TOP-MAUL. A large hammer used to start the top-mast fid, and to beat
down the top, when setting up topmast-rigging.
TOP-MEN. Selected smart seamen stationed in the several tops, to attend
the taking in or setting of the upper sails.
TOP-NETTINGS. _See_ TOP.
TOPPING. Pretentious; as, topping the officer; also, fine, gallant, &c.
TOPPING-LIFTS. Those lifts which support a spar, davit, &c.
TOP-RAIL. A rail supported on stanchions across the after-part of each
of a ship's tops.
TOP-RIDERS. _See_ UPPER FUTTOCK-RIDERS.
TOP RIM OR BRIM. The circular sweep of the fore part of a vessel's top,
and covering in the ends of the cross-trees and trestle-trees, to
prevent their chafing the top-sail.
TOP-ROPE. The mast-rope employed to sway up a top-mast or
topgallant-mast, in order to fix it in its place, or lower it. The
top-rope is rove through a block which is hooked on one side of the cap,
and passing through the sheave-hole of the mast, is brought upwards on
the opposite side, and fastened to an eye-bolt in the foremost part of
the cap. To the lower end of the top-mast top-rope a tackle is fixed.
(_See_ TOP-TACKLE.) "Swaying on all top-ropes;" figuratively, "going the
whole hog" in joviality or any trickery.
TOP-SAIL HAUL! OR MAIN-TOPSAIL HAUL! When the main-sail is not set, this
is the order given to haul the after-yards round when the ship is nearly
head to wind in tacking.
TOP-SAILS. The second sails above the decks, extending across the
top-masts, by the topsail-yards above, and by the lower yards beneath,
being fastened to the former by earings and robands, and to the latter
by the topsail-sheets, which, passing through two great blocks or cheeks
fixed on its extremities, and thence to two other blocks fixed on the
inner part of the yard close by the mast, lead downwards to the
deck.--_Paying debts with flying top-sails_, or _with a flying
fore-topsail_, is leaving them unpaid. Vessels not having topsail-yards
rigged aloft, set top-sails flying, as cutters, yachts, schooners, &c.
TOPSAIL-SCHOONER. Is full schooner-rigged, but carries a square-topsail
on the fore-mast; the fore-sail not bent, but set as a square-sail. She
may also carry a main-topsail, and is then termed a two-topsail
schooner.
TOPSAIL-SHEET BITTS. Standing bitt-heads through which the
topsail-sheets lead, and to which they are belayed.
TOP-SAWYER. The leading man in any undertaking. One who excels; inasmuch
as the man of most intellect guides the saw, and No. 2 gets the sawdust
in his face.
TOP-SIDE. All that part of a ship's side which is above the main-wales:
that is, those strakes between the sheer-strake and upper black-strake.
TOP-SWIVEL. Once a favourite arm for ships' tops, but from the confined
space and elevation rather an encumbrance than a useful addition.
TOP-TACKLE. A large tackle, or properly pendant, hooked to the lower end
of the top-mast top-rope, and to the deck, in order to increase the
mechanical power in lifting the top-mast in order to fid it. It is
composed of two strong iron-bound double or triple blocks, the hooks of
which work on a swivel.
TOP-TACKLE PENDANT. The pendant used with the above. The top-mast is
swayed up by a top-rope or hawser. The pendant, which is of better
material, and hawser-laid, has an eye and thimble spliced in one end,
and is pointed at the other. This pendant is barely long enough to
lower the top-mast temporarily in bad weather, and when the top-mast is
high enough for fidding, the purchase is block and block, and cannot
lift it higher. (_See_ TOP-ROPE.)
TOP THE GLIM, TO. To snuff the candle.
TOP THE OFFICER, TO. To arrogate superiority.
TOP-TIMBER BREADTH. The distance between the upper part of the same
timber and the middle line.
TOP-TIMBER HOLLOW. A name sometimes given to the back sweep which forms
the upper part of the top-timber.
TOP-TIMBERS. The first general tier which reach the top are called long
top-timbers, and those below short top-timbers.
TOP YOUR BOOM. _See_ BOOM.
TOR. A high rock or peak: also a tower, thus retaining the same meaning
it had, as _torr_, with the Anglo-Saxons.
TORMENTER. The large two-pronged iron fork used by the ship's cook, to
fish out the cooked meat from the copper.
TORMENTUM. A pistol; a gun; a piece of ordnance.
TORNADO. A peculiar squall, accompanied with rain and lightning, similar
in suddenness to the white squall of the West Indies, and experienced
off the equatorial region of the west coast of Africa between December
and June. It appears first as a small black spot in the east, and barely
affords time to put the ship before the wind and clue up all. The wind
veers round the compass, and lasts a very short time.
TORPEDO. A cartilaginous fish allied to the rays, furnished with
electrical organs, by means of which it is able to give powerful shocks.
Also, a contrivance for blowing up ships of war by means of a submerged
apparatus.
TORRENT. A land flood rushing from mountainous tracts, often with
destructive effect. It is produced by an accumulation of water from
rains or the melting of snows.
TORSE. A coarse kind of hemp, better known as cordilla in commerce.
TORSION OF CABLES. All ropes formed by twisting have a contrary turn,
and a disposition to kink from torsion.
TORSK. _See_ TUSK.
TORTS. Private wrongs either to persons or property afloat. They are
cognizable by the admiralty court, according to locality.
TORTUE DE MER. A turtle. Also a French gabarre, troop, or store ship,
with very high 'tween decks.
TOSHING. A cant word for stealing copper sheathing from vessels'
bottoms, or from dockyard stores.
TOSS IN YOUR OARS! The order to desist rowing, and throw the oars in out
of the rowlocks.
TOSS THE OARS UP! Throw them up out of the rowlocks, and raise them
perpendicularly an-end; the act is intended as a compliment to a
superior officer rowing by. Also, the order to a boat's crew to get the
oars ready for rowing, and to salute the officer on his entering the
boat.
TOSS UP THE BUNT, TO. In furling a sail, to make its final package at
the centre of the yard when in its skin.
TOT, OR TOTT. A drinking-cup somewhat smaller than the regulation
half-pint, by which a surplus is left in the distribution of the regular
allowance of grog, and awarded to the cook of each mess, for the day,
for his trouble.
TOTAL LOSS. A term in marine insurance, implying that the underwriters
are to pay the amount insured without salvage.
TOTE. An abbreviation of total.--_To tote._ To watch, to spy, or to
carry, whence the very singular fish on the southern coasts of America,
which carries small pebbles on its little sharp horns for making a
_nest_ is called the _stone-toter_.
TOTTY-LAND. Certain heights on the side of a hill [probably derived from
the Anglo-Saxon _totian_, to elevate].
TOUCH. In ship-building, the broadest part of a plank worked
top-and-butt. Also, the angles of the stern-timbers at the counters.
Also, _keeping touch_ is fulfilling the terms of an agreement--speaking
of the faith between seamen and their employers.
TOUCH-AND-GO. Said of anything within an ace of ruin; as in rounding a
ship very narrowly to escape rocks, &c., or when, under sail, she rubs
against the ground with her keel, without much diminution of her
velocity.
TOUCH-AND-TAKE. An old proverb which Nelson applied to a ship about to
encounter her opponent. A Nelsonian maxim.
TOUCH-BOX. The receptacle for lighted tinder when match-locks were used.
TOUCH-HOLE. The small aperture at the end of a musket or pistol, by
which the fire of the priming was communicated to the charge. In guns,
called the vent.
TOUCHING. The state of a ship's sails when they first begin to lift or
shiver with their edges in the direction of the wind. It is occasioned
either by a change in the wind or in the ship's course. (_See_ FULL AND
BY.)--_Luff and touch her!_ is the order to the helmsman to bring the
vessel up, and see how near she will come to the wind, or to give
facility for taking in a reef when about to lower the top-sails, or for
deadening the ship's way.
TOUCHING AT. Stopping or anchoring at some intermediate port in the
course of a voyage.
TOUCH OF THE TAR-BRUSH. A nautical phrase expressive of those officers
who are seamen as well as _quarter-deckers_. Also said of a white person
in whose ancestry there has been some admixture of one of the dark
races.
TOUCH UP IN THE BUNT, TO. To mend the sail on the yard; figuratively, to
goad or remind forcibly.
TOUCH-WOOD. _See_ PUNK.
TOURNIQUET. Screw-bandages used for stopping the flow of blood. They
are distributed about the quarters before action, and a number of men
are taught to apply them. A handkerchief and toggle, or stick of any
kind, is sometimes substituted.
TOUT, TO. An old term for looking out, or keeping a prying watch; whence
the revenue cruisers and the customs officers were called touters. The
name is also given to crimps.
TOW, TO. To draw or drag a ship or boat by means of a rope attached to
another vessel or boat, which advances by steam-power, rowing, or
sailing. The Roman method, as appears by the triumphal arch at Orange,
was by a rope fastened to a pulley at the top of the mast. They also
fastened a rope to the head of a boat, and led it over men's shoulders,
as practised on our canals at the present day.
TOWAGE. The towing of a vessel through the water. Also, the money given
for being towed. Vessels thus relieved give claim for salvage service.
TOW-BLOWEN. A term on our eastern coasts for a blown herring.
TOWEL. A word very absurdly introduced into marine law. "If a mariner,"
says Molloy, "shall commit a fault, and the master shall lift up the
towel three times before any mariner, and he shall not submit, the
master at the next place of land may discharge him." Some think that
this refers to an oaken stick, but it is no doubt corrupted from the
_oster la touaille_, or turning a delinquent out of his mess, of the
laws of Oleron.
TOWING-BRIDLE. A stout chain with a hook at each end for attaching a
tow-rope to; also, a large _towing-hook_ in the bight of the chain.
TOWING-HOOK. _See_ TOWING-BRIDLE.
TOWING OVERBOARD. Drawing anything after a ship or boat when she is
sailing or rowing. As a man[oe]uvre to deceive an enemy, and induce him
to chase, it was common to tow a sail astern by a hawser, at the same
time keeping the three masts in line, so as to deceive the chaser as to
distance.
TOWING-PATH. The hauling-way along a canal or artificial harbour.
TOWING-POST. A substantial timber fixed through the deck of a steam-tug
for making the tow-rope fast to. Also, a similar post in canal barges to
keep the tow-line up clear of the path.
TOW-LINE [Anglo-Saxon _toh-line_]. A small hawser or warp used to move a
ship from one part of a harbour or road to another by means of boats,
steamers, kedges, &c.
TOWN-MAJOR. An officer in a garrison specially supervising the detail of
the guards, and of other local current duties.
T-PLATES. Iron plates in the form of the letter T placed under the
channels to add strength.
TRABACCOLO. An Adriatic trading craft.
TRABALEO. Ancient coasting vessels.
TRABARIAE. Ancient canoes, made of hollowed trees, capable of carrying
two or three men.
TRACE. In fortification, the horizontal disposition of the works; also,
a plan of the same.
TRACK-BOAT [from the Dutch _treck-schuyt_]. A vessel used on a canal or
narrow stream.
TRACKING. Hauling any vessel or floating body along a canal or river by
a rope dragged along the bank by men or horses.
TRACK OF A SHIP. The line of a ship's course through the water. (_See_
WAKE.)
TRADE. Implies the constant destination of any particular merchant
vessels, as the Lisbon trade, West India trade, &c.
TRADER. A vessel employed regularly in any particular branch of
commerce, whether sea-borne or coasting, British or foreign.
TRADE-ROOM. A part of the steerage of a Yankee notion-trader where light
goods and samples of the cargo are kept for general business.
TRADE-WINDS. Currents of air moving from about the 30th degree of
latitude towards the equator. The diurnal motion of the earth makes them
incline from the eastward, so that in the northern hemisphere they are
from the N.E., and in the southern hemisphere from the S.E. Their
geographical position in latitude varies with the declination of the
sun. In some parts of the world, as the Bay of Bengal and China Sea, the
action of the sun on the neighbouring land has the power of reversing
the trades; the winds are there called _monsoons_.
TRADING-VESSEL. _See_ TRADER.
TRAIL A PIKE, TO. To hold the spear end in the right hand, and the butt
trailed behind the bearer.
TRAIL-BOARDS. A carved board on each side of the stem, reaching from it
to the figure, or to the brackets. The carved work between the
cheek-knees of the head at the heel of the figure.
TRAIN OR TRAIL OF ARTILLERY. A certain number of pieces of ordnance,
completely mounted and fitted with appurtenances and retinue of
attendants, ready to follow in rear of an army, &c. (_See_ BATTERING
GUNS.) Also, the hinder part of a gun-carriage.--_Train_ also signifies
a line of gunpowder or other combustible material forming a
communication with any body intended to be set on fire or exploded.
TRAINING-LEVEL. A gravitating instrument for the same purpose as the
training-pendulum.
TRAINING-PENDULUM. An improved pendulum to facilitate the accurate
elevation and depression of guns on board ship, by means of coloured
spirits or quicksilver confined in a tube.
TRAINING-SHIP FOR THE MERCHANT SERVICE. A vessel properly equipped with
instructors and means to rear able-bodied lads for the merchant service.
TRAINING-SHIP FOR NAVAL CADETS. H.M.S. _Britannia_, commanded by a
captain and complement of officers for the primary training of naval
cadets. They are nominated by the first lord, examined as to ability and
constitution, and entered on trial. If they pass a pretty rigid
examination, they are nominated to ships; but if they fail, they are not
admitted into the navy. Great interest is required for a nomination.
TRAIN-TACKLE. A tackle which is during action hooked to an eye-bolt in
the train of a gun-carriage, and to a ring-bolt in the deck; its use is
to prevent the gun from running out of the port whilst loading, and for
running it in when fired.
TRAJECTORY. An astronomical term for the orbital curve described by a
planet or comet, now seldom used in that science, but generally employed
for the path described by a shot or shell.
TRAMMEL. A large drag-net for the cod fishery.
TRAMONTANA. The north wind in general in the Mediterranean, but also
denoting a peculiar cold and blighting wind, very hurtful in the
Archipelago.
TRAN. A Norwegian word for fish-oil, adopted in our northern fisheries.
TRANKEH, OR TRANKIES. A large boat of the Gulf of Persia.
TRANSFER. There can be no legal transfer of property captured at sea,
without a legal condemnation in the admiralty court, and therefore the
sale or occupancy of vessels and goods by pirates does not alter or
extinguish the loser's right of property. Transfer is the legal state of
a registered ship, or shares in her, to persons qualified to be owners
of British ships. Also, the turning over men or companies from one ship
to another.
TRANSHIPMENT OF TREASURE. Ships on a distant station receiving treasure
for conveyance to some other man-of-war about to proceed to England,
from another port on the same station. Both captains partake of the
freight, relatively as to distance and deposit.
TRANSIRE. A custom-house document specifying the goods shipped by a
coasting vessel, docketted with a sufferance for their discharge on
arriving at the place of destination.
TRANSIT. The precise culmination of a heavenly body over the meridian of
a place.
TRANSIT OF MERCURY OR VENUS. These planets being situated between the
sun and the earth, occasionally appear to us to pass over his disc, from
east to west.
TRANSIT INSTRUMENT. A telescope fitted with vertical wires, and
revolving on an axis in the plane of the meridian, with which the time
may be obtained by observing the passage of the stars and planets
compared with their computed time.
TRANSITU. Goods of an enemy's colony surrendering between the time of
sailing and capture do not change their hostile character _in transitu_;
though the owners may have become British subjects by capitulation, upon
the principle that the national character cannot be altered _in
transitu_. (_See_ STOPPAGE IN TRANSITU.)
TRANSMISSION. The property in a merchantman, or a share therein,
transmitted in consequence of the authenticated death, bankruptcy, or
insolvency of any registered owner.
TRANSOM. The vane of a cross-staff, made to slide along it by means of a
square socket; it may be set to any of the graduations.
TRANSOM OF A GUN-CARRIAGE. A cross piece of timber uniting the cheeks;
generally between the trunnion-holes and the fore axle-tree.
TRANSOM-KNEES. Curved timbers, or pieces of iron, which bind and connect
the ship's quarter to the transoms, being bolted to the latter, and to
the after timbers. Knees which have one arm applied to either end of a
transom, and the other running diagonally along, and bolted to the
ship's side.
TRANSOMS. 'Thwart-ship pieces forming the buttocks of a ship,
extended across the stern-post, to which they are bolted, and give
her after-part the figure most suitable to the service for which she is
intended.--_Deck-transom._ That on which all the lower deck planks are
rabbeted. The first, second, third transoms, &c., are respectively
below the preceding.--_Helm-post transom._ That which is at the head
of the stern-post, and forms the upper part of the gun-room
ports.--_Wing-transom._ The next below, and forming the lower part.
TRANSPORT. A private ship hired by government for carrying troops,
stores, and munitions of war. The proportion of tonnage for troops
embarked in transports is two tons per man.
TRANSPORTING. Moving a ship by means of hawsers only, from one part of a
harbour to another.
TRANSPORTING-BLOCKS. Two snatch-blocks, fitted one on each side above
the taffrail, to admit a hawser, when transporting a ship.
TRANSPORT OFFICE. Formerly a department under government directed by
commissioners, who chartered vessels and appointed officers for
conveying troops to or from this country: they were also to provide
accommodation and provision for all prisoners of war, as well as to
regulate their exchange by cartel, &c. Now under a naval director of
transport.
TRANS-SHIP, TO. To remove a cargo from one ship to another.
TRANSVERSE AXIS. The first or principal diameter of an ellipse; that
which crosses it lengthwise. (_See_ MAJOR AXIS.)
TRANSVERSE SECTION. A 'thwart-ship view of any part of a ship when cut
by a plane at right angles to the keel.
TRANTER. One who carries fish for sale.
TRAP-CREEL. A basket for catching lobsters.
TRAPEZIUM. A quadrilateral figure that has only two of its four sides
parallel.
TRAPEZOID, OR TABLET. Has all its four sides and angles unequal, and no
sides parallel.
TRAVADO, OR TRAVAT [from _tornado_]. A heavy squall, with sudden gusts
of wind, lightning, and rain, on the coast of North America; like the
African tornado, it commences with a black cloud in calm weather and a
clear sky.
TRAVEL, TO. For a thimble, block, &c., to run along on beams or ropes.
TRAVELLER. One or more iron thimbles with a rope spliced round them,
sometimes forming a kind of tail, but more generally a species of
grummet.--_Traveller of boat's masts_, _jib-boom_, &c. An iron ring
fitted so as to slip up and down a spar, to run in and out on a boom or
gaff, for the purpose of extending or drawing in the outer corner or
tack of the sail.
TRAVELLER-IRON. To a cutter's fore-sail, boom-mainsail, or spanker-boom;
generally termed traveller horse. (_See_ HORSE.)
TRAVELLING-BACKSTAYS, are generally the breast-backstays, which set up
with a runner purchase in the channels on the weather side; that to
leeward is let go in stays. The traveller is a strong parrel-strop which
passes round the mast, and through two thimbles of which the breast
backstays reeve. As the yard is hoisted this slips up, but when a reef
is taken in it is rode down by the feet of two men close to the
tye-block, and thus supports the mast from the top-rim to the parrel.
TRAVELLING-GUYS. The jib traveller guys are seized on to the traveller,
and are shortened in and set up when the jib is eased in.
TRAVELLING-MARTINGALE. A similar contrivance adapted to a martingale to
support the jib-boom in that particular part where the jib-tack is
fixed. (_See_ MARTINGALE.)
TRAVERSE. Denotes the several courses a ship makes under the changes of
wind or man[oe]uvres. It is self-evident that if she steered a course
there would be no traverse. But her course being north, and the wind
from the north, it is evident she could have but two courses open to
her, E.N.E., or W.N.W. The reduction of the distances run on each
course, corrected for variation and lee-way, constitutes the traverse
table, from which the reckoning is deduced each day up to noon. From
this zig-zag set of lines we have the term _Tom Cox's traverse_ (which
see). Also, in fortification, a mound, often of parapet form, raised to
cover from enfilade or reverse fire. Also, to traverse a gun or mortar.
To alter its direction from right to left, or _vice versa_, with
handspikes, tackles, &c.
TRAVERSE A YARD, TO. To get it fore and aft.
TRAVERSE-BOARD. A thin circular piece of board, marked with all the
points of the compass, and having eight holes bored in each, and eight
small pegs hanging from the centre of the board. It is used to determine
the different courses run by a ship during a watch, by sticking one peg
into the point on which the ship has run each half hour. It is useful in
light and variable winds.
TRAVERSE-HORSE. _See_ JACK-STAYS.
TRAVERSE QUESTIONS. Cross examinations at a court-martial.
TRAVERSE SAILING. Resolving a traverse is merely a general term for the
determination of a single course equivalent to a series of successive
courses steered, whatever be the manner of finding the lengths of the
lines forming the triangles.
TRAVERSE-TABLE. A table which gives the difference of latitude and
departure corresponding to a certain course and distance, and _vice
versa_. It is generally calculated to every quarter of a point or
degree, and up to a distance of 300 miles.
TRAVERSE-WIND. A wind which sets right in to any harbour, and prevents
the departure of vessels.
TRAVERSIER. A small fishing vessel on the coast of Rochelle.
TRAVERSUM. A archaic term for a ferry.
TRAWL. A strong net or bag dragged along the bottom of fishing-banks, by
means of a rope, a beam, and a pair of iron trawl-heads.
TRAYERES. An archaic term for a sort of long-boat.
TREADING A SEAM, OR DANCING PEDRO-PEE. _See_ PEDRO-A-PIED.
TREAD OF A SHIP OR KEEL. The length of her keel.
TREAD WATER, TO. The practice in swimming by which the body is sustained
upright, and the head kept above the surface.
TREBLE-BLOCK. One fitted with three sheaves or rollers.
TREBLING. Planking thrice around a whaler's bows in order the more
effectually to withstand the pressure of the ice.
TREBUCHET. An engine of old to cast stones and batter walls.
TRECK-SCHUYT. A canal boat in Holland for carrying goods and passengers.
TREEING. In the Arctic regions, refraction sometimes causes the ice to
resemble a huge wall, which is considered an indication of open water in
that quarter.
TREE-NAILS. Long cylindrical oak or other hard wood pins, driven through
the planks and timbers of a vessel to connect her various parts.
TREE-NAIL WEDGE. A cross is cut in the tree-nail end, and wedges driven
in, caulked; or sometimes a wedge is driven into its inner end, and the
tree-nail is thus secured.
TREES OF A SHIP. The chess-trees, the cross-trees, the rough-trees, the
trestle-trees, and the waste-trees.
TRELAWNEY. A poor mess composed of barley-meal, water, and salt.
TRENCHES. The earthworks by which a besieger approaches a fortified
place; generally half sunk in the ground, the other half formed by the
excavated earth thrown, as a parapet, to the front.
TRENCHMAN. _See_ TRUGMAN.
TRENCH THE BALLAST, TO. To divide the ballast in a ship's hold to get at
a leak, or to trim and stow it.
TREND, TO. To bend or incline, speaking of a coast; as, "The land trends
to the south-west." Also, the course of a current or stream.
TREND OF AN ANCHOR. The lower end of the shank, where it thickens
towards the arms, usually at one-third from the crown. In round terms,
it is the same distance on the shank from the throat that the arm
measures from the throat to the bill.
TRENNEL. _See_ TREE-NAILS.
TREPANG. An eastern name for the _Holothuria_, or _beche-de-mer_,
frequently called the sea-slug; used as an article of food by the
Chinese.
TRESTLE-TREES. Two strong bars of timber fixed horizontally fore-and-aft
on each side of the lower mast-head, to support the top-mast, the lower
cross-trees, and top; smaller trestle-trees are fitted on a topmast-head
to support the topgallant-mast and top-mast cross-trees.
TRIANGLE, OR TRIGON. A geometrical figure consisting of three sides and
as many angles. Also, a machine formed by spars for lifting weights,
water-casks, &c. Also, a stage hung round a mast, to scrape, paint, or
grease it.
TRIANGULUM. One of the ancient northern constellations.
TRIATIC STAY. A rope secured at each end of the heads of the fore and
main masts, with thimbles spliced in its bight to hook the stay-tackles
to. This term applies also to the jumper-stay, extending in schooners
from the mainmast-head to the foremast-head, clearing the end of the
fore gaff.
TRIBUTARY. Any stream, large or small, which directly or indirectly
joins another stream.
TRICE, TO. To haul or lift up by means of a lashing or line.
TRICE UP--LIE OUT! The order to lift the studding-sail boom-ends while
the top-men move out on the yards, preparatory to reefing or furling.
TRICING BATTENS. Those used for the hammocks, or tricing up the bags
between the beams on the lower-deck.
TRICING-LINE. A small cord, generally passing through a block or
thimble, and used to hoist up any object to render it less inconvenient;
such are the tricing-lines of the yard-tackle, &c.
TRICK. The time allotted to a man on duty at the helm. The same as
_spell_.
TRICKER. An old spelling for the trigger of a gun.
TRIE. An old word for trim.--_Out of trie_, crank.
TRIGGER. In ship-building, is the letting fall the paul of the cradle by
which the dog-shore falls flush, and offers no further obstruction to
the ship gliding down the ways into her absurdly termed "native
element." Also, a small catch under the lock of fire-arms, by drawing
which back, when the piece is cocked, it is discharged.
TRIGGER-FINGER. _See_ FORE-FINGER.
TRIGGER-LINE. A line by which the gun is fired.
TRIG-MEAT. A western term for any kind of shell-fish picked up at low
water.
TRIGON. _See_ TRIANGLE.
TRIGONOMETRY. The science which deals with measuring triangles, or
determining their unknown sides and angles, plane or spherical.
TRIM. The set of a ship on the water, whether by the head or the stern,
or on an even keel. It is by the disposition of the ballast, cargo,
masts, and other weight which she carries, that a vessel is best adapted
for navigation. Also, the working or finishing of any piece of timber or
plank to its proper shape or form.--_In trim_, is neat and regular.--_To
trim_, is to arrange the sails so that they may receive the full
advantage of the wind.
TRIM OF THE HOLD. The arrangement of the cargo, &c., by which a vessel
carries sail well, and becomes under control as well as sea-worthy.
TRIMMED. Sails properly set, and yards well braced after tacking.
TRIMMED SHARP. The arrangement of a ship's sails in a slant wind, so
that she may keep as close as possible to the breeze.
TRIMMING A JACKET. Rope's-ending the wearer.
TRIMONIER. A corruption of _timoneer_, but formerly a rating on ships'
books.
TRIM THE BOAT! The order to sit in the boat in such a manner as that she
shall float upright. Also, to edge aft, so that her steerage becomes
easier, and she does not ship heavy seas.