SAILING ORDERS. Written instructions for the performance of any proposed
duty.
SAIL-LOFT. A large apartment in dockyards where the sails are cut out
and made.
SAIL-LOOSERS. Men specially appointed to loose the sails when getting
under weigh, or loosing them to dry.
SAIL-MAKER. A qualified person who (with his mates) is employed on board
ship in making, repairing, or altering the sails; whence he usually
derives the familiar sobriquet of _sails_.
SAIL-NETTING. The fore-topmast staysail, main-topmast staysail, and main
staysail are generally stowed in the nettings.
SAILOR. A man trained in managing a ship, either at sea or in harbour. A
thorough sailor is the same with mariner and seaman, but as every one of
the crew is dubbed a sailor, there is much difference in the absolute
meaning of the term. (_See_ MARINER and SEAMAN.)
SAILORS' HOME. A house built by subscription, for the accommodation of
seamen on moderate terms, and to rescue them from swindlers, crimps, &c.
Sailors' homes are a great boon also to shipwrecked mariners. Homes for
married seamen and their families are now contemplated, and it is hoped
that the admiralty will set the example, by building them for the royal
navy, and letting them at moderate rents.
SAILOR'S PLEASURE. A rather hyperbolic phrase for a sailor's overhauling
his ditty-bag at a leisure moment, and restowing his little hoard.
SAILS, TO LOOSE. To unfurl them, and let them hang loose to dry; or the
movement preparatory to "making sail."--_To make sail_, to spread the
sails to the wind in order to begin the action of sailing, or to
increase a ship's speed.--_To shorten sail_, to take in part of or all
the sails, either by reefing or furling, or both.--_To strike sail_, to
lower the upper sails. A gracious mode of salute on passing a foreigner
at sea, especially a superior.
SAINT CUTHBERT'S DUCK. The _Anas mollissima_; the eider, or great black
and white duck of the Farne Islands.
SAINT ELMO'S LIGHT. _See_ COMPASANT.
SAINT SWITHIN. The old notion is, that if it should rain on this
bishop's day, the 15th of July, not one of forty days following will be
without a shower.
SAKER. A very old gun, 8 or 9 feet long, and of about 5 lbs. calibre:
immortalized in _Hudibras_:--
"The cannon, blunderbuss, and saker,
He was th' inventer of, and maker."
The name is thought to have been derived from the French oath _sacre_.
SALADE. An Anglo-Norman term for a light helmet or head-piece.
SALADIN. The first coat-of-arms; so called because the crusaders assumed
it in imitation of the Saracens, whose chief at that time was the
redoubtable Saladin.
SALAM, TO. To salute a superior; a very common term, borrowed from
India. Overdoing it does not please Jack, for he dislikes to see his
commander "salamming like a captured Frenchman."
SALAMANDER. The heated iron formerly used for firing guns, especially in
salutes, as it ensures regularity.
SALE OF COMMISSIONS. The regulated disposal of full-pay, unattached,
retired, and half-pay commissions in the army.
SALE OF EFFECTS. _See_ EFFECTS, of dead men sold by auction "at the
mast."
SALIENT ANGLE. In fortification, one of which the point projects
outwards.
SALINAS, OR SALINES. Salt-ponds, natural or artificial, near the
sea-coast.
SALINOMETER. A brine-gauge for indicating the density of brine in the
boilers of marine steam-engines, to show when it is necessary to blow
off.
SALLY. A sudden expedition out of a besieged place against the besiegers
or some part of their works; also called a _sortie_.--_To sally._ To
move a body by jerks or rushes; a sudden heave or set. Thus, when a
vessel grounds by the bow or stern, and the hawsers are severely taut,
the sally is practised. This is done by collecting all hands at the
point aground, and then by a simultaneous rush reaching the part afloat.
SALLY-PORT. An opening cut in the glacis of a place to afford free
egress to the troops in case of a sortie. Also, a large port on each
quarter of a fire-ship, out of which the officers and crew make their
escape into the boats as soon as the train is fired. Also, a place at
Portsmouth exclusively set apart for the use of men-of-war's boats.
Also, the entering port of a three-decker.
SALMAGUNDI. A savoury sea dish, made of slices of cured fish and onions.
SALMON. The well-known fish, _Salmo salar_. It is partly oceanic and
partly fluviatile, ascending rivers in the breeding season.
SALMON-LADDER. A short trough placed suitably in any fall where the
water is tolerably deep, leaving a narrow trough at intervals for the
fish to pass through, with barriers to break the force of the water.
SALOON. A name for the main cabin of a steamer or passenger ship.
SALT, OR OLD SALT. A weather-beaten sailor. One of the old seamen who
not only have known but have felt what war was.
SALT-BOX. A case for keeping a temporary supply of cartridges for the
immediate use of the great guns; it is under the charge of the
cabin-door sentry.
SALT-EEL. A rope's-end cut from the piece for starting the _homo
delinquens_.