HOOK-AND-b.u.t.t. The scarfing, or laying the ends of timbers over each other.

HORNS. The jaws of booms. Also, the ends of cross-trees.

HORSE. (See FOOT-ROPE.)

HOUNDS. Those projections at the mast-head serving as shoulders for the top or trestle-trees to rest upon.

HOUSE. To _house_ a mast, is to lower it about half its length, and secure it by lashing its heel to the mast below. (See page 37.)

_To house a gun_, is to run it in clear of the port and secure it.

HOUSING, or HOUSE-LINE. (p.r.o.nounced _houze-lin_.) A small cord made of three small yarns, and used for seizings.

HULL. The body of a vessel. (See A-HULL.)

IN-AND-OUT. A term sometimes used for the scantline of the timbers, the moulding way, and particularly for those bolts that are driven into the hanging and lodging knees, through the sides, which are called _in-and-out bolts_.

INNER-POST. A piece brought on at the fore side of the main-post, and generally continued as high as the wing-transom, to seat the other transoms upon.

IRONS. A ship is said to be _in irons_, when, in working, she will not cast one way or the other.

JACK. A common term for the _jack-cross-trees_. (See UNION.)

JACK-BLOCK. A block used in sending topgallant masts up and down.

JACK-CROSS-TREES. (See PLATE 1.) Iron cross-trees at the head of long topgallant masts.

JACK-STAFF. A short staff, raised at the bowsprit cap, upon which the Union Jack is hoisted.

JACK-STAYS. Ropes stretched taut along a yard to bend the head of the sail to. Also, long strips of wood or iron, used now for the same purpose.

JACK-SCREW. A purchase, used for stowing cotton.

JACOB'S LADDER. A ladder made of rope, with wooden steps.

JAWS. The inner ends of booms or gaffs, hollowed in.

JEERS. Tackles for hoisting the lower yards.

JEWEL-BLOCKS. Single blocks at the yard-arms, through which the studdingsail halyards lead.

JIB. (See PLATE 2.) A triangular sail set on a stay, forward.

_Flying-jib_ sets outside of the jib; and the _jib-o'-jib_ outside of that.

JIB-BOOM. (See PLATE 1.) The boom, rigged out beyond the bowsprit, to which the tack of the jib is lashed.

JIGGER. A small tackle, used about decks or aloft.

JOLLY-BOAT. A small boat, usually hoisted at the stern.

JUNK. Condemned rope, cut up and used for making mats, swabs, oak.u.m, &c.

JURY-MAST. A temporary mast, rigged at sea, in place of one lost.

KECKLING. Old rope wound round cables, to keep them from chafing. (See ROUNDING.)

KEDGE. A small anchor, with an iron stock, used for warping.

_To kedge_, is to warp a vessel ahead by a kedge and hawser.

KEEL. (See PLATE 3.) The lowest and princ.i.p.al timber of a vessel, running fore-and-aft its whole length, and supporting the whole frame.

It is composed of several pieces, placed lengthwise, and scarfed and bolted together. (See FALSE KEEL.)

KEEL-HAUL. To haul a man under a vessel's bottom, by ropes at the yard-arms on each side. Formerly practised as a punishment in ships of war.

KEELSON. (See PLATE 3.) A timber placed over the keel on the floor-timbers, and running parallel with it.

KENTLEDGE. Pig-iron ballast, laid each side of the keelson.

KEVEL, or CAVIL. A strong piece of wood, bolted to some timber or stanchion, used for belaying large ropes to.

KEVEL-HEADS. Timber-heads, used as kevels.

KINK. A twist in a rope.

KNEES. (See PLATE 3.) Crooked pieces of timber, having two arms, used to connect the beams of a vessel with her timbers. (See DAGGER.)

_Lodging-knees_, are placed horizontally, having one arm bolted to a beam, and the other across two of the timbers.

_Knee of the head_, is placed forward of the stem, and supports the figure-head.

KNIGHT-HEADS, or BOLLARD-TIMBERS. The timbers next the stem on each side, and continued high enough to form a support for the bowsprit.

(See PLATE 3.)

KNITTLES, or NETTLES. (See page 51.) The halves of two adjoining yarns in a rope, twisted up together, for pointing or grafting. Also, small line used for seizings and for hammock-clews.

KNOCK-OFF! An order to leave off work.

KNOT. A division on the log-line, answering to a mile of distance. (See page 17.)

LABOR. A vessel is said to labor when she rolls or pitches heavily.

LACING. Rope used to lash a sail to a gaff, or a bonnet to a sail.

Also, a piece of compa.s.s or knee timber, fayed to the back of the figure-head and the knee of the head, and bolted to each.