The Sailor's Word-Book
Chapter 141 : KECKLING, OR CACKLING. Is covering a cable spirally (in opposition to _rounding_, whic

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 clear from her bower-anchor while she rides in harbour, particularly at the turn of the tide. The kedge-anchors are also used to warp a s.h.i.+p from one part of a harbour to another. They are generally furnished with an iron stock, which is easily displaced for the convenience of stowing.

The old English word _kedge_ signified brisk, and they are generally run in to a quick step. (_See_ ANCHOR, WARP.)--_To kedge._ To warp a s.h.i.+p ahead, though the tide be contrary, by means of the kedge-anchor and hawser.

KEDGER. A mean fellow, more properly _cadger_; one in everybody's mess, but in no one's watch. An old term for a fisherman.

KEDGE-ROPE. The rope which belongs to the kedge-anchor, and restrains the vessel from driving over her bower-anchor.

KEDGING. The operation of tide-working in a narrow channel or river, by kedge-hauling.

KEEL. The lowest and princ.i.p.al timber of a s.h.i.+p, running fore and aft its whole length, and supporting the frame like the backbone in quadrupeds; it is usually first laid on the blocks in building, being the base of the superstructure. Accordingly, the stem and stern-posts are, in some measure, a continuation of the keel, and serve to connect the extremities of the sides by transoms, as the keel forms and unites the bottom by timbers. The keel is generally composed of several thick pieces placed lengthways, which, after being scarphed together, are bolted and clinched upon the upper side. In iron vessels the keel is formed of one or more plates of iron, having a concave curve, or limber channel, along its upper surface.--_To give the keel_, is to careen.--_Keel_ formerly meant a vessel; so many "keels struck the sands." Also, a low flat-bottomed vessel used on the Tyne to carry coals (21 tons 4 cwt.) down from Newcastle for loading the colliers; hence the latter are said to carry so many keels of coals. [Anglo-Saxon _ceol_, a small bark.]--_False keel._ A fir keel-piece bolted to the bottom of the keel, to a.s.sist stability and make a s.h.i.+p hold a better wind. It is temporary, being pinned by stake-bolts with spear-points; so when a vessel grounds, this frequently, being of fir or Canada elm, floats and comes up alongside.--_Rabbets of the keel._ The furrow, which is continued up stem and stern-post, into which the garboard and other streaks fay. The b.u.t.ts take into the gripe ahead, or after-deadwood and stern-post abaft.--_Rank keel._ A very deep keel, one calculated to keep the s.h.i.+p from rolling heavily.--_Upon an even keel._ The position of a s.h.i.+p when her keel is parallel to the plane of the horizon, so that she is equally deep in the water at both ends.

KEELAGE. A local duty charged on all vessels coming into a harbour.

KEEL-BLOCKS. Short log ends of timbers on which the keel of a vessel rests while building or repairing, affording access to work beneath.

KEEL-DEETERS. The wives and daughters of keelmen, who sweep and clean the keels, having the sweepings of small coal for their trouble.

KEEL-HAULING. A severe punishment formerly inflicted for various offences, especially in the Dutch navy. The culprit was suspended by a rope from one fore yard-arm attached to his back, with a weight upon his legs, and having another rope fastened to him, leading under the s.h.i.+p's bottom, and through a block at its opposite yard-arm; he was then let fall into the sea, when, pa.s.sing under the s.h.i.+p's bottom, he was hoisted up on the opposite side of the vessel to the other yard-arm. Aptly described as "under-going a great hard-s.h.i.+p."

KEELING. Rolling on her keel. Also, a sort of cod-fish; some restrict the term to the _Gadus morhua_, or large cod.

KEEL LEG OR HOOK. Means any anchor; as, "she has come to a keelock."

KEELMEN. A rough and hardy body of men, who work the _keels_ of Newcastle. Sometimes termed keel-bullies. They are recognized as mariners in various statutes.

KEEL-PIECES. The parts of the keel which are of large timber.

KEEL-RAKE. Synonymous with _keel-haul_. _See_ KEEL-HAULING.

KEEL-ROPE. A coa.r.s.e rope formerly used for cleaning the limber-holes.

KEELS. An old British name for long vessels--formerly written _ceol_ and _cyulis_. Verstegan informs us that the Saxons came over in three large s.h.i.+ps, styled by themselves _keeles_.

KEELSON, OR KELSON. An internal keel, laid upon the middle of the floor-timbers, immediately over the keel, and serving to bind all together by means of long bolts driven from without, and clinched on the upper side of the keelson. The main keelson, in order to fit with more security upon the floor-timbers, is notched opposite to each of them, and there secured by spike-nails. The pieces of which it is formed are usually less in breadth and thickness than those of the keel.

KEELSON-RIDER. _See_ FALSE KELSON.

KEEL-STAPLES. Generally made of copper, from six to twelve inches long, with a jagged hook to each end. They are driven into the sides of the main and false keels to fasten them.

KEEP. A strong donjon or tower in the middle of a castle, usually the last resort of its garrison in a siege. Also, a reservoir for fish by the side of a river.--_To keep_, a term used on several occasions in navigation; as, "_Keep her away_," alter the s.h.i.+p's course to leeward, by sailing further off the wind. The reverse is, "_Keep your wind, keep your luff_," close to the wind.

KEEP A GOOD HOLD OF THE LAND. Is to hug it as near as it can safely be done.

KEEP HER OWN. Not to fall off; not driven back by tide.

KEEPING A GOOD OFFING. To keep well off sh.o.r.e while under sail, so as to be clear of danger should the wind suddenly s.h.i.+ft and blow towards the sh.o.r.e.

KEEPING A WATCH. To have charge of the deck. Also, the act of being on watch-duty.

KEEPING FULL FOR STAYS. A necessary precaution to give the sails full force, in aid of the rudder when going about.

KEEPING HER WAY. The force of steady motion through the water, continued after the power which gave it has varied or diminished.

KEEPING THE SEA. The term formerly used when orders were issued for the array of the inhabitants of the sea-coasts.

KEEP OFF. To fall to a distance from the sh.o.r.e, or a s.h.i.+p, &c. (_See_ OFFING.)

KEEP THE LAND ABOARD. Is to sail along it, or within sight, as much as possible, or as close as danger will permit.

KEEP YOUR LUFF. An order to the helmsman to keep the s.h.i.+p close to the wind, _i.e._ sailing with a course as near as possible to the direction from which the wind is coming. (_See_ CLOSE-HAULED.)

KEG. A small cask, of no fixed contents. Used familiarly for taking offence, as _to keg_, is to irritate.--_To carry the keg._ To continue; originally a smuggler's phrase.

KEGGED. Feeling affronted or jeered at.

KELDS. The still parts of a river, which have an oily smoothness while the rest of the water is ruffled.

KELF. The incision made in a tree by the axe when felling it.

KELING. A large kind of cod. Thus in Havelok:--

"Keling he tok, and tumberel, Hering, and the makerel."

KELKS. The milt or roe of fish.

KELLAGH. The Erse term for a wooden anchor with a stone in it, but in later times is applied to any grapnel or small anchor.

KELP. _Salsola kali_; the ashes produced by the combustion of various marine algae, and used in obtaining iodine, soda, &c.

KELPIE. A mischievous sea-sprite, supposed to haunt the fords and ferries of the northern coasts of Great Britain, especially in storms.

KELT. A salmon that has been sp.a.w.ning; a foul fish.

KELTER. s.h.i.+ps and men are said to be in prime kelter when in fine order and well-rigged.

KEMP. An old term for a soldier, camper, or camp man. Also a kind of eel.

KEMSTOCK. An old term for capstan.

KEN, TO. Ang.-Sax. descrying, as Shakspeare in _Henry VI._:--

"And far as I could ken thy chalky cliffs."

--_Ken_, a speck, a striking object or mark.