TACK. To put a ship about, so that from having the wind on one side, you bring it round on the other by the way of her head. The opposite of _wearing_. A vessel is on the _starboard tack_, or has her _starboard tacks on board_, when she has the wind on her starboard side. The rope or tackle by which the weather clew of a course is hauled forward and down to the deck. The _tack_ of a fore-and-aft sail is the rope that keeps down the lower forward clew; and of a studdingsail, the lower outer clew. The tack of the lower studdingsail is called the _outhaul_. Also, that part of a sail to which the tack is attached. TACKLE. (Pronounced _tay-cle_.) A purchase, formed by a rope rove through one or more blocks. TAFFRAIL, or TAFFEREL. The rail round a ship's stern. TAIL. A rope spliced into the end of a block and used for making it fast to rigging or spars. Such a block is called a _tail-block_. A ship is said to _tail_ up or down stream, when at anchor, according as her stern swings up or down with the tide; in opposition to _heading_ one way or another, which is said of a vessel when under way. TAIL-TACKLE. A watch-tackle. (See page 54.) TAIL ON! or TALLY ON! An order given to take hold of a rope and pull. TANK. An iron vessel placed in the hold to contain the vessel's water. TAR. A liquid gum, taken from pine and fir trees, and used for caulking, and to put upon yarns in rope-making, and upon standing rigging, to protect it from the weather. TARPAULIN. A piece of canvass, covered with tar, used for covering hatches, boats, &c. Also, the name commonly given to a sailor's hat when made of tarred or painted cloth. TAUT. Tight. TAUNT. High or tall. Commonly applied to a vessel's masts. _All-a-taunt-o._ Said of a vessel when she has all her light and tall masts and spars aloft. TELL-TALE. A compass hanging from the beams of the cabin, by which the heading of a vessel may be known at any time. Also, an instrument connected with the barrel of the wheel, and traversing so that the officer may see the position of the tiller. TEND. To watch a vessel at anchor at the turn of tides, and cast her by the helm, and some sail if necessary, so as to keep turns out of her cables. TENON. The heel of a mast, made to fit into the step. THICK-AND-THIN BLOCK. A block having one sheave larger than the other. Sometimes used for quarter-blocks. THIMBLE. An iron ring, having its rim concave on the outside for a rope or strap to fit snugly round. THOLE-PINS. Pins in the gunwale of a boat, between which an oar rests when pulling, instead of a rowlock. THROAT. The inner end of a gaff, where it widens and hollows in to fit the mast. (See JAWS.) Also, the hollow part of a knee. The _throat_ brails, halyards, &c., are those that hoist or haul up the gaff or sail near the throat. Also, the angle where the arm of an anchor is joined to the shank. THRUM. To stick short strands of yarn through a mat or piece of canvass, to make a rough surface.