Search the Dictionary

A line led from a vessel's quarter to her cable so that by tightening or slacking it she can be made to lie in any desired position; a line led diagonally from the bow or stern of a vessel to some point upon the wharf to which she is moored. Air spring, Boiling spring, etc. See under Air, Boiling, etc. -- Spring back…

A kick; a blow with the foot. [R.] What defence can properly be used in such a despicable encounter as this but either the slap or the spurn Milton.

Cowper. I have lately taken steps . . . to relieve the old gentleman's distresses. G. W. Cable.

the stream of opinions or manners. Gulf stream. See under Gulf. -- Stream anchor, Stream cable. (Naut.) See under Anchor, and Cable. -- Stream ice, blocks of ice floating in a mass together in some definite direction. -- Stream tin, particles or masses of tin ore found in alluvial ground; -- so called because a stre…

An iron brace across the shorter diameter of the link of a chain cable. Stud bolt, a bolt with threads on both ends, to be screwed permanently into a fixed part at one end and receive a nut upon the other; -- called also standing bolt.

ube leading from above the surface to enable a diver to remain under water. -- Submarine cable. See Telegraph cable, under Telegraph. -- Submarine mine. See Torpedo, 2 (a).

Above or beyond chemistry; inexplicable by chemical laws. J. Le Conte.

The tapered part of a windlass barrel or a capstan, upon which the cable surges, or slips.

der Pulley. -- Fishing tackle. See under Fishing, a. -- Ground tackle (Naut.), anchors, cables, etc. -- Gun tackle, the apparatus or appliances for hauling cannon in or out. -- Tackle fall, the rope, or rather the end of the rope, of a tackle, to which the power is applied. -- Tack tackle (Naut.), a small tackle t…

ich assumes that the phenomena of organic life, particularly those of evolution, are explicable only by purposive causes, and that they in no way admit of a mechanical explanation or one based entirely on biological science; the doctrine of adaptation to purpose.

ting to a system for transmitting power to a distance by means of swiftly moving ropes or cables driving grooved pulleys of large diameter.

re mutually modified and in part canceled, until their number reduced to the actual practicable scale of twelve tones to the octave. This scale, although in so far artificial, is yet closely suggestive of its origin in nature, and this system of tuning, although not mathematically true, yet satisfies the ear, while it…

ge an anchored vessel when the tide turns, so that in swinging she shall not entangle the cable.

s placed one above, or higher than, another; as, a tier of seats in a theater. Tiers of a cable, the ranges of fakes, or windings, of a cable, laid one within another when coiled.

may be derived, or to which they may be referred; also, a prepared form of argument, applicable to a great variety of cases, with a supply of which the ancient rhetoricians and orators provided themselves; a commonplace of argument or oratory.

Capable of being handled; palpable; practicable; feasible; as, tractable measures. [Obs.] Holder. --Tract"a*ble*ness, n. -- Tract"a/bly, adv.

na, Jr. (b) The angle made by the line of a vessel's keel and the direction of the anchor cable, when she is swinging at anchor.

To raise (an anchor) from the bottom, by its cable or buoy rope, so that it hangs free.

The loosing of an anchor from the ground by means of its cable or buoy rope. Tripping line (Naut.), a small rope attached to the topgallant or royal yard, used to trip the yard, and in lowering it to the deck; also, a line used in letting go the anchor. Luce.

Not to be accounted for; inexplicable; not consonant with reason or rule; strange; mysterious. -- Un`ac*count"a*ble*ness}, n. -- Un`ac*count"a*bly, adv.