he trough of the sea.

SENDING, OR 'SCENDING. The act of being thrown about violently when
adrift.

SENIORITY. The difference of rank, or standing in priority, according to
dates of commissions; or if on the same day, the order in which they
stand on the official printed lists.

SENIOR OFFICER. The commanding officer for the time being.

SENNIT. A flat cordage formed by plaiting five or seven rope-yarns
together. Straw, plaited in the same way for hats, is called
plat-sennit; it is made by sailors in India from the leaf of the palm,
for that well-known straw-hat, adorned with flowing ribbons, which
formerly distinguished the man-of-war's man.

SENSIBLE HORIZON. _See_ HORIZON.

SENTINEL, OR SENTRY. A soldier, marine, or seaman placed upon any post,
to watch and enforce any specific order with which he may be intrusted.

SENTRY GO! The order to the new sentry to proceed to the relief of the
previous one.

SEQUIN. A Turkish and Venetian gold coin of the current value of 6_s._
11_d._

SERANG. A boatswain of Lascars.

SERASKIER. A Turkish general.

SERGEANT. The senior non-commissioned rank in the army and marines.

SERGEANT-MAJOR. The senior sergeant in a regiment, or first
non-commissioned officer; usually a zealous and thorough soldier.

SERON. A commercial package of Spanish America, made of green
bullock's-hide with the hair on.

SERPENTARIUS. _See_ OPHIUCHUS.

SERPENTIN. An ancient 24-pounder gun, the dolphins of which represented
serpents; it was 13 feet long, and weighed 4360 lbs.

SERPENTINE POWDER. An old term for a peculiar granulated gunpowder.

SERRATED. Notched like the edge of a saw.

SERVE, TO. To supply the gun with powder and shot. Also, to handle it
through all the changes of station.

SERVE THE VENT, TO. To stop it with the thumb.

SERVICE. The profession; as a general term, expresses every kind of duty
which a naval or military man can be called upon to perform. Also,
implying any bold exploit.--_To see service_, is a common expression,
which implies actual contest with the enemy.--_Service_, of served rope,
is the spun-yarn wound round a rope by means of a _serving-board_ or
_mallet_.

SERVICEABLE. Both as respects men and stores, capable of or fit for
duty.

SERVING-BOARD. A flattened piece of hard wood with a handle, for passing
service on the smaller ropes.

SERVING-MALLET. The mallet, grooved on the under side, with which
spun-yarn, or other small stuff, is wrapped tig