The Continental Risque (49 page)

train tackle:

arrangement of
BLOCKS
and tackle attached to the back end of a gun carriage and used to haul the gun inboard.

truck:

a round button of wood that serves as a cap on the highest point of a mast.

trunnions:

short, round arms that project from either side of a cannon and upon which the cannon rests and tilts.

truss:

heavy rope used to hold a yard against a mast or bowsprit.

tween decks:

corruption of
between decks
. The deck between the uppermost and the lowermost decks.

waist:

the area of the ship between the quarterdeck and the forecastle.

waister:

men stationed in the waist of the vessel for sail evolutions. Generally inexperienced, old, or just plain dumb seamen were designated waisters.

warp:

a small rope used to move a vessel by hauling it through the water. Also, to move a vessel by means of warps.

water sail:

a light-air sail set under a boom.

waterways:

long pieces of timber running fore and aft along the point where the deck meets the upper edge of the hull. The
SCUPPERS
are cut through the waterways.

wear:

to turn the vessel from one
TACK
to another by turning the stern through the wind. Slower but safer than tacking.

weather:

the same as
windward
, thus ‘a ship to weather' is the same as ‘a ship to windward.' Also describes the side of the ship over which the wind is blowing.

weather deck:

upper deck, one that is exposed to the weather.

weft:

used to mean a flag, generally the ensign, tied in a long roll and hoisted for the purpose of signaling.

whip:

a tackle formed by a rope run through a single fixed block.

wooding:

laying in stores of wood for cooking fuel.

woolding:

a tight winding of rope around a mast or yard.

worming:

small pieces of rope laid between the strands of a larger rope to strengthen it and allow it to better withstand chaffing. Also, putting worming in place.

yard:

long, horizontal spars suspended from the masts and from which the sails are spread.

yardarm:

the extreme ends of a yard.

James Nelson has served as a seaman, rigger, boatswain and officer on a number of sailing vessels. He is the author of the five books comprising
The Revolution at Sea Saga
and
The Brethren of the Coast
trilogy. He lives with his wife and children in Maine.

His website can be found at
www.jameslnelson.com
.

GLORY IN THE NAME
THIEVES OF MERCY

The Brethren of the Coast:

THE GUARDSHIP

THE BLACKBIRDER

THE PIRATE ROUND

The Revolution at Sea Saga:

BY FORCE OF ARMS

THE MADDEST IDEA

THE CONTINENTAL RISQUE

LORDS OF THE OCEAN

ALL THE BRAVE FELLOWS

Published by Corgi Books

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First published in Great Britain in 2004 by Corgi
an imprint of Transworld Publishers
Copyright © James L. Nelson 1998
Ship diagram and map by James L. Nelson
Maps by Christopher L. Brest/Folio Graphics Co. Inc.

James Nelson has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work.

This book is a work of fiction and, except in the case of historical fact, any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Every effort has been made to obtain the necessary permissions with reference to copyright material, both illustrative and quoted. We apologize for any omissions in this respect and will be pleased to make the appropriate acknowledgements in any future edition.

A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

Version 1.0 Epub ISBN 9781473540651
ISBN 9780552149624

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