bowsprit close down to the ship’s stem, in order to enable it the better
to support the stays of the fore-mast, and carry sail in the fore part
of the vessel. Seven or eight turns of this rope, fig. 7. plate IV. are
passed over the bowsprit A, and through a large hole in the stem or knee
of the head Y alternately: after all the turns are drawn as firm as
possible, the opposite ones are braced together under the bowsprit by a
_frapping_, as exhibited in the same figure.
GANG, a select number of a ship’s crew appointed on any particular
service, and commanded by an officer suitable to the occasion.
GANG-BOARD, _planche_, a board or plank with several cleats or steps
nailed upon it for the convenience of walking into, or out of, a boat
upon the shore, where the water is not deep enough to float the boat
close to the landing-place.
GANGWAY, _passe-avant_, a narrow platform, or range of planks, laid
horizontally along the upper part of a ship’s side, from the
quarter-deck to the forecastle, for the convenience of walking more
expeditiously, _fore and aft_, than by descending into the waist. This
platform is therefore peculiar to ships which are _deep-waisted_. It is
fenced on the outside by several small iron pillars, and a rope extended
from one to the other; and sometimes by a netting, to prevent any one
from falling off into the sea when the ship is in motion. This is
frequently called the gang-board in merchant vessels.
GANGWAY, _echelle_, is also that part of a ship’s side, both within and
without, by which the passengers enter and depart. It is for this
purpose provided with a sufficient number of steps, or _cleats_, nailed
upon the ship’s side, nearly as low as the surface of the water; and
sometimes furnished with a railed accommodation-ladder, whose lower end
projects from the ship’s side, being secured in this position by iron
braces, so as to render the ascent and descent extremely convenient.
GANGWAY, _accoursie_, is likewise used to signify a passage left in the
hold, when a ship is laden, in order to arrive at any particular place
therein, occasionally; as to examine the situation of the provisions or
cargo; to discover and stop a leak; or to bring out any article required
for service; &c. Finally, a gangway implies a thoroughfare, or narrow
passage of any kind.
GARLAND, a sort of net, whose opening is extended by a wooden hoop of
sufficient size to admit a bowl or platter within it. It is accordingly
used by the sailors as a locker or cupboard to contain their provisions,
being hung up to the deck within the _birth_, where they commonly mess
between-decks.
_Shot_-GARLAND, _epitie_, a piece of timber nailed horizontally along
the ship’s side from one gun-port to another, and used to contain the
round-shot ready for charging the great guns in battle. For this purpose
it is furnished with several semi-globular cavities, corresponding to
the size of the cannon-balls which it is employed to contain.
GARNET, _garant_, a sort of tackle fixed to the main-stay of a merchant
ship, and used to hoist in and out the goods of which the cargo is
composed.
GARNET is also a small tackle fastened to the clues or lower corners of
the main-sail or fore-sail, for the purpose of trussing up those sails,
as occasion requires; and hence it is called CLUE-GARNET, which see.
GARBOARD-STREAK, _gabord_, in ship-building, the first range or _streak_
of planks laid upon a ship’s bottom next to the keel, throughout the
whole length of the floor. The edge of this plank is let into a groove
or channel in the side of the keel, which is called the rabbit of the
garboard-streak.
GASKET, _garcet_, a sort of platted cord fastened to the sail-yards of a
ship, and used to _furl_ or tie up the sail firmly to the yard. This is
performed by wrapping the gasket round the yard and sail six or seven
times, the turns being at a competent distance from each other.
GAUNTLOPE, pronounced gauntlet, a race which a criminal is sentenced to
run in a vessel of war, as a punishment for felony, or some other
heinous offence.
It is executed in the following manner: the whole ship’s crew is
disposed in two rows, standing face to face on both sides of the deck,
so as to form a lane, whereby to go _forward_ on one side, and return
_aft_ on the other; each person being furnished with a small twisted
cord, called a knittle, having two or three knots upon it. The
delinquent is then stripped naked above the waist, and ordered to pass
forward between the two rows of men, and aft on the other side, a
certain number of times, rarely exceeding three; during which every
person gives him a stripe as he runs along. In his passage through this
painful ordeal he is sometimes tripped up, and very severely handled
while incapable of proceeding. This punishment, which is called _running
the gauntlet_, _courir la bouline_, is seldom inflicted except for such
crimes as will naturally excite a general antipathy amongst the seamen;
as on some occasions the culprit would pass without receiving a single
blow, particularly in cases of mutiny or sedition, to the punishment of
which, our common sailors seem to have a constitutional aversion.
GEARS. See JEARS.
GIMBALS, _balanciers_, the brass rings by which a sea-compass is
suspended in its box that usually stands in the binacle. See the article
BINACLE.
GIMBLETING, a term particularly applied to the anchor, to denote the
action of turning it round by the stock, so that the motion of the stock
appears similar to that of the handle of a gimblet, when it is employed
to turn the wire.
GIRT, the situation of a ship which is moored so strait by her cables,
extending from the _hause_ to two distant anchors, as to be prevented
from swinging or turning about, according to any change of the wind or
tide, to the current of which her head would otherwise be directed.
The cables are extended in this manner, by a strong application of
mechanical powers within the ship; so that as she veers, or endeavours
to swing about, her side bears upon one of the cables, which catches on
her heel, and interrupts her in the act of traversing. In this position
she must ride with her broadside or stern to the wind or current, till
one or both of the cables are slackened so as to sink under the keel;
after which the ship will readily yield to the effort of the wind or
current, and turn her head thither. See the article RIDING.
GIRT-LINE, _cartahu_, a rope passing through a single block, on the head
of the lower masts, to hoist up the rigging thereof; as also the persons
employed to place the rigging and cross-trees upon the mast-heads. The
girt-line is therefore the first rope employed to rig a ship, and by
means of this all the rest are drawn up and fixed; after which it is
removed till the ship is to be unrigged.
GONDOLA, a sort of _barge_, curiously ornamented, and navigated on the
canals of Venice; also a passage-boat of six or eight oars, in other
parts of the coast of Italy.
GOOGINGS, _femelles_, certain clamps of iron bolted on the stern-post of
a ship, whereon to hang the rudder, and keep it steddy; for which
purpose there is a hole in each of them, to receive a correspondent
spindle bolted on the back of the rudder, which turns thereby as upon
hinges. There are generally four, five, or six googings on a ship’s
stern-post and rudder, according to her size, and upon these the rudder
is supported, and traverses from side to side as upon an axis. See HELM.
GOOSE-NECK, a sort of iron hook fitted on the inner end of a boom, and
introduced into a clamp of iron, or eye-bolt, which encircles the mast,
or is fitted to some other place in the ship, so that it may be unhooked
at pleasure. See BOOM.
GOOSE-WINGS _of a sail_, the clues or lower corners of a ship’s
main-sail, or fore-sail, when the middle part is furled or tied up to
the yard.
The goose-wings are only used in a great storm to scud before the wind,
when the sail at large, or even diminished by a _reef_, would be too
great a pressure on the ship, in that situation.
GORING, _langue_, that part of the skirts of a sail, where it gradually
widens from the upper part or head, towards the bottom: the
goring-cloths are therefore those, which are cut obliquely, and added to
the breadth. See Sail.
GRAPPLING, (_grapin_, Fr.) a sort of small anchor, fitted with four or
five flukes or claws, plate IV. fig. 5. and commonly used to ride a boat
or other small vessel.
_Fire_-GRAPPLING, _grapin d’abordage_, an instrument nearly resembling
the former, but differing in the construction of its flukes, which are
furnished with strong barbs on their points, fig. 4. plate IV. These
machines are usually fixed on the yard-arms of a ship, in order to
grapple any adversary whom she intends to board. They are however more
particularly useful in _fire-ships_, for the purposes described in that
article.
GRATINGS, _caillebotis_, a sort of open covers for the hatches, formed
by several small laths or battens of wood, which cross each other at
right angles, leaving a square interval between. They are formed to
admit the air and light from above into the lower apartments of the
ship, particularly when the turbulence of the sea or weather renders it
necessary to shut the ports between decks; and also to let the smoke
escape from the lower decks in the time of battle.
GRAVING, _oeuvres de marée_, the act of cleaning a ship’s bottom when
she is laid aground during the recess of the tide. See the article
BREAMING, where this operation is particularly explained.
GRIPES, _haubans de chaloupe_, a machine formed by an assemblage of
ropes, hooks, and _dead-eyes_, and used to secure the boats upon the
deck of a ship at sea, and prevent them from being shaken by the
labouring of the vessel. The hooks, which are fastened at their ends,
are fixed in ring-bolts in the deck on each side of the boat; whence,
passing over her middle and extremities, they are extended by means of
the dead-eyes, so as to render the boats as firm and secure as possible.
GRIPING, _ardent_, the inclination of a ship to run to windward of her
course, particularly when she sails with the wind on her beam or
quarter. This effect is partly occasioned by the shock of the waves that
strike the ship perpetually on the weather-quarter, and force the stern
to leeward; but chiefly by the arrangement of the sails, which disposes
the ship continually to edge to windward, while in this situation of
sailing.
GROMMET, _daillot_, a sort of small wreath, formed of a _strand_ of
rope, and used to fasten the upper edge of a stay-sail to its respective
stay, in different places. By means of the grommets, the sail is
accordingly hoisted or lowered, _i. e._ drawn up or down upon its stay,
in the same manner as a curtain is extended or drawn along upon its rod,
by the assistance of rings. See also the article HANK.
GROUNDING, the act of laying a ship ashore, in order to bream or repair
her. It is also applied to running aground accidentally when under sail,
or driving in a tempest.
GROUND-TACKLE, _amarrages_, a general name given to all sorts of ropes
and furniture which belong to the anchors, or which are employed in
mooring, or otherwise securing a ship in a road or harbour; as cables,
hausers, tow-lines, warps, and buoy-ropes.
GROWING, implies the direction of the cable from the ship towards the
anchors; as, the cable grows on the starboard-bow, _i. e._ stretches out
forwards on the starboard, or right side.
GUARD-BOAT, a boat appointed to row the rounds amongst the ships of war
which are laid up in any harbour, &c. to observe that their officers
keep a good look-out, calling to the guard-boat as she passes, and not
suffering her crew to come aboard, without having previously
communicated: the watch-word of the night.
GUARD-IRONS, certain curved or arched bars of iron placed over the
ornamental figures, on a ship’s head or quarter, to defend them from the
impression of some other ship when they lie close to, or rub against
each other.
GUARD-SHIP, a vessel of war appointed to superintend the marine affairs
in a harbour or river, and to see that the ships, which are not
commissioned, have their proper watch kept duly, by sending her
guard-boats around them every night: she is also to receive seamen who
are impressed in the time of war.
GULF, _golfe_, (_golfo_, Ital.) a broad and capacious bay, comprehended
between two promontories, and sometimes taking the name of a sea, when
it is very extensive, but particularly when it only communicates with
the sea by means of a streight: such are the Euxine, or Black Sea,
otherwise called the gulf of Constantinople; the Adriatic Sea, called
also the gulf of Venice; the gulf of Sidra near Barbary, and the gulf of
Lions near France: all these gulfs are in the Mediterranean: there are
besides the gulf of Mexico, the gulf of St. Lawrence, and the gulf of
Calliphornia, which are in North America. There are also the gulf of
Persia, otherwise called the Red Sea, between Persia and Arabia; the
gulf of Bengal in India, and the gulfs of Cochinchina and Kamtschatca,
near the countries of the same name.
GUNNEL, or GUN-WALE, _plat-bord_, the upper edge of a ship’s side.
GUNNER _of a ship of war_, an officer appointed to take charge of the
artillery and ammunition aboard; to observe that the former are always
kept in order, and properly fitted with tackles and other furniture, and
to teach the sailors the exercise of the cannon. See EXERCISE.
GUN-ROOM, an apartment on the after end of the lower, or gun-deck, of a
ship of war; generally destined for the use of the gunner in large
ships, but in small ones, it is used by the lieutenants as a
dining-room, &c.
GUST, _dragon de vent_, a sudden and violent squall of wind, bursting
from the hills upon the sea, so as to endanger the shipping near the
shore. These are peculiar to some coasts, as those of South Barbary and
Guinea.
GUTTER-LEDGE, _traversier d’ecoutille_, a cross-bar laid along the
middle of a large hatchway in some vessels, to support the covers, and
enable them the better to sustain any weighty body which may be moved or
laid thereon.
GUY, a rope used to steddy any weighty body whilst it is hoisting or
lowering, particularly when the ship is shaken by a tempestuous sea.
GUY is likewise a large slack rope, extending from the head of the
main-mast to the head of the fore-mast, and having two or three large
blocks fastened to the middle of it. This is chiefly employed to sustain
the tackle used to hoist in and out the cargo of a merchant ship, and is
accordingly removed from the mast-heads as soon as the vessel is laden
or delivered.
GYBING, the act of shifting any boom-sail from one side of the mast to
the other.
In order to understand this operation more clearly, it is necessary to
remark, that by a boom-sail is meant any sail whose bottom is extended
by a _boom_, the fore-end of which is hooked to its respective mast, so
as to swing occasionally on either side of the vessel, describing an
arch, of which the mast will be the center. As the wind or the course
changes, it also becomes frequently necessary to change the position of
the boom, together with its sail, which is accordingly shifted to the
other side of the vessel as a door turns upon its hinges. The boom is
pushed out by the effort of the wind upon the sail, and is restrained in
a proper situation by a strong _tackle_ communicating with the vessel’s
stern, and called the _sheet_. It is also confined on the fore-part by
another tackle, called the _guy_. See the preceding article.
H.
HAGS TEETH, or HAKES TEETH, those parts of a _matting_, _pointing_, &c.
which are interwoven with the rest, in an erroneous and irregular
manner, so as to appear aukward in the general uniformity of the work.
See POINTING, &c.
HAILING, the salutation or accosting of a ship at a distance, either at
sea or in a harbour. The usual expression is, Hoa, the ship ahoay! To
which she answers, Holloa! Whence came ye? Where are ye bound? Good
voyage! What cheer? All well! How fare ye? &c.
HALIARDS, _drisse_, the ropes or tackles usually employed to hoist or
lower any sail upon its respective masts or stay. See also JEARS.
HAMMOC, _branle_, a piece of canvas, six feet long and three feet wide,
gathered or drawn together at the two ends, and hung horizontally under
the deck, lengthways, for the sailors to sleep therein. There are
usually from fourteen to twenty inches in breadth allowed between decks
for every hammoc in a ship of war: this space however must in some
measure depend on the number of the crew, &c. in proportion to the room
of the vessel.
In the time of battle the hammocs, together with their bedding, are all
firmly corded, and fixed in the nettings on the quarter-deck, or
where-ever the men are too much exposed to the view, or fire of the
enemy. See the article ENGAGEMENT.
HANDING _the sails_, the same operation with furling them, which see.
HAND-OVER-HAND! _main avant!_ the order to the men, who pull upon any
rope, to pass their hands alternately one before the other, or one above
the other, if they are hoisting, in order to hasten the service.
A sailor is said to go aloft, hand-over-hand, when he ascends into the
tops, &c. by a single rope, as a shroud or back-stay, without the help
of the _rattlings_, by the dexterity of throwing one hand above the
other, and lifting his weight along with it.
HANDSPEC, _anspec_, a wooden bar used as a lever to heave about the
windlass, in order to draw up the anchor from the bottom, particularly
in merchant ships: for this purpose the handle or small end is round and
tapering; and the other end is square, in order to conform to the shape
of the holes in the windlass. It is also employed as a lever on many
other occasions, as stowing the anchors, or provisions, or cargo, in the
ship’s hold.
_Gunner’s_ HANDSPEC, _renard_, an handspec shorter and flatter than the
above, and armed with two claws, for the purpose of managing the
artillery in battle, &c.
HANK FOR HANK, a phrase expressed of two ships which _tack_ and make a
progress to windward together. The Dolphin and Cerberus turned up the
river _hank for hank_, without being able to get to windward of each
other.
HANKS, _daillots_, certain wooden rings fixed upon the stays of a ship,
whereby to confine the stay-sails thereto at different heights. They are
used in the place of _grommets_, being a later invention and much more
convenient; because, being framed by the bending of a tough piece of
wood into the form of a wreath, and fastened at the two ends by means of
notches, they retain their circular figure and elasticity; whereas the
grommets, which are formed of rope, are apt to relax in warm weather and
adhere to the stays, so as to prevent the sails from being readily
hoisted or lowered.
HARBOUR, _havre_, a general name given to any sea-port or haven; as also
to any place convenient for mooring shipping, although at a great
distance from the sea. The qualities requisite in a good harbour are,
that the bottom be entirely free from rocks or shallows; that the
opening be of sufficient extent to admit the entrance or departure of
large ships, without difficulty; that it should have good
anchoring-ground, and be easy of access; that it should be well defended
from the violence of the wind and sea; that it should have room and
convenience to receive the shipping of different nations, and those
which are laden with different merchandizes; that it be furnished with a
good light-house, and have variety of proper rings, posts, moorings, &c.
in order to remove or secure the vessels contained therein: and finally,
that it have plenty of wood, and other materials for firing, besides
hemp, iron, mariners, &c.
HARD-A-LEE, _barre à bord_, _sous le vent_, the situation of the helm
when it is pushed close to the _lee_ side of the ship, either to _tack_
or keep her head to the wind, when lying by or _trying_: also the order
to put the helm in this position.
HARD-A-WEATHER, _arrive tout_, the order to put the helm close to the
weather or windward side of the ship, in order to bear away. It is
likewise the position of the helm, in consequence of that order; being
in both senses opposed to _hard-a-lee_.
HARPINGS, the fore-parts of the wales which encompass the bow of a ship,
and are fastened to the stem, being thicker than the after part of the
wales, in order to reinforce the ship in this place, where she sustains
the greatest shock of resistance in plunging into the sea, or dividing
it, under a great pressure of sail.
_Cat_-HARPINGS. See CAT-HARPINGS.
HARPOON, (_harpon_, Fr.) a spear or javelin used to strike the whales in
the Greenland fishery.
The harpoon, which is sometimes called the harping-iron, is furnished
with a long staff, having at one end a broad and flat triangular head,
sharpened at both edges, so as to penetrate the whale with facility: to
the head of this weapon is fastened a long cord, called the whale-line,
which lies carefully _coiled_ in the boat, in such a manner, as to run
out without being interrupted or intangled. As soon as the boat has
rowed within a competent distance of the whale, the harponeer launches
his instrument; and the fish, being wounded, immediately descends under
the ice with amazing rapidity, carrying the harpoon along with him, and
a considerable length of the line. Being soon exhausted with the fatigue
and loss of blood, he re-ascends in order to breathe, where he presently
expires, and floats upon the surface of the water, when they approach
the carcase by drawing in the whale-line.
HATCH, or HATCHWAY, _ecoutille_, a square or oblong opening in the deck
of a ship, of which there are several, forming the passages from one
deck to another, and into the _hold_, or lower apartments. See the DECK,
plate III. where A represents the main-hatchway of the lower deck; N N,
the fore-hatchway; and O O, the after-hatchway.
There are likewise hatches of a smaller kind, called scuttles. See U U
in the same figure, as also the article SCUTTLE.
HATCHES is also, although improperly, a name applied by sailors to the
covers or lids of the hatchways.
_To_ HAUL, _haler_, an expression peculiar to seamen, implying to pull a
single rope, without the assistance of blocks, or other mechanical
powers: when a rope is otherwise pulled, as by the application of
tackles, or the connection with blocks, &c. the term is changed into
_bowsing_. See also the articles BOWSE, HOIST, and ROWSING.
_To_ HAUL _the wind_, _venir an vent_, to direct the ship’s course
nearer to that point of the compass from which the wind arises. Thus
supposing a ship sailing south-west, with the wind northerly, and some
particular occasion renders it necessary to haul the wind farther to the
westward; to perform this operation it is necessary to arrange the sails
more obliquely with her keel; to brace the yards more forward, by
slackening the starboard, and pulling in the larboard braces, and to
haul the lower _sheets_ farther aft: and finally, to put the helm
a-port, _i. e._ over to the larboard side of the vessel. As soon as her
head has turned directly to the westward, and her sails are trimmed
accordingly, she is laid to have hauled the wind four points, that is to
say, from S. W. to W. She may still go two points nearer to the
direction of the wind, by disposing her sails according to their
greatest obliquity; or, in the sea-phrase, by _trimming all sharp_: and
in this situation she is said to be close-hauled, as sailing W. N. W.
See the articles CLOSE-HAULED and SAILING.
HAUSE, or HAWSE, is generally understood to imply the situation of the
cables before the ship’s stem, when she is moored with two anchors out
from forward, viz. one on the starboard, and the other on the larboard
_bow_. Hence it is usual to say, She has a clear hause, or a foul hause.
It also denotes any small distance _a-head_ of a ship, or between her
head and the anchors employed to ride her; as, “He has anchored in our
hause;” the “brig fell athwart our hause,” &c.
A ship is said to ride with a clear hause, when the cables are directed
to their anchors, without lying athwart the stem; or crossing, or being
twisted round each other, by the ships winding about, according to the
change of the wind, tide, or current.
A foul hause, on the contrary, implies that the cables lie across the
stem, or bear upon each other, so as to be rubbed and chafed by the
motion of the vessel.