FACE. The edge of a sharp instrument. Also, the word of command to
soldiers, marines, and small-arm men, to turn upon the heel a quarter or
half a circle round in the direction ordered.
FACED. Turned up with facings on the cuffs and collars of uniforms and
regimentals.
FACE OF A GUN. The surface of the metal at the extremity of the muzzle.
FACE-PIECE. A piece of elm tabled on to the knee of the head, in the
fore-part, to assist the conversion of the main piece; and likewise to
shorten the upper bolts, and prevent the cables from rubbing against
them as the knee gets worn.
FACES OF A WORK. In fortification, are the two lines forming its most
prominent salient angle.
FACHON. An Anglo-Norman term for a sword or falchion.
FACING. Letting one piece of timber into another with a rabbet to give
additional strength or finish. Also, a movement for forming soldiers and
small-arm men.--_Facings._ The front of regimentals and uniforms.
FACK. _See_ FAKE.
FACTOR. A commercial superintendent, or agent residing beyond sea,
commissioned by merchants to buy or sell goods on their account by a
letter of attorney.
FACTORAGE. A certain percentage paid to the factor by the merchant on
all he buys or sells.
FACTORY. A place where a considerable number of factors reside; as
Lisbon, Leghorn, Calcutta, &c. Factory comprehends the business of a
firm or company, as that of the India Company at Canton, or the Hudson's
Bay Fur Company in North America.
FACULAE. Luminous streaks upon the disc of the sun, among which the
maculae, or dark spots, usually appear.
FADOME. The old form used for _fathom_ (which see).
FAFF, TO. To blow in flaws.
FAG, TO. To tire.--_A fag._ A deputy labouring-man, or one who works
hard for another.
FAG-END. Is the end of any rope. This term is also applied to the end of
a rope when it has become untwisted.
FAGGOTS. Men who used to be hired to answer to names on the books, when
the crew were mustered by the clerk of the cheque. Such cheating was
once still more prevalent in the army.
FAGOT. A billet for stowing casks. A _fascine_ (which see).
FAG-OUT, TO. To wear out the end of a rope or end of canvas.
FAIK, OR FALK. A name in the Hebrides for the sea-fowl razor-bill (_Alca
torda_).
FAIR. A general term for the wind when favourable to a ship's course, in
opposition to contrary or foul; _fair_ is more comprehensive than
_large_, since it includes about 16 points, whereas large is confined to
the beam or quarter, that is, to a wind which crosses the keel at right
angles, or obliquely from the stern, but never to one right astern.
(_See_ LARGE and SCANT.)--_Fair_, in ship-building, denotes the evenness
or regularity of a curve or line.--_To fair_, means to clip the timbers
fair.
FAIR-CURVE. In delineating ships, is a winding line whose shape is
varied according to the part of the ship it is intended to describe.
This curve is not answerable to any of the figures of conic sections,
although it occasionally partakes of them all.
FAIRING. Sheering a ship in construction. Also, the draught of a ship.
To run off a great number of different lines or curves, in order to
ascertain the fairness in point of curvature of every part, and the
beauty of the whole.
FAIR-LEAD. Is applied to ropes as suffering the least friction in a
block, when they are said to lead fair.
FAIR-LEADER. A thimble or cringle to guide a rope. A strip of board with
holes in it, for running-rigging to lead through, and be kept clear, so
as to be easily distinguished at night.
FAIR-MAID. A west-country term for a dried pilchard.
FAIR-WAY. The navigable channel of a harbour for ships passing up or
down; so that if any vessels are anchored therein, they are said to lie
in the fair-way. (_See_ PILOT'S FAIR-WAY.) Also, when the proper course
is gained out of a channel.
FAIR-WEATHER. That to which a ship may carry the small sails.
FAKE. One of the circles or windings of a cable or hawser, as it lies
disposed in a coil. (_See_ COILING.) The fakes are greater or smaller in
proportion to the space which a cable is allowed to occupy.
FALCON. In early times a small cannon, having a length of about 7 feet,
a diameter of bore of 3 inches, and throwing a ball of nearly 3 lbs.
weight, with a point-blank range of 130 paces, and a random one of 1500.
FALCONET. A primitive cannon smaller than the falcon; it threw a ball of
1-1/2 lb.
FALK. _See_ FAKE.
FALL. A vertical descent of a river through a narrow rocky pass, or over
a ledge, to the impediment of navigation. Also, the loose end of a
tackle, or that part to which the power is applied in hoisting, and on
which the people pull. Also, in ship-building, the descent of a deck
from a fair-curve lengthwise, as frequently seen in merchantmen and
yachts, to give height to the commander's cabin, and sometimes forward
at the hawse-holes. Also, a large cutting down of timber. Also, North
American English for autumn, when the navigation of northern inland
waters is about to close till the succeeding spring.
FALL, TO. A town or fortress is said to fall when it is compelled to
surrender to besiegers.
FALL ABOARD OF, TO. To strike another vessel, or have a collision with
it. Usually applied to the motion of a disabled ship coming in contact
with another.
FALL! A FALL! The cry to denote that the harpoon has been effectively
delivered into the body of a whale.
FALL ASTERN, TO. To lessen a ship's way so as to allow another to get
ahead of her. To be driven backwards.
FALL BACK, TO. To recede from any position previously occupied.
FALL CALM, TO. Speaking of the weather, implies a total cessation of the
wind.
FALL CLOUD. _See_ STRATUS.
FALL DOWN, TO. To sail, drift, or be towed to some lower part nearer a
river's mouth or opening.
FALLEN-STAR. A name for the jelly-fish or _medusa_, frequently thrown
ashore in summer and autumn.