E.

E. The second class of rating on Lloyd's books for the comparative

excellence of merchant ships. (_See_ A.)

EAGER. _See_ EAGRE.

EAGLE. The insignia of the Romans, borrowed also by moderns, as Frederic

of Prussia and Napoleon. Also, a gold coin of the United States, of the

value of five dollars, or L1, 0_s._ 10_d._ sterling, at the average rate

of exchange.

EAGLE, OR SPREAD-EAGLE. A punishment inflicted by _seizing_ the offender

by his arms and legs to the shrouds, and there leaving him for a

specified time.

EAGRE, OR HYGRE. The reciprocation of the freshes of various rivers, as

for instance the Severn, with the flowing tide, sometimes presenting a

formidable surge. The name seems to be from the Anglo-Saxon _eagor_,

water, or _AEgir_, the Scandinavian god of the sea. (_See_ BORE and

HYGRE.)

EAR. A west-country term for a place where hatches prevent the influx of

the tide.

EARING-CRINGLE, AT THE HEAD OF A SAIL. In sail-making it is an eye

spliced in the bolt-rope, to which the much smaller head-rope is

attached. The earings are hauled out, or lashed to cleats on the yards

passing through the head corners or cringles of the sails.

EARINGS. Certain small ropes employed to fasten the upper corners of a

sail to its yard, for which purpose one end of the earing is passed

through itself; and the other end is passed five or six times round the

yard-arm, and through the cringle; the two first turns, which are

intended to stretch the head of the sail tight along the yard, are

passed beyond the lift and rigging on the yard-arm, and are called

outer turns, while the rest, which draw it close up to the yard, and are

passed within the lift, &c., are called inner turns. Below the above are

the _reef-earings_, which are used to reef the sail when the

reef-tackles have stretched it to take off the strain.

EARNE. _See_ ERNE.

EARNEST. A sum paid in advance to secure a seaman's service.

EARS. In artillery the lugs or ear-shaped rings fashioned on the larger

bombs or mortar-shells for their convenient handling with shell-hooks.

The irregularity of surface caused by the ears is intended to be

modified in future construction by the substitution of _lewis-holes_

(which see).

EAR-SHOT. The distance or range of hearing.

EARS OF A BOAT. The knee-pieces at the fore-part on the outside at the

height of the gunwale.

EARS OF A PUMP. The support of the bolt for the handle or break.

EARTH. One of the primary planets, and the third in order from the sun.

EARTH-BAGS. _See_ SAND-BAGS.

EAR-WIGGING. Feeding an officer's ear with scandal against an absent

individual.

EASE, TO STAND AT. To remain at rest.

EASE AWAY! To slacken out a rope or tackle-fall.

EASE HER! In a steamer, is the command to reduce the speed of the

engine, preparatory to "stop her," or before reversing for "turn

astern."

EASE OFF! EASE OFF HANDSOMELY, OR EASE AWAY THERE! To slacken out a rope

or tackle-fall carefully.

EASE THE HELM! An order often given in a vessel close-hauled, to put the

helm down a few spokes in a head sea, with the idea that if the ship's

way be deadened by her coming close to the wind she will not strike the

opposing sea with so much force. It is thought by some that extreme

rolling as well as pitching are checked by shifting the helm quickly,

thereby changing the direction of the ship's head, and what is

technically called "giving her something else to do."

EASE UP, TO. To come up handsomely with a tackle-fall.

EAST. From the Anglo-Saxon, _y'st_. One of the cardinal points of the

compass. Where the sun rises due east, it makes equal days and nights,

as on the equator.

EAST-COUNTRY. A term applied to the regions bordering on the Baltic.

EAST-COUNTRY SHIPS. The same as _easterlings_.

EASTERLINGS. Traders of the Baltic Sea. Also, natives of the Hanse

Towns, or of the east country.

EASTERN AMPLITUDE. An arc of the horizon, intercepted between the point

of the sun's rising and the east point of the magnetic compass.

EAST INDIA HOY. A sloop formerly expressly licensed for carrying stores

to the E. I. Company's ships.

EASTING. The course made good, or gained, to the eastward.

EASTINTUS. From the Saxon, _east-tyn_, an easterly coast or country.

_Leg. Edward I._

EAST WIND. This, in the British seas, is generally attended with a hazy

atmosphere, and is so ungenial as to countenance the couplet--

"When the wind is in the east,

'Tis good for neither man nor beast."

EASY. Lower gently. A ship not labouring in a sea.--_Taking it easy._

Neglecting the duty. "Not so violent."

EASY DRAUGHT. The same as _light draught of water_ (which see).

EASY ROLL. A vessel is said to "roll deep but easy" when she moves

slowly, and not with quick jerks.

EATING THE WIND OUT OF A VESSEL. Applies to very keen seamanship, by

which the vessel, from a close study of her capabilities, steals to

windward of her opponent. This to be done effectually demands very

peculiar trim to carry weather helm to a nicety.

EAVER. A provincial term for the direction of the wind. A quarter of the

heavens.

EBB. The lineal descendant of the Anglo-Saxon _ep-flod_, meaning the

falling reflux of the tide, or its return back from the highest of the

flood, full sea, or high water. Also termed _sae-aebbung_, sea-ebbing, by

our progenitors.

EBB, LINE OF. The sea-line of beach left dry by the tide.

EBBER, OR EBBER-SHORE. From the Anglo-Saxon signifying shallow.

EBB-TIDE. The receding or running out of the sea, in contradistinction

to flood.

EBONY. A sobriquet for a negro.

ECHELON. [Fr.] Expressing the field-exercise of soldiers, when the

divisions are placed in a situation resembling the steps of a ladder,

whence the name.

ECHINUS. A word lugged in to signify the sweep of the tiller. (_See_

SEA-EGG.)

ECLIPSE. An obscuration of a heavenly body by the interposition of

another, or during its passage through the shadow of a larger body. An

_eclipse of the sun_ is caused by the dark body of the moon passing

between it and the earth. When the moon's diameter exceeds the sun's,

and their centres nearly coincide, a _total eclipse_ of the sun takes

place; but if the moon's diameter be less, then the eclipse is

_annular_.

ECLIPTIC. The great circle of the heavens which the sun appears to us to

describe in the course of a year, in consequence of the earth's motion

round that luminary. It is inclined to the equinoctial at an angle of

nearly 23 deg. 28', called the obliquity of the ecliptic, and cuts it in

two points diametrically opposite to each other, called the equinoctial

points. The time when the sun enters each of these points (which occurs

about the 20th of March and 23d of September, respectively) is termed

the equinox, day and night being then equal; at these periods,

especially about the time of the vernal equinox, storms, called the

equinoctial gales, are prevalent in many parts of the globe. The two

points of the ecliptic, which are each 90 deg. distant from the

equinoctial points, are called the solstitial points. That great circle

which passes through the equinoctial points and the poles of the earth,

is called the equinoctial colure; and that which passes through the

solstitial points and the poles of the earth, the solstitial colure.

ECLIPTIC CONJUNCTION. Is the moon in conjunction with the sun at the

time of new moon, both luminaries having then the same longitude, or

right ascension.

ECLIPTIC LIMITS. Certain limits of latitude within which eclipses take

place, and beyond which they cannot occur.

ECONOMY. A term expressive of the system and internal arrangement

pursued in a ship.

EDDY. Sometimes used for the dead-water under a ship's counter. Also,

the water that by some interruption in its course, runs contrary to the

direction of the tide or current, and appears like the motion of a

whirlpool. Eddies in the sea not unfrequently extend their influence to

a great distance, and are then merely regarded as contrary or revolving

currents. It is the back-curl of the water to fill a space or vacuum

formed sometimes by the faulty build of a vessel, having the after-body

fuller than the fore, which therefore impedes her motion. It also occurs

immediately after a tide passes a strait, where the volume of water

spreads suddenly out, and curves back to the edges. The Chinese pilots

call eddies, chow-chow water.

EDDY-TIDE. When the water runs back from some obstacle to the free

passage of the stream.

EDDY-WIND. That which is beat back, or returns, from a sail, bluff hill,

or anything which impedes its passage; in other words, whenever the

edges or veins of two currents of air, coming from opposite directions,

meet, they form an eddy, or _whirlwind_ (which see). They are felt

generally near high coasts intersected by ravines. The eddy-wind of a

sail escaping, in a curve, makes the sail abaft shiver.

EDGE AWAY, TO. To decline gradually from the course which the ship

formerly steered, by sailing larger, or more off, or more away from

before the wind than she had done before.

EDGE DOWN, TO. To approach any object in an oblique direction.

EDGING OF PLANK. Sawing or hewing it narrower.

EDUCTION PIPE. A pipe leading from the bottom of a steam-cylinder to the

upper part of the condenser in a steam-engine.

EEAST. The Erse term for a fish, still used in the Isle of Man.

EEKING. _See_ EKEING.

EEL. A well-known fish (_Anguilla vulgaris_), of elongated form, common

in rivers and estuaries, and esteemed for food.

EELER. An adept at knowing the haunts and habits of eels, and the

methods of taking them.

EEL-FARES. A fry or brood of eels.

EEL-GRASS. A name for the sea-wrack (_Zostera marina_); it is thrown

ashore by the sea in large quantities.

EEL-POUT. A name for the burbot (_Molva lota_), a fresh-water fish.

EEL-SKUYT. _See_ DUTCH EEL-SKUYT.

EEL-SPEAR. A sort of trident with ten points for catching eels, called

in Lincolnshire an _eel-stang_.

EFFECTIVE. Efficient, fit for service; it also means the being present

and at duty.

EFFECTS. Personal property; sale of effects; or the auction of the

property of deceased officers and seamen:

"The _effects_ of that sail

Will be a sale of _effects_."

EFFLUENT, OR DIVERGENT, applied to any stream which runs out of a lake,

or out of another river. All tributaries are affluents.

EGG, TO. To instigate, incite, provoke, to urge on: from the Anglo-Saxon

_eggion_.

EGGS. These nutritious articles of food might be used longer at sea than

is usual. The shell of the egg abounds with small pores, through which

the aqueous part of the albumen constantly exhales, and the egg in

consequence daily becomes lighter, and approaches its decomposition.

Reaumur varnished them all over, and thus preserved eggs fresh for two

years; then carefully removing the varnish, he found that such eggs were

still capable of producing chickens. Some employ, with the same

intention, lard or other fatty substance for closing the pores, and

others simply immerse the egg for an instant in boiling water, by which

its albumen is in part coagulated, and the power of exhalation thereby

checked. Eggs packed in lime-water suffered to drain, have after three

years' absence in the West Indies been found good; this does not destroy

vitality.

EGMONT, OR PORT EGMONT FOWLS. The large Antarctic gulls with dark-brown

plumage, called _shoemakers_.

EGRESS. At a transit of an inferior planet over the sun, this term means

the passing off of the planet from his disc.

EGYPTIAN HERRING. A northern coast name for the gowdanook, saury-pike,

or _Scomberesox saurus_.

EIDER DUCK. The _Somateria mollissima_. A large species of duck,

inhabiting the coasts of the northern seas. The down of the breast, with

which it lines its nest, is particularly valuable on account of its

softness and lightness.

EIGHEN. The index of the early quadrant.

EILET-HOLE [Fr. _[oe]illet_]. _Refer to_ EYELET-HOLES.

EJECTAMENTA MARIS. Sea products thrown on the beach, whence they become

droits of admiralty. (_See_ JETSAM.)

EKE, TO. [Anglo-Saxon _eacan_, to prolong.] To make anything go far by

reduction and moderation, as in shortening the allowance of provisions

on a voyage unexpectedly tedious.

EKEING. A piece of wood fitted, by scarphing or butting, to make good a

deficiency in length, as the end of a knee and the like. The _ekeing_ is

also the carved work under the lower part of the quarter-piece, at the

aft part of the quarter-gallery.

ELBOW. That part of a river where it suddenly changes its direction,

forming a reach to the next angle or turn. Also, a promontory. Also, a

communication in a steam-pipe.

ELBOW-GREASE. Hard labour with the arms.

ELBOW IN THE HAWSE. Two crosses in a hawse. When a ship, being moored in

a tide-way, swings twice the wrong way, thereby causing the cables to

take half a round turn on each other. (_See_ HAWSE.)

ELDEST. The old navy term for _first_, as applied to the senior

lieutenant.

ELEMENTS. The first principles of any art or science.--The _elements of

an orbit_ are certain proportions which define the path of a heavenly

body in space, and enable the astronomer to calculate its position for

past or future times.

ELEPHANTER. A heavy periodical rain of Bombay.

ELEPHANT-FISH. The _Chimaera callorynchus_, named from the proboscis-like

process on its nose. Though inferior to many other fish, it is yet

palatable food.

ELEVATE! In great-gun exercise, the order which prepares for adjusting

the quoin.

ELEVATED POLE. That terrestrial pole which is above the horizon of a

spectator.

ELEVATION, IN SHIP-BUILDING. A vertical and longitudinal view of a

vessel, synonymous with _sheer-draught_ and _sheer-plan_. In other

words, it is the orthographic design whereon the heights and lengths are

expressed.

ELEVATION, ANGLE OF. In gunnery, that which the axis of the bore makes

with the plane of the horizon. It is attained by sinking the breech of

the gun until its axis points above the object to be fired at, so that

the shot may describe a curve somewhat similar to a parabola,

counteracting the action of gravity during its flight, and alighting

upon the mark.

ELGER. An eel-spear, _Promptorium Parvulorum_, yielding many together.

ELIGUGS. Aquatic birds of passage of the auk kind on our western coasts;

called also razor-bills.

ELITE. The elite of naval or military forces is the choicest selection

from them.

ELLECK. The trivial name of the _Trigla cuculus_.

ELLIOT-EYE. The Elliot-eye, introduced by the Hon. Admiral Elliot,

secretary of the Admiralty, is an eye worked over an iron thimble in the

end of a hempen bower-cable, to facilitate its being shackled to the

chain for riding in very deep water.

ELLIPSE. In geometry, an oval figure, formed of the section of a cone by

a plane cutting through both its sides obliquely.

ELMO'S FIRE, ST. _See_ COMPASANT.

ELONGATION. The angular distance of a heavenly body from the sun

eastward or westward.

ELVERS. The name of eels on the western coasts of England.

EMBARGO. A temporary injunction or arrest laid on ships or merchandise

by public authority, sometimes general, to prevent all ships departing,

and sometimes partial, as upon foreign ships only, or to prevent their

coming in. A breach of embargo, under the knowledge of the insured,

discharges the underwriters from liability.

EMBARK, TO. To go on board, or to put on board a vessel.

EMBARKATION. Applies to the shipping of goods, troops, and stores. Also,

the peculiar boats of a country. [Sp. _embarcation_.]

EMBARMENT. An old term, meaning an embargo.

EMBARRAS. An American term for places where the navigation of rivers or

creeks is rendered difficult by the accumulation of driftwood, trees,

&c.

EMBATTLE. To arrange forces for conflict.

EMBATTLED. In buildings, crenellated or pierced with loop-holes.

EMBEDDED. Firmly fixed in the mud or sand.

EMBER-GOOSE (OR IMBER?). A name for the great northern diver or loon

(_Colymbus glacialis_).

EMBEZZLEMENT, or simple theft, by persons belonging to a merchant ship,

is not deemed a peril of the sea. But robbery violently committed by

persons not belonging to the ship, is a peril for which the insurer is

answerable.--_To embezzle_ is to misappropriate by a breach of trust.

EMBOUCHURE. A French word adopted as signifying the mouth of a river, by

which its waters are discharged, or by which it is entered. The term is

now in general use.

EMBRASURES. The cut or opening made through the parapet of a battery for

the muzzle of the gun and the passage of the shot.

EMERALDERS. A term for the natives of Ireland, from its evergreen

verdure.

EMERGENCY. Imminent want in difficult circumstances.

EMERSION. The prismatic space or solid raised out on the weather side by

the inclination of the ship. In astronomy it signifies the re-appearance

of a celestial object after undergoing occultation or eclipse.

EMINENCE. A high or rising ground overlooking the country around.

EMISSARY. A culvert or drain.

EMPRISE. A hazardous attempt upon the enemy.

EMPTIONS. Stores purchased.

EMPTY. Cargo discharged.

EMPTY BASTION. In fortification is a bastion whereof the terreplein, or

terrace in rear of the parapet, not having been carried farther to the

rear than its regular distance, leaves a large space within it of a

lower level.

EMPTY BOTTLE. _See_ MARINE OFFICER.

ENCAMPMENT. _See_ CAMP.

ENCEINTE. [Fr.] A slightly bastioned wall or rampart line of defence,

which sometimes surrounds the body of a place; when only flanked by

turrets it is called a Roman wall.

ENCIRCLING REEFS. A name given to a form of coral reef, the architecture

of myriads of zoophytes in tropical seas.

ENCOUNTER. The hostile meeting of two ships or squadrons; also, a

conflict between troops.

ENDANGER, TO. To expose to peril.

ENDECAGON. In geometry, a plane figure of eleven sides and angles.

ENDELONG. The old English word for lengthways.

END FOR END. Reversing cordage, casks, logs, spars, &c.--To shift a rope

_end for end_, as in a tackle, the fall is made the standing part, and

the standing part becomes the fall; or when a rope runs out all a block,

and is unreeved; or in coming to an anchor, if the stoppers are not well

put on, and the cable runs all out end for end. (_See_ AN-END.)

END OF A TRENCH. The place where the trenches are opened.

END-ON. Said particularly of a ship when only her bows and head-sails

are to be seen, but generally used in opposition to _broadside-on_.

ENEMY. The power or people against whom war is waged.

ENFIELD RIFLE. The name of the present regulation musket for infantry,

as made at the government works at Enfield, on an improvement of the

Minie principle; whether the breach-loading rifle, which it is intended

to substitute for this arm, will acquire the same title, remains to be

determined.

ENFILADE FIRE. Is that which sweeps a line of works or men from one end

to the other; it is on land nearly the equivalent to "raking fire" at

sea.

ENGAGEMENT. In a naval sense, implies a battle at sea, or an action of

hostility between single ships, squadrons, or fleets of men-of-war.

Also, a conflict between two contending armies.

ENGINE, MARINE. (_See_ MARINE ENGINES.) Engine was of old a military

machine for warfare.

ENGINE-BEARERS. Sleepers, or pieces of timber placed between the

keelson, in a steamer, and the boilers of the steam-engine, to form a

proper seat for the boilers and machinery.

ENGINEER. A duly qualified officer appointed to plan and direct the

attack or defence of a fortification, as well as the construction of

fortified works. Engineers are also persons in charge of the machinery

of steam-vessels. In government steamers they are in three classes,

under warrant from the admiralty.

ENGINE-ROOM TELEGRAPH. A dial-contrivance by which the officer on deck

can communicate with the engineer below.

ENGLAND EXPECTS EVERY MAN WILL DO HIS DUTY. This is introduced into a

naval vocabulary, not as wanting explanation, but that in recording the

most remarkable signal ever made to a fleet, we may remind the tyro,

that these words of Nelson are admirably adapted for all the varying

changes of sea-life, whether in times of war or peace.

ENGLISH. A term applied to the vessels and men of the whole empire, and

its maritime population. "Indeed," says Burke in a letter to Admiral

Keppel, "I am perfectly convinced that _Englishman_ and _seaman_ are

names that must live and die together."

ENLARGE. The wind is said to enlarge when it veers from the side towards

the stern.

ENLISTMENT. The engaging recruits for the army or marines.

ENNEAGON. A figure that has nine sides and as many angles.

ENNIS, OR INNIS. A term for island on the west coast of Ireland and in

some parts of Scotland.

ENROL, TO. To enter the name on the roll of a corps.

ENSCONCE, TO. To intrench; to protect by a slight fortification.

ENSENADA [Sp. bay]. This term is frequently used on the coasts of Chili

and Peru.

ENSIGN. [From the Anglo-Saxon _segn_.] A large flag or banner, hoisted

on a long pole erected over the stern, and called the ensign-staff. It

is used to distinguish the ships of different nations from each other,

as also to characterize the different squadrons of the navy; it was

formerly written _ancient_. Ensign is in the army the title of the

junior rank of subaltern officers of infantry; from amongst them are

detailed the officers who carry the colours.

ENTERING AT CUSTOM-HOUSE. The forms required of the master of a merchant

ship before her cargo can be discharged.

ENTERING-LADDERS. Are of two sorts; one of them being used by the

vessel's side in harbour or in fair weather, the other is made of ropes,

with small staves for steps, and is hung out of the gallery to come

aboard by, when the sea runs so high as to risk staving the boat if

brought alongside; the latter are termed stern-ladders.

ENTERING-PORTS. Ports cut down on the middle gun-deck of three-deckers,

to serve as door-ways for persons going in and out of the ship.

ENTERING-ROPES, OR SIDE-ROPES. Three are sometimes used to aid in

climbing the ship's side. They hang from the upper part on the right,

left, and middle of the steps. (_See_ GANGWAY.) The upper end of an

entering-rope is rove through an eye in the iron stanchion at the

gangway; it is walled, crowned, and otherwise ornamentally fitted.

ENTERPRISE. An undertaking of difficulty and danger.

ENTRANCE. A term for the bow of a vessel, or form of the _fore-body_

under the load water-line; it expresses the figure of that which

encounters the sea, and is the opposite of _run_. Also, the first

appearance of a person on board after entry on the ship's books. Also,

the fore-foot of a ship. Also, the mouth of a harbour.

ENTRANCE MONEY. Payment on entering a mess.

ENTRY. In the ship's books; first putting down the appearance or day on

which a man joins. Also, the forcing into an enemy's ship.

ENVELOPE. In astronomy, a band of light encircling the head of a comet

on the side near the sun, and passing round it, so as to form the

commencement of the tail.--In fortification, a work of single lines

thrown up to inclose a weak ground; usually a mere earth-work.

EPAULE, OR SHOULDER. In fortification, that part of a bastion adjacent

to the junction of a face with a flank. The actual meeting of these two

lines forms the "angle of the shoulder."

EPAULEMENT. In fortification, a covering mass raised to protect from the

fire of the enemy, but differing from a parapet in having no arrangement

made for the convenient firing over it by defenders. It is usually

adopted for side-passages to batteries and the like.

EPAULET. The bullion or mark of distinction worn on the shoulders by

officers, now common to many grades, but till recently worn only by

captains and commanders, whence the brackish poet--

"Hail, magic power that fills an _epaulet_,

No wonder hundreds for thee daily fret!"

the meaning of which is now pointless.

EPHEMERIS, OR NAUTICAL ALMANAC. This in its wide sense, and recognizing

its value to navigators and astronomers, must be pronounced one of the

most useful of publications. How Drake and Magellan got on is matter of

marvel, for sailors were not especially administered to till 1675, when

the _Kalendarium Nauticum_, by Henry Seaman, Mariner, appeared; it

comprised the usual matter of annual almanacs, and was enriched with

such precepts and rules in the practice of navigation and traffic as are

in daily use. But in 1767 our nautical almanac, a tabular statement of

the geocentric planetary positions, which may be said to have created a

new era in voyaging, was published; and this book, with certain

alterations, was in force up to 1830, when a commission of the Royal

Society and astronomers established the present _Ephemeris_, now so much

valued. It is published annually, but computed to four years in advance,

to accommodate those proceeding on long voyages. Attempts have been made

in other countries to publish _The Nautical Almanac_, improved and

corrected, but they are mere copies, corrected by the errata furnished

annually in advance.

EPICYCLOID. A geometrical curve generated by making a circle roll upon

the circumference of another circle; it is found useful in determining

the figure of the teeth of wheel-work, and other purposes in mechanics.

If the generating circle proceeds along the convexity of the periphery,

it is called an upper or exterior epicycloid; if along the concavity, a

lower or interior epicycloid.

EPOCH. The time to which certain given numbers or quantities apply.

EPROUVETTE. A small piece of ordnance specially fitted for testing the

projectile force of samples of gunpowder.

EQUATED ANOMALY. This is also called the true anomaly, and is the

distance of the sun from the apogee, or a planet from its aphelion, seen

from the sun.

EQUATION, ANNUAL. _See_ ANNUAL EQUATION.

EQUATION OF EQUINOXES. The difference between the mean and apparent

places of the equinox.

EQUATION OF THE CENTRE. The difference between the true and mean

anomalies of a planet.

EQUATION OF TIME. The difference between mean and apparent time, or the

acceleration or retardation of the sun's return to the meridian.

EQUATOR. Called also the equinoctial line, or simply the line, being an

imaginary circle round the earth, dividing the globe into two equal

parts, and equally distant from both poles. Extended to the heavens, it

forms a circle called the celestial equator, which in like manner

divides the heavens into two equal parts, the northern and southern

hemispheres.

EQUATORIAL CURRENT. The set, chiefly westerly, so frequently met with

near the equator, especially in the Atlantic Oceans.

EQUATORIAL DOLDRUMS. _See_ DOLDRUMS.

EQUATORIAL SECTOR. An instrument of large radius for finding the

difference in the right ascension and declination of two heavenly

bodies.

EQUATORIAL TELESCOPE. A glass so mounted that it enables the observer to

follow the stars as they move equatorially.

EQUES AURATUS. An heraldic term for a knight.

EQUILATERAL TRIANGLE. A figure of three equal straight sides, and

therefore of three equal angles.

EQUINOCTIAL. Synonymous with _equator_ (which see).

EQUINOCTIAL GALES. Storms which are observed to prevail about the time

of the sun's crossing the equator, at which time there is equal day and

night throughout the world.

EQUINOCTIAL POINTS. _See_ ECLIPTIC.

EQUINOXES. The two points of intersection of the ecliptic and the

equator; so called, because on the sun's arrival at either of them, the

night is everywhere equal in length to the day.

EQUIP, TO. A term frequently applied to the business of fitting a ship

for a trading voyage, or arming her for war. (_See_ FITTING.)

EQUIPAGE. An admiral's retinue. Camp equipage consists of tents,

furniture, cooking utensils, &c.

EQUIPMENT. The complete outfit of an officer.

EQUITABLE TITLE. Either this, or a legal claim, are absolutely necessary

to establish an insurable interest in a ship or cargo. (_See_ QUALIFIED

PROPERTY.)

ERIGONE. A name sometimes applied to the constellation Virgo.

ERNE. From the Anglo-Saxon _earne_, a vulture, a bird of the eagle kind.

Now used to denote the sea-eagle.

ERRATIC WINDS. _See_ VARIABLES.

ESCALADE. The forcing a way over a rampart or other defence, properly by

means of ladders or other contrivances for climbing.