The Sailor's Word-Book Part 43

"The demi-Atlas of this earth, the arm And burgonet of men."

In the second part of "Henry VI." Clifford threatens Warwick--

"And from thy burgonet I'll rend thy bear, And tread it underfoot with all contempt."

BURGOO. A seafaring dish made of boiled oatmeal seasoned with salt, b.u.t.ter, and sugar. (_See_ LOBLOLLY and SKILLY.)

BURLEY. The b.u.t.t-end of a lance.

BURLEY-TWINE. A strong and coa.r.s.e twine or small string.

BURN, OR BOURNE. The Anglo-Saxon term for a small stream or brook, originating from springs, and winding through meadows, thus differing from a beck. Shakspeare makes Edgar say in "King Lear"--

"Come o'er the bourn, Bessy, to me."

The word also signifies a boundary.

BURNETTIZE, TO. To impregnate canvas, timber, or cordage with Sir William Burnett's fluid, a solution of chloride of zinc.

BURN THE WATER. A phrase denoting the act of killing salmon in the night, with a lister and lighted torch in the boat.

BURN-TROUT. A northern term for a small species of river-trout.

BURR. The iris or hazy circle which appears round the moon before rain.

Also, a Manx or Gaelic term for the wind blowing across on the tide.

Also, the sound made by the Newcastle men in p.r.o.nouncing the letter R.

BURREL. A langrage shot, consisting of bits of iron, bullets, nails, and other matters, got together in haste for a sudden emergency.

BURROCK. A small weir over a river, where weals are laid for taking fish.

BURR-PUMP. A name of the bilge-pump.

BURSER. _See_ PURSER.

BURST. The explosion of a sh.e.l.l or any gun.

BURTHEN. _See_ BURDEN.

BURTON. A small tackle rove in a particular manner; it is formed by two blocks or pulleys, with a hook-block in the bight of the running part; it is generally used to set up or tighten the shrouds, whence it is frequently termed a top-burton tackle; but it is equally useful to move or draw along any weighty body in the hold or on the deck, as anchors, bales of goods, large casks, &c. (_See_ SPANISH-BURTON.) The burton purchase, also _runner-purchase_ (which see).

BUSH, OR BOUCHE. A circular shouldered piece of metal, usually of bra.s.s, let into the lignum vitae sheaves of such blocks as have iron pins, thereby preventing the sheave from wearing, without adding much to its weight. The operation of placing it in the wood is called bushing or coaking, though the last name is usually given to smaller bushes of a square shape. Bra.s.s bushes are also extensively applied in the marine steam-engine work. Also, in artillery, the plug (generally of copper, on account of the superior resistance of that metal to the flame of exploded gunpowder), having a diameter of about an inch, and a length equal to the intended length of the vent, screwed into the metal of the gun at the place of the vent, which is then drilled in it. Guns may be re-bushed when the vent has worn too large, by the subst.i.tution of a new bush.

BUSH. The forests in the West Indies, Australia, &c.

BUSHED. Cased with harder metal, as that inserted into the holes of some rudder braces or sheaves in general, to prevent their wearing.

BUSHED-BLOCK. _See_ COAK.

BUSKING. Piratical cruising; also, used generally, for beating to windward along a coast, or cruising off and on.

BUSS. A small strong-built Dutch vessel with two masts, used in the herring and mackerel fisheries, being generally of 50 to 70 tons burden.

BUST-HEAD. _See_ HEAD.

BUSY AS THE DEVIL IN A GALE OF WIND. Fidgety restlessness, or double diligence in a bad cause; the imp being supposed to be mischievous in hard gales.

BUT. A northern name for a flounder or plaice. Also, a conical basket for catching fish.

BUTCHER'S BILL. A nickname for the official return of killed and wounded which follows an action.

BUTESCARLI. The early name for the sea-officers in the British Navy (_see the_ EQUIPMENT OF).

b.u.t.t. The joining of two timbers or planks endways. Also, the opening between the ends of two planks when worked. Also, the extremities of the planks themselves when they are united, or abut against each other. The word likewise is used to denote the largest end of all timber. Planks under water as they rise are joined one end to another. In large ships b.u.t.t-ends are most carefully bolted, for if any one of them should spring, or give way, the leak would be very dangerous and difficult to stop.--_To start_ or _spring a b.u.t.t_ is to loosen the end of a plank by the ship's weakness or labouring.--_b.u.t.t-heads_ are the same with b.u.t.t-ends.--_b.u.t.t_ is also a mark for shooting at, and the hind part of a musket or pistol. Also, a wine-measure of 126 gallons.

b.u.t.t-AND-b.u.t.t. A term denoting that the b.u.t.t ends of two planks come together, but do not overlay each other. (_See_ HOOK AND b.u.t.t and HOOK-SCARPH.)

b.u.t.t-END. The shoulder part of a fire-lock.

b.u.t.tER-BOX. A name given to the brig-traders of lumpy form, from London, Bristol, and other English ports. A cant term for a Dutchman.

b.u.t.tER-b.u.mP. A name of the bittern in the north.

b.u.t.tER-FINGERED. Having a careless habit of allowing things to drop through the fingers.

b.u.t.tLE. An eastern-county name for the bittern.

b.u.t.tOCK. The breadth of the ship astern from the tuck upwards: it is terminated by the counter above, by the bilge below, by the stern-post in the middle, and by the quarter on the side. That part abaft the after body, which is bounded by the fashion pieces, and by the wing transom, and the upper or second water-line. A ship is said to have a broad, or narrow, b.u.t.tock according to her transom convexity under the stern.

b.u.t.tOCK-LINES. In ship-building, the longitudinal curves at the rounding part of the after body in a vertical section.

b.u.t.tON. The k.n.o.b of metal which terminates the breech end of most guns, and which affords a convenient bearing for the application of handspikes, breechings, &c.

b.u.t.tONS, TO MAKE. A common time-honoured, but strange expression, for sudden apprehension or misgiving.

b.u.t.tRESS. In fortification. (_See_ COUNTERFORTS.)

b.u.t.t-SHAFT, OR b.u.t.t-BOLT. An arrow without a barb, used for shooting at a b.u.t.t.

b.u.t.t-SLINGING A BOWSPRIT. _See_ SLINGS.

BUXSISH. A gratuity, in oriental trading.

BUZZING. Sometimes used for _booming_ (which see).

BY. On or close to the wind.--_Full and by_, not to lift or shiver the sails; rap-full.

BY AND LARGE. To the wind and off it; within six points.