TAPPING A BUOY. Clearing it of the water which has entered it by leakage, and would otherwise prevent its watching.
TAP THE ADMIRAL. Opprobriously applied to those who would "drink anything;" from the tale of the drunkard who stole spirits from the cask in which a dead admiral was being conveyed to England.
TAR [Anglo-Saxon _tare_]. A kind of turpentine which is drained from pines and fir-trees, and is used to preserve standing rigging, canvas, &c., from the effects of weather, by rendering them water-proof. Also, a perfect sailor; one who knows his duty thoroughly. (_See_ JACK TAR.)--_Coal_ or _gas tar_. A fluid extracted from coal during the operation of making gas, &c.; chiefly used on wood and iron, in the place of paint.
TARBET, OR TARBERT. Applied to low necks of land in Scotland that divide the lakes from the sea. It literally means boat-carrying, and is a.n.a.logous to the Canadian "portage."
TAR-BRUSH, TOUCH OF THE. A nautical term applied to those who are slightly darkened by mixed blood.
TARGET [Anglo-Saxon _targe_]. A leathern shield. A mark to aim at.
TARGIA. An archaic term for a vessel, since called a _tartan_.
TARI. A coin of Italy, value 8_d._ sterling.
TARIFF. List of duties payable upon exported and imported goods.
TARITA. An ancient term for a ship of burden.
TARN. A small mountain lake [probably from the Icelandic _tiaurn_].
TARPAULIN. Canvas well covered with tar or paint to render it water-proof. Also, the foul-weather hats and jackets of seamen; often applied to the men themselves. Properly _paulin_ when paint is used.
TARRED WITH THE SAME BRUSH. Equivalent to "birds of a feather."
TARRING AND FEATHERING. A punishment now obsolete,--inflicted by stripping the delinquent, then smearing him with tar, covering him with flocks and feathers, and towing him ash.o.r.e. It was ordered in the naval enactments of Richard I. for theft.
TARROCK. The kittiwake, _Larus tridactylus_, a small species of gull.
TARRY-BREEKS. A north-country name for a sailor.
TARTAN. A small coasting vessel of the Mediterranean, with one mast and a bowsprit, lateen-rigged.
TARTAR. A domineering commanding officer.--_To catch a Tartar._ Said of a vessel which mistakes her enemy"s force, and is obliged to yield.
TASKING. Examining a vessel to see whether her timbers are sound.
TASTING TIMBER. Chipping it with an adze, and boring it with an augur, to ascertain its quality.
TATOOING. The Burmese, South Sea Islanders, and others, puncture the skin until it bleeds, and then rub in fine soot and other colouring matter. The practice has become common amongst sailors.
TATTIES. Mats hung before doors and windows in India, on which water is thrown, to cool the air inside by evaporation.
TATTOO. The evening sound of drum or trumpet, after which the roll is called, and all soldiers not on leave of absence should be in their quarters.
TAUNT. High or tall, commonly applied to very long masts.--_All a taunto_ is a ship having all her light and long spars aloft.
TAURUS. The second sign of the zodiac, which the sun enters about the 20th of April.
TAUT [from the Anglo-Saxon _tought_]. Tight.
TAUT BOWLINE. A ship sailing close-hauled is "on a taut bowline."
TAUT HAND. A strict disciplinarian.
TAUT HELM, OR TAUT WEATHER-HELM. A ship with a side wind is said to carry a taut weather-helm, when the water presses heavily on the lee side of the rudder; often the result of her being too much by the head.
TAUT LEECH. A sail well set on a wind, and well filled.
TEACH, TO. In marine architecture, is applied to the direction which any line or curve seems to point out.
TEAGLE. A northern word for a crane for lifting goods.
TEAK. _Tectona grandis_, a stately tree, the pride of Indian and Burmese forests, used extensively in ship-building; having the valuable property of not shrinking, and, by means of its essential oil, preserving the iron bolts driven into it from rusting.
TEAL. A small species of wild duck, _Querquedula crecca_.
TEAM. Ships blockading a port, being generally formed in a line, are said to be "in the team."
TEAM-BOAT. A ferry-boat worked with horses by paddle-wheel propulsion.
TEA-WAGGON. A name given to the old East India Company"s ships on account of their cargo.
TEAZED OAk.u.m. Oak.u.m worked out for caulking. (Tow).
TE DEUM. A hymn sung in thanksgiving for victory obtained. In many cases the causes of war are such that chanting the Te Deum is rank blasphemy.
TEE-IRON. An instrument for drawing the lower box in the barrel of a pump. T-shaped clamp, knee, or other piece of iron-work.
TEETH. A name for the guns in a ship.
TEE-TOTALLER. A very old and general amplification of _totally_, recently borrowed from sea diction to mark a cla.s.s who wholly abstain from alcoholic drinks.
TELEGRAPH, TO. To convey intelligence to a distance, through the medium of signals.
TELESCOPIC OBJECTS. All those which are not visible to the una.s.sisted eye.
TELL OFF, TO. To divide a body of men into divisions and subdivisions, preparatory to a special service.
TELL-TALE. A compa.s.s hanging face downwards from the beams in the cabin, showing the position of the vessel"s head. Also, an index in front of the wheel to show the position of the tiller.
TELL-TALE SHAKE. The shake of a rope from aloft to denote that it wants letting go.
TELL THAT TO THE MARINES! A sailor"s exclamation when an improbable story is related to him.
TEMOINS. _See_ WITNESSES.
TEMPEST. A word not much used by seamen. It is, however, synonymous with _storm_, _gales_, &c. (_See_ STORMS.)