AMPHISCII. The inhabitants of the torrid zone are thus denominated from their shadow being turned one part of the year to the north and the other to the south.
AMPHOTEROPLON. _See_ HETEROPLON.
AMPLITUDE. As a general term, implies extent. In astronomy, it is an arc of the horizon intercepted between the true east or west points thereof, and the centre of the sun, star, or planet, at its rising or setting. In other words, it is the horizontal angular distance of a star from the east or west points. It is eastern or ortive when the heavenly object rises, and western or occiduous when it sets, and is moreover northern or southern according to its quarter of the horizon.--_Amplitude_, in gunnery, is the range or whole distance of a projectile, or the right horizontal line subtending the curvilineal path in which it moved.--_Amplitude_, in magnetism, is the difference between the rising and setting of the sun from the east and west points, as indicated by the mariner's or magnetic compass--which subtracted from the true amplitude, constitutes the error of the compass, which is the combined effect of variation and local deviation.
AMPOTIS. The recess or ebb of the tide.
AMRELL. An archaic orthography for _admiral_.
AMULET. A small relic or sacred sentence, preservative against disaster and disease, appended to the neck by superstitious people: few Italian or Spanish seamen are without them.
AMUSETTE. A kind of gun on a stock, like that of a musket, but mounted as a swivel, carrying a ball from half a pound to two pounds weight.
AMY. A foreigner serving on board, subject to some prince in friendship with us.
ANACLASTICS, OR ANACLATICS. The ancient doctrine of refracted light or dioptrics.--_Anaclastic curves_, the apparent curves formed at the bottom of a vessel full of water, or anything at great depths overboard to an eye placed in the air; also the heavenly vault as seen through the atmosphere.
ANADROMOUS. A term applied to migratory fishes, which have their stated times of ascending rivers from the sea, and returning again, as the salmon and others.
ANALEM. A mathematical instrument for finding the course and elevation of the sun.
ANALEMMA. A projection of the sphere on the plane of the meridian, taken in a lateral point of view, so that the colours become circles, whilst those whose planes pass through the eye become right lines, and the oblique circles ellipses. On globes it is represented by a narrow double-looped formed figure, the length of which is equal to the breadth of the torrid zone, and is divided into months and days, to show approximately the solar declination and the equation of time.
ANALOGY. Resemblance, relation, or equality; a similitude of ratios or proportions.
ANALYSIS. The resolution of anything into its constituent parts: mathematically, it is the method of resolving problems by reducing them to equations.--_Analysis of curves_ is that which shows their properties, points of inflection, station, variation, &c.--_Analysis of finite quantities_ is termed specious arithmetic or algebra.--_Analysis of infinites_ is a modern introduction, and used for fluxions or the differential calculus.--_Analysis of powers_ is the evolution or resolving them into their roots.--_Analysis of metals_, fluids, solids, earths, manures, &c.
ANALYTIC. That which partakes of the property of analysis, and is reducible thereby.
ANAN. A word going out of use, uttered when an order was not understood, equal to "What do you say, sir?" It is also used by corruption for _anon_, immediately.
ANANAS. (_Bromelia_). Pine-apple.
ANAPHORA. A term sometimes applied to the oblique ascensions of the stars.
ANAS. A genus of water-birds of the order _Natatores_. Now restricted to the typical ducks.
ANASTROUS. _See_ DODECATIMORIA.
ANAUMACHION. The crime amongst the ancients of refusing to serve in the fleet--the punishment affixed to which was infamy.
ANCHIROMACHUS.--A kind of vessel of the middle ages used for transporting anchors and naval stores.
ANCHOR. A large and heavy instrument in use from the earliest times for holding and retaining ships, which it executes with admirable force. With few exceptions it consists of a long iron shank, having at one end a ring, to which the cable is attached, and the other branching out into two arms, with flukes or palms at their bill or extremity. A stock of timber or iron is fixed at right angles to the arms, and serves to guide the flukes perpendicularly to the surface of the ground. According to their various form and size, anchors obtain the epithets of the _sheet_, _best bower_, _small bower_, _spare_, _stream_, _kedge_, and _grapling_ (which see under their respective heads).
_Anchor floating_, _see_ FLOATING ANCHOR.--_At anchor_, the situation of a ship which rides by its anchor.--_To anchor_, to cast or to let go the anchor, so that it falls into the ground for the ship to ride thereby.--_To anchor_ with a spring on the cable, _see_ SPRING. _Anchor_ is also used figuratively for anything which confers security or stability.
ANCHORABLE. Fit for anchorage.
ANCHORAGE. Ground which is suitable, and neither too deep, shallow, or exposed for ships to ride in safety upon; also the set of anchors belonging to a ship; also a royal duty levied from vessels coming to a port or roadstead for the use of its advantages. It is generally marked on the charts by an anchor, and described according to its attributes of good, snug, open, or exposed.
ANCHOR-BALL. A pyrotechnical combustible attached to a grapnel for adhering to and setting fire to ships.
ANCHOR-CHOCKS. Pieces indented into a wooden anchor-stock where it has become worn or defective in the way of the shank; also pieces of wood or iron on which an anchor rests when it is stowed.
ANCHOR-DAVIT. _See_ DAVIT.
ANCHORED. Held by the anchor; also the act of having cast anchor.
ANCHOR-HOLD. The fastness of the flukes on the ground; also the act of having cast anchor, and taken the ground. (_See_ HOME.)
ANCHOR-HOOPS. Strong iron hoops, binding the stock to the end of the shank and over the nuts of the anchor.
ANCHOR-ICE. The ice which is formed on and incrustates the beds of lakes and rivers: the _ground-gru_ of the eastern counties of England. (_See_ ICE-ANCHOR.)
ANCHORING. The act of casting anchor.--_Anchoring ground_ is that where anchors will find bottom, fix themselves, and hold ships securely: free from rocks, wrecks, or other matters which would break or foul the anchor or injure the cable. In legal points it is not admitted as either port, creek, road, or roadstead, unless it be _statio tutissima nautis_. A vessel dropping anchor in known foul ground, or where any danger is incurred by inability to recover the anchor, or by being there detained until driven off by stress of weather, is not legally anchored.
ANCHOR-LINING. The short pieces of plank fastened to the sides of the ship, under the fore-channels, to prevent the bill of the anchor from tearing the ship's side when fishing or drawing it up. (_See also_ BILL-BOARDS.)
ANCHOR-RING. Formerly the great ring welded into the hole for it. Recent anchors have Jew's-harp shackles, easily replaced, and not so liable to be destroyed by chain-cables.
ANCHOR-SEAT. An old term for the prow of a ship, still in use with eastern nations--Chinese, Japanese, &c.
ANCHOR-SHACKLE. An open link of iron which connects the chain with the anchor--a "Jew's-harp" shackle.
ANCHOR-SMITH. A forger of anchors.
ANCHOR-STOCK. A bar at the upper end of the shank, crossing the direction of the flukes transversely, to steady their proper direction. In small anchors it is made of iron, but in large ones it is composed of two long cheeks or beams of oak, strongly bolted and tree-nailed together, secured with four iron hoops. It is now generally superseded by the iron stock.
ANCHOR-STOCK-FASHION. The method of placing the butt of one wale-plank nearly over the middle of the other; and the planks being broadest in the middle, and tapered to the ends, they resemble an anchor-stock, with which it is more in keeping than is the method called _top-and-butt_; also pursued in fishing spars, making false rudder-heads, &c.
ANCHOR-STOCKING is a mode of securing and working planks in general with tapered butts.
ANCHOR-STOCK TACKLE. A small tackle attached to the upper part of the anchor-stock when stowing the anchor, its object being to bring it perpendicular and closer to the ship.
ANCHOR-WATCH. A subdivision of the watch kept constantly on deck during the time the ship lies at single anchor, to be in readiness to hoist jib or staysails, to keep the ship clear of her anchor; or in readiness to veer more cable or let go another anchor in case the ship should drive or part her anchor. This watch is also in readiness to avoid collision in close rivers by veering cable, setting sail, using the helm, &c., which formerly involved the essence of seamanship.
ANCHOVY. The _Engraulis encrasicholus_. A small fish of the family _Clupeidae_, about four inches in length, much used in sauces and seasoning when cured. It is migratory, but principally taken in the Mediterranean, where those of Gorgona are most esteemed in commerce.