"And the nimble gunnerWithlinstocknow the devilish cannon touches,And down goes all before them."
LINTRES. Ancient canoes capable of carrying three lintrarii.
LIP. Insolence and bounce.
LIPPER. A sea which washes over the weather chess-tree, perhapsleaper. Also, the spray from small waves breaking against a ship's bows.
LIPPING. Making notches on the edge of a cutlass or sword.
LIPS OF SCARPHS. The substance left at the ends, which would otherwise become sharp, and be liable to split.
LIQUORS. A term applicable to all fluids, but at sea it is expressly applied to alcoholic spirits.
LIRA. An Italian coin. A silver coin of about tenpence sterling.
LISBONINE. A national denomination for the moidore.
LISSOM. Active, supple.
LIST,To. To incline to one side; as "the ship has a list to port,"i.e.leans over to that side.
LIST. A roll of names, as the army and navy lists; but usually at sea it means the doctor's list. Also, the abbreviation forenlist. "Why did you list?" said when a man is grumbling who has entered a service voluntarily.
LIST AND RECEIPT. The official document sent with officers or men of any description, discharged from one ship to another; it merely states the names and qualities, with the date of discharge.
LISTER. A sort of three-pronged harpoon used in the salmon fisheries; also, a light spear for killing fish in general.
LISTING. A narrow strip cut off the edge of a plank, in order to expose for examination, and get at, a vessel's timbers.
LITTER. A sort of hurdle bed, on which to carry wounded men from the field to the boats.
LITTORAL. Relating to a coast; often used as synonymous with sea-board.
LITTORARIÆ. Ancient coasting vessels.
LIVE,To. To be able to withstand the fury of the elements; said of a boat or ship, &c.
LIVE-LUMBER. Passengers,ladies, landsmen, cattle, sheep, pigs, and poultry.
LIVELY. To lift lightly to the sea; as a boat, &c.
LIVER-FACED. Mean and cowardly, independent of complexion.
LIVERY-ARROW. A missile formerly supplied to our ships of war.
LIVE-SHELL. One filled with its charge of powder or other combustible. It is also called aloaded shell.
LIVID SKY. That blackish red and blue which pervade the sky, previous to an easterly gale, at sea:—
"Deep midnight now involves the livid skiesWhere eastern breezes, yet enervate, rise."—Falconer.
LIZARD. A piece of rope, sometimes with two legs, and one or more iron thimbles spliced into it. It is used for various purposes; one is often made fast to the topsail-tye, for the buntlines to reeve through, toconfine them to the centre of the yard. A lizard with a tail and thimble is used as a fair lead, to lead out where the lift runs in a line with the object. The lower boom topping-lift is thus helped by carrying the lizard out to the fore-brace block. In yards sent aloft ready for crossing, the lizard confines the yard rope until the order is given, "Sway across," when, letting the lizard run, all cross simultaneously.
LIZIERE. In fortification, a word sometimes used forberm(which see). A narrow bank of earth supporting the parapet when deformed by fire.
LLANOS [Sp.plains]. Immense plains in S. America, with alternate arid patches and verdure.
LLOYD'S. An establishment which, from a subscription coffee-house, has grown to a society which has transacted the bulk of the British insurance business regularly since 1601; and even before that period assurers had met there "time out of mind." A register is kept of every ship, whether foreign or English, with the place where it was built, the materials used in its construction, its age, state of repair, and general character.
LLOYD'S AGENTS. Persons appointed in all parts of the commercial world, to forward accounts of the arrivals and departures of vessels, or any information interesting to the underwriters.
LLOYD'S LIST. A gazette, published formerly twice a week, but latterly daily, under the superintendence of a committee chosen by the subscribers, and transmitted over the whole world.
LLOYD'S REGISTER. An annual list of British and foreign shipping, ranked by letter and number in different classes.
LLOYD'S SURVEYORS. Practical persons specially appointed in London, and most of the out-ports of the United Kingdom, to investigate the state and condition of merchant-ships for the underwriters.
LOADED-SHELL. A shell filled with lead, to be thrown from a mortar. The term is also used forlive-shells.
LOADING-CHAMBER. The paterero, or inserting piece in breech-loading.
LOADING OF A SHIP.SeeCargoandLading.
LOADSMAN. A pilot, or person who conducts into or out of harbours.
LOADSTONE.SeeMagnetandDipping-needle.
LOAD WATER-LINE. The draught of water exhibited when the ship is properly loaded; in a word, her proper displacement, not always sufficiently considered.
LOAD WATER-SECTION. A horizontal section at the load water-line in the ship-builder's draught.
LOAFER. One who hangs about a dock, ready for every job except a hard one.
LOATH TO DEPART. Probably the first line of some favourite song; formerly the air was sounded in men-of-war, when going foreign, for the women and children to quit the ship.
LOB. A sluggish booby; whencelubber. Also, that part of a tree where it first divides into branches.
LOBBY. A name sometimes given to an apartment close before the great cabin bulk-head.
LOB-COCK. A lubber; an old term of utter contempt.
LOBLOLLY. A name formerly applied to pottage, burgoo, or gruel.
LOBLOLLY-BOY. A man who attended the surgeon and his assistants, to summon the sick, and attend on them. A man is now stationed in the bay, under the designation ofsick-berth attendant.
LOBSCOUSE. An olla-podrida of salt-meat, biscuit, potatoes, onions, spices, &c., minced small and stewed together. (SeeLap's Course.)
LOBSTER. A well-known marine crustacean,Astacus marinus. Also, red-coats of old; whencelobster-box, a colloquialism for barracks.
LOBSTER-BOAT. A bluff, clincher-built vessel, fitted with a well, to preserve the lobsters alive.
LOBSTER-TOAD.SeeDeep-sea Crab.
LOB-TAILING. The act of the sperm whale in violently beating the water with its tail.
LOB-WORM. A worm found at low-water in sand, esteemed for bait.
LOCAL ATTRACTION. The effect of the iron in a ship on her compasses; it varies with the position of a compass in a ship, also with that of a ship on the earth's surface, and with the direction of the ship's head. In iron ships it is affected by the line of direction in which they are built. Its detection and remedies are amongst the most important studies of navigators of iron ships and steamers.
LOCAL MARINE-BOARD.SeeMarine Boards.
LOCH. Gaelic for lake, in Scotland and Ireland. In Scotland also an arm of the sea, where the tides ebb and flow; on the east coast called afirth, though on the west mostly termed aloch.
LOCHABER AXE. A formidable weapon once used by the Highlanders.
LOCK. The striking instrument by which fire is produced for the discharge of a gun, containing the cock, the hammer, the pan, &c. It was first introduced in naval ordnance by Sir Charles Douglas, and has now given way to thedetonating hammerand friction-tube, as the old match and the salamander did to the lock.
LOCK. A spelling ofloch(which see). Also, the general name for any works made to confine or raise the water of a river; a canal inclosed between the sluice-gate above and the flood-gate below.
LOCK,To. To entangle the lower yards when tacking.
LOCKAGE. The cost of passing vessels through canal-locks.
LOCKER. Divisions in cabins and store-rooms.—Boatswain's locker.A chest in small craft wherein material for working upon rigging is kept.—Chain-lockerorchain-well, where the chain-cables are kept; best abreast the main-mast, as central weight, but often before the fore-mast.—Davy Jones' locker.The bottom of the sea, where nothing is lost, because you know where it is.—Shot-lockers, near the pump-well in the hold. Also, the receptacle round the coamings of hatchways.
LOCKET. The chape of a sword-scabbard.
LOCK-FAST. A modified principle in the breech-loading of fire-arms.
LOCKING-IN. The alternate clues and bodies of the hammocks when hung up.
LOCK, STOCK, AND BARREL. An expression derived from fire-arms, and meaning the whole.
LOC-MEN,or Loco-men. An old term for pilots.
LOCOMOTIVE-POWER. The force of sails and wind, or steam.
LODE-MANAGE,or Lodemanship. The hire of a pilot. It also meant both pilotage and seamanship; whence Chaucer—
"His herborough, his moone, and his lodemanage,There was none such from Hull to Cartage."
LODE-MEREGE. In the laws of Oleron, seems identical withlode-manage.
LODE-SHIP. A pilot boat, which was also employed in fishing; it is mentioned in statute 31 Edward III. c. 2.
LODESMEN. An Anglo-Saxon word for pilots.
LODE-STAR. The north star. But Spenser alludes to any star as a guide to mariners:—
"Like as a ship, whose lode-star, suddenlyCover'd with clouds, her pilot hath dismay'd."
Shakspeare coincides with this, in comparing Hermia's eyes to lode-stars.
LODGE ARMS. The word of command to an armed party preparatory to their breaking off.
LODGEMENT. In fortification, an established footing, such as a besieger makes by throwing up hasty cover, against the fire of the defenders, on any freshly gained post.
LODGING-KNEES,or Deck-beam Knees. Those riding on the hanging or dagger-knees, and fixed horizontally in the ship's frame.
LODIA. A large trading boat of the White Sea.
LOE,or Lawe. An eminence, whether natural or artificial.
LOFTY SHIPS. Once a general name for square-rigged vessels:—
"A mackerel sky and mares' tailsMake lofty ships carry low sails."
LOG-BOARD. Two boards shutting together like a book, and divided into several columns, in which to record, through the hours of the day and night, the direction of the wind and the course of the ship, with all the material occurrences, together with the latitude by observation. From this table the officers work the ship's way, and compile their journals. The whole being written by the mate of the watch with chalk, is rubbed out every day at noon. Now a slate is more generally used.
LOG-BOOK. Mostly called the log, is a journal into which the log-board is daily transcribed, together with any other circumstance deserving notice. The intermediate divisions or watches are usually signed by the commanding officer. It is also divided intoharbour-logandsea-log.
LOG-CANOE. One hollowed out of a single log. (SeeCanoe.)
LOGGED. Entered in the log. A very serious punishment, not long disused, as a mark of disgrace, by recording the omissions of an officer. It may yet be demanded if arrest ensues.
LOGGED. When a ship is on her beam ends, or in that state in which she is unmanageable at sea. (SeeWater-logged.)
LOGGERHEAD,or Logger-heat. A round ball of iron attached to a long handle with a hook at the end of it. It heats tar by being made hot in the fire, and then plunged into the tar-bucket. It was also used to pound cocoa before chocolate was supplied. Also, an upright rounded piece of wood, near the stern of a whale-boat, for catching a turn of the line to. Also, a name given to a well-known turtle,Chelonia caouana, from its having a great head; it is sometimes called thewhooperorwhapper. (SeeTurtle.)
LOG-GLASS. The sand-glass used at heaving the log to obtain the rate of sailing. It is a 28 seconds glass for slow sailing, and 14 seconds for fast sailing.
LOG-LINEANDLOG-SHIP. A small line about 100 fathoms long, fastened to the log-ship by means of two legs, one of which passes through a hole at the corner, and is knotted on the opposite side, while the other leg is attached by a pin fixed into another hole so as to draw out whenstopis called,i.e.when the glass has run out. This line, from the distance of 10, 12, or 15 fathoms of the log-ship, has certain knots or divisions, which ought to be 47 feet 4 inches from each other, though it was the common practice at sea not to have them above 42 feet. The estimate of the ship's way or distance run is done by observing the length of the line unwound whilst the glass is running; for so many knots as run out in that time, so many miles the ship sails in an hour.—To heave the logis to throw it into the water on the lee-side, well out of the wake, letting it run until it gets beyond the eddies, then a person holding the glass turns it up just as the first mark, or stray-line, goes out, from which the knots begin to be reckoned. The log is, however, at best, a precarious way of computing, and must be corrected by experience. The inventor of it is not known, and no mention is made of it till the year 1607, in an East India voyage, published by Purchas. The mode before, and even now in some colliers, and in native craft in the East Indies, is to throw alogor chip overboard at the foremost channel-plate, and to walk aft, keeping up with it until it passes the stern, thus estimating (and closely too by practice) the rate of motion. Other methods have been invented by various people, butMassey's Patent Loggives the most accurate measurement. The same principle is also applied to the deep-sea sounding-lead.
LOGWOOD. Dyewood,Hæmatoxylon campechianum. It occurs on both sides of the American coasts near the Isthmus of Darien, and is a great article of trade, varying from £5 to £10 per ton. Recent discoveries of the products of coal have reduced the price.
LOICH. A statute term, comprehending the fishes lobbe, ling, and cod.
LONDAGE. An old term for landing from a boat.
LONDON WAGGON. The tender which carried the impressed men from off the tower to the receiving-ship at the Nore.
LONGÆ. Roman row-boats built to carry a large number of men.
LONG AND SHORT BOARDS.SeeTack and Half-tack.
LONG BALLS. Engaging beyond the reach of carronades.
LONG BOAT. Is carvel-built, full, flat, and high, and is usually the largest boat belonging to a ship, furnished with spars and sails, and may be armed and equipped for cruizing short distances; her principal employ, however, is to bring heavy stores on board, and also to go up small rivers to fetch water, wood, &c. At sea it is stowed between the fore and main masts. Not used in the navy. (SeeLaunch.)
LONG-BOW. A noted weapon formerly supplied to our men-of-war.
LONG CHALKS. Great strides. (SeeChalks.)
LONGER. Each row of casks in the hold, athwart. Also, the fore and aft space allotted to a hammock; the longers reckoned similarly to last.
LONG-GASKETS. Those used for sea service; the opposite ofharbour-gaskets(which see).
LONGIE. A name of the foolish guillemot,Uria troile, in the north.
LONGITUDE. Is an arc of the equator, or any parallel of latitude, contained between the meridian of a place and that of Greenwich, or any other first meridian. These arcs being similar, are expressed by the same number of degrees and miles, though the absolute distance on the earth's surface decreases as the latitude increases, for which seeDeparture. East longitude extends 180 degrees to the right, when looking north, and west longitude as many to the left of the first meridian.
LONGITUDE,Geocentric. The angular distance of a heavenly body from the first point of Aries, measured upon the ecliptic, as viewed from the earth.
LONGITUDE,Heliocentric. The angular distance of a body from the first point of Aries, measured upon the ecliptic, as viewed from the sun.
LONGITUDE BY ACCOUNT. The distance east and west, as computed from the ship's course and distance run, carried forward from the last astronomical determination.
LONGITUDE BY CHRONOMETER. Is estimated by the difference between the time at the place, and the time indicated by chronometer.
LONGITUDE BY LUNAR OBSERVATION. The longitude calculated by observing the moon's angular distance from the sun or a fixed star. It is the only check on chronometers, and very valuable in long voyages, though now much neglected, since the establishment of compulsory examination in the merchant service, which does not require lunars.
LONGITUDE OF A CELESTIAL BODY. An arc of the ecliptic, contained between the first point of Aries and a circle of longitude passing through the centre of the body.
LONGITUDINAL SECTION. In ship-building, a line which cuts the draught of a vessel lengthwise.
LONG-JAWED. The state of rope when its strands are straightened bybeing much strained and untwisted, and from its pliability will coil both ways.
LONG-LEAVE. Permission to visit friends at a distance.
LONG-LEGGED. Said of a vessel drawing much water.—Long leggers, lean schooners. Longer than ordinary proportion to breadth. Swift.
LONG OYSTER. A name of the sea cray-fish.
LONG-SERVICE. A cable properly served to prevent chafing under particular use.
'LONGSHORE. A word used rather contemptuously foralongshore; land usage.—'Longshore fellows, landsmen pretenders.—'Longshore owners, those merchants who become notorious for sending their ships to sea scantily provided with stores and provisions.
LONG-SHOT. A distant range. It is also used to express a long way; a far-fetched explanation; something incredible.
LONG STERN-TIMBERS.SeeStern-timbers.
LONG STROKE. The order to a boat's crew to stretch out and hang on her.
LONG-TACKLES. Those overhauled down for hoisting up top-sails to be bent. Long-tackle blocks have two sheaves of different sizes placed one above the other, as in fiddle-blocks.
LONG-TAILS. A sobriquet for the Chinese.
LONG TIMBERS,or Long Top-timbers. Synonymous withdouble futtocks. Timbers in the cant-bodies, reaching from the dead-wood to the head of the second futtock, and forming a floor.
LONG TOGS. Landsman's clothes.
LONG TOM,or Long Tom Turks. Pieces of lengthy ordnance for chasers, &c.
LONG VOYAGE. One in which the Atlantic Ocean is crossed.
LONG-WINDED WHISTLERS. Chase-guns.
LOO,or Loe. A little round hill or heap of stones.—Under the loo, is shelter from the wind; to leeward.
LOOF. The after part of a ship's bow, before the chess-tree, or that where the planks begin to be incurvated as they approach the stem. Hence, the guns which lie here are calledloof-pieces.
LOOF. Usually pronounced and spelledluff(which see).
LOOK,To. The bearing or direction, as,she looks up, is approaching her course.—A plank looks fore and aft, means, is placed in that direction.
LOOK-OUT. Watchful attention; there is always a look-out kept from the forecastle, foretopsail-yard, or above, to watch for any dangerous object lying near a ship's track, for any strange sail heaving in sight, &c.; the officer of the watch accordingly calls frequently from the quarter-deck to the mast-head-man appointed for this service, "Look out afore there."
LOOK OUT FOR SQUALLS. Beware; cautionary.
LOOM. The handle of an oar. Also, the track of a fish.
LOOM,To. An indistinct enlarged appearance of any distant object in light fogs, as the coast, ships, &c.; "that land looms high," "that ship looms large." The effect of refraction.
LOOM-GALE. An easy gale of wind, in which a ship can carry her whole top-sails a-trip.
LOON,or Lunde. The great northern diver,Colymbus glacialis. A bird about the size of a goose, which frequents the northern seas, where "as straight as a loon's leg," is a common comparison.
LOOP. A bight or bend. The winding of a river.
LOOP-HOLES. Small openings made in the walls of a castle, or a fortification, for musketry to fire through. Also, certain apertures formed in the bulk-heads, hatches, and other parts of a merchant-ship, through which small arms might be fired on an enemy who boarded her, and for close fight. They were formerly calledmeurtrières, and were introduced in British slave-vessels.
LOOPSof a Gun-carriage. The iron eye-bolts to which the tackles are hooked.
LOOSE,To. To unfurl or cast loose any sail, in order to its being set, or dried after rain.
LOOSE A ROPE,To. To cast it off, or let it go.
LOOSE FALL. The losing of a whale after an apparently good opportunity for striking it.
LOOSE ICE. A number of pieces near each other, but through which the ship can make her way.
LOOSERS. Men appointed to loose the sails.
LOOSING FOR SEA. Weighing the anchor.
LOOT. Plunder, or pillage; a term adopted from China.
LOOVERED BATTENS. The battens that inclose the upper part of the well. (SeeLoover-ways.)
LOOVER-WAYS. Battens or boards placed at a certain angle, so as to admit air, but not wet; a kind of Venetian-blind.
LOP AND TOP. The top and branches of a felled tree.
LOP-SIDED. Uneven; one side larger than the other.
LORCHA. A swift Chinese sailing vessel carrying guns.
LORD OF MISRULE.SeeMaster of Misrule.
LORDS COMMISSIONERS.SeeCommissioners.
LORD WARDENof the Cinque Ports. A magistrate who has the jurisdiction of the ports or havens so called. Generally held by one high in office, or an old minister.
LORICA. A defensive coat-armour made of leather; when iron plates were applied, it became ajack.
LORN. A northern name for the crested cormorant,Phalacrocorax cristatus.
LORRELL. An old term for a lubberly fellow.
LOSE WAY,To. When a ship slackens her progress in the water.
LOSINGthe Number of the Mess. Dead, drowned, or killed. (SeeNumber.)
LOSING GROUND. Dropping to leeward while working; the driftage.
LOSS. Total loss is the insurance recovered under peril, according to theinvoice price of the goods when embarked, together with the premium of insurance. Partial loss upon either ship or goods, is that proportion of the prime cost which is equal to the diminution in value occasioned by the damage. (SeeInsurance.)
LOSSAN. A Manx or Erse term for the luminosity of the sea.
LOST. The state of being foundered or cast away; said of a ship when she has either sunk, or been beat to pieces by the violence of the sea.
LOST DAY. The day which is lost in circumnavigating the globe to the westward, by making each day a little more than twenty-four hours long. (SeeGained Day.)
LOST HER WAY. When the buoy is streamed, and all is ready for dropping the anchor.
LOST! LOST! When a whaleflukes,dives, or takes tail up to "running," and the boats have no chance in chasing.
LOST OR NOT LOST. A phrase originally inserted in English policies of insurance, in cases where a loss was already apprehended. It is now continued by usage, and is held not to make the contract a wager, nor more hazardous.
LOT. The abbreviation of allotment, or allowance to wife or mother. (SeeAllotment.)
LOTMAN. An old term for pirate.
LOUGH.SeeLoch.
LOUND. Calm, out of wind.
LOW. An old term for a small hill or eminence.
LOW AND ALOFT. Sail from deck to truck: "every stitch on her."
LOWE. A flame, blaze. The torch used in the north by fish-poachers.
LOWER,To. The atmosphere to become cloudy. Also, to ease down gradually, expressed of some weighty body suspended by tackles or ropes, which, being slackened, suffer the said body to descend as slowly, or expeditiously, as occasion requires.
LOWER-BREADTH-SWEEP. The second on the builder's draught, representing the lower height of breadth, on which line is set off the main half-breadth of the ship at its corresponding timber.
LOWER COUNTER. The counter between the upper counter and the rail under the lights.
LOWER-DECKERS. The heaviest armament, usually on the lower deck.
LOWER-FINISHING.SeeFinishings.
LOWER HANDSOMELY,Lower Cheerly. Are opposed to each other; the former being the order to lower gradually, and the latter to lower expeditiously.
LOWER-HEIGHT.SeeMain-breadth.
LOWER-HOLD. The space for cargo in a merchant-vessel, fitted with 'tween-decks.
LOWER-HOLD-BEAMS. The lowest range of beams in a merchantman.
LOWER-HOPE. A well-known reach in the Thames where ships wait for the turn of the tide.
LOWER-LIFTS. The lifts of the fore, main, and crossjack-yards.
LOWER MASTS.SeeMast.
LOWER TRANSIT. The opposite to the upper transit of a circumpolar star: the passagesub polo.
LOW LATITUDES. Those regions far removed from the poles of the earth towards the equator, 10° south or north of it.
LOW SAILS. The courses and close-reefed top-sails.
LOW WATER. The lowest point to which the tide ebbs. (SeeTide.) Also, used figuratively for being in distress, without money.
LOXODROMIC. The line of a ship's way when sailing oblique to the meridian.
LOXODRONIUS. Thetraverse table.
LOZENGE. The diamond-cut figure. (SeeRhombus.)
LUBBER,or Lubbart. An awkward unseamanlike fellow; from a northern word implying a clownish dolt. A boatswain defined them as "fellows fitted with teeth longer than their hair," alluding to their appetites.
LUBBER-LAND. A kind of El Dorado in sea-story, or country of pleasure without work, all sharing alike.
LUBBER'S HOLE. The vacant space between the head of a lower-mast and the edge of the top, so termed from timid climbers preferring that as an easier way for getting into the top than trusting themselves to the futtock-shrouds. The term has been used for any cowardly evasion of duty.
LUBBER'S POINT. A black vertical line or mark in the compass-bowl in the direction of the ship's head, by which the angle between the magnetic meridian and the ship's line of course is shown.
LUBRICATOR. The oil or similar material applied to the bearings of machinery to obviate friction. Also, special preparations of the same included in cartridges for rifled fire-arms, to prevent the fouling from the burnt powder adhering to the interior of the bore.
LUCE. The old word for a full-grown pike or jack, immortalized by Shakspeare.
LUCIDA. The bright star or α of each constellation.
LUCKEN. An unsplit haddock half-dry.
LUCKY MINIE'S LINES. The long stems of the sea-plantChorda filum.
LUCKY-PROACH. A northern term for father-lasher,Cottus scorpius.
LUFF,or Loofe. The order to the helmsman, so as to bring the ship's head up more to windward. Sometimes called springing a luff. Also, the air or wind. Also, an old familiar term for lieutenant. Also, the fullest or roundest part of a ship's bows. Also, the weather-leech of a sail.
LUFF AND LIE. A very old sea-term for hugging the wind closely.
LUFF AND TOUCH HER! Try how near the wind she will come. (SeeTouching.)
LUFF INTO A HARBOUR,To. To sail into it, shooting head to wind,gradually. A ship is accordingly said to spring her luff when she yields to the effort of the helm, by sailing nearer to the wind, or coming to, and does not shake the wind out of her sails until, by shortening all, she reaches her anchorage.
LUFF ROUND,or Luff A-lee. The extreme of the movement, by which it is intended to throw the ship's head up suddenly into the wind, in order to go about, or to lessen her way to avoid danger.
LUFF-TACKLE. A purchase composed of a double and single block, the standing end of the rope being fast to the single block, and the fall coming from the double. This name is given to any large tackle not destined for any particular place, but to be variously used as occasion may require. It is larger than the jigger-tackle, but smaller than the fore and main yard-tackles or the stay-tackles. (SeeLuff upon Luff.)
LUFF UPON LUFF. One luff-tackle applied to the fall of another, to afford an increase of purchase.
LUG. TheArenicola piscatorum, a sand-worm much used for bait. Also, of old, the term for a perch or rod used in land-measuring, containing 161⁄2feet, and which may have originated the wordlog.
LUGAR [Sp.] A name for watering-places on the Spanish coast.
LUG-BOAT. The fine Deal boats which brave the severest weather; they are rigged as luggers, and dip the yards in tacking. They really constitute a large description of life-boat.
LUGGER. A small vessel with quadrilateral or four-cornered cut sails, set fore-and-aft, and may have two or three masts. French coasters usually rig thus, and are calledchasse marées; but with us it is confined to fishing craft and ships' boats; some carry top-sails. During the war of 1810 to 1814 French luggers, as well as Guernsey privateers, were as large as 300 tons, and carried 18 guns. One captured inside the Needles in 1814, carried a mizen-topsail. TheLong Betof Plymouth, a well-known smuggler, long defied the Channel gropers, but was taken in 1816.
LUGS. The ears of a bomb-shell, to which the hooks are applied in lifting it.
LUG-SAIL. A sail used in boats and small vessels. It is in form like a gaff-sail, but depends entirely on the rope of the luff for its stability. The yard is two-thirds of the breadth at foot, and is slung at one-fourth from the luff. On the mast is an iron hoop or traveller, to which it is hoisted. The tack may be to windward, or at the heel of the mast amidships. It is powerful, but has the inconvenience of requiring to be lowered and shifted on the mast at every tack, unless the tack be secured amidships. Much used in the barca-longa, navigated by the Spaniards.
LULL. The brief interval of moderate weather between the gusts of wind in a gale. Also, an abatement in the violence of surf.
LULL-BAG. A wide canvas hose in whalers for conducting blubber into the casks, as it is "made off."
LUMBER. Logs as they arrive at the mills. Also, timber of any size, sawed or split for use. Also, things stowed without order.
LUMBERER. One who cuts timber (generally in gangs) in the forests of North America during the winter, and, on the melting of the snow, navigates it, first by stream-driving the separate logs down the spring torrents, then in bays or small rafts down the wider streams, and finally in rafts of thousands of square yards of surface down the navigable rivers, to the mills or to the port of shipment.
LUMIERE CENDREE. A term adopted from the French to signify the ash-coloured faint illumination of the dark part of the moon's surface about the time of new moon, caused by sunlight reflected from the earth.
LUMP. A stout heavy lighter used in our dockyards for carrying anchors, chains, or heavy stores to or from vessels. Also, the trivial name of the baggety, an ugly fish, likewise called the sea-owl,Cyclopterus lumpus. Also, undertaking any work by the lump or whole.—By the lump, a sudden fall out of the slings or out of a top; altogether.
LUMPERS. So named from labouring at lump or task work. Labourers employed to load and unload a merchant ship when in harbour. In the north the term is applied to those who furnish ballast to ships.
LUMP SUM. A full payment of arrears, and not by periodical instalments of money.
LUNAR. The brief epithet for the method of finding the longitude by the moon and sun or moon and stars. (SeeWorking a Lunar.)
LUNAR DAY. The interval between a departure and return of the moon to the meridian.
LUNAR DISTANCES. An important element in finding the longitude at sea, by what is termed nautical astronomy. It is effected by measuring the apparent distance of the moon from the sun, planet, or certain bright stars, and comparing it with that given in the nautical almanac, for every third hour of Greenwich time.
LUNAR INEQUALITY.SeeVariation of the Moon.
LUNAR OBSERVATIONS. The method of observing the apparent distances between given celestial objects, and then clearing the angles from the effects of parallax and refraction.
LUNAR TABLES. The tabulated logarithmic aid for correcting the apparent distance, and facilitating the reduction of the observations.
LUNATION. The period in which the moon goes through every variety of phase; that is, one synodical revolution.
LUNETTE. In fortification, a work composed of two faces meeting in a salient angle, from the inner extremities of which two short flanks run towards the rear, leaving an open gorge; it is generally applied only in connection with other works. Prize-masters will recollect thatlunetteis also the French name for a spy-glass or telescope.
LUNGE [a corruption ofallonge]. A pass or thrust with a sword; a shove with a boarding-pike.
LUNI-SOLAR. A chronological term; it is the moon's cycle multiplied into that of the sun.
LUNI-SOLAR PRECESSION.SeePrecession.
LUNT. A match-cord to fire great guns—a match for a linstock.
LUNTRA.SeeFelucca.
LURCA. An old term for a small Mediterranean coaster.
LURCH. A heavy roll, weather or lee, as occasioned by a sea suddenly striking or receding from the weather-bilge of the vessel.—To be left in the lurchis to be left behind in a case where others make their escape.
LUSH. Intoxicating fluids of any kind. Also, a northern term for splashing in water.
LUSORIÆ. Ancient vessels of observation or pleasure.
LUST. An archaism oflist. (SeeList.)
LUTE-STERN. Synonymous withpink-stern.
LUTINGS. The dough stoppages to the seams of the coppers, &c., when distilling sea water.
LYING. The situation of a whale when favourable for sticking—the "lie" usually occurs after feeding.
LYING ALONG.SeeLaying Along.
LYING ON HIS OARS. Taking a rest; at ease.
LYING-TO.SeeLie-to.
LYM. From the Celticleim, a port; as Lyme and Lymington.
LYMPHAD. The heraldic term for an old-fashioned ship or galley.
LYNCH-LAW. A word recently imported into our parlance from America, signifying illegal and revengeful execution at the wish of a tumultuous mob.
LYRA. One of the ancient northern constellations. Also, a name of the gray gurnard, orcrooner(which see).
LYRIE. The name in the Firth of Forth for theCottus cataphractus, or armed bull-head.
LYTER. The old orthography forlighter(which see).
LYTHE. A name for the pollack,Gadus pollachius. Also, the coal-fish in its fourth year.
MAASH. A large trading vessel of the Nile.
MACE. A war-club of old.
MACHICOULIS. A projecting gallery over gateways, or walls insufficiently flanked: being open at the bottom between its supporting corbels, it allows of defending the foot of the wall.
MACKEREL. TheScomber vulgaris, a well-known sea-fish.
MACKEREL-BOAT. A stout clinch-worked vessel, with a large fore-sail, sprit-sail, and mizen.
MACKEREL-SKY.SeeCirro-cumulus.
MACKEREL-STURE. A northern name for the tunny,Scomber thynnus.
MACULÆ. Dark temporary spots which are very frequently observed upon the sun's disc: they are of various forms, surrounded by a lighter shade or penumbra.
MAD. The state of a compass needle, the polarity of which has been injured.
MADDY,or Maddie. A large species of mussel abundant among the rocks of the western islands of Scotland and Wales.
MADE. A professional term for having obtained a commission, or being promoted. Also, in some points synonymous withbuilt. (SeeMade Masts, &c.)
MADE-EYE. Synonymous withFlemish eye(which see).
MADE MASTS. The large masts made in several pieces. A ship's lower mast is a made spar; her top-mast is a whole spar.—Made blockis one having its shell composed of different pieces.
MADRIERS. Long and broad planks, used for supporting the earth in mining. Also, an old term for sheathing.
MAGAZINE. A place built for the safe-keeping of ammunition; afloat it is confined to a close room, in the fore or after part, or both, of a ship's hold, as low down as possible; it is lighted occasionally by means of candles fixed in the light-room adjoining it, and no person is allowed to enter it with a lamp or candle. (SeeLight-room.)
MAGELLANIC CLOUDS. A popular term for the twoNubeculæ, or great cloudy-looking spots in the southern heavens, which are found to consist of a vast number of nebulæ and clusters of stars.
MAGELLAN JACKET. A name given to a watch-coat with a hood, worn in high latitudes—first used by Cook's people.
MAGGED. Worn, fretted, and stretched rope, as a magged brace. Also, reproved.
MAGNET.SeeCompass.
MAGNETIC AMPLITUDE. The angle between the east or west point of a compass and any heavenly body at its rising or setting.
MAGNETIC AZIMUTH. An arc of the horizon intercepted between the azimuth circle of a celestial object and the magnetic meridian.
MAGNETIC COMPENSATOR. An iron plate fixed near the compass, to neutralize the effect of local attraction upon the needle.
MAGNETIC NEEDLE. Applied to theodolites, ships' compasses, &c. A balanced needle, highly magnetized, which points to the magnetic pole, when not influenced by the local attraction of neighbouring iron. The magnetism may be discharged by blows, or a fall; hence, after an action at sea, the needles are often found to be useless, until re-magnetized.
MAGNETIC STORM. An extraordinary magnetic action indicated by delicate magnetometers in a magnetic observatory, not perceptible on ordinary magnets.
MAGNETIC TELEGRAPH. An instrument for communicating messages by means of magnetism.
MAGNITUDE OF AN ECLIPSE. The proportion which the eclipsed part of the surface of the sun or moon bears to the diameter; it is sometimes expressed in digits, but more frequently as a decimal, the diameter being taken as unity.
MAGNITUDES OF STARS. The relative degrees of apparent size in which the fixed stars are arranged, and classed according to the intensity of their light. The first six classes, designated by Greek letters, include all those which are distinctly visible to the naked eye.
MAHONE,Mahonna, or Maon. A former Turkish flat-bottomed vessel of burden, mentioned among the ships of Soliman Pasha, in the siege of Diu.
MAID. A coast name of the skate.
MAIDEN. A fortress which has never been taken.
MAIL. A coat of armour. Also, a number of rings interwoven net-wise, and used for rubbing off the loose hemp from white cordage after it is made.
MAIL-SHELL. A name for the chiton.
MAIN. A continent or mainland. Also, figuratively, the ocean.
MAIN-BODY. The body of troops that marches between the advance-guard and the rear-guard of an army.
MAIN-BOOM. The spar which stretches the foot of the boom-mainsail in a fore-and-aft rigged vessel.
MAIN-BRACE. A purchase attached to the main-yard for trimming it to the wind.
MAIN-BREADTH. The broadest part of a ship at any particular timber or frame, distinguished by upper and lower heights of breadth lines.
MAIN-CAPSTAN. The after one, as distinguished from the jeer-capstan.
MAIN-COURSE. The main-sail.
MAIN-GUARD. The principal guard of a garrison town, usually posted in the place-of-arms, or the market-place.
MAIN-HOLD. That part of a ship's hold which lies near the main-hatch.
MAIN-ICE. A body of impenetrable ice apparently detached from the land, but immovable; between which and the land are lanes of water.
MAIN-JEERS. Jeers for swaying up the main-yard.
MAIN-KEEL. The principal keel, as distinguished from the false-keel and the keelson.
MAIN-PIECE. The strong horizontal beam of the windlass, supported at the ends by iron spindles in thewindlass-bitts.
MAIN-PIECEof the Rudder. Therudder-stock, or piece which is connected by therudder-bandsto the stern-post.
MAIN-POST. The stern-post, as distinguished from the false-post and inner-post.
MAIN ROYAL-MAST. That above the main topgallant-mast.
MAIN-SAIL. This, in a square-rigged vessel, is distinguished by the so-termedsquare main-sail; in a fore-and-aft rigged vessel it obtains the name ofboom main-sail. Brigs carry both.
MAIN-SAIL HAUL! The order given to haul the after-yards round when the ship is nearly head to wind in tacking.
MAIN-SHAFT. The principal shaft in machinery.
MAINSHEET-HORSE. A kind of iron dog fixed at the middle of a wooden beam, stretching across a craft's stern, from one quarter stanchion to the other; on it the mainsheet-block travels.
MAIN-SPRING. The source of continuous motion in a time-keeper. Also, that part of a musket-lock which is sunk into the stock.
MAIN-STAYSAIL. A storm-sail set between the fore and main masts.
MAIN-TACK BLOCK. A block forming part of the purchase used for hauling the main-tack down to.
MAIN-TACKLE. A large and strong tackle, hooked occasionally upon the main pendant, and used for various purposes, particularly in securing the mast, by setting up the rigging, stays, &c.
MAIN-TACKLE PENDANT. A stout piece of rope with a hook in one end, and a thimble in the other, sometimes used for hauling the main-tackle down.
MAIN-TOP BOWLINE. The bowline of the main-topsail. It is used to haul the weather-leech forward when on a wind, which makes the sail stand better.
MAIN-TOPSAIL HAUL! The order used instead ofmain-sail haul, when the main-sail is not set.
MAIN-TRANSOM. A term often applied to thewing-transom(which see).
MAIN-WALES. The lower wales, which are generally placed on the lower breadth, and so that the main-deck knee-bolts may come into them.
MAIN-YARD MEN. Those in the doctor's list.
MAISTER.SeeMaster.
MAIZE. Indian corn, an article of extensive commerce in many countries. In Italy it is calledTurkey grainandgrano d'India; in America simplycorn, all other grains retaining their distinctive names.
MAJOR. The next rank below that of lieutenant-colonel; the junior field-officer.
MAJOR AXIS. In the orbit of a planet, means the line joining its aphelion and perihelion.
MAJOR-GENERAL. The next in rank below the lieutenant-general.
MAJOR OF BRIGADE.SeeBrigade-major.
MAKE,To. Is variously applied in sea-language.
MAKE A GOOD BOARD.SeeBoard.
MAKE A LANE THERE! The order of the boatswain for the crew to separate at muster, to facilitate the approach of any one whose name is called. (SeeLane.)
MAKE BAD WEATHER,To. A ship rolling, pitching, or leaking violently in a gale.
MAKE FAST. A word generally used for tying or securing ropes. To fasten.
MAKE FREE WITH THE LAND,To. To approach the shore closely.
MAKE HEAD-WAY. A ship makes head-way when she advances through the water.
MAKE IT SO. The order of a commander to confirm the time, sunrise, noon, or sunset, reported to him by the officer of the watch.
MAKE LEE-WAY,To. To drift to leeward of the course.
MAKE READY! Be prepared.
MAKES. This expresses coming on; as, the tide makes, &c.
MAKE SAIL,To. To increase the quantity of sail already set, either by letting out reefs, or by setting additional sails.
MAKE STERN-WAY,To. To retreat, or move stern foremost.
MAKE THE LAND,To. To see it from a distance after a voyage.
MAKE WATER,To. Usually signifies the act of a ship leaking, unless the epithetfoulbe added. (SeeFoul Water.)
MAKING IRON. One of the caulker's tools; it has a groove in it, and is used after the caulking iron to finish off the seam. (SeeMeaking.)
MAKING OFF. Cutting the flensed blubber of a whale into pieces, fitted to pass in at the bilge-holes of the butts which receive it.
MALA FIDES. In admiralty law, not to be presumed, even under concealment of letters, or deviation from truth in formal papers.
MALDUCK. One of the names given to the fulmar,Procellaria glacialis.
MALKIN. A joint-staff sponge, for cleaning out a piece of ordnance.
MALINGERER [Fr.malingre]. One who counterfeits illness for the purpose of avoiding duty.
MALLARD. The male of the wild duck (Anas boschas).
MALLEMAK,or Mollymauk. A sea-bird; theProcellaria glacialis, called alsofulmar(which see).
MALLEMAROKING. The visiting and carousing of seamen in the Greenland ships.
MALLET. A wooden hammer, of which there are several sorts.—A caulking malletis employed to drive the oakum into the seams of a ship. The head of this mallet is long, cylindrical, and hooped with iron.—Serving mallet.A cylindrical piece of wood with a groove on one side and a handle on the other. It is used in serving the rigging, binding the spun yarn more firmly about it than could be done by hand.
MALLOW. A northern name for the sea-plantZostera marina.
MALTHA. Mineral pitch.
MAN. A ship is frequently spoken of asman; as man-of-war, merchantman, Guineaman, East or West Indiaman, Greenlandman, &c.
MAN,To. To provide a competent number of hands for working and fighting a ship; to place people for duty, as "Man the barge;" "Man the capstan;" "Man the yards," &c.
MAN,Isle of, Battery. A name given to the three guns mounted on ships' turrets.
MANACLE. A handcuff.
MANARVEL,To. To pilfer small stores.
MANATEE,Manati, or Sea-cow(Manatus americanus). A herbivorous aquatic animal of the orderSirenia, found in the West Indies and South American rivers. Another species (Manatus senegalensis) inhabits the west coast of Africa.
MAN-BOUND. Detained in port in consequence of being short of complement.
MAN-BROKER. Synonymous withcrimp(which see).
MANBY'S MORTAR. An efficient apparatus for throwing a shell with a line and chain attached to it, over a stranded vessel, and thereby opening a communication between the wreck and the shore.
MANCHEof Mangalore. A flat-bottomed boat of burden, about 25 to 35 feet long, 6 or 7 feet broad, and 4 or 5 feet deep, for landing the cargoes of thepatamars, which are discharged and loaded at the mouth of the river. These boats are sewed together like the Masulah boats of Madras.—TheManché of Calicutis very similar to the foregoing, with the exception of a raking stem for the purpose of taking the beach.
MANCHINEEL.Hippomane mancinella, a tree which grows to a vast size on the coasts of the Caribbee Isles and neighbouring continent. The fruit and sap are highly poisonous; but sleeping beneath the branches does not cause death, as was erroneously supposed.
MANDARIN. A Portuguese word derived frommandare, "to command." It is unknown to the Chinese and Tonquinese, who style their dignitaries "quahn."
MANDILION. A loose boat-cloak of former times.
MANDRIL. A wooden cylinder for forming paper cartridges.
MANGER. A small berthing in the bows, extending athwart the deck of a ship-of-war immediately within the hawse-holes, and separated on the after-part from the rest of the deck by themanger-board, a strong coaming rather higher than the hawse-holes, serving to prevent the ingress of the sea when the cables are bent; this water is returned to the sea through the manger-scuppers, which are made large for that purpose.
MANGONEL. An ancient military engine in the form of a gigantic cross-bow, discharging large darts and stones, used in battering fortified places: a kind of ballista.
MANGONIZE,To. To traffic in slaves.
MAN-HANDLE,To. To move by force of men, without levers or tackles.
MAN-HOLE. The aperture, secured by a door, in the upper part of a steam-boiler, which allows a person to enter for repairing it or removing the deposit or crust of salt.
MAN-HUNTING. The impress service.
MANIFEST. An official inventory of the cargo of a merchant ship, specifying the name and tonnage of the vessel, the description of goods, the names of shippers and consignees, and the marks of each package.
MANILLA ROPE. A valuable cordage made in the Philippines, which, not being subject to rot, does not require to be tarred.
MANIPLE. A small armed party; a term derived from the subdivision of a Roman cohort.
MANŒUVRE. A dexterous management of anything connected with the ship.
MAN-OF-WAR. Any vessel in the royal navy.
MAN-OF-WAR BIRD,or Frigate Bird.Fregata aquila, a sea-bird of the familyPelecanidæ, found in the tropics, remarkable for the length of its wings and rapidity of its flight.
MAN-OF-WAR FASHION. A state of order, tidiness, and good discipline.
MAN-OF-WAR'S MAN. A seaman belonging to the royal navy.
MANOMETER. A steam-gauge.
MAN OVERBOARD! A cry which excites greater activity in a ship than any other, from the anxious desire to render assistance.
MAN SHIP! Is to range the people on the yards and rigging in readiness to give three cheers, as a salute on meeting, parting company, or other occasions; a good old custom now slackening. In war, as instanced by theNympheandCleopatra, the meeting of enemies was truly chivalrous; though there was a case where the response was so moderated as to be laughed at as "a cheer with the chill on."
MANSIONS OF THE MOON.SeeLunar Mansions.
MANTILLIS. A kind of shield anciently fixed upon the tops of ships as a cover for archers.
MANTLETS. Large movable musket-proof blinds used by besiegers at the head of a sap, now mostly fitted to embrasures to protect the gunners from sharpshooters: they are best when made of plaited rope.
MANUAL-EXERCISE. The regulated series of motions for handling and carrying the musket, except what is connected with firing it.
MANUBALIST. A stout cross-bow.
MANXMAN. A seaman or native of the Isle of Man.
MANZERA. A vessel used in the Adriatic for carrying cattle.
MAON.SeeMahone.
MAR. Latinmare, the sea: a prefix, as Margate, the sea-way, &c.
MARABUT. A sail which galleys hoisted in bad weather. Also, small edifices on Barbary headlands, occupied by a priest.
MARCHES. Borders or confines of a country, as the marches of Ancona, &c.
MARCHING ORDER. A soldier fully equipped with arms, ammunition, and a portion of his kit, carries from 30 to 35 lbs. Inservice marchingorder, by the addition of provisions and some campaigning necessaries, he carries nearly 50 lbs. Butheavy marchingorder, which was yet heavier, is now happily abolished.
MARCO-BANCO. An imaginary coin of Hamburg commerce, equal to 1s.53⁄4d.sterling.
MARE'S TAILS. A peculiar modification of the cirrus, indicating wind.
MARGIN LINE. A line or edge parallel to the upper side of the wingtransom, and just below it, where the butts of the after bottom planks terminate.
MARINARIUS. An old statute term for a mariner or seaman.
MARINATE,To. To salt fish, and afterwards preserve it in oil or vinegar.
MARINE. Belonging to the sea. It is a general name for the royal or mercantile navy of any state; also the whole economy of nautical affairs.
MARINE BAROMETER. A barometer, the tube of which is contracted in one part to prevent the sudden oscillations of the mercury by the ship's motion.
MARINE BOARDS. Establishments at our different ports for carrying into effect the provisions of the Merchant Shipping Act.
MARINE BUILDINGS. Those constructed for making or preserving ships, as docks, arsenals, store-houses, &c.
MARINE CLOTHING-ROOM. A compartment of the after-platform, to receive the clothes and stores of the royal marines.
MARINE ENGINES. Those steam engines which are used to propel ships, whether on the ocean or in rivers, in contradistinction to locomotives on shore.