THE READERS’ DICTIONARY OF SAILING SHIP TERMINOLOGY ___________________________________________________________________________ THE READERS’ DICTIONARY OF SAILING SHIP TERMINOLOGY ___________________________________________________________________________ 170 171 THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF PETER TURNER ©2024 THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF PETER TURNER If any reader can provide information, please send to galf@abandos.com If any reader can provide information, please send to galf@abandos.com Tabernacle - A construction around the base of mast, including a shroud to prevent weather penetration through the deck. On a vessel whose masts can be lowered, the tabernacle holds the pivot pin. Table – 1. (v) To reinforce a sail’s hem by turning the edge over twice, into itself, and sewing it down. 2. A legend attached to a picture or drawing or plan. 3. Any flat land or surface. Table Fiddles Table money - The allowance now made to flag officers for entertainment. Table of Rates-+15 Table, The - Defaulters' parade. Tabling – 1. The broad hem at a sail’s foot, strengthening the part sewn onto the bolt-rope. Hence, (v) The turning over and sewing of a sails edges, known as hemming to lubbers. 2. Carving out of mast spindle in alternating raised lips and sunken mortises. Tabula de Amalpha – Table of maritime laws used throughout the Mediterranean, devised in city-state Amalfi in 13-14c. Tack – 1. A rope shackled to the clew of a sail and used to control the clew of the sail when transferring from tack to sheet, and vice versa, i.e. when going about. 2. The lower forward corner of a fore-and-aft sail. 3. A rope used to haul out the clew of a studding sail to the boom end. 4. The direction a vessel takes when sailing into the wind. 5. The distance a vessel travels on one definition (4) tack. 6. Seamen's slang for food, particularly ship's biscuits, which was also called hard tack. Tack – (v) 1. To work a vessel to windward, repeatedly changing course from starboard to port tack or vice versa. A course tacked has a zigzag appearance if charted. 2. To change the direction of a vessel by bringing her head into the wind and continuing the change through to the other tack. Also to wend. cf wear. Tack block – 1. A block attached over the clew of a sail. 2. A standing block through which a sail rope is rove. Tack about- SMS Tack earring thimble(tge) Tack in a pint of water - Descriptive of a handy sailing ship. Tacking – Going about by turning the head into the wind and trimming the sails so that the turn continues under its own momentum. Tacking in line- SMS Tack knot – A knob knot made by working a double wall knot and crown into the end of a tack or other rope. Tackle – 1. Any purchase formed by running a rope through a block. The part of the rope fixed to a block, or elsewhere, is the standing part; the rest are running parts; the part of the rope hauled is the fall. 2. Pronounced "taykel" – all the blocks, ropes, pulleys, etc., of a vessel, Tackling - The running rigging and sails of a vessel. Tack of a sail - The angle between the foot and the luff. Tack purchase – A simple tackle comprising two single blocks, used for general purposes. Tacks to weather- SMS Tack tackle – A tackle comprising a double and a single block strapped with hooks and thimbles, used to bowse down the tacks of the large sails. Tack tricing line – A small rope passed through a block or thimble, used to hoist the tack of a sail from a yard. Tactics- The first important book was "An Essay on Naval Tactics" by Clerk of Eldin in 1797 Tael Tafferal(tge) Taffrail Taffrail - The rail, often ornamental, along the upper edge of the stern. Tail – An extension to the strop attached to a block. Tail block – A small block onto which a short length of rope is attached, by which it could be fastened onto any place. Tail jigger – A small light tackle comprising a single block and a double block with a selvagee tail. Tail on – The order given to the hands to lend a hand in hauling on a rope. Tail rope Tail splice - A splice used to join ropes of different materials, such as hemp and wire. Tail tackle – A tackle comprising a hooked single block and a double block with a selvagee tail. Similar to luff or watch tackles. Tailors Take a turn – To secure a rope quickly and temporarily by making it fast on a belaying pin, bitt or cleat. Take charge - Said of a gun or other heavy object that has broken loose and is out of control. Take in – Reduce sail area by lowering or furling a sail. Taken aback – When the wind veers suddenly the sails can fill from the wrong direction and cause the ship to stop, thus becoming seamen's slang for being stopped short or surprised. Taken by the lee – The situation of a vessel that has been taken aback by a sudden wind shift. Take the con - Be in control of a vessel's direction. Take the ground – The action of a drift net sinking to the bottom because it is too full to bring up. Take up – The action of a boat’s planking, of swelling when wet and sealing the joints against ingress of water when in use. Planked boats should stored with some water in them, if they are not to dry out too much, when they become leaky. Taken aback - Said of a vessel upon which the wind has unexpectedly shifted, causing the sails to empty and the vessel to stop. Came to mean, taken by surprise by anything. Taken aback - Seamen's slang for stopped short or surprised. Taken by the lee - Of a vessel that has been taken aback by an unexpected wind. In a square-rigger, the sails are blown back against the mast ans in fore-and-aft rig she would be blown aside. Taking a Caulk-Sleeping on deck ‘Taking to Pieces’– The official Navy Board term for the dismantling of a ship, which is what it was, as every removed part was examined and reused wherever possible, or stored for use on another vessel. The dockyard term for doing this was ‘Ripping Down’, which implies that sometimes a little less care was taken than the Navy Board had intended. Tallowing- SMS Tally – 1. The count taken of the cargo as it is loaded or unloaded. 2. Seamen's slang for a person's full name. Tally on - Catch hold. Tamkin- Tompion Tampion - The ornamental plug for a gun barrel. Tan – (v) To treat sails with an extract of oak bark, with, later, other ingredients, to preserve them. Red sails resulted. Tandem block – A block with two sheaves in line. Tangent sailing – A combination of plane sailing and parallel sailing, from the average of the latitudes sailed. Also middle latitude sailing. Tangent Sights Tanks Tanky- Nickname for Sailing Master's Assistant who tended the freshwater tanks and later the grog mixing water. Tantalus Tantane Tap-house or -room - Pub. Taper Off, To- American? slang for adjusting to shipboard life again Tapered rope – A rope that tapered towards its end, to ease its entry into a block. Tapering – Reducing the diameter of a rope’s end, to ease its entry into a block. Tar - A dark resinous liquid gum extracted from pine trees and used to coat the sides of ships and Tar - boats and their rigging and yards, for protection against the weather. Tar, Tarpaulin- Sea-bred Captain as opposed to a gentleman Captain; a seaman. Tarbreeks - A sailor who laced his language with nautical terms, such as avast and belay. Target - Fighting shield. Tarpaulin – 1. Sailcloth dressed with tar, or paint or similar materials, and used to make weatherproof clothing and hatch covers and places where there was a need to protect against the sea or weather. 2. A tarpaulin captain was one who had risen through the ranks. Tarpaulin canvas - Strong but pliable heavy duty canvas made from second quality yarns and Tarpaulin muster - Seamen's slang for a money collection for some charitable cause, which would be gathered in a tarpaulin. Tarrybreeks Tartan Tartan, Tartana - ERR Tartan, Tartane - Small lateen rigged Med ship with a single mast and a small square sail set on the bowsprit. Tartane - 48-60' long, 17' beam, single masted lateen rigged, or two-masted with foremast raked forward Tassiel - Taffrail? Taught Taut, Stiff Taunt - An expression for an old ship with very tall masts. Hence a seamen's term for anything tall or high, such as extra-high masts. Taut - Seamen's slang for smart and efficient. Taut - The term applied to a sail or rope that was extended and stretched out. If applied to a sailor, a taut hand would be one who is very efficient. Taut bowline – The bowlines hauled as taut as possible to sail close to the wind. A ship is described as being on a taut bowline when sailing as close to the wind as possible. Taut hand - A smart, all round crewman, well disciplined and good at his job, and whom everyone therefore respects. Taut leech – Said of a sail working correctly. Also stand. Taut mooring- SMS Taut ship - A smart ship, well disciplined and well run. T bar - An iron or steel bar with an T-shaped section. Tea boat - Seamen's slang for the provision of mugs of tea. 'Tea-boat time' is time to stand easy. Teague - Seamen's nickname for an Irishman. Teak Margin - CTC Teakwood- Not attacked by sea or worms Teased out - Frayed. Teeth of the gale- SMS Telegraph Telegraph - CTC Telescopic topmast - A topmast that can be withdrawn into the lower mast. Used on vessels that need to pass under low bridges. Tell that to the marines! – An expression of disbelief, based on the assertion that you would need to get the marines to verify the truth of a story, from the tale that William IV did not believe a story of flying fish until a Captain of Marines confirmed it as being true. So, if the Marines believe it, then it must be true. Tell-tale - A repeater instrument, such as the weather vane in the Admiralty Room. Tell-tale compass - A compass susepned from the deck beam in a cabin, indicating the direction of the ship to the cabin occupant. Temperance Men- Sailors who did not take Grog*. See Balkers*. Temple toggle-iron – A most efficient harpoon invented in 1848 by Lewis Temple of New Bedford, Mass. Tend – 1. (v) To attend to something that needs attending to. See Attend. 2. The action of a vessel at anchor as it swings to the tidal stream. Tender - A small vessel serving with and for a larger one. Tenderness- SMS Tending to leeward, windward- SMS Tensioning tackles(hgv) Teredo Navalis- Ship worm. Terellas – Models of planet Earth, made from lodestone in 16c, on which magnetic variation was studied. First for Dr Wm Gilbert. Also called earthkins. Tern Schooner- Three masted schooner with all T Tacks and Tumblers
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