s, and depending about two or three feet under the yard,
for the sailors to tread on while they are loosing, reefing, or furling
the sails, rigging out the studding-sail booms, &c. In order to keep
the horse more parallel to the yard, it is usually attached thereto at
proper distances, by certain ropes called stirrups, which have an eye
spliced into their lower ends, through which the horse passes. (_See_
STIRRUPS and FOOT-ROPES.) Also, a rope formerly fast to the fore-mast
fore-shrouds, with a dead-eye to receive the spritsail-sheet-pendant,
and keep the spritsail-sheets clear of the flukes of the anchor. Also,
the breast-rope which is made fast to the shrouds to protect the
leadsman. Also, applied to any pendant and thimble through which
running-rigging was led, now commonly called a lizard. Also, a thick
rope, extending in a perpendicular direction near the fore or after side
of a mast, for the purpose of hoisting some yard, or extending a sail
thereon; when before the mast, it is used for the square-sail, whose
yard is attached to the horse by means of a traveller or bull's-eye,
which slides up and down. When it is abaft the mast, it is intended for
the trysail of a snow; but is seldom used in this position, except in
those sloops of war which occasionally assume the appearance of snows to
deceive the enemy. Also, the name of the sawyer's frame or trestle.
Also, the round iron bar formerly fixed to the main-rail at the head
with stanchions; a fir rail is now used, and the head berthed up. Also,
in cutters or schooners, one horse is a stout iron bar, with a large
thimble, which spans the vessel from side to side close to the deck
before the fore-mast. To this the forestaysail-sheet is hauled, and
traverses. The other horse is a similar bar abaft, on which the
main-boom sheet traverses. Also, cross-pieces on the tops of standards,
on which the booms or spare-spars or boats are lashed between the fore
and main masts. Horses are also termed jack-stays, on which sails are
hauled out, as gaff-sails. Horse is a term of derision where an officer
assumes the grandioso, demanding honour where honour is not his due.
Also, a strict disciplinarian, in nautical parlance. Also, tough salt
beef--_salt horse_.--_Flemish horse_ is the horse which has an iron
thimble in one end, which goes over the iron point of the yard-arm
before the studding-sail boom-iron is put on; in the other, a lashing
eye, which is secured near the head earing