BOLLAN. The Manx or Gaelic term for the fish old-wife.
BOLLARD. A thick piece of wood on the head of a whale-boat, round which
the harpooner gives the line a turn, in order to veer it steadily, and
check the animal's velocity. Also a strong timber fixed vertically into
the ground, part being left above it, on which to fasten ropes. Also a
lighter sort of dolphin for attaching vessels to. Wharves have bollards
to which vessels are secured when alongside.
BOLLARD-TIMBERS. Two pieces of oak, usually called knight-heads (which
see).
BOLLING OR BOWLING AWAY. Going with a free wind.
BOLME. An old term for a waterman's pole or boom.
BOLOTO. A small boat of the Philippines and Moluccas.
BOLSTERS. Small cushions or bags of tarred canvas, used to preserve the
stays from being chafed by the motion of the masts, when the ship
pitches at sea. Pieces of soft wood covered with canvas, placed on the
trestle-trees, for the eyes of the rigging to rest upon, and prevent a
sharp nip. Also pieces of oak timber fayed to the curvature of the bow,
under the hawse-holes, and down upon the upper cheek, to prevent the
cable from rubbing against the cheeks.--_Bolsters_ for sheets, tacks,
&c., are small pieces of fir or oak, fayed under the gunwale, or other
part, with the outer surface rounded to prevent chafing.--_Bolsters_,
for the anchor lining. Solid pieces of oak bolted to the ship's side at
the fore part of the fore-chains on which the stanchions are fixed that
receive the anchor lining.
BOLT. A cylindrical pin of iron or copper to unite the different parts
of a vessel, varied in form according to the places where they are
required. In ship-building square ones are used in frame-fastening; the
heads of all bolts are round, saucer, or collared.--_Bolt of the irons_,
which runs through three pairs of shackles.--_Drift_ or _drive-bolts_
are used to drive out others.--_Bay-bolts_, have jags or barbs on each
side, to keep them from flying out of their holes.--_Clench-bolts_ are
clenched with rivetting hammers.--_Fend_ or _fender bolts_, made with
long and thick heads, and struck into the outermost bends of the ship, to
save her sides from bruises.--_Forelock-bolts_ have at the end a forelock
of iron driven in, to keep them from starting back.--_Set-bolts_ are used
for forcing the planks, and bringing them close together.--_Ring-bolts_
are used for the bringing to of the planks, and those parts whereto are
fastened the breeches and tackle of the guns.--_Scarp-bolts_ and
_keel-bolts_, pointed, not clinched, used for false keel or temporary
purposes.--_Bringing-to bolts_, fitted with an eye at one end, and a nut
and screw at the other, for bringing to the ends at the stem, &c.--_To
bolt_, to start off, to run away.
BOLT-BOAT. An old term for a boat which makes good weather in a rough
sea.
BOLTING TIMBERS. Those on each side of the stem, continued up for the
security of the bowsprit. (_See_ KNIGHT-HEADS.)
BOLT OF CANVAS. The piece or roll of 39 yards in which it is supplied,
but which usually measure about 40 yards in length; it is generally from
22 to 30 inches wide.
BOLT-ROPE. A rope sewed all round the edge of the sail, to prevent the
canvas from tearing. The bottom part of it is called the foot-rope, the
sides leech-ropes, and if the sail be oblong or square the upper part is
called the head-rope; the stay or weather rope of fore-and-aft sails is
termed the luff.
BOLTROPE-NEEDLE. A strong needle for stitching the sail to the
bolt-ropes.
BOLT-SPRIT. _See_ BOWSPRIT.
BOLT-STRAKE. Certain strakes of plank which the beam fastenings pass
through.
BOLT-TOE. The cock of a gun-lock.
BOMB [formerly _bomber_, from _bomba_]. The mortar of bomb-vessels.
BOMB OR MORTAR VESSELS. Small ships fortified for throwing bombs into a
fortress; said to be the invention of M. Reyneau, and to have been first
used at the bombardment of Algiers in 1682. Until then it had been
judged impracticable to bombard a place from the sea.
BOMBALO. A delicate kind of sand-eel taken in quantities at Bombay.
BOMBARD. A piece of ordnance, anciently in use before the introduction
of more complete cannon with improved gunpowder, propelling iron balls.
Its bore, for the projection of stone shot, sometimes exceeded 20 inches
in diameter, but was short; its chamber, for containing the
powder-charge, being about as long, but much narrower both within and
without. There were also very diminutive varieties of it. It has been
vaguely called by some writers _basilisk_, and by the Dutch
_donderbass_. Used to assail a town, fortress, or fleet, by the
projection of shells from mortars. It was also the name of a barrel, or
large vessel for liquids; hence, among other choice epithets, Prince
Henry calls that "tun of man," Falstaff, a "huge bombard of sack." Also,
a Mediterranean vessel, with two masts like the English ketch.
BOMB-BED BEAMS. The beams which support the bomb-bed in bomb-vessels.
BOMB-BEDS. _See_ BED OF A MORTAR.
BOMBO. Weak cold punch.
BOMB-SHELL. A large hollow ball of cast-iron, for throwing from mortars
(distinguished by having ears or lugs, by which to lift it with the
shell-hooks into the mortar), and having a hole to receive the fuze,
which communicates ignition to the charge contained in the shell. (_See_
FUZE.)
BOME-SPAR [a corruption of _boom_]. A spar of a larger kind.
BOMKIN. _See_ BUMKIN.
BONA FIDE. In good faith; without subterfuge--_Bona fides_ is a
condition necessary to entitle to the privilege of pre-emption in our
admiralty courts.
BONAVENTURE. The old outer mizen, long disused.
BONDING. _See_ WAREHOUSING SYSTEM.
BONDING-POND. An inclosed space of water where the tide flows, for
keeping timber in.
BOND-MAN. A harsh method in some ships, in keeping one man bound for the
good behaviour of another on leave.
BOND OF BOTTOMRY. An authority to borrow money, by pledging the keel or
bottom of the ship. (_See_ BOTTOMRY.)
BONE, TO. To seize, take, or apprehend. A ship is said to carry a bone
in her mouth and cut a feather, when she makes the water foam before
her.
BON GRACE. Junk-fenders; for booming off obstacles from a ship's sides
or bows. (_See_ BOWGRACE.)
BONITO. The _Thynnus pelamys_, a fish of the scomber family, commonly
about 2 feet long, with a sharp head, small mouth, full eyes, and a
regular semi-lunar tail.
BONI-VOCHIL. The Hebridean name for the great northern diver (_Colymbus
glacialis_).
BONNET. An additional part laced to the foot of the jibs, or other
fore-and-aft sails, in small vessels in moderate weather, to gather more
wind. They are commonly one-third of the depth of the sails they belong
to. Thus we say, "Lace on the bonnet," or "Shake off the bonnet."
Bonnets have lately been introduced to secure the foot of an
upper-topsail to a lower-topsail yard. The unbonnetted sail is for storm
service. Bonnet, in fortification, is a raised portion of the works at
any salient angle, having the same plan, but 10 or 12 feet more command
than the work on which it is based. It assists in protecting from
enfilade, and affords a plunging fire.
BONNET-FLOOK. A name of the well-known flat-fish, brill, pearl, or
mouse-dab; the _Pleuronectes rhombus_.
BONXIE. The Shetland name for the skua-gull (_Cataractes vulgaris_).
Also a very general northern term for sea-birds.
BONY-FISH. One of the names of the hard-head (which see).
BOOBY. A well-known tropical sea-bird, _Sula fusca_, of the family
_Pelecanidae_. It is fond of resting out of the water at night, even
preferring an unstable perch on the yard of a ship. The name is derived
from the way in which it allows itself to be caught immediately after
settling. The direction in which they fly as evening comes on often
shows where land may be found.
BOOBY-HATCH. A smaller kind of companion, but readily removable; it is
in use for merchantmen's half decks, and lifts off in one piece.
BOOK. A commercial term for a peculiar packing of muslin, bast, and
other stuffs.--_Brought to book_, made to account.
BOOKING. A reprimand.
BOOKS. (_See_ SHIP'S BOOKS.) Official documents.
BOOM. A long spar run out from different places in the ship, to extend
or boom out the foot of a particular sail; as, jib-boom, flying
jib-boom, studding-sail booms, driver or spanker boom, ringtail-boom,
main-boom, square-sail boom, &c. A ship is said to come booming forwards
when she comes with all the sail she can make. Boom also denotes a cable
stretched athwart the mouth of a river or harbour, with yards,
top-masts, or stout spars of wood lashed to it, to prevent the entrance
of an enemy.--_To top one's boom_, is to start off.--_To boom off_, to
shove a boat or vessel away with spars.
BOOMAGE. A duty levied to compound for harbour dues, anchorage, and
soundage.
BOOM-BOATS. Those stowed on the booms.
BOOM-BRACE PENDANT. A rope attached to the extremity of a studding-sail
boom, and leading down on deck; it is used to counteract the pressure of
the sail upon the boom.
BOOM-COVER. The tarpaulin, or painted, cover over the spars.
BOOMING. Sound of distant guns; it is often, but wrongly, applied to the
hissing or whistling of shot.
BOOM-IRONS. Are metal rings fitted on the yard-arms, through which the
studding-sail booms traverse; there is one on each top-sail yard-arm,
but on the lower yards a second, which opens to allow the boom to be
triced up; it is one-fourth from the yard-arms, and holds down the heel
of the boom when it is rigged out.
BOOM-JIGGER. A tackle used in large ships, for rigging out or running in
the top-mast studding-sail booms.
BOOMKIN. _See_ BUMKIN.
BOOM-MAINSAIL. _See_ MAIN-SAIL.
BOOMS. A space where the spare spars are stowed; the launch being
generally stowed between them.
BOOPAH. A Tongatabou canoe with a single out-rigger.
BOOTHYR. An old term, denoting a small river vessel.
BOOT-TOPPING. The old operation of scraping off the grass, slime,
shells, &c., which adhere to the bottom, near the surface of the water,
and daubing it over with a mixture of tallow, sulphur, and resin, as a
temporary protection against worms. This is chiefly performed where
there is no dock or other commodious situation for breaming or
careening, or when the hurry of a voyage renders it inconvenient to have
the whole bottom properly trimmed and cleansed. The term is now applied
to sheathing a vessel with planking over felt.
BOOTY. That sort of prize which may be distributed at the capstan-head,
or at once.
BOOZE. A carouse; hence, _boozy_, elevated by liquor.
BORA. A very violent wind experienced in the upper part of the Adriatic
Sea, but which fortunately is of no great duration.
BORACCHIO [Sp. _borracho_, drunk]. A skin for holding wine or water,
usually a goat's. Used in the Levant. A skin-full; literally, gorged
with wine.
BORASCA. A storm, with thunder and lightning.
BORD. The sea-coast, an old term. Formerly meant the side, edge, or
brim; hence, as applied to a ship, to throw overboard, is to cast
anything over the side of the vessel.
BORDELS. An old word for houses built along a strand. In the old play
called the "Ladies' Privilege," it is said:--"These gentlemen know
better to cut a caper than a cable, or board a pink in the bordels than
a pinnace."
BORDER. A term referring to the nature of the vegetation on the margin
of a stream or lake, or to artificial works constructed along the banks.
BORD YOU. A saying of a man waiting, to one who is drinking, meaning
that he claims the next turn.
BORE. A sudden and rapid flow of tide in certain inlets of the sea; as
the monstrous wave in the river Hooghly, called _bahu_ by the natives,
which rolls in with the noise of distant thunder at flood-tide. It
occurs from February to November, at the new and full moon. Its cause
has not been clearly defined, although it probably arises from the
currents during spring-tides, acting on a peculiar conformation of the
banks and bed of the river; it strikes invariably on the same part of
the banks, majestically rolling over to one side, and passing on
diagonally to the other with impetuous violence. The bore also occurs in
England, near Bristol; and in America, in several rivers, but especially
in the Bay of Fundy, where at the river Petticodiac the tide rises 76
feet. It also occurs in Borneo and several rivers in the East. (_See_
HYGRE.) Also, the interior cavity of a piece of ordnance, generally
cylindrical in shape, except when a part of it is modified into a
chamber.
BOREAS. A classical name for the north wind, still in use; indeed a
brackish proverb for extreme severity of weather says--"Cold and chilly,
like Boreas with an iceberg in each pocket."
BORE DOWN. Sailed down from to windward.
BORHAME. A northern term for the flounder.
BORING. In Arctic seas, the operation of forcing the ship through loose
ice under a heavy press of sail; at least attempting the chance of
advantage of cracks or openings in the pack.
BORN WITH A SILVER SPOON IN HIS MOUTH. Said of a person who, by birth
or connection, has all the usual obstacles to advancement cleared away
for him. Those who toil unceasingly for preferment, and toil in vain,
are said to have been born with a wooden ladle. Again, the silver-spoon
gentry are said to come on board through the cabin windows; those less
favoured, over the bows, or through the hawse-holes.
BORNE. Placed on the books for victuals and wages; also supernumerary
and "for rank."
BORROW, TO. To approach closely either to land or wind; to hug a shoal
or coast in order to avoid adverse tide.
BORT. The name given to a long fishing-line in the Shetland Isles.
BOSS. A head of water, or reservoir. Also the apex of a shield.
BOTARGA. The roe of the mullet pressed flat and dried; that of commerce,
however, is from the tunny, a large fish of passage which is common in
the Mediterranean. The best kind comes from Tunis; it must be chosen dry
and reddish. The usual way of eating it is with olive-oil and
lemon-juice.
BOTCH, TO. To make bungling work.
BOTE'S-CARLE. An old term for the coxswain of a boat.
BOTHERED. Getting among adverse currents, with shifting winds.
BOTH SHEETS AFT. The situation of a square-rigged ship that sails before
the wind, or with the wind right astern. It is said also of a
half-drunken sailor rolling along with his hands in his pockets and
elbows square.
BOTTE. An old English term for boat, and assuredly the damaged boat into
which Prospero is turned adrift by Shakspeare.
BOTTLE-BUMP. The bittern, so called on our east coast.
BOTTLE-CHARTS. Those on which the set of surface currents are exhibited,
derived from papers found in bottles which have been thrown overboard
for that purpose, and washed up on the beach, or picked up by other
ships.
BOTTLE-NOSE, OR BOTTLE-NOSED WHALE. A name applied to several of the
smaller cetaceans of the northern seas, more especially to the
_Hyperoodon rostratus_.
BOTTOM. A name for rich low land formed by alluvial deposits: but in a
general sense it denotes the lowest part of a thing, in
contradistinction to the top or uppermost part. In navigation, it is
used to denote as well the channel of rivers and harbours as the body or
hull of a ship. Thus, in the former sense we say "a gravelly bottom,
clayey bottom," &c., and in the latter sense "a British bottom, a Dutch
bottom," &c. By statute, certain commodities imported in foreign bottoms
pay a duty called "petty customs," over and above what they are liable
to if imported in British bottoms. Bottom of a ship or boat is that part
which is below the wales.
BOTTOM-CLEAN. Thoroughly clean, free from weeds, &c.
BOTTOM-PLANK. That which is placed between the garboard-strake and lower
back-strake.
BOTTOMREE, OR BOTTOMRY-BOND. The contract of bottomry is a negotiable
instrument, which may be put in suit by the person to whom it is
transferred: it is in use in all countries of maritime commerce and
interests. A contract in the nature of a mortgage of a ship, when the
owner of it borrows money to enable him to carry on the voyage, and
pledge the keel, or bottom of the ship, as a security for the repayment.
If the ship be lost the lender also loses his whole money; but if it
return in safety then he shall receive back his principal, and also the
premium stipulated to be paid, however it may exceed the usual or legal
rate of interest. The affair is, however, only regarded as valid upon
the ground of necessity; and thus exacting more than the interest
allowed by law is not deemed usury.
BOTTOMRY PREMIUM. A high rate of interest charged on the safety of the
ship--the lender losing his whole money if she be lost.
BOTTOM-WIND. A phenomenon that occurs on the lakes in the north of
England, especially Derwent Water, which is often agitated by swelling
waves without any apparent cause.
BOUCHE. _See_ BUSH.
BOUGE OR BOWGE AND CHINE, OR BILGE AND CHIMB. The end of one cask stowed
against the bilge of another. To prepare a ship for the purpose of
sinking it.
BOUILLI. Termed by seamen bully-beef; disliked because all the substance
is boiled away to enrich the cook's grease-tub, and the meat is useless
as food; rejected even by dogs. In one ship of war it produced mutiny;
vide Adams' account of the _Bounty_ miseries. It is also the name given
to highly cooked meat in hermetically sealed tin canisters.
BOULDER-HEAD. A work against the encroachment of the sea, made of wooden
stakes.
BOULDERS. Stones worn and rounded by the attrition of the waves of the
sea: the word, on the authority of Hunter, was considered a technical
term in the fourteenth century, as appears in a warrant of John of Gaunt
for the repair of Pontefract Castle--"De peres, appeles buldres, a n're
dit chastel come nous semblerez resonables pur la defense de meisme."
BOULEPONGES. A drink to which many of the deaths of Europeans in India
were ascribed; but in Bernier's "Travels," in the train of Aurungzebe,
in 1664, we are informed that "bouleponge is a beverage made of arrack,
sugar, lemon-juice, and a little muscadine." Probably a corruption of
bowls of punch. (_See_ PUNCH.)
BOUNCE. The larger dog-fish.
BOUNCER. A gun which kicks violently when fired.
BOUND. Destined for a particular service. Intended voyage to a
place.--_Ice-bound._ Totally surrounded with ice.--_Tide-bound_, or
be-neaped. (_See_ NEAPED.)--_Wind-bound._ Prevented from sailing by
contrary wind.--_Where are you bound to?_--_i.e._ To what place are you
going?--_Bound on a cruise._ A corruption of the old word _bowne_, which
is still in use on the northern coasts, and means to make ready, to
prepare.
BOUNTY. A sum of money given by government, authorized by act of
parliament or royal proclamation, to men who voluntarily enter into the
army or navy; and the widow of such volunteer seaman killed or drowned
in the service was entitled to a bounty equal to a year's pay.
BOUNTY-BOATS. Those which fished under the encouragement of a bounty
from government.
BOUNTY-LIST. A register of all persons who have received the bounty to
which they are entitled after having passed three musters in the
service.
BOURN. _See_ BURN.
BOURSE. A place where merchants congregate. An exchange.
BOUSE. _See_ BOWSE.
BOUT. A turn, trial, or round. An attack of illness; a convivial
meeting.--_'Bout ship_, the brief order for "about ship."
BOW. The fore-end of a ship or boat; being the rounding part of a vessel
forward, beginning on both sides where the planks arch inwards, and
terminating where they close, at the rabbet of the stem or prow, being
larboard or starboard from that division. A bold bow is broad and round;
a lean bow, narrow and thin.--_On the bow._ An arc of the horizon (not
exceeding 45 deg.) comprehended between some distant object and that point
of the compass which is right ahead. Four points on either bow is met by
four points before the beam.
BOW. An astronomical instrument formerly used at sea, consisting of only
one large graduated arc of 90 deg., three vanes, and a shank or staff.
Also the bow of yew, a weapon of our early fleets.
BOW. _She bows to the breeze_; when the sails belly out full, and the
ship inclines and goes ahead, pitching or bowing over the blue waves.
BOW-BYE. The situation of a ship when, in stays, she falls back off the
wind again, and gets into irons, which demands practical seamanship for
her extrication. This was deemed a lubberly act in our fleets of old.
BOW-CHASERS. Two long chase-guns placed forward in the bow-ports to fire
directly ahead, and being of small bore for their length, carry shot to
a great distance.
BOWD-EATEN. An old expression for eaten by weevils.
BOWER-ANCHORS. Those at the bows and in constant working use. They are
called best and small, not from a difference of size, but as to the bow
on which they are placed; starboard being the best bower, and port the
small bower. The appropriated cables assume the respective names. (_See
also_ SPARE ANCHOR, SHEET, STREAM, COASTING, KEDGE, &c.)
BOW-FAST. A rope or chain for securing a vessel by the bow. (_See_
FAST.)
BOWGE, OR BOUGE. An old term for bilge.
BOWGER. A name given in the Hebrides to the coulter-neb, or puffin
(_Fratercula arctica_).
BOWGRACE. A kind of frame or fender of old junk, placed round the bows
and sides of a ship to prevent her receiving injury from floating ice or
timbers. (_See_ BON GRACE.)
BOWING. An injury done to yards by too much topping, and letting their
weights hang by the lifts. The state of a top-sail yard when it arches
in the centre from hoisting it too tautly. Also of the mast when it
bellies or is crippled by injudiciously setting up the rigging too taut.
BOWING THE SEA. Meeting a turbulent swell in coming to the wind.
BOWLINE. A rope leading forward which is fastened to a space connected
by bridles to cringles on the leech or perpendicular edge of the square
sails: it is used to keep the weather-edge of the sail tight forward and
steady when the ship is close hauled to the wind; and which, indeed,
being hauled taut, enables the ship to come nearer to the wind. Hence
the ship sails on a bowline, or stands on a taut bowline.--_To check or
come up a bowline_ is to slacken it when the wind becomes large or
free.--_To sharp or set taut a bowline_ is to pull it as taut as it can
well bear.
BOWLINE-BEND. The mode of bending warps or hawsers together by taking a
bowline in the end of one rope, and passing the end of the other through
the bight, and making a bowline upon it.
BOWLINE-BRIDLE. The span attached to the cringles on the leech of a
square sail to which the bowline is toggled or clinched.
BOWLINE-CRINGLE. An eye worked into the leech-rope of a sail; usually in
that of a fore-sail two, a main-sail three, and the fore-topsails three,
but the main-topsail four. By these the sails are found in the dark, by
feeling alone.
BOWLINE HAUL. A hearty and simultaneous bowse. (_See_ ONE! TWO!!
THREE!!!) In hauling the bowline it is customary for the leading man to
veer, and then haul, three times in succession, singing out one, two,
three--at the last the weight of all the men is thrown in together:
this is followed by "belay, oh!" When the bowlines are reported
"bowlines hauled, sir," by the officer in command of the fore-part of
the ship, the hands, or the watch, return to their duties.
BOWLINE-KNOT. That by which the bowline-bridles were fastened to the
cringles: the bowline-knot is made by an involution of the end and a
bight upon the standing part of a rope. A further involution makes what
is termed a bowline on a bight. It is very difficult to explain by
words:--holding the rope some distance from the end by the left hand,
the end held in the right is laid on the main part, and by a twist given
screw-fashion to the right, a loop or kink is formed inclosing this end,
which is then passed behind, and back in the same direction with the
former, and then jammed home. It is rapidly done, easily undone, and one
of the most seamanlike acts, exhibiting grace as well as power. It can
be made by a man with but one arm.
BOW-LINES. In ship-building, longitudinal curves representing the ship's
fore-body cut in a vertical section.
BOWLING-ALONG. Going with a free wind.
BOW-LOG TIMBERS. A provincial name for hawse-wood.
BOWMAN. In a single-banked boat he who rows the foremost oar and manages
the boat-hook; called by the French "brigadier de l'embarcation." In
double-banked boats there are always two bowmen. Also an archer,
differently pronounced.
BOW-OAR. The foremost oar or oars, in pulling a boat.
BOW-PIECES. The ordnance in the bows; also in building.
BOW-RAIL. A rail round the bows.
BOWSE, TO. To pull upon any body with a tackle, or complication of
pulleys, in order to remove it, &c. Hauling upon a tack is called
"bowsing upon a tack," and when they would have the men pull all
together, they cry, "Bowse away." Also used in setting up rigging, as
"Bowse away, starboard;" "Bowse away, port." It is, however, mostly a
gun-tackle term.--_Bowse up the jib_, a colloquialism to denote the act
of tippling: it is an old phrase, and was probably derived from the
Dutch _buyzen_, to booze.
BOWSPRIT, OR BOLT-SPRIT. A large spar, ranking with a lower-mast,
projecting over the stem; beyond it extends the jib-boom, and beyond
that again the flying jib-boom. To these spars are secured the stays of
the fore-mast and of the spars above it; on these stays are set the fore
and fore-topmast staysails, the jib, and flying-jib, which have a most
useful influence in counter-balancing the pressure of the after-sails,
thereby tending to force the ship ahead instead of merely turning her
round. In former times underneath these spars were set a sprit-sail,
sprit-topsail, &c.