BUNG-STARTER. A stave shaped like a bat, which, applied to either side of the bung, causes it to start out. Also, a soubriquet for the captain of the hold. Also, a name given to the master's assistant serving his apprenticeship for hold duties. BUNG-UP AND BILGE-FREE. A cask so placed that its bung-stave is uppermost, and it rests entirely on its beds. BUNK. A sleeping-place in the fore-peak of merchantmen; standing bed-places fixed on the sides between decks. BUNKER. For stowing coal in steamers. Cellular spaces on each side which deliver the coal to the engine-room.--_Wing-bunkers_ below the decks, cutting off the angular side-spaces of the hold, and hatched over, are usually filled with sand, holy-stones, brooms, junk-blocks, &c., saving stowage. BUNT OF A SAIL. The middle part of it, formed designedly into a bag or cavity, that the sail may gather more wind. It is used mostly in top-sails, because courses are generally cut square, or with but small allowance for bunt or compass. "The bunt holds much leeward wind;" that is, it hangs much to leeward. In "handed" or "furled" sails, the bunt is the middle gathering which is tossed up on the centre of the yard.--_To bunt a sail_ is to haul up the middle part of it in furling, and secure it by the bunt-gasket. BUNTERS. The men on the yard who gather in the bunt when furling sails. BUNT-FAIR. Before the wind. BUNT-GASKET. _See_ GASKET. BUNTING. A name on our southern shores for the shrimp. BUNTING, OR BUNTIN. A thin woollen stuff, of which the ship's colours, flags, and signals are usually made. BUNT-JIGGER. A small gun-tackle purchase, of two single blocks, one fitted with two tails, used in large vessels for bowsing up the bunt of a sail when furling: a peculiar combination of two points, fitted to a spar to which it is hooked. BUNTLINE-CLOTH. The lining sewed up the fore-part of the sail in the direction of the buntline to prevent that rope from chafing the sail. BUNTLINE-CRINGLE. An eye worked into the bolt-rope of a sail, to receive a buntline. This is only in top-gallant sails, and is seldom used now. In the merchant service all buntlines are generally passed through an eyelet-hole in the sail, and clinched round its own part.