Part 67

Strap

Is a Rope spliced about any Block, or made with an Eye to fasten it any where on Occasion.

Stream

When a Ship would only stop a Tide in fair Weather and smooth Water, they generally ride only by their Stream Anchor.

Streight

A narrow Sea Passage between two Lands.

Stretch

When a Ship with all her Sails drawing, steers out of a Road where she has lain at an Anchor, then they say she is stretching away for Sea.

Strike

A Word variously used. When a Ship in Fight, or on meeting with a Man of War, lets down or lowers her Topsails at least half Mast high, she Strikes, meaning, she yields or submits, or pays her Devoir to the Man of War she passes by. When a Ship touches Ground in Shoal Water, they say, she Strikes. When any Topmast is to be taken down, the Word is, Strike the Topmast. And when any Thing is let or lowered down into the Hold, they call it Striking down into the Hold.

String

Is that strake of Plank within Side of the Ship that is wrought over the upper Deck Ports in the Wast.

Surge

When heaving at the Capston, if the Cable, Voyal, or Messenger happen to slip a little, they call it Surging.

Swabber

Is to see that the Ship's Decks are kept neat and clean.

SwallowTails

Are Bolts forged at one End not unlike a Bird's Tail, sharpened and hardened; are used in breaking up old Ships, for cutting off the Tree-nails and Bolts after they are almost sawed through with a Hack Saw; then they put the Swallow Tail thereon, which clips the Bolt, and by driving it with a Maul, cuts and separates the same. As also a strong forked fastening together two Pieces of Timber.

Sweep

When the Mold of a Ship begins to compass in at the Rung-heads, they call it the Sweep of her; as they do when a Hawser is dragged along the Ground at the Bottom of the Sea, to recover any Thing that is sunk, Sweeping for it.

Swifters

Are esteemed a Part of the Gang of Fore and Main Shrouds, (where they have odd ones) and of the same Size which are for succouring those Masts.

Swifting

A Boat, is compassing her Gunwale round with a good Rope. A Ship is either bringing her a-ground, or on a Carreen; and the Capston Bars, is straining a Rope all round the outer Ends of them, to prevent their flying out of the Drum-head.

Swivels

Are made use of at the Moarings in Harbour, to which the Cables and Bridles are bent, that the Ships may swing round either upon Tide of Ebb or Flood.

Tables

Deal