Chapter L: L, the deck-transom (4)

“At Ceylon, from the middle of March to October, the currents set to
the southward, and in the other parts of the year to the northward;
because at this time the southern monsoons blow, and at the other, the
northern.

“Between Cochin-China and Malacca, when the western monsoons blow,
viz. from April to August, the currents set eastward against the
general motion, but the rest of the year set westward; the monsoon
conspiring with the general motion. They run so wrongly in these seas,
that unexperienced sailors mistake them for waves that beat upon the
rocks known by the name of breakers.

“So for some months after the fifteenth of February the currents set
from the Maldivies towards India on the east, against the general
motion of the sea.

“On the shore of China and Cambodia, in the months of October,
November, and December, the currents set to the N W. and from January
to the S W. when they run with such a rapidity of motion about the
shoals of Parcel, that it seems swifter than that of an arrow.

“At Pulo Condore, upon the coast of Cambodia, though the monsoons are
shifting, yet the currents set strongly towards the east, even when
they blow to a contrary point.

“Along the coasts of the bay of Bengal, as far as the cape Romania, at
the extreme point of Malacca the current runs southward in November
and December.

“When the monsoons blow from China to Malacca, the sea runs swiftly
from Pulo Cambi to Pulo Condore, on the coast of Cambodia.

“In the bay of Sans Bras, not far from the Cape of Good Hope, there is
a current particularly remarkable, where the sea runs from east to
west to the landward; and this more vehemently as it becomes opposed
by the winds from a contrary direction. The cause is undoubtedly owing
to some adjacent shore, which is higher than this.” _Varenius._

These currents constantly follow the winds, and set to the same point
with the monsoon, or trade-wind, at sea. See MONSOON.

Footnote 9:

Lucan.

Footnote 10:

Vegetius.

Footnote 11:

A ponderous mace, with studs of iron crown’d,
Full twenty cubits long he swings around. POPE.

Footnote 12:

See the note on the following page.

Footnote 13:

Potter’s Archaeologia Graeca. De Morogues Tactique Navale.

Footnote 14:

_Ut primum rostris crepuerunt obvia rostra,
In puppim rediere rates, emissaque tela
Aera texerant, vacuumque cadentia pontum._ LUCAN.

Which we may thus translate:

The beaks encounter with a thundering sound,
Then reeling, from the mutual shock rebound.
The javelins fly! an iron tempest sweeps
The darken’d air, and covers all the deeps!

Footnote 15:

_Seque tenent remis toto stetit æquore bellum.
Jam non excussis torquentur tela lacertis
Nec longinqua cadunt jaculato vulnera ferro;
Miscenturque manus, navali plurima bello;
Ensis agit; stat quisque suæ de robore puppis
Pronus in adversos ictus._—— LUCAN.

Thus translated by ROWE.

——Others by the tangling oars are held.
The seas are hid beneath the closing war,
Nor need they cast the javelins now from far;
With hardy strokes the combatants engage,
And with keen faulchions deal their deadly rage:
Man against man, and board by board, they lie.

“The famous machine called the Corvus, was framed after the following
manner: They erected on the prow of their vessels a round piece of
timber, of about a foot and a half diameter, and about twelve foot
long; on the top whereof they had a block or pulley. Round this piece
of timber, they laid a stage or platform of boards, four foot broad,
and about eighteen foot long, which was well framed, and fastened with
iron. The entrance was long-ways, and it moved about the aforesaid
upright piece of timber, as on a spindle, and could be hoisted up
within six foot of the top: about this was a sort of a parapet, knee
high, which was defended with upright bars of iron, sharpened at the
end; towards the top whereof there was a ring: through this ring,
fastening a rope, by the help of the pulley, they hoisted or lowered
the engine at pleasure; and so with it attacked the enemy’s vessels,
sometimes on their bow, and sometimes on their broad-side, as occasion
best served. When they had grappled the enemy with those iron spikes,
if they happen’d to swing broad-side to broad-side, then they entered
from all parts; but in case they attacked them on the bow, they
entered two and two by the help of this machine, the foremost
defending the fore-part, and those that followed the flanks, keeping
the boss of their bucklers level with the top of the parapet.

“To this purpose Polybius gives us an account of the first warlike
preparations which the Romans made by sea. We may add, in short, the
order, which they observed in drawing up their fleet for battle, taken
from the same author. The two consuls were in the two admiral galleys,
in the front of their two distinct squadrons, each of them just a-head
of their own divisions, and a-breast of each other; the first fleet
being posted on the right, the second on the left, making two long
files or lines of battle. And, whereas it was necessary to give a due
space between each galley, to ply their oars, and keep clear one of
another, and to have their heads or prows looking somewhat outwards;
this manner of drawing up did therefore naturally form an angle, the
point whereof was at the two admiral galleys, which were near
together; and as their two lines were prolonged, so the distance grew
consequently wider and wider towards the rear. But, because the naval
as well as the land army consisted of four legions, and accordingly
the ships made four divisions; two of these were yet behind: Of which
the third fleet, or the third legion, was drawn up front-ways in the
rear of the first and second, and so stretching along from point to
point composed a triangle, whereof the third line was the base. Their
vessels of burden, that carried their horses and baggage, were in the
rear of these; and were, by the help of small boats provided for that
purpose, towed or drawn after them. In the rear of all, was the fourth
fleet, called the Triarians, drawn up likewise in rank or front-ways,
parallel to the third: but these made a longer line, by which means
the extremities stretched out, and extended beyond the two angles at
the base. The several divisions of the army, being thus disposed,
formed, as is said, a triangle; the area within was void, but the base
was thick and solid, and the whole body quick, active, and very
difficult to be broken.” _Kennett Antiq. Rome._

Footnote 16:

De Morogues Tact. Navale.

Footnote 17:

“The use of powder was not established in battle, till the long wars
of Francis I. and Charles V. From its invention to this period, both
the machines in use before that discovery, and those which that
discovery introduced, were used in war at the same time; and even some
time after this period, both sorts of machines were continued in use.”
_Le Blond’s Elements of War._

Footnote 18:

De Morogues Tact. Navale.

Footnote 19:

“The carabine is a sort of musketoon, the barrel of which is riffled
spirally from the breech, so that when the ball, which is forced into
it, is again driven out by the strength of the powder, it is
lengthened about the breadth of a finger, and marked with the riffle
of the bore. This piece has an iron rammer.

“The barrel of the carabine is three foot long, including the stock.
It has a much greater _range_ than the fusil or musket, because the
riffle of the barrel impedes the ball, which thereby makes the greater
resistance at the first inflammation of the powder, and, giving time
for the whole charge to take fire before it goes out of the bore, it
is at length thrown out with greater force than from the common
musket.” _Le Blond’s Elements of War._

The coehorn is a sort of small mortar, fixed on a swivel, and
particularly used to discharge grenadoes, or cast bullets from close
quarters in merchant vessels when boarded.

The fire-arrow, _dard à feu_, is a small iron dart furnished with
springs and bars, together with a match, impregnated with powder and
sulphur, which is wound about its shaft. It is intended to fire the
sails of the enemy, and is for this purpose discharged from a
musketoon or swivel-gun. The match being kindled by the explosion,
communicates the flame to the sail against which it is directed, where
the arrow is fastened by means of its bars and springs. As this is
peculiar to hot climates, particularly the West-Indies, the sails
being extremely dry, are instantly inflamed, and of course convey the
fire to the masts and rigging, and finally to the vessel itself.

The powder-flask and stink pot are described in the article BOARDING:
and the organ is no other than a machine consisting of six or seven
musket barrels fixed upon one stock, so as to be fired all at once.

Footnote 20:

M. De Morogues.

Footnote 21:

The Gauls, says Vegetius, had the advantage of the Romans in their
numbers: The Germans have their stature; the Spaniards their strength
and numbers united; the Africans their artifice and opulence; the
Greeks their policy and prudence; but the Romans have triumphed over
all by their discipline.

Footnote 22:

M. De Morogues.

Footnote 23:

As a number of technical terms are introduced in these instructions,
the land-reader who wishes to understand the subject, should refer to
the several articles, all of which are inserted in this work.

Footnote 24:

The iron chambers are ten inches long, and 3.5 in diameter. They are
breeched against a piece of wood fixed across the ports, and let into
another a little higher. When loaded, they are almost filled with
corn-powder, and have a wooden tompion well driven into their muzzles.
They are primed with a small piece of _quick-match_ thrust through
their vents into the powder, with a part of it hanging out. When the
ports are blown open by means of the iron chambers, the port-lids
either fall downward, or are carried away by the explosion.

Footnote 25:

The fire-barrels ought to be of a cylindrical form, as most suitable
to contain the _reeds_ with which they are filled, and more convenient
for stowing them between the troughs in the fire-room. Their inside
diameters should not be less than twenty-one inches, and thirty inches
is sufficient for their length. The bottom parts are first well stored
with short double dipped reeds placed upright; and the remaining
vacancy is filled with fire-barrel composition, well mixed and melted,
and then poured over them. The composition used for this purpose is a
mass of sulphur, pitch, tar, and tallow.

There are five holes of ¾ inch in diameter, and three inches deep,
formed in the top of the composition while it is yet warm; one being
in the center, and the other four at equal distances round the sides
of the barrel. When the composition is cold and hard, the barrel is
primed by filling those holes with fuse-composition, which is firmly
driven into them, so as to leave a little vacancy at the top to admit
a strand of quick match twice doubled. The center hole contains two
strands at their whole length, and every strand must be driven home
with mealed powder. The loose ends of the quick-match being then laid
within the barrel, the whole is covered with a dipped _curtain_,
fastened on with a hoop that slips over the head of the barrel, to
which it is nailed.

The barrels should be made very strong, not only to support the weight
of the composition before firing, when they are moved or carried from
place to place, but to keep them together whilst burning: for if the
staves are too light and thin, so as to burn very soon, the remaining
composition will tumble out and be dissipated, and the intention of
the barrels, to carry the flame aloft, will accordingly be frustrated.

The curtain is a piece of coarse canvas, nearly a yard in breadth and
length, thickened with melted composition, and covered with saw-dust
on both sides.

Footnote 26:

The reeds are made up in small bundles of about a foot in
circumference, cut even at both ends, and tied together in two places.
They are distinguished into two kinds, viz. the long and short; the
former of which are four feet, and the latter two feet five inches in
length. One part of them are singly dipped, i. e. at one end; the rest
are dipped at both ends in a kettle of melted composition. After being
immersed about seven or eight inches in this preparation, and then
drained, they are sprinkled over with pulverised sulphur upon a tanned
hide.

Footnote 27:

The bavins are made of birch, heath, or other brush-wood, which is
tough and readily kindled. They are usually two or three feet in
length, and have all their bush-ends lying one way, the other ends
being tied together with small cords. They are dipped in composition
at the bush-ends, whose branches are afterwards confined by the hand,
to prevent them from breaking off by moving about; and also to make
them burn more fiercely. After being dipped, in the same manner as the
reeds, they also are sprinkled with sulphur.

Footnote 28:

Quick match is formed of three cotton strands drawn into length, and
dipped in a boiling composition of white-wine vinegar, salt-petre, and
mealed powder. After this immersion it is taken out hot, and laid in a
trough where some mealed powder, moistened with spirits of wine, is
thoroughly incorporated into the twists of the cotton, by rolling it
about therein. Thus prepared they are taken out separately, and drawn
through mealed powder, then hung upon a line till dried, by which they
are fit for immediate service.

Footnote 29:

Port-fires are frequently used by the artillery people in preference
to matches, to set fire to the powder or compositions. They are
distinguished into wet and dry port-fires. The composition of the
former is salt-petre four, sulphur one, and mealed powder four. When
these materials are thoroughly mixed and sifted, the whole is to be
moistened with a little linseed oil, and rubbed between the hands till
all the oil is imbibed by the composition. The preparation for dry
port fires is salt-petre four, sulphur one, mealed powder two, and
antimony one. These compositions are driven into small paper cases, to
be used whenever necessary.

Footnote 30:

De Morogues Tact. Navale,

Footnote 31:

Bourdé. Manœuvrier.

Footnote 32:

Bourdé. Manœuvrier.

Footnote 33:

Beugner, Traité de la Manœuvre de Vaisseaux. Bourdé. Manœuvrier.

Footnote 34:

Saverien Dict. Marine.

Footnote 35:

Aubin. Saverien.

Footnote 36:

The cut-water is called _taille-mer_ by the French.

Footnote 37:

Milton alludes to this situation, in his second book of _Paradise
Lost_: where,

“The pilot of some small night-founder’d skiff,
“With fixed anchor——
“Moors by his side, under the lee.”——

Footnote 38:

De Morogues. Tactique Navale.

Footnote 39:

Muller’s Artillery.

Footnote 40:

Le Blond’s Elements of War.

_Extract of a letter from the commanding-officer of the artillery at
Gibraltar, May 10, 1756._

“Happening to mention, before the governor and commodore Edgecumbe,
that, in case of Gibraltar being attacked by sea, howitzers would be
of great service, as I did not imagine any ship’s side proof against a
10 inch shell, fired point-blank, or at a small elevation, with a full
charge of powder; which being thought impossible by most present, it
was agreed to try the experiment: accordingly a target, of about 6
feet square, of an equal strength and resistance with the strongest
part of our largest men of war’s sides, was made, and was just 3 feet
thick of solid fir-timber: we fired at it out of a sea-service 10 inch
howitzer, at 150 yards distance, and with 10 lb. of powder.”

“The first shell just touched the top of the object, and lodged in the
bank of sand behind it; the second grazed short three yards, and went
through the lower corner of the object; but the third shell gave full
satisfaction, going through the very centre of the object, and
entering 5 feet into a solid bank of sand behind it.”

Footnote 41:

The regulations, with regard to pilots in the royal navy, are as
follow: The commanders of the king’s ships, in order to give all
reasonable encouragement to so useful a body of men as pilots, and to
remove all their objections to his majesty’s service, are strictly
charged to treat them with good usage, and in equal respect with
warrant-officers.

“The purser of the ship is always to have a set of bedding provided on
board for the pilots, and the captain is to order the boatswain to
supply them with hammocs, and a convenient place to lie in, near their
duty, and apart from the common men; which bedding and hammocs are to
be returned when the pilots leave the ship.

“A pilot, when conducting one of his majesty’s ship’s in pilot-water,
shall have the sole charge and command of the ship, and may give
orders for steering; setting, trimming, or furling the sails; tacking
the ship; or whatever concerns the navigation: and the captain is to
take care that all the officers and crew obey his orders. But the
captain is diligently to observe the conduct of the pilot, and if he
judges him to behave so ill as to bring the ship into danger, he may
remove him from the command and charge of the ship, and take such
methods for her preservation as shall be judged necessary; remarking
upon the log-book the exact hour and time when the pilot was removed
from his office, and the reasons assigned for it.

“Captains of the king’s ships, employing pilots in foreign parts of
his majesty’s dominions, shall, after performance of the service, give
a certificate thereof to the pilot, which being produced to the proper
naval-officer, he shall cause the same to be immediately paid; but if
there be no naval-officer there, the captain of his majesty’s ship
shall pay him, and send the proper vouchers, with his bill, to the
navy-board, in order to be paid as bills of exchange.

“Captains of his majesty’s ships, employing foreign pilots, to carry
the ships they command into, or out of foreign ports, shall pay them
the rates due by the establishment or custom of the country, before
they discharge them; whose receipts being duly vouched, and sent with
a certificate of the service performed, to the navy-board, they shall
cause them to be paid with the same exactness as they do bills of
exchange.” _Regulations and Instructions of the Sea-service, &c._

Footnote 42:

Hist. Denmark, by Saxo Grammaticus.

Footnote 43:

Saverien Dict. Marine.

Footnote 44:

The regulations with regard to prizes in the royal navy are as follow:

“I. When any ship or vessel is taken from the enemy, the hatches are
to be immediately spiked up, and her lading and furniture secured from
embezzlement, till sentence is passed upon her in some court of
admiralty, empowered to take cognizance of causes of that nature.

“II. The captain is to cause the officers of the prize to be examined;
three or more of the company, who can give best evidence, to be
brought to the said court of admiralty, together with the
charter-parties, bills of lading, and other ship’s papers found on
board.

“V. When a privateer is taken, great care is to be had to secure all
the ship’s papers, especially the commission; but if there be no legal
commission found on board, then all the prisoners are to be carried
before some magistrate, in order to their being examined and committed
as pirates.”

N. B. The third and fourth articles relate to the finding any of the
king’s subjects in the prizes; and appear unnecessary in this place.

Footnote 45:

_Ricoche_ signifies _duck_ and _drake_, a name given to the bounding
of a flat stone thrown almost horizontally into the water.

Footnote 46:

Muller’s Artillery.

Footnote 47:

Le Blond’s Elements of War.

Footnote 48:

Belidor. Bigot de Morogues.

Footnote 49:

Weight, or gravity, always operates equally on a falling body; for as
it always subsists in an equal degree, it must perpetually act with
equal force, or produce always the same effect in the same time. So
if, in the first instant of falling, it communicates to a body a
certain force sufficient to move a certain space, it must, in every
following instant, communicate a force capable of moving it the like
space, and by this means the velocity of a falling body is every
moment accelerated; for if it has one degree the first instant, it
will have two the second, three the third, and so on. Hence it must
move different spaces every instant, and by that means describe the
curve-line above mentioned.

Footnote 50:

Le Blond’s Elements of War.

Footnote 51:

The same gentleman observes, that a ship of two decks, such as are
generally all those of the third and fourth rates, cannot be so
strongly connected as one that is furnished with three: a vessel
pierced for 15 guns on one side of her deck must necessarily be very
long, and is sometimes apt to droop at the two ends; or, in the
sea-phrase, to _break her back_ under the enormous weight of her
artillery.

Footnote 52:

The reader, who wishes to be expert in this manœuvre, will find it
copiously described by several ingenious French writers, particularly
L’Hôte, Saverien, Morogues, Bourdé, and Ozane; who have given accurate
instructions, deduced from experience, for putting it in practice when
occasion requires. As it is not properly a term of the British marine,
a more circumstantial account of it might be considered foreign to our
plan. It has been observed in another part of this work[53], that the
French have generally exhibited greater proofs of taste and judgment
in the sculpture, with which their ships are decorated, than the
English; the same candour and impartiality obliges us to confess their
superior dexterity in this movement.

Footnote 53:

See the article HEAD.

Footnote 54:

Le Blond’s Elements of War.

Footnote 55:

Mr. Robertson, librarian of the Royal Society, favoured the author
with an inspection of several curious remarks concerning the history
of modern navigation; in which it appears, that the most early
discoveries with regard to the magnetical variation were made about
the year 1570. Mr. Robert Norman, from a variety of observations made
by him nearly at that time, ascertains it to have been 11° 15´
easterly, or one point of the compass.

Footnote 56:

Euler. De la Lande.

Footnote 57:

I had often seen water-spouts at a distance, and heard many strange
stories of them, but never knew any thing satisfactory of their nature
or cause, until that which I saw at Antigua; which convinced me that a
water-spout is a whirlwind, which becomes visible in all its
dimensions by the water it carries up with it.

There appeared, not far from the mouth of the harbour of St. John’s,
two or three water-spouts, one of which took its course up the
harbour. Its progressive motion was slow and unequal, not in a strait
line, but as it were by jerks or starts. When just by the wharf, I
stood about 100 yards from it. There appeared in the water a circle of
about twenty yards diameter, which to me had a dreadful though
pleasing appearance. The water in this circle was violently agitated,
being whisked about, and carried up into the air with great rapidity
and noise, and reflected a lustre, as if the sun shined bright on that
spot, which was more conspicuous, as there appeared a dark circle
around it. When it made the shore, it carried up with the same
violence shingles, staves, large pieces of the roofs of houses, &c.
and one small wooden house it lifted entirely from the foundation on
which it stood, and carried it to the distance of fourteen feet, where
it settled without breaking or oversetting; and, what is remarkable,
tho’ the whirlwind moved from west to east, the house moved from east
to west. Two or three negroes and a white woman were killed by the
fall of timber, which it carried up into the air, and dropt again.
After passing through the town, I believe it was soon dissipated; for,
except tearing a large limb from a tree, and part of the cover of a
sugar-work near the town, I do not remember any farther damage done by
it. I conclude, wishing you success in your enquiry, and am, &c.

W. M.

Footnote 58:

The swiftness of the wind in a great storm is not more than 50 or 60
miles in an hour; and a common brisk gale is about 15 miles an hour.
_Robertson’s Navigation._

_SUPPLEMENT_ and _ERRATA_.

A.

_In the article_ ABACK, _line_ 19. _for_ fig. 1. _read_ fig. 14. _and in line_ 22, _read_ fig. 13.

_After the_ ANCHOR is a cock bill, _read_ à la veille.

AN-END, _debout_, the situation of any mast or boom, when erected perpendicularly on the plane of the deck, tops, &c. The top-masts are also said to be an-end when they are hoisted up to their usual station, at the head of the lower masts, as in fig. 3. plate VI.

_In line_ 24. _page_ 2. _of_ Naval ARCHITECTURE, _dele_ see the article Elevation, _and line_ 21. _under this in the same page, for_ plate V. fig. 4. _read_ plate IV. fig. 11.

_In the explanation of the_ pieces of the Hull, _page_ 6. _of_ Naval ARCHITECTURE, _line_ 31. _for_ sternpost, _read_ dead-wood, _and two lines lower, for_ sleepers, _read_ knees.

_In line_ 34. _page_ 9. _of the same article, for_ O K, _read_ O _k_.

_Top_-ARMOUR. See the article TOP.

AVAST, the order to stop, or pause in any exercise.

_In the article_ AWEIGH, _after the words_ perpendicular direction, _read_ as in fig. 6. plate 1.

B.

To BAGPIPE _the Mizen_, is to lay it _aback_, by bringing the sheet to the mizen shrouds.

BILL, the point or extremity of the fluke of an anchor.

BLOCK AND BLOCK, the situation of a tackle when the two opposite blocks are drawn close together, so that the mechanical power becomes destroyed, till the tackle is again _over-hauled_ by drawing the blocks asunder.

_In the 2d page of the article_ BOAT, _line_ 13. _from the bottom, for_ of framed iron, _read_ framed of iron.

BOLD, an epithet applied to the sea coast, signifying steep, or abrupt, so as to admit the approach of shipping without exposing them to the danger of being run a-ground, or stranded.

For the articles BOLT and BOOM-IRON, see IRON-WORK, as corrected below.

BONNET, an additional part laced to the bottom of the main sail and fore sail of some small vessels, in moderate winds.

_In the article_ BREAM, _the last line except one, read_ or by docking.

In-BULK, _see_ LADEN.

BUM-BOAT, a small boat used to sell vegetables, &c. to ships lying at a distance from the shore.

C.

_In the article_ Can-BUOYS, _for_ fig. 8. _read_ fig. 6. _and in_ Nun-BUOYS, _for_ fig. 9. _read_ fig. 7.

_In_ Can-HOOKS, _dele_ and 9.

_In the 4th page of the article_ CANNON, _line 22. for_ fig. 17. _read_ fig. 10. _and in the 5th page of the same article, line 11. read the figures_ 8. and 10.

_Line 14. of_ CAPSTERN, _for_ fig. 10. _read_ fig. 11. and 12.

CAST-AWAY, the state of a ship which is lost or wrecked on a lee-shore, bank, or shallow.

COMING-TO. See the article TRYING.

COMPLEMENT, the limited number of men employed in any ship, either for navigation or battle.

CROWFOOT, _line 3. for 27. read 28._

D.

DAVIT, _line 2. for 28. read 29._

_In the explanation of_ DECK, plate III. _for_ L the deck-transom, _read_ L the wing-transom, _and nine lines lower, read_ Q the wing-transom-knee.

_In_ DIVISION, _line 7. after_ cannon, _read_ each.

DOUBLE-BANKED, the situation of the oars of a boat when two opposite ones are managed by rowers seated on the same bench, or _thwart_. The oars are also said to be double-banked when two men row upon every single one.

DRAWING, the state of a sail when it is inflated by the wind, so as to advance the vessel in her course.

E.

_In the 12th page of the article_ ENGAGEMENT, _line 18. for_ have as many, _read_ save as many.

F.

FIRE-SHIP, _line 10. after_ bulk-head, _for_ I, _read_ L.

FLAW, a sudden breeze, or gust of wind.

FLUSH. See the article DECK.

G.

GAMMONING, _line 4. for_ fig. 7. _read_ fig. 6, 8, and 9.

GRIPE, the same with FORE-FOOT. See that article.

GUY, line 1. _read_ to keep steddy.

H.

HAUSER, a large rope which holds the middle degree between the _cable_ and _tow-line_, in any ship whereto it belongs, being a size smaller than the former, and as much larger than the latter.

_In the 3d page of the article_ HEAD, _line 26. after_ beams, _read_ or; _and six lines lower, read_ the head, and part, &c.

I.

_In the article_ IRON-WORK, _line 14. dele_ as in fig. 1. and 2. plate II. _and two lines lower, for_ fig. 4. _read_ fig. 1. plate II. _and in the next line, for_ fig. 5, 6, and 39. _read_ fig. 3, and 39. _Seven lines below this, after_ barbs, _read_ fig. 2. _and in the 2d line from the bottom, for_ fig. 7. _read_ fig. 5.

K.

_To_ KEEP-OFF _for_ alargeer, _read_ alarguer.

_In line 9. of the article_ KETCH, _after_ war, _read see_ fig. 5. plate VII.

L.

LANCH, the order to let go the _top-rope_, after any top mast is _fidded_.

LEDGES, certain small pieces of timber placed _athwart-ships_, under the decks of a ship, in the intervals between the beams, as exhibited in the representation of the deck, plate III.

LEDGE, is also a long ridge of rocks, near the surface of the sea.

_Line 10. of the article_ LINE, _for_ fig. 5. _read_ fig. 6.

M.

MIDSHIPMAN, _line 4. for_ all other, _read_ several other.

_In page 2d of the article_ MORTAR, _line 9. after_ distance, _read_ from the object, &c. _and in page 3. of the same article, line 2. for_ fig. 14. plate VII. _read_ fig. 5. and 20. plate VII. the former of which exhibits the transverse section of a bomb-vessel, with the mortar fixed in its place, at an elevation of forty-five degrees. See RANGE.

Q.

QUARTERING-WIND. See the article SAILING.

R.

RACK, _rasteau_, a frame of timber, containing several _sheaves_, and usually fixed on the opposite sides of a ship’s bow-sprit, to direct the sailors to the respective ropes passing through it, all of which are attached to the sails on the bowsprit.

_In page 4. of the article_ RATE, _line 14. for_ without, _read_ to avoid.

_After the article_ RIDING, _read_, a rope is said to ride, when one of the turns by which it is wound about the _capstern_ or _windlass_ lies over another, so as to interrupt the operation of heaving.

S.

SALLY-PORT. See the article FIRE-SHIP.

SCUD, a name given by seamen to the lowest and lightest clouds, which are most swiftly wafted along the atmosphere by the winds.

SHALLOP, a sort of large boat with two masts, and usually rigged like a _schooner_.

SHIVERING, the state of a sail when it shakes or flutters in the wind, as being neither _full_ nor _aback_, but in a middle degree, between both, as well with regard to its absolute position, as to its relative effect on the vessel.

_In line 9. of the article_ STERN, _for_ fig. 1. _read_ fig 3. _and thirteen lines lower, after_ third transoms, _dele_ with _l_, _m_, _n_, _o_, four intermediate transoms, _and read_ the 4th, 5th, and 6th transoms are placed immediately under these: and that which lies between the wing and deck-transoms, is called the filling-transom.

T.

THICK-STUFF. See the articles Ship-BUILDING and MIDSHIP-FRAME.

_In page 2. of the article_ TOP, _line 19. for_ fig. 2. plate VI. _read_ fig. 1. plate IX.

A
TRANSLATION
OF THE
PHRASES AND TERMS OF ART
IN THE
FRENCH MARINE.

ERRATA.

In the Article

ALLER en course, read, in search of an enemy.

AMURÉ, r. larboard or starboard-tacks.

BARRES _de panneaux_, &c. r. under the covers of the hatchways.

CHEVILLE _œillets_, &c. r. CHEVILLE _à œillets_, &c.

CLEF _des etains_, for cheek, r. chock.

CORDE _de retenue_ (art. 2d.) r. also the pendant, &c.

COUP _de partance_, r. as a signal, &c.

For DEPLOER, r. DEPLOIER.

FAIRE _honneur_, for _a quelqu’_ r. _à quelqu’_, &c.

FAIRE _le petit_, r. FAIRE _la petit_, &c.

FERS, r. _de boute-dehors_.

FILET, &c. for _merlin_, a marling, r. _merlin_, marline, &c.

For _La lune à_ MANGÉ, r. _la lune a_ MANGÉ, &c.

MARCHE-PIED, for draw their boats, r. drawboats, &c.

OLOFÉE, for spring, r. springing, &c.

PACFI, after PAFI, r. a course, _as le grand_ &c.

PIECE _de charpente_, for pieces, r. piece.

POMPE, for _Vénitienne_, r. _Vénetienne_.

_Longue_ RIME, for along stroke, r. a long stroke.

After SOU-BARBE, r. the bob-stay; also a bracket, &c.

SOULIE, for on shore, r. or shore.

TIERS _point_, for LATEEN, r. LATINE.

TREMUE, for comeings, r. coamings.

A

TRANSLATION

OF

FRENCH SEA TERMS and PHRASES.

A.

ABATÉE, or ABBATÉE, fallen off to a certain point; expressed of a ship
when she lies by, with some of her sails aback.

ABATTRE, to bear away, to drive, to edge farther to leeward.

ABATTRE _un vaisseau_, to heave down or careen a ship.

_Le vaisseau s’_ABAT, the ship drives or falls to leeward. This phrase
is more peculiar to the motion of a ship when her anchor is loosened
from the ground.

ABORDAGE, the shock or concussion produced by two vessels striking
each other in battle or otherwise; also the assault of boarding.

_Aller à l’_ABORDAGE, _sauter à l’_ABORDAGE, to board or enter an
enemy’s ship in an hostile manner.

ABORDER, to fall or drive aboard a ship, by accident, or neglect of
the steersman; spoken of two vessels when one or both are under
sail, or otherwise in motion.

ABORDER _un vaisseau de bout au corps_, to lay a ship aboard by
running the bowsprit over her waist.

ABOUGRI, or RABOUGRI, cross-grained, or knotty; a term applied by
shipwrights to timber which is, by this quality, rendered unfit for
ship-building.

ABOUT, the butt or end of any plank: also the place where the ends of
two planks are joined on the ship’s side, &c.

ABRI, a place of anchorage under shelter of the weather-shore. Hence

ABRIÉ, becalmed, sheltered from the wind.

ACASTILLAGE, or rather ENCASTILLAGE, a general name for the
quarter-deck, poop, and fore-castle. Hence _accastillé_ answers to
deep-waisted.

ACCLAMPER, to fortify a piece of wood by attaching another piece
thereto; as the fishes which are fixed on the masts.

ACCON, a small flat-bottomed boat, for fishing of cockles.

ACCORD, the order to pull together on a rope or tackle; also to row
together, or pull uniformly with the oars.

ACCORDS, or ACCORES, props or shoars fixed under a ship’s wales, to
keep her upright, before she is launched, or when she is brought
into dock, or laid aground.

ACCORD _droit_, an upright shoar or prop.

ACCORER, to prop or sustain any weighty body, as a ship on the ground.

ACCOSTE, come aboard, or come along-side; the order given to a small
vessel or boat, to approach a ship.

ACCOSTER, or ACCOTER, to pull or thrust any thing near or close to
some other, as the two blocks of a tackle, &c.

ACCOSTER _les huniers ou les perroquets_, to haul home the top-sail
sheets, or top-gallant sheets.

ACCOTAR, the gunnel-plank of a ship. See PLAT-BORD.

ACCOURSIE, a passage formed in a ship’s hold, by a separation of her
stores, cargo, or provisions, when she is laden, to go fore and aft,
as occasion requires.

ACCROCHER, the act of boarding and grappling an enemy’s ship.

ACCUL, the depth of a bay, or small road,

ACCULEMENT, the concavity and figure of those timbers which are placed
upon the keel, towards the extremities of a ship.

ACROTERE, a cape, head-land, or promontory.

ACTE _de delai_, an act by which a debtor loses all his effects by
shipwreck.

ADIEU-VA, an expression of command, used by the master or pilot, to
bid the ship’s crew prepare for tacking, or veering, when the course
is to be changed.

ADDONER, to scant, or veer forward; expressed of the wind when it
becomes unfavourable.

AFFALE, the order to lower or let down any thing.

AFFALÉ, to be embayed, or forced, by the violence of the wind, or
current, near to a lee shore.

AFFALER, to lower any thing by a tackle, as a yard, sail, cask, &c.

AFFINE, it clears away, or becomes fair: understood of the weather,
after having been cloudy or over-cast for some time.

AFFOLÉE, erroneous or defective; spoken of a magnetical needle which
has lost its virtue.

AFFOURCHER, to moor, or let go a second anchor, so that a ship may
ride between the two, which will bear an equal strain.

AFFRANCHIR, to free the ship, or clear her hold of water by the pumps.

AFFRÉTEMENT, the freight of a merchant-ship. Hence

AFFRETER, to freight.

AFFUT _de mer_, the carriage of a cannon used at sea.

AGITER, to swell, or run high; expressed of a turbulent sea.

AGRÉER, to rig a ship, or equip her with yards, sails, rigging, &c.

AGREILS, or AGRÈS. There is no sea-term in English which answers to
this expression, in its full extent; unless we adopt the obsolete
word _Tackling_, which is now entirely disused by our mariners. The
French term comprehends the rigging, yards, sails, blocks, cables,
and anchors; and is probably better translated, machinery or
furniture.

AIDE _major_, an officer whose duty resembles that of our adjutant of
marines.

AIDE _de canonnier_. See CANONNIER.

AIGU, sharp or narrow towards the two ends, afore and abaft.

AIGUADE, a watering-place for shipping; also the provision or quantity
of fresh water necessary for a sea-voyage.

AIGUILLE, part of a ship’s cut-water. See EPERON. This term appears to
be obsolete, as it is not once mentioned by M. Du Hamel, who is very
minute in describing the several pieces of the cut-water.

AIGUILLE also implies a top-mast, or such like piece of timber
employed to support a lower-mast, in the act of careening.

AIGUILLE _de fanal_, an iron crank or brace, used to sustain the
poop-lanthern.

AIGUILLE _aimantée_, the magnetical needle.

AIGUILLES _de tré_ or _de trevier_, sail-needles, bolt-rope-needles.

AIGUILLETES. See PORQUES.

AILURES. See ILLOIRES.

AIMANT, the magnet or loadstone.

AIR _de vent_, the point of the compass in which the wind fits.

AISEMENT, a place of convenience in the gallery or head of a ship.

AISSADE, that part of the poop where the ship’s breadth begins to
diminish as it approaches the stern.

A LA BOULINE, close hauled. See ALLER _à la bouline_.

ALARGUER, to sheer off; to sail aloof from the shore or some
contiguous object.

A L’AUTRE, an exclamation pronounced by the sailors of the watch, at
the striking of the watch-bell, every half hour to signify to the
pilot that they keep a good look-out. See LOOK-OUT AFORE.

ALIDADE, the index of a nocturnal or sea-quadrant. See OCTANT.

ALIZÉ, the reigning wind of a particular season or region.

ALLEGE, a lighter or pram.

ALLÉGER _un vaisseau_, to lighten a ship by taking out part of her
lading.

Alléger _le cable_, to buoy up the cable by attaching barrels, or
pieces of timber, to it lengthwise, to float it up from a rocky or
foul ground: also to veer away the cable.

ALLER _à la bouline_, to sail close by the wind, or close hauled.

ALLER _à grasse bouline_, to sail with the wind upon the beam, or
large.

ALLER _à la derive_, to try under bare poles, or to try a hull. See
DÉRIVE.

ALLER _au plus près du vent_, to sail as near the wind as possible.

ALLER _de bout au vent_, to go head to wind, to sail right in the
wind’s eye.

ALLER _en course_, to cruise against, or in search of, an enemy.

ALLER _entre deux écoutes_, to sail right afore the wind, or with both
sheets aft.

ALLER _vent largue_, to sail large, or with a large wind.

ALLER _terre à terre_, to coast, or sail along shore.

ALLONGE, a futtock, or top-timber. See COUPLE and VARANGUE.

ALMADIE, a small African canoe, formed of the bark of a tree.

ALONGER _un vaisseau_, to lay a ship along-side of another.

ALONGER _le cable_, to haul up a range of the cable upon deck.

ALONGER _la vergue de civadiere_, to get the sprit-sail yard fore and
aft under the bowsprit.

ALONGER _la terre_, to sail along shore.

AMARQUE, the beacon, or buoy, of a shoal, flat, or sand-bank.

AMARRAGE, the ground-tackling, or furniture for mooring a ship.

_Ligne d’_AMARRAGE, a seising or lashing.

AMARRE, the order to fasten or belay a rope.

AMARRE _de bout_, the head-fast, the head-cable, or hawser with its
anchor.

AMARRER, to make fast, seise, or belay.

AMATELOTER, to mess together, to associate as comrades or mess-mates.

AME _d’un gross cordage_, the middle strand of a four stranded rope.

AMENER, to lower or strike. Hence AMENE, lower away, or strike.

AMENER _une terre_, to make the land, &c.

AMIRAL, Admiral. Hence

AMIRAUTÉ, the admiralty.

AMOLETTES or AMELOTES, the bar-holes of the capstern or windlass.

AMORCER, to prime a cannon or other fire-arm.

AMPOULETTE, the watch-glass, kept in the binacle.

AMURÉ _à babord_, or _à stribord_, to have the larboard tacks aboard.

AMURER, to haul aboard the main or fore-tack.

AMURER _la grand voile_, to bring aboard the main tack. Hence

AMURER _tout bas_ implies to get the tacks close aboard, or down as
close as possible.

AMURES. See DOGUE _d’Amure_.

AMURES _d’une voile_, the tacks of boom-sails and stay-sails.

ANCETTES, the bow-line cringles in the bolt-rope of a sail.

ANCRE, an anchor. Hence ANCRAGE, the duty of anchorage. See MOUILLAGE.

ANCRE _à demeure_, a large anchor sunk in a road or harbour, to warp
ships in and out, or ride them a short time.

ANCRE _à la veille_, an anchor which is ready to be sunk from the
ship.

ANCRE _de flot_, _&_ ANCRE _de jussant_, the flood-anchor and
ebb-anchor.

ANCRE _de terre_, the shore-anchor, or that which lies towards the
shore.

ANCRE _du large_, the sea-anchor, or that which lies towards the
offing.

_L’_ANCRE _a quitté_, _l’_ANCRE _est dérangée_, the anchor is a-trip,
or a-weigh.

_L’_ANCRE _est au bossoir_, the anchor is at the cat-head.

_A l’_ANCRE, see VAISSEAU _à l’ancre_. _Bosser l’_ANCRE, see BOSSER.
_Caponner l’_ANCRE, see CAPON.

_Faire venir l’_ANCRE _à pic_, or _à pique_, _virer à pic_, to heave
a-peek upon the anchor.

_Gouverner sur l’_ANCRE, to sheer the ship to her anchor, when heaving
a-head.

_Lever l’_ANCRE, to heave up the anchor, to weigh.

_Chasser sur les_ ANCRES, to drag the anchors, to drive at anchor.

_Filer sur les_ ANCRES. See FILER.

_Leve l’ANCRE avec la chaloupe_, go and weigh the anchor with the
long-boat.

_Leve l’_ANCRE _d’affourché_, the order to veer away one cable, and
heave upon the other.

ANCRER, or _Jetter l’ancre_, _Mouiller l’ancre_, or simply _Mouiller_,
_Donner fond_, _Mettre_, or _Avoir le vaisseau sur le fer_,
_Toucher_, _Laisser tomber l’ancre_. All these terms are synonimous,
and signify to bring up, to anchor, to come to anchor, or to let go
the anchor.

ANGE, chain-shot.

ANGUILLERES, ANGUILLES, or ANGUILLÉES, _Lumieres_, _Vitonnieres_,
synonimous terms, which signify the limber-holes.

ANNEAU _pour attacher les vaisseaux_, a mooring-ring on a wharf, buoy,
&c.

ANNEAU _de corde_, a slipping-noose, a running bowline-knot.

ANNEAUX _d’écoutilles_, or _boucles_, ring-bolts of the deck, &c.

ANNEAUX _d’étai_, the hanks of a stay-sail. See DAILLOTS.

ANNEAUX _de sabords_, ring-bolts of the gun-ports.

ANORDIE, a northerly storm peculiar to the gulph of Mexico, and the
adjacent coasts, at certain seasons of the year, called by the
English Creoles, a North.

ANSE, a bight or small bay.

ANSPECT, a handspike or lever.

ANTENNE, a lateen sail-yard. See VERGUE.

ANTOIT, a crooked instrument of iron, used to bind the side-planks
round the timbers in ship-building. English artificers perform this
operation by wraining-bolts and staffs.

A PIC, a-peek, perpendicularly above the anchor, with a tight cable.

APIQUER _une vergue_, to top a sail-yard, or peek it up.

APLESTER, or APLESTRER, to unfurl and set the sails, ready for putting
to sea.

APOSTIS, the row-locks of a galley.

APOTRES, the hawse-pieces of a ship.

APPARAUX, or APARAUX, the whole furniture of a ship, as the sails,
yards, blocks, anchors, cables, helm, and artillery. This term is
therefore more comprehensive than _Agrès_, and less so than
_Equippement_, which, besides the above, includes the seamen,
soldiers, and their provision.

APPARCELADO, a flat, equal and uniform bottom of the sea.

APPAREIL _de carene_, the careening-purchases; also the necessary
implements and materials employed in careening.

APPAREIL _de pompe_, the pump-gear, as the boxes, brake, spear, &c.

APPAREILER, to make ready for sailing, to get under sail.

APPARTEMENT, a birth, cabin, or store room, in a ship.

APPOINTÉ, a mariner whose passage is paid by the state, and who is not
obliged to work in the ship that carries him.

APPROCHER _du vent_. See ALLER _à la bouline_.

AQUE, or ACQUE, a sort of flat bottomed lighter employed on the Rhine.

ARAIGNÉES, the crow-feet of the tops.

ARAMBER, to close in with a ship and grapple her.

ARBALETE, a cross-staff or fore-staff.

ARBALETRIERE, a platform, or gangway, on which the soldiers stand to
fire their musquetry in a row-galley.

ARBORER _un mât_, to step or set up a mast, to get the mast an end.

ARBORER _un pavillon_, to hoist and display a flag or ensign.

ARBRE, a mast, in the dialect of Provence. See MAT.

ARC, or _ligne courbe de l’éperon_, the curve of the prow or cutwater.

ARCANNE, a sort of red chalk used by shipwrights in France, to mark
the timber in hewing or forming it.

ARCASSE, the stern of a ship; also the shell of a block.

ARCBOUTANT, a spar or small mast; more particularly, a boom to extend
the bottom of a studding-sail, square-sail, or driver.

ARCBOUTANT _d’échafaud_, the prop or shoar of a scaffold used in
ship-building.

ARCEAUX, a name formerly given to the rails of the head. See LISSE _de
poulaine_.

ARCENAL _de marine_, a royal dock-yard, with its warren or gun-wharf.

ARCHE, a thin covering of lath or shingle, and sometimes of rope,
which cases the ship’s pump like a sheath, to preserve and keep it
tight.

ARCHIPOMPE, the pump-well.

ARCHITECTURE _navale_, the art of ship-building.

ARDENT, a corposant, or meteor, often seen at sea in a storm. See FEU
_St. Elme_.

ARDENT, the quality of griping in the steerage, or carrying a
weatherly helm.

ARER, or CHASSER, to chase. See CHASSER.

ARGANEAU, or ORGANEAU, a ring-bolt of the deck or sides of a ship.

ARGANEAU _d’ancre_, the anchor-ring.

ARGOUSIN, a petty officer in the gallies, whose duty it is to fix on,
or take off the shackles of the slaves, and to prevent them from
escaping. It answers nearly to the corporal of a ship of war. See
PREVÔT.

ARISER _les vergues_, to strike the lower yards down upon the gunnel.

ARMADILLE, a small squadron of Spanish frigates of War, usually
employed to guard the coast of New Spain, and prevent illicit trade.

ARMATEUR, a privateer or cruiser. See CORSAIRE.

_Vaisseau_ ARMÉ _en guerre_, a merchant-vessel fitted for war, and
furnished with a letter of marque to cruise against the enemy.

ARMÉE _navale_, a naval armament, a fleet of ships of war.

ARMEMENT, the equipment or fitting out of a ship of war, or
merchantman, for a cruise, or voyage.

_Etat d’_ARMEMENT, a list of the officers intended to serve in a
squadron of men of war.

ARMER _les avirons_, to ship the oars ready for rowing.

ARMER _un vaisseau_, to arm a ship for war, or equip her for a voyage.

ARMURIER, the armourer of a vessel of war.

ARONDELLES _de mer_, a general name for small vessels, as brigs,
settees, tartans, &c.

ARQUÉ, broken-backed or hogged, drooping at the stem and stern.

ARRET _de vaisseaux_ & _fermetures de port_, an embargo laid on
shipping,

ARRIERE, abaft; the hind part of a ship.

_Faire vent_ ARRIERE, to bring the wind aft, or astern.

ARRIERE-GARDE _d’une armée navale_, the rear-division of a fleet of
vessels of war.

ARRIMAGE, the stowage or disposition of the cargo in the hold.

ARRIMER, to stow the hold, to trim the ship by her stowage. Whence

ARRIMEUR, a stower.

ARRISER, or AMENER. See AMENER.

ARRIVAGE, an arrival of merchandise in a port or haven.

ARRIVE, the order to put the helm a-weather, bear away, or edge
farther to leeward.

ARRIVE _tout_, hard a-weather. The order to put the helm close to
windward.

_N’_ARRIVE _pas_, don’t fall off; loft.

ARRIVÉE, the movement of veering or bearing away.

ARRIVER, to bear away before the wind. Hence

ARRIVER _sur un vaisseau_, to bear down on a ship.

ARRIVER _beaucoup_, to veer apace.

ARTILLÉ, or ARTILLIÉ, mounted with cannon: as, _vaisseau_ ARTILLIÉ _de
trents pieces_, a ship mounting thirty guns.

ARTIMON, the mizen-mast, also the mizen itself.

ASPECT, the looming or perspective view of the land from the sea.

ASSECHER, _etre à sec_, to appear dry, as a rock or shore when the
tide of ebb has retreated from it.

ASSEMBLER, to unite the several pieces of a ship, as by rabbiting,
scarfing, scoring, tenanting, &c.

ASSUJETTIR, to fix a piece of timber firmly in its place, in
shipbuilding.

ASSURANCE, a contract or policy of insurance.

_Pavillon d’_ASSURANCE, a flag or signal of peace.

ASSURER, to insure a vessel against the dangers of the sea, &c.

ASTROLABE, a nocturnal.

A TRAIT & _à rame_, to go with sails and oars.

ATTEINDRE, to join a ship at sea, either by accident or pursuit.

ATTELIER _de Construction_, a shed or store-house to contain
shipwrights tools; a loft or work-house near the dock; a wharf, or
place for building sea-vessels.

ATTÉRAGE, a land-fall. Whence

ATTERIR, to make the land.

ATTERRISSEMENT, a mound or bank of earth thrown up near the margin of
a river, by violent freshes or storms.

ATTOLONS, a cluster of keys or small islands, a chain of rocks.

ATTRAPE, the pendant or guy of the relieving tackle used in careening
a ship. See CORDE _de retenue_.

AVAL. See AVAU _l’eau_.

AVANT, forward, afore, ahead.

_Etre de l’_AVANT, _se mettre de l’_AVANT, to be in the van of, or
ahead in, a fleet.

_Le vaisseau est trop sur l’_AVANT, the vessel is too much by the
head.

AVANTAGE, the head, with its cutwater or prow. See EPERON.

AVANTAGE _du vent_, to be to windward of some other ship.

AVANT-GARDE, the van of a fleet of vessels of war.

AVARIE, the damage or loss which a ship may have sustained, by
accidents or bad weather, in her voyage; also the duty paid for
anchoring in a port.

AVASTE, avast.

AVAU _l’eau_, to sail with the tide, to tide it up or down a river.

AUBALÉTRIERES, a sort of stanchions or pillars erected on the sides of
a row-galley, to support the rails of the gang-way, and form the
bed-place of a soldier.

AUBIER, the sap of timber.

AUBINET, or _Saint_ AUBINET, no man’s land.

AUGE _à goudron_, a tar-bucket.

AVIRON, an oar. See RAME.

AVITAILLEMENT, or AVICTUAILLEMENT, the sea-victualling or provision of
a ship.

AVITAILLEUR, or AVICTUAILLEUR, an agent-victualler, or contractor for
supplying a ship with sea-provisions.

AU LOF, luff. The order from the pilot to steer nearer the wind. See
OLOFÉE.

AUMONIER, the sea-chaplain.

AVOCAT _Fiscal_. See FISCAL.

AVOIER, to rise, to freshen; expressed of the wind when it has
changed.

AVOIR _gagné_, to have fore-reached, or gained upon; spoken of a
vessel, relatively to some other in sight.

AVOIR _le pied marin_, to have good sea-shoes aboard, to walk firm in
a ship like a sailor.

AVOIR _pratique_, to have pratic, or free intercourse with the
natives, after having performed quarantine.

AVOIR _vent arriere_, to have the wind aft.

AVOIR _vent de bout_, to have the wind right an end, or a head. See
ALLER _de bout_, &c.

AU _plus pres de vent_, close upon a wind. See ALLER _au plus pres_,
&c.

AUSSIERE, or HAUSIERE, a hawser or small cable.

AUTAN, a gust or squall of wind from the south.

AUTARELLES, the thoules or rowlock-pins of a galley.

AVUSTE, or AJUSTE, a bend, or knot, by which the ends of two ropes are
fastened together.

AVUSTER, to bend or tie two ends of ropes together.

B.

BABORD. See BAS-BORD.

BAC, a large flat-bottomed ferry-boat, for horses, carriages, &c.

BAC _a naviger_, a punt, or small boat, used by the shipwrights to
carry tar, pitch, &c.

BACALAS, cleats of various kinds.

BACALIAU, a name given to dried salt cod-fish.

BACASSAS, a sort of lighter, somewhat resembling an American periagua.

BACHE, or BACHOT, a yawl or wherry.

BACLAGE, a tier of boats, moored along-side of each other.

BACLER _les ports_, to fortify harbours by fixing chains or booms
athwart their entrances; also to bar in the gun ports of a ship.

BAGUE, a small grommet, or wreath of an eye-let hole in a sail.

BAIE. See BAYE.

BAILLE, an half-tub used to contain shot, grenades, matches, &c. also
to hold water for cooling the guns in time of action, or to freshen
the salt provisions.