A peculiar silver pipe or whistle, used by the boatswain and his mates to attract attention, and summon the sailors to their meals or duties by various strains, each of them appropriated to some particular purpose, such as hoisting, heaving, lowering, veering away, belaying, letting go a tackle-fall, sweeping, &c. This piping is as attentively observed by sailors, as the bugle or beat of drum is obeyed by soldiers.
The coxswains of the boats of French ships of war are supplied with calls to "in bow oar," or "of all," "oars," &c.
1) occasion, obligation ; he had no call to do it. Derb. 2) to abuse by calling names. They CALLED ...
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