TAB. The arming of an archer's gauntlet or glove. TABERIN. A species of shark greatly dreaded by the pearl-fishers of Ceylon. TABERNACLE. A strong trunk on the deck of river barges, forming a kind of hinge to enable them to lower the mast when going under bridges. Also, used to elongate the mast of any boat by stepping it in a tabernacle. TABLE-LAND. Land which is flat-topped, however it may be raised more or less above the ordinary level of the vicinity. TABLE-MONEY. An allowance to admirals and senior officers, in addition to their pay, to meet the expenses of their official guests. TABLES. See Astronomical Tables, and Nautical Tables. TABLE-SHORE. A low level shore. TABLET. See Trapezoid. Also, a flat coping stone placed at the top of the revÊtement of the escarp, to protect the masonry from the weather. TABLING. A broad hem on the edges of a ship's sails, to strengthen them in that part which is sewed to the bolt-rope. Also, letting one piece of timber into another, similar to the hooking of planks, so that they cannot be pulled asunder. TACES. See Taishes. TACK. A rope to confine the weather lower corners of the courses and staysails when the wind crosses the ship's course obliquely. Also, the rope employed to haul out the lower outer clue of a studding-sail to the boom-end. With jibs and fore-and-aft sails, the tack confines them amidships. A ship is said to be on the tack of the side from which the wind comes: even if it be on the quarter.—To tack. To go about, to change the course from one board to another from the starboard to the port tack, or vice versÂ. It is done by turning the ship's head suddenly to the wind, whereby her head-sails are thrown aback, and cause her to fall off from the wind to the other tack. The opposite to wearing. TACKLE-FALL. The part hauled upon in any tackle, simple or compound. TACK OR SHEET. A man's saying that he will not start tack or sheet implies resolution. TACK-PINS. The belaying pins of the fife-rail; called also Jack-pins. TACTICS. The art of disposing and applying naval or military forces in action with the enemy, in whose presence strategy gives place to tactics. TAFFIA. A bad spirit, made and sold at Mauritius. TAFFRAIL, or Taffarel. The upper part of a ship's stern, a curved railing, the ends of which unite to the quarter-pieces. TAIL. A rope spliced into the strop or round of any block, leaving a long end for making fast to rigging, spars, &c.—To tail on to a bank. To be aground abaft only.—To tail up or down a stream. When at anchor in a river, is as a ship's stern swings. TAIL-BLOCK. A rope-stropped block, having an end of rope attached to it as a tail, by which it may be fastened to any object at pleasure. TAIL OF A GALE. The latter part of a gale, when its violence is dying out. TAIL ON, or Tally on. The order to clap on to a rope. TAIL-RACE. The water which leaves the paddles of a steam-boat. Also, the water-course of a mill beyond the water-wheel. TAIL-TACKLE. A luff-tackle purchase, with a hook in the end of the single block, and a tail to the upper end of the double block. Synonymous with watch-tackle. TAIL UP. When a whale dives perpendicularly. In this case whalers expect the fish to rise near the same spot. Also termed fluking. TAINT. By admiralty law, the taint of contraband extends to all property on board belonging to the owners of detected contraband articles. TAISTE. A northern name for the black guillemot. TAJASO. The jerked beef supplied to ships on some parts of the coast of America. TAKE. The draught of fishes in a single drag of the net. Also, to take, in a military sense, to take or adopt any particular formation, as to take open order, or to take ground to the right or the left.—To take an astronomical observation, so to ascertain the position of a celestial body as to learn from it the place of the ship. TAKEL [Anglo-Saxon]. The arrows which used to be supplied to the fleet; the takill of Chaucer. TAKEN AFT. Complained of on the quarter-deck. TAKE-UP. The part between the smoke-box and the bottom of the funnel in a marine boiler. Also, a seaman takes up slops when he applies to the purser for articles of ready-made clothes, to be charged against his wages. Also, an officer takes up the gauntlet when he accepts a challenge, though no longer in the form of a glove. TAKE WATER ON BOARD, To. To ship a sea. TAKING A DEPARTURE. Determining the place of a ship by means of the bearing and distance of a known object, and assuming it as the point to be calculated from. TAKING IN. The act of brailing up and furling sails at sea; generally used in opposition to setting. (See Furl and Shorten.) Also said of a ship when loading. TAKING OFF. Said of tides, when decreasing from the spring-tides. TALARO. A silver coin of Ragusa, value 3s. sterling: also of Venice, value 4s. 2d. TALE [from Anglo-Saxon tael, number]. Taylor thus expressed it in 1630— "Goods in and out, which daily ships doe fraight By guesse, by tale, by measure, and by weight." TALLANT. The upper hance, or break of the rudder abaft. TALL SHIP. A phrase among the early voyagers for square-rigged vessels having top-masts. TALLY, To. To haul the sheets aft; as used by Falconer— "And while the lee clue-garnet's lower'd away, Taut aft the sheet they tally, and belay." TALUS. The old word in fortification for slope. TAMBOUR. A projecting kind of stockade, attached to ill-flanked walls, &c. TAN AND TANNED SAILS. Those steeped in oak-bark. TANGENT. A right line raised perpendicularly on the extremity of a radius, touching the circle without cutting it. TANGENT-SCALE. Fitted to the breech of a gun for admeasuring its elevation; it is a sliding pillar marked with degrees and their subdivisions (according to the distance between the sights on the gun), and bears a notch or other sight on its head. With rifled guns a vernier, reading the minutes, is generally added. TANGENT-SCREW. A screw acting tangentially to a circle, by means of which a slow motion may be given to the vernier of any instrument. TANG-FISH. A northern name for the seal. TANKA. A covered Chinese shore-boat for conveying passengers to ships; worked by women only. TANTARA. An old word for the noise of a drum. TAPERED. A term applied to ropes which decrease in size towards one end, as tacks and sheets. Also termed rat-tailed. TAPERED CLEAT. A piece of wood bolted under the beams, to support them when pillars are not used. TAPPING A BUOY. Clearing it of the water which has entered it by leakage, and would otherwise prevent its watching. TAP THE ADMIRAL. Opprobriously applied to those who would "drink anything;" from the tale of the drunkard who stole spirits from the cask in which a dead admiral was being conveyed to England. TAR [Anglo-Saxon tare]. A kind of turpentine which is drained from pines and fir-trees, and is used to preserve standing rigging, canvas, &c., from the effects of weather, by rendering them water-proof. Also, a perfect sailor; one who knows his duty thoroughly. (See Jack Tar.)—Coal or gas tar. A fluid extracted from coal during the operation of making gas, &c.; chiefly used on wood and iron, in the place of paint. TARBET, or Tarbert. Applied to low necks of land in Scotland that divide the lakes from the sea. It literally means boat-carrying, and is analogous to the Canadian "portage." TAR-BRUSH, Touch of the. A nautical term applied to those who are slightly darkened by mixed blood. TARGET [Anglo-Saxon targe]. A leathern shield. A mark to aim at. TARGIA. An archaic term for a vessel, since called a tartan. TARI. A coin of Italy, value 8d. sterling. TARIFF. List of duties payable upon exported and imported goods. TARITA. An ancient term for a ship of burden. TARN. A small mountain lake [probably from the Icelandic tiaurn]. TARPAULIN. Canvas well covered with tar or paint to render it water-proof. Also, the foul-weather hats and jackets of seamen; often applied to the men themselves. Properly paulin when paint is used. TARRED WITH THE SAME BRUSH. Equivalent to "birds of a feather." TARRING AND FEATHERING. A punishment now obsolete,—inflicted by stripping the delinquent, then smearing him with tar, covering him with flocks and feathers, and towing him ashore. It was ordered in the naval enactments of Richard I. for theft. TARROCK. The kittiwake, Larus tridactylus, a small species of gull. TARRY-BREEKS. A north-country name for a sailor. TARTAN. A small coasting vessel of the Mediterranean, with one mast and a bowsprit, lateen-rigged. TARTAR. A domineering commanding officer.—To catch a Tartar. Said of a vessel which mistakes her enemy's force, and is obliged to yield. TASKING. Examining a vessel to see whether her timbers are sound. TASTING TIMBER. Chipping it with an adze, and boring it with an augur, to ascertain its quality. TATOOING. The Burmese, South Sea Islanders, and others, puncture the skin until it bleeds, and then rub in fine soot and other colouring matter. The practice has become common amongst sailors. TATTIES. Mats hung before doors and windows in India, on which water is thrown, to cool the air inside by evaporation. TATTOO. The evening sound of drum or trumpet, after which the roll is called, and all soldiers not on leave of absence should be in their quarters. TAUNT. High or tall, commonly applied to very long masts.—All a taunto is a ship having all her light and long spars aloft. TAURUS. The second sign of the zodiac, which the sun enters about the 20th of April. TAUT [from the Anglo-Saxon tought]. Tight. TAUT BOWLINE. A ship sailing close-hauled is "on a taut bowline." TAUT HAND. A strict disciplinarian. TAUT HELM, or Taut Weather-helm. A ship with a side wind is said to carry a taut weather-helm, when the water presses heavily on the lee side of the rudder; often the result of her being too much by the head. TAUT LEECH. A sail well set on a wind, and well filled. TEACH, To. In marine architecture, is applied to the direction which any line or curve seems to point out. TEAGLE. A northern word for a crane for lifting goods. TEAK. Tectona grandis, a stately tree, the pride of Indian and Burmese forests, used extensively in ship-building; having the valuable property of not shrinking, and, by means of its essential oil, preserving the iron bolts driven into it from rusting. TEAL. A small species of wild duck, Querquedula crecca. TEAM. Ships blockading a port, being generally formed in a line, are said to be "in the team." TEAM-BOAT. A ferry-boat worked with horses by paddle-wheel propulsion. TEA-WAGGON. A name given to the old East India Company's ships on account of their cargo. TEAZED OAKUM. Oakum worked out for caulking. (Tow). TE DEUM. A hymn sung in thanksgiving for victory obtained. In many cases the causes of war are such that chanting the Te Deum is rank blasphemy. TEE-IRON. An instrument for drawing the lower box in the barrel of a pump. T-shaped clamp, knee, or other piece of iron-work. TEETH. A name for the guns in a ship. TEE-TOTALLER. A very old and general amplification of totally, recently borrowed from sea diction to mark a class who wholly abstain from alcoholic drinks. TELEGRAPH, To. To convey intelligence to a distance, through the medium of signals. TELESCOPIC OBJECTS. All those which are not visible to the unassisted eye. TELL OFF, To. To divide a body of men into divisions and subdivisions, preparatory to a special service. TELL-TALE. A compass hanging face downwards from the beams in the cabin, showing the position of the vessel's head. Also, an index in front of the wheel to show the position of the tiller. TELL-TALE SHAKE. The shake of a rope from aloft to denote that it wants letting go. TELL THAT TO THE MARINES! A sailor's exclamation when an improbable story is related to him. TEMOINS. See Witnesses. TEMPEST. A word not much used by seamen. It is, however, synonymous with storm, gales, &c. (See Storms.) TEMPORARY RANK. That owing to an acting commission, or to local circumstances, ceasing with a particular service. TENAILLE. In fortification, a long low outwork traced on the inward prolongation of the faces of the bastions. It covers the curtain, and conveniently defends the interior of the ravelin and its redoubt. TENAILLON. In fortification, a low outwork of two faces meeting in a salient angle, sometimes attached to ravelins to afford nearer flanking fire. TENCH. Tinca vulgaris, a well-known fresh-water fish. TEND, To. To watch a vessel at anchor on the turn of a tide, and cast her by the helm, and some sail if necessary, so as to keep the cable clear of the anchor or turns out of her cables when moored. TENDER. A small vessel duly commanded, and employed to attend a larger one, to supply her with stores, to carry intelligence or volunteers and impressed men to receiving ships, &c. An enemy's ship captured by cutters or boats fitted out as tenders by men-of-war, but without any commission or authority from the admiralty, will not insure a prize to the benefit of the ship. The condemnation will be as a droit of admiralty, on the principle that an officer does not retain his commission for the purposes of prize on board another ship; but if captured by one of her boats, and brought to the ship, she is good prize, as with slaves. Tender is also a synonym of crank; thus, a spar may be tender. TENDING. The movement by which a ship turns or swings round when at single anchor, or moored by the head, at every change of tide or wind. TENON. The square heel of a mast, cut for fitting into the step. Also, the end of any piece of timber which is fashioned to enter into a mortise in another piece; they are then said to be tenoned together; as, for instance, the stern-post is tenoned into the keel. TEN-POUNDER. A name given to a bony mullet-shaped fish of the West Indies. TENSILE STRAIN. The greatest effort to extend, stretch, or draw asunder, as in proving bars of iron, chain-cables, &c. TENT. A canvas shelter pitched upon a pole or poles, and stayed with cords and pegs. Also, a roll of lint, or other material, used in searching a wound. Also, a small piece of iron which kept up the cock of a gun-lock. TERMINAL VELOCITY of any given Body. The greatest velocity it can acquire by falling freely through the air; the limit being arrived at when the increase of the atmospheric resistance becomes equal to the increase of the force of gravity. TERMINATOR. The line separating the illuminated from the dark portion of the moon's disc. TERM-PIECES, or Terms. Pieces of carved work on each side of the taffrail upon the side stern-timber, and extending down as low as the foot-rail of the balcony. TERN, or Sea-swallow. A species of sea-bird, allied to the gulls, but of TERRAPIN (contracted by sailors into turpin and tenopen). A fresh-water tortoise, plentiful in America, and much esteemed for food. TERREPLEIN. In fortification, the horizontal surface of the rampart in rear of the parapet. TERRITORY. The protection of neutral territory operates to the restitution of enemy's property captured within its limits. Since the introduction of fire-arms that distance has usually been recognized to be almost three English miles. TERTIATE, To. To examine whether a piece of ordnance is truly bored and has its due proportion of metal in every part, especially at the vent, the trunnions, and the muzzle. TESTING A CHAIN-CABLE. Trying its strength by the hydraulic machine, which strains it beyond what it is likely to undergo when in use. TESTONE. A silver Papal coin, value 1s. 3d. A testone is also a current coin in Portugal, consisting of 100 reis. TETE DE PONT. A work covering the farther end of a bridge from assault from the country beyond. TEW, To. To beat hemp. THAUGHTS (properly Athwarts). See Thwarts. THEODOLITE. The theodolite, as used in land-surveying, levelling, &c., is well known. But the great theodolite, with its vertical circle and telescope adapted to the observation of the heavenly bodies, as used by nautical astronomers, commonly called an alt-azimuth instrument, is almost an observatory per se. By this alone, within three hours on each side of noon, the longitude, latitude, and magnetic variation of a position may be determined. THERE! A word added in hailing any part of a ship; as, "Forecastle there!" "Mast-head there!" THERE AWAY! A phrase accompanied by pointing on a bearing, or to an object in sight. Thereabout, in that quarter. THERMOMETER. An instrument to measure the amount of heat by the expansion of a fluid (generally quicksilver) contained in a glass bulb, in connection with which is a hermetically closed tube, up which the fluid rises as the heat increases. This tube is graduated differently in different countries. THERMOMETRIC SAILING. A scheme for detecting the approach to shoal water by the diminution of temperature, and found to be useful in THICK-AND-DRY FOR WEIGHING! To clap on nippers closely, just at starting the anchor from the ground. THICK AND THIN BLOCK, or Fiddle-block. A block having one sheave larger than the other, sometimes used for quarter-blocks. THICK STUFF. Sided timber, or naval planks, under one foot, and above 4 inches in thickness. THIEVES' CAT. A cat o' nine tails having knots upon it, and only used for the punishment of theft. THIMBLE. An iron ring with a concave outer surface to contain snugly in the cavity a rope, which is spliced about it. Its use is to defend the rope which surrounds it from being injured by another rope, or the hook or a tackle which passes through it. THIMBLE-EYES. Are thimble-shaped apertures in iron-plates where sheaves are not required; frequently used instead of dead-eyes for the topmast-rigging, futtock-plates, and backstays in the channels. THODS. An old northern term for sudden gusts of wind. THOKES. Fish with broken bellies, which are prohibited to be mixed or packed with tale fish. THOLE, Thole-pin, or Thowel [from the Anglo-Saxon thol]. Certain pins in the gunwale of a boat, instead of the rowlock-poppets, and serving to retain the oars in position when pulling; generally there is only one pin to each oar, which is retained upon the pin by a grommet, or a cleat with a hole through it, nailed on the side of the oar. The principal use is to allow the oar, in case of action, suddenly to lie fore-and-aft over the side, and take care of itself. This was superseded by the swinging thowel, or metal crutch, in 1819, and by admiralty order at Portsmouth Yard in 1830. THORN-BACK. A well-known fish of the ray kind, Raia clavata. THOUGHT. An old spelling of thwart. THRASHER, or Thresher. A species of shark with a long tail, Carcharias vulpes. Also applied to a kind of grampus, which was supposed to attack the whale by leaping out of the water and inflicting blows with its powerful tail. THREAD [Ang.-Sax. thrÉd]. The middle of a river or stream.—To thread. To run a ship through narrow and intricate channels among islands. THREE-COCKED HAT. A silly article of sea-wear now happily passing away, retained only by coachmen, lord-mayor's men, and parish beadles. THREE-DECKERS. Ships with three full batteries. THREE SHEETS IN THE WIND. Unsteady from drink. THREE SISTERS. Formerly the badge of office of boatswains' mates and masters-at-arms, made of three rattans bound together with waxed twine. THRIFT. Armeria, a genus of handsome plants growing on the sea-coast. THROAT. The widened and hollowed end of a gaff next the mast; opposed to peak, the outer end. Also, the midship portion of the floor-timbers and transoms. The contrary of breech. THROAT-BOLTS. Eye-bolts fixed in the lower part of tops, and the jaw-ends of gaffs, for hooking the throat-halliards to. Brail thus applies to leech-lines, clue-lines, &c. THROAT-SEIZING. In blocks, confines the hook and thimble in the strop home to the scores. Also, in turning in rigging, the throat-seizing is passed with riding turns, through which the end is hove taut, and being turned up sharply, is well seized to the standing part of the rigging, making it a severe cross nip, which cannot render or slip. THROT. That part of the mizen-yard close to the mast. THROTTLE-VALVE. A valve in the steam-pipe of an engine for preventing the escape of steam, or regulating the velocity of its passage from the boiler to the cylinder. THROUGH ALL. Carrying canvas in heavy squalls without starting a stitch. It demands not only courage, but seamanlike judgment. Also applied to the cable, or any purchase where, by reason of its slipperiness, the purchase does not nip; she is then said to be "heaving through all." "Fresh nippers, thick and dry, for weighing," are then called for, and sand applied to overcome the slipping. THROUGH FASTENINGS. Applied to bolts and tree-nails driven through both the timber and plank of the sides. THROUGH THE FLEET. A seaman's being sentenced by court-martial to be towed by a boat from every ship through the fleet, and receive alongside each a proportion of the lashes to be inflicted. But this was only awarded where the offence deserved a less punishment than death, and is now discontinued, solitary confinement or penal servitude being substituted. THROW. A cast of the hand-lead. THROWING a Steam-engine out of Gear. Disconnecting the eccentric rod from the gab-lever. THRUM. Any coarse woollen or hempen yarn. It is used for mops, &c., in the cabins; also for mats, which are worked on canvas with a large bolt-rope needle.—To thrum. A vessel, when leaky, is thrummed by working some heavy spare sail, as the sprit-sail, into a thrummed mat, greasing and tarring it well, passing it under the bottom, and heaving all parts tight. The pressure forces the tarred oakum into the openings, and thus, in part, arrests the ingress of water. THRUMMED MAT. A small mat faced with rope-yarn or spun yarn, which is used in a vessel's rigging to prevent chafing. THRUST. The effort of a screw-propeller. THUD. The sound of a bullet on hitting the intended object. THULE [Gaelic thuath]. An extreme object to the north. THUMB-CLEAT. In shape resembling a thumb. They arrest the topsail-reef-earings from slipping, and are also lashed to the rigging with a hollow, cut out to act as a hook, to suspend the bight of a rope, as the truss-pendants on the lower masts. THUNDERING. A sailor's emphatic word for anything choice, large, fine, or powerful. THUNDER SQUALL. This is similar to the black squall, only that it is always preceded and attended by lightning and thunder, and accompanied by extremely heavy rain. THUNNY. See Tunny. THWART-MARKS, to a Harbour. Two objects on the land, which, brought into line with each other, mark the safe course between shoals, as those on Southsea Common act for the Needles, Swashways, &c. THWART-SHIPS. Across the ship, or from one side to the other. (See Athwart.) TIBRIC. An old name for the coal-fish. TIBURON [Sp.] The shark. TICKET. An official warrant of discharge, so that a heavy penalty attaches to the loss of any of the blank ones in the captain's charge. It is always used in counterparts, which are ordered to be perfect duplicates of each other. TICKET-BOOK. A register for accounting for all tickets and certificates received and used. TICKLING OF FISH. The same as gennelin. (See Groping.) TIDAL WAVE. The wave caused by the combined action of the sun and moon: its greatest influence is felt some time after the moon has passed the meridian of any place. TIDE OR TIDAL HARBOUR. A port which can only be entered at a certain time of flood. TIDE AND HALF-TIDE. Those roadsteads affected by several rivers or channels leading into them; as, for instance, Spithead. TIDE-BALL. A ball hoisted to denote when the depth of water permits vessels to enter a bar-harbour, or to take the bar outside, from the known depth within. TIDE-GATE. A place where the tide runs strong. TIDE-GAUGE. An instrument contrived for measuring the height of the tides. TIDE, Ebb of. The falling tide. TIDE-POOL. A sort of basin worn in seaside rocks. TIDE-RODE. The situation of a vessel at anchor when she swings by the force of the tide. In opposition to wind-rode. TIDE'S WORK. The amount of progress a ship has made during a favourable tide. Also, a period of necessary labour on a ship during the ebbing and slack water of a tide. That is when the sea has left the vessel aground between two tides, so as to enable workmen to repair defects down to a certain depth, laid bare by the receding tide. TIDE-WAY. The mid-stream; or a passage or channel through which the tide sets, and runs strongly. TIE-FOR-TYE. Mutual obligation and no favour; as in the case of the tie-mate, the comrade who, in the days of long hair, performed the tie for tie on the tails. (See Tye.) TIER. A regular row of anything. Also, a range in the hold; hence the terms, ground tier, second and upper tier, &c., of casks or goods stowed there.—Cable-tier. The space in a ship where hempen cables were coiled. TIERCE. Is specially applied to provision casks, and is the third of a pipe; but the beef-tierce contains 280 lbs., or 28 galls., whilst that of pork only contains 260 lbs., or 26 galls. Now the beef-tierce often contains 336 lbs., and the pork 300 lbs. TIERERS. Men formerly stationed in the tiers for coiling away the cables, where strength, activity, and ability shone conspicuously. TIER-SHOT. That kind of grapeshot which is secured in tiers by parallel iron discs. TIES. An old name for mooring bridles. Also, stops to a sail. (See Tye.) TIGHT. Close, free from leaks. Hence a ship is said to be tight when no water leaks in; and a cask is called tight when none of the liquid leaks out. Applied to ropes or chains this word becomes taut. TILLER. A straight-grained timber beam, or iron bar, fitted into or round the head of the rudder, by means of which the latter is moved. (See Helm.) TILLER-HEAD. The extremity of the tiller, to which the tiller-ropes are attached. TILLER-SWEEP. See Sweep of the Tiller. TILT. A small canopy extended over the stern-sheets of a boat, supported by iron or wood work, to keep off rain, as an awning is used to keep off the sun.—To tilt. To lift up a little on one side or end of anything. TILT-BOAT. One expressly fitted like a tilt-waggon, to preserve powder or other fragile stores from the weather. TIMBER [Anglo-Saxon]. All large pieces of wood used in ship-building, as floor-timbers, cross-pieces, futtocks, frames, and the like (all which see). TIMBER AND ROOM, is the distance between two adjoining timbers, which always contain the breadth of two timbers, and two or three inches besides. The same as room and space, or berth and space. TIMBER-CONVERTER. A dockyard official who has the charge of converting timber for its different purposes in ship-building. TIMBER-HEADS. The heads of the timbers that rise above the decks, and are used for belaying hawsers, large ropes, &c. (See Kevel-heads.) These being such important parts of a ship, men of acknowledged talent in the royal navy are styled "the timber-heads of the profession." TIMBER-HITCH, is made by taking the end of a rope round a spar, and after leading it under and over the standing part, passing two or three turns round its own part, making in fact a running but self-jamming eye. TIMBER-TASTER. One appointed to examine and pronounce upon the fitness of timber. TIME-KEEPER, Time-piece, or Chronometer. An instrument adapted for measuring mean time. The result of many years of study and experiment by our best horologists. (See Longitude.) TIMENOGUY. Formerly a rope carried taut between different parts of a vessel, to prevent the sheet or tack of a course from getting foul in working ship; specially from the fore-rigging to the anchor-stock, to prevent the fouling of the fore-sheet. TIMONEER [derived from the French]. The helmsman. Also, one on the look-out, who directs the helmsman. TIMONOGY. This term properly belongs to steering, and is derived from timon, the tiller, and the twiddling-lines, which worked in olden times on a gauge in front of the poop, in ships of the line, by which the position of the helm was easily read even from the forecastle. TINDAL. A Lascar boatswain's-mate. TINKER. A small mortar formerly used on the end of a staff, now superseded by the Coehorn. Also, a small mackerel. TINKERMEN. Fishermen who destroyed the fry of fish on the Thames by nets, and other unlawful contrivances, till suppressed by the mayor and corporation of London. TIN-POTTER. A galley skulker, shamming Abraham. TIPPET. A snood for a fishing-line. TIPPING ALL NINES, or Tipped the Nines. Foundering from press of sail. TIPPING THE GRAMPUS. Ducking a skulker for being asleep on his watch. (See Blowing the Grampus.) TIRE. Synonymous with tier. TITIVATE, To; or Titivate off to the Nines. To freshen the paint-work; to put into the highest kelter. TOAD-FISH. The Lophius piscatorius, or fishing-frog. TOBACCO. Has been supplied for the use of the ships' companies in the royal navy from the 1st January, 1799. TOBACCO-CHARTS. The worthless charts formerly sold by ship-chandlers. TOD-BOAT. A broad flat Dutch fishing-boat. TOGGLE-BOLT. This bolt is used to confine the ensign-staff, and the like, into its place by means of a strap; it has a flat head, and a mortice through it, that receives a toggle or pin. TOGS. A very old term for clothes.—Togged to the nines, in full dress.—Sunday togs, the best clothes. TOISE. The French fathom, nearly approaching to ours: the proportion of the English yard to the French demi-toise being as 36 to 38·35. The toise is equal to 6·3946 English feet. TOKE. A drink made from honey in Madagascar; very dangerous to Europeans. TOKO FOR YAM. An expression peculiar to negroes for crying out before being hurt. TOLEDO. An esteemed Spanish sword, so called from the place of manufacture. TOLL. A demand, &c., at the Sound; hence the epithet of Sound dues. TOM. A pet bow-chaser, a 9 or 12-pounder. (See Long Tom.) 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. 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 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.) 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 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. TOP-GALLANT. In the Cotton MSS. this word appears as "top-garland." TOPGALLANT-FORECASTLE. A short deck forward above the upper deck, mostly used as a galley, but in some merchantmen a berthing place for their crews, though generally very wet and uncomfortable for want of a few necessary fittings. Also, it facilitates working the head-sails.—In several of the iron-clad frigates, chase-guns are fitted there. TOPGALLANT-SAILS. The third sails above the decks: they are set above the topsail-yards, in the same manner as the top-sails above the lower yards. TOP-LANTERN, or Top-light. A large signal-lantern placed in the after-part of a top, in ships where an admiral's flag or commodore's pendant flies. TOP-LINING. A lining on the after-part of sails, to prevent their chafing against the top-rim. Also, a platform of thin board nailed upon the upper part of the cross-trees on a vessel's top. 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. 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-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-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 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 TOP THE GLIM, To. To snuff the candle. TOP THE OFFICER, To. To arrogate superiority. 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. TORTS. Private wrongs either to persons or property afloat. They are cognizable by the admiralty court, according to locality. 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. 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 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. 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-HOOK. See Towing-bridle. TOWING OVERBOARD. Drawing anything after a ship or boat when she is sailing or rowing. As a manoeuvre 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. TRABARIÆ. 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. 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. 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. TRANSIT. The precise culmination of a heavenly body over the meridian of a place. 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. 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. 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. 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 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 manoeuvres. 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 versÂ, 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 versÂ. 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-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. 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. 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. 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. 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. TRINK. An old contrivance for catching fish. (Statute 2 Hen. VI. c. 15.) TRIP. An outward-bound passage or short voyage, particularly in the coasting trade. It also denotes a single board in plying to windward. Also, the movement by which an anchor is loosened from its bed and raised clear of the bottom, either by its cable or buoy-rope.—The anchor's a-trip, i.e. no longer holds. TRIPLE STAR. Three stars situated in close proximity, but apparently only optically connected. (See Ternary System.) TRIPPING. Giving a yard the necessary cant by a tripping-line. Also, the lifting an upper mast to withdraw its fid, in order that it may be lowered by means of the mast-rope. TRIPPING-LINE. A small rope serving to unrig the lower top-gallant yard-arm of its lift and brace, when in the act of sending it down on deck. Also, the line used for tripping an upper mast. TROACHER, or Troaker. A dealer in smuggled goods. TROCHOID, or Cycloid. A geometrical curve, resulting from a circle being made to run along a right line, whence the French designate it roulette. But if a circle be made to roll along the circumference of another circle, it becomes an epicycloid (which see). TROITE. An archaism for the cuttle-fish. TROLLING. Drawing the bait along the water to imitate the swimming of a real fish; this is generally done by a long line attached to the stern of a sailing-boat. The word of old signified sauntering or idling about. TROMBONE. A species of blunderbuss for boat service, taking its name from its unseemly trumpet mouth. TRONA. An article of export from Tripoli and Egypt; the natron of commerce, and over munnoo of the East Indies. Sesqui-carb. of soda mixed with salt and sulphate of soda. TROOP-BOATS. Are built with great flatness of floor, with extreme breadth, carried well forward and aft, and possessing the utmost buoyancy, as well as capacity for stowage. They were carried as paddle-box boats (inverted), and thus protected the paddles as well as being ready for use. TROOP-SHIPS. A class of vessel of excellent account, during war, in the TROPHY. Anything captured from an enemy and shown or treasured as a token of victory. TROPICAL MOTION. See Motion. TROPICAL REVOLUTION. If the periodic time of a circuit round the sun be taken in reference to the equinoxes or tropics, it is called a tropical revolution. TROUGH [from the Anglo-Saxon troh]. A small boat broad at both ends. Also, the hollow or interval between two waves, which resembles a broad and deep trench perpetually fluctuating. As the set of the sea is produced by the wind, the waves and the trough are at right angles with it; hence a ship rolls heaviest when she is in the trough of the sea. TROUL. The action of silt being rolled along by a tide. TROUNCE, To. To beat or punish. An old word; in Mathew's translation of the Bible, 1537, we find, "The Lord trounced Sisera." TROUNCER. An old word for a waister. TROUS DE LOUP. Holes dug in the form of an inverted cone, with a sharp picket or stake in each, to break the march of an enemy's column when advancing to the attack. TROW. A clinker-built, flat-floored barge used on the Severn, &c. Also, a sort of double boat with an interval between, and closed at the ends; it is used on the Tyne for salmon-fishing, the fisherman standing across the opening, leister in hand, ready to strike the quarry which passes. TRUCE. The exhibition of a flag of truce has been religiously respected amongst civilized nations. It is a request by signal to desist from farther warfare, until the object of the truce requested has been acceded to or rejected. TRUCHMAN. See Trugman. TRUCK. A Cornish word for the trough between two surfs. Also, exchange, as fish for grog, &c. TRUCKLE. A Welsh coracle. TRUE ANOMALY. See Anomaly. TRUE-BLUE. A metaphorical term for an honest and hearty sailor: "true to his uniform, and uniformly true." TRUE-HORIZON. See Horizon. TRUE TIDE. Opposed to cross-tide (which see). TRUE WATER. The exact depth of soundings. TRUFF. A west-country name for a trout. TRUG. A rough basket for carrying chips of timber. TRUMPETER. A petty officer and musician stationed on the poop, to sound salutes and various evolutionary orders. TRUNCHEON. A field-marshal's baton; also a constable's. TRUNDLE-HEAD. The lower drumhead of a capstern, when it is double, and worked on one shaft both on an upper and lower deck. TRUNDLE-SHOT. An iron bolt 16 or 18 inches long, with sharp points, and a ball of lead just inside each head. TRUNK. (See Rudder-trunk.) Also, a large species of turtle. Also, a place for keeping fish in. Also, an iron hoop with a bag, used to catch crabs and lobsters.—Fire-trunks. Funnels fixed in fire-ships under the shrouds, to convey the flames to the masts, rigging, and sails. TRUNK-ENGINE. A direct-acting steam-engine, in which the end of the connecting-rod is attached to the bottom of a hollow trunk, passing steam-tight through the cylinder cover. TRUNK-FISH. A name of the Ostracion, a fish remarkable for having its body encased in an inflexible armour of hard octagonal plates, the fins, mouth, and gill-openings passing through holes in this casing. TRUNNION-RING. The ring round a cannon next before the trunnions, now disused. TRUNNIONS. The arms, or two pieces of metal projecting from the opposite sides of a gun, by which it rests and swings upon its carriage, acting as an axis of elevation or depression. Also, pieces of well-seasoned wood, used in securing the ship's timbers. TRUSS. The trusses or parrels of the lower yards serve to bind them to their masts and are bowsed taut when the yards are trimmed, in order to arrest motion and friction. But the introduction of an iron goose-neck, centering and securing the yard well free of the mast, very much supersedes the use of trusses. TRUSS-HOOPS. Synonymous with clasp-hoops for masts or spars; they TRUSS-PARREL. That part of a rope-truss which goes round the yard. TRUSS-PENDANT. That part of a rope-truss into which the truss-tackle blocks are seized. TRUSS-PIECES. The fillings in between the frame compartments of the riders, in diagonal trussing. TRUSS-TACKLE. A gun-tackle purchase applied to the ends of the truss-pendants, to bowse them taut home to the mast. TRUSS UP, To. To brail up a sail suddenly; to toss up a bunt. TRY BACK FOR A BEND, To. To pay back some of the bight of a cable, in order to have sufficient to form the bend. TRY DOWN, To. To boil out the oil from blubber at sea in whalers. TRYING THE RANGE. A lubberly mode of estimating the distance of an enemy's ship or fort by firing a shot at it. TRYSAIL-MAST. A spar abaft the fore and main mast, for hoisting the trysail. TRY-WORKS. Large copper boilers, for boiling the blubber in whalers. TUB, Grog. A half-cask, set apart for mixing the daily allowance of spirit with water, lime-juice, and sugar, prior to its being served out to the ship's company. TUB, Match. A conical tub used to guard the slow match in action. They were formerly about five-gallon capacity, the head being sunk about two inches, and four holes bored to insert slow matches. They are now almost disused, except to keep a light ready for signal purposes, as rockets, blue lights, &c., by night. TUBES. See Chain-pump. TUBS, Topsail-halliard. Circular framed racks in which the topsail-halliards are coiled clear for running, and are prevented from fouling by being sent adrift in a gale. TUBULAR BOILERS. Those in which the flame and hot gases, after leaving the furnaces, pass through a great number of small iron or brass TUCK. The after-part of a ship, immediately under the stern or counter, where the ends of the bottom planks are collected and terminate by the tuck-rail. Thus the fir frigates of 1812-14 had flat, square transoms similar to boats, or heart-shaped. Hence our square-tucked frigates, brigs, &c. TUG. A vessel for towing in and out of harbours and the like. (See Steam-tug.) TUG, To [from the Anglo-Saxon teogan, to pull]. It now signifies to hang on the oars, and get but little or nothing ahead. TUGG. A heavy sort of wain or cart, on which the ship-timber for naval arsenals was formerly conveyed from Sussex. TUMBLE IN. See Tumbling Home. TUMBLER. One of the numerous names for the porpoise, Phocoena communis. Also, a contrivance to avoid the necessity of having copper nailed on the mast to prevent a gaff from chafing it. TUMBLE UP! A requisition of the boatswain's mates, &c., to quicken the hands after being piped up. The cry is well understood, though so contrary to the known tendency of gravitation. TUMBLING SEA. The increased rolling before a gale. TUMBRIL. A covered cart for conveying ammunition and pioneers' tools. TUM-TUM. A West India dish, consisting of boiled plantain beat into a paste and fried. TUNGULA. A small boat in the Moluccas and Borneo. TURBONADA. A roaring squall, or short hurricane, of frequent occurrence in the Pacific Ocean [a mimo-phonetic term adopted from the Spaniards]. TURKEY-GRAIN. A name for maize. TURK'S HEAD. An ornamental knot, so called from resembling a turban, used on side-ropes, &c.; it is worked with a piece of small line by following the lead till it is formed with three parts to each cross. TURN, To Take or Catch a. To pass a rope once or twice round a cleat, pin, kevel, or any other thing, to keep it fast. TURN A TURTLE, To. To take the animal by seizing a flipper, and TURN IN, To. To go to bed.—To turn out. To get up. TURN IN A DEAD-EYE OR HEART, To. To seize the end of a shroud or stay, &c., securely round it. TURNING IN RIGGING. The end of a vessel's shrouds carried round the dead-eyes, laid back and secured by seizings. TURNING-ROOM. Space in a narrow channel for a ship to work in. TURN IN THE HAWSE. Two crosses in a cable. TURN OF THE TIDE. The change from ebb to flood, or the contrary. TURN OUT THE GUARD! The order for the marines of the guard to fall in, on the quarter-deck, in order to receive a superior officer on board. TURN OVER MEN, To. To discharge them out of one ship into another. TURN THE GLASS. The order in throwing the log when the stray line is payed out. TURN THE HANDS UP, To. To summon the entire crew on deck. TURN TO WINDWARD, To. To gain on the wind by alternate tacking. It is when a ship endeavours to make progress against the wind by a compound course inclined to the place of her destination; otherwise called plying or beating to windward. TURPIS CAUSA. An unsustainable suit for wages, on the part of a British pilot, for navigating a foreign ship to an enemy's port. TURTLE-CRAWL. A shallow lagoon, wherein turtles are kept. TURTLE-PEG. A socketed pointed iron on a staff; it is slightly barbed, and is a special tool for sticking turtle. 'TWEEN OR 'TWIXT DECKS. The one under the gun deck, where sailors usually mess. TWICE-LAID. Rope made from a selection of the best yarns of old rope. Also, a sea-dish made of the salt-fish left from yesterday's dinner, and beaten up with potatoes or yams. TWIDDLING-LINE. A piece of small rope ornamentally fitted and used for steadying the steering-wheel when required: no longer used. TWIG, To. To pull upon a bowline. Also, in familiar phrase, to understand or observe. TWIG-AIT. A river islet where osiers grow. TWO-HANDED FELLOWS. Those who are both seamen and soldiers, or artificers; as the marines and, specially, marine artillerymen. TWO-HANDED SAW. A very useful instrument in ship-carpentry; it is much longer than the hand-saw, and requires two men to use it. TWO-MONTHLY BOOK. A book kept by the captain's clerk, to be forwarded every two months, when possible, in order to prevent frauds; and in the event of a ship being lost, to have the accounts to the nearest period. TWO MONTHS' ADVANCE. See Advance Money. TWO-PENCES. A deduction from each man, per mensem, formerly assigned to the surgeon for wages. TWO-TOPSAIL-SCHOONER. See Topsail-schooner. TWY. A meteor squall on the coasts of Wiltshire, Hampshire, &c. TYE-BLOCK. The block on the yard through which the tye is rove, and passes on to be secured at the mast-head. The block secured to the lower end of the tye is the fly-block. TYMOOM. A Chinese river craft. TYNDARIDES. The ancient name of the meteor called corpo santo. |