"Salt horse, salt horse, what brought you here?You've carried turf for many a year.From Dublin quay to BallyackYou've carried turf upon your back," &c.
IRISH PENNANTS. Rope-yarns hanging about on the rigging. Loose reef-points or gaskets flying about, or fag-ends of ropes.
IRON-BOUND. A coast where the shores are composed of rocks which mostly rise perpendicularly from the sea, and have no anchorage near to them, therefore dangerous for vessels to borrow upon.
IRON-BOUND BLOCKS. Those which are fitted with iron strops.
IRON-CLAD, CASED, COATED,ORPLATED VESSEL. One covered entirely, or in special parts, with iron plates intended to resist ordinary missiles. Where parts only are so protected, of course it may be done more effectually.
IRON GARTERS. A cant word for bilboes, or fetters.
IRON-HORSE. The iron rail of the head; the horse of the fore-sheet or boom-sheet traveller.
IRON-PLATED SHIPS.SeeArmour-clad.
IRONS. A ship is said to be in irons when, by mismanagement, she is permitted to come up in the wind and lose herway; so that, having no steerage, she must either be boxed off on the former tack, or fall off on the other; for she will not cast one way or the other, withoutbracing in the yards. Also,bilboes(which see). Also, the tools used by the caulkers for driving oakum into the seams. (See alsoBoom-irons.)
IRON-SICK. The condition of vessels when the iron work becomes loose in the timbers from corrosion by gallic acid, and the speeks or sheathing nails are eaten away by rust.
IRON-SIDES. Formerly a sobriquet for favourite veteran men-of-war, but latterly applied to iron and iron-clad ships.
IRON WEDGES. Tapered iron wedges on the well-known mechanical principle, for splitting out blocks and for other similar purposes.
IRON-WORK. A general name for all pieces of iron, of whatever figure or size, which are used in the construction and equipment of ships.
IRREGULAR BASTION. One whose opposite faces or flanks do not correspond; this, as well as the constant irregularity of most real fortification, is generally the result of the local features of the neighbourhood.
ISLAND. May be simply described as a tract of land entirely surrounded with water; but the whole continuous land of the Old World forms one island, and the New World another; while canals across the isthmuses of Suez and Panama would make each into two. The term properly only applies to smaller portions of land; and Australia, Madagascar, Borneo, and Britain are among the larger examples. Their materials and form are equally various, and so is their origin; some having evidently been upheaved by volcanic eruption, others are the result of accretion, and still more revealing by their strata that they were formerly attached to a neighbouring land. The sudden emergence of Sabrina, in the Atlantic, has occasioned wonder in our own day. So has that of Graham's Island, near the south coast of Sicily; and the Archipelago is daily at work.
ISLAND HARBOUR. That which is protected from the violence of the sea by one or more islands or islets screening its mouth.
ISLAND OF ICE. A name given to a great quantity of ice collected into one solid mass and floating upon the sea; they are often met with on the coasts of Spitzbergen, to the great danger of the shipping employed in the Greenland fishery.
ISLE. A colloquial abbreviation ofisland.
ISLE OF WIGHT PARSON. A cormorant.
ISLET,or Islot. Smaller than an island, yet larger than a key; an insular spot about a couple of miles in circuit.
ISOSCELES. A triangle with only two of its sides equal.
ISSUE. The act of dispensing slops, tobacco, beds, &c., to the ship's company; a distribution.
ISSUE-BOOK. That which contains the record of issues to the crew, and the charges made against them.
ISTHMUS. A narrow neck of land which joins a peninsula to its continent, or two islands together, or two peninsulas, without reference to size. The Isthmus of Suez alone prevents Africa from being an island, as that of Darien connects the two Americas.
IURRAM. A Gaelic word signifying a boat-song, intended to regulate the strokes of the oars. Also, a song sung during any kind of work.
IVIGAR. A name in our northern isles for the sea-urchin,Echinus marinus.
IVORY GULL,or Snow-bird. TheLarus eburneusof Arctic seas. It has a yellowish beak, jet black legs, and plumage of a dazzling white.
JAB,To. To pierce fish by prodding.
JABART. A northern term for a fish out of season.
JABB. A peculiar net used for catching the fry of the coal-fish.
JACK. In the British navy the jack is a smallunionflag, formed by the intersection of St. George's and St. Andrew's crosses (which see), usually displayed from a staff erected on the outer end of a ship's bowsprit. In merchant ships the union is bordered with white or red. (SeeUnion-jack.) Also, a common term for the jack or cross-trees. Also, a young male pike,Esox lucius, under a foot in length. Also, a drinking vessel of half-pint contents. (SeeBlack-jack.)—Jack, orJack Tar, a familiar term for a sailor. A fore-mast man and an able seaman. It was an early term for short coats, jackets, and a sort of coat-of-mail or defensive lorica, or upper garment.
JACK ADAMS. A stubborn fool.
JACK AFLOAT. A sailor. Euripides used almost the same term infloater, for a seaman.
JACKASSES. Heavy rough boats used in Newfoundland.
JACKASS PENGUIN. A bird, apt while on shore to throw its head backwards, and make a strange noise, somewhat resembling the braying of an ass.
JACK-BARREL. A minnow.
JACK-BLOCK. A block occasionally attached to the topgallant-tie, and through which the top-gallant top-rope is rove, to sway up or strike the yard.
JACK-BOOTS. Large coverings for the feet and legs, outside all, worn by fishermen.
JACK CROSS-TREES. Single iron cross-trees at the head of long topgallant-masts, to support royal and skysail masts.
JACKEE-JA. A Greenland canoe.
JACKET. A doublet; any kind of outer coat.—Cork jacket, is lined with cork in pieces, in order to give it buoyancy, and yet a degree of flexibility, that the activity of the wearer may not be impeded in swimming.
JACKETS. The casings of the passages by which steam is delivered into the cylinders of steam-engines. They are non-conductors of heat to check its escape.
JACKETTING. A starting, or infliction of the rope's-end.
JACK-HERN. A name on our southern coasts for the heron.
JACKING. Taking the skin off a seal.
JACK IN OFFICE. An insolent fellow in authority.
JACK IN THE BASKET. A sort of wooden cap or basket on the top of a pole, to mark a sand-bank or hidden danger.
JACK IN THE BOX. A very handy engine, consisting of a large wooden male screw turning in a female one, which forms the upper part of a strong wooden box, shaped like the frustum of a pyramid. It is used by means of levers passing through holes in it as a press in packing, and for other purposes.
JACK IN THE BREAD-ROOM,or Jack in the Dust. The purser's steward's assistant in the bread and steward's room.
JACK-KNIFE. A horn-handled clasp-knife with a laniard, worn by seamen.
JACKMAN. A musketeer of former times, wearing a short mail jack or jacket.
JACK NASTY-FACE. A cook's assistant.
JACK OF DOVER. An old sea-dish, the composition of which is now lost. Chaucer's host in rallying the cook exclaims,
"And many aJack of Doverhast thou sold,That hath been twies hot and twies cold."
JACK O' LANTERN. Thecorpo santo, or St. Elmo's light, is sometimes so called.
JACK-PINS. A name applied to the fife-rail pins, also calledTack-pins.
JACK ROBINSON.—Before you could say Jack Robinson, is a very old expression for a short time,—
"A warke it ys as easie to be doone,As tys to saye Jacke Robyson."
JACK'S ALIVE. A once popular sea-port dance.
JACK-SCREW. A small machine used to cant or lift weighty substances, and in stowing cotton or other elastic goods. It consists of a wooden frame containing cogged iron wheels of increasing powers. The outer one, which moves the rest, is put in motion by a winch on the outside, and is called either single or double, according to its increasing force. The pinions act upon an iron bar called thespear.
JACK-SHARK. A common sobriquet of theSqualustribe.
JACK-SHARP. A small fresh-water fish, otherwise known asprickly-back.
JACK'S QUARTER-DECK. The deck elevation forward in some vessels, often called a top-gallant forecastle.
JACK-STAFF. A short staff raised at the bowsprit-cap, upon which the union-jack is hoisted.
JACK-STAYS. Ropes, battens, or iron bars placed on a yard or spar and set taut, either for bending the head of a sail to, or acting as a traveller. Frequently resorted to for the staysails, square-sail yard, &c.
JACOB'S LADDER. The assemblage of shakes and short fractures, rising one above another, in a defective single-tree spar. Also, short ladders made with wooden steps and rope sides for ascending the rigging.
JACOB'S STAFF,or Cross-staff. A mathematical instrument to take altitudes, consisting of a brass circle, divided into four equal parts by two lines cutting each other in the centre; at each extremity of either line is fixed a sight perpendicularly over the lines, with holes below each slit for the better discovery of distant objects. The cross is mounted on a staff or stand for use. Sometimes, instead of four sights, there are eight.
JACULATOR. A fish whose chief sustenance is flies, which it secures by shooting a drop of water at them from its mouth.
JAG,To. To notch an edge irregularly.—Jagged, a term applied to denticulated edges, as in jagged bolts to prevent their coming out.
JAGARA,or Joggaree. A coarse brown sugar of India.
JAGS. Splinters to a shot-hole.
JAIL-BIRD. One who has been confined in prison, from the old term ofcagefor a prison; a felon absurdly (and injuriously to the country) sentenced to serve in the navy.
JALIAS. Small craft on the Arracan and Pegu coasts.
JAM,To. Anything being confined, so that it cannot be freed without trouble and force; the term is also applied to the act of confining it. To squeeze, to wedge, to press against. (SeeJambing.)
JAMAICA DISCIPLINE. The buccaneer regulations respecting prize shares, insisting that all prizes be divided among the captors.
JAMBEAUX. Armour to protect the legs.
JAMBING,or Jamming. The act of inclosing any object between two bodies, so as to render it immovable while they continue in that position; usually applied to a running rope, when, from pressure, it cannot travel in the blocks; the opposite ofrendering(which see).
JAMBS. Door-posts in general; but in particular thick broad pieces of oak, fixed up endways, between which the lights of the powder magazine are fitted.
JAMMED IN A CLINCH. The same ashard up in a clinch(which see).—Jammed in a clinch like Jackson, involved in difficulty of a secondary degree, as when Jackson, after feeding for a week in the bread-room, could not escape through the scuttle.
JANGADA. A sort of fishing float, or rather raft, composed of three or four long pieces of wood lashed together, used on the coasts of Peru and Brazil. The owner is called ajangadeira, but the term is evidently an application ofjergado(which see).
JANGAR. A kind of pontoon constructed of two boats with a platform laid across them, used by the natives in the East Indies to convey horses, cattle, &c., across rivers.
JANISSARY. A term derived fromjeni cheri, meaningnew soldiers, in the Turkish service.
JANTOOK,or Chuntock. A Chinese officer with vice-regal powers: he of Canton was calledJohn Tuckby our seamen.
JANTY,or Jaunty. A vessel in showy condition; dressed in flags.
JAPANESE WHALE-BOAT. A long, open, and sharp rowing-boat of Japan.
JARGANEE. A Manx term for small worms on the sea-shore, and used as bait.
JARRING. The vibrations and tremblings occasioned in some steam-vessels by the machinery.
JAVA POT. A kind of sponge of the speciesAlcyonium.
JAVELS. An old term for dirty, idle fellows, wandering about quays and docks.
JAW. The inner, hollowed, semicircular end of a gaff or boom, which presses against the mast; the points of the jaw are calledhorns. Also, coarse and often petulant loquacity.—Long-jawedapplies to a rope or cable, when by great strain it untwists, and exhibits one revolution where four were before; similar to long and short threads of the screw.
JAW-BREAKERS. Hard and infrequent words.
JAWING-TACKS. When a person speaks with vociferous fluency, he is said to have hauled his jawing-tacks on board.
JAW-ME-DOWN. An arrogant, overbearing, and unsound loud arguer.
JAW OF A BLOCK. The space in the shell where the sheave revolves.
JAW-ROPE. A line attached to the horns of the jaws to prevent the gaff from coming off the mast. It is usually furnished with bull's eyes (perforated balls) to make it shift easily up or down the mast.
JAYLS. The cracks and fissures of timber in seasoning.
JEER-BITTS. Those to which the jeers are fastened and belayed.
JEER-BLOCKS. Are twofold or threefold blocks, through which the jeer-falls are rove, and applied to hoist, suspend, or lower the main and fore yards.
JEER-CAPSTAN. One placed between the fore and main masts, serving to stretch a rope, heave upon the jeers, and take the viol to. Very seldom used. It is indeed deemed the spare capstan, and is frequently housed in by sheep-pens and fowl-racks.
JEERS. Answer the same purpose to the main-sail, fore-sail, and mizen, as halliards do to all inferior sails. The tye, a sort of runner, or thick rope, is the upper part of the jeers. Also, an assemblage of strong tackles by which the lower yards are hoisted up along the mast, or lowered down, as occasion requires; the former of which operations is calledswaying, and the latterstriking(both of which see).
JEFFERY'S GLUE.SeeMarine Glue.
JELBA. A large coasting-boat of the Red Sea.
JELLY-FISH. A common name for theMedusæ, soft gelatinous marine animals, belonging to the classAcalephæ.
JEMMY. A finical fellow in the usual sense, but adopted as a nautical term by the mutineers of '97, to express thenobs, orheadsof officers. Also, a handy crow-bar or lever.
JEMMY DUCKS. The ship's poulterer. A sobriquet which has universally obtained in a man-of-war.
JERBE.SeeJelba.
JERGADO,or Gingado. An early term for a light skiff (circa1550).
JERK. A sudden snatch or drawing pull; particularly applied to that given to the trigger of a lock. (SeeSaccade.)
JERKED BEEF. Charqui. Meat cured by drying in the open air, with or without salt. Also, the name of an American coin.
JERKIN. An old name for a coatee, or skirted jacket.
JERKING. A quick break in a heavy roll of the sea.
JERME. A trading vessel of Egypt.
JERQUER. A customs officer, whose duty is to examine the land-waiters' books, and check them.
JERQUING A VESSEL. A search performed by the jerquer of the customs, after a vessel is unloaded, to see that no unentered goods have been concealed.
JERSEY. Fine wool, formerly called gearnsey, ganzee, or guernsey.—Jersey frocks, woollen frocks supplied to seamen.
JETSAM,or Jetson. In legal parlance, is the place where goods thrown overboard sink, and remain under water. Also, the goods cast into the sea.
JETTISON,or Jetsen. The act of throwing goods overboard to lighten a ship in stress of weather. The loss forms a subject for general average.
JETTY,Jettee, or Jutty. A name given in the royal dockyards to that part of a wharf which projects beyond the rest, but more particularly the front of a wharf, the side of which forms one of the cheeks of a dry or wet dock. Such a projection, whether of wood or stone, from the outer end of a wharf, is called ajetty-head.
JEW-BALANCE. A Mediterranean name of theZygæna malleus, or hammer-headed shark.
JEWEL. The starting of a wooden bridge. Also, the pivot of a watch-wheel.
JEWEL-BLOCKS. Are attached to eye-bolts on those yards where studding-sails are hoisted, and carry these sails to the extreme ends of the yards. When these jewel-blocks are removed, it is understood that there is no intention to proceed to sea, andvice versâ. The halliards, by which the studding-sails are hoisted, are passed through the jewel-block, whence, communicating with a block on the several mast-heads, they lead downwards to the top or decks, where they may be conveniently hoisted. (SeeSail.)
JEWELS.SeeJocalia.
JEW'S-HARP. The shackle for joining a chain-cable to the anchor-ring.
JIB. A large triangular sail, set on a stay, forward. It extends from the outer end of the jib-boom towards the fore top-mast head; in cutters andsloops it is on the bowsprit, and extends towards the lower mast-head. (SeeSail.) The jib is a sail of great command with any side wind, in turning her head to leeward. There are other jibs, as inner jib, standing-jib, flying-jib, spindle-jib, jib of jibs, jib-topsails, &c.—Jibis also used for the expression of the face, as thecut of his jib. Also, the arm of a crane.—To jib, is when, before the wind, the sail takes over to the opposite quarter; dangerous in strong breezes. (SeeGybing.)—Clear away the jib!The order to loose it, preparatory to its being set.—Flying-jib.A sail set upon the flying jib-boom.—Middle or inner jib.A sail sometimes set on a stay secured to the middle of the jib-boom.
JIB AND STAYSAIL JACK. A designation of inexperienced officers, who are troublesome to the watch by constantly calling it unnecessarily to trim, make, or shorten sail.
JIBBER THE KIBBER. A cant term for a diabolical trick for decoying vessels on shore for plunder, by tying a lantern to a horse's neck, one of whose legs is checked; so that at night the motion has somewhat the appearance of a ship's light.—Jiborjibbermeans a horse that starts or shrinks; and Shakspeare uses it in the sense of a worn-out horse.
JIB-BOOM. A continuation of the bowsprit forward, being a spar run out from the extremity in a similar manner to a top-mast on a lower-mast, and serving to extend the foot of the jib and the stay of the foretop-gallant-mast, the tack of the jib being lashed to it. It is usually attached to the bowsprit by means of the cap and the saddle, where a strong lashing confines it.—Flying jib-boom.A boom extended beyond the preceding, to which it is secured by a boom-iron and heel-lashing; to the outer end of this boom the tack of the flying-jib is hauled out, and the fore-royal-stay passes through it.
JIB-FORESAIL. In cutters, schooners, &c., it is the stay-foresail.
JIB-GUYS. Stout ropes which act as backstays do to a mast, by supporting the jib-boom against the pressure of its sail and the ship's motion.
JIBING,or Gybing. A corruption ofjibbing. The act of shifting over the boom of a fore-and-aft sail from one side of the vessel to the other. By a boom-sail is meant any sail the bottom of which is extended by a boom, which has its fore-end jawed or hooked to its respective mast, so as to swing occasionally on either side of the vessel, describing an arc, of which the mast will be the centre. As the wind or the course changes, the boom and its sail are jibed to the other side of the vessel, as a door turns on its hinges.
JIB OF JIBS. A sixth jib on the bowsprit, only known to flying-kite-men: the sequence being—storm, inner, outer, flying, spindle, jib of jibs.
JIB-STAY. The stay on which the jib is set.
JIB-TOPSAIL. A light sail set on the topmost stay of a fore-and-aft rigged vessel.
JIB-TRAVELLER. An iron ring fitted to run out and in on the jib-boom, for the purpose of bringing outwards or inwards the tack, or the outer corner of the sail; to this traveller the jib-guys are lashed.
JIB-TYE. A rope rove through a sheave or block on the fore-topmast head, for hoisting the jib.
JIFFY. A short space of time, a moment. "In a jiffy," in an instant; equivalent with crack, trice, &c.
JIG. The weight furnished with hooks, used injigging(which see).
JIGGAMAREE. A mongrel makeshift manœuvre. Any absurd attempt to substitute a bad contrivance for what the custom of the sea may be.
JIGGER. A light tackle used to hold on the cable when it is heaved into the ship. (SeeHolding-on.) Also, a small sail rigged out on a mast and boom from the stern of a cutter, boat, &c.—Fleet-jigger.A term used by the man who holds on the jigger, when by its distance from the windlass it becomes necessary tofleet, or replace it in a proper state for action. When the man gives the above notice, another at the windlass immediately fixes his handspike between the deck and the cable, so as to jam the latter to the windlass, and prevent it from running out till the jigger is replaced on the cable near the windlass.
JIGGER,Chigre. A very teazing sand-flea, which penetrates and breeds under the skin of the feet, but particularly at the toes. It must be removed, or it occasions dreadful sores. The operation is effected by a needle; but the sac which contains the brood must not be broken, or the whole foot would be infected, if any remained in it.
JIGGERED-UP. Done up; tired out.
JIGGER-MAST. In large vessels it is an additional aftermost mast; thus any sail set on the ensign-staff would be a jigger.
JIGGER-TACKLE. A small tackle consisting of a double and a single block, and used by seamen on sundry occasions about the decks or aloft.
JIGGING. A mode of catching fish by dropping a weighted line with several hooks set back to back amongst them, and jerking it suddenly upwards; the weight is frequently cast in the form of a small fish. Also, short pulls at a tackle fall.
JILALO. A large passage-boat of Manilla, fitted with out-riggers.
JILL. A fourth part of a pint measure; a seaman's daily allowance of rum, which formerly was half a pint.
JIMMAL,or Jimble.SeeGimbals.
JINGAL. A kind of long heavy musket supported about the centre of its length on a pivot, carrying a ball of from a quarter to half a pound, and generally fired by a matchlock; much used in China and the Indies. It is charged by a separate chamber, dropped into the breech and keyed.
JINNY-SPINNER. One of the names for the cockroach.
JIRK,To. To cut or score the flesh of the wild hog on the inner surface, as practised by the Maroons. It is then smoked and otherwise prepared in a manner that gives the meat a fine flavour.
JOB. A stipulated work.
JOBATION. A private but severe lecture and reprimand.
JOB CAPTAIN. One who gets a temporary appointment to a ship, whose regular commander is a member of parliament,&c.
JOB-WATCH,or Hack-watch, for taking astronomical sights, which saves taking the chronometer on deck or on shore to note the time.
JOCALIA. An Anglo-Norman law-term signifying jewels, which, with gold and silver, were exempted in our smuggling enactments.
JOCKS. Scotch seamen.
JOG. The shoulder or step of the rudder.
JOGGING. A protuberance on the surface of sawn wood.
JOGGLE. The cubic joints of stones on piers, quays, and docks. Also, notches at the ends of paddle-beam iron-knees outside, to act as a stop to the diagonal iron-stay, which is extended between the arms of each knee. (SeeJugle.)
JOG-THE-LOO! A command in small vessels to work the pump-brake, or to pump briskly.
JOHN. A name given to dried fish. (SeePoor John.)
JOHN BULL. The origin of this nickname is traced to a satire written in the reign of Queen Anne, by Dr. Arbuthnot, to throw ridicule on the politics of the Spanish succession.
JOHN COMPANY. The former board of directors for East India affairs.
JOHN DORY. A corruption ofjaune doré, which is the colour of this fish. It is one of theScombridæ,Zeus faber. John Dory was also the name of a celebrated French pirate.
JOHNNY RAW,or Johnny Newcome. An inexperienced youngster commencing his career; also applied to landsmen in general. (SeeRaw.)
JOHNNY SHARK. A common sobriquet of theSqualustribe.
JOHN-O'-GROAT'S BUCKIE. A northern name for theCypræa pediculus, a small shell found on our sea-coasts.
JOHN TUCK. The galley corruption ofchantuck, orjantook, a Chinese viceroy, specially meaning the viceroy of Canton.
JOIN,To. To repair to a ship, and personally to enter on an official position on board her. So also the junction of one or more ships with each other.
JOINER. One who is a cabinet-maker, and performs neat work as captain's joiner.
JOINT. The place where any two pieces of timber or plank are united. It is also used to express the lines which are laid down in the mould-loft for shaping the timbers.
JOLLY. This term is usually applied to a comely and corpulent person, but afloat it is a familiar name for a soldier.—Tame jolly, a militiaman;royal jolly, a marine.
JOLLY-BOAT. A smaller boat than the cutter, but likewise clincher-built. It is generally a hack boat for small work, being about 4 feet beam to 12 feet length, with a bluff bow and very wide transom; a kind of washing-tub. (SeeGellywatteandCutter.)
JOLLY JUMPERS. Sails above the moon-rakers.
JOLLY ROGER. A pirate's flag; a white skull in a black field.
JONATHAN. A name often applied to Americans in general, but reallyappropriate to the Quakers in America, being a corruption of John Nathan.
JONK.SeeJunk.
JORUM,of Grog, &c. A full bowl or jug.
JOURNAL. Synonymous at sea withlog-book; it is a daily register of the ship's course and distance, the winds and weather, and a general account of whatever is of importance. In sea-journals, the day, or twenty-four hours, used to terminate at noon, because the ship's position is then generally determined by observation; but the shore account of time is now adopted afloat. In machinery,journalis the bearing part of a shaft, upon which it rests on itsY's or bearings.
JOURNEY-WORK. Work performed by the day.
JOVIALL. Relating to the system of the planet Jupiter.
JOVICENTRIC. As seen from, or having relation to, the centre of Jupiter.
JOWDER. A term on our western coasts to denote a retail dealer in fish.
JOWL. The head of a fish. (Also,seeBlock.)—Cheek by jowl.Close together.
JUAN-MOOAR. The Manx and Erse term for the black-backed gull.
JUBALTARE. The early English word for Gibraltar.
JUDGE-ADVOCATEof the Fleet, or to the Forces. A legal officer whose duty it is to investigate offences previous to determining on sending them before a court-martial, and then to report on the sentence awarded. He has civil deputies in Great Britain; but officers (generally secretaries to admirals, or pursers) are appointed by the courts abroad.
JUDGE-ADVOCATE, DEPUTY. An officer appointed to assist the court upon some general courts-martial for the trial of officers, seamen, and marines, accused of a breach of the articles of war.
JUDGMENT. In prize matters, the sentences of foreign courts, even though such decisions be manifestly unjust, are conclusive in ours by comity. The tribunals of France are not so complacent.
JUFFER.SeeUphroe.
JUGGLE-MEER. A west-country word for a coast quagmire.
JUGLE,or Joggle. In ship-building, a notch in the edge of a plank to admit the narrow butt of another, as of the narrow end of a steeling-strake.
JULIAN PERIOD. A period of 7980 years, dating fromB.C.4713; being the product of the numbers 15, 19, and 28 multiplied into each other, they being respectively the lengths, in Julian years, of the Indiction, Metonic Cycle, and Solar Cycle. The Julian year was a period of 3651⁄4days, which was adopted as the length of the year after the reformation of the calendar by Julius Cæsar.
JULIO. An Italian coin, worth about sixpence.
JUMPERS. The short external duck-frock worn by sail-makers, artificers, riggers, &c., to preserve the clothing beneath.
JUMP-JOINTED. When the plates of an iron vessel are flush, as in those that are carvel-built.
JUNCO.SeePurre.
JUNGADA. A balza, or simple kind of raft, of several logs of wood, fitted with a tilt, and used on the coasts of Peru. It has a mast and sails, and by means of a rudder, not unlike a sliding keel in principle, is capable of working to windward. (SeeGuara.)
JUNGLE. A wilderness of wood; in Bengal the word is also applied to a tract covered with long grass, which grows to an extraordinary height. Jungles are dreaded for the fevers they engender.
JUNK. The Chinese junk is the largest vessel built by that nation, and at one period exceeding in tonnage any war-vessels then possessed by England. The extreme beam is one-third from the stern; it shows no stem, it being chamfered off. The bow on deck is square, over which the anchors slide fore and aft. Having no keel, and being very full at the stern, a huge rudder is suspended, which at sea is lowered below the depth of the bottom. The masts are immense, in one piece. The cane sails are lug and heavy. The hull is divided into water-tight compartments, like tanks.—Junkis also any remnants or pieces of old cable, or condemned rope, cut into small portions for the purpose of makingpoints,mats,swabs,gaskets,sinnet,oakum, and the like (which see). Also, a dense cellular tissue in the head of the sperm-whale, infiltrated with spermaceti. Also, salt beef, as tough to the teeth as bits of rope, whence the epithet.
JUNKET. A long basket for catching fish.—Junketting, good cheer and hearty jollification.
JUPITER. The longest known of the superior planets, and the largest in the solar system; it is accompanied by four satellites.
JURATORY CAUTION. A process in the instance court of the admiralty, to which a party is discretionally admitted on making oath that he is unable to find sureties.
JUREBASSO. A rating in former times given to a handy man, who was partly interpreter and partly purchaser of stock.
JURISDICTION. Right, power, or authority which magistrates or courts have to administer justice.—Within jurisdiction of civil powers, as regards naval matters, is within a line drawn from headland to headland in sight of each other, and forming part of the same county. The admiralty jurisdiction is confined to three miles from the coast in civil matters, but exists wherever the flag flies at sea in criminal.
JURY-MAST. A temporary or occasional mast erected in a ship in the place of one which has been carried away in a gale, battle, &c. Jury-masts are sometimes erected in a new ship to navigate her down a river, or to a neighbouring port, where her proper masts are prepared for her. Such jury-masts are simply less in dimension for a light-trimmed vessel; as a frigate would have a brig's spars.
JURY-RUDDER. A contrivance, of which there are several kinds, for supplying a vessel with the means of steering when an accident has befallen the rudder.
JUS PISCANDI. The right of fishing.
JUWAUR. The spring-flood of the Ganges and adjacent rivers.
KAAG. A Manx or Gaelic term for a forelock, stopper, or linch-pin.
KABBELOW. Cod-fish which has been salted and hung for a few days, but not thoroughly dried. Also, a dish of cod mashed.
KABOZIR. A chief or governor on the African coast.
KABURNS. The old name for nippers.
KAFILA. A well-known Eastern word, meaning a party with camels travelling or sojourning; but it was also applied by our early voyagers to convoys of merchant ships.
KAIA. An old term for a quay or wharf.
KAIQUE.SeeCaique.
KALBAZ,or Halbaz. Pronouncedkalva; one of the best Turkish delicacies, composed of honey, must, and almonds, beat up together.
KALENDAR. Time accommodated to the uses of life. (SeeAlmanac.)
KALI.Salsola kali, a marine plant, generally burned to supply soda for the glass manufactories. Sub-carbonate of potass.
KAMSIN. A south-westerly wind which blows over Egypt in March and April, generally not more than three successive days at a time. Its name signifies the wind of fifty days, not as blowing for such a period, but because it only occurs during fifty days of March and April.
KANJIA. A passage-boat of the Nile.
KANNA. A name forginseng(which see).
KARAVALLA.SeeCaravel.
KARBATZ. A common boat of Lapland.
KAT. A timber vessel used on the northern coasts of England.
KATABATHRA. Subterraneous passages in certain mountains in Greece, through which the superfluous waters are discharged.
KATAN. A Japanese sword, otherwisecattan.
KATTAN. A corruption ofyataghan(which see).
KATTY.SeeCatty.
KAULE. A license for trade, given by the authorities in India to our early voyagers.
KAVA. A beverage, in the South Sea Islands, made by steeping thePiper inebriansin water.
KAVER. A word used in the Hebrides for a gentle breeze.
KAY,or Key[probably from the Dutchkaayen, to haul]. A place to which ships are hauled. Knoll or head of a shoal—kaya, Malay.
KAYAK. A fishing-boat in all the north polar countries; most likely a corrupted form of the easternkaiqueby our early voyagers.
KAYNARD. A term of reproach amongst our early voyagers, probably fromcanis.
KAYU-PUTIH,or Cajeputi Oil. From the Malay wordskayu, wood; andputih, oil; the useful oil obtained from theMelaleuca leucadendron.
KAZIE. A Shetland fishing-boat.
K.C.B. Sigla of Knight Commander of the most honourable military order of the Bath.
KEAVIE. A coast name for a species of crab that devours cuttle-fish greedily.
KEAVIE-CLEEK. In the north a crooked piece of iron for catching crabs.
KECKLING,or Cackling. Is covering a cable spirally (in opposition torounding, which is close) with three-inch old rope to protect it from chafe in the hawse-hole.
KEDELS.SeeKiddles.
KEDGE,or Kedger. A small anchor used to keep a ship steady and clear from her bower-anchor while she rides in harbour, particularly at the turn of the tide. The kedge-anchors are also used to warp a ship from one part of a harbour to another. They are generally furnished with an iron stock, which is easily displaced for the convenience of stowing. The old English wordkedgesignified brisk, and they are generally run in to a quick step. (SeeAnchor,Warp.)—To kedge.To warp a ship ahead, though the tide be contrary, by means of the kedge-anchor and hawser.
KEDGER. A mean fellow, more properlycadger; one in everybody's mess, but in no one's watch. An old term for a fisherman.
KEDGE-ROPE. The rope which belongs to the kedge-anchor, and restrains the vessel from driving over her bower-anchor.
KEDGING. The operation of tide-working in a narrow channel or river, by kedge-hauling.
KEEL. The lowest and principal timber of a ship, running fore and aft its whole length, and supporting the frame like the backbone in quadrupeds; it is usually first laid on the blocks in building, being the base of the superstructure. Accordingly, the stem and stern-posts are, in some measure, a continuation of the keel, and serve to connect the extremities of the sides by transoms, as the keel forms and unites the bottom by timbers. The keel is generally composed of several thick pieces placed lengthways, which, after being scarphed together, are bolted and clinched upon the upper side. In iron vessels the keel is formed of one or more plates of iron, having a concave curve, or limber channel, along its upper surface.—To give the keel, is to careen.—Keelformerly meant a vessel; so many "keels struck the sands." Also, a low flat-bottomed vessel used on the Tyne to carry coals (21 tons 4 cwt.) down from Newcastle for loading the colliers; hence the latter are said to carry so many keels of coals. [Anglo-Saxonceol, a small bark.]—False keel.A fir keel-piece bolted to the bottom of the keel, to assist stability and make a ship hold a betterwind. It is temporary, being pinned by stake-bolts with spear-points; so when a vessel grounds, this frequently, being of fir or Canada elm, floats and comes up alongside.—Rabbets of the keel.The furrow, which is continued up stem and stern-post, into which the garboard and other streaks fay. The butts take into the gripe ahead, or after-deadwood and stern-post abaft.—Rank keel.A very deep keel, one calculated to keep the ship from rolling heavily.—Upon an even keel.The position of a ship when her keel is parallel to the plane of the horizon, so that she is equally deep in the water at both ends.
KEELAGE. A local duty charged on all vessels coming into a harbour.
KEEL-BLOCKS. Short log ends of timbers on which the keel of a vessel rests while building or repairing, affording access to work beneath.
KEEL-DEETERS. The wives and daughters of keelmen, who sweep and clean the keels, having the sweepings of small coal for their trouble.
KEEL-HAULING. A severe punishment formerly inflicted for various offences, especially in the Dutch navy. The culprit was suspended by a rope from one fore yard-arm attached to his back, with a weight upon his legs, and having another rope fastened to him, leading under the ship's bottom, and through a block at its opposite yard-arm; he was then let fall into the sea, when, passing under the ship's bottom, he was hoisted up on the opposite side of the vessel to the other yard-arm. Aptly described as "under-going a great hard-ship."
KEELING. Rolling on her keel. Also, a sort of cod-fish; some restrict the term to theGadus morhua, or large cod.
KEEL LEGor Hook. Means any anchor; as, "she has come to a keelock."
KEELMEN. A rough and hardy body of men, who work thekeelsof Newcastle. Sometimes termed keel-bullies. They are recognized as mariners in various statutes.
KEEL-PIECES. The parts of the keel which are of large timber.
KEEL-RAKE. Synonymous withkeel-haul.SeeKeel-hauling.
KEEL-ROPE. A coarse rope formerly used for cleaning the limber-holes.
KEELS. An old British name for long vessels—formerly writtenceolandcyulis. Verstegan informs us that the Saxons came over in three large ships, styled by themselveskeeles.
KEELSON,or Kelson. An internal keel, laid upon the middle of the floor-timbers, immediately over the keel, and serving to bind all together by means of long bolts driven from without, and clinched on the upper side of the keelson. The main keelson, in order to fit with more security upon the floor-timbers, is notched opposite to each of them, and there secured by spike-nails. The pieces of which it is formed are usually less in breadth and thickness than those of the keel.
KEELSON-RIDER.SeeFalse Kelson.
KEEL-STAPLES. Generally made of copper, from six to twelve inches long, with a jagged hook to each end. They are driven into the sides of the main and false keels to fasten them.
KEEP. A strong donjon or tower in the middle of a castle, usually thelast resort of its garrison in a siege. Also, a reservoir for fish by the side of a river.—To keep, a term used on several occasions in navigation; as, "Keep her away," alter the ship's course to leeward, by sailing further off the wind. The reverse is, "Keep your wind, keep your luff," close to the wind.
KEEP A GOOD HOLD OF THE LAND. Is to hug it as near as it can safely be done.
KEEP HER OWN. Not to fall off; not driven back by tide.
KEEPING A GOOD OFFING. To keep well off shore while under sail, so as to be clear of danger should the wind suddenly shift and blow towards the shore.
KEEPING A WATCH. To have charge of the deck. Also, the act of being on watch-duty.
KEEPING FULL FOR STAYS. A necessary precaution to give the sails full force, in aid of the rudder when going about.
KEEPING HER WAY. The force of steady motion through the water, continued after the power which gave it has varied or diminished.
KEEPING THE SEA. The term formerly used when orders were issued for the array of the inhabitants of the sea-coasts.
KEEP OFF. To fall to a distance from the shore, or a ship, &c. (SeeOffing.)
KEEP THE LAND ABOARD. Is to sail along it, or within sight, as much as possible, or as close as danger will permit.
KEEP YOUR LUFF. An order to the helmsman to keep the ship close to the wind,i.e.sailing with a course as near as possible to the direction from which the wind is coming. (SeeClose-hauled.)
KEG. A small cask, of no fixed contents. Used familiarly for taking offence, asto keg, is to irritate.—To carry the keg.To continue; originally a smuggler's phrase.
KEGGED. Feeling affronted or jeered at.
KELDS. The still parts of a river, which have an oily smoothness while the rest of the water is ruffled.
KELF. The incision made in a tree by the axe when felling it.
KELING. A large kind of cod. Thus in Havelok:—