iece of ordnance used in our early fleets.

PORT-PIECE CHAMBER. A paterero for loading a port-piece at the breech.

PORT-REEVE. A magistrate of certain sea-port towns in olden times.

PORT-ROPES. Those by which the ports are hauled up and suspended.

PORTS, OR PORT-HOLES. The square apertures in the sides of a ship
through which to point and fire the ordnance. Also, aft and forward, as
the _bridle-port_ in the bows, the _quarter-port_ in round-stern
vessels, and _stern-ports_ between the stern-timbers. Also, square holes
cut in the sides, bow, or stem of a merchant ship, for taking in and
discharging timber cargoes, and for other purposes.--_Gunroom-ports._
Are situated in the ship's counter, and are used for stern-chasers, and
also for passing a small cable or a hawser out, either to moor head and
stern, or to spring upon the cable, &c. (_See_ MOOR and
SPRING.)--_Half-port._ A kind of shutter which hinges on the lower side
of a port, and falls down outside when clear for action; when closed it
half covers the port to the line of metal of the gun, and is firmly
secured by iron hooks. The upper half-port is temporary and loose, will
not stand a heavy sea, and is merely secured by two light inch-rope
laniards.

PORT-SALE. A public sale of fish on its arrival in the harbour.

PORT-SASHES. Half-ports fitted with glass for the admission of light
into cabins.

PORT-SHACKLES. The rings to the ports.

PORT-SILLS. In ship-building, pieces of timber put horizontally between
the framing to form the top and bottom of a port.

PORT-TACKLES. Those falls which haul up and suspend the lower-deck
ports, so that since the admiralty order for using the word _port_
instead of _larboard_, we have _port port-tackle falls_.

PORTUGUESE. A gold coin, value L1, 16_s._, called also _moiadobras_.

PORTUGUESE MAN-OF-WAR. A beautiful floating acalephan of the tropical
seas; the _Physalia pelagica_.

POSITION. Ground (or water) occupied, or that may be advantageously
occupied, in fighting order.

POSITION, GEOGRAPHICAL, of any place on the surface of the earth, is the
determination of its latitude and longitude, and its height above the
level of the sea.

POSSESSORY. A suit entered in the admiralty court by owners for the
seizing of their ship.

POST. Any ground, fortified or not, where a body of men can be in a
condition for defence, or fighting an enemy. Also, the limits of a
sentinel's charge.

POST-CAPTAIN. Formerly a captain