CUNTLINE. The space between the bilges of two casks, stowed side by side. Where one cask is set upon the cuntline between two others, they are stowed _bilge and cuntline_. CUT-WATER. The foremost part of a vessel's prow, which projects forward of the bows. CUTTER. A small boat. Also, a kind of sloop. DAGGER. A piece of timber crossing all the puppets of the bilge-ways to keep them together. _Dagger-knees._ Knees placed obliquely, to avoid a port. DAVITS. Pieces of timber or iron, with sheaves or blocks at their ends, projecting over a vessel's sides or stern, to hoist boats up to. Also, a spar with a roller or sheave at its end, used for fishing the anchor, called a _fish-davit_. DEAD-EYE. A circular block of wood, with three holes through it, for the lanyards of rigging to reeve through, without sheaves, and with a groove round it for an iron strap. (See page 59.) DEAD-FLAT. One of the bends, amidships. DEAD-LIGHTS. Ports placed in the cabin windows in bad weather. DEAD RECKONING. A reckoning kept by observing a vessel's courses and distances by the log, to ascertain her position. DEAD-RISING, OR RISING-LINE. Those parts of a vessel's floor, throughout her whole length, where the floor-timber is terminated upon the lower futtock. DEAD-WATER. The eddy under a vessel's counter. DEAD-WOOD. Blocks of timber, laid upon each end of the keel, where the vessel narrows. DECK. The planked floor of a vessel, resting upon her beams. DECK-STOPPER. A stopper used for securing the cable forward of the windlass or capstan, while it is overhauled. (See STOPPER.) DEEP-SEA-LEAD. (Pronounced _dipsey_.) (See page 17.) The lead used in sounding at great depths. DEPARTURE. The easting or westing made by a vessel. The bearing of an object on the coast from which a vessel commences her dead reckoning. DERRICK. A single spar, supported by stays and guys, to which a purchase is attached, used to unload vessels, and for hoisting. DOG. A short iron bar, with a fang or teeth at one end, and a ring at the other. Used for a purchase, the fang being placed against a beam or knee, and the block of a tackle hooked to the ring. DOG-VANE. A small vane, made of feathers or buntin, to show the direction of the wind. DOG-WATCHES. Half watches of two hours each, from 4 to 6, and from 6 to 8, P.M. (See WATCH.) DOLPHIN. A rope or strap round a mast to support the puddening, where the lower yards rest in the slings. Also, a spar or buoy with a large ring in it, secured to an anchor, to which vessels may bend their cables. DOLPHIN-STRIKER. The martingale. (See PLATE I.) DOUSE. To lower suddenly. DOWELLING. A method of coaking, by letting pieces into the solid, or uniting two pieces together by tenons. DOWNHAUL. A rope used to haul down jibs, staysails, and studdingsails. DRABLER. A piece of canvass laced to the bonnet of a sail, to give it more drop. DRAG. A machine with a bag net, used for dragging on the bottom for anything lost.