"Dankling forgot will quickly rot."
DANKER. A north-country term for a dark cloud.
DANSKERS. Natives of Denmark.
DARBIES. An old cant word for irons or handcuffs; it is still retained.
DARE. An old word for to challenge, or incite to emulation; still in full use.
DARE-DEVIL. One who fears nothing, and will attempt anything.
DARKENING. Closing of the evening twilight.
DARK GLASSES. Shades fitted to instruments of reflection for preventing the bright rays of the sun from hurting the eye of the observer.
DARKS. Nights on which the moon does not shine,—much looked to by smugglers.
DARKY. A common term for a negro.
DARNING THE WATER. A term applied to the action of a fleet cruising to and fro before a blockaded port.
DARRAG. A Manx or Erse term for a strong fishing-line made of black hair snoods.
DARSENA. An inner harbour or wet dock in the Mediterranean.
DARTS. Weapons used in our early fleets from the round-tops.
DASH. The present with which bargains are sealed on the coast of Africa.
DASHING. The rolling and breaking of the sea.
DATOO. West wind in the Straits of Gibraltar: very healthy. Also, a Malay term of rank, and four of whom form the council of the sultan of the Malayu Islands.
DATUM. The base level.
DAVID'S-STAFF. A kind of quadrant formerly used in navigation.
DAVIE. An old term for davit.
DAVIT. A piece of timber or iron, with sheaves or blocks at its end, projecting over a vessel's quarter or stern, to hoist up and suspend one end of a boat.—Fish-davit, is a beam of timber, with a roller or sheave at its end, used as a crane, whereby to hoist the flukes of the anchor to the top of the bow, without injuring the planks of the ship's side as it ascends, and called fishing the anchor; the lower end of this davit rests on the fore-chains, the upper end being properly secured by a tackle from the mast-head; to which end is hung a large block, and through it a strong rope is rove, called the fish-pendant, to the outer end of which is fitted a large hook, and to its inner end a tackle; the former is called the fish-hook, the latter the fish-tackle. There is also a davit of a smaller kind, occasionally fixed in the long-boat, and with the assistance of a small windlass, used to weigh the anchor by the buoy-rope, &c.
DAVIT-GUYS. Ropes used to steady boats' davits.
DAVIT-ROPE. The lashing which secures the davit to the shrouds when out of use.
DAVIT-TOPPING-LIFT. A rope made fast to the outer end of a davit, and rove through a block made fast to a vessel's mast aloft, with a tackle attached. Usually employed for bringing the anchor in-board.
DAVY JONES. The spirit of the sea; a nikker; a sea-devil.
DAVY JONES'S LOCKER. The ocean; the common receptacle for all things thrown overboard; it is a phrase for death or the other world, when speaking of a person who has been buried at sea.
DAW-FISH. TheScyllium catulus, a small dog-fish.
DAWK-BOAT. A boat for the conveyance of letters in India;dawkbeing the Hindostanee formail.
DAY. The astronomical day is reckoned from noon to noon, continuously through the twenty-four hours, like the other days. It commences at noon, twelve hours after the civil day, which itself begins twelve hours after the nautical day, so that thenoonof the civil day, thebeginningof the astronomical day, and theendof the nautical day, occur at the same moment. (See the wordsSolarandSidereal.)
DAY-BOOK. An old and better name for the log-book; a journal [Fr.]
DAY-MATES. Formerly the mates of the several decks—now abolished. (SeeSub-lieutenant.)
DAY-SKY. The aspect of the sky at day-break, or at twilight.
DAY'S WORK. In navigation, the reckoning or reduction of the ship's courses and distances made good during twenty-four hours, or from noon to noon, according to the rules of trigonometry, and thence ascertaining her latitude and longitude bydead-reckoning(which see).
D-BLOCK. A lump of oak in the shape of aD, bolted to the ship's side in the channels to reeve the lifts through.
DEAD-ANGLE. In fortification, is an angle receiving no defence, either by its own fire or that of any other works.
DEAD-CALM. A total cessation of wind; the same asflat-calm.
DEAD-DOORS. Those fitted in a rabbet to the outside of the quarter-gallery doors, with the object of keeping out the sea, in case of the gallery being carried away.
DEADEN A SHIP'S WAY,To. To retard a vessel's progress by bracing in the yards, so as to reduce the effect of the sails, or by backing minor sails. Also, when sounding to luff up and shake all, to obtain a cast of the deep-sea lead.
DEAD-EYE,or Dead Man's Eye. A sort of round flattish wooden block, or oblate piece of elm, encircled, and fixed to the channels by the chain-plate: it is pierced with three holes through the flat part, in order to receive a rope called the laniard, which, corresponding with three holes in another dead-eye on the shroud end, creates a purchase to set up and extend the shrouds and stays, backstays, &c., of the standing and top-mast rigging. The termdeadseems to have been used because there is no revolving sheave to lessen the friction. In merchant-ships they are generally fitted with iron-plates, in the room of chains, extending from the vessel's side to the top of the rail, where they are connected with the rigging. The dead-eyes used for the stays have only one hole, which, however, is large enough to receive ten or twelve turns of the laniard—these are generally termedhearts, on account of their shape. Thecrowfeet dead-eyesare long cylindrical blocks with a number of small holes in them, to receive the legs or lines composing the crow-foot. Also calleduvrous.
DEAD-FLAT. The timber or frame possessing the greatest breadth and capacity in the ship: where several timbers are thrown in, of the same area, the middle one is reckoned a dead-flat, about one third of the length of the ship from the head. It is generally distinguished as the midship-bend.
DEAD-FREIGHT. The sum to which a merchant is liable for goods which he has failed to ship.
DEAD-HEAD. A kind ofdolphin(which see). Also, a rough block of wood used as an anchor-buoy.
DEAD-HEADED. Timber trees which have ceased growing.
DEAD-HORSE. A term applied by seamen to labour which has been paid for in advance. When they commence earning money again, thereis in some merchant ships a ceremony performed of dragging round the decks an effigy of their fruitless labour in the shape of a horse, running him up to the yard-arm, and cutting him adrift to fall into the sea amidst loud cheers.
DEAD-LIFT. The moving of a very inert body.
DEAD-LIGHTS. Strong wooden shutters made exactly to fit the cabin windows externally; they are fixed on the approach of bad weather. Also, luminous appearances sometimes seen over putrescent bodies.
DEAD-LOWN. A completely still atmosphere.
DEAD-MEN. The reef or gasket-ends carelessly left dangling under the yard when the sail is furled, instead of being tucked in.
DEAD-MEN'S EFFECTS. When a seaman dies on board, or is drowned, his effects are sold at the mast by auction, and the produce charged against the purchasers' names on the ship's books.
DEAD-MONTHS. A term for winter.
DEAD-ON-END. The wind blowing directly adverse to the vessel's intended course.
DEAD-PAY. That given formerly in shares, or for names borne, but for which no one appears, as was formerly practised withwidows' men.
DEAD-RECKONING. The estimation of the ship's place without any observation of the heavenly bodies; it is discovered from the distance she has run by the log, and the courses steered by the compass, then rectifying these data by the usual allowance for current, lee-way, &c., according to the ship's known trim. This reckoning, however, should be corrected by astronomical observations of the sun, moon, and stars, whenever available, proving the importance of practical astronomy.
DEAD-RISING. In ship-building, is that part of a ship which lies aft between the keel and her floor-timbers towards the stern-post; generally it is applied to those parts of the bottom, throughout the ship's length, where the sweep or curve at the head of the floor-timber terminates, or inflects to join the keel. (SeeRising-line.)
DEAD-ROPES. Those which do not run in any block.
DEAD-SHARES. An allowance formerly made to officers of the fleet, from fictitious numbers borne on the complement (temp.Henry VIII.), varying from fifty shares for an admiral, to half a share for the cook's mate.
DEAD-SHEAVE. A scored aperture in the heel of a top-mast, through which a second top-tackle pendant can be rove. It is usually a section of a lignum-vitæ sheave let in, so as to avoid chafe.
DEAD-TICKET. Persons dying on board, those discharged from the service, and all officers promoted, are cleared from the ship's books by a dead-ticket, which must be filled up in a similar manner to thesick-ticket(which see).
DEAD UPON A WIND. Braced sharp up and bowlines hauled.
DEAD-WATER. The eddy-water under the counter of a ship under way; so called because passing away slower than the water alongside. A ship is said tomake much dead-waterwhen she has a great eddy followingher stern, often occasioned by her having a square tuck. A vessel with a round buttock at her line of floatation can have but little dead-water, the rounding abaft allowing the fluid soon to recover its state of rest.
DEAD WEIGHT. A vessel's lading when it consists of heavy goods, but particularly such as pay freight according to their weight and not theirstowage.
DEAD WOOD. Certain blocks of timber, generally oak, fayed on the upper side of the keel, particularly at the extremities before and abaft, where these pieces are placed upon each other to a considerable height, because the ship is there so narrow as not to admit of the two half timbers, which are therefore scored into this dead wood, where the angle of the floor-timbers gradually diminishes on approaching the stem and stern-post. In the fore-part of the ship the dead wood generally extends from the stemson, upon which it is scarphed, to the loof-frame; and in the after-end, from the stern-post, where it is confined by the knee, to the after balance frame. It is connected to the keel by strong spike nails. The dead wood afore and abaft is equal in depth to two-thirds of the depth of the keel, and as broad as can be procured, not exceeding the breadth of the keel,i.e.continued as high as thecutting-downline in both bodies, to afford a stepping for the heels of the cant timbers.
DEAD-WOOD KNEES. The upper foremost and aftermost pieces of dead wood; being crooked pieces of timber, the bolting of which connects the keel with the stem and stern posts.
DEAD WORKS. All that part of the ship which is above water when she is laden. The same asupper work, orsupernatant(which see).
DEAL BEACH. This coast consists of gravelly shingle; and a man who is pock-marked, or in galley-cant cribbage-faced, is figuratively said to have been rolled on Deal beach.
DEAL-ENDS. Applied to deal-planks when under 6 feet in length.
DEATHor Money Boats. So termed from the risk in such frail craft. They were very long, very narrow, and as thin as the skiffs of our rivers. During the war of 1800-14 they carried gold between Dover and Calais, and defied the custom-house officers.
DEATH-WOUND. A law-term for the starting of a butt end, or springing a fatal leak. A ship had received her death-wound, but by pumping was kept afloat till three days after the time she was insured for: it was determined that the risk was at an end before the loss happened, and that the insurer was not liable.
DEBARK,To. To land; to go on shore.
DEBENTURE. A custom-house certificate given to the exporter of goods, on which a bounty or drawback is allowed. Also, a general term for a bill or bond.
DEBOUCHE. The mouth of a river, outlet of a wood, defile, or narrow pass. In military language, troops defile or march out from.
DECAGON. A plane geometrical figure that has ten equal sides, and as many equal angles.
DECAMP,To. To raise the camp; the breaking up from a place where an army has been encamped.
DECEPTIO VISUS. Any extraordinary instance of deception to the sight, occasioned by the effects of atmospheric media. (SeeTerrestrial RefractionandMirage.)
DECIMATION. The punishing every tenth soldier by lot, was trulydecimatio legionis.
DECIME. A small copper coin of France, equal to two sous, or one-tenth of a franc.
DECK,To. A word formerly in use for to trim, as "we deckt up our sails."
DECK-BEAM KNEES. The same aslodging-knees.
DECK-BEAMS.SeeBeams.
DECK-CARGO, otherwisedeck-load(which see).
DECK-CLEATS. Pieces of wood temporarily nailed to the deck to secure objects in bad weather, as guns, deck-load, &c.
DECK-HOOK. The compass timber bolted horizontally athwart a ship's bow, connecting the stem, timbers, and deck-planks of the fore-part; it is part and parcel of thebreast-hooks.
DECK-HOUSE. An oblong-house on the deck of some merchantmen, especially east-country vessels, and latterly in passenger steamers, with a gangway on each side of it. (Sometimes termedround-house.)
DECK-LOAD. Timber, casks, or other cargo not liable to damage from wet, stowed on the deck of merchant vessels. This, with the exception of carboys of vitriol, is not included in a general policy of insurance on goods, unless it be specially stipulated.
DECK-NAILS. A kind of spike with a snug head, commonly made in a diamond form; they are single or double deck-nails, and from 4 to 12 inches long.
DECK-PIPE. An iron pipe through which the chain cable is paid into the chain-locker.
DECK-PUMPS. In a steamer, are at the side of the vessel, worked with a lever by manual power, to supply additional water. In a ship-of-war, used for washing decks (one of the midship pumps).
DECKS. The platforms laid longitudinally over the transverse beams; in ships of war they support the guns. The terms in use for these decks are, assuming the largest ship of the line:—Poop, the deck which includes from the mizen-mast to the taffrail. Theupperorspar-deck, from stem to stern, having conventional divisions; as,quarter-deck, which is, when clear for action, the space abaft the main-mast, including the cabin; next,the waist, between the fore and main masts, on which the spars and booms are secured. In some ships guns are continued (always in flush-decked ships) along the gangway; thenthe forecastle, which commences on the gangway, from the main-tack chock forward to the bows. Small craft, as brigs and corvettes, are sometimes fitted with top-gallant forecastles, to shelter the men from heavy seas which wash over. Next, themain or gun-deck, the entire length of the ship. It is also divided conventionallyinto the various cabins, the waist (under the gangway), the galley, from the fore-hatchway to the sick bay, and bows. Next below, is themiddle deckof a three-decker, orlowerof a two-decker, succeeded by lower deck and the orlop-deck, which carries no guns. The guns on these several decks increase in size and number from the poop downwards. Thus, although a vessel termed a three-decker was rated 120 guns, the fact stood thus:—
Guns.Pounders.lbs.Poop,1024240Quarter-deck,2224long}848Forecastle,1032cans.Main-deck,3424816Middle,3624864Lower,363211521483920Broadside of1960
But latterly, 56 and 84 pounders on the lower, and 32 on the middle, afforded a heavier weight of broadside. TheSantissima Trinidada, taken from the Spaniards, carried four whole tiers of guns. Now, the tonnage of the largest of these would be insignificant. "Deckers" are exploded, and aPallasof the same tonnage (2372) carries 8 guns, aBellerophon(4272) carries 18 guns, ranging in size, however, from the 64-pounder up to the 300-pounder.—Flush-deck, or deck flush fore and aft, implies a continued floor laid from stem to stern, upon one line, without any stops or intervals.—Half-deck.In the Northumberland colliers the steerage itself is called the half-deck, and is usually the habitation of the ship's crew.
DECK-SEAM. The interstices between the planks.
DECK-SHEET. That sheet of a studding-sail which leads directly to the deck, by which it is steadied until set; it is also useful in taking it in, should the down-haul be carried away.
DECK STANDARD-KNEES. Iron knees having two tails, the one going on the bottom of a deck-beam, the other on the top of a hold-beam, while the middle part is bolted to the ship's side.
DECK-STOPPER. (SeeStopper of the Cable.) A strong stopper used for securing the cable forward of the capstan or windlass while it is overhauled. Also abaft the windlass or bitts to prevent more cable from running out.
DECK-TACKLE. A purchase led along the decks.
DECLARATION OF WAR. A ceremonial frequently omitted, and esteemed by the greatest authorities rather a proof of magnanimity than a duty. The Romans proclaimed it; but except Achaia, none of the Grecian states did. It would be to the interests of humanity and courtesy were it made indispensable. It has been held (especially in the case of theLeopardandChesapeake) that without a declaration of war, no hostile act at the order of an admiral is legal.
DECLINATION, of a celestial object, is the arc between its centre and theequinoctial: with the sun, it is its angular distance from the equator, either north or south, and is named accordingly.
DECLINATION,To Correct. A cant phrase for taking a glass of grog at noon, when the day's works are being reduced.
DECOY. So to change the aspect of a ship-of-war by striking a topgallant-mast, setting ragged sails, disfiguring the sides by whitewash or gunpowder, yellow, &c., as to induce a vessel of inferior force to chase; when, getting within gun-shot range, she becomes an easy capture. Similar manœuvres are sometimes used by a single ship to induce an enemy's squadron to follow her into the view of her own fleet.
DEEP. A word figuratively applied to the ocean. On the coast of Germany, to the northward of Friesland, it is of the same import as gulf on the coasts of France, Spain, Italy, &c. Also, any depth over 20 fathoms.—Deep-sea fishing.In contradistinction to coast, or when the hand-lead reaches bottom at 20 fathoms.—Hand deeps.Out of ordinary leadsman's sounding.—A vessel is deep as regards her lading, and is also said to sail deep when her expenses run high.
DEEPENING. Running from shoal water by the lead.
DEEP-SEA LINE. Usually a strong and water-laid line. It is used with a lead of 28 lbs., and adapted to find bottom in 200 fathoms or more. It is marked by knots every ten fathoms, and by a small knot every five. The marks are now nearly superseded by Massey's patent sounding-machine.—Marks and Deeps, &c.,seeLeadandLine.
DEEP-WAIST. That part of the open skids between the main and fore drifts in men-of-war. It also relates to the remaining part of a ship's deck, when the quarter-deck and forecastle are much elevated above the level of the main-deck, so as to leave a vacant space, called the waist, on the middle of the upper deck, as in many packets.
DEESE. An east-country term for a place where herrings are dried.
DEFAULTER'S BOOK. Where men's offences are registered against them, and may be magnified without appeal.
DEFECTS. An official return of the state of a ship as to what is required for her hull and equipment, and what repairs she stands in need of. Upon this return a ship is ordered to sea, into harbour, into dock, or paid out of commission.
DEFICIENCY. What is wanting of a ship's cargo at the time of delivery.
DEFILADE. In fortification, is the art of so disposing defensive works,on irregular or commanded sites, that the troops within them shall be covered from the direct fire of the enemy.
DEFILE. A narrow pass between two heights, which obliges a force marching through to narrow its front. This may prove disastrous if attacked, on account of the difficulty of receiving aid from the rear.
DEFILING. Filing off, marching past.
DEFINITIVE. Conclusive; decisive.
DEFLECTION. The tendency of a ship from her true course; thedeparture of the magnetic needle from its true bearing, when influenced by iron or the local attraction of the mass. In artillery, the deviation of a shot from the direction in which it is fired. The term is usually reserved to lateral deviations, especially those resulting from irregular causes—those constant ones due to the regular motion of rifled projectiles coming under either of the designations "constant deflection," "derivation," borrowed from the French, or "drift," from the Americans. These latter, according to the direction usually given to the rifling in the present day, all tend away to the right, though they include some subordinate curves not yet distinctly determined.
DEFORMED BASTION. One out of shape from the irregularity of its lines and angles.
DEGRADATION. Debasement and disgrace. The suspension of a petty officer from his station; and also the depriving an officer or soldier of his arms previous to his being delivered over to the civil power for execution.
DEGREE. A degree of longitude is the 1-360th part of the great equatorial circle, or any circle parallel to it. A degree of latitude is the 90th part of the quadrant, or quarter of a great meridional circle. Each degree is divided into 60 minutes, and each minute into 60 seconds, according to the sexagesimal division of the circle. Also, rank or condition.
DEKOYTS,or Dacoits. Robbers in India, and also pirates who infested the rivers between Calcutta and Burhampore, but now suppressed by the improved system of river police, and the establishment of fast rowing boats of light draught.
DEL. Saxon for part.—Del a bit, not a bit, a phrase much altered for the worse by those not aware of its antiquity.
DEL CREDERE. A percentage on a cargo, under particular circumstances of trust. Also, the commission under which brokers sometimes guarantee to the insured the solvency of the underwriters.
DELEGATES. Not heard of in the navy since the mutiny at the Nore.
DELFYN. The old form of spellingdolphin.
DELICTUM. To be actual, must unite intention and act.
DELIVER. To yield, to rescue, to deliver battle, to deliver a broadside, a shot, or a blow. Also, to take goods from the ship to the shore. To discharge a cargo from a vessel into the keeping of its consignees.
DELIVERED. The state of the harpoon when imbedded in the body of a fish, so that the barbs hold fast.
DELIVERERS. Particular artificers employed in our early ships of war, in constructing the castles.
DELL. A narrow valley, ravine, or small dale.
DELTA. A name given by the Greeks to the alluvial tract inclosed between the bifurcating branches of the Nile and the sea-line. It is well known that rivers which deposit great quantities of matter, do also very often separate into two or more branches, previous to their discharge into the sea; thus forming triangular spaces, aptly calleddeltasfrom their resemblance to the Greek letter Δ.
All deltas appear by their section to be formed of matter totally different from that of the adjacent country. They are the creation of the rivers themselves, which, having brought down with their floods vast quantities of mud and sand from the upper lands, deposit them in the lowest place, the sea; at whose margin, the current which has hitherto impelled them ceasing, they are deposited by the mere action of gravity. This is particularly illustrated on the western coast of Africa by the shoals off the Rio Grande, Rio Nunez, and others. The coast, as well as the embouchures of the rivers, exhibit a deposit of deep mud, and yet far at sea banks of clean siliceous sand arise.
DEMAND. The official paper by which stores are desired for a ship, the making out of which is the duty of the officer in whose charge the stores will be placed: they must be approved by the captain and admiral before being presented to the dockyard authorities. Also, whence from? where bound?
DEMI-BASTION. In fortification, a bastion which has a flank on one side only.
DEMI-CANNON. An ancient name for a gun carrying a ball of 33 pounds weight, with a length of from 12 to 14 feet, and a diameter of bore of 61⁄2inches; its point-blank range was estimated at 162 paces, and its random one at 2000.
DEMI-CULVERIN. An ancient cannon which threw a ball of 9 pounds weight, was about 9 feet long, and 4 inches in diameter of bore; its point-blank range was called 174 paces, and its random one about 1800.
DEMIHAG. A long pistol, much used in the sixteenth century.
DEMILANCE. A light horseman, who carried a light lance.
DEMILUNE. In fortification, the outwork, more properly called aravelin(which see).
DEMI-REVETMENT. In fortification, that form of retaining wall for the face of a rampart which is only carried up as high as cover exists in front of it, leaving above it the remaining height, in the form of an earthen mound at its natural slope, exposed to, but invulnerable by shot.
DEMONSTRATION-SHIPS. Those kept in a certain state of preparation for war, though on a peace establishment.
DEMURRAGE. The compensation due to a ship-owner from a freighter for unduly delaying his vessel in port beyond the time specified in the charter-party or bill of lading. It is in fact an extended freight. A ship unjustly detained, as a prize, is entitled to demurrage. Vessels chartered to convey government stores have a term given for discharge by government aid. If not delivered within that period, demurrage, as stated in the document, is paid per diem for any "unavoidable delay."
DEN. A sandy tract near the sea, as at Exmouth and other places.
DEN AND STROND. A liberty for ships or vessels to run or come ashore. Edward I. granted this privilege to the barons of the Cinque Ports.
DE NAUTICO FŒNORE. Of nautical usury; bottomry.
DENE. The Anglo-Saxondæne; implying a kind of hollow or ravinethrough which a rivulet runs, the banks on either side being studded with trees.
DENEB. The bright star in the constellation Cygnus, well known as a standard nautical star.
DENSITY. The weight of a body in comparison with its bulk.
DENTICE. An excellent fish, so named from being well furnished with teeth. It is of theSparidæfamily, and frequents the Adriatic.
DEPARTMENT. A term by which the divisions in the public services are distinguished, as the civil, the commissariat, the military, the naval, the victualling, &c.
DEPARTURE. The bearing of an object on the coast from which a vessel commences her dead-reckoning and takes her departure. The distance of any two places lying on the same parallel counted in miles of the equator.
DEPOT. A magazine in which military stores are deposited. Also, a company left in England for the purpose of recruiting when regiments are ordered abroad.
DEPRESS. The order to adjust the quoin in great-gun exercise; to depress the muzzle to point at an object below the level, in contradistinction to elevate.
DEPRESSED POLE. That end of the earth's axis which is below the horizon of the spectator according to his being in the northern or southern hemisphere. Also applied to the stars. (SeePolar Distance.)
DEPRESSION,of the Horizon. (SeeDip.) In artillery, the angle below the horizon at which the axis of a gun is laid in order to strike an object on a lower level. The depression required in batteries of very elevated site (those of Gibraltar for example), for the laying the guns on near vessels, is so great as to necessitate a peculiar carriage.
DEPTH OF A SAIL. The extent of the square sails from the head-rope to the foot-rope, or the length of the after-leech of a staysail or boom-sail; in other words, it is the extent of the longest cloth of canvas in any sail.
DEPTH OF HOLD. The height between the floor and the lower-deck; it is therefore one of the principal dimensions given for the construction of a ship. It varies, of course, according to the end for which she is designed, trade or war.
DERELICT [Lat.derelictus, abandoned]. Anything abandoned at sea. A ship is derelict either by consent or by compulsion, stress of weather, &c., and yet, to save the owner's rights, if any cat, dog, or other domestic animal be found on board alive, it is not forfeited. The owner may yet recover, on payment of salvage, within a year and a day—otherwise the whole may be awarded. (SeeSalvage.)
DERIVATION. In artillery, the constant deflection of a rifled projectile. (SeeDeflection.)
DERRICK. A single spar, supported by stays and guys, to which a purchase is attached, used in loading and unloading vessels. Also, a small crane either inside or outside of a ship.
DERRICK,To. A cant term for setting out on a small not over-creditable enterprise. The act is said to be named from a Tyburn executioner.
DERRING-DO. A Spenserian term for deeds of arms.
DESCENDING NODE.SeeNodes.
DESCENDING SIGNS. Those in which the sun appears to descend from the north pole, or in which his motion in declination is towards the south.
DESCENDING SQUALL. A fitful gust of wind issuing from clouds which are formed in the lower parts of the atmosphere. It is usually accompanied with heavy showers, and the weatherwise observe that the squall is seldom so violent when it is followed as when it is preceded by rain. (SeeWhite Squallas a forerunner.)
DESCENSION. The same asoblique ascension(which see).
DESCENT. The landing of troops for the purpose of invading a country. The passage down a river.
DESCRIPTION-BOOK. A register in which the age, place of birth, and personal description of the crew are recorded.
DESERT. An extensive tract, either absolutely sterile, or having no other vegetation than small patches of grass or shrubs. Many portions of the present deserts seem to be reclaimable.
DESERTER. One that quits his ship or the service without leave. He is marked R (run) on the books, and any clothes or other effects he may have left on board are sold by auction at the mast, and the produce borne to account.
DESERTION. The act of quitting the Army or Navy without leave, with intention not to return.
DESERTION-MONEY. The sum of three pounds paid to him who apprehends a deserter, which is charged against the offender's growing pay—his wages for previous service having become forfeited from his havingrun.
DESTROYING PAPERS. A ground of condemnation in the Admiralty court.
DETACHED. On detached service. A squadron may be detached under a commodore or senior officer.
DETACHED BASTION. A bastion cut off by a ditch about its gorge from the body of the place, which latter is thus rendered in a degree independent of the fall of the former.
DETACHED ESCARP. An escarp wall, originally invented by Carnot, and revived by the Prussians, removed some distance to the front of the rampart; which latter, being finished exteriorly at the natural slope of the earth, remains effective after the destruction of the wall by a besieger. It was at first intended, being kept low and covered by a near counterguard, to offer extraordinary difficulties to the besieger's breaching batteries; but improved artillery has nullified that supposed advantage.
DETACHED WORKS. Works included in the scheme of defence of a fortress, but separated from it, and beyond the glacis.
DETACHMENT. A force detached from the main body for employment on any particular service.
DETAIL OF DUTY. The captain's night orders.
DETENTIONof a Vessel: on just ground, as supposed war, suspicious papers, undue number of men, found hovering, or cargo not in conformity with papers or law.
DETONATING HAMMER. A modern introduction into the Royal Navy for firing the guns. With the aid of an attached laniard, it is made to descend forcibly upon the percussion arm of the tube, and fires the piece instantaneously. It is, however, already generally superseded by the use of thefriction-tube(which see).
DEVIATION. A voluntary departure from the usual course of the voyage, without any necessary or justifiable cause: a step which discharges the insurers from further responsibility. Liberty to touch, stay, or trade in any particular place not in the usual course of the voyage must be expressly specified in the contract, and even this is subordinate to the voyage. The cases of necessity which justify deviation are—1, stress of weather; 2, urgent want of repairs; 3, to join convoy; 4, succouring ships in distress; 5, avoiding capture or detention; 6, sickness; 7, mutiny of the crew. It differs from achangeof voyage, which must have been resolved upon before the sailing of the ship. (SeeChange.)—Deviationis also the attraction of a ship's iron on the needle. It is a term recently introduced to distinguish a sort of second variation to be allowed for in iron vessels.
DEVIL. A sort of priming made by damping and bruising gunpowder.
DEVIL-BOLTS. Those with false clenches, often introduced into contract-built ships.
DEVIL-FISH. TheLophius piscatorius, a hideous creature, which has also obtained the name of fish-frog, monk-fish, bellows-fish, sea-devil, and other appellatives significant of its ugliness and bad manners. There is also a powerfulRaia, which grows to an immense size in the tropics, known as the devil-fish, the terror of the pearl-divers.Mantaof Spaniards.
DEVILRY. Spirited roguery; wanton mischief, short of crime.
DEVIL'S CLAW. A very strong kind of split hook made to grasp a link of a chain cable, and used as a stopper.
DEVIL'S SMILES. Gleams of sunshine among dark clouds, either in the heavens or captain's face!
DEVIL'S TABLE-CLOTH.SeeTable-cloth.
DEVIL TO PAY AND NO PITCH HOT. The seam which margins the water-ways was called the "devil," why only caulkers can tell, who perhaps found it sometimes difficult for their tools. The phrase, however, means service expected, and no one ready to perform it. Impatience, and naught to satisfy it.
DEW-POINT. A meteorological term for the degree of temperature at which the moisture of the atmosphere would begin to precipitate; it may be readily ascertained by means of the hygrometer.
DHOLL. A kind of dried split pea supplied in India to the navy.
DHONY,or Dhoney. A country trading-craft of India from 50 to 150 tons; mostly flat-bottomed. (SeeDoney.)
DHOW. The Arab dhow is a vessel of about 150 to 250 tons burden by measurement—grab-built, with ten or twelve ports; about 85 feet long from stem to stern, 20 feet 9 inches broad, and 11 feet 6 inches deep. Of late years this description of vessel has been well built at Cochin, on the Malabar coast, in the European style. They have a great rise of floor; are calculated for sailing with small cargoes; and are fully prepared, by internal equipment, for defence—many of them are sheathed on 21⁄2-inch plank bottoms, with 1-inch board, and the preparation of chunam and oil, calledgalgal, put between; causing the vessel to be very dry and durable, and preventing the encroachments of the worm orTeredo navalis. The worm is one of the greatest enemies in India to timberinthe water, as the white ant (termites) is out of it. On the outside of the sheathing board there is a coat of whitewash, made from the same materials as that between the sheathing and planks, and renewed every season they put to sea. They have generally one mast and a lateen sail. The yard is the length of the vessel aloft, and the mast rakes forward, for the purpose of keeping this ponderous weight clear in raising and lowering. The tack of the sail is brought to the stem-head, and sheets aft in the usual way. The halyards lead to the taffrail, having a pendant and treble purchase block, which becomes the backstay, to support the mast when the sail is set. This, with three pairs of shrouds, completes the rigging, the whole made ofcoirrope. Several of these vessels were fitted as brigs, after their arrival in Arabia, and armed by the Arabs for cruising in the Red Sea and Arabian Gulf, as piratical vessels. It was of this class of vessel that Tippoo Sultan's navy at Onore consisted. The large dhows generally make one voyage in the season, to the southward of Arabia; taking advantage of the north-east monsoon to come down, and the south-west to return with an exchange cargo. The Arabs who man them are a powerful well-grown people, and very acute and intelligent in trade. They usually navigate their ships to Bengal in perfect safety, and with great skill. This was well known to Captain Collier and his officers of theLiverpoolfrigate, when they had the trial cruise with the Imam of Muscat's fine frigate in 1820.
DIACLE. An old term for a boat-compass.
DIAGONAL BRACES, knees, planks, &c., are such as cross a vessel's timbers obliquely. (SeeDiagonal Trussing.)
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. (SeeRibbands.)
DIAGONALS. A line cutting the body-plan diagonally from the timbers to the middle line. Diagonals are the several lines on the draughts, delineating the station of the harpings and ribs, to form the body by.
DIAGONAL TRUSSING. A particular method of binding and strengtheninga vessel internally by a series of riders and truss-pieces placed diagonally.
DIAMETER. In geometry, a right line passing through the centre of any circular figure from one point of its circumference to another.
DIAMETER,Apparent. The angle which the diameter of a heavenly body subtends at any time, varying inversely with its distance. The true is the real diameter, commonly expressed in miles.
DIAMOND-CUT.SeeRhombus.
DIAMOND-KNOT. An ornamental knot worked with the strands of a rope, sometimes used for bucket-strops, on the foot-ropes of jib-booms, man-ropes, &c.
DIBBS. A galley term for ready money. Also, a small pool of water.
DICE.SeeDyce.
DICHOTOMIZED. A term applied to the moon, when her longitude differs 90° from that of the sun, in which position only half her disc is illuminated.
DICKADEE. A northern name for the sand-piper.
DICK-A-DILVER. A name for the periwinkle on our eastern coasts.
DICKER-WORK. The timbering of tide-harbours in the Channel. Wattling between piles.
DICKEY. An officer acting in commission.—It's all dickey with him.It's all up with him.
DIDDLE,To. To deceive.
DIEGO. A very strong and heavy sword.
DIE ON THE FIN,To. An expression applied to whales, which when dying rise to the surface, after the final dive, with one side uppermost.
DIET. The regulated food for patients in sick-bays and hospitals.
DIFFERENCE. An important army term, meaning firstly the sum to be paid by officers when exchanging from the half to full pay; and, secondly, the price or difference in value of the several commissions.
DIFFERENCE OF LATITUDE. The distance between any two places on the same meridian, or the difference between the parallels of latitude of any two places expressed in miles of the equator.
DIFFERENCE OF LONGITUDE. The difference of any place from another eastward or westward, counted in degrees of the equator: that is, the difference between two places is an arc of the equator contained between their meridians, but measured in space on the parallel. Thus the difference of a degree of longitude in miles of the meridian would be—