PRESS-GANG. A party of seamen who (under the command of a lieutenant)
were formerly empowered, in time of war, to take any seafaring men--on
shore or afloat--and compel them to serve on board men-of-war. Those who
were thus taken were called _pressed men_.
PRESS OF SAIL. As much sail as the state of the wind, &c., will permit a
ship to carry.
PRESSURE-GAUGE. The manometer of a steam-engine.
PREST. Formerly signified quick or ready, and a _prest man_ was one
willing to enlist for a stipulated sum--the very reverse of the _pressed
man_ of later times. (_See_ PRESS-GANG.)
PRESTER. An old name for a meteor.
PRESUMPTIVE EVIDENCE. Is such as by a fair and reasonable interpretation
is deducible from the facts of a case.
PREVENTER. Applied to ropes, &c., when used as additional securities to
aid other ropes in supporting spars, &c., during a strong gale; as
preventer-backstays, braces, shrouds, stays, &c.
PREVENTER-PLATES. Stout plates of iron for securing the chains to the
ship's side; one end is on the chain-plate bolt, the other is bolted to
the ship's side below it.
PREVENTER-STOPPERS. Short pieces of rope, knotted at each end, for
securing the clues of sails or rigging during action, or when strained.
PREVENTIVE SERVICE. The establishment of coast-guards at numerous
stations along the shores of the United Kingdom for the prevention of
smuggling.
PRICKER. A small marline-spike for making and stretching the holes for
points and rope-bands in sails. Also, the priming-wire of a gun. Also, a
northern name for the basking-shark.
PRICKING A SAIL. The running a middle seam between the two seams which
unite every cloth of a sail to the next adjoining. This is rarely done
till the sails have been worn some time, or in the case of heavy canvas,
storm-sails, &c. It is also called middle-stitching.
PRICKING FOR A SOFT PLANK. Selecting a place on the deck for sleeping
upon.
PRICKING HER OFF. Marking a ship's position upon a chart by the help of
a scale and compasses, so as to show her situation as to latitude,
longitude, and bearings of the place bound to.
PRIDE OF THE MORNING. A misty dew at sunrise; a light shower; the end of
the land breeze followed by a dead calm in the tropics.
PRIEST'S-CAP. An outwork which has three salient angles at the head and
two inwards.
PRIMAGE. Premium of insurance. Also, a small allowance at the water side
to master and mariner for each pack or bale of cargo landed by them:
otherwise called _hat-money_.