"This termScarborow warninggrew (some say),By hasty hanging for rank robbery theare,Who that was met, but suspected in that way,Straight he was truss't, whatever he were."
SCARFED. An old word for "decorated with flags."
SCARP. A precipitous steep; as either the escarp or counterscarp of a fort: but a bank or the face of a hill may also bescarped.
SCARPH,or Scarfing. Is the junction of wood or metal by sloping off the edges, and maintaining the same thickness throughout the joint. The stem and stern posts are scarfed to the keel.
SCARPHS OF THE KEEL. The joints, when a keel is made of several pieces. (SeeScarph.)
SCARRAG. Manx or Erse for a skate or ray-fish.
SCAT. A west of England term for a passing shower.
SCAUR.SeeScar.
SCAW. A promontory or isthmus.
SCAWBERK. An archaism for scabbard.
SCEITHMAN. An old statute term signifyingpirate.
'SCENDING [fromascend]. The contrary motion to pitching. (SeeSend.)
SCENOGRAPHY. Representation of ships or forts in some kind of perspective.
SCHEDAR. The lucida of the ancient constellation Cassiopeia, and one of the nautical stars.
SCHEMER. One who has charge of the hold of a North Sea ship.
SCHNAPS. An ardent spirit, like Schiedam hollands, impregnated with narcotic ingredients; a destructive drink in common use along the shores of the northern seas.
SCHOCK. A commercial measure of 60 cask staves. (SeeRing.)
SCHOOL. A term applied to a shoal of any of the cetacean animals.
SCHOONER. Strictly, a small craft with two masts and no tops, but the name is also applied to fore-and-aft vessels of various classes. There are two-topsail schooners both fore and aft, main-topsail schooners, with two square top-sails; fore-topsail schooners with one square top-sail. Ballahouschooners, whose fore-mast rakes forward; and we also have three-masted vessels called schooners.
SCHOUT. A water-bailiff in many northern European ports, who superintends the police for seamen.
SCHRIVAN. An old term for a ship's clerk.
SCHULL.SeeSchool.
SCHUYT. A Dutch vessel, galliot rigged, used in the river trade of Holland.
SCIMETAR. An eastern sabre, with a broad, very re-curved blade.
SCOBS. The scoria made at the armourer's forge.
SCONCE. A petty fort. Also, the head; whence Shakspeare's pun in making Dromio talk of having his sconce ensconced. Also, the Anglo-Saxon for a dangerous candle-holder, made to let into the sides or posts in a ship's hold. Also,sconce of the magazine, a close safe lantern.
SCOODYN. An old word to express the burring which forms on vessels' bottoms, when foul.
SCOOP. A long spoon-shaped piece of wood to throw water, when washing a ship's sides in the morning.Scoopingis the same asbalinga boat.
SCOPE. The riding scope of a vessel's cable should be at least three times the depth of water under her, but it must vary with the amount of wind and nature of the bottom.
SCORE. Twenty; commercially, in the case of certain articles, six score went to the hundred—a usage thus regulated:
"Five score's a hundred of men, money, and pins:Six score's a hundred of all other things."
Also an angular piece cut out of a solid. Also, an account or reckoning.
SCORE OF A BLOCK,or of a Dead Eye. The groove round which the rope passes.
SCORPIO. The eighth sign of the zodiac, which the sun enters about the 22d of October. α Scorpii,Antares; a nautical star.
SCOT,or Shot. Anglo-Saxonsceat. A share of anything; a contribution in fair proportion.
SCOTCHMAN. A piece of stiff hide, or batten of wood, placed over the backstays fore-swifter of the shrouds, &c., so as to secure the standing rigging from being chafed. Perhaps so called from the scotch or notch where the seizing is passed.
SCOTCH MIST. Mizzle, or small soaking rain.
SCOTCH PRIZE. A mistake; worse than no prize, or one liable to hamper the captors with heavy law expenses.
SCOTIA. Carved mouldings and grooves.
SCOUR A BEACH,To. To pour a quick flanking fire along it, in order to dislodge an enemy.
SCOURER,or Scouring-stick. Spring-searcher. An implement to clean the interior of musket barrels.
SCOURGE. A name of the boatswain's cat.
SCOUR THE SEAS,To. To infest the ocean as a pirate.
SCOUSE. A dish made of pounded biscuit and salt beef cut into small pieces, boiled up with seasoning. (SeeLobscouse.)
SCOUTS. Small vessels of war for especial service. (SeeSkouts.) Also, intelligent men sent in advance to discover the enemy, and give an account of his force.
SCOW. A large flat-bottomed boat, used either as a lighter, or for ferrying.
SCOW-BANKER. A manager of a scow. Also, a contemptuous term for a lubberly fellow.
SCOWRING. The cleansing and clearing a harbour by back-water, or otherwise. Also an old term for tropical flux or dysentery.
SCRABBLE. A badly written log. This term is used by the translators of the Bible at David's feigned madness, when he "scrabbled on the doors of the gate."
SCRABER. The puffinet,Colymbus grille. (SeeGreenland Dove.)
SCRAPER [from the Anglo-Saxonscreope]. A small triangular iron instrument, having two or three sharp edges. It is used to scrape the ship's side or decks after caulking, or to clean the top-masts, &c. This is usually followed by a varnish of turpentine, or a mixture of tar and oil, to protect the wood from the weather. Also, metaphorically, a cocked hat, whether shipped fore-and-aft or worn athwart-ships.
SCRATCH-RACE. A boat-race where the crews are drawn by lot.
SCRAWL. The young of the dog-crab, or a poor sort of crab itself.
SCREEN-BERTH. Pieces of canvas temporarily hung round a berth, for warmth and privacy. (SeeBerth.)
SCREW-DOCK.SeeGridiron.
SCREW-GAMMONINGfor the Bowsprit. A chain or plate fastened by a screw, to secure a vessel's bowsprit to the stem-head, allowing for the tricing up of the bowsprit when required.
SCREW-PROPELLER. A valuable substitute for the cumbersome paddle-wheels as a motive-power for steam-vessels: the Archimedean screw plying under water, and hidden by the counter, communicates motion in the direction of its axis to a vessel, by working against the resisting medium of water. (SeeTwin-screw.)
SCREWS. Powerful machines for lifting large bodies. (SeeBed,Barrel, andJack Screws.)
SCREW-WELL. A hollow trunk over the screw of a steamer, for allowing the propeller to be disconnected and lifted when required.
SCRIMP. Scant. A word used in the north; as, a scrimp wind, a very light breeze.
SCRIVANO. A clerk or writer; a name adopted in our early ships from thePortugueseorSpanish.
SCROLL-HEAD. A slightly curved piece of timber bolted to the knees of the head, in place of a figure: finished off by a volute turning outwards, contrary to thefiddle-head.
SCROVIES. An old name given to the worthless men picked up by crimps, and sent on board as A.B.'s.
SCRUFF. The matter adhering to the bottoms of foul vessels.
SCUD. The low misty cloud. It appears to fly faster than others because it is very near the earth's surface. When scud is abundant, showers may be expected.—To scud.To run before a gale under canvas enough to keep the vessel ahead of the sea: as, for instance, a close-reefed main top-sail and fore-sail; without canvas she is said to scud underbare poles, and is very likely to be pooped. When a vessel makes a sudden and precipitate flight, she is said to scud away.—Scud like a 'Mudian.Be off in a hurry.
SCUDO. A coin of Italy, varying in value in the different provinces.
SCUFFLE. A confused and disorderly contention—
"Then friends and foes to battle they goes;But what they all fights about—nobody knows."
SCULL. A short oar of such length that a pair of them, one on each side, are conveniently managed by a single rower sitting in the middle of the boat. Also, a light metal-helmet worn in our early fleet.—To scull.To row a boat with a pair of sculls. Also, to propel a boat by a particular method of managing a single oar over the boat's stern, and reversing the blade each time. It is in fact the half-stroke of the screw rapidly reversed, and closely resembles the propelling power of the horizontal tail of the whale.
SCULPTURES. The carved decorations of the head, stern, and quarter of an old ship-of-war. Also, the copper plates which "adorned" the former books of voyages and travels.
SCUMof the Sea. The refuse seen on the line of tidal change; the drift sent off by the ebbing tide. Or (in the neighbourhood of the rains), the fresh water running on the surface of the salt and carrying with it a line of foam bearing numerous sickly gelatinous marine animals, and physaliæ, commonly called Portuguese men-of-war, affected by the fresh water and other small things often met with on the surface sea.
SCUM-O'-THE-SKY. Thin atmospheric vapours.
SCUPPER-HOSE. A canvas leathern pipe or tube nailed round the outside of the scuppers of the lower decks, which prevents the water from discolouring the ship's sides.
SCUPPER-LEATHER. A flap-valve nailed over a scupper-hole, serving to keep water from getting in, yet letting it out.
SCUPPER-NAILS. Short nails with very broad flat heads, used to nail the flaps of the scuppers, so as to retain the hose under them: they are also used for battening tarpaulins and other general purposes.
SCUPPER-PLUGS. Are used to close the scuppers in-board.
SCUPPERS. Round apertures cut through the water ways and sides of a ship at proper distances, and lined with metal, in order to carry the water off the deck into the sea.
SCUPPER-SHOOTS. Metal or wooden tubes which carry the water from the decks of frigates to the sea-level.
SCURRY. Perhaps from the Anglo-Saxonscur, a heavy shower, a sudden squall. It now means a hurried movement; it is more especially applied to seals or penguins taking to the water in fright.
SCUTTLE. A small hole or port cut either in the deck or side of a ship, generally for ventilation. That in the deck is a small hatchway.
SCUTTLE,To. To cut or bore holes through part of a ship when she is stranded or over-set, and continues to float, in order to save any part of her contents. Also, a trick too often practised by boring holes below water, to sink a ship, where fictitious cargo is embarked and the vessel insured beyond her value. (SeeBarratry.)
SCUTTLEORSCUTTLED BUTT. A cask having a square piece sawn out of its bilge and lashed in a convenient place to hold water for present use.
SCUTTLE-HATCH. A lid or hatch for covering and closing the scuttles when necessary.
SEA. Strictly speaking,seais the next large division of water afterocean, but in its special sense signifies only any large portion of the great mass of waters almost surrounded by land, as the Black, the White, the Baltic, the China, and the Mediterranean seas, and in a general sense in contradistinction to land. By sailors the word is also variously applied. Thus they say—"We shipped a heavy sea." "There is a great sea on in the offing." "The sea sets to the southward," &c. Hence a ship is said to head the sea when her course is opposed to the direction of the waves.—A long seaimplies a uniform motion of long waves, the result of a steady continuance of the wind from nearly the same quarter.—A short seais a confused motion of the waves when they run irregularly so as frequently to break over a vessel, caused by sudden changes of wind. The law claims for the crown wherever the sea flows to, and there the admiralty has jurisdiction; accordingly, no act can be done, no bridge can span a river so circumstanced without the sanction of the admiralty. It claims the fore-shore unless specially granted by charter otherwise, and the court of vice-admiralty has jurisdiction as to flotsam and jetsam on the fore-shore. But all crimes are subject to the laws, and are tried by the ordinary courts as within the body of a county, comprehended by the chord between two headlands where the distance does not exceed three miles from the shore. Beyond that limit is "the sea, where high court of admiralty has jurisdiction, but where civil process cannot follow."
SEA-ADDER. The west-country term for the pipe-fishSyngnathus. The name is also given to the nest-making stickleback.
SEA-ANCHOR. That which lies towards the offing when a ship is moored.
SEA-ATTORNEY. The ordinary brown and rapacious shark.
SEA-BANK. A work so important that our statutes make it felony, without benefit of clergy, maliciously to cut down any sea-bank whereby lands may be overflowed.
SEA-BEANS. Pods of the acacia tribe shed into the rivers about theGulf of Mexico, and borne by the stream to the coasts of Great Britain, and even further north.
SEA-BEAR. A name applied to several species of large seals of the genusOtaria, found both in the northern and southern hemispheres. They differ from the true seals, especially in the mode in which they use their hind limbs in walking on land.
SEA-BOARD. The line along which the land and water meet, indicating the limit common to both.
SEA-BOAT. A good sea-boat implies any vessel adapted to bear the sea firmly and lively without labouring heavily or straining her masts or rigging. The contrary is calleda bad sea-boat.
SEA-BORNE. Arrived from a voyage: said of freighted ships also afloat.
SEA-BOTTLE. The pod or vesicle of some species ofsea-wrackorFucus giganteaof Cape Horn and the Straits of Magellan.
SEA-BREEZE. A wind from the sea towards the land. In tropical climates (and sometimes during summer in the temperate zone) as the day advances the land becomes extremely heated by the sun, which causes an ascending current of air, and a wind from the sea rushes in to restore equilibrium. Above the sea-breeze is a counter current, which was clearly shown in Madras, where an æronaut waited until the sea-breeze had set in to make his ascent, expecting to be blown inland, but after rising to a certain height found himself going out to sea, and in his haste to descend he disordered the machinery, and could not close the valve which allowed the gas to escape, so fell into the sea about three miles from the land, but clung to his balloon and was saved. Also, a cool sea drink.
SEA-BRIEF. A specification of the nature and quantity of the cargo of a ship, the place whence it comes, and its destination. (SeePassport.)
SEA-CALF. A seal,Phoca vitulina.
SEA-CAP. The white drift or breaks of a wave.White horsesof trades.
SEA-CARDS. The old name for charts.
SEA-CAT. A name of the wolf-fish,Anarrhicas lupus.
SEA-CATGUT. TheFucus filum, or sea-thread.
SEA-COAST,or Sea-bord. The shore of any country, or that part which is washed by the sea.
SEA COCOA-NUT,or Double Cocoa-nut. The fruit of theLodoicea seychellarum, a handsome palm growing in the Seychelles Islands. It was once supposed to be produced by a sea-weed, because so often found floating on the sea around.
SEA-COULTER. The puffin or coulter-neb,Fratercula arctica.
SEA-COW. One of the names given to themanatee(which see).
SEA-CRAFTS. In ship-building, a term for the scarphed strakes otherwise calledclamps. For boats,seeThwart-clamps.
SEA-CROW. A name on our southern coast for the cormorant.
SEA-CUCKOO. TheTrigla cuculus, or red gurnard, so called from the unmusical grunt which it emits.
SEA-CUNNY. A steersman in vessels manned with lascars in the East India country trade.
SEA-DEVIL. A name for theLophius piscatorius, or angler, a fish with a large head and thick short body.
SEA-DOG. A name of the common seal.
SEA-DOGG. The meteor called alsostubb(which see).
SEA-DRAGON. An early designation of thestinging-weever.
SEA-EAGLE. A large ray-fish with a pair of enormous fins stretching out from either side of the body, and a long switch tail, armed with a barbed bone, which forms a dangerous weapon.Mantaof the Spaniards.
SEA-EDGE. The boundary between the icy regions of the "north water" and the unfrozen portion of the Arctic Sea.
SEA-EEL. Theconger(which see).
SEA-EGG. A general name for theechinus, better known to seamen as thesea-urchin(which see).
SEA-FARDINGER. An archaic expression for a seafaring man.
SEA-FISHER. An officer in the household of Edward III.
SEA-FRET. A word used on our northern coasts for the thick heavy mist generated on the ocean, and rolled by the wind upon the land.
SEA-FROG. A name for theLophius piscatorius, or angler.
SEA GATEORGAIT. A long rolling swell: when two ships are thrown aboard one another by its means, they are said to be in a sea-gate.
SEA-GAUGE. An instrument used by Drs. Hale and Desaguliers to investigate the depth of the sea, by the pressure of air into a tube prepared for the purpose, showing by a mark left by a thin surface of treacle carried on mercury forced up it during the descent into what space the whole air is compressed, and, consequently, the depth of water by which its weight produced that compression. It is, however, an uncertain and difficult instrument, and superseded by Ericson's patent, working on the same principle, but passing over into another tube the volume of water thus forced in. (SeeWater-bottle.)
SEA-GOING. Fit for sea-service abroad.
SEA-GREEN. The colour which in ancient chivalry denoted inconstancy.
SEA-GROCER. A sobriquet for the purser.
SEA-GULL. A well-known bird. When they come in numbers to shore, and make a noise about the coast, or when at sea they alight on ships, sailors consider it a prognostic of a storm. This is an old idea; see Virg. Georg. lib. i., and Plin. lib. xviii. c. 35.
SEA-HARE.Aplysia, a molluscous animal.
SEA-HEN. A name of the fishTrigla lyra, orcrooner(which see).
SEA-HOG. A common name for the porpoise,Phocœna communis.
SEA-HORSE. A name for the walrus,Trichecus rosmarus. Also, thehippocampus(which see).
SEA-ICE. Ice within which there is a separation from the land.
SEAL [from the Anglo-Saxonseolh]. The well-known marine piscivorous animal.
SEA-LAKE. Synonymous withlagoon(which see).
SEA-LAWS. The codes relating to the sea; as, the laws of Rhodes, Oleron, Wisbuy, &c.
SEA-LAWYER. An idle litigious 'longshorer, more given to question orders than to obey them. One of the pests of the navy as well as of the mercantile marine. Also, a name given to the tiger-shark.
SEALED ORDERS. Secret and sealed until the circumstances arise which authorize their being opened and acted on. Often given to prevent officers from divulging the point to which they are ordered.
SEA-LEGS. Implies the power to walk steadily on a ship's decks, notwithstanding her pitching or rolling.
SEA-LETTER.SeePassport.
SEA-LION. A large seal of the genusOtaria, distinguished from the sea-bear, to which it otherwise has a great resemblance, by the shaggy mane on its neck and shoulders.
SEA-LOG. That part of the log-book relating to whatever happens while the ship is at sea.
SEA-LUMP.SeeLump.
SEAM. The sewing together of two edges of canvas, which should have about 110 stitches in every yard of length. Also, the identical Anglo-Saxon word for a horse-load of 8 bushels, and much looked to in carrying fresh fish from the coast. Also, the opening between the edges of the planks in the decks and sides of a ship; these are filled with a quantity of oakum and pitch, to prevent the entrance of water. (SeeCaulking.)
SEA-MALL. A name for a sea-gull.
SEAMAN. This is a term seldom bestowed among seafaring men upon their associates, unless they are known to be pre-eminent in every duty of the thorough-paced tar; one who never issues a command which he is not competent to execute himself, and is deemed an authority on every matter relating to sea-craft.—Theable seamanis the seafaring man who knows all the duties of common seamanship, as to rig, steer, reef, furl, take the lead, and implicitly carry out the orders given, in a seamanlike manner. His rating is A.B.; pay in the navy, 24s.to 27s.per month.—Theordinary seamanis less qualified; does not take the weather-helm, the earing, or lead; pay about 21s.to 23s.per month.—Thelandsmanis still less qualified.
SEAMAN'S DISGRACE. A foul anchor.
SEAMANSHIP. The noble practical art of rigging and working a ship, and performing with effect all her various evolutions at sea.
SEAMAN'S WAGES. A proper object of the admiralty jurisdiction.
SEA-MARK. A point or object distinguishable at sea, as promontories, steeples, rivers, trees, &c., forming important beacons, and noted on charts. By keeping two in a line, channels can be entered with safety, and thus the errors of steerage, effect of tide, &c., obviated. These erections are a branch of the royal prerogative, and by statute 8 Eliz. cap. 13, the corporation of the Trinity House are empowered to set up any beaconsor sea-marks wherever they shall think them necessary; and, if any person shall destroy them, he shall forfeit £100, or, in case of inability to pay, he shall be,ipso facto, outlawed.
SEAMEN-GUNNERS. Men who have been trained in a gunnery ship, and thereby become qualified to instruct others in that duty.
SEA-MEW. A sea-gull.
SEA-MOUSE. TheAphrodita aculeata, a marine annelid, remarkable for the brilliant iridescence of the long silky hairs with which its sides are covered.
SEA-NETTLE. An immemorial name of several zoophytes and marine creatures of the classAcalephæ, which have the power of stinging, particularly theMedusæ.
SEA-OWL. A name of the lump-fish,Cyclopterus lumpus.
SEA-PAY. That due for actual service in a duly-commissioned ship.
SEA-PERIL. Synonymous withsea-risk.
SEA-PIE. The pied oyster-catcher,Hæmatopus ostralegus. Also, a favourite sea-dish in rough weather, consisting of an olla of fish, meat, and vegetables, in layers between crusts, the number of which denominate it a two or three decker.
SEA-PINCUSHION. The name among northern fishermen for a kind of star-fish of the genusGoniaster.
SEA-POACHER. A name of the pogge,Cottus cataphractus.
SEA-PORCUPINE. Several fish of the generaDiodonandTetraodon, beset with sharp spines, which they can erect by inflating themselves with air.
SEA-PORK. The flesh of young whales in the western isles of Scotland; the whale-beef of the Bermudas, &c. It is also called sea-beef.
SEA-PORT. A haven near the sea, not situated up a river.
SEA-PURSE.SeeMermaid's Purse.
SEA-QUADRANT. The old name of Jacob's cross-staff.
SEA-QUAKE. The tremulous motion and shock of an earthquake felt through the waves.
SEA-RATE. The going of a chronometer as established on board, instead of that supplied from the shore. This may be done by lunars. From motion and other causes their rates after embarkation are frequently useless, and rates for their new ever-changing position are indispensable. This rate is sometimeslooselydeduced between two ports; but as the meridian distances are never satisfactorily known, even as to the spots of observation, they cannot be relied on but as comparative.
SEARCH. If the act of submitting to search is to subject neutral vessels to confiscation by the enemy, the parties must look to that enemy whose the injustice is for redress, but they are not to shelter themselves by committing a fraud upon the undoubted rights of the other country.
SEARCH,Right of.SeeVisitation.
SEARCHER. A custom-house officer employed in taking an account of goods to be exported. Also,seeGun-searcher.
SEA-REACH. The straight course or reach of a winding river which stretches out to sea-ward.
SEA-RISK. Liability to losses byperils of the sea(which see).
SEA-ROKE. A cold fog or mist which suddenly approaches from the sea, and rapidly spreads over the vicinity of our eastern shores, to a distance of 8 or 10 miles inland.
SEA-ROOM. Implies a sufficient distance from land, rocks, or shoals wherein a ship may drive or scud without danger.
SEA-ROVERS. Pirates and robbers at sea.
SEA-SERGEANTS. A society of gentlemen, belonging to the four maritime counties of South Wales, holding their anniversaries at sea-port towns, or one within the reach of tidal influence. It was a secret association of early date, revived in 1726, and dissolved about 1765.
SEA-SLATER. TheLigia oceanica, a small crustacean.
SEA-SLEECH.SeeSleech.
SEA-SLEEVE. A name of the flosk or squid,Loligo vulgaris.
SEA-SLUG. TheHolothuria. An animal of the classEchinodermata, with elongated body, and flexible outer covering.
SEASONED TIMBER. Such as has been cut down, squared, and stocked for one season at least.
SEASONING. The keeping a vessel standing a certain time after she is completely framed, and dubbed out for planking. A great prince of this maritime country in passing a dockyard, inquired what thosebasket-shipswere for!
SEA-SPOUT. The jetting of sea-water over the adjacent lands, when forced through a perforation in a rocky shore; both its egress and ingress are attended with a rumbling noise, and the spray is often very injurious to the surrounding vegetation.
SEA-STAR. A common rayed or star-like animal, belonging to the classEchinodermata. Also calledstar-fish(Asteria).
SEA-STREAM. In polar parlance, is when a collection of bay-ice is exposed on one side to the ocean, and affords shelter from the sea to whatever is within it.
SEA-SWABBER. A reproachful term for an idle sailor.
SEA-SWALLOW. The tern, a bird resembling the gull, but more slender and swift.
SEA-SWINE. The porpoise.
SEAT. A term often applied to the peculiar summit of a mountain, as the Queen of Spain's Seat near Gibraltar, the Bibi of Mahratta's Seat near Bombay, Arthur's Seat at Edinburgh, &c.
SEA-TANG. Tangle, a sea-weed.
SEAT-LOCKERS. Accommodations fitted in the cabins of merchantmen for sitting upon, and stowing cabin-stores in.
SEAT OF WATER. Applies to the line on which a vessel sits.
SEA-TRANSOM. That which is bolted to the counter-timbers, above the upper, at the height of the port-sills.
SEA-TURN. A tack into the offing.
SEA-URCHIN. TheEchinus, an animal of the classEchinodermata, of globular form, and a hard calcareous outer covering, beset with movable spines, on the ends of which it crawls about.
SEA-WALLS. Elevations of stones, stakes, and other material, to prevent inundations.
SEA-WARD. Towards the sea, or offing.
SEA-WARE. The sea-weed thrown up by surges on a beach.
SEA-WATER. "The quantity of solid matter varies considerably in different seas, but we may assume that the average quantity of saline matter is 31⁄2per cent., and the density about 1·0274" (Pereira). The composition of the water of the English Channel according to Schweitzer is—
Grains.Water964·74372Chloride ofSodium27·05948"Potassium0·76552"Magnesium3·66658Bromide ofMagnesium0·02929Sulphate ofMagnesia2·29578"Lime1·40662Carbonate of Lime0·033011000·00000
SEA-WAY. The progress of a ship through the waves. Also, said when a vessel is in an open place where the sea is rolling heavily.
SEA-WAY MEASURER. A kind of self-registering log invented by Smeaton, the architect of the Eddystone lighthouse.
SEA-WEASEL. An old name of the lamprey.
SEA-WOLF. The wolf-fish,Anarrhicas lupus.
SEA-WOLVES. A name for privateers.
SEA-WORTHY. The state of a ship in everyway fitted for her voyage. It is the first stipulation in every policy of insurance, or other contract, connected with a vessel: "for she shall be tight, staunch, and strong, sufficiently manned, and her commander competent to his duty." (SeeOpinion.)
SEA-WRACK GRASS.Zostera marina; used in Sweden and Holland for manuring land. At Yarmouth it is thrown on shore in such abundance that mounds are made with it to arrest the encroachments of the sea. It is also used as thatch.
SECANT. A line drawn from the centre of a circle to the extremity of the tangent.
SECCA. A shoal on Italian shores and charts.
SECOND. The sixtieth part of a minute. A division of a degree of a circle. A term applied both to time and to space. Also, second in a duel; a very important part to play, since many a life may be saved without implicating honour.
SECONDARY PLANET.SeeSatellites.
SECOND-CAPTAIN. Commanders under captains in the navy, of late.
SECOND-COUNTER.SeeCounter.
SECOND-FUTTOCKS. The frame-timbers scarphed on the end of the futtock-timbers.
SECOND-HAND. A term in fishing-boats to distinguish the second in charge.
SECOND OFFICER. Second mate in merchantmen.
SECOND-RATE. Vessels of seventy-four guns (on the old scale).
SECTION. A draught or figure representing the internal parts of a ship cut by a plane at any particular place athwart ships or longitudinally.
SECTOR.SeeDip-sector.
SECULAR ACCELERATION.SeeAcceleration of the Moon.
SECULAR INEQUALITY.SeeInequality.
SECURE ARMS! Place them under the left arm, to guard the lock from the weather or rain.
SEDITION. Mutinous commotion against the constituted authorities, especially dangerous at sea.
SEDOW. The old English name for the fish called gilt-head;Sparus auratus.
SEDUCE,To. To inveigle a man to desertion.
SEELING. A sudden heeling over, and quick return.
SEER. The tumbler of a gun-lock.
SEE-SAW. Reciprocating motion.
SEGE. An old law-term for the seat or berth in which a ship lies.
SEGMENT. In geometry, any part of a circle which is bounded by an arc and its chord, or so much of the circle as is cut off by that chord.
SEGMENTAL STERN.SeeRound Stern.
SEGMENT-SHELL. For use with rifled guns; an elongated iron shell having very thin sides, and built up internally with segment-shaped pieces of iron, which, offering the resistance of an arch against pressure from without, are easily separated by the very slight bursting charge within; thereby retaining most of their original direction and velocity after explosion.
SEIN,or Seine. The name of a large fishing-net. Also, a flat seam.
SEIN-FISH. By statute (3 Jac. I. c. 12) includes that sort taken with a sein.
SEIZING. Fastening any two ropes, or different parts of one rope together, with turns of small stuff.
SEIZINGS. The cords with which the act of seizing is performed; they vary in size in proportion to the rope on which they are used.
SEIZLING. A young carp.
SEIZURE. The right of naval officers to seize anywhere afloat, is legally established: a ship, therefore, although incapable of cruising, may still make a seizure in port.
SELCHIE. The northern name for the seal,Phoca vitulina.
SELENOCENTRIC. Having relation to the centre of the moon.
SELENOGRAPHY. The delineation of the moon's surface.
SELLING OUT. An officer in the army wishing to retire from the service, may do so by disposing of his commission.
SELLOCK.SeeSillock.
SELVAGE. The woven edge of canvas formed by web and woof. SeeBoke of Curtasye(14th century):—
"The overnape shal doubulle be layde,To the utter side the selvage brade."
SELVAGEE. A strong and pliant hank, or untwisted skein of rope-yarn marled together, and used as a strap to fasten round a shroud or stay, or slings to which to hook a tackle to hoist in any heavy articles.
SEMAPHORE. An expeditious mode of communication by signal; it consists of upright posts and movable arms, now chiefly used for railway signals, electric telegraphs being found better for great distances.
SEMEBOLE. An old term for a pipe, or half a tun of wine.
SEMI-AXIS MAJOR.SeeMean Distance.
SEMICIRCLE. A figure comprehended between the diameter of a circle and half the circumference.
SEMI-DIAMETER. The angle subtended by half the diameter of a heavenly body; in the cases of the sun and moon it is much used in navigation.
SEMI-DIURNAL ARC. Half the arc described by a heavenly body between its rising and setting.
SEMI-ISLET. An old term forbridge-islet(which see).
SEND,To. To rise after pitching heavily and suddenly between two waves, or out of the trough of the sea.
SENDING,or 'Scending. The act of being thrown about violently when adrift.
SENIORITY. The difference of rank, or standing in priority, according to dates of commissions; or if on the same day, the order in which they stand on the official printed lists.
SENIOR OFFICER. The commanding officer for the time being.
SENNIT. A flat cordage formed by plaiting five or seven rope-yarns together. Straw, plaited in the same way for hats, is called plat-sennit; it is made by sailors in India from the leaf of the palm, for that well-known straw-hat, adorned with flowing ribbons, which formerly distinguished the man-of-war's man.
SENSIBLE HORIZON.SeeHorizon.
SENTINEL,or Sentry. A soldier, marine, or seaman placed upon any post, to watch and enforce any specific order with which he may be intrusted.
SENTRY GO! The order to the new sentry to proceed to the relief of the previous one.
SEQUIN. A Turkish and Venetian gold coin of the current value of 6s.11d.
SERANG. A boatswain of Lascars.
SERASKIER. A Turkish general.
SERGEANT. The senior non-commissioned rank in the army and marines.
SERGEANT-MAJOR. The senior sergeant in a regiment, or first non-commissioned officer; usually a zealous and thorough soldier.
SERON. A commercial package of Spanish America, made of green bullock's-hide with the hair on.
SERPENTARIUS.SeeOphiuchus.
SERPENTIN. An ancient 24-pounder gun, the dolphins of which represented serpents; it was 13 feet long, and weighed 4360 lbs.
SERPENTINE POWDER. An old term for a peculiar granulated gunpowder.
SERRATED. Notched like the edge of a saw.
SERVE,To. To supply the gun with powder and shot. Also, to handle it through all the changes of station.
SERVE THE VENT,To. To stop it with the thumb.
SERVICE. The profession; as a general term, expresses every kind of duty which a naval or military man can be called upon to perform. Also, implying any bold exploit.—To see service, is a common expression, which implies actual contest with the enemy.—Service, of served rope, is the spun-yarn wound round a rope by means of aserving-boardormallet.
SERVICEABLE. Both as respects men and stores, capable of or fit for duty.
SERVING-BOARD. A flattened piece of hard wood with a handle, for passing service on the smaller ropes.
SERVING-MALLET. The mallet, grooved on the under side, with which spun-yarn, or other small stuff, is wrapped tightly round a rope.
SERVING OUT SLOPS. Distributing clothing, &c. Also, a cant term to denote punishment at the gangway.
SET. The direction in which a current flows, or of the wind. (SeeDirection.)—To set, is to observe the bearings of any distant object by the compass. (SeeBearing.) Also applied to the direction of the tide, as "the tide setting to the south," is opposed to a swelling sea setting to the north-west. Also, when applied to sails, implies the loosing and spreading them, so as to force the ship through the water on weighing. When in chase, or other emergency, the term is sometimes used as synonymous withmake sail.
SET-BOLTS. Used in drifting out bolts from their position. Also employed for forcing the planks and other works, bringing them close to one another, as Blake's bringing-to bolts, with wood screws, eyes, and rings.
SET FLYING. Sails that do not remain aloft when taken in, but are hauled on deck or stowed in the tops, as skysails, studding-sails, &c.
SET IN. Said when the sea-breeze or weather appears to be steady.
SET ON! The order to set the engine going on board a steamer.
SETT. A kind of shipwright's power, composed of two ring-bolts and a wrain-staff, with cleats and lashings. Also, the particular spot in a river or frith, where stationary nets are fixed.
SETTEE. A single-decked Mediterranean vessel with a long and sharpprow, without top-masts, and carrying lateen sails. They were mostly used as transports to galleys.
SET THE CHASE,To. To mark well the position of the vessel chased by bearing, so that by standing away from her on one tack, she may be cut off on the other.
SETTING. The operation of moving a boat or raft by means of poles. Also, arranging the sights of a gun, or pointing it.
SETTING POLE. A pole, generally pointed with iron, forced into the mud, by which boats and barges are moored in shallow water.
SETTING THE WATCH. The military night guard or watch at the evening gun-fire. Naval watches are not interfered with by time.
SETTING-UP. Raising a ship from her blocks, shores, &c., by wedges driven between the heels of the shore and the dock foundation.
SETTLE. Now termed thestern-sheets[derived from the Anglo-Saxonsettl, a seat].—To settle.To lower; also to sink, as "the deck has settled;" "we settled the land." (SeeLaying.) "Settle the main top-sail halliards,"i.e.ease them off a little, so as to lower the yard, as on shaking out a reef.
SETTLING. Sinking in the water.
SET UP. Soldiers, mariners, and small-arm men, well drilled, and instructed to be upright and soldierlike in their carriage, are "well set up."
SET UP RIGGING,To. To take in the slack of the shrouds, stays, and backstays, to bring the same strain as before, and thus secure the masts.
SEVERALTY. The denomination under which disagreements respecting accounts amongst the part-owners of a ship are referred, either to equity courts, or the common law.
SEVERE. Effectual; as, asevereturn in belaying a rope.
SEW,or Sue. Pronouncedsue. (SeeSewed.)
SEWANT. A north-country name for the plaice.
SEWARD,or Sea-ward. An early name for thecustos maris, or he who guards the sea-coast.
SEWED. A ship resting upon the ground, where the water has fallen, so as to afford no hope of floating until lightened, or the return tide floats her, is said to be sewed, by as much as the difference between the surface of the water, and the ship's floating-mark. If not left quite dry, she sews to such a point; if the water leaves her a couple of feet, she is sewed two feet.
SEWIN. A white kind of salmon taken on the coast of Wales. Sometimes this word is used for the dish calledsowens.
SEXAGESIMAL DIVISIONS. The circumference of the circle is divided into 360 degrees, each degree into 60 minutes, and each minute into 60 seconds. The Americans afterwards used 60 thirds, but European astronomers prefer decimals.
SEXTANT. A mathematical instrument for taking altitudes of, and measuring the angular distances between, the heavenly bodies. It is constructed on a principle similar to Hadley's quadrant; but the arc contains a sixth part of a circle, and measures angles up to 120°.
SHACKLE [from the Anglo-Saxonsceacul]. A span with two eyes and a bolt, attached to open links in a chain-cable, at every 15 fathoms; they are fitted with a movable bolt, so that the chain can there be separated or coupled, as circumstances require. Also, an iron loop-hooked bolt moving on a pin, used for fastening the lower-deck port-bars.
SHACKLE-BREECHING. Two shackles are turned into the breeching, by which it is instantly disconnected from the port-ringbolts. Also, the lug of the cascable is cut open to admit of the bight of the breeching falling into it, thus obviating the loss of time by unreeving.
SHACKLE-CROW. A bar of iron slightly bent at one end like the common crow, but with a shackle instead of a claw at the bent end. It is used for drawing bolts or deck-nails. (See alsoSpan-shackle.)
SHACKLE-NET. The northern term for flue-net.
SHACKLES. Semicircular clumps of iron sliding upon a round bar, in which the legs of prisoners are occasionally confined to the deck.Manacleswhen applied to the wrists. (SeeBilboes.)
SHAD. TheClupea alosa, a well-known fish, of very disputed culinary merit, owing perhaps to its own dietetic habits.
SHADES. Coloured glasses for quadrants, sextants, and circles. (SeeDark Glasses, orScreens.)
SHAFT OF A MINE. The narrow perpendicular pit by which the gallery is entered, and from which the branches of the mine diverge.
SHAG. A small species of cormorant,Phalacrocorax graculus.
SHAG-BUSH. An old term for a harquebus, or hand-gun.
SHAKE,To. To cast off fastenings, as—To shake out a reef.To let out a reef, and enlarge the sail.—To shake off a bonnetof a fore-and-aft sail.—To shake a cask.To take it to pieces, and pack up the parts, then termed "shakes." Thus the term expressing little value, "No great shakes."
SHAKE IN THE WIND,To. To bring a vessel's head so near the wind, when close-hauled, as to shiver the sails.
SHAKES. A name given by shipwrights to the cracks or rents in any piece of timber, occasioned by the sun or weather. The same asrendsorshans(which see).
SHAKING A CLOTH IN THE WIND. In galley parlance, expresses the being slightly intoxicated.
SHAKINGS. Refuse of cordage, canvas, &c., used for making oakum, paper, &c.
SHALLOP,Shalloop, or Sloop. A small light fishing vessel, with only a small main-mast and fore-mast for lug-sails. They are commonly good sailers, and are therefore often used as tenders to men-of-war. Also, a large heavy undecked boat, with one mast, fore-and-aft main-sail, and jib-foresail. The gunboats on the French coasts were frequently termed chaloupes, and carried one heavy gun, with a crew of 40 men. Also, a small boat rowed by one or two men.
SHALLOWS. A continuation of shoal water.
SHALLOW-WAISTED. Flush-decked vessels are thus termed, in contradistinction to the deep-waisted.
SHAN. A defect in spars, most commonly from bad collared knots; an injurious compression of fibres in timber: the turning out of the cortical layers when the plank has been sawed obliquely to the central axis of the tree.
SHANK. An arrangement of deep-water fishing lines. Also, a handle or shaft. Also the bar or shaft of an anchor, constituting its main piece, at one end of which the stock is fixed, and at the other the arms.
SHANK-PAINTER. The stopper which confines the shank of the anchor to the ship's side, and prevents the flukes from flying off the bill-board. Where the bill-board is not used, it bears the weight of the fluke end of the anchor.
SHANTY. A small hut on or near a beach.
SHAPE. The lines and form of a vessel.—To shape a course.To assign the route to be steered in order to prosecute a voyage.
SHARE AND SHARE ALIKE. The golden rule of all messes at sea.
SHARK. A name applied to many species of large cartilaginous fish of the familySqualidæ. Their ferocity and voracity are proverbial. Also, applied to crimps, sharpers, and low attorneys.
SHARP. Prompt and attentive.—Be sharp!Make haste.—Look sharp!Lose no time. Also, an old term for a sword.
SHARP BOTTOM. Synonymous with a sharp floor; used in contradistinction to a flat floor: the epithet denotes vessels intended for quick sailing.
SHARP LOOK-OUT BEFORE! The hail for the forecastle look-out men to be extremely vigilant.
SHARP UP. Trimmed as near as possible to the wind, with the yards braced up nearly fore and aft.
SHAVE. A close run; a narrow escape from a collision.
SHEAF. A bundle of arrows, as formerly supplied to our royal ships.
SHEAL. A northern term for a fisherman's hut, whence several of them together becameshealsorshields.
SHEAR. An iron spear, of three or more points, for catching eels.
SHEAR-HOOKS. A kind of sickle formerly applied to the yard-arms, for cutting the rigging of a vessel running on board.
SHEARS.SeeSheers.
SHEAR-WATER. A sea-fowl,Puffinus anglorum.
SHEATHING. Thin boards formerly placed between the ship's body and the sheets of copper, to protect the planks from the pernicious effects of the worm. Tar and hair, or brown paper dipped in tar and oil, is laid between the sheathing and the bottom. In 1613 a junk of 800 or 1000 tons was seen in Japan all sheeted with iron; and yet it was not attempted in Europe till more than a hundred years afterwards. But by 1783 ships of every class were coppered.
SHEATHING-NAILS. These are used to fasten wood-sheathing, andprevent the filling-nails from tearing it too much. Those used for copper-sheathing are of mixed metal, cast in moulds about one inch and a quarter long. The heads are flat on the upper side, and counter-sunk below, with the upper side polished to prevent the adhesion of weeds.
SHEAVE. The wheel on which the rope works in a block; it is generally formed of lignum vitæ, sometimes of brass, and frequently of both; the interior part, or that which sustains the friction against the pin, being of brass, let into the exterior, which is of lignum vitæ, and is then termed a sheave with a brass coak,bouche, or bush. The name also applies to a cylindrical wheel made of hard wood, movable round a stout pin as its axis; it is let through the side and chess-trees for leading the tacks and sheets. Also, the number of tiers in coiling cables and hawsers.
SHEAVE-HOLE. A channel cut in masts, yards, or timber, in which to fix a sheave, and answering the place of a block. It is also the groove cut in a block for the ropes to reeve through.
SHEBEEN. A low public-house, yet a sort of sailor trap.
SHED. A pent-house or cover for the ship's artificers to work under.
SHEDDE. An archaic term for the slope of a hill.
SHEDDERS. Female salmon. (SeeFoul Fish.)
SHEDELE. A channel of water.
SHEEN-NET. A large drag-net.
SHEEPSHANK. A hitch or bend made on a rope to shorten it temporarily; and particularly used on runners, to prevent the tackle from coming block and block. It consists in making two long bights in a rope, which shall overlay one another; then taking a half hitch over the end of each bight, with the standing part, which is next to it.
SHEER. The longitudinal curve of a ship's decks or sides; the hanging of the vessel's side in a fore-and-aft direction. Also, a fishing-spear in use on the south coast. (SeeShear.) Also, the position in which a ship is sometimes kept when at single anchor, in order to keep her clear of it [evidently from the Ersesheebh, to drift].
SHEER,To Break. To deviate from that position, and thereby risk fouling the anchor. Thus a vessel riding with short scope of cable breaks her sheer, and bringing the force of the whole length of the ship at right angles, tears the anchor out of the ground, and drifts into deep water.
SHEER-BATTEN. A batten stretched horizontally along the shrouds, and seized firmly above each of their dead-eyes, serving to prevent the dead-eyes from turning at that part. This is also termed astretcher.
SHEER-DRAUGHT. In ship-building, a section supposed to be cut by a plane passing through the middle line of the keel, the stem, and the stern-post: it is also called theplan of elevation, and it exhibits the out-board works, as the wales, sheer-rails, ports, drifts, height of water-line, &c.
SHEERED. Built with a curved sheer. (SeeMoon-sheered.)
SHEER-HULK. An old ship fitted with sheers, &c., and used for taking out and putting in the masts of other vessels.
SHEERING. The act of deviating from the line of the course, so as to form a crooked and irregular path through the water; this may be occasioned by the ship's being difficult to steer, but more frequently arises from the negligence or incapacity of the helmsman. Forsheeringorshearingin polar seas,seeLapping.
SHEER-LASHING. Middle the rope, and pass a good turn round both legs at the cross. Then take one end up and the other down, around and over the cross, until half of the lashing is thus expended; then ride both ends back again on their own parts, and knot them in the middle. Frap the first and riding turns together on each side with sennit.
SHEER-MAST. The peculiar rig of the rafts on the Guayaquil river; also of the piratical prahus of the eastern seas, and which might be imitated in some of our small craft with advantage: having a pair of sheers (instead of a single mast) within which the fore-and-aft main-sail works, or is hoisted or slung.
SHEER-MOULD. Synonymous withram-line(which see).
SHEER OFF,To. To move to a greater distance, or to steer so as to keep clear of a vessel or other object.
SHEER-PLAN. The draught of the side of a proposed ship, showing the length, depth, rake, water-lines, &c.
SHEER-RAIL. The wrought-rail generally placed well with the sheer or top-timber line; the narrow ornamental moulding along the top-side, parallel to the sheer.
SHEERS. Two or more spars, raised at angles, lashed together near their upper ends, and supported by guys; used for raising or taking in heavy weights. Also, to hoist in or get out the lower masts of a ship; they are either placed on the side of a quay or wharf, on board of an old ship cut down (seeSheer-hulk), or erected in the vessel wherein the mast is to be planted or displaced, the lower ends of the props resting on the opposite sides of the deck, and the upper parts being fastened together across, from which a tackle depends; this sort of sheers is secured by stages extending to the stem and stern of the vessel.
SHEER-SAIL. A drift-sail.
SHEER TO THE ANCHOR,To. To direct the ship's bows by the helm to the place where the anchor lies, while the cable is being hove in.
SHEER UP ALONGSIDE,To. To approach a ship or other object in an oblique direction.
SHEER-WALES. Strakes of thick stuff in the top-sides of three-decked ships, between the middle and upper deck-ports. Synonymous withmiddle-wales.
SHEET. A rope or chain fastened to one or both the lower corners of a sail, to extend and retain the clue down to its place. When a ship sails with a side wind, the lower corners of the main and fore sails are fastened by a tack and a sheet, the former being to windward, and the latter to leeward; the tack is, however, only disused with a stern wind, whereas the sail is never spread without the assistance of one or both of thesheets; the staysails and studding-sails have only one tack and one sheet each; the staysail-tacks are fastened forward, and the sheets drawn aft; but the studding-sail tacks draw to the extremity of the boom, while the sheet is employed to extend the inner corner.
SHEET-ANCHOR. One of four bower anchors supplied, two at the bows, and one at either chest-tree abaft the fore-rigging; one is termed the sheet, the other the spare anchor; usually got ready in a gale to let go on the parting of a bower. To a sheet anchor a stout hempen cable is generally bent, as lightening the strain at the bow, and being more elastic.
SHEET-BEND. A sort of double hitch, made by passing the end of one rope through the bight of another, round both parts of the other, and under its own part.
SHEET-CABLE. A hempen cable used when riding in deep water, where the weight of a chain cable would oppress a ship.
SHEET-COPPER. Copper rolled out into sheets, for the sheathing of ships' bottoms, &c.
SHEET-FISH. TheSilurus glanis, a large fish found in many European rivers and lakes.
SHEET HOME! The order, after the sails are loosed, to extend the sheets to the outer extremities of the yards, till the clue is close to the sheet-block. Also, when driving anything home, as a blow, &c.
SHEET IN THE WIND. Half intoxicated; as the sail trembles and is unsteady, so is a drunken man.
SHELDRAKE. TheAnas tadorna, a large species of wild duck.
SHELF. A dangerous beach bounded by a ledge of flat rocks a-wash. In icy regions, (seeTongue).
SHELF-PIECES. Strakes of plank running internally in a line with the decks, for the purpose of receiving the ends of the beams. They are also calledstringers.
SHELKY. A name for the seal in the Shetland Isles.