BOWLINE-KNOT. That by which the bowline-bridles were fastened to the cringles: the bowline-knot is made by an involution of the end and a bight upon the standing part of a rope. A further involution makes what is termed a bowline on a bight. It is very difficult to explain by words:--holding the rope some distance from the end by the left hand, the end held in the right is laid on the main part, and by a twist given screw-fashion to the right, a loop or kink is formed inclosing this end, which is then passed behind, and back in the same direction with the former, and then jammed home. It is rapidly done, easily undone, and one of the most seamanlike acts, exhibiting grace as well as power. It can be made by a man with but one arm. BOW-LINES. In ship-building, longitudinal curves representing the ship's fore-body cut in a vertical section. BOWLING-ALONG. Going with a free wind. BOW-LOG TIMBERS. A provincial name for hawse-wood. BOWMAN. In a single-banked boat he who rows the foremost oar and manages the boat-hook; called by the French "brigadier de l'embarcation." In double-banked boats there are always two bowmen. Also an archer, differently pronounced. BOW-OAR. The foremost oar or oars, in pulling a boat. BOW-PIECES. The ordnance in the bows; also in building. BOW-RAIL. A rail round the bows. BOWSE, TO. To pull upon any body with a tackle, or complication of pulleys, in order to remove it, &c. Hauling upon a tack is called "bowsing upon a tack," and when they would have the men pull all together, they cry, "Bowse away." Also used in setting up rigging, as "Bowse away, starboard;" "Bowse away, port." It is, however, mostly a gun-tackle term.--_Bowse up the jib_, a colloquialism to denote the act of tippling: it is an old phrase, and was probably derived from the Dutch _buyzen_, to booze. BOWSPRIT, OR BOLT-SPRIT. A large spar, ranking with a lower-mast, projecting over the stem; beyond it extends the jib-boom, and beyond that again the flying jib-boom. To these spars are secured the stays of the fore-mast and of the spars above it; on these stays are set the fore and fore-topmast staysails, the jib, and flying-jib, which have a most useful influence in counter-balancing the pressure of the after-sails, thereby tending to force the ship ahead instead of merely turning her round. In former times underneath these spars were set a sprit-sail, sprit-topsail, &c. BOWSPRIT, RUNNING. In cutter-rigged vessels. (_See_ CUTTER.) BOWSPRIT-BITTS. Are strong upright timbers secured to the beams below the deck; they have a cross-piece bolted to them, the inner end of the bowsprit steps between them, and is thus prevented from slipping in. The cross-piece prevents it from canting up. BOWSPRIT-CAP. The crance or cap on the outer end of the bowsprit, through which the jib-boom traverses. BOWSPRIT-GEAR. A term denoting the ropes, blocks, &c., belonging to the bowsprit.