_Log._ A line with a piece of board, called the _log-chip_, attached to it, wound upon a reel, and used for ascertaining the ship's rate of sailing. (See page 17.) LONG-BOAT. The largest boat in a merchant vessel. When at sea, it is carried between the fore and main masts. LONGERS. The longest casks, stowed next the keelson. LONG-TIMBERS. Timbers in the cant-bodies, reaching from the dead-wood to the head of the second futtock. LOOF. That part of a vessel where the planks begin to bend as they approach the stern. LOOM. That part of an oar which is within the row-lock. Also, to appear above the surface of the water; to appear larger than nature, as in a fog. LUBBER'S HOLE. A hole in the top, next the mast. LUFF. To put the helm so as to bring the ship up nearer to the wind. _Spring-a-luff!_ _Keep your luff!_ &c. Orders to luff. Also, the roundest part of a vessel's bow. Also, the forward leech of fore-and-aft sails. LUFF-TACKLE. A purchase composed of a double and single block. (See page 54.) _Luff-upon-luff._ A luff tackle applied to the fall of another. LUGGER. A small vessel carrying lug-sails. _Lug-sail._ A sail used in boats and small vessels, bent to a yard which hangs obliquely to the mast. LURCH. The sudden rolling of a vessel to one side. LYING-TO. (See LIE-TO.) MADE. A _made mast_ or _block_ is one composed of different pieces. A ship's lower mast is a made spar, her topmast is a whole spar. MALL, or MAUL. (Pronounced _mawl_.) A heavy iron hammer used in driving bolts. (See TOP-MAUL.) MALLET. A small maul, made of wood; as, _caulking-mallet_; also, _serving-mallet_, used in putting service on a rope. MANGER. A coaming just within the hawse hole. Not much in use. MAN-ROPES. Ropes used in going up and down a vessel's side. MARL. To wind or twist a small line or rope round another. MARLINE. (Pronounced _mar-lin_.) Small two-stranded stuff, used for marling. A finer kind of spunyarn. MARLING-HITCH. A kind of hitch used in marling. MARLINGSPIKE. An iron pin, sharpened at one end, and having a hole in the other for a lanyard. Used both as a fid and a heaver. MARRY. To join ropes together by a worming over both. MARTINGALE. A short, perpendicular spar, under the bowsprit-end, used for guying down the head-stays. (See DOLPHIN-STRIKER.) MAST. A spar set upright from the deck, to support rigging, yards and sails. Masts are whole or _made_. MAT. Made of strands of old rope, and used to prevent chafing. MATE. An officer under the master. MAUL. (See MALL.) MEND. _To mend service_, is to add more to it. MESHES. The places between the lines of a netting. MESS. Any number of men who eat or lodge together. MESSENGER. A rope used for heaving in a cable by the capstan. MIDSHIPS. The timbers at the broadest part of the vessel. (See AMIDSHIPS.) MISS-STAYS. To fail of going about from one tack to another. (See page 74.)