TAUT HAND. A strict disciplinarian.
TAUT HELM, OR TAUT WEATHER-HELM. A ship with a side wind is said to
carry a taut weather-helm, when the water presses heavily on the lee
side of the rudder; often the result of her being too much by the head.
TAUT LEECH. A sail well set on a wind, and well filled.
TEACH, TO. In marine architecture, is applied to the direction which any
line or curve seems to point out.
TEAGLE. A northern word for a crane for lifting goods.
TEAK. _Tectona grandis_, a stately tree, the pride of Indian and Burmese
forests, used extensively in ship-building; having the valuable property
of not shrinking, and, by means of its essential oil, preserving the
iron bolts driven into it from rusting.
TEAL. A small species of wild duck, _Querquedula crecca_.
TEAM. Ships blockading a port, being generally formed in a line, are
said to be "in the team."
TEAM-BOAT. A ferry-boat worked with horses by paddle-wheel propulsion.
TEA-WAGGON. A name given to the old East India Company's ships on
account of their cargo.
TEAZED OAKUM. Oakum worked out for caulking. (Tow).
TE DEUM. A hymn sung in thanksgiving for victory obtained. In many cases
the causes of war are such that chanting the Te Deum is rank blasphemy.
TEE-IRON. An instrument for drawing the lower box in the barrel of a
pump. T-shaped clamp, knee, or other piece of iron-work.
TEETH. A name for the guns in a ship.
TEE-TOTALLER. A very old and general amplification of _totally_,
recently borrowed from sea diction to mark a class who wholly abstain
from alcoholic drinks.
TELEGRAPH, TO. To convey intelligence to a distance, through the medium
of signals.
TELESCOPIC OBJECTS. All those which are not visible to the unassisted
eye.
TELL OFF, TO. To divide a body of men into divisions and subdivisions,
preparatory to a special service.
TELL-TALE. A compass hanging face downwards from the beams in the cabin,
showing the position of the vessel's head. Also, an index in front of
the wheel to show the position of the tiller.
TELL-TALE SHAKE. The shake of a rope from aloft to denote that it wants
letting go.
TELL THAT TO THE MARINES! A sailor's exclamation when an improbable
story is related to him.
TEMOINS. _See_ WITNESSES.
TEMPEST. A word not much used by seamen. It is, however, synonymous with
_storm_, _gales_, &c. (_See_ STORMS.)
TEMPORARY RANK. That owing to an acting commission, or to local
circumstances, ceasing with a particular service.
TEMPORARY STARS. Those which have suddenly become visible, and after
attaining considerable brightness, have as suddenly vanished: that seen
by Tycho in 1572 is a notable instance.
TENAILLE. In fortification, a long low outwork traced on the inward
prolongation of the faces of the bastions. It covers the curtain, and
conveniently defends the interior of the ravelin and its redoubt.
TENAILLON. In fortification, a low outwork of two faces meeting in a
salient angle, sometimes attached to ravelins to afford nearer flanking
fire.
TENCH. _Tinca vulgaris_, a well-known fresh-water fish.
TEND, TO. To watch a vessel at anchor on the turn of a tide, and cast
her by the helm, and some sail if necessary, so as to keep the cable
clear of the anchor or turns out of her cables when moored.
TENDER. A small vessel duly commanded, and employed to attend a larger
one, to supply her with stores, to carry intelligence or volunteers and
impressed men to receiving ships, &c. An enemy's ship captured by
cutters or boats fitted out as tenders by men-of-war, but without any
commission or authority from the admiralty, will not insure a prize to
the benefit of the ship. The condemnation will be as a droit of
admiralty, on the principle that an officer does not retain his
commission for the purposes of prize on board another ship; but if
captured by one of her boats, and brought to the ship, she is good
prize, as with slaves. _Tender_ is also a synonym of _crank_; thus, a
spar may be _tender_.
TENDING. The movement by which a ship turns or swings round when at
single anchor, or moored by the head, at every change of tide or wind.
TENON. The square heel of a mast, cut for fitting into the step. Also,
the end of any piece of timber which is fashioned to enter into a
mortise in another piece; they are then said to be tenoned together; as,
for instance, the stern-post is tenoned into the keel.
TEN-POUNDER. A name given to a bony mullet-shaped fish of the West
Indies.
TENSILE STRAIN. The greatest effort to extend, stretch, or draw asunder,
as in proving bars of iron, chain-cables, &c.
TENT. A canvas shelter pitched upon a pole or poles, and stayed with
cords and pegs. Also, a roll of lint, or other material, used in
searching a wound. Also, a small piece of iron which kept up the cock of
a gun-lock.
TEREDO NAVALIS. A worm which, furnished with a peculiar augur adaptation
at its head, bores into timber, forming a shell as it progresses. They
attain the length of three feet or more, with a diameter of one inch or
less. Even if the ship be destroyed by them, the loss is not within the
policy of insurance.
TERMINAL VELOCITY OF ANY GIVEN BODY. The greatest velocity it can
acquire by falling freely through the air; the limit being arrived at
when the increase of the atmospheric resistance becomes equal to the
increase of the force of gravity.
TERMINATOR. The line separating the illuminated from the dark portion of
the moon's disc.
TERM-PIECES, OR TERMS. Pieces of carved work on each side of the
taffrail upon the side stern-timber, and extending down as low as the
foot-rail of the balcony.
TERN, OR SEA-SWALLOW. A species of sea-bird, allied to the gulls, but
of smaller and lighter make, and with longer and more pointed wings and
tail; genus _Sterna_.
TERNARY SYSTEM. Three stars in close proximity, and found to be in
physical connection, as, for instance, {z} Cancri.
TERRADA. An Indian boat, otherwise called _tonee_. A large 'longshore
boat of the Gulf of Persia.
TERRAPIN (contracted by sailors into _turpin_ and _tenopen_). A
fresh-water tortoise, plentiful in America, and much esteemed for food.
TERREPLEIN. In fortification, the horizontal surface of the rampart in
rear of the parapet.
TERRESTRIAL REFRACTION. The property of the atmosphere by which objects
appear to be higher than they really are, and in certain cases producing
the effect called _deceptio visus_, and _fata morgana_.
TERRITORY. The protection of neutral territory operates to the
restitution of enemy's property captured within its limits. Since the
introduction of fire-arms that distance has usually been recognized to
be almost three English miles.
TERTIATE, TO. To examine whether a piece of ordnance is truly bored and
has its due proportion of metal in every part, especially at the vent,
the trunnions, and the muzzle.
TESTING A CHAIN-CABLE. Trying its strength by the hydraulic machine,
which strains it beyond what it is likely to undergo when in use.
TESTONE. A silver Papal coin, value 1_s._ 3_d._ A testone is also a
current coin in Portugal, consisting of 100 reis.
TETE DE PONT. A work covering the farther end of a bridge from assault
from the country beyond.
TEW, TO. To beat hemp.
THAUGHTS (properly ATHWARTS). _See_ THWARTS.
THEODOLITE. The theodolite, as used in land-surveying, levelling, &c.,
is well known. But the great theodolite, with its vertical circle and
telescope adapted to the observation of the heavenly bodies, as used by
nautical astronomers, commonly called an alt-azimuth instrument, is
almost an observatory _per se_. By this alone, within three hours on
each side of noon, the longitude, latitude, and magnetic variation of a
position may be determined.
THERE! A word added in hailing any part of a ship; as, "Forecastle
there!" "Mast-head there!"
THERE AWAY! A phrase accompanied by pointing on a bearing, or to an
object in sight. Thereabout, in that quarter.
THERMOMETER. An instrument to measure the amount of heat by the
expansion of a fluid (generally quicksilver) contained in a glass bulb,
in connection with which is a hermetically closed tube, up which the
fluid rises as the heat increases. This tube is graduated differently in
different countries.
THERMOMETRIC SAILING. A scheme for detecting the approach to shoal water
by the diminution of temperature, and found to be useful in some
places, such as the Agulhas and Newfoundland Banks; in the latter a
difference of 20 deg. has been observed, on quitting the Gulf Stream and
gaining soundings in 100 fathoms.
THICK-AND-DRY FOR WEIGHING! To clap on nippers closely, just at starting
the anchor from the ground.
THICK AND THIN BLOCK, OR FIDDLE-BLOCK. A block having one sheave larger
than the other, sometimes used for quarter-blocks.
THICK STUFF. Sided timber, or naval planks, under one foot, and above 4
inches in thickness.
THIEVES' CAT. A cat o' nine tails having knots upon it, and only used
for the punishment of theft.
THIMBLE. An iron ring with a concave outer surface to contain snugly in
the cavity a rope, which is spliced about it. Its use is to defend the
rope which surrounds it from being injured by another rope, or the hook
or a tackle which passes through it.
THIMBLE-EYES. Are thimble-shaped apertures in iron-plates where sheaves
are not required; frequently used instead of dead-eyes for the
topmast-rigging, futtock-plates, and backstays in the channels.
THODS. An old northern term for sudden gusts of wind.
THOKES. Fish with broken bellies, which are prohibited to be mixed or
packed with tale fish.
THOLE, THOLE-PIN, OR THOWEL [from the Anglo-Saxon _thol_]. Certain pins
in the gunwale of a boat, instead of the rowlock-poppets, and serving to
retain the oars in position when pulling; generally there is only one
pin to each oar, which is retained upon the pin by a grommet, or a cleat
with a hole through it, nailed on the side of the oar. The principal use
is to allow the oar, in case of action, suddenly to lie fore-and-aft
over the side, and take care of itself. This was superseded by the
swinging thowel, or metal crutch, in 1819, and by admiralty order at
Portsmouth Yard in 1830.
THORN-BACK. A well-known fish of the ray kind, _Raia clavata_.
THOROUGH-PUTS, OR THOROUGH-FOOTS, are kinks or tangles in a rope; or
parts of a tackle not leading fair by reason of one of the blocks having
been passed round part of the fall, and so _getting a turn_.
THOUGHT. An old spelling of _thwart_.
THRASHER, OR THRESHER. A species of shark with a long tail, _Carcharias
vulpes_. Also applied to a kind of grampus, which was supposed to attack
the whale by leaping out of the water and inflicting blows with its
powerful tail.
THREAD [Ang.-Sax. _thred_]. The middle of a river or stream.--_To
thread._ To run a ship through narrow and intricate channels among
islands.
THREE-COCKED HAT. A silly article of sea-wear now happily passing away,
retained only by coachmen, lord-mayor's men, and parish beadles.
THREE-DECKERS. Ships with three full batteries.
THREE HALF-HITCHES ARE MORE THAN A KING'S YACHT WANTS. An exclamatory
remark to a green hand, meaning that two are enough.
THREE SHEETS IN THE WIND. Unsteady from drink.
THREE SISTERS. Formerly the badge of office of boatswains' mates and
masters-at-arms, made of three rattans bound together with waxed twine.
THREE-SQUARE. An odd word applied to staysails, or anything triangular,
as was the oblong square to a parallelogram.
THRIFT. _Armeria_, a genus of handsome plants growing on the sea-coast.
THROAT. The widened and hollowed end of a gaff next the mast; opposed to
_peak_, the outer end. Also, the midship portion of the floor-timbers
and transoms. The contrary of _breech_.
THROAT-BOLTS. Eye-bolts fixed in the lower part of tops, and the
jaw-ends of gaffs, for hooking the throat-halliards to.
THROAT-BRAILS. Those which are attached to the gaff for trussing up the
sail close to the gaff as well as the mast. (_See_ BRAILS, and
TOPMAST-STAYSAILS.) Falconer says:--
"For he who strives the tempest to disarm,
Will never first embrail the lee yard-arm."
Brail thus applies to leech-lines, clue-lines, &c.
THROAT-HALLIARDS. Ropes or tackles applied to hoist the inner part of
the gaff, and its portion of the sail, and hook on to the throat-bolts,
as above.
THROAT-SEIZING. In blocks, confines the hook and thimble in the strop
home to the scores. Also, in turning in rigging, the throat-seizing is
passed with riding turns, through which the end is hove taut, and being
turned up sharply, is well seized to the standing part of the rigging,
making it a severe cross nip, which cannot render or slip.
THROT. That part of the mizen-yard close to the mast.
THROTTLE-VALVE. A valve in the steam-pipe of an engine for preventing
the escape of steam, or regulating the velocity of its passage from the
boiler to the cylinder.
THROUGH ALL. Carrying canvas in heavy squalls without starting a stitch.
It demands not only courage, but seamanlike judgment. Also applied to
the cable, or any purchase where, by reason of its slipperiness, the
purchase does not nip; she is then said to be "heaving through all."
"Fresh nippers, thick and dry, for weighing," are then called for, and
sand applied to overcome the slipping.
THROUGH FASTENINGS. Applied to bolts and tree-nails driven through both
the timber and plank of the sides.
THROUGH-PIECES. _See_ GRAVING-PIECES.
THROUGH THE FLEET. A seaman's being sentenced by court-martial to be
towed by a boat from every ship through the fleet, and receive alongside
each a proportion of the lashes to be inflicted. But this was only
awarded where the offence deserved a less punishment than death, and is
now discontinued, solitary confinement or penal servitude being
substituted.
THROW. A cast of the hand-lead.
THROWING A STEAM-ENGINE OUT OF GEAR. Disconnecting the eccentric rod
from the gab-lever.
THRUM. Any coarse woollen or hempen yarn. It is used for mops, &c., in
the cabins; also for mats, which are worked on canvas with a large
bolt-rope needle.--_To thrum._ A vessel, when leaky, is thrummed by
working some heavy spare sail, as the sprit-sail, into a thrummed mat,
greasing and tarring it well, passing it under the bottom, and heaving
all parts tight. The pressure forces the tarred oakum into the openings,
and thus, in part, arrests the ingress of water.
THRUMMED MAT. A small mat faced with rope-yarn or spun yarn, which is
used in a vessel's rigging to prevent chafing.
THRUST. The effort of a screw-propeller.
THUD. The sound of a bullet on hitting the intended object.
THULE [Gaelic _thuath_]. An extreme object to the north.
THUMB-CLEAT. In shape resembling a thumb. They arrest the
topsail-reef-earings from slipping, and are also lashed to the rigging
with a hollow, cut out to act as a hook, to suspend the bight of a rope,
as the truss-pendants on the lower masts.
THUNDERING. A sailor's emphatic word for anything choice, large, fine,
or powerful.
THUNDER SQUALL. This is similar to the black squall, only that it is
always preceded and attended by lightning and thunder, and accompanied
by extremely heavy rain.
THUNNY. _See_ TUNNY.
THUS, VERY WELL THUS, OR DYCE. The order to the helmsman to keep the
ship in her present direction, when sailing close-hauled. This truly
sailor's motto was adopted by the Earl St. Vincent.
THWART CLAMPS OR KNEES. Those which secure the after, main, and fore
thwarts to the rising and gunwales, and which support the masts.
THWART-MARKS, TO A HARBOUR. Two objects on the land, which, brought into
line with each other, mark the safe course between shoals, as those on
Southsea Common act for the Needles, Swashways, &c.
THWARTS (properly ATHWARTS). The seats or benches athwart a boat whereon
the rowers sit to manage their oars.
THWART-SHIPS. Across the ship, or from one side to the other. (_See_
ATHWART.)
TIBRIC. An old name for the coal-fish.
TIBURON [Sp.] The shark.
TICKET. An official warrant of discharge, so that a heavy penalty
attaches to the loss of any of the blank ones in the captain's charge.
It is always used in counterparts, which are ordered to be perfect
duplicates of each other.
TICKET-BOOK. A register for accounting for all tickets and certificates
received and used.