe to the stem.
- HULL.
- The whole frame or body of a ship, exclusive of the masts,
yards, sails, and rigging.
- JAMBS, for fixing the LIGHTS.
- Thick broad pieces of oak, fixed up endways, and between which
the magazine lights are fitted.
- IN AND OUT.
- A term sometimes used for the scantling of the timbers the
moulding way, but more particularly applied to those bolts in the
knees, riders, &c. which are driven through the ship's sides, or
athwartships, and therefore called "In and out Bolts."
- INBOARD.
- Within the ship; as the Inboard Works, &c. (See
Plate IV.)
- INNER POST.
- A piece of oak timber, brought on and fayed to the foreside
of the main stern-post, for the purpose of seating the transoms upon
it. It is a great security to the ends of the planks, as the main post
is seldom sufficiently afore the rabbet for that purpose, and is also a
great strengthener to that part of the ship. (See Inboard Works, Plate
IV.)
- INTERSECTION.
- The point in which one line crosses another.
- JOINT.
- The place where any two pieces are united. This term is,
however, more particularly used to express the lines which are laid
down in the mould-loft for the purpose of making the moulds for the
timbers, as those lines exhibit the shape of the body between every two
timbers, which is hence called the joints.
- IRONS.
- The tools used by the caulkers for driving the oakum.
- KEEL.
- The main and lowest timber of a ship, extending
longitudinally from the stem to the stern-post. It is formed of several
pieces, which are scarphed together endways, and form the basis of the
whole structure, of course it is usually the first thing laid down upon
the blocks for the construction of the ship. (See Sheer Draught, Plate
I.)
- KEEL STAPLES.
- (See STAPLES.)
- KEELSON, or, more commonly, KELSON.
- The timber formed of long square pieces of oak, fixed within
the ship exactly over the keel) [sic] [ ( ] and which may therefore be
considered as the counter part of the latter( [sic] [ ) ] for binding
and strengthing the lower part of the ship, for which purpose it is
fitted to, and laid upon, the middle of the floor-timbers, and bolted
through the floor and keel. (See Inboard Works, Plate IV.)
- KEVELS.
- Pieces of oak plank, shaped like timber heads, and fixed into
mortises cut through other pieces that are fastened to the insides of
the ship. They answer the purpose of timber heads to belay the ropes
to. [illus]
- KEVEL, or CAVEL HEAD BLOCKS.
- A sort of blocks [sic], having a sheave hole or two cut
through fore and aft, and which are bolted to the ship's sides, nearly
opposite the masts, to reeve the lifts, &c. [illus]
- KEY.
- A dry piece of oak, &c. cut tapering, to drive into scarphs
that have hook-butts.
- KILN.
- A convenience for heating planks to make them pliable. A steam-kiln
[steam box] is a trunk composed of deals, grooved neatly into each
other, which is generally from three to four feet square, and from
forty to sixty feet in length, having a door at each end. It is
confined together by bolts driven through it at certain distances,
which answer for bearers to rest the plank upon, and it is supported
upon brick work. Beneath it, in the middle, is a large iron or copper
boiler, or sometimes two boilers, which are then fixed near each end,
the steam from which, issuing into the trunk, enters the pores of the
plank and makes it pliable.
- A BOILER KILN
- is shaped similar to the former, but with an open top. It is
formed of sheets of copper rivetted togenther, and is fixed in brick
work. Under each end, or in the middle, are furnaces to make the water
boil, when the plank is in. The upper part is covered with shutters
that are hoisted occasionally by small tackles. The dimensions, &c.
of a copper boiler in one of the royal yards are, length, forty feet;
breadth at the ends, four feet three inches; and in the middle, six
feet; depth, two feet ten inches; and weight, fifty-three cwt. three
quarters, and seven pound.
- KNEES.
- The crooked pieces of oak timber, by which the ends of the
beams are secured to the sides of the ship. Of these, such as are fayed
vertically to the sides are called hanging-knees, and such as
are fixed parallel to, or with the hang of the deck, are called lodging-knees.
(See Midship Section, Plate III. and Plans of the Deck, Plates III. and
IV.)
- KNEE TIMBER.
- That sort of crooked timber which forms, at its back or
elbow, an angle of from forty-five to twenty-four degrees. The more
acute this angle is, the more valuable is the timber on that account.
But if their angle be more obtuse, they are said to be raking,
and are proportionably less valuable, being of the less utility for the
formation of knees, &c.
- KNEE OF THE HEAD.
- The large flat timber fayed edgeways upon the fore-part of
the stem. It is formed by an assemblage of pieces of oak coaked or
tabled together edgewise, by reason of its breadth, and it projects the
length of the head. Its fore-part should form a handsome serpentine
line, or inflected curve. The principal pieces are named the main-piece
and lacing. (See Sheer Draught, Plate I.)
- KNIGHT-HEADS, or BOLLARD-TIMBERS.
- Large oak timbers fayed and bolted to each side of the stem,
the heads of which run up sufficiently above the head of the stem to
support the bowsprit, care being taken to cast them sufficiently open
above the stem to the diameter of the bowsprit. (See Sheer Draught,
Plate I.)
- KNUCKLE.
- A sudden angle made on some timbers by a quick reverse of
shape, such as the knuckles of the counter timbers. (See Sheer Draught,
Plate I.)
- KNUCKLE-TIMBERS.
- Those top-timbers in the fore-body whose heads stand
perpendicular, and form an angle with the flair or hollow of the
topside. This work is the best when the touch or knuckle is at the
plank sheer. (See Fore-body in Plate I.)
- LABOURSOME.
- Subject to labour, or to pitch and roll violently in a heavy
sea, by which the masts and even the hull may be endangered. For by a
successive heavy roll the rigging becomes loosened, and the masts at
the same time may strain upon the shrouds with an effort which they
will be unable to resist; to which may be added, that the continual
agitation of the vessel loosens her joints, and makes her extremely
leaky.
- LACING.
- One of the principal pieces that compose the knee of the
head, which runs up to the top of the hair-bracket, and to which the
figure and rails of the head are secured.
- LADDERS.
- Ladders are in a ship for the same purpose as stairs in a
house, for the convenience of ascending or descending from one deck to
another.
- LADDER-WAYS.
- The openings in the decks wherein the ladders are placed. (See
Plans, Plate III.)
- LANDING-STRAKE, in BOATS.
- The upper strake but one.
- LANTERNS.
- The machines made of tin and glass, to contain candles for
the transmission of light to those parts of the ship where an
unscreened candle cannot be placed, or where it would be dangerous, as
on the poop, in the magazine, store-rooms, &c.
- To LAP OVER or UPON.
- The mast carlings are said to lap upon the beams by reason of
their great depth, and head-ledges at the ends lap over the coamings.
- LAPS.
- The remaining part of the ends of carlings, &c. which are
to bear a great weight or pressure, such as the capstan-step. (See
Inboard Works, Plate IV.)
- LAP-SIDED.
- A term expressive of the condition of a vessel when she will not
swim upright, owing to her sides being unequal.
- LARBOARD-SIDE.
- The left-hand side of the ship, when looking forward from the
stern.
- LAUNCH.
- The slip or descent whereon the ship is built, including the
whole of the machinery used in launching. (See Frontispiece.)
- LAUNCH.
- A large boat now mostly used instead of the LONG BOAT. (See LONG
BOAT.)
- LAUNCHING.
- The act of sending the ship from off the slip into the water.
- LAUNCHING-PLANKS.
- A set of planks mostly used to form the platform on each side
of the ship, whereon the bilgeways slide for the purpose of launching.
(See Frontispiece.)
- LAYING-OFF, or LAYING DOWN.
- The act of delineating the various parts of the ship, to its
true size, upon the mould-loft floor, from the draught given, for the
purpose of making the moulds. (See MOULDS.)
- LAZARETTO.
- A name given to an hospital-ship for the reception of the
sick, or of persons supposed to be infectious. It is also the name of a
place parted off at the fore-part of the lower deck, in some merchant
ships, for the convenience of laying up the provisions, stores, &c.
necessary for the voyage.
- LEAN.
- The same with CLEAN, which see.
- LEDGES.
- Oak or fir scantling used in framing the decks, which are let
into the carlings athwartships. The ledges for gratings are similar,
but arch or round up agreeable to the head-ledges. (See Lower Deck
Plan, plate IV.)
- LENGTHENING.
- The operation of separating a ship athwartships, and adding a
certain portion to her length. It is performed by clearing or driving
out all the fastenings in wake of the butts of those planks which may
be retained, and the others are cut through. The after-end is then
drawn apart to a limited distance equal to the additional length
proposed. The keel is then made good, the floors crossed, and a
sufficient number of timbers raised to fill up the vacancy produced by
the separation. The kelson is then replaced to give good shift to the
new scarphs of the keel, and as many beams as may be necessary are
placed across the ship in the new interval, and the planks on the
outside are replaced with a proper shift. The clamps and foot-waling
within the ship are then supplied, the beams kneed, and the ship
completed in all respects as before.
- LET-IN, To
- To fix or fit one timber or plank into another, as the ends
of carlings into the beams, and the beams into the clamps, scores being
made in each to receive the other.
- LEVEL,
- HORIZONTAL; or as a base square with a perpendicular.
- LEVEL LINES.
- Lines determining the shape of a ship's body horizontally, or
square from the middle line of the ship.
- LEVELLED-OUT.
- A line continued out, in a horizontal direction, from the
intersection of an angle; or, where the cant-timbers may intersect the
diagonal or ribband lines. (See Fore Body, Plate I.)
- LEVER.
- A bar of iron or wood to raise weights. The first and most
simple of the mechanic powers. (See MECHANICS.)
- LIEUTENANT'S STORE-ROOM.
- An apartment fitted up with shelves, bins, and lockers, on
the starboard side of the after platform, for the use of the first
lieutenant.
- LIGHT-ROOM.
- A small place parted off from the magazine, and in which the
lights for lighting the magazine are contained.
- LIGHT WATER-LINE.
- (See WATER-LINES.)
- LIMBER-BOARDS.
- (See LIMBER-PASSAGE.)
- LIMBER-HOLES.
- (See the next Article [LIMBER-PASSAGE.].)
- LIMBER-PASSAGE.
- A passage or channel formed throughout the whole length of
the floor, on each side of the kelson, for giving water a free
communication to the pumps. It is formed by the LIMBER-STRAKE on each
side, a thick strake wrought next the kelson, from the upper-side of
which the depth in the hold is always taken. This strake is kept about
eleven inches from the kelson, and forms the passage fore and aft,
which admits the water with a fair run to the pump-well. The upper part
of the limber passage is formed by the LIMBER BOARDS, which are made to
keep out all dirt and other obstructions. These boards are composed of
short pieces of oak plank, one edge of which is fitted into a rabbet
into the limber-strake, and the other edge bevelled with a descent
against the kelson. They are fitted in short pieces for the convenience
of taking up one or more, readily, in order to clear away any
obstruction in the passage. When the limber boards are fitted, care
should be taken to have the butts in those places where the bulkheads
come, as there will be then no difficulty in taking those up which come
near the bulkheads. A hole is bored in the middle of each butt to admit
the end of a crow for prizing it up when required. To prevent the
boards from being displaced, each should be marked with a figure
corresponding with one on the limber-strake. (See Midship Section,
Plate III.)
- LIMBER-HOLES
- are square grooves cut through the underside of the
floor-timber, about nine inches from the side of the keel on each side,
through which water may run toward the pumps, in the whole length of
the floors. This precaution is requisite in merchant ships only, where
small quantities of water, by the heeling of the ship, may come through
the ceiling and damage the cargo. It is for this reason that the lower
futtocks of merchant ships are cut off short of the keel.
- LINE, To.
- To cover one piece with another. Also to mark out the work, or
make lines upon the floor with a chalked line.
- LINE OF FLOATATION.
- (See WATER LINES.)
- LIPS OF SCARPHS.
- The substance left at the ends, which would otherwise become
sharp, and be liable to split; and, in other cases, could not bear
caulking as the scarphs of the keel, stem, &c.
- LOAD-WATER LINE.
- (See WATER LINES.)
- LOBBY.
- A name sometimes given to an apartment close before the great
cabin bulkhead.
- LOCKERS.
- Small compartments, built of deal, in the cabins and
store-rooms. (See SHOT LOCKERS.)
- LONG BOAT.
- The largest and stoutest belonging to a ship. (See BOATS.)
- LONG TIMBERS.
- Those timbers afore and abaft the floors, which form the floor
and second futtock in one. (See Sheer Draught, Plate I.)
- LOOP-HOLES.
- Small apertures through the bulk-heads, coamings,
head-ledges, and other parts of merchant ships, through which the small
arms are fired on an enemy who boards at close quarters.
- LOOVERED BATTENS.
- The battens that inclose the upper part of the well, which
are fixed at such an angle as to admit air, and yet prevent any dirt
from being thrown into the well.
- LOOVER-WISE or LOOVER-WAYS.
- To place battens or boards at a certain angle, so as to admit
air but not wet. The loovered or battened parts of ships'-wells are
fixed in this manner to admit air and prevent persons from throwing
filth of any kind into the well.
- LOWER BREADTH SWEEP.
- (See FRAMES.)
- LUFFER LOOF.
- The fullest or roundest part of the bow.
- MAGAZINE.
- The apartment used to lodge the powder in; which, in large
ships, is situated forward, and in small ships abaft. It should always
be situated as low down as possible.
- MAIN.
- Chief or principal, as opposed to any thing secondary or
inferior. Thus the main-mast is used in contradistinction to the fore
or mizen-mast; the main-keel, main-wales, main-hatchway, &c. are in
like manner distinguished from the false-keel, channel-wales, and the
fore and after hatchways, &c.
- MAIN-BREADTH.
- The broadest part of the ship at any particular timber or
frame, which is distinguished on the sheer-draught by the upper and
lower heights of breadth lines. (See Sheer Draught, Plate I.)
- MAIN HALF-BREADTH.
- Half of the main-breadth, and thus called, because it is
necessary to lay down on the plan but half of the figure of the ship,
both sides being exactly alike. (See Sheer Draught [sic], Plate I.)
- MAIN-KEEL.
- The term of distinction between the keel and the false-keel.
- MAIN-POST.
- The same with STERN POST, and used to distinguish it from the
false-post and the inner-post.
- MAIN-WALES.
- The lower wales, which are generally placed on the lower
breadth, and so that the main-deck knee-bolts may come into them. (See
WALES.)
- MALLET.
- A sort of wooden hammer, too well known to need description.
The mallet used by caulkers to drive the oakum into the seams is in
general very different from that of shipwrights, as it is longer and
more cylindrical, and is hooped with iron at each end of the head, to
prevent its splitting and wearing in the exercise of caulking.
North-country shipwrights, who generally practice both branches, use
the last-mentioned mallet upon all occasions.
- MANGER.
- An apartment extending athwart the ship immediately within
the hawse-holes. It serves as a fence to interrupt the passage of water
which may come in at the hawse-holes, or from the cable when heaving
in; and the water thus prevented from running aft is returned into the
sea by the manger scuppers, which are larger than the other scuppers on
that account.
- MARGIN-LINE.
- A line or edge parallel to the upper-side of the
wing-transom, and about five inches below it, at which place terminate
all the butts of the bottom planks abaft. The latter are made good by
the tuck-rail. (See Perpendicular View of the Stern, Plate I.)
- MARINE CLOTHING ROOM.
- An apartment built on the larboard side of the after platform to
receive the clothing of the marines.
- MAST-CARLINGS.
- Those large carlings which are placed at the sides of the
mast-rooms for the purpose of framing the partners. (See CARLINGS.)
- MASTS.
- The long cylindrical pieces of timber, elevated upon the
keel, and to which the yards and sails, &c. are attached. (See
Sheer Draught, Plate I.)
- MAULS.
- Large hammers used for driving treenails, having a steel face
at one end, and a point or pen [sic] drawn out at the other, and hence
called a pin-maul. Double-headed mauls have a steel face at each end,
of the same size, and are used for driving of bolts, &c.
- MESSENGER.
- A large cable laid rope used to heave in the cable by the main
capstan.
- META-CENTRE.
- That point in a ship above which the centre of gravity must
by no means be placed; because, if it were, the vessel would be liable
to overset. The meta-centre, which has also been called the shifting-centre,
depends upon the situation of the centre of cavity; for it is that
point where a vertical line drawn from the centre of cavity cuts a line
passing through the centre of gravity, and is perpendicular to the
keel. (See CENTRE.)
- MIDDLE LINE.
- A line dividing the ship exactly in the middle. In the
horizontal or half-breadth plan it is a right line bisecting the ship
from the stem to the stern-post; and, in the plane of projection, or
body-plan, it is a perpendicular line bisecting the ship from the keel
to the height of the top of the side.
- MIDDLE TIMBER.
- That timber in the stern which is placed in midships.
- MIDDLE WALES.
- The three or four thick strakes worked along each side,
between the lower and middle deck ports in three-decked ships. (See
WALES.)
- MIDSHIPS.
- The middle of the ship, either with regard to her length or
breadth. (See AMIDSHIPS.)
- MIDSHIP-BEND, or FRAME.
- That bend which is called Dead-Flat. (See BENDS. See
also Midship Section, Plate III.)
- MITERED.
- If two pieces of wood, &c. be joined so as to make
a right angle, and the two ends be put together so as to form a line
making an angle of 45 degrees, the joint is said to be mitered.
- MIZEN-MAST.
- That mast, in a three-masted vessel, which is nearest the
stern. (See Sheer Draught, Plate I.)
- MONKEY.
- A machine composed of a long pig of iron, traversing
in a groove, which is raised by a pully, and let fall suddenly on the
head of large bolts, for driving them in when the weight of mauls would
be insufficient; such, for instance, as the dead-wood bolts, or the
bolts that are driven in the knee of the head. This sort of monkey
generally has a frame with handles, with a groove on the underside; it
slides upon a ridge of iron fixed in a bed, and is drawn backwards and
forcibly forwards by a rope on each side.
- MOOTING.
- Making a treenail exactly cylindrical to a given size or
diameter called the moot. Hence, when so made, it is said to be
mooted.
- MORTISE.
- A hole or hollow made of a certain size and depth in a
piece of timber, &c. in order to receive the end of another piece
with a tenon fitted exactly to fill it.
- MOTION, &c.
- Belongs to the chapter on mechanics.
- MOULDS.
- Pieces of deal or board made to the shape of the lines
on the mould loft floor, as the timbers, harpins, ribbands, &c. for
the purpose of cutting out the different pieces of timber, &c. for
the ship. Also the thin flexible pieces of pear-tree or box, used in
constructing the draughts and plans of ships, which are made in various
shapes; viz. to the segments of circles from one foot to 22 feet
radius, increasing six inches on each edge, and numerous elliptical
curves with other figures* [*Moulds,&c. of every sort requisite for
marine drawing may be had at STEEL'S Navigation Warehouse, Little
Tower-Hill, London.]
- MOULDED.
- Cut to the mould. Also the size or bigness of the timbers
that way the mould is laid. (See SIDED.)
- MOULDING.
- The act of marking out the true shape of any timber
from the mould. Also any ornamental projections, as the rails,
finishing, &c.
- MOULD-LOFT.
- A place in building yards appropriated for laying off
ships to their full size, for the purpose of making the moulds from
which the whole frame, &c. is provided. The floor is one large even
flat surface, and in general painted black, that the various lines may
more easily be discerned. Some in laying off ships rase the lines in
with a pointed instrument, while others only chalk them in. The size of
mould-lofts are various, those in the royal yards are very large and
commodious, but those in merchant yards are generally about 100 feet
long and 30 feet wide.
- MUNIONS or MIMTONS [sic].
- The pieces that divide the lights in the stern and quarter
galleries. (See Sheer Draught, Plate I.)
- NAILS.
- Iron pins of various descriptions for fastening board, plank,
or iron work; viz. Deck Nails, or Spike nails,
which are from 4 inches and a half to 12 inches long, have snug heads,
and are used for fastening planks and the flat of the decks. Weight
Nails are similar to deck nails, but not so fine, have square
heads, and are used for fastening cleats, &c. Ribband Nails
are similar to weight nails, with this difference, that they have large
round heads, so as to be more easily drawn. They are used for fastening
the ribbands, &c. Clamp Nails are short stout nails, with
large heads, for fastening iron clamps. Port Nails, double and
single, are similar to clamp nails, and used for fastening iron work. Rudder
Nails are also similar, but used chiefly for fastening the pintles
and braces. Filling Nails, are generally of cast iron, and
driven very thick in the bottom planks instead of copper sheathing. Sheathing
Nails
[cf. ditto herein below] are used to fasten wood sheathing on the
ship's bottom, to preserve the plank, and prevent the filling nails
from tearing it too much. Nails of sorts are 4, 6, 8, 10, 24,
30, and 40 penny nails, all of different lengths, and used for nailing
board, &c. Scupper Nails are short nails, with very broad
heads, used to nail the flaps of the scuppers. Lead Nails are
small round-headed nails for nailing of lead. Flat Nails are
small sharp-pointed nails, with flat thin heads, for nailing the
scarphs of moulds. Sheathing Nails
[cf. ditto herein above] for nailing copper sheathing are of metal,
cast in moulds, about one inch and a quarter long; the heads are flat
on the upperside and counter-sunk below: the upperside is polished to
obviate the adhesion of weeds. Boat Nails, used by
boat-builders, are of various lengths, generally rose-headed, square at
the points, and made both of copper and iron.
- NARROWING OF THE FLOOR SWEEPS.
- (See RISING HALF BREADTH.)
- NAVAL-HOODS.
- Broad pieces of oak, from 6 to 10 inches thick,
(according to the size of the ship,) worked afore the hawse-holes on
the outside of the ship, and likewise above and below them, in those
ships which have no cheeks to support a bolster; the naval-hoods thus
formed answering the same purpose.
- NECKING.
- A small neat moulding at the foot of the taffarel over the
light. (See Stern, Plate I.)
- NEWELL.
- An upright piece of timber to receive the tenon of the rails
that lead from the breasthook to the gangway.
- NOG.
- A treenail projecting from the bottom of the ship as a
stop to the heads of shores. Also a treenail driven through the heels
of shores into the slip to secure them.
- NOGGING.
- The act of securing the heels of the shores.
- NORMAN.
- A square fid of oak, or short carling, fixed through
the head of the rudder of East India ships, to prevent the loss of the
rudder in case of its being unshipt.
- OAKUM.
- Old rope, untwisted and loosened like hemp, in order to be
used in caulking.
- OBTUSE, BLUNT, or DULL;
- in opposition to acute or sharp. As an obtuse angle,
which is said to be without a square or right angle. Such angles are
called by shipwrights standing bevellings. (See BEVELLINGS.)
- ORLOP.
- A temporary deck below the lower deck of large ships,
chiefly for the convenience of stowing away the cables. There is also a
platform in the midships of smaller ships, called the orlop, and for
the same purpose.
- OVER-HANGING.
- Projecting over; as over the stern, &c.
- OVER-LAUNCH, To
- To run the butt of one plank to a certain distance beyond the
next butt above or beneath it, in order to make stronger work.
- OUT-BOARD.
- On the outside of the ship, as "the out-board works,"
&c.
- OUT-SQUARE.
- Any obtuse angle or standing bevelling is said to be "out-square."
This term is however mostly applied to knee-timber, when the angle the
arms make is greater than 45 degrees. (See Knee-Timber.)
- OUT OF WINDING.
- Not twisting; as the surface of a timber or plank when it is
a direct plane.
- PALLETING.
- A slight platform, made above the bottom of the magazine, to
keep the powder from moisture.
- PALLS.
- Stout pieces of iron, so placed near a capstan or
windlass as to prevent a recoil, which owuld overpower the men at the
bars when heaving.
- PANEL.
- A square or pane of thin board, framed in a thicker
one, called a stile, and generally composed of two or more joined
together. Such are the partitions by which the officers' cabins are
formed on the lower deck; and such likewise are the framings of the
great cabin bulkheads, &c. which consist of rails, stiles, and
panels.
- PARTNERS.
- Those pieces of thick plank, &c. fitted into a
rabbet in the mast or capstan carlings for the purpose of wedging the
mast and steadying the capstan. Also any plank that is thick, or above
the rest of the deck, for the purpose of steadying whatever passes
through the deck, as the pumps, bowsprits, &c. (See Inboard Works,
and Plans, Plates III. and IV.)
- PAY, To
- To lay on a coat of tar, &c. with a mop or brush,
in order to preserve the wood and keep out water, when one or more
pieces are scarphed together, as the beams, &c. the inside of the
scarphs are paid with tar as a preservative; and the seams after they
are caulked are fayed [sic] with pitch to keep the water from the
oakum, &c.
- PEDESTAL RAIL.
- A rail, about two inches thick, that is wrought over
the foot-space rail, and in which there is a groove to steady the heels
of the balusters of the galleries. (See Stern, Plate I.)
- PILASTERS.
- Flat columns or ornaments, prepared by the joiners,
generally of deal, fluted or reeded, with moulded caps and bases, which
are placed upon the munions of the ward-room lights, &c. for the
purpose of ornamenting the stern and quarter-galleries, particularly
when the walk or balcony does not project aft. They are likewise used
on the munions of the bulkheads of captain's cabin and offices.
- PILLARS.
- The square or turned pieces of timber erected
perpendicularly under the middle of the beams for the support of the
decks. (See Midship Sections, Plate III.)
- PINNACE.
- (See BOATS.)
- PINS.
- Short iron rods fixed occasionally in the drumheads of
capstans, and through the ends of the bars, to prevent their
unshipping. They are confined near their respective places by a chain.
Others of a larger size, are driven through the bitts to belay ropes
to; and smaller ones are fixed in racks in different parts of the ship
to belay the rigging to. The upright parts of the bitts are also
commonly called bitt-pins.
- PINK.
- A ship with a very narrow round stern; whence all
vessels, however small, having their sterns fashioned in this manner,
are said to be pink-sterned.
- PINS AND PLATES.
- Pins of iron occasionally drawn out to support the palls of
the capstan, and fitted in plates.
- PINS OF BOATS.
- Pins of iron or wood, fixed along the gunwales of some
boats, (instead of rowlocks,) whose oars are confined by grommets.
[single tholepins, thole-pins?]
- PINTLES.
- Straps of mixt [sic] metal or of iron, fastened on the
rudder, in the same manner as the braces on the stern-post, having a
stout pin or hook at the ends, with the points downwards to enter in
and rest upon the braces on which the rudder traverses or turns, as
upon hinges, from side to side. Sometimes one or two are shorter than
the rest, and work in a socket brace, whereby the rudder turns easier.
The latter are called Dumb Pintles. Some are bushed, and others
burred. (See Sheer Draught, Plate II.)
- PITCH.
- Tar, boiled to a harder and more tenacious substance.
- PITCHING.
- The inclination or vibration of the ship lengthwise
about her centre of gravity; or the motion by which she plunges her
head and after part alternately into the hollow of the sea. This is a
very dangerous motion, and, when considerable, not only retards the
ship's way, but endangers the masts and strains the vessel.
- PLAN.
- The area or imaginary surface defined by or within any
described lines. In ship-building, the Plan of Elevation,
commonly called the SHEER DRAUGHT, is a side-plan of the ship, defined
by a surface limited by the head afore, by the stern abaft, the keel
below, and the upperside of the vessel above. The Horizontal Plan,
commonly called the HALF BREADTH PLAN, comprehends all the lines
describing the greatest breadth and length of the ship at different
heights or sections. This is named half-breadth plan, because both
sides of the ship being exactly alike, only one-half is represented. To
the foregoing must be added, the Plan of Projection, commonly
called the BODY PLAN, which exhibits the outline of the principal
timbers, and the greatest heights and breadths of the same. (See the
several Plans in Plate I., and Plans of the Decks, Plates III. and IV.)
- PLAN OF THE TRANSOMS, THE
- is the horizontal appearance of them, to which the moulds are
made, and the bevellings taken.
- PLANK.
- A general name for all timber, excepting fir, which is
from one inch and a half to four inches thick. Of less dimensions it is
called board.
- PLANKING.
- Covering the outside of the timbers with plank; sometimes
quaintly called skinning, the plank being the outer coating,
when the vessel is not sheathed. (See Planking, Plate III.)
- PLANK-SHEERS, or PLANK-SHEER.
- The pieces of plank laid horizontally over the
timber-heads of the quarter-deck, forecastle, and round-house, for the
purpose of covering the top of the side, hence sometimes called
covering boards. (See Sheer Draught, Plate I.)
- PLATFORMS.
- Are a sort of temporary or lighter kind of deck, those
foreward [sic] and aft have the store-rooms and cabins on, and the
platform in the midships have the cables stowed thereon.
- PLUMB.
- Perpendicular or upright. The term originates from plumbum,
or lead, as the perpendicular is generally ascertained by a lump of
lead suspended by a cord, and generally called a Plumb Line.
- POINT-IRON, or BRASS.
- A larger sort of plumb, formed conically and
terminating in a point, for the more nicely adjusting any thing
perpendicularly fo a given line.
- POINTERS or BRACES.
- Timbers sometimes fixed diagonally across the hold, to
support the beams, &c.
- POOP.
- The uppermost deck of a ship, abaft, commonly called the Round
House.
- POPPETS.
- Those pieces, mostly fir, which are fixed
perpendicularly between the ship's bottom and the bilgeways, at the
fore and aftermost parts of the ship, to support her in launching. (See
Frontispiece.)
- PORT HOOKS.
- Iron hooks driven into the side of the ship; and to which
the port-hinges are attached.
- PORT-LIDS.
- The shutters, hung with hinges, which inclose the ports in
rough weather.
- PORTS.
- The square holes or opening in the side of the ship
through which the guns are fired. (See Sheer Draught, Plate I.)
- POST.
- The same with Stern Post.
- POWDER-ROOM.
- A convenient apartment, built abaft in large
and forward in small ships, with racks, &c. for holding cartridges
filled with powder.
- PREVENTER-BOLTS.
- The bolts driven through the lower end of the
preventer-plates to assist the chain-bolts in heavy strains. (See Sheer
Draught, Plate I., and Midship Section, Plate III.)
- PREVENTER-PLATES.
- Stout plates of iron, bolted through the sides
at the lower part of the chains, as an additional security. (See Sheer
Draught, Plate I., and Midship Section, Plate III.)
- PRIZING.
- Lifting or removing a heavy body by means of a lever.
- PROFILE.
- The draught or scheme of the inboard works, which is
usually described in red lines. (See Inboard Works, Plate IV.)
- PROJECTION, PLAN OF, or BODY PLAN.
- (See PLAN.)
- PRONG.
- The same as Beam-Arm. (See BEAM-ARM.)
- PROOF TIMBER.
- An imaginary timber, expressed by vertical
lines in the sheer-draught, similar to the joints [q.v.] of the square
timbers, and used nearly forward and aft to prove the fairness of the
body. (See Sheer Draught, Plate I.)
- PROW.
- A name very frequently given to the head or foremost end
of a vessel, particularly by the French.
- PUMP.
- The machine, fitted in the wells of ships, to draw water
out of the hold. (See Inboard Works, Plate IV.)
- PUMP-CISTERNS.
- Cisterns fixed over the heads of the pumps, to
receive the water until it is conveyed through the sides of the ship by
the pump-dales.
- PUMP-DALES.
- Pipes fitted to the cisterns, to convey the water from
them through the ship's sides.
- QUARTER.
- The upper part of the topside abaft. (See Sheer Draught,
Plate I.)
- QUARTERING.
- Timber under five inches square.
- QUARTER-DECK.
- That deck in ships of war which extends from the main-mast
to the stern. (See Sheer Draught, Plate I.)
- QUARTER-GALLERIES.
- The projections from the quarters abaft, fitted
with sashes and balusters, and intended both for convenience and
ornament to the aft part of the ship. (See Sheer Draught, Plate I.)
- QUARTER-PIECES.
- Substantial pieces of timber, mostly fir, that
form the out-boundary of the stern, and connect the quarter-gallery to
the stern and taffarel. (See Sheer Draught and Stern, Plate I.)
- QUARTER-RAILS.
- Rails fixed into stantions from the stern to
the gangway, and serving as a fence to prevent any one from falling
overboard, &c. or birthing up to the quarters. (See Sheer Draught,
Plate I.)
- QUICKEN, To.
- To give any thing a greater curve. For instance, "To
Quicken the Sheer," is to shorten the radius by which the curve is
struck; this term is therefore opposed to straightening the sheer.
- QUICKWORK.
- A denomination given to the strakes which shut in between
the spirkettings and clamps. (See Midship Section, Plate III.) By quickwork
is also sometimes meant, all that part of a ship or vessel which is
below the level of the surface of the water when she is laden.
- RABBET or REBATE.
- A joint made by a groove, or channel, in a
piece of timber cut for the purpose of receiving and securing the edge
or ends of the planks, as the planks of the bottom into the keel, stem,
or stern post, or the edge of one plank into another. (See Sheer
Draught, Plate I.)
- RAFT-PORT.
- A large square hole framed and cut through the
buttock between the transoms, or forward in the bore, between the
breasthooks, and through which masts, planks, deals, &c. are taken
into store-ships, or merchant-ships, carrying such cargoes which, owing
to their great length, cannot be gotten on board in any other way.
- RAG-BOLT.
- A sort of bolt having its point jagged or barbed to make
it hold the more securely.
- RAILS.
- The long narrow pieces of fir or oak, with
mouldings struck on them, which are fastened or sometimes wrought from
the solid plank, as ornaments to the ship's sides, and also at the head
and stern. The principal are as follow; the lower rail on the side,
named the waist-rail; and the next above it. the sheer-rail,
which are generally placed well with the sheer or top timber line, the
rails next above the sheer-rail are called drift-rails, and the
rails above the plank-sheer the fife-rails. The rails of the
head are distinguished by the lower, middle, main, and
upper rails;
and the rails of the stern take their names from the parts where they
are fixed, as tuck-rail, lower counter-rail, upper counter-rail,
taffarel-rail, and taffarel-fife-rail. (See Sheer Draught, Plate I.) To
these may be added, the thwartship pieces of the framing of the great
cabin bulkheads, &c.
- RAKE.
- The overhanging of the stem or stern beyond a
perpendicular with the keel, or any part or thing that forms an obtuse
angle with the horizon.
- RAKING-KNEES.
- (See KNEE TIMBER.)
- RAM-LINE.
- A small rope or line sometimes used for the
purpose of forming the sheer or hang of the deck, for setting the beams
fair, &c.
- RANGES.
- Horned pieces of oak, like belaying cleats, but
much larger, bolted to the inside of the ship, in the waist, for
belaying the tacks and sheets. Also those pieces of oak plank fixed
between the ports, with semi-circular holes in