SHEDELE. A channel of water.
SHEEN-NET. A large drag-net.
SHEEPSHANK. A hitch or bend made on a rope to shorten it temporarily;
and particularly used on runners, to prevent the tackle from coming
block and block. It consists in making two long bights in a rope, which
shall overlay one another; then taking a half hitch over the end of each
bight, with the standing part, which is next to it.
SHEER. The longitudinal curve of a ship's decks or sides; the hanging of
the vessel's side in a fore-and-aft direction. Also, a fishing-spear in
use on the south coast. (_See_ SHEAR.) Also, the position in which a
ship is sometimes kept when at single anchor, in order to keep her clear
of it [evidently from the Erse _sheebh_, to drift].
SHEER, TO BREAK. To deviate from that position, and thereby risk fouling
the anchor. Thus a vessel riding with short scope of cable breaks her
sheer, and bringing the force of the whole length of the ship at right
angles, tears the anchor out of the ground, and drifts into deep water.
SHEER-BATTEN. A batten stretched horizontally along the shrouds, and
seized firmly above each of their dead-eyes, serving to prevent the
dead-eyes from turning at that part. This is also termed a _stretcher_.
SHEER-DRAUGHT. In ship-building, a section supposed to be cut by a plane
passing through the middle line of the keel, the stem, and the
stern-post: it is also called the _plan of elevation_, and it exhibits
the out-board works, as the wales, sheer-rails, ports, drifts, height of
water-line, &c.