A-weather to Balance Dock

When the helm is put toward the windward side of the ship; anything to windward.

(See A-trip.)

A canopy over a vessel's deck to shield the same from sun and rain.

Iron or wooden uprights shipped in sockets in the sides of a vessel; in the upper end a ridge rope is rove for spreading the awnings to.

A reply made by seamen in answer to an officer's call.

Yachts generally carry three sizes of jib topsails--baby, working, and balloon--the baby jib topsail being, as its name implies, the smallest sail.

A French ferryboat, also a punt used by shipwrights for carrying tar, pitch, oakum, etc., around from one vessel to another.

The wind is said to back when it shifts around the compass contrary to the manner in which the hands of a watch revolve.

To back an anchor. To allow another anchor to slip down and along the cable on a large shackle, which will run until it fetches up against the ring of the anchor that is holding the ship, when it will also bury its fluke in the bottom and assist to hold the vessel.

Another way to back an anchor is to shackle an extra anchor to the cable a few fathoms from the other before letting go the bower.

To back a sail. To throw its after-surface against the mast.

To back and fill. To work to windward with a weather tide in a narrow channel by alternately backing and filling the sails.

To back a ship at anchor. To keep the cable taut by setting some after-sail so as to back the ship down from her anchorage.

To back water. To reverse the order of rowing so as to give the boat sternway.

A thwartships board in the stern sheets of rowing-boats, which affords a rest for the back of the one steering.

The rope stitched to the back of an awning, and running fore-and-aft. To this rope the crow's-foot is spliced, by which the awning is triced up.

Ropes leading back from the dolphin striker on the lower end of the martingale to steady it, and which set up on the bows.

Small separate channels abaft the main channels used for setting up the standing backstays.

Ropes extending from all mast heads above the lower mast heads, and leading to the vessel's side, for the purpose of steadying the masts. (See Stays.)

When a ship, having a fair wind, is unable to stem the current she is said to be back-strapped.

The disturbed water thrown aft by the action of the paddle-wheels or screw propeller.

The mizzen is said to be bag-piped when its sheet is brought to the weather-mizzen rigging.

A name sometimes applied to the lower reef in fore-and-aft sails, and the upper reef in square topsails.

(See Dock.)