a loss happen through the ignorance of the master of a
ship, it is not considered as a peril of the sea; consequently the
assurers are not liable. Nor is his ignorance of admiralty-law
admissible as an excuse.

IGUANA. A large lizard used for food in tropical climates.

ILAND. The Saxon _ealand_ (_See_ ISLAND.)

ILDE, AND ILE. Archaic terms for _island_.

ILET. Lacing holes. (_See_ EYELET-HOLES.)

ILLEGAL VOYAGE. (_See_ VOYAGE.)

IMMER. A water-fowl (_See_ EMBER-GOOSE). The _Colymbus immer_ of Linn.,
the great plunger of Buffon.

IMMERSION. The prismatic solid carried under water on the lee-side of a
ship by its inclination.--_Centre of immersion_, the mean centre of the
part immersed. (_See_ CENTRE OF CAVITY.) Astronomically, immersion means
the disappearance of a heavenly body when undergoing eclipse.

IMP. One length of twisted hair in a fishing-line.

IMPEDIMENTA. The ancient term for the baggage of an army.

IMPORT, IMPORTATION, AND IMPORTER, being exactly the reverse of
_export_, _exportation_, and _exporter_, refer to those terms, and take
the opposite meaning. To import is therefore to bring commodities into a
country for the purpose of traffic.

IMPOSSIBLE. A hateful word, generally supplanted among good seamen by
"we'll try." A thing which is impossible in law, is pronounced to be all
one with a thing impossible in nature.

IMPOST. The tax received for such foreign merchandises as are brought
into any haven within a prince's dominions.

IMPREGNABLE. Said of a fortress or position supposed to be proof against
any attack.

IMPRESS, TO. To compel to serve.

IMPRESSION. The effect produced upon any ship, place, or body of troops,
by a hostile attack.

IMPRESSMENT. The system and act of pressing seamen, and compelling
them--under plea of state necessity--to serve in our men-of-war.

IMPREST. Charge on the pay of an officer.

IMPREST-MONEY. That paid on the enlistment of soldiers.

IN. The state of any sails in a ship when they are furled or stowed, in
opposition to _out_, which implies that they are set, or extended to
assist the ship's course. Hence, _in_ is also used as an order to
shorten sail, as "In topgallant-sails." It was moreover an old word for
embanking and inclosing; thus Sir Nicholas L'Estrange (_Harleian MS.
6395_) speaks of him who had "the patent for _inning_ the salt marshes."

IN AND OUT. A term sometimes used for the scantling of timbers, the
moulding way, and particularl