LONGER. Each row of casks in the hold, athwart. Also, the fore and aft
space allotted to a hammock; the longers reckoned similarly to last.
LONG-GASKETS. Those used for sea service; the opposite of
_harbour-gaskets_ (which see).
LONGIE. A name of the foolish guillemot, _Uria troile_, in the north.
LONGITUDE. Is an arc of the equator, or any parallel of latitude,
contained between the meridian of a place and that of Greenwich, or any
other first meridian. These arcs being similar, are expressed by the
same number of degrees and miles, though the absolute distance on the
earth's surface decreases as the latitude increases, for which see
DEPARTURE. East longitude extends 180 degrees to the right, when looking
north, and west longitude as many to the left of the first meridian.
LONGITUDE, GEOCENTRIC. The angular distance of a heavenly body from the
first point of Aries, measured upon the ecliptic, as viewed from the
earth.
LONGITUDE, HELIOCENTRIC. The angular distance of a body from the first
point of Aries, measured upon the ecliptic, as viewed from the sun.
LONGITUDE BY ACCOUNT. The distance east and west, as computed from the
ship's course and distance run, carried forward from the last
astronomical determination.
LONGITUDE BY CHRONOMETER. Is estimated by the difference between the
time at the place, and the time indicated by chronometer.
LONGITUDE BY LUNAR OBSERVATION. The longitude calculated by observing
the moon's angular distance from the sun or a fixed star. It is the only
check on chronometers, and very valuable in long voyages, though now
much neglected, since the establishment of compulsory examination in the
merchant service, which does not require lunars.
LONGITUDE OF A CELESTIAL BODY. An arc of the ecliptic, contained between
the first point of Aries and a circle of longitude passing through the
centre of the body.
LONGITUDINAL SECTION. In ship-building, a line which cuts the draught of
a vessel lengthwise.
LONG-JAWED. The state of rope when its strands are straightened by
being much strained and untwisted, and from its pliability will coil
both ways.
LONG-LEAVE. Permission to visit friends at a distance.
LONG-LEGGED. Said of a vessel drawing much water.--_Long leggers_, lean
schooners. Longer than ordinary proportion to breadth. Swift.
LONG OYSTER. A name of the sea cray-fish.
LONG-SERVICE. A cable properly served to prevent chafing under
particular use.
'LONGSHORE. A word used rather contemptuously for _alongshore_; land
usage.--_'Longshore fellows_, landsmen pretenders.--_'Longshore owners_,
those merchants who become notorious for sending their ships to sea
scantily provided with stores and provisions.
LONG-SHOT. A distant range. It is also used to express a long way; a
far-fetched explanation; something incredible.
LONG STERN-TIMBERS. _See_ STERN-TIMBERS.
LONG STROKE. The order to a boat's crew to stretch out and hang on her.
LONG-TACKLES. Those overhauled down for hoisting up top-sails to be
bent. Long-tackle blocks have two sheaves of different sizes placed one
above the other, as in fiddle-blocks.
LONG-TAILS. A sobriquet for the Chinese.
LONG TIMBERS, OR LONG TOP-TIMBERS. Synonymous with _double futtocks_.
Timbers in the cant-bodies, reaching from the dead-wood to the head of
the second futtock, and forming a floor.
LONG TOGS. Landsman's clothes.
LONG TOM, OR LONG TOM TURKS. Pieces of lengthy ordnance for chasers, &c.
LONG VOYAGE. One in which the Atlantic Ocean is crossed.
LONG-WINDED WHISTLERS. Chase-guns.
LOO, OR LOE. A little round hill or heap of stones.--_Under the loo_, is
shelter from the wind; to leeward.
LOOF. The after part of a ship's bow, before the chess-tree, or that
where the planks begin to be incurvated as they approach the stem.
Hence, the guns which lie here are called _loof-pieces_.
LOOF. Usually pronounced and spelled _luff_ (which see).
LOOK, TO. The bearing or direction, as, _she looks up_, is approaching
her course.--_A plank looks fore and aft_, means, is placed in that
direction.
LOOK-OUT. Watchful attention; there is always a look-out kept from the
forecastle, foretopsail-yard, or above, to watch for any dangerous
object lying near a ship's track, for any strange sail heaving in sight,
&c.; the officer of the watch accordingly calls frequently from the
quarter-deck to the mast-head-man appointed for this service, "Look out
afore there."
LOOK OUT FOR SQUALLS. Beware; cautionary.
LOOM. The handle of an oar. Also, the track of a fish.
LOOM, TO. An indistinct enlarged appearance of any distant object in
light fogs, as the coast, ships, &c.; "that land looms high," "that ship
looms large." The effect of refraction.
LOOM-GALE. An easy gale of wind, in which a ship can carry her whole
top-sails a-trip.
LOON, OR LUNDE. The great northern diver, _Colymbus glacialis_. A bird
about the size of a goose, which frequents the northern seas, where "as
straight as a loon's leg," is a common comparison.
LOOP. A bight or bend. The winding of a river.
LOOP-HOLES. Small openings made in the walls of a castle, or a
fortification, for musketry to fire through. Also, certain apertures
formed in the bulk-heads, hatches, and other parts of a merchant-ship,
through which small arms might be fired on an enemy who boarded her, and
for close fight. They were formerly called _meurtrieres_, and were
introduced in British slave-vessels.
LOOPS OF A GUN-CARRIAGE. The iron eye-bolts to which the tackles are
hooked.
LOOSE, TO. To unfurl or cast loose any sail, in order to its being set,
or dried after rain.
LOOSE A ROPE, TO. To cast it off, or let it go.
LOOSE FALL. The losing of a whale after an apparently good opportunity
for striking it.
LOOSE ICE. A number of pieces near each other, but through which the
ship can make her way.
LOOSERS. Men appointed to loose the sails.
LOOSING FOR SEA. Weighing the anchor.
LOOT. Plunder, or pillage; a term adopted from China.
LOOVERED BATTENS. The battens that inclose the upper part of the well.
(_See_ LOOVER-WAYS.)
LOOVER-WAYS. Battens or boards placed at a certain angle, so as to admit
air, but not wet; a kind of Venetian-blind.
LOP AND TOP. The top and branches of a felled tree.
LOP-SIDED. Uneven; one side larger than the other.
LORCHA. A swift Chinese sailing vessel carrying guns.
LORD OF MISRULE. _See_ MASTER OF MISRULE.
LORDS COMMISSIONERS. _See_ COMMISSIONERS.
LORD WARDEN OF THE CINQUE PORTS. A magistrate who has the jurisdiction
of the ports or havens so called. Generally held by one high in office,
or an old minister.
LORICA. A defensive coat-armour made of leather; when iron plates were
applied, it became a _jack_.
LORN. A northern name for the crested cormorant, _Phalacrocorax
cristatus_.
LORRELL. An old term for a lubberly fellow.
LOSE WAY, TO. When a ship slackens her progress in the water.