AGENT. In physics, expresses that by which a thing is done or effected.--_Navy agent_ is a deputy employed to pass accounts, transact business, and receive pay or other monies, in behoof of the officers and crew, and to apply the proceeds as directed by them.--_Agent victuallers_, officers appointed to the charge of provisions at our foreign ports and stations, to contract for, buy, and regulate, under the authority of the commissioners of the navy. (_See_ NEGLIGENCE.)--_Prize agent_, one appointed for the sale of prizes, and nominated in equal numbers by the commander, the officers, and the ship's company. AGENTS TO LLOYD'S. _See_ LLOYD'S AGENTS. AGGRESSION. The first act of injury in provoking warfare. AGIO. An Italian word, applied to denote the profit arising from discounting bills; also the difference between the value of bank-stock and currency. AGISTMENT. An embankment against the sea or rivers, or one thrown up to fence out a stream. AGON. A Chinese kind of metal cymbal. (_See_ GONG.) It is singular that Gower, _circa_ 1395, using this old word for _gone_, thus metallicizes-- "Of brasse, of silver, and of golde, The world is passed, and _agon_." AGONIST. A champion; prize-fighter. AGREEMENT. Except vessels of less than eighty tons register, the master of a ship must enter into an agreement with every seaman whom he carries from any port in Great Britain as one of his crew; and that agreement must be in the form sanctioned by the Board of Trade. (_See_ RUNNING AGREEMENT.) AGROUND. The situation of a ship or other vessel whose bottom touches or rests upon the ground. It also signifies stranded, and is used figuratively for being disabled or hindered. AGUA-ARDIENTE [Sp.] Corrupted into _aguardiente_,--the adulterated brandy of Spain supplied to ships. AGUADA. The Spanish and Portuguese term for a watering-place. AGUGLIA. A common name for sharp-pointed rocks. From the Italian for needle; written _agulha_ in Spanish and Portuguese charts. AHEAD. A term especially referable to any object farther onward, or immediately before the ship, or in the course steered, and therefore opposed to _astern_.--_Ahead of the reckoning_, is sailing beyond the estimated position of the ship.--_Ahead_ is also used for progress; as, _cannot get ahead_, and is generally applied to forward, in advance. AHOLD. A term of our early navigators, for bringing a ship close to the wind, so as to hold or keep to it. AHOO, OR ALL AHOO, as our Saxon forefathers had it; awry, aslant, lop-sided. (_See_ ASKEW.) AHOY! _See_ HO! A-HULL. A ship under bare poles and her helm a-lee, driving from wind and sea, stern foremost. Also a ship deserted, and exposed to the tempestuous winds. AID, TO. To succour; to supply with provisions or stores.