WEAR AND TEAR. The decay and deterioration of the hull, spars, sails,
ropes, and other stores of a ship in the course of a voyage.
WEATHER [from the Anglo-Saxon _waeder_, the temperature of the air]. The
state of the atmosphere with regard to the degree of wind, to heat and
cold, or to dryness and moisture, but particularly to the first. It is a
word also applied to everything lying to windward of a particular
situation, hence a ship is said to have the weather-gage of another
when further to windward. Thus also, when a ship under sail presents
either of her sides to the wind, it is then called the _weather-side_,
and all the rigging situated thereon is distinguished by the same
epithet. It is the opposite of _lee_. To weather anything is to go to
windward of it. The land to windward, is a weather shore.
WEATHER-ANCHOR. That lying to windward, by which a ship rides when
moored.
WEATHER-BEAM. A direction at right angles with the keel, on the weather
side of the ship.
WEATHER-BITT. Is that which holds the weather-cable when the ship is
moored.
WEATHER-BOARD. That side of the ship which is to windward.
WEATHER-BOARDS. Pieces of plank placed in the ports of a ship when laid
up in ordinary; they are in an inclined position, so as to turn off the
rain without preventing the circulation of air.
WEATHER-BORNE. Pressed by wind and sea.
WEATHER-BOUND. Detained by foul winds; our forefathers used the term
_waeder faest_.
WEATHER-BREEDERS. Certain appearances in the heavens which indicate a
gale, as wind-galls, fog-dogs, &c.
WEATHER-CLOTHS. Coverings of painted canvas or tarpaulin, used to
preserve the hammocks when stowed, from injury by weather.
WEATHER-COIL. When a ship has her head brought about, so as to lie that
way which her stern did before, as by the veering of the wind; or the
motion of the helm, the sails remaining trimmed.
WEATHER-COILING. A ship resuming her course after being taken aback;
rounding off by a stern-board, and coming up to it again.
WEATHER-EYE. "Keep your weather-eye open," be on your guard; look out
for squalls.
WEATHER-GAGE. A vessel has the weather-gage of another when she is to
windward of her. Metaphorically, to get the weather-gage of a person, is
to get the better of him.