-
Wring
·noun A writhing, as in anguish; a twisting; a griping.
II. Wring ·vt To bend or strain out of its ...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
pay a mast, to
or pay a yard, to
To anoint it with tar, turpentine, rosin, tallow, or varnish; tallow is particul...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
Mast
·noun The vertical post of a derrick or crane.
II. Mast ·noun The fruit of the oak and beech, or ot...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
mast
[Anglo-Saxon mæst, also meant chief or greatest]. A long cylindrical piece of timber elevated perpen...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
jury mast. a journiere
mast; i.e. a mast for the day or occasion.
...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
head of a mast
, or mast-head.
The upper part of any mast, or that whereon the caps or trucks are fitted.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
heel of a mast
The lower end, which either fits into the step attached to the keel, or in top-masts is sustained by...
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
-
Half-mast
·noun A point some distance below the top of a mast or staff; as, a flag a half-mast (a token of mou...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Jury mast
·add. ·- An apparatus to support the trunk and head in spinal disease.
II. Jury mast ·add. ·- A tem...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
dur-mast
An inferior oak of more rapid growth than the true English.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
fore-mast
The forward lower-mast in all vessels. (See mast.)
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
foretop-mast
See top-mast.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
half-mast
The lowering a flag in respect for the death of an officer.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
jigger-mast
In large vessels it is an additional aftermost mast; thus any sail set on the ensign-staff would be ...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
jury-mast
A temporary or occasional mast erected in a ship in the place of one which has been carried away in ...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
mast-carlings
Those large carlings which are placed at the sides of the masts from beam to beam, to frame the part...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
mast-coat
A conical canvas fitted over the wedges round the mast, to prevent water oozing down from the decks....
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
mast-head
The upper part of a mast above the rigging.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
mast-heading
A well-known marine punishment, said to give midshipmen the best time for reading. A court-martial, ...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
mast-high
A figurative expression of height.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
mast-holes
The apertures in the deck-partners for stepping the masts.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
mast-hoops
The iron hoops on made or built masts.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
mast-house
In dockyards, where masts are made.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
mast-rope
[Anglo-Saxon mæst-ràp]. That which is used for sending masts up or down.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
mizen-mast
The aftermost mast of a ship (see shrouds, stay, yard, &c.), observing only that the epithet of fore...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
sheer-mast
The peculiar rig of the rafts on the Guayaquil river; also of the piratical prahus of the eastern se...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
skysail-mast
The pole or upper portion of a royal mast, when long enough to serve for setting a skysail; otherwis...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
topgallant-mast
The third mast above the deck; the uppermost before the days of royals and flying kites.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
top-mast
The second division of a mast above the deck. (See mast.)
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
trysail-mast
A spar abaft the fore and main mast, for hoisting the trysail.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
housing of a lower mast
That part of a mast which is below deck to the step in the kelson; of a bowsprit, the portion within...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
To
·prep Addition; union; accumulation.
II. To ·prep Character; condition of being; purpose subserved ...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
To-
·prep An obsolete intensive prefix used in the formation of compound verbs; as in to-beat, to-break,...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
to
for at or in, is an exceedingly common vulgarism in the Northern States. We often hear such vile exp...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
-
broach a business, to
To begin it.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
buffet a billow, to
To work against wind and tide.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
build a chapel, to
To turn a ship suddenly by negligent steerage.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
cable, to coil a
To lay it in fakes and tiers one over the other.
♦ To lay a cable. (See laying.)
♦ To pay cheap ...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
cleat a gun, to
To nail large cleats under the trucks of the lower-deckers in bad weather, to insure their not fetch...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
clinch a business, to
To finish it; to settle it beyond further dispute, as the recruit taking the shilling.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
cut a stick, to
To make off clandestinely.
♦ Cut your stick, be off, or go away.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
feather, to cut a
When a ship has so sharp a bow that she makes the spray feather in cleaving it.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
lay a gun, to
So to direct it as that its shot may be expected to strike a given object; for which purpose its axi...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
loose a rope, to
To cast it off, or let it go.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
mount a gun, to
To place it on its carriage.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
pay a yard, to
See pay a mast, to
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
point a gun, to
To direct it on a given object.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
point a sail, to
To affix points through the eyelet-holes of the reefs. (See points.)
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
purchase a commission, to
A practice in our army, which has been aptly termed the "buying of fetters;" it is the obtaining pre...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
raise a siege, to
To abandon or cause the abandonment of a siege.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
rate a chronometer, to
To determine its daily gaining or losing rate on mean time.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
reduce a charge, to
To diminish the contents of a cartridge, sometimes requisite during heavy firing.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
reduce a place, to
To compel its commander to surrender, or vacate it by capitulation.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
return a salute, to
Admirals are saluted, but return two guns less for each rank that the saluting officer is below the ...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
risk a run, to
To take chance without convoy.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
scour a beach, to
To pour a quick flanking fire along it, in order to dislodge an enemy.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
shift a berth, to
To move from one anchorage to another.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
speak a vessel, to
To pass within hail of her for that purpose.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
spin a yarn, to
To tell a long story; much prized in a dreary watch, if not tedious.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
spin a twist or a yarn, to
To tell a long story; much prized in a dreary watch, if not tedious.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
spread a fleet, to
To keep more open order.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
support a friend, to
To make every exertion to assist a vessel in distress, from whatever cause. Neglect of this incurs p...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
top a boom, to
To raise up one end of it by hoisting on the lift, as the spanker-boom is lifted before setting the ...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
top a yard or boom, to
To raise up one end of it by hoisting on the lift, as the spanker-boom is lifted before setting the ...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
trail a pike, to
To hold the spear end in the right hand, and the butt trailed behind the bearer.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
traverse a yard, to
To get it fore and aft.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
turn, to catch a
To pass a rope once or twice round a cleat, pin, kevel, or any other thing, to keep it fast.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
turn, to take or catch a
To pass a rope once or twice round a cleat, pin, kevel, or any other thing, to keep it fast.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
turn a turtle, to
To take the animal by seizing a flipper, and throwing him on his back, which renders him quite helpl...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
wend a course, to
To sail steadily on a given direction.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
wind a boat, to
To change her position by bringing her stern round to the place where the head was. (See wending.)
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
wind a ship or boat, to
To change her position by bringing her stern round to the place where the head was. (See wending.)
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
work a ship, to
To adapt the sails to the force and direction of the wind.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
bring-to, to
To bend, as to bring-to a sail to the yard. Also, to check the course of a ship by trimming the sail...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
broach-to, to
To fly up into the wind. It generally happens when a ship is carrying a press of canvas with the win...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
heave-to, to
To put a vessel in the position of lying-to, by adjusting her sails so as to counteract each other, ...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
lie-to, to
To cause a vessel to keep her head steady as regards a gale, so that a heavy sea may not tumble into...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
round-to, to
To bring to, or haul to the wind by means of the helm. To go round, is to tack or wear.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
afore the mast
See before the mast.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
before the mast
The station of the working seamen, as distinguishing them from the officers.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
fore-mast man
From "before the mast." A private seaman as distinguished from an officer of a ship.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
foretop-gallant-mast
See topgallant-mast, to which may be added its proper sail, yard, and studding-sail.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
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
-
main royal-mast
That above the main topgallant-mast.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
mast-head men
The men stationed aloft to keep a look-out.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
mast-head pendants
See pendant.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
mizen mast-head
Rear-admirals carry their flag at their mizen.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
reefed top-mast
When a top-mast is sprung in or near the cap, the lower piece is cut off, and a new fid-hole cut, by...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
to carry a horse to water
instead of lead or ride him to water. A Southern expression.--Sherwood, Georgia.
...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
-
breeze, to kick up a
To excite disturbance, and promote a quarrelsome row.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
deaden a ship's way, to
To retard a vessel's progress by bracing in the yards, so as to reduce the effect of the sails, or b...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
double-bank a rope, to
To clap men on both sides.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
gather aft a sheet, to
to pull it in, by hauling in slack.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
hold a good wind, to
To have weatherly qualities.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
kick up a dust, to
To create a row or disturbance.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
lay up a ship, to
To dismantle her.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
shake out, a reef, to
See let out, a reef, to
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
let out, a reef, to
, or shake out, a reef, to
To increase the dimensions of a sail, by untying the points confining a...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
luff into a harbour, to
To sail into it, shooting head to wind, gradually. A ship is accordingly said to spring her luff whe...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
pay a vessel's bottom, to
To cover it with tallow, sulphur, rosin, &c. (See breaming.)
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
pick up a wind, to
Traverses made by oceanic voyagers; to run from one trade or prevalent wind to another, with as litt...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
roll up a sail, to
To hand it quickly.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
run down a coast, to
To sail along it, keeping parallel to or skirting its dangers.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
run down a vessel, to
To pass over, into, or foul her by running against her end-on, so as to jeopardize her.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
run out a warp, to
To carry a hawser out from the ship by a boat, and fasten it to some distant place to remove the shi...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
stretch along a brace, to
To lay it along the decks in readiness for the men to lay hold of; called manning it.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
thwart-marks, to a harbour
Two objects on the land, which, brought into line with each other, mark the safe course between shoa...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
lie-to, in a gale
, is, by a judicious balance of canvas, to keep a ship's bow to the sea, and, with as much as she ca...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
try, to, or lie-to, in a gale
, is, by a judicious balance of canvas, to keep a ship's bow to the sea, and, with as much as she ca...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
turn in a heart, to
To seize the end of a shroud or stay, &c., securely round it.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
under-run a warp, to
To haul a boat along underneath it, in order to clear it, if any part happens to be foul. To under-r...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
under-run a hawser or warp, to
To haul a boat along underneath it, in order to clear it, if any part happens to be foul. To under-r...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
veer a buoy in a ship's wake, to
To slack out a rope to which a buoy has been attached, and let it go astern, for the purpose of brin...
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
-
put to sea, to
To quit a port or roadstead, and proceed to the destination.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
turn to windward, to
To gain on the wind by alternate tacking. It is when a ship endeavours to make progress against the ...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
Lean-to
·adj Having only one slope or pitch;
— said of a roof.
II. Lean-to ·noun A shed or slight building...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Set-to
·noun A contest in boxing, in an argument, or the like.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
To-beat
·vt To beat thoroughly or severely.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
To-break
·vt To break completely; to break in pieces.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
To-brest
·vt To burst or break in pieces.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
To-day
·noun The present day.
II. To-day ·prep On this day; on the present day.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
To-do
·noun Bustle; stir; commotion; ado.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
To-fall
·noun A lean-to. ·see Lean-to.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
To-name
·noun A name added, for the sake of distinction, to one's surname, or used instead of it.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
To-rend
·vt To rend in pieces.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
To-rent
·Impf & ·p.p. of To-rend.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
to bam
To impose on any one by a falsity; also to jeer or make fun of any one.
...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
to bamboozle
To make a fool of any one, to humbug or impose on him.
...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
to baste
To beat. I'll give him his bastings, I'll beat him heartily.
...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
to bishop
the balls, a term used among printers, to water them.
...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
to bitch
To yield, or give up an attempt through fear. To stand bitch; to make tea, or do the honours of the ...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
to bite
To over-reach, or impose; also to steal.--Cant. --Biting was once esteemed a kind of wit, similar to...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
to bug
A cant word among journeymen hatters, signifying the exchanging some of the dearest materials of whi...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
to grab
To seize a man. The pigs grabbed the kiddey for a crack: the officers, seized the youth for a burgla...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
to top
To cheat, or trick: also to insult: he thought to have topped upon me. Top; the signal among taylors...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
to tower
To overlook, to rise aloft as in a high tower.
...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
to twig
To observe. Twig the cull, he is peery; observe the fellow, he is watching us. Also to disengage, sn...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
hump, to
v.
to shoulder, carry on the back;especially, to hump the swag, or bluey, or drum. See Swag, Bluey,...
Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris
-
jump, to
v.
to take possession of a claim(mining) on land, on the ground that a former possessor hasabandone...
Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris
-
to buckle-to
To set about any task with energy and a determination to effect the object. It probably comes from h...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
-
to cotton to
'To cotton to one,' is to take a liking to him; to fancy him; literally to stick to him, as cotton w...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
-
abase, to
An old word signifying to lower a flag or sail. Abaisser is in use in the French marine, and both ma...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
abate, to
An old Anglo-Norman word from abattre, to beat down or destroy; as, to abate a castle or fort, is to...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
abet, to
To excite or encourage a common word, greatly in use at boat-racings, and other competitive acts.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
abrase, to
To dubb or smooth planks.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
accoil, to
To coil together, by folding round. (See coil.)
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
accompany, to
To sail together; to sail in convoy.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
accost, to
To pass within hail of a ship; to sail coastwise; to approach, to draw near, or come side by side.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
adjourn, to
To put off till another day. Adjournments can be made in courts-martial from day to day, Sundays exc...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
adjust, to
To arrange an instrument for use and observation; as, to adjust a sextant, or the escapement of a ch...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
advance, to
An old word, meaning to raise to honour.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
aid, to
To succour; to supply with provisions or stores.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
allow, to
To concede a destined portion of stores, &c.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
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annul, to
To nullify a signal.
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The Sailor's Word-Book
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answer, to
To reply, to succeed; as, the frigate has answered the signal. This boat will not answer.
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The Sailor's Word-Book
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dress, to
To place a fleet in organized order; also, to arrange men properly in ranks; to present a true conti...
The Sailor's Word-Book
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drive, to
[from the Anglo-Saxon dryfan].
A ship drives when her anchor trips or will not hold. She drives to...
The Sailor's Word-Book
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dubb, to
To smooth and cut off with an adze the superfluous wood.
♦ To dubb a vessel bright, is to remove t...
The Sailor's Word-Book
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duck, to
To dive, or immerse another under water; or to avoid a shot.
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The Sailor's Word-Book
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egg, to
To instigate, incite, provoke, to urge on: from the Anglo-Saxon eggion.
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The Sailor's Word-Book
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eke, to
[Anglo-Saxon eácan, to prolong.] To make anything go far by reduction and moderation, as in shorteni...
The Sailor's Word-Book
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embark, to
To go on board, or to put on board a vessel.
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The Sailor's Word-Book