FAIR. A general term for the wind when favourable to a ship's course, in opposition to contrary or foul; _fair_ is more comprehensive than _large_, since it includes about 16 points, whereas large is confined to the beam or quarter, that is, to a wind which crosses the keel at right angles, or obliquely from the stern, but never to one right astern. (_See_ LARGE and SCANT.)--_Fair_, in ship-building, denotes the evenness or regularity of a curve or line.--_To fair_, means to clip the timbers fair. FAIR-CURVE. In delineating ships, is a winding line whose shape is varied according to the part of the ship it is intended to describe. This curve is not answerable to any of the figures of conic sections, although it occasionally partakes of them all. FAIRING. Sheering a ship in construction. Also, the draught of a ship. To run off a great number of different lines or curves, in order to ascertain the fairness in point of curvature of every part, and the beauty of the whole. FAIR-LEAD. Is applied to ropes as suffering the least friction in a block, when they are said to lead fair. FAIR-LEADER. A thimble or cringle to guide a rope. A strip of board with holes in it, for running-rigging to lead through, and be kept clear, so as to be easily distinguished at night. FAIR-MAID. A west-country term for a dried pilchard. FAIR-WAY. The navigable channel of a harbour for ships passing up or down; so that if any vessels are anchored therein, they are said to lie in the fair-way. (_See_ PILOT'S FAIR-WAY.) Also, when the proper course is gained out of a channel. FAIR-WEATHER. That to which a ship may carry the small sails. FAKE. One of the circles or windings of a cable or hawser, as it lies disposed in a coil. (_See_ COILING.) The fakes are greater or smaller in proportion to the space which a cable is allowed to occupy. FALCON. In early times a small cannon, having a length of about 7 feet, a diameter of bore of 3 inches, and throwing a ball of nearly 3 lbs. weight, with a point-blank range of 130 paces, and a random one of 1500. FALCONET. A primitive cannon smaller than the falcon; it threw a ball of 1-1/2 lb. FALK. _See_ FAKE. FALL. A vertical descent of a river through a narrow rocky pass, or over a ledge, to the impediment of navigation. Also, the loose end of a tackle, or that part to which the power is applied in hoisting, and on which the people pull. Also, in ship-building, the descent of a deck from a fair-curve lengthwise, as frequently seen in merchantmen and yachts, to give height to the commander's cabin, and sometimes forward at the hawse-holes. Also, a large cutting down of timber. Also, North American English for autumn, when the navigation of northern inland waters is about to close till the succeeding spring. FALL, TO. A town or fortress is said to fall when it is compelled to surrender to besiegers.