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
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