AFT, _arriere_, (from _æfter_, or _abaft_) behind, or near the stern of the ship; being opposed to _fore_; as, run out the guns _fore and aft_! i. e. from one end of the ship to the other; and whence, AFTER, _de l’arriere_, (_æfter_, Sax.) a phrase applied to any object situated in the hinder-part of the ship; as, the _after_-hatchway, the _after_-capstern, the _after_-sails, &c. The AFTER-SAILS usually comprehend all those which are extended on the mizen-mast, and on the stays between the mizen and main-masts. They are opposed to the head-sails, which include all those that are spread on the fore-mast and bowsprit; and both by their mutual operation on the opposite ends of the ship, duly balance her when under sail. See the article TRIM. AGENT-VICTUALLER, _avitalleur_, an officer stationed at a royal port, to regulate the victualling of the king’s ships, under the directions of the commissioners for victualling the navy. He receives all the provisions from the victualling-office in London, and distributes them to the ships in the harbour. He also receives into his store-houses such as may be returned by ships after the expiration of their voyage, and renders an account thereof to the said commissioners. AGROUND, _echoué_, (from _a_ and _ground_) the situation of a ship whose bottom, or any part of it, hangs or rests upon the ground, so as to render her immoveable till a greater quantity of water floats her off; or till she is drawn out into the stream, by the application of mechanical powers. AHEAD, _avant_, _au devant_, (from _a_ and _head_, Sax.) further onward than the ship, or at any distance before her, lying immediately on that point of the compass to which her stem is directed. It is used in opposition to _astern_, which expresses the situation of any object behind the ship. See ASTERN. _To run AHEAD of one’s reckoning_, _depasser_, to sail beyond the place shewn erroneously in the dead-reckoning as the ship’s station. _Line_ AHEAD. See the article LINE. A-HULL, _à sec; à mats, & à cordes_ (from _a_ and _hull_) the situation of a ship when all her sails are furled on account of the violence of the storm, and when having lashed her helm on the lee-side, she lies nearly with her side to the wind and sea, her head being somewhat inclined to the direction of the wind. See this further explained in the article TRYING. AIM, the direction of a cannon, or other fire-arm, to its object, or the point to which it is directed; whence, _To take_ AIM, _prendre sa mire_, (from _esmer_, Fr.) is to point a gun to its object according to the point-blank range. See CANNON and RANGE. ALEE, _envoié_, (from _a_ and _lee_) the situation of the helm when it is pushed down to the lee side of the ship, in order to put the ship about, or lay her head to the windward.