-
Bob
·noun A working beam.
II. Bob ·noun The refrain of a song.
III. Bob ·noun A <<Shilling>>.
IV. Bob...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
bob
1) A shoplifter's assistant, or one that receives and carries off stolen goods. All is bob; all is s...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
bob
A knot of worms on a string used in fishing for eels.--Webster.
TO BOB
To fish for eels with a bob...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
-
bob
I.
A knot of worms on a string, used in fishing for eels; also colloquially, it means a berth.
♦...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
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.
-
bear a fist
See bear a bob
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
Bear
·vt To gain or win.
II. Bear ·noun A portable punching machine.
III. Bear ·noun A <<Bier>>.
IV. B...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Bear
A native of the mountain regions of Western Asia, frequently mentioned in Scripture. David defended ...
Easton's Bible Dictionary
-
The Bear
1) Tenement so called in Botolph Lane in 1544 (Strype, ed. 1720, I. ii. 172).
This tenement was dev...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
bear
One who contracts to deliver a certain quantity of sum of stock in the public funds, on a future day...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
bear, native
n.
the colonists' name for ananimal called by the aborigines Koala, Koolah, Kool-la, andCarbora ( P...
Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris
-
bear
1) for bar. Connecticut and Virginia.
2) A word to denote a certain description of stock-jobbers.--...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
-
bear
A large block of stone, matted, loaded with shot, and fitted with ropes, by which it is roused or pu...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
Bear
(1 Samuel 17:34; 2 Samuel 17:8)
The Syrian bear, Ursus syriacus, which is without doubt the animal ...
William Smith's Bible Dictionary
-
Bob wig
·- A short wig with bobs or short curls;
— called also bobtail wig.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Bob-cherry
·noun A play among children, in which a cherry, hung so as to bob against the mouth, is to be caught...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
bob stay
A rope which holds the bowsprit to the stem or cutwater. Figuratively, the frenum of a man's yard.
...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
bob tail
A lewd woman, or one that plays with her tail; also an impotent man, or an eunuch. Tag, rag, and bob...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
dry bob
A smart repartee: also copulation without emission; in law Latin, siccus robertulus.
...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
light bob
A soldier of the light infantry company.
...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
rum bob
A young apprentice; also a sharp trick.
...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
bob-sled
A sled prepared for the transportation of large timber from the forest to a river or public road.--M...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
-
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
-
Ant-bear
·noun An edentate animal of tropical America (the Tamanoir), living on ants. It belongs to the genus...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Bear State
·add. ·- Arkansas;
— a nickname, from the many bears once inhabiting its forests.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Sea bear
·- The white bear.
II. Sea bear ·- Any fur seal. ·see under <<Fur>>.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Water bear
·- Any species of Tardigrada, 2. ·see ·Illust. of Tardigrada.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Bear Alley
Out of Addle Hill (P.C. 1732-Boyle, 1799).
Not named in the maps.
...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
Bear Court
1) East out of Giltspur Street, in Farringdon Ward Without (Strype, 1720 and 1755).
Site now occupi...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
Bear Inn
1) On the east side of Basinghall Street, near the middle, at.No. 31, in Bassishaw Ward (O. and M. 1...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
Bear Quay
Between Porter's Quay east and New Bear Quay west (Act Parlt. 1559-Lockie, 1810).
Other names : "Gr...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
Bear Yard
North out of Bride Lane, in Farringdon Ward Without (O. and M. 1677).
The site is now occupied by s...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
White Bear
In Abchurch Lane.
Destroyed in the Fire 1666.
Rebuilt as " Pontack's," for many years a famous tav...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
bear leader
A travelling tutor.
...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
monkey-bear
or Monkey
n.
i.q. Native Bear. See Bear.
1853. C. St. Julian and E. K. Silvester, `TheProductions...
Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris
-
native bear
n.
See bear.
...
Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris
-
bear state
A name by which the State of Arkansas is known at the West. I once asked a Western man if Arkansas a...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
-
bear, to
The direction of an object from the viewer; it is used in the following different phrases: The land'...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
over-bear
One ship overbears another if she can carry more sail in a fresh wind.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
sea-bear
A name applied to several species of large seals of the genus Otaria, found both in the northern and...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
cock-eyed bob
a local slang term in Western Australiafor a thunderstorm.
1894. `The Age,' Jan. 20, p. 13, col. 4:...
Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris
-
Bear-trap dam
·add. ·- A kind of movable dam, in one form consisting of two leaves resting against each other at t...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Back Bear Alley
On the south side of Bear Alley, Fleet Market, in Farringdon (Lockie, 1810 and 1816).
Former names ...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
The Bear, West Smithfield
Messuage or inn called the Beare in street of West Smithfield in parish of St. Sepulchre, 32 Eliz. (...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
Bear Key Stairs
On the river, opposite Harp Lane and Young's Key, west of Bear Key (Rocque, 1746).
Site occupied by...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
Great Bear Alley
West out of Seacoal Lane to the Fleet Ditch or New Canal, in Farringdon Ward Without (O. and M. 1677...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
Great Bear Quay
See Bear Quay.
...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
Little Bear Alley
East from the New Canal with a passage north to Great Bear Alley, in Farringdon Ward Without (O. and...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
Little Bear Quay
See New Bear Quay.
...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
New Bear Quay
West of Bear Quay (Horwood, 1799).
Former name: "Little Bear Key" (O. and M. 1677-Strype, 1755).
S...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
White Bear Alley
West out of Addle Hill, with a passage north to Church Hill, in Castle Baynard Ward (Rocque, 1746-L....
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
White Bear Yard
South out of Bride Lane, in Farringdon Ward Without (Lockie, 1816)
Not named in the maps.
...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
bear-garden jaw
Rude, vulgar language, such as was used at the bear-gardens.
...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
to bear the bell
To excel or surpass all competitors, to be the principal in a body or society; an allusion to the fo...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
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
-
Back Alley, Bear Alley
South out of Bear Alley and west to Fleet Market (Rocque, 1746-Dodsley, 1761). See Back Bear Alley.
...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
Bear Alley, Farringdon Street
East out of Farringdon Street at No.28 (P.O. Directory). In Farringdon Ward Without.
First mention:...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
Bear Alley, Fleet Ditch
West from Fleet Ditch and south to Bride Lane, in Bridewell precinct, in Farringdon Ward Without (O....
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
Bear Alley, London Wall
Out of London Wall, in parish of All Hallows, London Wall (P.C. 1732-Boyle, 1799).
Called in P.C. S...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
The Bear and Ragged Staff
A tenement in the parish of St. John the Evangelist in Watling Street near St. Paul's Church now kno...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
Dog and Bear Inn
See Carpenter's Buildings.
...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
Great White Bear Court
North out of Thames Street in Blackfriars, west of Addle Hill, in Castle Baynard Ward (P.C. 1732).
...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
Little White Bear Court
North out of Thames Street, in the precinct of Blackfriars (P. C. 1732-Dodsley, 1761).
Not named in...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
White Bear, Botolph Lane
See The Bear1.
...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
grin and bear it
The stoical resignation to unavoidable hardship, which, being heard on board ship by Lord Byron, pro...
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
-
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
-
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 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
-
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
-
clubbing a fleet
Manœuvring so as to place the first division on the windward side.
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The Sailor's Word-Book
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cock-a-hoop
In full confidence, and high spirits.
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The Sailor's Word-Book
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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.
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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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heaving a strain
Working at the windlass or capstan with more than usual exertion.
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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