"You surely thought to _ballarag_ us
With your fine squadron off Cape Lagos."
BALLAST. A certain portion of stone, pig-iron, gravel, water, or such
like materials, deposited in a ship's hold when she either has no cargo
or too little to bring her sufficiently low in the water. It is used to
counter-balance the effect of the wind upon the masts, and give the ship
a proper stability, that she may be enabled to carry sail without
danger of overturning. The art of ballasting consists in placing the
centre of gravity, so as neither to be too high nor too low, too far
forward nor too far aft, and that the surface of the water may nearly
rise to the extreme breadth amidships, and thus the ship will be enabled
to carry a good sail, incline but little, and ply well to windward. A
want of true knowledge in this department has led to putting too great a
weight in ships' bottoms, which impedes their sailing and endangers
their masts by excessive rolling, the consequence of bringing the centre
of gravity too low. It should be trimmed with due regard to the
capacity, gravity, and flooring, and to the nature of whatever is to be
deposited thereon. (_See_ TRIM.)
BALLAST. As a verb, signifies to steady;--as a substantive, a
comprehensive mind. A man is said to "lose his ballast" when his
judgment fails him, or he becomes top-heavy from conceit.
BALLASTAGE. An old right of the Admiralty in all our royal rivers, of
levying a rate for supplying ships with ballast.
BALLAST-BASKET. Usually made of osier, for the transport and measure of
shingle-ballast. Supplied to the gunner for transport of loose
ammunition.
BALLAST-LIGHTER A large flat-floored barge, for heaving up and carrying
ballast.
BALLAST-MARK. The horizontal line described by the surface of the water
on the body of a ship, when she is immersed with her usual weight of
ballast on board.
BALLAST-MASTER. A person appointed to see the port-regulations in
respect to ballast carried out.
BALLAST-PORTS. Square holes cut in the sides of merchantmen for taking
in ballast. But should be securely barred and caulked in before
proceeding to sea.
BALLAST-SHIFTING. When by heavy rolling the ballast shifts in the hold.
BALLAST-SHINGLE. Composed of coarse gravel.
BALLAST-SHOOTING. (_See_ SHOOTS.) In England, and indeed in most
frequented ports, the throwing of ballast overboard is strictly
prohibited and subject to fine.
BALLAST-SHOVEL. A peculiar square and spoon-pointed iron shovel.
BALLAST-TRIM. When a vessel has only ballast on board.
BALLATOON. A sort of long heavy luggage-vessel of upwards of a hundred
tons, employed on the river between Moscow and the Caspian Sea.
BALL-CARTRIDGE. For small arms.
BALL-CLAY. Adhesive strong bottom, brought up by the flukes of the
anchors in massy lumps.
BALLISTA. An ancient military engine, like an enormous cross-bow, for
throwing stones, darts, and javelins against the enemy with rapidity and
violence. Also, the name of the geometrical cross called Jacob's staff.
BALLISTER. A cross-bow man.
BALLISTIC PENDULUM. An instrument for determining the velocity of
projectiles. The original pendulum was of very massive construction, the
arc through which it receded when impinged on by the projectile, taking
into account their respective weights, afforded, with considerable
calculation, a measure of the velocity of impact. Latterly the
electro-ballistic pendulum, which by means of electric currents is made
to register with very great accuracy the time occupied by the projectile
in passing over a measured space, has superseded it, as being more
accurate, less cumbrous, and less laborious in its accompanying
calculations.
BALLIUM. A plot of ground in ancient fortifications: called also
_baiky_.
BALLOCH. Gaelic for the discharge of a river into a lake.
BALLOEN. A Siamese decorated state-galley, imitating a sea-monster, with
from seventy to a hundred oars of a side.
BALL-OFF, TO. To twist rope-yarns into balls, with a running end in the
heart for making spun-yarn.
BALLOON-FISH (_Tetraodon_). A plectognathous fish, covered with spines,
which has the power of inflating its body till it becomes almost
globular.
BALLOW. Deep water inside a shoal or bar.
BALL-STELL. The geometrical instrument named _della stella_.
BALLY. A Teutonic word for inclosure, now prefixed to many sea-ports in
Ireland, as Bally-castle, Bally-haven, Bally-shannon, and Bally-water.
BALSA, OR BALZA. A South American tree, very porous, which grows to an
immense height in a few years, and is almost as light as cork. Hence the
balsa-wood is used for the surf-boat called _balsa_. (_See_ JANGADA.)
BALTHEUS ORIONIS. The three bright stars constituting Orion's Belt.
BALUSTERS. The ornamental pillars or pilasters of the balcony or
galleries in the sterns of ships, dividing the ward-room deck from the
one above.
BAMBA. A commercial shell of value on the Gold Coast of Africa and below
it.
BAMBO. An East Indian measure of five English pints.
BAMBOO (_Bambusa arundinacea_). A magnificent articulated cane, which
holds a conspicuous rank in the tropics from its rapid growth and almost
universal properties:--the succulent buds are eaten fresh and the young
stems make excellent preserves. The large stems are useful in
agricultural and domestic implements; also in building both houses and
ships; in making baskets, cages, hats, and furniture, besides sails,
paper, and in various departments of the Indian _materia medica_.
BAMBOOZLE, TO. To decoy the enemy by hoisting false colours.
BANANA (_Musa paradisiaca_). A valuable species of plantain, the fruit
of which is much used in tropical climates, both fresh and made into
bread. Gerarde named it Adam's apple from a notion that it was the
forbidden fruit of Eden; whilst others supposed it to be the grapes
brought out of the Promised Land by the spies of Moses. The spikes of
fruit often weigh forty pounds.
BANCO [Sp.] Seat for rowers.
BAND. The musicians of a band are called idlers in large ships. Also a
small body of armed men or retainers, as the band of gentlemen
pensioners; also an iron hoop round a gun-carriage, mast, &c.; also a
slip of canvas stitched across a sail, to strengthen the parts most
liable to pressure.--_Reef-bands_, rope-bands or robands; rudder-bands
(which see).
BANDAGE. A fillet or swathe, of the utmost importance in surgery. Also,
formerly, parcelling to ropes.
BANDALEERS, OR BANDOLEERS. A wide leathern belt for the carriage of
small cases of wood, covered with leather, each containing a charge for
a fire-lock; in use before the modern cartouche-boxes were introduced.
BANDECOOT. A large species of fierce rat in India, which infests the
drains, &c.
BANDED-DRUM. _See_ GRUNTER.
BANDED-MAIL. A kind of armour which consisted of alternate rows of
leather or cotton and single chain-mail.
BANDEROLD, OR BANDEROLE. A small streamer or banner, usually fixed on a
pike: from _banderola_, Sp. diminutive of _bandera_, the flag or ensign.
BAND-FISH, OR RIBBON-FISHES. A popular name of the _Gymnetrus_ genus.
BANDLE. An Irish measure of two feet in length.
BANG. A mixture of opium, hemp-leaves, and tobacco, of an intoxicating
quality, chewed and smoked by the Malays and other people in the East,
who, being mostly prohibited the use of wine, double upon Mahomet by
indulging in other intoxicating matter, as if the manner of doing it
cleared off the crime of drunkenness. This horrid stuff gives the
maddening excitement which makes a Malay run _amok_ (which see).--_To
bang_ is colloquially used to express excelling or beating rivals.
(_See_ SUFFOLK BANG.)
BANGE. Light fine rain.
BANGLES. The hoops of a spar. Also, the rings on the wrists and ankles
of Oriental people, chiefly used by females.
BANIAN. A sailor's coloured frock-shirt.
BANIAN OR BANYAN DAYS. Those in which no flesh-meat is issued to the
messes. It is obvious that they are a remnant of the maigre days of the
Roman Catholics, who deem it a mortal sin to eat flesh on certain days.
Stock-fish used to be served out, till it was found to promote scurvy.
The term is derived from a religious sect in the East, who, believing in
metempsychosis, eat of no creature endued with life.
BANIAN-TREE. _Ficus indica_ of India and Polynesia. The tendrils from
high branches extend 60 to 80 feet, take root on reaching the ground,
and form a cover over some acres. Religious rites from which women are
excluded are there performed.
BANJO. The brass frame in which the screw-propeller of a steamer works,
and is hung for hoisting the screw on deck. This frame fits between
slides fixed on the inner and outer stern-posts; resting in large
carriages firmly secured thereto. The banjo is essential to lifting the
screw.--Also, the rude instrument used in negro concerts.
BANK. The right or left boundary of a river, in looking from its source
towards the sea, and the immediate margin or border of a lake. Also, a
thwart, _banco_, or bench, for the rowers in a galley. Also, a rising
ground in the sea, differing from a shoal, because not rocky but
composed of sand, mud, or gravel. Also, mural elevations constructed of
clay, stones, or any materials at hand, to prevent inundations.
BANK, TO. Also, an old word meaning to sail along the margins or banks
of river-ports: thus Shakspeare in "King John" makes Lewis the Dauphin
demand--
"Have I not heard these islanders shout out
_Vive le Roy!_ as I have _bank'd_ their towns?"
BANKA. A canoe of the Philippines, consisting of a single piece.
BANKER. A vessel employed in the deep-sea cod-fishery on the great banks
of Newfoundland. Also, a man who works on the sides of a canal, or on an
embankment; a navvy.
BANK-FIRES. In steamers, taking advantage of a breeze by allowing the
fires to burn down low, and then pulling them down to a side of the
bridge of the fire-place, and there covering them up with ashes taken
from the ash-pit, at the same time nearly closing the dampers in the
funnel and ash-pit doors. This, with attention on the part of the
engineers, will maintain the water hot, and a slight pressure of steam
in the boilers. When fuel is added and draught induced the fires are
said to be "drawn forward," and steam is speedily generated.
BANK-HARBOUR. That which is protected from the violence of the sea by
banks of mud, gravel, sand, shingle, or silt.
BANK-HOOK. A large fish-hook laid baited in running water, attached by a
line to the bank.
BANKING. A general term applied to fishing on the great bank of
Newfoundland.
BANK OF OARS [_banco_, Sp.] A seat or bench for rowers in the happily
all but extinct galley: these are properly called the athwarts, but
thwarts by seamen. The common galleys have 25 banks on each side, with
one oar to each bank, and four men to each oar. The galeasses have 32
banks on a side, and 6 or 7 rowers to each bank. (_See_ DOUBLE-BANKED,
when two men pull separate oars on the same thwart.)
BANKSAL, OR BANKSAUL, and in Calcutta spelled _bankshall_. A shop,
office, or other place, for transacting business. Also, a square
inclosure at the pearl-fishery. Also, a beach store-house wherein ships
deposit their rigging and furniture while undergoing repair. Also, where
small commercial courts and arbitrations are held.
BANN. A proclamation made in the army by beat of drum, sound of trumpet,
&c., requiring the strict observance of discipline, either for the
declaring of a new officer, the punishing an offender, or the like.
BANNAG. A northern name for a white trout, a sea-trout.
BANNAK-FLUKE. A name of the turbot, as distinguished from the halibut.
BANNER. A small square flag edged with fringe.
BANNERER. The bearer of a banner.
BANNERET. A knight made on the field of battle.
BANNEROL. A little banner or streamer.
BANNOCK. A name given to a certain hard ship-biscuit.
BANQUETTE. In fortification, a small terrace, properly of earth, on the
inside of the parapet, of such height that the defenders standing on it
may conveniently fire over the top.
BANSTICKLE. A diminutive fish, called also the three-spined stickleback
(_Gasterosteus aculeatus_).
BAPTISM. A ceremony practised on passengers on their first passing the
equinoctial line: a riotous and ludicrous custom, which from the
violence of its ducking, shaving, and other practical jokes, is becoming
annually less in vogue. It is esteemed a usurpation of privilege to
baptize on crossing the tropics.
BAR, OF A PORT OR HARBOUR. An accumulated shoal or bank of sand,
shingle, gravel, or other uliginous substances, thrown up by the sea to
the mouth of a river or harbour, so as to endanger, and sometimes
totally prevent, the navigation into it.--_Bars of rivers_ are some
shifting and some permanent. The position of the bar of any river may
commonly be guessed by attending to the form of the shores at the
embouchure. The shore on which the deposition of sediment is going on
will be flat, whilst the opposite one is steep. It is along the side of
the latter that the deepest channel of the river lies; and in the line
of this channel, but without the points that form the mouth of the
river, will be the _bar_. If both the shores are of the same nature,
which seldom happens, the bar will lie opposite the middle of the
channel. Rivers in general have what may be deemed a bar, in respect of
the depth of the channel within, although it may not rise high enough to
impede the navigation--for the increased deposition that takes place
when the current slackens, through the want of declivity, and of shores
to retain it, must necessarily form a bank. Bars of small rivers may be
deepened by means of stockades to confine the river current, and prolong
it beyond the natural points of the river's mouth. They operate to
remove the place of deposition further out, and into deeper water. Bars,
however, act as breakwaters in most instances, and consequently secure
smooth water within them. The deposit in all curvilinear or serpentine
rivers will always be found at the point opposite to the curve into
which the ebb strikes and rebounds, deepening the hollow and depositing
on the tongue. Therefore if it be deemed advisable to change the
position of a bar, it may be in some cases aided by works projected on
the last curve sea-ward. By such means a parallel canal may be forced
which will admit vessels under the cover of the bar.--_Bar_, a boom
formed of huge trees, or spars lashed together, moored transversely
across a port, to prevent entrance or egress.--_Bar_, the short bits of
bar-iron, about half a pound each, used as the medium of traffic on the
Negro coast.--_Bar-harbour_, one which, from a bar at its entrance,
cannot admit ships of great burden, or can only do so at
high-water.--_Capstan-bars_, large thick bars put into the holes of the
drumhead of the capstan, by which it is turned round, they working as
horizontal radial levers.--_Hatch-bars_, flat iron bars to lock over the
hatches for security from theft, &c.--_Port-bar_, a piece of wood or
iron variously fitted to secure a gun-port when shut.--_Bar-shallow_, a
term sometimes applied to a portion of a bar with less water on it than
on other parts of the bar.--_Bar-shot_, two half balls joined together
by a bar of iron, for cutting and destroying spars and rigging. When
whole balls are thus fitted they are more properly double-headed
shot.--_To bar._ To secure the lower-deck ports, as above.
BARACOOTA. A tropical fish (_Sphyraena baracuda_), considered in the West
Indies to be dangerously poisonous at times, nevertheless eaten, and
deemed the sea-salmon.
BARBACAN. In fortification, an outer defence.
BARBADOES-TAR. A mineral fluid bitumen resembling petroleum, of nauseous
taste and offensive smell.
BARBALOT. The barbel. Also, a puffin.
BARB-BOLTS. Those which have their points jagged or barbed to make them
hold securely, where those commonly in use cannot be clinched. The same
as _rag-bolt_. Those of copper used for the false keel.
BARBECUE. A tropical custom of dressing a pig whole.
BARBEL (_Barbus vulgaris_). An English river-fish of the carp family,
distinguished by the four appendant beards, whence its name is derived.
It is between 2 and 3 feet in length, and coarse. Also, _barbel_ is a
small piece of armour which protects part of the bassenet.
BARBER. A rating on the ships' books for one who shaves the people, for
which he receives the pay of an ordinary seaman. In meteorology,
_barber_ is a singular vapour rising in streams from the sea
surface,--owing probably to exhalations being condensed into a visible
form, on entering a cold atmosphere. It is well known on the shores of
Nova Scotia. Also, the condensed breath in frosty weather on beard or
moustaches in Arctic travelling.
BARBETTE. A mode of mounting guns to fire over the parapet, so as to
have free range, instead of through embrasures.
BARCA-LONGA. A large Spanish undecked coasting-vessel, navigated with
pole-masts, _i.e._ single-masts, without any top-mast or upper part; and
high square sails, called lug-sails. Propelled with sweeps as well. The
name is also applied to Spanish gunboats by our seamen.
BARCES. Short guns with a large bore formerly used in ships.
BARCHETTA. A small bark for transporting water, provisions, &c.
BARCONE. A short Mediterranean lighter.
BAREKA. A small barrel: spelled also _barika_ (Sp. _bareca_). Hence the
nautical name _breaker_ for a small cask or keg.
BARE-POLES. The condition of a ship having no sails set when out at sea,
and either scudding or lying-to by stress of weather. (_See_ UNDER BARE
POLES.)
BARE-ROOM. An old phrase for _bore-down_.
BARGE. A boat of a long, slight, and spacious construction, generally
carvel-built, double-banked, for the use of admirals and captains of
ships of war.--_Barge_, in boat attacks, is next in strength to the
launch. It is likewise a vessel or boat of state, furnished and equipped
in the most sumptuous style;--and of this sort we may naturally suppose
to have been the famous barge or galley of Cleopatra, which, according
to the beautiful description of Shakspeare--
"Like a burnished throne
Burnt on the water: the poop was beaten gold,
Purple her sails; and so perfumed, that
The winds were love-sick with them; the oars were silver.
Which to the tune of flutes kept time, and made
The water which they beat to follow faster
As amorous of their strokes."
The barges of the lord-mayor, civic companies, &c., and the coal-barges
of the Thames are varieties. Also, an early man-of-war, of about 100
tons. Also, an east-country vessel of peculiar construction. Also, a
flat-bottomed vessel of burden, used on rivers for conveying goods from
one place to another, and loading and unloading ships: it has various
names, as a Ware barge, a west-country barge, a sand barge, a row-barge,
a Severn trough, a light horseman, &c. They are usually fitted with a
large sprit-sail to a mast, which, working upon a hinge, is easily
struck for passing under bridges. Also, the bread-barge or tray or
basket, for containing biscuit at meals.
BARGEES. The crews of canal-boats and barges.
BARGE-MATE. The officer who steers when a high personage is to visit the
ship.
BARGE-MEN. The crew of the barge, who are usually picked men. Also, the
large maggots with black heads that infest biscuit.
BARGET. An old term for a small barge.
BARILLA. An alkali procured by burning _Salsola kali_ and other
sea-shore plants. It forms a profitable article of Mediterranean
commerce. (_See_ KELP.)
BARK. The exterior covering of vegetable bodies, many of which are
useful in making paper, cordage, cloth, dyes, and medicines.
BARK, OR BARQUE [from _barca_, Low Latin]. A general name given to small
ships, square-sterned, without head-rails; it is, however, peculiarly
appropriated by seamen to a three-masted vessel with only fore-and-aft
sails on her mizen-mast.--_Bark-rigged._ Rigged as a bark, with no
square sails on the mizen-mast.
BARKANTINE, OR BARQUANTINE. A name applied on the great lakes of North
America to a vessel square-rigged on the fore-mast, and fore-and-aft
rigged on the main and mizen masts. They are not three-masted schooners,
as they have a regular brigantine's fore-mast. They are long in
proportion to their other dimensions, to suit the navigation of the
canals which connect some of these lakes.
BARKERS. An old term for lower-deck guns and pistols.
BARKEY. A sailor's term for the pet ship to which he belongs.
BARKING-IRONS. Large duelling pistols.
BARLING. An old term for the lamprey.--_Barling-spars_, fit for any
smaller masts or yards.
BARNACLE (_Lepas anatifera_). A species of shell-fish, often found
sticking by its pedicle to the bottom of ships, doing no other injury
than deadening the way a little:
"_Barnacles_, termed _soland geese_
In th' islands of the Orcades."--_Hudibras._
They were formerly supposed to produce the barnacle-goose! (vide old
cyclopedias): the poet, however, was too good a naturalist to believe
this, but here, as in many other places, he means to banter some of the
papers which were published by the first establishers of the Royal
Society. The shell is compressed and multivalve. The tentacula are long
and pectinated like a feather, whence arose the fable of their becoming
geese. They belong to the order of _Cirripeds_.
BARNAGH. The Manx or Gaelic term for a limpet.
BAROMETER. A glass tube of 36 inches in length, filled with the open end
upwards with refined mercury--thus boiled and suddenly inverted into a
cistern, which is furnished with a leathern bag, on which the
atmosphere, acting by its varying weight, presses the fluid metal up to
corresponding heights in the tube, easily read off by an external scale
attached thereto. By attentive observations on this simple prophet,
practised seamen are enabled to foretell many approaching changes of
wind or weather, and thus by shortening sail in time, save hull, spars,
and lives. This instrument also affords the means of accurately
determining the heights or depressions of mountains and valleys. This is
the _mercurial_ barometer; another, the _aneroid_ barometer, invented by
Monsr. Vidi, measures approximately, but not with the permanence of the
mercurial. It is constructed to measure the weight of a column of air or
pressure of the atmosphere, by pressure on a very delicate metallic box
hermetically sealed. It is more sensible to passing changes, but not so
reliable as the mercurial barometer. 29.60 is taken as the mean pressure
in England; as it rises or falls below this mark, fine weather or strong
winds may be looked for:--30.60 is very high, and 29.00 very low. The
barometer is affected by the direction of the wind, thus N.N.E. is the
highest, and S.S.W. the lowest--therefore these matters govern the
decision of men of science, who are not led astray by the change of
reading alone. The seaman pilot notes the heavens; the direction of the
wind--and the pressure due to that direction--not forgetting sudden
changes of temperature. Attention is due to the surface, whether convex
or concave.
BARQUE. The same as _bark_ (which see).
BARR. A peremptory exception to a proposition.
BARRA-BOATS. Vessels of the Western Isles of Scotland, carrying ten or
twelve men. They are extremely sharp fore and aft, having no floor, but
with sides rising straight from the keel, so that a transverse section
resembles the letter V. They are swift and safe, for in proportion as
they heel to a breeze their bearings are increased, while from their
lightness they are as buoyant as Norway skiffs.
BARRACAN. A strong undiapered camblet, used for garments in the Levant
and in Barbary; anciently it formed the Roman toga.
BARRACK-MASTER. The officer placed in charge of a barrack.
BARRACKS. Originally mere log-huts, but of late extensive houses built
for the accommodation and quartering of troops. Also, the portion of the
lower deck where the marines mess. Also, little cabins made by Spanish
fishermen on the sea-shore, called _barracas_, whence our name.
BARRACK SMACK. A corruption of _Berwick smack_; a word applied to small
Scotch traders. The masters were nicknamed _barrack-masters_.
BARRATRY. Any fraudulent act of the master or mariners committed to the
prejudice of the ship's owners or underwriters, whether by fraudulently
losing the vessel, deserting her, selling her, or committing any other
embezzlement. The diverting a ship from her right course, with evil
intent, is barratry.
BARRED KILLIFISH. A small fish from two to four inches in length, which
frequents salt-water creeks, floats, and the vicinity of wharves.
BARREL. A cylindrical vessel for holding both liquid and dry goods.
Also, a commercial measure of 31-1/2 gallons.
BARREL OF A CAPSTAN. The cylinder between the whelps and the paul rim,
constituting the main-piece.
BARREL OF A PUMP. The wooden tube which forms the body of the engine.
BARREL OF SMALL ARMS. The tube through which the bullets are discharged.
In artillery the term belongs to the construction of certain guns, and
signifies the inner tube, as distinguished from the breech piece,
trunnion-piece, and hoops or outer coils, the other essential parts of
"built-up guns" (which see).
BARREL OF THE WHEEL. The cylinder round which the tiller-ropes are
wound.
BARREL-BUILDER. The old rating for a cooper.
BARREL-BULK. A measure of capacity for freight in a ship, equal to five
cubic feet: so that eight barrel-bulk are equal to one ton measurement.
BARREL-SCREW. A powerful machine, consisting of two large poppets, or
male screws, moved by levers in their heads, upon a bank of plank, with
a female screw at each end. It is of great use in starting a launch.
BARRICADE. A strong wooden rail, supported by stanchions extending as a
fence across the foremost part of the quarter-deck, on the top of which
some of the seamen's hammocks are usually stowed in time of battle. In a
vessel of war the vacant spaces between the stanchions are commonly
filled with rope-mats, cork, or pieces of old cable; and the upper part,
which contains a double rope-netting above the sail, is stuffed with
full hammocks to intercept small shot in the time of battle. Also, a
temporary fortification or fence made with abatis, palisades, or any
obstacles, to bar the approach of an enemy by a given avenue.
BARRIER OF ICE. Ice stretching from the land-ice to the sea or main ice,
or across a channel, so as to render it impassable.
BARRIER REEFS. Coral reefs that either extend in straight lines in front
of the shores of a continent or large island, or encircle smaller isles,
in both cases being separated from the land by a channel of water.
Barrier reefs in New South Wales, the Bermudas, Laccadives, Maldives,
&c.
BARRIERS. A martial exercise of men armed with short swords, within
certain railings which separated them from the spectators. It has long
been discontinued in England.
BARROW. A hillock, a tumulus.
BARSE. The common river-perch.
BARTIZAN. The overhanging turrets on a battlement.
BARUTH. An Indian measure, with a corresponding weight of 3-1/2 lbs.
avoirdupois.
BASE. The breech of a gun. Also, the lowest part of the perimeter of a
geometrical figure. When applied to a delta it is that edge of it which
is washed by the sea, or recipient of the deltic branches. Also, the
lowest part of a mountain or chain of mountains. Also, the level line on
which any work stands, as the foot of a pillar. Also, an old boat-gun; a
wall-piece on the musketoon principle, carrying a five-ounce ball.
BASE-LINE. In strategy, the line joining the various points of a base of
operations. In surveying, the base on which the triangulation is
founded.
BASE OF OPERATIONS. In strategy, one or a series of strategic points at
which are established the magazines and means of supply necessary for an
army in the field.
BASE-RING. In guns of cast-metal, the flat moulding round the breech at
that part where the longitudinal surface ends and the vertical
termination or cascable begins. The length of the gun is reckoned from
the after-edge of the base-ring to the face of the muzzle: but in
built-up guns, there being generally no base-ring moulded, and the
breech assuming various forms, the length is measured from the
after-extreme of the breech, exclusive of any button or other adjunct.
BASHAW. A Turkish title of honour and command; more properly _pacha_.
BASIL. The angle to which the edge of shipwrights' cutting tools is
ground away.
BASILICON. An ointment composed of wax, resin, pitch, black resin, and
olive oil. _Yellow basilicon_, of olive oil, yellow resin, Burgundy
pitch, and turpentine.
BASILICUS. A name of Regulus or the Lion's Heart, {a} Leonis; a star of
the first magnitude.
BASILISK. An old name for a long 48-pounder, the gun next in size to the
carthoun: called basilisk from the snakes or dragons sculptured in the
place of dolphins. According to Sir William Monson its random range was
3000 paces. Also, in still earlier times, a gun throwing an iron ball of
200 lbs. weight.
BASILLARD. An old term for a poniard.
BASIN. A wet-dock provided with flood-gates for restraining the water,
in which shipping may be kept afloat in all times of tide. Also, all
those sheltered spaces of water which are nearly surrounded with slopes
from which waters are received; these receptacles have a circular shape
and narrow entrance. Geographically basins may be divided, as upper,
lower, lacustrine, fluvial, Mediterranean, &c.
BASIS. _See_ BASE.
BASKET. In field-works, baskets or corbeilles are used, to be filled
with earth, and placed by one another, to cover the men from the enemy's
shot.
BASKET-FISH. A name for several species of _Euryale_; a kind of
star-fish, the arms of which divide and subdivide many times, and curl
up and intertwine at the ends, giving the whole animal something of the
appearance of a round basket.
BASKET-HILT. The guard continued up the hilt of a cutlass, so as to
protect the whole hand from injury.
BASKING SHARK. So called from being often seen lying still in the
sunshine. A large cartilaginous fish, the _Squalus maximus_ of Linnaeus,
inhabiting the Northern Ocean. It attains a length of 30 feet, but is
neither fierce nor voracious. Its liver yields from eight to twelve
barrels of oil.
BASS, OR BAST. A soft sedge or rush (_Juncus laevis_), of which coarse
kinds of rope and matting are made. A Gaelic term for the blade of an
oar.
BASSE. A species of perch (_Perca labrax_), found on the coast and in
estuaries, commonly about 18 inches long.
BASSOS. A name in old charts for shoals; whence bas-fond and
basso-fondo. Rocks a-wash, or below water.
BAST. Lime-tree, linden (_Tilia europea_). Bast is made also from the
bark of various other trees, macerated in water till the fibrous layers
separate. In the Pacific Isles it is very fine and strong, from
_Hibiscus tiliaceus_.
BASTA. A word in former use for _enough_, from the Italian.
BASTARD. A term applied to all pieces of ordnance which are of unusual
or irregular proportions: the government bastard-cannon had a 7-inch
bore, and sent a 40-lb. shot. Also, a fair-weather square sail in some
Mediterranean craft, and occasionally used for an awning.
BASTARD-MACKEREL, OR HORSE-MACKEREL. The _Caranx trachurus_, a dry,
coarse, and unwholesome fish, of the family _Scombridae_, very common in
the Mediterranean.
BASTARD-PITCH. A mixture of colophony, black pitch, and tar. They are
boiled down together, and put into barrels of pine-wood, forming, when
the ingredients are mixed in equal portions, a substance of a very
liquid consistence, called in France _bray gras_. If a thicker
consistence is desired, a greater proportion of colophony is added, and
it is cast in moulds. It is then called _bastard-pitch_.
BASTE, TO. To beat in punition. A mode of sewing in sail-making.
BASTILE. A temporary wooden tower, used formerly in naval and military
warfare.
BASTIONS. Projecting portions of a rampart, so disposed that the bottom
of the escarp of each part of the whole rampart may be defended from the
parapet of some other part. Their form and dimensions are influenced by
many considerations, especially by the effect and range of fire-arms;
but it is essential to them to have two faces and two flanks; the former
having an average length, according to present systems, of 130 yards,
the latter of 40 yards.