THE READERS’ DICTIONARY OF SAILING SHIP TERMINOLOGY ___________________________________________________________________________ THE READERS’ DICTIONARY OF SAILING SHIP TERMINOLOGY ___________________________________________________________________________ 168 169 THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF PETER TURNER ©2024 THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF PETER TURNER ©2024 If any reader can provide information, please send to galf@abandos.com If any reader can provide information, please send to galf@abandos.com good or bad. Suckets - Candied, or otherwise preserved, fruits. Sucking the Monkey – 1. To steal spirits from a barrel by sucking it out through a straw. From the popular unlawful way of obtaining liquor by substituting the milk in coconuts to bring it aboard, and then sucking it out with a straw; the bottom of the coconut was said to resemble a monkey's face. 2. Get drunk from the above definition. Sue – (v) To need a greater depth of water to float, stating the difference between the water-level and the vessel’s flotation-mark. Also sew. Suffolk Cheese Sugar Droghing - Caribbean coastal trade BDD Sugar Islands- West Indies Suit of sails – The complete set of sails used for a given weather condition. Many ships carried three sets, suitable for fine, moderate and storm conditions. Sulphur – Used in the manufacture of gunpowder. Came from Italy. Summer-Castle Sumner line – The discovery by American Captain Thomas Sumner, in 1837, that an altitude observation yields a position line. Also line of bearing. Sumner method – A method of establishing a position line by calculating two or more positions at various latitudes and joining them. Sun dogs - Parhelia. Sunk - Trinity House lightship established 1799. Sun over the foreyard - Seamen's slang name for time for a drink, from the habit of many officers to allow themselves their first drink after noon, when the sun appeared over the foreyard. Sun sights – Measurements of the altitude of the sun. Also shooting the sun. Supercargo - The representative of the owner of the cargo on a merchant vessel, responsible for contracts in port, loading and unloading, etc. Originally he was called the cargo superintendent, but titles like that deserve abbreviating. Supernumeries- Pilots, newly raised men transferring, survivors, soldiers, passengers, admirals and their entourage, commodores on flagships Superstructure - Any construction raised above the upper deck, such as the quarterdeck or a caboose. Supper-4pm(30 minutes) Supper – A pipe call meaning: dinner, or supper is ready. Supper was called at 4pm and lasted for 30 minutes. Supple Jack Supporters - Knee timbers under and supporting the cat heads. Surf - Breaking waves along the shore-line. Surf Boat- A broad ship's boat, with a higher prow and stern and a lower freeboard amidships, of the 18 and 19c which was used to land on open shorelines and built to withstand the strains and shocks of surf. Surge – (v) To suddenly slacken a rope or cable to let it run out or to take a turn around the capstan. Surge - Move with a wave. Surgeon Surgeon's cabin Surgeon's Hall Barber-Surgeon's Hall, Monkwell Street Surging the messenger- SMS Sussex Oak- "Best" timber for shipbuilding Sutler - Brewer? Suttle – To sell provisions to seamen. To sell naval property. Sutton Hoo Ship- A ship grave of a king of the Angles, probably King Redwald who was buried in 630, found in Sutton Ho in Suffolk in 1938, comprising the remains of a 91ft long by 14ft wide (27.4 by 4.3m) oared ship. Sutton's Tubes- Or Sutton's Ventilator. Swab - Epaulette. Swab – A mop made from unlaid rope strands usually fastened to a wooden handle, used for cleaning decks and paintwork. Swab and lubber - Menial and clumsy Swabber - The 'officer', a rating, responsible for cleanliness of the ship. Swab hitch – A method of attaching a swab to its lanyard in a way that lets it be readily detached after use, in order to dry it. Swabs- Epaulettes. Swallow – The space between the sheave and the shell of a block, through which the rope runs. Swallow the anchor - Seamen's slang for leaving sea service or retiring. Swamp (vb) - To allow a vessel to become in danger of sinking through being awash with water. Swash – The term for turbulent surf created on a shelving shore. Swashway, Swatchway – A channel crossing a shoal or bank. Sway – 1. (v) To hoist an upper mast or spar into position. 2. The order given to hoist a yard or mast. Sway away – The order given to hoist an upper yard or mast. Swaying - Hoisting. Sway up - Raise. Sweat - Torture used as retribution, in which candles are placed round the Mizzen-mast and about 25 men surround it, with cutlasses and sharp implements: culprit enters and is required to dance a jig around the mast, while each man runs his instrument into his posteriors. Sweat up – (v) To give a sharp haul on a rope to gain the last few inches. Sweep – (v) To drag the bight of a rope along the sea bottom to hook and recover a lost anchor, or some other sunken object. 2. A long heavy oar once used in galleys and similar, but more recently only used in barges and lighters. Sweepers! - The frequent pipe call for deck sweepers to muster to sweep the decks of dust and shakings. Sweeping – Sideways movements of a whale’s tail on the surface. Sweeping for an anchor- SMS Sweepings – Loose goods that have leaked or escaped from their containers in the hold, which are swept up to gather them. Sweeps – 1. Oars. 2. Any cleaner, from the frequent practice of sweepers being called to clear up some dirt on deck. Swell - The waves caused by remote storms. Swifter – 1. The aftermost shroud on each side of the fore and main masts. 2. A rope with a cut splice halfway along and a thimble at one end, which is passed over a notch in a capstan bar and hitched over the end of the other bars to give handholds to let more men heave at the capstan. Swifters - The aftermost shrouds, and last to be fitted, on the fore and main masts. Swifting – A way of making a rope taut by frapping it. Swig – (v) To make a right-angled haul on a taut rope to obtain maximum tension. Swim – 1. The overhanging parts of a ship, at the bow or stern that increase the water-line as she is loaded, thus increasing her buoyancy. 2. Swim – The sudden movement of a whole shoal of sprats or herrings that can be of immense benefit to drifters. Swimhead - Swimmer - A sailor who chose to go to sea rather than gaol. Swimmers - Seamen's name for a fish, or its fins. Swimming Swimming line - The waterline at which a ship floats. Swin - Channel off east coast Swing – (v) The side to side movement of a vessel at anchor, from the effects of wind and tide. Swinging boom – A boom swung out from a ship’s sides, to which boats could be moored when the ship is in harbour. Swinging the arm – The rocking back and forth of a quadrant or sextant to achieve a more accurate measurement of altitude. Also rocking the quadrant, or sextant. Swing a Cat - Referred to the swinging of the Cat-o-nine-tails. Swing around the buoy - Loaf around. Swinging all yards- SMS Swinging boom - Booms swung our from a vessel’s side onto which boats were secured. Swinging ship - The procedure of turning the ship through all compass points to determine the deviation of the compass. Swinging the arc - Tilting the sextant from side to side when taking sightings, to determine when it is directly upright. Swinging the lamp - Seamen's slang for telling a tall story. Swinging the lead - Seamen's slang for feigning sickness or not pulling one's weight, from the habit of a lazy leadsman of standing a swinging the lead, which was the easy bit, before casting it and then having to haul it back. Swing Ports - Iron doors in the ship's side which open outwards to free the decks from water. Swing the lamp - Stretch the facts behind a story. Swing the lead - Pretend to work. Swipes - Cheap beer found in port, or left overs in used glasses. Swivel - SMS swivels Swivel block – A pivoted block that could turn easily. Swivel Guns Swivel piece – A short length of cable with a swivel at one end, used to attach the cable to the cable locker or to the anchor ring. Sword – A long thin piece of wood used to beating down rope strands when making up sword matting. Sword, types – Cutlass: Introduced late 18c. Actually a short sabre. Dirk: Elongated elaborate knife of late 18c. Regularly used by midshipmen in 19c. They were originally probably made from broken swords. Fighting Sword: A straight sword of mid 18c. Hanger: An early sword, named for the way it was worn. Hunting Sword: A hanger decorated with hunting scenes, introduced by Admiral John Benbow and popular by 1700. Naval Sabre: Mid 19c curved sword. Presentation Sword: A decorative small-sword given by the administrators of the Patriotic Fund (1750-1850) to naval officers, for brave deeds. Spadroon: 1780s straight long sword that was unsuccessful and consequently disappeared. Sword Knot - Used to tie the sword to the wrist, to avoid losing it in a melee. It became decorative. Sword matting – A mat made up from strands of small rope or spunyarn woven over and under rope strands and then beaten flat with a sword. Sword Mount – The proper name for a sword handle. Sword Patriotic Fund - Set up by merchants to support dependants of recipients of Presentation Swords. Sword Scabbard - Sword sheath. Swordspoint (at) - Seamen's slang for quarrelling. Sword sheath. Sybarite & Persian-+21 Synodical month – The tidal prediction term meaning the interval between one New Moon and the next. The average lunar month is 29½ days. Also lunation, or lunar month. Syphering - The lapping of one bevelled edge over another so that the join makes a plain surface.
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