ts of a similar nature, are to be
made through the captain or commanding officer. They ought to be written
on foolscap paper, leaving a margin, to the left hand, of one-fourth of
the breadth, and superscribed on the cover "On H. M. Service."

OFFING. Implies to sea-ward; beyond anchoring ground.--_To keep a good
offing_, is to keep well off the land, while under sail.

OFF-RECKONING. A proportion of the full pay of troops retained from
them, in special cases, until the period of final settlement, to cover
various expected charges (for ship-rations and the like).

OFF SHE GOES! Means run away with the purchase fall. Move to the tune of
the fifer. The first move when a vessel is launched.

OFF THE REEL. At once; without stopping. In allusion to the way in which
the log-line flies off the reel when a ship is sailing fast.

OFFWARD. The situation of a ship which lies aground and leans from the
shore; "the ship heels offward," and "the ship lies with her stern to
the offward," is when her stern is towards the sea.

OGEE. In old-pattern guns, the doubly curved moulding added, by way of
finish, to several of the rings.

OGGIDENT. Jack's corruption of _aguardiente_ [Sp.], a fiery and very
unwholesome spirit.

OIL-BUTT. A name for the black whale.

OILLETS, OR [OE]ILLETS. Apertures for firing through, in the walls of a
fort.

OITER. A Gaelic word still in use for a sand-bank.

OJANCO SNAPPER. A tropical fish of the Mesoprion family, frequenting the
deep-water banks of the West Indies.

OKE. A Levant weight of 2-3/4 lbs., common in Mediterranean commerce.

OLD COUNTRY. A very general designation for Great Britain among the
Americans. The term is never applied to any part of the continent of
Europe.

OLD HAND. A knowing and expert person.

OLD HORSE. Tough salt-beef.

OLD ICE. In polar parlance, that of previous seasons.

OLD-STAGER. One well initiated in anything.

OLD-STAGERISM. An adherence to established customs; sea conservatism.

OLDSTERS. In the old days of cockpit tyranny, mids of four years'
standing, and master's-mates, &c., who sadly bullied the youngsters.

OLD WIFE. A fish about 2 feet long, and 9 inches high in the back,
having a small mouth, a large eye, a broad dorsal fin, and a blue body.
Also, the brown long-tailed duck of Pennant.

OLD WOMAN'S TOOTH. A peculiar chisel for stub morticing.

OLERON CODE. A celebrated collection of maritime laws, compiled and
promulgated by Richard C[oe]ur