HEADER. The person in the Newfoundland fishing vessels who is engaged
to cut open the fish, tear out the entrails, break off the head, and
pass it over to the _splitter_, who sits opposite to him.
HEAD-FAST. A rope or chain employed to fasten the head of a ship or boat
to a wharf or buoy, or to some other vessel alongside.--_Head-fast of a
boat_, the tow-rope or painter.
HEAD-HOLES. The eyelet-holes where the rope-bands of a sail are fitted;
they are worked button-hole fashion, over grommets of twine of several
thicknesses; sometimes of cod-line.
HEADING. As to ships in company, one advancing by sail or steam faster
than another heads her.
HEADING UP THE LAND WATER. When the flood-tide is backed by a wind, so
that the ebb is retarded, causing an overflow.
HEAD-KNEES. Pieces of moulded compass timber fayed edgeways to the
cut-water and stem, to steady the former. These are also called
_cheek-knees_.
HEADLAND. Wherever the coast presents a high cliffy salient angle to the
sea, without projecting far into it, it is called a headland; but if the
point be low, it is a spit, tongue, or point. (_See_ BLUFF.)
HEADMOST. The situation of any ship or ships which are the most advanced
in a fleet, or line of battle. The opposite of _sternmost_.
HEAD-NETTING. An ornamental netting used in merchant ships instead of
the fayed planking to the _head-rails_.
HEAD OF A COMET. The brighter part of a comet, from which the tail
proceeds.
HEAD OF A MAST, OR MAST-HEAD. The upper part of any mast, or that
whereon the caps or trucks are fitted.
HEAD OF A WORK. In fortification, the part most advanced towards the
enemy. In progressive works, such as siege-approaches and saps, it is
the farthest point then attained.
HEAD OF WATER. Water kept to a height by winds, or by artificial dams
and sluice-gates. The vertical column which dock-gates have to bear.
HEAD-PIECE. A term for the helmet.
HEAD-PUMP. A small pump fixed at the vessel's bow, its lower end
communicating with the sea: it is mostly used for washing decks.
HEAD-QUARTERS. The place where the general, or commanding officer, takes
up his quarters. Also, the man-of-war, or transport, which carries the
staff of an expedition.
HEAD-RAILS. The short rails of the head, extending from the back of the
figure to the cat-head: equally useful and ornamental. There are two on
each side, one straight and the other curved. (_See_ FALSE RAIL.) Also,
used familiarly for teeth.
HEAD-ROPE. That part of the bolt-rope which terminates any sail on the
upper edge, and to which it is accordingly sewed. (_See_ BOLT-ROPE.)
Also, the small rope to which a flag is fastened, to hoist it to the
mast-head, or head of the ensign-staff.
HEAD-SAILS. A general name for all those sails which may be set on the
fore-mast and bowsprit, jib, and flying jib-boom, and employed to
influence the fore-part of the ship.
HEAD-SEA. A name given to the waves when they oppose a ship's course, as
the ship must rise over, or cut through each. Their effect depends upon
their height, form, and speed; sometimes they are steep, quick, and
irregular, so that a ship is caught by a second before she has recovered
from the first; these render her wet and uneasy.
HEAD-SHEETS. Specially jibs and staysail sheets, before the fore-mast.
HEAD-STICK. A short round stick with a hole at each end, through which
the head-rope of some triangular sails is thrust, before it is sewed on.
Its use is to prevent the head of the sail from twisting.
HEAD TO WIND. The situation of a ship or boat when her head is pointed
directly to windward. The term is particularly applied in the act of
tacking, or while lying at anchor.
HEAD-WAY. A ship is said to gather head-way when she passes any object
thrown overboard at the bow, and it passes astern into her wake. A ship
may also, by the action of swell, forge ahead.
HEAD-WIND. A breeze blowing from the direction of the ship's intended
course. Thus, if a ship is bound N.E. a N.E. wind is a head-wind "dead
on end," as seamen express it.--_The wind heads us_, that is, veers
towards the direction of the ship's course.
HEALD. The _heel_ over of a grounded ship.
HEALTH-GUARD. Officers appointed to superintend the due observance of
the quarantine regulations.
HEART. A block of wood forming a peculiar sort of triangular dead-eye,
somewhat resembling the shape of a heart; it is furnished with only one
large hole in the middle, grooved for the rope instead of the three
holes. It is principally used to the stays, as the dead-eyes are to the
shrouds. (_See_ DEAD-EYE.)
HEARTH. Applied to the ship's fire-place, coppers, and galley generally.
HEARTY. Open and free. "My hearties," a cheerful salute to shipmates and
seamen in general. "What cheer, my hearties?" how fare ye? what's your
news?
HEART-YARNS. The centre yarns of a strand. Also, the heart-yarn or
centre, on which four-stranded rope is formed.
HEATH. Various broom-stuffs used in breaming.
HEAVE, TO. To throw anything overboard. To cast, as heaving the log or
the lead. Also, to drag, prize, or purchase, as heaving up the anchor.
HEAVE ABOUT, TO. To go upon the other tack suddenly.
HEAVE AND A-WASH. An encouraging call when the ring of the anchor rises
to the surface, and the stock stirs the water.
HEAVE AND A-WEIGH. Signifies that the next effort will start the anchor
from its bed, and make it _a-trip_. "Heave and a-weigh, sir," from the
forecastle, denotes that the anchor is a-weigh; it inspirits the men to
run it to the bows rapidly.
HEAVE AND IN SIGHT. A notice given by the boatswain to the crew when the
anchor is drawn up so near the surface of the water as to be seen by its
muddy water surrounding it.
HEAVE AND PAUL. Is the order to turn the capstan or windlass till the
paul may be put in, by which it is prevented from coming up, and is
something similar to _belay_, applied to a running rope.
HEAVE AND RALLY! An encouraging order to the men at the capstan to heave
with spirit, with a rush, and thereby force the anchor out of the
ground. When there is a rising sea "heave and rally" implies, "heave and
stand to your bars," the pauls taking the strain, and the next wave
probably lifting the anchor.
HEAVE AND SET. The ship's motion in rising and falling to the waves when
at anchor.
HEAVE HANDSOMELY. Gently.
HEAVE HEARTY. Heave strong and with a will.
HEAVE OF THE SEA. The power that the swell of the sea exerts upon a ship
in driving her out of, or faster on in, her course, and for which
allowance must be made in the day's work. It is a similar, or the same
action in force as in a head-sea.
HEAVE OUT THERE! The order to hasten men from their hammocks.
HEAVER. A wooden bar or staff, sometimes tapered at the ends; it is
employed as a lever or purchase on many occasions, such as setting up
the top-mast shrouds, stropping large blocks, seizing the standing
rigging, &c. Also, a name on the Kentish shores for the haviler crab.
HEAVE SHORT, TO. To heave in on the cable until the vessel is nearly
over her anchor, or sufficiently near it for sail being made before the
anchor is tripped. Short, is when the fore-stay and cable are in line.
HEAVE THE LEAD. To take soundings with the hand lead-line. "Get a cast
of the lead," with the deep-sea lead and line.
HEAVE THE LOG. Determine the ship's velocity by the log line and glass.
HEAVE-TO, TO. To put a vessel in the position of _lying-to_, by
adjusting her sails so as to counteract each other, and thereby check
her way, or keep her perfectly still. In a gale, it implies to set
merely enough sail to steady the ship; the aim being to keep the sea on
the weather bow whilst the rudder has but little influence, the sail is
chiefly set on the main and mizen-mast; as hove-to under a close-reefed
main-topsail, or main-trysail, or driver. It is customary in a foul wind
gale, and a last resource in a fair one.
HEAVING AHEAD. Is the act of advancing or drawing a ship forwards by
heaving on a cable or rope made fast to some fixed point before her.
HEAVING AND SETTING. Riding hard, pitching and sending.
HEAVING ASTERN. Causing a ship to recede or go backwards, by heaving on
a cable or other rope fastened to some fixed point behind her. This more
immediately applies to drawing a vessel off a shoal.
HEAVING A STRAIN. Working at the windlass or capstan with more than
usual exertion.
HEAVING DOWN. (_See_ CAREENING.) The bringing one of a ship's sides down
into the water, by means of purchases on the masts, in order to repair
any injury which is below her water-line on the other.
HEAVING IN. Shortening in the cable. Also, the binding a block and hook
by a seizing.
HEAVING IN STAYS. The act of tacking, when, the wind being ahead, great
pressure is thrown upon the stays.
HEAVING KEEL OUT. The utmost effect to be produced by careening, viz. to
raise the keel out of the water in order to repair or clean it. (_See_
HEAVING DOWN.)
HEAVING OUT. The act of loosing or unfurling a sail; particularly
applied to the staysails; or in the tops, footing the sail out of the
top.
HEAVING TAUT. The act of turning the capstan, &c., till the rope applied
thereto becomes straight and ready for action.
HEAVING THROUGH ALL. The surging or slipping of the cable when the
nippers do not hold.
HEAVY DRIFT-ICE. Dense ice, which has a great depth in the water in
proportion to its size, and is not in a state of decay, therefore
dangerous to shipping.
HEAVY GALE. A strong wind, in which a ship is reduced to storm-staysails
and close-reefed main-topsail. Force 10.
HEAVY METAL, OR HEAVY ORDNANCE. Ordnance of large calibre.
HEAVY SEA. High and strong waves.
HEBBER-MAN. An old name for a fisherman on the Thames below London
Bridge, who took whitings, smelts, &c., commonly at ebbing-water.
HEBBING-WEIR. Contrivances for taking fish at ebbing-water.
HECK-BOAT. The old term for pinks. Latterly a clincher-built boat with
covered fore-sheets, and one mast with a trysail.
HECKLE. Said to be from the Teutonic _heckelen_, to dress flax for
rope-making. Also, an artificial fly for fishing.
HECKLE-BACK. A name of the fifteen-spined stickleback, _Gasterosteus
spinachia_.
HEDA. An early term for a small haven, wharf, or landing-place.
HEDAGIUM. A toll or duty paid at the wharf for landing goods, &c.
HEDGEHOGS. A name formerly applied to vessels which rowed with many
oars. Also, small stunted trees unfit for timber.
HEEL. The after end of a ship's keel, and the lower end of the
stern-post to which it is connected. Also, the lower end of any mast,
boom, bowsprit, or timber. Also, that part of the end of the butt of a
musket which is uppermost when at the firing position.--_To heel._ To
lie over, or incline to either side out of the perpendicular: usually
applied to a ship when canted by the wind, or by being unequally
ballasted. (_See_ CRANK, STIFF, and TRIM.)
HEEL-BRACE. A piece of iron-work applicable to the lower part of a
rudder, in case of casualty to the lower pintles.
HEELING GUNWALE TO. Pressing down sideways to her upper works,
particularly applied to boats running before a heavy sea, when they may
roll their weather gunwales to.
HEEL-KNEE. The compass-piece which connects the keel with the
stern-post.
HEEL-LASHING. The rope which secures the inner part of a studding-sail
boom to the yard; also, that which secures the jib-boom.
HEEL OF A MAST. The lower end, which either fits into the step attached
to the keel, or in top-masts is sustained by the fid upon the
trestle-trees. Heeling is the square part of the spar through which the
fid hole is cut.
HEEL-ROPE. That which hauls out the bowsprit in cutters, and the jib and
studding-sail booms, or anything else where it passes through the heel
of the spar, except in the case of top-masts and topgallant-masts, where
it becomes a _mast-rope_.
HEELS. _Having the heels of a ship_; sailing faster.
HEEL-TACKLES. The luff purchases for the heels of each sheer previous to
taking in masts, or otherwise using them.
HEEVIL. An old northern term for the conger.
HEFT. The Anglo-Saxon _haeft_; the handle of a dirk, knife, or any
edge-tool; also, the handle of an oar.
HEIGHT. Synonymous with hill, and meaning generally any ground above the
common level of the place. Our early navigators used the word as a
synonym of latitude.
HEIGHT OF THE HOLD. Used for the depth of the hold.
HEIGHT OF BREADTH. In ship-building, is a delineation generally in two
lines--upper and lower--determining the height of the broadest place of
each timber.
HELIACAL. A star rises heliacally when it first becomes visible in the
morning, after having been hidden in the sun's rays; and it sets
heliacally when it is first lost in the evening twilight, owing to the
sun's proximity.
HELIER. A cavern into which the tide flows.
HELIOCENTRIC. As seen from, or having reference to, the centre of the
sun.
HELIOMETER. An instrument designed for the accurate measurement of the
diameters of the sun or planets.
HELIOSTAADT, OR HELIOTROPE. This instrument reflects the sun's rays by a
silvered disc, used in the great trigonometrical surveys. It has been
visible at 100 miles' distance, from Cumberland to Ireland.
HELL-AFLOAT. A vessel with a bad name for tyranny.
HELM. Properly is the tiller, but sometimes used to express the rudder,
and the means used for turning it, which, in small vessels and boats, is
merely a tiller, but in larger vessels a wheel is added, which supplies
the leverage for pulling the tiller either way; they are connected by
ropes or chains.--_A-lee the helm_, or _Down with the helm!_ So place
the tiller that the rudder is brought on the weather side of the
stern-post. These, and the following orders, were established when
tillers extended forward from the rudder-head, but now they often extend
aft, which requires the motion of the tiller to be reversed. With the
latter style of tiller the order "down with the helm" is carried out by
bringing the tiller _up_ to the weather side of the ship; which being
done, the order "Helm's a lee" follows.--_Bear up the helm._ That is,
let the ship go more large before the wind.--_Ease the helm._ To let the
helm come more amidships, when it has been put hard up or down.--It is
common to ease the helm before a heavy sea takes the ship when
close-hauled.--_Helm amidships_, or _right the helm_. That is, keep it
even with the middle of the ship, in a line with the keel.--_Helm over._
The position of the tiller to enable a vessel steaming ahead to describe
a curve.--_Port the helm._ Place the tiller so as to carry the rudder to
starboard. (_See_ _A-lee the helm_.)--_Shift the helm._ Put it from port
to starboard, and _vice versa_, or it may be amidships.--_Starboard the
helm._ Place the tiller so as to carry the rudder to port.--_Up with the
helm._ Place the tiller so as to carry the rudder to leeward. (_See_
_A-lee the helm_.)
HELMED. An old word for steered; it is metaphorically used by Shakspeare
in _Measure for Measure_.
HELMET. A piece of defensive armour; a covering for the head.
HELM-PORT. The round hole or cavity in a ship's counter, through which
the head of the rudder passes into the trunk.
HELM-PORT TRANSOM. The piece of timber placed across the lower counter,
withinside the height of the helm-port, and bolted through every timber
for the security of that part of the ship.
HELMSMAN. The timoneer, or person, who guides the ship or boat by the
management of the helm. The same as _steersman_.
HELM-WIND. A singular meteorological phenomenon which occurs in the
north of England. Besides special places in Cumberland and Westmoreland,
it suddenly rushes from an immense cloud that gathers round the summit
of Cross-Fell, covering it like a helmet. Its effects reach the
sea-board.
HELMY. Rainy [from an Anglo-Saxon phrase for rainy weather].
HELTER-SKELTER. Hurry and confusion. Defiance of good order.
Privateerism.
HELVE. The handle of the carpenter's mauls, axes, and adzes; also of an
oar, &c.
HELYER. _See_ HELIER.
HEMISPHERE. Half the surface of a globe. The celestial equator divides
the heavens into two hemispheres--the northern and the southern.
HEMP. _Cannabis sativa._ A manufactorial plant of equal antiquity with
flax. The produce of hemp in fibre varies from three to six hundred
weight per acre, and forms the best of all cordage and ropes. It is
mixed with opium in the preparation of those rich drugs called
_hashishe_ in Cairo and Constantinople. Those who were in the constant
use of them were called _hashishin_ (herb-eaters); and being often by
their stimulative properties excited almost to frenzy and to murder, the
word "assassin" is said to have been derived by the crusaders from this
source. While the French army was in Egypt, Napoleon I. was obliged to
prohibit, under the severest penalties, the sale and use of these
pernicious substances.
HENDECAGON. A right-lined figure with eleven sides; if it be regular,
the sides and angles are all equal.
HEN-FRIGATE. A ship wherein the captain's wife interfered in the duty or
regulations.
HEN'S-WARE. A name of the edible sea-weed _Fucus esculentus_.
HEP-PAH, OR HIPPA. A New Zealand fort, or space surrounded with stout
palisades; these rude defences have given our soldiers and sailors much
trouble to reduce. (_See_ PAH.)
HEPTAGON. A right-lined figure with seven sides; if it be regular, the
sides and angles are all equal.
HERCULES. The large mass of iron by the blows of which anchors are
welded.
HERE-AWAY. A term when a look-out man announces a rhumb or bearing of
any object in this quarter.
HERE-FARE [Anglo-Saxon]. An expedition; going to warfare.
HERISSON. A balanced barrier to a passage in a fort, of the nature of a
turnstile.
HERLING. A congener of the salmon species found in Scotland; it is
small, and shaped like a sea-trout.
HERMAPHRODITE OR BRIG SCHOONER, is square-rigged, but without a top
forward, and schooner-rigged abaft; carrying only fore-and-aft sails on
the main-mast; in other phrase, she is a vessel with a brig's fore-mast
and a schooner's main-mast.
HERMIT-CRAB. A name applied to a group of crabs (family _Paguridae_), of
which the hinder part of the body is soft, and which habitually lodge
themselves in the empty shell of some mollusc. Also called
_soldier-crabs_.
HERMO. A Mediterranean term for the meteor called _corpo santo_.
HERNE. A bight or corner, as Herne Bay, so called from lying in an
angle.
HERNSHAW AND HERNE. Old words for the heron.
HERON. A large bird of the genus _Ardea_, which feeds on fish.
HERRING. A common fish--the _Clupea harengus_; Anglo-Saxon _haering_ and
_hering_.
HERRING-BONING. A method of sewing up rents in a sail by small
cross-stitches, by which the seam is kept flat.
HERRING-BUSS. A peculiar boat of 10 or 15 tons, for the herring fishery.
(_See_ BUSS.)
HERRING-COB. A young herring.
HERRING-GUTTED. _See_ SHOTTEN-HERRING.
HERRING-HOG. A name for the porpoise.
HERRING-POND. The Atlantic Ocean.
HETERODROMOUS LEVERS. The windlass, capstan, crank, crane, &c.
HETEROPLON. A kind of naval insurance, where the insurers only run the
risk of the outward voyage; when both the going out and return of a
vessel is insured, it is called amphoteroplon.
HETTLE. A rocky fishing-ground in the Firth of Forth, which gives name
to the fish called Hettle-codling.
HEUGH. A craggy dry dell; a ravine without water.
HEXAGON. A right-lined figure with six sides; if it be regular, the
sides and angles are all equal.
HEYS-AND-HOW. An ancient sea-cheer.
HI! Often used for _hoy_; as, "Hi, you there!" Also, the old term for
_they_, as in Sir Ferumbras--
"Costroye there was, the Admiral,
With vitaile great plente,
And the standard of the sowdon royal,
Toward Mantrible ridden hi."
HIDDEN HARBOUR. That of which the outer points so overlap as to cause
the coast to appear to be continuous.
HIDE, TO. To beat; to rope's-end or drub. Also, to secrete.
HIE, TO. To flow quickly in a tide-way.
HIE ALOFT. Away aloft.
HIGH. In gunnery, signifies tightly fitting the bore; said of shot,
wads, &c. Also, a gun is said to be laid high when too much elevated.
HIGH-AND-DRY. The situation of a ship or other vessel which is aground,
so as to be seen dry upon the strand when the tide ebbs from her.
HIGH ENOUGH. Said in hoisting in goods, water, or masts.
HIGH FLOOD. _See_ FLOOD.
HIGH LATITUDES. Those regions far removed from the equator towards the
poles of the earth above the 50th degree.
HIGH TIDE, OR HIGH WATER. Figuratively, a full purse. Constance, in
Shakspeare's _King John_, uses the term _high tides_ as denoting the
gold-letter days or holidays of the calendar.