SHELL. In artillery, a hollow iron shot containing explosive materials, whether spherical, elongated, eccentric, &c., and destined to burst at the required instant by the action of itsfuse(which see).—Common shellsare filled with powder only, those fired from mortars being spherical, and having a thickness of about one-sixth of their diameter. (SeealsoSegment-shellandShrapnel Shell.) Also, the hard calcareous external covering of the mollusca, crustacea, and echinoderms.
SHELL-FISH. A general term applied to aquatic animals having a hard external covering or shell, as whelks, oysters, lobsters, &c. These are not, however, properly speaking, fish.
SHELLING. The act of bombarding a fort, town, or position.
SHELL OF A BLOCK. The outer frame or case wherein the sheave or wheel is contained and traverses about its axis.
SHELL-ROOM. An important compartment in ships of war, fitted up with strong shelves to receive the shells when charged.
SHELL, SHRAPNEL.SeeShrapnel Shell.
SHELVES. A general name given to any dangerous shallows, sand-banks, or rocks, lying immediately under the surface of the water.
SHELVING. A term expressive of step-like rocks lying in nearly horizontal strata, or inclining very gradually; as a "shelving bottom," or a "shelving land." Applied to the shore, it means that it ascends from the sea, and passes under it at an extremely low angle, so that vessels of draught cannot approach.
SHERE. An archaic sea-term for running aground.
SHEVO. An entertainment, thought by some to be derived from the gaiety of the chevaux, or horse-guards; more probably fromchez-vous.
SHIBAH. A small Indian vessel.
SHIELD-SHIP. A vessel fitted with one or more massive iron shields, each protecting a heavy gun or guns. The name was applied to an improvement on the "cupola-ship," before the latter was perfected into the "turret-ship."
SHIELD TOWERORTURRET. A revolving armoured cover for guns.
SHIEVE,To. To have head-way. To row the wrong way, in order to assist the steersman in a narrow channel.
SHIFT. In ship-building, when one butt of a piece of timber or plank overlaunches the butt of another, without either being reduced in length, for the purpose of strength and stability.—To shift[thought to be from the Anglo-Saxonscyftan, to divide]. To change or alter the position of; as, to shift a sail, top-mast, or spar; to shift the helm, &c. Also, to change one's clothes.
SHIFT A BERTH,To. To move from one anchorage to another.
SHIFTED. The state of a ship's ballast or cargo when it is shaken from one side to the other, either by the violence of her rolling, or by her too great inclination to one side under a great press of sail; this accident, however, rarely happens, unless the cargo is stowed in bulk, as corn, salt, &c.
SHIFTER. A person formerly appointed to assist the ship's cook in washing, steeping, and shifting the salt provisions; so called from having to change the water in the steep-tub.
SHIFTING A TACKLE. The act of removing the blocks of a tackle to a greater distance from each other, in order to extend their purchase; this operation is otherwise calledfleeting(which see).
SHIFTING BACKSTAYS,also Preventer. Those which can be changed from one side of a ship to the other, as the occasion demands.
SHIFTING BALLAST. Pigs of iron, bags of sand, &c., used for ballast, and capable of being moved to trim the vessel. Also, a term applied to messengers, soldiers, and live-stock.
SHIFTING-BOARDS. One or more wooden bulk-heads in a vessel's hold, put up fore-and-aft, and firmly supported, for preventing a cargo which is stowed in bulk from shifting.
SHIFTING-CENTRE.SeeMeta-centre.
SHIFTING SAND. A bank, of which the sand, being incoherent, is subjectto removal or being driven about by the violence of the sea or the power of under-currents. Very accurate experiments have proved that the sands at the mouths of rivers are differently acted on during every hour of tide (or wind together); hence sands shift, and even stop up or render some channels unsafe.
SHIFTING THE MESSENGER. Changing its position on the capstan from right to left, orvice versâ.
SHIFTING WINDS. Variable breezes, mostly light.
SHIFT OF WIND. Implies that it varies, or has changed in its direction.
SHIFT THE HELM! The order for an alteration of its position, by moving it towards the opposite side of the ship; that is, from port to starboard, orvice versâ.
SHIMAL. A severe gale of wind from the N.W. in the Gulf of Persia and its vicinity; it is accompanied by a cloudless sky, thus differing from theshurgee.
SHINDY. A kind of dance among seamen; but also a row. Apparently modernized from the old Ersesheean, clamour.
SHINE.To take the shine out of. To excel another vessel in a manœuvre. To surpass in any way.
SHINER. The familiar name for a lighthouse. Also, a name for thedace(which see). Also, money; Jack's "shiners in my sack."
SHINGLE. Coarse gravel, or stones rounded by the action of water; it is used as ballast.
SHINGLES. Thin slips of wood, used principally in America, in lieu of slate or tiles in roofing. In very old times a planked vessel was termed a "shyngled or clap-boarded ship."
SHINGLE-TRAMPER. A coast-guard man.
SHIN UP,To. To climb up a rope or spar without the aid of any kind of steps.
SHIP [from the Anglo-Saxonscip]. Any craft intended for the purposes of navigation; but in a nautical sense it is a general term for all large square-rigged vessels carrying three masts and a bowsprit—the masts being composed of a lower-mast, top-mast, and topgallant-mast, each of these being provided with tops and yards.—Flag-ship.The ship in which the admiral hoists his flag; whatever the rank of the commander be; all the lieutenants take rank before their class in other ships.—Line-of-battle ship.Carrying upwards of 74 guns.—Ship of war.One which, being duly commissioned under a commissioned officer by the admiralty, wears a pendant. The authority of a gunboat, no superior being present, is equal to that of an admiral.—Receiving ship.The port, guard, or admiral's flag-ship, stationed at any place to receive volunteers, and bear thempro. tem.in readiness to join any ship of war which may want hands.—Store-ship.A vessel employed to carry stores, artillery, and provisions, for the use of a fleet, fortress, or Garrison.—Troop-ship.One appointed to carry troops, formerly called a transport.—Hospital-ship.A vessel fitted up to attend a fleet, and receive the sick andwounded. Scuttles are cut in the sides for ventilation. The sick are under the charge of an experienced surgeon, aided by a staff of assistant-surgeons, a proportional number of assistants, cook, baker, and nurses.—Merchant ship.—A vessel employed in commerce to carry commodities of various sorts from one port to another. (SeeMerchantman.)—Private ship of war.(SeePrivateers, andLetters of Marque.)—Slaver, orslave-ship. A vessel employed in carrying negro slaves.—To ship.To embark men or merchandise. It also implies to fix anything in its place, as "Ship the oars,"i.e.place them in their rowlocks; "Ship capstan-bars." Also, to enter on board, or engage to join a ship.—To ship a sea.A wave breaking over all in a gale. Hence the old saying—
"Sometimes we ship a sea,Sometimes we see a ship."
To ship a swab.A colloquialism for mounting an epaulette, or receiving a commission.
SHIP-BOY. Boys apprenticed to learn their sea-duties, but generally appointed as servants.
SHIP-BREAKER. A person who purchases old vessels to break them to pieces for sale.
SHIP-BROKER. One who manages business matters between ship-owners and merchants, in procuring cargoes, &c., for vessels.
SHIP-BUILDER. Synonymous with naval constructor.
SHIP-BUILDING,or Naval Architecture. The art of constructing a ship so as to answer a particular purpose either for war or commerce. It is now expanding into a science.
SHIP-CHANDLER. A tradesman who supplies ships with their miscellaneous marine stores. (SeeMaterial Men.)
SHIP-CONTRACTOR. The charterer or freighter of a vessel.
SHIP-CRAFT. Nearly the same as the Anglo-Saxonscyp-cræft, an early word for navigation.
SHIP CUT DOWN. One which has had a deck cut off from her, whereby a three-decker is converted into a two-decker, and a two-decker becomes a frigate. They are then termed razées.
SHIP-GUNS. Those cast expressly for sea-service.
SHIP-KEEPER. An officer not much given to going on shore. Also, the man who has charge of a ship whilst she is without any part of her crew.
SHIP-LANGUAGE. The shibboleth of nautic diction, astau'sle,fok'sle, for top-sail, forecastle, and the like.
SHIP-LAST.SeeLast.
SHIP-LAUNCH.SeeLaunch.
SHIP-LOAD. The estimated lading or cargo of a vessel.
SHIP-LOG.SeeLog-book.
SHIP-LORD. A once recognized term for the owner of a ship.
SHIPMAN [Anglo-Saxonscyp-mann]. The master of a barge, who inthe days of Chaucer had but "litel Latin in his mawe," and who, though "of nice conscience toke he no kepe," was certainly a good fellow.
SHIPMAN'S CARD. A chart; thus Shakspeare's first witch inMacbethhad winds—
"And the very ports they blow,All the quarters that they knowI' the shipman's card."
SHIPMASTER. The captain, commander, or padrone of a vessel. (SeeMaster.)
SHIPMATE. A term once dearer than brother, but the habit of short cruises is weakening it.
SHIPMENT. The act of shipping goods, or any other thing, on board a ship or vessel.
SHIP-MONEY. An imposition charged throughout this realm in the time of Charles I., but which was declared illegal.
SHIP-OWNER. A person who has a right of property in a ship. The interest of part-owners is quite distinct, so that one cannot dispose of the share of the other, or effect any insurance for him, without special authority.
SHIPPER. He who embarks goods; also mentioned in some of our statutes as the master of a ship. (SeeSkipper.)
SHIPPING AFFAIRS. All business of a maritime bearing.
SHIPPING GOODS. Receiving and stowing them on board.
SHIPPING GREEN SEAS. When heavy seas tumble over the gunwale either to windward or leeward; sometimes resulting from bad steerage and seamanship, or over-pressing the vessel.
SHIPPING MANIFEST.SeeManifest.
SHIPPING MASTERS. Persons officially appointed and licensed to attend to the entering and discharging of merchant seamen.
SHIP-PROPELLER.SeeScrew-propeller.
SHIP RAISED UPON. One of which the upper works have been heightened by additional timbers. About the year 1816 several creditable corvettes of 600 tons were constructed; after three had been tried, the mistaken order was issued to make them into frigates. Hence the term donkey and jackass frigates,AtholandNiemento wit.
SHIP'S BOOKS. The roll of the crew, containing every particular in relation to entry, former ships, &c.
SHIP-SHAPE. In colloquial phrase implies, in a seamanlike manner; as, "That mast is not rigged ship-shape;" "Put her about ship-shape," &c. (SeeBristol Fashion.)
SHIP'S HUSBAND. The agent or broker who manages her accounts with regard to work performed, repairs, &c., under refit or loading.
SHIP-SLOOP. Commanders were appointed to 24-gun sloops, but when the same sloops were commanded by captains, they were rated ships.
SHIP'S LUNGS. Dr. Hall's name for the bellows with which he forced the foul air out of ships.
SHIP'S PAPERS. Documents descriptive of a vessel, her owners, cargo, destination, and other particulars necessary for the instance court. Also, those documents required for a neutral ship to prove her such.
SHIP'S REGISTRY AND CERTIFICATE. An official record of a ship's size, the bills of lading, ownership, &c.
SHIP'S STEWARD. The person who manages the victualling or mess departments. In the navy, paymaster's steward.
SHIP-STAR. The Anglo-Saxonscyp-steora, an early name for the pole-star, once of the utmost importance in navigation.
SHIP-TIMBER. Contraband in time of war.
SHIPWRECK. The destruction of a vessel by her beating against rocks, the shore, &c.—too often including loss of life. In early times the seizure of goods, and even the murder of the mariners, was apt to be the consequence.
SHIPWRIGHT. A builder of ships. The art of bending planks by fire is attributed to Pyrrhon, the Lydian, who made boats of several configurations.
SHIPYARD. Synonymous withdockyard.
SHIVER. Synonymous withsheave.
SHIVERING. To trim a ship's yards so that the wind strikes on the edges or leaches of the sails, making them flutter in the wind. The same effect may be intentionally produced by means of the helm.
SHOAL. A danger formed by sunken rocks, on which the sea does not break; but generally applied to every place where the water is shallow, whatever be the ground. (SeeFlat Shoal, Shole, orSchole.) Also, denotes a great quantity of fishes swimming in company—squamosæ cohortes. Also, a vessel is said to shoalen, or shoal her water, when she comes from a greater into a less depth.
SHOALED-HARBOUR. That which is secured from the violence of the sea, by banks, bars, or shoals to sea-ward.
SHOD,or Shode. An anchor is said to be shod when, in breaking it from its bed, a quantity of clayey or oozy soil adheres to the fluke and shank.
SHOE. The iron arming to a handspike, polar-pile, &c.
SHOE OF THE ANCHOR. A flat block of hard wood, convex on the back, and having a hole sufficiently large to contain the bill of the anchor-fluke on the fore-side; used to prevent the anchor from tearing the planks on the ship's bow when fishing it, for which purpose the shoe slides up and down along the bow. Where vessels ease the anchor down to "a cock-bill," it is also sometimes used.—To shoe or clamp an anchor.To cover the palms with broad triangular pieces of thick plank, secured by iron hoops and nails. Its use is to give the anchor a greater resisting surface when the mud is very soft. Also, for transporting on shore.
SHOE OF THE FORE-FOOT.SeeFore-foot,Gripe,Horse.
SHOE-PIECE. A board placed under the heel of a spar, or other weighty mass, to save the deck. In some cases intended to slip with it.
SHOLES.SeeSole.
SHOOT,To. To move suddenly; as "the ballast shoots on one side." Also, a ship shoots ahead in stays. Also, to push off in a boat from the shore into a current; to descend a rapid. The term is well used thus amongst the powerful rivers of N. America, of which perhaps the finest example is given by the St. Lawrence at La Chine, there reported to rush in spring-time at the rate of 40 miles an hour. Thus the shooting Old London Bridge was the cause of many deaths, and gave occasion to the admirable description in theLoves of the Triangles(anti-Jacobin), when all were agreed:
"'Shoot we the bridge,' the vent'rous boatmen cry;'Shoot we the bridge,' th' exulting fare reply."
SHOOT-FINGER. This was a term in use with the Anglo-Saxons from its necessity in archery, and is now called the trigger-finger from its equal importance in modern fire-arms. The mutilation of this member was always a most punishable offence; for which the laws of King Alfred inflicted a penalty of fifteen shillings, which at that time probably was a sum beyond the bowman's means.
SHOOTING-GLOVES. These were furnished to the navy when cross-bows, long-bows, and slur-bows were used.
SHOOTING OF NETS. The running out of nets in the water, as seins, drift-nets, herring-nets, &c.; but it does not apply to trawls.
SHOOTS,or Shuts. A large pipe or channel to lead away water, dirt, ballast, shot, &c., is called a shoot. The overfalls of a river, where the stream is narrowed by its banks, whether naturally or artificially, especially the arches of a bridge, constitute a shoot.
SHOOT THE COMPASS,To. To shoot wide of the mark.
SHOOT THE SUN,To. To take its meridional altitude; literally aiming at the reflected sun through the telescope of the instrument. "Have you obtained a shot?" applied to altitudes of the meridian, as for time, lunar distances, &c.
SHORE. A prop fixed under a ship's sides or bottom, to support her when laid aground or on the stocks. Shores are also termedlegswhen used by a cutter or yacht, to keep the vessel upright when the water leaves her. (SeeLegs.) Also, the general name for the littoral of any country against which the waves impinge, while the wordcoastis applied to that part of the land which only lies contiguous to the sea.—Bold shore.A coast which is steep-to, permitting the near approach of shipping without danger; it is used in contradistinction to ashelving-shore.
SHORE-ANCHOR. That which lies between the shore and the ship when moored.
SHORE-BOATS. Small boats or wherries plying for hire at sea-ports.
SHORE-CLEATS. Heavy cleats bolted on to the sides of vessels to support the shore-head, and sustain the ship upright.
SHORE-FAST. A hawser carried out to secure a vessel to a quay, mole, or anchor buried on shore.
SHORE REEF. The same as fringing reef.
SHORT,Short stay, Short apeek. "Heave short," means to heave in the cable till it is nearly up and down, and would hold the vessel securely until she had set all common sail, and would not drag or upset the anchor. If, however, the wind be free, and the making sail unimportant,shortwould probably beshort apeek, or up and down, the last move of weighing awaiting perhaps signal or permission to part.
SHORT ALLOWANCE. When the provisions will not last the period expected, they may be reduced in part, as two-thirds, half-allowance, &c., and thusshort-allowance moneybecomes due, which is the nominal value of the provisions stopped, and paid in compensation.
SHORT BOARDS. Frequent tacking, where there is not room for long boards, or from some other cause, as weather or tide, it is required to work to windward on short tacks in a narrow space.
SHORTEN,To. Said of a ship's sails when requisite to reduce those that are set. Andshorten in, when alluding to the anchor, by heaving in cable.
SHORT-HANDED. A deficient complement of men, or short-handed by many being on the sick-list.
SHORT-LINKED CHAIN. A cable without studs, and therefore with shorter links than those of stud-chains; such are slings and chains generally used in rigging bobstays, anchor-work, &c. Cables only have studs.
SHORT-SEA. A confused cross sea where the waves assume a jerking rippling action, and set home to the bows or sides; especially tiresome to boats, hampering the oars, and tumbling in-board. Also, a race.
SHORT-SERVICE. Chafing geer put on a hemp cable for a short range.
SHORT-SHEETS. Belong to shifting sails, such as studding-sails, &c.
SHORT-TACKS.SeeShort Boards.
SHORT-TIMEORSAND GLASS. One of 14 seconds, used in heaving the log when the ship is going fast.
SHOT. All sorts of missiles to be discharged from fire-arms, those for great guns being mainly of iron; for small-arms, of lead. When used without prefix, the term generally means the solid shot only, as fired for a heavy blow, or for penetration. Also, a synonym ofscot, a reckoning at an inn, and has immemorially been thus understood. Ben Jonson's rules are
"As the fund of our pleasure, let each pay his shot."
Also, a lot or quantity. Also, the particular spot where fishermen take a draught with their nets, and also the draught of fishes made by a net. Also, the sternmost division of a fishing-boat. Also, arrows, darts, or anything that was shot. Also, a kind of trout. Also, a foot-soldier who carried a fire-lock.—To be shot of, signifies to get rid of, turned out.—To shot the guns.In active service the guns were generally loaded, but not shotted, as, from corrosion, it was found difficult to draw the shot; and the working and concussion not unfrequently started it, and consequently, if the gun was fired before re-driving it "home," it was in danger of bursting.
SHOT-LOCKER. A compartment built up in the hold to contain the shot.
SHOT-NET. A mackerel-net.
SHOT-PLUGS. Tapered cones to stop any sized shot-hole.
SHOT-RACKS. Wooden frames fixed at convenient distances to contain shot. There are also, of recent introduction, iron rods so fitted as to confine the shot.
SHOTTEN-HERRING. A gutted herring dried for keeping. Metaphorically, a term of contempt for a lean lazy fellow.
SHOULDERof a Bastion. The part of it adjacent to the junction of a face with a flank. Theangle of the shoulderis that formed by these two lines.
SHOULDER ARMS! The military word of command to carry the musket vertically at the side of the body, and resting against the hollow of the shoulder; on the left side with the long rifle, on the right with the short.
SHOULDER-OF-MUTTON SAIL. A kind of triangular sail of peculiar form, used mostly in boats. It is very handy and safe, particularly as a mizen. It is the Bermuda or 'Mugian rig.
SHOULDER THE ANCHOR. When a seaman forgets his craft, and gives his ship too little cable to ride by, she may be thrown across tide, lift or shoulder her anchor, and drift off.
SHOUT. A light and nearly flat-bottomed boat used in our eastern fens for shooting wild-duck. (SeeGunning-boat.)
SHOUTE-MEN. The old name for the lightermen of the Thames.
SHOVEL. A copper implement for removing a cartridge from a gun without injuring it. Formerly used, and as late as 1816 by the Turks, to convey the powder into the chamber without using cartridges: also used to withdraw shot where windage was large. (SeeLadle.)
SHOVELL,or Shoveller.Spatula clypeata, a species of duck with a broad bill. Formerly writtenschevelard. Also applied to a hoverer or smuggler.
SHOVE OFF! The order to the bowman to put the boat's head off with his boat-hook.
SHOW A LEG! An exclamation from the boatswain's mate, or master-at-arms, for people to show that they are awake on being called. Often "Show a leg, and turn out."
SHRAB. A vile drugged drink prepared for seamen who frequent the filthy purlieus of Calcutta. (SeeDoasta.)
SHRAPNEL SHELL. Invented by General Shrapnel to produce, at a long range, the effect of common case; whence they have been also calledspherical case. They have a thickness of only one-tenth of their diameter; so that, on the action of the fuse, they are opened by a very small bursting charge, and allow the bullets with which they are filled to proceed with much the same direction and velocity that the shell had at the moment of explosion. They require, however, extremely nice management.
SHRIMP. The small crustaceanCrangon vulgaris, well known as an article of food.
SHROUD-KNOT.SeeKnot.
SHROUD-LAID. The combination in the larger cordage, also known as hawser-laid.
SHROUD-ROPE. A finer quality of hawser-laid rope than is commonly used for other purposes. It is also termed purchase-rope; but four-stranded rope is frequently used for standing rigging. All the strands are finer, of better hemp, and pass the gauge. Thus the patent shroud-laid rope, made from clean Petersburgh hemp, was found to break at a strain between 63⁄4and 71⁄4cwt. per inch of girth in inches squared. Thus a patent rope of 5 inches would require 175 cwt. Common rope, 25 threads in each strand, broke with 5 cwt. per inch, and fell off at 130 threads to 4 cwt. per inch. Thus,
cwt.qrs.lbs.A common10-inch cable weighed per 100 fathoms,19021A superior"2103
SHROUDS. The lower and upper standing-rigging. They are always divided into pairs or couples; that is to say, one piece of rope is doubled, and the parts fastened together at a small distance from the middle, so as to leave a sort of noose or collar to fix upon the mast-head; the ends have each a dead-eye turned in, by which they are set up by laniards to the channel. (SeeChainsandDead-eye.)—Bentinck-shrouds.Strong ropes fixed on the futtock-staves of the lower rigging, and extending to the opposite channels, where they are set-up by means of dead-eyes and laniards, or gun-tackle runner purchases, in the same manner as the other shrouds. Their use is to support the masts when the ship rolls.—Bowsprit shroudsare now generally made of chain. They support the bowsprit in the same way that other shrouds support the masts.—Bumkin or boomkin shrouds.Strong chains fixed as stays to the bumkin ends, to support the strain exerted by the fore-tacks upon them.—Futtock or foot-hook shrouds.Portions of rigging (now sometimes chain) communicating with the futtock-plates above the top, and the cat-harpings below, and forming ladders, whereby the sailors climb over the top-brim.Top-gallant shroudsextend to the cross-trees, where, passing through holes in the ends, they continue over the futtock-staves of the top-mast rigging, and descending almost to the top, are set up by laniards passing through thimbles instead of dead-eyes.—Topmast-shroudsextend from the top-mast head to the edges of the tops, and are set up to the futtock dead-eyes.
SHROUD-STOPPER. A stout rope-stopper made fast above and below a part of the shroud which has been damaged by an enemy's shot, or otherwise.
SHROUD-TRUCKS. Small pieces of wood with holes in them, but no sheaves; they are seized on the standing-rigging as fair leaders for the running-rigging. (SeeBull's-eye.)
SHUNT. A term recently introduced among engineers and gunners; but traceable back to the year 931, a "zunte-stone" being placed on a spot where the road deviated.
SHURGEE. A prevailing S.E. wind in the Gulf of Persia; it is usually preceded by a heavy dew, which is quite the reverse with theshimal.
SHUT IN,To. Said of landmarks or points of land, when one is brought to transit and overlap the other, or intercept the view of it.
SHUTTING ON. Joining the arms of an anchor to its shank. Also, welding one piece of iron to another to lengthen it.
SICK-BAY. A portion of the fore-part of the main-deck, reserved for the accommodation of the sick and wounded; any other place set apart for invalids is called thesick-berth.
SICK-BERTH ATTENDANT.SeeLoblolly-boy.
SICK-BOOK. An account of such officers and men as are on the sick list on board, or are sent to an hospital, hospital-ship, or sick-quarters.
SICK-FLAG. The yellow quarantine flag, hoisted to prevent communication; whence the term of the yellow flag, and yellow admirals. There are two others—one with a black ball, the other with a square in the centre—denoting plague, or actual diseases.
SICK-MESS. A table for those on the doctor's list. When seamen are thus placed, their provisions are turned over to the surgeon, who accounts for their re-purchase by government, if not consumed, and the proceeds are applied to purchase comforts beyond those allowed by the service.
SICK-TICKET. A document given to an officer, seaman, or marine, when sent to an hospital, certified by the signing officer and the surgeon, stating the entry, rank, rating, &c., together with other particulars.
SIDE. All that part of a ship which extends from stem to stern in length, and from the upper edge of the gunwale above, to the lower edge of the main-wale, below which thebottomcommences.
SIDE-BOYS,or Side-men. Those appointed to attend the gangways when boats come alongside, and offer the man-ropes to the officer ascending.
SIDE COUNTER-TIMBER. The stern timber which partakes of the shape of the top-side, and heels upon the end of the wing-transom.
SIDE-KEELSONS. A name for sister-keelsons. First used in mortar-vessels to support the bomb-beds; later they have crept in to support the engines in steamers, and furnish a free flow beneath their flooring for the water, as well as for ventilation.
SIDE-LADDER,or Accommodation-ladder. A complete staircase structure used in harbour by most large ships.
SIDE-LEVER. A lever on each side of the cylinder of a marine steam-engine, resembling the beam of the ordinary land-engine. (SeeLever.)
SIDE OUT FOR A BEND,To. The old well-known term to draw the bight of a hempen cable towards the opposite side, in order to make room for the bight being twined to coil it in the tier. The most expert and powerful seamen were selected for this duty, now rare.
SIDE-PIECES. Parts of a made mast.
SIDEREAL ASTRONOMY. That branch of the science which relates to the fixed stars.
SIDEREAL DAY. The interval between the departure and return of a star to the meridian; in other words, its two successive transits.
SIDEREAL PERIOD.SeeRevolution.
SIDEREAL TIME. The time shown by a clock regulated by the fixed stars, and compensated to accelerate upon mean time by the daily amount of 3 minutes 56·56 seconds.
SIDE-RODS. Rods hanging from each of the cross-heads, one on each side of the cylinder of a steam-engine, and connected to the pins of the side-levers below; their duty is to cause a simultaneous movement.
SIDE-SCALE. A simple graduation, adopted by Sir Philip Broke in theShannon, for the quick elevation or depression of the guns.
SIDE-STEPS. Pieces of wood bolted to the side of a ship for the convenience of ascending; in smaller vessels they have a ladder made of rope with wooden thwarts, which hooks to the gangway.
SIDINGORSIDED. The dimensions or size of timber, the contrary way to which the mould side is placed; one side sided smooth, to work from or to fit.
SIDING DIMENSION. The breadth of any piece of timber.
SIEGE. A continued endeavour, by systematic military means, such as batteries, trenches, mines, &c., to overpower the defences of a place and take possession of it.
SIEGE-ARTILLERY. The ordnance (guns, mortars, howitzers, &c.) used for overpowering the fire and destroying the defences of a fortified place; their weight and power, limited mainly by the kind of transport at hand, seldom exceed those of the light 100-pounder rifled gun, and are mostly above those ofguns of position, such as the old 18-pounder, or the 40-pounder rifle.
SIEGE-TRAIN. Properly, the whole of the material, with its transport, required for carrying on a siege; but more frequently used for the necessarysiege artillery, together with its ammunition, carriages, machines, and appliances of all kinds.
SIESTA. The hour of the afternoon in hot climates, when Spaniards, Italians, &c., retire to repose during the heat of the day.
SIGHTING THE LAND. Running in to catch a view.
SIGHTS. The fixed marks on fire-arms, by which their direction is regulated in aiming: generally, two small fittings of brass or iron, that near the breech having a notched head, and that towards the muzzle a pointed one. (SeeDispart.)—Astronomical sights.Observations taken to determine the time or latitude, as well as for chronometer rates.
SIGHT THE ANCHOR,To. To heave it up in sight, in order to prove that it is clear, when, from the ship having gone over it, there is suspicion that it may be fouled by the slack cable.
SIGHT-VANES.SeeVanes.
SIGNALIZE,To. To distinguish one's self; a word also degraded to the meaning of communicating intelligence by means of signals or telegraph.
SIGNAL-MAN. The yeoman of the signals; a first-class petty officer in the navy.
SIGNAL OF DISTRESS. When a ship is in imminent danger, she hoists her national flag upside down, and, if she is armed, fires minute guns; also lets fly top-gallant sheets, &c.; indeed does anything to attract observation.
SIGNAL-OFFICER. In a repeating frigate, a signal-midshipman; in a flag-ship, a flag-lieutenant.
SIGNALS. Codes of signals have been used for centuries and changed frequently. Their use is too well known to need explanation. They are conveyed by flags, semaphores, balls, guns, lights, rockets, bells, horns, whistles, &c., and half a century since were carried on with incredible ability. It may be also observed that signal officers of those days became subsequently the élite of the navy;signal-officerbeing then a proud term of distinction.—Fog-signals, certain operations which emit sound.—Night-signals, either lanterns disposed in certain figures, flashes, or false fires, &c.
SIGNIFER. The zodiac.
SIGNING OFFICERS. The captain, senior lieutenant, master, and purser (now paymaster); but where the document relates to the stores in charge of any stated officer, that officer is to sign it instead of the purser.
SIGNS OF THE ZODIAC. The emblems of the twelve divisions, into which the ancients divided the zodiac.
SILL. A northern term for the young of a herring.
SILLOCK. The podling, or young of the coal-fish, affording food and oil on the Scottish coasts; they are grayish, and are taken when somewhat less than a herring.
SILL OF A DOCK. The timber at the base against which the gates shut; and the depth of water which will float a vessel in or out of it, is measured from it to the surface.
SILLON. An old word for envelope. In fortification, formerly, a counterguard.
SILLS. The upper and lower parts of the framing of the ports. The bottom pieces of any ports, docks, scuttles, or hatches.
SILT. Sediment; ooze in a harbour, or at a lock-gate.
SILT-GROUNDS. Deep-water banks off Jamaica, wheresilt-snappersare fished for.
SILT-UP,To. To be choked with mud or sand, so as to obstruct vessels.
SILVER-CÆDUA. A statute term for wood under twenty years' growth.
SILVER-OAR. One of the badges of the civil court afloat, conferring the power to arrest for debt if not less than £20.
SILVER-THAW. The term for ice falling in large flakes from the sails and rigging, consequent on a frost followed suddenly by a thaw.
SIMOOM. The Arabian name for thesirocco(which see). The simoom,sirocco, samiel, and kamsin seem to be modifications of the same wind from the desert.
SIMULATION. The vice of counterfeiting illness or defect, for the purpose of being invalided.
SINE. A right sine in geometry, is a right line drawn from one end of an arc perpendicularly upon the radius from the centre to the other end of the arc; or it is half the chord of twice the arc.
SINET. An old Chaucerian term for zenith.
SINGING. The chaunt by which the leadsman in the chains proclaims his soundings at each cast:—