PAHI. The large war-canoe of the Society Islands.
PAID OFF. _See_ PAYING OFF.
PAINTER. A rope attached to the bows of a boat, used for making her
fast: it is spliced with a thimble to a ring-bolt inside the stem. "Cut
your painter," make off.
PAIR-OAR. A name of the London wherry of a larger size than the scull.
PAIXHAN GUN. Introduced by the French General Paixhan about 1830, for
the horizontal firing of heavy shells; having much greater calibre, but
proportionally less metal, than the then current solid-shot guns.
PALABRAS. Sp. words; hence _palaver_ amongst natives of new countries
where the Spaniards have landed.
PALADIN. A knight-errant.
PALANQUIN. The covered litter of India.
PALAVER. _See_ PALABRAS.
PALES AND CROSS-PALES. The interior shores by which the timbers of a
ship are kept to the proper breadth while in frame.
PALISADES. [Sp.] Palings for defensive purposes, formed of timber or
stout stakes fixed vertically and sharpened at the head.
PALLET. A ballast-locker formerly used, to give room in the hold for
other stowage.
PALLETTING. A slight platform made above the bottom of the magazines, to
keep the powder from moisture.
PALM. The triangular face of the fluke of an anchor. Also, a
shield-thimble used in sewing canvas, rope, &c. It consists of a flat
thimble to receive the head of the needle, and is fixed upon a piece of
canvas or leather, across the _palm_ of the hand, hence the name.
PALMAIR. An old northern word for rudder. Also, a pilot.
PALMETTO. One of the palm tribe, from the sheath of which sennit is
worked for seamen's (straw) hats.
PALM-WINE. A sub-acid and pleasant fermented tropical drink. (_See_
TODDY.)
PAMBAN MANCHE, OR SNAKE-BOAT OF COCHIN. A canoe used on the numerous
rivers and back-waters, from 30 to 60 feet long, and cut out of the
solid tree. The largest are paddled by about twenty men, double-banked,
and, when pressed, they will go as much as 12 miles an hour.
PAMPAS. The Savannah plains of South America, so extensive that, as
Humboldt observes, whilst their northern extremity is bounded by
palm-trees, their southern limits are the eternal snows of the
Magellanic straits.
PAMPERO. A violent squall of wind from the S.W., attended with rain,
thunder, and lightning, over the immense plains or pampas of the Rio de
la Plata, where it rages like a hurricane.
PAN. In fire-arms, is a small iron cavity of the old flint lock,
adjacent to the touch-hole of the barrel, to contain the priming powder.
PANCAKES. Thin floating rounded spots of snow ice, in the Arctic seas,
and reckoned the first indication of the approach of winter, in August.
PANDEL. A Kentish name for the shrimp.
PANDOOR. A northern name for a large oyster, usually taken at the
entrance of the pans.
PANGAIA. A country vessel of East Africa, like a barge, with one
mat-sail of cocoa-nut leaves, the planks being pinned with wooden pins,
and sewed with twine.
PANNIKIN. A small tin pot.
PANNYAR. Kidnapping negroes on the coast of Africa.
PANSHWAY. A fast-pulling passenger-boat used on the Hooghly.
PANTOGRAPH. An instrument to copy or reduce drawings.
PANTOMETER. An instrument for taking angles and elevations, and
measuring distances.
PAOLO. A Papal silver coin, value 5-1/4_d._; ten paoli make a crown.
PAPS. Coast hills, with rounded or conical summits; the lofty paps of
Jura are three in number.
PAR, OR PARR. In ichthyology, the samlet, brannock, or branling. Also, a
commercial term of exchange, where the moneys are equalized.
PARA. A small Turkish coin of 3 aspers, 1-1/2 farthing.
PARABOLA. A geometrical figure formed by the section of a cone when cut
by a plane parallel to its side.
PARADE. An assembling of troops in due military order. Also, the open
space where they parade or are paraded. The quarter-deck of a man-of-war
is often termed the sovereign's parade.
PARALLACTIC ANGLE. The angle made at a star by arcs passing through the
zenith and pole respectively.
PARALLAX. An apparent change in the position of an object, arising from
a change of the observer's station, and which diminishes with the
altitude of an object in the vertical circle. Its effect is greatest in
the horizon, where it is termed the _horizontal parallax_, and vanishes
entirely in the zenith. The positions of the planets and comets, as
viewed from the surface of the earth, differ from those they would
occupy if observed from its centre by the amount of parallax, the due
application of which is an important element. The stars are so distant
that their positions are the same from whatever part of the earth they
are seen; but attempts have been made to detect the amount of variation
in their places, when observed from opposite points of the earth's
orbit, the minute result of which is termed the _annual parallax_; and
the former effect, due to the observer's station on our globe, is called
the _diurnal parallax_.
PARALLEL. A term for those lines that preserve an equal distance from
each other. It is sometimes used instead of latitude, as, "Our orders
were to cruise in the parallel of Madeira." More definitely, they are
imaginary circles parallel with the equator, ninety in the northern, and
ninety in the southern hemispheres.
PARALLEL-BAR. In the marine steam-engine, forms a connection with the
pump-rods and studs along the centre line of the levers.
PARALLEL OF LATITUDE. Is a circle parallel to the equator passing
through any place. _Almucantar_ is the Arabic name.
PARALLELOGRAM. A right-lined quadrilateral figure, the opposite sides of
which are parallel and equal.
PARALLELOPIPED. A prism or solid figure contained under six
parallelograms, the opposite sides of which are equal and parallel.
PARALLELS. The trenches or lines made by a besieger parallel to the
general defence of a place, for the purpose of connecting and supporting
his several approaches.
PARALLEL SAILING. Sailing nearly on a given parallel of latitude.
PARALLELS OF DECLINATION. Secondary circles parallel to the celestial
equator.
PARANZELLO. A small Mediterranean vessel, pink-sterned, with a lateen
main-sail and mizen, and a large jib.
PARAPET. A breast-high defence against missiles; its top is usually
sloped away to the front, that the defenders may conveniently fire over
it; and it is preferred of earth, of a thickness proportionate to the
kind of fire it is intended to resist; its height also is often much
increased.
PARASANG. A Persian military measure, sometimes assumed as a league, but
equal to about 4 English miles.
PARBUCKLE. A method of hauling up or lowering down a cask, or any
cylindrical object, where there is no crane or tackle; the middle of a
rope is passed round a post, the two ends are then passed under the two
quarters of the cask, bringing the ends back again over it, and they
being both hauled or slackened together, either raise or lower the cask,
&c., as may be required. The parbuckle is frequently used in
public-house vaults. Guns are parbuckled up steep cliffs without their
carriages, and spars in timber-yards are so dealt with.
PARCEL, TO. To wind tarred canvas round a rope.
PARCELLING. Narrow strips of old canvas daubed with tar and frequently
wound about a rope like bandages, previous to its being served.
PARCLOSE. A name of the limber-hole.
PARDON. The gazetted amnesty or remission of penalty for deserters who
return to their duty; the same as _act of grace_.
PARGOS. A fish resembling a large bream, from which the crews of Quiros
and Cook suffered violent pains and bad effects. The porgy of Africa and
the West Indies.
PARHELION. A mock or false sun; sometimes more than one.
PARIAH. The low-caste people of Hindustan; outcasts.--_Pariah-dogs_;
also outcasts of no known breed.
PARK. A piece of ground (other than a battery) appointed for the ranging
of guns or of ordnance stores.
PARLEY. That beat of drum by which a conference with the enemy is
desired. Synonymous with chamade.--_To parley._ To bandy words.
PARLIAMENT-HEEL. The situation of a ship when careened by shift of
ballast, &c.; or the causing her to incline a little on one side, so as
to clean the side turned out of water, and cover it with fresh
composition, termed _boot-topping_ (which see).
PAR-LINE. A term signifying the normal level of a barometer for a given
station, or the mean pressure between 32 deg. and the sea-level, to which
last the observations are all to be corrected and reduced.
PAROLE. The word of honour given by a prisoner of war until exchanged.
Also, synonymous with _word_ (which see).
PAROLE-EVIDENCE. In insurance cases it is a general rule, that the
policy alone shall be conclusive evidence of the contract, and that no
parole-evidence shall be received to vary the terms of it.
PARRALS, OR PARRELS. Those bands of rope, or sometimes iron collars, by
which the centres of yards are fastened at the slings to the masts, so
as to slide up and down freely when requisite.
PARREL-ROPE. Is formed of a single rope well served, and fitted with an
eye at each end; this being passed round the yard is seized fast on, the
two ends are then passed round the after-part of the mast, and one of
them being brought under, and the other over the yard, the two eyes are
lashed together; this is seldom used but for the top-gallant and smaller
yards.
PARREL WITH RIBS AND TRUCKS, OR JAW PARRELS. This is formed by passing
the two parts of the parrel-rope through the two holes in the ribs,
observing that between every two ribs is strung a truck on each part of
the rope. (_See_ RIBS and TRUCKS.) The ends of the parrel-rope are made
fast with seizings; these were chiefly used on the topsail-yards.
PARREL WITH TRUCKS. Is composed of a single rope passing through a
number of bull's-eye trucks, sufficient to embrace the mast; these are
principally used for the cheeks of a gaff.
PARSEES. The great native merchants of Bombay, &c., and a very useful
class as merchants and shopkeepers all along the Malabar coast. They are
the remains of the ancient Persians, and are Guebres, or
fire-worshippers.
PART, TO. To break a rope. To part from an anchor is in consequence of
the cable parting.
PARTAN. A name on our northern coasts for the common sea-crab.
PARTING. The state of being driven from the anchors by breaking the
cables. The rupture or stranding of any tackle-fall or hawser.
PARTIZAN, OR PERTUISAN. A halbert formerly much used. Thus in Shakspeare
(_Antony and Cleopatra_), "I had as lief have a reed that will do me no
service, as a partizan I could not heave." Also, a useful stirring man,
fit for all sorts of desultory duties.
PARTIZAN WARFARE. Insurrectionary, factional, and irregular hostilities.
PARTNERS. A framework of thick plank, fitted round the several scuttles
or holes in a ship's decks, through which the masts, capstans, &c.,
pass; but particularly to support it when the mast leans against it.
PARTNERSHIP with a neutral cannot legalize commerce with a belligerent.
PART OWNERS. Unlike any other partnership, they may be imposed upon each
other without mutual consent, whence arises a frequent appeal to both
civil and common law. (_See_ SHIP-OWNER.)
PARTRIDGES. Grenades thrown from a mortar.
PARTY. The detachment of marines serving on board a man-of-war. Also, a
gang of hands sent away on particular duties.
PASHA. Viceroy. A Turkish title of honour and command.
PASS. A geographical term abbreviated from passage, and applied to any
defile for crossing a mountain chain. Also, any difficult strait which
commands the entrance into a country. Also, a certificate of leave of
absence for a short period only. Also, a thrust with a sword.
PASS, OR PASSPORT. A permission granted by any state to a vessel, to
navigate in some particular sea without molestation; it contains all
particulars concerning her, and is binding on all persons at peace with
that state. It is also a letter of licence given by authority, granting
permission to enter, travel in, and quit certain territories.
PASS, TO. To give from one to another, and also to take certain turns of
a rope round a yard, &c., as "Pass the line along;" "pass the gasket;"
"pass a seizing;" "pass the word there," &c.
PASSAGE. A voyage is generally supposed to comprise the outward and
homeward passages. Also, a west-country term for ferry. (_See_ VOYAGE.)
PASSAGE-BOAT. A small vessel employed in carrying persons or luggage
from one port to another. Also, a ferry-boat.
PASSAGE-BROKER. One who is licensed to act in the procuring of passages
by ships from one port to another.
PASSAGE-MONEY. The allowance made for carrying official personages in a
royal ship. Also, the charge made for the conveyance of passengers in a
packet or merchant-vessel.
PASSAGES. Cuts in the parapet of the covered way to continue the
communication throughout.
PASSANDEAU. An ancient 8-pounder gun of 15 feet.
PASSAREE, OR PASSARADO. A rope in use when before the wind with lower
studding-sail booms out, to haul out the clues of the fore-sail to
tail-blocks on the booms, so as to full-spread the foot of that sail.
PASSED. The having undergone a regular examination for preferment.
PASSED BOYS. Those who have gone through the round of instruction given
in a training-ship.
PASSE-VOLANT. A name applied by the French to a _Quaker_ or wooden gun
on board ship; but it was adopted by our early voyagers as also
expressing a movable piece of ordnance.
PASSPORT. _See_ PASS.
PASS-WORD. The countersign for answering the sentinels.
PATACHE. A Portuguese tender, from 200 to 300 tons, for carrying
treasure: well armed and swift.