DAY-MATES. Formerly the mates of the several decks--now abolished.
(_See_ SUB-LIEUTENANT.)
DAY-SKY. The aspect of the sky at day-break, or at twilight.
DAY'S WORK. In navigation, the reckoning or reduction of the ship's
courses and distances made good during twenty-four hours, or from noon
to noon, according to the rules of trigonometry, and thence ascertaining
her latitude and longitude by _dead-reckoning_ (which see).
D-BLOCK. A lump of oak in the shape of a D, bolted to the ship's side in
the channels to reeve the lifts through.
DEAD-ANGLE. In fortification, is an angle receiving no defence, either
by its own fire or that of any other works.
DEAD-CALM. A total cessation of wind; the same as _flat-calm_.
DEAD-DOORS. Those fitted in a rabbet to the outside of the
quarter-gallery doors, with the object of keeping out the sea, in case
of the gallery being carried away.
DEADEN A SHIP'S WAY, TO. To retard a vessel's progress by bracing in the
yards, so as to reduce the effect of the sails, or by backing minor
sails. Also, when sounding to luff up and shake all, to obtain a cast of
the deep-sea lead.
DEAD-EYE, OR DEAD MAN'S EYE. A sort of round flattish wooden block, or
oblate piece of elm, encircled, and fixed to the channels by the
chain-plate: it is pierced with three holes through the flat part, in
order to receive a rope called the laniard, which, corresponding with
three holes in another dead-eye on the shroud end, creates a purchase to
set up and extend the shrouds and stays, backstays, &c., of the standing
and top-mast rigging. The term _dead_ seems to have been used because
there is no revolving sheave to lessen the friction. In merchant-ships
they are generally fitted with iron-plates, in the room of chains,
extending from the vessel's side to the top of the rail, where they are
connected with the rigging. The dead-eyes used for the stays have only
one hole, which, however, is large enough to receive ten or twelve turns
of the laniard--these are generally termed _hearts_, on account of their
shape. The _crowfeet dead-eyes_ are long cylindrical blocks with a
number of small holes in them, to receive the legs or lines composing
the crow-foot. Also called _uvrous_.
DEAD-FLAT. The timber or frame possessing the greatest breadth and
capacity in the ship: where several timbers are thrown in, of the same
area, the middle one is reckoned a dead-flat, about one third of the
length of the ship from the head. It is generally distinguished as the
midship-bend.
DEAD-FREIGHT. The sum to which a merchant is liable for goods which he
has failed to ship.
DEAD-HEAD. A kind of _dolphin_ (which see). Also, a rough block of wood
used as an anchor-buoy.
DEAD-HEADED. Timber trees which have ceased growing.
DEAD-HORSE. A term applied by seamen to labour which has been paid for
in advance. When they commence earning money again, there is in some
merchant ships a ceremony performed of dragging round the decks an
effigy of their fruitless labour in the shape of a horse, running him up
to the yard-arm, and cutting him adrift to fall into the sea amidst loud
cheers.
DEAD-LIFT. The moving of a very inert body.
DEAD-LIGHTS. Strong wooden shutters made exactly to fit the cabin
windows externally; they are fixed on the approach of bad weather. Also,
luminous appearances sometimes seen over putrescent bodies.
DEAD-LOWN. A completely still atmosphere.
DEAD-MEN. The reef or gasket-ends carelessly left dangling under the
yard when the sail is furled, instead of being tucked in.
DEAD-MEN'S EFFECTS. When a seaman dies on board, or is drowned, his
effects are sold at the mast by auction, and the produce charged against
the purchasers' names on the ship's books.
DEAD-MONTHS. A term for winter.
DEAD-ON-END. The wind blowing directly adverse to the vessel's intended
course.
DEAD-PAY. That given formerly in shares, or for names borne, but for
which no one appears, as was formerly practised with _widows' men_.
DEAD-RECKONING. The estimation of the ship's place without any
observation of the heavenly bodies; it is discovered from the distance
she has run by the log, and the courses steered by the compass, then
rectifying these data by the usual allowance for current, lee-way, &c.,
according to the ship's known trim. This reckoning, however, should be
corrected by astronomical observations of the sun, moon, and stars,
whenever available, proving the importance of practical astronomy.
DEAD-RISING. In ship-building, is that part of a ship which lies aft
between the keel and her floor-timbers towards the stern-post; generally
it is applied to those parts of the bottom, throughout the ship's
length, where the sweep or curve at the head of the floor-timber
terminates, or inflects to join the keel. (_See_ RISING-LINE.)
DEAD-ROPES. Those which do not run in any block.
DEAD-SHARES. An allowance formerly made to officers of the fleet, from
fictitious numbers borne on the complement (_temp._ Henry VIII.),
varying from fifty shares for an admiral, to half a share for the cook's
mate.
DEAD-SHEAVE. A scored aperture in the heel of a top-mast, through which
a second top-tackle pendant can be rove. It is usually a section of a
lignum-vitae sheave let in, so as to avoid chafe.
DEAD-TICKET. Persons dying on board, those discharged from the service,
and all officers promoted, are cleared from the ship's books by a
dead-ticket, which must be filled up in a similar manner to the
_sick-ticket_ (which see).
DEAD UPON A WIND. Braced sharp up and bowlines hauled.
DEAD-WATER. The eddy-water under the counter of a ship under way; so
called because passing away slower than the water alongside. A ship is
said to _make much dead-water_ when she has a great eddy following her
stern, often occasioned by her having a square tuck. A vessel with a
round buttock at her line of floatation can have but little dead-water,
the rounding abaft allowing the fluid soon to recover its state of rest.
DEAD WEIGHT. A vessel's lading when it consists of heavy goods, but
particularly such as pay freight according to their weight and not their
_stowage_.
DEAD WOOD. Certain blocks of timber, generally oak, fayed on the upper
side of the keel, particularly at the extremities before and abaft,
where these pieces are placed upon each other to a considerable height,
because the ship is there so narrow as not to admit of the two half
timbers, which are therefore scored into this dead wood, where the angle
of the floor-timbers gradually diminishes on approaching the stem and
stern-post. In the fore-part of the ship the dead wood generally extends
from the stemson, upon which it is scarphed, to the loof-frame; and in
the after-end, from the stern-post, where it is confined by the knee, to
the after balance frame. It is connected to the keel by strong spike
nails. The dead wood afore and abaft is equal in depth to two-thirds of
the depth of the keel, and as broad as can be procured, not exceeding
the breadth of the keel, _i.e._ continued as high as the _cutting-down_
line in both bodies, to afford a stepping for the heels of the cant
timbers.
DEAD-WOOD KNEES. The upper foremost and aftermost pieces of dead wood;
being crooked pieces of timber, the bolting of which connects the keel
with the stem and stern posts.
DEAD WORKS. All that part of the ship which is above water when she is
laden. The same as _upper work_, or _supernatant_ (which see).
DEAL BEACH. This coast consists of gravelly shingle; and a man who is
pock-marked, or in galley-cant cribbage-faced, is figuratively said to
have been rolled on Deal beach.
DEAL-ENDS. Applied to deal-planks when under 6 feet in length.
DEATH OR MONEY BOATS. So termed from the risk in such frail craft. They
were very long, very narrow, and as thin as the skiffs of our rivers.
During the war of 1800-14 they carried gold between Dover and Calais,
and defied the custom-house officers.
DEATH-WOUND. A law-term for the starting of a butt end, or springing a
fatal leak. A ship had received her death-wound, but by pumping was kept
afloat till three days after the time she was insured for: it was
determined that the risk was at an end before the loss happened, and
that the insurer was not liable.
DEBARK, TO. To land; to go on shore.
DEBENTURE. A custom-house certificate given to the exporter of goods, on
which a bounty or drawback is allowed. Also, a general term for a bill
or bond.
DEBOUCHE. The mouth of a river, outlet of a wood, defile, or narrow
pass. In military language, troops defile or march out from.
DECAGON. A plane geometrical figure that has ten equal sides, and as
many equal angles.
DECAMP, TO. To raise the camp; the breaking up from a place where an
army has been encamped.
DECEPTIO VISUS. Any extraordinary instance of deception to the sight,
occasioned by the effects of atmospheric media. (_See_ TERRESTRIAL
REFRACTION and MIRAGE.)
DECIMATION. The punishing every tenth soldier by lot, was truly
_decimatio legionis_.
DECIME. A small copper coin of France, equal to two sous, or one-tenth
of a franc.
DECK, TO. A word formerly in use for to trim, as "we deckt up our
sails."
DECK-BEAM KNEES. The same as _lodging-knees_.
DECK-BEAMS. _See_ BEAMS.
DECK-CARGO, otherwise _deck-load_ (which see).
DECK-CLEATS. Pieces of wood temporarily nailed to the deck to secure
objects in bad weather, as guns, deck-load, &c.
DECK-HOOK. The compass timber bolted horizontally athwart a ship's bow,
connecting the stem, timbers, and deck-planks of the fore-part; it is
part and parcel of the _breast-hooks_.
DECK-HOUSE. An oblong-house on the deck of some merchantmen, especially
east-country vessels, and latterly in passenger steamers, with a gangway
on each side of it. (Sometimes termed _round-house_.)
DECK-LOAD. Timber, casks, or other cargo not liable to damage from wet,
stowed on the deck of merchant vessels. This, with the exception of
carboys of vitriol, is not included in a general policy of insurance on
goods, unless it be specially stipulated.
DECK-NAILS. A kind of spike with a snug head, commonly made in a diamond
form; they are single or double deck-nails, and from 4 to 12 inches
long.
DECK-PIPE. An iron pipe through which the chain cable is paid into the
chain-locker.
DECK-PUMPS. In a steamer, are at the side of the vessel, worked with a
lever by manual power, to supply additional water. In a ship-of-war,
used for washing decks (one of the midship pumps).
DECKS. The platforms laid longitudinally over the transverse beams; in
ships of war they support the guns. The terms in use for these decks
are, assuming the largest ship of the line:--_Poop_, the deck which
includes from the mizen-mast to the taffrail. The _upper_ or
_spar-deck_, from stem to stern, having conventional divisions; as,
_quarter-deck_, which is, when clear for action, the space abaft the
main-mast, including the cabin; next, _the waist_, between the fore and
main masts, on which the spars and booms are secured. In some ships guns
are continued (always in flush-decked ships) along the gangway; then
_the forecastle_, which commences on the gangway, from the main-tack
chock forward to the bows. Small craft, as brigs and corvettes, are
sometimes fitted with top-gallant forecastles, to shelter the men from
heavy seas which wash over. Next, the _main or gun-deck_, the entire
length of the ship. It is also divided conventionally into the various
cabins, the waist (under the gangway), the galley, from the
fore-hatchway to the sick bay, and bows. Next below, is the _middle
deck_ of a three-decker, or _lower_ of a two-decker, succeeded by lower
deck and the orlop-deck, which carries no guns. The guns on these
several decks increase in size and number from the poop downwards. Thus,
although a vessel termed a three-decker was rated 120 guns, the fact
stood thus:--
Guns. Pounders. lbs.
Poop, 10 24 240
Quarter-deck, 22 24 long } 848
Forecastle, 10 32 cans. }
Main-deck, 34 24 816
Middle, 36 24 864
Lower, 36 32 1152
---- ----
148 3920
----
Broadside of 1960
But latterly, 56 and 84 pounders on the lower, and 32 on the middle,
afforded a heavier weight of broadside. The _Santissima Trinidada_,
taken from the Spaniards, carried four whole tiers of guns. Now, the
tonnage of the largest of these would be insignificant. "Deckers" are
exploded, and a _Pallas_ of the same tonnage (2372) carries 8 guns, a
_Bellerophon_ (4272) carries 18 guns, ranging in size, however, from the
64-pounder up to the 300-pounder.--_Flush-deck_, or deck flush fore and
aft, implies a continued floor laid from stem to stern, upon one line,
without any stops or intervals.--_Half-deck._ In the Northumberland
colliers the steerage itself is called the half-deck, and is usually the
habitation of the ship's crew.
DECK-SEAM. The interstices between the planks.
DECK-SHEET. That sheet of a studding-sail which leads directly to the
deck, by which it is steadied until set; it is also useful in taking it
in, should the down-haul be carried away.
DECK STANDARD-KNEES. Iron knees having two tails, the one going on the
bottom of a deck-beam, the other on the top of a hold-beam, while the
middle part is bolted to the ship's side.
DECK-STOPPER. (_See_ STOPPER OF THE CABLE.) A strong stopper used for
securing the cable forward of the capstan or windlass while it is
overhauled. Also abaft the windlass or bitts to prevent more cable from
running out.
DECK-TACKLE. A purchase led along the decks.
DECLARATION OF WAR. A ceremonial frequently omitted, and esteemed by the
greatest authorities rather a proof of magnanimity than a duty. The
Romans proclaimed it; but except Achaia, none of the Grecian states did.
It would be to the interests of humanity and courtesy were it made
indispensable. It has been held (especially in the case of the _Leopard_
and _Chesapeake_) that without a declaration of war, no hostile act at
the order of an admiral is legal.
DECLINATION, of a celestial object, is the arc between its centre and
the equinoctial: with the sun, it is its angular distance from the
equator, either north or south, and is named accordingly.
DECLINATION, TO CORRECT. A cant phrase for taking a glass of grog at
noon, when the day's works are being reduced.
DECOY. So to change the aspect of a ship-of-war by striking a
topgallant-mast, setting ragged sails, disfiguring the sides by
whitewash or gunpowder, yellow, &c., as to induce a vessel of inferior
force to chase; when, getting within gun-shot range, she becomes an easy
capture. Similar man[oe]uvres are sometimes used by a single ship to
induce an enemy's squadron to follow her into the view of her own fleet.
DEEP. A word figuratively applied to the ocean. On the coast of Germany,
to the northward of Friesland, it is of the same import as gulf on the
coasts of France, Spain, Italy, &c. Also, any depth over 20
fathoms.--_Deep-sea fishing._ In contradistinction to coast, or when the
hand-lead reaches bottom at 20 fathoms.--_Hand deeps._ Out of ordinary
leadsman's sounding.--A vessel is deep as regards her lading, and is
also said to sail deep when her expenses run high.
DEEPENING. Running from shoal water by the lead.
DEEP-SEA LINE. Usually a strong and water-laid line. It is used with
a lead of 28 lbs., and adapted to find bottom in 200 fathoms or more.
It is marked by knots every ten fathoms, and by a small knot every
five. The marks are now nearly superseded by Massey's patent
sounding-machine.--_Marks and Deeps_, &c., _see_ LEAD and LINE.
DEEP-WAIST. That part of the open skids between the main and fore drifts
in men-of-war. It also relates to the remaining part of a ship's deck,
when the quarter-deck and forecastle are much elevated above the level
of the main-deck, so as to leave a vacant space, called the waist, on
the middle of the upper deck, as in many packets.
DEESE. An east-country term for a place where herrings are dried.
DEFAULTER'S BOOK. Where men's offences are registered against them, and
may be magnified without appeal.
DEFECTS. An official return of the state of a ship as to what is
required for her hull and equipment, and what repairs she stands in need
of. Upon this return a ship is ordered to sea, into harbour, into dock,
or paid out of commission.
DEFICIENCY. What is wanting of a ship's cargo at the time of delivery.
DEFILADE. In fortification, is the art of so disposing defensive works,
_on irregular or commanded sites_, that the troops within them shall be
covered from the direct fire of the enemy.
DEFILE. A narrow pass between two heights, which obliges a force
marching through to narrow its front. This may prove disastrous if
attacked, on account of the difficulty of receiving aid from the rear.
DEFILING. Filing off, marching past.
DEFINITIVE. Conclusive; decisive.
DEFLECTION. The tendency of a ship from her true course; the departure
of the magnetic needle from its true bearing, when influenced by iron or
the local attraction of the mass. In artillery, the deviation of a shot
from the direction in which it is fired. The term is usually reserved to
lateral deviations, especially those resulting from irregular
causes--those constant ones due to the regular motion of rifled
projectiles coming under either of the designations "constant
deflection," "derivation," borrowed from the French, or "drift," from
the Americans. These latter, according to the direction usually given to
the rifling in the present day, all tend away to the right, though they
include some subordinate curves not yet distinctly determined.
DEFORMED BASTION. One out of shape from the irregularity of its lines
and angles.
DEGRADATION. Debasement and disgrace. The suspension of a petty officer
from his station; and also the depriving an officer or soldier of his
arms previous to his being delivered over to the civil power for
execution.
DEGREE. A degree of longitude is the 1-360th part of the great
equatorial circle, or any circle parallel to it. A degree of latitude is
the 90th part of the quadrant, or quarter of a great meridional circle.
Each degree is divided into 60 minutes, and each minute into 60 seconds,
according to the sexagesimal division of the circle. Also, rank or
condition.
DEKOYTS, OR DACOITS. Robbers in India, and also pirates who infested the
rivers between Calcutta and Burhampore, but now suppressed by the
improved system of river police, and the establishment of fast rowing
boats of light draught.
DEL. Saxon for part.--_Del a bit_, not a bit, a phrase much altered for
the worse by those not aware of its antiquity.
DEL CREDERE. A percentage on a cargo, under particular circumstances of
trust. Also, the commission under which brokers sometimes guarantee to
the insured the solvency of the underwriters.
DELEGATES. Not heard of in the navy since the mutiny at the Nore.
DELFYN. The old form of spelling _dolphin_.
DELICTUM. To be actual, must unite intention and act.
DELIVER. To yield, to rescue, to deliver battle, to deliver a broadside,
a shot, or a blow. Also, to take goods from the ship to the shore. To
discharge a cargo from a vessel into the keeping of its consignees.
DELIVERED. The state of the harpoon when imbedded in the body of a fish,
so that the barbs hold fast.
DELIVERERS. Particular artificers employed in our early ships of war, in
constructing the castles.
DELL. A narrow valley, ravine, or small dale.
DELTA. A name given by the Greeks to the alluvial tract inclosed between
the bifurcating branches of the Nile and the sea-line. It is well known
that rivers which deposit great quantities of matter, do also very often
separate into two or more branches, previous to their discharge into the
sea; thus forming triangular spaces, aptly called _deltas_ from their
resemblance to the Greek letter {D}.
All deltas appear by their section to be formed of matter totally
different from that of the adjacent country. They are the creation of
the rivers themselves, which, having brought down with their floods vast
quantities of mud and sand from the upper lands, deposit them in the
lowest place, the sea; at whose margin, the current which has hitherto
impelled them ceasing, they are deposited by the mere action of gravity.
This is particularly illustrated on the western coast of Africa by the
shoals off the Rio Grande, Rio Nunez, and others. The coast, as well as
the embouchures of the rivers, exhibit a deposit of deep mud, and yet
far at sea banks of clean siliceous sand arise.
DEMAND. The official paper by which stores are desired for a ship, the
making out of which is the duty of the officer in whose charge the
stores will be placed: they must be approved by the captain and admiral
before being presented to the dockyard authorities. Also, whence from?
where bound?
DEMI-BASTION. In fortification, a bastion which has a flank on one side
only.
DEMI-CANNON. An ancient name for a gun carrying a ball of 33 pounds
weight, with a length of from 12 to 14 feet, and a diameter of bore of
6-1/2 inches; its point-blank range was estimated at 162 paces, and its
random one at 2000.
DEMI-CULVERIN. An ancient cannon which threw a ball of 9 pounds weight,
was about 9 feet long, and 4 inches in diameter of bore; its point-blank
range was called 174 paces, and its random one about 1800.
DEMIHAG. A long pistol, much used in the sixteenth century.
DEMILANCE. A light horseman, who carried a light lance.
DEMILUNE. In fortification, the outwork, more properly called a
_ravelin_ (which see).
DEMI-REVETMENT. In fortification, that form of retaining wall for the
face of a rampart which is only carried up as high as cover exists in
front of it, leaving above it the remaining height, in the form of an
earthen mound at its natural slope, exposed to, but invulnerable by
shot.
DEMONSTRATION-SHIPS. Those kept in a certain state of preparation for
war, though on a peace establishment.
DEMURRAGE. The compensation due to a ship-owner from a freighter for
unduly delaying his vessel in port beyond the time specified in the
charter-party or bill of lading. It is in fact an extended freight. A
ship unjustly detained, as a prize, is entitled to demurrage. Vessels
chartered to convey government stores have a term given for discharge by
government aid. If not delivered within that period, demurrage, as
stated in the document, is paid per diem for any "unavoidable delay."
DEN. A sandy tract near the sea, as at Exmouth and other places.
DEN AND STROND. A liberty for ships or vessels to run or come ashore.
Edward I. granted this privilege to the barons of the Cinque Ports.
DE NAUTICO F[OE]NORE. Of nautical usury; bottomry.
DENE. The Anglo-Saxon _daene_; implying a kind of hollow or ravine
through which a rivulet runs, the banks on either side being studded
with trees.
DENEB. The bright star in the constellation Cygnus, well known as a
standard nautical star.
DENSITY. The weight of a body in comparison with its bulk.
DENTICE. An excellent fish, so named from being well furnished with
teeth. It is of the _Sparidae_ family, and frequents the Adriatic.
DEPARTMENT. A term by which the divisions in the public services are
distinguished, as the civil, the commissariat, the military, the naval,
the victualling, &c.
DEPARTURE. The bearing of an object on the coast from which a vessel
commences her dead-reckoning and takes her departure. The distance of
any two places lying on the same parallel counted in miles of the
equator.
DEPOT. A magazine in which military stores are deposited. Also, a
company left in England for the purpose of recruiting when regiments are
ordered abroad.
DEPRESS. The order to adjust the quoin in great-gun exercise; to depress
the muzzle to point at an object below the level, in contradistinction
to elevate.
DEPRESSED POLE. That end of the earth's axis which is below the horizon
of the spectator according to his being in the northern or southern
hemisphere. Also applied to the stars. (_See_ POLAR DISTANCE.)
DEPRESSION, OF THE HORIZON. (_See_ DIP.) In artillery, the angle below
the horizon at which the axis of a gun is laid in order to strike an
object on a lower level. The depression required in batteries of very
elevated site (those of Gibraltar for example), for the laying the guns
on near vessels, is so great as to necessitate a peculiar carriage.
DEPTH OF A SAIL. The extent of the square sails from the head-rope to
the foot-rope, or the length of the after-leech of a staysail or
boom-sail; in other words, it is the extent of the longest cloth of
canvas in any sail.
DEPTH OF HOLD. The height between the floor and the lower-deck; it is
therefore one of the principal dimensions given for the construction of
a ship. It varies, of course, according to the end for which she is
designed, trade or war.
DERELICT [Lat. _derelictus_, abandoned]. Anything abandoned at sea. A
ship is derelict either by consent or by compulsion, stress of weather,
&c., and yet, to save the owner's rights, if any cat, dog, or other
domestic animal be found on board alive, it is not forfeited. The owner
may yet recover, on payment of salvage, within a year and a
day--otherwise the whole may be awarded. (_See_ SALVAGE.)
DERIVATION. In artillery, the constant deflection of a rifled
projectile. (_See_ DEFLECTION.)
DERRICK. A single spar, supported by stays and guys, to which a purchase
is attached, used in loading and unloading vessels. Also, a small crane
either inside or outside of a ship.
DERRICK, TO. A cant term for setting out on a small not over-creditable
enterprise. The act is said to be named from a Tyburn executioner.
DERRING-DO. A Spenserian term for deeds of arms.
DESCENDING NODE. _See_ NODES.
DESCENDING SIGNS. Those in which the sun appears to descend from the
north pole, or in which his motion in declination is towards the south.
DESCENDING SQUALL. A fitful gust of wind issuing from clouds which are
formed in the lower parts of the atmosphere. It is usually accompanied
with heavy showers, and the weatherwise observe that the squall is
seldom so violent when it is followed as when it is preceded by rain.
(_See_ WHITE SQUALL as a forerunner.)
DESCENSION. The same as _oblique ascension_ (which see).
DESCENT. The landing of troops for the purpose of invading a country.
The passage down a river.
DESCRIPTION-BOOK. A register in which the age, place of birth, and
personal description of the crew are recorded.
DESERT. An extensive tract, either absolutely sterile, or having no
other vegetation than small patches of grass or shrubs. Many portions of
the present deserts seem to be reclaimable.
DESERTER. One that quits his ship or the service without leave. He is
marked R (_run_) on the books, and any clothes or other effects he may
have left on board are sold by auction at the mast, and the produce
borne to account.
DESERTION. The act of quitting the Army or Navy without leave, with
intention not to return.
DESERTION-MONEY. The sum of three pounds paid to him who apprehends a
deserter, which is charged against the offender's growing pay--his wages
for previous service having become forfeited from his having _run_.
DESTROYING PAPERS. A ground of condemnation in the Admiralty court.
DETACHED. On detached service. A squadron may be detached under a
commodore or senior officer.
DETACHED BASTION. A bastion cut off by a ditch about its gorge from the
body of the place, which latter is thus rendered in a degree independent
of the fall of the former.
DETACHED ESCARP. An escarp wall, originally invented by Carnot, and
revived by the Prussians, removed some distance to the front of the
rampart; which latter, being finished exteriorly at the natural slope of
the earth, remains effective after the destruction of the wall by a
besieger. It was at first intended, being kept low and covered by a near
counterguard, to offer extraordinary difficulties to the besieger's
breaching batteries; but improved artillery has nullified that supposed
advantage.
DETACHED WORKS. Works included in the scheme of defence of a fortress,
but separated from it, and beyond the glacis.
DETACHMENT. A force detached from the main body for employment on any
particular service.
DETAIL OF DUTY. The captain's night orders.
DETENTION OF A VESSEL: on just ground, as supposed war, suspicious
papers, undue number of men, found hovering, or cargo not in conformity
with papers or law.
DETONATING HAMMER. A modern introduction into the Royal Navy for firing
the guns. With the aid of an attached laniard, it is made to descend
forcibly upon the percussion arm of the tube, and fires the piece
instantaneously. It is, however, already generally superseded by the use
of the _friction-tube_ (which see).
DEVIATION. A voluntary departure from the usual course of the voyage,
without any necessary or justifiable cause: a step which discharges the
insurers from further responsibility. Liberty to touch, stay, or trade
in any particular place not in the usual course of the voyage must be
expressly specified in the contract, and even this is subordinate to the
voyage. The cases of necessity which justify deviation are--1, stress of
weather; 2, urgent want of repairs; 3, to join convoy; 4, succouring
ships in distress; 5, avoiding capture or detention; 6, sickness; 7,
mutiny of the crew. It differs from a _change_ of voyage, which must
have been resolved upon before the sailing of the ship. (_See_
CHANGE.)--_Deviation_ is also the attraction of a ship's iron on the
needle. It is a term recently introduced to distinguish a sort of second
variation to be allowed for in iron vessels.
DEVIL. A sort of priming made by damping and bruising gunpowder.
DEVIL-BOLTS. Those with false clenches, often introduced into
contract-built ships.
DEVIL-FISH. The _Lophius piscatorius_, a hideous creature, which has
also obtained the name of fish-frog, monk-fish, bellows-fish, sea-devil,
and other appellatives significant of its ugliness and bad manners.
There is also a powerful _Raia_, which grows to an immense size in the
tropics, known as the devil-fish, the terror of the pearl-divers.
_Manta_ of Spaniards.
DEVILRY. Spirited roguery; wanton mischief, short of crime.
DEVIL'S CLAW. A very strong kind of split hook made to grasp a link of a
chain cable, and used as a stopper.
DEVIL'S SMILES. Gleams of sunshine among dark clouds, either in the
heavens or captain's face!
DEVIL'S TABLE-CLOTH. _See_ TABLE-CLOTH.
DEVIL TO PAY AND NO PITCH HOT. The seam which margins the water-ways was
called the "devil," why only caulkers can tell, who perhaps found it
sometimes difficult for their tools. The phrase, however, means service
expected, and no one ready to perform it. Impatience, and naught to
satisfy it.
DEW-POINT. A meteorological term for the degree of temperature at which
the moisture of the atmosphere would begin to precipitate; it may be
readily ascertained by means of the hygrometer.
DHOLL. A kind of dried split pea supplied in India to the navy.
DHONY, OR DHONEY. A country trading-craft of India from 50 to 150 tons;
mostly flat-bottomed. (_See_ DONEY.)
DHOW. The Arab dhow is a vessel of about 150 to 250 tons burden by
measurement--grab-built, with ten or twelve ports; about 85 feet long
from stem to stern, 20 feet 9 inches broad, and 11 feet 6 inches deep.
Of late years this description of vessel has been well built at Cochin,
on the Malabar coast, in the European style. They have a great rise of
floor; are calculated for sailing with small cargoes; and are fully
prepared, by internal equipment, for defence--many of them are sheathed
on 2-1/2-inch plank bottoms, with 1-inch board, and the preparation of
chunam and oil, called _galgal_, put between; causing the vessel to be
very dry and durable, and preventing the encroachments of the worm or
_Teredo navalis_. The worm is one of the greatest enemies in India to
timber _in_ the water, as the white ant (_termites_) is out of it. On
the outside of the sheathing board there is a coat of whitewash, made
from the same materials as that between the sheathing and planks, and
renewed every season they put to sea. They have generally one mast and a
lateen sail. The yard is the length of the vessel aloft, and the mast
rakes forward, for the purpose of keeping this ponderous weight clear in
raising and lowering. The tack of the sail is brought to the stem-head,
and sheets aft in the usual way. The halyards lead to the taffrail,
having a pendant and treble purchase block, which becomes the backstay,
to support the mast when the sail is set. This, with three pairs of
shrouds, completes the rigging, the whole made of _coir_ rope. Several
of these vessels were fitted as brigs, after their arrival in Arabia,
and armed by the Arabs for cruising in the Red Sea and Arabian Gulf, as
piratical vessels. It was of this class of vessel that Tippoo Sultan's
navy at Onore consisted. The large dhows generally make one voyage in
the season, to the southward of Arabia; taking advantage of the
north-east monsoon to come down, and the south-west to return with an
exchange cargo. The Arabs who man them are a powerful well-grown people,
and very acute and intelligent in trade. They usually navigate their
ships to Bengal in perfect safety, and with great skill. This was well
known to Captain Collier and his officers of the _Liverpool_ frigate,
when they had the trial cruise with the Imam of Muscat's fine frigate in
1820.
DIACLE. An old term for a boat-compass.
DIAGONAL BRACES, knees, planks, &c., are such as cross a vessel's
timbers obliquely. (_See_ DIAGONAL TRUSSING.)
DIAGONAL RIBBAND. A narrow plank made to a line formed on the
half-breadth plan, by taking the intersections of the diagonal line with
the timbers. (_See_ RIBBANDS.)
DIAGONALS. A line cutting the body-plan diagonally from the timbers to
the middle line. Diagonals are the several lines on the draughts,
delineating the station of the harpings and ribs, to form the body by.
DIAGONAL TRUSSING. A particular method of binding and strengthening a
vessel internally by a series of riders and truss-pieces placed
diagonally.
DIAMETER. In geometry, a right line passing through the centre of any
circular figure from one point of its circumference to another.
DIAMETER, APPARENT. The angle which the diameter of a heavenly body
subtends at any time, varying inversely with its distance. The true is
the real diameter, commonly expressed in miles.
DIAMOND-CUT. _See_ RHOMBUS.
DIAMOND-KNOT. An ornamental knot worked with the strands of a rope,
sometimes used for bucket-strops, on the foot-ropes of jib-booms,
man-ropes, &c.
DIBBS. A galley term for ready money. Also, a small pool of water.
DICE. _See_ DYCE.
DICHOTOMIZED. A term applied to the moon, when her longitude differs 90
deg. from that of the sun, in which position only half her disc is
illuminated.
DICKADEE. A northern name for the sand-piper.
DICK-A-DILVER. A name for the periwinkle on our eastern coasts.
DICKER-WORK. The timbering of tide-harbours in the Channel. Wattling
between piles.
DICKEY. An officer acting in commission.--_It's all dickey with him._
It's all up with him.
DIDDLE, TO. To deceive.
DIEGO. A very strong and heavy sword.
DIE ON THE FIN, TO. An expression applied to whales, which when dying
rise to the surface, after the final dive, with one side uppermost.
DIET. The regulated food for patients in sick-bays and hospitals.
DIFFERENCE. An important army term, meaning firstly the sum to be paid
by officers when exchanging from the half to full pay; and, secondly,
the price or difference in value of the several commissions.
DIFFERENCE OF LATITUDE. The distance between any two places on the same
meridian, or the difference between the parallels of latitude of any two
places expressed in miles of the equator.
DIFFERENCE OF LONGITUDE. The difference of any place from another
eastward or westward, counted in degrees of the equator: that is, the
difference between two places is an arc of the equator contained between
their meridians, but measured in space on the parallel. Thus the
difference of a degree of longitude in miles of the meridian would be--
At 20 deg. lat. 56.4 miles
" 40 " 38.6 "
" 60 " 30.0 "
" 80 " 10.4 "
DIFFERENTIAL OBSERVATION. Taking the differences of right ascension and
declination between a comet and a star, the position of which has been
already determined.
DIFFICULTY. A word unknown to true salts.
DIGHT [from the Anglo-Saxon _diht_, arranging or disposing]. Now applied
to dressing or preparing for muster; setting things in order.
DIGIT. A twelfth part of the diameter; a term employed to denote the
magnitude of an eclipse; as, so many _digits eclipsed_.
DIKE. _See_ DYKE.