did feare."
ORAMBY. A sort of state-barge used in the Moluccas; some of them are
rowed by 40, 80, or even, it is said, 100 paddles each.
ORARIAE. Ancient coasting vessels.
ORB. The circular figure made by a body of troops.
ORBIT. The path described by a planet or comet round the sun.
ORBITAL. Relating to the orbit of a heavenly body.
ORC. Wrack or sea-weed, used as manure on some of the coasts of England.
ORCA. A classical name for a large voracious sea-animal, probably a
grampus. Anglicized as ork or orc; thus in the second song of Drayton's
strange _Polyolbion_--
"The ugly orks, that for their lord the ocean woo."
And Milton afterwards introduces them--
"An island salt and bare,
The haunt of seals and orcs, and sea-mews clang."
ORDER ARMS! The word of command, with muskets or carbines, to bring the
butt to the ground, the piece vertical against the right side,
trigger-guard to the front.--_Open order_ and _close order_, are terms
for keeping the fleet prepared for any particular man[oe]uvre.
ORDER-BOOK. A book kept for the purpose of copying such occasional
successive orders as the admiral, or senior officer, may find it
necessary to give.
ORDERLY. The bearer of official messages, and appointed to wait upon
superior officers with communications.
ORDERLY OFFICER. In the army. _See_ OFFICER OF THE DAY.
ORDER OF BATTLE. The arranging of ships or troops so as to engage the
enemy to the best advantage.
ORDER OF SAILING. _See_ SAILING, ORDER OF.
ORDERS. Societies of knights. (_See_ KNIGHTHOOD.)
ORDERS IN COUNCIL. Decrees given by the privy council, signed by the
sovereign, for important state necessities, independently of any act of
parliament; but covered by an act of indemnity when it is assembled.
ORDINARY. The establishment of the persons formerly employed to take
charge of the ships of war which are laid up in ordinary at several
harbours adjacent to the royal dockyards. These duties are now under the
superintendent of the dockyard. Also, the state of such men-of-war and
vessels as are out of commission and laid up.
ORDINARY SEAMAN. The rating for one who can make himself useful on
board, even to going aloft, and taking his part on a top-sail or
topgallant-yard, but is not a complete sailor, the latter being termed
an able seaman. It would be well if our merchant seamen consisted of
apprentices and A.B.'s.
ORDINARY STEP. The common march o
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