BARNACLE. A shell-fish often found on a vessel's bottom. BATTENS. Thin strips of wood put around the hatches, to keep the tarpaulin down. Also, put upon rigging to keep it from chafing. A large batten widened at the end, and put upon rigging, is called a _scotchman_. BEACON. A post or buoy placed over a shoal or bank to warn vessels off. Also as a signal-mark on land. BEAMS. Strong pieces of timber stretching across the vessel, to support the decks. _On the weather or lee beam_, is in a direction to windward or leeward, at right angles with the keel. _On beam-ends._ The situation of a vessel when turned over so that her beams are inclined toward the vertical. BEAR. An object _bears_ so and so, when it is in such a direction from the person looking. _To bear down_ upon a vessel, is to approach her from the windward. _To bear up_, is to put the helm up and keep a vessel off from her course, and move her to leeward. _To bear away_, is the same as to _bear up_; being applied to the vessel instead of to the tiller. _To bear-a-hand._ To make haste. BEARING. The direction of an object from the person looking. The _bearings_ of a vessel, are the widest part of her below the plank-shear. That part of her hull which is on the water-line when she is at anchor and in her proper trim. BEATING. Going toward the direction of the wind, by alternate tacks. BECALM. To intercept the wind. A vessel or highland to windward is said to _becalm_ another. So one sail _becalms_ another. BECKET. A piece of rope placed so as to confine a spar or another rope. A handle made of rope, in the form of a circle, (as the handle of a chest,) is called a _becket_. BEES. Pieces of plank bolted to the outer end of the bowsprit, to reeve the foretopmast stays through. BELAY. To make a rope fast by turns round a pin or coil, without hitching or seizing it. BEND. To make fast. _To bend a sail_, is to make it fast to the yard. _To bend a cable_, is to make it fast to the anchor. _A bend_, is a knot by which one rope is made fast to another. BENDS. (See PLATE 3.) The strongest part of a vessel's side, to which the beams, knees, and foot-hooks are bolted. The part between the water's edge and the bulwarks. BENEAPED. (See NEAPED.) BENTICK SHROUDS. Formerly used, and extending from the futtock-staves to the opposite channels. BERTH. The place where a vessel lies. The place in which a man sleeps. BETWEEN-DECKS. The space between any two decks of a ship. BIBBS. Pieces of timber bolted to the hounds of a mast, to support the trestle-trees. BIGHT. The double part of a rope when it is folded; in contradistinction from the ends. Any part of a rope may be called the bight, except the ends. Also, a bend in the shore, making a small bay or inlet. BILGE. That part of the floor of a ship upon which she would rest if aground; being the part near the keel which is more in a horizontal than a perpendicular line.