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The Sailor's Word-Book Novel Chapters
List of most recent chapters published for the The Sailor's Word-Book novel. A total of 265 chapters have been translated and the release date of the last chapter is Apr 02, 2024
Latest Release: Chapter 1 : The Sailor's Word-Book.by William Henry Smyth.PREFACE.The recent loss of Admiral Wi
The Sailor's Word-Book.by William Henry Smyth.PREFACE.The recent loss of Admiral William Henry Smyth, noticed as it was by the leading periodicals, will have recalled to many, not only the social character and amiable qualities of the compiler of thi
- 101 FOOT-s.p.a.cE-RAIL. The rail that terminates the foot of the balcony, in which the bal.u.s.ters step, if there be no pedestal rail.FOOT-VALVE. A flat plate of metal filling up the pa.s.sage between the air-pump and condenser. The lower valve of a steam-en
- 102 FOREIGN SERVICE. Vessels or forces stationed in any part of the world out of the United Kingdom. The opposite of _home service_.FORELAND. A cape or promontory projecting into the sea: as the North and South Forelands. It is nearly the same with _headland_
- 103 FORMS. The moulds for making wads by. (_See_ FORMER.) FORT. In fortification, an inclosed work of which every part is flanked by some other part; though the term is loosely applied to all places of strength surrounded by a rampart.FORTALEZZA [Sp.] A fort
- 104 FRANCESCONI. The dollars of Tuscany, in value 4_s._ 5-1/4_d._ sterling.They each consist of 10 paoli.FRANK. The large fish-eating heron of our lakes and pools.FRAP. A boat for s.h.i.+pping salt, used at Mayo, one of the Cape de Verde Islands.FRAP, TO. To
- 105 FRET, TO. To chafe.FRET OF WIND. A squally flaw.FRETTUM, OR Fr.e.c.t.u.m. The freight of a s.h.i.+p, or freight-money.FRETUM BRITANNIc.u.m. A term used in our ancient writings for the Straits of Dover.FRIAR-SKATE. The _Raia oxyrinchus_, or sharp-nosed ray
- 106 FULL DUE. For good; for ever; complete; belay.FULLER. The fluting groove of a bayonet.FULL FEATHER. Attired in best dress or full uniform.FULL FOR STAYS! The order to keep the sails full to preserve the velocity, a.s.sisting the action of the rudder in ta
- 107 FUTTOCK-RIDERS. When a rider is lengthened by means of pieces batted or scarphed to it and each other, the first piece is termed the first futtock-rider, the next the second futtock-rider, and so on.FUTTOCKS, OR FOOT-HOOKS. The separate pieces of timber w
- 108 GALLANTS. All flags borne on the mizen-mast were so designated.GALLAN WHALE. The largest whale which visits the Hebrides.GALLED. The result of friction, to prevent which it is usual to cover, with skins, mats, or canvas, the places most exposed to it. (_S
- 109 GANNY-WEDGE. A thick wooden wedge, used in splitting timber.GANTAN. An Indian commercial measure, of which 17 make a baruth.GANT-LINE. Synonymous with _girt-line_ (which see).GANT-LOPE, OR GAUNTLOPE (commonly p.r.o.nounced _gantlet_). A _race_ which a cri
- 110 GAUT, OR GHAUT. In the East Indies, a landing-place; and also a chain of hills, as the Western Gauts, on the Mysore coast.GAVELOCK. An iron crow. Of old, a pike; thus in Arthur and Merlin-- "Gavelokes also thicke flowe So gnattes, ichil avowe."GAVER. A
- 111 GIB. A forelock.GIBB. The beak, or hooked upper lip of a male salmon.GIBBOUS. The form of a planet's disc exceeding a semicircle, but less than a circle.GIB-FISH. A northern name for the male of the salmon.GIBRALTAR GYN. Originally devised there for work
- 112 GLACIS. In fortification, that smooth earthen slope outside the ditch which descends to the country, affording a secure parapet to the covered way, and exposing always a convenient surface to the fire of the place.GLADENE. A very early designation of the
- 113 GOGAR. A serrated worm used in the north for fis.h.i.+ng-bait.GOGLET. An earthen vase or bottle for holding water.GOILLEAR. The Gaelic for a sea-bird of the Hebrides, said to come ash.o.r.e only in January.GOING ABOUT. Tacking s.h.i.+p.GOING FREE. When th
- 114 GOW. An old northern term for the gull.GOWDIE. The _Callionymus lyra_, dragonet, or chanticleer.GOWK. The cuckoo; but also used for a stupid, good-natured fellow.GOWK-STORM. Late vernal equinoctial gales contemporary with the gowk or cuckoo.GOWT, OR GOTE.
- 115 GRAZE. The point at which a shot strikes and rebounds from earth or water.GRAZING-FIRE. That which sweeps close to the surface it defends.GREASY. Synonymous with dirty weather.GREAT CIRCLE. One whose a.s.sumed plane pa.s.ses through the centre of the sphe
- 116 GROATS. An allowance for each man per mensem, a.s.signed formerly to the chaplain for pay.GROBMAN. A west-country term for a sea-bream about two-thirds grown.GRODAN. A peculiar boat of the Orcades; also the Erse for a gurnard.GROG. A drink issued in the n
- 117 GUANO. The excrement of sea-birds, a valuable manure found in thick beds on certain islets on the coast of Peru, indeed, in all tropical climates. The transport of it occupies a number of vessels, called _guaneros_. It is of a dingy yellow colour, and off
- 118 GULLET. A small stream in a water-worn course.GULL-SHARPER. One who preys upon Johnny Raws.GULLY. The channels worn on the face of mountains by heavy rains. Also, a rivulet which empties itself into the sea.GULLY SQUALL. Well known off tropical America in
- 119 GUN-TACKLE PURCHASE. A tackle composed of a rope rove through two single blocks, the standing part being made fast to the strop of one of the blocks. It multiplies the power applied threefold.GUNTEN. A boat of burden in the Moluccas.GUNTER'S LINE. Called
- 120 HAG'S TEETH. (_See_ HAKE'S TEETH.) Those parts of a matting or pointing interwoven with the rest in an irregular manner, so as to spoil the uniformity. (_See_ POINTING.) In soundings, _see_ HAKE'S TEETH.HAIK. _See_ HIKE UP.HAIL, TO. To hail "from a co
- 121 HALSTER. A west-country term for a man who draws a barge along by a rope.HALT! The military word of command to stop marching, or any other evolution. A halt includes the period of such discontinuance.HALVE-NET. A standing net used in the north to prevent
- 122 HANGING-BLOCKS. These are sometimes fitted with a long and short leg, and lash over the eyes of the top-mast rigging; when under, they are made fast to a strap. The topsail-tye reeves through these blocks, the tye-block on the yard, and the standing part
- 123 HARPOON, OR HARPAGO. A spear or javelin with a barbed point, used to strike whales and other fish. The harpoon is furnished with a long shank, and has at one end a broad and flat triangular head, sharpened at both edges so as to penetrate the whale with f
- 124 HAULYARDS. _See_ HALLIARDS.HAUNCES. The breakings of the rudder abaft.HAUNCH. A sudden fall or break, as from the drifts forward and aft to the waist. The same as _hance_.HAVEN [Anglo-Saxon, _haefen_]. A safe refuge from the violence of wind and sea; much
- 125 HEAD-NETTING. An ornamental netting used in merchant s.h.i.+ps instead of the fayed planking to the _head-rails_.HEAD OF A COMET. The brighter part of a comet, from which the tail proceeds.HEAD OF A MAST, OR MAST-HEAD. The upper part of any mast, or that
- 126 HEAVING TAUT. The act of turning the capstan, &c., till the rope applied thereto becomes straight and ready for action.HEAVING THROUGH ALL. The surging or slipping of the cable when the nippers do not hold.HEAVY DRIFT-ICE. Dense ice, which has a great dep
- 127 HEN'S-WARE. A name of the edible sea-weed _Fucus esculentus_.HEP-PAH, OR HIPPA. A New Zealand fort, or s.p.a.ce surrounded with stout palisades; these rude defences have given our soldiers and sailors much trouble to reduce. (_See_ PAH.) HEPTAGON. A righ
- 128 HIPPER, OR HIPPING-STONES. Large stones placed for crossing a brook.HIPPOCAMPUS. A small fish, so termed from the head resembling that of a horse. They live among reeds and long fuci, to which they cling with prehensile tails.HIPPODAMES. An old word for s
- 129 HOLD OFF. The keeping the hove-in part of a cable or hawser clear of the capstan.HOLD ON. Keep all you have got in pulling a rope.--_Hold on a minute._ Wait or stop.--_Hold on with your nails and eyelids._ A derisive injunction to a timid climber.HOLD ON,
- 130 HOOK OF THE DECKS. _See_ BREAST-HOOKS.HOOK-POTS. Tin cans fitted to hang on the bars of the galley range.HOOK-ROPES. A rope 6 or 8 fathoms long, with a hook and thimble spliced at one end, and whipped at the other: it is used in coiling hempen cables in t
- 131 HORSE-POTATOES. The old word for yams.HORSE-POWER. A comparative estimate of the capacity of steam-engines, by a.s.suming a certain average effective pressure of steam, and a certain average linear velocity of the piston. The pressure multiplied by the ve
- 132 HOWKER. _See_ HOOKER.HOWLE. An old English word for the hold of a s.h.i.+p. When the foot-hooks or futtocks of a s.h.i.+p are scarphed into the ground-timbers and bolted, and the plank laid up to the orlop-deck, then they say, "the s.h.i.+p begins to how
- 133 HYDRAULIC PRESS. The simple yet powerful water-press invented by Bramah, without which it would have been a puzzle to float the enormous _Great Eastern_.HYDRAULIC PURCHASE. A machine for drawing up vessels on a slip, in which the pumping of water is used
- 134 IMPORT, IMPORTATION, AND IMPORTER, being exactly the reverse of _export_, _exportation_, and _exporter_, refer to those terms, and take the opposite meaning. To import is therefore to bring commodities into a country for the purpose of traffic.IMPOSSIBLE.
- 135 INLET. A term in some cases synonymous with _cove_ and _creek_ (which see), in contradistinction to outlet, when speaking of the supply and discharge of lakes and broad waters, or an opening in the land, forming a pa.s.sage to any inclosed water.INNER AND
- 136 IRON-BOUND BLOCKS. Those which are fitted with iron strops.IRON-CLAD, CASED, COATED, OR PLATED VESSEL. One covered entirely, or in special parts, with iron plates intended to resist ordinary missiles.Where parts only are so protected, of course it may be
- 137 JACK IN THE BREAD-ROOM, OR JACK IN THE DUST. The purser's steward's a.s.sistant in the bread and steward's room.JACK-KNIFE. A horn-handled clasp-knife with a laniard, worn by seamen.JACKMAN. A musketeer of former times, wearing a short mail jack or jac
- 138 JEER-BITTS. Those to which the jeers are fastened and belayed.JEER-BLOCKS. Are twofold or threefold blocks, through which the jeer-falls are rove, and applied to hoist, suspend, or lower the main and fore yards.JEER-CAPSTAN. One placed between the fore an
- 139 JILL. A fourth part of a pint measure; a seaman's daily allowance of rum, which formerly was half a pint.JIMMAL, OR JIMBLE. _See_ GIMBALS.JINGAL. A kind of long heavy musket supported about the centre of its length on a pivot, carrying a ball of from a q
- 140 JULIO. An Italian coin, worth about sixpence.JUMPERS. The short external duck-frock worn by sail-makers, artificers, riggers, &c., to preserve the clothing beneath.JUMP-JOINTED. When the plates of an iron vessel are flush, as in those that are carvel-buil
- 141 KECKLING, OR CACKLING. Is covering a cable spirally (in opposition to _rounding_, which is close) with three-inch old rope to protect it from chafe in the hawse-hole.KEDELS. _See_ KIDDLES.KEDGE, OR KEDGER. A small anchor used to keep a s.h.i.+p steady and
- 142 KENNETS. Large cleats. (_See_ KEVELS.) Also, a coa.r.s.e Welsh cloth of commerce; see statute 33 Henry VIII. c. 3.KENNING BY KENNING. A mode of increasing wages formerly, according to whaling law, by seeing how a man performed his duty.KENNING-GLa.s.s. A
- 143 KILDERKIN. A vessel containing the eighth part of a hogshead.KILE. _See_ KYLE.KILL. A channel or stream, as Cats-kill, Schuylkill, &c.KILL-DEVIL. New rum, from its pernicious effects.KILLER. A name for the grampus, _Orca gladiator_, given on account of th
- 144 KNAPSACK. A light water-proof case fitted to the back, in which the foot-soldier carries his necessaries on a march.KNARRS. Knots in spars. (_See_ GNARRE.) KNECK. The twisting of rope or cable as it is veering out.KNEE. Naturally grown timber, or bars of
- 145 "Fishes love soote smell; also it is trewe Thei love not old kydles as thei doe the newe."KYLE. A bay, or arm of the sea, on our northern sh.o.r.es, as the Kyles of Bute, &c.KYNTALL. An old form of _quintal_ (which see).L.L. The three L's were formerly
- 146 LAMp.r.o.n. The old name for the lamprey.LAMP-Sh.e.l.lS. A name applied to the _Terebratulae_ of zoologists.LANCE-KNIGHT. A foot-soldier of old.LANCEPESADO. From Ital. _lancia spezzata_, or broken lance; originally a soldier who, having broken his lance o
- 147 LASCAR. A native sailor in the East Indies; also, in a military sense, natives of India employed in pitching tents, or dragging artillery, as gun-lascars.LASH. A string, or small cord, forming the boatswain's cat.--_To lash_ or _lace_. To bind anything w
- 148 LAY IN SEA-STOCK, TO. To make provision for the voyage.LAY IN THE OARS. Uns.h.i.+p them from the rowlocks, and place them fore and aft in the boat.LAY LORDS. The civil members of the admiralty board.LAY OF A ROPE. The direction in which its strands are tw
- 149 LEECHES. The borders or edges of a sail, which are either sloping or perpendicular; those of the square sails are denominated from the s.h.i.+p's side, as the starboard-leech of the main-sail, &c.; but the sails which are fixed obliquely on the masts hav
- 150 LET IN, TO. To fix or fit a diminished part of one plank or piece of timber into a score formed in another to receive it, as the ends of the carlings into the beams.LET OUT, OR SHAKE OUT, A REEF, TO. To increase the dimensions of a sail, by untying the po
- 151 LIE OFF! An order given to a boat to remain off on her oars till permission is given for her to come alongside.LIE OUT! The order to the men aloft to distribute themselves on the yards for loosing, reefing, or furling sails.LIE OVER. A s.h.i.+p heeling to
- 152 Large s.h.i.+ps generally have two light-rooms, the after and the fore.LIGHTS. In men-of-war, all the seamen's lights are extinguished by 8 P.M., the officers' at 10, unless the commanding officer gives his permission, through the master-at-arms, for a
- 153 LINSEY-WOLSEY. A stuff in extensive use commercially; it is a mixture of flax and wool.LINSTOCK. In olden times it was a staff about 3 feet long, having a sharp point at the foot to stick in the deck, and a forked head to hold a lighted match. It gave way
- 154 LOBLOLLY. A name formerly applied to pottage, burgoo, or gruel.LOBLOLLY-BOY. A man who attended the surgeon and his a.s.sistants, to summon the sick, and attend on them. A man is now stationed in the bay, under the designation of _sick-berth attendant_.LO
- 155 LONDON WAGGON. The tender which carried the impressed men from off the tower to the receiving-s.h.i.+p at the Nore.LONGae. Roman row-boats built to carry a large number of men.LONG AND SHORT BOARDS. _See_ TACK AND HALF-TACK.LONG b.a.l.l.s. Engaging beyond
- 156 LOOSE FALL. The losing of a whale after an apparently good opportunity for striking it.LOOSE ICE. A number of pieces near each other, but through which the s.h.i.+p can make her way.LOOSERS. Men appointed to loose the sails.LOOSING FOR SEA. Weighing the a
- 157 LOXODROMIC. The line of a s.h.i.+p's way when sailing oblique to the meridian.LOXODRONIUS. The _traverse table_.LOZENGE. The diamond-cut figure. (_See_ RHOMBUS.) LUBBER, OR LUBBART. An awkward unseamanlike fellow; from a northern word implying a clownish
- 158 LUSORIae. Ancient vessels of observation or pleasure.l.u.s.t. An archaism of _list_. (_See_ LIST.) LUTE-STERN. Synonymous with _pink-stern_.LUTINGS. The dough stoppages to the seams of the coppers, &c., when distilling sea water.LYING. The situation of a
- 159 MAIL-Sh.e.l.l. A name for the chiton.MAIN. A continent or mainland. Also, figuratively, the ocean.MAIN-BODY. The body of troops that marches between the advance-guard and the rear-guard of an army.MAIN-BOOM. The spar which stretches the foot of the boom-m
- 160 MAKE STERN-WAY, TO. To retreat, or move stern foremost.MAKE THE LAND, TO. To see it from a distance after a voyage.MAKE WATER, TO. Usually signifies the act of a s.h.i.+p leaking, unless the epithet _foul_ be added. (_See_ FOUL WATER.) MAKING IRON. One of
- 161 MANUAL-EXERCISE. The regulated series of motions for handling and carrying the musket, except what is connected with firing it.MANUBALIST. A stout cross-bow.MANXMAN. A seaman or native of the Isle of Man.MANZERA. A vessel used in the Adriatic for carrying
- 162 MARQUE. _See_ LETTERS OF MARQUE.MARQUEE. An officer's oblong tent; has two poles, and curtains all round; it is often a.s.signed to various staff purposes.MARROT. A name for the guillemot.MARRY, TO, THE ROPES, BRACES, OR FALLS. To hold both together, and
- 163 MATE OF THE MAIN-DECK. The officer appointed to superintend all the duties to be executed upon the main-deck during the day.MATERIAL MEN. The persons who furnish all tackles and stores, &c., to repair or fit out s.h.i.+ps. The high court of Admiralty allo
- 164 MEND SAILS, TO. To loose and skin them afresh on the yards.MEND THE SERVICE. Put on more service to the cable, or any part of the rigging chafed.MERCANTILE MARINE. _See_ MARINE.MERCANTILE MARINE FUND. A public fund acc.u.mulated by fees payable to the Boa
- 165 MIDDY. An abbreviation for the younger mids.h.i.+pmen, synonymous with _mid_.MIDRIB. A narrow ca.n.a.l or culvert.MIDs.h.i.+PMAN. A naval cadet appointed by the admiralty, with the exception of one in each s.h.i.+p appointed by the captain. No person can
- 166 MIZEN MAST-HEAD. Rear-admirals carry their flag at their mizen.MIZEN STAYSAIL. A fore-and-aft sail of various shapes set on the mizen stay.MOAT. Synonymous with _ditch_ (which see).MOBILIZATION. The organizing a body of men for active service. Also, a ter
- 167 MOOR ACROSS, TO. To lay out one of the anchors across stream.MOOR ALONG, TO. To anchor in a river with a hawser on sh.o.r.e to steady her.MOOR-GALLOP. A west-country term for a sudden squall coming across the moors.MOORING-BRIDLE. The fasts attached to mo
- 168 MOULDING DIMENSION. In s.h.i.+p-building, implies the depth or thickness of any piece of timber.MOULDING EDGE. That edge of a timber to which, in shaping it, the mould is applied.MOULDINGS OF A GUN. The several rings and ornaments.MOULD-LOFT. A long build
- 169 MUNNIONS, OR MUNTINS. The divisional pieces of the stern-lights; the pieces that separate the lights in the galleries.MURaeNA. An eel-like fish, very highly esteemed by the ancient Romans.MURDERER. The name formerly used for large blunderbusses, as well a
- 170 NAKHADAH, OR NACODAH. An Arab sea-captain.NAME. The name of a merchant s.h.i.+p, as well as the port to which she belongs, must be painted in a conspicuous manner on her stern. If changed, she must be registered _de novo_, and the old certificate cancelle
- 171 NAVIGATION ACTS. Various statutes by which the legislature of Great Britain has in a certain degree restricted the intercourse of foreign vessels with her own ports, or those of her dependent possessions; the object being to promote the increase of Britis
- 172 NET AND COBLE. The means by which sa.s.ses or flood-gates are allowed in fis.h.i.+ngs on navigable rivers.NETTING. Network of rope or small line for the purpose of securing hammocks, sails, &c.--_Boarding netting._ A stout netting formerly extended fore a
- 173 NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS. In familiar parlance, _non-coms._ are the sergeants, corporals, and others, appointed under special regulations, by the orders of the commanding officer.NON-CONDENSING ENGINE. A high-pressure steam-engine.NONIUS SCALE, OR VERNIE
- 174 NUMBER. The number on the s.h.i.+p's books is marked on the clothing of seamen; that on a man's hammock or bag corresponds with his number on the watch and station bill. The s.h.i.+ps of the royal navy are denoted by flags expressing letters, an
- 175 In a more limited sense it is divided into--1. The Atlantic Ocean. 2.The Pacific Ocean. 3. The Indian Ocean. 4. The Southern Ocean.OCEAN-GOING s.h.i.+P. In contradistinction to a coaster.OCHRAS. A Gaelic term for the gills of a fish.OCTAGON. A geometrical
- 176 ON BOARD. Within a s.h.i.+p; the same as _aboard_.ONCIA. A gold coin of Sicily; value three ducats, or 10_s._ 10_d._ sterling.ONCIN. An offensive weapon of mediaeval times, consisting of a staff with a hooked iron head.ON DECK THERE! The cry to call atten
- 177 ORDERLY. The bearer of official messages, and appointed to wait upon superior officers with communications.ORDERLY OFFICER. In the army. _See_ OFFICER OF THE DAY.ORDER OF BATTLE. The arranging of s.h.i.+ps or troops so as to engage the enemy to the best a
- 178 OUT-HOLLING. Clearing tide-ports, ca.n.a.ls, and channels of mud.OUTLANDISH. Foreign; but means with Jack a place where he does not feel at home, or a language which he does not understand.OUTLET. The effluent or stream by which a lake discharges its wate
- 179 OWN, TO. To be a proprietor in a s.h.i.+p.OWNERS. The proprietors of s.h.i.+ps. They are bound to perform contracts made by their masters, who are legally their agents.OXBOWS. Bends or reaches of a river.OX-EYE. A small cloud, or weather-gall, seen on the
- 180 PAMBAN MANCHE, OR SNAKE-BOAT OF COCHIN. A canoe used on the numerous rivers and back-waters, from 30 to 60 feet long, and cut out of the solid tree. The largest are paddled by about twenty men, double-banked, and, when pressed, they will go as much as 12
- 181 PARREL WITH TRUCKS. Is composed of a single rope pa.s.sing through a number of bull's-eye trucks, sufficient to embrace the mast; these are princ.i.p.ally used for the cheeks of a gaff.Pa.r.s.eES. The great native merchants of Bombay, &c., and a very
- 182 PAVISER. Formerly a soldier who was armed with a pavise or buckler.PAWK. A young lobster.PAWL. _See_ PAULS.PAY. A buccaneering principle of hire, under the notion of plunder and sharing in prizes, was, _no purchase no pay_.PAY, TO [from Fr. _poix_, pitch]
- 183 PENINSULA. A tract of land joined to a continent by a comparatively narrow neck termed an isthmus.PENINSULAR WAR. A designation a.s.signed to the Duke of Wellington's campaigns in Portugal and Spain.PENKNIFE ICE. A name given by Parry to ice, the sur
- 184 PEt.i.tORY SUITS. Causes of property, formerly cognizable in the admiralty court.PETREL. The _Cypselli_ of the ancients, and _Mother Cary's chickens_ of sailors; of the genus _Procellaria_. They collect in numbers at the approach of a gale, running a
- 185 PILLAR OF THE HOLD. A main stanchion with notches for descent.PILLAW. A dish composed at sea of junk, rice, onions, and fowls; it figured at the marriage feast of Commodore Trunnion. It is derived from the Levantine _pillaf_.PILLOW. A block of timber wher
- 186 PIT. In the dockyards. _See_ SAW-PIT.PITCH. Tar and coa.r.s.e resin boiled to a fluid yet tenacious consistence.It is used in a hot state with oak.u.m in caulking the s.h.i.+p to fill the c.h.i.n.ks or intervals between her planks. Also, in steam navigati
- 187 "Jack is not bound by critics' crabbed laws, But gives to all his unreserved applause: He laughs aloud when jokes his fancy please-- Such are the honest manners of the seas.And never--never may he ape those fools Who, lost to reason, laugh or cr
- 188 POLANS. Knee-pieces in armour.POLAR CIRCLES. The Arctic and the Antarctic; 23 28' from either pole.POLAR COMPRESSION. _See_ COMPRESSION OF THE POLES.POLAR DISTANCE. The complement of the _declination_. The angular distance of a heavenly body from one
- 189 PORT. An old Anglo-Saxon word still in full use. It strictly means a place of resort for vessels, adjacent to an emporium of commerce, where cargoes are bought and sold, or laid up in warehouses, and where there are docks for s.h.i.+pping. It is not quite
- 190 POWDER-MAGAZINE. The prepared s.p.a.ce allotted for the powder on board s.h.i.+p.POWDER-MONKEY. Formerly the boy of the gun, who had charge of the cartridge; now powder-man.POWDER-VESSEL. A s.h.i.+p used as a floating magazine.POWER. Mechanical force; in
- 191 PRIME, TO. To make ready a gun, mine, &c., for instantaneous firing.Also, to pierce the cartridge with the priming-wire, and apply the quill-tube in readiness for firing the cannon.--_To prime a fire-s.h.i.+p._ To lay the train for being set on fire.--_To
- 192 PROMOVENT. The plaintiff in the instance-court of the admiralty.p.r.o.nG. Synonymous with _beam-arm_ or _crow-foot_ (which see).PROOF. The trial of the quality of arms, ammunition, &c., before their reception for service. Guns are proved by various examin
- 193 PUMP s.h.i.+P! The order to the crew to work the pumps to clear the hold of water.PUMP-SPEAR. The rod of iron to which the upper box is attached--and to the upper end of which the brake is pinned--whereby the pump is put in motion.PUMP SUCKS. The _pump su
- 194 QUADRATE, TO. To trim a gun on its carriage and its trucks; to adjust it for firing on a level range.QUADRATURE. The moon is said to be in quadrature at the first and last quarter, when her longitude differs 90 from that of the sun.QUADROON [from L. _quat
- 195 QUARTER-SLINGS. Are supports attached to a yard or other spar at one or both sides of (but not in) its centre.QUARTERS OF THE YARDS. The s.p.a.ce comprehended between the slings, or middle and half-way out on the yard-arms.QUARTER-STANCHIONS. Strong iron
- 196 R.R. In the muster-book means _run_, and is placed against those who have deserted, or missed three musters.R.A. _See_ RIGHT ASCENSION.RABANET, OR RABINET. A small slender piece of ordnance, formerly used for s.h.i.+ps' barricadoes. It had a one-inch
- 197 RAKISH. Said of a s.h.i.+p when she has the appearance of force and fast sailing.RALLYING SQUARE. That formed by skirmishers or dispersed troops when suddenly menaced by cavalry, each man as he runs in successively placing himself with his back close agai
- 198 RATE A CHRONOMETER, TO. To determine its daily gaining or losing rate on mean time.RATED s.h.i.+P. Synonymous with _post-s.h.i.+p_ in former times; the term _s.h.i.+p_ alone now infers that it is a captain's command, whilst _sloop_ means a commander&
- 199 RECREANT. This term was for him who had yielded in single combat.RECTA PRISA REGIS. In law, the sovereign's right to prisage, or one pipe of wine before, and another behind the masts, as customary in every cargo of wine.RECTIFIER. An instrument used
- 200 REGION. Any large tract of land or water on the earth's surface, having some feature common to every part of itself, and different from what exists elsewhere; as northern, southern, or intertropical region; mountainous region; region of perpetual con