Back and fill To manage the sails of a ship so that the wind strikes them alternately in front and behind, in order to keep the ship in the middle of a river or channel while the current or tide carries the vessel against the wind. Back/Backing Wind changing direction anticlockwise. To turn a sail or a yard so that the wind blows directly on the front of a sail, thus slowing the ship's forward motion. Backed sail One set in the direction for the opposite tack to slow a ship. Backstays Similar to shrouds in function, except that they run from the hounds of the topmast, or topgallant, all the way to the deck. Serve to support the mast against any forces forward, for example, when the ship is tacking. (Also a useful/spectacular way to return to deck for topmen.) Bailer A device for removing water that has entered the boat. Ballast Any heavy material placed in a ship's hold to improve her stability such as pig iron, gravel, stones or lead. Banyan Day Term for a day when no meat is served as part of the main meal Bar Large mass of sand or earth, formed by the surge of the sea. They are mostly found at the entrances of great rivers or havens, and often render navigation extremely dangerous, but confer tranquility once inside. Bar-shot Cannon shot consisting of two half cannonballs joined by an iron bar, used to damage the masts and rigging of enemy vessels. Barbary States Morocco, Algiers, Tunis and Tripoli. All except Morocco were under the nominal rule of the Ottoman Sultan in Constantinople. Captured Christian's and held them in slavery or for ransom. Were paid tribute by many nations with mercantile ships so that they would not be attacked. Barca-longa A two- or three-masted lugger used for fishing on the coasts of Spain and Portugal and more widely in the Mediterranean Sea in the late 17th century and 18th century. The British Royal Navy also used them for shore raids and as dispatch boats in the Mediterranean. Barge A ship's boat carried by larger warships such as frigates and ship's of the line and mainly used to convey the captain or Admiral ashore or to other ships. A frigate's barge was probably only 28' long and was smaller, lighter and quite a bit narrower than the ship's launch. Bark see: Barque Barkie/Barky (Slang) Seaman's affectionate name for their ship. Barky (Slang) A seaman's affectionate name for their vessel Barometer A device to measure the barometric pressure. A rising barometer suggests good weather whereas a falling barometer indicates increasing storms. Barque A three-masted vessel with the foremast and mainmast square-rigged, and the mizzen fore-and-aft rigged. Barquentine A sailing vessel with three or more masts; with a square-rigged foremast and all other masts fore-and-aft rigged. Batten down the hatches To prepare for inclement weather by securing the closed hatch covers with wooden battens so as to prevent water from entering or to secure an enemy crew below. Beaching Deliberately running a vessel aground to load and unload, or to prevent a damaged vessel sinking, or to prevent it's capture by an enemy. Beakhead The protruding part of the foremost section of a sailing ship. It served as a working platform by sailors working the sails of the bowsprit and located directly underneath was the figurehead. The beakhead also housed the crew's toilets (head) Beam The width of a vessel at the widest point, or a point alongside the ship at the midpoint of its length. Beam ends The sides of a ship. "On her beam ends" may mean the vessel is literally on her side and possibly about to capsize; more often, the phrase means the vessel is listing 45 degrees or more. Bear Large squared off stone used with sand for scraping clean wooden decks or, derived from bearing, a direction as in "How does she bear". Bear away Turn away from the wind Bear up To put the helm up (or to windward) and so put the ship before the wind Bearing The horizontal direction of a line of sight between two objects on the surface of the earth. Beat to quarters Prepare for battle Beating Sailing as close as possible towards the wind in a zig-zag course (tacking) to attain an upwind direction to which it is impossible to sail directly. Becalmed Unable to move due to lack of wind. Beetle headed (Slang) Dull, Stupid. Before the mast Term to describe common sailors. Before the wind Sailing with the wind directly astern. Belay To secure a running rope used to work the sails. Also, to disregard as in "Belay that last order" Belaying pins Pins set into racks at the side of a ship. Lines are secured to these, allowing instant release by their removal. Sometimes used as a handy weapon to throw at or club someone. Bell see: Ship's bell Bend To make fast. To bend on a sail means to make it fast to a yard or stay or A knot used to join two ropes or lines Berth A location in a port or harbour used specifically for mooring vessels while not at sea or A safety margin of distance to be kept by a vessel from another vessel or from an obstruction, hence the phrase, "to give a wide berth" or A bed or sleeping accommodation. Best Bower see: Bower Between wind and water The part of a ship's hull that is sometimes submerged and sometimes brought above water by the rolling of the vessel. In action if enemy shot enters this area when the ship is heeled it will take on water when it rolls back and this area is therefore a priority for the ship's carpenter. Bight Loop made in the middle of a line or an indentation in a coastline. Bilboes Leg irons, or iron garters secured to a deck below and used to restrain seamen who have offended. Bilge The area at the bottom of the hull of a ship or boat where water collects and must be pumped out of the vessel. Binnacle Cabinet on the quarterdeck that houses compasses, the log, traverse board, lead lines, telescope and speaking trumpet Biscuit Hard Tack Also small hammock mattress, resembling ships rations. Bitter end The very end of an anchor cable. Bitts Stout horizontal pieces of timber, supported by strong verticals, that extend deep into the ship. These hold the anchor cable when the ship is at anchor. Also Jeer bits Blab (Slang) Gossip. Block Article of rigging that allows pressure to be diverted or, when used with others, increased. Consists of a pulley wheel, made of lignum vitae, encased in a wooden shell. Blocks can be single, double (fiddle block), triple or quadruple based on the number of pulley wheels. Blockade/Blockading The act of patrolling an enemy port to stop enemy ships, or war materials in neutral vessels, arriving or leaving. Blue Peter A blue and white flag (the flag for the letter "P") hoisted at the foretrucks of ships about to sail. Boat fall Line that raises or lowers a ship's boat. Boat hook A pole with a hook on the end, used to reach into the water to catch buoys or other floating objects or to secure a ship's boat alongside a larger vessel. Boatswain (pronounced Bosun) The petty officer who is in charge of the seamen and superintends the sails, rigging, canvas, colours, anchors, cables and cordage, committed to his charge. He is also responsible for the stores of spare cordage etc.. Bobstay A stay which holds the bowsprit downwards, counteracting the effect of the forestay. Bollard A short post on a ship or quay for securing a rope. Bolt rope/line Line sewn into the edge of a sail, at the bolt. Bonnet A strip of canvas secured to the foot of the course (square sail) to increase sail area in light airs. Boom Lower spar which the bottom of a gaff sail is attached to. Booms Masts or yards, lying on board in reserve. Bootnecks (Slang) Marines. Bore The diameter of the inside of a firearms barrel. Bore up/away Past tense - see: Bear up or Bear away Bosun see: Boatswain Bow The front of a ship. Bow chaser A gun placed in the bows of a ship in a position where it can fire directly ahead when in pursuit of an enemy vessel. Bower The name of the ship's two largest anchors located in the ship's bows. The 'best bower' to starboard and the 'small bower' to larboard. Bowline Line attached to the middle of the leech that keeps the leading edge of a sail forward when sailing close to the wind or a type of knot, producing a strong loop of a fixed size Bowse To pull or hoist. Bowsprit A spar running out from the bow of a ship, to which the forestays are fastened. Box-haul To put a vessel on a new tack by bracing the head yards aback and backing onto the new heading. Brace A rope attached to the end of a yard used to adjust the angle between the yard and the fore and aft line of the ship. Mizzen braces, and braces of a brig, lead forward. Brace up To bring the yards closer to fore-and-aft by hauling on the lee braces. Brail up To haul up the foot or lower corners of a sail by means of the brails, small ropes fastened to the edges of sails to truss them up before furling. Breach rope/line Heavy line to stop the recoil of a cannon, (7" for 32 lber). Breech The rear closed end of a cannon's barrel. Brig Two masted vessel square-rigged on both masts, having an additional fore-and-aft sail on the gaff and a boom on her mainmast. Brig sloop A two masted warship. Brigantine A two-masted vessel, square-rigged on the foremast, but fore-and-aft-rigged on the mainmast. Brightwork Exposed varnished wood or polished metal Bring to Cause a ship to be stationary by arranging the sails. Bristol Fashion Shipshape, neatly. Broach/Broach-to When running down wind to veer, or inadvertently to cause the ship to veer to windward, out of control bringing her broadside to meet the wind and sea. A potentially dangerous situation where the ship may roll over, usually due to the ship being driven too hard, carrying too much canvas. Broad pennant A pennant flown from the masthead of a ship to indicate the presence of a commodore on board. Broadside All the guns on one side of a warship or the simultaneous firing of all the guns on one side. Bulkhead A wall or partition within the hull of a ship. Bulwark The planking or wood-work around the sides of a vessel, above the level of the weather deck, forming a barrier to falling overboard. Bumboat (Slang) A shore based vessel that approaches large sea going ships to sell luxuries etc. Often contains money lenders (who will give a mean return in cash for a seamen's pay ticket). Frequently crewed by large masculine women, who employ far more fetching girls to carry out the bargaining with the seamen. Bunt Middle upper part of a sail, next to the mast. Bunting Material from which signal flags are made. Buntline A line for restraining the loose centre of a sail when it is furled. Buoy A floating object anchored to the seabed to mark a position or to which a ship can be moored. Burgoo Meal made from oats, usually served cold, and occasionally sweetened with molasses Button Button Top of a mast or extreme end of a cannon, (on Blomefield model, carrying a loop to take the breach rope). see: Cascabel. By the board Anything that has gone overboard.