FLOTAGES. Things accidentally floating on seas or rivers.
FLOTA NAVIUM. An old statute term for a fleet of ships.
FLOTE. An old English term for wave: thus Ariel tells Prospero that the
dispersed ships--
"All have met again,
And are upon the Mediterranean flote."
FLOTE-BOTE. An old term for a yawl--a rough-built river boat.
FLOTERY. Floating, used by Chaucer and others.
FLOTILLA. A fleet or squadron of small vessels.
FLOT-MANN. A very early term for sailor.
FLOTSAM. In legal phraseology, is the place where shipwrecked goods
continue to float and become derelict property. Sometimes spelled
_flotson_.
FLOUNDER. A well-known pleuronect, better to fish for than to eat.
Called also _floun-dab_.
FLOW. In tidology, the rising of the tide; the opposite of ebb. Also,
the course or direction of running waters.
FLOWER OF THE WINDS. The mariner's compass on maps and charts.
FLOWERING. The phenomenon observed usually in connection with the
spawning of fish, at the distance of four leagues from shore. The water
appears to be saturated with a thick jelly, filled with the ova of fish,
which is known by its adhering to the ropes that the cobles anchor with
while fishing, for they find the first six or seven fathom of rope free
from spawn, the next ten or twelve covered with slimy matter, and the
remainder again free to the bottom; this gelatinous material may supply
the new-born fry with food, and protect them by clouding the water.
FLOWING-HOPE. _See_ FORLORN HOPE.
FLOWING-SHEET. In sailing free or large, is the position of the sheets
or lower clues of the principal sails when they are eased off to the
wind, so as to receive it more nearly perpendicular than when they are
close-hauled, although more obliquely than when going before the wind; a
ship is therefore said to have a flowing-sheet, when the wind crosses
the line of her course nearly at right angles; that is to say, a ship
steering due north with the wind at east, or directly on her side, will
have a flowing-sheet; whereas, if the sheets were hauled close aft, she
would sail two points nearer the wind--viz. N.N.E. This explanation will
probably be better understood by considering the yards as plane faces of
wedges--the more oblique fore and aft, the less head-way force is given,
until 22 deg. before the transverse line or beam. This is the swiftest
line of sailing. As the wind draws aft of the beam the speed decreases
(unless the wind increases), so that a vessel with the wind abeam, and
every sail drawing, goes much faster than she would with the same wind
before it.
FLUCTUATION OF THE TIDE. The rising and falling of the waters.
FLUE. _See_ FLUKES.
FLUES. In a steamer's boiler, are a series of oblong passages from the
furnaces for the issue of heated air. Their object being, that the air,
before escaping, shall impart some of its heat to the water in the
boiler, thereby economizing fuel.
FLUFFIT. The movement of fishes' fins.
FLUID COMPASS. That in which the card revolves in its bowl floated by
alcohol, which prevents the needle from undue vibrations. The pin is
downwards to prevent rising, as in the suspended compass-card. The body,
or card, on which the points of the compass are marked, is constructed
of two segments of a globe, having a diameter of 7 inches to the
(double) depth of 1 inch at the poles.
FLUKES. The two parts which constitute the large triangular tail of the
whale; from the power of these the phrase obtained among whalers of
_fluking_ or _all-a-fluking_, when running with a fresh free wind.
Flukes, or palms, are also the broad triangular plates of iron on each
arm of the anchor, inside the bills or extreme points, which having
entered the ground, hold the ship. Seamen, by custom, drop the _k_, and
pronounce the word _flue_.
FLUMMERY. A dish made of oatmeal, or oats soured, &c.
FLURRY. The convulsive movements of a dying whale. Also, a light breeze
of wind shifting to different points, and causing a little ruffling on
the sea. Also, hurry and confusion.
FLUSH. An old word for even or level. Anything of fair surface, or in
continuous even lines. Colloquially the word means full of, or abounding
in pay or prize-money.
FLUSH-DECK. A continued floor laid from the stem to the stern, upon one
range, without any break.
FLUSHED. Excited by success; flushed with victory.
FLUSTERED. Performing duty in an agitated and confused manner. Also,
stupefied by drink.
FLUTE, OR FLUYT. A pink-rigged fly-boat, the after-part of which is
round-ribbed. Also, vessels only partly armed; as armed _en flute_.
FLUTTERING. Used in the same sense as _flapping_.
FLUVIAL, OR FLUVIATILE. Of or belonging to a river.
FLUVIAL LAGOONS. Contradistinguished from marine lagoons, in being
formed by river deposits.
FLUX. The flowing in of the tide.
FLY OF A FLAG. The breadth from the staff to the extreme end that
flutters loose in the wind. If an ensign, the part which extends from
the union to the outer part; the vertical height, to the head-toggle of
which the halliards are bent, or which is next to the staff, is called
the _hoist_; the lower (which is a rope rove through the canvas heading,
and into which the head-toggle is spliced) is the long tack; on this
rope the whole strain is sustained.
FLY, OR COMPASS-CARD, placed on the magnetic-needle and supported by a
pin, whereon it turns freely. (_See_ COMPASS.)
FLY-AWAY. Fictitious resemblance of land; "Dutchman's cape," &c. (_See_
CAPE FLY-AWAY.)
FLY-BLOCK. The block spliced into the topsail-tye; it is large and flat,
and sometimes double.
FLY-BOAT. A large flat-bottomed Dutch vessel, whose burden is generally
from 300 to 600 tons. It is distinguished by a remarkably high stern,
resembling a Gothic turret, and by very broad buttocks below. Also, a
swift canal passage-boat.
FLY-BY-NIGHT. A sort of square-sail, like a studding-sail, used in
sloops when running before the wind; often a temporary spare jib set
from the topmast-head to the yard-arm of the square-sail.
FLYER. A fast sailer; a clipper.
FLYING ABOUT. Synonymous with _chop-about_ (which see).
FLYING COLUMN. A complete and mobile force kept much on the move, for
the sake of covering the designs of its own army, distracting those of
the enemy, or maintaining supremacy in a hostile or disaffected region.
FLYING DUTCHMAN. A famous marine spectre ship, formerly supposed to
haunt the Cape of Good Hope. The tradition of seamen was that a Dutch
skipper, irritated with a foul wind, swore by _donner_ and _blitzen_,
that he would beat into Table Bay in spite of God or man, and that,
foundering with the wicked oath on his lips, he has ever since been
working off and on near the Cape. The term is now extended to false
reports of vessels seen.
FLYING JIB. A light sail set before the jib, on the flying jib-boom. The
third jib in large ships, as the inner jib, the jib, and the flying jib,
set on the flying jib-boom. (_See_ JIB.)
FLYING JIB-BOOM. A spar which is pointed through the iron at the
jib-boom end. It lies beside it, and the heel steps into the bowsprit
cap.
FLYING-KITES. The very lofty sails, which are only set in fine weather,
such as skysails, royal studding-sails, and all above them.
FLYING-LIGHT. The state of a ship when she has little cargo, provisions,
or water on board, and is very crank.
FLYING-TO. Is when a vessel, from sailing free or having tacked, and her
head thrown much to leeward, is coming to the wind rapidly, the warning
is given to the helmsman, "Look out, she is flying-to."
FLY THE SHEETS, TO LET. To let them go suddenly.
FLY-UP. A sudden deviation upwards from a sheer line; the term is nearly
synonymous with _flight_.--_To fly up in the wind_, is when a ship's
head comes suddenly to windward, by carelessness of the helmsman.
FLY-WHEEL. The regulator of a machine.
FOAM [Anglo-Saxon, _feam_]. The white froth produced by the collision of
the waves, or by the bow of a ship when acted on by the wind; and also
by their striking against rocks, vessels, or other bodies.
FOCAL LENGTH. The distance between the object-glass and the eye-piece of
a telescope.
FOCUS. A point where converging rays or lines meet.
FOEMAN. An enemy in war; now used only by poets. One of Falstaff's
recruits, hight Shadow, presented no mark to the enemy: "The foeman may
with as great aim level at the edge of a pen-knife."
F[OE]NUS NAUTICUM. Nautical usury, bottomry.
FOG. A mist at sea, consisting of the grosser vapours floating in the
air near the surface of the sea. The fog of the great bank of
Newfoundland is caused by the near proximity of warm and cold waters.
The air over the Gulf Stream, being warmer than that over the banks of
Newfoundland, is capable of keeping much more moisture in invisible
suspension; and when this air comes in contact with that above the cold
water, it parts with some of its moisture, or rather holds it in visible
suspension. There are also dry fogs, which are dust held in suspension,
as the so-called African dust, which often partially obscures the sun,
and reddens the sails of ships as they pass through the north-east
trades.
FOG-BANK. A dense haze, presenting the appearance of a thick cloud
resting upon the horizon; it is known in high latitudes as the precursor
of wind from the quarter in which it appears. From its frequent
resemblance to land it has obtained the name of _Cape Fly-away_.
FOG-BOW. A beautiful natural phenomenon incidental to high latitudes. It
appears opposite to the sun, and is usually broad and white, but
sometimes assumes the prismatic colours. Indicative of clearing off of
mists. (_See_ FOG-EATER.)
FOG-DOGS. Those transient prismatic breaks which occur in thick mists,
and considered good symptoms of the weather clearing.
FOG-EATER. A synonym of _fog-dog_ and _fog-bow_. It may be explained as
the clearing of the upper stratum, permitting the sun's rays to exhibit
at the horizon prismatic colours; hence "sun-gall."
FOGEY. An old-fashioned or singular person; an invalid soldier or
sailor. Often means a stupid but irascible fellow.
FOGGY. Not quite sober.
FOGRAM. Wine, beer, or spirits of indifferent quality; in fact, any kind
of liquor.
FOG-SIGNALS. The naval code established by guns to keep a fleet
together, to tack, wear, and perform sundry evolutions. Also, certain
sounds made in fogs as warnings to other vessels, either with horns,
bells, gongs, guns, or the improved fog-whistle.
FOIL. A blunt, elastic, sword-like implement used in fencing.--_To foil_
means to disconcert or defeat an enemy's intention.
FOILLAN. The Manx or Erse term for a gull.
FOIN. A thrust with a pike or sword.
FOKE-SILL. Among old salts may be termed a curt or nicked form of
_forecastle_.
FOLDER. The movable sight of a fire-arm.
FOLLIS. A net with very large meshes, principally for catching
thorn-backs.
FOLLOWERS. A certain number of men permitted by the regulations of the
service to be taken by the captain when he removes from one ship to
another. Also, the young gentlemen introduced into the service by the
captain, and reared with a father's care, moving with him from ship to
ship; a practice which produced most of our best officers formerly, but
innovation has broken through it, to the serious detriment of the
service and the country.
FOLLOWING, NORTH OR SOUTH. _See_ QUADRANT.
FOMALHAUT. A standard nautical star, called also {a} _Piscis australis_.
FOOL. "He's no fool on a march," a phrase meaning that such a person is
equal to what he undertakes.
FOOLEN. The space between the usual high-water mark in a river and the
foot of the wall on its banks, built to prevent its occasionally
overflowing the neighbouring lands.
FOOL-FISH. A name of the long-finned file-fish, and so called from its
apparently whimsical manner of swimming.
FOOLISH GUILLEMOT. The web-footed diving-bird, _Uria troile_, common on
our coasts.
FOOT. The lower end of a mast or sail. Also, the general name of
infantry soldiers. Also, the measure of 12 inches, or one-sixth of a
fathom.--_To foot._ To push with the feet; as, "foot the top-sail out
clear of the top-rim."
FOOT-BANK. Synonymous with _banquette_ (which see).
FOOT-BOARD. The same as _gang-board_, but not so sailor-like. (_See_
STRETCHERS.)
FOOT-BOAT. A west-country term for a boat used solely to convey foot
passengers.
FOOT-CLUE OF A HAMMOCK. _See_ HAMMOCK.
FOOT-HOOKS. Synonymous with _futtocks_.
FOOTING. A fine paid by a youngster or landsman on first mounting the
top. Also, a slight payment from new comers on crossing the line,
passing through the Straits of Gibraltar, entering the Arctic Seas, &c.
FOOT IT IN. An order to stow the bunt of a sail snugly in furling,
executed by the bunt-men dancing it in, holding on by the topsail-tye.
Frequently when a bunt-jigger has parted men have fallen on deck.
FOOT-RAILS. Narrow mouldings raised on a vessel's stern.
FOOT-ROPE. The rope to which the lower edge of a sail is sewed. (_See_
BOLT-ROPE.)
FOOT-ROPES. Those stretching under the yards and jib-booms for the men
to stand on; they are the same with _horses of the yards_ (which see).
FOOT-SPACE-RAIL. The rail that terminates the foot of the balcony, in
which the balusters step, if there be no pedestal rail.
FOOT-VALVE. A flat plate of metal filling up the passage between the
air-pump and condenser. The lower valve of a steam-engine situated
anywhere between the bottom of the working barrel and that of the
condenser.
FOOT-WALING. The inside planking or lining of a ship over the
floor-timbers; it is intended to prevent any part of her ballast or
cargo from falling between her floor-timbers.
FORAD. An old corruption of _foreward_--in the fore-part of the ship.
FORAGE. Food for horses and cattle belonging to an army. Also, the act
of a military force in collecting or searching for such forage, or for
subsistence or stores for the men; or, with ill-disciplined troops, for
valuables in general. Land-piracy.
FORAGE-GUARD. A party detached to cover foragers, those wooding,
watering, &c.
FORAY. A plundering incursion.
FOR-BY. Near to; adjacent.
FORCAT. A rest for a musket in olden times.
FORCE. A term which implies the sudden rush of water through a narrow
rocky channel, and accompanied by a fall of the surface after the
obstacle is passed. It is synonymous with _fall_. Also, the force of
each ship stated agreeably to the old usage in the navy, according to
the number of guns actually carried. In these days of iron-clads,
turret-ships, and heavy guns, this does not give a true estimate of a
ship's force. Also, the general force, ships, men, soldiers, &c.,
engaged in any expedition; as expeditionary force.--Also, _force of
wind_, now described by numbers, 0 being calm, 12 the heaviest
gale.--_To force_, is to take by storm; to force a passage by driving
back the enemy.--Colloquially, no force--gently.
FORCED MARCH. One in which the marching power of the troops is forced or
exerted beyond the ordinary limit.
FORCED MEN. Those serving in pirate vessels, but who refused to sign
articles.
FORCER. The piston of a _forcing-pump_.
FORCES. The army collectively, or naval and military forces engaged.
FORCING-PUMP. Any pump used to force water beyond that force demanded to
deliver at its level, as fire-engines, &c.
FORD. The shallow part of a river, where troops may pass without
injuring their arms.
FORE. The distinguishing character of all that part of a ship's frame
and machinery which lies near the stem, or in that direction, in
opposition to _aft_ or _after_. Boarders to the fore--advance!
FORE-AND-AFT. From head to stern throughout the ship's whole length, or
from end to end; it also implies in a line with the keel; and is the
opposite of _athwart-ships_, which is from side to side.
FORE-AND-AFTER. A cocked hat worn with the peak in front instead of
athwart. Also, a very usual term for a schooner with only fore-and-aft
sails, even when she has a crossjack-yard whereon to set a square-sail
when occasion requires.
FORE-AND-AFT SAILS. Jibs, staysails, and gaff-sails; in fact, all sails
which are not set to yards. They extend from the centre line to the lee
side of a ship or boat, so set much flatter than square-sails.
FORE-BAY. A rising at a lock-gate flooring. Also, the galley or the
sick-bay.
FORE-BODY. An imaginary figure of that part of the ship afore the
midships or dead-flat, as seen from ahead.
FORE-BOWLINE. The bowline of the fore-sail.
FORE-BRACES. Ropes applied to the fore yard-arms to change the position
of the fore-sail occasionally.
FORECAST. A storm warning, or reasonable prediction of a gale from the
inferences of observed meteorological instruments and phenomena.
FORECASTLE. Once a short deck placed in the fore-part of a ship above
the upper deck; it was usually terminated, both before and behind, in
vessels of war by a breast-work, the foremost part forming the top of
the beak-head, and the hind part, of the fore-chains. It is now applied
in men-of-war to that part of the upper deck forward of the after
fore-shroud, or main-tack block, and which is flush with the
quarter-deck and gangways. Also, a forward part of a merchantman under
the deck, where the seamen live on a platform. Some vessels have a short
raised deck forward, which is called a _top-gallant forecastle_; it
extends from the bow to abaft the fore-mast, which it includes.
FORECASTLE-DECK. The fore-part of the upper deck at a vessel's bows.
FORECASTLE-JOKES. Practical tricks played upon greenhorns.
FORECASTLE-MEN. Sailors who are stationed on the forecastle, and are
generally, or ought to be, prime seamen.
FORECASTLE-NETTINGS. _See_ HAMMOCK-NETTINGS.
FORECASTLE-RAIL. The rail extended on stanchions across the after-part
of the forecastle-deck in some ships.
FORE CAT-HARPINGS. _See_ CAT-HARPINGS.
FORE-COCKPIT. _See_ COCKPIT.
FORE-COURSE. The _fore-sail_ (which see).
FORE-DECK. That part from the fore-mast to the bows.
FORE-FINGER, OR INDEX-FINGER. The pointing finger, which was called
shoot-finger by the Anglo-Saxons, from its use in archery, and is now
the _trigger-finger_ from its duty in gunnery. (_See_ SHOOT-FINGER.)
FORE-FOOT. The foremost piece of the keel, or a timber which terminates
the keel at the forward extremity, and forms a rest for the stem's lower
end; it is connected by a scarph to the extremity of the keel, and the
other end of it, which is incurvated upwards into a sort of knee, is
attached to the lower end of the stem; it is also called a gripe. As the
lower arm of the fore-foot lies on the same level with the keel, so the
upper one coincides with the middle line of the stem; its breadth and
thickness therefore correspond with the dimensions of those pieces, and
the heel of the cut-water is scarphed to its upper end. Also, an
imaginary line of the ship's course or direction.
FORE-GANGER OF THE CHAIN BOWER CABLES. Is a length of 15 fathoms of
stouter chain, in consequence of greater wear and tear near the anchor,
and exposure to weather. Fore-ganger is also the short piece of rope
immediately connecting the line with the shank of the harpoon, when
spanned for killing.
FORE-GOER. The same as _fore-ganger_.
FORE-GRIPE. _See_ GRIPE.
FORE-GUY. A rope to the swinging-boom of the lower studding-sail.
FORE-HAMMER. The sledge-hammer which strikes the iron on the anvil
first, if it be heavy work, but the hand-hammer keeps time.
FORE-HOLD. The part of the hold before the fore hatchway.
FORE-HOODS. The foremost of the outside and inside planks of a vessel.
FORE-HOOKS. The same as _breast-hooks_ (which see).
FOREIGN. Of another country or society; a word used adjectively, being
joined with divers substantives in several senses.
FOREIGN-GOING. The ships bound on oceanic voyages, as distinguished from
home-traders and coasters.
FOREIGN JUDGMENT. _See_ JUDGMENT.
FOREIGN REMITTANCE. _See_ WAGES REMITTED FROM ABROAD.
FOREIGN REMOVE-TICKET. A document for discharging men from one ship to
another on foreign stations: it is drawn up in the same form as the
_sick-ticket_ (which see).
FOREIGN SERVICE. Vessels or forces stationed in any part of the world
out of the United Kingdom. The opposite of _home service_.
FORELAND. A cape or promontory projecting into the sea: as the North and
South Forelands. It is nearly the same with _headland_, only that
forelands usually form the extremes of certain lines of sea-coast. Also,
a space left between the base of a canal bank, and an adjacent drainage
cut or river, so as to favour the stability of the bank.
FORE-LIGHTROOM. _See_ LIGHT-ROOM.
FORELOCK. A flat pointing wedge of iron, used to drive through a mortise
hole in the end of a bolt, to retain it firmly in its place. The
forelock is sometimes twisted round the bolt's point to prevent its
drawing. Also, spring-forelock, which expands as it passes through.
FORELOCK-BOLTS. Those with an eye, into which an iron forelock is driven
to retain them in place. When secured in this way, the bolt is said to
be forelocked.
FORELOCKS. The pins by which the cap-squares of gun-carriages are
secured.
FORE-MAGAZINE. _See_ MAGAZINE.
FORE-MAN AFLOAT. The dockyard officer in charge of the shipwrights
working on board a ship not in dock.