gammoning

The Sailor's Word-Book

Seven or eight turns of a rope-lashing passed alternately over the bowsprit and through a large hole in the cut-water, the better to support the stays of the fore-mast; after all the turns are drawn as firm as possible, the two opposite are braced together under the bowsprit by a frapping. Gammoning lashing, fashion, &c., has a peculiar seamanlike meaning. The gammoning turns are passed from the standing part or bolt forward, over the bowsprit, aft through the knee forward, making a cross lashing. It was the essence of a seaman's ability, and only forecastle men, under the boatswain, executed it. Now galvanized chain is more commonly used than rope for gammoning.

Related Words

  • Gammoning

    ·noun The act of imposing upon or hoaxing a person. II. Gammoning ·p.pr. & ·vb.n. of <<Gammon>>. I...

    Webster's Dictionary of the English Language

  • gammoning-hole

    A mortise-opening cut through the knee of the head, between the cheeks, through which the gammoning ...

    The Sailor's Word-Book

  • screw-gammoning for the bowsprit

    A chain or plate fastened by a screw, to secure a vessel's bowsprit to the stem-head, allowing for t...

    The Sailor's Word-Book