The Sailor's Word-Book Part 238

SWEEP OF THE TILLER. A semicircular frame on which the tiller traverses in large s.h.i.+ps; it is fixed under the beams near the fore-end of the tiller, which it supports.

SWEEP-PIECE. A block at the bottom of the port-sill for receiving the chock of the gun-carriage, and to aid in training the gun.

SWEEPS. Large oars used on board s.h.i.+ps of war in a calm, either to a.s.sist the rudder in turning them round, or to propel them ahead when chasing in light winds. Brigs of 386 tons have been swept at 3 knots or more.

SWEETENING c.o.c.k. A wholesome contrivance for preventing fetid effluvia in s.h.i.+ps' holds, by inserting a pipe through the s.h.i.+p's side, with a c.o.c.k at its inner end, for admitting water to neutralize the acc.u.mulated bilge-water, as also to supply the wash-deck pump.

SWELCHIE. A rapid current formed by the tide of the Pentland Firth against the Isle of Stroma. Also, a seal in those parts.

SWELL. A rolling wave which seldom breaks unless it meets resistance, generally denoting a continuous heaving, which remains for some time after the wind which caused it has subsided. Also, the gradual thickening of the muzzle of a gun, hounds of a mast, &c.

SWIFT. When the lower rigging becomes slack at sea, single blocks are placed on each shroud about 8 feet above the deck, a hawser rove through them, and the rigging swifted in, to bring a fair strain. The bars of the capstan are swifted, by pa.s.sing a rope-swifter over all their ends, and bowsing it well taut. The rigging is also swifted down preparatory to replacing the ratlines truly horizontal after setting up.

SWIFTER. A strong rope, sometimes encircling a boat, about 9 inches below her gunwale, both to strengthen her and protect her in cases of collision. (_See_ FENDERS.)

SWIFTERS. A pair of shrouds, fixed on the starboard and port sides of the lower mast, above the pendants, and before all the other shrouds: they are never confined to the cat-harpings.

SWIFTING A s.h.i.+P. Either bringing her aground or upon a careen; also pa.s.sing cables round her bottom and upper-works, to help to keep her from straining--the "undergirding" mentioned by St. Paul in his s.h.i.+pwreck.

SWIG OFF, TO. To pull at the bight of a rope by jerks, having its lower end fast; or to gain on a rope by jumping a man's weight down, instead of hauling regularly.

SWILKER, TO. A provincialism for splas.h.i.+ng about.

SWILL. A wicker fish-basket. The air-bladder of a fish.--_To swill._ To drink greedily.

SWIM, TO [from the Anglo-Saxon _swymm_]. To move along the surface of the water by means of the simultaneous movement of the hands and feet.

With the Romans this useful art was an essential part of education.

SWIMS. The flat extremities of east-country barges.

SWINE-FISH. A northern name of the wolf-fish, _Anarhichas lupus_.

SWINE'S FEATHER. The spike or tuck on the top of a musket-rest [corrupted from _sweyn_, a boar's bristle].

SWING, TO. A s.h.i.+p is said to swing to the wind or tide, when they change their direction while she is lying at anchor.--_To swing s.h.i.+p for local attraction and adjustment of compa.s.ses._ This is done by taking the bearings of a very distant object at each point of the compa.s.s to which her head is brought; also, by using a theodolite on sh.o.r.e, and taking its bearing from the s.h.i.+p, and the observer's head from the theodolite.

SWINGING-BOOM. The spar which stretches the foot of a lower studding-sail; in large s.h.i.+ps they have goose-necks in one end which hook to the foremost part of the fore-chains to iron strops fitted for the purpose. In port they are hooked to bolts at the bends, which, by bringing them lower down, enables the boats to ride easier by them as guest-warp booms.

SWIPES. The weak beer supplied to s.h.i.+ps on the home station. A swipe is an implement for drawing water for a brewery, the name of which has thus been transferred to the beer.

SWIRL. An eddying blast of wind; a whirling wavy motion. Also, a knot in timber.

SWISH. An old term for the light driving spray of the sea.

SWIVEL. A pivot working freely round in a socket. They are fitted in boats' bows, s.h.i.+ps' tops and bulwarks, &c., for bearing small cannon of 1/2 lb. or 1 lb. calibre, which are worked by hand, and called swivels.

Also, a strong link of iron used in mooring chains, &c., which permits the bridles to be turned repeatedly round, as occasion requires. Also, a swivel-link in chain-cables, made so as to turn upon an axis, and keep the turns out of the chain.

SWONA WELLS. Whirlpools much dreaded by the sailors of the Pentland Firth. They seem to be caused by the rapidity of the tide and the position of Swona, which exactly crosses the stream.

SWORD-FISH. A large fish of the family _s...o...b..idae_, remarkable for the prolongation of the nose into a straight, pointed, sword-like weapon.

The European species, common in the Mediterranean, is the _Xiphias gladius_ of naturalists.

SWORD-MAT. A mat made with shoulders to protect the laniards of the lower rigging, boats' gripes, &c., and worked by a piece of wood somewhat resembling a sword in shape, to drive home the roving threads.

SYKE [from the Anglo-Saxon _sych_]. A streamlet of water that flows in winter and dries up in summer.

SYMPIESOMETER, OR OIL-BAROMETER. A convenient portable instrument for measuring the weight of the atmosphere by the compression of a gaseous column; capital for small cabins.

SYNODICAL MONTH. The period in which the moon goes through every variety of phase, as from one conjunction to another.

SYNODICAL PERIOD OR REVOLUTION. If the interval of periodic time of a planet, or comet, be taken in reference to its pa.s.sages through either of the nodes, its circuit is called synodical.

SYPHERED. One edge of a plank overlapping that of another, so that both planks shall make a plane surface with their bevelled edges, though not a flat or square joint.

SYSTEM. The method of disposing the correlative parts of a fortification, proposed variously by many eminent engineers.

SYSTEM OF THE UNIVERSE. _See_ COPERNICAN SYSTEM.

SYZIGEE. Either conjunction or opposition, in reference to the orbit of the moon.

T.

TAB. The arming of an archer's gauntlet or glove.

TABERIN. A species of shark greatly dreaded by the pearl-fishers of Ceylon.

TABERNACLE. A strong trunk on the deck of river barges, forming a kind of hinge to enable them to lower the mast when going under bridges.

Also, used to elongate the mast of any boat by stepping it in a tabernacle.

TABLE-CLOTH. A fleecy-looking cloud which sometimes covers the "table"

or flat top of Table Mountain, at the Cape of Good Hope; it is the forerunner of a south-easter, being the condensation of moisture in the sea-air as it ascends the mountain side.

TABLE-LAND. Land which is flat-topped, however it may be raised more or less above the ordinary level of the vicinity.

TABLE-MONEY. An allowance to admirals and senior officers, in addition to their pay, to meet the expenses of their official guests.

TABLES. _See_ ASTRONOMICAL TABLES, and NAUTICAL TABLES.

TABLE-Sh.o.r.e. A low level sh.o.r.e.

TABLET. _See_ TRAPEZOID. Also, a flat coping stone placed at the top of the revetement of the escarp, to protect the masonry from the weather.

TABLING. A broad hem on the edges of a s.h.i.+p's sails, to strengthen them in that part which is sewed to the bolt-rope. Also, letting one piece of timber into another, similar to the _hooking_ of planks, so that they cannot be pulled asunder.