them hang loose to dry; or the
movement preparatory to "making sail."--_To make sail_, to spread the
sails to the wind in order to begin the action of sailing, or to
increase a ship's speed.--_To shorten sail_, to take in part of or all
the sails, either by reefing or furling, or both.--_To strike sail_, to
lower the upper sails. A gracious mode of salute on passing a foreigner
at sea, especially a superior.

SAINT CUTHBERT'S DUCK. The _Anas mollissima_; the eider, or great black
and white duck of the Farne Islands.

SAINT ELMO'S LIGHT. _See_ COMPASANT.

SAINT SWITHIN. The old notion is, that if it should rain on this
bishop's day, the 15th of July, not one of forty days following will be
without a shower.

SAKER. A very old gun, 8 or 9 feet long, and of about 5 lbs. calibre:
immortalized in _Hudibras_:--

"The cannon, blunderbuss, and saker,
He was th' inventer of, and maker."

The name is thought to have been derived from the French oath _sacre_.

SALADE. An Anglo-Norman term for a light helmet or head-piece.

SALADIN. The first coat-of-arms; so called because the crusaders assumed
it in imitation of the Saracens, whose chief at that time was the
redoubtable Saladin.

SALAM, TO. To salute a superior; a very common term, borrowed from
India. Overdoing it does not please Jack, for he dislikes to see his
commander "salamming like a captured Frenchman."

SALAMANDER. The heated iron formerly used for firing guns, especially in
salutes, as it ensures regularity.

SALE OF COMMISSIONS. The regulated disposal of full-pay, unattached,
retired, and half-pay commissions in the army.

SALE OF EFFECTS. _See_ EFFECTS, of dead men sold by auction "at the
mast."

SALIENT ANGLE. In fortification, one of which the point projects
outwards.

SALINAS, OR SALINES. Salt-ponds, natural or artificial, near the
sea-coast.

SALINOMETER. A brine-gauge for indicating the density of brine in the
boilers of marine steam-engines, to show when it is necessary to blow
off.

SALLY. A sudden expedition out of a besieged place against the besiegers
or some part of their works; also called a _sortie_.--_To sally._ To
move a body by jerks or rushes; a sudden heave or set. Thus, when a
vessel grounds by the bow or stern, and the hawsers are severely taut,
the sally is practised. This is done by collecting all hands at the
point aground, and then by a simultaneous rush reaching the part afloat.

SALLY-PORT. An opening cut in th