The Sailor's Word-Book Part 91

FALMADAIR. An old word signifying rudder, or a pilot.

FALSE ALARM. _See_ ALARM.

FALSE ATTACK. A feigned a.s.sault, made to induce a diversion or distraction of the enemy's forces, in order that the true object elsewhere may be carried.

FALSE COLOURS. To sail under false colours and chase is an allowable stratagem of war, but firing under them is not permitted by the maritime law of England.

FALSE FIRE, BLUE FLAMES. A composition of combustibles filled into a wooden tube, which, upon being set fire to, burns with a light blue flame from a half to several minutes. They are princ.i.p.ally used as night-signals, but often to deceive an enemy.

FALSE KEEL. A kind of supplemental or additional keel secured under the main one, to protect it should the s.h.i.+p happen to strike the ground.

FALSE KELSON, OR KELSON RIDER. A piece of timber wrought longitudinally above the main kelson.

FALSE MUSTER. An incorrect statement of the crew on the s.h.i.+p's books, which if proved subjects the captain to cas.h.i.+ering.

FALSE PAPERS. Frequently carried by slavers and smugglers.

FALSE POST. _See_ FALSE STERN-POST.

FALSE RAIL. A thin plank fayed at the head-rails as a strengthener.

FALSE STEM. A hard timber fayed to the fore-part of the main stem, its tail covering the fore-end of the keel. (_See_ CUT-WATER.)

FALSE STERN. An additional stern fixed on the main one, to increase the length and improve the appearance of a vessel.

FALSE STERN-POST. A piece bolted to the after-edge of the main stern-post to improve steerage, and protect it should the s.h.i.+p tail aground.

FAMILY-HEAD. When the stem was surmounted with several full-length figures, as was the custom many years ago.

FAMLAGH. The Erse or Manx term for oar or ore weed, wrack, or manure of sea-weed.

Fa.n.a.l [Fr.] A lighthouse.

FANCY-LINE. A line rove through a block at the jaws of a gaff, used as a down-haul. Also, a line used for cross-hauling the lee topping-lift.

Also, a cord laid up neatly for sashed cabin-windows. Sometimes used for _tracing-line_.

FANE. An old term for weather-c.o.c.k: "a fayne of a schipe." (_See_ VANE.)

FANG, TO. To pour water into a pump in order to fetch it, when otherwise the boxes do not hold the water left on them.

FANGS. The valves of the pump-boxes.

FANIONS. Small flags used in surveying stations, named after the bannerets carried by horse brigades, and corrupted from the Italian word _gonfalone_, a standard.

FANNAG-VARRY. The Erse term for a s.h.a.g or cormorant, still in use on our north-western sh.o.r.es, and in the Isle of Man.

FANNING. The technical phrase for breadthening the after-part of the tops. Also, widening in general.

FANNING-BREEZE. One so gentle that the sail alternately swells and collapses.

FANTODS. A name given to the fidgets of officers, who are styled jib-and-staysail Jacks.

FARDAGE. Dunnage; when a s.h.i.+p is laden in bulk.

FARE [Anglo-Saxon, _fara_]. A voyage or pa.s.sage by water, or the money paid for such pa.s.sage. Also, a fis.h.i.+ng season for cod; and likewise the cargo of the fis.h.i.+ng vessel. (_See_ HOW FARE YE?)

FARE-CROFTS. The vessels that formerly plied between England and France.

FARRANE. The Erse term for a gentle breeze, still used on our north-western sh.o.r.es.

FARTHEL. An old word for furling sails. Also, a burden, according to Shakspeare in _Hamlet_; and a weight, agreeably to the depositions of the "Portingalls" before Sir Francis Drake, _in re_ the great carrack's cargo in 1592; there were "ij^_c_ fardells of synamon:" of this famous prize the queen reserved to herself the lion's share.

FASCINES. f.a.ggots of brush or other small wood, varying according to the object in view and the material available, from about 6 to 9 inches in diameter, and from 6 to 18 feet in length, firmly bound with withes at about every 18 inches. They are of vast use in military field-engineering.

FASH. An irregular seam. The mark left by the moulds upon cast bullets.

(Short for _fas.h.i.+on_--s.h.i.+p-fas.h.i.+on, soldier-fas.h.i.+on.)

FAs.h.i.+ON-PIECES. The fas.h.i.+on of the after-part of a s.h.i.+p, in the plane of projection. They are the hindmost timbers in the run of a s.h.i.+p, which terminate the breadth, and form the shape of the stern; they are united to the stern-post, and to the end of the wing-transom by a rabbet.

FASKIDAR. A name of the _Cataractes parasiticus_, or Arctic gull.

FAST. A rope, cablet, or chain by which a vessel is secured to a wharf; and termed bow, head, breast, quarter, or stern fasts, as the case may be.

FAST AGROUND. Immovable, or high and dry.

FAST AND LOOSE. An uncertain and shuffling conduct.

FASTENINGS. "Let go the fasts!" throw off the ropes from the bollards or cleats. Also used for the bolts, &c., which hold together the different parts of a s.h.i.+p.

FASTNESS. A strong post, fortified by nature and art.

FAST SAILER. A s.h.i.+p which, in nautical parlance, "has legs."

FAST STAYING. Quick in going about.

FAT, OR BROAD. If the tressing in or tuck of a s.h.i.+p's quarter under water hangs deep, or is overfull, they say she has a _fat_ quarter.

FATHER. The dockyard name given to the person who constructs a s.h.i.+p of the navy.

FATHER-LASHER. A name of the scorpius or scorpion, _Cottus scorpius_, a fish about 9 inches long, common near rocky coasts.

FATHOM [Anglo-Saxon, _faedm_]. The s.p.a.ce of both arms extended. A measure of 6 feet, used in the length of cables, rigging, &c., and to divide the lead (or sounding) lines, for showing the depth of water.--_To fathom_, is to ascertain the depth of water by sounding. To conjecture an intention.

FATHOM-WOOD. Slab and other offal of timber, sold at the yards, by fathom lots: cubic measurement.

FATIGUE-PARTY. A party of soldiers told off to any labour-duty not strictly professional.

FAULCON. A small cannon. (_See_ FALCON.)