The Sailor's Word-Book Part 73

DECK, TO. A word formerly in use for to trim, as "we deckt up our sails."

DECK-BEAM KNEES. The same as _lodging-knees_.

DECK-BEAMS. _See_ BEAMS.

DECK-CARGO, otherwise _deck-load_ (which see).

DECK-CLEATS. Pieces of wood temporarily nailed to the deck to secure objects in bad weather, as guns, deck-load, &c.

DECK-HOOK. The compa.s.s timber bolted horizontally athwart a ship's bow, connecting the stem, timbers, and deck-planks of the fore-part; it is part and parcel of the _breast-hooks_.

DECK-HOUSE. An oblong-house on the deck of some merchantmen, especially east-country vessels, and latterly in pa.s.senger steamers, with a gangway on each side of it. (Sometimes termed _round-house_.)

DECK-LOAD. Timber, casks, or other cargo not liable to damage from wet, stowed on the deck of merchant vessels. This, with the exception of carboys of vitriol, is not included in a general policy of insurance on goods, unless it be specially stipulated.

DECK-NAILS. A kind of spike with a snug head, commonly made in a diamond form; they are single or double deck-nails, and from 4 to 12 inches long.

DECK-PIPE. An iron pipe through which the chain cable is paid into the chain-locker.

DECK-PUMPS. In a steamer, are at the side of the vessel, worked with a lever by manual power, to supply additional water. In a ship-of-war, used for washing decks (one of the midship pumps).

DECKS. The platforms laid longitudinally over the transverse beams; in ships of war they support the guns. The terms in use for these decks are, a.s.suming the largest ship of the line:--_p.o.o.p_, the deck which includes from the mizen-mast to the taffrail. The _upper_ or _spar-deck_, from stem to stern, having conventional divisions; as, _quarter-deck_, which is, when clear for action, the s.p.a.ce abaft the main-mast, including the cabin; next, _the waist_, between the fore and main masts, on which the spars and booms are secured. In some ships guns are continued (always in flush-decked ships) along the gangway; then _the forecastle_, which commences on the gangway, from the main-tack chock forward to the bows. Small craft, as brigs and corvettes, are sometimes fitted with top-gallant forecastles, to shelter the men from heavy seas which wash over. Next, the _main or gun-deck_, the entire length of the ship. It is also divided conventionally into the various cabins, the waist (under the gangway), the galley, from the fore-hatchway to the sick bay, and bows. Next below, is the _middle deck_ of a three-decker, or _lower_ of a two-decker, succeeded by lower deck and the orlop-deck, which carries no guns. The guns on these several decks increase in size and number from the p.o.o.p downwards. Thus, although a vessel termed a three-decker was rated 120 guns, the fact stood thus:--

Guns. Pounders. lbs.

p.o.o.p, 10 24 240 Quarter-deck, 22 24 long } 848 Forecastle, 10 32 cans. } Main-deck, 34 24 816 Middle, 36 24 864 Lower, 36 32 1152 ---- ---- 148 3920 ---- Broadside of 1960

But latterly, 56 and 84 pounders on the lower, and 32 on the middle, afforded a heavier weight of broadside. The _Santissima Trinidada_, taken from the Spaniards, carried four whole tiers of guns. Now, the tonnage of the largest of these would be insignificant. "Deckers" are exploded, and a _Pallas_ of the same tonnage (2372) carries 8 guns, a _Bellerophon_ (4272) carries 18 guns, ranging in size, however, from the 64-pounder up to the 300-pounder.--_Flush-deck_, or deck flush fore and aft, implies a continued floor laid from stem to stern, upon one line, without any stops or intervals.--_Half-deck._ In the Northumberland colliers the steerage itself is called the half-deck, and is usually the habitation of the ship's crew.

DECK-SEAM. The interstices between the planks.

DECK-SHEET. That sheet of a studding-sail which leads directly to the deck, by which it is steadied until set; it is also useful in taking it in, should the down-haul be carried away.

DECK STANDARD-KNEES. Iron knees having two tails, the one going on the bottom of a deck-beam, the other on the top of a hold-beam, while the middle part is bolted to the ship's side.

DECK-STOPPER. (_See_ STOPPER OF THE CABLE.) A strong stopper used for securing the cable forward of the capstan or windla.s.s while it is overhauled. Also abaft the windla.s.s or bitts to prevent more cable from running out.

DECK-TACKLE. A purchase led along the decks.

DECLARATION OF WAR. A ceremonial frequently omitted, and esteemed by the greatest authorities rather a proof of magnanimity than a duty. The Romans proclaimed it; but except Achaia, none of the Grecian states did.

It would be to the interests of humanity and courtesy were it made indispensable. It has been held (especially in the case of the _Leopard_ and _Chesapeake_) that without a declaration of war, no hostile act at the order of an admiral is legal.

DECLINATION, of a celestial object, is the arc between its centre and the equinoctial: with the sun, it is its angular distance from the equator, either north or south, and is named accordingly.

DECLINATION, TO CORRECT. A cant phrase for taking a gla.s.s of grog at noon, when the day's works are being reduced.

DECOY. So to change the aspect of a ship-of-war by striking a topgallant-mast, setting ragged sails, disfiguring the sides by whitewash or gunpowder, yellow, &c., as to induce a vessel of inferior force to chase; when, getting within gun-shot range, she becomes an easy capture. Similar manuvres are sometimes used by a single ship to induce an enemy's squadron to follow her into the view of her own fleet.

DEEP. A word figuratively applied to the ocean. On the coast of Germany, to the northward of Friesland, it is of the same import as gulf on the coasts of France, Spain, Italy, &c. Also, any depth over 20 fathoms.--_Deep-sea fishing._ In contradistinction to coast, or when the hand-lead reaches bottom at 20 fathoms.--_Hand deeps._ Out of ordinary leadsman's sounding.--A vessel is deep as regards her lading, and is also said to sail deep when her expenses run high.

DEEPENING. Running from shoal water by the lead.

DEEP-SEA LINE. Usually a strong and water-laid line. It is used with a lead of 28 lbs., and adapted to find bottom in 200 fathoms or more.

It is marked by knots every ten fathoms, and by a small knot every five. The marks are now nearly superseded by Ma.s.sey's patent sounding-machine.--_Marks and Deeps_, &c., _see_ LEAD and LINE.

DEEP-WAIST. That part of the open skids between the main and fore drifts in men-of-war. It also relates to the remaining part of a ship's deck, when the quarter-deck and forecastle are much elevated above the level of the main-deck, so as to leave a vacant s.p.a.ce, called the waist, on the middle of the upper deck, as in many packets.

DEESE. An east-country term for a place where herrings are dried.

DEFAULTER'S BOOK. Where men's offences are registered against them, and may be magnified without appeal.

DEFECTS. An official return of the state of a ship as to what is required for her hull and equipment, and what repairs she stands in need of. Upon this return a ship is ordered to sea, into harbour, into dock, or paid out of commission.

DEFICIENCY. What is wanting of a ship's cargo at the time of delivery.

DEFILADE. In fortification, is the art of so disposing defensive works, _on irregular or commanded sites_, that the troops within them shall be covered from the direct fire of the enemy.

DEFILE. A narrow pa.s.s between two heights, which obliges a force marching through to narrow its front. This may prove disastrous if attacked, on account of the difficulty of receiving aid from the rear.

DEFILING. Filing off, marching past.

DEFINITIVE. Conclusive; decisive.

DEFLECTION. The tendency of a ship from her true course; the departure of the magnetic needle from its true bearing, when influenced by iron or the local attraction of the ma.s.s. In artillery, the deviation of a shot from the direction in which it is fired. The term is usually reserved to lateral deviations, especially those resulting from irregular causes--those constant ones due to the regular motion of rifled projectiles coming under either of the designations "constant deflection," "derivation," borrowed from the French, or "drift," from the Americans. These latter, according to the direction usually given to the rifling in the present day, all tend away to the right, though they include some subordinate curves not yet distinctly determined.

DEFORMED BASTION. One out of shape from the irregularity of its lines and angles.

DEGRADATION. Debas.e.m.e.nt and disgrace. The suspension of a petty officer from his station; and also the depriving an officer or soldier of his arms previous to his being delivered over to the civil power for execution.

DEGREE. A degree of longitude is the 1-360th part of the great equatorial circle, or any circle parallel to it. A degree of lat.i.tude is the 90th part of the quadrant, or quarter of a great meridional circle.

Each degree is divided into 60 minutes, and each minute into 60 seconds, according to the s.e.xagesimal division of the circle. Also, rank or condition.

DEKOYTS, OR DACOITS. Robbers in India, and also pirates who infested the rivers between Calcutta and Burhampore, but now suppressed by the improved system of river police, and the establishment of fast rowing boats of light draught.

DEL. Saxon for part.--_Del a bit_, not a bit, a phrase much altered for the worse by those not aware of its antiquity.

DEL CREDERE. A percentage on a cargo, under particular circ.u.mstances of trust. Also, the commission under which brokers sometimes guarantee to the insured the solvency of the underwriters.

DELEGATES. Not heard of in the navy since the mutiny at the Nore.

DELFYN. The old form of spelling _dolphin_.

DELICTUM. To be actual, must unite intention and act.

DELIVER. To yield, to rescue, to deliver battle, to deliver a broadside, a shot, or a blow. Also, to take goods from the ship to the sh.o.r.e. To discharge a cargo from a vessel into the keeping of its consignees.

DELIVERED. The state of the harpoon when imbedded in the body of a fish, so that the barbs hold fast.

DELIVERERS. Particular artificers employed in our early ships of war, in constructing the castles.