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DAGGER.

A piece of timber that faces on to the poppets on the bilgeways, and crosses them diagonally to keep them together. The plank that secures the heads of the poppets is called the dagger plank. The dagger ms to apply to any thing that stands diagonally or aslant.

DAGGER-KNEES.

Knees to supply the place of hanging knees. Their side arms are brought up aslant, or nearly to the underside of the beams adjoining. They are chiefly used to the lower deck beams of merchant ships, in order to preserve as much stowage in the hold as possible. Any straight hanging knees, not perpendicular to the side of the beam, are in general termed dagger knees.

DAVIT.

A short beam of fir, trimmed eight square towards the outer-end, and used as a crane, whereby the flukes of the anchor are hoisted to the gunwale without injuring the planks of the side.

DEAD-DOORS.

Doors made of whole deal, with slit deal lining, fitted in a rabbet to the outside of the gallery doors, and bolted within side, to prevent the water from flowing into the ship in case the quarter gallery should be carried away.

DEAD-EYES.

Oblate pieces of elm, fixed at the outer edges of the channels, with three holes in each of them, through which the lanyards of the shrouds are reeved.

DEAD-FLAT.

A name given to that timber or frame which has the greatest breadth and capacity in the ship, and which is generally called the midship bend. In those ships where there are several frames or timbers of equal breadth or capacity, that which is in the middle should be always considered as dead-flat.

DEAD-LIGHTS.

Shutters for the stern and gallery lights, to prevent the water from gushing into the ship in a high sea. They are made of whole deal, with slit deal linings, fitted on the outside, and bolted or otherwise fastened within, in bad weather.

DEAD-RISING, or RISING LINE OF THE FLOOR.

Those parts of the floor or bottom throughout the ship's length, where the sweep or curve at the head of the floor timber is terminated, or inflects to join the keel. Hence, although the rising of the floor at the midship flat is but a few inches above the keel at that place, its height forward and aft increases according to the sharpness of form in the body. Therefore the rising of the floor in the sheer plan, is a curve line drawn at the height of the ends of the curve of the floor timbers, and limited at the main frame, or dead-flat, by the dead-rising; appearing in flat ships nearly parallel to the keel for some timbers afore and abaft the midship frame; for which reason these timbers are called flats: but in sharp ships it rises gradually from the main frame, and ends on the stem and post.

DEAD-WATER.

The eddy-water which the ship draws after her at her seat, or line of floatation in the water, particularly close aft. To this particular great attention should be paid in the construction of a vessel, especially in those with square tucks, for such being carried too low in the water, will be attended with great eddies or much dead-water. Vessels with a round buttock have but little or no dead-water, because, by the rounding or arching of such vessels abaft, the water more easily recovers its state of rest.

DEAD-WOOD.

That part of the basis of a ship's body, forward and aft, which is formed by solid pieces of timber scarfed together lengthwise on the keel. These should be sufficiently sided to admit of a stepping or rabbet for the heels of the timbers, that the latter may not be continued downwards to sharp edges; and they should be sufficiently high to seat the floors. Afore and abaft the floors the deadwood is continued to the cutting-down line, for the purpose of securing the heels of the cant-timbers.

DEALS.

Fir wood, of similar thickness to plank.

DECKS.

The decks are in a ship what floors are in a house. They are to support the artillery, stores. and, with the beams, to connect the ship together. Their names arise from their situation, as Lower Deck, Middle Deck, Upper Deck, and Quarter Deck. When a deck stretches fore and aft upon one line, without any falls or intervals, it is called a Flush Deck. The space before the foremast bulkhead, under the quarter-deck, is often called the Half Deck; and, in some north country ships, the steerage is frequently called by this name.

DEEP WAISTED.

A term signifying that the height of the topsides is much above the upper deck, as they are in most vessels.

DEPTH IN THE HOLD.

The height between the floor and the lower deck. This is one of the principal dimensions given for the construction of a ship. It varies according to the height at which the guns are required to be carried from the water; or according to the trade for which a vessel is designed.

DIAGONAL LINE.

A line cutting the body-plan diagonally from the timbers to the middle line. It is square with, or perpendicular to, the shape of the timbers, or nearly so, till it meets the middle line.

DIAGONAL RIB BAND.

A narrow plank, made to a line formed on the half-breadth plan, by taking the intersections of the diagonal line with the timbers in the body-plan to where it cuts the middle line in its direction, and applying it to their respective stations on the half-breadth plan, which forms a curve to which the rib band is made as far as the cant body extends and the square frame adjoining.

DISPOSITION.

A draught or drawing representing the several timbers that compose the frame of the ship, so that they may be properly disposed with respect to the ports.

DOG.

An iron implement used by shipwrights, having a fang at one, or sometimes at each end, to be driven into any piece for supporting it while hewing. Another sort has a fang in one end and an eye at the other, in which a rope may be fastened, and used to haul any thing along.

DOG SHORE.

A shore particularly used in launching.

DOUBLING

Planking of ships' bottoms twice. It is sometimes done to new ships when the original planking is thought to be too thin; and, in repairs, it strengthens the ship, without driving out the former fastenings.

DOVE-TAIL.

A score at the end of a piece of wood resembling the end of a dove's tail, and into which a corresponding piece is fitted. It is cut larger within than without for the purpose of holding the two pieces together the more firmly.

DOVE-TAIL PLATES.

Metal plates, formed like dove-tails, and used to confine the heel of the stern-post and keel together.

DOWSING CHOCKS.

Pieces fayed athwart the apron and lapped on the knight-heads or inside stuff above the upper deck.

DRAUGHT.

The drawing or design of the ship, upon paper, describing the different parts, and from which the ship is to be built. it is mostly drawn by a scale of one quarter of an inch to a foot, so divided or graduated that the dimensions may be taken to one inch.

DRAUGHT OF WATER.

The depth of water a ship displaces when she is afloat.

DROP.

The fall or declivity of a deck, which is generally of several inches. Drops are also small foliages of carved work in the stern-munions.

DRIFT-PIECES.

Solid pieces, fitted at the drifts, to form the scroles. They are commonly mitered into the gunwale, but should rather be let in with square butts, as the caulking will stand better.

DRIFTS.

Those parts where the sheer is raised according to the heights of the decks or gangways, and where the rails are cut off and ended by scroles.

DRIVER.

The foremost spur on the bilgeways; the heel of which is fayed to the foreside of the foremost poppet, and cleated on the bilgeways, and the sides of it stand fore and aft. It is now seldom used.

DRUMHEAD.

The head of a capstan, formed of semi-circular pieces of elm, which, framed together, form the circle into which the capstan bars are fixed.

DRUXEY.

A state of decay in timber with white spongy veins, the most deceptive of any defect.

DUNNAGE-BATTENS

Pieces of oak or fir, about two inches square, nailed athwart the flat of the orlop, to prevent wet from damaging the cables, and to admit air. Dunnage battens are also used in sail-rooms, and in magazines, so as to form a vacant space beneath the sails and powder barrels. DUNNAGE, in general, signifies light wood, or similar materials, used to elevate the stowage.

EARS OF BOATS.

The knee-pieces at the fore-part on the outside, at the height of the gunwale.

EDGING OF PLANK.

Sawing or hewing it narrower.

EKEING.

Making good a deficiency in the length of any piece, by scarping or butting, as at the end of deck-hooks, cheeks, or knees. The ekeing at the lower part of the supporter under the cat-head, is only to continue the shape and fashion of that part, being of no other service. The EKEING is also the piece of carved work under the lower part of the quarter-piece, at the aft part of the quarter gallery.

ELEVATION.

The orthographic draught, or perpendicular plan of a ship, whereon the heights and lengths are expressed. It is called by shipwrights the SHEER DRAUGHT.

ENTRANCE.

A term applied to the fore part of a ship under the load-water line, expressive of its figure; as, "she has a fine entrance," .

EVEN KEEL.

A ship is said to swim on an even keel when she draws the same quantity of water abaft as forwards.

FACE-PIECE.

A piece of elm, generally tabled on to the fore part of the knee of the head, to assist the conversion of the main piece, and likewise to shorten the upper bolts, and prevent the cables from rubbing against them as the knee gets worn.

FACING.

Letting one piece, about an inch in thickness, on to another, in order to strengthen it.

FAIR.

A term to denote the evenness or regularity of a curve or line.

FALL.

The descent of a deck from a fair curve lengthwise, as frequently in the upper deck of yachts, or merchant ships, to give height to the commander's cabin, and sometimes forward at the hawse-holes.

FALLING-HOME, or by some, TUMBLING-HOME.

The inclination which the topside has within a perpendicular.

FALSE-KEEL.

A second keel, composed of elm-plank, or thick-stuff, fastened in a slight manner under the main keel, to prevent it from being rubbed. Its advantages also are, that, if the ship should strike the ground, the false keel will give way, and thus the main keel will be saved; and it will be the means of causing the ship to hold the wind better.

FALSE-POST.

A piece tabled on to the aft part of the heel of the main part of the stern post. It is to assist the conversion and preserve the main post, should the ship tail aground.

FALSE-RAIL.

A rail fayed down upon the upper side of the main or upper rail of the head. It is to strengthen the head-rail, and forms the seat of ease at the after end next the bow.

FASHION PIECES.

The timbers so called from their fashioning the after part of the ship in the plane of projection, by terminating the breadth and forming the shape of the stern. They are united to the ends of the transoms and to the dead-wood.

FAY, To.

To join one piece so close to another that there shall be no perceptible space between them.

FAY.

Two pieces of oak-plank fayed edgeways, perpendicularly, against the topsides abreast the main hatchway, to prevent the sides of the ship from being rubbed by the hoisting of any thing on board. It appears, however from the construction of these fenders, that their only use, in the Royal Navy, can be, when any thing is to be par buckled up the side; and, as this is very unusual, most weights being hoisted on board by the yard-tackles, or a derrick, so that the articles never touch the sides, they are of little use, and had better be dispensed with, as thy are the means of rotting the sides in the parts on which they are affixed.

FIFE-RAIL.

A rail formerly let over the timber-heads above the plank-sheers of the quarter-deck and forecastle, and formerly worked similar to the plank-sheer, but lately planked up to it, excepting the taffarel fife-rail.

FIGURE.

The principal piece of carved work or ornament at the head of the ship.

FILLING ROOM.

A small place in the magazine, lined with lead, and wherein the powder is started loosely to fill the cartridges.

FILLING-TIMBERS.

The intermediate timbers between the frames that are gotten up into their places singly after the frames are rib banded and shored.

FILLINGS.

Pieces of fir fayed between the cheeks of the head; and the pieces in general, to which no particular denomination is otherwise given, applied or affixed wherever solidity is required; such as those, of oak, between the floors to which the keelson is fayed; and between the timbers, to receive the chain and preventer bolts.

FINISHING'S.

The carved ornaments of the quarter galleries. Those below the lower stool are called the lower finishing; and those above the upper stool, the upper finishing.

FIRE-HEARTH.

The fire-place and conveniences in the gallery for cooking the provisions for the people. It is composed of a grate, iron-boilers, ovens, a smoke-jack.

FISH-ROOM.

A place parted off in the after-hold, by bulkheads, between the spirit-room, bread-room, and powder-room. It was formerly used for stowing the salt-fish to be consumed on board; a practice long since discontinued. It is now used for the stowage of coals, and sometimes for spirits, which the ship is destined for a long voyage.

FIXED BLOCKS.

Those blocks that come through the sides and are bolted, as the sheet, tack, and brace blocks.

FLAIRING.

The reverse of falling or tumbling-home. As this can be only in the fore-part of the ship, it is said that a ship has a flairing-bow, when the topside falls outward from a perpendicular. Its uses are, to shorten the cathead, and yet keep the anchor clear of the bow. It also prevents the sea from breaking in upon the forecastle.

FLATS.

A name given to the timbers a-midships that have no beveling, and are similar to dead-flat.

FLEXURE.

The binding or curving of a line or figure.

FLIGHT.

A sudden rising, or a greater curve than sheer, at the cheeks, catheads.

FLIGHT OF THE TRANSOMS.

As the ends or arms of the transoms, being gradually closed in proportion to their distance from the wing transoms downwards, become more narrow as they approach the keel, the general figure or curve which they thus describe, similar to the rising of the floors, is called the flight of the transoms.

FLOOR.

The bottom of a ship, or all that part on each side of the keel, which approaches nearer to a horizontal than a perpendicular direction, and whereon the ship rests when aground.

FLOOR-HOLLOW.

The inflected curve that terminates the floor next the keel, and to which the floor hollow mould is made.

FLOOR-RIB BAND.

The rib band next below the floor-heads which supports the floors. This rib band should be well shored, and great pains should be taken to keep it fair and level, as the whole fabric depends very much thereon.

FLOOR-SWEEPS.

The radii that sweep the heads of the floors.

FLOORS, or FLOOR-TIMBERS.

The timbers that are fixed athwart the keel, and upon which the whole frame is erected. They generally extend as far forward as the fore-mast, and as far aft as the after square timber; and, sometimes, one or two cant-floors are added.

FLUSH.

With a continued even surface; as a FLUSH DECK, which is a deck upon one continued line, without interruption, from fore to aft.

FLY-UP.

Is a term similar to the article FLIGHT, signifying a sudden deviation upwards from a sheer line, as the clamps of the lower deck fly -up abaft to prevent their great shy.

FOOT SPACE RAIL.

The rail that terminates the foot of the balcony, and in which the balusters step, if there be no pedestal rail. It rabbets over the ends of the deals of the deck.

FOOT-WALING, or FUTTLING, or CEILING.

The inside plank of the ship's bottom.

FORE.

The distinguishing character of all that part of a ship's frame and materials which lie towards the stem.

FORE AND AFT.

In the direction of the ship's length from head to stern.

FORE BODY.

That part of the ship's body, afore the midships or dead-flat. This term is more particularly used in expressing the figure or shape of that part of the ship.

FORE-CASTLE

The short deck above the upper deck forward.

FORE-FOOT.

The foremost piece of the keel.

FORE-LOCK.

A thin circular wedge of iron, used to retain a bolt in its place, by being thrust through a mortise hole at the point of the bolt. It is sometimes turned or twisted round the bolt to prevent its drawing.

FORE-MOST.

Nearest to the head of the ship.

FORE-PECK

Close forward under the lower deck.

FORWARD.

In the fore-part of the ship.

FOXEY.

A defect in timber, of a reddish cast or hue, proceeding from over-age.

FRAMES.

The bends of timber which form the body of the ship, each of which is composed of one floor-timber, two or three futtocks, and a top-timber on each side; which being united together, form the frame. Of these frames or bends, that which encloses the greatest space is called the midship or main frame or bend. The arms of the floor-timber form a very obtuse angle; and, in the other frames, this angle decreases or gradually becomes sharper, fore and aft, with the middle line of the ship. Those floors which form the acute angles afore and abaft are called the rising-floors.

A frame of timbers is commonly formed by arches of circles called sweeps, of which there are generally five. 1st. The floor-sweep, which is limited by a line in the body-plan, perpendicular to the plane of elevation, a little above the keel; and the height of this line above the keel is called the dead-rising. The upper part of this arch forms the head of the floor-timber. 2d. The lower breadth sweep; the centre of which is in the line representing the lower height of breadth. 3d. The reconciling sweep; this sweep joins the two former, without intersecting either [a geometrically precise way of saying "faired in" cm)]; and makes a fair curve from the lower height of breadth to the rising line. If a straight line be drawn from the upper edge of the keel to cut the back of the floor-sweep, the form of the midship frame below the lower height of breadth will be obtained. 4th. The upper breadth sweep; the centre of which is the line representing the upper height of breadth of the timbers. This sweep, described upwards, forms the lower part of the top-timber. 5th. The top-timber sweep, or back-sweep, is that which forms the hollow of the top-timber. This hollow is, however, very often formed by a mould, so placed as to touch the upper breadth sweep, and pass through the point, limiting the half-breadth of the top-timber.

FRAME TIMBERS.

The various timbers that compose a frame bend; as the floor-timber, the first, second, third, and fourth, futtocks, and top-timber, which are united, by a proper shift, to each other, and bolted through each shift. They are often kept open, for the advantage of the air, and fillings fayed between them in wake of the bolts. Some ships are composed of frames only, and are supposed to be of equal strength with others of larger scantling.

FRIEZING.

The ornamental carving or painting above the drift-rails, and likewise round the stern or bow. It is generally a representation of foliage or emblematic trophies of war.

FULCRUM.

The prop of support of a lever in lifting or removing a heavy body.