SPRAY. An occasional sprinkling dashed from the top of a wave by the wind, or by its striking an object. SPRING. To crack or split a mast. _To spring a leak_, is to begin to leak. _To spring a luff_, is to force a vessel close to the wind, in sailing. SPRING-STAY. A preventer-stay, to assist the regular one. (See STAY.) SPRING TIDES. The highest and lowest course of tides, occurring every new and full moon. SPRIT. A small boom or gaff, used with some sails in small boats. The lower end rests in a becket or snotter by the foot of the mast, and the other end spreads and raises the outer upper corner of the sail, crossing it diagonally. A sail so rigged in a boat is called a _sprit-sail_. SPRIT-SAIL-YARD. (See PLATE 1.) A yard lashed across the bowsprit or knight-heads, and used to spread the guys of the jib and flying jib-boom. There was formerly a sail bent to it called a _sprit-sail_. SPUNYARN. (See page 44.) A cord formed by twisting together two or three rope-yarns. SPURLING LINE. A line communicating between the tiller and tell-tale. SPURS. Pieces of timber fixed on the bilge-ways, their upper ends being bolted to the vessel's sides above the water. Also, curved pieces of timber, serving as half beams, to support the decks where whole beams cannot be placed. SPUR-SHOES. Large pieces of timber that come abaft the pump-well. SQUARE. Yards are _squared_ when they are horizontal and at right angles with the keel. Squaring by the lifts makes them horizontal; and by the braces, makes them at right angles with the vessel's line. Also, the proper term for the length of yards. A vessel has square yards when her yards are unusually long. A sail is said to be very square on the head when it is long on the head. _To square a yard_, in working ship, means to bring it in square by the braces. SQUARE-SAIL. A temporary sail, set at the fore-mast of a schooner or sloop when going before the wind. (See SAIL.) STABBER. A PRICKER. STAFF. A pole or mast, used to hoist flags upon. STANCHIONS. (See PLATE 3.) Upright posts of wood or iron, placed so as to support the beams of a vessel. Also, upright pieces of timber, placed at intervals along the sides of a vessel, to support the bulwarks and rail, and reaching down to the bends, by the side of the timbers, to which they are bolted. Also, any fixed, upright support; as to an awning, or for the man-ropes. STAND BY! An order to be prepared. STANDARD. An inverted knee, placed above the deck instead of beneath it; as, _bitt-standard_, &c. STANDING. The _standing part_ of a rope is that part which is fast, in opposition to the part that is hauled upon; or the main part, in opposition to the end. The _standing part_ of a tackle is that part which is made fast to the blocks and between that and the next sheave, in opposition to the hauling and leading parts. STANDING RIGGING. (See page 43.) That part of a vessel's rigging which is made fast and not hauled upon. (See RUNNING.)