The Sailor's Word-Book Part 216

SET ON! The order to set the engine going on board a steamer.

SETT. A kind of s.h.i.+pwright's power, composed of two ring-bolts and a wrain-staff, with cleats and las.h.i.+ngs. Also, the particular spot in a river or frith, where stationary nets are fixed.

SETTEE. A single-decked Mediterranean vessel with a long and sharp prow, without top-masts, and carrying lateen sails. They were mostly used as transports to galleys.

SET THE CHASE, TO. To mark well the position of the vessel chased by bearing, so that by standing away from her on one tack, she may be cut off on the other.

SETTING. The operation of moving a boat or raft by means of poles. Also, arranging the sights of a gun, or pointing it.

SETTING POLE. A pole, generally pointed with iron, forced into the mud, by which boats and barges are moored in shallow water.

SETTING THE WATCH. The military night guard or watch at the evening gun-fire. Naval watches are not interfered with by time.

SETTING-UP. Raising a s.h.i.+p from her blocks, sh.o.r.es, &c., by wedges driven between the heels of the sh.o.r.e and the dock foundation.

SETTLE. Now termed the _stern-sheets_ [derived from the Anglo-Saxon _settl_, a seat].--_To settle._ To lower; also to sink, as "the deck has settled;" "we settled the land." (_See_ LAYING.) "Settle the main top-sail halliards," _i.e._ ease them off a little, so as to lower the yard, as on shaking out a reef.

SETTLING. Sinking in the water.

SET UP. Soldiers, mariners, and small-arm men, well drilled, and instructed to be upright and soldierlike in their carriage, are "well set up."

SET UP RIGGING, TO. To take in the slack of the shrouds, stays, and backstays, to bring the same strain as before, and thus secure the masts.

SEVERALTY. The denomination under which disagreements respecting accounts amongst the part-owners of a s.h.i.+p are referred, either to equity courts, or the common law.

SEVERE. Effectual; as, a _severe_ turn in belaying a rope.

SEW, OR SUE. p.r.o.nounced _sue_. (_See_ SEWED.)

SEWANT. A north-country name for the plaice.

SEWARD, OR SEA-WARD. An early name for the _custos maris_, or he who guards the sea-coast.

SEWED. A s.h.i.+p resting upon the ground, where the water has fallen, so as to afford no hope of floating until lightened, or the return tide floats her, is said to be sewed, by as much as the difference between the surface of the water, and the s.h.i.+p's floating-mark. If not left quite dry, she sews to such a point; if the water leaves her a couple of feet, she is sewed two feet.

SEWIN. A white kind of salmon taken on the coast of Wales. Sometimes this word is used for the dish called _sowens_.

s.e.xAGESIMAL DIVISIONS. The circ.u.mference of the circle is divided into 360 degrees, each degree into 60 minutes, and each minute into 60 seconds. The Americans afterwards used 60 thirds, but European astronomers prefer decimals.

s.e.xTANT. A mathematical instrument for taking alt.i.tudes of, and measuring the angular distances between, the heavenly bodies. It is constructed on a principle similar to Hadley's quadrant; but the arc contains a sixth part of a circle, and measures angles up to 120.

SHACKLE [from the Anglo-Saxon _sceacul_]. A span with two eyes and a bolt, attached to open links in a chain-cable, at every 15 fathoms; they are fitted with a movable bolt, so that the chain can there be separated or coupled, as circ.u.mstances require. Also, an iron loop-hooked bolt moving on a pin, used for fastening the lower-deck port-bars.

SHACKLE-BREECHING. Two shackles are turned into the breeching, by which it is instantly disconnected from the port-ringbolts. Also, the lug of the cascable is cut open to admit of the bight of the breeching falling into it, thus obviating the loss of time by unreeving.

SHACKLE-CROW. A bar of iron slightly bent at one end like the common crow, but with a shackle instead of a claw at the bent end. It is used for drawing bolts or deck-nails. (_See also_ SPAN-SHACKLE.)

SHACKLE-NET. The northern term for flue-net.

SHACKLES. Semicircular clumps of iron sliding upon a round bar, in which the legs of prisoners are occasionally confined to the deck. _Manacles_ when applied to the wrists. (_See_ BILBOES.)

SHAD. The _Clupea alosa_, a well-known fish, of very disputed culinary merit, owing perhaps to its own dietetic habits.

SHADES. Coloured gla.s.ses for quadrants, s.e.xtants, and circles. (_See_ DARK GLa.s.sES, or SCREENS.)

SHAFT OF A MINE. The narrow perpendicular pit by which the gallery is entered, and from which the branches of the mine diverge.

s.h.a.g. A small species of cormorant, _Phalacrocorax graculus_.

s.h.a.g-BUSH. An old term for a harquebus, or hand-gun.

SHAKE, TO. To cast off fastenings, as--_To shake out a reef._ To let out a reef, and enlarge the sail.--_To shake off a bonnet_ of a fore-and-aft sail.--_To shake a cask._ To take it to pieces, and pack up the parts, then termed "shakes." Thus the term expressing little value, "No great shakes."

SHAKE IN THE WIND, TO. To bring a vessel's head so near the wind, when close-hauled, as to s.h.i.+ver the sails.

SHAKES. A name given by s.h.i.+pwrights to the cracks or rents in any piece of timber, occasioned by the sun or weather. The same as _rends_ or _shans_ (which see).

SHAKING A CLOTH IN THE WIND. In galley parlance, expresses the being slightly intoxicated.

SHAKINGS. Refuse of cordage, canvas, &c., used for making oak.u.m, paper, &c.

SHALLOP, SHALLOOP, OR SLOOP. A small light fis.h.i.+ng vessel, with only a small main-mast and fore-mast for lug-sails. They are commonly good sailers, and are therefore often used as tenders to men-of-war. Also, a large heavy undecked boat, with one mast, fore-and-aft main-sail, and jib-foresail. The gunboats on the French coasts were frequently termed chaloupes, and carried one heavy gun, with a crew of 40 men. Also, a small boat rowed by one or two men.

SHALLOWS. A continuation of shoal water.

SHALLOW-WAISTED. Flush-decked vessels are thus termed, in contradistinction to the deep-waisted.

SHAN. A defect in spars, most commonly from bad collared knots; an injurious compression of fibres in timber: the turning out of the cortical layers when the plank has been sawed obliquely to the central axis of the tree.

SHANK. An arrangement of deep-water fis.h.i.+ng lines. Also, a handle or shaft. Also the bar or shaft of an anchor, const.i.tuting its main piece, at one end of which the stock is fixed, and at the other the arms.

SHANK-PAINTER. The stopper which confines the shank of the anchor to the s.h.i.+p's side, and prevents the flukes from flying off the bill-board.

Where the bill-board is not used, it bears the weight of the fluke end of the anchor.

SHANTY. A small hut on or near a beach.

SHAPE. The lines and form of a vessel.--_To shape a course._ To a.s.sign the route to be steered in order to prosecute a voyage.

SHARE AND SHARE ALIKE. The golden rule of all messes at sea.

SHARK. A name applied to many species of large cartilaginous fish of the family _Squalidae_. Their ferocity and voracity are proverbial. Also, applied to crimps, sharpers, and low attorneys.

SHARP. Prompt and attentive.--_Be sharp!_ Make haste.--_Look sharp!_ Lose no time. Also, an old term for a sword.

SHARP BOTTOM. Synonymous with a sharp floor; used in contradistinction to a flat floor: the epithet denotes vessels intended for quick sailing.

SHARP LOOK-OUT BEFORE! The hail for the forecastle look-out men to be extremely vigilant.

SHARP UP. Trimmed as near as possible to the wind, with the yards braced up nearly fore and aft.