ATTENTION. A military word of command, calling the soldier from the
quiescent position of "at ease" into readiness for any exercise or
evolution. Also the erect posture due to that word of command, and which
is assumed by a private soldier in the presence of an officer. The
attending to signals.
ATTERRAGE. The land-fall, or making the land. Usually marked on French
charts and plans to show the landing-place.
ATTESTATION. In Admiralty courts the attestation of a deed signifies the
testifying to the signing or execution of it.
ATTESTED. Legally certified; proved by evidence.
ATTILE. An old law term for the rigging or furniture of a ship.
ATTORNEY. _See_ SEA-ATTORNEY.
ATTRACTION. The power of drawing, or the principle by which all bodies
mutually tend towards each other; the great agent in nature's wonderful
operations.--_Attraction of mountains_, the deviating influence
exercised on the plumb-line by the vicinity of high land. But exerting
also a marvellous effect on all floating bodies, for every seaman knows
that a ship stands inshore faster than she stands out, the distances
being similar.
ATWEEN, OR ATWIXT. Betwixt or between, shortened into _'tween_, that is,
in the intermediate space. The word _'tween decks_ is usually applied to
the lower deck of a frigate, and _orlop_ to that of a line-of-battle
ship.
AUBERK, OR HAUBERK. One who held land to be ready with a coat of mail
and attend his lord when called upon so to do. Thus the old poet:--
"Auberk, sketoun, and scheld
Was mani to-broken in that feld."
AUDIT. The final passing of accounts.
AUDITORS OF THE IMPREST. Officers who had the charge of the great
accounts of the royal customs, naval and military expenses, &c.; they
are now superseded by the commissioners for auditing the public
accounts.
AUGES. An astronomical term, synonymous with _apsides_.
AUGET. A tube filled with powder for firing a mine.
AUGMENTATION OF THE MOON'S DIAMETER. The increase of her apparent
diameter occasioned by an increase of altitude: or that which is due to
the difference between her distance from the observer and the centre of
the earth.
AUGRE, OR AUGER. A wimble, or instrument for boring holes for bolts,
tree-nails, and other purposes.
AUK, OR AWK. A sea-bird with short wings. The great auk or gair-fowl
(_Alca impennis_) was formerly common on all the northern coasts, where
they laid their eggs, ingeniously poised, on the bare rocks. They were
very good eating, and having been taken in great numbers by the
Esquimaux, and by European sailors on whaling voyages, the species is
now supposed to be exterminated.
AULIN. An arctic gull (_Cataractes parasiticus_), given to make other
sea-birds mute through fear, and then eat their discharge--whence it is
termed _dirty aulin_ by the northern boatmen.
AUMBREY. An old north-country term for a bread and cheese locker.
AUNE. Contraction of _ulna_. French cloth measure: at Rouen it is equal
to the English ell--at Paris 0.95--at Calais 1.52 of that measure.
AURIGA. A northern constellation, and one of the old 48 asterisms; it is
popularly known as the _Waggoner_: {a} Auriga, Capella.
AURORA. The faint light which precedes sunrising. Also the mythological
mother of the winds and stars.
AURORA AUSTRALIS OR BOREALIS. The extraordinary and luminous meteoric
phenomenon which by its streaming effulgence cheers the dreary nights of
polar regions. It is singular that these beautiful appearances are
nowhere mentioned by the ancients. They seem to be governed by
electricity, are most frequent in frosty weather, and are proved to be
many miles above the surface of the earth, from some of them being
visible over 30 deg. of longitude and 20 deg. of latitude at the same
instant! In colour they vary from yellow to deep red; in form they are
Proteus-like, assuming that of streamers, columns, fans, or arches, with
a quick flitting, and sometimes whizzing noises. The aurora is not vivid
above the 76th degree of north latitude, and is seldom seen before the
end of August. Cook was the first navigator who recorded the southern
lights.
AUSTER. The south wind of the ancients, gusts from which quarter are
called _autan_.
AUSTRAL. Relating to the south.--_Austral signs_, those on the south
side of the equator, or the last six of the zodiac.
AUTHORITY. The legal power or right of commanding.
AUTOMATIC BLOW-OFF APPARATUS. _See_ BLOW-OFF-PIPE.
AUTUMNAL EQUINOX. The time when the sun crosses the equator, under a
southerly motion, and the days and nights are then everywhere equal in
length. (_See_ LIBRA.)
AUTUMNAL POINT. That part of the ecliptic whence the sun descends
southward.
AUTUMNAL SIGNS. Libra, Scorpio, and Sagittarius.
AUXILIARIES. Confederates, an assisting body of allies; or, physically
speaking, vessels using steam as an auxiliary to wind.
AUXILIARY SCREW. A vessel in which the screw is used as an auxiliary
force. Such a vessel is usually fully masted for sailing purposes.
AVANIA. The fine or imposition imposed on Christians residing under
Turkish governors, when they break the laws.
AVANT-FOSSE. In fortification, an advanced ditch without the
counterscarp, and stretching along the foot of the glacis.
AVAST. The order to stop, hold, cease, or stay, in any operation: its
derivation from the Italian _basta_ is more plausible than _have fast_.
AVAST HEAVING! The cry to arrest the capstan when nippers are jammed, or
any other impediment occurs in heaving in the cable, not unfrequently
when a hand, foot, or finger, is jammed;--stop!
AVENTAILE. The movable part of a helmet.
AVENUE. The inlet into a port.
AVERAGE. Whether _general_ or _particular_, is a term of ambiguous
construction, meaning the damage incurred for the safety of the ship and
cargo; the contribution made by the owners in general, apportioned to
their respective investments, to repair any particular loss or expense
sustained; and a small duty paid to the master for his care of the
whole. Goods thrown overboard for the purpose of lightening the ship,
are so thrown for the good of all, and the loss thus sustained must be
made up by a general average or contribution from all the parties
interested. (_See_ GENERAL AVERAGE.)
AVERAGE-ADJUSTER. A qualified person engaged in making statements to
show the proper application of loss, damage, or expenses in consequence
of the accidents of a sea adventure.
AVERAGE-AGREEMENT. A written document signed by the consignees of a
cargo, binding themselves to pay a certain proportion of general average
that may from accident arise against them.
AVERAGE-STATER. _See_ AVERAGE-ADJUSTER.