Language of the Sea 15
From CruisersWiki
Language of the Sea
SADDLES -
Pieces of wood hollowed out to fit on the yards to which they are secured, having a hollow in the upper part for the boom to rest in.
SAG -
To sag to leeward is to drift off bodily to leeward.
SAILS -
Are of two kinds: square sails which hang from yards, their foot lying across the line of the keel, as the courses, topsails, etc.; and fore-and-aft sails which set upon gaffs, or on stays, their foot running with the line of the keel, as jib, spanker, etc..
SAIL-HO! -
The cry used when a sail is first discovered at sea.
SAILING ICE -
Mass of drift ice with waterways in which a vessel can maneuver in.
SALLYING -
To roll a vessel that is nearly ice-bound, to break her free.
SAVE-ALL -
A small sail sometimes set under the foot of a lower studdingsail.
SCANTLING -
A term applied to any piece of timber, with regards to its' breadth and thickness, when reduced to the standard size.
SCARF -
To join two pieces of timber at their ends by shaving them down and placing them overlapping.
SCHOONER -
A small vessel with two masts and no tops.
A fore-and-aft schooner has only fore-and-aft sails.
A topsail schooner carries a square fore topsail and, frequently, topgallant sail and royal.
A main-topsail schooner is one that carries square topsails, fore and aft.
SCOPE -
The ratio of the length of an anchor line, from a vessel's bow to the anchor, to the depth of the water.
SCORE -
A groove in a block or dead-eye.
SCOTCHMAN -
A large batten placed over the turnings-in of rigging.
SCRAPER -
A small, triangular instrument, with a handle fitted to its center, and used for scraping decks and masts.
SCREW -
A boat's propeller.
SCROWL -
A piece of timber bolted to the knees of the head, in place of a figurehead.
SCUD -
To drive before a gale, with no sail, or only enough to keep the vessel ahead of the sea.
Also, low, thin clouds that fly swiftly before the wind.
SCULL -
A short oar.
To scull, is to impel a boat by one oar at the stern.
SCUPPERS -
Holes cut in the waterways for the water to run from the decks.
SCUTTLE -
A hole cut in a vessel's deck, as, a hatchway.
Also, a hole cut in any part of a vessel.
To scuttle, is to cut or bore holes in a vessel to make her sink.
SCUTTLE BUTT -
Formerly, cask in which fresh water was carried.
SEA ANCHOR -
Any device used to reduce a boat's drift before the wind.
SEA BATTERY -
Assault upon a seaman, by Master, while at sea.
SEA CAPTAIN -
That certification acknowledging a person's qualifications to command a sea-going vessel.
SEA DOG -
Experienced sailor.
SEAFARER -
One who earns his living at sea.
SEAMANLIKE -
Term applied to those whose demeanor is practiced, methodical, dependable.
SEA SMOKE -
Vapor rising from seas' surface, caused by cold wind blowing over the top of it.
SEAMS -
The intervals between planks on a vessel's deck or side.
SECOND GREASER -
Nickname once given to second mate.
SECURE -
To make fast.
SEIZE -
To fasten ropes together by turns of smaller strands or yarn.
SEIZINGS -
The fastenings of ropes that are seized together.
SELVAGEE -
A skein of rope-yarns or spun yarn, marled together. Used as a neat strap
SEND -
When a ship's head or stern pitches suddenly and violently into the trough of the sea.
SENNIT -
A braid, formed by plaiting rope-yarns or spun yarn together.
SERVE -
To wind small stuff, as rope yarns and spun yarn, round a rope, to keep it from chafing. It is wound and hove taut by a serving-board or mallet.
SET -
To set up rigging is to tauten it by tackles. The seizings are then applied.
SHACKLE -
A "U" shaped connector with a pin or bolt across the open end.
SHAKES -
The staves of hogsheads taken apart.
SHALLOP -
Sloop.
Also, small fishing vessel with foresail, boom mainsail, and mizzen trysail.
Also, small boat for one or two rowers.
SHANK -
The main piece in an anchor, at one end of which the stock is made fast, and at the other the arms.
SHANK-PAINTER -
A strong rope by which the lower part of the shank of an anchor is secured to the ships' side.
SHARP-UP -
Said of yards when braced as near fore-and-aft as possible.
SHEATHING -
A casing or covering on a vessel's bottom.
SHEARS -
Two or more spars, raised at angles and lashed together near their upper ends, used for taking in masts.
SHEAR HULK -
An old vessel fitted with shears, and used for taking out and putting in masts on other vessels.
SHEAR PIN -
A safety device, used to fasten a propeller to its shaft; it breaks when the propeller hits a solid object, thus preventing further damage.
SHEATHING -
Covering of a ships bottom against toredo worms or ice.
SHEAVE -
The wheel in a block upon which the rope works.
Sheave-hole; the place cut in a block for the ropes to reeve through.
SHEEP-SHANK -
A kind of hitch or bend, used to shorten a rope temporarily.
SHEER or SHEER-STRAKE -
The line of plank on a vessel's side, running fore-and-aft under the gunwale.
Also, a vessel's position when riding by a single anchor.
SHEET -
A rope used in setting a sail, to keep the clew down to it's place. With square sails, thesheets run through each yard-arm. With boom sails, they haul the boom over one way and the other. They keep down the inner clew of a studdingsail and the after clew of a jib.
SHEET-ANCHOR -
A vessel's largest anchor; not carried at the bow.
SHEET BEND -
A knot used to join two ropes. Functionally different from a square knot in that it can be used between lines of different diameters.
SHELF-ICE -
Ice composed of layers of soil that has yet to become firm or glacial.
SHELL -
The case of a block.
SHELLBACK -
Old, experienced seaman.
Also, popular dinghy.
SHINGLE - See ( BALLAST )
SHIP -
A larger vessel usually used for ocean travel. A vessel able to carry a "boat" on board.
SHIPMASTER -
Any person proved competent to command a ship. A Master Mariner.
SHIVER -
To shake the wind out of a sail by bracing it so that the wind strikes upon the leech.
SHOAL -
An offshore hazard to navigation at a depth of 16 fathoms (30 meters or 96 feet) or less, composed of unconsolidated material.
SHOE -
A piece of wood used for the bill of an anchor to rest on, to save the vessel's side.
Also, for the heels of shears, etc..
SHOE-BLOCK -
A block with two sheaves, one above the other, one horizontal, the other perpendicular.
SHORE -
A prop or stanchion, placed under a beam. To shore, to prop up.
SHOT-LINE -
Accurately marked line with weighted end to measure depth.
SHROUDS -
A set of ropes reaching from the mastheads to the vessels sides, to support the masts.
SIGHTING BOTTOM -
Dry docking, beaching, or careening a vessel to provide for careful examination of the vesel's bottom.
SILLS -
Pieces of timber put in horizontally between the frames to form and secure any opening, such as ports, etc..
SINGLING UP -
Reducing all ropes unwanted, leaving only a minimum number required for casting off.
SISTER-BLOCK -
A long piece of wood with two sheaves in it, one above the other with a score between them for a seizing, and a groove around the block lengthwise.
SKEG -
Metal extension on outboard motor's leg to protect propeller.
SKIDS -
Pieces of timber placed up and down a vessel's side, to bear any articles off clear that are hoisted in.
SKIN -
The part of a sail which is outside and covers the rest when it is furled.
Also, the side of the hold, as, an article is said to be stowed next to the skin.
SKY-SAIL -
A light sail next above the royal.
SKY-SCRAPER -
A name given a skysail when it is triangular.
SLABLINE -
A small line used to haul up the foot of a course.
SLACK -
Not fastened; loose. Also, to loosen.
SLACKWATER -
Period when there is no horizontal motion of the water. Tidal current is running neither in nor out.
SLEEPERS -
The knees that connect the transoms to the after timbers on a ship's quarter.
SLING -
To set items in ropes, so as to hoist or lower it.
SLINGS -
The ropes used for securing the center of a yard to the mast.
Yard-slings are often made of metal.
SLIP -
To let a cable go and stand out to sea.
Also, a reserved space for docking.
SLIP-ROPE
A rope bent to the cable just outside the hawse-hole, and brought in on the weather quarter, for slipping.
SLOB ICE -
Small amounts of loose or broken ice.
SLOOP -
A single masted vessel with working sails (main and jib) set fore and aft.
SLOOP-OF-WAR -
A vessel of any rig, mounting between 18 and 32 guns.
SLOP CHEST -
Locker inwhich is stowed clothing for issuance to crew.
SLUE -
To turn anything round or over.
SMALL STUFF -
The term for spun yarn, marline, and the smallest kinds of rope, such as ratline-stuff.
SMELLING GROUND -
When vessel is close enough to water's bottom to nearly touch it.
SNAKE -
To pass small-stuff across a seizing, with marling hitches at the outer turn.
SNATCH-BLOCK -
A single block, with an opening in its side below the sheave, or at the bottom, to receive the bight of a rope.
SNOTTER -
A rope going over a yard-arm, with an eye, used to bend a tripping line to in sending down topgallant and royal yards in sloops of war.
SNOW -
A kind of brig, formerly used.
SNUB -
To check a rope suddenly.
SNYING -
A term for a circular piece of wood edgewise, to work in the bows of a vessel.
SO! -
An order to 'vast hauling upon anything when it has come to its right position.
SOFT TACK -
Fresh bread.
SOLE -
A piece of wood fastened to the foot of the rudder, to make it level with the false keel.
SON OF A GUN -
Seaman who was born aboard a warship.
SOUND -
To get the depth of the water with a lead and line.
SPAN -
A rope with both ends made fast, for a purchase to be hooked to its bight.
SPANKER -
The after sail of a ship or bark. It is a fore-and-aft sail, setting with a boom and gaff.
SPAR -
The general terms for all masts, yards, booms, gaffs.
SPEED-TIME-DISTANCE FORMULA-
Distance = Speed x Time
Speed - Distance/Time
Time = Distance/Speed
SPELL -
The common term for a portion of time given to any activity.
Spell ho! is a request or order given to relieve another from work.
SPENCER -
A fore-and-aft sail, set with a gaff and no boom, and hoisting from a small mast called a spencer-mast, just aft the fore and main masts.
SPINDRIFT -
Scudding spray at sea, mostly on high winds.
SPINNAKER -
A large, light sail used in downwind sailing.
SPILL -
To shake the wind out of a sail by bracing it so that the wind may strike its leech and shiver it.
SPILLING LINE -
A rope used for spilling a sail. Rove in bad weather.
SPINDLE -
An iron pin upon which the capstan moves.
Also, a piece of timber forming the diameter of the main mast.
SPIRKETING -
The planks from the waterways to the port sills.
SPLICE -
To permanently join two ropes by tucking their strands alternately over and under each other.
SPLICE THE MAIN BRACE -
To issue an extra ration of rum.
Also, literal, although splicing the main brace was seldom done.
SPOONING -
Running directly before the wind.
SPOON-DRIFT -
Water swept from the tops of the waves by the violence of the wind in a tempest, and driven along before it, covering the surface of the sea.
SPRAY -
An occasional sprinkling dashed from the top of a wave by the wind, or by its striking an object.
SPREADERS -
Struts used to hold the shrouds away from the mast.
SPRING -
To crack or split a mast.
To spring a luff, is to force a vessel close to the wind, in sailing.
SPRING LINE -
A pivot line used in docking, undocking, or to prevent the boat from moving forward or astern while made fast to a dock.
SPRING-STAY -
A preventer stay, to assist the regular one.
SPRING-TIDES -
The highest and lowest course of tides, occurring every new and full moon.
SPRIT -
A small boom or gaff, used with some sails in small boats. The lower end rests in a becket or snotter by the foot of a mast, and the other end spreads and raises the outer upper corner of the sail, crossing it diagonally. A sail so rigged in a boat is called a sprit-sail.
SPRIT-SAIL-YARD -
A yard lashed across the bow-sprit or knight-heads, and used to spread the guys of the jib and flying jib-boom.
SPUME -
Froth of sea-foam.
SPUNYARN -
A cord formed by twisting together two or three rope-yarns.
SPURLING LINE -
A line communicating between the tiller and tell-tale.
SPURS -
Pieces of timber fixed on the bilge-ways, their upper ends being bolted to the sides above the water.
Also, curved wood, serving as half beams, to support the decks where whole beams cannot be placed.
SPUR SHOES -
Large pieces of timber that come aft the pump-well.
SQUALL -
A sudden, violent wind often accompanied by rain.
SQUARE -
Yards are squared when they are horizontal and at right angles with the keel. Squaring by the lifts makes them horizontal; and by the braces, males them at right angles with the vesel's line.
Also, the proper term for the length of yards. A vessel has square yards whe her yards are unusually long. A sail is said to be very square on the head when it is long on the head.
To square a yard, means to bring it in square by the braces.
SQUARE KNOT -
A knot used to join two lines of similar size. Also called a reef knot.
SQUARE SAIL -
A temporary sail, set at the fore-mast of a schooner or sloop when going before the wind.
STABBER -
A pricker.
STAFF -
A pole or mast, used to hoist flags upon.
STAITH -
Elevated structure from which loose cargo, such as wheat, coal, can be loaded onto a ship.
STANCHIONS -
Upright posts, placed so as to support the beams of a vessel.
Also, upright pieces of timber along the sides of a vessel, to support the bulwarks and rail, and reching down to the bends, by the side of the timbers, to which they are bolted.
Also, any fixed, upright support; as to an awning, or for the man-ropes.
STAND BY! -
An order to be prepared.
STANDARD -
An inverted knee, placed above the deck instead of beneath it.
STAND OF THE TIDE -
Period when there is no vertical motion of the water..Top of high water time..Bottom of low water time.
STANDING RIGGING -
That part of a line which is made fast. The main part of a line as distinguished from the bight and the end.
STAND-ON VESSEL -
That vessel which continues its course in the same direction at the same speed during a crossing or overtaking situation, unless a collision appears imminent. (Was formerly called "the privileged vessel.")
STARBOARD -
The right side of a boat when looking forward.
STARBOARD TACK -
A course with the wind coming from starboard, and the boom on the port side.
STARBOWLINES -
Term for those on the starboard watch.
STAVE OFF -
To cast off with a pole or other object.
STAY -
To tack a vessel, or put her about, so that the wind, from being on one side, is brought upon the other, round the vessel's head.
To stay a mast, is to incline it forward or aft, or to one side or the other, by the stays or backstays.
Thus, a mast is said to be stayed too much fore or aft, or port, etc..
STAYS -
Large ropes, used to support masts, and leading from the head of some mast down to some other mast, or to some part of the vessel. Those which lead forward are called fore-and-aft stays, and those which lead down to the vessel's side are called backstays.
STAYSAIL -
A sail which hoists upon a stay.
STAYSAIL SCHOONER -
A schooner rigged with fore-and-aft sails only, most of them setting on stays.
STEADY! -
An order to keep the helm as it is.
STEERAGE -
That part of the between-decks which is just forward of the cabin.
STEEVE -
A bowsprit steeves, more or less, according to how it is raised from the horizontal
STEM -
A piece of timber reaching from the forward end of the keel, to which it is scarfed, up to the bowsprit,
and to which the two sides of the vessel are united.
STEMMING -
Maintaining position in a river.
Also, reporting ship's arrival to proper authorities.
STEMSON -
A piece of compass timber, fixed on the afterpart of the apron inside. The lower end is scarfed into the keelson, and receives the scarf of the stem, through which it is bolted.
STEP -
A block of wood secured to the keel, into which the heel of the mast is placed.
To step a mast, is to put it in its step.
STERN -
The after part (back) of the boat.
STERN-BOARD -
The motion of a vessel when going stern foremost.
STERN-FRAME -
The frame composed of the stern-post transom and the fashion-pieces.
STERN LINE -
A docking line leading away from the stern.
STERN-POST -
The aftermost timber in a ship, reaching from the afterend of the keel to the deck. The stem and stern-post are the two extremes of a vessel's frame.
Inner stern post. A post on the inside, corresponding to the stern-post.
STERN-SHEETS -
The after part of a boat, abaft the rowers, where the passengers sit.
STIFF -
The quality of a vessel which enables it to carry a great deal of sail without lying over too much on her side. The opposite being crank.
STIRRUPS -
Ropes with thimbles at their ends, through which the foot-ropes are rove, and by which they are kept under the yards.
STOCK -
A beam of wood, or bar of iron, secured to the upper end of the shank of an anchor, at right angles with the arms.
STOCKS -
The frame upon which a vessel is built.
STOCK ANCHOR -
The traditional anchor which has a fixed stock at right angles to the shank.
STOCKLESS ANCHOR -
An anchor in which the flukes can be folded and the shank hauled up into the hawse-pipe.
STOOLS -
Small channels for the dead-eyes of the backstays.
STOPPER -
A stout rope with a knot at one end, and sometimes a hook at the other, used for various purposes on deck.
STOPPER-BOLTS -
Ring bolts to which the deck stoppers are secured.
STOP -
A fastening of small stuff.
Also, small projections on the outside of the cheeks of a lower mast, at the upper parts of the hounds.
STORM BOUND -
Unable to proceed because of inclement weather.
STOW -
To pack or store away; especially, to pack in an orderly, compact manner.
STRAND -
A number of rope-yarns twisted together. Three, four or nine strands twisted together form a rope.
A rope is stranded when one of its strands is parted or broken by chafing or strain.
A vessel is stranded when she is driven ashore.
STRAP -
A piece of rope spliced around a block to keep its parts well together. Some blocks have iron straps, in which case they are called iron bound.
STREAK or STRAKE -
A range of planks running fore-and-aft on a vessel's side.
STREAM -
The stream anchor is one used for warping. Sometimes used as a light anchor to moor by, with a hawser. It is smaller than the bowers, and larger than the kedges.
STRETCH OFF THE LAND -
Old term for catching sleep.
STRETCHERS -
Pieces of wood placed across a boat's bottom, inside, for oarsmen to press their feet against when rowing.
Also, cross-pieces placed between a boat's sides to keep them apart when hoisted up and griped.
STRIKE -
To lower a sail or colors.
STUDDINGSAILS -
Light sails set outside the square sails, on booms rigged out for that purpose. They are only carried with a fair wind and in moderate weather.
SUED or SEWED -
The condition of a ship when she is high and dry on shore.
SUN OVER FOREYARD -
Slang for drinking time.
SUPPORTERS -
The knee-timbers under the cat-heads.
SURF -
The breaking of the sea upon the shore.
SURGE -
A large, swelling wave.
To surge a rope or cable, is to slack it up suddenly where it renders round a pin, or round the windlass of a capstan.
Surge Ho! The notice given when a cable is to be surged.
SWAB -
A mop, formed of old ropes, for cleaning decks.
SWALLOW THE ANCHOR -
To leave the sea once and for all.
SWAMP -
To fill with water, but not settle to the bottom.
SWEAT UP -
To haul up a line to the last possible inch.
SWEEP -
To drag the bottom for an anchor.
Also, large oars used in small vessels to force them ahead.
SWELL -
Succession of long, unbroken waves. Generally occurs due to far off winds.
SWIFT -
To bring two shrouds or stays close together by rope.
SWIFTER -
The forward shroud to a lower mast.
Also, ropes used to confine the capstan bars to their places when shipped.
SWIG -
Term used for hauling off upon the bight of a rope when its lower end is fast.
SWIVEL -
A long link of iron, used in chain cables, made so as to turn upon an axis and keep the turns out of the chains.
SYPHERING -
Lapping the edges of planks over each other for a bulkhead.
Corrections, Additions & Clarifications - MMNETSEA
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