FIFE-RAIL. The rail going round a mast.

FIGURE-HEAD. A carved head or full-length figure, over the cut-water.

FILLINGS. Pieces of timber used to make the curve fair for the mouldings, between the edges of the fish-front and the sides of the mast.

FILLER. (See MADE MAST.)

FINISHING. Carved ornaments of the quarter-galley, below the second counter, and above the upper lights.

FISH. To raise the flukes of an anchor upon the gunwale. Also, to strengthen a spar when sprung or weakened, by putting in or fastening on another piece.

_Fish-front_, _Fishes-sides_. (See MADE MAST.)

FISH-DAVIT. The davit used for fishing an anchor.

FISH-HOOK. A hook with a pennant, to the end of which the fish-tackle is hooked.

FISH-TACKLE. The tackle used for fishing an anchor.

FLARE. When the vessel's sides go out from the perpendicular. In opposition to _falling-home_ or _tumbling-in_.

FLAT. A sheet is said to be hauled _flat_, when it is hauled down close.

_Flat-aback_, when a sail is blown with its after surface against the mast.

FLEET. To come up a tackle and draw the blocks apart, for another pull, after they have been hauled _two-blocks_.

_Fleet ho!_ The order given at such times. Also, to shift the position of a block or fall, so as to haul to more advantage.

FLEMISH COIL. (See FRENCH-FAKE.)

FLEMISH-EYE. A kind of eye-splice. (See PLATE 5 and page 45.)

FLEMISH-HORSE. An additional foot-rope at the ends of topsail yards.

FLOOR. The bottom of a vessel, on each side of the keelson.

FLOOR TIMBERS. Those timbers of a vessel which are placed across the keel. (See PLATE 3.)

FLOWING SHEET. When a vessel has the wind free, and the lee clews eased off.

FLUKES. The broad triangular plates at the extremity of the arms of an anchor, terminating in a point called the _bill_.

FLY. That part of a flag which extends from the Union to the extreme end. (See UNION.)

FOOT. The lower end of a mast or sail. (See FORE-FOOT.)

FOOT-ROPE. The rope stretching along a yard, upon which men stand when reefing or furling, formerly called _horses_.

FOOT-WALING. The inside planks or lining of a vessel, over the floor-timbers.

FORE. Used to distinguish the forward part of a vessel, or things in that direction; as, _fore mast_, _fore hatch_, in opposition to _aft_ or _after_.

FORE-AND-AFT. Lengthwise with the vessel. In opposition to _athwart-ships_. (See SAILS.)

FORECASTLE. That part of the upper deck forward of the fore mast; or, as some say, forward of the after part of the fore channels. (See PLATE 1.) Also, the forward part of the vessel, under the deck, where the sailors live, in merchant vessels.

FORE-FOOT. A piece of timber at the forward extremity of the keel, upon which the lower end of the stem rests. (See PLATE 3.)

FORE-GANGER. A short piece of rope grafted on a harpoon, to which the line is bent.

FORE-LOCK. A flat piece of iron, driven through the end of a bolt, to prevent its drawing.

FORE MAST. The forward mast of all vessels. (See PLATE 1.)

FOREREACH. To shoot ahead, especially when going in stays.

FORE-RUNNER. A piece of rag, terminating the stray-line of the log-line.

FORGE. _To forge ahead_, to shoot ahead; as, in coming to anchor, after the sails are furled. (See FOREREACH.)

FORMERS. Pieces of wood used for shaping cartridges or wads.

FOTHER, or FODDER. To draw a sail, filled with oak.u.m, under a vessel's bottom, in order to stop a leak.

FOUL. The term for the opposite of clear.

FOUL ANCHOR. When the cable has a turn round the anchor.

FOUL HAWSE. When the two cables are crossed or twisted, outside the stem.

FOUNDER. A vessel _founders_, when she fills with water and sinks.

FOX. (See page 52.) Made by twisting together two or more rope-yarns.

_A Spanish fox_ is made by untwisting a single yarn and laying it up the contrary way.

FRAP. To pa.s.s ropes round a sail to keep it from blowing loose. Also, to draw ropes round a vessel which is weakened, to keep her together.

FREE. A vessel is going _free_, when she has a fair wind and her yards braced in. A vessel is said to be _free_, when the water has been pumped out of her.

FRESHEN. To relieve a rope, by moving its place; as, to _freshen the nip_ of a stay, is to shift it, so as to prevent its chafing through.

_To freshen ballast_, is to alter its position.

FRENCH-FAKE. To coil a rope with each fake outside of the other, beginning in the middle. If there are to be riding fakes, they begin outside and go in; and so on. This is called a _Flemish coil_.

FULL-AND-BY. Sailing close-hauled on a wind.