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Fore-and-aft, the lengthway of the ship. Forging ahead, to be forced ahead by the wind. Founder, to sink. Furl, to wrap or roll a sail close to the yard, stay, or mast to which it belongs, and wind a gasket or cord about it to fasten it thereto. Gaskets, a piece of plait to fasten the sails to the yards. Grain,* to be in the, of another ship is immediately to precede her in the same direction. Gripe, is when, by carrying too great a quantity of aftersail, a ship inclines too much to windward, and requires her helm to be kept a-weather, or to windward. Guns-shot, implies, says Falconer, "the distance of the point-blank range of a cannon-shot." With submission, we take a gun-shot distance to mean long and not point-blank range; if this be correct, a ship is within gun-shot of another when she is within a mile or a mile and a quarter of her. Haul the wind, to direct the ship's course as near as possible to that point of the compass from which the wind arises. Hawse-holes, the holes through which the cables pass. Hawse, is generally understood to imply the situation of the cables before the ship's stem, when she is moored with two anchors out from the bows; viz., one on the starboard, and the other on the larboard bow. It also denotes any small distance ahead of a ship, or between her head and the anchors by which she rides. Hawser, a small cable. Heave to, synonymous with bring to. Heaving to an anchor, is when all the cable is taken in until the ship is directly over her anchor, preparatory to its being weighed out of the ground. Knot, synonymous with mile. Labour, to pitch and roll heavily. Larboard, a name given by seamen to the left side of the ship, when looking forward from the stern. Large, a phrase applied to the wind, when it crosses the line of a ship's course in a favourable direction ; particularly on the beam or quarter : hence, to sail large, is to advance with a large wind, so as that the sheets are slackened and flowing, &c. This phrase is generally opposed to sailing close hauled, or with a scant wind. Lasking † course, is when a ship steers in a slanting or oblique direction towards another. Lie to, synonymous with Bring to, Heave to. Looming, an indistinct appearance of any distant object, as ships, mountains, &c. Luff, the order to the helmsman to put the tiller towards the lee-side of the ship, in order to make the ship sail nearer to the direction of the wind. Main sheet, a large rope affixed to the lower corner or clew of the mainsail by which, when set, it is hauled aft into its place. Main tack, another large rope affixed to the same corner of the sail, but to haul it on board or down to the chess-tree on the forepart of the gangway ; when set upon a wind, or close hauled, the foresail is furnished with similar gear. Musket-shot distance, from 300 to 400 yards. Offing, implies out at sea, or at a good distance from the shore. Overhaul, to examine; also to overtake a ship in chase. Pay round of, is, when near the wind, to fall off from it against the helm, and in spite of every effort to prevent it. Pistol-shot distance, about 50 yards. Plying, turning to windward. * The term grain is obsolete. † This term is obsolete. ^ back to top ^ |