SUFFERANCE WHARF. _See_ WHARF.
SUFFOLK BANG. A very poor and hard kind of cheese, which was indignantly
refused in our North Sea fleet. It was, as farmer's boy Bloomfield
admitted, "too hard to bite."
SUGAR-LOAF. A term applied to conical hills along a sea-coast.
SUGAR-LOAF SEA. High turbulent waves with little wind.
SUGG, TO. To move or rock heavily on a bank or reef.
SUIT OF SAILS. The whole of the sails required to be bent for a vessel.
SULLAGE. The deposition of mud and silt by water.
SULLIT. A broad Dutch fishing-boat.
SULPHUR. A mineral which forms a principal ingredient in the manufacture
of gunpowder, and greatly increases the rapidity of its combustion.
SUMMER-BLINK. A transient gleam of sunshine in bad weather.
SUMMER COUTS. A northern name for the _aurora borealis_.
SUMMER SOLSTICE. _See_ CANCER.
SUMP. A bog or swamp. Also, a patent fuse used in mining.
SUMPIT. An arrow blown from the sumpitan, in Borneo. The sumpitan is
about 7 feet long; the arrow has been driven with some force at 130
yards. Some suppose it to be poisoned.
SUN. The central body of our planetary system, and the source of light
and heat; it is 850,000 miles in diameter.--_With the sun_, _i.e._ from
left to right.--_Against the sun_, from right to left.
SUN AND MOON IN DISTANCE. When the angle between those bodies admits of
measurement for lunars (about 130 deg.).
SUNDAY. Ought to be a day of rest at sea as well as on shore, when
religious services might generally be performed. Though called the
negro's holiday, it often brings but little cessation from work in some
merchantmen; they sail on a Sunday, not because of exigency, but because
it is otherwise a leisure day, and thereby gained to the owners.
SUN-FISH. The _Orthagoriscus mola_, a whimsical-looking creature, like
the head of a large fish severed from its body. Also, a name in the
south for the basking shark, from its habit of lying in the sunshine.
SUNKEN ROCK. That which lies beneath the surface of the sea, and is
dangerous to navigation.
SUNK LAND. Shallows and swamps.
SUN-STAR. The _Solaster papposus_, one of the largest and handsomest of
our radiated star-fishes.
SUPERANNUATED. Applied to such as have permission to retire from the
service on a stated pension, on account of age or infirmity.
SUPER-CARGO. A person charged with the accounts and disposal of the
cargo, and all other commercial affairs in the merchant-ship in which he
sails.
SUPER-HEATED. Said of steam, the heat of which has been raised after
being generated.
SUPER-HEATER. A contrivance for increasing the temperature of the steam
to the extent that it would lose on its way from the boiler, until
exhausted from the cylinder.
SUPERIOR CONJUNCTION. When an inferior planet is situated in the same
longitude as the sun, and has that luminary between it and the earth, it
is said to be in superior conjunction.
SUPERIOR PLANETS. Those which revolve about the sun as a centre, outside
the earth's orbit; the opposite of _inferior_.
SUPERIOR SLOPE. The inclined upper surface of a parapet.
SUPERNATANT PART OF A SHIP. That part which, when afloat, is above the
water. This was formerly expressed by the name _dead-work_.
SUPERNUMERARIES. Men over and above the established complement of a
ship, who are entered on a separate list in the ship's books for
victuals and wages.
SUPPLEMENT OF LONGITUDE. The term usually applied to its complement, or
what it wants of 180 deg.
SUPPORT A FRIEND, TO. To make every exertion to assist a vessel in
distress, from whatever cause. Neglect of this incurs punishment.
SUPPORTERS. Circular knee-timbers placed under the cat-heads for their
support and security.
SURA. The drink otherwise called _toddy_ (which see).
SURDINY. An old name for the fish _sardine_.
SURE, OR SHORE. _See_ SHORE.
SURES. Peculiar southerly winds which blow on the coasts of Chili, Peru,
and Mexico, accompanied by a fog or vapour, called _sures pardos_.
SURF. The swell and foam of the sea, which breaks upon the shore, or any
rock lying near the surface. The most violent surfs are those which
break upon a flat shore, as on the Coromandel and African coasts.
SURFACE CURRENT. A current which does not extend more than 8 or 10 feet
below the surface. Also, fresh water running over salt at the mouths of
great rivers.
SURF-BOAT. A peculiar kind of flat-bottomed boat, varying according to
local exigencies, for landing men, or goods, in surf. (_See_ MASULAH
BOATS.)
SURGE. A large swelling wave. Also, the tapered part of the whelps
between the chocks of the capstan, upon which the messenger is readily
surged.--_To surge_, is to slacken up suddenly a portion of a rope where
it renders round a pin, windlass, or capstan; as, "Surge the messenger."
A ship is said _to surge_ on a reef when she rises and falls with the
heave of the sea, so as to strike heavily.
SURGE HO! The notice given when a rope or cable is to be surged.
SURGEON. A competent medical officer, appointed to attend the sick and
wounded on board a ship of war, for which purpose he has, according to
the rate of the ship, from one to two assistants, once called surgeon's
mates, but latterly _assistant-surgeons_ (which see).
SURGE THE CAPSTAN, TO. To slacken the rope heaved round upon its barrel,
to prevent its parts from riding or getting foul.
SURINGER. An archaism for surgeon.
SURMARKS. In ship-building, the points on the moulds where the
bevellings are to be applied to the timbers.
SURROGATES. Those substituted or appointed in the room of others; as
naval captains formerly acting for judges in Newfoundland.
SURVEY. An inspection or examination made by several practical officers
into the condition of any stores belonging to a ship. Also, those
important astronomical observations, soundings, and other data,
collected by officers who are employed in constructing charts and plans
of seas, shoals, rocks, harbours, &c.
SURVEYING VESSELS. Those equipped for examining coasts, dangers, &c.;
their utility is unquestionable. Some of the smaller vessels of war on
every station might be profitably employed in thus examining all
reported dangers.
SURVEYORS AT LLOYD'S. _See_ LLOYD'S SURVEYORS.
SURVEYORS OF THE NAVY. Two officers who formerly sat at the navy board,
being invested with the charge of building and repairing the royal ships
at the different dockyards of the kingdom; for which they were trained
to the theory and practice of ship-building.
SUSPENSION OF ARMS. A short truce agreed upon by contending forces, for
a special object of importance.
SUTILES. Ancient cobles made of strong staves sewed together, and
covered with leather or skins.
SUTLER. A victualler who follows the camp to sell provisions to the
troops. In garrisons and garrison-towns there are also sutlers who
provide victuals of every kind; but Drayton's sutlers must have been
very petty traders, as, when at Agincourt, Isambert's "rascals" were
noted--
"For setting on those with the luggage left,
A few poor sutlers with the campe that went,
They basely fell to pillage and to theft."
SWAB. A sort of long mop, formed of rope-yarns of old junk, used for
cleaning and drying the decks and cabins of a ship. Also, a sobriquet
for a sot. Also, for an epaulette.--_Hand-swab._ A small swab for wiping
dry the stern-sheets of a boat, washing plates and dishes, &c.
SWABBER. Formerly a petty officer on board ships of war, whose
employment was to see that the decks were kept clean. Also, a man
formerly appointed to use the swabs in drying up the decks. He was
sometimes called ship's sweeper; more commonly captain of swabbers.
SWAB-ROPE. A line bent to the eye of a swab for dipping it overboard in
washing it.
SWAB-WASHER. The principal swab-washer, or captain of the head, in large
ships.
SWAB-WRINGERS. People appointed to wash the swabs and wring them out,
ready for use.
SWAD, OR SWADKIN. A newly raised soldier. Also, a fish-basket.
SWADDIE. A discharged soldier.
SWAGG, TO. To sink down by its own weight; to move heavily or bend.
Synonymous with _sagg_. Also, the bellying of a heavy rope.
SWAKE. A provincial term for a pump-handle.
SWALLOW. The score of a block.
SWALLOW'S TAIL. In fortification, an old form of outwork, having its
front broken into a re-entering angle, and its two long flanks
converging towards the rear.
SWALLOW-TAILS. The points of a burgee. Also, the tails of a coat.
SWAMP. A tract of land or bog on which, from its impermeable bottom, the
collected fresh water remains stagnant.
SWAPE. A wooden support for a small light. Also, a pump-handle; a lever.
Also, a long oar used in working a coal-keel in the north.
SWART-BACK. The _Larus marinus_, or great black and white gull.
SWARTS. A name formerly applied by voyagers to Indians and negroes.
SWASH. A sudden surge of the sea. Also, a shoal in a tide-way or mouth
of a river, over which the water flows, and the tide ripples in ebbing
or flowing.
SWASHWAY. A channel across a bank, or among shoals, as the noted
instance between the Goodwin Sands.
SWATHE. The entire length of a sea-wave.
SWAY, TO, OR SWAY AWAY. To hoist simultaneously; particularly applied to
the lower yards and top-masts, and topgallant-masts and yards.--_To sway
away on all top-ropes._ To go great lengths (colloquially).
SWAY UP, TO. To apply a strain on a mast-rope in order to lift the spar
upwards, so that the fid may be taken out, previous to lowering the
mast. Or sway yards aloft ready for crossing.
SWEARING. A vulgar and most irrational vice, which happily is fast going
out. Habitual swearing was usually typical of a bad officer. It may have
originated in the custom too often demanded by law, of solemn
asseverations on frivolous subjects.
SWEATING THE PURSER. Wasting his stores. Burning his candles, &c.
SWEEP. The trending or inclination of a coast to a crescent. Also, that
part of the mould of a ship, where she begins to compass in the
rung-heads. Also, a large kind of oar.--_To sweep a coast._ To sail
along at a reasonable distance with a vigilant inspection.
SWEEPING. The act of dragging the bight or loose part of a small rope
along the ground, in a harbour or roadstead, in order to recover a sunk
anchor or wreck. The two ends of the rope are fastened to two boats, a
weight being suspended to the middle, to sink it to the ground, so that,
as the boats row ahead, it may drag along the bottom. Also, a term used
for rapidly scrutinizing a certain portion of the heavens in quest of
planets, comets, &c.
SWEEP OF THE TILLER. A semicircular frame on which the tiller traverses
in large ships; it is fixed under the beams near the fore-end of the
tiller, which it supports.
SWEEP-PIECE. A block at the bottom of the port-sill for receiving the
chock of the gun-carriage, and to aid in training the gun.
SWEEPS. Large oars used on board ships of war in a calm, either to
assist the rudder in turning them round, or to propel them ahead when
chasing in light winds. Brigs of 386 tons have been swept at 3 knots or
more.
SWEETENING COCK. A wholesome contrivance for preventing fetid effluvia
in ships' holds, by inserting a pipe through the ship's side, with a
cock at its inner end, for admitting water to neutralize the accumulated
bilge-water, as also to supply the wash-deck pump.
SWELCHIE. A rapid current formed by the tide of the Pentland Firth
against the Isle of Stroma. Also, a seal in those parts.
SWELL. A rolling wave which seldom breaks unless it meets resistance,
generally denoting a continuous heaving, which remains for some time
after the wind which caused it has subsided. Also, the gradual
thickening of the muzzle of a gun, hounds of a mast, &c.
SWIFT. When the lower rigging becomes slack at sea, single blocks are
placed on each shroud about 8 feet above the deck, a hawser rove through
them, and the rigging swifted in, to bring a fair strain. The bars of
the capstan are swifted, by passing a rope-swifter over all their ends,
and bowsing it well taut. The rigging is also swifted down preparatory
to replacing the ratlines truly horizontal after setting up.
SWIFTER. A strong rope, sometimes encircling a boat, about 9 inches
below her gunwale, both to strengthen her and protect her in cases of
collision. (_See_ FENDERS.)
SWIFTERS. A pair of shrouds, fixed on the starboard and port sides of
the lower mast, above the pendants, and before all the other shrouds:
they are never confined to the cat-harpings.
SWIFTING A SHIP. Either bringing her aground or upon a careen; also
passing cables round her bottom and upper-works, to help to keep her
from straining--the "undergirding" mentioned by St. Paul in his
shipwreck.
SWIG OFF, TO. To pull at the bight of a rope by jerks, having its lower
end fast; or to gain on a rope by jumping a man's weight down, instead
of hauling regularly.
SWILKER, TO. A provincialism for splashing about.
SWILL. A wicker fish-basket. The air-bladder of a fish.--_To swill._ To
drink greedily.
SWIM, TO [from the Anglo-Saxon _swymm_]. To move along the surface of
the water by means of the simultaneous movement of the hands and feet.
With the Romans this useful art was an essential part of education.
SWIMS. The flat extremities of east-country barges.
SWINE-FISH. A northern name of the wolf-fish, _Anarhichas lupus_.
SWINE'S FEATHER. The spike or tuck on the top of a musket-rest
[corrupted from _sweyn_, a boar's bristle].
SWING, TO. A ship is said to swing to the wind or tide, when they change
their direction while she is lying at anchor.--_To swing ship for local
attraction and adjustment of compasses._ This is done by taking the
bearings of a very distant object at each point of the compass to which
her head is brought; also, by using a theodolite on shore, and taking
its bearing from the ship, and the observer's head from the theodolite.
SWINGING-BOOM. The spar which stretches the foot of a lower
studding-sail; in large ships they have goose-necks in one end which
hook to the foremost part of the fore-chains to iron strops fitted for
the purpose. In port they are hooked to bolts at the bends, which, by
bringing them lower down, enables the boats to ride easier by them as
guest-warp booms.
SWIPES. The weak beer supplied to ships on the home station. A swipe is
an implement for drawing water for a brewery, the name of which has thus
been transferred to the beer.
SWIRL. An eddying blast of wind; a whirling wavy motion. Also, a knot in
timber.
SWISH. An old term for the light driving spray of the sea.
SWIVEL. A pivot working freely round in a socket. They are fitted in
boats' bows, ships' tops and bulwarks, &c., for bearing small cannon of
1/2 lb. or 1 lb. calibre, which are worked by hand, and called swivels.
Also, a strong link of iron used in mooring chains, &c., which permits
the bridles to be turned repeatedly round, as occasion requires. Also, a
swivel-link in chain-cables, made so as to turn upon an axis, and keep
the turns out of the chain.
SWONA WELLS. Whirlpools much dreaded by the sailors of the Pentland
Firth. They seem to be caused by the rapidity of the tide and the
position of Swona, which exactly crosses the stream.
SWORD-FISH. A large fish of the family _Scombridae_, remarkable for the
prolongation of the nose into a straight, pointed, sword-like weapon.
The European species, common in the Mediterranean, is the _Xiphias
gladius_ of naturalists.
SWORD-MAT. A mat made with shoulders to protect the laniards of the
lower rigging, boats' gripes, &c., and worked by a piece of wood
somewhat resembling a sword in shape, to drive home the roving threads.
SYKE [from the Anglo-Saxon _sych_]. A streamlet of water that flows in
winter and dries up in summer.
SYMPIESOMETER, OR OIL-BAROMETER. A convenient portable instrument for
measuring the weight of the atmosphere by the compression of a gaseous
column; capital for small cabins.
SYNODICAL MONTH. The period in which the moon goes through every variety
of phase, as from one conjunction to another.
SYNODICAL PERIOD OR REVOLUTION. If the interval of periodic time of a
planet, or comet, be taken in reference to its passages through either
of the nodes, its circuit is called synodical.
SYPHERED. One edge of a plank overlapping that of another, so that both
planks shall make a plane surface with their bevelled edges, though not
a flat or square joint.
SYSTEM. The method of disposing the correlative parts of a
fortification, proposed variously by many eminent engineers.
SYSTEM OF THE UNIVERSE. _See_ COPERNICAN SYSTEM.
SYZIGEE. Either conjunction or opposition, in reference to the orbit of
the moon.