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A large boom or spar, which projects over the stem of a ship or other vessel, to carry sail forward.

Pieces of hard wood bolted to the sides of the bowsprit, to reeve the fore-topmast stays through; -- called also bee blocks. Bee beetle (Zoöl.), a beetle (Trichodes apiarius) parasitic in beehives. -- Bee bird (Zoöl.), a bird that eats the honeybee, as the European flycatcher, and the American kingbird. -- Bee flower…

A rope or chain to confine the bowsprit of a ship downward to the stem or cutwater; -- usually in the pl.

r, also called a knighthead, rising just within the stem in a ship, on either side of the bowsprit, to secure its end.

See Bowsprit.

able), destructive to beans. -- Dolphin striker (Naut.), a short vertical spar under the bowsprit.

A large, strong rope, reaching from the foremast head to the bowsprit, to support the mast. See Illust. under Ship.

A Venetian vessel, with a square stern, having only a mainmast, jigger mast, and bowsprit; also a sloop of war ship-rigged.

To fasten (a bowsprit) to the stem of a vessel by lashings of rope or chain, or by a band of iron. Totten.

The lashing or iron band by which the bowsprit of a vessel is secured to the stem to opposite the lifting action of the forestays. Gammoning fashion, in the style of gammoning lashing, that is, having the turns of rope crossed. -- Gammoning hole (Naut.), a hole cut through the knee of the head of a vessel for the purp…

One of the ropes or chains serving as stays for the dolphin striker or the bowsprit; -- called also gobrope and gaubline.

yma reversa; -- so called by workmen. Gwilt. Heel chain (Naut.), a chain passing from the bowsprit cap around the heel of the jib boom. -- Heel plate, the butt plate of a gun. -- Heel of a rafter. (Arch.) See Heel, n., 7. -- Heel ring, a ring for fastening a scythe blade to the snath. -- Neck and heels, the whole b…

That portion of a mast or bowsprit which is beneath the deck or within the vessel.

flag, containing only the union, without the fly, usually hoisted on a jack staff at the bowsprit cap; -- called also union jack. The American jack is a small blue flag, with a star for each State.

ngular sail set upon a stay or halyard extending from the foremast or fore-topmast to the bowsprit or the jib boom. Large vessels often carry several jibe; as, inner jib; outer jib; flying jib; etc.

A small vessel having two or three masts, and a running bowsprit, and carrying lugsails. See Illustration in Appendix. Totten.

A block under the inner end of a bowsprit.

about six hundred square feet of sail, distinguished from a knockabout by having a short bowsprit.

The process of taking in a reef. Reefing bowsprit, a bowsprit so rigged that it can easily be run in or shortened by sliding inboard, as in cutters.

-- Running board, a narrow platform extending along the side of a locomotive. -- Running bowsprit (Naut.) Same as Reefing bowsprit. -- Running days (Com.), the consecutive days occupied on a voyage under working days. Simmonds. -- Running fire, a constant fire of musketry or cannon. -- Running gear, the wheels and…