DRUDGE. A name truly applied to a cabin-boy.
DRUGGERS. Small vessels which formerly exported fish from Dieppe and
other Channel ports, and brought back from the Levant spices and drugs.
DRUM. _See_ STORM-DRUM.
DRUM-CAPSTAN. A contrivance for weighing heavy anchors, invented by Sir
S. Morland, who died in 1695.
DRUMHEAD COURT-MARTIAL. Sudden court held in the field for the immediate
trial of thefts or misconduct. (_See_ PROVOST-MARSHAL.)
DRUMHEAD OF CAPSTAN. A broad cylindrical piece of elm, resembling a
millstone, and fixed immediately above the barrel and whelps. On its
circumference a number of square holes are cut parallel to the deck, to
receive the bars.
DRUMLER. An ancient transport. (_See_ DROMON.) Also, a small piratical
vessel of war.
DRUMMER. The marine who beats the drum, and whose pay is equivalent to
that of a private of fourteen years' standing. Also, a singular fish of
the corvinas kind, which has the faculty of emitting musical noises,
whence it has acquired the name of _crocros_.
DRUXY. Timber in a state of decay, the condition of which is manifested
by veins or spots in it of a whitish tint.
DRY-BULB THERMOMETER. The readings of this instrument, when compared
with those of a wet-bulb thermometer, indicate the amount of moisture in
the air, and thence the probability of rain.
DRY DOCK. An artificial receptacle for examining and repairing vessels.
(_See_ GRAVING-DOCK.)
DRY DUCKING. Suspending a person by a rope a few yards above the surface
of the water.
DRY FLOGGING. Punishing over the clothes of a culprit.
DRY GALES. Those storms which are accompanied with a clear sky, as the
_northers_ of the Gulf of Mexico, the _harmattan_ of Africa, &c.
DRY HOLY-STONING. _See_ HOLY-STONE.
DRY-ROT. A disease destructive of timber, occasioned by a fungus, the
_Merulius lachrymans_, which softens wood and finally destroys it; it
resembles a dry pithy cottony substance, whence the name dry-rot, though
when in a perfect state, its sinuses contain drops of clear water, which
have given rise to its specific Latin name. Free ventilation and
cleanliness appear to be the best preservatives against this costly
evil.
DRY ROWING. "Row dry." Not to dash the spray with the blade of the oar
in the faces of those in the stern-sheets.
D.S.Q. Means, in the complete book, discharged to sick quarters.
DUB. A northern term for a pool of deep and smooth water in a rapid
river.
DUBB, TO. To smooth and cut off with an adze the superfluous wood.--_To
dubb a vessel bright_, is to remove the outer surface of the plank
completely with an adze. Spotting to examine planks with the adze is
also dubbing.
DUBBAH, OR DUBBER. A coarse leathern vessel for holding liquids in
India.
DUBHE. A standard nautical star in the Great Bear.
DUCAT. A well-known coin in most parts of Europe; the average gold ducat
being nine shillings and sixpence, and the silver three shillings and
fourpence.
DUCATOON. A coin of the Dutch Oriental Isles, of seven shillings. Also,
a silver coin of Venice, value four shillings and eightpence.
DUCK, TO. To dive, or immerse another under water; or to avoid a shot.
DUCK. The finest canvas (No. 8) for small sails, is sometimes so called;
but it is really a lighter cloth than canvas, and is greatly used by
seamen and soldiers on tropical stations for frocks and trousers.
DUCKING. A penalty which veteran sailors inflict on those who, for the
first time, pass the tropics, the equator, or formerly even the Straits
of Gibraltar; and is usually performed in the grog-tub or half-butt,
with the assistance of a few buckets of water; the usual fine, however,
always prevents the penalty being inflicted.
DUCKING AT THE YARD-ARM. A marine punishment unknown, except by name, in
the British navy; but formerly inflicted by the French for grave
offences, thus: the criminal was placed astride a short thick batten,
fastened to the end of a rope which passed through a block hanging at
the yard-arm. Thus fixed, he was hoisted suddenly up to the yard, and
the rope being then slackened at once, he was plunged into the sea. This
chastisement was repeated several times; conformable to the sentence, a
gun advertised the other ships of the fleet thereof that their crews
might become spectators. If the offence was very great, he was drawn
underneath the keel of the ship, which was called keel-hauling. (_See_
KEEL-HAULING.)
DUCKS. The general name for a sailor's dress in warm climates. Also, the
military English of Bombay. _See also_ JEMMY DUCKS, the keeper of the
poultry on board ship. Dried herrings, or Digby ducks in N. S.
DUCK-UP! A term used by the steersman when the main-sail, fore-sail, or
sprit-sail hinders his seeing to steer by a landmark, upon which he
calls out, "Duck-up the clue-lines of those sails," that is, haul the
sails out of the way. Also, when a shot is made by a chase-piece, if the
clue of the sprit-sail hinders the sight, they call out, "Duck-up," &c.
DUDGEON. An old word for the box-handle of a dirk; it is mentioned by
Shakspeare with the blade of the ideal dagger which Macbeth saw before
him. It also means offence, anger.
DUDS. A cant term for clothes or personal property. The term is old, but
still in common use, though usually applied to clothing of an inferior
quality, and even rags and tatters.
DUEL. A single combat at a time and place appointed in consequence of a
challenge; a practice which had its uses and abuses, now prohibited.
DUELLO. An Italian word expressive of duelling, long appropriated into
our language.
DUFF. Pudding or dough.
DUFFERS. Low pedlars; also those women who assist smugglers. Also,
cowardly fellows.
DUG-OUT. A canoe.
DUKE OF YORK. A nickname for a particular storm trysail used in the
northern seas.
DULCE, DULSE, DELSE. _Iridea dulce_, one of the edible fuci. It is an
article of trade in America and Holland, and is plentiful on the rocky
coasts of Ireland and western England. It probably derived its name from
being sweet and pleasant, not requiring cooking.
DULEDGE PLATES. An old name for the tyre-streaks or iron plates on the
circumference of the wheel of a field-piece. Duledge was also used for
dowel, the wooden pin connecting the felloes.
DULL'D. When said of the wind, fallen or moderated.
DULLISH. The Manx term for the marine eatable leaf _dillisk_.
DUMB-CHALDER. A metal cleat bolted to the back of the stern-post for one
of the pintles to rest upon, to lessen both strain and friction. (_See_
PINTLES.)
DUMB-CLEAT. Synonymous with _dumb-chalder_ and _thumb-cleat_.
DUMB-CRAFT. Lighters, lumps, or punts, not having sails. Also, a name
for the screws used for lifting a ship on a slip.