I am anxious that it should not appear that I believe the following list to be either complete or adequate. The phraseology of sailors is often so saturated with nautical expressions that a person uninitiated into the fraternity of the sea might easily find their conversations almost beyond his comprehension. The words that follow, however, and their definitions, will make clear any portion of the text of this book which may have more of a nautical flavour than I intended, and may, too, clarify other things in the minds of those unacquainted with the language of the sea.—H. D. =a=—An Anglo-Saxon prefix for “on” or “in.” It is in constant use at sea, as in _aback_, _aboard_, _astern_, etc. =aback=—Spoken of square sails blown back against a mast by a sudden change of wind, or, in some instances, put in that position purposely for some special purpose. =abaft=—Behind or toward the stern of a vessel. Thus, _abaft_ the bridge will mean toward the stern from the bridge. =abeam=—On the side of a vessel, amidships. Thus, an object _abeam_, or _on the beam_, is an object at right angles to the vessel amidships. =aboard=, or =on board=—On, or in, a vessel. =about=—A turning round. To go _about_—To turn a vessel round, in sailing, so that the wind comes over the other side. See _tack_. =adrift=—Anything which floats unfastened, as a boat or a spar, which may have broken away, or a ship which has parted from her anchor. Seamen also refer to articles carelessly lying around a ship as _adrift_. =aft=—Behind; toward the after or stern part of a vessel. Thus, the poop deck is _aft_. =alee=—To put the helm _alee_ means to bring it toward the side of the ship away from the wind. This heads the boat into the wind, or, if the helm is kept _alee_, brings her about. =aloft=—Up in the tops—overhead. In the upper rigging, or on the yards, etc. =alongside=—By the side of. =amidships=—Generally speaking, the middle portion of a vessel. =anchor=—A metal hook specially designed to take hold of the bottom in comparatively shallow water. A cable connecting the anchor and the ship makes it possible for a ship to maintain her position against wind or tide or current. Anchors are of many shapes and vary in size from a few pounds to a number of tons. =anchorage=—A section of a harbour or a roadstead where ships may anchor. =aneroid=—A barometer which is operated by the pressure of the atmosphere on a metal disc covering a partial vacuum. The varying pressure operates the hand on a dial, and this is graduated to the same scale as is a mercurial barometer. =artemon=—A sail used on Roman ships. It was square and was mounted at the bow on a kind of mast that leaned over the bow. Later its place was taken by the spritsail. =astern=—Behind. In the after part of the vessel; behind the vessel; in her wake.