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A piece of timber fixed on the bilge ways before launching, having the upper ends bolted to the vessel's side.

The piece of timber to which a martyr was affixed to be burned; hence, martyrdom by fire.

A prop or support; a piece of timber in the form of a stake or post, used for a support or stay.

An inverted knee timber placed upon the deck instead of beneath it, with its vertical branch turned upward from that which lies horizontally.

A curved piece of timber to which the two sides of a ship are united at the fore end. The lower end of it is scarfed to the keel, and the bowsprit rests upon its upper end. Hence, the forward part of a vessel; the bow.

A piece of curved timber bolted to the stem, keelson, and apron in a ship's frame near the bow.

a ship or other vessel, as to a wharf or buoy. -- Stern frame (Naut.), the framework of timber forms the stern of a ship. -- Stern knee. See Sternson. -- Stern port (Naut.), a port, or opening, in the stern of a ship. -- Stern sheets (Naut.), that part of an open boat which is between the stern and the aftmost sea…

A straight piece of timber, or an iron bar or beam, erected on the extremity of the keel to support the rudder, and receive the ends of the planks or plates of the vessel.

g, from a tree or shrub; also, any stem or branch of a tree, of any size, cut for fuel or timber. Withered sticks to gather, which might serve Against a winter's day. Milton.

A frame of timber, with holes in which the feet, or the feet and hands, of criminals were formerly confined by way of punishment. He shall rest in my stocks. Piers Plowman.

A line of stout posts or timbers set firmly in the earth in contact with each other (and usually with loopholes) to form a barrier, or defensive fortification. [Written also stoccade.]

rse; direct; not deviating or crooked; as, a straight line or course; a straight piece of timber. And the crooked shall be made straight. Isa. xl. 4. There are many several sorts of crooked lines, but there is only one which is straight. Dryden.

To injure by drawing, stretching, or the exertion of force; as, the gale strained the timbers of the ship.

from Strain. Straining piece (Arch.), a short piece of timber in a truss, used to maintain the ends of struts or rafters, and keep them from slipping. See Illust. of Queen-post.

A band, plate, or loop of metal for clasping and holding timbers or parts of a machine. (b) (Naut.)

A piece of timber used in building.

A long horizontal timber to connect uprights in a frame, or to support a floor or the like.

A long piece of timber, forming a margin or edge of any piece of construction; esp.:

n making gun barrels. -- Stub mortise (Carp.), a mortise passing only partly through the timber in which it is formed. -- Stub nail, an old horseshoe nail; a nail broken off; also, a short, thick nail. -- Stub short, or Stub shot (Lumber Manuf.), the part of the end of a sawn log or plank which is beyond the place w…

A framework of timber covered with boards to support rubbish; also, a framework of boards to protect miners from falling stones. [Prov. Eng.]