The Sailor's Word-Book
Chapter 112 : GLACIS. In fortification, that smooth earthen slope outside the ditch which descends t

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 sea-onion.

GLAIRE. A broadsword or falchion fixed on a pike.

GLANCE. (_See_ NORTHERN-GLANCE.) Also, a name for anthracite coal.

GLASAG. The Gaelic name of an edible sea-weed of our northern isles.

GLa.s.s. The usual appellation for a telescope (see the old sea song of Lord Howard's capture of Barton the pirate). Also, the familiar term for a barometer. _Gla.s.s_ is also used in the plural to denote time-gla.s.s on the duration of any action; as, they fought yard-arm and yard-arm three gla.s.ses, _i.e._ three half-hours.--_To flog or sweat the half-hour gla.s.s._ To turn the sand-gla.s.s before the sand has quite run out, and thus gaining a few minutes in each half-hour, make the watch too short.--_Half-minute and quarter-minute gla.s.ses_, used to ascertain the rate of the s.h.i.+p's velocity measured by the log; they should be occasionally compared with a good stop watch.--_Night-gla.s.s._ A telescope adapted for viewing objects at night.

GLa.s.s CLEAR? Is the sand out of the upper part? asked previously to turning it, on throwing the log.

GLa.s.sOK. A coast name for the say, seath, or coal-fish.

GLAVE. A light hand-dart. Also, a sword-blade fixed on the end of a pole.

GLAYMORE. A two-handed sword. (_See_ CLAYMORE.)

GLAZED POWDER. Gunpowder of which the grains, by friction against one another in a barrel worked for the purpose, have acquired a fine polish, sometimes promoted by a minute application of black-lead; reputed to be very slightly weaker than the original, and somewhat less liable to deterioration.

GLEN. An Anglo-Saxon term denoting a dale or deep valley; still in use for a ravine.

GLENT, TO. To turn aside or quit the original direction, as a shot does from accidentally impinging on a hard substance.

GLIB-GABBET. Smooth and ready speech.

GLIM. A light; familiarly used for the eyes.--_Dowse the glim_, put out the light.

GLOAMING. The twilight. Also, a gloomy dull state of sky.

GLOBE RANGERS. A soubriquet for the royal marines.

GLOBULAR SAILING. A general designation for all the methods on which the rules of computation are founded, on the hypothesis that the earth is a sphere; including great circle sailing.

GLOG. The Manx or Erse term which denotes the swell or rolling of the sea after a storm.

GLOOM-STOVE. Formerly for drying powder, at a temperature of about 140; being an iron vessel in a room heated from outside, but steam-pipes are now subst.i.tuted.

GLOOT. _See_ GALOOT.

GLOWER, TO. To stare or look intently.

GLUE. _See_ MARINE GLUE.

GLUM. As applied to the weather, overcast and gloomy. Socially, it is a grievous look.

GLUT. A piece of wood applied as a fulcrum to a lever power. Also, a bit of canvas sewed into the centre of a sail near the head, with an eyelet-hole in the middle for the bunt-jigger or becket to go through.

Glut used to prevent slipping, as sand and nippers glut the messenger; the fall of a tackle drawn across the sheaves, by which it is choked or glutted; junks of rope interposed between the messenger and the whelps of the capstan.

GLYN. A deep valley with convex sides. (_See_ CWM.)

GNARLED. Knotty; said of timber.

GNARRE. An old term for a hard knot in a tree; hence Shakspeare's "unwedgeable and gnarled oak."

GNOLL. A round hillock. (_See_ KNOLL.)

GNOMON. The hand; style of a dial.

GO! A word sometimes given when all is ready for the launch of a vessel from the stocks.

GO AHEAD! OR GO ON! The order to the engineer in a steamer.

GO ASh.o.r.e, TO. To land on leave.

GO ASh.o.r.eS. The seamen's best dress.

GOBARTO. A large and ravenous fish of our early voyagers, probably a shark.

GOBBAG. A Gaelic name for the dog-fish.

GOB-DOO. A Manx term for a mussel.

GOBISSON. _Gambesson_; quilted dress worn under the habergeon.

GOBLACHAN. A Gaelic name for the parr or samlet.

GOB-LINE. _See_ GAUB-LINE.

GOBON. An old English name for the whiting.

GOB-STICK. A horn or wooden spoon.

GO BY. Stratagem.--_To give her the go by_, is to escape by deceiving.

GOBY. A name of the _gudgeon_ (which see). It was erroneously applied to white-bait.

G.o.d. We retain the Anglo-Saxon word to designate the ALMIGHTY; signifying good, to do good, doing good, and to benefit; terms such as our cla.s.sic borrowings cannot pretend to.

G.o.dENDA. An offensive weapon of our early times, being a poleaxe with a spike at its end.

GO DOWN. The name given to store-houses and magazines in the East Indies.

G.o.dSEND. An unexpected relief or prize; but wreckers denote by the term vessels and goods driven on sh.o.r.e.

GOE. A creek, smaller than a voe.

GOELETTE [Fr.] A schooner. Also, a sloop-of-war.