=gybe=—The swinging over of a fore and aft sail when the wind, accidentally or intentionally, has been brought from one side of it to the other around its free edge. This is sometimes a foolish and dangerous manœuvre. =halyard=—A rope (sometimes a chain) by which a sail, flag, or yard is hoisted. =handsomely=—A term which sounds contradictory. It means the opposite to hastily, and is used often with reference to ropes or halyards; as, “Lower away _handsomely_,” which means lower away gradually. =hatchway=—An opening in the deck of a vessel through which persons or cargo may descend or ascend. =hawsepipes=—Short tubes through which the anchor cable passes from the forward deck to the outside of the bow. =hawser=—A cable or heavy rope used for towing and for making fast to moorings. =head sails=—All the sails set between the foremast and the bow and bowsprit of a sailing ship. These are the fore staysail and the inner, outer, and flying jibs. Occasionally there may be others, such as a spritsail. =helm=—Used interchangeably with the word “tiller.” Theoretically, every rudder is equipped with a helm or tiller, although actually tillers are seldom used except on small boats. To port your _helm_ (tiller) means to push the handle of the tiller to the port side. This steers the vessel to starboard. Therefore, when the order to port the _helm_ is given on board any ship, it is intended that the steering apparatus be so operated that were there a tiller on the rudder it would be moved to port. =hermaphrodite brig=—A two-masted sailing ship with square sails on the foremast and fore-and-aft sails only on the main. This type is often incorrectly called a brigantine. For illustration see page 201. =hold=—The inner space in a vessel in which the cargo is stowed. =holystone=—A soft, porous stone used for scouring the decks. Its name comes from its shape, which fancy has suggested is that of a Bible, and to the fact that when it is in use the sailors are invariably on their knees. =hull=—The hull is the body of a vessel, exclusive of rigging or equipment. =Jacob’s ladder=—A collapsible ladder made of wooden steps strung between two ropes. It is used over the sides of a ship when the ship is at sea, as, for instance, when a pilot comes aboard or departs. =jaws=—The horns at the end of a boom or gaff, which keep it in its position against the mast. =jib=—One of the triangular headsails of a sailing vessel. There are several, as follows: balloon jib, flying jib, inner jib, jib of jibs (only on large ships), jib topsail, middle jib, spitfire, standing jib, storm jib. =jib-boom=—A spar running out beyond the bowsprit for the purpose of carrying other jibs. _Flying jib-boom_—A boom extending beyond the _jib-boom_ for the purpose of carrying the flying jib. =jigger=—The fourth mast from the bow in a ship carrying four or more masts. The second from the bow in a yawl or a ketch.