-
Bull
·vi A seal. ·see <<Bulla>>.
II. Bull ·noun Taurus, the second of the twelve signs of the zodiac.
I...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
bull
1) An Exchange Alley term for one who buys stock on speculation for time, i.e. agrees with the selle...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris
-
bull
A stock exchange term for one who buys stock on speculation for time, i. e. agrees with the seller, ...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
-
bull
An old male whale. Also, a small keg; also the weak grog made by pouring water into a spirit-cask ne...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
Bull
Bullock
terms used synonymously with ox, oxen, and properly a generic name for horned cattle when a...
William Smith's Bible Dictionary
-
Bull brier
·- A species of Smilax (S. Pseudo-China) growing from New Jersey to the Gulf of Mexico, which has ve...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Bull fly
·noun ·Alt. of <<Bullfly>>.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Bull Moose
·add. ·- The figure of a bull moose used as the party symbol of the Progressive party in the preside...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Bull terrier
·- A breed of dogs obtained by crossing the bulldog and the terrier.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Bull trout
·- The huso or salmon of the Danube.
II. Bull trout ·- Salvelinus malma of California and Oregon;
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Bull-necked
·adj Having a short and thick neck like that of a bull.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Bull-roarer
·add. ·noun A contrivance consisting of a slat of wood tied to the end of a thong or string, with wh...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Bull, George
(1634-1710)
Theologian, b. at Wells, ed. at Tiverton and Oxf., took orders, was ordained by an ejec...
Short Biographical Dictionary of English Literature by John W. Cousin
-
The Black Bull
On the north side of Holborn, in Farringdon Ward Without, west of Hatton Garden.
See Bull Inn.
...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
Bull Alley
1) In Nicholas Lane, Lombard Street (P.C. 1732-Boyle, 1799).
Not named in maps.
2) East out of Bro...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
Bull Court
1) North out of Dunnings Alley. In Bishopsgate Ward Without (Rocque, 1746).
Also called : "Bull Yar...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
The Bull Head
A tavern so called within the precinct of St. Martin le Grand, 32 H. viii. 1541 (L. and P. H. VIII. ...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
Bull Inn
1) On the north side of Leadenhall Street at No. 152 (O. and M. 1677-Lockie, 1816).
Earliest mentio...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
Bull Wharf
South out of Upper Thames Street at No. 66, on the Thames, between Queenhithe Wharf and Kennet Wharf...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
Bull Yard
1) At the south-east end of Church Lane, Houndsditch. In Portsoken Ward (O.S. ed. 1848-51).
Former ...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
White Bull
Hostel so called in Westmythfeld, 1445 (Cal. L. Bk. K. p.310).
Not further identified.
...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
bull beggar, or bully beggar
An imaginary being with which children are threatened by servants and nurses, like raw head and bloo...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
bull calf
A great hulkey or clumsy fellow.
See hulkey.
...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
bull chin
A fat chubby child.
...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
bull hankers
Persons who over-drive bulls, or frequent bull baits.
...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
parish bull
A parson.
...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
town bull
A common whoremaster. To roar like a town bull; to cry or bellow aloud.
...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
bull-ant
n.
contracted and common form of the words bull-dog ant (q.v.).
...
Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris
-
bull-head
n.
The name is applied to manyfishes of different families in various parts of the world,none of wh...
Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris
-
Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris
-
bull-puncher
or bullock-puncher
,n.
slang for a bullockdriver. According to Barrere andLeland's `Slang Dictiona...
Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris
-
bull-rout
n. a fish of New South Wales, Centropogon robustus, Guenth., family Scorpaenidae.
1882. Rev. J. E. ...
Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris
-
bull-jumpings
milk drawn from the cow after the calf has sucked. Called also STROAKINGS. York.
...
A glossary of provincial and local words used in England by Francis Grose
-
bull-segg
a gelded bull. N.
...
A glossary of provincial and local words used in England by Francis Grose
-
bull-stang
1) a dragon-fly. Cumb.
2) the upright stake in a hedge ; quasi Bole-stang. N.
...
A glossary of provincial and local words used in England by Francis Grose
-
bull-dance
At sea it is performed by men only, when without women. It is sometimes called a stag-dance.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
bull-dog
, or muzzled bull-dog
The great gun which stands "housed" in the officer's ward-room cabin. Genera...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
bull-jub
See bull-head
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
bull-head
, or bull-jub
A name of the fish called miller's thumb (Cottus gobio).
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
bull-trout
The salmon-trout of the Tweed. A large species of trout taken in the waters of Northumberland.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
john bull
The origin of this nickname is traced to a satire written in the reign of Queen Anne, by Dr. Arbuthn...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
Black Bull, Leadenhall
Messuage called "le Blacke Bull," lying near Leadenhall in parish of St. Peter Cornehill, 31 Eliz. (...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
Bull Head Court
1) East out of Snow Hill, near the Conduit, in Farringdon Ward Without (Hatton, 1708).
Not named in...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
Bull Head Tavern
On the south side of Holborn Hill, east of Shoe Lane, adjoining Plumtree Court. In Farringdon Ward W...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
Bull Head Yard
North out of Knightrider Street, in Castle Baynard Ward (O. and M. 1677).
Site now occupied by offi...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
Bull Wharf Lane
South out of Upper Thames at No. 66, leading to Bull Wharf (P.O. Directory). In Queenhithe Ward.
Fi...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
Red Bull Court
1) North out of Fore Street, in Cripplegate Ward Without (O. and M. 1677-Boyle, 1799).
The site is ...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
Red Bull Wharf
South out of Upper Thames Street at No.93, west of Angel Passage (P.O. Directory). In Dowgate Ward.
...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
Red Bull Yard
South out of Upper Thames Street at No.89, west of Red Bull Wharf (P.O. Directory). In Dowgate Ward....
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
bull-dog ant
n.
(frequently shortened to Bull-dog or Bull-ant)
an ant of large size witha fierce bite. The name...
Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris
-
bull-dog shark
i.q. bull-head1 (q.v.).
...
Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris
-
muzzled bull-dog
See bull-dog
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
lasher bull-head
A name for the fish Cottus scorpius.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
cock and a bull story
A roundabout story, without head or tail, i.e. beginning or ending.
...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
Bull Inn, Bull Inn Yard, Aldgate High Street
See Aldgate Avenue.
...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
Bull and Mouth Inn
On the south side of Bull and Mouth Street, in Aldersgate Ward (O. and M. 1677-Elmes, 1831).
Burnt ...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
Bull and Mouth Street
West out of St. Martin le Grand to King Edward Street, in Farringdon Ward Within and Aldersgate Ward...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
banbury story of a cock and a bull
A roundabout, nonsensical story.
...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
Black Bull Inn, Bishopsgate Street
See Bull Inn.
...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
Bull Inn, Wood Street, Cheapside
See Bell Inn.
...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
A
A, a, indecl. n. (sometimes joined with littera), the first letter of the Latin alphabet, correspond...
A New Latin Dictionary by Charlton T. Lewis Ph.D. and Charles Short, LL. D.
-
a
a, prep.=ab, v. ab.
...
A New Latin Dictionary by Charlton T. Lewis Ph.D. and Charles Short, LL. D.
-
A
A. a. as an abbreviation, 1 for the praenomen Aulus.
2 for Absolvo, on the voting-tablet of a jud...
An Elementary Latin Dictionary
-
A
·- Of.
II. A ·prep In; on; at; by.
III. A ·- An expletive, void of sense, to fill up the meter.
I...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
A 1
·- A registry mark given by underwriters (as at Lloyd's) to ships in first-class condition. Inferior...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
A-
·- A, as a prefix to English words, is derived from various sources. (1) It frequently signifies on ...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
A
Alpha, the first letter of the Greek alphabet, as Omega is the last. These letters occur in the text...
Easton's Bible Dictionary
-
a
As for example the word alarm, alarum, a bell, from the German lärm; but the military alarm on a dru...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
William Smith's Bible Dictionary
-
Black Bull Yard, Aldgate High Street
See Aldgate Avenue.
...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
Red Bull Alley, Upper Thames Street
See Red Bull Yard.
...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
A cappella
·- A time indication, equivalent to alla breve.
II. A cappella ·- In church or chapel style;
— sai...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
A cheval
·add. ·- Astride; with a part on each side;
— used specif. in designating the position of an army w...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
A fortiori
·- With stronger reason.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
A posteriori
·- Applied to knowledge which is based upon or derived from facts through induction or experiment; i...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
A priori
·- Applied to knowledge and conceptions assumed, or presupposed, as prior to experience, in order to...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
A-mornings
·adv In the morning; every morning.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
A-sea
·adv On the sea; at sea; toward the sea.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
A-tiptoe
·adv On tiptoe; eagerly expecting.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Due-a
·noun ·see Do-a.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Pi-a
·add. ·noun The <<Pineapple>>.
II. Pi-a ·add. ·noun Pi-a cloth or the fiber of which it is made.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Vicu-a
·noun ·Alt. of <<Vicugna>>.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
a-many
a great number, pronounced Meyny. North.
...
A glossary of provincial and local words used in England by Francis Grose
-
A glossary of provincial and local words used in England by Francis Grose
-
a-scat
broken like an egg. Dev.
...
A glossary of provincial and local words used in England by Francis Grose
-
a-slat
crack'd like an earthen vessel. Dev.
...
A glossary of provincial and local words used in England by Francis Grose
-
A glossary of provincial and local words used in England by Francis Grose
-
a-burton
The situation of casks when they are stowed in the hold athwart ship, or in a line with the beam.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
a-cockbill
(see cock-bill). The anchor hangs by its ring at the cat-head, in a position for dropping.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
a-hull
A ship under bare poles and her helm a-lee, driving from wind and sea, stern foremost. Also a ship d...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
a-lee
The contrary of a-weather: the position of the helm when its tiller is borne over to the lee-side of...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
a-poise
Said of a vessel properly trimmed.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
a-starboard
The opposite to a-port.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
a-stay
Said of the anchor when, in heaving in, the cable forms such an angle with the surface as to appear ...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
a-trip
The anchor is a-trip, or a-weigh, when the purchase has just made it break ground, or raised it clea...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
a-wash
Reefs even with the surface. The anchor just rising to the water's edge, in heaving up.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
a-weather
The position of the helm when its tiller is moved to the windward side of the ship, in the direction...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
a-weigh
The anchor being a-trip, or after breaking out of the ground.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
mine a-se on a bandbox
An answer to the offer of any thing inadequate to the purpose for which it is wanted, just as a band...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
A B C
·- The simplest rudiments of any subject; as, the A B C of finance.
II. A B C ·- A primer for teach...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
All-a-mort
·adj ·see <<Alamort>>.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Black-a-vised
·adj Dark-visaged; swart.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Bric-a brac
·noun Miscellaneous curiosities and works of decorative art, considered collectively.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Char-a-bancs
·noun A long, light, open vehicle, with benches or seats running lengthwise.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Chars-a-banc
·pl of Char-a-bancs.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Cock-a-hoop
·adj Boastful; defiant; exulting. Also used adverbially.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Cornet-a-piston
·noun A brass wind instrument, like the trumpet, furnished with valves moved by small pistons or sli...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Cornets-a-piston
·pl of Cornet-a-piston.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Dos-a-dos
·add. ·noun A sofa, open carriage, or the like, so constructed that the occupants sit back to back.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Flute a bec
·- A beak flute, an older form of the flute, played with a mouthpiece resembling a beak, and held li...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Jack-a-dandy
·noun A little dandy; a little, foppish, impertinent fellow.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Jack-a-lent
·noun A small stuffed puppet to be pelted in Lent; hence, a simple fellow.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Penny-a-liner
·noun One who furnishes matter to public journals at so much a line; a poor writer for hire; a hack ...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Pi-a cloth
·add. ·- A fine fabric for scarfs, handkerchiefs, embroidery, ·etc., woven from the fiber obtained f...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Tete-a-tete
·adj Private; confidential; familiar.
II. Tete-a-tete ·noun A short sofa intended to accomodate two...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Vis-a-vis
·adv Face to face.
II. Vis-a-vis ·noun One who, or that which, is face to face with another; ·esp.,...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Wait-a-bit
·add. ·noun The prickly ash.
II. Wait-a-bit ·add. ·noun The grapple plant.
III. Wait-a-bit ·add. ·...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Wait-a-while
·add. ·noun = Wait-a-bit.
II. Wait-a-while ·add. ·noun One of the Australian wattle trees (Acacia c...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Adam, a type
The apostle Paul speaks of Adam as "the figure of him who was to come." On this account our Lord is ...
Easton's Bible Dictionary
-
all-a-mort
Struck dumb, confounded. What, sweet one, all-a-mort? SHAKESPEARE.
...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
black a-se
A copper or kettle. The pot calls the kettle black a-se. Cant.
...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
to run a buck
To poll a bad vote at an election.--IRISH TERM.
...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
chick-a-biddy
A chicken, so called to and by little children.
...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
cock-a-whoop
Elevated, in high-spirits, transported with joy.
...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
to couch a hogshead
To lie down to sleep. CANT.
...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
to fight a crib
To make a sham fight. BEAR GARDEN TERM.
...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
cure a-se
A dyachilon plaister, applied to the parts galled by riding.
...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
dram-a-tick
A dram served upon credit.
...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
drop a cog
To let fall, with design, a piece of gold or silver, in order to draw in and cheat the person who se...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
firing a gun
Introducing a story by head and shoulders. A man wanting to tell a particular story, said to the com...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
to fire a slug
To drink a dram.
...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
foxing a boot
Mending the foot by capping it.
...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
mumble a sparrow
A cruel sport practised at wakes and fairs, in the following manner: A cock sparrow whose wings are ...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
pit-a-pat
The palpitation of the heart: as, my heart went pit-a-pat. Pintledy-pantledy; the same.
...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
to ring a peal
To scold; chiefly applied to women. His wife rung him a fine peal!
...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
slug-a-bed
A drone, one that cannot rise in the morning.
...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
squint-a-pipes
A squinting man or woman; said to be born in the middle of the week, and looking both ways for Sunda...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
wear a--e
A one-horse chaise.
...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
cock-a-bully
n. a popular name for the NewZealand fish Galaxias fasciatus, Gray, a corruption ofits Maori name Ko...
Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris
-
make a light
expressive pigeon-English. An aboriginal'sphrase for to look for, to find. «You been make a lightyar...
Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris
-
mark, a good
Australian slang.
1845. R. Howitt, `Australia,' p. 233:
«I wondered often what was the meaning of ...
Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris
-
perish, doing a
modern slang from Western Australia.See quotation.
1894. `The Argus,' March 28, p. 5, col. 4:
«Whe...
Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris
-
stay-a-while
n.
a tangled bush; sometimescalled Wait-a-while (q.v.).
...
Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris
-
wait-a-while
n.
also called Stay-a-while: a thicket tree.
1889. J. H. Maiden, `Useful Native Plants,' p. 306:
...
Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris
-
to bear a hand
A seaman's phrase. To be ready ; to go to work; to assist.
...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
-
to catch a tartar
To attack one of superior strength or abilities. This saying originated from the story of an Irish s...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
-
to cut a caper
(Italian, tagliar le capriole.) The act of dancing in a frolicksome manner.--Todd. We use it also in...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
-
to cut a dash
In modern colloquial speech, to make a great show; to make a figure.--Johnson. A fashionable or gail...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
-
to cut a figure
To make an appearance, either good or bad.
We are not as much surprised at the poor figure cut by t...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
-
to cut a swathe
The same as to cut a dash.
The expression is generally applied to a person walking who is gaily dre...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
-
to deacon a calf
is to knock it in the head as soon as it is born.--Connecticut.
...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
-
to drive a bargain
To make a bargain. A common colloquial expression, as old as the language.
This bargain is ful dr...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
-
to girdle a tree
In America, to make a circular incision, like a belt, through the bark and alburnum of a tree to kil...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
-
to have a say
To express an opinion. A phrase in vulgar use.
I picked out "Henry Clay" for my baby's name, but t...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
-
to make a raise
A vulgar expression, meaning to raise; procure; obtain.
I made a raise of a horse and saw, after be...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
-
to raise a bead
This expression is used at the West, and means to bring to a head, to make succeed. The figure is ta...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
-
to sky a copper
To toss up a cent.
Didge said he was like skying a copper--head or tail.--Crockett, Tour.
...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
-
to trig a wheel
To stop a wheel so as to prevent its going backwards or forwards.--Bailey. Still used in New England...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
-
up-a-day
A fondling expression of a nurse to a child, when she takes it up in her arms, or lifts it over some...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
-
a god-cheeld!
Exclamation. God shield you! God forbid!
...
A glossary of provincial and local words used in England by Francis Grose
-
brain a man
i. e. knock his brains out. N.
...
A glossary of provincial and local words used in England by Francis Grose
-
feel a stink
to perceive it. Derb.
...
A glossary of provincial and local words used in England by Francis Grose
-
flick-a-bacon
a flitch of bacon. N.
...
A glossary of provincial and local words used in England by Francis Grose
-
jacket-a-wad
an ignis fatuus. Exm.
...
A glossary of provincial and local words used in England by Francis Grose
-
scotch a wheel
to stop it from going backward. Lane.
...
A glossary of provincial and local words used in England by Francis Grose
-
well-a-day!
alas! Various.
...
A glossary of provincial and local words used in England by Francis Grose
-
beaching a vessel
See under voluntary stranding. Also, the act of running a vessel up on the beach for various purpose...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
bear a fist
See bear a bob
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
bear a bob
, or bear a fist
Jocular for "lend a hand."
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
bedding a cask
Placing dunnage round it.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
catch a crab
In rowing, when an oar gets so far beneath the surface of the water, that the rower cannot recover i...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
chapelling a ship
The act of turning her round in a light breeze, when she is close hauled, without bracing the head-y...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
chock-a-block
, or chock and block
Is the same with block-a-block and two-blocks (which see). When the lower blo...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
cutting a feather
It is common when a ship has too broad a bow to say, "She will not cut a feather," meaning that she ...
The Sailor's Word-Book
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dick-a-dilver
A name for the periwinkle on our eastern coasts.
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The Sailor's Word-Book
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disparting a gun
To bring the line of sight and line of metal to be parallel by setting up a mark on the muzzle-ring ...
The Sailor's Word-Book
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docking a ship
The act of drawing her into dock, and placing her properly on blocks, in order to give her the requi...
The Sailor's Word-Book
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doubling a cape
In navigation, is to sail round or pass beyond it, so that the point of land separates the ship from...
The Sailor's Word-Book
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driving a charge
Ramming home the loading of a piece of ordnance.
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The Sailor's Word-Book
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fall! a fall!
The cry to denote that the harpoon has been effectively delivered into the body of a whale.
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The Sailor's Word-Book
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frapping a ship
The act of passing four or five turns of a large cable-laid rope round a ship's hull when it is appr...
The Sailor's Word-Book
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get-a-pull
The order to haul in more of a rope or tackle.
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The Sailor's Word-Book
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give a spell
To intermit or relieve work. (See spell.)
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The Sailor's Word-Book
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pedro-a-pied
[Pedro-pee]. The balance on one leg in walking a plank as a proof of sobriety. A man placed one foot...
The Sailor's Word-Book
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pricking a sail
The running a middle seam between the two seams which unite every cloth of a sail to the next adjoin...
The Sailor's Word-Book
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racking a laniard
The fastening two running parts together with a seizing, so as to prevent it from rendering through ...
The Sailor's Word-Book
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racking a tackle or laniard
The fastening two running parts together with a seizing, so as to prevent it from rendering through ...
The Sailor's Word-Book
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raising a mouse
The process of making a lump on a stay. (See mouse.)
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The Sailor's Word-Book
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raising a purchase
The act of disposing certain machines, so that, by their mutual effects, they may produce sufficient...
The Sailor's Word-Book
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shifting a tackle
The act of removing the blocks of a tackle to a greater distance from each other, in order to extend...
The Sailor's Word-Book
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show a leg!
An exclamation from the boatswain's mate, or master-at-arms, for people to show that they are awake ...
The Sailor's Word-Book
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spanning a harpoon
Fixing the line which connects the harpoon and its staff. The harpoon iron is a socketed tool, taper...
The Sailor's Word-Book
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spiking a gun
Driving a large nail or iron spike into the vent, which will render the cannon unserviceable until r...
The Sailor's Word-Book
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swifting a ship
Either bringing her aground or upon a careen; also passing cables round her bottom and upper-works, ...
The Sailor's Word-Book
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taking a departure
Determining the place of a ship by means of the bearing and distance of a known object, and assuming...
The Sailor's Word-Book