FEATHER-SPRAY. Such as is observed at the cut-water of fast steamers,
forming a pair of wing feathers.
FEATHER-STAR. The _Comatula rosacea_, one of the most beautiful of
British star-fishes.
FEAZE, TO. To untwist, to unlay ropes; to teaze, to convert it into
oakum.
FEAZINGS. The fagging out or unravelling of an unwhipped rope.
FECKET. A Guernsey frock.
FECKLESS. Weak and silly.
FEEDER. A small river falling into a large one, or into a dock or float.
_Feeders_, in pilot slang, are the passing spurts of rain which feed a
gale.
FEEDING-GALE. A storm which is on the increase, sometimes getting worse
at each succeeding squall. When a gale freshens after rain, it is said
to have fed the gale.
FEEDING-PART OF A TACKLE. That running through the sheaves, in
opposition to the standing part.
FEED OF GRASS. A supply of any kind of vegetables.
FEED-PUMP. The contrivance by which the boilers of a steamer are
supplied with water from the hot-well, while the engines are at work.
FEED-WATER. In steamers, the water which supplies the boiler.
FEEL THE HELM, TO. To have good steerage way, carrying taut
weather-helm, which gives command of steerage. Also said of a ship when
she has gained head-way after standing still, and begins to obey the
helm.
FEINT. A mock assault, generally made to conceal a true one.
FELL, TO. To cut down timber. To knock down by a heavy blow. _Fell_ is
the Anglo-Saxon for a skin or hide.
FELL-HEAD. The top of a mountain not distinguished by a peak.
FELL IN WITH. Met by chance.
FELLOES [from _felly_]. The arch-pieces which form the rim or
circumference of the wheel, into which the spokes and handles are
fitted.
FELLOW. A sailor's soubriquet for himself; he will ask if you "have
anything for a fellow to do?"
FELLS. Upland levels and mountainous tracts.
FELT. Stuff made of wool and hair. Patent felt is saturated with tar,
and used to place inside the doubling or sheathing of a vessel's bottom.
Employed also in covering the boilers and cylinders of steam-engines.
FELUCCA. (_See_ LUNTRA.) A little vessel with six or eight oars,
frequent in the Mediterranean; its helm may be applied in the head or
stern, as occasion requires. Also, a narrow decked galley-built vessel
in great use there, of one or two masts, and some have a small mizen;
they carry lateen sails.
FEN. Low tracts inundated by the tides, capable, when in a dry state, of
bearing the weight of cattle grazing upon them; differing therein from
bog or quagmire. When well drained, they form some of the best land in
the country.
FENCE. A palisade. Also, the arm of the hammer-spring of a gun-lock.
FENCIBLES. Bodies of men raised for limited service, and for a definite
period. In rank they are junior to the line and royal marines, but
senior to yeomanry or volunteers.
FENCING. The art of using the small-sword with skill and address.
FEND. An aphaeresis from defend; to ward off.
FEND OR FENDER BOLTS. Made with long and thick heads, struck into the
outermost bends or wales of a ship, to save her sides from hurts and
bruises.
FENDER-PILES. In a dock, &c.
FENDERS. Two pieces of oak-plank fayed edgeways against the top-sides,
abreast the main hatchway, to prevent the sides being chafed by the
hoisting of things on board. They are not wanted where the yard-tackles
are constantly used. Also, pieces of old cable, or other materials, hung
over the side to prevent it from chafing against a wharf; as also to
preserve a small vessel from being damaged by a large one. The fenders
of a boat are usually made of canvas, stuffed, and neatly painted.
FEND OFF, TO. In order to avoid violent contact, is, by the application
of a spar, junk, rattans, &c., to prevent one vessel running against
another, or against a wharf, &c. Fend off, with the boat-hook or
stretchers in a boat.--_Fend the boat_, keep her from beating against
the ship's side.
FERNAN BAG. A small ditty-bag, often worn by sailors, for holding
tobacco and other things. They have applied the term to the pouches in
monkeys' cheeks, where they carry spare food.
FERRARA. A species of broadsword, named after the famous Spanish
sword-smith, Andrea Ferrara.
FERRIAGE. An old right of the admiralty over all rivers between the sea
and the first bridges.
FERRY. A passage across a river or branch of the sea by boat.
FERRY-BOATS. Vessels or wherries duly licensed for conveying passengers
across a river or creek.
FETCH, TO. To reach, or arrive at; as, "we shall fetch to windward of
the lighthouse this tack."
FETCH HEAD-WAY OR STERN-WAY. Said of a vessel gathering motion ahead or
astern.
FETCHING THE PUMP. Pouring water into the upper part in order to expel
the air contained between the lower box and that of the pump-spear.
(_See_ PUMP.)
FETCH OF A BAY OR GULF. The whole stretch from head to head, or point to
point.
FETCH WAY, TO. Said of a gun, or anything which escapes from its place
by the vessel's motion at sea.
FETTLE, TO. To fit, repair, or put in order. Also, a threat.
FEU-DE-JOIE. A salute fired by musketry on occasions of public
rejoicing, so that it should pass from man to man rapidly and steadily,
down one rank and up the other, giving one long continuous sound.
FEZ. A red cloth skull-cap, worn by the people of Fez and Morocco, and
in general use amongst Mediterranean sailors.
F.G. The initials on a powder cask, denote _fine grain_.
FICHANT. In fortification, said of flanking fire which impinges on the
face it defends; that is, of a line of defence where the angle of
defence is less than a right angle.
FID. A square bar of wood or iron, with a shoulder at one end, used to
support the weight of the top-mast when erected at the head of the lower
mast, by passing through a mortise or hole at the lower end of the
former, and resting its ends on the trestle-trees, which are sustained
by the head of the latter; the fid, therefore, must be withdrawn every
time the mast is lowered; the topgallant-mast is retained at the head of
the top-mast in the same manner. There is also a patent screw fid, which
can be removed after hauling taut the mast rope, without having first to
lift the mast. (_See_ MAST.) A fid is also a conical pin of hard wood,
of any size from 10 inches downwards, tapering to a point, used to open
the strands of a rope in splicing: of these some are large, for splicing
cables, and some small, for the bolt-ropes of sails, &c. Fid is
improperly applied to metal of the same shape; they are then termed
_marling-spikes_ (called _stabbers_ by sail-makers--which see). Also,
the piece of oakum with which the vent of a gun is plugged. Some call it
the _vent-plug_ (which see). Also, colloquially used for a quid or chew
of tobacco, or a small but thick piece of anything, as of meat in clumsy
carving.
FIDDED. When a mast has been swayed high enough the fid is then
inserted, and the mast-rope relieved of the weight.
FIDDLE. A contrivance to prevent things from rolling off the table in
bad weather. It takes its name from its resemblance to a fiddle, being
made of small cords passed through wooden bridges, and hauled very taut.
FIDDLE-BLOCK. A long shell, having one sheave over the other, and the
lower smaller than the upper (_see_ LONG-TACKLES), in contradistinction
to double blocks, which also have two sheaves, but one abreast of the
other. They lie flatter and more snugly to the yards, and are chiefly
used for lower-yard tackles.
FIDDLE-FISH. A name of the king-crab (_Limulus polyphemus_), from its
supposed resemblance to that instrument.
FIDDLE-HEAD. When there is no figure; this means that the termination of
the head is formed by a scroll turning aft or inward like a violin: in
contradistinction to the _scroll-head_ (which see).
FIDE JUSSORS. Bail sureties in the instance court of the admiralty.
FIDLER. A small crab, with one large claw and a very small one. It
burrows on drowned lands.
FIDLER'S GREEN. A sort of sensual Elysium, where sailors are represented
as enjoying, for "a full due," those amenities for which Wapping, Castle
Rag, and the back of Portsmouth Point were once noted.
FIELD. The country in which military operations are being carried on;
the scene of a conflict.--_Taking the field_, quitting cantonments, and
going on active service.
FIELD-ALLOWANCE. A small extra payment made to officers, and sometimes
to privates, on active service in the field, to compensate partly the
enhanced price of all necessaries.
FIELD-ARTILLERY. Light ordnance fitted for travel as to be applicable to
the active operations of the field. The term generally includes the
officers, men, and horses, also the service. According to the present
excellent establishment of rifled field-guns for the British service,
the Armstrong 12-pounder represents the average type.
FIELD-DAY. A day of exercise and evolutions.
FIELD-FORTIFICATION. Is the constructing of works intended to strengthen
the position of forces operating in the field; works of that temporary
and limited quality which may be easily formed with the means at hand.
FIELD-GLASS. A telescope, frequently so termed. Also, the binocular or
opera-glass, used for field-work, night-work, and at races.
FIELD-GUN. _See_ FIELD-ARTILLERY.
FIELD-ICE. A sheet of smooth frozen water of a general thickness, and of
an extent too large for its boundaries to be seen over from a ship's
mast-head. Field-ice may be all adrift, but yet pressed together, and
when any masses detach, as they suddenly do, they are termed floes. They
as suddenly become pressed home again and cause nips. (_See_ NIP.)
FIELD-MARSHAL. The highest rank in the British army.
FIELD-OFFICERS. The colonel, lieutenant-colonels, and majors of a
regiment; so called because, not having the common duties in quarters,
they are mostly seen when the troops are in the field.
FIELD OF VIEW. That space which is visible in a telescope at one view,
and which diminishes under augmenting eye-pieces.
FIELD-PIECES. Light guns proper to be taken into field operations; one
or more of them is now carried by all ships of war for land service.
FIELD-WORKS. The constructions of _field-fortification_ (which see).
FIERY-FLAW, OR FIRE-FLAIRE. A northern designation of the sting-ray
(_Raia pastinaca_).
FIFE-RAILS. Those forming the upper fence of the bulwarks on each side
of the quarter-deck and poop in men-of-war. Also, the rail round the
main-mast, and encircling both it and the pumps, furnished with belaying
pins for the running rigging, though now obsolete under the iron rule.
FIFER AND FIDLER. Two very important aids in eliciting exact discipline;
for hoisting, warping, and heaving at the capstan in proper time; rated
a second-class petty officer styled "musician," pay L30, 8_s._ per
annum.
FIG, OR FULL FIG. In best clothes. Full dress.
FIGALA. An East Indian craft with one mast, generally rowed with
paddles.
FIGGER. The soubriquet of a Smyrna trader.
FIGGIE-DOWDIE. A west-country pudding, made with raisins, and much in
vogue at sea among the Cornish and Devon men. Cant west-country term for
plum-pudding--figs and dough.
FIGHT, SEA. _See_ BATTLE, ENGAGEMENT, EXERCISE, &c.
FIGHTING-LANTERNS. Kept in their respective fire-buckets at quarters, in
readiness for night action only. There is usually one attached to each
gun; the bucket is fragile, but intended to screen the light, and
furnished with a fire-lanyard.
FIGHTING-SAILS. Those to which a ship is reduced when going into action;
formerly implying the courses and top-sails only.
FIGHTING-WATER. Casks filled and placed on the decks, expressly for use
in action. When the head was broken in, vinegar was added to prevent too
much being taken by one man.
FIGHTS. Waste-cloths formerly hung about a ship, to conceal the men from
the enemy. Shakspeare, who knew everything, makes Pistol bombastically
exclaim--
"Clap on more sails: pursue, up with your fights."
_Close fights_, synonymous with _close quarters_.
FIGURE. The principal piece of carved work or ornament at the head of a
ship, whether scroll, billet, or figure-head.
FIGURE-HEAD. A carved bust or full-length figure over the cut-water of a
ship; the remains of an ancient superstition. The Carthaginians carried
small images to sea to protect their ships, as the Roman Catholics do
still. The sign or head of St. Paul's ship was Castor and Pollux.
FIGURE OF EIGHT. A knot made by passing the end of a rope over and round
the standing part, up over its own part, and down through the bight.
FIGURE OF THE EARTH. The form of our globe, which is that of an oblate
spheroid with an ellipticity of about 1/299.
FIKE. _See_ FYKE.
FILADIERE. A small flat-bottomed boat of the Garonne.
FILE. Originally a string of soldiers one behind the other, though in
the present formation of British troops, the length of the string has
been reduced to two.
FILE. _An old file._ A somewhat contemptuous epithet for a deep and
cunning, but humorous person.
FILE OFF, TO. To march off to a flank by files, or with a very small
front.
FILL, TO. To brace the yards so that the wind strikes the after side of
the sails, and advances the ship in her course, after the sails had been
shivering, or braced aback. A ship may be forced backward or forward, or
made to remain in her place, with the same wind, by "backing, filling,"
or shivering the sails. (_See_ BRACE, BACK, and SHIVER.) Colliers
generally _tide it_, "backing and filling" down the Thames until they
gain the reaches, where there is room for tacking, or the wind is fair
enough for them to lay their course.--An idle skulker, a fellow who
loiters, trying to avoid being seen by the officer of the watch, is said
to be "backing and filling;" otherwise, doing nothing creditably.
FILL AND STAND ON. A signal made after "lying by" to direct the fleet to
resume their course.
FILLER. A filling piece in a made mast.
FILLET. An ornamental moulding. Rings on the muzzle and cascabel of
guns.
FILLET-HORSE. The horse employed in the shafts of the limbers.
FILLING. In ship-carpentry, wood fitted on a timber or elsewhere to make
up a defect in the moulding way. This name is sometimes given to a
_chock_.
FILLING A SHIP'S BOTTOM. Implies covering the bottom of a ship with
broad-headed nails, so as to give her a sheathing of iron, to prevent
the worms getting into the wood; sheathing with copper is found
superior, but the former plan is still used for piles in salt-water.
FILLING IN. The replacing a ship's vacant planks opened for ventilation,
when preparing her, from ordinary, for sea.
FILLING POWDER. Taking gunpowder from the casks to fill cartridges, when
lights and fires should be extinguished.
FILLING ROOM. Formerly a small place parted off and lined with lead, in
a man-of-war magazine, wherein powder may be started loosely, in order
to fill cartridges.
FILLINGS. Fir fayed in between the chocks of the head, and wherever
solidity is required, as making the curve fair for the mouldings between
the edges of the fish-front and the sides of the mast, or making the
spaces between the ribs and timbers of a vessel's frame solid.
FILLING-TIMBERS. Blocks of wood introduced in all well-built vessels
between the frames, where the bilge-water may wash.
FILLING-TRANSOM, is just above the deck-transom, securing the ends of
the gun-deck plank and lower-transoms.
FILL THE MAIN-YARD. An order well understood to mean, fill the
main-topsail, after it has been aback, or the ship hove-to.
FILTER. A strainer to free water from its impurities, usually termed by
seamen _drip-stone_ (which see).
FILUM AQUAE. The thread or middle of any river or stream which divides
countries, manors, &c.--_File du mer_, the high tide of the sea.
FIMBLE HEMP; _female hemp_, is that which is chiefly used for domestic
purposes, and therefore falls to the care of the women, as _carl_ or
_male hemp_, which produces the flower, does to the maker of cordage.
"Wife, pluck fro thy seed hemp, the _fimble hemp_ clean,
This looketh more yellow, the other more green;
Use this one for thy spinning, leave Michael the t'other,
For shoe-thread and halter, for rope and such other."--_Tusser._
FIN [Anglo-Saxon, _Finn_]. A native of Finland; those are _Fins_ who
live by fishing. We use the whole for a part, and thus lose the clue
which the Fin affords of a race of fishermen.
FIN-BACK. _See_ FINNER.
FIND, TO. To provide with or furnish.
FINDING. The verdict of a court-martial.
FINDON HADDOCK. The Finnan Haddie, a species of haddock cured by
smoke-drying at Montrose and Aberdeen.
FINE. A term of comparison, as fine ship, &c., or _lean_ (which see).
Also, _see_ FYEN.
FINE BREEZES. Said of the wind when the flying-kites may be carried, but
requiring a sharp look-out.
FINISHINGS. The carved ornaments of the quarter-galleries: _upper_ and
_lower_, as above or below the stools.
FINNER. Whales of the genus _Balaenoptera_ are so termed, being
distinguished from the right whales by the possession of a small
triangular adipose dorsal fin. There are several species, some of which
grow to a greater length than any other animals of the order, viz. 80 or
perhaps 90 feet. They are very active and difficult to harpoon, yield
comparatively little oil, and their baleen, or "whalebone," is almost
worthless; consequently, they suffer much less than the right whales
from the persecutions of the whalers. The finner, or great black fish,
is feared by whalers in general. It is vicious, and can only be attacked
by large boats in shallow water, as at the Bermudas, where the
whale-boats are about 50 or 60 feet long, and 12 feet beam. The fish
yields one barrel of oil for every foot in length beyond thirty. (_See_
RAZOR-BACK and RORQUAL.)
FINNIE. A northern name for salmon under a year old.
FINNOCK. A white kind of small salmon taken on the west coast of
Scotland.
FINTRUM SPELDIN. A small dried haddock.
FIN-WHALE. _See_ FINNER.
FIORD. A Norwegian pilot term for good channels among islets, and deep
inlets of the sea.
FIRBOME. An old term for a beacon, and appears thus in the _Promptorium
Parvulorum_.
FIR-BUILT. Constructed of fir.
FIRE! The order to put the match to the priming, or pull the trigger of
a cannon or other fire-arm so as to discharge it. The act of discharging
ordnance.
FIRE, LOSS BY. Is within the policy of insurance, whether it be by
accident, or by the fault of the master or mariners. Also, if a ship be
ordered by a state to be burnt to prevent infection, or if she be burnt
to prevent her falling into the hands of the enemy.
FIRE-AND-LIGHTS. Nickname of the master-at-arms.
FIRE-ARMS. Every description of arms that discharge missiles by
gunpowder, from the heaviest cannon to a pistol.
FIRE-ARROWS. Missiles in olden times carrying combustibles; much used in
the sea-fights of the middle ages.
FIRE-AWAY. Go on with your remarks.
FIRE-BALL. In meteorology, a beautiful phenomenon seen at times, the
origin of which is as yet imperfectly accounted for. It is also the
popular name for aerolites in general, because in their descent they
appear to be burning.
FIRE-BALLS. Are used for destroying vessels run aground, and firing
buildings. They are made of a composition of meal-powder, sulphur,
saltpetre, and pitch, moulded into a mass with suet and tow.
FIRE-BARE. An old term from the Anglo-Saxon for _beacon_.
FIRE-BARS. The range fronting a steam-boiler.
FIRE-BILL. The distribution of the officers and crew in case of the
alarm of fire, a calamity requiring judicious conduct.
FIRE-BOOMS. Long spars swung out from a ship's side to prevent the
approach of fire-ships, fire-stages, or vessels accidentally on fire.
FIRE-BOX. A space crossing the whole front of the boiler over the
furnace doors, opposite the smoke-box.
FIRE-BUCKETS. Canvas, leather, or wood buckets for quarters, each fitted
with a sinnet laniard of regulated length, for reaching the water from
the lower yards. (_See_ FIREMEN.)
FIRE-DOOR. An access to the fire-place of an engine.
FIRE-DRAKE. A meteor, or the Corpo Santo. Also, a peculiar fire-work,
which Shakspeare in _Henry VIII._ thus mentions: "That fire-drake did I
hit three times on the head, and three times was his nose discharged
against me; he stands there like a mortar-piece to blow us."
FIRE-EATER. One notoriously fond of being in action; much humbled by
iron-clads.
FIRE-FLAUGHTS. The _aurora borealis_, or northern lights.
FIRE-HEARTH. The security base of the galley-range and all its
conveniences.
FIRE-HEARTH-CARLINE. The timber let in under the beams on which the
fire-hearth stands, with pillars underneath, and chocks thereon.
FIRE-HOOPS. A combustible invented by the knights of Malta to throw
among their besiegers, and afterwards used in boarding Turkish galleys.
FIRE-LOCK. Formerly the common name for a musket; the fire-arm carried
by a foot-soldier, marine, or small-arm man, until the general
introduction of rifles. It carried a ball of about an ounce in weight.
FIREMEN. A first and second man is stationed to each gun, in readiness
for active duty. The firemen, when called with the first and second
division of boarders, were an effective force. If for duty aloft, each
bucket had a lanyard which reached from the main-yard to the sea, so as
to keep the lower sails well wet. The ship's engine was also manned by
the second division of boarders, while the first division and carpenters
cut away obstacles. (For firemen in a steamer, see STOKER.)
FIRE-RAFTS. Timber constructions bearing combustible matters, used by
the Chinese to destroy an enemy's vessel.
FIRE-RAILS. _See_ RAILS.
FIRE-ROLL. A peculiar beat of the drum to order people to their stations
on an alarm of fire. Summons to quarters.
FIRE-SCREENS. Pieces of fear-nought, a thick woollen felt put round the
hatchways in action.
FIRE-SHIP. A vessel filled with combustible materials, and fitted with
grappling-irons, to hook and set fire to the enemy's ships.
Notwithstanding what is said respecting the siege of Tyre, perhaps the
practice of using regular fire-ships ought to be dated from the
destruction of the fleet of Basilicus by the victorious Genseric near
Carthage.
FIRE-SWAB. The bunch of rope-yarns sometimes secured to the tompion,
saturated with water to cool the gun in action, and swab up any grains
of powder.
FIRE-WORKS. _See_ PYROTECHNY.
FIRING-PARTY. A detachment of soldiers, marines, or small-arm men
selected to fire over the grave of an individual buried with military
honours.
FIRMAUN. A Turkish passport.
FIRST. The appellation of the senior lieutenant; also, senior lieutenant
of marines, and first captain of a gun.
FIRST FUTTOCKS. Timbers in the frame of a ship which come down between
the floor-timbers almost to the keel on each side.
FIRST POINT OF ARIES. _See_ ARIES.
FIRST QUARTER OF THE MOON. _See_ QUARTER, FIRST.
FIRST WATCH. The men on deck-duty from 8 P.M. till midnight.
FIRTH. A corruption of _frith_, in Scotland applied to arms of the sea,
and estuaries of various extent; also given to several channels amongst
the Orkneys.
FISH, OR FISH-PIECE. A long piece of hard wood, convex on one side and
concave on the other; two are bound opposite to each other to strengthen
the lower masts or the yards when they are sprung, to effect which they
are well secured by bolts and hoops, or stout rope called woolding.
Also, colloquially, an epithet given to persons, as a _prime_ fish, a
_queer_ fish, a _shy_ fish, a _loose_ fish, &c. _As mute as a fish_,
when a man is very silent. Also, _fish_ among whalers is expressly
applied to whales. At the cry of "Fish! fish!" all the boats are
instantly manned.
FISH, ROYAL. Whale and sturgeon, to which the sovereign is entitled when
either thrown on shore or caught near the coasts.
FISH-DAVIT. (_See_ DAVIT.) That which steps into a shoe in the
fore-chains, and is used for fishing an anchor.
FISHER-BOYS. The apprentices in fishing vessels.
FISHER-FISH. A species of _Remora_, said to be trained by the Chinese to
catch turtle. When a turtle is perceived basking on the surface of the
sea, the men, avoiding all noise, slip one of their remoras overboard,
tied to a long and fine cord. As soon as the fish perceives the floating
reptile he swims towards it, and fixes himself on it so firmly that the
fishermen easily pull in both together.
FISHERMAN'S BEND. A knot, for simplicity called the king of all knots.
Its main use is for bending studding-halliards to the yard, by taking
two turns round the yard, passing the end between them and the yard, and
half hitching it round the standing part. (_See_ STUDDING-SAIL BEND.)
FISHERMAN'S WALK. An extremely confined space; "three steps and
overboard," is often said of what river yachtsmen term their
quarter-decks.
FISH-FAG. A woman who fags under heavy fish-baskets, but is applied also
in opprobrium to slatterns.
FISH-FLAKE. A stage covered with light spars for the purpose of drying
fish in Newfoundland.
FISH-FRONT. The strengthening slab on a made mast.
FISH-GARTH. The water shut in by a dam or weir by the side of a river
for securing fish.
FISH-GIG. A staff with three, four, or more barbed prongs of steel at
one end, and a line fastened to the other; used for striking fish at
sea. Now more generally called _grains_.
FISH-HACK. A name of the _Gobius niger_.
FISHICK. An Orkney name for the brown whistle-fish, _Gadus mustela_.
FISHING. In taking celestial observations, means the sweeping to find a
star or other object when near its approximate place.
FISHING-BOAT. A stout fishing-vessel with two lug-sails.
FISHING-FROG. A name of the _Lophius piscatorius_, angler or devil-fish,
eaten in the Mediterranean.
FISHING-GROUND. Any bank or shoal frequented by fish.
FISHING-SMACK. A sloop having in the hold a well wherein to preserve the
fish, particularly lobsters, alive.
FISHING-TAUM. A northern designation of an angling line, or angling
gear.
FISHING-VESSELS. A general term for those employed in the fisheries,
from the catching of sprats to the taking of whales.
FISH-LEEP. An old term for a fish-basket.
FISH-ROOM. A space parted off by bulk-heads in the after-hold, now used
for waste stores, but formerly used for stowing salt fish--an article of
food long discontinued. In line-of-battle ships, a small store-room near
the bread-room, in which spirits or wine, and sometimes coals, were
stowed, with the stock-fish.
FISH-SPEAR. An instrument with barbed spikes.
FISH-TACKLE. A tackle employed to hook and draw up the flukes of a
ship's anchor towards the top of the bow, after catting, in order to
stow it; formerly composed of four parts, viz. the pendant, the block,
the hook, and the tackle, for which see DAVIT.
FISH THE ANCHOR, TO. To turn up the flukes of an anchor to the gunwale
for stowage, after being catted.--_Other fish to fry_, a common
colloquialism, expressing that a person has other occupation demanding
his attention.
FISH-WIFE, OR FISH-WOMAN. A female carrier and vendor of fish in our
northern cities.
FIST, TO. To handle a rope or sail promptly; thus _fisting_ a thing is
readily getting hold of it.
FIT FOR DUTY. In an effective state for service.
FIT RIGGING, TO. To cut or fit the standing and running rigging to the
masts, &c.
FIT-ROD. A small iron rod with a hook at the end, which is put into the
holes made in a vessel's side, to ascertain the length of the bolts or
tree-nails required to be driven in.
FITTED FURNITURE. Rudder-chocks, bucklers, hawse-plugs, dead-lights,
pump-boxes, and other articles of spare supply, sent from the dockyard.
FITTERS. Persons in the north who vend and load coals, fitting ships
with cargoes, &c.
FITTING OUT A SHIP. The act of providing a ship with sufficient masts,
sails, yards, ammunition, artillery, cordage, anchors, provisions,
stores, and men, so that she is in proper condition for the voyage or
purpose to which she is appointed.
FIUMARA. A term common to the Italian coasts for a mountain torrent.
FIVE-FINGERS. The name given to the _Asterias_, or star-fish, found on
our shore. Cocker in 1724 describes it thus: "_Five-fingers_, a fish
like a spur-rowel, destructive to oysters, to be destroyed by the
admiralty law." They destroy the spat of oysters.
FIVE-SHARE MEN. In vessels, as whalers, where the men enter on the
chances of success, &c., in shares.
FIX BAYONETS! Ship them ready for use.
FIXED AMMUNITION. Is, complete in each round, the cartridge being
attached to the projectile, to facilitate simultaneous loading. In the
British service it is only used for small mountain-pieces, but in the
French for field-artillery in general. It does not stow conveniently.
FIXED BLOCKS. Solid pieces of oak let through the sides of the ship, and
fitted with sheaves, to lead the tacks, sheets, &c., of the courses
in-board.
FIXED STAR. _See_ STARS (FIXED).
FIZZ. The burning of priming.
FLABBERGAST, TO. To throw a person aback by a confounding assertion; to
produce a state of extreme surprise.
FLADDERMUS. A base silver German coin of four kreutzers' value.
FLAG. A general name for the distinguishing colours of any nation. Also,
a certain banner by which an admiral is distinguished at sea from the
inferior ships of his squadron. The flags of the British navy were
severally on a red, white, or blue field, and were displayed from the
top of the royal pole of the main, fore, or mizen mast, according to the
rank of the admiral, thus indicating nine degrees. This diversity of
colour has now been long done away with. The white field, with the red
St. George's cross, and the sinister upper corner occupied by the union,
is now alone used in the British navy--the blue being assigned to the
reserve, and the red to the mercantile navy. An admiral still displays
his flag exclusively at the main truck; a vice-admiral at the fore; a
rear-admiral at the mizen. The first flag in importance is the royal
standard of Great Britain and Ireland, hoisted only when the king or
queen is on board; the second is the anchor of hope, for the lord
high-admiral, or the lords-commissioners of the admiralty; and the third
is the union flag, for the admiral of the fleet, who is the next
officer under the lord high-admiral. The various other departments, such
as the navy board, custom-house, &c., have each their respective flags.
Besides the national flag, merchant ships are permitted to bear lesser
flags on any mast, with the arms or design of the firm to which they
belong, but they "must not resemble or be mistaken for any of the flags
or signals used by the royal navy," under certain penalties. When a
council of war is held at sea, if it be on board the admiral's ship, a
flag is hung on the main-shrouds; if the vice-admiral's, on the
fore-shrouds; and if the rear-admiral's, on the mizen-shrouds. The flags
borne on the mizen were particularly called gallants. There are also
smaller flags used for signals. The word _flag_ is often familiarly used
to denote the admiral himself. Also, the reply from the boat if an
admiral is on board--Flag!
FLAG-OFFICER. A term synonymous with _admiral_.
FLAG OF TRUCE. A white flag, hoisted to denote a wish to parley between
the belligerent parties, but so frequently abused, with the design of
obtaining intelligence, or to cover stratagems, &c., that officers are
very strict in its admission. It is held sacred by civilized nations.
FLAG-SHARE. The admiral's share (one-eighth) in all captures made by any
vessels within the limits of his command, even if under the orders of
another admiral; but in cases of pirates, he has no claim unless he
participates in the action.
FLAG-SHIP. A ship bearing an admiral's flag.
FLAG-SIDE OF A SPLIT FISH. The side without the bone.
FLAG-STAFF. In contradistinction to mast-head, is the staff on a
battery, or on a ship's stern, where the colours are displayed. (_See_
FLARE.)
FLAKE. A small shifting stage, hung over a ship's side to caulk or
repair a breach. (_See_ FISH-FLAKE.)
FLAM. Wedge-shaped. Also, a sudden puff of wind. Also, a shallow.
FLAM-FEW. The brilliant reflection of the moon on the water.
FLAN. An old word, equivalent to a flaw, or sudden gust of wind from the
land.
FLANCHING. The bellying out; synonymous with _flaring_.
FLANGE. In steamers, is the projecting rim at the end of two iron pipes
for uniting them. (_See_ PORT-FLANGE.)
FLANK, TO. To defend that part; incorrectly used sometimes for firing
upon a flank.
FLANK OF AN ARMY. The right or left side or end, as distinguished from
the front and rear--a vulnerable point. Also, the force composing or
covering that side. In fortification, a work constructed to afford flank
defence.
FLANK-COMPANIES. The extreme right and left companies of a battalion,
formerly called the grenadiers and light infantry, and wearing
distinctive marks in their dress; now the title, dress, and duties of
all the companies of a battalion are the same.
FLANK-DEFENCE. A line of fire parallel, or nearly so, to the front of
another work or position.
FLANKED ANGLE. In fortification, a salient angle formed by two lines of
flank defence.
FLAP. The cover of a cartridge-box or scupper.
FLAPPING. The agitation of a sail with sheet or tack carried away, or
the sudden jerk of the sails in light winds and a heavy swell on.
FLARE. In ship-building, is flanching outwards, as at the bows of
American ships, to throw off the bow-seas; it is in opposition to
tumbling home and wall-sided.
FLARE. A name for the skate, _Raia batis_.
FLARE, TO. To rake back, as of a fashion-piece or knuckle-timber.
FLASH. The laminae and grain-marks in timber, when cut into planks. Also,
a pool. Also, in the west, a river with a large bay, which is again
separated from the outer sea by a reef of rocks.--_To make a flash_, is
to let boats down through a lock; to flash loose powder at night to show
position.
FLASHING-BOARD. To raise or set off.
FLASHING-SIGNALS. By Captain Colomb's plan, the lime light being used on
shore, and a plain white light at sea, is capable of transmitting
messages by the relative positions of long and short dashes of light by
night, and of collapsing cones by day.
FLASH IN THE PAN. An expressive metaphor, borrowed from the false fire
of a musket, meaning to fail of success after presumption.
FLASH RIM. In carronades, a cup-shaped enlargement of the bore at the
muzzle, which facilitates the loading, and protects the ports or rigging
of the vessel from the flash of explosion.
FLASH VESSELS. All paint outside, and no order within.
FLASK. A horn or other implement for carrying priming-powder. Smaller
ones for fire-arms are usually furnished with a measure of the charge
for the piece on the top.
FLAT. In ship-building, a straight part in a curve. In hydrography, a
shallow over which the tide flows, and over the whole extent of which
there is little or no variation of soundings. If less than three
fathoms, it is called _shoal_ or _shallow_.
FLAT-ABACK. When all the sails are blown with their after-surface
against the mast, so as to give stern-way.
FLAT-AFT. The sheets of fore-and-aft sails may be hauled flat-aft, as
the jib-sheet to pay her head off, the driver or trysail sheets to bring
her head to the wind; hence, "flatten in the head-sheets."
FLAT-BOTTOMED. When a vessel's lower frame has but little upward
inclination.
FLAT CALM. When there is no perceptible wind at sea.
FLAT-FISH. The _Pleuronectidae_, a family of fishes containing the soles,
flounders, turbots, &c., remarkable for having the body greatly
compressed laterally; they habitually lie on one side, which is white,
the uppermost being coloured, and having both the eyes placed on it.
FLAT-NAILS. Small sharp-pointed nails with flat thin heads, longer than
tacks, for nailing the scarphs of moulds and the like.
FLATS. All the floor-timbers that have no bevellings in midships, or
pertaining to the _dead-flat_ (which see). Also, lighters used in river
navigation, and very flat-floored boats for landing troops.
FLAT SEAM. The two edges or selvedges of canvas laid over each other and
sewed down.
FLAT SEIZING. This is passed on a rope, the same as a round seizing, but
it has no riding turns.
FLATTEN IN, TO. The action of hauling in the aftmost clue of a sail to
give it greater power of turning the vessel; thus, if the mizen or after
sails are flatted in, it is to carry the stern to leeward, and the head
to windward; and if, on the contrary, the head-sails are flatted in, the
intention is to make the ship fall off when, by design or accident, she
has come so near as to make the sails shiver; hence _flatten in forward_
is the order to haul in the jib and foretop-mast staysail-sheets towards
the middle of the ship, and haul forward the fore-bowline; this
operation is seldom necessary except when the helm has not sufficient
government of the ship, as in variable winds or inattentive steerage.
FLAUT. _See_ FLUTE.
FLAVER. An east-country term for froth or foam of surf.
FLAWS. Sudden gusts of wind, sometimes blowing with violence; whence
Shakspeare in _Coriolanus_:
"Like a great sea-mark, standing every flaw."
But flaws also imply occasional fickle breezes in calm weather. _Flaw_
is also used to express any crack in a gun or its carriage.
FLEACHES. Portions into which timber is cut by the saw.
FLEAK. _See_ DUTCH PLAICE.
FLEAM. A northern name for a water-course.
FLEAT, OR FLEET. _See_ FLEETING.
FLEATE, TO. To skim fresh water off the sea, as practised at the mouths
of the Rhone, the Nile, &c. The word is derived from the Dutch
_vlieten_, to skim milk; it also means to float. (_See_ FLEET.)
FLECHE. The simplest form of field-work, composed of two faces meeting
in a salient angle, and open at the gorge. It differs from the redan
only in having no ditch.
FLECHERRA. A swift-sailing South American despatch vessel.
FLECK. An east-country term for lightning.
FLEECH. An outside portion of timber cut by the saw.
FLEET [Teut. _flieffen_]. The old word for float: as "we fleeted down
the river with our boats;" and Shakspeare makes Antony say,
"Our sever'd navy too
Have knit again, and fleet, threat'ning most sea-like."
_Fleet_ is also an old term for an arm of the sea, or running water
subject to the tide. Also, a bay where vessels can remain afloat. (_See_
FLOAT.) A salt-water tide-creek.
FLEET. A general name given to the royal navy. Also, any number of
ships, whether designed for war or commerce, keeping in company. A
fleet of ships of war is usually divided into three squadrons, and
these, if numerous, are again separated into subdivisions. The admiral
commands the centre, the second in command superintends the vanguard,
and the third directs the rear. The term in the navy was any number
exceeding a squadron, or rear-admiral's command, composed of five
sail-of-the-line, with any amount of smaller vessels.
FLEET-DYKE. From the Teut. _vliet_, a dyke for preventing inundation.
FLEETING. To _come up_ a rope, so as to haul to more advantage;
especially the act of changing the situation of a tackle when the blocks
are drawn together; also, changing the position of the dead-eyes, when
the shrouds are become too long, which is done by shortening the bend of
the shroud and turning in the dead-eye again higher up; the use of
fleeting is accordingly to regain the mechanical powers, when destroyed
by the meeting of the blocks or dead-eyes.--_Fleet ho!_ the order given
at such times. (_See_ TACKLE.)
FLEET THE MESSENGER. When about to weigh, to shift the eyes of the
messenger past the capstan for the heavy heave.
FLEET-WATER. Water which inundates.
FLEMISH, TO. To coil down a rope concentrically in the direction of the
sun, or coil of a watch-spring, beginning in the middle without riders;
but if there must be riding fakes, they begin outside, and that is the
true _French coil_.
FLEMISH ACCOUNT. A deficit in accounts.
FLEMISH EYE. A kind of eye-splice, in which the ends are scraped down,
tapered, passed oppositely, marled, and served over with spun yarn.
Often called a _made-eye_.
FLEMISH FAKE. A method of coiling a rope that runs freely when let go;
differing from the French, and was used for the head-braces. Each bend
is slipped under the last, and the whole rendered flat and solid to walk
on.
FLEMISH HORSE, is the outer short foot-rope for the man at the earing;
the outer end is spliced round a thimble on the goose-neck of the
studding-sail boom-iron. The inner end is seized by its eye within the
brace-block-strop and head-earing-cleat.
FLEMISHING. A forcing or scoring of the planks.
FLENCH-GUT. The blubber of a whale laid out in long slices.
FLENSE, TO. To strip the fat off a flayed seal, or the blubber from a
whale.
FLESHMENT. Being in the first battle; and "fleshing the sword" alludes
to the first time the beginner draws blood with it.
FLESH-TRAFFIC. The slave-trade.
FLET. A name of the halibut.
FLETCH, TO. To feather an arrow.
FLEUZ. A north-country term for the fagged end of a rope.
FLEXURE. The bending or curving of a line or figure.
FLIBOAT. _See_ FLY-BOAT.
FLIBUSTIER [Fr.] A freebooter, pirate, &c.
FLICKER, TO. To veer about.
FLIDDER. A northern name for the limpet.
FLIGHERS. An old law-term meaning masts of ships.
FLIGHT. A Dutch vessel or passage-boat on canals. In ship-building, a
sudden rising, or a greater curve than sheer, at the cheeks, cat-heads,
&c.
FLIGHT OF A SHOT. The trajectory formed between the muzzle of the gun
and the first graze.
FLIGHT OF THE TRANSOMS. As their ends gradually close downwards on
approaching the keel, they describe a curve somewhat similar to the
rising of the floors; whence the name.