Chapter V (4)

Are used by the Caulkers for large Kettles to stand on for heating Stuff when Paying Ships.

Trough

Is the Hollow or Cavity made between any two Waves or Billows in a rowling Sea.

Trucks

Acorn

Are put on the End or Top of the Vane Spindle at the Mast-head.

Flaggstaff

Are put on the Ends of them, and also on the Ensign and Jack Staffs.

Parrel

The Rope is reeved through them, and are placed between the Ribs of the Parrel.

Seizing

Are made fast to the Shrouds for the Running Rigging to go through.

Truss

Is a Tackle fastened to the Parrel at the Yard, which binds it fast when the Ship rowls, lying either a-hull or at an Anchor, and the Fore, Main, and Mizon Yards have them.

Try

A Ship is said to Try, when she hath no more Sails abroad but her Main Course, when her Tacks are close aboard, the Bowlings set up, and the Sheats hauled close Aft, or when, the Helm or Steering Wheel is so fastened as to prevent their having any Power of the Tiller, so as she is let lie in the Sea, and sometimes when it blows so hard that she cannot bear her Main Course, they make her lie a-Try, under her Mizon only.

Tuck

Is when a Ship is not round Buttock'd, as commonly _English_ Ships are, (Sixth Rates lately excepted) under the Wing Transom, they say she is Square Tuck't. _Dutch_ Men of War, and their Merchant Ships, are generally built with square Tucks.

Tue Iron

Are for the Smith's Bellows to blow through.

Turpentine

Is used for Paying Ships Sides, Masts, Boats, _&c._

Twine

Sail

Is used by the Sail-makers for making and repairing Sails; allowed the Boatswains for repairing the Sails when they want at Sea, for whiping Ropes, and such like Uses.

Mark

Is put into all Cordage, from three Inches downwards, as the King's Mark.

Tiles

Are used by the bricklayers on the Roofs of Lodgings, Storehouses, _&c._

Tyminoguy

A Rope, one End nailed to the Outside of the Stock of an Anchor, stowed at the Bow, and the other fastened or belayed to the Ship's Sides on the Fore-Castle; its Use is for preventing the Fore-Sheats (when getting under Sail) droping down between the Anchor Stock and Ship's Side.

Veer

Veering out a Rope, is letting it go by Hand, or letting it run out of its self. Thus they Veer more Cable, that is, Let more Cable run out; but this Word is not used for the letting out of any Running Rope except the Sheat, but of that they say, Veer more Sheat, that is, Let more of it run out. The Word Veer is also used in Reference to the Wind, for when it changeth often and suddenly, they say The Wind Veereth.

Vice

There are two Sorts, Bench and Hand; the former are fixed to a Bench in the Smith's Shop, and used by them for holding fast their Work, when to be filed or cleaned, as the other is (being small) held in the Hand when made use of.

Viol

A Cable-laid Rope, which being reeved through a large Block lashed at the Main-mast, is made use of by heaving at the Jeer Capston to weigh the Anchor when Nippers are brought on about the Cable.

Vinegar

Is allowed for washing the Ships between Decks when abroad, for preventing any Contagion spreading among the Men.

Umbrello's

Are Screens hung at the Stern over the Ship's Lights, to keep out the Sun, and are generally covered with Canvas or Kersey.

Unmoar

When a Ship or Vessel that Rides at two Anchors begins to get them up in order to Sail, she is Unmoaring.

Uphroes

Are a Kind of Spar brought from _Norway_, from thirty two Feet to twenty eight Feet long, and four Inches by three and an half square at the Top End.

Waals

Are those protuberant Strakes of Plank (or thick Stuff) wrought thicker than the Rest on the Sides of a Ship, the Appearance of which gives her Sheer, that is, the beautiful Rising they commonly have Fore and Aft above Water.

Waft

To make a Waft is to hoist up an Ensign rowled up to the Top of the Staff, as a Sign for the Men to come on board, or that a Ship is in Danger by a Leak, _&c._ and therefore wants Help from the Shore, or from some other Ship.

Wake

Is the smooth Water that runs from a Ship's Stern when under Sail, and by it a good Guess may be made of the Speed she makes. Also when one Ship giving Chace to another, is got as far into the Wind as she, and sails directly after her, they say, She has got into her Wake.

Wale Rear'd

Not Ship shape, but built right up after she comes to her Bearing.

Walt

A Ship is Walt when she hath not her due Ballast, that is, not enough to enable her to bear her Sails.

Warp

Is to haul or transport a Ship by a Cablet or Hawser (proper for that Purpose) bent to an Anchor or a Buoy; it is used when a Wind is wanting to carry her into or out of an Harbour, or to Moarings, and this is termed Warping; and the Cablet or Hawser used on this Occasion is called a Warp.

Wast

The Ship's Sides between the Quarter Deck and Fore-castle is commonly called so.

Boards

Are sometimes set upon the Sides of a Boat, to keep the Sea from breaking into her.

Cloths

Is Kersey, tabled with Canvas, and hung round the Wast, Quarter Deck, and Poop of a Ship for Ornament.

Trees

In small Ships only, are the same as Ruff Trees.

Watch

Signifies the Space of four Hours, because half of the Ship's Company Watch and do Duty in their Turns, so long at a Time, who are divided into two Parts, the Larboard, and the Starboard Watch.

Water-born

Is when a Ship, even and just with the Ground, first begins to float or swim, being born up by the Water.

Water Line

Is that which goes round the Ship at the Surface of the Water, and shews the true Shape of her Body.

Water Shot

Is a Sort of riding at Anchor, when a Ship is moared neither a-cross the Tide, nor right up and down, but betwixt both.

Water ways

Is that Strake of Plank on the Flat of each Deck respectively next the Ship's Side, for turning the Water out of the Seams.

Way of a Ship

Is sometimes the same with the Rake or Run of her Fore and Aft; but is mostly used as to her Sailing, for when she goes apace, they say, She makes good or fresh Way. And because most Ships are apt to fall a little to Leeward of their Course, they always in casting up the Logboard allow something for her Leeway, which is one Point or more, according to her Sailing.

Weather Coyl

When a Ship being a-hull, has her Head brought about so as to lie that Way which her Stern did before, without loosing of any Sail, but only by bearing up of the Helm, this is called Weather Coyling of her.

Weather Gage

That Ship is said to have the Weather Gage of another, when she is to Windward of her.

Weathering

A doubling or getting to Windward of a Point or Place.

Wedges Iron

Are for splitting Wood.

Wedges Wood

Are made out of Beech or Elm for splitting Wood, or to be put between the Wrain Staves and Ships Sides for setting too of Planks, and for barring in of Ports, _&c._

Weighing

Is drawing up an Anchor out of the Ground, in order to set Sail.

Welding

When the Smiths give their Iron a proper Heat in the Forge, in order to double up the same when wanted to weld a Work in the Doublings, so as to be in one Piece thick enough for the Purpose it is wanted for.

Well

A square Place, parted off and planked round the Main-mast from the Gundeck down to the Foot-waaling, to keep the Ballast, _&c._ from the Pumps placed therein.

Whale-knot

Is a round Knot or Knob made with three Strands of a Rope at one End of the Tacks, Topsail Sheats and Stoppers, so that they cannot slip.

Wheels Steering

Are placed on the Quarter Deck, fixed to an Axis, round which go the Wheelrope, which is made fast to the Tiller in the Gun-Room, it passes through Blocks at the Side, and from thence comes up to the Wheel in the Midships.

Whelps

Are those Brackets set Edge ways upon the Barrel of a Capston, which give the Sweep to it, and are so contrived that a Voyal or Cable brought about them may not surge so much as it would do, if the Body of the Capston was quite round and smooth.

Whipstaff

Is fastened into the Helm, for him that Steers to hold in his Hand, thereby to move the Helm and Steer the Ship: It goes through the Rowl, and made fast to the Tiller with a Ring.

Whirles

Used by the Rope-makers when either laying small Cordage, or spinning Yarn, and are placed in the Heads of the Wheels and Works in Brasses fixed therein.

Whoodings

Are the Ends of the Bottom Planks at the Extremities of the Ship, rabbited into the Stem Afore, and into the Post Abaft.

Winches Iron

Are Handles for turning round Grindstones, Wheels of Chain Pumps, _&c._

Wind

Bringing a Ship's Head about, is called Winding of her, and when rides at an Anchor, she is said to wind up. Also when she is under Sail, they use to enquire, How she Winds, that is, which way she lies with her Head; so, to Wind the Boat, is to turn her Head about.

Wind Taught

Implying as much as stiff in the Wind, for a Thing is Taught, when it is stiff. Thus too much Rigging over Head, or any Thing holding Wind Aloft, is said to hold a Ship Wind Taught; by which is meant, she stoops too much in her Sailing in a stiff Gale of Wind. So also, when a Ship rides in Stress of Wind and Weather, they strike down her Topmasts, which holds too much Wind, or be Wind Taught.

Winding Tackle Pendant

Is a Cable-laid Rope brought about the Head of the Mast, having a treble Block with three Shivers in it, seized fast to the End, through which and a double Block, the Fall is reeved, so brought to the Capston by a Snatch Block, whereby the Guns, or any other heavy Stores, are hoisted in or out.

Windlass

Is a Piece of Timber having six or eight Squares, and is fixed thwart Ship Abaft the Forecastle; in small Ships, Hoys, _&c._ this Windlass will Purchase as much as a Capston in weighing of an Anchor, and without any Danger to those that heave, because they heave here about with Handspikes, put into several Holes made in the Windlass, of which though one should happen to break, yet would the Windlass paul of itself, without any further Danger.

Wind sails

Are used for drawing fresh Air into the Holds of Ships, by cooling every Part, which contributes towards preserving them from Decay.

Wood Hard

Live Oak

Is for making Reeming Beetles and Coggs for the Wheels, used for working the Chain Pumps which throws the Water out of the Docks.

Lignum Vitæ

Is used for making Shivers and Pins for Blocks.

Wood & Wood

Are two Pieces of Timber nicely let in or fay'd to each other, that the Wood of one joyns close to the other.

Wood Faggots

Are used in heating the Kilns for stoving Plank, and also the Oven where the Sail-makers stove the Bolt-ropes.

Woodmeil

A hairy coarse Stuff made of Island Wool, and supplied to the Carpenters of Ships at some of his Majesty's Yards for lining of Ports, _&c._

Woolding

Signifies the winding of Ropes at certain Distances about a Mast, in order to strengthen it.

Woolers

Double Hand Single Hand

Used at the Rope Yard, and the Men that work with them, are a great Help to those that heave at the Hooks in laying or closing Cables.

Worming

Is twice-laid Cordage, and used for Worming Stays, Shrouds, _&c._ which is laid betwixt the Strands, in order to strengthen or succour them, or for making Netings on the Quarters, Wast, and Tops of Ships for Shelter to the Men when in Action.

Wrain Staves

Are a Sort of thick Billets, tapered so at each End that they may go into the Ring of the Wrain Bolt, and are for bringing too Planks or thick Stuff to the Compassing Parts of a Ship's Side, _&c._

Wreck

Is when a Ship is drove ashore in a Storm, or Perishes on the Sea, and no Man escapes alive out of her.

Yards

_New England_ are wrought in eight squares in the Middle, and from thence in their several Quarters are tapered to the Ends in sixteen Squares, and received by the Inches in Diameter they are in the Slings; the Top and Top-gallant are generally made out of _Gottenbro'_ or _Norway_ Masts, all which are made of suitable Dimensions in Diameter and Length for their proper Sails to be bent to them, which are hoisted up and lowered down by the Jeers, Halyards, Lifts, _&c._

Yare

Is a Sea Word for Nimble, Ready, Quick, or Expeditious.

Yarn

That which the Rope-makers spin out of the Hemp for making Cordage, is called Yarn; and when Four hundred Threads are warped off the Winches, and a slight Turn is put into it, it is called a Hall, in order to be Tarred, which is done by four Men running in a large Wheel, that draws it through a Furnace of boiling Tar, and is pressed so very dry by a Nipper, that it will not soil one's Hand.

Yawes

A Ship makes Yawes, when through the Fault of him at the Helm or Steering Wheel she is not kept steady in her Course, but makes Angles in and out.

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Transcriber's note:

Obvious typographical errors have been silently corrected. All other hyphenation, spelling and punctuation remains unchanged, except where noted below.

The errata have been implemented.

Words are often conjoined in the original, apparently to save space. This has been corrected.

The illustration within the paragraph under Hooks has been reproduced approximately. The vertical should slope to the right. Many entries are accompanied by an illustration without captions. These have not been indicated, but the captions of the entries for Masts and Sparrs are included.