TRUGMAN. An early word for interpreter, being a corruption of dragoman; also calledtrench-man, but nottrencher-man, as a worthy Mediterranean consul wrote it.
TRUMPETER. A petty officer and musician stationed on the poop, to sound salutes and various evolutionary orders.
TRUNCHEON. A field-marshal's baton; also a constable's.
TRUNDLE-HEAD. The lower drumhead of a capstern, when it is double, and worked on one shaft both on an upper and lower deck.
TRUNDLE-SHOT. An iron bolt 16 or 18 inches long, with sharp points, and a ball of lead just inside each head.
TRUNK. (SeeRudder-trunk.) Also, a large species of turtle. Also, a place for keeping fish in. Also, an iron hoop with a bag, used to catch crabs and lobsters.—Fire-trunks.Funnels fixed in fire-ships under the shrouds, to convey the flames to the masts, rigging, and sails.
TRUNK-ENGINE. A direct-acting steam-engine, in which the end of the connecting-rod is attached to the bottom of a hollow trunk, passing steam-tight through the cylinder cover.
TRUNK-FISH. A name of theOstracion, a fish remarkable for having its body encased in an inflexible armour of hard octagonal plates, the fins, mouth, and gill-openings passing through holes in this casing.
TRUNNION-RING. The ring round a cannon next before the trunnions, now disused.
TRUNNIONS. The arms, or two pieces of metal projecting from the opposite sides of a gun, by which it rests and swings upon its carriage, acting as an axis of elevation or depression. Also, pieces of well-seasoned wood, used in securing the ship's timbers.
TRUSS. The trusses or parrels of the lower yards serve to bind them to their masts and are bowsed taut when the yards are trimmed, in order to arrest motion and friction. But the introduction of an iron goose-neck, centering and securing the yard well free of the mast, very much supersedes the use of trusses.
TRUSS-HOOPS. Synonymous with clasp-hoops for masts or spars; theyare open iron hoops, so made that their ends, being let into each other, may be well fastened by means of iron wedges or forelock keys.
TRUSS-PARREL. That part of a rope-truss which goes round the yard.
TRUSS-PENDANT. That part of a rope-truss into which the truss-tackle blocks are seized.
TRUSS-PIECES. The fillings in between the frame compartments of the riders, in diagonal trussing.
TRUSS-TACKLE. A gun-tackle purchase applied to the ends of the truss-pendants, to bowse them taut home to the mast.
TRUSS UP,To. To brail up a sail suddenly; to toss up a bunt.
TRY,To, or Lie-to, in a Gale, is, by a judicious balance of canvas, to keep a ship's bow to the sea, and, with as much as she can safely show, prevent her rolling to windward in the trough of a sea. Close-hauled under all sail, a vessel gains head-way within six points of the wind; but intryingshe may come up to five and fall off to seven: so that a vessel does not hold her own. If the vessel be in proper trim, or properly stowed, she will naturally keep to the wind; but custom, and deficiency of seamanlike ability, have induced the lazy habit of lashing the helm a-lee.
TRY BACK FOR A BEND,To. To pay back some of the bight of a cable, in order to have sufficient to form the bend.
TRY DOWN,To. To boil out the oil from blubber at sea in whalers.
TRYING THE RANGE. A lubberly mode of estimating the distance of an enemy's ship or fort by firing a shot at it.
TRYSAIL. A reduced sail used by small craft in lieu of their main-sail during a storm. Also, a fore-and-aft sail, set with a boom and gaff, in ships, synonymous with the spencers of brigs and schooners, and the spanker or driver of ships. (SeeStorm-trysail.)
TRYSAIL-MAST. A spar abaft the fore and main mast, for hoisting the trysail.
TRY-WORKS. Large copper boilers, for boiling the blubber in whalers.
TUB,Grog. A half-cask, set apart for mixing the daily allowance of spirit with water, lime-juice, and sugar, prior to its being served out to the ship's company.
TUB,Match. A conical tub used to guard the slow match in action. They were formerly about five-gallon capacity, the head being sunk about two inches, and four holes bored to insert slow matches. They are now almost disused, except to keep a light ready for signal purposes, as rockets, blue lights, &c., by night.
TUBES.SeeChain-pump.
TUBES,for Guns. A kind of portable priming, for insertion into the vent,—of various patterns. (SeeFriction-tube,Quill-tubes, &c.)
TUBS,Topsail-halliard. Circular framed racks in which the topsail-halliards are coiled clear for running, and are prevented from fouling by being sent adrift in a gale.
TUBULAR BOILERS. Those in which the flame and hot gases, after leaving the furnaces, pass through a great number of small iron or brasstubes surrounded by water, by which means these gases are made to impart some of their heat to the water before they escape; thus fuel is economized.
TUCK. The after-part of a ship, immediately under the stern or counter, where the ends of the bottom planks are collected and terminate by the tuck-rail. Thus the fir frigates of 1812-14 had flat, square transoms similar to boats, or heart-shaped. Hence our square-tucked frigates, brigs, &c.
TUG. A vessel for towing in and out of harbours and the like. (SeeSteam-tug.)
TUG,To[from the Anglo-Saxonteogan, to pull]. It now signifies to hang on the oars, and get but little or nothing ahead.
TUGG. A heavy sort of wain or cart, on which the ship-timber for naval arsenals was formerly conveyed from Sussex.
TUMBLE IN.SeeTumbling Home.
TUMBLER. One of the numerous names for the porpoise,Phocœna communis. Also, a contrivance to avoid the necessity of having copper nailed on the mast to prevent a gaff from chafing it.
TUMBLE UP! A requisition of the boatswain's mates, &c., to quicken the hands after being piped up. The cry is well understood, though so contrary to the known tendency of gravitation.
TUMBLING HOME. The opposite of wall-sided, or flaring out. That part of a ship's side which curves inwardly above the extreme breadth. In all old sea-books this narrowing of a ship from the extreme breadth upwards is called housing in. (SeeUpper-works.)
TUMBLING SEA. The increased rolling before a gale.
TUMBRIL. A covered cart for conveying ammunition and pioneers' tools.
TUM-TUM. A West India dish, consisting of boiled plantain beat into a paste and fried.
TUNGULA. A small boat in the Moluccas and Borneo.
TUNNY. A well-known large fish of the familyScombridæ. It forms an important branch of Mediterranean commerce.
TURBONADA. A roaring squall, or short hurricane, of frequent occurrence in the Pacific Ocean [a mimo-phonetic term adopted from the Spaniards].
TURBOT. ThePleuronectes maximus, a flat fish in the highest esteem with all ichthyophagi.
TURKEY-GRAIN. A name for maize.
TURK'S HEAD. An ornamental knot, so called from resembling a turban, used on side-ropes, &c.; it is worked with a piece of small line by following the lead till it is formed with three parts to each cross.
TURN,To Take or Catch a. To pass a rope once or twice round a cleat, pin, kevel, or any other thing, to keep it fast.
TURN AHEAD! A self-explanatory order to the engineer, in regulating the movement of a steamer.
TURN A TURTLE,To. To take the animal by seizing a flipper, andthrowing him on his back, which renders him quite helpless. Also applied to a vessel capsizing; or throwing a person suddenly out of his hammock.
TURN IN,To. To go to bed.—To turn out.To get up.
TURN IN A DEAD-EYEORHEART,To. To seize the end of a shroud or stay, &c., securely round it.
TURNING IN RIGGING. The end of a vessel's shrouds carried round the dead-eyes, laid back and secured by seizings.
TURNING-ROOM. Space in a narrow channel for a ship to work in.
TURN IN THE HAWSE. Two crosses in a cable.
TURN OF THE TIDE. The change from ebb to flood, or the contrary.
TURN OUT THE GUARD! The order for the marines of the guard to fall in, on the quarter-deck, in order to receive a superior officer on board.
TURN OVER MEN,To. To discharge them out of one ship into another.
TURN THE GLASS. The order in throwing the log when the stray line is payed out.
TURN THE HANDS UP,To. To summon the entire crew on deck.
TURN TO WINDWARD,To. To gain on the wind by alternate tacking. It is when a ship endeavours to make progress against the wind by a compound course inclined to the place of her destination; otherwise called plying or beating to windward.
TURNPIKE-SAILORS. Rascals who go about dressed as sailors pretending that they have been shipwrecked, and soliciting charity.
TURPIS CAUSA. An unsustainable suit for wages, on the part of a British pilot, for navigating a foreign ship to an enemy's port.
TURRET-SHIP. A vessel, more or less armoured, fitted with one or more heavily plated revolving turrets, each carrying one or more guns of the heaviest class, which look out above the deck; the whole worked by steam-power. It represents the present improvement on the inventions of the cupola-ship, shield-ship, and monitor.
TURTLE. The well-known marine reptile described by early navigators as "reasonable toothsom meate." The horny covering of the shell of some species furnishes the substance commonly known astortoise-shell.
TURTLE-CRAWL. A shallow lagoon, wherein turtles are kept.
TURTLE-PEG. A socketed pointed iron on a staff; it is slightly barbed, and is a special tool for sticking turtle.
TUSK. TheBrosmius vulgaris, a savoury fish taken in the northern seas, about the size of the ling, but with a broader tail.
'TWEENOR'TWIXT DECKS. The one under the gun deck, where sailors usually mess.
TWICE-LAID. Rope made from a selection of the best yarns of old rope. Also, a sea-dish made of the salt-fish left from yesterday's dinner, and beaten up with potatoes or yams.
TWIDDLING-LINE. A piece of small rope ornamentally fitted and used for steadying the steering-wheel when required: no longer used.
TWIG,To. To pull upon a bowline. Also, in familiar phrase, to understand or observe.
TWIG-AIT. A river islet where osiers grow.
TWINE. A kind of strong thread used in sail-making; it is of two kinds: extra, for sewing the seams; and ordinary, for the bolt-ropes. (SeeWhipping-twine.) Irish twine or thumb-line, like nettles, is worked by the fingers from fine yarns drawn from bolt-rope.
TWIN-SCREW. A steamer fitted with two propellers and independent engines, to enable her to turn rapidly on her own axis. The twin-screw principle is not new, but latterly it has been so perfected that speed in turning is no longer a matter of doubt.
TWO-BLOCKS. The same aschock-a-block(which see).
TWO-HANDED FELLOWS. Those who are both seamen and soldiers, or artificers; as the marines and, specially, marine artillerymen.
TWO-HANDED SAW. A very useful instrument in ship-carpentry; it is much longer than the hand-saw, and requires two men to use it.
TWO-MONTHLY BOOK. A book kept by the captain's clerk, to be forwarded every two months, when possible, in order to prevent frauds; and in the event of a ship being lost, to have the accounts to the nearest period.
TWO MONTHS' ADVANCE.SeeAdvance Money.
TWO-PENCES. A deduction from each man, per mensem, formerly assigned to the surgeon for wages.
TWO-TOPSAIL-SCHOONER.SeeTopsail-schooner.
TWY. A meteor squall on the coasts of Wiltshire, Hampshire, &c.
TYE. A runner of thick rope or chain, which forms part of the purchase used for hoisting the top-sail and top-gallant yards.
TYE-BLOCK. The block on the yard through which the tye is rove, and passes on to be secured at the mast-head. The block secured to the lower end of the tye is the fly-block.
TYMOOM. A Chinese river craft.
TYNDARIDES. The ancient name of the meteor calledcorpo santo.
TYPHOON,Ty-fong, or Tai-phon. The Chinese word for agreat wind, applied to hurricanes or cyclones. They are revolving storms of immense force, occurring most frequently in those parts of the world which are subject to monsoons, and take place at those seasons when the monsoons are changing. They seem to be eddies formed by the meeting of opposing currents of air—for instance, the westerly winds near the equator and the easterly winds of higher latitudes—which accounts for the important fact that these storms revolve in opposite directions in the two hemispheres—in the southern with, in the northern against, the hands of a watch; but the circular tendency in both supports the name of cyclone.
UGLY. A term applied to a threatening heavy atmosphere, also to a head-sea. Also, to an ugly craft, as a mischievous foe, or a pirate.
ULCUS. An old term for the hulk of a ship of burden (leg.Ethelred).
ULIGINOUS CHANNELS. Those connecting the branches of rivers, by cuts through the soil.
ULLAGE. The remainder in a cask or package which has leaked or been partially used.—Ullagedis used for damaged, short of contents.
ULTIMATUM. The final conditions upon which any proposition or treaty with an enemy can be ratified.
ULTRA MARE. Beyond seas—a naval law term.
ULTRA VIRES. Beyond the power of might or right to interfere.
ULTRA-ZODIACAL. Beyond the limits of the zodiac; applied to those asteroids that revolve outside the ancient zodiac.
UMBRA. The dark shadow of the moon, earth, or any other planet.
UMBRELLA-WARPING. A contrivance similar to an umbrella, by which ships in a calm can be warped ahead.
UNATTACHED. In military phraseology, an officer not belonging to any one company or regiment, or on half-pay.
UNBEND,To. To cast off or untie; to remove the sails from their yards and stays; to cast loose the cables from their anchors, or to untie one rope from another.
UNBITT,To. To remove the turns of a cable from off the bitts. (SeeBitts.)
UNCLAIMED,as Derelict. Vessels found at sea without a human being, or a domestic animal, on board are good prizes, if not claimed within 366 days. If so claimed, full salvage, or half her value, is assigned to the salvors.
UNDECAGON. A geometrical figure of eleven equal sides and angles.
UNDER BARE POLES. The condition of a ship under no canvas, or when the wind is too violent to allow of any sail being set on her.
UNDER-BEVELLING. The alteration made inside a square in hewing timber, as opposed to standing bevelling.
UNDER-BRIGHT. A meteorological term for the strong light which sometimes appears below clouds near the horizon.
UNDER CANVAS. Synonymous withunder sail.
UNDER-CURRENT. A stream which sets beneath the surface-water of the sea whilst that is either in a quiescent state or moving in a contrary direction. Swift rivers may run out at top whilst the flood-tide runs in below.
UNDER DECK. The floor of a cabin, or 'tween decks.
UNDER FOOT. Under the ship's bottom; said of an anchor which is dropped while she has head-way. An anchor is often dropped under footwhen calm prevails and the drift would be towards danger.—To drop an anchor under foot, is to let it go and veer a little of the riding cable when the coming home, or parting of the one by which she is riding, is feared.
UNDER LEVEL.SeeBevelling.
UNDER-MANNED. When a ship has an insufficient complement, or is short-handed.
UNDER-MASTED. When the masts are either too small or too short, so that a ship cannot spread the sail necessary to give her proper speed.
UNDER METAL. The condition of a gun when the muzzle is depressed, and the metal,i.e.the breech, raised; the proper position when not in use, to prevent moisture collecting in the chamber.
UNDER-RUN A HAWSERORWARP,To. To haul a boat along underneath it, in order to clear it, if any part happens to be foul.To under-run a tackle, is to separate the several parts of which it is composed, and range them in order, so that the general effort may not be interrupted when it is put in motion by the parts crossing, or by thorough-foots.
UNDER SAIL. The state of a ship when she is in motion from the action of wind on her sails.
UNDER-SET. Wherever the wind impels the surface-water directly upon the shore of a bay, the water below restores equilibrium by taking a direction contrary to the wind. Theresaca, or under-set, is particularly dangerous on those beaches where heavy surf prevails.
UNDER-SHORE,To. To support or raise a thing by putting a spar or prop under it, as a ship is shored up in dock.
UNDER-SKINKER. Assistant to the purser's steward.
UNDER THE LEE. Sheltered from the wind by some intervening object, as a ship under the lee of the land.
UNDER THE SEA. A ship lying-to in a heavy gale, and making bad weather of it.
UNDER THE WIND. So situated to leeward of something as not to feel the wind.
UNDER-TOW. An under current especially noticed at the mouths of great rivers, or where tide and half-tides prevail, completely hampering the sails even with a good breeze. (SeeUnder-current.)
UNDER WAY. A ship beginning to move under her canvas after her anchor is started. Some have written thisunder weigh, but improperly. A ship isunder weighwhen she hasweighedher anchor: she may be with or without canvas, or hove-to. As soon as she gathers way she isunder way. This a moot point with old seamen.
UNDERWRITERS. The parties who take upon themselves the risk of insurance, and so called from subscribing their names at the foot of the policy. They are legally presumed to be acquainted with every custom of the trade whereon they enter a policy.
UNICORN. The old name for the howitzer, as improved from the licorn, borrowed from the Turks during the last century by the Russians, and from the latter by Europe generally.
UNICORN-FISH,or Sea-unicorn. A name for thenarwhal(which see).
UNIFORM. The dress prescribed by regulation for officers and men of the army, navy, marines, &c.
UNION. The national flag of Great Britain, on shore or afloat. It is a composition of the crosses of St. George of England, St. Andrew of Scotland, and St. Patrick of Ireland, the last having been brought in in 1801. It was formerly inscribed, "For the Protestant Religion and for the Liberty of England." It is in the upper canton of all British ensigns. At the main it is the proper flag of an admiral of the fleet; and was thus flown by Lord Howe at the battle of June 1, 1794.
UNION DOWN. When a ship hoists her ensign upside down it is a signal of distress or of mourning.
UNION-JACK. The union flag used separately; in the merchant service it must have a broad white border.
UNLIMBER,To. With a gun on a travelling-carriage, to release it from the limber, by lifting the trail off the pintle and placing it on the ground, thus bringing it to the position for action.
UNLIVERY. Expenses of unlivery and appraisement are a charge in the first instance against the captors of a prize, to be afterwards apportioned by them ratably against the cargo.
UNMANAGEABLE. When a vessel refuses to answer her helm, has lost her rudder, or is crippled in masts or sails.
UNMOORED. Having one anchor weighed; lying at single anchor.
UNREEVING. The act of withdrawing a rope from any block, thimble, dead-eye, &c., through which it had formerly passed. (SeeReeve.)
UNRIG,To. To dismantle a ship of her standing and running rigging.—To unrig the capstanis to take out the bars.
UNROOMAGED. An antiquated sea term, which, from its application by Sir W. Raleigh, in his account of Sir R. Granville's action, may mean "out of trim."
UNROVE HIS LIFE-LINE. Departed this life.
UNSERVICEABLE TICKET. This is made out in the same manner, and requires the same notations, as asick-ticket(which see), only that no inventory of clothes and other effects is necessary.
UNSHIP,To. The opposite ofto ship. To remove any piece of timber from its situation in which it is generally used, as "unship the oars," lay them in the boat from the rowlocks; "unship the capstan bars," &c.
UNWHOLESOME SHIP. One that will neither hull, try, nor ride, without labouring heavily in a sea. Also applied to a sugar ship diverted from her former trade, and not properly cleansed, even before taking in a cargo of timber.
UP ALONG. Sailing from the mouth of the channel upwards.
UP ANCHOR. Pipe to weigh; every man to his station.
UP AND DOWN. The situation of the cable when it has been hove in sufficiently to bring the ship directly over the anchor. (SeeRight up and down.)
UP-AND-DOWN TACKLE. A purchase used in bowsing down the eyes of the lower rigging over the mast-heads; lifting objects from the hold; getting anchors over the side, &c.
UP BOATS! The order to hoist the boats to the stern and quarter davits.
UP COURSES! The order to haul them up by the clue-garnets, &c.
UPHAND-SLEDGE. A large sledge-hammer used in blacksmith's work, and lifted with both hands, in contradistinction to the short stroke by the master smith.
UPHROE.SeeUvrou.
UPMAKING. Pieces of plank or timber piled on each other as filling-up in building, more especially those placed between the bilge-ways and ship's bottom preparatory to launching.
UPPER COUNTER. The counter between the wing transom and the rail. (SeeCounter.)
UPPER DECK. The highest of those decks which are continued throughout the whole length of a ship without falls or interruptions, as the quarter-deck, waist, and forecastle of frigates, &c.
UPPER FINISHING.SeeFinishings.
UPPER MASTS. The top-mast, topgallant-mast, and royal-mast; any spars above these are termed poles. (SeePole-masts.)
UPPER STRAKEORWASHof Boats. A strake thicker than those of the bottom, wrought round the gunwales, and lined within the poppets.
UPPERORTOP-RIDER FUTTOCKS. These timbers stand nearly the same asbreadth-riders, and very much strengthen the top-side.
UPPER TRANSIT. The passage of a circumpolar star over the meridian above the pole; the opposite of thelower transit.
UPPER-WORKS. That part of a ship which rises from the water's surface when she is properly trimmed for a voyage.
UP SCREW! The order in steamers to lift the screw on making sail.
UP WITH THE HELM. Put it a-weather; that is, over to the windward side, or (whichever way the tiller is shipped) so as to carry the rudder to leeward of the stern-post.
URANOGRAPHY. The delineation of constellations, nebulæ, &c., on celestial charts or globes.
URANOSCOPUS.SeeSky-gazer.
URANUS. A superior planet discovered by the elder Herschel in 1781; it has four known satellites, but possibly six, according to the impression of the discoverer.
URCA. An armed Spanish fly-boat.
URSA MAJOR. One of the ancient northern constellations.
URSA MINOR. An ancient northern constellation, in which the north polar star is situated.
USAGES. Besides the general laws of merchants, there are certain commercial and seafaring usages which prevail in particular countries with the force of law. Underwriters are bound by usages; and they are legal precedents, binding in courts-martial.
USHANT TEAM. The sobriquet given to that portion of the Channel fleet which blockaded Brest.
UTLAGHE. An outlaw; whence by corruptionlaggers, people transported by sentence of law.
UVROU. The circular piece of wood, with holes in it, by which the legs of a crow-foot are extended for suspending an awning.
VACUUM. A space utterly empty, even of air or vapour.
VADMEL. Coarse woollen manufacture of the Orkneys. (SeeWadmarel.)
VAIL,To. An old word signifying to lower, to bend in token of submission; as, "Vail their top-gallants." Thus in the old playGeorge a-Green, "Let me alone, my lord; I'll make them vail their plumes."
VAKKA. A large canoe of the Friendly Islands, with an out-rigger.
VALE,orDale(which see). Also, gunwale.—To vale, was an old term for "dropping down," as in a river.
VALUATION. In cases of restitution after property has been sold, and account of sales cannot be obtained, it may be taken at the invoice price, and 10 per cent profit; but this mode of estimating it does not include freight, even though the ship and cargo belong to the same person.
VALUED POLICY. Is where a value has been set upon the ships or goods insured, and this value inserted in the policy in nature of liquidated damages, to save the necessity of proving it, in case of a total loss.
VALVES. See under their respective particular names.
VAMBRACE. Armour for the front of the arm.
VAN [formerlyvant, contracted fromavant]. That part of a fleet, army, or body of men, which is advanced in the first line or front.—Vanguard.The advanced division.
VANE. A piece of buntin extended on a wooden stock, which turns upon a spindle at the mast-head; it shows the direction of the wind.—A distinguishing vane, denotes the division of a fleet to which a ship of the line belongs, according to the mast on which it is borne.—Dog-vane.A small light vane, formed of thin slips of cork, stuck round with feathers, and strung upon a piece of twine. It is usually fastened to the top of a half-pike, and placed on the weather side of the quarter-deck, in order to show the helmsman the direction of the wind.
VANES. The sights of cross-staffs, fore-staffs, quadrants, &c., are pieces of brass standing perpendicularly to the plane of the instrument; the oneopposite to the fore horizon-glass is the foresight-vane, the other the backsight-vane.
VANE-SPINDLE. The pivot on which the mast-head-vane turns; it should never be made of metal, lest it attract lightning, unless the masts be fitted with Sir W. Snow Harris's conductors.
VANFOSSE. A wet ditch at the outer foot of the glacis.
VANG. A rope leading from the end of the gaff to the rail, one on each side, so that the two form guys attached to the outer ends of the gaffs to steady them, and when the sails are not set keep them amidships.
VANGEE. A contrivance for working the pumps of a vessel by means of a barrel and crank-breaks.
VAPOUR,or Smoke. In polar parlance, a peculiar but natural result of the conversion of water into ice, which is too often supposed to indicate open water.
VARIABLES. Those parts of the sea where a steady wind is not expected.
VARIABLE STARS. Those which are found to exhibit periodical fluctuations of brightness; of which Algol and Mira Ceti are notable examples.
VARIATION. A term applied to the deviation of the magnetic needle or compass, from the true north point towards either east or west; called also thedeclination. The variation of the needle is properly defined as the angle which a magnetic needle suspended at liberty makes with the meridian line on a horizontal plane; or an arc of the horizon, comprehended between the true and the magnetic meridian. (SeeAnnual Variation.)
VARIATION CHART. The well-known chart produced by Halley, whereon a number of curved lines show the variation of the compass in the places they pass through. The admiralty variation chart has been brought to great perfection.
VARIATION OF THE MOON. An inequality in the movement of our satellite, amounting at certain times to 37′ in longitude: it was the first lunar inequality explained by Newton on the principles of gravitation.
VARIATION OF THE VARIATION. Is the change in the declination of the needle observed at different times in the same place.
VEDETTE. One or two cavalry soldiers stationed on the look-out.
VEER,To. To let out, to pay out, to turn or change. Also, to veer or wear, in contradistinction from tacking. In tacking it is a necessary condition that the ship be brought up to the wind as close-hauled, and put round against the wind on the opposite tack. But in veering or wearing, especially when strong gales render it dangerous, unseamanlike, or impossible, the head of the vessel is put away from the wind, and turned round 20 points of the compass instead of 12, and, without strain or danger, is brought to the wind on the opposite tack. Many deep-thinking seamen, and Lords St. Vincent, Exmouth, and Sir E. Owen,issued orders to wear instead of tacking, when not inconvenient, deeming the accidents and wear and tear of tacking, detrimental to the sails, spars, and rigging.
VEER A BUOY IN A SHIP'S WAKE,To. To slack out a rope to which a buoy has been attached, and let it go astern, for the purpose of bringing up a boat, or picking up a man who may have fallen overboard.
VEER AND HAUL,To. To gently tauten and then slacken a rope three times before giving a heavy pull, the object being to concentrate the force of several men. The wind is said to veer and haul when it alters its direction; thus it is said, to veer aft, and haul forward.
VEER AWAY THE CABLE,To. To slack and let it run out.
VEERING CABLE,The. That cable which is veered out in unmooring, and not unspliced or unshackled in clearing hawse.
VEGA. α Lyræ. The bright lucida of the old northern constellation Lyra.
VEIN. The clear water between the openings of floes of ice. The same asice-lane. Also, a very limited current of wind—a cat's-paw.
VELOCITY. In naval architecture, designing for velocity is giving that form to a ship's body by which she will pass through the water in the quickest space of time.
VELOCITY OF TIDEORCURRENT, depends on several circumstances. First, the tide varies with the state of the moon, running strongest at the springs, and the force of the ebb is much increased by rains, land freshes, &c. The currents also vary, especially when wind and tide combine to accelerate their action.
VENDAVAL [Sp. south wind,tiempo di vendavales]. A stormy time on the coast of Mexico, in the autumn, with violent thunder, lightning, and rain.
VENDUE MASTER. A commercial and marine auctioneer.
VENE-SEANDES. The old commercial term for Venetian sequins.
VENT. In artillery, the small aperture near the breech by which the fire of the priming is communicated to the charge.
VENT-BIT. A peculiar augur or screw gimlet used for clearing the vent of a gun when obstructed.
VENT-FIELDof a Gun. The raised tablet in the metal near the breech in which the vent is bored.
VENTILATOR. The name of various machines contrived to expel the foul air from the store-rooms and hold, and introduce fresh in its stead.
VENT-PIECE. The movable fitment which closes the breech and contains the vent in Armstrong breech-loading guns.
VENT-PLUG. A fid or stopple made of leather or oakum fitting in the vent of a piece to stop it against weather, &c.
VENTRAL FIN. The posterior pair of fins under the body of fishes, corresponding to the hind legs of terrestrial quadrupeds.
VENUS. One of the inferior planets, and the second in order of distance from the sun. (SeeTransit of Venus.)
VERIFICATION OF SHIP'S PAPERS. In this necessary process itis declared that papers of themselves prove nothing, and require to be supported by the oaths of persons in a situation to give them validity.
VERITAS. A register of shipping established in Paris, on the principle of Lloyd's List.
VERNAL EQUINOX. The point where the sun crosses the equator, going north. It is opposite the place of the autumnal equinox. (SeeEquinoxes.)
VERNIER,or Nonius. A graduated scale for the measurement of minute divisions, especially on the arcs of astronomical instruments, sextants, &c. The thousandth part of a degree can be taken by the naked eye; the ten thousandth by a microscope.
VERSED SINE. In geometry, is the part of the radius intercepted between the arc and its sine.
VERTEX. The zenith, the point overhead; the apex of a conical mountain.
VERTICAL ANGLES. Opposite angles made by two lines cutting or crossing each other, and are always equal. (SeeAngle of the Vertical.)
VERTICAL CIRCLES. Great circles of the sphere intercepting each other in the zenith and nadir, and cutting the horizon at right angles.
VERTICAL FIRE. In artillery, that directed upward at such an angle as that it will fall vertically, or nearly so, to its destination. It includes all elevations above 30°, though the most usual is 45°. It is very effective with shells; but with small balls, as proposed by Carnot and others, who have ill reckoned the retardation by the atmosphere, it is insignificant.
VERTICAL FORCE. The centre of displacement is also that of the centre of vertical force that the water exerts to support the immersed vessel. Also, the dip of the magnetic needle, measured by vibrations of the dipping needle over certain arcs, and referable to some fixed position, as Greenwich, where corresponding observations with the same needle have been previously, as well as subsequently, made.
VERTICAL PLAN.SeeOrthographic Projection.
VERTICITY. The tendency of the loadstone to point towards the magnetic north and south.
VESSEL. A general name for all the different sorts of ships, boats, &c., navigated on the ocean or on rivers and canals.
VETAYLE. An archaism for victuals.
VIA LACTEA. That well-known irregular luminous band, stretching across the sky from horizon to horizon: it consists of myriads of small stars, and has passed under the names of Milky Way, Galaxy, Jacob's Ladder, Watling-strete, &c.
VICE-ADMIRAL. The rank in the fleet next to that of an admiral; he carries his flag at the fore.
VICE-ADMIRALTY COURTS. Branches of the High Court of Admiralty, instituted for carrying on the like duties in several of our colonies, prize-courts, &c. (SeeAdmiralty, High Court of.)
VICE-CONSUL. An officer appointed in sea-ports to aid the consul inaffairs relating to merchant vessels. If there be a resident consul, the vice-consul is appointed and paid by him. Vice-consuls wait on commanders, consuls on captains, captains on consuls-general—the naval authority providing boats.
VICE-NAIL. A screw.
VICTUALLER. A vessel which carries provisions. In the early age of the navy, each man-of-war had a victualler especially attached to her; as, in Henry VIII.'s reign, we find theNicholas Draper, of 140 tons and 40 men, was victualler to theTrinity Sovereign; theBarbaraof Greenwich to theGabriel Royal, and so on.
VICTUALLING-BILL. A custom-house document, warranting the shipment of such bonded stores as the master of an outward-bound merchantman may require for his intended voyage.
VICTUALLING-BOOK. A counterpart of the ship's open list, which is kept by the purser, to enable him to make the necessary entries in it.
VICTUALLING-YARDSfor the Royal Navy. Large magazines where provisions and similar stores are deposited, conveniently contiguous to the royal dockyards. The establishments in England and Ireland are at Deptford, Gosport, Plymouth, and Cork; and abroad at Malta, Gibraltar, Cape of Good Hope, Jamaica, Halifax, Trincomalee, and Hongkong.
VIDETTE.SeeVedette.
VI ET ARMIS. With force of arms.
VIGIA [Sp. look-out]. A hydrographical warning on a chart to denote that the pinnacle of a rock, or a shoal, may exist thereabout.
VINTINER [fromvigintinarius]. An officer in our early fleet who commanded a company of twenty men.
VIOL,or Voyol. A large messenger formerly used to assist in weighing an anchor by the capstan.
VIOLORVOYOL BLOCK. A large single-sheaved block through which the messenger passed when the anchor was weighed by the fore or jeer capstan; its block was usually lashed to the main-mast. This voyol-purchase was afterwards improved thus: the voyol-block was securely lashed to the cable at the manger-board, the jeer-fall rove through it, and brought to the jeer-capstan, and the standing part belayed to the bitts; thus a direct runner purchase instead of a dead nip was obtained. It was only used when other means failed, and, after the introduction of Phillipps' patent capstan, was disused.
VIOLENCE. The question in tort, as to the amount of liability incurred by the owners for outrages and irregularities committed by the master.
VIRE. The arrow shot from a cross-bow; also called a quarril.
VIRGILIÆ. A denomination of the Pleiades.
VIRGO. The sixth sign of the zodiac, which the sun enters about the 21st August. Spica, α Virginis, is a star of the first magnitude.
VIS INERTIÆ. That physical property in all bodies by which they resist a power that endeavours to put them in motion, or to change any motion they are possessed of; it is in proportion to their weight.
VIS INSITA. The innate force of matter; another name forvis inertiæ. It is that by which a vessel "keeps her way."
VISITATION AND SEARCH. The law of nations gives to every belligerent cruiser the right of visitation and search of all merchant ships; wherefore, resistance to such search amounts to a forfeiture of neutrality.
VISNE. A neighbouring place; a term often used in law in actions of marine replevin.
VIS VIVA. The whole effective force or power of acting which resides in a given moving body.
VITRY. A light and durable canvas.
VITTORY. A fine canvas, of which the waist-cloths were formerly made.
VIVANDIERE. A kind of female sutler. In the French army they are attached to regiments, which they accompany, sometimes even into the skirts of action.
VIVIER. A French fishing-boat, the same as thewell-boatsof the English coasts, in having a well amidships in which to keep the fish alive until arrival in port.
VIZY,or Vize. An old name for the muzzle-sight on a musket.
VOCABULARY. The system of naval signals based on Sir Home Popham's improvements.
VOES. Arms or inlets of the sea, or sounds, in the Shetland and Orkney Isles. Also applied to creeks and bays.
VOGOVANS. Fromvoguerandavant, chief rowers in the galleys.
VOLANT. A piece of steel on a helmet, presenting an acute angle to the front.
VOLCANO. A burning mountain or vent for subterranean fire; also applied to one which vomits only mud and water.
VOLLEY. The simultaneous discharge of a number of fire-arms.
VOLLIGUE. A small boat used on the shores of Asia Minor.
VOLUME. The contents of the globe of a planet, usually given in its proportion to that of the earth; or any named mass, solid, fluid, or vaporous.
VOLUNTARY CHARGE. A document delivered with the purser's accounts respecting provisions.
VOLUNTARY STRANDING. The beaching or running a vessel purposely aground to escape greater danger; this act is treated as particular average loss, and not a damage to be made good by general contribution.
VOLUNTEER. One who freely offers himself for a particular service. Formerly, in the army, a gentleman who, without any certain post or employment, served in the hope of earning preferment, or from patriotism. Latterly, also a civilian who has enrolled himself in a corps of volunteers, for organization and training for the defence of the country.
VOLUNTEERINGfrom a Merchantman into the Navy. Any seaman can leave his ship for the purpose of forthwith entering into the royal navy; and thus leaving his ship does not render him liable to any forfeiture whatever.
VOLUTE.SeeScroll-head.
VOLVELLE. The contrivance of revolving graduated circles, for making calculations, in old scientific works.
VORTEX. A whirlwind, or sudden, rapid, or violent motion of air or water in gyres or circles.
VOUCHER. A written document or proof, upon which any account or public charge is established.
VOYAGE. A journey by sea. It usually includes the outward and homeward trips, which are called passages.
VOYOL.SeeViol.
VRACH. Sea-weed used as a manure in the Channel Islands. Also, a Manx term for the mackerel.
VULFE. A rapid whirlpool or race on the coast of Norway.
WABBLE,To[from the Teutonicwabelen]. To reel confusedly, as waves on a windy day in a tide-way. It is a well-known term among mechanics to express the irregular motion of engines or turning-lathes when loose in their bearings, or otherwise out of order. A badly stitched seam in a sail is wabbled. It is also applied to the undulation of the compass-card when the motion of the vessel is considerable and irregular.
WAD. A kind of plug, closely fitting the bore of a gun, which is rammed home over the shot to confine it to its place, and sometimes also between the shot and the cartridge: generally made of coiled junk, otherwise a rope grommet, &c.
WADE,To. An Anglo-Saxon word, meaning to pass through water without swimming. In the north, the sun was said to wade when covered by a dense atmosphere.
WAD-HOOK. An iron tool shaped like a double cork-screw on the end of a long staff, for withdrawing wads or charges from guns; called also aworm.
WADMAREL. A hairy, coarse, dark-coloured stuff of the north, once in great demand for making pea-jackets, pilot-coats, and the like.
WAFT [said to be from the Anglo-Saxonweft], more correctly writtenwheft. It is any flag or ensign, stopped together at the head and middle portions, slightly rolled up lengthwise, and hoisted at different positions at the after-part of a ship. Thus, at the ensign-staff, it signifies that a man has fallen overboard; if no ensign-staff exists, then half-way up the peak. At the peak, it signifies a wish to speak; at the mast-head, recalls boats; or as the commander-in-chief or particular captain may direct.
WAFTORS. Certain officers formerly appointed to guard our coast fisheries. Also, swords blunted to exercise with.
WAGER POLICY. An engagement upon interest or no interest; the performance of the voyage in a reasonable time and manner, and not the bare existence of the ship or cargo, is the object of insurance.
WAGESORPAYof the Royal Navyis settled by act of parliament. In the merchant service seamen are paid by the month, and receive their wages at the end of the voyage.
WAGES REMITTED FROM ABROAD. When a ship on a foreign station has been commissioned twelve calendar months, every petty officer, seaman, and marine serving on board, may remit the half of the pay due to them to a wife, father, mother, grandfather, grandmother, brother, or sister.
WAGGON. A place amidships, on the upper deck of guard-ships, assigned for the supernumeraries' hammocks.
WAGGONER. A name applied to an atlas of charts, from a work of this nature published at Leyden in 1583, by Jans Waghenaer.
WAIF. Goods found and not claimed; derelict. Also used forwaft.
WAIST. That portion of the main deck of a ship of war, contained between the fore and main hatchways, or between the half-deck and galley.
WAIST-ANCHOR. An additional or spare anchor stowed before the chess-tree. (SeeSpare Anchor.)
WAIST-BOARDS. The berthing made to fit into a vessel's gangway on either side.
WAIST-CLOTHS. The painted canvas coverings of the hammocks which are stowed in the waist-nettings.
WAISTERS. Green hands, or worn seamen, in former times stationed in the waist in working the ship, as they had little else of duty but hoisting and swabbing the decks.
WAIST-NETTINGS. The hammock-nettings between the quarter-deck and forecastle.
WAIST-RAIL. The channel-rail or moulding of the ship's side.
WAIST-TREE. Another name forrough-tree(which see).
WAIVE,To. To give up the right to demand a court-martial, or to enforce forfeitures, by allowing people who have deserted, &c., to return to their duties.
WAIVING. The action of dispensing with salutes—by signal, by motion of the hand to guards, &c., and to vessels, which may be, in accordance with old custom, passing under the lee to be hailed and examined.
WAIVING AMAIN. A salutation of defiance, as by brandishing weapons, &c.
WAKE. The transient, generally smooth, track impressed on the surface-water by a ship's progress. Its bearing is usually observed by the compass to discover the angle of lee-way. A ship is said to be in the wake of another, when she follows her upon the same track. Two distant objects observed at sea are termed in the wake of each other, when the view of thefarthest off is intercepted by the one that is nearer. (SeeCrossing a Ship's Wake.)
WALE-REARED. Synonymous withwall-sided.
WALES. The thickest strakes of wrought stuff in a vessel. Strong planks extending all along the outward timbers on a ship's side, a little above her water-line; they are synonymous withbends(which see). The channel-wale is below the lower-deck ports, and the main-wale between the top of those ports and the sills of the upper-deck ports.
WALK AWAY! The order to step out briskly with a tackle fall, as in hoisting boats.
WALK BACK! A method in cases where a purchase must not be lowered by a round turn, as "Walk back the capstan;" the men controlling it by the bars and walking back as demanded.
WALKER'S KNOT.SeeMatthew Walker.
WALKING A PLANK. An obsolete method of destroying people in mutiny and piracy, under a plea of avoiding the penalty of murder. The victim is compelled to walk, pinioned and blindfolded, along a plank projecting over the ship's side, which, canting when overbalanced, heaves him into the sea. Also, for detecting whether a man is drunk, he is made to walk along a quarter-deck plank.
WALKING AWAY WITH THE ANCHOR. Said of a ship which is dragging, orshouldering, her anchor; or when, from fouling the stock or upper fluke, she trips the anchor out of the ground.
WALKING SPEAKING-TRUMPET. A midshipman repeating quarter-deck orders.
WALK SPANISH,To. To quit duty without leave; to desert.
WALK THE QUARTER-DECK,To. A phrase signifying to take the rank of an officer.
WALK THE WEATHER GANGWAY NETTING. A night punishment in a man-of-war for those of the watch who have missed their muster.
WALL. A bank of earth to restrain the current and overflowing of water. (SeeSea-bank.)
WALL-KNOT,or Wale-knot. A particular sort of large knot raised upon the end of a rope, by untwisting the strands, and passing them among each other.
WALL-PIECE. A very heavy powerful musket, for use in fortified places.
WALL-SIDED. The sides of a ship continuing nearly perpendicular down to the surface of the water, like a wall. It is the mean betweentumbling homeandflaring out.
WALRUS [Dan.hval-ros]. TheTrichecus rosmarus, a large amphibious marine animal, allied to the seals, found in the Arctic regions. Its upper canines are developed into large descending tusks, of considerable value as ivory. It is also called morse, sea-horse, and sea-cow. This animal furnished Cook, as well as our latest Arctic voyagers, withArctic beef. The skin is of the utmost importance to the Esquimaux, as well as to the Russians of Siberia, &c.
WALT. An old word, synonymous withcrank; or tottering, like a sprung spar.
WANE. In timber, an imperfection implying a want of squareness at one or more of its corners; under this deficiency it is termedwane-wood.
WANE-CLOUD.SeeCirro-stratus.
WANGAN. A boat, in Maine, for carrying provisions.
WANY. Said of timber when spoiled by wet.
WAPP,ORWHAP. A name formerly given to any short pendant and thimble, through which running-rigging was led. Also, a rope wherewith rigging was set taut with wall-knots, one end being fast to the shroud, and the other brought to the laniard. But any shroud-stopper is awapp.
WAR. A contest between princes or states, which, not being determinable otherwise, is referred to the decision of the sword. It may exist without a declaration on either side, and is eithercivil,defensive, oroffensive.
WAR-CAPERER. A privateer.
WARDEN.SeeLord Warden.
WARD-ROOM. The commissioned officers' mess-cabin, on the main-deck in ships of the line.
WARD-ROOM OFFICERS. Those who mess in the ward-room, namely: the commander, lieutenants, master, chaplain, surgeon, paymaster, marine-officers, and assistant-surgeons.
WARE,To.SeeVeer.
WAREHOUSING SYSTEM. The use of bonding places under charge of officers of the customs, in which goods may be deposited, without any duty upon them being exacted, until they be cleared for home use, or for exportation.
WAR ESTABLISHMENT. Increased force of men and means.
WARM-SIDED. Mounting heavy metal, whether a ship or a fort.
WARNER. A sentinel formerly posted on the heights near sea-ports to give notice of the approach of vessels. Also, beacons, posts, buoys, lights, &c., warning vessels of danger by day as well as by night.
WARNING-SIGNAL. Hoisted to warn vessels not to pass a bar. Also, to warrant higher pay to watermen plying between Portsmouth and Spithead, &c., according to severity of weather.
WARP. A rope or light hawser, employed occasionally to transport a ship from one place to another in a port, road, or river. Also, an east-coast term for four herrings. Also, land between the sea-banks and the sea.—Warp of lower rigging.A term used in the rigging-loft, as, before cutting out a gang of rigging, it is warped. Also, to form the warp of spun-yarn in making sword-mats for the rigging-gripes, slings, &c.—To warp.To move a vessel from one place to another by warps, which are attached to buoys, to other ships, to anchors, or to certain fixed objects on shore. Also, to flood the lands near rivers in Yorkshire.
WARPING AND FRAMING THE TIMBERS. Putting in the beam-knees, coamings, &c., and dividing the spaces between the beams for fitting the carlines.
WARPING-BLOCK. A block made of ash or elm, used in rope-making for warping off yarn.
WARRANT. A writ of authority, inferior to a commission; in former days it was the name given to the deed conferring power on those officers appointed by the navy board, while those granted by the admiralty were styled commissions. Also, a document, under proper authority, for the assembling of a court-martial, punishment, execution, &c. Also, a tabulated regulation for cutting standing and running rigging, as well as for supply of general stores, as warranted by the admiralty.—Brown-paper warrants.Those given by a captain, and which he can cancel.
WARRANT-OFFICER. Generally one holding his situation from particular boards, or persons authorized by the sovereign to grant it. In the royal navy it was an officer holding a warrant from the navy board, as the master, surgeon, purser, boatswain, gunner, carpenter, &c. In the year 1831, when the commissioners of the navy, or navy board, were abolished, all these powers reverted to the admiralty, but the commissions and warrants remain in effect the same.
WARRANTY. The contract of marine insurance, expressing a certain condition on the part of the insured, upon which the contract is to take effect; it is always a part of the written policy, and must appear on the face of it. In this it differs fromrepresentation(which see).
WARREN-HEAD. A northern term for a dam across a river.
WAR-SCOT. A contribution for the supply of arms and armour, in the time of the Saxons.
WAR-SHIP. Any ship equipped for offence and defence; whereasman-of-wargenerally signifies a vessel belonging to the royal navy.
WARTAKE. An archaic term for a rope-fast, or spring. In that early sea-song (temp.Henry VI.) which is in the library of Trinity College, Cambridge, the skipper of the ship carrying a cargo of "pylgryms" exclaims, "Hale in the wartake!"
WARTH. An old word signifying a ford. Also, a flat meadow close to a stream.
WASH. An accumulation of silt in estuaries. Also, a surface covered by floods. Also, a shallow inlet or gulf: the east-country term for the sea-shore. Also, the blade of an oar. Also, a wooden measure of two-thirds of a bushel, by which small shell-fish are sold at Billingsgate, equal to ten strikes of oysters.—Wash, ora-wash. Even with the water's edge.
WASH-BOARD,ORWASH-STRAKE. A movable upper strake which is attached by stud-pins on the gunwales of boats to keep out the spray. Wash-boards are also fitted on the sills of the lower-deck ports for the same purpose.
WASH-BOARDS. A term for the white facings of the old naval uniform.
WASHERMAN. A station formerly for an old or otherwise not very useful person on board a man-of-war.
WASHERS. Leather, copper, lead, or iron rings interposed at the end of spindles, before a forelock or linch-pin, to prevent friction, or galling the wood, as of a gun-truck. Also used in pump-gear.
WASHING-PLACE. In 1865, baths and suitable washing-places were fitted for personal use in the ships of the royal navy. Both hot and cold water are supplied. Shades of Drake, Frobisher, and Raleigh, think of that!
WASHING THE HAND. A common hint on leaving a ship disliked.
WASH-WATER. A ford.
WATCH. The division of the ship's company into two parties, one called the starboard, and the other the larboard or port watch, alluding to the situation of their hammocks when hung up; these two watches are, however, separated into two others, a first and second part of each, making four in all. The crew can also be divided into three watches. The officers are divided into three watches, in order to lighten their duty; but it is to be borne in mind that the watch may sleep when their services are not demanded, whereas it is a crime, liable to death, for an officer to sleep on his watch. In a ship of war the watch is generally commanded by a lieutenant, and in merchant ships by one of the mates. The word is also applied to thetimeduring which the watch remains on deck, usually four hours, with the exception of the dog-watches.—Anchor-watch.A quarter watch kept on deck while the ship rides at single anchor, or remains temporarily in port.—Dog-watches.The two reliefs which take place between 4 and 8 o'clockP.M., each of which continues only two hours, the intention being to change the turn of the night-watch every twenty-four hours.—First watch.From 8P.M.till midnight.—Middle-watch.From midnight till 4A.M.—Morning-watch.From 4 to 8A.M.—Watchis also a word used in throwing the deep-sea lead, when each man, on letting go the last turn of line in his hand, calls to the next abaft him, "Watch, there, watch!" A buoy is said towatchwhen it floats on the surface of the water.
WATCH AND WATCH. The arrangement of the crew in two watches.
WATCH-BILL. The pocket "watch and station bill," which each officer is expected to produce if required, and instantly muster the watch, or the men stationed to any specific duty.
WATCHET. A light blue, or sky-coloured cloth worn formerly by English sailors, especially by the boats' crews of men-of-war.
WATCH-GLASSES. The half-hour glasses employed to measure the periods of the watch, so that the several stations therein may be regularly kept and relieved, as at the helm, pump, look-out, &c. (SeeGlass.)