1.The Admirals of the Fleetrank withField-marshals.2.Admirals"Generals.3.Vice-admirals"Lieutenant-generals.4.Rear-admirals"Major-generals.5.6.}Captains of the FleetCommodores"Brigadier-generals.7.Captains of 3 years"Colonels.8.Captains under 3 years"Lieutenant-colonels.9.Commandersnext toDo.10.Lieutenants, 8 yearsrank withMajors.11.Lieutenants, under 8 years"Captains.12.Sub-lieutenants"Lieutenants.13.Midshipmen"Ensigns.
Also, the order or straight line made by men drawn up side by side.
RANK AND FILE. This word includes corporals as well as privates, all below sergeants. (SeeFile.)
RANSACK,To. To pillage; but to ransack the hold is merely to overhaul its contents.
RANSOM. Money paid for the liberty of a war-prisoner, a city, or for the restoration of a captured vessel: formerly much practised at sea. It then fell into disuse, but was revived for a time in the seventeenth century. At length the greater maritime powers prohibited the offering or accepting such ransoms. By English law, all such securities shall be absolutely void; and he who enters into any such contract shall forfeit £500 on conviction. A privateer taking ransom forfeits her letters of marque, and her commander is punishable with a heavy penalty and imprisonment.
RAPER. An old term for a rope-maker.
RAP-FULL. Applies to a ship on a wind, when "keep her rap-full!" means, do not come too close to the wind, or lift a wrinkle of the sail.
RAPID. A slope, down which water runs with more than ordinary rapidity, but not enough to be called a "fall;" and sometimes navigable by boats.
RAPPAREE. A smuggler, or one who lives on forced hospitality.
RASE. An archaism for a channel of the sea, and not a mispronunciation ofrace(which see).
RASEE. A line-of-battle ship with her upper works taken off, or reduced a deck, to lighten her; some of the old contract-built ships of the line, yclept "Forty Thieves," were thus converted into heavy frigates, as theDuncan,America,Warspite, &c.
RASH. A disease which attacks trees that have ceased to grow.
RASING. Marking timber by therasing-knife, which has a peculiar blade hooked at its point, as well as a centre-pin to describe circles.
RASING-IRON. A tool for clearing the pitch and oakum out of the seams, previous to their being caulked afresh.
RAT. A term for one who changes his party for interest: from rats deserting vessels about to sink. These mischievous vermin are said to have increased after the economical expulsion of cats from our dockyards. Thus, in the petition from the ships-in-ordinary, to be allowed to go to sea, even to carry passengers, we read:—
"Tho' it was hemigrants or sodgers—Anything afore them rats,Which now they is our only lodgers;For well they knows, the artful dodgers,The Board won't stand th' expense of cats."
Injury done by rats is not included in a policy of insurance. Also, a rapid stream or race, derived from sharp rocks beneath, which injure the cable.
RATCHER. An old term for a rock.
RATCHET. A saw-toothed wheel in machinery, as the winch, windlass, &c., in which the paul catches.
RATE. A tariff or customs roll. Also, the six orders into which the ships of war were divided in the navy, according to their force and magnitude.Thus thefirst ratecomprehended all ships of 110 guns and upwards, having 42-pounders on the lower deck, diminishing to 6-pounders on the quarter-deck and forecastle. They were manned with 850 to 875 men, including officers, seamen, marines, servants, &c.—Second rate.Ships carrying from 90 to 100 guns.—Third rate.Ships from 80 to 84 guns.—Fourth rate.Ships from 60 to 74 guns; these were comprehended under the general names of frigates, and never appeared in the line of battle.—Fifth rate.Mounting from 32 to 40, or even 60 guns.—AndSixth rate. Mounting from any number, or no guns, if commanded by captains; those commanded by commanders were deemed sloops. Since the late introduction of massive iron, a captain may command but one gun.
RATE A CHRONOMETER,To. To determine its daily gaining or losing rate on mean time.
RATED SHIP. Synonymous withpost-shipin former times; the termshipalone now infers that it is a captain's command, whilstsloopmeans a commander's.
RATH. A Gaelic term in use forraft—a timber raft; it is also an ancient earthen fort.
RATING. The station a person holds on the ship's books.
RATION. Each man's daily allowance of provisions; including, in the army, fuel and forage to man and horse.
RATIONAL HORIZON.SeeHorizon.
RATLINES,or Ratlings. Small lines which traverse the shrouds of a ship (at distances of 15 or 16 inches) horizontally from the deck upwards, and are made firm by jamming clove-hitches; they form a series of steps, like the rounds of a ladder.
RAT'S-TAIL. The tapering end of a rope. Also, the round tapered file for enlarging holes in metal.
RATTAN [Malay,rotan]. One of the genusCalamus, used for wicker-work, seats of chairs, &c. In the eastern seas they constitute the chief cables, even to 42 inches circumference, infinitely stronger than hemp, light, and not easily chafed by rocks; very useful also to seamen for brooms, hoops, hanks for sails, &c.
RATTLE DOWN RIGGING,To; or, To Rattle the Shrouds. To fix the ratlines in a line parallel to the vessel's set on the water.
RAUN. An old Manx term for a seal. In the north it implies the roe of salmon, used as a bait.
RAUNER. A northern term for the female salmon, as having the raun or roe.
RAVE-HOOK. In ship carpentry, a hooked iron tool used when enlarging the butts for receiving a sufficient quantity of oakum.
RAVELIN. In fortification, an outwork consisting of two long faces meeting in a salient angle, covering the curtain, and, generally, the shoulders of the bastions; it affords a powerful defence to the ground in front of the latter, which may rarely be approached till after the fall of the ravelin.
RAVINE. A deep chasm through which the rains are carried off elevated lands.
RAY. A line of sight. Also, a flat rhomboidal fish with a rough skin; genus,Raia.
RAZE,To. To level or demolish (applicable to works or buildings).
RAZED. Fortifications are said to be razed when totally demolished.
RAZOR-BACK. The fin-whale (Balænoptera), so called from its prominent dorsal fin. It usually attains the length of 70 feet.
RAZOR-BILL. A sea-fowl allied to the auks,Alca torda.
REACH,or Ratch. A straight part of a navigable river; the distance between any two elbows on the banks, wherein the current flows in uninterrupted course.
REACHING. Sometimes used for standing off and on: a vessel is also said to be on a reach, when she is sailing by the wind upon any tack. A vessel alsoreachesahead of her adversary.
READY ABOUT!or Ready Oh!The order to prepare for tacking, each man to his station. (SeeAbout.)
READY WITH THE LEAD! A caution when the vessel is luffed up to deaden her way, followed by "heave."
REAL. A silver coin of Spain, value 5d.sterling. One-eighth of a dollar.
REALILLO. A small Spanish silver coin, value half a real.
REAMor Reem Out, To. To enlarge the bore of a cannon with a special tool, so that it may take a larger projectile.
REAMING. Fishing vessels shifting their quarters while fishing. This word is often used forreeming(which see).
REAR. An epithet for anything situated behind another, as the hindmost portion of a fleet or army. (SeeDivision.) Torearan object in view, is toriseor approach it.
REAR-ADMIRAL. The officer in command of the third division of a fleet, whose flag is at the mizen.
REAR-GUARD. That part of the army which brings up and protects the rear.
REARING. The upper-works tumbling home, or being wall-sided.
REAR-RANK. The last rank of a body of men drawn up in simple line.
REAR-SHIP. The sternmost ship of a fleet.
RE-ASSEMBLE. To gather together a fleet, or convoy, after having been scattered.
REASTY. Rancid or rusty pork or butter, &c.
REAVEL,or Raffle. To entangle; to knot confusedly together.
REBALLING. The catching of eels with earth-worms attached to a ball of lead suspended by a string from a pole.
REBATE.SeeDiscount.
REBATES. The grooves formed on each side of the keel, stem, or stern-post, to receive the planks. (SeeRabbet.)
REBELS. Revolters and mutineers; in admiralty law the same as enemies.
RECEIVERSof Droits of Admiralty. Now termedreceivers of wreck(which see).
RECEIVERS OF WRECK. Persons specially charged with wrecked property for the benefit of the shipping interests.
RECEIVING-SHIP. At any port, to receive supernumerary seamen, or entered or impressed men for the royal navy.
RECIPROCATE. The alternate motion balancing a steam-engine.
RECIPROCITY. The enlarging or contracting particular admiralty statutes, to meet the usages of foreign powers.
RECKONING,Ship's. The ship's position resulting from the courses steered, and distances run by log, brought up from the last astronomical observations. If unaccompanied by corrections for longitude by chronometer, and for latitude, it is termed only the dead-reckoning.
RECOIL. The running in of a gun when discharged, which backward motion is caused by the force of the fire.
RECONNAISSANCE. A word adopted from the French, as meaning a military or nautical examination of a place.
RECONNOITRING. Sailing within gun-shot of an enemy's port to ascertain his strength and capabilities for offence and defence. Also, a rapid examination of coasts and countries, for correcting the defects of many previous maps and charts.
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 for determining the variation of the compass, in order to rectify the ship's course, &c. It consists of two circles, either laid upon or let into one another, and so fastened together in their centres that they represent two compasses, the one fixed, the other movable; each is divided into 32 points of the compass, and 360°, and numbered both ways from the north and the south, ending at the east and west in 90°. The fixed compass represents the horizon, in which the north and all the other points are liable to variation.
REDAN. The simplest form of regular fortification, consisting of two faces meeting in a salient angle; generally applied in connection with other works.
REDD. The spawn of fish. Also, the burrow scooped out by salmon in which to deposit their ova.
REDD-FISH. A northern general term for fishes in the spawning state, but particularly applied to salmon.
REDEMPTIONER. One who purchases his release from obligation to the master of a ship, by his services; or one whose services are sold to pay the expenses of his passage to America or elsewhere.
REDHIBITION. An action to annul or set aside a contract of sale.
RED-HOT BALLS. Shot made red-hot in a furnace, and in that state discharged at the enemy. The loading is managed with wet wads.
REDOUBT. An inclosed work, differing from a fort, in that its parts do not flank one another.
RED PINE.Pinus rubra, the red spruce; the timber of which is preferred throughout the United States for yards, and imported for that purpose into Liverpool from Nova Scotia.
REDUCE,To. To degrade to a lower rank; or to shorten the allowance of water or provisions.
REDUCE A CHARGE,To. To diminish the contents of a cartridge, sometimes requisite during heavy firing.
REDUCE A PLACE,To. To compel its commander to surrender, or vacate it by capitulation.
REDUCTIONof Celestial Observations. The process of calculation, by which observations are rendered subservient to utility.
REEF. A certain portion of a sail comprehended between the head of a sail and any of the reef-bands. The intention of each reef is to reduce the sail in proportion to the increase of the wind; there are also reefs parallel to the foot or bottom of large sails, extended upon booms.—Close-reefedis when all the reefs of the top-sails are taken in.—Reefis also a group or continuous chain of rocks, sufficiently near the surface of the water to occasion its breaking over them. (SeeFringing ReefsandBarrier Reefs.)
REEF-BAND. A narrow band of canvas sewed on the reef-line to support the strain of the reef-points. It is pierced with eyelet-holes, through which the points are passed each way with a running eye.
REEF-CRINGLES.SeeCringle.
REEF-EARINGS.SeeEarings.
REEFED TOP-MAST. When a top-mast is sprung in or near the cap, the lower piece is cut off, and a new fid-hole cut, by which the mast is reefed or shortened.
REEFERS. A familiar term for midshipmen, because they have to attend in the tops during the operation of taking in reefs.
REEF-KNOT. Is one in which the ends fall always in a line with the outer parts; in fact, two loops, easy to untie, never jamming. That with the second tie across, is termed a granny's knot.
REEF-LINE. Casual aids in bad weather to help the men at the earings. When the vessel was going free, and the sail could not be "spilled," the men were, if blowing hard, often aided by passing the studding-sail halyards loosely round the sail, clewed up spirally from yard-arm to bunt.
REEF-PENDANT. A rope going through a cringle in the after-leech of a boom main-sail, and through a check sheave-hole in the boom, with a tackle attached to its end to bowse the after-leech down to the boom by which the sail is held reefed. On the lower yards it is a pendant for a similar purpose as the reef-tackle.
REEF-POINTS. Small flat pieces of plaited cordage or soft rope, tapering from the middle towards each end, whose length is nearly double the circumference of the yard, and used for the purpose of tying up the sailin the act of reefing; they are made fast by their eyes on each side of the eyelet-holes.
REEF-TACKLES, are indeed pendants and tackles. The pendant is rove through the sister-block, then a sheave in the yard-arm, and secured to a strong cringle beneath the close reef, sometimes through a block, and the end secured to the yard-arm. Within the sister-block it becomes a gun-tackle purchase, with the fall leading on deck. The reef-tackles are hauled out, and the other aids complete, before the men are sent aloft.
REEF-TACKLE SPAN. Two cringles in the bolt-rope, about a couple of feet apart, when a block is used.
REELS. Well-known wheels moving round an axis, and serving to wind various lines upon, as the log-reel for the log-line, deep-sea reel (which contains the deep-sea line, amounting to 150 or 200 fathoms), spun-yarn reel, &c. "She went 10 knots off the reel"—i.e.by the log-line.
REEMING. A term used by caulkers for opening the seams of the plank with reeming-irons, that the oakum may be more readily admitted. This may be a corruption ofrimer, for opening circular holes in metal.
REEMING-BEETLE. A caulker's largest mallet.
REEMING-IRON. The larger iron used by caulkers in opening the seams.
RE-ENTERING ANGLE. In fortification, is an angle whose vertex points inward, or towards the place.
REEVE,To. To pass the end of a rope through any cavity or aperture, as the channel of a block; tounreeveis the opposite.
REEVING. In polar voyaging, following up serpentine channels in the ice, till the vessel reaches open water, orreeves the pack.
REFITTING. Repairing any damages which a ship may have sustained.
REFLECTING CIRCLE. An instrument used instead of a sextant, quintant, or quadrant; but the quintant embraces as much—viz. 152 degrees. The instrument reflects a celestial or any distant object so as to bring the image into contact with any object seen direct, by which their angular distance is measured, as in lunar distances.
REFLECTION,Angle of. Whether the instance be a ray of light or a cannon-ball, the angle of reflection will always be found equal to the angle of incidence.
REFLUX. The ebbing of the tide, or reflow of the waters, which have been pressed back.
REFORMADES. The sons of the nobility and gentry who served in the navy under letters from Charles II., and were allowed table-money and other encouragements to raise the character of the service.
REFRACTING TELESCOPE. That through which objects are seen directly through its double object-glass.
REFRACTION. An inflection of the rays of light: that property of the atmosphere which bends the rays of light in their passage to the eye from a different density, and causes the altitude of heavenly bodies to appear greater than it really is, especially near the horizon. (SeeTerrestrial Refraction.)
REFUSAL OF A PILE. Its stoppage or obstruction, when it cannot be driven further in.
REGAL FISHES. In statute law, these are whales and sturgeons.
REGARDERS. Inspectors of the felling of timber.
REGATTA. A rowing-match formerly peculiar to the republic of Venice; but now the term is applied to yacht and boat races in general.
REGIMENT. A body of men commanded by a colonel, complete in its own organization, and divided into companies of infantry or troops of cavalry.
REGIMENTAL ORDERS. Such as the commanding officer may deem it necessary to issue for the discipline of the regiment.
REGIMENTALS. The regulation dress for the individuals of a regiment.
REGIMENTAL STAFF-OFFICERS. The surgeon, adjutant, paymaster, assistant-surgeon, and quarter-master of each regiment.
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 congelation, &c.
REGISTER. A purchaser has no title to a ship, either at law or in equity, unless he be mentioned in the register. If a vessel, not duly registered, exercise any of the privileges of a British ship, she is liable to forfeiture.
REGISTER ANEW. When any registered ship is so altered as not to correspond with the "particulars" relating to the description in her register-book, either a new certificate of registry, or an official indorsement of the old one, is necessary.
REGISTER OF VICE-ADMIRALTY COURT. Not responsible for money transmitted under proper precautions, and in the usual course of business, but afterwards lost by the failure of the consignee.
REGISTER SHIP. A Spanish plate-ship or galleon.
REGISTRY OF SEAMEN. A record of merchant seamen kept by the registrar-general of seamen.
REGNI POPULI. An old law-term given to the people of Surrey and Sussex, and on the sea-coasts of Hampshire.
REGULATOR. A name for the governor of a steam-engine. Also, a valve-cock. Theregulatorof a clock is the shortening or lengthening pendulum or escapement.
REGULUS. α Leonis; the principal star in the old constellation Leo.
REIGNING WINDS. The prevalent winds on any particular coast or region. (SeeWind.)
REIN. A crack or vein in a musket-barrel.
REINFORCE,To. To strengthen a fleet, squadron, army, or detachment, by additional means and munitions.
REINFORCE. In artillery, that increase, beyond its general conical outline, of the metal towards the breech, which was marked on old pattern guns by rings. They are generally in cast guns omitted now, though the principle of the reinforce remains, yet less defined in nature and number, in the recent wrought and built-up guns.
RE-INSURANCE. To insure the same property a second time by other underwriters. If an underwriter find that he has incautiously bound himself to a greater amount than he can discharge, he may shift it, or part of it, from himself to others, by a re-insurance policy made on the same risk.
REIS. Small coins of Portugal, of which 4800 go to the moidore.
RELIEF. The change of watches. Also, the person relieving a particular station. Also, a fresh detachment of troops, ordered to replace those already on duty. In fortification, the total height of the crest of the parapet above the bottom of the ditch.
RELIEVE,To. To put fresh men or ships upon a stipulated duty.
RELIEVING TACKLES. Those which are occasionally hooked to the tiller, in order to steer by in bad weather or in action, when any accident has happened to the wheel or tiller-rope.
REMA,or Reume. The tide.
REMAIN. The quantity of stores left on charge for survey, after a voyage.
REMARK-BOOK. This contains hydrographical observations of every port visited, and is sent annually to the admiralty, together with any charts, plans, or views which have been taken. Often a very dull miscellany, though kept by intelligent masters.
REMBERGE. A long narrow rowing vessel of war, formerly used by the English. Its name is derived fromremoandbarca, and it seems to have been the precursor of the Deal luggers.
REMBLAI. The mass of earth requisite for the construction of the rampart. An embankment.
REMORA. Thesucker-fish. It has a long oval plate on the top of the head, by which, having exhausted the air in it, it clings to a ship's bottom, to the sides of a shark, or to turtle.
REMOVAL FROM THE LIST. Dismission, or dropping an officer out of the service.
RENDERING. The act of yielding to any force applied. For instance, the rope of a laniard or tackle is said to render when, by pulling upon one part, each other part takes its share of the strain. Any rope, hawser, or cable is "rendered" by easing it round the bitts, particularly in riding with a strain to freshen the nip.
RENDEZVOUS. The port or place of destination where the several ships of a fleet are appointed to join company.
REPEATING FIRE-ARM. One by which a number of charges, previously inserted, may be fired off in rapid succession, or after various pauses. The principle is very old, but the effective working of it is new.
REPEAT SIGNALS,To. Is to make the same signal exhibited by the admiral, in order to its being more readily distinguished at a distance, or through smoke, &c. Frigates and small vessels out of the line were deemed repeating ships, and enforced signals by guns. Therepeatfrom a superior intended to convey rebuke for inattention, is usually accompanied by one gun, or several.
REPLENISH,To. To obtain supplies of water and provisions up to the original amount.
REPORT OF GUARD. The document rendered in by the guard-boat, of every vessel boarded during her hours of duty, with their arrivals, sailings, and other occurrences.
REPORT OF SURVEY. The opinion of surveys officially signed by surveying officers.
REPORT ONE'S SELF,To. When an officer returns on board from duty, or from leave of absence.
REPRESENTATION. A collateral statement of such facts not inserted on the policy of insurance, as may give the underwriters a just estimate of the risk of the adventure. (SeeWarranty.)
REPRIMAND. A formal reproof for error or misconduct, conveyed sometimes publicly, sometimes confidentially, sometimes by sentence of court-martial, or on the judgment, mature or otherwise, of a superior.
REPRISAL. The taking one thing in satisfaction for another, as the seizing of ships and goods for injury inflicted; a right exerted, though no actual war be commenced. It is authorized by the law of nations if justice has been solemnly called for and denied. The word is synonymous withmarquein our admiralty courts.
REPRISE,or Reprisal. Is the retaking a vessel from the enemy before she has arrived in any neutral or hostile port. If a vessel thus retaken has been 24 hours in the possession of an enemy, she is deemed a lawful recapture; but if within that time, she is merelydetenu, and must be wholly restored to the owner. An amount of salvage is sometimes awarded to the re-captors. Also, if a vessel has from any cause been abandoned by the enemy, before he has taken her into any port, she is to be restored to the original proprietor. (SeeSalvage.)
REQUISITION. An official demand for stores, &c.
RESCUE. Any vessel recovered by the insurrection of prisoners on board of her, or by her being forced by stress of weather into our ports, she is restored onsalvage. There is no rule prescribed by the law of England in the case of foreign property rescued; with British subjects the court usually adopts the proportion of recapture. In respect to foreigners the only guide is that of "quantum meruit."
RESERVE. A portion drawn out from the main body, and stationed in the rear for a special object.
RE-SHIP. To ship again, or ship goods that have been imported or conveyed by water.
RESIDENT. A British subject residing in an enemy's country may trade generally with the natives, but not in contraband.
RESISTING MEDIUM. An assumed thin ethereal fluid, which, from the retardation of Encke's comet, may be supposed to pervade the planetary space—perhaps thespiritus subtilissimusof Newton—in virtue of which periodical comets seem to have their velocity diminished, and their orbits contracted at every revolution.
RESOLVE,To. To reduce a traverse, or day's work, to its exact limits.
RESOURCE. Expedient. A good seaman is ever a man of resources.
RESPONDENTIA. A loan made upon goods laden in a ship, for which the borrower is personally responsible; differing therein from bottomry, where the ship and tackle are liable. In bottomry the lender runs no risk, though the goods should be lost; and upon respondentia the lender must be paid his principal and interest, though the ship perish, provided the goods be safe.
RESPONSIBILITY. Often a wholesome restraint; but the bugbear of an inefficient officer.
REST. A pole with an iron fork at the top for the support of the old heavy musket.
RET,To. To soak in water, as in seasoning timber, hemp, &c.
RETINUE. Applied strictly to the admiral's suite or followers, though it means an accompanying train in general.
RETIRE. The old war-term for retreat. Thus Shakspeare makes Richard Plantagenet exclaim—
"Ne'er may he live to see a sunshine day,That cries Retire, if Warwick bid him stay."
RETIRED LIST. A roll whereon deserving officers are placed whose health, age, or want of interest justifies their retirement from active service.
RETIRED PAY. A graduated pension for retired officers; but the term is nearly synonymous withhalf pay.
RETRACTUS AQUÆ. An old law-term for the ebb or return of tide.
RETREAT. The order in which a fleet or squadron declines engagement. Or the retrograde movement of any body of men who retire from a hostile force. Also, that beat of drum about sunset which orders the guards and piquets to take up their night duties.
RETRENCHMENT. A defence with a ditch and breast-work behind another post or defence, whereby the besieger, on forcing the original work, is confronted by a fresh one.
RETROGRADATION. An apparent motion of the planets contrary to the order of the signs, and to their orbital march. The arc of retrogradation is the angular distance thus apparently traversed. Mars may be watched as an instance.
RETROGRADE MOTION.SeeMotion.
RETURN. A ship on a return voyage is not generally liable; but if she sailed on the outward voyage under false papers, the liability to confiscation continues.
RETURN A SALUTE,To. Admirals are saluted, but return two guns less for each rank that the saluting officer is below the admiral.
RETURNS. All the various reports and statements required by officers in command to be made periodically. (SeeSupplies and Returns.)
REVEILLE. The beat of drum at break of day, when night duties cease.
REVENUE. In cases of revenue proceedings, the law harshly provides that theonus probandiis to be on the claimant, however injured.
REVENUE-CUTTERS. Sharp-built single-masted vessels armed, for the purpose of preventing smuggling, and enforcing the custom-house regulations. They are usually styledrevenue-cruisers.
REVERSE. A change; a vicissitude. Also, the flank at the other extremity from the pivot of a division is termed the reverse flank.
REVETMENT. A sloping wall of brick-work, or any other attainable material, supporting the outer face of the rampart, and lining the side of the ditch.
REVIEW. The inspection of a fleet or army, or of any body of men under arms.
REVOLUTION,Time of. In relation to a planet or comet, this is the time occupied in completing a circuit round the sun, and is synonymous withperiodic time.
RHE. A very old word signifying an overflow of water.
RHILAND-ROD. A Dutch measure of 12 English feet, formerly in use with us: it is more properlyRhine-land rod.
RHODIAN LAWS. A maritime code, asserted, but without sufficient proof, to be the basis of the Roman sea-laws. The code published by Leunclavius and others, as a body of Rhodian laws, is a mere forgery of modern times.
RHODINGS. The brass cleats on which the axles of the pumps work.
RHOMBOID. An oblique parallelogram, having its opposite sides equal and parallel, but its angles not right angles.
RHOMBUS. A lozenge-shaped figure, having four equal sides, but its angles not right angles.
RHUMB,or Rhomb. A vertical circle of any given place, or the intersection of a part of such a circle with the horizon. Rhumbs, therefore, coincide with points of the world, or of the horizon; and hence seamen distinguish the rhumbs by the same names as the points and winds, as marked on the fly or card of the compass. Therhumb-line, therefore, is a line prolonged from any point of the compass in a nautical chart, except the four cardinal points; or it is a line which a ship, keeping in the same collateral point or rhumb, describes throughout its whole course.
RHYDAL [from the Celticrhydle]. A ford or channel joining lakes or broad waters.
RIBADOQUIN. A powerful cross-bow for throwing long darts. Also, an old piece of ordnance throwing a ball of one or two pounds.
RIBBANDS. In naval architecture, long narrow flexible pieces of fir nailed upon the outside of the ribs, from the stem to the stern-post of a ship, so as to encompass the body lengthways, and hold the timbers together while in frame.
RIBBING-NAILS. Similar to deck-nails, but not so fine; they have large round heads with rings, so as to prevent their heads from splitting the timbers, or being drawn through.
RIBBONS. The painted mouldings along a ship's side. Also, the tatters of a sail in blowing away.
RIBS. The frame timbers which rise from the bottom to the top of a ship's hull: the hull being as the body, the keel as the backbone, and the planking as the skin.
RIBS AND TRUCKS. Used figuratively for fragments.
RIBS OF A PARREL. An old species of parrel having alternate ribs and bull's-eyes; the ribs were pieces of wood, each about one foot in length, having two holes in them through which the two parts of the parrel-rope are reeved with a bull's-eye between; the inner smooth edge of the rib rests against, and slides readily up and down, the mast.
RICKERS. Lengths of stout poles cut up for the purpose of stowing flax, hemp, and the like. Spars supplied for boats' masts and yards, boat-hook staves, &c.
RICOCHET. The bound of a shot.Ricochet fire, that whereby, a less charge and a greater elevation being used, the shot or shell is made to just clear a parapet, and bound along the interior of a work.
RIDDLE. A sort of weir in rivers.—To riddle.To fire through and through a vessel, and reduce her to a sieve-like condition.
RIDE,To. To ride at anchor. A vessel rides easily, apeak, athwart, head to wind, out a gale, open hawse, to the tide, to the wind, &c. A rope rides, as when round the capstan or windlass the strain part overlies and jams the preceding turn.—To ride between wind and tide.Said of a ship at anchor when she is acted upon by wind and tide from different directions, and takes up a position which is the result of both forces.
RIDEAU. A rising ground running along a plain, nearly parallel to the works of a place, and therefore prejudicial.
RIDERS. Timbers laid as required, reaching from the keelson to the orlop-beams, to bind a ship and give additional strength. They are variously termed, aslower futtock-ridersandmiddle futtock-riders. When a vessel is weak, or has broken her floors or timbers, riders are introduced to secure the ship, and enable her to reach a port where she can be properly repaired. Stringers are also used, but these run horizontally.—Ridersare also upper tiers of casks, or any stowed above the ground tier in the hold.
RIDING A PORT-LAST. With lower yards on the gunwales.
RIDING-BITTS. Those to which the cable is made fast.
RIDING-DOWN. The act of the men who throw their weight on the head of a sail to stretch it. Also, of the man who comes down a stay, &c., to tar it; or foots the bunt in.
RIDGE. Hydrographically means a long narrow stretch of shingle or rocks, near the surface of the sea, (SeeReefandShallows.) Geographically, the intersection of two opposite slopes, or a range of hills, or the highest line of mountains.
RIDGE-ROPES, are of various kinds. Thus the centre-rope of an awning, and those along the rigging to which it is stretched, the man-ropes to the bowsprit, safety lines from gun to gun in bad weather—all obtain this name.
RIFE. An old provincial term for a salt-water pond.
RIFLED ORDNANCE. That which is provided with spiral grooves in the interior of the bore, to give rotatory motion to the projectile, thereby much increasing its accuracy of flight, and permitting the use of elongated shot and shell.
RIFLE-PIT. Cover hastily thrown up by one or two skirmishers, but contributing, when a line of them is joined together, to form works sometimes of much importance.
RIG. Colloquially, mischievous frolic not carried to excess.
RIG,To. To fit the shrouds, stays, braces, and running-rigging to their respective masts, yards, and sails. Colloquially, it means to dress.—To rig in a boom, is to draw it in.—To rig out a boom, is to run it out from a yard, in order to extend the foot of a sail upon it, as with studding-sail booms, &c.
RIGEL. βOrionis, one of the bright stars in Orion.
RIGGED. Completely equipped.
RIGGERS. Men employed on board ships to fit the standing and running rigging, or to dismantle them. The riggers in the naval yards, who rig ships previous to their being commissioned, are under the master-attendant, and perform all anchor, mooring, and harbour duties also.
RIGGING. A general name given to all the ropes or chains employed to support the masts, and arrange the sails according to the direction of the wind. Those are termed "standing" which are comparative fixtures, and support the masts, &c.; and those "running," which are in constant use, to trim the yards, and make or shorten sail, &c.
RIGGING-LOFT. A long room or gallery in a dockyard, where rigging is fitted by stretching, serving, splicing, seizing, &c., to be in readiness for the ship.
RIGGING-MATS. Those which are seized upon a vessel's standing rigging, to prevent its being chafed.
RIGGING OUT. A term for outfitting. Also, a word used familiarly to express clothing of ship or tar.
RIGGING-STOPPER.SeeStopper of the Cable.
RIGHT. As to direction, fully or directly; thus, right ahead, or right away, &c.
RIGHT ANGLE. An angle formed by a line rising or falling perpendicularly upon another, and measuring 90°, or the quadrant of a circle.
RIGHT-ANGLED TRIANGLE. That which has one right angle.
RIGHT ASCENSION. An arc of the equator between the first point of Aries, and the hour circle which passes through any planet or star; or that point of the equinoctial, which comes to the meridian with any heavenly object, and is therefore similar to terrestrial longitude.
RIGHT ATHWART. Square, or at right angles with the keel.
RIGHT AWAY! It is a habit of seamen answering when a sail is discovered from the mast-head; "Right away on the beam, sir," or "on the bow,"&c.
RIGHT-HAND ROPE. That which is laid up and twisted with the sun, that is to the right hand; the term is opposed towater-laid rope, which is left-handed.
RIGHTING. The act of a ship recovering her upright position after she has been laid upon a careen, which is effected by casting loose the careening tackles, and, if necessary, heaving upon the relieving tackles. A ship is also saidto rightat sea, when she rises with her masts erect, after having been listed over on one side by grounding, or force of wind.
RIGHT THE HELM! The order to put it amidships, that is, in a line with the keel.
RIGHT ON END. In a continuous line; as the masts should be.
RIGHT SAILING. Running a course on one of the four cardinal points, so as to alter only a ship's latitude, or longitude.
RIGHT UP AND DOWN. Said in a dead calm, when the wind is no way at all. Or, in anchor work, when the cable is in that condition, the boatswain calls, "Up and down, sir," whereupon "Thick and dry (nippers) for weighing" are ordered.
RIGHT WAY. When the ship's head casts in the desired direction. Also, when she swings clear at single anchor.
RIGHT WHALE. A name applied to the whale with a very large head and no dorsal fin, which yields the whalebone and train-oil of commerce, in opposition to the fin-backs or rorquals, which are scarcely worth catching. There are several species found both in the Arctic and Southern seas, but never within the tropics.
RIG OF A SHIP. The disposition of the masts, cut of sails, &c., whether square or fore-and-aft rigs. In fact, the rig denotes the character of the vessel.
RIG THE CAPSTAN,To. To fix the bars in the drumhead in readiness for heaving; not forgetting to pin and swift. (SeeCapstan.)
RIG THE GRATINGS. Prepare them for punishment.
RILE. An old corruption ofrail. To ruffle the temper; to vex.
RILL. A very small run of fresh water, less than a rivulet.
RIM,or Brim. A name given to the circular edge of a top. (SeeTop.)
RIM-BASE. The shoulder on the stock of a musket.
RIME. Hoar-frost; condensed vapour.
RIMER. A palisade in fortification; but for its naval application,seeReeming. Also, a tool for enlarging holes in metal plates, &c.
RIMS. Those pieces which form the quarter-galleries between the stools. Also, the cast-iron frame in which the dropping pauls of a capstan traverse, and bring up the capstan.
RING. A commercial measure of staves, or wood prepared for casks, and containing four shocks. Also, the iron ring to which the cable is bent to the anchor in the summit of the shank.
RING-BOLT. An iron bolt with an eye at one end, wherein is fitted a circular ring. They are more particularly used for managing cannon, and are for this purpose fixed on each side of the port-holes. They aredriven through the plank and the corresponding timber, and retained in this position by a clinching ring.
RING-DOGS. Iron implements for hauling timber along: made by connecting two common dogs by a ring through the eyes. When united with cordage they form asling-dog(which see).
RING-ROPES. Ropes rove through the ring of the anchor, to haul the cable through it, in order to bend or make it fast in bad weather; they are first rove through the ring, and then through the hawse-holes, when the end of the cable is secured to them.
RINGS. The annual circular layers in timber. Also, grommets, or circles of metal for lifting things by hand, or securing the points of bolts, &c., as hatch or port rings.
RING-STOPPER. A long piece of rope secured to an after ring-bolt, and the loop embracing the cable through the next, and others in succession nip the cable home to each ring-bolt in succession. It is a precaution in veering cable in bad weather.
RING-TAIL. A kind of studding-sail hoisted beyond the after edge of those sails which are extended by a gaff and a boom over the stern. The two lower corners of this sail are stretched to a boom, called aring-tail boom, which rigs in and out upon the main or driver boom.
RINK. A space of ice devoted to certain recreations, as a skating or a curling rink: generally roofed in from the snow in Canada.
RIONNACK. A name of the horse-mackerel among the Scottish islands.
RIP. A pannier or basket used for carrying fish.—To rip, to strip off a ship's planks.
RIPARIA. A law-term for the water running between the banks of a river.
RIPARY. Inhabiting the sea-shore.
RIPE [from the Latin,ripa]. The banks of a tide-river, and the sea-shore: a term in use on our southern coasts.
RIPPERS,or Ripiers. Men from the sea-shores, who sell fish to the inland towns and villages.
RIPPING-IRON. A caulker's tool for tearing oakum out of a seam, or stripping copper or sheathing from a ship's bottom. (SeeReeming.)
RIPPLE. The small waves raised on the surface of the water by the passage of a slight breeze, or current, caused by foul bottom.
RIPPLE-MARKS. The ripply appearance left at low water on the flat part of a sandy beach.
RIPPS.SeeTide-rip. Also, strange overfalls, the waves of which, even in calm weather, will throw their crests over the bulwarks.
RISBERM. Fascines placed to oppose the violence of the surf.
RISING-FLOORS. The floor-timbers, which rise gradually from the plane of the midship floor, so as to sharpen the form of a vessel towards the bow and stern.
RISINGS OF BOATS. A narrow strake of board fastened withinside to support the thwarts.
RISING-SQUARE. In ship-carpentry, a square used in the whole moulding, upon which is marked the height of the rising line above the keel.
RISK A RUN,To. To take chance without convoy.
RISKS. The casualties against which insurances are made on ships and cargoes.
RITTOCH. An Orkney name for the tern,Sterna hirundo.
RIVAGE. An old term, from the French, for a coast or shore of the sea, or a river.
RIVAGIUM. A law-term for a duty paid to the sovereign on some rivers for the passage of boats or vessels.
RIVAILE. An Anglo-Norman term for a harbour.
RIVE. The sea-shore. Also, as a verb, to split wood.
RIVER-BOATS. Wherries, and the like, which ply in harbours and rivers for the conveyance of passengers.
RIVER-HARBOUR. That which is situated in the channel of a river, especially such as are at the embouchure with a bar in front.
RIVER-LAKES. Large pools of water occupying a portion of the valleys or hollows through which the courses of rivers lie.
RIVER-RISK. A policy of insurance from the docks to the sea, at any port.
RIVET. The roe of a fish. Also, a hinge-pin, or any piece of riveted work. The soft iron pin by which the ends of a cask hoop, or the plates of a boiler, &c., are secured by clinching.
RIVIERA. An Italian term for a coast, as theRiviera di Genoa.
RIX-DOLLAR. A silver coin common in northern Europe, of the average value of 4s.6d.
ROACH. The hollow curvature of the lower parts of upper square-sails, to clear the stays when the yards are braced up.
ROAD,or Roadstead. An off-shore well-known anchorage, where ships may await orders, as St. Helen's at Portsmouth, Cowes, Leith, Basque Roads, Saugor, and others, where a well-found vessel may ride out a gale.
ROADSTER,or Roader. Applied chiefly to those vessels which work by tides, and seek some known road to await turn of tide or change of wind. If a vessel under sail strike against any roader and damage her, the former is obliged by law to make good the damages.
ROAST-BEEF DRESS. Full uniform; probably from its resemblance to that of the royal beef-eaters.
ROAST BEEF OF OLD ENGLAND. A popular air, by which officers are summoned to the dinner-table.
ROBANDS,or Robbens. (SeeRope-bands.)
ROBINET. An ancient military machine for throwing darts and stones; now the name of some useful cocks in the steam-engine, as for gauge, brine, trial, and steam-regulator.
ROCK. An extensive geological term, but limited in hydrographical parlance to hard and solid masses of the earth's surface; when these rise in insulated masses nearly to the surface of the sea, they render navigationespecially dangerous.—Half-tide rock.A rock which appears above water at half-ebb.
ROCK-COD. A species of cod found on a rocky bottom.
ROCKET. The well-known pyrotechnical preparation, but modified to suit various purposes. A cylindrical case charged with a fiercely burning composition, the gases of which, rushing out from the after-end against the resisting atmosphere, propel the whole forward at a rate continually increasing, until the composition be expended. It is generally kept in balance by a long light stick or tail attached. The case is made of metal or paper, and variously headed to the amount of 32 lbs. if its purpose be war (seeCongreve-rocket); life-saving (by conveying a line over a stranded vessel); even the killing of whales, when reduced to 1, 2, or 3 lbs.; or, lastly, signals, for which it is fired straight upwards.
ROCKET-BOAT. Flat-bottomed boats, fitted with rocket-frames to fire Congreve rockets from, in naval bombardment.
ROCKET-BRIGADE. A body of horse-artillery assigned to rocket service.
ROCKET-FRAME. The stand from which Congreve rockets are fired.
ROCK-HIND. A large fish of tropical regions,Serranus catus.
ROCK-SCORPION. A name applied to persons born at Gibraltar.
ROD. The connecting and coupling bars of the steam-engine. (SeeSounding-rod.)
RODD. A sort of cross-bow formerly in use in our navy.
RODDEN-FLEUK. A northern name for the turbot.
RODDING TIME. The season for fish-spawning.
RODE OF ALL. Improperly so written forrowed of all(which see). The order to throw in and boat the oars.
RODGERS' ANCHOR. The excellent small-palmed, very strong and good-holding anchor. It is the result of many years' study and experiment by Lieutenant Rodgers, R.N.
RODMAN GUN. One cast on the excellent method of Captain Rodman, formerly of the United States Ordnance—viz. on a core artificially kept cool; whereby the outer metal, cooling last, shrinks on to and compresses the inner, instead of drawing outwards and weakening it, as it must do when cooled first in a solid casting.
ROGER. The black flag hoisted by pirates. (SeeJolly Roger.)
ROGER'S BLAST. A provincialism denoting a sudden and local motion of the air, resembling a miniature whirlwind.
ROGUE'S MARCH. The tune appropriated to drumming a bad character out of a ship or out of a regiment.
ROGUE'S YARN. A yarn twisted the contrary way to the rest of a rope, for detecting theft or embezzlement. Being tarred if in a white rope, but white in a tarred rope, it is easily discovered. It is placed in the middle of each strand in all the cordage made for the royal navy. Lately the rogue's yarn has been superseded by a thread of worsted: a different coloured worsted being used in each dockyard, so that any defective rope may be traced to the place where it was made.
ROLE D'EQUIPAGE. An important document in admiralty law. (SeeMuster-roll.)
ROLL. A uniform beat of the drum, without variation, for a considerable time. The divisions are summoned by roll of drum, one roll for each. (SeeMuster-roll.)
ROLLER. A mighty oceanic swell said to precurse the northers of the Atlantic, and felt in great violence at Tristan d'Acunha, where H.M.S.Lilyfoundered with all hands in consequence, and several vessels at St. Helena have been driven from their anchors and wrecked. These waves roll in from the north, and do not break till they reach soundings, when they evince terrific power, rising from 5 to 15 feet above the usual level of the waters. A connection with volcanoes has been suggested as a cause.
ROLLERS. Cylindrical pieces of timber, fixed either horizontally or vertically in different parts of a ship above the deck, so as to revolve on an axis, and prevent the cables, hawsers, and running rigging from being chafed, by lessening their friction. The same asfriction-roller. Also, movable pieces of wood of the same figure, which are occasionally placed under boats, pieces of heavy timber, &c.
ROLLING. That oscillatory motion by which the waves rock a ship from side to side. The larger part of this disturbance is owing to the depth of the centre of gravity below the centre of figure, the former exercising a violent reaction when disturbed from its rest by passing seas; therefore it is diminished by raising the weights, and must by no means be confounded with heeling.
ROLLING-CHOCK,or Jaw-piece. Similar to that of a gaff, fastened to the middle of an upper yard, to steady it.
ROLLING-CLEAT. Synonymous withrolling-chock.
ROLLING DOWN TO ST. HELENA. Running with a flowing sheet by the trade-wind.
ROLLING-HITCH. Pass the end of a rope round a spar or rope; take it round a second time, riding the standing part; then carry it across, and up through the bight.
ROLLING-SWELL. That heaving of the sea where the waves are very distant, forming deep troughs between.
ROLLING-TACKLES. Used to prevent the yards from swaying to and fro under heavy rolling motion.
ROLLSTER,or Roster. A rotation list of officers.
ROLL UP A SAIL,To. To hand it quickly.
ROMAN CEMENT. A cement which hardens under water; used for piers, docks, &c., as pozzolana, Aberthaw limestone, &c.
ROMBOWLINE,or Rumbowline. Condemned canvas, rope, and the like. Also the coarse rope used to secure new coils.
RONDEL. An old term for a light, round shield.
RONE. A northern term for the roe of a fish.
RONNAL. A northern term for a female fish, as kipper is for the male.
ROOBLE. A Russian coin. (SeeRuble.)
ROOD-GOOSE. A name for the brent-goose.
ROOF-TREE.SeeRough-tree.
ROOKE,or Rouke. A mist, dampness, or fog.
ROOM. A name given to some reserved apartment in a ship, as—The bread-room.In the aftermost part of the hold: properly lined to receive the bread, and keep it dry.—The cook-room.(SeeGalley.)—The gun-room.On the after gun-deck of ships of the line, or steerage of frigates; devoted to the gun-room officers.—Light-room.Attached to the magazine.—Sail-rooms, devoted to the sails, are on the orlop deck, and are inclosed for the reception of the spare sails.—Slop-room.Devoted to slop-clothing.—Spirit-room.A secure space in the after-part of a ship's hold, for the stores of wine, brandy, &c.—Steward's-room.The office devoted to the purser's steward of former times, now paymaster's steward, whence he issues most of the light provisions to the ship's company.—Ward-room.A room over the gun-room in ships of the line, where the lieutenants and other principal officers sleep and mess. The termsea-roomis applied when a ship obtains a good offing, is clear of the coast dangers, and is free to stand on a long course without nearing danger.
ROOM,Roomer, or Going room. The old term for going large, or from, the wind. (SeeLaskandLarge.) It is mentioned by Bourne in 1578.
ROOMING. An old word to signify running to leeward.—To go room.To bear down.
ROOST. A phrase applied to races of strong and furious tides, which set in between the Orkney and Shetland Islands, as those of Sumburgh and the Start.
ROPE. Is composed of hemp, hide, wire, or other stuff, spun into yarns and strands, which twisted together forms the desired cordage. The word is very old, being the actual representative of the Anglo-Saxonráp.—To rope a sail.To sew the bolt-rope round its edges, to strengthen it and prevent it from rending.
ROPE-BANDS. Small plaited lines rove through the eyelet holes with a running eye, by which the head of a sail, after the earings are secured, is brought to the yard or jack-stay.
ROPE-HOUSE. A long building in a dockyard, where ropes are made.
ROPE-LADDER. Such as hangs over the stern, to enable men to go into boats, &c.
ROPE-MAKER. A first-class petty officer in the navy.
ROPE OF SAND. A term borrowed from a Greek proverb signifying attempting impossibilities; without cohesion. Said of people who ought, but will not combine to effect a necessary object.
ROPES. A general name given to all the cordage above one inch in circumference used in rigging a ship; but the name is severally applied to theawning,bell,boat,bolt,breast,bucket,buoy,davit,entering,grapnel,guest or guist,guy,heel,keel,man,parral,passing,ring,rudder,slip,swab,tiller,top, andyard: all which see under their respective heads. Ropes are of several descriptions, viz.:—Cable-laid, consists of threestrands of already formed hawser-laid or twisted left-hand, laid up into one opposite making nine strands.—Hawser-laid, is merely three strands of simple yarns twisted right, but laid up left.—Four-strandis similarly laid with four strands, and a core scarcely twisted.—Sash-lineis plaited and used for signal halliards.—Rope-yarnis understood to be the selected serviceable yarns from condemned rope, and is worked into twice-laid. The refuse, again, into rumbowline for temporary purposes, not demanding strength.