The Sailor's Word-Book Part 178

OUT-HOLLING. Clearing tide-ports, ca.n.a.ls, and channels of mud.

OUTLANDISH. Foreign; but means with Jack a place where he does not feel at home, or a language which he does not understand.

OUTLET. The effluent or stream by which a lake discharges its water.

Also applied to the spot where the efflux commences.

OUT-LICKER. A corruption of _out-rigger_ (which see).

OUT-LIER. A word which has been often used for _out-rigger_, but applies to outlying rocks, visible above water.

OUT-OARS. The order to take to rowing when the sails give but little way on a boat.

OUT OF COMMISSION. A s.h.i.+p where officers and men are paid off, and pennant hauled down.

OUT OF TRIM. A s.h.i.+p not properly balanced for fast sailing, which may be by a defect in the rigging or in the stowage of the hold.

OUT OF WINDING. Said of a plank or piece of timber which has a fair and even surface without any twists: the opposite of _winding_.

OUT OR DOWN. An exclamation of the boatswain, &c., in ordering men out of their hammocks, _i.e._ turn out, or your laniard will be cut.

OUT-PENSIONERS. Those ent.i.tled to pensions from Greenwich Hospital, but not admitted to "the house."

OUT-PORTS. Those commercial harbours which lie on the coasts; all ports in the United Kingdom out of London. (_See_ CLOSE-PORTS.)

OUTREGANS. Ca.n.a.ls or ditches navigable by boats.

OUT-RIGGER. A strong beam, of which there are several, pa.s.sed through the ports of a s.h.i.+p, and firmly lashed at the gunwale, also a.s.sisted by guys from bolts at the water-line, to secure the masts in the act of careening, by counteracting the strain they suffer from the tackles on the opposite side. Also, any boom rigged out from a vessel to hang boats by, clear of the s.h.i.+p, when at anchor. Also, any spar, as the boomkin, for the fore-tack, or the jigger abaft to haul out the mizen-sheet, or extend the leading blocks of the main braces. Also, a small spar used in the tops and cross-trees, to thrust out and spread the breast backstays to windward. Also, a counterpoising log of wood, rigged out from the side of a narrow boat or canoe, to prevent it from being upset.

OUT-SAIL, TO. To sail faster than another s.h.i.+p, or to make a particular voyage with greater despatch.

OUTSIDE MUSTER-PAPER. A paper with the outer part blank, but the inner portion ruled and headed; supplied from the dock yards to form the cover of s.h.i.+ps' books.

OUTSIDE PLANKING. Such are the wales, the plank-sheer, the garboard-strakes, and the like.

OUTWARD. A vessel is said to be entered outwards or inwards according as she is entered at the custom-house to depart for, or as having arrived from, foreign parts.

OUTWARD CHARGES. Pilotage and other dues incurred from any port: the reverse of _inward charges_.

OUTWORKS. Works included in the scheme of defence of a place, but outside the main rampart; if "detached," they are moreover outside the glacis.

OUVRE L'IL. A mark on French charts over supposed dangers.

OVER AND UNDER TURNS. Terms applied to the pa.s.sing of an earing, besides its inner and outer turns.

OVER-ANENT. Opposite to.

OVER-BEAR. One s.h.i.+p overbears another if she can carry more sail in a fresh wind.

OVERBOARD. The state of any person or thing in the sea which had been in a s.h.i.+p.--_Thrown overboard_ also means cast adrift by the captain; withdrawal of countenance and support.

OVER-BOYED. Said of a s.h.i.+p when the captain and majority of the quarter-deck officers are very young.

OVERFALL. A rippling or race in the sea, where, by the peculiarities of bottom, the water is propelled with immense force, especially when the wind and tide, or current, set strongly together. (_See_ RIPPS.)

OVER-GUNNED. Where the weight of metal is disproportioned to the s.h.i.+p, and the quarters insufficient for the guns being duly worked.

OVERHAND KNOT. Is made by pa.s.sing the end of a rope over its standing part, and through the bight.

OVERHAUL. Has many applications. A tackle when released is overhauled.

To get a fresh purchase, ropes are overhauled. To reach an object, or take off strain, weather-braces are overhauled. A s.h.i.+p overhauls another in chase when she evidently gains upon her. Also, overhauls a stranger and examines her papers. Also, is overhauled, or examined, to determine the refit demanded.

OVER-INSURANCE. _See_ RE-INSURANCE, and DOUBLE INSURANCE.

OVERLAP. A designation of the hatches of a s.h.i.+p; planks in clinch-built boats. Points of land _overlap_ a harbour's mouth at a particular bearing.--_To overlap_, to fay upon.

OVERLAY DAYS. Days for which demurrage can be charged.

OVER-LOFT. An old term for the upper deck of a s.h.i.+p.

OVER-LOOKER. Generally an old master appointed by owners of s.h.i.+ps to look after everything connected with the fitting out of their vessels when in harbour in England.

OVER-MASTED. The state of a s.h.i.+p whose masts are too high or too heavy for her weight to counter-balance.

OVER-PRESS, TO. To carry too much sail on a s.h.i.+p.

OVER-RAKE. When a s.h.i.+p rides at anchor in a head-sea, the waves of which frequently break in upon her, they are said to over-rake her.

OVER-RIGGED. A s.h.i.+p with more and heavier gear than necessary, so as to be top-hampered.

OVER-RISEN. When a s.h.i.+p is too high out of the water for her length and breadth, so as to make a trouble of lee-lurches and weather-rolls. Such were our 80-gun three-deckers and 44's on two decks, happily now no more.

OVER-RUNNING. (_See_ UNDER-RUN.) Applied to ice, when the young ice overlaps, and is driven over.

OVER-SEA VESSELS. s.h.i.+ps from foreign parts, as distinguished from coasters.

OVER-SETTING. The state of a s.h.i.+p turning upside down, either by carrying too much sail or by grounding, so that she falls on one side.

(_See_ UPSET.)

OVERSHOOT, TO. To give a s.h.i.+p too much way.

OVERSLAUGH. From the Dutch _overslag_, meaning the bar of a river or port. Also, in military parlance, the being pa.s.sed over in the roster for some recurring duty without being a.s.signed to it in turn.

OVER-SWACK. An old word, signifying the reflux of the waves by the force of the wind.

OVERWHELM. A comprehensive word derived from the Ang.-Saxon _wylm_, a wave. Thus the old song--

"Lash'd to the helm, should seas o'erwhelm."

OWLER. An old term on our southern coast for smuggler. Particularly persons who carried wool by night, in order to s.h.i.+p it contrary to law.