unsound loud arguer.

JAW OF A BLOCK. The space in the shell where the sheave revolves.

JAW-ROPE. A line attached to the horns of the jaws to prevent the gaff
from coming off the mast. It is usually furnished with bull's eyes
(perforated balls) to make it shift easily up or down the mast.

JAYLS. The cracks and fissures of timber in seasoning.

JEER-BITTS. Those to which the jeers are fastened and belayed.

JEER-BLOCKS. Are twofold or threefold blocks, through which the
jeer-falls are rove, and applied to hoist, suspend, or lower the main
and fore yards.

JEER-CAPSTAN. One placed between the fore and main masts, serving to
stretch a rope, heave upon the jeers, and take the viol to. Very seldom
used. It is indeed deemed the spare capstan, and is frequently housed in
by sheep-pens and fowl-racks.

JEERS. Answer the same purpose to the main-sail, fore-sail, and mizen,
as halliards do to all inferior sails. The tye, a sort of runner, or
thick rope, is the upper part of the jeers. Also, an assemblage of
strong tackles by which the lower yards are hoisted up along the mast,
or lowered down, as occasion requires; the former of which operations is
called _swaying_, and the latter _striking_ (both of which see).

JEFFERY'S GLUE. _See_ MARINE GLUE.

JELBA. A large coasting-boat of the Red Sea.

JELLY-FISH. A common name for the _Medusae_, soft gelatinous marine
animals, belonging to the class _Acalephae_.

JEMMY. A finical fellow in the usual sense, but adopted as a nautical
term by the mutineers of '97, to express the _nobs_, or _heads_ of
officers. Also, a handy crow-bar or lever.

JEMMY DUCKS. The ship's poulterer. A sobriquet which has universally
obtained in a man-of-war.

JERBE. _See_ JELBA.

JERGADO, OR GINGADO. An early term for a light skiff (_circa_ 1550).

JERK. A sudden snatch or drawing pull; particularly applied to that
given to the trigger of a lock. (_See_ SACCADE.)

JERKED BEEF. Charqui. Meat cured by drying in the open air, with or
without salt. Also, the name of an American coin.

JERKIN. An old name for a coatee, or skirted jacket.

JERKING. A quick break in a heavy roll of the sea.

JERME. A trading vessel of Egypt.

JERQUER. A customs officer, whose duty is to examine the land-waiters'
books, and check them.

JERQUING A VESSEL. A search performed by the jerquer of the customs,
after a vessel is unloaded, to see that no unentered goods have been
concealed.

JERSEY. Fine wool, for