"His hook he bated with a dragon's tail,
And sat upon a rock, and bobb'd for whale."
BOBBING ABOUT. Heaving and setting without making any way.
BOBBLE. The state of waves when dashing about without any regular set or
direction, as in cross tides or currents.
BOBSTAY-COLLARS. These are made with large rope, and an eye spliced in
each end; they are secured round the bowsprit, on the upper side, with a
rose lashing. They are almost entirely superseded by iron bands.
BOBSTAY-HOLES. Those cut through the fore-part of the knee of the head,
between the cheeks, for the admission of the bobstay; they are not much
used now, as chain bobstays are almost universal, which are secured to
plates by shackles.
BOBSTAY-PLATES. Iron plates by which the lower end of the bobstay is
attached to the stem.
BOBSTAYS. Ropes or chains used to confine the bowsprit downward to the
stem or cut-water. They are fitted in various ways. Their use is to
counteract the strain of the foremast-stays, which draw it upwards. The
bowsprit is also fortified by shrouds from the bows on each side, which
are all very necessary, as the fore-mast and the upper spars on the
main-mast are stayed and greatly supported by the bowsprit.
BOCCA. [Sp. _boca_, mouth.] Is a term used both in the Levant, and on
the north coast of South America, or the Spanish Main, for a mouth or
channel into any port or harbour, or the entrance into a sound which has
a passage out by a contrary way.--_Bocca Tigris_, Canton River.
BODIES. The figure of a ship, abstractedly considered, is divided into
different parts or figures, each of which has the appellation body, as
fore-body, midship-body, square-body, &c.
BODKIN. A dirk or dagger, a word still in use, though Johnson says it is
the oldest acceptation of it. It is the _bodekin_ of Chaucer; and
Shakspeare makes Hamlet ask who would bear the ills of life,
"When he himself might his quietus make
With a bare bodkin?"
BODY. The principal corps of an army, or the main strength of a fleet.
BODY, OF A PLACE. In fortification, the space inclosed by the enceinte,
or line of bastions and curtains.
BODY-HOOPS. Those which secure the aris pieces of a made mast.
BODY-PLAN. The draught of a proposed ship, showing the breadth and
timbers; it is a section supposed to cut the vessel through the broadest
part; it is otherwise called the plan of projection.
BODY-POST. An additional stern-post introduced at the fore-part of an
aperture cut in the dead-wood in a ship fitted with a screw-propeller.
BOG. A marsh, or a tract of land, which from its form and impermeable
bottom retains stagnant water. (_See_ QUAGMIRE.)
BOG-BLUTER. A northern name for the bittern, from its habit of thrusting
its bill into marshy places.
BOG-TROTTER. Any one who lives among marshy moors, but generally applied
to the Emeralders.
BOGUE, TO. To drop off from the wind. To edge away to leeward with the
wind; not holding a good wind, and driving very much to leeward. Used
only to clumsy inferior craft.
BOGUE. Mouth of a river; hence disembogue. Bogue forts, China.
BOHEMIAN. A conceited dawdler in his duties. Shakspeare ridicules Simple
as a Bohemian Tartar; both of which terms were applied to gipsies.
BOILER. Of a steam-engine, made of wrought iron, or copper-plates, which
being partly filled with water, and having fire applied to the outside,
generates steam to supply the engine.
BOILERS. Termed coppers; the ship's cooking utensils, of iron or copper.
BOILING. The "whole boiling" means the entire quantity, or whole party;
applied to number or quantity. A contemptuous epithet.
BOLD-BOW. A broad bluff bow.
BOLDERING WEATHER. Cloudy and thundery.
BOLD-SHORE. A steep coast where the water, deepening rapidly, admits the
near approach of shipping without the danger of grounding.
BOLD-TO. Applied to land; the same as steep-to.
BOLE. A small boat.
BOLIDE. A name for aerolite (which see).