F: s a sea term, implies to roll or pitch heavily in a turbulent sea; an effect, by which the
masts
and hull of the ship are greatly endangered, because by the rolling motion the masts strain upon their
shrouds
with an effort, which increases as the sine of their obliquity: and the continual agitation of the vessel
gradually loosens her joints, and often makes her extremely leaky.
there are no stairways aboard ship, everything is a ladder
WN: steps consisting of two parallel members connected by rungs; for climbing up or down
F: a well-known convenience, of which there are a great number in a ship, formed of two pieces of plank
joined together by cross pieces, which serve as steps, whereby to mount or descend from one
deck to another.
The ladders derive their names from the several
hatchways, or other parts of a ship, wherein they are situated.
F: the state of a ship when she is charged with a weight or quantity of any sort of merchandizes, or
other materials, equal to her tonnage or
burthen. If the cargo with which she is laden is extremely heavy, her
burthen is determined by the weight of the goods; and if it is light, she carries as much as she can
stow, to be
fit for the purposes of navigation. As a ton in measure is generally estimated at 2000 lb. in weight, a vessel
of 200 tons ought accordingly to carry a weight equal to 400,000 lb. when the matter of which the cargo is
composed is specifically heavier than the water in which she floats; or, in other words, when the cargo is so
heavy that she cannot float high enough, with so great a quantity of it, as her hold will contain.
F: a well-known machine, of which there are many used in a ship, particularly for the purpose of
directing the course of other ships in a fleet or convoy; such are the
poop and top-lanthorns, &c.
TFD: a line used for extending or fastening
rigging on ships
B: of the
shrouds, are the small ropes at the ends of them, by which they are hove taut or tight.
F: a short piece of cord or line, fastened to several machines in a ship, and serving to secure them
in a particular place, or to manage them more conveniently. Such are the lanyards of the gun-ports, the
lanyard of the
buoy, the lanyard of the cathook, &c. The principal lanyards used in a ship, however, are
those employed to extend the shrouds and
stays of the
masts, by their communication with the
dead-eyes, so as
to form a sort of mechanical power, resembling that of a
tackle. These lanyards, are fixed in the dead-eyes
as follows: One end of the lanyard is thrust through one of the holes in the upper dead-eye, and then knotted,
to prevent it from drawing out; the other end is then passed through one of the holes in the lower dead-eye,
whence, returning upward, it is inserted through the second hole in the upper dead-eye, and next through the
second in the lower dead-eye, and smally through the third holes in both dead-eyes. The end of the lanyard,
being then directed upwards from the lowest dead-eye, is stretched as stiff as possible by the application
of tackles and that the several parts of it may slide with more facility through the holes in the dead-eyes,
it is well smeared with hog's lard or tallow, so that the strain is immediately communicated to all the turns at once.
the left hand side of the ship, facing forward toward the
bow
F: a name given by seamen to the left side of a ship, wherein the right and left are apparently
determined by the analogy of a ship's position, on the water, to that of a fish.
D: 1. (of a wind) nearly on the
quarter, so that a sailing vessel may sail free.
2. with the wind free or
abaft the
beam so that all sails draw fully.
F: a phrase applied to the wind, when it crosses the line of a ship's
course in a favourable
direction, particularly on the beam or quarter; for instance, if a ship is steering west, the wind, in any
point of the
compass to the eastward of the south or north, may be called large, unless it is direct east,
and then it is said to be right
aft. To sail large is therefore to advance with a large wind, so as that
the
sheets are slackened and flowing, and the
bowlines entirely disused. This phrase is generally opposed
to sailing
close-hauled, or with a scant wind, in which situation the sheets and bowlines
are extended as much as possible.
B: A ship which increases her distance from the coast, so as to make it appear lower and smaller,
is said to lay the land.
F: in navigation, the state of motion which increases the distance from the coast, so as to
make it appear lower and smaller; a circumstance which evidently arises from the intervening convexity
of the surface of the lea. It is used in contradistinction to raising the land, which is produced by the
opposite motion of approach towards it.
TFD: The side away from the direction from which the wind blows.
B: That part of the hemisphere to which the wind is directed, to distinguish it from the other part
which is called to windward.
F: an epithet used by seamen to distinguish that part of the hemisphere to which the wind is
directed, from the other part whence it arises; which latter is accordingly called to windward. This expression
is chiefly used when the wind crosses the line of a ship's
course, so that all on one side of her is called to
windward, and all on the opposite side,
to leeward.
TFD: the side of something that is sheltered from the wind
B: that half of a ship lengthwise, which lies between a line drawn through the middle of her length
and the side which is farthest from the point of wind.
F: all that part of a ship or boat which lies between the
mast, and the side furthest from the
direction of the wind; or otherwise, the half of a ship, which is pressed down towards the water by the effort
of the
sails, as separated from the other half, by a line drawn through the middle of her length. That part of
the ship, which lies to windward of this line, is accordingly called the
weather side. Thus admit a ship to be
sailing southward, with the wind at east, then is her
starboard, or right side, the lee side; and the
larboard, or left, the weather side.
TFD: 1. Either vertical edge of a square sail. 2. The after edge of a fore-and-aft sail.
F: (pl.) the borders or edges of a
sail, which are either sloping or perpendicular. The leeches
of all sails, whose tops and bottoms are parallel to the deck, or at right angles with them all, are
denominated from the ship's side, and the sail to which they belong; as the
starboard leech of the
mainsail,
the lee leech of the fore
topsail, &c. but the sails which are fixed obliquely upon the
masts, have their
leeches named from their situation with respect to the Ship's length; as the fore leech of the
mizen, the
after leech of the
jib, or fore
staysail, &c.
B: The lateral movement of a ship to leeward of her course; or the angle which the line of her
way makes with a line in the direction of her
keel.
F: is the lateral movement of a ship to leeward of her course, or the angle which the line of her
way makes with the keel when the is close-hauled. This movement is produced by the mutual effort of the wind
and sea upon her side, forcing her to leeward of the line upon which She appears to sail; and in this situation
her course is necessarily a compound of the two motions by which she is impelled, of which the one presses forward,
according to the line of her keel, whilst the other pushes her to leeward of the course, with a motion which
is usually in proportion to the force of the wind, and the rate of her velocity.
F: the situation of a ship when she is retarded in her course, by arranging the sails in such a
manner as to counteract each other with nearly an equal effort, and render the ship almost immoveable, with
respect to her progressive motion, or
headway. A ship is usually brought to by the main and fore
topsails, one of which is laid
aback, whilst the other is full; so that the latter pushes the ship forward, whilst
the former resists this impulse, by forcing her
astern. This is particularly practised in a general
engagement, when the hostile fleets are drawn up in two lines of battle opposite each other. It is also
used to wait for some other ship, either approaching or expected; or to avoid pursuing a dangerous
course, especially in dark or foggy weather, &c.
F: of a ship of war, the officer next in rank and power to the
captain, in whose absence he is
accordingly charged with the command of the ship; as also the execution of whatever orders he may have
received from the commander relating to the king's service. The lieutenant, who commands the
watch at sea,
keeps a list of all the officers and men thereto belonging, in order to
muster them, when he judges it
expedient, and report to the captain the names of those who are absent from their duty. During the night
watch, he occasionally visits the lower decks or sends thither a careful officer, to see that the proper
centinels are at their their duty, and that there is no disorder amongst the men;
no tobacco smoked between decks, nor any fire or candles burning there, except the lights which are in
lanthorns, under
the care of a proper watch, for particular purposes. He is expected to be always upon deck in his watch,
as well to give the necessary orders, with regard to trimming the sails and superintending the navigation,
as to prevent any noise or confusion; but he is never to change the ship's course without the captain's
directions, unless to avoid an immediate danger. The lieutenant, in time of battle, is particularly to
see that all the men are present at their quarters, where they have been previously stationed according
to the regulations made by the captain. He orders and exhorts them every where to perform their duty,
and acquaints the captain at all other times of the misbehaviour of any persons in the ship, and of
whatever else concerns the service or discipline. The youngest lieutenant of the ship, who is also styled
lieutenant at arms, besides his common duty, is particularly ordered, by his instructions, to train the
seamen to the use of small arms, and frequently to exercise and discipline them therein. Accordingly
his office, in time of battle, is chiefly to direct and attend them, and at all other times to have a due
regard to the preservation of the small arms, that they be not lost or embezzled, and that they are
kept clean and in good condition for service.
d: A rope leading from the
masthead to the extremity of a
yard below; -- used for raising or supporting the end of the yard.
B: (pl.) the ropes which come to the ends of the yards from the mastheads, and by which they
are suspended when lowered down.
F: (pl.) certain ropes, descending from the
cap and masthead, to the opposite extremities of
the yard immediately under; where, passing through a
block or pulley, they become double. They are used
to keep the yard in equilibrio; or to pull one of its extremities higher than the other as occasion
requires; but particularly to support the weight of it, when a number of seamen are employed thereon,
to
furl or
reef the sail. The lifts of the
topsail yards, called the topsail lifts, are also used as
sheets to extend the bottom of the
topgallant sail above. The yards are said to be squared by the lifts,
when they hang at right angles with the
mast; that is to say, parallel to the horizon, when the vessel
is upright upon the water.
TFD: A small room from which the
magazine of a naval vessel is lighted, being separated from
the magazine by heavy glass windows.
F: a small apartment, inclosed with glass windows, near the magazine of a ship of war. It is
used to contain the lights by which the gunner, and his assistants, are enabled to fill the cartridges
with powder, to be ready for action.
TFD: A device trailed from a ship to determine its speed through the water.
F: a machine used to measure the ship's
headway, or the rate of her velocity as she advances
through the sea. It is composed of a reel and line, to which is fixed a small piece of wood, forming the
quadrant of a circle. The term log however is more particularly applied to the latter.
TFD: a board consisting of two parts shutting together like a book, with columns in which are
entered the direction of the wind, course of the ship, etc., during each hour of the day and night. These
entries are transferred to the log book.
F: a sort of table, divided into several columns, containing the hours of the day and night,
the direction of the winds, the course of the ship, and all the material occurrences that happen during
the twenty-four hours, or from noon to noon; together with the latitude by observation. From this table
the different officers of the ship are furnished with materials to compile their journals, wherein they
likewise insert whatever may have been omitted; or reject what may appear superfluous in the log board.
d: a book in which is entered the daily progress of a ship at sea, as indicated by the log,
with notes on the weather and incidents of the voyage; the contents of the log board.
F: a book into which the contents of the log board is daily copied at noon, together with every
circumstance deserving notice, that may happen to the ship, or within her cognizance, either at sea or
in a harbour, &c. The intermediate divisions or watches of the logbook, containing four hours each,
are usually signed by the commanding officer thereof, in ships of war or East Indiamen.
[Falconer's description of a
journal better fits the description of logbook, and explains why
it ran from noon to noon.]
TFD: The Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty were the members of the Board of Admiralty,
which exercised command over the Royal Navy. Officially known as the Commissioners for Exercising the Office
of Lord High Admiral of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland &c. (or of England,
Great Britain or the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, depending on the period), the Lords
Commissioners only existed when the office of Lord High Admiral was in commission, i.e. not held by a
single person. During the periods when an individual Lord High Admiral was appointed, there was a Council
of the Lord High Admiral which assisted the Lord High Admiral and effectively performed many of the
duties of the Board of Admiralty.
WP: refers to when a sailing vessel is steered far enough toward the direction of the wind
("windward"), or the
sheet controlling a
sail is eased so far past optimal trim, that airflow over the
surfaces of the sail is disrupted and the sail begins to "flap" or "luff" (the luff of the sail is
usually where this first becomes evident). This is not always done in error; for example, the sails will
luff when the bow of the boat passes through the direction of the wind as the sailboat is tacked.
K Home Glossary M
TFD: 1. Either vertical edge of a square sail. 2. The after edge of a fore-and-aft sail.