=jolly boat=—A boat corresponding to a dinghy. =junk=—A ship common in China and Japan. It is ungainly in shape, but is often remarkably seaworthy. It is driven by sails which are often made of matting. =kayak=—A small canoe used by the Eskimos. It is made by covering a light framework with skins, and is decked. Generally there is but one hatch just large enough for a single occupant to sit in. Occasionally there are two of these openings. It is propelled by paddles. =kedge=—A small anchor carried by large vessels for use in shallow water or for use in keeping the main anchor clear. =keel=—The backbone of a ship. It is a strong member extending the entire length of the centre of the bottom, and from it the ribs are built at right angles. _Fin-keel_—A thin and deep projection below the keel of some sailing ships, principally yachts, designed so as to prevent the ship from being blown sideways by the wind, and generally weighted at the bottom by an addition of lead or iron to insure stability to the vessel. =keelson=—An addition to the keel inside the boat. It rests upon the keel and strengthens it. =ketch=—A sailing vessel with two masts and with fore-and-aft sails. The mast nearer the bow is the larger of the two and is called the main. The one toward the stern is, in America, generally called the jigger, and in England the mizzen. It is placed just forward of the wheel or tiller. It is in this particular that it differs from a yawl. =knot=—A nautical mile per hour is a measure of speed. It is often incorrectly used as a synonym for a nautical mile. =knot=—The fastening of a rope. For illustrations see page 193. =landlubber=—An uncomplimentary term used by sailors in reference to any one not familiar with ships and the sea. =larboard=—The old term for port, or the left-hand side of a vessel. No longer in use because of its close resemblance to starboard, which is the term meaning the right-hand side. =lateen=—A triangular sail of large size hung from a very long yard. It is common in Egyptian waters and is to be seen occasionally about the Mediterranean and in the East. The yard is often of immense length, sometimes being twice as long as the boat itself. =launch=—A small vessel propelled by some kind of motor, and generally used for pleasure. To _launch_—To put a new vessel into the water. This is ordinarily a function of more or less formality. =lead=—A leaden weight attached to the end of a line used to measure the depth of the water. =lee=—The lee side of a vessel is the side opposite that against which the wind blows. A lee shore is a shore on the lee side of a ship, and is therefore to be feared, for the force of the wind tends to blow the ship ashore. “Under the _lee_ of the shore,” however, is an expression meaning in the shelter of a shore line from which the wind is blowing. =leech= (meaning =lee edge=)—The aftermost, backmost, or lee margin of a sail.