FUTTOCK-RIDERS. When a rider is lengthened by means of pieces batted or scarphed to it and each other, the first piece is termed the first futtock-rider, the next the second futtock-rider, and so on.
FUTTOCKS, OR FOOT-HOOKS. The separate pieces of timber which compose the frame. There are four futtocks (component parts of the rib), and occasionally five, to a ship. The timbers that const.i.tute her breadth--the middle division of a ship"s timbers, or those parts which are situated between the floor and the top timbers--separate timbers which compose the frame. Those next the keel are called ground-futtocks or navel-timbers, and the rest upper futtocks.
FUTTOCK-SHROUDS, OR FOOT-HOOK SHROUDS. Are short pieces of rope or chain which secure the lower dead-eyes and futtock-plates of top-mast rigging to a band round a lower mast.
FUTTOCK-STAFF. A short piece of wood or iron, seized across the upper part of the shrouds at equal distances, to which the cat-harping legs are secured.
FUTTOCK-TIMBERS. _See_ FUTTOCKS.
FUZE. Formerly called also _fuzee_. The adjunct employed with sh.e.l.ls for igniting the bursting charge at the required moment. Time-fuzes, prepared with some composition burning at a known rate, are cut or set to a length proportionate to the time which the sh.e.l.l is destined to occupy in its flight; concussion and percussion fuzes ignite the charge on impact on the object: the former by the dislocation of some of its parts throwing open new pa.s.sages for its flame, and the latter by the action of various mechanism on its inner priming of detonating composition. They are made either of wood or of metal, and of various form and size according to the kind of ordnance they are intended for.
Time-fuzes of special manufacture are also applied to igniting the charges of mines, subaqueous blasts, &c.
FUZZY. Not firm or sound in substance.
FYKE. A large bow-net used on the American coasts for taking the shad; hence called _shad-fykes_. Also, the _Medusa cruciata_, or Medusa"s head.
FYRDUNG [the Anglo-Saxon _fyrd ung_, military service]. This appears on our statutes for inflicting a penalty on those who evaded going to war at the king"s command.
G.
GAB. A notch on the eccentric rod of a steam-engine for fitting a pin in the gab-lever to break the connection with the slide-valves. (_See_ GABBE.)
GABARRE. Originally a river lighter; now a French store-ship.
GABART, OR GABBERT. A flat vessel with a long hatchway, used in ca.n.a.ls and rivers.
GABBE. An old but vulgar term for the mouth.--_Gift of the gab_, or _glib-gabbet_, facility and recklessness of a.s.sertion.
GABBOK. A voracious dog-fish which infests the herring fisheries in St.
George"s Channel.
GABELLE [Fr.] An excise tribute.
GABERDINE. An old name for a loose felt cloak or mantle.
GABERT. A Scotch lighter. (_See_ GABART.)
GABIONADE. A parapet of gabions hastily thrown up.
GABIONS. Cylindrical baskets open at both ends, about 3 feet high and 2 feet in diameter, which, being placed on end and filled with earth, greatly facilitate the speedy formation of cover against an enemy"s fire. They are much used for revetments in field-works generally.
GABLE, OR GABULLE. A term in early voyagers for _cable_. Thus,
"Softe, ser, seyd the gabulle-rope, Methinke G.o.de ale is in your tope."
GABLICK, OR GAFFLOCK. An old term for a crow-bar.
GABY. A conceited simpleton.
GACHUPINS. The name given in South America to European Spaniards.
GAD. A goad; the point of a spear or pike.
GAD-YANG. A coasting vessel of Cochin-China.
GAFF. A spar used in ships to extend the heads of fore-and-aft sails which are not set on stays. The foremost end of the gaff is termed the jaw, the outer part is called the peak. The jaw forms a semicircle, and is secured in its position by a jaw-rope pa.s.sing round the mast; on it are strung several small wooden b.a.l.l.s called _trucks_, to lessen the friction on the mast when the sail is hoisting or lowering.--_To blow the gaff_, said of the revealing a plot or giving convicting evidence.
GAFF-HALLIARDS. _See_ HALLIARDS.
GAFF-HOOK. In fishing, a strong iron hook set on a handle, supplementing the powers of the line and fish-hook with heavy fish, in the same way that the landing-net does with those of moderate size.
GAFFLE. A lever or stirrup for bending a cross-bow.
GAFF-NET. A peculiar net for fishing.
GAFF-TOPSAIL. A light triangular or quadrilateral sail, the head being extended on a small gaff which hoists on the top-mast, and the foot on the lower gaff.
GAGE. The quant.i.ty of water a ship draws, or the depth she is immersed.
GAGE, WEATHER. When one ship is to windward of another she is said to have the weather-gage of her; or if in the opposite position, the lee-gage.
GAGE-c.o.c.kS. These are for ascertaining the height of the water in the boiler, by means of three or more pipes, having a c.o.c.k to each.
GAINED DAY. The twenty-four hours, or day and night, gained by circ.u.mnavigating the globe to the eastward. It is the result of sailing in the same direction as the earth revolves, which shortens each day by four minutes for every degree sailed. In the Royal Navy this run gives an additional day"s pay to a ship"s crew.
GAIN THE WIND, TO. To arrive on the weather-side of some other vessel in sight, when both are plying to windward.
GAIR-FISH. A name on our northern coasts for the porpoise.
GAIR-FOWL. A name of the great auk, _Alca impennis_. (_See_ AUK.)
GAIRG. A Gaelic name for the cormorant.
GALAXY. A name of the Milky Way. (_See_ VIA LACTEA.)
GALEAS. _See_ GALLIAS.
GALE OF WIND. Implies what on sh.o.r.e is called a storm, more particularly termed a _hard gale_ or _strong gale_; number of force, 10.--_A stiff gale_ is the diminutive of the preceding, but stronger than a breeze.--_A fresh gale_ is a still further diminutive, and not too strong for a ship to carry single-reefed top-sails when close-hauled.--_A top-gallant gale_, if a ship can carry her top-gallant sails.--_To gale away_, to go free.
GALEOPIS. An ancient war-ship with a prow resembling the beak of a sword-fish.
GALITA. _See_ GUERITE.
GALL. _See_ WIND-GALL.