Sailor's Word-book, A - C — Bo - Bon
BO.
Abbreviation of _boy_.
A familiar epithet for a comrade, derived probably from the negro.
BOADNASH.
Buckhemshein coins of Barbary.
BOANGA.
A Malay piratical vessel, impelled by oars.
BOARD.
Certain offices under the control of the executive government, where the business of any particular department is carried on: as the Board of Admiralty, the Navy Board, Board of Ordnance, India Board, Board of Trade, &c. Also, timber sawn to a less thickness than plank: all broad stuff of under 1-1/2 inch in thickness.
(_See_ PLANK.
) Also, the space comprehended between any two places when the ship changes her course by tacking; or, it is the line over which she runs between tack and tack when working to windward, or sailing against the direction of the wind.
--_To make a good board.
_ To sail in a straight line when close-hauled, without deviating to leeward.
--_To make short boards_, is to tack frequently before the ship has run any great length of way.
--_To make a stern board_, is when by a current, or any other accident, the vessel comes head to wind, the helm is shifted, and she has fallen back on the opposite tack, losing what she had gained, instead of having advanced beyond it.
To make a stern board is frequently a very critical as well as seamanlike operation, as in very close channels.
The vessel is allowed to run up into the wind until she has shot up to the weather danger; the helm is then shifted, and with all aback forward, she falls short off on the opposite tack.
Such is also achieved at anchor in club-hauling (which see).
--_To board a ship_, is to enter her in a hostile manner in order to take forcible possession of her, either from the attacking ship or by armed boats.
The word _board_ has various other applications among seamen:--_To go aboard_ signifies to go into the ship.
--_To slip by the board_, is to slip down a ship's side.
--_To board it up_, is to beat up, sometimes on one tack and sometimes on another.
--_The weather-board_ is the side of the ship which is to windward.
--_By the board_, close to a ship's deck.
BOARD AND BOARD.
Alongside, as when two ships touch each other.
BOARDERS.
Sailors appointed to make an attack by boarding, or to repel such attempt from the enemy.
Four men selected from each gun were generally allotted as boarders, also to trim sails, tend pumps, repair rigging, &c. BOARD HIM.
A colloquialism for I'll ask, demand, or accost him.
Hence Shakspeare makes Polonius say of Hamlet, "I'll board him presently."
To make acquaintance with; to fasten on.
BOARD HIM IN THE SMOKE.
To take a person by surprise, as by firing a broadside, and boarding in the smoke.
BOARDING.
An assault made by one vessel on another, by entering her in battle with a detachment of armed men.
BOARDING-BOOK.
A register which has for its object the recording all particulars relative to every ship boarded, a copy of which is transmitted to the admiral under whose orders the ship is employed.
(_See_ GUARD-BOOK.
) BOARDING-NETTINGS.
A framework of stout rope-netting placed where necessary, to obstruct an enemy's boarders.
BOARDING-PIKE.
A defensive lance against boarders.
BOARDLINGS.
Flippant understrappers of the admiralty and navy-boards.
BOARD OF TRADE.
A committee of the Privy Council appointed for the consideration of commercial matters.
BOAT.
A small open vessel, conducted on the water by rowing or sailing.
The construction, machinery, and even the names of boats, are very different, according to the various purposes for which they are calculated, and the services on which they are employed.
Thus we have the long-boat and the jolly-boat, life-boat and gun-boat, but they will appear under their respective appellations.
--_A bold boat_, one that will endure a rough sea well.
--_Man the boat_, send the crew in to row and manage it.
BOATABLE.
Water navigable for boats and small river-craft.
BOAT-BUOYS.
Means added to increase the buoyancy of life-boats, &c. BOAT-CHOCKS.
Clamps of wood upon which a boat rests when stowed on a vessel's deck.
BOAT-CLOAK.
A mantle for the officer going on duty; when left in the boat it is in the coxswain's charge.
BOAT-DAVIT.
A curved piece of timber with a sheave at its outer end, which projects over the boat's stern, while the inner end is shipped into a cleat on each side of the bottom of the boat, for weighing anchors when needed.
(_See_ DAVIT.
) BOAT-FAST.
_See_ PAINTER.
BOAT-GEER.
A general name for the rigging and furniture of a boat.
BOAT-HIRE.
Expenses for the use of shore-boats.
BOAT-HOOK.
An iron hook with a straight prong at its hinder part; it is fixed upon a pole, by the help of which a boat is either pulled to, or pushed off from, any place, and is capable of holding on by anything.
BOATILA.
A narrow-sterned, flat-bottomed boat of the Gulf of Manar.
BOATING.
Transporting men, munitions, or goods, in boats.
BOAT-KEEPER.
One of the boat's crew who remains in charge of her during the absence of the others.
In small vessels he is sometimes called the boatman.
BOAT-NAILS.
Those supplied for the carpenter's use are of various lengths, generally rose-headed, square at the points, and made both of copper and iron.
(_See_ NAILS.
) BOAT-ROPE.
A separate rope veered to the boat to be towed at the ship's stern.
BOAT'S CREW.
The men appointed as the crew of any particular boat, as the barge's crew, cutter's crew, &c. BOAT'S-GRIPES.
Lashings for the secure stowage of boats.
(_See_ GRIPES.
) BOAT-SKIDS.
Portable pieces of plank used to prevent chafing when a boat is hoisted or lowered.
(_See_ SKIDS.
) BOATSWAIN.
The officer who superintends the boat-sails, ship's-sails, rigging, canvas, colours, anchors, cables and cordage, committed to his charge.
He ought also to take care that the blocks and running ropes are regularly placed to answer the purposes for which they are intended, and that the sails are properly fitted to their yards and stays, and well-furled or reefed when occasion requires.
He pipes the hands to their several duties, seeing that they attend his call, and ought to be in every way a thorough seaman.
Although termed boatswain, the boats are not in his charge.
They, with the spars, &c. , and stores for repair, belong to the carpenter.
The boatswain is the officer of the first lieutenant; he gives no order, but reports defects, and carries out the will of his superior.
BOATSWAIN-BIRD.
_Phaethon aethereus_, a tropical bird, so called from its sort of whistle.
It is distinguished by two long feathers in the tail, called the marling-spike.
BOATSWAIN-CAPTAIN.
An epithet given by certain popinjays in the service to such of their betters as fully understand the various duties of their station.
BOATSWAIN'S MATE.
Is an assistant to the boatswain, who had the peculiar command of the long-boat.
He summons the watch or crew by his whistle, and during his watch looks to the decks, and has peculiar calls for "grog," "'bout ship," "pipe to breakfast," "sweepers," &c. BOATSWAIN'S STORE-ROOM.
Built expressly for boatswain's stores, on a platform or light deck.
BOATSWAIN'S YEOMAN.
_See_ YEOMAN.
BOAT THE ANCHOR.
Place the anchor in-board in the boat.
BOAT THE OARS.
Put them in their proper places fore and aft on the thwarts ready for use.
BOB.
A knot of worms on a string, used in fishing for eels; also colloquially, it means a berth.
--_Shift your bob_, to move about, to dodge, to fish.
--_Bear a bob_, make haste, be brisk.
BOB.
The ball or balance-weight of a clock's pendulum; the weight attached to the plumb-line.
BOBBERY.
A disturbance, row, or squabble; a term much used in the East Indies and China.
BOBBING.
A particular method of fishing for eels-- "His hook he bated with a dragon's tail, And sat upon a rock, and bobb'd for whale."
BOBBING ABOUT.
Heaving and setting without making any way.
BOBBLE.
The state of waves when dashing about without any regular set or direction, as in cross tides or currents.
BOBSTAY-COLLARS.
These are made with large rope, and an eye spliced in each end; they are secured round the bowsprit, on the upper side, with a rose lashing.
They are almost entirely superseded by iron bands.
BOBSTAY-HOLES.
Those cut through the fore-part of the knee of the head, between the cheeks, for the admission of the bobstay; they are not much used now, as chain bobstays are almost universal, which are secured to plates by shackles.
BOBSTAY-PLATES.
Iron plates by which the lower end of the bobstay is attached to the stem.
BOBSTAYS.
Ropes or chains used to confine the bowsprit downward to the stem or cut-water.
They are fitted in various ways.
Their use is to counteract the strain of the foremast-stays, which draw it upwards.
The bowsprit is also fortified by shrouds from the bows on each side, which are all very necessary, as the fore-mast and the upper spars on the main-mast are stayed and greatly supported by the bowsprit.
BOCCA.
[Sp.
_boca_, mouth.
] Is a term used both in the Levant, and on the north coast of South America, or the Spanish Main, for a mouth or channel into any port or harbour, or the entrance into a sound which has a passage out by a contrary way.
--_Bocca Tigris_, Canton River.
BODIES.
The figure of a ship, abstractedly considered, is divided into different parts or figures, each of which has the appellation body, as fore-body, midship-body, square-body, &c. BODKIN.
A dirk or dagger, a word still in use, though Johnson says it is the oldest acceptation of it.
It is the _bodekin_ of Chaucer; and Shakspeare makes Hamlet ask who would bear the ills of life, "When he himself might his quietus make With a bare bodkin?"
BODY.
The principal corps of an army, or the main strength of a fleet.
BODY, OF A PLACE.
In fortification, the space inclosed by the enceinte, or line of bastions and curtains.
BODY-HOOPS.
Those which secure the aris pieces of a made mast.
BODY-PLAN.
The draught of a proposed ship, showing the breadth and timbers; it is a section supposed to cut the vessel through the broadest part; it is otherwise called the plan of projection.
BODY-POST.
An additional stern-post introduced at the fore-part of an aperture cut in the dead-wood in a ship fitted with a screw-propeller.
BOG.
A marsh, or a tract of land, which from its form and impermeable bottom retains stagnant water.
(_See_ QUAGMIRE.
) BOG-BLUTER.
A northern name for the bittern, from its habit of thrusting its bill into marshy places.
BOG-TROTTER.
Any one who lives among marshy moors, but generally applied to the Emeralders.
BOGUE, TO.
To drop off from the wind.
To edge away to leeward with the wind; not holding a good wind, and driving very much to leeward.
Used only to clumsy inferior craft.
BOGUE.
Mouth of a river; hence disembogue.
Bogue forts, China.
BOHEMIAN.
A conceited dawdler in his duties.
Shakspeare ridicules Simple as a Bohemian Tartar; both of which terms were applied to gipsies.
BOILER.
Of a steam-engine, made of wrought iron, or copper-plates, which being partly filled with water, and having fire applied to the outside, generates steam to supply the engine.
BOILERS.
Termed coppers; the ship's cooking utensils, of iron or copper.
BOILING.
The "whole boiling" means the entire quantity, or whole party;
applied to number or quantity.
A contemptuous epithet.
BOLD-BOW.
A broad bluff bow.
BOLDERING WEATHER.
Cloudy and thundery.
BOLD-SHORE.
A steep coast where the water, deepening rapidly, admits the near approach of shipping without the danger of grounding.
BOLD-TO.
Applied to land; the same as steep-to.
BOLE.
A small boat.
BOLIDE.
A name for aerolite (which see).
BOLINE.
_See_ BOWLINE.
_Clavus in navi.
_ BOLLAN.
The Manx or Gaelic term for the fish old-wife.
BOLLARD.
A thick piece of wood on the head of a whale-boat, round which the harpooner gives the line a turn, in order to veer it steadily, and check the animal's velocity.
Also a strong timber fixed vertically into the ground, part being left above it, on which to fasten ropes.
Also a lighter sort of dolphin for attaching vessels to.
Wharves have bollards to which vessels are secured when alongside.
BOLLARD-TIMBERS.
Two pieces of oak, usually called knight-heads (which see).
BOLLING OR BOWLING AWAY.
Going with a free wind.
BOLME.
An old term for a waterman's pole or boom.
BOLOTO.
A small boat of the Philippines and Moluccas.
BOLSTERS.
Small cushions or bags of tarred canvas, used to preserve the stays from being chafed by the motion of the masts, when the ship pitches at sea.
Pieces of soft wood covered with canvas, placed on the trestle-trees, for the eyes of the rigging to rest upon, and prevent a sharp nip.
Also pieces of oak timber fayed to the curvature of the bow, under the hawse-holes, and down upon the upper cheek, to prevent the cable from rubbing against the cheeks.
--_Bolsters_ for sheets, tacks, &c. , are small pieces of fir or oak, fayed under the gunwale, or other part, with the outer surface rounded to prevent chafing.
--_Bolsters_, for the anchor lining.
Solid pieces of oak bolted to the ship's side at the fore part of the fore-chains on which the stanchions are fixed that receive the anchor lining.
BOLT.
A cylindrical pin of iron or copper to unite the different parts of a vessel, varied in form according to the places where they are required.
In ship-building square ones are used in frame-fastening; the heads of all bolts are round, saucer, or collared.
--_Bolt of the irons_, which runs through three pairs of shackles.
--_Drift_ or _drive-bolts_ are used to drive out others.
--_Bay-bolts_, have jags or barbs on each side, to keep them from flying out of their holes.
--_Clench-bolts_ are clenched with rivetting hammers.
--_Fend_ or _fender bolts_, made with long and thick heads, and struck into the outermost bends of the ship, to save her sides from bruises.
--_Forelock-bolts_ have at the end a forelock of iron driven in, to keep them from starting back.
--_Set-bolts_ are used for forcing the planks, and bringing them close together.
--_Ring-bolts_ are used for the bringing to of the planks, and those parts whereto are fastened the breeches and tackle of the guns.
--_Scarp-bolts_ and _keel-bolts_, pointed, not clinched, used for false keel or temporary purposes.
--_Bringing-to bolts_, fitted with an eye at one end, and a nut and screw at the other, for bringing to the ends at the stem, &c. --_To bolt_, to start off, to run away.
BOLT-BOAT.
An old term for a boat which makes good weather in a rough sea.
BOLTING TIMBERS.
Those on each side of the stem, continued up for the security of the bowsprit.
(_See_ KNIGHT-HEADS.
) BOLT OF CANVAS.
The piece or roll of 39 yards in which it is supplied, but which usually measure about 40 yards in length; it is generally from 22 to 30 inches wide.
BOLT-ROPE.
A rope sewed all round the edge of the sail, to prevent the canvas from tearing.
The bottom part of it is called the foot-rope, the sides leech-ropes, and if the sail be oblong or square the upper part is called the head-rope; the stay or weather rope of fore-and-aft sails is termed the luff.
BOLTROPE-NEEDLE.
A strong needle for stitching the sail to the bolt-ropes.
BOLT-SPRIT.
_See_ BOWSPRIT.
BOLT-STRAKE.
Certain strakes of plank which the beam fastenings pass through.
BOLT-TOE.
The cock of a gun-lock.
BOMB [formerly _bomber_, from _bomba_].
The mortar of bomb-vessels.
BOMB OR MORTAR VESSELS.
Small ships fortified for throwing bombs into a fortress; said to be the invention of M. Reyneau, and to have been first used at the bombardment of Algiers in 1682. Until then it had been judged impracticable to bombard a place from the sea.
BOMBALO.
A delicate kind of sand-eel taken in quantities at Bombay.
BOMBARD.
A piece of ordnance, anciently in use before the introduction of more complete cannon with improved gunpowder, propelling iron balls.
Its bore, for the projection of stone shot, sometimes exceeded 20 inches in diameter, but was short; its chamber, for containing the powder-charge, being about as long, but much narrower both within and without.
There were also very diminutive varieties of it.
It has been vaguely called by some writers _basilisk_, and by the Dutch _donderbass_.
Used to assail a town, fortress, or fleet, by the projection of shells from mortars.
It was also the name of a barrel, or large vessel for liquids; hence, among other choice epithets, Prince Henry calls that "tun of man," Falstaff, a "huge bombard of sack."
Also, a Mediterranean vessel, with two masts like the English ketch.
BOMB-BED BEAMS.
The beams which support the bomb-bed in bomb-vessels.
BOMB-BEDS.
_See_ BED OF A MORTAR.
BOMBO.
Weak cold punch.
BOMB-SHELL.
A large hollow ball of cast-iron, for throwing from mortars (distinguished by having ears or lugs, by which to lift it with the shell-hooks into the mortar), and having a hole to receive the fuze, which communicates ignition to the charge contained in the shell.
(_See_ FUZE.
) BOME-SPAR [a corruption of _boom_].
A spar of a larger kind.
BOMKIN.
_See_ BUMKIN.
BONA FIDE.
In good faith; without subterfuge--_Bona fides_ is a condition necessary to entitle to the privilege of pre-emption in our admiralty courts.
BONAVENTURE.
The old outer mizen, long disused.
BONDING.
_See_ WAREHOUSING SYSTEM.
BONDING-POND.
An inclosed space of water where the tide flows, for keeping timber in.
BOND-MAN.
A harsh method in some ships, in keeping one man bound for the good behaviour of another on leave.
BOND OF BOTTOMRY.
An authority to borrow money, by pledging the keel or bottom of the ship.
(_See_ BOTTOMRY.
) BONE, TO.
To seize, take, or apprehend.
A ship is said to carry a bone in her mouth and cut a feather, when she makes the water foam before her.
BON GRACE.
Junk-fenders; for booming off obstacles from a ship's sides or bows.
(_See_ BOWGRACE.
) BONITO.
The _Thynnus pelamys_, a fish of the scomber family, commonly about 2 feet long, with a sharp head, small mouth, full eyes, and a regular semi-lunar tail.
BONI-VOCHIL.
The Hebridean name for the great northern diver (_Colymbus glacialis_).
