-
Lend
·vt To let for hire or compensation; as, to lend a horse or gig.
II. Lend ·vt To <<Afford>>; to gra...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
lend
for end. A vulgar pronunciation of the word. It is also common in various parts of England.
...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
-
lend a fist or a hand
A request to another to help.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
to bear a hand
A seaman's phrase. To be ready ; to go to work; to assist.
...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
-
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
Hand
·noun Rate; price.
II. Hand ·vi To <<Cooperate>>.
III. Hand ·noun A bundle of tobacco leaves tied ...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Hand
Called by Galen "the instrument of instruments." It is the symbol of human action (Ps. 9:16; Job 9:3...
Easton's Bible Dictionary
-
hand
A sailor. We lost a hand; we lost a sailor. Bear a hand; make haste. Hand to fist; opposite: the sam...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
hand
A phrase often used for the word man, as, "a hand to the lead," "clap more hands on," &c.
♦ To han...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
hand-over-hand
Hauling rapidly upon any rope, by the men passing their hands alternately one before the other, or o...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
hand-under-hand
Descending a rope by the converse of hand-over-hand ascent.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
A
A, a, indecl. n. (sometimes joined with littera), the first letter of the Latin alphabet, correspond...
A New Latin Dictionary by Charlton T. Lewis Ph.D. and Charles Short, LL. D.
-
a
a, prep.=ab, v. ab.
...
A New Latin Dictionary by Charlton T. Lewis Ph.D. and Charles Short, LL. D.
-
A
A. a. as an abbreviation, 1 for the praenomen Aulus.
2 for Absolvo, on the voting-tablet of a jud...
An Elementary Latin Dictionary
-
A
·- Of.
II. A ·prep In; on; at; by.
III. A ·- An expletive, void of sense, to fill up the meter.
I...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
A 1
·- A registry mark given by underwriters (as at Lloyd's) to ships in first-class condition. Inferior...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
A-
·- A, as a prefix to English words, is derived from various sources. (1) It frequently signifies on ...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
A
Alpha, the first letter of the Greek alphabet, as Omega is the last. These letters occur in the text...
Easton's Bible Dictionary
-
a
As for example the word alarm, alarum, a bell, from the German lärm; but the military alarm on a dru...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
William Smith's Bible Dictionary
-
Black Hand
·add. ·- A lawless or blackmailing secret society, ·esp. among Italians.
II. Black Hand ·add. ·- A ...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Bloody hand
·- A red hand, as in the arms of Ulster, which is now the distinguishing mark of a baronet of the Un...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Bow hand
·- The hand that holds the bow, ·i.e., the left hand.
II. Bow hand ·- The hand that draws the bow, ...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
First-hand
·adj Obtained directly from the first or original source; hence, without the intervention of an <<Ag...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Free-hand
·adj Done by the hand, without support, or the guidance of instruments; as, free-hand drawing. ·see ...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Hand flus
·pl of <<Handful>>.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Hand staves
·pl of <<Hand>>.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Hand-hole
·noun A small hole in a boiler for the insertion of the hand in cleaning, ·etc.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Hand-tight
·adj As tight as can be made by the hand.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Hand-winged
·adj Having wings that are like hands in the structure and arrangement of their bones;
— said of ba...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Hand-work
·noun ·see <<Handiwork>>.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Left-hand
·adj Situated on the left; nearer the left hand than the right; as, the left-hand side; the left-han...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
One-hand
·adj Employing one hand; as, the one-hand alphabet. ·see <<Dactylology>>.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Red-hand
(·adj / ·adv) ·Alt. of Red-handed.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Right-hand
·adj Chiefly relied on; almost indispensable.
II. Right-hand ·adj Situated or being on the right; n...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Text hand
·add. ·- A large hand in writing;
— so called because it was the practice to write the text of a bo...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Text-hand
·noun A large hand in writing;
— so called because it was the practice to write the text of a book ...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Two-hand
·adj Employing two hands; as, the two-hand alphabet. ·see <<Dactylology>>.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Left hand
Among the Hebrews, denoted the north (Job 23:9; Gen. 14:15), the face of the person being supposed t...
Easton's Bible Dictionary
-
Hand Alley
1) On Snow Hill, in Farringdon Ward Without (P.C. 1732-Boyle, 1799).
Not named in the maps.
2) Sou...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
Hand Court
1) West out of Philip Lane in Cripplegate Ward Within (O. and M. 1677-Boyle, 1799).
Also called : "...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
old hand
Knowing or expert in any business.
...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
spoon hand
The right hand.
...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
hand-fish
n.
a Tasmanian fish, Brachionichthys hirsutus, Lacep., family Pediculati. The name is used in the n...
Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris
-
hand, old
n.
one who has been a convict.
1861. T. McCombie, `Australian Sketches,' p. 141:
«The men who hav...
Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris
-
iron hand
a term of Victorian politics. It was a new Standing Order introducing what has since been called the...
Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris
-
on hand
At hand; present. A colloquial expression in frequent use.
The Anti-Sabbath meeting, so long talked...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
-
car-hand
the left hand. N.
...
A glossary of provincial and local words used in England by Francis Grose
-
gaulish-hand
the left hand. N.
...
A glossary of provincial and local words used in England by Francis Grose
-
nigh-hand
hard by. North.
...
A glossary of provincial and local words used in England by Francis Grose
-
hand-grenade
A small shell for throwing by hand. (See grenade.)
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
hand-gun
An old term for small arms in the times of Henry VII. and VIII.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
hand-lead
A small lead used in the channels, or chains, when approaching land, and for sounding in rivers or h...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
hand-line
A line bent to the hand-lead, measured at certain intervals with what are called marks and deeps fro...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
hand-pump
The common movable pump for obtaining fresh water, &c., from tanks or casks.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
hand-saw
The smallest of the saws used by shipwrights, and used by one hand.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
hand-screw
A handy kind of single jack-screw.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
hand-tight
A rope hauled as taut as it can be by hand only.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
old hand
A knowing and expert person.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
second-hand
A term in fishing-boats to distinguish the second in charge.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
taut hand
A strict disciplinarian.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
Hand in Hand Fire Office
At No. 1 Bridge Street, Blackfriars, on the east side (Elmes, 1831).
Est. 1696 in Angel Court, Snow...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
Four-in-hand
·noun A team of four horses driven by one person; also, a vehicle drawn by such a team.
II. Four-in...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Double Hand Court
See Double Hood Court.
...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
The Hand and Still
In Houndesditch at the boundary of Bishopsgate Ward (Strype, ed. 1720, I. ii. 94, and in 1755 ed.).
...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
Hand Alley, Bishopsgate
See New Street9, Bishopsgate.
...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
Hand Alley, Houndsditch
South-west out of Houndsditch, near the northern boundary of the ward. In Portsoken Ward (Strype, ed...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
hand basket portion
A woman whose husband receives frequent presents from her father, or family, is said to have a hand-...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
to stand in hand
To concern; to behoove.--Holloway, Prov. Dict. This phrase is a colloquial one in New England. Ex. '...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
-
hand and glove
Intimate, familiar; i. e. as closely united as a hand and its glove. 'They are hand and glove togeth...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
-
hand to mouth
'To live from hand to mouth,' is said of a person who spends his money as fast as he gets it, who ea...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
-
hand mast-piece
The smaller hand mast-spars.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
hand mast-spar
A round mast; those from Riga are commonly over 70 feet long by 20 inches diameter.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
right-hand rope
That which is laid up and twisted with the sun, that is to the right hand; the term is opposed to wa...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
washing the hand
A common hint on leaving a ship disliked.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
A cappella
·- A time indication, equivalent to alla breve.
II. A cappella ·- In church or chapel style;
— sai...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
A cheval
·add. ·- Astride; with a part on each side;
— used specif. in designating the position of an army w...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
A fortiori
·- With stronger reason.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
A posteriori
·- Applied to knowledge which is based upon or derived from facts through induction or experiment; i...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
A priori
·- Applied to knowledge and conceptions assumed, or presupposed, as prior to experience, in order to...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
A-mornings
·adv In the morning; every morning.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
A-sea
·adv On the sea; at sea; toward the sea.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
A-tiptoe
·adv On tiptoe; eagerly expecting.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Due-a
·noun ·see Do-a.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Pi-a
·add. ·noun The <<Pineapple>>.
II. Pi-a ·add. ·noun Pi-a cloth or the fiber of which it is made.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Vicu-a
·noun ·Alt. of <<Vicugna>>.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
a-many
a great number, pronounced Meyny. North.
...
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
-
a-scat
broken like an egg. Dev.
...
A glossary of provincial and local words used in England by Francis Grose
-
a-slat
crack'd like an earthen vessel. Dev.
...
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
-
a-burton
The situation of casks when they are stowed in the hold athwart ship, or in a line with the beam.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
a-cockbill
(see cock-bill). The anchor hangs by its ring at the cat-head, in a position for dropping.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
a-hull
A ship under bare poles and her helm a-lee, driving from wind and sea, stern foremost. Also a ship d...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
a-lee
The contrary of a-weather: the position of the helm when its tiller is borne over to the lee-side of...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
a-poise
Said of a vessel properly trimmed.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
a-starboard
The opposite to a-port.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
a-stay
Said of the anchor when, in heaving in, the cable forms such an angle with the surface as to appear ...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
a-trip
The anchor is a-trip, or a-weigh, when the purchase has just made it break ground, or raised it clea...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
a-wash
Reefs even with the surface. The anchor just rising to the water's edge, in heaving up.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
a-weather
The position of the helm when its tiller is moved to the windward side of the ship, in the direction...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
a-weigh
The anchor being a-trip, or after breaking out of the ground.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
lend us your pound here!
A phrase demanding assistance in man-weight; alluding to the daily allowance of beef.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
Hand Alley, Philip Lane
See Hand Court.
...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
Hand and Crown Alley
North out of Holborn, opposite Holborn Bridge, between King's Arms Inn and Swan Inn, in Farringdon W...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
Hand and Crown Court
1) North-east out of Gravel Lane. In Portsoken Ward (Strype, ed. 1720, I. ii. 27-Boyle, 1799).
Remo...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
Hand and Pen Alley
On Great Tower Hill, within the Tower precincts (P.C. 1732-Lond. Guide, 1758).
Not named in the map...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
Hand and Pen Court
1) South out of Barbican, in Cripplegate Ward Without (Rocque, 1746-Boyle, 1799).
The site is now o...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
Stable Yard, Hand Alley
South out of Hand Alley, in Bishopsgate Ward Without (Rocque, 1746).
Demolished towards the end of ...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
hand and pocket shop
An eating house, where ready money is paid for what is called for.
...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
mine a-se on a bandbox
An answer to the offer of any thing inadequate to the purpose for which it is wanted, just as a band...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
A B C
·- The simplest rudiments of any subject; as, the A B C of finance.
II. A B C ·- A primer for teach...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
All-a-mort
·adj ·see <<Alamort>>.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Black-a-vised
·adj Dark-visaged; swart.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Bric-a brac
·noun Miscellaneous curiosities and works of decorative art, considered collectively.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Char-a-bancs
·noun A long, light, open vehicle, with benches or seats running lengthwise.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Chars-a-banc
·pl of Char-a-bancs.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Cock-a-hoop
·adj Boastful; defiant; exulting. Also used adverbially.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Cornet-a-piston
·noun A brass wind instrument, like the trumpet, furnished with valves moved by small pistons or sli...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Cornets-a-piston
·pl of Cornet-a-piston.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Dos-a-dos
·add. ·noun A sofa, open carriage, or the like, so constructed that the occupants sit back to back.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Flute a bec
·- A beak flute, an older form of the flute, played with a mouthpiece resembling a beak, and held li...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Jack-a-dandy
·noun A little dandy; a little, foppish, impertinent fellow.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Jack-a-lent
·noun A small stuffed puppet to be pelted in Lent; hence, a simple fellow.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Penny-a-liner
·noun One who furnishes matter to public journals at so much a line; a poor writer for hire; a hack ...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Pi-a cloth
·add. ·- A fine fabric for scarfs, handkerchiefs, embroidery, ·etc., woven from the fiber obtained f...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Tete-a-tete
·adj Private; confidential; familiar.
II. Tete-a-tete ·noun A short sofa intended to accomodate two...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Vis-a-vis
·adv Face to face.
II. Vis-a-vis ·noun One who, or that which, is face to face with another; ·esp.,...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Wait-a-bit
·add. ·noun The prickly ash.
II. Wait-a-bit ·add. ·noun The grapple plant.
III. Wait-a-bit ·add. ·...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Wait-a-while
·add. ·noun = Wait-a-bit.
II. Wait-a-while ·add. ·noun One of the Australian wattle trees (Acacia c...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Adam, a type
The apostle Paul speaks of Adam as "the figure of him who was to come." On this account our Lord is ...
Easton's Bible Dictionary
-
all-a-mort
Struck dumb, confounded. What, sweet one, all-a-mort? SHAKESPEARE.
...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
black a-se
A copper or kettle. The pot calls the kettle black a-se. Cant.
...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
to run a buck
To poll a bad vote at an election.--IRISH TERM.
...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
chick-a-biddy
A chicken, so called to and by little children.
...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
cock-a-whoop
Elevated, in high-spirits, transported with joy.
...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
to couch a hogshead
To lie down to sleep. CANT.
...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
to fight a crib
To make a sham fight. BEAR GARDEN TERM.
...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
cure a-se
A dyachilon plaister, applied to the parts galled by riding.
...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
dram-a-tick
A dram served upon credit.
...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
drop a cog
To let fall, with design, a piece of gold or silver, in order to draw in and cheat the person who se...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
firing a gun
Introducing a story by head and shoulders. A man wanting to tell a particular story, said to the com...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
to fire a slug
To drink a dram.
...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
foxing a boot
Mending the foot by capping it.
...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
mumble a sparrow
A cruel sport practised at wakes and fairs, in the following manner: A cock sparrow whose wings are ...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
pit-a-pat
The palpitation of the heart: as, my heart went pit-a-pat. Pintledy-pantledy; the same.
...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
to ring a peal
To scold; chiefly applied to women. His wife rung him a fine peal!
...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
slug-a-bed
A drone, one that cannot rise in the morning.
...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
squint-a-pipes
A squinting man or woman; said to be born in the middle of the week, and looking both ways for Sunda...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
wear a--e
A one-horse chaise.
...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
bull-a-bull
or Bullybul
n.
a child'scorruption of the Maori word Poroporo (q.v.), aflowering shrub of New Zeal...
Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris
-
cock-a-bully
n. a popular name for the NewZealand fish Galaxias fasciatus, Gray, a corruption ofits Maori name Ko...
Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris
-
make a light
expressive pigeon-English. An aboriginal'sphrase for to look for, to find. «You been make a lightyar...
Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris
-
mark, a good
Australian slang.
1845. R. Howitt, `Australia,' p. 233:
«I wondered often what was the meaning of ...
Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris
-
perish, doing a
modern slang from Western Australia.See quotation.
1894. `The Argus,' March 28, p. 5, col. 4:
«Whe...
Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris
-
stay-a-while
n.
a tangled bush; sometimescalled Wait-a-while (q.v.).
...
Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris
-
wait-a-while
n.
also called Stay-a-while: a thicket tree.
1889. J. H. Maiden, `Useful Native Plants,' p. 306:
...
Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris
-
to catch a tartar
To attack one of superior strength or abilities. This saying originated from the story of an Irish s...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
-
to cut a caper
(Italian, tagliar le capriole.) The act of dancing in a frolicksome manner.--Todd. We use it also in...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
-
to cut a dash
In modern colloquial speech, to make a great show; to make a figure.--Johnson. A fashionable or gail...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
-
to cut a figure
To make an appearance, either good or bad.
We are not as much surprised at the poor figure cut by t...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
-
to cut a swathe
The same as to cut a dash.
The expression is generally applied to a person walking who is gaily dre...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
-
to deacon a calf
is to knock it in the head as soon as it is born.--Connecticut.
...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
-
to drive a bargain
To make a bargain. A common colloquial expression, as old as the language.
This bargain is ful dr...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
-
to girdle a tree
In America, to make a circular incision, like a belt, through the bark and alburnum of a tree to kil...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
-
to have a say
To express an opinion. A phrase in vulgar use.
I picked out "Henry Clay" for my baby's name, but t...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
-
to make a raise
A vulgar expression, meaning to raise; procure; obtain.
I made a raise of a horse and saw, after be...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
-
to raise a bead
This expression is used at the West, and means to bring to a head, to make succeed. The figure is ta...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
-
to sky a copper
To toss up a cent.
Didge said he was like skying a copper--head or tail.--Crockett, Tour.
...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
-
to trig a wheel
To stop a wheel so as to prevent its going backwards or forwards.--Bailey. Still used in New England...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
-
up-a-day
A fondling expression of a nurse to a child, when she takes it up in her arms, or lifts it over some...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
-
feel a stink
to perceive it. Derb.
...
A glossary of provincial and local words used in England by Francis Grose
-
flick-a-bacon
a flitch of bacon. N.
...
A glossary of provincial and local words used in England by Francis Grose
-
jacket-a-wad
an ignis fatuus. Exm.
...
A glossary of provincial and local words used in England by Francis Grose
-
scotch a wheel
to stop it from going backward. Lane.
...
A glossary of provincial and local words used in England by Francis Grose
-
well-a-day!
alas! Various.
...
A glossary of provincial and local words used in England by Francis Grose
-
cutting a feather
It is common when a ship has too broad a bow to say, "She will not cut a feather," meaning that she ...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
dick-a-dilver
A name for the periwinkle on our eastern coasts.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
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disparting a gun
To bring the line of sight and line of metal to be parallel by setting up a mark on the muzzle-ring ...
The Sailor's Word-Book
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docking a ship
The act of drawing her into dock, and placing her properly on blocks, in order to give her the requi...
The Sailor's Word-Book
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doubling a cape
In navigation, is to sail round or pass beyond it, so that the point of land separates the ship from...
The Sailor's Word-Book
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driving a charge
Ramming home the loading of a piece of ordnance.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
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fall! a fall!
The cry to denote that the harpoon has been effectively delivered into the body of a whale.
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The Sailor's Word-Book
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frapping a ship
The act of passing four or five turns of a large cable-laid rope round a ship's hull when it is appr...
The Sailor's Word-Book
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get-a-pull
The order to haul in more of a rope or tackle.
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The Sailor's Word-Book
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give a spell
To intermit or relieve work. (See spell.)
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The Sailor's Word-Book
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pedro-a-pied
[Pedro-pee]. The balance on one leg in walking a plank as a proof of sobriety. A man placed one foot...
The Sailor's Word-Book
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pricking a sail
The running a middle seam between the two seams which unite every cloth of a sail to the next adjoin...
The Sailor's Word-Book
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racking a laniard
The fastening two running parts together with a seizing, so as to prevent it from rendering through ...
The Sailor's Word-Book
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racking a tackle or laniard
The fastening two running parts together with a seizing, so as to prevent it from rendering through ...
The Sailor's Word-Book
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raising a mouse
The process of making a lump on a stay. (See mouse.)
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The Sailor's Word-Book
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raising a purchase
The act of disposing certain machines, so that, by their mutual effects, they may produce sufficient...
The Sailor's Word-Book
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shifting a tackle
The act of removing the blocks of a tackle to a greater distance from each other, in order to extend...
The Sailor's Word-Book
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show a leg!
An exclamation from the boatswain's mate, or master-at-arms, for people to show that they are awake ...
The Sailor's Word-Book
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spanning a harpoon
Fixing the line which connects the harpoon and its staff. The harpoon iron is a socketed tool, taper...
The Sailor's Word-Book
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spiking a gun
Driving a large nail or iron spike into the vent, which will render the cannon unserviceable until r...
The Sailor's Word-Book
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swifting a ship
Either bringing her aground or upon a careen; also passing cables round her bottom and upper-works, ...
The Sailor's Word-Book
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taking a departure
Determining the place of a ship by means of the bearing and distance of a known object, and assuming...
The Sailor's Word-Book