, a name for the
beak of a xebec or felucca.

PUCKA. A word in frequent use amongst the English in the East Indies,
signifying sterling, of good quality.

PUCKER. A wrinkled seam in sail-making. Also, anything in a state of
confusion.

PUDDENING, OR PUDDING. A thick wreath of yarns, matting, or oakum
(called a _dolphin_), tapering from the middle towards the ends, grafted
all over, and fastened about the main or fore masts of a ship, directly
below the trusses, to prevent the yards from falling down, in case of
the ropes by which they are suspended being shot away. Puddings are also
placed on a boat's stem as a kind of fender; and also laid round the
rings of anchors to prevent hempen cables or hawsers from chafing.

PUDDING AND DOLPHIN. A larger and lesser pad, made of ropes, and put
round the masts under the lower yards.

PUDDLE-DOCK. An ancient pool of the Thames, the dirtiness of which
afforded Jack some pointed sarcasms.

PUDDLING. A technical term for working clay to a plastic state in an
inclosed space, until it is of the requisite consistence for arresting
the flow of water. A term in iron furnace work.

PUFF. A sudden gust of wind. A whistle of steam.

PUFFIN. The _Fratercula arctica_, a sea-bird with a singular bill,
formerly supposed to be a bird in show, but a fish in substance, in
consequence of which notion the pope permitted its being eaten in Lent.

PULAS. An excellent twine, made by the Malays from the _kaluwi_, a
species of nettle.

PULL-AWAY-BOYS. A name given on the West Coast of Africa to the native
Kroo-men, who are engaged by the shipping to row boats and do other work
not suited to Europeans in that climate.

PULL FOOT, TO. To hasten along; to run.

PULLING. The act of rowing with oars; as, "Pull the starboard oars,"
"Pull together."

PULL-OVER. An east-country term for a carriage-way.

PULO. The Malay word for island, and frequently met with in the islands
of the Eastern seas.

PULWAR. A commodious kind of passage-boat on the Ganges.

PUMMEL. The hilt of a sword, the end of a gun, &c.--_To pummel._ To drub
or beat.

PUMP. A well-known machine used for drawing water from the sea, or
discharging it from the ship's pump-well.--_Chain-pump_, consists of a
long chain, equipped with a sufficient number of metal discs armed with
leather, fitting the cylinders closely, and placed at proper distances,
which, working upon two wheels, one above deck and the other below, in
the bottom