bear, to

The Sailor's Word-Book

The direction of an object from the viewer; it is used in the following different phrases: The land's end bore E.N.E.; i.e. it was seen from the ship in a line with the E.N.E. point of the compass. We bore down upon the enemy; i.e. having the advantage of the wind, or being to windward, we approached the enemy by sailing large, or from the wind. When a ship that was to windward comes under another ship's stern, and so gives her the wind, she is said to bear under the lee; often as a mark of respect. She bears in with the land, is said of a ship when she runs towards the shore. We bore off the land; i.e. we increased our distance from the land.


♦ To bear down upon a ship, is to approach her from the windward.

♦ To bear ordnance, to carry her guns well.

♦ To bear sail, stiff under canvas.

♦ To bear up, to put the helm up, and keep a vessel off her course, letting her recede from the wind and move to leeward; this is synonymous with to bear away, but is applied to the ship instead of the helm.

♦ Bear up, one who has duly served for a commission, but from want of interest bears up broken-hearted and accepts an inferior warrant, or quits the profession, seeking some less important vocation; some middies have borne up and yet become bishops, lord-chancellors, judges, surgeons, &c.

♦ To bear up round, is to put a ship right before the wind.

♦ To bring a cannon to bear, signifies that it now lies right with the mark.

♦ To bear off from, and in with the land, signifies standing off or going towards the coast.

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