Thomas Riley Blanckley

“ Water-born Is when a Ship, even and just with the Ground, first begins to float or swim, being born up by the Water. Water Line Is that which goes round the Ship at the Surface of the Water, and shews the true Shape of her Body. Water Shot Is a Sort of riding at Anchor, when a Ship is moared neither a-cross the Tide, nor right up and down, but betwixt both. Water ways Is that Strake of Plank on the Flat of each Deck respectively next the Ship's Side, for turning the Water out of the Seams. ”

“ Head Sails Are those Sails which belong to the Foremast and Bowsprit, because they govern the Head of the Ship, and make her fall off, or keep out of the Wind, and are in quarter Winds the chief drawing Sails. ”

“ Stretch When a Ship with all her Sails drawing, steers out of a Road where she has lain at an Anchor, then they say she is stretching away for Sea. Strike A Word variously used. When a Ship in Fight, or on meeting with a Man of War, lets down or lowers her Topsails at least half Mast high, she Strikes, meaning, she yields or submits, or pays her Devoir to the Man of War she passes by. When a Ship touches Ground in Shoal Water, they say, she Strikes. ”

“ Spindle Is the smallest Part of a Ship's Capston; and where the Vane flies at the Mast Head, is also called a Spindle, and made of Iron. Spitts Are allowed the Boatswains, and used for roasting the Officers Victuals. Spirketing Are Strakes of thick Plank wrought from the lower Edge of each Port to each Deck respectively within Side of the Ship. Splice When the Ends of two Pieces of Cable or Rope are untwisted, and the several Strands are wrought into one another by a Fid, it is called a Splice. [Pg 157] Split When a Sail is blown to pieces, it is Split. ”

“ Taunt When the Masts of a Ship are too tall, they say, She is Taunt masted. Tier The several Ranks of Guns placed on the Decks are called the Lower, Middle, or Upper Tier. Tender Is a small Vessel taken up on Contract for attending the Men of War, and employed for pressing Seamen, &c. Thauts Are for the Men which row the Boats to sit on. Thimbles Are a Sort of round Rings, whose Edges are turned up, and the Ropes go round in the hollow Part of the Outside of them when they are seized, in order to prevent the Tackle Hook from galling the Rope. ”

“ Ride A Ship is said to Ride, when her Anchors hold fast, so that she drives not away by the Force of Wind or Tide; and a Ship is said to Ride well when in a Head Sea, so as that the Waves do not wash over her. Ride Betwixt Wind and Tide When the Wind hath equal Force over her one Way, and the Tide another; but if the Wind hath more Power over her than the Tide, she is said to Ride Wind Rode. A Cross When she Rides with her Fore and Main-Yards hoisted up. Hawse-full When in Stress of Weather she falls so deep into the Sea with her Head, that Water runs in at her Hawses. ”

“ Horse Is a Rope in a Ship made fast at each Yard Arm, and on which the Men stand to furl the Sails; and is also a Frame of Wood the Riggers make use of to woold Ships Masts, which hath a Rowl fixed in it, whereon several Turns are taken for heaving the Rope taught round the Mast before the Nails are drove through the Rope. Horse Irons Used by the Caulkers, when they cannot come at a Seam with their common Irons. ”

“ Standing Rigging Are those Ropes which do not run in any Block, but are set taught, or let slack, as occasion serves, as the Shrouds, Stays, Back-stays, &c. Standards Are a Sort of Knees fay'd from the Deck to the Sides of the Ship within-board, to strengthen her in the same Manner as Knees, but are bigger. Stantions Iron Are fixed on the Quarters of a Ship, to which the Nettings are generally seized; they stand likewise in the Waste, at the Entering Place, and in the Tops. Wood Are those Timbers which being set up Pillarwise, do support and strengthen the Decks, &c. ”

“ Trim Of a Ship, is her best Posture, with respect to her Proportion of Ballast, the standing of her Masts, &c. for Sailing, and the best Way to make her Sail well, and to find her Trim, depends very much on Experience and Judgment. Trise For hauling up any Thing by a single Rope, that do not run in a Block, but is done by Hand or main Strength. Thus if any Cask, Chest, or other Goods hath only a Rope fastened to it, and without a Tackle is pulled up into the Ship by Hand, it is Trised up. Trivets Are used by the Caulkers for large Kettles to stand on for heating Stuff when Paying Ships. ”

“ Founder A Ship is said to Founder, when by any extraordinary Leak, or by a great Sea, breaking in upon her, she is filled with Water, that she cannot be freed of it, nor able to swim under it, but sinks with the Weight thereof. Free The Pump Frees a Ship when it throws out more Water than Leaks into her ”

“ A Dry-Dock, the Water is kept out by Gates, 'till a Ship is built or repaired, but after that, can easily be let in to Float and Launch her. A Wet-Dock is a Place where a Ship lies a Float at all Times of Tide to be repaired in. Dogger A small Vessel built after the Dutch fashion, with a narrow Stern, and commonly but one Mast. Doggs Fire To burn Wood on. Timber Are drove into Timber for Horses to draw it about the Yard, or to the Saw-pits. Drabler Made of Canvas, to be added to a Bonnet when there is need of more Sail. ”

“ Gripe Is a Piece of Timber fay'd against the lower Piece of the Stem, from the Fore-mast End of the Keel, reconciling with the Knee of the Head; its Use is to defend the lower Part of the Stem from any Injury, but is often made the larger to make the Ship keep a good Wind. Gromets Are small Rings formerly fastened with Staples to the Yards, to make fast the Gaskets, but now never used. Ground-tackle Is a Ship's Anchors, Cables, &c. and in general whatever is necessary to make her ride safe at an Anchor. Grounding Is bringing a Ship on Ground to be clean'd, trim'd, or have a Leak stop'd. ”

“ Seams Are where the Planks of a Ship, or Boards in a Boat meet and join together; also Sails are sewed with a flat or round Seam. Sea Yoke When the Sea is so rough that the Helm cannot be governed by Hand, they make a Yoke to steer by, having two Blocks seized to the End of the Helm or Tiller, and reeving two Falls through them, they govern the Helm. ”

“ Viol A Cable-laid Rope, which being reeved through a large Block lashed at the Main-mast, is made use of by heaving at the Jeer Capston to weigh the Anchor when Nippers are brought on about the Cable. Vinegar Is allowed for washing the Ships between Decks when abroad, for preventing any Contagion spreading among the Men. Umbrello's Are Screens hung at the Stern over the Ship's Lights, to keep out the Sun, and are generally covered with Canvas or Kersey. Unmoar When a Ship or Vessel that Rides at two Anchors begins to get them up in order to Sail, she is Unmoaring. ”

“ Gallery Is that beautiful Frame, which is made at the Stern of a Ship without-board, into which there is a Passage out of the Admiral's or Captain's Cabbin, and are for stately Shew and Ornament to the Ship. Gally Is a Place in the Cook-Room, where the Grates are set up, and in which they make Fires, for boyling or roasting the Victuals. Gammoning Are several turns of Rope taken round the Bowsprit, and reeved through Holes in the Knee of the Head, for the greater Security of the Bowsprit. ”

“ Lighters Are made use of for laying down or shifting the Moarings; for bringing a-shore or carrying off Ships Cables, Anchors, &c. or taking in Ballast out of Ships that are to be docked, &c. Pinks Are masted, and sail with three Masts, Ship fashion, but round sterned, with a small Lute or Projection Abaft over the Rother. Punts Are built four square, and used about the Docks for fetching Clay, and other Services as the Master Shipwright wants them for. Shallop Is a small Light Vessel, with only a small Main and Fore-mast, and Lugg-sails to haul up and let down on Occasion. ”

“ Stirrup Is an Iron Plate that turns up on each Side of a Ship's Keel, at her Fore-foot or Stern, where it is bolted. Stoaked When the Water in the Bottom of a Ship cannot come to the Well, or pass through the Limber-holes, but something Choaks them up, so that the Pumps will not work, then they say she is Stoaked. Stocks A Ship is said to be on the Stocks when building. ”

“ Crank A Term for a Ship that cannot bear her Sails for fear of overseting, or cannot be brought on Ground without Danger of injureing her Body. Cranks Bell Made fast to the Stock, for ringing it. Lantern Supports the Lanterns, either at the Ship's Stern, or at the Round Top. Creeper Made like a Grapnel, but without Flooks, the Use of which is to recover sunken Stores that may be lost over-board. Cringles Are small Pieces of Rope spliced into the Body Rope of Courses and Topsails, and are, First, The Bowline Cringle, to which the Bowline Bridle is fastened. ”

“ Fish Pendant Hangs at the End of the Davit, by the Strap of the Block, to which the Fish Hook is spliced, by which means the Flook of the Anchor is hawled up to the Ship's Bow or Chanwaal. Flareing When a Ship is a little housing in, near the Water, and the upper Work hangs over, or is broader aloft. Flatts Is a Midship, and as many Timbers Afore and Abaft, that has no more riseing than the Midship Flatt, are all called Flatts. Flitting Altering or removing a dead Eye in the Low or Top-mast Shrouds and Backstays, either to lengthen or shorten them, is called Flitting. ”

“ Gunwale Is the Top of the Side in the Wast of all Ships, &c. on the Fore-castle, where there are no Ports, is a Plansheer, over which the Guns are fired, but in Boats all Fore and Aft. Guy Is any Rope, used for keeping off Things from bearing or falling against the Ship's Side, when they are to be hoisted in; that Rope also which is made fast to the Fore-mast at one End, and seized to a single Block at the Pendant of the Garnet, is also called the Guy of the Garnet. Haile Is either to call to a Ship, to know from whence she is, where bound, salute her, or to wish her Health. ”

“ Riders Are Timbers of a large Scantling fay'd within Side of the Foot Waaling; the Floor Riders are wrought over the Keelson; and the lower Futtock Riders Scarphs to the Floor Riders from the Keelson to the Orlop Beams. Rigging Are all the Ropes whatsoever belonging to a Ship's Masts, Yards, or any Part about her; and she is well rigg'd when all her Ropes are of their fit Length and Size, in Proportion to her Burden. Right the Helm A Sea Phrase used by him that Conds to the Men at the Helm or Steering Wheel, ordering them to keep the Helm even in the Middle of the Ship. ”

“ Iron Sick A Ship or Boat is said to be Iron-sick, when her Bolts or Nails are so eaten with Rust, and so worn away, that they make hollows in the Planks, so as to make the Ship Leaky. Junk Is old Cables cut into short Lengths, and issued to Boatswains for making Swabs, Platts and Nippers; to Carpenters of Ships, and to poor People to be picked into Ocham, for Caulking Ships Sides, Decks, &c. [Pg 84] Jury Mast Whatever is set up in the Room of a Mast lost in a Fight, or by a Storm, and fastened into the Partners, and fitted with a lesser Yard, Sails and Ropes, is called a Jury Mast, &c. ”

“ Wedges Wood Are made out of Beech or Elm for splitting Wood, or to be put between the Wrain Staves and Ships Sides for setting too of Planks, and for barring in of Ports, &c. Weighing Is drawing up an Anchor out of the Ground, in order to set Sail. Welding When the Smiths give their Iron a proper Heat in the Forge, in order to double up the same when wanted to weld a Work in the Doublings, so as to be in one Piece thick enough for the Purpose it is wanted for. Well A square Place, parted off and planked round the Main-mast from the Gundeck down to the Foot-waaling, to keep the Ballast, &c. ”

“ Riseing Are Pieces of Timber put on the Keel one upon another Afore and Abaft; there is more or less according as the Ship is either full or lean; if the latter, the dead Wood is so put that the Floor Timbers would be within a Square. Water Is the Water just behind the Stern of a Ship, and if a great Eddy follows her, they say, she makes much Dead-water; this is called so, because it doth not pass away so swiftly as the Water running by her Side. Deals Ordinary Are used by the House Carpenters and Joyners for Flooring, making Bulk-heads, &c. ”

“ Triangles Are made out of large Spars, having their lower Ends ferrilled with a Ring, and a Spud drove into them, which runs into the Ground to steddy them; their upper End has a Bolt that goes through the three Parts, where a Staple is fixed for hanging a Scale Beam, when they are made use of for weighing Stores without Doors, as are received or delivered into the Yard. Trip A Ship goes with her Topsails a Trip she carries them hoisted up to the highest, and when the Wind blows not too hard. ”

“ All which, as Post Transoms, and Fashion Pieces, being framed together, is commonly called the Stern Frame. Traverse A Ship when she makes Angles in and out, and cannot keep directly to her true Course, is called a Traverse. ”

“ Bucklers Are to prevent the Water washing in at the Hawse-holes. Buildgeways A Frame of Timber fayd to the Outside of a Ship under her Buildge, for the more securely and commodiously launching her. Bulk of a Ship Is her whole Content in the Hold for Stowage. Bulkhead Is a Partition that goes athwart the Ship, as at the great Cabbin, Steerage and Forecastle, &c. Bunt Is the middle Part of the Sail, when formed into a Kind of Bag or Cavity, that the Sail may receive the more Wind, and is chiefly used in Top-sails. ”

“ Hold Fasts Are made of Iron, used by Joyners, House Carpenters, or Carvers; goes through their Benches to hold fast such Work as cannot be finished by its being held in the Hand. Hold Off Is a Term used in weighing the Anchor, when the Voyal is about the Capston; for if the Cables are stiff, or have lain long in Oazy Ground, unless that Part of the Cable heaving in, be hawled away hard by the Capston, the Voyal will surge or slip back, therefore must be hawled away as fast as it comes in, so as that it may keep close about the Whelps ”

“ Screws Wood Are for lifting great Bodies, and are generally placed at the Bow of a Ship when to be launched off a Slip, to start her. Scribeing In Joynery, &c. is when one Side of a Piece of Stuff being fitted to the Side of some other Piece, which last is not Regular, to make the two close together all the Way. Scuppers Are made of Leather, and laid to convey the Water from off the Ship's Decks, for which Holes are cut in the Ship's Sides. Scuttles Are square Holes big enough for the Body of a Man to go down on Occasion into any Room below ”

“ Float Is an Instrument used by the Smiths to make their Work smooth, instead of a File. Floor Are those Timbers lying transverse to the Keel, being bolted through it; they are the first laid in the Order of building, and where the Floor sweep begins, there the Streight one Ends; and when there is a great many Flatts, that has little or no rising, than we say, She carries her Floor a great Way Fore and Aft. And strictly taken, is so much only of her Bottom as she rests upon, when lying a-ground. Flown Sheats A ship sails with Flown Sheats when they are not hauled Home, or close to the Blocks ”