"When virtuespoomsbefore a prosp'rous gale,My heaving wishes help to fill the sail."
SPOON-DRIFT. A showery sprinkling of the water swept from the tops of the waves in a brisk gale. Driving snow is also sometimes termed spoon-drift.
SPOONING,or Spooming. Driving under a heavy gale, such as forces a ship to run before it without any canvas set.
SPOON-WAYS. In slave-ships, stowing the poor wretches so closely locked together, that it is difficult to move without treading upon them.
SPOTS ON THE SUN.SeeMaculæ.
SPOUT. A term applied to the blowing or breathing of whales and other cetaceans. The expired air, highly charged with moisture from the lungs, has frequently been mistaken for a stream of water. (See alsoWater-spout.)
SPOUTER. A whaling term for a South Sea whale.
SPRAT WEATHER. The dark days of November and December, so called from that being the most favourable season for catching sprats.
SPREAD A FLEET,To. To keep more open order.
SPREAD EAGLE. A person seized in the rigging; generally a passenger thus made to pay his entrance forfeit.
SPREE. Uproarious jollity, sport, and merriment.
SPRING. A crack running obliquely through any part of a mast or yard, which renders it unsafe to carry the usual sail thereon, and the spar is then said to be sprung. Also, a hawser laid out to some fixed object to slue a vessel proceeding to sea. (SeeWarp.)—To spring.To split or break.—To spring a butt.To start the end of a plank on the outside of a ship's bottom. (SeeButt.)—To spring a leak, is when a vessel is suddenly discovered to leak.—To spring the luff, easing the helm down to receive a breeze; to bring a vessel's head closer to the wind in sailing. Thus a vessel coming up sharply to the wind under full way shoots, and may run much to windward of her course, until met by a contrary helm.—To spring a mine.To fire its charge.
SPRING-BEAM. In a steamer, a fore-and-aft beam for connecting the two paddle-beams, and supporting the outer end of the paddle-shaft.
SPRING-FORELOCK. One jagged or split at the point, thereby forming springs to prevent its drawing.
SPRING-SEARCHER. A steel-pronged tool to search for defects in the bore of a gun.
SPRING-STAYS. Are rather smaller than the stays, and are placed above them, being intended as substitutes should the main one be shot away.
SPRING-TIDE. The periodical excess of the elevation and depression of the tide, which occurs when both the sun and moon act in the same direction.
SPRIT [Anglo-Saxon,spreotas]. A small boom which crosses the sail of a boat diagonally from the mast to the upper aftmost corner: the lower end of the sprit rests in a sort of becket called the snotter, which encircles the mast at that place. These sails are accordingly called sprit-sails. Also, in a sheer-hulk, a spur or spar for keeping the sheers out to the required distance, so that their head should plumb with the centre of the ship when taking out or putting in masts.
SPRIT-SAIL. A sail formerly attached to a yard which hung under the bowsprit, and of importance in naval actions of old.
SPRIT-SAIL SHEET KNOT. May be crowned and walled, or double-walled, and is often used as a stopper-knot.
SPRIT-SAIL TOP-SAIL. A sail extended above the sprit-sail by a yard, which hung under the jib-boom.—Top-gallant sprit-sailwas set upon the flying jib-boom in the same manner that the sprit-sail was set upon the inner jib-boom. The sprit-sail course, top-sail, and topgallant-sail were similar in effect to those on the fore-mast, and in former times, when the bowsprit stood more erect, it was indeed the bowsprit or mast.
SPRIT-SAIL YARD. A yard slung across the bowsprit, lashed to the knight-heads, and used to spread the guys of the jib and flying jib-boom. To this yard the sprit-sail was formerly bent.
SPRIT-SAIL YARDING. A cruelty in which some fishermen wreak vengeance on sharks, dog-fish, &c., that encroach on their baits, and foul their nets. They thrust a piece of wood through the gills of the unconscious offender, and in that condition turn it adrift upon the ocean.
SPROKET-WHEEL. That at the upper extremities of the chain-pump-tubes, worked by crank-handles.
SPRUNG. Damaged in various ways. Also, the ship slued round by means of guys. In ship-building, it indicates that a plank is strained so as to crack or fly open.
SPUEING THE OAKUM. When the ship's labouring forces the caulking out of her seams.
SPUN. The being turned back or rejected, on being examined touching qualifications.
SPUNGE. A cylindrical block of wood covered with sheepskin, used to clean the interior of a gun after firing, and to extinguish any sparks that may remain behind. Therope-sponge, fixed on a strong rope instead of a staff, has a rammer-head on its opposite end: it is used for service with lower-deck guns in bad weather when the ports cannot be opened except at moments for firing.
SPUNK. A fungus (Polyporus fomentariusand others) growing on the trunks of trees, from which tinder is made.
SPUN-YARN. A small line, formed of two, three, or more old rope-yarns not laid, but twisted together by hand or winch. Spun-yarn is used for various purposes, as seizing and serving ropes, weaving mats, &c.
SPUR. A projecting portion of a cliff. In fortification, spurs are walls that cross a part of the rampart and join to the town-wall. Also, in a sheer-hulk, the same assprit(which see).
SPURKETS,or Spirkets. The spaces between the timbers along a ship's side betwixt the upper and lower futtocks, or betwixt the rungs fore and aft.
SPURLING-LINE. The line which formed the communication between the wheel and the tell-tale: it went round a small barrel, abaft the barrel of the wheel, and made the pointer show the position of the tiller.Also, a line with thimbles as fair-leaders for running rigging. Now out of use.
SPURN-WATER. A channel left above the ends of a deck, to prevent water from coming any further. The water-ways.
SPURS,or Spur-shores. Large pieces of timber in launching, the lower ends of which are fixed to the bilge-ways, and the upper ends fayed and bolted to the ship's bottom for additional security.
SPURS OF THE BEAMS. Curved pieces of timber, serving as half-beams, to support the decks, where a whole one cannot be placed, on account of the hatchways.
SPURS OF THE BITTS. The same asstandards(which see).
SQUAD. A diminutive ofsquadron. Also, a small party of soldiers assembled for drill or inspection.
SQUADRON. A division of a fleet, as van, centre, and rear squadrons. A flying squadron may be commanded by a rear-admiral, and consist of any class of vessels. Also, a body of cavalry consisting of two troops, or from 80 to 150 men. Squadron is the ordinary unit in reckoning the cavalry force of an army.
SQUALL. A sudden gust of wind, frequently occasioned by the interruption and reverberation of the wind from high mountains. These are very frequent in the Mediterranean, particularly in the Levant.—A black squall.One attended with a dark cloud and generally heavy rain.—A white squall.This furious and dangerous gust occurs in clear weather, without any other warning than the white foam it occasions on the surface of the sea, and a very thin haze. When this squall reaches a ship, copious rain attends it. It is very destructive to the flying-kite school, and many lives have been sacrificed by it.
SQUARE. An instrument formed by a stock and a tongue fixed at right angles. Also, in the army, a formation of infantry devised to resist cavalry. (SeeHollow SquareandRallying Square.) Also, a term peculiarly appropriated to the yards and their sails. Thus, when the yards hang at right angles with the mast they are said to be "square by the lifts;" when perpendicular to the ship's length, they are "square by the braces;" but when they lie in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the keel, they are "square by the lifts and braces." The yards are said to be very square when they are of extraordinary length, and the same epithet is applied to their sails with respect to their breadth. Also, a figure composed of four equal sides and four right angles, is the square of geometry.
SQUARE-BUTTED. The yard-arms of small shipping so made that a sheave-hole can be cut through without weakening the yard.
SQUARE-FRAMES. In marine architecture, implies those frames which are square with the line of the keel, having no bevelling upon them.
SQUARE IN THE HEAD. Very bluff and broad in the fore-body.
SQUARE-KNOT. The same asreef-knot.
SQUARE MAIN-SAIL.SeeMain-sail.
SQUAREORSQUARING MARKS. Marks placed upon the lifts and braces.
SQUARE RIBBONS. A synonym ofhorizontal lines, orhorizontal ribbons.
SQUARE-RIGGED. Ships having chiefly square sails; a term used in contradistinction to all vessels which do not use them. It is also applied to vessels with unusually long yards. The term is also familiarly used to denote a person's being full-dressed.
SQUARE-SAIL. The flying sail, set on the fore-yard of a schooner, or the spread-yard of a cutter or sloop.
SQUARE-SAIL BOOM. A boom hooked on to an eye-bolt in the fore-part of the fore-mast of a fore-and-aft vessel, to boom out the square-sail.
SQUARE-SAILS. Colloquially applied to the courses; but the term may be used for any four-cornered sail extended to a yard suspended by the middle.
SQUARE-STERNED. Implies a stern where the wing-transom is at right angles with the stern-post. (SeePinkandRound Stern.)
SQUARE-STERNED AND BRITISH BUILT. A phrase to express the peculiar excellence of our first-class merchantmen.
SQUARE TIMBERS. Those timbers which stand square with, or perpendicular to, the keel.
SQUARE-TOPSAIL SLOOP. Sloops which carry standing yards.
SQUARE TUCK. The after-part of a ship's bottom, when terminated in the same direction up and down as the wing-transom.
SQUARE YARDS! The order to attend to the lifts and braces, for going before the wind.—To square a yard.In working ship, means to bring it in square by the marks on the braces. Figuratively, to settle accounts.
SQUARING THE DEAD-EYES. Bringing them to a line parallel to the sheer of the ship.
SQUARING THE RATLINES. Seeing that all are horizontal and ship-shape.
SQUATTER. The flutter of sea-birds along the water. Also, one who settles, without a title. The hybrid but expressive Americanismabsquatulate, means to clear off; the reverse of tosquat.
SQUAW. A woman of the North American Indians.
SQUEEGEE. An effective swabbing implement, having a plate of gutta-percha fitted at the end of a broom handle.
SQUETEE. The Yankee name of a labrus, very common in the waters of Long Island Sound and adjacent bays, but never found in rivers.
SQUID. An animal allied to the cuttle-fish, belonging to the classCephalopoda; the calamary orLoligoof naturalists.
SQUILGEE,or Squillagee. A small swab made of untwisted yarns. Figuratively, a lazy mean fellow.
SQUIRM. A wriggling motion like that of an eel. Also, a twist in a rope.
STABBER. A pegging awl; the same aspricker.
STABILITY. A quality implying a ship's capacity to bear every motion of the sea.
STACK. A precipitous rock rising out of the sea, in northern hydrography.
STACKEN CLOUD. The same ascumulus(which see).
STADE. The Anglo-Saxonstæde, still in use. A station for ships. From stade is derivedstaith(which see).
STAFF. A light pole erected in different parts of a ship, whereon to hoist and display the colours; as,the ensign-staff, reared immediately over the stern;the jack-staff, fixed on the bowsprit-cap. In military affairs, the staff includes all officials not having direct and specific military command, as the adjutant-general, quartermaster-general, majors of brigade, aides-de-camp, &c. This term has been unaccountably pilfered by the admiralty lately from the army, as a prefix to a naval title.
STAFF-CAPTAIN. A designation conferred in 1863 upon masters of the fleet.
STAFF-COMMANDERS. A designation conferred in 1863 on masters of fifteen years' seniority.
STAFF-OFFICER. On the general staff of the army, or of a combined force.SeeStaff.
STAG. A name given to a rock that should be watched for, as off the Lizard, Castlehaven, &c.
STAGE. Planks let over the ship's sides by ropes, whereon the people may stand when repairing, &c.—A floating stageis one which does not need the support of ropes.—Stage-gangway(seeBrow).
STAGER. A resident or practised person.SeeOld-stager.
STAGGERING UNDER IT. A ship's labouring under as much canvas as she can bear.
STAGNES. A statute term for pools of standing water.
STAITH [Anglo-Saxonstæde]. An embankment on the river bank whence to load vessels. Also, a large wooden wharf, with a timber frame of either shoots or drops, according to circumstances.
STAKES. Aweir(which see) for taking fish, as black-stakes, &c.
STAL-BOAT. A peculiar fishing-boat, mentioned in statute 27 Eliz. c. 21.
STALKERS. Certain fishing-nets mentioned in old statutes.
STAMMAREEN. The after or helmsman's seat in a Shetland fishing-boat.
STAMP AND GO! The order to step out at the capstan, or with hawsers, topsail-halliards, &c., generally to the fife or fiddle.
STANCH.SeeStaunch.
STANCHIONS. Any fixed upright support. Also, those posts of wood or iron which, being placed pillar-wise, support the waist-trees and guns.
STANCHIONSof the Nettings. Slender bars of iron or wood, the lower ends of which are fixed in iron sockets at proper distances.
STAND,To. The movement by which a ship advances towards a certain object, or departs from it; as, "The enemy stands in shore;" "We saw three sail standing to the southward." "That ship has not a mast standing," implies that she has lost all her masts.
STANDARD. Formerly, in ship-building, was an inverted knee, placed upon the deck instead of beneath it, and having its vertical branch pointed upwards from that which lay horizontally.—Royal standard.A flag in which the imperial ensigns of England, Scotland, and Ireland are quartered. It is never hoisted on board a ship unless when visited by the royal family, and then it is displayed at the mast-head allotted to the rank; at the main only for the sovereign.
STANDARD-DEALS. Those planks of the pine or fir above 7 inches wide and 6 feet long: under that length they are known asdeal-ends.
STANDARD-KNEES.SeeDeck Standard-knees.
STAND BY! The order to be prepared; to look out to fire when directed.—Tostand bya rope, is to take hold of it;the anchor, prepare to let go.
STAND CLEAR OF THE CABLE! A precautionary order when about to let go the anchor, that nothing may obstruct it in running out of the hawse-holes. Also, a warning when idlers obstruct quarter-deck duty.
STANDEL. In our statutes, is a young store oak-tree.
STAND FROM UNDER! A notice given to those below to keep out of the way of anything being lowered down, or let fall from above.
STANDING BACKSTAYS. The rigging proper. (SeeBackstays.)
STANDING BEVELLING. The alteration made obtuse or outside a square, in hewing timber, as opposed to acute, orunder-bevelling, which is within a square.
STANDING BOWSPRIT. One that is fixed permanently in its place, not therunning-in bowspritof a cutter.
STANDING-JIB. The jib, as distinguished from the other jibs.
STANDING-LIFTS. Ropes from the mast-heads to the ends of the upper yards, to keep them square and steady when the sail is not set.
STANDING ORDERS. Special regulations remaining constant for some particular branch of service.
STANDING PART OF A HOOK. That part which is attached to a block, chain, or anything which is to heave the hook up, with a weight hanging to it; the part opposite to the point.
STANDING PART OF A SHEET. That part which is secured to a ring at the ship's bow, quarter, side, &c.
STANDING PART OF A TACKLEor Rope. The part which is made fast to the mast, deck, or block, in contradistinction to that which is pulled upon, and is called the fall, or running part.
STANDING PULL. One with the face towards the tackle, being about 2 feet each pull.
STANDING RIGGING. That part which is made fast, and not hauled upon; being the shrouds, backstays, and stays for the support of the masts.
STANDING UP. A ship in good trim, and well attended to, is saidto stand well up to her canvas.
STANDING WARRANTS. Those officers who remain with a ship in ordinary, or on the stocks, as the gunner, carpenter, boatswain, and cook, and till 1814 the purser.
STANDING WATER. Water where there is no current or tide.
STAND IN SHORE,To. To sail directly for the land.
STAND OF ARMS. A complete set for one man; now-a-days, simply a musket and bayonet. Also, an arm-stand holding the muskets and cutlasses on the quarter-deck—ornamental, and ready for salute or service.
STAND RIGHT UNDER! Jocularly, "Get out of the way."
STAND SQUARE,To. To stand or be at right angles relatively to some object.
STANGS. Poles put across a river. Also, eel-spears.
STANK. An old statute term forstaunch(which see).
STAPLE.Merchants of the stapleformerly meant those who exported the staple wares of the country.
STAPLE-KNEES,or Staple-lodging Knees. The same asdeck standard-knees(which see).
STAR,Double.SeeDouble-star.
STAR,Temporary.SeeTemporary Stars.
STAR,Variable.SeeVariable Stars.
STARBOARD. The opposite oflarboardorport; the distinguishing term for the right side of a ship when looking forward [from the Anglo-Saxonstéora-bórd].
STARBOARD THE HELM! So place the helm that the rudder is brought on the port side of the stern-post. (SeeHard-a-starboard.)
STARBOLINS. The old familiar term for the men of the starboard watch, as larbolin was for the larboard or port watch.
STAR-FISHES.SeeSea-star.
STAR-FORTS. Those traced in the form of a star, with alternate salient and re-entering angles. They are not in much favour, being expensive in construction, of small interior space, and having much dead space in their ditches.
STAR-GLINT. A meteorite.
STAR-PAGODA. A gold coin of the East Indies. In Madras its value is 7s.6d.
STARS,Fixed. Those innumerable bodies bespangling the heavens from pole to pole, distinguishable from the planets by their apparent fixity; it is, however, certain that many of them move through space at a rate vastly greater than that of the earth in her orbit, though, from their enormous distance, we can with difficulty perceive it.
START. A long handle or tail; whence, by analogy, "start point." But sometimes applied by navigators to any point from which a departure is taken. Also, the expected place of a struck whale's rising, after having plunged or sounded.—To start, applied to liquids, is to empty; but if to any weight, as the anchor, &c., implies to move.—To start bread.To turn it out of bags or casks, and stow it in bulk.—To start a butt-end.When a plank has loosened or sprung at the butt-end, by the ship's labouring, or other cause.—To start a tack or sheet.To slack it off, as in tacking or manœuvring, "raise tacks and sheets."
STARTING. An irregular and arbitrary mode of punishment with canes or ropes' ends, long since illegal in the British navy.
STARTING-BOLT,or Drift-bolt. A bolt used to drive out another; it is usually a trifle smaller.
STASH IT THERE! An old order to cease or be quiet.
STATE-ROOM. A sleeping cabin, or small berth, detached from the main cabin of merchantmen or saloon of passenger vessels.
STATION. The allotted places of the duties of each person on board. In most merchantmen the cry of "Every man to his station, and the cook to the fore-sheet," is calling the hands and the idlers.
STATIONARIÆ. Those vessels of a Roman fleet ordered to remain at anchor.
STATIONARY POINTS. Those points in a planet's orbit in which, as viewed from the earth, it appears to have no motion amongst the stars.
STATION-BILL. A list containing the appointed posts of the crew when performing any evolution but action.
STATIONER. One who has had experience, or who has been some time on a particular station.
STATIONING A SHIP'S COMPANY. Arranging the crew for the ready execution of the evolutionary duties of a ship.
STATION-POINTER. A circular instrument furnished with one standard radius, and two movable. By laying off two observed angles right and left from a central object, and laying the instrument over the objects on a chart, the position of the observer is instantly fixed.
STATIONS FOR STAYS! Repair to your posts to tack ship.
STAUNCH. A flood-gate crossing a river to keep up a head of water, and, by producing a rush in dry weather, floating the lighters over the adjacent shallows.
STAVE,To. To break a hole in any vessel. Also, to drive in the head of a cask, as of spirits, to prevent the crew from misusing it in case of wreck.—To stave off.To boom off; to push anything off with a pole.
STAVES. Wood prepared for the component parts of a cask. In 1781, staves were ruled not to be a naval store, unless it were shown that the French at Brest were in some peculiar want of casks. Also, the wood of lances, formerly an object of great care, insomuch that Shakspeare makes Richard III. say:—
"Look that my staves be sound, and not too heavy."
STAY. A large strong rope extending from the upper end of each mast towards the stem of the ship, as the shrouds are extended on each side. The object of both is to prevent the masts from springing, when the ship is pitching deep. Thus stays are fore and aft; those which are led down to the vessel's side arebackstays.—The fore-stayis that which reaches from the foremast-head towards the bowsprit end.—The main-stayis that which extends to the ship's stem.—The mizen-stayis that which is stretched to a collar on the main-mast, immediately above the quarter-deck.—Thefore-topmast stayis that which comes to the end of the bowsprit, a little beyond the fore-stay, on which the fore-topmast staysail runs on hanks.—The main-topmast stayis attached to the hounds of the fore-mast, or comes on deck.—The mizen-topmast stayis that which comes to the hounds of the main-mast. The top-gallant, royal, or any other masts, have each a stay, named after their respective masts.—Spring-stayis a kind of substitute nearly parallel to the principal stay, and intended to help the principal stay to support its mast.—Stay of a steamer.An iron bar between the two knees which secure the paddle-beams. (SeeFunnel-stays.)—To stay.To tack, to bring the ship's head up to the wind for going about; hence tomiss stays, is to fail in the attempt to go about.—In stays, orhove in stays, is the situation of a vessel when she is staying, or in the act of going about; a vessel in bad trim, or lubberly handled, is sure to beslack in stays, andrefuses stays, when she has to wear.
STAY APEEK. When the cable and fore-stay form a line. (SeeApeek.)
STAY-BARS,or Stay-rods. Strong malleable iron bars for supporting the framings of the marine steam-engine.
STAYED FORWARD. This term is applied to masts when they incline forward out of the vertical line; the opposite ofrake(which see.)
STAYSAIL. A triangular sail hoisted upon a stay.
STAYSAIL-NETTING.SeeBowsprit-netting.
STAYSAIL-STAY. The stay on which a staysail is set.
STAY-TACKLES,Fore and Main. Special movable purchases for hoisting in and out boats, anchors, &c. They plumb the fore and main hatchways, working in conjunction with fore and main yard tackles.
STEADY! The order given to the steersman, in a fair wind, to steer the ship on her course without deviating; to which he answers,Steady it is, sir.
STEADY-FAST. A hawser carried out to some fixed object to keep a vessel steady in a tide-way, or in preparation for making sail from a fast.
STEADY GALE. A fresh breeze pretty uniform in force and direction.
STEALING. The gaining of a rat-line or two in height while waiting on the lower part of the rigging for the order to go aloft. Also, a vessel is saidto steal aheadwhen she moves with the lightest breath of air.
STEAM-CHEST. The reservoir for steam above the water of the boiler; sometimes termedsteam-chamber.
STEAM-CRANE. A crane worked by means of a steam-engine.
STEAM-CYLINDER.SeeCylinder.
STEAM-FRIGATE. A large armed steamer commanded by a captain in the navy.
STEAM-HOIST. A machine in dockyards for driving piles, working pumps, &c.
STEAM NAVIGATION. The management of vessels propelled by steam-power.
STEAM-PACKET. A steamer employed in trading regularly between two places with goods and passengers.
STEAM-PIPE.SeeWaste Steam-pipe.
STEAM-PORTS. Oblong passages leading from the nozzle-faces to the inside of the cylinder; by them the steam enters and returns, above and below the piston.
STEAM-RAM. A new order of war-vessel, fitted for running prow on against an enemy's ship, to stave her in by crushing.
STEAM SLOOP-OF-WAR. One commanded by a commander.
STEAM-TUG. A vessel fitted with a marine steam-engine, and expressly employed for towing ships.
STEAM-WINCH. A machine for hoisting out cargo or working a ship's pumps.
STEATÆ. Broad low vessels used by the ancient pirates.
STEELER,or Stealer. The foremost and aftermost plank in a strake, which drops short of the stem or stern-post.
STEEP-TO. [Anglo-Saxonstéap.] Said of a bold shore, admitting of the largest vessels coming very close to the cliffs without touching the bottom. (SeeBold-shore.)
STEEP-TUB. A large tub in which salt provisions are soaked previous to being cooked.
STEERAGE. The act of steering. (SeeNice Steerage.) Also, that part of the ship next below the quarter-deck, immediately before the bulk-head of the great cabin in most ships of war. The portion of the 'tween-decks just before the gun-room bulk-head. In some ships the second-class passengers are calledsteerage passengers. The admiral's cabin on the middle deck of three-deckers has been called thesteerage.
STEERAGE-WAY. When a vessel has sufficient motion in the water to admit of the helm being effective.
STEER HER COURSE,To. Going with the wind fair enough to lay her course.
STEERING [Anglo-Saxonstéoran]. The perfection of steering consists in a vigilant attention to the motion of the ship's head, so as to check every deviation from the line of her course in the first instant of its commencement, and in applying as little of the power of the helm as possible, for the action of the rudder checks a ship's speed.
STEERING-SAIL. An incorrect name for a studding-sail.
STEER LARGE,To. To go free, off the wind. Also, to steer loosely.
STEER SMALL,To. To steer well and within small compass, not dragging the tiller over from side to side.
STEERSMAN. The helmsman or timoneer; the latter from the Frenchtimon, helm.
STEEVING. Implies the bowsprit's angle from the horizon: formerly it stood at an angle of 70 to 80 degrees, and was indeed almost a bow mast or sprit. Also, the stowing of cotton, wool, or other cargo, in a merchantman's hold with a jack-screw.
STEM. The foremost piece uniting the bows of a ship; its lower end scarphs into the keel, and the bowsprit rests upon its upper end. Theoutside of the stem is usually marked with a scale of feet and inches, answering to a perpendicular from the keel, in order to ascertain the ship's draught of water forward.—False stem.When a ship's stem is too flat, so that she cannot keep a wind well, a false stem, or gripe, is fayed on before the right one, which enables her to hold a better wind.—From stem to stern, from one end of the ship to the other.—To stem, to make way against any obstacle. "She does not stem the tide," that is, she cannot make head against it for want of wind.
STEM-KNEE. In ship-building, the compass-timber which connects the keel with the stem. (SeeDead-wood Knees.)
STEMSON. An arching piece of compass-timber, worked within the apron to reinforce the scarph thereof, in the same manner as the apron supports that of the stem. The upper end is carried as high as the upper deck, the lower being scarphed on to the kelson.
STEP. A large clamp of timber fixed on the kelson, and fitted to receive the tenoned heel of a mast. The steps of the main and fore masts of every ship rest upon the kelson; that of the mizen-mast sometimes rests upon the lower-deck beams.—To step a boat's mast.To erect and secure it in its step in readiness for setting sail.
STEP OF THE CAPSTAN. A solid block of wood fixed between two of the ship's beams to receive the iron spindle and heel of the capstan.
STEP OUT,To. To move along simultaneously and cheerfully with a tackle-fall, &c.
STEPPES. The specific application is to the vast level plains of South-east and Asiatic Russia, resembling the Landes of France. (SeeLandes.)
STEPPING. The sinking a rabbet in the dead-wood, wherein the heels of the timbers rest. (SeeBearding-line.)
STEPS OF THE SIDE. Pieces of quartering nailed to the sides amidships, from the wale upwards; for the people ascending or descending the ship.
STERE'S-MAN. A pilot or steerer, from the Anglo-Saxonstéora.
STERE-TRE. An archaic word for rudder.
STERN. The after-part of a ship, ending in the taffarel above and the counters below.—By the stern.The condition of a vessel which draws more water abaft than forward.
STERNAGE. The after-part of a ship, and therefore Shakspeare's term is simple enough for any but commentators. Henry V.'s fleet is sailing away:—
"O, do but think,You stand upon the rivage, and beholdA city on the inconstant billows dancing;For so appears this fleet majestical,Holding due course to Harfleur. Follow, follow!Grapple your minds to sternage of this navy."
STERN-ALL. A term amongst whalers, meaning to pull the boat stern foremost, to back off after having entered an iron (harpoon).
STERN-BOARD. This term is familiarly known to seamen as tackingby misadventure in stays; or purposely, as a seamanlike measure, to effect the object. Thus a ship in a narrow channel is allowed to fly up head to wind until her stem nearly touches a weather danger; the head-yards are then quickly braced abox, and the helm shifted. Thus she makes stern-way until all the sails are full, when she is again skilfully brought to the wind before touching the danger under her lee. Generally speaking, however, it refers to bad seamanship.
STERN-CHASERS. The guns which fire directly aft.
STERN-DAVITS. Pieces of iron or timber projecting from the stern, with sheaves or blocks at their outer ends, for hoisting boats up to.
STERN-FAST. A rope used to confine the stern of a vessel to a wharf, &c.
STERN-FRAME. That strong and ornamental union based on the stern-post, transom, and fashion-pieces.
STERN-KNEE. Synonymous withstern-son(which see).
STERN-LADDER. Made of ropes with wooden steps, for getting in and out of the boats astern.
STERNMOST. Implies anything in the rear, or farthest astern, as opposed to headmost.
STERN-PORTS. The ports made between the stern-timbers.
STERN-POST. The opposite to thestem; scarphed into the keel, and suspending the rudder. In steam-ships, where a screw is fitted, it works between this and an after stern-post which carries the rudder.
STERN-SHEETS. That part of a boat between the stern and the aftmost thwart, furnished with seats for passengers.
STERN-SON. A knee-piece of oak-timber, worked on the after dead-wood; the fore-end is scarphed into the kelson, and the after-side fayed into the throats of the transoms.
STERN-WALK. The old galleries formerly used to line-of-battle ships.
STERN-WAY. The movement by which a ship goes stern foremost. The opposite ofhead-way.
STEVEDORE,or Stivadore. A stower; one employed in the hold in loading and unloading merchant vessels.
STEWARD. There are several persons under this appellation in most ships, according to their size, appointed to the charge of the sea-stores of the various grades. The paymaster's steward has most to do, having to serve the crew, and therefore has assistants, distinguished by the sobriquet of Jack-o'-the-dust, &c. In large passenger ships which do not carry a purser, part of his duties devolves upon the captain's steward. In smaller merchant ships the special duties of the steward are not heavy, so that he assists in the working of the ship, and in tacking; his station is,ex officio, the main-sheet.
STICHLING. A grown perch, thus described by old Palsgrave: "Styckelyng, a maner of fysshe."
STICKLEBACK. A very small fish, armed with sharp spines on its back.
STICKS. A familiar phrase for masts.
STIFF. Stable or steady; the opposite tocrank; a quality by which aship stands up to her canvas, and carries enough sail without heeling over too much.
STIFF BOTTOM. A clayey bottom.
STIFF BREEZE. One in which a ship may carry a press of sail, when a little more would endanger the spars.
STIFFENING ORDER. A custom-house warrant for making a provision in the shipping of goods, before the whole inward cargo is discharged, to prevent the vessel getting too light.
STILL WATER. Another name forslack-tide; it is also used for water under the lee of headlands, or where there is neither tide nor current.
STING-RAY. A fish,Trygon pastinaca, which wounds with a serrate bone, lying in a sheath on the upper side of its tail; the wound is painful, as all fish-wounds are, but not truly poisonous, and the smart is limited by superstition to the next tide.
STINK-BALLS. A pyrotechnical preparation of pitch, rosin, nitre, gunpowder, colophony, assafœtida, and other offensive and suffocating ingredients, formerly used for throwing on to an enemy's decks at close quarters, and still in use with Eastern pirates, in earthen jars or stink-pots.
STIPULATION. A process in the instance-court of the admiralty, which is conventional when it regards a vessel or cargo, but prætorian and judicial in proceedings against a person.
STIREMANNUS. The term inDomesday Bookfor the pilot of a ship or steersman.
STIRRUP. An iron or copper plate that turns upwards on each side of a ship's keel and dead-wood at the fore-foot, or at her skegg, and bolts through all: it is a strengthener, but not always necessary.
STIRRUPS. Ropes with eyes at their ends, through which the foot-ropes are rove, and by which they are supported; the ends are nailed to the yards, and steady the men when reefing or furling sails.
STIVER. A very small Dutch coin. "Not worth a stiver" is a colloquialism to express a person's poverty.
STOACH-WAY. The streamlet or channel which runs through the silt or sand at low-water in tidal ports; a term principally used on our southern shores.
STOAKED. The limber-holes impeded or choked, so that the water cannot come to the pump-well.
STOCADO. A neat thrust in fencing.
STOCCADE. A defensive work, constructed of stout timber or trunks of trees securely planted together. Originally writtenstockade.
STOCKADE. Now spelledstoccade.
STOCK AND FLUKE. The whole of anything.
STOCK-FISH. Ling and haddock when sun-dried, without salt, were called stock-fish, and used in the navy, but are now discontinued, from being thought to promote the scurvy.
STOCK OF AN ANCHOR. A cross-beam of wood, or bar of iron, secured to the upper end of the shank at right angles with the flukes; by itsmeans the anchor is canted with one fluke down, and made to hook the ground.—Stock of a gun, musket, or pistol, is the wooden part to which the barrel is fitted, for the convenience of handling and firing it.Stockis also applied to stores laid in for a voyage, as sea-stock, live-stock, &c.—To stock to, in stowing an anchor, is, by means of a tackle upon the upper end of the stock, to bowse it into a perpendicular direction, which tackle is hence denominated the stock-tackle.
STOCKS. A frame of blocks and shores whereon to build shipping. It has a gradual declivity towards the water.
STOER-MACKEREL. A name for the young tunny-fish.
STOITING. An east-country term for the jumping of fishes above the surface of the water.
STOKE,To. To frequent the galley in a man-of-war, or to trim fires.
STOKE-HOLE. A scuttle in the deck of a steamer to admit fuel for the engine. Also, the space for the men to stand in, to feed and trim the fires.
STOKER,or Fireman. The man who attends to feed and trim the fires for the boilers in a steam-vessel.
STOMACH-PIECE.SeeApron.
STONACRE. A sloop-rigged boat employed to carry stone on the Severn.
STONE. The old term for a gun-flint.
STONE-BOW. A cross-bow for shooting stones.
STOOL. A minor channel abaft the main channels, for the dead-eyes of the backstays. (SeeBackstay-stools.)
STOOLS. Chocks introduced under the lowest transoms of a ship's stern-frame, to which the lower ends of the fashion-pieces are fastened; they form the securities of the quarter-galleries. Also, the thick pieces of plank, fayed together edgeways, and bolted to the sides of the ship for backstays. Also, the ornamental block for the poop-lantern to stand upon.
STOP. A small projection on the outside of the cheeks of a lower mast, at the upper parts of the hounds. Also, the word given by him who holds the glass in heaving the log, to check the line and determine how fast she is going.—To stop.To tie up with small stuff; as a sail isstoppedwhen sending it aloft to prevent the wind from blowing it away; a flag isstoppedto make a wheft, &c.
STOP HER! An order to check the cable in being payed out. Also, a self-explanatory phrase to direct the engineer of a steamer to stop the action of the engines.
STOPPAGEin Transitu. A valuable privilege under which an unpaid consigner or broker may stop or countermand his goods upon their passage to the consignee on the insolvency of the vendee.
STOPPERof the Anchor. A strong rope attached to the cat-head, which, passing through the anchor-ring, is afterwards fastened to a timber-head, thereby securing the anchor on the bow.
STOPPERof the Cable. Commonly called a deck-stopper. A piece ofrope having a large knot at one end, and hooked or lashed to a ring-bolt in the deck by the other; it is attached to the cable by a laniard, which is passed securely round both, by several turns passed behind the knot, or round the neck of the stopper, by which means the cable is restrained from running out of the ship when she rides, and is an additional security to the bitted cable.—Dog-stopper.A strong rope clenched round the main-mast, and used on particular occasions to relieve and assist the preceding when the ship rides in a heavy sea, or otherwise veering with a strain on the cable.—Wing-stoppers.Similar pieces of rope clenched round one of the beams near the ship's side, and serving the same purpose as the preceding.—Rigging-stoppershave a knot and a laniard at each end; they are used when the shrouds, stays, or backstays are stranded in action, or in a gale; they are then lashed above and below, in the same manner as those of the cables, to the wounded parts of the shroud, &c., which are thereby strengthened, so as to be fit for service. Other rigging-stoppers have dead-eyes and tails, so that by securing one dead-eye above and the other below the injury, they can be set up by their laniard, and brought to an even strain with the other shrouds. Stoppers are also pieces of rope used to prevent the running-rigging from coming up whilst being belayed. Sometimes they have a knot at one end, and a hook at the other, for various purposes about the decks.
STOPPERING. The act of checking or holding fast any rope or cable by means of a stopper.
STOPPER-KNOT. Single and double wall, without crowning, and the ends stopped together.
STOP THE VENT,To. To close it hermetically by pressing the thumb to it.
STOP-WATER. Anything tending to impede the sailing of a ship, by towing overboard. Also, a name for particular tree-nails.
STORE-KEEPER. An officer in the royal dockyards, invested with the general charge of naval stores, as the sails, anchors, cordage, &c.
STORES. A general term for the arms, clothing, ropes, sails, provisions, and other outfit, with which a ship is supplied.
STORE-SHIP. A government vessel appropriated for carrying munitions and stores.
STORM,To. To take by vigorous assault, in spite of the resistance of the defenders.
STORM-BREEDERS. Heavy cumulo-stratus clouds.
STORM-DRUM. A canvas cylinder 3 feet in length, expanded at each end by a strong wooden hoop 3 feet in diameter. Fitzroy's is painted black, and presents, when suspended, the appearance of a black square of 3 feet, from all points of view.
STORM-FINCH. The petrel, or Mother Cary's chicken.
STORM-JIB. In cutters, the fifth or sixth size: the inner jib of square-rigged ships.
STORM-KITE. A contrivance for sending a hawser from a stranded vessel to the shore.
STORMS [from the Anglo-Saxonsteorm]. Tempests, orgales of windin nautic language, are of various kinds, and will be found under their respective designations. But that is a storm which reduces a ship to her storm staysails, or to her bare poles.
STORM-SAIL. A sail made of stout No. 1 canvas, of reduced dimensions, for use in a gale.
STORM-SIGNAL. The hoisting of a danger-flag. Also, Fitzroy's drum and cone, which show the direction of the expected gale.
STORM-TRYSAIL. A fore-and-aft sail, hoisted by a gaff, but having no boom at its foot, and only used in foul weather.
STORM-WARNING.SeeForecast.
STORM-WAVE. A wave which tumbles home without being accompanied by wind. Sometimes the result of a gale elsewhere.
STORMY PETREL. A small dark coloured sea-bird,Procellaria pelagica.
STOVE. Broken in; thus, when violent damage is done to the upper part of a ship's hull, she is said to bestove; when on any portion of her bottom, she isbilged.—A stove, is a kind of kiln for warping timber in.—Hanging stovesare also used on board ship for airing the 'tween decks.
STOWAGE. An important art more practised than understood, for the stower seldom consults the specialities of the vessel's construction; it is the general disposition of the ballast, cargo, &c., contained in a ship's hold, with regard to their shape, size, or solidity, agreeably to the form of the vessel, and its probable centre of gravity. A badly stowed vessel cannot be properly handled, and is indeed dangerous to the lives of all on board. Owners and masters are legally liable to the losses by bad stowage or deficient dunnage. (SeeWet.)
STOWAGE GOODS. Those which usually pay freight according to bulk.
STOWED IN BULK.SeeBulk.
STOWING HAMMOCKS. Placing them in a neat and symmetrical order in the hammock-netting.
STOWING-STRAKE.SeeSteeler.
STRAGGLING-MONEY. If a man be absent from his duty without leave, but not absent long enough to be logged asrun, and is brought on board, a deduction is to be made from his wages at the discretion of the captain; not, however, to exceed the sum of £1.
STRAIGHT OF BREADTH. The space before and abaft the dead-flat, in which the ship is of the same uniform breadth as at the dead-flat.
STRAIN-BANDS. Bands of canvas sustaining the strain on the belly of the sails, and reinforced by the linings, &c.
STRAIT,or Straight. A passage connecting one part of a sea with another; as, the Straits of Gibraltar, of Sunda, of Dover, &c. This word is often written in the plural, but without competent reason.
STRAIT GULF. An arm of the sea running into the land through a narrow entrance channel, as the Gulf of Venice. The Mediterranean itself is but a vast strait gulf.
STRAKE. One breadth of plank in a ship, either within or without board, wrought from the stem to the stern-post.—Garboard-strake.The lowest range of planks, faying into the keel-rabbets.—Wash-strakeguards spray.
STRAND. A number of rope-yarns twisted together; one of the twists or divisions of which a rope is composed. The part which passes through to form the eye of a splice. Also, a sea-margin; the portion alternately left and covered by tides. Synonymous withbeach. It is not altered from the original Anglo-Saxon.
STRANDED. A rope is stranded when one of its strands is broken by chafing, or by a strain. A vessel is stranded when driven on shore, in which case the justices of the peace may call in assistance. The term "stranded on the beach," is not so incorrect as has been asserted; and comes under the usual exception in charter-parties and bills of lading, of "all and every dangers of the seas, rivers, and navigation of whatsoever nature or kind;" and in all policies of insurance it falls under the general words of "all other perils, losses, or misfortunes," against the risk of which the insurance is made.
STRANGE SAIL. A vessel heaving in sight, of which the particulars are unknown.
STRAPS OF THE RUDDER.SeePintles.
STRATAGEM. A plan devised to throw dust into the eyes of an enemy, in order to deceive him.
STRATEGY. The science of the naval and military combinations which compel movements and battles, or the contrary, but not including the operations of actual battle, which belong totactics.
STRATUS. A low cloud which forms a horizontal line. The higher cloud of the same shape is calledcirro-stratus.
STRAW! A word of command, now obsolete, formerly given to dismiss soldiers who were to remain in readiness to fall in again at a moment's notice.
STRAY LINE OF THE LOG. About 10 or 12 fathoms of line left unmarked next the log-ship, in order that it may get out of the eddy of the ship's wake before the measuring begins, or the glass is turned.
STRAY-MARK. The mark at the junction of the stray and log lines.
STREAM. Anglo-Saxon forflowing water, meaning especially the middle or most rapid part of a tide or current.
STREAM-ANCHOR. A smaller one by two-thirds than the bowers, and larger than the kedges, used to ride steady, or moor with occasionally. In certain cases it is used for warping.
STREAM-CABLE. A hawser smaller than the lower cables, and used with the stream-anchor to moor the ship in a sheltered river or haven; it is now more generally a small chain.
STREAMER. Formerly described thus:—"A streamer shall stand in the toppe of a shippe, or in the forecastle, and therein be putt no armes, but a man's conceit or device, and may be of the length of 20, 30, 40, or 60 yardes."
STREAM-ICE. A collection of pieces of drift or bay ice, joining each other in a ridge following in the line of current. (SeeSea-stream.)
STREAM-LAKE. One which communicates with, the sea by means of a river.
STREAM THE BUOY,To. To let the buoy fall from the after-part of the ship's side into the water, preparatory to letting go the anchor, that it may not foul the buoy-rope as it sinks to the bottom.
STREMES. An old English word for "the rays of the sun."
STRENGTH. In naval architecture, means giving the various pieces of a ship their proper figures, so that by their combination and disposition they may be united into a firm and compact frame. In regimental affairs it implies merely the number of men actually serving.
STRENGTH OF THE TIDE. Where it runs strongest, which in serpentine courses will be found in the hollow curves.
STRESS. Hard pressure by weather or other causes. Stress of weather often compels a ship to put back to the port whence she sailed.
STRETCH. A word frequently used instead of tack; as, "We shall make a good stretch."—To stretch.To sail by the wind under a crowd of canvas.
STRETCH ALONG A BRACE,To. To lay it along the decks in readiness for the men to lay hold of; calledmanning it.
STRETCHER.SeeSheer-pole.
STRETCHERS. Narrow pieces of wood placed athwart the bottom of a boat, for the rowers to place their feet against, that they may communicate greater effort to their oars. Also, cross-pieces placed between a boat's sides to keep them apart when hoisted up and griped. Colloquially, astretchermeans a lie exaggerated to absurdity.
STRETCH OUT! In rowing, is the order to pull strong; to bend forward to the utmost.
STRICTLAND. An archaic term for an isthmus.
STRIKE,To. A ship strikes when she in any way touches the bottom. Also, to lower anything, as the ensign or top-sail in saluting, or as the yards, topgallant-masts, and top-masts in a gale. It is also particularly used to express the lowering of the colours in token of surrender to a victorious enemy.
STRIKE DOWN! The order to lower casks, &c., into the hold.
STRIKERS. Men furnished with harpoons or grains to attack fish; hence the termdolphin-striker(which see), where these men place themselves.
STRIKE SOUNDINGS,To. To gain bottom, or the first soundings, by the deep-sea lead, on coming in from sea.
STRING [Anglo-Saxonstræng]. In ship-building, a strake within side, constituting the highest range of planks in a ship's ceiling, and it answers to the sheer-strake outside, to the scarphs of which it gives strength.
STRINGERS. A name sometimes applied toshelf-pieces(which see). Also, heavy timber similarly carried round a ship to fortify her for special heavy service, as whaling,&c.
STRIPPED TO THE GIRT-LINE. All the standing-rigging and furniture having been cleared off the masts in the course of dismantling.
STRIPPING. An inconvenient fault of many lead-coated projectiles—the throwing off portions of their coating on discharge from the gun.
STRIP THE MASTS,To. To clear the masts of their rigging.
STROKE. A pull or single sweep of the oars in rowing; hence the order, "Row a long stroke," which is intended to move the boat forward more steadily.
STROKE-OAR. The aftermost oar in a boat, from which the others take their time.
STROKE OF THE SEA. The shock occasioned to a vessel by a heavy sea striking her.
STROKE-SIDEof a Boat. That in which the after starboard rowlock is placed, or where the after oar is rowed if single-banked.
STROKESMAN. The man who rows the aftmost oar in a boat.
STROM. An archaism of storm or tempest.
STROMBOLO. Bits of ampelite or cannel-coal found on our southern coasts, charged with bitumen, sulphur, and salt. The name is referred to the Island of Stromboli, but the Brighton people insist that it is from the Flemishstrom-bollen, meaning stream or tide balls.
STRONG-BACK. The same withSamson's post(which see). Also, an adaptation of a strong piece of wood over the windlass, to lift the turns of a chain-cable clear of it.
STRONG BREEZE. That which reduces a ship to double-reefed top-sails, jib, and spanker.
STRONG GALE. That strength of wind under which close-reefed top-sails and storm-staysails are usually carried when close-hauled.
STROP,or Strap. A piece of rope, spliced generally into a circular wreath, and used to surround the body of a block, so that the latter may be hung to any particular situation about the masts, yards, or rigging. Strops are also used occasionally to fasten upon any large rope for the purpose of hooking a tackle to the eye or double part of the strop, in order to extend or pull with redoubled effort upon the same rope; as in setting up the rigging, where one hook of the tackle is fixed in a strop applied to the particular shroud, and the other to its laniard.
STROP-BOUND BLOCK. A single block used in the clue of square-sails for the clue-lines to lead through; it has a shoulder left on each side to prevent the strop from chafing.—Iron-strop, a hoop of iron, in lieu of rope, round the shell of a block.
STRUCK BY A SEA. Said of a ship when a high rolling wave breaks on board of her.
STRUT. A stanchion or sustaining prop to the lower beams.
STUBB,or Dogg. The lower part of a rainbow visible towards the horizon, and betokening squally weather: it is fainter than the wind-gall. On the banks of Newfoundland they are considered precursors of clearer weather, and termed fog-dogs.
STUD,or Bar. A small piece of cast-iron introduced across the middle of each link of the larger chain-cables, where, acting as a strengthener, it prevents collapse, and keeps the links endways to each other.
STUDDING-SAIL BOOM. A spar rigged out for the purpose of setting a studding-sail, and taking its name from the sail it belongs to.
STUDDING-SAILS. Fine-weather sails set outside the square-sails; the term "scudding-sails" was formerly used.—Top-mast and top-gallant studding-sails.Those which are set outside the top-sails and topgallant-sails. They have yards at the head, and are spread at the foot by booms, which slide out on the extremities of the lower and top-sail yards, and their heads or yards are hoisted up to the top-sail and top-gallant yard-arms.
STUDDING-SAIL YARD. The spar to which the head of the studding-sail is extended.
STUFF. Acoat of stuff, a term used for any composition laid on to ships' spars, bottom, &c. Also, square timber of different thicknesses.
STUFFING-BOX. A contrivance on the top of a steam cylinder-cover, packed with hemp, and kept well soaked with tallow, to prevent steam from passing through while the piston-rod is working.
STUMP. A derogatory but well-known name in navigating our eastern coasts for the beautiful tower of Boston church. (SeeSnags.)
STUMP TOPGALLANT-MASTS. Those without a royal pole.
STUN-SAILS. A corruption ofstudding-sails(which see).
STURGEON.Acipenser sturio, a large fish; it has a cartilaginous skeleton, with a small circular and tubular mouth. It is found in the European seas and larger rivers. The roes are made intocaviare, and the sounds and muscular parts into isinglass. It is a royal fish in England.
STURRE-MANNE. An old name for a sea-captain.
SUBALTERNS. All commissioned army officers ranking below captains.
SUB-LIEUTENANT. A rank lately reproduced, to which a midshipman is entitled on passing for lieutenant; formerly styled mate.
SUBMARINE BANK. An extensive sandy plateau with deep water over it.
SUBMARINE TELEGRAPH. Consists of a steel wire-rope, containing a heart of gutta-percha and other soft materials, in which are inclosed the copper wires through which the communication by electricity is conveyed. Rapid progress has been made in the art of making and handling this rope, as is proved by the existence of two cables between Ireland and America, one of which was recovered from the deep sea by creeping.