re its not retaining any ignited
particles.

PRIMING-VALVES. The same with escape-valves.

PRINTED INSTRUCTIONS. The name of the volume formerly issued by the
admiralty to all commanders of ships and vessels for their guidance; now
superseded by Queen's Regulations.

PRISE, TO. To raise, or slue, weighty bodies by means of a lever
purchase or power. (_See_ PRIZING.)

PRISE-BOLTS. Knobs of iron on the cheeks of a gun-carriage to keep the
handspike from slipping when prising up the breech.

PRISM. In dioptrics, is a geometrical solid bounded by three
parallelograms, whose bases are equal triangles.

PRISMATIC COMPASS. One so fitted with a glass prism for reading by
reflection, that the eye can simultaneously observe an object and read
its compass bearing.

PRISONER AT LARGE. Free to take exercise within bounds.

PRISONERS OF WAR. Men who are captured after an engagement, who are
deprived of their liberty until regularly exchanged, or dismissed on
their parole.

PRISONER UNDER RESTRAINT. Suspended from duty; deprived of command.

PRISON-SHIP. One fitted up for receiving and detaining prisoners of war.

PRITCH. A dentated weapon for striking and holding eels.

PRIVATE. The proper designation of a soldier serving in the ranks of the
army, holding no special position.

PRIVATEER PRACTICE, OR PRIVATEERISM. Disorderly conduct, or anything out
of man-of-war rules.

PRIVATEERS, or men-of-war equipped by individuals for cruising against
the enemy; their commission (_see_ LETTERS OF MARQUE) is given by the
admiralty, and revocable by the same authority. They have no property in
any prize until it is legally condemned by a competent court. The
admiral on the station is entitled to a tenth of their booty. This
infamous species of warfare is unhappily not yet abolished among
civilized nations.

PRIVATE PROPERTY. Commissions of privateers do not extend to the capture
of private property on land; a right not even granted to men-of-war.
Private armed ships are not within the terms of a capitulation
protecting private property generally.

PRIVATE SIGNAL. Understood by captains having the key, but totally
incomprehensible to other persons.

PRIVY-COAT. A light coat or defence of mail, concealed under the
ordinary dress.

PRIZE. A vessel captured at sea from the enemies of a state, or from
pirates, either by a man-of-war or privateer. Vessels are also looked
upon as _prize_, if they fight under any other standard tha