--_Under the lee_, expresses the
situation of a vessel anchored or sailing near the weather-shore, where
there is always smoother water than at a great distance from it.--_To
lay a ship by the lee_, or _to come up by the lee_, is to let her run
off until the wind is brought on the lee-quarter, so that all her sails
lie flat against the masts and shrouds.

LEE-ANCHOR. The leeward one, if under weigh; or that to leeward to which
a ship, when moored, is riding.

LEE-BEAM. On the lee-side of the ship, at right angles with the keel.

LEE-BOARDS. Wooden wings or strong frames of plank affixed to the sides
of flat-bottomed vessels, such as Dutch schuyts, &c.; these traversing
on a stout bolt, by being let down into the water, when the vessel is
close-hauled, decrease her drifting to leeward.

LEECHES. The borders or edges of a sail, which are either sloping or
perpendicular; those of the square sails are denominated from the ship's
side, as the starboard-leech of the main-sail, &c.; but the sails which
are fixed obliquely on the masts have their leeches named from their
situation with regard to the ship's length, as the hoist or luff, or
fore-leech of the mizen, the after-leech of the jib, &c.

LEECH-LINES. Ropes fastened to the leeches of the main-sail, fore-sail,
and cross-jack, communicating with blocks under the tops, and serving to
truss those sails up to the yards. (_See_ BRAILS.)--_Harbour
leech-lines._ Ropes made fast at the middle of the topsail-yards, then
passing round the leeches of the top-sails, and through blocks upon the
topsail-tye, serving to truss the sails very close up to the yard,
previous to their being furled in a body.

LEECH-ROPE. A name given to that vertical part of the bolt-rope to which
the border or edge of a sail is sewed. In all sails whose opposite
leeches are of the same length, it is terminated above by the earing,
and below by the clue. (_See_ BOLT-ROPE, CLUE, and EARINGS.)

LEE-FANG. A rope rove through the cringle of a sail, for hauling in, so
as to lace on a bonnet.

LEE-FANGE. The iron bar upon which the sheets of fore-and-aft sails
traverse, in small vessels. (_See_ HORSE.)

LEE-GAUGE. Implies being farther from the point whence the wind blows,
than another vessel in company.

LEE-GUNWALE UNDER. A colloquial phrase for being sorely over-pressed, by
canvas or other cause.

LEE-HATCH, TAKE CARE OF THE! A word of caution to the helmsman, not to
let the ship fall to leeward of