The Sailor's Word-Book Part 76

DILLOSK. The dried leaves of an edible sea-weed. (_See_ DULCE and PEPPER-DULSE.)

DILLY-WRECK. A common corruption of _derelict_ (which see).

DIME. An American silver coin, in value the tenth of a dollar.

DIMINISHED ANGLE. In fortification, that formed by the exterior side and the line of defence.

DIMINISHING PLANK. The same as _diminishing stuff_ (which see).

DIMINISHING STRAKES. _See_ BLACK-STRAKE.

DIMINISHING STUFF. In ship-building, the planking wrought under the wales, where it is thinned progressively to the thickness of the bottom plank.

DIMINUTION OF OBLIQUITY. A slow approximation of the planes of the ecliptic and the equator, at the present rate of 0485? annually.

DIMSEL. A piece of stagnant water, larger than a pond and less than a lake.

DING, TO. To dash down or throw with violence.

DING-DONG. Ships firing into each other in good earnest.

DINGHEY. A small boat of Bombay, propelled by paddles, and fitted with a settee sail, the mast raking forwards; also, the boats in use on the Hooghly; also, a small extra boat in men-of-war and merchant ships.

DINGLE. A hollow vale-like s.p.a.ce between two hills. A clough; also, a sort of boat used in Ireland, a coracle.

DINNAGE. _See_ DUNNAGE.

DIP. The inclination of the magnetic needle towards the earth. (_See_ DIPPING-NEEDLE.) Also, the smallest candle formerly issued by the purser.

DIP, TO. To lower. An object is said to be dipping when by refraction it is visible just above the horizon. Also, to quit the deck suddenly.

DIP OF THE HORIZON. The angle contained between the sensible and apparent horizons, the angular point being the eye of the observer; or it is an allowance made in all astronomical observations of alt.i.tude for the height of the eye above the level of the sea.

DIPPED. The limb of the sun or moon as it instantly dips below the horizon.

DIPPER. A name for the water-ousel (_Cinclus aquaticus_). A bird of the Pa.s.serine order, but an expert diver, frequenting running streams in mountainous countries.

DIPPING-LADLE. A metal ladle for taking boiling pitch from the cauldron.

DIPPING-NEEDLE. An instrument for ascertaining the amount of the magnet's inclination towards the earth; it is so delicately suspended, that, instead of vibrating horizontally, one end _dips_ or yields to the vertical force. This instrument has been so perfected by Mr. R. W. Fox of Falmouth, that even at sea in the heaviest gales of wind the dip could instantly, by magnetic deflectors, be ascertained to _minutes_, far beyond what heretofore could be elicited from the most expensive instruments, observed over 365 days on sh.o.r.e.

DIPPING-NET. A small net used for taking shad and other fish out of the water.

DIPS. _See_ LEAD-LINE.

DIP-SECTOR. An ingenious instrument for measuring the true dip of the horizon, invented by Dr. Wollaston, and very important, not only where the nature and quant.i.ty of the atmospherical refraction are to be examined, but for ascertaining the rates of chronometers, and the exact lat.i.tude in those particular regions where accidental refractions are very great, for the difference between the calculated dip and that observed by the sector may exceed three minutes. It is a reflecting instrument, of small compa.s.s, but requiring patience and practice in its use.

DIPSY. The float of a fishing-line.

DIRECT-ACTING ENGINE. A steam engine in which the connecting rod is led at once from the head of the piston to the crank, thus communicating the rotatory motion without the intervention of side-levers.

DIRECT FIRE. One of the five varieties into which artillerists usually divide _horizontal fire_ (which see).

DIRECTION OR SET OF THE WIND AND CURRENT. These are opposite terms; the direction of the winds and waves being named from the point of the compa.s.s _whence_ they come; but the direction of a current is the point _towards_ which it runs. A current running to leeward is said to have a _leeward set_, the opposite is a _windward set_.

DIRECTION. _See_ ARC OF DIRECTION.

DIRECT MOTION. _See_ MOTION.

DIRK. A small _do-little_ sword or dagger, formerly worn by junior naval officers on duty.

DIRT-GABARD. A large ballast-lighter.

DIRTY AULIN. A name for the arctic skua (_Cataractes parasiticus_), a sea-bird, allied to the gulls.

DIRTY DOG AND NO SAILOR OR SOLDIER. A mean, spiritless, and utterly useless rascal.

DISABLED. To be placed _hors de combat_ by the weather or an enemy.

DISAPPOINT. To counterwork an enemy's operations in mining.

DISARM. To deprive people of their weapons and ammunition.

DISBANDED. When the officers and men of a regiment are dismissed, on a reduction of the army.

DISC, OR DISK. In nautical astronomy, the circular visible surface presented by any celestial body to the eye of the observer.

DISCARCARE. [Ital.] An old term meaning to unlade a vessel.

DISCHARGED. When applied to a ship, signifies when she is unladen. When expressed of the officers or crew, it implies that they are disbanded from immediate service; and in individual cases, that the person is dismissed in consequence of long service, disability, or at his own request. When spoken of cannon, it means that it is fired off.

DISCHARGE-TICKET. On all foreign stations men are discharged by _foreign remove-tickets_, and in other cases by _dead_, _sick_, or _unserviceable ticket_, whether at home or abroad.

DISCHARGE-VALVE. In the marine engine, is a valve covering the top of the barrel of the air-pump, opening when pressed from below.

DISCIPLINARIAN. An officer who maintains strict discipline and obedience to the laws of the navy, and himself setting an example.

DISCOURSE, TO. An old sea term to traverse to and fro off the proper course.

DISCOVERY SHIP. A vessel fitted for the purpose of exploring unknown seas and coasts. Discovery vessels were formerly taken from the merchant service; they have latterly been replaced by ships of war, furnished with every improved instrument, and acting, on occasion, as active pilots leading in war service.

DISCRETION. To surrender at discretion, implies an unconditional yielding to the mercy of the conquerors.

DISEMBARK. The opposite of embark; the landing of troops from any vessel or transport.

DISEMBAY. To work clear out of a gulf or bay.

DISEMBOGUE. The fall of a river into the sea; it has also been used for the pa.s.sage of vessels across the mouth of a river and out of one.