"That my keen knife see not the wound it makes."
KNIGHT-HEADS. Two large oak timbers, one on each side of the stem, rising
up sufficiently above it to support the bowsprit, which is fixed between
them. The term is synonymous with _bollard timbers_.--_Knight-heads_
also formerly denoted in many merchant ships, two strong frames of
timber fixed on the main-deck, a little behind the fore-mast, which
supported the ends of the windlass. They were frequently called the
_bitts_, and then their upper parts only were denominated the
knight-heads, from having been embellished with a carved head. (_See_
WINDLASS.) Also, a name formerly given to the lower jear-blocks, which
were then no other than bitts, containing several sheaves, and nearly
resembling our present topsail-sheet bitts.
KNIGHTHOOD. An institution by princes, either for the defence of
religion, or as marks of honour on officers who have distinguished
themselves by their valour and address. This dignity being personal,
dies with the individual so honoured. The initials of our own orders
are:--K.G., Knight of the Garter; K.T., Knight of the Thistle; K.S.P.,
Knight of St. Patrick; G.C.B., Grand Cross of the Bath; K.C.B., Knight
Commander of the Bath; G.C.H., Knight Grand Cross of the Hanoverian
Guelphic Order; K.H., Knight of the Hanoverian Guelphic Order; G.C.M.G.,
Grand Cross of St. Michael and George; E.S.I., Most Exalted Star of
India. The principal foreign orders worn by our navy are those of
Hanover, St. Ferdinand and Merit, the Tower and Sword, Legion of Honour,
Maria Theresa, St. Bento d'Avis, Cross of Charles III., San Fernando,
St. Louis, St. Vladimir, St. Anne of Russia, Red Eagle of Prussia,
Redeemer of Greece, Medjidie of Turkey, Leopold of Austria, Iron Crown
of Austria, William of the Netherlands.
KNIGHTS. Two short thick pieces of wood, formerly carved like a man's
head, having four sheaves in each, one of them abaft the fore-mast,
called _fore-knight_, and the other abaft the main-mast, called
_main-knight_.
KNITTLE. _See_ NETTLES.
KNOB, OR KNOBBE. An officer; perhaps from the Scotch term _knabbie_, the
lower class of gentry.
KNOCKER. A peculiar and fetid species of West Indian cockroach, so
called on account of the knocking noise they make in the night.
KNOCK OFF WORK AND CARRY DEALS. A term used to deride the idea of any
work, however light, being relaxation; just as giving up taking in heavy
beams of timber and being set to carry deals, is not really knocking off
work.
KNOLL. The top of a rounded hill; the head of a bank, or the most
elevated part of a submarine shoal. [Perhaps derived from _nowl_, a
provincialism for head.]
KNOPP. _See_ KNAP.
KNOT. A large knob formed on the extremity of a rope, generally by
untwisting its ends, and interweaving them regularly among each other;
of these there are several sorts, differing in form, size, and name, as
diamond knot, kop knot, overhand knot, reef knot, shroud knot, stopper
knot, single wall knot, double wall knot. The bowline knot is so firmly
made, and fastened to the cringles of the sails, that they must break,
or the sails split, before it will slip. (_See_ RUNNING BOWLINE.) The
sheepshank knot serves to shorten a rope without cutting it, and may be
presently loosened. The wall-knot is so made with the lays of a rope
that it cannot slip, and serves for sheets, tacks, and stoppers. Knots
are generally used to act as a button, in preventing the end of a rope
from slipping through the hole of a dead-eye, or through the turns of a
laniard, by which they are sometimes made fast to other ropes.--_Knot_
also implies a division on the log line, bearing a similar proportion to
a mile, which half a minute does to an hour; that is, it is 1/120 of a
mile; hence we say, the ship was going 8 knots, signifying 8 miles per
hour. Indeed, in nautical parlance, the words knot and mile are
synonyms, alluding to the geographical mile of 60' to a degree of
latitude.
KNOWL. A term commonly given to the summits of elevated lands in the
west of England, therefore probably the same as _knoll_.
KNOWLEDGE. In admiralty law, opposed to ignorance, and the want of which
is liable to heavy penalty.
KNUCKLE. A sudden angle made on some timbers by a quick reverse of
shape, such as the knuckles of the counter-timbers.
KNUCKLE-RAILS. Those mouldings which are placed at the knuckles of the
stern-timbers.
KNUCKLE-TIMBERS. The top-timbers in the fore-body, the heads of which
stand perpendicular, and form an angle with the flare or hollow of the
top-side.
KNUCKLE-UNDER. Obey your superior's order; give way to circumstances.
KNURRT. Stunted; not freely grown.
KOFF. A large Dutch coasting trader, fitted with two masts, and sails
set with sprits.
KOMETA. A captain formerly elected in the Spanish navy by twelve
experienced navigators.
KOOLIE, OR COOLIE. An Indian day-labourer and porter.
KOOND. A large cistern at a watering-place in India.
KOPEK. A Russian copper coin, 100 of which make a rouble; in value
nearly a halfpenny, and named from _kopea_, a spear, because formerly
stamped with St. George spearing the dragon.
KOROCORA. A broad-beamed Molucca vessel, with high stem and stern, and
an out-rigger. It is common among the Malay islands.
KOTA. An excellent turpentine procured in India.
KOUPANG. A gold coin of Japan and the Moluccas, of various value, from
25 to 44 shillings.
KOWDIE. The New Zealand pine spars.
KRABLA. A Russian vessel, usually from Archangel, fitted for killing the
whale, walrus, and other Arctic quarry.
KRAKEN. The fictitious sea-monster of Norway.
KRANG. The body of a whale when divested of its blubber, and therefore
abandoned by the whalers.
KRAYER. A small vessel, but perhaps larger than the cogge, being thus
mentioned in the _Morte Arthure_--
"Be thanne cogge appone cogge, krayers and other."
KREE, TO. A north-country word: to beat, or bruise.
KREEL. A framework of timber for the catching of fish, especially
salmon. Also a crab-pot, made of osiers, on the principal of a wire
mouse-trap. Also, a sportsman's fishing basket.
KRENNEL. The smaller cringle for bowline bridles, &c.
KRINGLE, TO. To dry and shrivel up. Also a form of _cringle_ (which
see).
KRIS. The formidable dagger used by the Malays.
KROO-MEN, OR CREW-MEN. Fishmen. A tribe of African negroes inhabiting
Cape Palmas, Krou-settra, and Settra-krou, subjects of Great Britain,
and cannot be made slaves; they are specially employed in wooding and
watering where hazardous to European constitutions.
KUB-HOUSE, OR CUBBOOS. _See_ CABOOSE.
KYAR. Cordage made in India from the fibres which envelope the cocoa
nut, and having the advantage of elasticity and buoyancy, makes capital
cables for country ships. (_See_ COIR.)