The Sailor's Word-Book Part 32

BLUBBER-GUY. A large rope stretched from the main to the fore mast head of whalers, to which the speck-falls are attached for the operation of flensing.

BLUE. _Till all's blue_: carried to the utmost--a phrase borrowed from the idea of a vessel making out of port, and getting into blue water.--_To look blue_, to be surprised, disappointed, or taken aback, with a countenance expressive of displeasure.

BLUE-JACKETS. The seamen as distinguished from the marines.

BLUE LIGHT. A pyrotechnical preparation for signals by night. Also called Bengal light.

BLUE-LIGHTISM. Affected sanctimoniousness.

BLUE MOON. An indefinite period.

BLUE-NOSE. A general term for a native of Nova Scotia.

BLUE PETER. The signal for sailing when hoisted at the fore-topmast head; this well-known flag has a blue ground with a white square in the centre.

BLUE PIGEON. A nickname for the sounding lead.

BLUE WATER. The open ocean.

BLUFF. An abrupt high land, projecting almost perpendicularly into the sea, and presenting a bold front, rather rounded than cliffy in outline, as with the headland.

BLUFF-BOWED. Applied to a vessel that has broad and flat bows--that is, full and square-formed: the opposite of lean.

BLUFF-HEADED. When a s.h.i.+p has but a small rake forward on, being built with her stem too straight up.

BLUNDERBUSS. A short fire-arm, with a large bore and wide mouth, to scatter a number of musket or pistol bullets or slugs.

BLUNK. A sudden squall, or stormy weather.

Bl.u.s.tROUS. Stormy: also said of a braggadocio.

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 s.p.a.ce comprehended between any two places when the s.h.i.+p 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 s.h.i.+p 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 s.h.i.+fted, 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 s.h.i.+fted, 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 s.h.i.+p_, is to enter her in a hostile manner in order to take forcible possession of her, either from the attacking s.h.i.+p or by armed boats. The word _board_ has various other applications among seamen:--_To go aboard_ signifies to go into the s.h.i.+p.--_To slip by the board_, is to slip down a s.h.i.+p'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 s.h.i.+p which is to windward.--_By the board_, close to a s.h.i.+p's deck.

BOARD AND BOARD. Alongside, as when two s.h.i.+ps 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 a.s.sault 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 s.h.i.+p boarded, a copy of which is transmitted to the admiral under whose orders the s.h.i.+p 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 c.o.xswain'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 s.h.i.+pped 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 sh.o.r.e-boats.

BOAT-HOOK. An iron hook with a straight p.r.o.ng 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 s.h.i.+p'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. Las.h.i.+ngs for the secure stowage of boats. (_See_ GRIPES.)