inguished by having an iron handle, with an
eye at the end, by which it is tied fast to the mast-head. It is kept
aloft for driving the iron fid in or out of the top-mast.

MAUND. An Indian weight, which varies in amount depending on the part of
the country. Also, a basket used by fishermen; a measure of small fish.

MAUNJEE. The native boatmen of the river Hooghly.

MAVIS-SKATE. The sharp-nosed ray. (_See_ FRIAR-SKATE.)

MAW, OR SEA-MAW. The common gull, _Larus canus_.

MAY. _See_ VENDAVAL.

MAYHEM, OR MAHIM. The law-term for maim.

MAZE. In the herring trade, 500 fishes.

MAZOLET. An Indian bark boat, caulked with moss.

MEAKER. A west-country term for a minnow.

MEAKING IRON. The tool used by caulkers to run old oakum out of the
seams before inserting new.

MEALED. Mixed or compounded.--_Mealed powder_, gunpowder pulverized by
treating with spirits of wine.

MEALES, OR MIOLS. Immense sand-banks thrown up by the sea on the coasts
of Norfolk, Lancashire, &c.

MEAN. As a general term implies the medium, but a mean of bad
observations can never make a good one.

MEAN ANOMALY. _See_ ANOMALY.

MEAN DISTANCE. The average distance of a planet from the sun; it is
equal to half the longer axis of the ellipse, and hence is frequently
termed the semi-axis major.

MEAN EQUINOX. The position of the equinox independent of the effects of
nutation.

MEAN MOTION. The rate at which a body moving in an elliptic orbit would
proceed at an equal velocity throughout.

MEAN NOON. The noon of a mean day supposing the year to be divided into
days of equal length. It differs from _apparent noon_ by the amount of
the equation of time for that date.

MEAN OBLIQUITY. The obliquity of the ecliptic, unaffected with nutation.

MEAN PLACE OF A STAR. Its position at a given time, independent of
aberration and nutation.

MEAN SUN. _See_ TIME.

MEAN TIME. _See_ TIME.

MEASURE. A comprehensive term including length, surface, time, weight,
solidity, capacity, and force of gravity.

MEASURING LINE. The old term for the first meridian reckoned off from a
ship's longitude. Also, the five-fathom line used by the boatswain.

MECHANICS. The science which explains the properties of moving bodies,
and of the machines from which they receive their impetus. The
mechanical powers consist of six primary instruments, the lever, the
balance, the pulley, the wheel, the screw, and the wedge: to which is
sometimes added the inclined plane;