-de-Lion, at the island of Oleron, near
the coast of Poitou, the inhabitants of which have been deemed able
mariners ever since. It is reckoned the best code of sea-laws in the
world, and is recorded in the black book of the admiralty.
OLICK. The torsk or tusk, _Gadus callarias_.
OLIVER. A west-country term for a young eel.
OLPIS. A classic term for one who, from a shore eminence, watched the
course which shoals of fish took, and communicated the result to the
fishers. (_See_ CONDER.)
OMBRE. A fish, more commonly called grayling, or _umber_.
ON. The sea is said to be "on" when boisterous; as, there is a high sea
on.
ON A BOWLINE. Close to the wind, when the sail will not stand without
hauling the bowlines.
ONAGER. An offensive weapon of the middle ages.
ON A WIND. Synonymous with _on a bowline_.
ON BOARD. Within a ship; the same as _aboard_.
ONCIA. A gold coin of Sicily; value three ducats, or 10_s._ 10_d._
sterling.
ONCIN. An offensive weapon of mediaeval times, consisting of a staff with
a hooked iron head.
ON DECK THERE! The cry to call attention from aloft or below.
ONE-AND-ALL. A mutinous sea-cry used in the Dutch wars. Also, a rallying
call to put the whole collective force on together.
ON EITHER TACK. Any way or every way; a colloquialism.
ON END. The same as _an-end_ (which see). Top-masts and topgallant-masts
are on end, when they are in their places, and sail can be set on them.
ONE O'CLOCK. _Like one o'clock._ With speed; rapidly.
ONERARIAE. Ancient ships of burden, with both sails and oars.
ONE, TWO, THREE! The song with which the seamen bowse out the bowlines;
the last haul being completed by belay O!
ONION-FISH. The _Cepola rubescens_, whose body peels into flakes like
that vegetable. It is of a pale red colour.
ON SERVICE. On duty.
ON-SHORE WINDS. Those which blow from the offing, and render bays
uncomfortable and insecure.
ON THE BEAM. Implies any distance from a ship on a line with her beams,
or at right angles with the keel.
ON THE BOW. At any angle on either side of the stem up to 45 deg.; then
it is either four points on the bow, or four points before the beam.
ON THE QUARTER. Being in that position with regard to a ship, as to be
included in the angles which diverge from right astern, to four points
towards either quarter.
OOMIAK. A light seal-skin Greenland boat, generally worked in fine
weather by the women, but in bad weather by the men.
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