signation of such packet or
passenger ships as trade periodically and regularly to and from ports
beyond sea, in contradistinction to chance vessels. Also, a term applied
by seamen to men-of-war and to their crews.

LINES. With shipwrights, are the various plans for determining the shape
and form of the ship's body on the mould-loft floor. Also, a species of
field-works, consisting of a series of fronts, constructed in order to
cover the front and form the immediate defence of an army or the
frontiers of a state.

LINES OF FLOTATION. Those horizontal marks supposed to be described by
the surface of the water on the bottom of a ship, and which are
exhibited at certain depths upon the sheer-draught. (_See_ LIGHT
WATER-LINE, and LOAD WATER-LINE.)

LING. A brushwood useful in breaming. Also, a fish, the _Lota molva_; it
invariably inhabits the deep valleys of the sea, while the cod is always
found on the banks. When sun-dried it is called stock-fish.

LINGET. Small langridge; slugs.

LINGO. A very old word for tongue or dialect, rather than language or
speech.

LININGS. The reef-bands, leech and top linings, buntline cloths, and
other applied pieces, to prevent the chafing of the sails. In
ship-building, the term means thin dressed board nailed over any rough
surface to give it a finish.

LINKISTER. An interpreter; linguist.

LINKS. A northern phrase for the windings of a river; also for flat
sands on the sea-shore, and low lands overflowed at spring tides.

LINK WORMING. Guarding a cable from friction, by worming it with chains.

LINNE. A Gaelic term for pool, pond, lake, or sea.

LINSEY-WOLSEY. A stuff in extensive use commercially; it is a mixture of
flax and wool.

LINSTOCK. In olden times it was a staff about 3 feet long, having a
sharp point at the foot to stick in the deck, and a forked head to hold
a lighted match. It gave way to the less dangerous match-tub, and since
that to gun-locks, friction-tubes, &c. Shakspeare in _Henry V._ says:

"And the nimble gunner
With _linstock_ now the devilish cannon touches,
And down goes all before them."

LINTRES. Ancient canoes capable of carrying three lintrarii.

LIP. Insolence and bounce.

LIPPER. A sea which washes over the weather chess-tree, perhaps
_leaper_. Also, the spray from small waves breaking against a ship's
bows.

LIPPING. Making notches on the edge of a cutlass or sword.

LIPS OF SCARPHS. The substance left at the ends