SLAB-LINES. Small ropes passing up abaft a ship's main-sail or
fore-sail, led through blocks attached to the trestle-trees, and thence
transmitted, each in two branches, to the foot of the sail, where they
are fastened. They are used to truss up the slack sail, after it has
been "disarmed" by the leech and buntlines.
SLACK. The part of a rope or sail that hangs loose.--_To slack_, is to
decrease in tension or velocity; as, "Slack the laniard of our
main-stay;" or "The tide slackens."
SLACK HELM. If the ship is too much by the stern, she will carry her
helm too much _a-lee_.
SLACK IN STAYS. Slow in going about. Also applied to a lazy man.
SLACK OFF, OR SLACKEN! The order to ease away the rope or tackle by
which anything is held fast; as, "Slack up the hawser."
SLACK WATER. The interval between the flux and reflux of the tide, as
between the last of the ebb and first of the flood, or _vice versa_,
during which the water remains apparently quiescent.
SLADE [the Anglo-Saxon _slaed_]. A valley or open tract of country.
SLAKE. An accumulation of mud or ooze in the bed of a river.
SLANT OF WIND. An air of which advantage may be taken.
SLANT TACK. That which is most favourable to the course when working to
windward.
SLAVER. A vessel employed in the odious slave-trade.
SLED. The rough kind of sleigh in North America, used for carrying
produce, too heavy for amusement.
SLEE. A sort of cradle placed under a ship's bottom in Holland, for
drawing her up for repairs.
SLEECH. A word on our southern coasts for mud or sea-sand used in
agriculture.
SLEEP. A sail sleeps when, steadily filled with wind, it bellies to the
breeze.
SLEEPERS. Timbers lying fore and aft in the bottom of the ship, now
generally applied to the knees which connect the transoms to the after
timbers on the ship's quarter. They are particularly used in Greenland
ships, to strengthen the bows and stern-frame, to enable them to resist
the shocks of the ice. Also, any wooden beams used as supports. Also,
ground tier casks.
SLEEVE. The word formerly used to denote the narrows of a channel, and
particularly applied to the Strait of Dover, still called _La Manche_ by
the French. When Napoleon was threatening to invade England, he was
represented trying to get into a coat, but one of the sleeves utterly
baffled him, whence the point: "_Il ne peut pas passer La Manche._"
SLEEVE-FISH. A name for the calamary, _Loligo vulgaris_, an animal
allied to the cuttle-fish.
SLICE. A bar of iron with a flat, sharp, spear-shaped end, used in
stripping off sheathing, ceiling, and the like. The _whaler's slice_ is
a slender chisel about four inches wide, used to cut into, and flinch
the fish.
SLICES. Tapering wedges of plank used to drive under the false keel, and
between the bilge-ways, preparatory to launching a vessel.
SLICK. Smooth. This is usually called an Americanism, but is a very old
sea-term. In the _Book for Boys and Girls_, 1686, it is aptly
illustrated:
"The mole's a creature very smooth and slick,
She digs i' th' dirt, but 'twill not on her stick."
SLIDE-VALVE CASING. A casing on one side of the cylinder of an engine,
which covers the nozzles or steam-ports, and confines the slide-valves.
SLIDE-VALVE ROD. A rod connecting the slide-valves of an engine, to
both of which it is joined; it passes through the casing cover, the
opening of which is kept steam-tight.
SLIDE-VALVES. The adaptations used in a marine-engine to change the
admission of the steam into, and its eduction from, the cylinder, by the
upper and lower steam-ports alternately.
SLIDING BAULKS, OR SLIDING-PLANKS. Those timbers fitted under the bottom
of a ship, to descend with her upon the bilge-ways when launched.
SLIDING BILGE-BLOCKS. Those logs made to slide under the bilge of a ship
in order to support her.
SLIDING GUNTERS. Masts fitted for getting up and down with facility
abaft the mast; generally used for _kites_, as royals, skysails, and the
like.
SLIDING-KEEL. A contrivance to prevent vessels from being driven to
leeward by a side-wind; it is composed of planks of various breadths,
erected vertically, so as to slide up and down, through the keel.
SLING, TO. To pass the top-chains round the yards when going into
action. Also, to set any large article, in ropes, so as to put a tackle
on, and hoist or lower it. When the clues are attached to a cot or
hammock, it is said to be slung; also water-kegs, buoys, &c., are slung.
SLING-DOGS. In timber lifting, a dog is an iron implement with a fang at
one end, and an eye at the other, in which a rope may be made fast for
hauling anything along. Two of these fastened together by a shackle
through the eyes are called sling-dogs. (_See_ DOG.) Also, an ancient
piece of ordnance. (_See_ SLYNG.)
SLING-HOOP. That which suspends the yard from the mast, by which it is
hoisted and lowered.
SLINGS. A rope fitted to encircle any large article, and suspend it
while hoisting and lowering. Also, leather straps made fast to both ends
of a musket, serving for the men to hang them by on their shoulders,
that both hands may be free.--_Boat-slings._ Strong ropes, furnished
with hooks and iron thimbles, whereby to hook the tackles to keel, stem,
and stern bolts, in order to hoist the boats in or out of the
ship.--_Buoy-slings_ are special fittings adopted in order that a buoy
may securely ride on the wave, and mark the position of the anchor, the
buoy-rope being attached to an eye in the slings.--_Butt-slings_ are
those used in slinging casks; they may be described as a running eye
over one end, and a similar one made with two half hitches over the
standing part on the other; all of which jam close home when the strain
is brought on the bight.--_Yard-slings._ The rope or chain used to
support a yard which does not travel up and down a mast. The slings of a
yard also imply that part on which the slings are placed.--_Slings_ is
also a term on the American coast for drams, or a drink of spirits and
water; the custom of _slinging_ prevails there extensively, even where
intoxication is despised.
SLIP. An inclined plane by the water side, on which a ship may be built.
There are also slips up which vessels may be drawn for receiving
repairs. Also, a short memorandum of the proposed insurance of a ship,
which is sometimes offered to the underwriters for subscription,
previous to the effecting of a policy. Also, in steam navigation, the
difference between the pitch of the propelling screw, and the space
through which the screw actually progresses in the water, during one
revolution.--_To slip_, is to let go the cable with a buoy on the end,
and quit the position, from any sudden requirement, instead of weighing
the anchor.--_To slip by the board._ To slip down by the ship's side.
SLIP-BEND. When a man makes a false step, and slips down a hatchway, or
overboard.
SLIP-KNOT, OR SLIPPERY-HITCH. One which will not bear any strain, but
will either become untied, or will traverse along the other part of the
rope.
SLIP-ROPE. A rope passed through anything in such a manner that it will
render or may be slipped instantaneously, as in canting to make sail,
&c.
SLIP-SHACKLE. A shackle with a lever-bolt, for letting go suddenly; yet,
when ringed, is sufficient to secure the ship.
SLIVE, OR SLIVER. An old term for a sluice. Also, any thin piece of
split wood used as a filling. Also, a short slop wrapper, formerly
called a _sliving_.
SLOOP. In general parlance is a vessel similar to a cutter; the
bowsprit, however, is not running, and the jib is set on a standing stay
with hanks. In North America the sloop proper sets only a main-sail and
fore-sail, the latter jib-shaped, on a short standing bowsprit, and has
no top-mast. The rig is greatly used for yachts there, and is most
effective in moderate weather. Sloop in the royal navy is a term
depending on the rank of the officer in command. Thus, the donkey
frigate _Blossom_ was one cruise rated a _ship_, when commanded by a
captain--the next, a _sloop_, because only commanded by a commander.
SLOP-BOOK. A register of the slop clothing, soap, and tobacco, issued to
the men; also of the religious books supplied.
SLOPE OF WIND. A breeze favouring a long tack near to the required
course, and which may be expected to veer to fair.
SLOP-ROOM. The place appointed to keep the slops in, for the ship's
company; generally well aft and dry.
SLOPS. A name given to ready-made clothes, and other furnishings, for
seamen, by Maydman, in 1691. In Chaucer's time, _sloppe_ meant a sort of
breeches. In a MS. account of the wardrobe of Queen Elizabeth, is an
order to John Fortescue for the delivery of some Naples fustian for
"Sloppe for Jack Greene, our Foole."
SLOP-SHOP. A place where ready-made clothing for seamen is sold, not at
all advantageously to Jack.
SLOT. An archaic term for a castle or fort. Also, a groove or hole where
a pin traverses.
SLOT-HOOP. The same as _truss-hoops_.