TARRING AND FEATHERING. A punishment now obsolete,--inflicted by
stripping the delinquent, then smearing him with tar, covering him with
flocks and feathers, and towing him ashore. It was ordered in the naval
enactments of Richard I. for theft.
TARROCK. The kittiwake, _Larus tridactylus_, a small species of gull.
TARRY-BREEKS. A north-country name for a sailor.
TARTAN. A small coasting vessel of the Mediterranean, with one mast and
a bowsprit, lateen-rigged.
TARTAR. A domineering commanding officer.--_To catch a Tartar._ Said of
a vessel which mistakes her enemy's force, and is obliged to yield.
TASKING. Examining a vessel to see whether her timbers are sound.
TASTING TIMBER. Chipping it with an adze, and boring it with an augur,
to ascertain its quality.
TATOOING. The Burmese, South Sea Islanders, and others, puncture the
skin until it bleeds, and then rub in fine soot and other colouring
matter. The practice has become common amongst sailors.
TATTIES. Mats hung before doors and windows in India, on which water is
thrown, to cool the air inside by evaporation.
TATTOO. The evening sound of drum or trumpet, after which the roll is
called, and all soldiers not on leave of absence should be in their
quarters.
TAUNT. High or tall, commonly applied to very long masts.--_All a
taunto_ is a ship having all her light and long spars aloft.
TAURUS. The second sign of the zodiac, which the sun enters about the
20th of April.
TAUT [from the Anglo-Saxon _tought_]. Tight.