"His food the land-crab, lizard, or the frog;His drink a wish-wash of six-water grog."
WITH. An iron instrument fitted to the end of a boom or mast, with a ring to it, through which another boom or mast is rigged out and secured. Also, in mechanics, the elastic withe handles of cold chisels, set-tools, &c., which prevent a jar to the assistant's wrist.
WITH A WILL. Pull all together.
WITHERSHINS.SeeWiddershins.
WITHEYS. Any low places near rivers where willows grow.
WITHIN-BOARD. Inside a ship.
WITHOUT. Outside, as, studding-sail without studding-sail; or,without board, outside a ship.
WITH THE SUN. Ropes coiled from the left hand towards the right; but where the sun passes the meridian north of the observer, it is of course the reverse.
WITNESSES,or Temoins, are certain piles of earth left in digging docks, or other foundations, to judge how many cubic feet of earth have been removed.
WITTEE-WITTEE. The ingeniously-constructed fish-hook of the Pacific islanders, made of mother-of-pearl, with hair tufts, serving at once both as hook and bait.
WOARE. An old term for sea-weed. Also, the shore margin or beach.
WOBBLE,To. In mechanics, to sway or roll from side to side. (SeeWabble.)
WOLD. An extensive plain, covered with grass and herbs, but bare of trees.
WOLF. A kind of fishing-net.
WOLF-FISH.Anarhichas lupus, also called cat-fish. A fish of the northern seas, from 2 to 3 feet long, with formidable teeth, with which it crushes the shells of the crustaceans and mollusks on which it feeds.
WOLYING. The old way of spellingwoolding.
WONDER-CHONE. An old term, mentioned by Blount as a contrivance for catching fish.
WONGS. A term on our east coast, synonymous with low lands orwishes(which see).
WOOD,To. A gun is said to wood when it takes the port-sills or port-sides, or the trucks the water-ways.—To wood.When wooding-parties are sent out to cut or procure wood for a ship.
WOOD AND WOOD. When two pieces of timber are so let into each other as to join close. Also, when a tree-nail is driven through, its point being even with the inside surface.
WOODEN BUOYS. Buoyant constructions of wood of various shapes, with a ring-bolt at each end, to which vessels can make fast for a time. (SeeDolphin.)
WOOD-ENDS.SeeHood-ends.
WOODEN WALLS. A term signifying the fleet, and though thought to be peculiarly English, was used by the Delphic oracle, when applied to by the Athenians on the Persian invasion: "Defend yourselves by wooden walls."
WOODEN-WINGS. The lee-boards, for keeping barges to windward.
WOOD-LOCKSof the Rudder. Pieces of timber sheathed with copper, in coppered ships, placed in the throating or scores of the stern-post, to prevent the rudder from rising or unshipping.
WOOD-MULLS. Large thick hose worn by the men in coasters and fishing-boats.
WOOD-SHEATHING. All plank applied to strengthen a vessel. (SeeDouble.)
WOOF. A northern name of the gray gurnard.
WOOLDERS. Bandages. The bolt of a Spanish windlass is called a woolder.
WOOLDING. The act of winding a piece of rope about a mast or yard, to support it where it is fished, or when it is composed of several pieces. Also, the rope employed in this service.
WOOL-PACKS. In meteorology, light clouds in a blue sky.
WORD. The watch-word; the parole and countersign, which, being issued to the authorized persons at guard-mounting, become a test whereby spies or strangers are detected.
WORK,To. Said of a ship when she strains in a tempestuous sea, so as to loosen her joints.
WORK ABACK. This is said of a steam-engine if reversed, to propel the vessel astern.
WORK A SHIP,To. To adapt the sails to the force and direction of the wind.
WORK DOUBLE-TIDES,To. Implying that the work of three days is done in two, or at least two tides' work in twenty-four hours.
WORKING A DAY'S WORK. Reducing the dead-reckoning and meridian altitudes to noon of each day.
WORKING A LUNAR. Reducing the observations of the sun and moon, or moon and stars, in order to find the longitude. Also, a phrase used when a man sleeps during a conversation.
WORKING AN OBSERVATION. Reducing the altitudes or distances of heavenly bodies by calculation.
WORKING PARTIES. Gangs of hands employed on special duties out of the ship or dockyard.
WORKING TO WINDWARD. Sailing against the wind by alternate tacks. (SeeBeating.)
WORKING UP. The keeping men at work on needless matters, beyond the usual hours, for punishment.
WORKS. All fortificational constructions, whether permanent, field, or makeshifts of the moment; from the most solid bastion to the rudest rifle-pit.
WORK UP JUNK,To. To draw yarns from old cables, &c., and therewith to make foxes, points, gaskets, sinnet, or spun-yarn.
WORM. An iron tool shaped like a double cork-screw on the end of a long staff, for withdrawing charges, ignited remains of cartridges, &c., from fire-arms. Called also a wad-hook in artillery. (See alsoTeredo Navalis.)—To worm.The act of passing a rope spirally between the lays of a cable; a smaller rope is wormed with spun-yarn. Worming is generally resorted to as a preparative for serving. (SeeLink Worming.)
WORM-EATEN,or Wormed. The state of a plank or of a ship's bottom when perforated by a particular kind of boring mollusk,Teredo navalis, which abounds in the tropics.
WORMS. Timber is preserved against worms by several coats of common whale-oil, or by the patents of Payne, Sir W. Burnett, Kyan, and others.
WRACK. The English name for the fucus; the sea-weed used for the manufacture of kelp, and in some places artificially grown for that purpose.
WRACK-RIDER. A species of brandling faintly barred on both sides.
WRAIN-BOLT. A ring-bolt with two or more forelock-holes in it, occasionally to belay or make fast towards the middle. It is used, with the wrain-staff in the ring, forsetting-tothe planks.
WRAIN-STAFF. A stout billet of tough wood, tapered at its ends, so as to go into the ring of the wrain-bolt, to make the necessary setts for bringing-to the planks or thick stuff to the timber.
WRASSE. TheCrenilabrus tinca, a sea-fish, sometimes called old-wife.
WRECK. The destruction of a ship by stress of weather, rocks, &c.; also the ruins of the ship after such accidents; also the goods and fragments which drive on shore after a ship is stranded. It is said that the term is derived from the sea-weed calledwrack, denoting all that the sea washes on shore as it does this weed. A ship cast on shore is no wreck, in law, when any domestic animal has escaped with life in her. The custody of the cargo or goods belongs to the deputy of the vice-admiral, and they are restored to the proprietors without any fees or salvage, but what the labour of those who saved them may reasonably deserve.
WRECKAGE. Spars, rigging, or goods floating about after a wreck.
WRECKERS. A name which includes both meritorious salvors of ships in distress, and the felonious brutes who merely hasten to wrecks for plunder. One of our British colonies deemed it so entirely a legal procedure to make a wreck of or cripple a vessel on the reef, that a naval officer was threatened with legal proceedings by a lawyer whom he prevented from carrying out his practice afloat.
WRECK-FREE. Is to be exempt from the forfeiture of shipwrecked goods and vessels: a privilege which Edward I. granted by charter to the barons of the Cinque Ports.
WRIGHT'S SAILING. Synonymous withMercator's sailing.
WRING A MAST,To. To bend, cripple, or strain it out of its natural position by setting the shrouds up too taut. The phrase,to wring, is also applied to a capstan when by an undue strain the component parts of the wood become deranged, and are thereby disunited. The head of a mast is frequently wrung by bracing up the lower yards beyond the dictates of sound judgment.
WRONG,To. To out-sail a vessel by becalming her sails is said to wrong her.
WRONG WAY. When the ship casts in the opposite direction to that desired. Also, a ship swinging in a tide's way, out of the direction which would keep her hawse clear.
WRUNG-HEADS. An old term for that part of a ship near the floor-heads and second futtock-heels, which, when she lies aground, bears the greatest strain.
XEBEC,or Zebec. A small three-masted vessel of the Mediterranean, distinguished from all other European vessels by the great projection of her bow and overhanging of her stern. Being generally equipped as a corsair, the xebec was constructed with a narrow floor, for speed, and of great breadth, to enable her to carry a great press of sail. On the Barbary coast the xebec rig was deemed to vary from the felucca, which in hull is the same, by having the fore-mast square-rigged.
XERAFEEM. A Malabar coin of the value of 1s.4d.sterling.
XEROONITZ. A Russian coin of two roubles, or 9s.sterling.
XERO-POTAMO. A term common on the coasts of Greece for fiumare, or torrents, which are dry at certain seasons.
XUGIA. The second bank of rowers in an ancient trireme.
XYLOSTROMA. Oak-leather, a peculiar fungus found within growing oaks.
YACHT. A vessel of state or pleasure: the former is usually employed to convey great personages. One of the designs of a yacht being accommodation, they are usually fitted up with great comfort; their propulsion is by sails or steam. Small yachts, rigged as sloops, were formerly used by the commissioners of the navy; they were originally royal yachts, and one at Chatham was renowned as the yacht of Queen Elizabeth, the same plate being in use in her up to a very late date. Private pleasure-boats, when sufficiently large for a sea voyage, are also termed yachts. (SeeRoyal Yacht.)
YACHT CLUB, ROYAL. An institution embodied by a number of noblemen and gentlemen about the year 1820, to which certain privileges are attached. It was originally established at Cowes, but several ports, as well as the Thames, have their special clubs, and similar privileges.
YAM. The tubers of theDioscorea sativa, and others; a valuable vegetable on long voyages.D. aculeatafrequently produces tubers 3 feet long, and weighing 30 lbs. Also, the West India word for food; "Toko for yam," the negro's punishment—blows but no food.
YANKEE. An appellation often erroneously given to North Americans in general, whereas it is strictly applicable to those of the New England states only; it is not used complimentarily in the back settlements.
YARD. A measure of length, consisting of 3 feet.
YARD [Anglo-Saxongyrde]. A long cylindrical timber suspended upon the mast of a vessel to spread a sail. They are termed square, lateen, or lug: the first are suspended across the masts at right angles, and the two latter obliquely. The square yards taper from the middle, which is called the slings, towards the extremities, which are termed the yard-arms; and the distance between is divided by the artificers into quarters, called the first, second, third quarters, and yard-arms. The middle quarters are formed into eight sides, and each of the end parts is figured like the frustum of a cone: on the alternate sides of the octagon, in large spars, oak battens are brought on and hooped, so as to strengthen, and yet not greatly increase, the weight.—To brace the yards.To traverse them about the masts, so as to form greater or lesser angles with the ship's length. (SeeBrace.)—To square the yards.(SeeSquare.)
YARD-ARM. That part of a yard outside the quarter, which is on either side of the mast beyond the battens, when it lies athwart the ship. It generally means the extremity of the yard, and it is fitted with sheave-holes for reeving sheets through.
YARD-ARM AND YARD-ARM. The situation of two ships lyingalongside one another, so near that their yard-arms nearly touch each other, or even cross. The term implies close action and no mistake.
YARD-ARM CLEATS. Wooden wedges fixed on the yards at those points where they support the lifts and braces, and where the head-earings are secured. The reef-cleats on the topsail-yards are beyond the lifts and braces.
YARD-ARM PIECE. An octagonal piece of timber supplied to replace a yard-arm if shot away. It is one-third the length of the main-yard.
YARD-ROPE. Is only used for temporary purposes; the most usual application of the term is that by which a yard is hoisted for crossing, or sent down. Also, rove for execution. The yard-rope of the lighter yards is the halliards, which, when the yard is crossed, is made into tie and halliards by a peculiar mode of toggling on the halliard purchase, as in the order, "Toggle the halliards!"
YARDS.SeeDockyards.
YARDS APEEK. When they are topped, so as to resemble St. Andrew's cross; it is done as a token of mourning, or for convenience when vessels lie alongside of each other, as in the docks.
YARD-TACKLES. Tackles attached to the fore and main yards of a ship, whereby, with the assistance of the stay-tackles, the boats and other weights are hoisted in and out. Yard-tackles are sometimes hooked to a pendant, which is secured to the top-mast head, and hauled out to the yard-arm by means of a small tackle, until the yard-tackle plumbs the spot where it is wished to work.
YARE [Ang.-Sax. for dexterous or quick]. It was formerly a favourite nautical phrase, as "Be yare at the helm;" and is used by Shakspeare's boatswain in theTempest.
YAREMLEK. A silver Turkish coin of 20 paras, or 9d.sterling.
YARMOUTH CAPON. A red herring; a bloater.
YARMOUTH HERRING-BOAT. A clincher-built vessel with lug-sails, similar to the drift or mackerel boats.
YARN. One of the threads of which ropes are composed. A number of these are twisted together to form a strand, in proportion to the size of the proposed rope. Three strands are then twisted into one another, which completes the process of ordinary rope-making; but cables, hawsers, and other ground tackling, are composed of three strands, each of which is formed of three lesser ones. (SeeCable,Hawser, &c.)—A tough yarn.A long story, or tale, hard to be believed.
YARN-SPINNING. A figurative expression for telling a story.
YATAGHAN. A crooked sabre used in the Levant. Also, the knife-swords of India.
YAUGH. An archaic term for a little bark, pinnace, or yacht.
YAW. The quick movement by which a ship deviates from the direct line of her course towards the right or left, from unsteady steering.
YAWL. A man-of-war's boat, resembling the pinnace, but rather smaller; it is carvel-built, and generally rowed with twelve oars. The yawl in theCustoms Act is a carvel-built vessel of the cutter class, but having a jigger or mizen lug, the boom-mainsail being curtailed, so that its boom traverses clear of the mizen-mast: used also by yachts. Also, a small fishing-vessel.
YAW-SIGHTED. A nautical term for those who squint.
YAW-YAW. A nickname for the seamen of the shores of the Baltic.
YEAR. The duration of the earth's revolution round the sun, or of the apparent revolution of the sun in the ecliptic.
YELL. An old sea-term to express a rolling motion.
YELLOW ADMIRAL. A retired post-captain, who, not having served his time in that rank, is not entitled to his promotion to the active flag.
YELLOW-BELLY. A name given to a person born in the fens along our eastern shores: also occasionally to half-castes, &c.
YELLOW FEVER. A cant term for drunkenness at Greenwich Hospital; the sailors when punished wearing a parti-coloured coat, in which yellow predominates.
YELLOW-FLAG. The signal of quarantine.
YELLOWING. The passing over of captains at a flag promotion.
YELLOW-TAIL. A well-known tropical fish, often in company with whip-rays; it is about 4 feet long, with a great head, large eyes, and many fins.Leiostomas.
YEO-HEAVE-YEOING. The chant or noise made at the windlass and purchase-falls in a merchantman, to cheer and lighten labour, but not permitted in a man-of-war.
YEOMAN. An experienced hand placed in charge of a store-room, who should be able to keep the accounts of supply and expenditure.
YESTY [from the Anglo-Saxongist]. A foaming breaking sea. Shakspeare inMacbethgives great power to this state of the waters:—
"Though the yesty wavesConfound, and swallow navigation up."
YOKE. A transverse board or metal bar, a substitute for the tiller, which crosses the head of a boat's rudder, and having two lines extending from its opposite extremities to the stern-sheets of the boat, whereby she is steered.
YOKE-LINES. The ropes by which the boat's steerage is managed.
YOUNG. A word often used for uninitiated.—Young gentlemen, a general designation for midshipmen, whatever their age.
YOUNG FLOOD.SeeFlood.
YOUNG ICE. Nearly the same as bay-ice, except that it is only applied to ice very recently formed, or of the present season.
YOUNGSTER,or Younker[an old term; from the Anglo-Saxonjunker]. A volunteer of the first-class, and a general epithet for a stripling in the service.
YOUNG WIND. The commencement of the land or sea breeze.
YOU, SIR! The irritating mode in which some officers address the seamen. The late Lord Collingwood never permitted it.
YOW-YOW. A smaller kind of Chinese sampan.
Y'Sof an Instrument. TheY-shaped bearings for the telescope axis, on the precision of which the value of an astronomical observation much depends: similar to the bearings of steam-engines, &c.
ZAFAR. A coil of Spanish rope.
ZAMBO. A term on the Spanish Main for a race produced by the union of the negro and the Indian; it literally meansbow-legged.
ZEAL. A quality essentially requisite in forming the character of an efficient officer, since it comprehends ardour for the service, prompt obedience to orders, cheerful disposition, and a studious application to professional science.
ZECCHINO [fromzecca, a mint]. A gold coin of Italy; average value, 9s.6d.
ZECHIN. A Turkish coin. (SeeSequin.)
ZENITH. The pole of the horizon, or that point in the heavens directly overhead, as nadir is that which is directly under our feet.
ZENITH-DISTANCE. The angular distance of any celestial object from the zenith at the time of observation. In navigation the meridional zenith-distance of a heavenly body is much used for finding the latitude.
ZEPHYR. The west wind, but generally considered to apply to any light pleasant breeze.
ZERO. The cypher or nought at the beginning of a graduated arc.
ZETETIC. The analytic method of investigating a mathematical problem.
ZIG-ZAG. The winding trench of approach of a besieger, directed by short turns alternately right and left of the defences of the place, to avoid being enfiladed by them. Called also aboyau.
ZIG-ZAG COURSE. Working to windward by very short tacks or angular turning boards.
ZODIAC. A broad zone or belt of the heavens, the middle of which is the ecliptic, extending 9° on either side of it. It is divided into twelve signs, each measuring 30° along the ecliptic.
ZODIACAL LIGHT. A pyramidal cone of light, apparently emanating from the rising and setting sun, commonly seen in the tropics; in higher latitudes most visible about the time of the equinoxes.
ZOLL,or Saul. An Indian timber, much used in the construction of country vessels.
ZONE.SeeBelt.
ZONE OF DECLINATION. A belt of the heavens included between certain parallels of declination.
ZONES,in Geography, are longitudinal belts into which the surface of the earth is divided, according to their various relation to the sun's apparent motion. They are—thetorridorequatorial zone, bounded by the twotropics(which see), to every part of which, at some time or other, the sun is vertical; thefrigid zones, from the poles to the polar circles, to every part of which in succession, periodically, the sun is at mid-day below the horizon; and thetemperate zones, intermediate between the two former, to all of which the sun rises every day in the year.
ZOOPHYTE. A term compounded of two Greek words, signifying animal-plant, vaguely applied to various low forms of animal organizations, as the sea-anemones and coral animals, which present a certain superficial resemblance to plants.
ZOPISSA. Tar or pitch scraped off the bottoms of old ships, and thought to be astringent and good for ulcers. Also, a highly preservative varnish in use by the ancients for ships' bottoms, sarcophagi, &c.
ZUHN. A species of Indian rush, from which an inferior kind of cordage and canvas is made.
ZUMBRA. A Spanish skiff or yawl.
GLASGOW: W. G. BLACKIE AND CO., PRINTERS, VILLAFIELD.
GLASGOW: W. G. BLACKIE AND CO., PRINTERS, VILLAFIELD.