of call are enumerated in the charter-party, then such must
be taken in the order laid down; but if leave be given to call at all,
or any, then they must be taken in their geographical sequence.

PLAGES [Lat.] An old word for the divisions of the globe; as, _plages of
the north_, the northern regions.

PLAIN. A term used in contradistinction to mountain, though far from
implying a level surface, and it may be either elevated or low.

PLAN. The area or imaginary surface defined by, or within any described
lines. In ship-building, the _plan of elevation_, commonly called the
_sheer-draught_, is a side-plan of the ship. (_See_ HORIZONTAL PLAN and
BODY-PLAN, or plan of projection.)

PLANE. In a general sense, a perfectly level surface; but it is a term
used by shipwrights, implying the area or imaginary surface contained
within any particular outlines, as the plane of elevation, or
sheer-draught, &c.

PLANE-CHART. One constructed on the supposition of the earth's being an
extended plane, and therefore but little in request.

PLANE OF THE MERIDIAN. _See_ MERIDIAN.

PLANE-SAILING. That part of navigation which treats a ship's course as
an angle, and the distance, difference of latitude, and easting or
westing, as the sides of a right-angled triangle. The easting or westing
is called departure. To convert this into difference of longitude,
parallel, middle latitude, or Mercator's sailing is needed, depending on
circumstances. Plane-sailing is so simple that it is colloquially used
to express anything so easy that it is impossible to make a mistake.

PLANE TRIANGLE. One contained by three right lines.

PLANETS, PRIMARY. Those beautiful opaque bodies which revolve about the
sun as a centre, in nearly circular orbits. (_See_ INFERIOR, MINOR, and
SUPERIOR.)

PLANETS, SECONDARY. The satellites, or moons, revolving about some of
the primary planets--the moon being our satellite.

PLANIMETRY. The mensuration of plane surfaces.

PLANK. Thick boards, 18 feet long at least, from 1-1/2 to 4 inches
thick, and 9 or 10 inches broad; of less dimensions, it is called
_board_ or _deal_ (which see), the latter being 8 or 9 inches wide, by
14 feet long.

PLANKING. The outside and inside casing of the vessel.

PLANK IT, TO. To sleep on the bare decks, choosing, as the galley saying
has it, the softest plank.

PLANK-SHEER. Pieces of plank covering the timber-heads round the ship;
also, the gunwale or covering-board. The space be