BOATSWAIN. The officer who superintends the boat-sails, ship's-sails, rigging, canvas, colours, anchors, cables and cordage, committed to his charge. He ought also to take care that the blocks and running ropes are regularly placed to answer the purposes for which they are intended, and that the sails are properly fitted to their yards and stays, and well-furled or reefed when occasion requires. He pipes the hands to their several duties, seeing that they attend his call, and ought to be in every way a thorough seaman. Although termed boatswain, the boats are not in his charge. They, with the spars, &c., and stores for repair, belong to the carpenter. The boatswain is the officer of the first lieutenant; he gives no order, but reports defects, and carries out the will of his superior. BOATSWAIN-BIRD. _Phaethon æthereus_, a tropical bird, so called from its sort of whistle. It is distinguished by two long feathers in the tail, called the marling-spike. BOATSWAIN-CAPTAIN. An epithet given by certain popinjays in the service to such of their betters as fully understand the various duties of their station. BOATSWAIN'S MATE. Is an assistant to the boatswain, who had the peculiar command of the long-boat. He summons the watch or crew by his whistle, and during his watch looks to the decks, and has peculiar calls for "grog," "'bout ship," "pipe to breakfast," "sweepers," &c. BOATSWAIN'S STORE-ROOM. Built expressly for boatswain's stores, on a platform or light deck. BOATSWAIN'S YEOMAN. _See_ YEOMAN. BOAT THE ANCHOR. Place the anchor in-board in the boat. BOAT THE OARS. Put them in their proper places fore and aft on the thwarts ready for use. BOB. A knot of worms on a string, used in fishing for eels; also colloquially, it means a berth.--_Shift your bob_, to move about, to dodge, to fish.--_Bear a bob_, make haste, be brisk. BOB. The ball or balance-weight of a clock's pendulum; the weight attached to the plumb-line. BOBBERY. A disturbance, row, or squabble; a term much used in the East Indies and China. BOBBING. A particular method of fishing for eels-- "His hook he bated with a dragon's tail, And sat upon a rock, and bobb'd for whale." BOBBING ABOUT. Heaving and setting without making any way. BOBBLE. The state of waves when dashing about without any regular set or direction, as in cross tides or currents. BOBSTAY-COLLARS. These are made with large rope, and an eye spliced in each end; they are secured round the bowsprit, on the upper side, with a rose lashing. They are almost entirely superseded by iron bands. BOBSTAY-HOLES. Those cut through the fore-part of the knee of the head, between the cheeks, for the admission of the bobstay; they are not much used now, as chain bobstays are almost universal, which are secured to plates by shackles. BOBSTAY-PLATES. Iron plates by which the lower end of the bobstay is attached to the stem.