Part 5

Watch

For striking the Hour at each Box in the Yard at Night, and also are allowed all Ships for that Service both in the Day and Night.

Belay

Signifies the same as fasten.

Bench Stakes

Are used by the Smiths for cold Work on a Vice Bench.

Bend

In a Ship, there are several, as the Midship-bend, and others called frame Bends, which shews the Shape of her at the respective Places where they are placed. They say Bend the Cable, when it is seized and made fast to the Ring of the Anchor. To Unbend the Cable is to loosen it from the Ring of the Anchor, in order to be returned into Store, or cut up for inferior Uses.

Bilbows

Is a long Bolt on which are put generally six or seven Shackles, which goes round a Man's Leg when he has committed any Fault, and for securing him in Case his Offence is so great as to deserve further Punishment.

Bildge

The flatest Part of a Ship's Bottom, and when she strikes on a Rock, they say she is Bildged.

Birth

Is a due and proper Distance observed between Ships lying at an Anchor or under Sail; so also the raising or bringing up the Sides of a Ship is called Birthing up; also the proper Place aboard for a Mess to put their Chests, &c. is called the Birth of that Mess; also a convenient Place to Moar a Ship is called the Birth.

Bittacle

Is a Sort of Locker framed with Deal to hold the Compass, a Glass and Candle, and stands on the Quarter Deck just before the Steering Wheel, by which, he that Steers the Ship is enabled to keep her in her right Course.

Bite

Is any Turn or Part of a Rope that lies compassing; and therefore when they cannot take the End of a Rope in Hand, they say, Give me the Bite, or hold by the Bite.

Bitter

Any turn of a Cable about the Bitts, is called a Bitter, so as that the Cable may be let out by little and little. And when a Ship is stopped by a Cable, they say, She is brought up by a Bitter. Also that End of the Cable which is wound or belayed about the Bitts, is called the Bitter-end of the Cable.

Bitts

Are two perpendicular Pieces of Timber in the Fore-part of the Ship, bolted to the Gun-Deck and Orlop Beams, their lower Ends stepping in the Footwaaling, the Heads of which are braced with a Cross-piece, and when several turns of the Cable are taken over them, is for securing the Ship at an Anchor; there are generally two Pair of them; besides there are others upon the Upper Deck, which are fixed by the Main and Foremast, and called the Topsail Sheat and Jeer Bitts.

Blacking

Is in small Barrels, and used by the Boatswains for making the Yards Black.

Blocks

Are fitted with Shivers and Pins for Running Rigging to go through, and of the different Natures following.

Blocks Double

Has two Shives, and are used for Jeers, Topsail-Runners, Main Bowlines, Mizon Sheats, and Winding Tackle Falls.