Barricade, more commonly called Bulwark, the wooden parapet on each side of the forecastle, quarterdeck, or poop.

Beam;- On the beam, implies any distance from the ship on a line with the beams, or at right angles with the keel: thus, if the ship steers or points northward, any object lying east or west, is said to be on her starboard or larboard beam. See Abeam.

Bear up, or bear away, is to change the course of a ship, in order to make her run before the wind, after she has sailed some time with a side wind, or close hauled; and seems to have been derived from the motion of the helm, by which this is partly produced, as the helm is then borne up to windward or to the weather-side of the ship. Hence, bear up seems to have reference to the helm only; as, "Bear up the helm a weather." With respect to any other thing, it is said, Bear away, or bear down; thus : "We bore away for Torbay ;" "We bore down upon the ship and engaged her."

Bearing, the point of the compass on which any object appears; or the situation of any object in reference to any given part of the ship.

Beating, the operation of making a progress at sea against the direction of the wind, in a zig-zag line, or traverse; beating, however, is generally understood to be turning to windward in a storm,* or fresh wind.

Belay, to make fast.

Bend the sails, is to affix them to the yards ; bend the cable, to fasten it to the anchor, &c.

Bends, the streaks of thick stuff, or the strongest planks in a ship's side.

Bight, any part of a rope between the ends; also a collar or an eye formed by a rope.

Binnacle, the frame or box which contains the compass.

Birth a place of anchorage: a cabin or apartment.

Bits, large upright pins of timber, with a cross-piece, over which the bight of the cable is put; also smaller pins to belay ropes, &c.

Board, the space comprehended between any two places where the ship changes her course by tacking; or it is the line over which she runs between tack and tack, when turning to windward, or sailing against the direction of the wind. Hence, to make a good board, or stretch, to make short boards, &c.-See also, Aboard.

Boarding netting, network triced round the ship to prevent the boarders from entering.

Bow, is the rounding part of a ship's side forward, beginning where the planks arch inwards, and terminating where they close at the stem or prow. On the bow, an arch of the horizon, not exceeding 45 degrees, comprehended between some distant object and that point of the compass which is right ahead, or to which the ship's stem is directed.

Bowlines, ropes made fast to the leeches or sides of the sails, to pull them forward.

Box off, is, when a ship having got up in the wind or been taken with the wind ahead, the bead-yards are braced round to counteract its effect, and prevent the ship from being turned round against your inclination.

Braces, ropes fastened to the yard-arms to brace them about.

Brails, ropes applied to the after leeches of the driver, and some of the staysails, to draw them up.

Break ground, to weigh the anchor and quit a place.

Breeching, a stout rope fixed to the cascabel of a gun, and fastened to the ship's side, to prevent the gun from running too far in.

Bring to, to check the course of a ship by arranging the sails in such a manner that they shall counteract each other, and keep her nearly stationary; when she is said to lie by or lie to, having, according to the sea-phrase,

* Ships cannot turn to windward in storms. Ships lie to in storms under Storm sails, and drift to leeward instead of turning to windward.-Editor.

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