FANG, TO. To pour water into a pump in order to fetch it, when otherwise
the boxes do not hold the water left on them.
FANGS. The valves of the pump-boxes.
FANIONS. Small flags used in surveying stations, named after the
bannerets carried by horse brigades, and corrupted from the Italian word
_gonfalone_, a standard.
FANNAG-VARRY. The Erse term for a shag or cormorant, still in use on our
north-western shores, and in the Isle of Man.
FANNING. The technical phrase for breadthening the after-part of the
tops. Also, widening in general.
FANNING-BREEZE. One so gentle that the sail alternately swells and
collapses.
FANTODS. A name given to the fidgets of officers, who are styled
jib-and-staysail Jacks.
FARDAGE. Dunnage; when a ship is laden in bulk.
FARE [Anglo-Saxon, _fara_]. A voyage or passage by water, or the money
paid for such passage. Also, a fishing season for cod; and likewise the
cargo of the fishing vessel. (_See_ HOW FARE YE?)
FARE-CROFTS. The vessels that formerly plied between England and France.
FARRANE. The Erse term for a gentle breeze, still used on our
north-western shores.
FARTHEL. An old word for furling sails. Also, a burden, according to
Shakspeare in _Hamlet_; and a weight, agreeably to the depositions of
the "Portingalls" before Sir Francis Drake, _in re_ the great carrack's
cargo in 1592; there were "ij^_c_ fardells of synamon:" of this famous
prize the queen reserved to herself the lion's share.
FASCINES. Faggots of brush or other small wood, varying according to the
object in view and the material available, from about 6 to 9 inches in
diameter, and from 6 to 18 feet in length, firmly bound with withes at
about every 18 inches. They are of vast use in military
field-engineering.
FASH. An irregular seam. The mark left by the moulds upon cast bullets.
(Short for _fashion_--ship-fashion, soldier-fashion.)
FASHION-PIECES. The fashion of the after-part of a ship, in the plane of
projection. They are the hindmost timbers in the run of a ship, which
terminate the breadth, and form the shape of the stern; they are united
to the stern-post, and to the end of the wing-transom by a rabbet.
FASKIDAR. A name of the _Cataractes parasiticus_, or Arctic gull.
FAST. A rope, cablet, or chain by which a vessel is secured to a wharf;
and termed bow, head, breast, quarter, or stern fasts, as the case may
be.
FAST AGROUND. Immovable, or high and dry.
FAST AND LOOSE. An uncertain and shuffling conduct.
FASTENINGS. "Let go the fasts!" throw off the ropes from the bollards or
cleats. Also used for the bolts, &c., which hold together the different
parts of a ship.
FASTNESS. A strong post, fortified by nature and art.