farthel

The Sailor's Word-Book

An old word for furling sails. Also, a burden, according to Shakspeare in Hamlet; and a weight, agreeably to the depositions of the "Portingalls" before Sir Francis Drake, in re the great carrack's cargo in 1592; there were "in c fardells of synamon:" of this famous prize the queen reserved to herself the lion's share.