mouldings.

HOLLOW SEA. The undulation of the waves after a gale; long hollow-jawed
sea; ground-swell.

HOLLOW SHOT. Introduced principally for naval use before the horizontal
firing of shells from guns became general. Their weight was about
two-thirds that of the solid shot; thus they required less charge of
powder and weight of gun than the latter, whilst their smashing effect
and first ranges were supposed to be greater. It is clear, however, that
if filled with powder, their destructive effect must be immensely
increased.

HOLLOW SQUARE. The square generally used by British infantry; a
formation to resist cavalry. Each side is composed of four ranks of men,
the two foremost kneeling with bayonets forming a fence breast high; the
inclosed central space affords shelter to officers, colours, &c. With
breech-loading muskets this defence will become less necessary. (_See
also_ RALLYING SQUARE.)

HOLM. (_See_ CLETT.) A name both on the shores of Britain and Norway for
a small uninhabited island used for pasture; yet in old writers it
sometimes is applied to the sea, or a deep water. Also, an ill-defined
name applied to a low islet in a river, as well as the flat land by the
river side.

HOLOMETRUM GEOMETRICUM. A nautical instrument of brass, one of which,
price L4, was supplied to Martin Frobisher in 1576.

HOLSOM. A term applied to a ship that rides without rolling or
labouring.

HOLSTER. A case or cover for a pistol, worn at the saddle-bow.

HOLT [from the Anglo-Saxon]. A peaked hill covered with a wood.

HOLUS-BOLUS. Altogether; all at once.

HOLY-STONE. A sandstone for scrubbing decks, so called from being
originally used for Sunday cleaning, or obtained by plundering
churchyards of their tombstones, or because the seamen have to go on
their knees to use it.

HOME. The proper situation of any object, when it retains its full force
of action, or when it is properly lodged for convenience. In the former
sense it is applied to the sails; in the latter it usually refers to the
stowage of the hold. The anchor is said _to come home_ when it loosens,
or drags through the ground by the effort of the wind or current. (_See_
ANCHOR.)--_Home_ is the word given by the captain of the gun when, by
the sense of his thumb on the touch-hole, he determines that the charge
is home, and no air escapes by the touch-hole. It is the word given to
denote the top-sail or other sheets being "home," or butting.--_Sheet
home!_ The