HACKLE, HECKLE, OR HETCHEL. A machine for teazing flax. Also, a
west-country name for the stickleback.
HACK-SAW. Used for cutting off the heads of bolts; made of a scythe
fresh serrated.
HACK-WATCH, OR JOB-WATCH (which see).
HACOT. From the Anglo-Saxon _hacod_, a large sort of pike.
HADDIE. A north-coast diminutive of haddock.
HADDO-BREEKS. A northern term for the roe of the haddock.
HADDOCK. The _Gadus aeglefinus_, a species of cod fabled to bear the
thumb-mark of St. Peter.
HAEVER. _See_ EAVER.
HAFNE. An old word for haven, from the Danish.
HAFT. (_See_ HEFT.) The handle of a knife or tool.
HAG-BOAT. _See_ HECK-BOAT.
HAGBUT. A wall-piece placed upon a tripod; the arquebuse.
HAGBUTAR. The bearer of a fire-arm formerly used; it was somewhat larger
than a musket.
HAGG. An arquebuse with a bent butt. Also, a swampy moss.
HAG'S TEETH. (_See_ HAKE'S TEETH.) Those parts of a matting or pointing
interwoven with the rest in an irregular manner, so as to spoil the
uniformity. (_See_ POINTING.) In soundings, _see_ HAKE'S TEETH.
HAIK. _See_ HIKE UP.
HAIL, TO. To hail "from a country," or claim it as a birthplace. A ship
is said to _hail_ from the port where she is registered, and therefore
properly belongs to. When hailed at sea it is, "From whence do you
come?" and "where bound?"--"_Pass within hail_," a special signal to
approach and receive orders or intelligence, when boats cannot be
lowered or time is precious. One vessel, the senior, lies to; the other
passes the stern under the lee.--_Hail-fellows_, messmates well matched.
HAILING. To call to another vessel; the salutation or accosting of a
ship at a distance.
HAILING-ALOFT. To call to men in the tops and at the mast-head to "look
out," too often an inconsistent bluster from the deck.
HAIL-SHOT. Small shot for cannon.
HAILSHOT-PIECE. A sort of gun supplied of old to our ships, with dice of
iron as the missile.
HAIR. The cold nipping wind called _haar_ in the north: as in Beaumont
and Fletcher,
"Here all is cold as the hairs in winter."
HAIR-BRACKET. The moulding at the back of the figure-head.
HAIR-TRIGGER. A trigger to a gun-lock, so delicately adjusted that the
slightest touch will discharge the piece.
HAKE. An old term for a hand-gun. Also, the fish _Gadus merluccius_, a
well-known gregarious and voracious fish of the cod family, often termed
sea-pike.
HAKE'S TEETH. A phrase applied to some part of the deep soundings in the
British Channel; but it is a distinct shell-fish, being the _Dentalium_,
the presence of which is a valuable guide to the Channel pilot in foggy
weather.
HALBAZ. _See_ KALBAZ.
HALBERT. A sort of spear formerly carried by sergeants of infantry, that
they, standing in the ranks behind the officers or the colours, should
afford additional defence at those important points.
HALCYON PISCATOR, OR KING-FISHER. This beautiful bird's floating nest
was fabled to calm the winds and seas while the bird sat. This occurring
in winter gave rise to the expression "halcyon days."
HALE. An old word for _haul_ (which see).
HALF AN EYE, SEEING WITH. Discerning instantly and clearly.
HALF-BEAMS. Short timbers, from the side to the hatchways, to support
the deck where there is no framing. (_See_ FORK-BEAMS.)
HALF-BREADTH OF THE RISING. A ship-builder's term for a curve in the
floor-plan, which limits the distances of the centres of the
floor-sweeps from the middle line of the body-plan.
HALF-BREADTH PLAN. In ship-building, the same as _floor-plan_.
HALF-COCK. To go off at half-cock is an unexpected discharge of a
fire-arm; hurried conduct without due preparation, and consequently
failure.
HALF-DAVIT. Otherwise _fish-davit_ (which see).
HALF-DECK. A space between the foremost bulk-head of the steerage and
the fore-part of the quarter-deck. In the Northumberland colliers the
steerage itself is called the _half-deck_, and is usually the habitation
of the crew.
HALF-DROWNED LAND. Shores which are rather more elevated and bear more
verdure than _drowned land_ (which see).
HALF-FLOOD. _See_ FLOOD.
HALF-GALLEY. _See_ GALLEY.
HALF-HITCH. Pass the end of a rope round its standing part, and bring it
up through the bight. (_See_ THREE HALF-HITCHES.)
HALF-LAUGHS AND PURSER'S GRINS. Hypocritical and satirical sneers.
HALF-MAN. A landsman or boy in a coaster, undeserving the pay of a
_full-man_.
HALF-MAST. The lowering a flag in respect for the death of an officer.
HALF-MINUTE GLASS. _See_ GLASS.
HALF-MOON. An old form of outwork somewhat similar to the ravelin,
originally placed before the salients of bastions.
HALF-PIKE. An iron spike fixed on a short ashen staff, used to repel the
assault of boarders, and hence frequently termed a _boarding-pike_.
HALF-POINT. A subdivision of the compass card, equal to 5 deg. 37' of the
circle.
HALF-PORTS. A sort of one-inch deal shutter for the upper half of those
ports which have no hanging lids; the lower half-port is solid and
hinged, having a semicircle cut out for the gun when level, and falling
down outwards when ready for action; the upper half-port fits loosely
into rabbets, and is secured only by laniards.
HALF-SEA. The old term for mid-channel.
HALF SEAS OVER. Nearly intoxicated. This term was used by Swift.
HALF-SPEED! An order in steam navigation to reduce the speed. (_See_
FULL SPEED!)