berth

The Sailor's Word-Book

I.


The station in which a ship rides at anchor, either alone, or in a fleet; as, she lies in a good berth, i.e. in good anchoring ground, well sheltered from the wind and sea, and at a proper distance from the shore and other vessels.

♦ Snug berth, a place, situation, or establishment. A sleeping berth.

♦ To berth a vessel, is to fix upon, and put her into the place she is to occupy.

♦ To berth a ship's company, to allot to each man the space in which his hammock is to be hung, giving the customary 14 inches in width.

♦ To give a berth, to keep clear of, as to give a point of land a wide berth, is to keep at a due distance from it.

II.

The room or apartment where any number of the officers, or ship's company, mess and reside; in a ship of war there is commonly one of these between every two guns as the mess-places of the crew.

The Sailor's Word-Book

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