Mildew to Mud Scow

Black and green spots on sails caused by dampness.

A diplomatic agent of the government representing it, and attending to its interest abroad.

An optical phenomenon arising from excessive refraction. From this cause the image of a ship is sometimes observed inverted in the sky, and again the image of an object which is below the horizon is seen above it.

When a vessel fails to go around in tacking she is said to miss stays.

The after fore-and-aft sail; the spanker.

(See Chains.)

The aftermast on a three-masted vessel.

The shrouds of the mizzen lower mast, together with their ratlines.

The shrouds on the mizzen lower mast.

The hemp or wire rope leading from the mizzen masthead to the mainmast near the deck, where it sets up. The mizzen mast is stayed (supported) by it, and on this stay the mizzen staysail is set. (See Stays.)

The large room in a shipbuilder's establishment used for laying down the lines of a vessel by delineating them by chalk marks on the floor.

The breadth of a vessel to the outside of her frame timbers at the widest part.

The process of marking out a vessel's timbers by the employment of the molds made in the mold loft.

A pattern by which the frames of a vessel are shaped.

A small money bag purse hung around the neck by a string, and much worn by seamen.

A small block containing one sheave and stropped with a swivel.

The light gaff situated above the spanker gaff on the mizzen mast of a ship, and projecting from the topmast head. Signal halliards are rove through the end of this gaff.

A light rail raised above the regular quarter rail of the vessel; an extra height given to the rail around the quarters.

A small sail once carried by very lofty ships. It set above the skysail.

A ship is moored when she has two anchors down.

A block made out of a single piece of wood by having a hole chiseled through it for the sheave to turn it.

A small gun used by the Life Saving Service to shoot a line over a stranded vessel so that the crew may be brought to shore by means of a breeches buoy or life car.

A flat-bottom boat of the West Indies used for lightering hogsheads of sugar.

A collection of small craft.

A name applied to the stormy-petrel by sailors, who have a superstitious reverence for the bird, believing that to harm them will bring ill fortune to themselves and their ship.

A kind of washer put over a chain or rope to prevent the latter from slipping further through an aperture.

Small stuff, like rope yarns, seized across a hook so that it may not unhook by the lowering or canting of the block.

A flat-bottomed boat fitted with machinery for dredging out harbors and rivers. (See Dredge.)

(See Mud Scow.)

(See Mud Digger.)

A large, open, flat-bottomed boat (a companion to a mud-digger) for receiving the contents of the great iron scoop.