ders as a sort of battle-axe to
cleave the skulls of their enemies.

PATROL. The night-rounds, to see that all is right, and to insure
regularity and order.

PATRON, OR PADRONE. The master of a merchant vessel or coaster in the
Mediterranean. Also, a cartridge-box, _temp._ Elizabeth.

PAUL BITT. A strong timber fixed perpendicularly at the back of the
windlass in the middle, serving to support the system of pauls which are
pinned into it, as well as to add security to the machine.

PAULER, THAT IS A. A closer or stopper; an unanswerable or puzzling
decision.

PAUL RIM. A notched cast-iron capstan-ring let into the ship's deck for
the pauls to act on.

PAULS, OR PAWLS. A stout but short set of bars of iron fixed close to
the capstan-whelps, or windlass of a ship, to prevent them from
recoiling and overpowering the men. Iron or wood brackets suspended to
the paul-bitts of a windlass, and dropping into appropriate scores, act
as a security to the purchase. To the windlass it is vertical; for
capstans, horizontal, bolted to the whelps, and butting to the deck-rim.

PAUL THERE, MY HEARTY. Tell us no more of that. Discontinue your
discourse.

PAUNCH-MAT. A thick and strong mat formed by interweaving sinnet or
strands of rope as close as possible; it is fastened on the outside of
the yards or rigging, to prevent their chafing.

PAVILION. A state tent.

PAVILLON [Fr.] Colours; flag; standard.

PAVISER. Formerly a soldier who was armed with a pavise or buckler.

PAWK. A young lobster.

PAWL. _See_ PAULS.

PAY. A buccaneering principle of hire, under the notion of plunder and
sharing in prizes, was, _no purchase no pay_.

PAY, TO [from Fr. _poix_, pitch]. To pay a seam is to pour hot pitch and
tar into it after caulking, to defend the oakum from the wet. Also, to
beat or drub a person, a sense known to Shakspeare as well as to seamen.

PAY A MAST OR YARD, TO. To anoint it with tar, turpentine, rosin,
tallow, or varnish; tallow is particularly useful for those masts upon
which the sails are frequently hoisted and lowered, such as top-masts
and the lower masts of sloops, schooners, &c.

PAY A VESSEL'S BOTTOM, TO. To cover it with tallow, sulphur, rosin, &c.
(_See_ BREAMING.)

PAY AWAY. The same as _paying out_ (which see). To pass out the slack of
a cable or rope.--_Pay down._ Send chests or heavy articles below.

PAYING OFF. The movement by which a ship's head falls off from the wind,
and drops to leeward.