ALONGST. In the middle of a stream; moored head and stern.
ALOOF. The old word for "keep your luff," in the act of sailing to the wind. (_See_ LUFF.)--_Keep aloof_, at a distance.
ALOOFE. _See_ ALEWIFE.
ALOW. Synonymous with _below_; as _alow_ and _aloft_, though more properly _low_ and _aloft_. Carrying all sail _alow and aloft_ is when the reefs are shaken out, and all the studding-sails set.
ALPHABETICAL LIST. This is a list which accompanies the ship's books; it contains the names and number of every person in the pay-book.
ALTAIR. The bright nautical star {a} Aquilae, binary.
ALTAR. A platform in the upper part of a dock.
ALTEMETRIE. The old term for trigonometry among navigators.
ALTERNATE. Reciprocal.--_Alternate angles_ are the internal angles formed by a line cutting two parallels, and lying on the opposite side of the cutting line; the one below the first parallel, and the other above.--_Alternate ratio_ is that of which the antecedents and consequents bear respectively to each other in any proportion which has the quantities of the same kind.
ALTERNATING WINDS. Peculiar winds blowing at stated times one way, and then, from a sudden alteration in the temperature of the elements, setting in the contrary direction. A remarkable instance is that of the Gulf of Arta in the Ionian Sea, where the effect is promoted by local causes. All land and sea breezes are strictly alternating winds. These however are mostly intertropical; the solar heat causing the sea-breeze to blow on the land by day, and condensation and greater heat of the sea causing a reaction when the land has cooled to a lower temperature.
ALTERNATION OR PERMUTATION OF QUANTITIES, is the varying or changing their order, and is easily found by a continual multiplication of all numbers.
ALTIMETRY. Trigonometry; the art of measuring heights or depressions of land, whether accessible or not.
ALTITUDE. The elevation of any of the heavenly bodies above the plane of the horizon, or its angular distance from the horizon, measured in the direction of a great circle passing through the zenith. Also the third dimension of a body, considered with regard to its elevation above the ground.--_Apparent altitude_ is that which appears by sensible observations made on the surface of the globe.--_Altitude of the pole._ The arc of the meridian between the pole of the heavens and the horizon of any place, and therefore equal to its geographical latitude.--_Altitude of the cone of the earth's and moon's shadow_, is the height of the one or the other during an eclipse, and is measured from the centre of the body.--_Altitude of a shot or shell._ The perpendicular height of the vertex of the curve in which it moves above the horizon.--_Meridian altitude._ The arc of the meridian,--or greater or less altitude, measured from the horizon, of a celestial object in its passage over the meridian, above or below the pole, of the place of the observer. In Polar regions two such transits of the sun, and in England similarly, circumpolar stars afford double observations for the determination of time or latitude. The general term is understood by seamen to denote mid-day, when the passage and meridian altitude of the sun affords the latitude.--_True altitude_ is that produced by correcting the apparent one for parallax and refraction.
ALTMIKLEC. A silver Turkish coin of 60 paras, or 2_s._ 9-1/2_d._ sterling.
ALUFFE, OR ALOOF. Nearer to the wind. This is a very old form of _luff_; being noticed by Matthew Paris, and other writers, as a sea-term. (_See_ LUFF.)
ALURE. An old term for the gutter or drain along a battlement or parapet wall.
ALVEUS. A very small ancient boat, made from the single trunk of a tree. A monoxylon, or canoe.
A.M. The uncials for _ante-meridian_, or in the forenoon. (_See_ MERIDIAN.)
AMAIN [Saxon _a_, and _maegn_, force, strength]. This was the old word to an enemy for "yield," and was written _amayne_ and _almayne_. Its literal signification is, with force or vigour, all at once, suddenly; and it is generally used to anything which is moved by a tackle-fall, as "lower amain!" let run at once. When we used to demand the salute in the narrow seas, the lowering of the top-sail was called _striking amain_ (_see_ STRIKE), and it was demanded by the _wave amain_ (_see_ WAVING), or brandishing a bright sword to and fro.
AMALPHITAN CODE, the oldest code of modern sea-laws, compiled, during the first Crusade, by the people of Amalfi in Italy, who then possessed considerable commerce and maritime power.
AMAYE. Sea-marks on the French coast.
AMBASSADOR. A practical joke performed on board ship in warm climates, in which the dupes are unmercifully ducked in the wash-deck tub:--
"And he was wash'd, who ne'er was wash'd before."
AMBER. A hard resinous substance of vegetable origin, generally of a bright yellow colour, and translucent. It is chiefly obtained from the southern shores of the Baltic, and those of Sicily, where it is thrown up by the sea, but it also occurs in beds of lignite.
AMBERGRIS. A fragrant drug found floating on sea-coasts, the origin and production of which was long a matter of dispute, although now known to be a morbid product developed in the intestines of the spermaceti whale (_Physeter macrocephalus_). It is of a grayish colour, very light, easily fusible, and is used both as a perfume and a cordial, in various extracts, essences, and tinctures.
AMBIENT [from _ambio_, Lat., to go round]. Surrounding, or investing; whence the atmosphere is designated ambient, because it encompasses the earth.
AMBIGENAL. One of the triple hyperboles of the second order.
AMBIT of a geometrical figure is the perimeter, or the line, or sum or all the lines, by which it is bounded.
AMBITION is usually denominated a virtue or a vice according to its direction; but assuredly more of the former, as it is a grand stimulus to officers to avoid reproach, and aspire to eminence and honour.
AMBLYGON. Obtuse angular.
AMBRY. _See_ AUMBREY.
AMBUSCADE [Span. _emboscada_]. A body of men lying in wait to surprise an enemy, or cut off his supplies; also the site where they lurk. This, as well as _ambush_, obviously arose from woods having afforded hiding-places.
AMBUSH. Signifies an attempt to lie in concealment for the purpose of surprising the enemy without his perceiving the intention until he is attacked.
AMELIORATION. An allowance made to the neutral purchaser, on reclaiming a ship irregularly condemned, for repairs she has undergone in his service.
AMICABLE NUMBERS are such as are mutually equal to the sum of each other's aliquot parts.
AMIDSHIPS. The middle of the ship, whether in regard to her length between stem and stern, or in breadth between the two sides. To put the helm _amidships_ is to place it in a line with the keel. The term, however, has a more general bearing to the axis of the ship; as guns, or stores, or place amidships has reference to that line, fore and aft. Externally the term "amidships" as to striking, boarding, &c., would be about the main-mast, or half the length of the ship. (_See_ MIDSHIPS.)
AMIDWARD. Towards the 'midship or middle section of the vessel.
AMLAGH. A Manx or Gaelic term denoting to manure with sea-weed.
AMLEE. A Manx or Gaelic term for sea-weed.
AMMUNITION. This word had an infinite variety of meanings. It includes every description of warlike stores, comprehending not only the ordnance, but the powder, balls, bullets, cartridges, and equipments.--_Ammunition bread_, that which is for the supply of armies or garrisons.--_Ammunition chest_, a box placed abaft near the stern or in the tops of men-of-war, to contain ammunition, for the arms therein placed, in readiness for immediate action.--_Ammunition shoes_, those made for soldiers and sailors, and particularly for use by those frequenting the magazine, being soft and free from metal.--_Ammunition waggon_, a close cart for conveying military effects.--_Ammunition wife_, a name applied to women of doubtful character.
AMNESTY. An act of oblivion, by which, in a professional view, pardon is granted to those who have rebelled or deserted their colours; also to deserters who return to their ships.
AMOK. A term signifying slaughter, but denoting the practice of the Malays, when infuriated to madness with bang (a preparation from a species of hemp), of sallying into the streets, or decks, to murder any whom they may chance to meet, until they are either slain or fall from exhaustion.--_To run a-muck._ To run madly and attack all we meet (_Pope_, _Dryden_). As in the case of mad dogs, certain death awaited them, for if not killed in being taken, torture and impalement followed.
AMORAYLE. An archaism of _admiral_.
AMORCE [Fr.] A word sometimes used to signify priming-powder.
AMPERES. An ancient vessel, in which the rowers used an oar on each side at once.
AMPHIBIA. A class of animals which, from a peculiar arrangement of breathing organs, can live either in water or on land. [Gr. _amphibios_, having a double manner of life.] Hence _amphibious_.
AMPHIPRORAE. Ancient vessels, both ends of which were prow-shaped, so that in narrow channels they need not turn.