PISTOLE. A Spanish gold coin, value 16_s._ 6_d._ sterling.
PISTOLET. This name was applied both to a small pistol and a Spanish
pistole.
PISTOLIERS. A name for the heavy cavalry, _temp._ Jac. I.
PISTOL-PROOF. A term for the point of courage for which a man was
elected captain by pirates.
PISTON. In the marine steam-engine, a metal disc fitting the bore of the
cylinder, and made to slide up and down within it easily, in order, by
its reciprocating movement, to communicate motion to the engine.
PISTON-ROD. A rod which is firmly fixed in the piston by a key driven
through both.
PIT. In the dockyards. _See_ SAW-PIT.
PITCH. Tar and coarse resin boiled to a fluid yet tenacious consistence.
It is used in a hot state with oakum in caulking the ship to fill the
chinks or intervals between her planks. Also, in steam navigation, the
distance between two contiguous threads of the screw-propeller, is
termed the _pitch_. Also, in gunnery, the throw of the shot.--_To
pitch_, to plant or set, as tents, pavements, pitched battles, &c.
PITCH-BOAT. A vessel fitted for boiling pitch in, which should be veered
astern of the one being caulked.
PITCHED. A word formerly used for _stepped_, as of a mast, and also for
_thrown_.
PITCH-HOUSE. A place set apart for the boiling of pitch for the seams
and bottoms of vessels.
PITCH IN, TO. To set to work earnestly; to beat a person violently. (A
colloquialism.)
PITCHING. The plunging of a ship's head in a sea-way; the vertical
vibration which her length makes about her centre of gravity; a very
straining motion.
PITCH-KETTLE. That in which the pitch is heated, or in which it is
carried from the _pitch-pot_.
PITCH-LADLE. Is used for paying decks and horizontal work.
PITCH-MOP. The implement with which the hot pitch is laid on to ships'
sides and perpendicular work.
PITCH-PINE. _Pinus resinosa_, commonly called Norway or red pine. (_See_
PINE.)
PITH. Well known as the medullary part of the stem of a plant; but
figuratively, it is used to express strength and courage.
PIT-PAN. A flat-bottomed, trough-like canoe, used in the Spanish Main
and in the West Indies.
PIT-POWDER. That made with charcoal which has been burned in pits, not
in cylinders.
PIVOT. A cylinder of iron or other metal, that may turn easily in a
socket. Also, in a column of troops, that flank by which the dressing
and distance are regulated; in a line, that on which it wheels.
PIVOT-GUN. Mounted on a frame carriage which can be turned radially, so
as to point the piece in any direction.
PIVOT-SHIP. In certain fleet evolutions, the sternmost ship remains
stationary, as a pivot upon which the other vessels are to form the line
anew.
PLACE. A fortress, especially its main body.
PLACE FOR EVERYTHING, AND EVERYTHING IN ITS PLACE. One of the golden
maxims of propriety on board ship.
PLACE OF ARMS. In fortification, a space contrived for the convenient
assembling of troops for ulterior purposes; the most usual are those at
the salient and re-entering angles of the covered-way.
PLACER. A Spanish nautical term for shoal or deposit. Also, for deposits
of precious minerals.
PLACES OF CALL. Merchantmen must here attend to two general rules:--If
these places of call are enumerated in the charter-party, then such must
be taken in the order laid down; but if leave be given to call at all,
or any, then they must be taken in their geographical sequence.
PLAGES [Lat.] An old word for the divisions of the globe; as, _plages of
the north_, the northern regions.
PLAIN. A term used in contradistinction to mountain, though far from
implying a level surface, and it may be either elevated or low.
PLAN. The area or imaginary surface defined by, or within any described
lines. In ship-building, the _plan of elevation_, commonly called the
_sheer-draught_, is a side-plan of the ship. (_See_ HORIZONTAL PLAN and
BODY-PLAN, or plan of projection.)
PLANE. In a general sense, a perfectly level surface; but it is a term
used by shipwrights, implying the area or imaginary surface contained
within any particular outlines, as the plane of elevation, or
sheer-draught, &c.
PLANE-CHART. One constructed on the supposition of the earth's being an
extended plane, and therefore but little in request.
PLANE OF THE MERIDIAN. _See_ MERIDIAN.
PLANE-SAILING. That part of navigation which treats a ship's course as
an angle, and the distance, difference of latitude, and easting or
westing, as the sides of a right-angled triangle. The easting or westing
is called departure. To convert this into difference of longitude,
parallel, middle latitude, or Mercator's sailing is needed, depending on
circumstances. Plane-sailing is so simple that it is colloquially used
to express anything so easy that it is impossible to make a mistake.
PLANE TRIANGLE. One contained by three right lines.
PLANETS, PRIMARY. Those beautiful opaque bodies which revolve about the
sun as a centre, in nearly circular orbits. (_See_ INFERIOR, MINOR, and
SUPERIOR.)
PLANETS, SECONDARY. The satellites, or moons, revolving about some of
the primary planets--the moon being our satellite.
PLANIMETRY. The mensuration of plane surfaces.
PLANK. Thick boards, 18 feet long at least, from 1-1/2 to 4 inches
thick, and 9 or 10 inches broad; of less dimensions, it is called
_board_ or _deal_ (which see), the latter being 8 or 9 inches wide, by
14 feet long.
PLANKING. The outside and inside casing of the vessel.
PLANK IT, TO. To sleep on the bare decks, choosing, as the galley saying
has it, the softest plank.
PLANK-SHEER. Pieces of plank covering the timber-heads round the ship;
also, the gunwale or covering-board. The space between this and the line
of flotation has latterly been termed the free-board.
PLAN OF THE TRANSOMS. The horizontal appearance of them, to which the
moulds are made, and the bevellings taken.
PLANT. A stock of tools, &c. Also, the fixtures, machinery, &c.,
required to carry on a business.
PLANTER. In Newfoundland it means a person engaged in the fishery; and
in the United States the naked trunk of a tree, which, imbedded in a
river, becomes one of the very dangerous snag tribe.
PLASH, TO. To wattle or interweave branches.
PLASTRON. A pad used by fencers. Also, the shield on the under surface
of a turtle.
PLATE. In marine law, refers to jewels, plate, or treasure, for which
freight is due. Thus, _plate-ship_ is a galleon so laden.
PLATE. _Backstay-plate._ A piece of iron used instead of a chain to
confine the dead-eye of the backstay to the after-channel.--_Foot-hook
or futtock plates._ Iron bands fitted to the lower dead-eyes of the
topmast-shrouds, which, passing through holes in the rim of the top, are
attached to the upper ends of the futtock-shrouds.
PLATE-ARMOUR. Thick coverings or coatings for ships on the new
principle, to render them impervious to shot and shell, if kept just
outside of _breaking-plate_ distance.
PLATEAU. An upland flat-topped elevation.
PLATFORM. A kind of deck for any temporary or particular purpose: the
orlop-deck, having store-rooms and cabins forward and aft, and the
middle part allotted to the stowage of cables. Also, the flooring
elevation of stone or timber on which the carriage of a gun is placed
for action. Hence, in early voyages, a fort or battery, with
well-mounted ordnance, is called "the platform."
PLATOON. Originally a small square body or subdivision of musketeers;
hence, _platoon exercise_, that which relates to the loading and firing
of muskets in the ranks; and _platoon firing_, _i.e._ by subdivisions.
PLAY. Motion in the frame, masts, &c. Also said of the marine
steam-engine when it is in action or in play. Also, in long voyages or
tedious blockades, play-acting may be encouraged with benefit; for the
excitement and employment thus afforded are not only good
anti-scorbutics, but also promoters of content and good fellowship: in
such--
"Jack is not bound by critics' crabbed laws,
But gives to all his unreserved applause:
He laughs aloud when jokes his fancy please--
Such are the honest manners of the seas.
And never--never may he ape those fools
Who, lost to reason, laugh or cry by rules."
PLAYTE. An old term for a river-boat.
PLEDGET. The string of oakum used in caulking. Also, in surgery, a small
plug of lint.
PLEIADES. The celebrated cluster of stars in Taurus, of which seven or
eight are visible to the naked eye; the assisted vision numbers over
200.
PLENY TIDES. Full tides.
PLICATILES. Ancient vessels built of wood and leather, which could be
taken to pieces and carried by land.
PLONKETS. Coarse woollen cloths of former commerce. (_See_ statute 1 R.
III. c. 8.)