aking out a reef.

SETTLING. Sinking in the water.

SET UP. Soldiers, mariners, and small-arm men, well drilled, and
instructed to be upright and soldierlike in their carriage, are "well
set up."

SET UP RIGGING, TO. To take in the slack of the shrouds, stays, and
backstays, to bring the same strain as before, and thus secure the
masts.

SEVERALTY. The denomination under which disagreements respecting
accounts amongst the part-owners of a ship are referred, either to
equity courts, or the common law.

SEVERE. Effectual; as, a _severe_ turn in belaying a rope.

SEW, OR SUE. Pronounced _sue_. (_See_ SEWED.)

SEWANT. A north-country name for the plaice.

SEWARD, OR SEA-WARD. An early name for the _custos maris_, or he who
guards the sea-coast.

SEWED. A ship resting upon the ground, where the water has fallen, so as
to afford no hope of floating until lightened, or the return tide floats
her, is said to be sewed, by as much as the difference between the
surface of the water, and the ship's floating-mark. If not left quite
dry, she sews to such a point; if the water leaves her a couple of feet,
she is sewed two feet.

SEWIN. A white kind of salmon taken on the coast of Wales. Sometimes
this word is used for the dish called _sowens_.

SEXAGESIMAL DIVISIONS. The circumference of the circle is divided into
360 degrees, each degree into 60 minutes, and each minute into 60
seconds. The Americans afterwards used 60 thirds, but European
astronomers prefer decimals.

SEXTANT. A mathematical instrument for taking altitudes of, and
measuring the angular distances between, the heavenly bodies. It is
constructed on a principle similar to Hadley's quadrant; but the arc
contains a sixth part of a circle, and measures angles up to 120 deg.

SHACKLE [from the Anglo-Saxon _sceacul_]. A span with two eyes and a
bolt, attached to open links in a chain-cable, at every 15 fathoms; they
are fitted with a movable bolt, so that the chain can there be separated
or coupled, as circumstances require. Also, an iron loop-hooked bolt
moving on a pin, used for fastening the lower-deck port-bars.

SHACKLE-BREECHING. Two shackles are turned into the breeching, by which
it is instantly disconnected from the port-ringbolts. Also, the lug of
the cascable is cut open to admit of the bight of the breeching falling
into it, thus obviating the loss of time by unreeving.

SHACKLE-CROW. A bar of iron slightly bent at one end like the common
crow