NUT. Projections on each side of the shank of an anchor, to secure the stock to its place.

OAk.u.m. Stuff made by picking rope-yarns to pieces. Used for caulking, and other purposes.

OAR. A long wooden instrument with a flat blade at one end, used for propelling boats.

OFF-AND-ON. To stand on different tacks towards and from the land.

OFFING. Distance from the sh.o.r.e.

ORLOP. The lower deck of a ship of the line; or that on which the cables are stowed.

OUT-HAUL. A rope used for hauling out the clew of a boom sail.

OUT-RIGGER. A spar rigged out to windward from the tops or cross-trees, to spread the breast-backstays. (See page 25.)

OVERHAUL. _To overhaul a tackle_, is to let go the fall and pull on the leading parts so as to separate the blocks.

_To overhaul a rope_, is generally to pull a part through a block so as to make slack.

_To overhaul rigging_, is to examine it.

OVER-RAKE. Said of heavy seas which come over a vessel's head when she is at anchor, head to the sea.

PAINTER. A rope attached to the bows of a boat, used for making her fast.

PALM. A piece of leather fitted over the hand, with an iron for the head of a needle to press against in sewing upon canva.s.s. Also, the fluke of an anchor.

PANCH. (See PAUNCH.)

PARBUCKLE. To hoist or lower a spar or cask by single ropes pa.s.sed round it.

PARCEL. (See page 44.) To wind tarred canva.s.s, (called _parcelling_,) round a rope.

PARCELLING. (See PARCEL.)

PARLIAMENT-HEEL. The situation of a vessel when she is careened.

PARRAL. The rope by which a yard is confined to a mast at its centre.

PART. To break a rope.

PARTNERS. A frame-work of short timber fitted to the hole in a deck, to receive the heel of a mast or pump, &c.

PAZAREE. A rope attached to the clew of the foresail and rove through a block on the swinging boom. Used for guying the clews out when before the wind.

PAUNCH MAT. A thick mat, placed at the slings of a yard or elsewhere.

PAWL. A short bar of iron, which prevents the capstan or windla.s.s from turning back.

_To pawl_, is to drop a pawl and secure the windla.s.s or capstan.

PAY-OFF. When a vessel's head falls off from the wind.

_To pay._ To cover over with tar or pitch.

_To pay out._ To slack up on a cable and let it run out.

PEAK. The upper outer corner of a gaff-sail.

PEAK. (See A-PEAK.)

A _stay-peak_ is when the cable and fore stay form a line.

A _short stay-peak_ is when the cable is too much in to form this line.

PENDANT, or PENNANT. A long narrow piece of bunting, carried at the mast-head.

_Broad pennant_, is a square piece, carried in the same way, in a commodore's vessel.

_Pennant._ A rope to which a purchase is hooked. A long strap fitted at one end to a yard or mast-head, with a hook or block at the other end, for a brace to reeve through, or to hook a tackle to.

PILLOW. A block which supports the inner end of the bowsprit.

PIN. The axis on which a sheave turns. Also, a short piece of wood or iron to belay ropes to.

PINK-STERN. A high, narrow stern.

PINNACE. A boat, in size between the launch and a cutter.

PINTLE. A metal bolt, used for hanging a rudder.

PITCH. A resin taken from pine, and used for filling up the seams of a vessel.

PLANKS. Thick, strong boards, used for covering the sides and decks of vessels.

PLAT. A braid of foxes. (See FOX.)

PLATE. (See CHAIN-PLATE.)

PLUG. A piece of wood, fitted into a hole in a vessel or boat, so as to let in or keep out water.

POINT. To take the end of a rope and work it over with knittles. (See page 51. See REEF-POINTS.)

POLE. Applied to the highest mast of a ship, usually painted; as, _skysail pole_.

p.o.o.p. A deck raised over the after part of the spar deck. A vessel is _p.o.o.ped_ when the sea breaks over her stern.