TOMAHAWK. A weapon somewhat resembling a hand poleaxe, much used in
boarding an enemy, as it is not only effective in combat, but useful in
holding on, and in cutting away fasts and rigging when required. The
name is derived from the hatchet of the North American Indians.
TOM ASTONERS. Dashing fellows; from astound or "astony," to terrify.
TOM COX'S TRAVERSE. Up one hatchway and down another: others say three
turns round the long boat, and a pull at the scuttle. It means the work
of an artful dodger, all jaw, and no good in him.
TOMMY COD. A very small variety of the _Gadus morrhua_, which mostly
appears in the winter months; whence it is also called frost-fish at
Halifax and in Newfoundland.
TOM NORIE. A name of the puffin, _Fratercula arctica_.
TOM PEPPER. A term for a liar; he having, according to nautic tradition,
been kicked out of the nether regions for indulging in falsehood.
TOMPION. A circular plug of wood, used to stop the muzzle of a gun, and
thereby keep out the wet at sea. The tompions are carefully encircled
with tallow or putty for the same purpose. Also, the stopper fitted to
go between the powder and shell in a mortar. This name is often
pronounced as well as written _tompkin_.
TOM-TOM. A small drum, made from the stem of a hollowed tree, generally
of the palm-tribe, as the centre is pithy and the skin flinty. It is
covered by the skin of a lizard or shark, and beaten with the fingers.
It is used throughout the tropics, and produces a hollow monotonous
sound. In the East Indies it is used to proclaim public notices, and to
draw attention to conjurors, snake-charmers, &c.
TON, OR TUN [from the Anglo-Saxon _tunne_]. In commerce, 20 cwt., or
2240 lbs., but in the cubical contents of a ship it is the weight of
water equal to 2000 lbs., by the general standard for liquids. A tun of
wine or oil contains 4 hogsheads. A ton or load of timber is a measure
of 40 cubic feet in the rough, and of 50 when sawn: 42 cubic feet of
articles equal one ton in shipment.
TONEE. A canoe of some burden, made of the hollowed trunk of a tree in
early use on the Malabar coast. (_See_ TERRADA.)
TON FOR TON AND MAN FOR MAN. A phrase implying that ships sailing as
consorts, ought fairly to divide whatever prize they take.
TONGUE [Anglo-Saxon _tunga_]. The long tapered end of one piece of
timber made to fay into a scarph at the end of another piece, to gain
length. Also, a low salient point of land. Also, a dangerous mass of ice
projecting under water from an iceberg or floe, nearly horizontally; it
was on one of these shelves that the _Guardian_ frigate struck.
TONGUE OF A BEVEL. The movable part of the instrument by which the
angles or bevellings are taken.
TONNAGE. A custom or impost formerly granted to the crown for
merchandise imported or exported. Also, the admeasurement of a ship, and
thence to ascertain her cubical contents converted into tons. (_See_
BURDEN.)
TOP. A sort of platform placed over the head of the lower mast, from
which it projects like a scaffold. The principal intention of the top is
to extend the topmast-shrouds, so as to form a greater angle with the
mast, and thereby give it additional support. It is sustained by certain
timbers bolted fore-and-aft on the bibbs or shoulders of the mast, and
called the trestle-trees; athwart these are the cross-trees. In ships of
war it is used as a kind of redoubt, and is fortified accordingly. It is
also very convenient for containing the materials for setting the small
sails, fixing and repairing the rigging, &c. The tops are named after
their respective masts. This top was formerly fenced on the after-side
by a rail about three feet high, between the stanchions of which a
netting was usually constructed, and stowed in action with hammocks.
This was covered with red baize, or canvas painted red, and called the
top-armour. Top-armours were in use with the Spaniards in 1810.
TOP-ARMINGS. Hammocks stowed inside the rigging for the protection of
riflemen.
TOP A YARD OR BOOM, TO. To raise up one end of it by hoisting on the
lift, as the spanker-boom is lifted before setting the sail.
TOP-BLOCK. A large single block with an iron strop and hook, by which it
is hooked into an eye-bolt under the lower cap, and is used for the
top-pendant to reeve through in swaying up or lowering down the
top-masts.
TOP BURTON-TACKLE. _See_ BURTON.
TOP-CASTLES. Castellated ledgings surrounding the mast-heads of our
early ships, in which the pages to the officers were stationed to annoy
the enemy with darts, &c.
TOP-CHAIN. A chain to sling the yards in time of battle, in case of the
ropes by which they are hung being shot away.
TOPE. A small-sized Chinese junk. Also, the _Galeus vulgaris_, a kind of
shark. Also, a small grove of trees in India.