fore or after part of
each stanchion.

HOLDING-ON. The act of pulling back the hind part of any rope.

HOLDING ON THE SLACK. Doing nothing. (_See_ EYELIDS.)

HOLDING WATER. The act of checking the progress of a boat by holding the
oar-blades in the water, and bearing the flat part strongly against the
current alongside, so as to meet its resistance. (_See_ BACK ASTERN,
OAR, and ROW.)

HOLD OFF. The keeping the hove-in part of a cable or hawser clear of the
capstan.

HOLD ON. Keep all you have got in pulling a rope.--_Hold on a minute._
Wait or stop.--_Hold on with your nails and eyelids._ A derisive
injunction to a timid climber.

HOLD ON, GOOD STICKS! An apostrophe often made when the masts complain
in a fresh squall, or are over-pressed, and it is unadvisable to shorten
sail.

HOLD-STANCHIONS. Those which support the hold-beams amidships, and rest
on the kelson.

HOLD UP, TO. In meteorological parlance, for the weather to clear up
after a gale; to stop raining.

HOLE. A clear open space amongst ice in the Arctic seas.

HOLEBER. A kind of light horseman, who rode about from place to place in
the night, to gain intelligence of the landing of boats, men, &c., on
the Kentish coast.

HOLES, EYELET OR [OE]ILLET. The holes in sails for points and rope-bands
which are fenced round by stitching the edge to a small log-line
grommet. In the drumhead of a capstan, the holes receive the
capstan-bars.

HOLIDAY. Any part left neglected or uncovered in paying or painting,
blacking, or tarring.

HOLLANDS. The spirit principally distilled in Holland.

HOLLARDS. The dead branches and loppings of trees.

HOLLEBUT. A spelling of _halibut_.

HOLLOA, OR HOLLA. An answer to any person calling from a distance, to
show they hear. Thus, if the master intends to give any order to the
people in the main-top, he previously calls, "Main-top, hoay." It is
also the first answer received when hailing a ship. (_See_ HAILING and
HOAY.)

HOLLOW. The bore of a rocket. In naval architecture, a name for the
fifth or _top-timber-sweep_ (which see). Also, hollow or curved leeches
of sails, in contradistinction to straight.

HOLLOW BASTION. In fortification, a bastion of which the terreplein or
interior terrace is not continued beyond a certain distance to the rear
of the parapet, and thus leaves a central area at a lower level.

HOLLOW-MOULD. The same as _floor-hollow_ (which see).

HOLLOWS AND ROUNDS. Plane-tools used for making