STRENGTH. In naval architecture, means giving the various pieces of a
ship their proper figures, so that by their combination and disposition
they may be united into a firm and compact frame. In regimental affairs
it implies merely the number of men actually serving.
STRENGTH OF THE TIDE. Where it runs strongest, which in serpentine
courses will be found in the hollow curves.
STRESS. Hard pressure by weather or other causes. Stress of weather
often compels a ship to put back to the port whence she sailed.
STRETCH. A word frequently used instead of tack; as, "We shall make a
good stretch."--_To stretch._ To sail by the wind under a crowd of
canvas.
STRETCH ALONG A BRACE, TO. To lay it along the decks in readiness for
the men to lay hold of; called _manning it_.
STRETCHER. _See_ SHEER-POLE.
STRETCHERS. Narrow pieces of wood placed athwart the bottom of a boat,
for the rowers to place their feet against, that they may communicate
greater effort to their oars. Also, cross-pieces placed between a boat's
sides to keep them apart when hoisted up and griped. Colloquially, a
_stretcher_ means a lie exaggerated to absurdity.
STRETCH OUT! In rowing, is the order to pull strong; to bend forward to
the utmost.
STRICTLAND. An archaic term for an isthmus.
STRIKE, TO. A ship strikes when she in any way touches the bottom. Also,
to lower anything, as the ensign or top-sail in saluting, or as the
yards, topgallant-masts, and top-masts in a gale. It is also
particularly used to express the lowering of the colours in token of
surrender to a victorious enemy.
STRIKE DOWN! The order to lower casks, &c., into the hold.
STRIKERS. Men furnished with harpoons or grains to attack fish; hence
the term _dolphin-striker_ (which see), where these men place
themselves.
STRIKE SOUNDINGS, TO. To gain bottom, or the first soundings, by the
deep-sea lead, on coming in from sea.
STRING [Anglo-Saxon _straeng_]. In ship-building, a strake within side,
constituting the highest range of planks in a ship's ceiling, and it
answers to the sheer-strake outside, to the scarphs of which it gives
strength.
STRINGERS. A name sometimes applied to _shelf-pieces_ (which see). Also,
heavy timber similarly carried round a ship to fortify her for special
heavy service, as whaling, &c.
STRIPPED TO THE GIRT-LINE. All the standing-rigging and furniture having
been cleared off the masts in the course of dismantling.
STRIPPING. An inconvenient fault of many lead-coated projectiles--the
throwing off portions of their coating on discharge from the gun.
STRIP THE MASTS, TO. To clear the masts of their rigging.
STROKE. A pull or single sweep of the oars in rowing; hence the order,
"Row a long stroke," which is intended to move the boat forward more
steadily.
STROKE-OAR. The aftermost oar in a boat, from which the others take
their time.
STROKE OF THE SEA. The shock occasioned to a vessel by a heavy sea
striking her.
STROKE-SIDE OF A BOAT. That in which the after starboard rowlock is
placed, or where the after oar is rowed if single-banked.
STROKESMAN. The man who rows the aftmost oar in a boat.
STROM. An archaism of storm or tempest.
STROMBOLO. Bits of ampelite or cannel-coal found on our southern coasts,
charged with bitumen, sulphur, and salt. The name is referred to the
Island of Stromboli, but the Brighton people insist that it is from the
Flemish _strom-bollen_, meaning stream or tide balls.
STRONG-BACK. The same with _Samson's post_ (which see). Also, an
adaptation of a strong piece of wood over the windlass, to lift the
turns of a chain-cable clear of it.
STRONG BREEZE. That which reduces a ship to double-reefed top-sails,
jib, and spanker.
STRONG GALE. That strength of wind under which close-reefed top-sails
and storm-staysails are usually carried when close-hauled.
STROP, OR STRAP. A piece of rope, spliced generally into a circular
wreath, and used to surround the body of a block, so that the latter may
be hung to any particular situation about the masts, yards, or rigging.
Strops are also used occasionally to fasten upon any large rope for the
purpose of hooking a tackle to the eye or double part of the strop, in
order to extend or pull with redoubled effort upon the same rope; as in
setting up the rigging, where one hook of the tackle is fixed in a strop
applied to the particular shroud, and the other to its laniard.
STROP-BOUND BLOCK. A single block used in the clue of square-sails for
the clue-lines to lead through; it has a shoulder left on each side to
prevent the strop from chafing.--_Iron-strop_, a hoop of iron, in lieu
of rope, round the shell of a block.
STRUCK BY A SEA. Said of a ship when a high rolling wave breaks on board
of her.
STRUT. A stanchion or sustaining prop to the lower beams.
STUBB, OR DOGG. The lower part of a rainbow visible towards the horizon,
and betokening squally weather: it is fainter than the wind-gall. On the
banks of Newfoundland they are considered precursors of clearer weather,
and termed fog-dogs.
STUD, OR BAR. A small piece of cast-iron introduced across the middle of
each link of the larger chain-cables, where, acting as a strengthener,
it prevents collapse, and keeps the links endways to each other.
STUDDING-SAIL BOOM. A spar rigged out for the purpose of setting a
studding-sail, and taking its name from the sail it belongs to.
STUDDING-SAILS. Fine-weather sails set outside the square-sails; the
term "scudding-sails" was formerly used.--_Top-mast and top-gallant
studding-sails._ Those which are set outside the top-sails and
topgallant-sails. They have yards at the head, and are spread at the
foot by booms, which slide out on the extremities of the lower and
top-sail yards, and their heads or yards are hoisted up to the top-sail
and top-gallant yard-arms.
STUDDING-SAIL YARD. The spar to which the head of the studding-sail is
extended.
STUFF. A _coat of stuff_, a term used for any composition laid on to
ships' spars, bottom, &c. Also, square timber of different thicknesses.
STUFFING-BOX. A contrivance on the top of a steam cylinder-cover, packed
with hemp, and kept well soaked with tallow, to prevent steam from
passing through while the piston-rod is working.
STUMP. A derogatory but well-known name in navigating our eastern coasts
for the beautiful tower of Boston church. (_See_ SNAGS.)
STUMP TOPGALLANT-MASTS. Those without a royal pole.
STUN-SAILS. A corruption of _studding-sails_ (which see).
STURGEON. _Acipenser sturio_, a large fish; it has a cartilaginous
skeleton, with a small circular and tubular mouth. It is found in the
European seas and larger rivers. The roes are made into _caviare_, and
the sounds and muscular parts into isinglass. It is a royal fish in
England.
STURRE-MANNE. An old name for a sea-captain.
SUBALTERNS. All commissioned army officers ranking below captains.
SUB-LIEUTENANT. A rank lately reproduced, to which a midshipman is
entitled on passing for lieutenant; formerly styled mate.
SUBMARINE BANK. An extensive sandy plateau with deep water over it.
SUBMARINE TELEGRAPH. Consists of a steel wire-rope, containing a heart
of gutta-percha and other soft materials, in which are inclosed the
copper wires through which the communication by electricity is conveyed.
Rapid progress has been made in the art of making and handling this
rope, as is proved by the existence of two cables between Ireland and
America, one of which was recovered from the deep sea by creeping.
SUBMARINE THERMOMETER. An instrument for trying the temperature of the
sea at different depths. It consists of a hollow weighted cylinder in
which a Six's thermometer is placed; the cylinder being provided with a
valve at each end, opening upwards, so that as it sinks the valves open,
allowing a free course of water through the cylinder: when it reaches
the required depth the line is checked and the valves close; it is then
hauled gently in, and the thermometer reaches the surface surrounded by
water of the required depth, indicating its temperature.
SUBSIDY. A stipulated sum of money paid by one ruler to another, in
pursuance of a treaty of alliance for offensive and defensive war. Also,
a sum allowed for the conveyance of mails.
SUBSISTENCE. The amount to be issued to troops as daily pay, after
making the regulated deductions for rations, necessaries, &c.
SUCCADES. Sweetmeats entered at the custom-house; formerly a large part
of the cargo of Spanish West Indiamen.
SUCCOUR. An enterprise undertaken to relieve a place besieged or
blockaded, by either forcing the enemy from before it, or throwing in
supplies.
SUCKING. The action of the pump when the well is nearly dry, or at least
so low at the pump-foot as to admit air.
SUCK-STONE. An archaic name for the remora.