her course.

LEE-HITCH. The helmsman getting to leeward of the course.

LEE-LURCHES. The sudden and violent rolls which a ship often takes to
leeward when a large wave strikes her on the weather-side.

LEE-SHORE. A ship is said to be on a lee-shore, when she is near it,
with the wind blowing right on to it.

LEE-SIDE. All that part of a ship or boat which lies between the mast
and the side farthest from the wind, the other half being the
weather-side.

LEE-SIDE OF THE QUARTER-DECK. Colloquially called the midshipman's
parade.

LEE-TIDE. A tide running in the same direction as the wind, and forcing
a ship to leeward of the line upon which she appears to sail.

LEEWARD. The lee-side. (_See_ LEE.) The opposite of _lee_ is _weather_,
and of _leeward_, _windward_.

LEEWARDLY. Said of a ship or vessel which presents so little resistance
to the water, when on a wind, as to bag away to leeward. It is the
contrary to _weatherly_.

LEE-WAY. What a vessel loses by drifting to leeward in her course. When
she is sailing close-hauled in a smooth sea with all sail set, she
should make little or no lee-way; but a proportionate allowance must be
made under every reduction of sail or increase of sea, the amount
depending on the seaman's skill, and his knowledge of the vessel's
qualities.

LEE-WHEEL. The assistant to the helmsman.

LEG. The run made on a single tack. Long and short legs (_see_ TACK AND
HALF-TACK).

LEG ALONG. Ropes laid on end, ready for manning.

LEG-BAIL. Dishonest desertion from duty. The phrase is not confined to
its nautical bearing.

LEGGERS. _See_ LEAGUER.

LEGS. (_See_ ANGLE.) A fast-sailing vessel is said to have legs.--_Legs_
are used in cutters, yachts, &c., to shore them up in dry harbours when
the tide leaves them. The leech-line cringles have also been called
legs. Also, the parts of a point which hang on each side of the sail.

LEGS OF THE MARTINETS. Small lines through the bolt-ropes of the
courses, above a foot in length, and spliced at either end into
themselves, making a small eye into which the martinets are hitched.

LEGS AND WINGS. _See_ OVER-MASTED.

LEISTER. A three-pronged dart for striking fish, used in the north of
England.

LEIT. A northern term for a snood or link of horse-hair for a
fishing-line.

LEITH. A channel on the coast of Sweden, like that round the point of
Landfoort to Stockholm.

LEMBUS. A light undecked vessel, used by ancient pirates.

LEMING-STAR.