FORE-MAST MAN. From "before the mast." A private seaman as distinguished
from an officer of a ship.
FOREMOST. Anything which is nearer to the head of a ship than another.
FORE-NESS. An old term for a promontory.
FORE-PART OF A SHIP. The bay, or all before the fore-hatches.
FORE-PEAK. The contracted part of a vessel's hold, close to the bow;
close forward under the lower deck.
FORE-RAKE. That part of the hull which rakes beyond the fore-end of the
keel.
FORE-REACH, TO. To shoot ahead, or go past another vessel, especially
when going in stays: to sail faster, reach beyond, to gain upon.
FORERUNNER. A precursor, an avant-courier.
FORERUNNERS OF THE LOG-LINE. A small piece of red bunting laid into that
line at a certain distance from the log, the space between them being
called the stray-line, which is usually from 12 to 15 fathoms, and is an
allowance for the log to be entirely out of the ship's dead-water before
they begin to estimate the ship's velocity, consequently the knots begin
from that point. (_See_ LOG-LINE.)