-
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
-
Groat
·noun Any small sum of money.
II. Groat ·noun An old English silver coin, equal to four pence.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Threepenny
·adj Costing or worth three pence; hence, worth but little; poor; mean.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
under-run a warp, to
To haul a boat along underneath it, in order to clear it, if any part happens to be foul. To under-r...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
under-run a hawser or warp, to
To haul a boat along underneath it, in order to clear it, if any part happens to be foul. To under-r...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
Never
·adv In no degree; not in the least; not.
II. Never ·adv Not ever; not at any time; at no time, whe...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Worth
·adj Valuable; of worthy; estimable; also, worth while.
II. Worth ·adj Deserving of;
— in a good o...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Planet
·noun A star, as influencing the fate of a men.
II. Planet ·noun A celestial body which revolves ab...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Born
·p.p. of <<Bear>>.
II. Born ·vt Brought forth, as an animal; brought into life; introduced by birth...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Be
·vi To exist actually, or in the world of fact; to have ex/stence.
II. Be ·vi To <<Signify>>; to re...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Be-
·- A prefix, originally the same word as by;.
II. Be- ·- To intensify the meaning; as, bespatter, b...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
be
(Ang. Sax. beo, 1st person sing. and 1st, 2d, and 3d plur. See Rask's Gram. p. 84), instead of am an...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
-
Never, Never Country
or Never, Never Land
See quotations. Mr. Cooper's explanation (1857 quotation) isnot generally acce...
Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris
-
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
-
broach a business, to
To begin it.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
buffet a billow, to
To work against wind and tide.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
build a chapel, to
To turn a ship suddenly by negligent steerage.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
cable, to coil a
To lay it in fakes and tiers one over the other.
♦ To lay a cable. (See laying.)
♦ To pay cheap ...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
cleat a gun, to
To nail large cleats under the trucks of the lower-deckers in bad weather, to insure their not fetch...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
clinch a business, to
To finish it; to settle it beyond further dispute, as the recruit taking the shilling.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
cut a stick, to
To make off clandestinely.
♦ Cut your stick, be off, or go away.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
feather, to cut a
When a ship has so sharp a bow that she makes the spray feather in cleaving it.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
lay a gun, to
So to direct it as that its shot may be expected to strike a given object; for which purpose its axi...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
loose a rope, to
To cast it off, or let it go.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
mount a gun, to
To place it on its carriage.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
pay a yard, to
See pay a mast, to
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
pay a mast, to
or pay a yard, to
To anoint it with tar, turpentine, rosin, tallow, or varnish; tallow is particul...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
point a gun, to
To direct it on a given object.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
point a sail, to
To affix points through the eyelet-holes of the reefs. (See points.)
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
purchase a commission, to
A practice in our army, which has been aptly termed the "buying of fetters;" it is the obtaining pre...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
raise a siege, to
To abandon or cause the abandonment of a siege.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
rate a chronometer, to
To determine its daily gaining or losing rate on mean time.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
reduce a charge, to
To diminish the contents of a cartridge, sometimes requisite during heavy firing.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
reduce a place, to
To compel its commander to surrender, or vacate it by capitulation.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
return a salute, to
Admirals are saluted, but return two guns less for each rank that the saluting officer is below the ...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
risk a run, to
To take chance without convoy.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
scour a beach, to
To pour a quick flanking fire along it, in order to dislodge an enemy.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
shift a berth, to
To move from one anchorage to another.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
speak a vessel, to
To pass within hail of her for that purpose.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
spin a yarn, to
To tell a long story; much prized in a dreary watch, if not tedious.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
spin a twist or a yarn, to
To tell a long story; much prized in a dreary watch, if not tedious.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
spread a fleet, to
To keep more open order.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
support a friend, to
To make every exertion to assist a vessel in distress, from whatever cause. Neglect of this incurs p...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
top a boom, to
To raise up one end of it by hoisting on the lift, as the spanker-boom is lifted before setting the ...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
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 ...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
trail a pike, to
To hold the spear end in the right hand, and the butt trailed behind the bearer.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
traverse a yard, to
To get it fore and aft.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
turn, to catch a
To pass a rope once or twice round a cleat, pin, kevel, or any other thing, to keep it fast.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
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.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
turn a turtle, to
To take the animal by seizing a flipper, and throwing him on his back, which renders him quite helpl...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
wend a course, to
To sail steadily on a given direction.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
wind a boat, to
To change her position by bringing her stern round to the place where the head was. (See wending.)
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
wind a ship or boat, to
To change her position by bringing her stern round to the place where the head was. (See wending.)
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
work a ship, to
To adapt the sails to the force and direction of the wind.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
wring a mast, to
To bend, cripple, or strain it out of its natural position by setting the shrouds up too taut. The p...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
Under
·prep Less specifically, denoting the relation of being subject, of undergoing regard, treatment, or...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
under-shore, to
To support or raise a thing by putting a spar or prop under it, as a ship is shored up in dock.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
Present worth
·add. ·- The principal which, drawing interest at a given rate, will amount to the given sum at the ...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
to-morrow come never
When two Sundays come together; never.
...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
veer a buoy in a ship's wake, to
To slack out a rope to which a buoy has been attached, and let it go astern, for the purpose of brin...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
Planet-stricken
·adj ·Alt. of Planet-struck.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Planet-struck
·adj Affected by the influence of planets; blasted.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
primary planet
(See planets, primary.)
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
secondary planet
See satellites.
...
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
-
to carry a horse to water
instead of lead or ride him to water. A Southern expression.--Sherwood, Georgia.
...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
-
breeze, to kick up a
To excite disturbance, and promote a quarrelsome row.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
deaden a ship's way, to
To retard a vessel's progress by bracing in the yards, so as to reduce the effect of the sails, or b...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
double-bank a rope, to
To clap men on both sides.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
gather aft a sheet, to
to pull it in, by hauling in slack.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
hold a good wind, to
To have weatherly qualities.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
kick up a dust, to
To create a row or disturbance.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
lay up a ship, to
To dismantle her.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
shake out, a reef, to
See let out, a reef, to
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
let out, a reef, to
, or shake out, a reef, to
To increase the dimensions of a sail, by untying the points confining a...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
luff into a harbour, to
To sail into it, shooting head to wind, gradually. A ship is accordingly said to spring her luff whe...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
pay a vessel's bottom, to
To cover it with tallow, sulphur, rosin, &c. (See breaming.)
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
pick up a wind, to
Traverses made by oceanic voyagers; to run from one trade or prevalent wind to another, with as litt...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
roll up a sail, to
To hand it quickly.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
run down a coast, to
To sail along it, keeping parallel to or skirting its dangers.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
run down a vessel, to
To pass over, into, or foul her by running against her end-on, so as to jeopardize her.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
run out a warp, to
To carry a hawser out from the ship by a boat, and fasten it to some distant place to remove the shi...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
stretch along a brace, to
To lay it along the decks in readiness for the men to lay hold of; called manning it.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
thwart-marks, to a harbour
Two objects on the land, which, brought into line with each other, mark the safe course between shoa...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
lie-to, in a gale
, is, by a judicious balance of canvas, to keep a ship's bow to the sea, and, with as much as she ca...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
try, to, or lie-to, in a gale
, is, by a judicious balance of canvas, to keep a ship's bow to the sea, and, with as much as she ca...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
turn in a heart, to
To seize the end of a shroud or stay, &c., securely round it.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
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
-
bull-a-bull
or Bullybul
n.
a child'scorruption of the Maori word Poroporo (q.v.), aflowering shrub of New Zeal...
Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris
-
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
-
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.
-
jacket-a-wad
an ignis fatuus. Exm.
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A glossary of provincial and local words used in England by Francis Grose
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scotch a wheel
to stop it from going backward. Lane.
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A glossary of provincial and local words used in England by Francis Grose
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well-a-day!
alas! Various.
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A glossary of provincial and local words used in England by Francis Grose
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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.
...
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.
...
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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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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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