WABBLE, TO [from the Teutonic _wabelen_]. To reel confusedly, as waves
on a windy day in a tide-way. It is a well-known term among mechanics to
express the irregular motion of engines or turning-lathes when loose in
their bearings, or otherwise out of order. A badly stitched seam in a
sail is wabbled. It is also applied to the undulation of the
compass-card when the motion of the vessel is considerable and
irregular.
WAD. A kind of plug, closely fitting the bore of a gun, which is rammed
home over the shot to confine it to its place, and sometimes also
between the shot and the cartridge: generally made of coiled junk,
otherwise a rope grommet, &c.
WADE, TO. An Anglo-Saxon word, meaning to pass through water without
swimming. In the north, the sun was said to wade when covered by a dense
atmosphere.
WAD-HOOK. An iron tool shaped like a double cork-screw on the end of a
long staff, for withdrawing wads or charges from guns; called also a
_worm_.
WADMAREL. A hairy, coarse, dark-coloured stuff of the north, once in
great demand for making pea-jackets, pilot-coats, and the like.
WAFT [said to be from the Anglo-Saxon _weft_], more correctly written
_wheft_. It is any flag or ensign, stopped together at the head and
middle portions, slightly rolled up lengthwise, and hoisted at different
positions at the after-part of a ship. Thus, at the ensign-staff, it
signifies that a man has fallen overboard; if no ensign-staff exists,
then half-way up the peak. At the peak, it signifies a wish to speak; at
the mast-head, recalls boats; or as the commander-in-chief or particular
captain may direct.
WAFTORS. Certain officers formerly appointed to guard our coast
fisheries. Also, swords blunted to exercise with.
WAGER POLICY. An engagement upon interest or no interest; the
performance of the voyage in a reasonable time and manner, and not the
bare existence of the ship or cargo, is the object of insurance.
WAGES OR PAY OF THE ROYAL NAVY is settled by act of parliament. In the
merchant service seamen are paid by the month, and receive their wages
at the end of the voyage.
WAGES REMITTED FROM ABROAD. When a ship on a foreign station has been
commissioned twelve calendar months, every petty officer, seaman, and
marine serving on board, may remit the half of the pay due to them to a
wife, father, mother, grandfather, grandmother, brother, or sister.
WAGGON. A place amidships, on the upper deck of guard-ships, assigned
for the supernumeraries' hammocks.
WAGGONER. A name applied to an atlas of charts, from a work of this
nature published at Leyden in 1583, by Jans Waghenaer.
WAIF. Goods found and not claimed; derelict. Also used for _waft_.
WAIST. That portion of the main deck of a ship of war, contained between
the fore and main hatchways, or between the half-deck and galley.
WAIST-ANCHOR. An additional or spare anchor stowed before the
chess-tree. (_See_ SPARE ANCHOR.)
WAIST-BOARDS. The berthing made to fit into a vessel's gangway on either
side.
WAIST-CLOTHS. The painted canvas coverings of the hammocks which are
stowed in the waist-nettings.
WAISTERS. Green hands, or worn seamen, in former times stationed in the
waist in working the ship, as they had little else of duty but hoisting
and swabbing the decks.
WAIST-NETTINGS. The hammock-nettings between the quarter-deck and
forecastle.
WAIST-RAIL. The channel-rail or moulding of the ship's side.
WAIST-TREE. Another name for _rough-tree_ (which see).
WAIVE, TO. To give up the right to demand a court-martial, or to enforce
forfeitures, by allowing people who have deserted, &c., to return to
their duties.
WAIVING. The action of dispensing with salutes--by signal, by motion of
the hand to guards, &c., and to vessels, which may be, in accordance
with old custom, passing under the lee to be hailed and examined.
WAIVING AMAIN. A salutation of defiance, as by brandishing weapons, &c.
WAKE. The transient, generally smooth, track impressed on the
surface-water by a ship's progress. Its bearing is usually observed by
the compass to discover the angle of lee-way. A ship is said to be in
the wake of another, when she follows her upon the same track. Two
distant objects observed at sea are termed in the wake of each other,
when the view of the farthest off is intercepted by the one that is
nearer. (_See_ CROSSING A SHIP'S WAKE.)
WALE-REARED. Synonymous with _wall-sided_.
WALES. The thickest strakes of wrought stuff in a vessel. Strong planks
extending all along the outward timbers on a ship's side, a little above
her water-line; they are synonymous with _bends_ (which see). The
channel-wale is below the lower-deck ports, and the main-wale between
the top of those ports and the sills of the upper-deck ports.
WALK AWAY! The order to step out briskly with a tackle fall, as in
hoisting boats.
WALK BACK! A method in cases where a purchase must not be lowered by a
round turn, as "Walk back the capstan;" the men controlling it by the
bars and walking back as demanded.
WALKER'S KNOT. _See_ MATTHEW WALKER.
WALKING A PLANK. An obsolete method of destroying people in mutiny and
piracy, under a plea of avoiding the penalty of murder. The victim is
compelled to walk, pinioned and blindfolded, along a plank projecting
over the ship's side, which, canting when overbalanced, heaves him into
the sea. Also, for detecting whether a man is drunk, he is made to walk
along a quarter-deck plank.
WALKING AWAY WITH THE ANCHOR. Said of a ship which is dragging, or
_shouldering_, her anchor; or when, from fouling the stock or upper
fluke, she trips the anchor out of the ground.
WALKING SPEAKING-TRUMPET. A midshipman repeating quarter-deck orders.
WALK SPANISH, TO. To quit duty without leave; to desert.
WALK THE QUARTER-DECK, TO. A phrase signifying to take the rank of an
officer.
WALK THE WEATHER GANGWAY NETTING. A night punishment in a man-of-war for
those of the watch who have missed their muster.
WALL. A bank of earth to restrain the current and overflowing of water.
(_See_ SEA-BANK.)
WALL-KNOT, OR WALE-KNOT. A particular sort of large knot raised upon the
end of a rope, by untwisting the strands, and passing them among each
other.
WALL-PIECE. A very heavy powerful musket, for use in fortified places.
WALL-SIDED. The sides of a ship continuing nearly perpendicular down to
the surface of the water, like a wall. It is the mean between _tumbling
home_ and _flaring out_.
WALRUS [Dan. _hval-ros_]. The _Trichecus rosmarus_, a large amphibious
marine animal, allied to the seals, found in the Arctic regions. Its
upper canines are developed into large descending tusks, of considerable
value as ivory. It is also called morse, sea-horse, and sea-cow. This
animal furnished Cook, as well as our latest Arctic voyagers, with
_Arctic beef_. The skin is of the utmost importance to the Esquimaux, as
well as to the Russians of Siberia, &c.
WALT. An old word, synonymous with _crank_; or tottering, like a sprung
spar.
WANE. In timber, an imperfection implying a want of squareness at one or
more of its corners; under this deficiency it is termed _wane-wood_.
WANE-CLOUD. _See_ CIRRO-STRATUS.
WANGAN. A boat, in Maine, for carrying provisions.
WANY. Said of timber when spoiled by wet.
WAPP, OR WHAP. A name formerly given to any short pendant and thimble,
through which running-rigging was led. Also, a rope wherewith rigging
was set taut with wall-knots, one end being fast to the shroud, and the
other brought to the laniard. But any shroud-stopper is a _wapp_.
WAR. A contest between princes or states, which, not being determinable
otherwise, is referred to the decision of the sword. It may exist
without a declaration on either side, and is either _civil_,
_defensive_, or _offensive_.
WAR-CAPERER. A privateer.
WARDEN. _See_ LORD WARDEN.
WARD-ROOM. The commissioned officers' mess-cabin, on the main-deck in
ships of the line.
WARD-ROOM OFFICERS. Those who mess in the ward-room, namely: the
commander, lieutenants, master, chaplain, surgeon, paymaster,
marine-officers, and assistant-surgeons.
WARE, TO. _See_ VEER.
WAREHOUSING SYSTEM. The use of bonding places under charge of officers
of the customs, in which goods may be deposited, without any duty upon
them being exacted, until they be cleared for home use, or for
exportation.
WAR ESTABLISHMENT. Increased force of men and means.
WARM-SIDED. Mounting heavy metal, whether a ship or a fort.
WARNER. A sentinel formerly posted on the heights near sea-ports to give
notice of the approach of vessels. Also, beacons, posts, buoys, lights,
&c., warning vessels of danger by day as well as by night.
WARNING-SIGNAL. Hoisted to warn vessels not to pass a bar. Also, to
warrant higher pay to watermen plying between Portsmouth and Spithead,
&c., according to severity of weather.
WARP. A rope or light hawser, employed occasionally to transport a ship
from one place to another in a port, road, or river. Also, an east-coast
term for four herrings. Also, land between the sea-banks and the
sea.--_Warp of lower rigging._ A term used in the rigging-loft, as,
before cutting out a gang of rigging, it is warped. Also, to form the
warp of spun-yarn in making sword-mats for the rigging-gripes, slings,
&c.--_To warp._ To move a vessel from one place to another by warps,
which are attached to buoys, to other ships, to anchors, or to certain
fixed objects on shore. Also, to flood the lands near rivers in
Yorkshire.
WARPING AND FRAMING THE TIMBERS. Putting in the beam-knees, coamings,
&c., and dividing the spaces between the beams for fitting the carlines.
WARPING-BLOCK. A block made of ash or elm, used in rope-making for
warping off yarn.
WARRANT. A writ of authority, inferior to a commission; in former
days it was the name given to the deed conferring power on those
officers appointed by the navy board, while those granted by the
admiralty were styled commissions. Also, a document, under proper
authority, for the assembling of a court-martial, punishment,
execution, &c. Also, a tabulated regulation for cutting standing
and running rigging, as well as for supply of general stores, as
warranted by the admiralty.--_Brown-paper warrants._ Those given
by a captain, and which he can cancel.
WARRANT-OFFICER. Generally one holding his situation from particular
boards, or persons authorized by the sovereign to grant it. In the royal
navy it was an officer holding a warrant from the navy board, as the
master, surgeon, purser, boatswain, gunner, carpenter, &c. In the year
1831, when the commissioners of the navy, or navy board, were abolished,
all these powers reverted to the admiralty, but the commissions and
warrants remain in effect the same.
WARRANTY. The contract of marine insurance, expressing a certain
condition on the part of the insured, upon which the contract is to take
effect; it is always a part of the written policy, and must appear on
the face of it. In this it differs from _representation_ (which see).
WARREN-HEAD. A northern term for a dam across a river.
WAR-SCOT. A contribution for the supply of arms and armour, in the time
of the Saxons.
WAR-SHIP. Any ship equipped for offence and defence; whereas
_man-of-war_ generally signifies a vessel belonging to the royal navy.
WARTAKE. An archaic term for a rope-fast, or spring. In that early
sea-song (_temp._ Henry VI.) which is in the library of Trinity College,
Cambridge, the skipper of the ship carrying a cargo of "pylgryms"
exclaims, "Hale in the wartake!"
WARTH. An old word signifying a ford. Also, a flat meadow close to a
stream.
WASH. An accumulation of silt in estuaries. Also, a surface covered by
floods. Also, a shallow inlet or gulf: the east-country term for the
sea-shore. Also, the blade of an oar. Also, a wooden measure of
two-thirds of a bushel, by which small shell-fish are sold at
Billingsgate, equal to ten strikes of oysters.--_Wash_, or _a-wash_.
Even with the water's edge.
WASH-BOARD, OR WASH-STRAKE. A movable upper strake which is attached by
stud-pins on the gunwales of boats to keep out the spray. Wash-boards
are also fitted on the sills of the lower-deck ports for the same
purpose.
WASH-BOARDS. A term for the white facings of the old naval uniform.
WASHERMAN. A station formerly for an old or otherwise not very useful
person on board a man-of-war.
WASHERS. Leather, copper, lead, or iron rings interposed at the end of
spindles, before a forelock or linch-pin, to prevent friction, or
galling the wood, as of a gun-truck. Also used in pump-gear.
WASHING-PLACE. In 1865, baths and suitable washing-places were fitted
for personal use in the ships of the royal navy. Both hot and cold water
are supplied. Shades of Drake, Frobisher, and Raleigh, think of that!
WASHING THE HAND. A common hint on leaving a ship disliked.
WASH-WATER. A ford.
WATCH. The division of the ship's company into two parties, one called
the starboard, and the other the larboard or port watch, alluding to the
situation of their hammocks when hung up; these two watches are,
however, separated into two others, a first and second part of each,
making four in all. The crew can also be divided into three watches. The
officers are divided into three watches, in order to lighten their duty;
but it is to be borne in mind that the watch may sleep when their
services are not demanded, whereas it is a crime, liable to death, for
an officer to sleep on his watch. In a ship of war the watch is
generally commanded by a lieutenant, and in merchant ships by one of the
mates. The word is also applied to the _time_ during which the watch
remains on deck, usually four hours, with the exception of the
dog-watches.--_Anchor-watch._ A quarter watch kept on deck while
the ship rides at single anchor, or remains temporarily in
port.--_Dog-watches._ The two reliefs which take place between 4 and 8
o'clock P.M., each of which continues only two hours, the intention
being to change the turn of the night-watch every twenty-four
hours.--_First watch._ From 8 P.M. till midnight.--_Middle-watch._ From
midnight till 4 A.M.--_Morning-watch._ From 4 to 8 A.M.--_Watch_ is also
a word used in throwing the deep-sea lead, when each man, on letting go
the last turn of line in his hand, calls to the next abaft him, "Watch,
there, watch!" A buoy is said to _watch_ when it floats on the surface
of the water.
WATCH AND WATCH. The arrangement of the crew in two watches.
WATCH-BILL. The pocket "watch and station bill," which each officer is
expected to produce if required, and instantly muster the watch, or the
men stationed to any specific duty.
WATCHET. A light blue, or sky-coloured cloth worn formerly by English
sailors, especially by the boats' crews of men-of-war.
WATCH-GLASSES. The half-hour glasses employed to measure the periods of
the watch, so that the several stations therein may be regularly kept
and relieved, as at the helm, pump, look-out, &c. (_See_ GLASS.)
WATCHING A SMOOTH. Looking for a temporary subsidence of the waves of a
head-sea, previous to easing down the helm, in tacking ship.
WATCH-SETTING. In the army, retreat, or the time for mounting the
night-guards.
WATCH-TACKLE. A small luff purchase with a short fall, the double block
having a tail to it, and the single one a hook. Used for various
purposes about the decks, by which the watch can perform a duty without
demanding additional men.
WATER, TO. To fill the casks or tanks; to complete water.
WATERAGE. The charge for using shore-boats.
WATER-BAILIFF. An officer in sea-port towns for the searching of
vessels.
WATER-BALLAST. Water when used to stiffen a ship, whether carried in
casks, tanks, bags, or otherwise. The iron screw-colliers of the present
day have immense tanks constructed in their floors, on the upper part of
which the coals rest; when they are discharged, the tanks are allowed to
fill with water, which acts as ballast for the return voyage, and is
pumped out by the engine as the coals are taken in.
WATER-BARK. A small decked vessel or tank, used by the Dutch for
carrying fresh water.
WATER-BATTERY. One nearly on a level with the water--_a fleur d'eau_; a
position of much power when vessels cannot get close to it.
WATER-BEWITCHED. Bad tea, _geo-graffy_, 5-water grog, and the like
greatly diluted drinks.
WATER-BORNE. When a ship just floats clear of the ground. Also, goods
carried by sea, or on a river.
WATER-CROW. The lesser cormorant, or shag.
WATER-DOG. _See_ WATER-GALL.
WATER-FLEAS. The groups of crustaceous organisms classed as
_Entomostraca_.
WATER-GAGE. A sea wall or bank. Also, an instrument to measure the depth
of inundations.
WATER-GALL. A name of the _wind-gall_ (which see). Shakspeare, in the
_Rape of Lucrece_, uses the term thus:--
"And round about her tear-distained eye
Blue circles stream'd, like rainbows in the sky.
These water-galls in her dim element
Foretell new storms to those already spent."
WATER-GAVEL. A rent paid for fishing in some river, or other benefit
derived therefrom.
WATER-GUARD. Custom-house officers employed to prevent fraud on the
revenue in vessels arriving at, or departing from, a port.
WATER HIS HOLE. A saying used when the cable is up and down, to
encourage the men to heave heartily, and raise the shank of the anchor
so that the water may get down by the shank, and relieve the anchor of
the superincumbent mud.
WATER-HORSE. Cod-fish stacked up in a pile to drain, under the process
of cure.
WATER-LAID ROPE. The same as _cablet_; it coils against the sun, or to
the left hand.
WATER-LINE. In former ships of war, a fine white painted line or bend,
representing the deep line of flotation, on the coppered edge.--_Load
water-line._ That which the surface of the water describes on a ship
when she is loaded or ready for sea.
WATER-LINE MODEL. The same as _key-model_ (which see).
WATER-LOGGED. The state of a ship full of water, having such a buoyant
cargo that she does not sink. In this dangerous and unmanageable
situation there is no resource for the crew except to free her by the
pumps, or to abandon her by taking to the boats; for the centre of
gravity being no longer fixed, the ship entirely loses her stability,
and is almost totally deprived of the use of her sails, which may only
operate to accelerate her destruction by over-setting her, or pressing
her head under water. Timber-laden vessels, water-logged, frequently
float for a very long period.
WATER-PADS. Fellows who rob ships and vessels in harbours and rivers.
WATER-PLOUGH. A machine formerly used for taking mud and silt out of
docks and rivers.
WATER-SAIL. A _save-all_, or small sail, set occasionally under the
lower studding-sail or driver-boom, in a fair wind and smooth sea.
WATER-SCAPE. A culvert, aqueduct, or passage for water.
WATER-SHED. A term introduced into geography to denote the dividing
ridges in a hilly country. In geology, it implies that the water is shed
thence naturally, by the inclination, to the valley base. As regards
nautical men in search of water, it is therefore expedient to look for
the depressed side of the strata.
WATER-SHOT, OR QUARTER-SHOT. When a ship is moored, neither across the
tide, nor right up and down, but quartering between both.
WATER-SHUT. An old name for a flood-gate.
WATER-SKY. In Arctic seas, a dark and dull leaden appearance of the
atmosphere, the reflected blue of the sea indicating clear water in that
direction, and forming a strong contrast to the pale _blink_ over land
or ice.
WATER-SNAKES. A group of snakes (_Hydrophis_), whose habitat is the sea.
Some of them are finely coloured, and generally very like land-snakes,
except that their tails are broader, so as to scull or propel them
through the water.
WATER-SPACE. The intervening part between the flues of a steamer's
boiler.
WATER-SPOUT. A large mass of water collected in a vertical column, and
moving rapidly along the surface of the sea. As contact with one has
been supposed dangerous, it has been suggested to fire cannon at them,
to break the continuity by aerial concussion. In this phenomenon, heat
and electricity seem to take an active part, but their cause is not
fully explained, and any facts respecting them by observers favourably
placed will help towards further researches into their nature. (_See_
WHIRLWIND.)
WATER-STANG. A spar or pole fixed across a stream.
WATER-STEAD. An old name for the bed of a river.
WATER-STOUP. A northern name for the common periwinkle.
WATER-TAKING. A pond, the water of which is potable.
WATER-TANKS. _See_ TANK.
WATER-TIGHT. Well caulked, and so compact as to prevent the admission of
water. The reverse of _leaky_.
WATER-WAYS. Certain deck-planks which are wrought next to the timbers;
they serve to connect the sides of a ship to her decks, and form a
channel to carry off any water by means of scuppers.
WATER-WAR. A name for the bore or hygre of the Severn.
WATER-WITCH. A name of the dipper.
WATER-WRAITH. Supposed water-spirits, prognosticating evil, in the
Shetland Islands.
WATH. A passage or ford through a river.
WATTLES. A kind of hair or small bristles near the mouth and nostrils of
certain fish. Also, hurdles made by weaving twigs together.
WAVE [from the Anglo-Saxon _waeg_]. A volume of water rising in surges
above the general level, and elevated in proportion to the wind.
WAVESON. Such goods as after shipwreck appear floating on the waves.
(_See_ FLOTSAM.)
WAVING. Signals made by arm or otherwise to a vessel to come near or
keep off.
WAY. Is sometimes the same as the ship's _rake_ or _run_, forward or
backward, but is most commonly understood of her sailing. _Way_ is often
used for _wake_. Thus when she begins her motion she is said to be
_under way_; and when that motion increases, to have _fresh-way_ through
the water. Hence, also, she is said to have _head-way_ or _stern-way_,
to _gather way_ or to _lose way_, &c. (_See_ WIND'S-WAY.)--_Gangway_,
means a clear space to pass. The gangway is the side space between the
forecastle and quarter-deck.
'WAY ALOFT! OR 'WAY UP! The command when the crew are required aloft to
loose, reef, furl sails, or man yards, &c.
WAY-GATE. The tail-race of a mill.
WAYS. Balks laid down for rolling weights along.--_Launching-ways._ Two
parallel platforms of solid timber, one on each side of the keel of a
vessel while building, and on which her cradle slides on launching.
WEAL. A wicker basket used for catching eels.