FALL IN, TO. The order to form, or take assigned places in ranks. (_See_
ASSEMBLY.)
FALLING GLASS. When the mercury of the barometer is sinking in the tube.
FALLING HOME. When the top-sides are inclined within the perpendicular;
opposite of _wall-sided_. (_See_ TUMBLING HOME.)
FALLING OFF. The opposite of _griping_, or _coming up to the wind_; it
is the movement or direction of the ship's head to leeward of the point
whither it was lately directed, particularly when she sails near the
wind, or lies by. Also, the angle contained between her nearest approach
to the direction of the wind, and her furthest declination from it when
_trying_.
FALLING OUT. When the top-sides project beyond a perpendicular, as in
flaring.
FALLING STARS. Meteors which have very much the appearance of real
stars. They were falsely regarded as foreboders of wind, as Seneca in
_Hippolytus_, "Ocior cursum rapiente flamma stella cum ventis agitata
longos porrigit ignes." Some are earthy, others metallic.
FALLING TIDE, OR EBB OF TIDE. This phrase, implying a previous flow of
tide towards high-water, requires here only a partial explanation: the
sea, after swelling for about six hours, and thus entering the mouths of
rivers, and rising along the sea-shore more or less, according to the
moon's age and other circumstances, rests for a quarter of an hour, and
then retreats or ebbs during the next six hours. After a similar pause
the phenomenon recommences,--occupying altogether about twelve hours and
fifty minutes. A table of the daily time of high-water at each port is
requisite for the shipping. There are curious variations to this law, as
when strong rivers rise and fall, and yet do not admit salt water. Their
currents, indeed, of fresh water, are found far off the land, as in the
Tiber, and off several in the West Indies, South America, &c. (_See_
TIDE.)
FALL IN WITH, TO. To meet, when speaking of a ship; to discover, when
speaking of the land.
FALL OF TIDE. An ebb.
FALL OUT, TO. To increase in breadth. Among soldiers and small-arm men,
to quit the ranks of a company.
FALLS. When a ship is not flush, this is the term given to those risings
of some parts of her decks (which she may have) more than others.
FALL-WIND. A sudden gust.
FALMADAIR. An old word signifying rudder, or a pilot.
FALSE ALARM. _See_ ALARM.
FALSE ATTACK. A feigned assault, made to induce a diversion or
distraction of the enemy's forces, in order that the true object
elsewhere may be carried.
FALSE COLOURS. To sail under false colours and chase is an allowable
stratagem of war, but firing under them is not permitted by the maritime
law of England.
FALSE FIRE, BLUE FLAMES. A composition of combustibles filled into a
wooden tube, which, upon being set fire to, burns with a light blue
flame from a half to several minutes. They are principally used as
night-signals, but often to deceive an enemy.
FALSE KEEL. A kind of supplemental or additional keel secured under the
main one, to protect it should the ship happen to strike the ground.
FALSE KELSON, OR KELSON RIDER. A piece of timber wrought longitudinally
above the main kelson.
FALSE MUSTER. An incorrect statement of the crew on the ship's books,
which if proved subjects the captain to cashiering.
FALSE PAPERS. Frequently carried by slavers and smugglers.
FALSE POST. _See_ FALSE STERN-POST.
FALSE RAIL. A thin plank fayed at the head-rails as a strengthener.
FALSE STEM. A hard timber fayed to the fore-part of the main stem, its
tail covering the fore-end of the keel. (_See_ CUT-WATER.)
FALSE STERN. An additional stern fixed on the main one, to increase the
length and improve the appearance of a vessel.
FALSE STERN-POST. A piece bolted to the after-edge of the main
stern-post to improve steerage, and protect it should the ship tail
aground.
FAMILY-HEAD. When the stem was surmounted with several full-length
figures, as was the custom many years ago.
FAMLAGH. The Erse or Manx term for oar or ore weed, wrack, or manure of
sea-weed.
FANAL [Fr.] A lighthouse.
FANCY-LINE. A line rove through a block at the jaws of a gaff, used as a
down-haul. Also, a line used for cross-hauling the lee topping-lift.
Also, a cord laid up neatly for sashed cabin-windows. Sometimes used for
_tracing-line_.