LARRUP, TO. An old word meaning to beat with a rope's-end, strap, or
colt.
LASCAR. A native sailor in the East Indies; also, in a military sense,
natives of India employed in pitching tents, or dragging artillery, as
gun-lascars.
LASH. A string, or small cord, forming the boatswain's cat.--_To lash_
or _lace_. To bind anything with a rope or line.
LASH AND CARRY. The order given by the boatswain and his mates on piping
up the hammocks, to accelerate the duty.
LASH AWAY. A phrase to hasten the lashing of hammocks.
LASHER. _See_ FATHER-LASHER.
LASHER BULL-HEAD. A name for the fish _Cottus scorpius_.
LASHING. A rope used to fasten any movable body in a ship, or about her
masts, sails, and rigging.
LASHING-EYES. Fittings for lower stays, block-strops, &c., by loops made
in the ends of ropes, for a lashing to be rove through to secure them.
LASK, TO. To go large.--_Lasking along._ Sailing away with a quartering
wind.
LASKETS. Small lines like hoops, sewed to the bonnets and drablers of a
sail, to secure the bonnets to the courses, or the drablers to the
bonnets.
LAST. A dry measure containing 80 bushels of corn. A cargo. A weight of
4000 lbs. A last of cod or white herrings is 12 barrels. Last, or
ship-last, a Swedish weight of 2 tons.
LASTAGE. This is a commercial term for the general lading of a ship. It
is also applied to that custom which is paid for wares sold by the last,
as herrings, pitch, &c.
LASTER. The coming in of the tide.
LAST QUARTER. _See_ QUARTER, LAST.
LATCH. An old term for a cross-bow; _temp._ Henry VII.--_Lee-latch._
Dropping to leeward of the course.
LATCHES. The same as _laskets_ (which see; also _keys_).
LATCHINGS KEYS. Loops on the head-rope of a bonnet, by which it is laced
to the foot of the sail.
LATEEN SAIL AND YARD. A long triangular sail, bent by its foremost leech
to a lateen yard, which hoists obliquely to the mast; it is mostly used
by xebecs, feluccas, &c., in the Mediterranean. A gaff-topsail, if
triangular and set on a yard, is lateen. The term _lateen-rigged_, where
sails have short tacks, is wrong. These latter are nothing more or less
than clumsy lugs or quadrilaterals. The lateen tack is the yard-arm
bowsed amidships.
LATHE. A term for a sort of a cross-bow once used in the fleet.
LATHER, TO. To beat or drub soundly.
LATITUDE. In wide terms, the extent of the earth from one pole to the
other; but strictly it is the distance of any place from the equator in
degrees and their parts; or an arc of the meridian intercepted between
the zenith of the place and the equinoctial. Geographical latitude is
either northern or southern, according as the place spoken of is on this
or that side of the equator. Geocentric latitude is the angular distance
of a place from the equator, as corrected for the oblateness of the
earth's form; in other words, it is the geographical latitude diminished
by the angle of the vertical.
LATITUDE BY ACCOUNT. That estimated by the log-board, and the last
determined by observation.
LATITUDE BY OBSERVATION. The latitude determined by observations of the
sun, star, or moon, by meridional, as also by double altitudes.
LATITUDE OF A CELESTIAL OBJECT. An arc of a circle of longitude between
the centre of that object and the ecliptic, and is north or south
according to its position.
LAUNCE. A term when the pump sucks--from the Danish _l[oe]ns_,
exhausted. Also, a west-country term for the sand-eel, a capital bait
for mackerel.
LAUNCE-GAY. An offensive weapon used of old, but prohibited by statute
so far back as 7 Richard II. c. 13.
LAUNCH. The largest or long boat of a ship of war. Others of greater
size for gunboats are used by the French, Spaniards, Italians, &c., in
the Mediterranean. A launch being proportionably longer, lower, and more
flat-bottomed than the merchantman's long-boat, is in consequence less
fit for sailing, but better calculated for rowing and approaching a flat
shore. Its principal superiority consists in being much fitter to
under-run the cable, lay out anchors, &c., which is a very necessary
employment in the harbours of the Levant, where the cables of different
ships are fastened across each other, and frequently render such
operations necessary.
LAUNCH, TO. To send a ship, craft, or boat off the slip on shore into
the water, "her native element," as newspapers say. Also, to move
things; as, _launch forward_, or _launch aft_. _Launch_ is also the
movement by which the ship or boat descends into the water.
LAUNCH-HO! The order to let go the top-rope after the top-mast has been
swayed up and fidded. It is literally "high enough." So in pumping, when
the spear sucks, this term is "Cease."
LAUNCHING-WAYS. In ship-building, the bed of timber placed on the
incline under the bottom of a ship; otherwise called _bilge-ways_. On
this the cradles, which are movable vertical shores, to keep the ship
upright, slide. Sometimes also termed _bilge-ways_.
LAVEER, TO. An old sea-term for beating a ship to windward; to tack.
LAVER. An edible sea-weed--the _Ulva lactuca_, anciently _lhavan_. From
this a food is made, called _laver-bread_, on the shores of S. Wales.
LAVY. A sea-bird nearly as large as a duck, held by the people of the
Hebrides as a prognosticator of weather.
LAW OF NATIONS. It was originally merely the necessary law of nature
applied to nations, as in the instance of receiving distressed ships
with humanity. By various conventional compacts, the Law of Nations
became positive; thus flags of truce are respected, and prisoners are
not put to death. One independent state is declared incompetent to
prescribe to another, so long as that state is innoxious to its
neighbours. The Law of Nations consists of those principles and
regulations, founded in reason and general convenience, by which the
mutual intercourse between independent states is everywhere conducted.
LAX. A term for salmon when ascending a river, on the north coast of
Scotland.
LAX-FISHER. A taker of salmon in their passage from the sea.
LAY, BY THE. When a man is paid in proportion to the success of the
voyage, instead of by the month. This is common in whalers.
LAY, TO. To come or go; as, _lay aloft_, _lay forward_, _lay aft_, _lay
out_. This is not the neuter verb _lie_ mispronounced, but the active
verb _lay_. (_See_ LIE OUT!)
LAY A GUN, TO. So to direct it as that its shot may be expected to
strike a given object; for which purpose its axis must be pointed above
the latter, at an angle of elevation increasing according to its
distance.
LAY-DAYS. The time allowed for shipping or discharging a cargo; and if
not done within the term, fair weather permitting, the vessel comes on
demurrage. Thus Captain Cuttle--
"A rough hardy seaman, unus'd to shore ways,
Knew little of ladies, but much of lay-days."
LAY HER COURSE, TO. To be able to sail in the direction wished for,
however barely the wind permits it.
LAY IN. The opposite of _lay out_. The order for men to come in from the
yards after reefing or furling. It also applies to manning, or _laying
in_, to the capstan-bars.
LAYING OR LYING OUT ON A YARD. To go out towards the yard-arms.
LAYING OR LYING ALONG. Pressed down sideways by a stiff gale.
LAYING A ROPE. Arranging the yarns for the strands, and then the strands
for making a rope, or cable.
LAYING DOWN, OR LAYING OFF. The act of delineating the various lines of
a ship to the full size on the mould-loft floor, from the draught given.
LAYINGS. A sort of pavement of culch, on the mud of estuaries, for
forming a bed for oysters.
LAYING-TOP. A conical piece of wood, having three or four scores or
notches on its surface, used in rope-making to guide the lay.
LAY IN SEA-STOCK, TO. To make provision for the voyage.
LAY IN THE OARS. Unship them from the rowlocks, and place them fore and
aft in the boat.
LAY LORDS. The civil members of the admiralty board.
LAY OF A ROPE. The direction in which its strands are twisted; hawser is
right-handed; cablet left-handed.
LAY OR LIE ON YOUR OARS! The order to desist rowing, without laying the
oars in.--_Lay out on your oars!_ is the order to give way, or pull with
greater force.
LAY OUT. _See_ LIE OUT!
LAY THE LAND, TO. Barely to lose sight of it.
LAY-TO. To bring the weather-bow to the sea, with one sail set, and the
helm lashed a-lee. (_See_ LIE-TO.)
LAY UP A SHIP, TO. To dismantle her.
LAZARETTO. A building or vessel appointed for the performance of
quarantine, in which all persons are confined coming from places
infected with the plague or other infectious diseases. Also, a place
parted off at the fore part of the 'tween decks, in some merchantmen,
for stowing provisions and stores in.
LAZARUS. The game at cards, called also _blind-hookey_ and _snogo_.
LAZY GUY. A small tackle or rope to prevent the spanker-boom from
swaying about in fine weather.
LAZY PAINTER. A small temporary rope to hold a boat in fine weather.
LEAD, SOUNDING. An instrument for discovering the depth of water; it is
a tapered cylinder of lead, of 7, 14, or 28 lbs. weight, and attached,
by means of a strop, to the lead-line, which is marked at certain
distances to ascertain the fathoms. (_See_ HAND-LINE.)--_Deep-sea lead._
A lead of a larger size, being from 28 to 56 lbs. in weight, and
attached to a much longer line. (_See_ DEEP-SEA LINE.)--_To heave the
lead._ To throw it into the sea as far ahead as possible, if the ship is
under way.
LEAD. The direction in which running ropes lead fair, and come down to
the deck. Also, in Arctic seas, a channel through the ice; synonymous
with _lane_. To lead into battle, or into harbour.
LEADER. A chief. Also, the conducting ship, boat, or man in an
enterprise. Also, the guide in firing rockets.
LEADING-BLOCKS. The several blocks used for guiding the direction of any
purchase, as hook, snatch, or tail blocks.
LEADING-MARKS. Those objects which, kept in line or in transit, guide
the pilot while working into port, as trees, spires, buoys, &c.
LEADING-PART. The rope of a tackle which runs between the fall and the
standing part. Generally confused with the fall. It is that part of the
fall which is to be hauled on, or overhauled, to ease the purchase.
LEADING-STRINGS. The yoke-lines for steering a boat.
LEADING-WIND. Wind abeam or quartering; more particularly a free or fair
wind, and is used in contradistinction to a scant wind. (_See_ WIND.)
LEAD-LINE. A line attached to the upper end of the sounding-lead. (_See_
HAND-LINE and DEEP-SEA LINE.)
LEAD-NAILS. Small round-headed composition nails for nailing lead.
LEADSMAN. The man who heaves the hand-lead in the channels. In Calcutta
the young gentlemen learning to be pilots are called leadsmen.
LEAF. The side of a lock-gate.
LEAGUE. A confederacy; an alliance. Also, a measure of length consisting
of three nautical miles, much used in estimating sea-distances; = 3041
fathoms.
LEAGUER. An old term for a camp. Also, _leaguers_, the longest
water-casks, stowed next the kelson, of 159 English imperial gallons
each. Before the invention of water-tanks, leaguers composed the whole
ground tier of casks in men-of-war.
LEAK [Anglo-Saxon _leccinc_]. A chink in the deck, sides, or bottom of a
ship, through which the water gets into her hull. When a leak begins, a
vessel is said to have _sprung_ a leak.
LEAKAGE. Loss by the act of leaking out of a cask. Also, an allowance of
12 per cent., to merchants importing wine, by the customs.
LEAKIES. Certain irregularities of tide in the Firth of Forth.
LEAKY. The state of a ship admitting water, and a cask or other vessel
letting out its contents.
LEAN. Used in the same sense as _clean_ or sharp; the reverse of _full_
or bluff in the form of a ship.
LEAN-BOW. Having a sharp entrance; a thin narrow bow being opposed to
bold bow. _Fine forward_, very fine is _lean as a lizard_.
LEAP. The sudden fall of a river in one sheet. Also, a weel, made of
twigs, to catch fish in.
LEAPER. _See_ LIPPER.
LEAT. A canal leading from a pool to a mill-course.
LEATHAG. A Celtic name for the plaice or flounder.
LEATHER. _See_ LATHER.
LEATHER-JACKET. A tropical fish with a very thick skin.
LEAVE. Permission to be absent from the ship for the day. (_See_
ABSENCE, LIBERTY.)--_French leave._ Going on shore without
permission.--_Long leave._ Permission to be absent for a number of days.
LEAVE-BREAKING. A liberty man not being back to his time.
LEAVE-TICKET. _See_ LIBERTY-TICKET.
LEAX. _See_ LEX.
LEDGE. A compact line of rocks running parallel to the coast, and which
is not unfrequent opposite sandy beaches. The north coast of Africa,
between the Nile and the Lesser Syrtis, is replete with them.
LEDGES. The 'thwart-ship pieces from the waste-trees to the roof-trees
in the framing of the decks, let into the carlings, to bear gratings,
&c. Any cross-pieces of fir or scantling.
LEDO. A barbarous Latin law-term (_ledo -onis_) for the rising water, or
increase of the sea.
LEE. From the Scandinavian word _l[oe]_ or _laa_, the sea; it is the
side opposite to that from which the wind is blowing; as, if a vessel
has the wind on her port side, that side will be the weather, and the
starboard will be the lee side.--_Under the lee_, expresses the
situation of a vessel anchored or sailing near the weather-shore, where
there is always smoother water than at a great distance from it.--_To
lay a ship by the lee_, or _to come up by the lee_, is to let her run
off until the wind is brought on the lee-quarter, so that all her sails
lie flat against the masts and shrouds.
LEE-ANCHOR. The leeward one, if under weigh; or that to leeward to which
a ship, when moored, is riding.
LEE-BEAM. On the lee-side of the ship, at right angles with the keel.
LEE-BOARDS. Wooden wings or strong frames of plank affixed to the sides
of flat-bottomed vessels, such as Dutch schuyts, &c.; these traversing
on a stout bolt, by being let down into the water, when the vessel is
close-hauled, decrease her drifting to leeward.
LEECHES. The borders or edges of a sail, which are either sloping or
perpendicular; those of the square sails are denominated from the ship's
side, as the starboard-leech of the main-sail, &c.; but the sails which
are fixed obliquely on the masts have their leeches named from their
situation with regard to the ship's length, as the hoist or luff, or
fore-leech of the mizen, the after-leech of the jib, &c.
LEECH-LINES. Ropes fastened to the leeches of the main-sail, fore-sail,
and cross-jack, communicating with blocks under the tops, and serving to
truss those sails up to the yards. (_See_ BRAILS.)--_Harbour
leech-lines._ Ropes made fast at the middle of the topsail-yards, then
passing round the leeches of the top-sails, and through blocks upon the
topsail-tye, serving to truss the sails very close up to the yard,
previous to their being furled in a body.
LEECH-ROPE. A name given to that vertical part of the bolt-rope to which
the border or edge of a sail is sewed. In all sails whose opposite
leeches are of the same length, it is terminated above by the earing,
and below by the clue. (_See_ BOLT-ROPE, CLUE, and EARINGS.)
LEE-FANG. A rope rove through the cringle of a sail, for hauling in, so
as to lace on a bonnet.
LEE-FANGE. The iron bar upon which the sheets of fore-and-aft sails
traverse, in small vessels. (_See_ HORSE.)
LEE-GAUGE. Implies being farther from the point whence the wind blows,
than another vessel in company.
LEE-GUNWALE UNDER. A colloquial phrase for being sorely over-pressed, by
canvas or other cause.
LEE-HATCH, TAKE CARE OF THE! A word of caution to the helmsman, not to
let the ship fall to leeward of her course.
LEE-HITCH. The helmsman getting to leeward of the course.
LEE-LURCHES. The sudden and violent rolls which a ship often takes to
leeward when a large wave strikes her on the weather-side.
LEE-SHORE. A ship is said to be on a lee-shore, when she is near it,
with the wind blowing right on to it.
LEE-SIDE. All that part of a ship or boat which lies between the mast
and the side farthest from the wind, the other half being the
weather-side.
LEE-SIDE OF THE QUARTER-DECK. Colloquially called the midshipman's
parade.
LEE-TIDE. A tide running in the same direction as the wind, and forcing
a ship to leeward of the line upon which she appears to sail.
LEEWARD. The lee-side. (_See_ LEE.) The opposite of _lee_ is _weather_,
and of _leeward_, _windward_.
LEEWARDLY. Said of a ship or vessel which presents so little resistance
to the water, when on a wind, as to bag away to leeward. It is the
contrary to _weatherly_.
LEE-WAY. What a vessel loses by drifting to leeward in her course. When
she is sailing close-hauled in a smooth sea with all sail set, she
should make little or no lee-way; but a proportionate allowance must be
made under every reduction of sail or increase of sea, the amount
depending on the seaman's skill, and his knowledge of the vessel's
qualities.
LEE-WHEEL. The assistant to the helmsman.
LEG. The run made on a single tack. Long and short legs (_see_ TACK AND
HALF-TACK).
LEG ALONG. Ropes laid on end, ready for manning.
LEG-BAIL. Dishonest desertion from duty. The phrase is not confined to
its nautical bearing.
LEGGERS. _See_ LEAGUER.
LEGS. (_See_ ANGLE.) A fast-sailing vessel is said to have legs.--_Legs_
are used in cutters, yachts, &c., to shore them up in dry harbours when
the tide leaves them. The leech-line cringles have also been called
legs. Also, the parts of a point which hang on each side of the sail.
LEGS OF THE MARTINETS. Small lines through the bolt-ropes of the
courses, above a foot in length, and spliced at either end into
themselves, making a small eye into which the martinets are hitched.
LEGS AND WINGS. _See_ OVER-MASTED.
LEISTER. A three-pronged dart for striking fish, used in the north of
England.
LEIT. A northern term for a snood or link of horse-hair for a
fishing-line.
LEITH. A channel on the coast of Sweden, like that round the point of
Landfoort to Stockholm.
LEMBUS. A light undecked vessel, used by ancient pirates.
LEMING-STAR. An old name for a comet.
LEMON-ROB. The inspissated juice of limes or lemons, a powerful
anti-scorbutic.
LEND A FIST OR A HAND. A request to another to help.
LEND US YOUR POUND HERE! A phrase demanding assistance in man-weight;
alluding to the daily allowance of beef.
LENGTHENING. The operation of cutting a ship down across the middle, and
adding a certain portion to her length. This is done by sawing her
planks asunder in different parts of her length, on each side of the
midship-frame, to prevent her from being weakened too much in one place.
One end is then drawn apart to the required distance. An intermediate
piece of timber is next added to the keel, and the vacancy filled up.
The two parts of the keelson are afterwards united. Finally, the planks
of the side are prolonged, so as to unite with each other, and those of
the ceiling refitted.
LENGTHENING-PIECE. The same as _short top-timber_ (which see).
LENS. The glass of a telescope, or of a microscope, with curved surfaces
like a lentil, whence the name.
LENT. The spring fast, during which butchers were prohibited to kill
flesh unless for victualling ships, except by special license.
LENTRIAE. Ancient small vessels, used on rivers.
LENUNCULI. Ancient fishing-boats.
LEO. The fifth sign of the zodiac, which the sun enters about the 22d of
July. It is one of the ancient constellations.
LEPPO. A sort of chunam, used on the China station, for paying vessels.
LERRICK. A name of the water-bird also called sand-lark or sand-piper.
LESSER CIRCLE. One whose plane does not pass through the centre of the
sphere, and therefore divides it unequally. (_See_ GREAT CIRCLE.)
LET DRAW! The order to let the wind take the after-leeches of the jibs,
&c., over to the lee-side, while tacking.
LET DRIVE, TO. To slip or let fly. To discharge, as a shot from a gun.
LET FALL! The order to drop a sail loosed from its gaskets, in order to
set it.
LET FLY, TO. To let go a rope at once, suddenly.
LET GO AND HAUL! OR AFORE HAUL! The order to haul the head-yards round
by the braces when the ship casts on the other tack. "Let go," alluding
to the fore-bowline and lee head-braces.
LET GO UNDER FOOT. _See_ UNDER FOOT.
LET IN, TO. To fix or fit a diminished part of one plank or piece of
timber into a score formed in another to receive it, as the ends of the
carlings into the beams.
LET OUT, OR SHAKE OUT, A REEF, TO. To increase the dimensions of a sail,
by untying the points confining a reef in it.
LET-PASS. Permission given by superior authority to a vessel, to be
shown to ships of war, to allow it to proceed on its voyage.
LET RUN, OR LET GO BY THE RUN. Cast off at once.
LETTER-BOARD. Another term for _name-board_ (which see).
LETTER-BOOK. A book wherein is preserved a copy of all letters and
orders written by the captain of a ship on public service.
LETTER MEN. _See_ KING'S LETTER MEN.
LETTERS. _See_ CIRCULARS and OFFICIAL LETTERS.
LETTERS OF MART OR MARQUE. A commission formerly granted by the lords of
the admiralty, or by the admiral of any distant station, to a
merchant-ship or privateer, to cruize against and make prizes of the
enemy's ships. The ship so commissioned is also called a _letter of
marque_. The act of parliament requires that on granting letters of
marque and reprisal, the captain and two sureties shall appear and give
security. In 1778 it was decided that all the ships taken from France by
vessels having letters of marque only against the Americans, became
droits of admiralty. This commission was forfeitable for acts of cruelty
or misconduct.
LETTERS OF REPRISAL. The same as _letters of marque_.
LETTUCE-LAVER. The edible sea-weed _Ulva lactuca_.
LEVANT. A wind coming from the east, which freshens as the sun rises,
and subsides as it declines--_To levant_, to desert.
LEVANTER. A strong and raw easterly wind in the Mediterranean.
LEVANTS. Land-springs on the coasts of Sussex and Hampshire.
LEVEE. A French word for a mole or causeway, adopted of late for river
embankments of magnitude, as those of the Po, the Thames, and the
Mississippi.
LEVEL-ERROR. The microscopic deviation of the axis of a transit
instrument from the horizontal position.
LEVELING. The art of finding how much higher or lower horizontally any
given point on the earth's surface is, than another point on the same;
practised in various ways.
LEVELLED OUT. Any line continued out from a given point, or intersection
of an angle, in a horizontal direction.
LEVEL-LINES. Lines determining the shape of a ship's body horizontally,
or square from the middle line of the ship.
LEVELS. Horizontal lines; or as a base square to a perpendicular bob.
LEVER. In the marine steam-engine, the lever and counter-balance weight
are fixed upon the wiper-shaft, to form an equipoise to the valves.
There is one on each side of the cylinder. (_See_ SPANNER.)--Also, an
inflexible bar of iron or wood to raise weights, which takes rank as the
first and most simple of the mechanical powers.--_To lever._ An old word
for unloading a ship.
LEVERAGE. The amount of a lever power.
LEVES. Very light open boats of the ancients.
LEVET. The blast of a trumpet or horn.
LEVIN. The old term for lightning.
LEVY. An enrolment or conscription.--_To levy._ To raise recruits.
LEWER. A provincialism for handspike; a corrupt form of _lever_.
LEWIS-HOLES. Two holes in the surface of a mortar, superseding ears.
LEWTH [from the Anglo-Saxon _lywd_]. A place of shelter from the wind.
LEX, OR LEAX. The Anglo-Saxon term for salmon.
L.G. These uncials on a powder-barrel mean large-grain powder.
LIBERA PISCARIA. A law-term denoting a fishery free to any one.
LIBERTY. Permission to go on shore or ship-visiting.
LIBERTY-DAY. A day announced for permitting a part of the crew to go
ashore.
LIBERTY-LIQUOR. Spirits formerly allowed to be purchased when seamen had
visitors; now forbidden.
LIBERTY-MEN. Those on leave of absence.
LIBERTY-TICKET. A document specifying the date and extent of the leave
granted to a seaman or marine proceeding on his private affairs.
LIBRA. The seventh sign of the zodiac, which the sun enters about the
21st of September; the commencement of this constellation, where the
equator intersects the ecliptic, is called the _autumnal equinox_, from
night and day being equal.
LIBRATION OF THE MOON. _See_ EVECTION.
LIBURNA, OR LIBURNICA. Light ancient galliots, both for sails and oars;
of the latter from one rank to five; so called from the Liburni, pirates
of the Adriatic.
LICENSE. An official permission from the Board of Trade, to such persons
as it thinks fit to supply seamen or apprentices for merchant-ships in
the United Kingdom. (_See_ RUNNER, LICENSED.)
LICK. In common parlance is a blow. To do anything partially, is to
_give it a lick and a promise_, as in painting or blacking.--_To lick_,
to surpass a rival, or excel him in anything.--_Lick of the tar-brush_,
a seaman.
LICORN. An old name for the howitzer of the last century, then but a
kind of mortar fitted on a field-carriage to fire shells at low angles.
LIDO. A borrowed term signifying the shore or margin of the sea.
LIE A HULL. Synonymous with _hull to_, or _hulling_.
LIE ALONG, TO. (_See_ ALONG.) A ship is said to lie along when she leans
over with a side wind.--_To lie along the land_, is to keep a course
parallel with it.
LIE ATHWART, TO. When the tide slackens, and the wind is across tide, it
makes a vessel ride athwart.
LIE BY, TO. Dodging under small sail under the land.
LIE IN! The order to come in from the yards when reefing, furling, or
other duty is performed.
LIEN. A claim to property, and a consequent right of retention. But
ships cannot be the subjects of a specific lien to the creditors who
supply them with necessaries, because a lien presumes possession by the
creditor, and therein the power of holding it till his demands are
satisfied. To prevent manifest impediment to commerce, the law of
England rejects almost wholly the doctrine of lien as regards ships.
LIE OFF! An order given to a boat to remain off on her oars till
permission is given for her to come alongside.
LIE OUT! The order to the men aloft to distribute themselves on the
yards for loosing, reefing, or furling sails.
LIE OVER. A ship heeling to it with the wind abeam.
LIESTER. _See_ LISTER.
LIE THE COURSE, TO. When the vessel's head is in the direction wished.
LIE-TO, TO. To cause a vessel to keep her head steady as regards a gale,
so that a heavy sea may not tumble into her. She has perhaps a
main-topsail or trysails, and comes up to within six points, and falls
off to wind abeam, forging rather ahead, but should not altogether fall
too much to leeward.
LIE UNDER ARMS, TO. To remain in a state of preparation for immediate
action.
LIEUTENANT, IN THE ROYAL NAVY. The officer next in rank and power below
the commander. There are several lieutenants in a large ship, and they
take precedence according to the dates of their commissions. The senior
lieutenant, during the absence of the commander, is charged with the
command of the ship, as also with the execution of whatever orders he
may have received from the commander relating to the queen's service;
holding another's place, as the name implies in French.--_Lieutenant in
the army._ The subaltern officer next in rank below the captain.
LIEUTENANT-AT-ARMS. Formerly the junior lieutenant, who, with the
master-at-arms, was charged with the drilling of the small-arm men.
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL. The next below the colonel, generally having the
active command in the regiment, whether in cavalry, infantry, or
artillery, the full colonels being mostly on staff employ, or even in
retirement.
LIEUTENANT-GENERAL. The officer taking the next place to a general,
ranking with vice-admiral.
LIEUTENANT'S STORE-ROOM. More commonly called the _ward-room store-room_
(which see).
LIFE-BELT. An india-rubber or cork girdle round a person's waist to buoy
him up in the water.
LIFE-BOAT. One of such peculiar construction that it cannot sink or be
swamped. It is equipped for attending wherever a wreck may happen, and
saving the lives of the crew: really one of the greatest blessings
conferred by civilization and humanity on mariners. Life-boats were
invented by Admiral Samuel Graves, who died in 1787. The Royal National
Life-boat Institution has saved by its boats, or by special exertions
for which it has granted rewards, 14,980 lives, from the year of its
establishment, 1824, to the end of 1865.
LIFE-BUOYS. Are of various descriptions. A very useful one, patented by
Cook, is supplied to all Her Majesty's ships. It is composed of two
copper cylinders, and has a balanced stem carrying a fuse, burning
twenty minutes. It is kept suspended on the quarter, can be let go, and
ignited instantaneously, and will support two men for a considerable
time.
LIFE-GUARDS. A greatly-privileged body of cavalry, specially assigned to
the guarding of the sovereign's person.
LIFE-KITE. A contrivance for saving the lives of shipwrecked persons by
forming a communication between the wreck and a lee-shore.
LIFE-LINES. Stretched from gun to gun, and about the upper deck in bad
weather, to prevent the men being washed away. The life-lines aloft are
stretched from the lifts to the masts to enable seamen to stand securely
when manning yards, as in a salute to admirals, &c.
LIFE-PRESERVER. An air-tight apparatus for saving people in cases of
wreck.
LIFT. A term applied to the sails when the wind catches them on the
leeches and causes them to ruffle slightly. Also implies help in work in
hand, as "give us a lift."
LIFT AN ANCHOR, TO. Either by the purchase; or a ship if she has not
sufficient cable on a steep bank _lifts_, or shoulders, her anchor.
LIFTED. Promoted somewhat unexpectedly.
LIFTER. _See_ WIPER.
LIFTING. The rising of fog or haze from the surface of the water.
LIFTING-JACK. A portable machine for lifting heavy objects, acting by
the power either of the lever, the tooth and pinion, or the screw.
LIFTS. Ropes which reach from each mast-head to their respective
yard-arms to steady and suspend the ends. Their use is to keep the yard
in equilibrium, or to raise one of its extremities higher than the other
if necessary, but particularly to support the weight when a number of
men are employed on it, furling or reefing the sail. The yards are said
to be squared by the lifts when they hang at right angles with the
masts.--_Topping-lifts._ (_See_ TOPPING-LIFTS.)
LIG. A fish-hook, with lead cast round its upper part in order to sink
it.
LIGAN. _See_ LAGAN.
LIGGER. A line with a float and bait, used for catching pike. A
night-hook laid for a pike or eel.
LIGHT, TO. To move or lift anything along; as "light over to windward,"
the cry for helping the man at the weather-earing when taking in a reef.
Each man holding by a reef-point helps it over, as the lee-earing cannot
be passed until the man to windward calls out, "Haul out to leeward."
LIGHT AIRS. Unsteady and faint flaws of wind.
LIGHT ALONG! Lend assistance in hauling cables, hawsers, or large ropes
along, and lifting some parts in a required direction.
LIGHT-BALLS. Are thrown from mortars at night to discover the enemy's
working parties, &c. They are composed of saltpetre, sulphur, resin, and
linseed-oil, and burn with great brilliancy. The _parachute light-ball_,
which suspends itself in the air by the action of the heated gas from
the light against the parachute, is most convenient.
LIGHT BOBS. The old soubriquet for _light infantry_ (which see).
LIGHT BREEZES. When light airs have become steady.
LIGHTEN, TO. To throw ballast, stores, cargo, or other things, overboard
in stress of weather, to render the vessel more buoyant.
LIGHTER. A large, open, flat-bottomed boat, with heavy bearings,
employed to carry goods to or from ships.--_Ballast lighter._ A vessel
fitted up to raise ballast from the bottom of a harbour.--_Covered or
close lighter._ One furnished with a deck throughout her whole length,
in order to secure such merchandise as might be damaged by wet, and to
prevent pillage.
LIGHTERAGE. The charge made for the hire of a lighter.
LIGHTERMAN. A man employed in a lighter.
LIGHT-HANDED. Short of the complement of men.
LIGHT-HORSE. A name formerly given to all mounted men who were not
encumbered with armour.
LIGHT-HORSEMAN. An old name for the light boat, since called a gig.
(_See_ WALLMIA.)
LIGHTHOUSE. A sort of tower, erected upon a headland, islet, or rock,
whose lights may be seen at a great distance from the land to warn
shipping of their approach to these dangers.--A _floating light_, or
_light vessel_, strongly moored, is used to mark dangers under water.
Lights are variously distinguished, as by the number, colour, and
continuity of their lights, whether flashing, revolving, &c.
LIGHT ICE. That which has but little depth in the water; it is not
considered dangerous to shipping, as not being heavy.
LIGHT INFANTRY. Troops specially trained to the extended and rapid
movements necessary to cover the man[oe]uvres of the main body.
LIGHTNING-CONDUCTOR. The lightning-conductor (introduced by Sir Snow
Harris) is a plate connected from the royal mast-head down to the deck,
thence by the beams to the ship's copper into the sea. Another kind is a
copper-wire chain or rope hoisted to the truck, then passing down by the
backstays over the channels into the sea.
LIGHT-PORT. A scuttle made for showing a light through. Also, a port in
timber ships kept open until brought deep by cargo. It is then secured
and caulked in. (_See_ RAFT-PORT.)
LIGHT-ROOM. In a ship-of-war, a small space parted off from the
magazine, having double-glass windows for more safely transmitting the
light by which the gunner and his assistants fill their cartridges.
Large ships generally have two light-rooms, the after and the fore.
LIGHTS. In men-of-war, all the seamen's lights are extinguished by 8
P.M., the officers' at 10, unless the commanding officer gives his
permission, through the master-at-arms, for a longer time, as occasion
may require.
LIGHT SAILS. All above the topgallant-sails; also the studding-sails and
flying jib. Men-of-war carry topgallant-sails over double reef.
LIGHT SHIP. In contradistinction to laden; a ship is said to be light
when she has no cargo, or merely in ballast. When very crank, she is
said to be _flying light_. Also, a vessel bearing a light as a guide to
navigators.
LIGHT WATER-DRAUGHT. The depth of water which a vessel draws when she is
empty, or nearly so.
LIGHT WATER-LINE. The line showing the depression of the ship's body in
the water when just launched, or quite unladen. (_See_ WATER-LINE.)
LIGNAMINA. Timber fit for building.
LIGNUM VITAE. _Guaiacum officinale._ A West Indian tree, of the wood of
which sheaves of blocks are made. It was allowed to be imported free of
all duties.
LIMB. The graduated arc of an astronomical or surveying instrument. In
astronomy, it is the edge or border of the disc of the sun, moon, or one
of the planets; in which sense we say the upper limb, the lower limb,
the sun or moon's nearest limb, &c.
LIMBER. In artillery, the two-wheeled carriage to which the trail of a
field gun-carriage is attached for travel.--_Limber-boxes_ are the
chests fitted above the axle-tree of the limber for ammunition.--_Limber
up!_ is the command so to raise and attach.
LIMBER BOARDS OR PLATES. Short movable pieces of plank; a part of the
lining of a ship's floor, close to the keelson, and immediately above
the limbers. They are occasionally removed to clear them of any rubbish
by which they may be clogged, so as to interrupt the passage of water to
the pump-well.
LIMBER-BOX. Synonymous with _limber-trunk_.
LIMBER-CLEARER. A small chain rove fore-and-aft through the
limber-passage to clear it when necessary, by hauling backwards and
forwards.
LIMBER-PASSAGE. The line of limber-holes throughout the whole length of
the floor, on each side of the keelson, for the water to have free
access to the pumps.
LIMBER-PLATES. _See_ LIMBER-BOARDS.
LIMBER-STREAK. The streak of foot-waling nearest the keelson, wrought
over the lower ends of the first futtocks.
LIMBO. Restraint, durance, confinement under arrest, or in the bilboes.
Dante uses this term for a division of the infernal regions.
LIMB-TANGENT. The accurate touch of the edge of a celestial body to the
horizon.
LIME OR LEMON JUICE. A valuable anti-scorbutic, included by act of
parliament in the scale of provisions for seamen. It has latterly been
so much adulterated that scurvy has increased threefold in a few years.
LIME-POTS. Formerly supplied among the munitions of war to ships.
LIMITING PARALLELS. The parallels of latitude upon the earth's surface,
within which occultations of stars or planets by the moon are possible.
They are given in the _Nautical Almanac_ for each occultation.
LIMMER. The side-rope to a poop or other ladder.
LIMPET. A well-known shell-fish, giving rise to the brackish proverb,
"Sticking fast like a limpet to a rock."
LINCH OR LINS PIN. The iron pin which keeps the trucks of a gun-carriage
confined to the axle-tree.
LINE, TO. To cover one piece with another. Also, to mark out the work on
a floor for determining the shape of a vessel's body.--_To line a ship_,
is to strike off with a batten, or otherwise, the directional lines for
painting her. (_See_ TOE A LINE.)
LINE. The general appellation of a number of small ropes in a ship, as
buntlines, clue-lines, bowlines, &c. Also, the term in common parlance
for the equator. Also, in the army, distinguishes the regular numbered
regiments of cavalry and infantry from the artillery and guards, to whom
exceptional functions are assigned. In fortification, it means a trench,
approaches, &c. In a geometrical sense, it signifies length without
breadth; and in military parlance, it is drawing up a front of
soldiers.--_Concluding line._ A small rope, which is hitched to the
middle of every step of a stern-ladder.--_Deep-sea line._ A long line,
marked at every five fathoms with small strands of line, knotted, and
used with the deep-sea lead. The first 20 fathoms are marked as follows:
2 and 3 fathoms with black leather; 5 with white bunting; 7 with red; 10
with leather and a hole in it. Then 13, 15, and 17 repeat the previous
marks of 3, 5, and 7. Two knots indicate 20, three knots 30, four knots
40 fathoms, and so on, with an additional knot for every ten. Meanwhile
a single knot indicates the intermediate fives. Besides this system some
pilots prefer their own marks, as in the Hooghly, where they always
measure the line for themselves. The term "deep-sea line" must not now
be confined to the use of the lead for the ordinary purposes of safe
navigation; deep-sea soundings for scientific purposes are recorded in
thousands of fathoms, in which case the line is sometimes made of silk,
the object being to obtain the largest amount of strength with a small
weight.--_Fishing-lines._ Particular kinds of lines, generally used for
fishing snood, mackerel, whiting, cod, albacore, &c.--_Hand-line._ A
line about 20 fathoms long, marked like the first 20 fathoms of the
deep-sea line. It is made fast to a hand-lead of from 7 to 14 lbs., and
used to determine the depth of water in going in or out of a harbour,
river, channel, &c.--_Hauling-line._ Any rope let down out of a top,
&c., to haul up some light body by hand.--_Knave-line._ A rope fastened
to the cross-trees, under the main or fore top, whence it comes down by
the ties to the ram-head, and there it is rove through a piece of wood
about 2 feet long, and so is brought to the ship's side, and there
hauled up taut to the rails.--_Life-line._ A rope occasionally extended
in several situations for persons to lay hold of, to prevent their
falling.--_Mar-line._ A particular kind of small line, composed of two
strands very little twisted; there is both tarred and white mar-line.
That supplied for the gunner and for bending light sails is
untarred.--_Navel-line._ A rope depending from the heads of the main and
fore masts, and passed round to the bight of the truss to keep it up,
whilst the yard is being swayed up, or when the truss, in bracing sharp
up, is overhauled to the full.--_Spilling-lines._ Ropes fixed
occasionally to the square sails, particularly the main and fore courses
in bad weather, for reefing or furling them more conveniently; they are
rove through blocks upon the yard, whence leading round the sail they
are fastened abaft the yard, so that the sail is very closely
confined.--_White-line._ That which has not been tarred, in
contradistinction to _tarred line_.
LINE-BREADTH. _See_ BREADTH LINE.
LINE OF BATTLE. A disposition of the fleet at the moment of engagement,
by signal or previous order, on which occasion the vessels are usually
drawn up as much as possible in a specified bearing, as well to gain and
keep the advantage of the wind, as to run the same board, about 1 cable,
or 100 fathoms distant from each other. The line-of-battle in sea-fights
occurs both in Plutarch (_Themistocles_) and Froissart.
LINE-OF-BATTLE SHIPS. Formerly those of 74 guns and upwards; or in these
iron days, any vessel capable of giving and taking the tremendous blows
of the larger ordnance.
LINE OF BEARING. A previously determined bearing given out by a
commander-in-chief, as well as line-of-battle. "From line of battle form
line of bearing," or reverse. The line of bearing must be that point of
the compass on which the ships bear from each other, and from which the
line of battle can readily be formed without losing speed or ground.
LINE OF COLLIMATION. _See_ COLLIMATION, LINE OF.
LINE OF DEFENCE. In fortification, the face of a work receiving flank
defence, together with its prolongation to the flanking work.
LINE OF DEMARCATION. A line which is drawn by consent, to ascertain the
limits of territories belonging to different powers.
LINE OF LINE. _See_ GUNTER'S LINE.
LINE-OF-METAL ELEVATION. That which the axis of a gun has above the
object when its line of metal is pointed on the latter; it averages
1-1/2 deg. in guns of the old construction.
LINE OF NODES. The imaginary line joining the ascending and descending
nodes of the orbit of a planet or comet.
LINE OF OPERATIONS. In strategy, the line an army follows to attain its
objective point.
LINE OUT STUFF. To mark timber for dressing to shape.
LINERS. Line-of-battle ships. Also, a designation of such packet or
passenger ships as trade periodically and regularly to and from ports
beyond sea, in contradistinction to chance vessels. Also, a term applied
by seamen to men-of-war and to their crews.
LINES. With shipwrights, are the various plans for determining the shape
and form of the ship's body on the mould-loft floor. Also, a species of
field-works, consisting of a series of fronts, constructed in order to
cover the front and form the immediate defence of an army or the
frontiers of a state.
LINES OF FLOTATION. Those horizontal marks supposed to be described by
the surface of the water on the bottom of a ship, and which are
exhibited at certain depths upon the sheer-draught. (_See_ LIGHT
WATER-LINE, and LOAD WATER-LINE.)
LING. A brushwood useful in breaming. Also, a fish, the _Lota molva_; it
invariably inhabits the deep valleys of the sea, while the cod is always
found on the banks. When sun-dried it is called stock-fish.
LINGET. Small langridge; slugs.
LINGO. A very old word for tongue or dialect, rather than language or
speech.
LININGS. The reef-bands, leech and top linings, buntline cloths, and
other applied pieces, to prevent the chafing of the sails. In
ship-building, the term means thin dressed board nailed over any rough
surface to give it a finish.
LINKISTER. An interpreter; linguist.
LINKS. A northern phrase for the windings of a river; also for flat
sands on the sea-shore, and low lands overflowed at spring tides.
LINK WORMING. Guarding a cable from friction, by worming it with chains.
LINNE. A Gaelic term for pool, pond, lake, or sea.
LINSEY-WOLSEY. A stuff in extensive use commercially; it is a mixture of
flax and wool.
LINSTOCK. In olden times it was a staff about 3 feet long, having a
sharp point at the foot to stick in the deck, and a forked head to hold
a lighted match. It gave way to the less dangerous match-tub, and since
that to gun-locks, friction-tubes, &c. Shakspeare in _Henry V._ says:
"And the nimble gunner
With _linstock_ now the devilish cannon touches,
And down goes all before them."
LINTRES. Ancient canoes capable of carrying three lintrarii.
LIP. Insolence and bounce.
LIPPER. A sea which washes over the weather chess-tree, perhaps
_leaper_. Also, the spray from small waves breaking against a ship's
bows.
LIPPING. Making notches on the edge of a cutlass or sword.
LIPS OF SCARPHS. The substance left at the ends, which would otherwise
become sharp, and be liable to split.
LIQUORS. A term applicable to all fluids, but at sea it is expressly
applied to alcoholic spirits.
LIRA. An Italian coin. A silver coin of about tenpence sterling.
LISBONINE. A national denomination for the moidore.
LISSOM. Active, supple.
LIST, TO. To incline to one side; as "the ship has a list to port,"
_i.e._ leans over to that side.
LIST. A roll of names, as the army and navy lists; but usually at sea it
means the doctor's list. Also, the abbreviation for _enlist_. "Why did
you list?" said when a man is grumbling who has entered a service
voluntarily.
LIST AND RECEIPT. The official document sent with officers or men of any
description, discharged from one ship to another; it merely states the
names and qualities, with the date of discharge.
LISTER. A sort of three-pronged harpoon used in the salmon fisheries;
also, a light spear for killing fish in general.
LISTING. A narrow strip cut off the edge of a plank, in order to expose
for examination, and get at, a vessel's timbers.
LITTER. A sort of hurdle bed, on which to carry wounded men from the
field to the boats.
LITTORAL. Relating to a coast; often used as synonymous with sea-board.
LITTORARIAE. Ancient coasting vessels.
LIVE, TO. To be able to withstand the fury of the elements; said of a
boat or ship, &c.
LIVE-LUMBER. Passengers, _ladies_, landsmen, cattle, sheep, pigs, and
poultry.
LIVELY. To lift lightly to the sea; as a boat, &c.
LIVER-FACED. Mean and cowardly, independent of complexion.
LIVERY-ARROW. A missile formerly supplied to our ships of war.
LIVE-SHELL. One filled with its charge of powder or other combustible.
It is also called a _loaded shell_.
LIVID SKY. That blackish red and blue which pervade the sky, previous to
an easterly gale, at sea:--
"Deep midnight now involves the livid skies
Where eastern breezes, yet enervate, rise."--_Falconer._
LIZARD. A piece of rope, sometimes with two legs, and one or more iron
thimbles spliced into it. It is used for various purposes; one is often
made fast to the topsail-tye, for the buntlines to reeve through, to
confine them to the centre of the yard. A lizard with a tail and thimble
is used as a fair lead, to lead out where the lift runs in a line with
the object. The lower boom topping-lift is thus helped by carrying the
lizard out to the fore-brace block. In yards sent aloft ready for
crossing, the lizard confines the yard rope until the order is given,
"Sway across," when, letting the lizard run, all cross simultaneously.
LIZIERE. In fortification, a word sometimes used for _berm_ (which see).
A narrow bank of earth supporting the parapet when deformed by fire.
LLANOS [Sp. _plains_]. Immense plains in S. America, with alternate arid
patches and verdure.
LLOYD'S. An establishment which, from a subscription coffee-house, has
grown to a society which has transacted the bulk of the British
insurance business regularly since 1601; and even before that period
assurers had met there "time out of mind." A register is kept of every
ship, whether foreign or English, with the place where it was built, the
materials used in its construction, its age, state of repair, and
general character.
LLOYD'S AGENTS. Persons appointed in all parts of the commercial world,
to forward accounts of the arrivals and departures of vessels, or any
information interesting to the underwriters.
LLOYD'S LIST. A gazette, published formerly twice a week, but latterly
daily, under the superintendence of a committee chosen by the
subscribers, and transmitted over the whole world.
LLOYD'S REGISTER. An annual list of British and foreign shipping, ranked
by letter and number in different classes.
LLOYD'S SURVEYORS. Practical persons specially appointed in London, and
most of the out-ports of the United Kingdom, to investigate the state
and condition of merchant-ships for the underwriters.
LOADED-SHELL. A shell filled with lead, to be thrown from a mortar. The
term is also used for _live-shells_.
LOADING-CHAMBER. The paterero, or inserting piece in breech-loading.
LOADING OF A SHIP. _See_ CARGO and LADING.
LOADSMAN. A pilot, or person who conducts into or out of harbours.
LOADSTONE. _See_ MAGNET and DIPPING-NEEDLE.
LOAD WATER-LINE. The draught of water exhibited when the ship is
properly loaded; in a word, her proper displacement, not always
sufficiently considered.
LOAD WATER-SECTION. A horizontal section at the load water-line in the
ship-builder's draught.
LOAFER. One who hangs about a dock, ready for every job except a hard
one.
LOATH TO DEPART. Probably the first line of some favourite song;
formerly the air was sounded in men-of-war, when going foreign, for the
women and children to quit the ship.
LOB. A sluggish booby; whence _lubber_. Also, that part of a tree where
it first divides into branches.
LOBBY. A name sometimes given to an apartment close before the great
cabin bulk-head.
LOB-COCK. A lubber; an old term of utter contempt.
LOBLOLLY. A name formerly applied to pottage, burgoo, or gruel.
LOBLOLLY-BOY. A man who attended the surgeon and his assistants, to
summon the sick, and attend on them. A man is now stationed in the bay,
under the designation of _sick-berth attendant_.
LOBSCOUSE. An olla-podrida of salt-meat, biscuit, potatoes, onions,
spices, &c., minced small and stewed together. (_See_ LAP'S COURSE.)
LOBSTER. A well-known marine crustacean, _Astacus marinus_. Also,
red-coats of old; whence _lobster-box_, a colloquialism for barracks.
LOBSTER-BOAT. A bluff, clincher-built vessel, fitted with a well, to
preserve the lobsters alive.
LOBSTER-TOAD. _See_ DEEP-SEA CRAB.
LOB-TAILING. The act of the sperm whale in violently beating the water
with its tail.
LOB-WORM. A worm found at low-water in sand, esteemed for bait.
LOCAL ATTRACTION. The effect of the iron in a ship on her compasses; it
varies with the position of a compass in a ship, also with that of a
ship on the earth's surface, and with the direction of the ship's head.
In iron ships it is affected by the line of direction in which they are
built. Its detection and remedies are amongst the most important studies
of navigators of iron ships and steamers.
LOCAL MARINE-BOARD. _See_ MARINE BOARDS.
LOCH. Gaelic for lake, in Scotland and Ireland. In Scotland also an arm
of the sea, where the tides ebb and flow; on the east coast called a
_firth_, though on the west mostly termed a _loch_.
LOCHABER AXE. A formidable weapon once used by the Highlanders.
LOCK. The striking instrument by which fire is produced for the
discharge of a gun, containing the cock, the hammer, the pan, &c. It was
first introduced in naval ordnance by Sir Charles Douglas, and has now
given way to the _detonating hammer_ and friction-tube, as the old match
and the salamander did to the lock.
LOCK. A spelling of _loch_ (which see). Also, the general name for any
works made to confine or raise the water of a river; a canal inclosed
between the sluice-gate above and the flood-gate below.
LOCK, TO. To entangle the lower yards when tacking.
LOCKAGE. The cost of passing vessels through canal-locks.
LOCKER. Divisions in cabins and store-rooms.--_Boatswain's locker._ A
chest in small craft wherein material for working upon rigging is
kept.--_Chain-locker_ or _chain-well_, where the chain-cables are kept;
best abreast the main-mast, as central weight, but often before the
fore-mast.--_Davy Jones' locker._ The bottom of the sea, where nothing
is lost, because you know where it is.--_Shot-lockers_, near the
pump-well in the hold. Also, the receptacle round the coamings of
hatchways.
LOCKET. The chape of a sword-scabbard.
LOCK-FAST. A modified principle in the breech-loading of fire-arms.
LOCKING-IN. The alternate clues and bodies of the hammocks when hung up.
LOCK, STOCK, AND BARREL. An expression derived from fire-arms, and
meaning the whole.
LOC-MEN, OR LOCO-MEN. An old term for pilots.
LOCOMOTIVE-POWER. The force of sails and wind, or steam.
LODE-MANAGE, OR LODEMANSHIP. The hire of a pilot. It also meant both
pilotage and seamanship; whence Chaucer--
"His herborough, his moone, and his lodemanage,
There was none such from Hull to Cartage."
LODE-MEREGE. In the laws of Oleron, seems identical with _lode-manage_.
LODE-SHIP. A pilot boat, which was also employed in fishing; it is
mentioned in statute 31 Edward III. c. 2.
LODESMEN. An Anglo-Saxon word for pilots.
LODE-STAR. The north star. But Spenser alludes to any star as a guide to
mariners:--
"Like as a ship, whose lode-star, suddenly
Cover'd with clouds, her pilot hath dismay'd."
Shakspeare coincides with this, in comparing Hermia's eyes to
lode-stars.
LODGE ARMS. The word of command to an armed party preparatory to their
breaking off.
LODGEMENT. In fortification, an established footing, such as a besieger
makes by throwing up hasty cover, against the fire of the defenders, on
any freshly gained post.
LODGING-KNEES, OR DECK-BEAM KNEES. Those riding on the hanging or
dagger-knees, and fixed horizontally in the ship's frame.
LODIA. A large trading boat of the White Sea.
LOE, OR LAWE. An eminence, whether natural or artificial.