Also, a handle or
shaft. Also the bar or shaft of an anchor, constituting its main piece,
at one end of which the stock is fixed, and at the other the arms.

SHANK-PAINTER. The stopper which confines the shank of the anchor to the
ship's side, and prevents the flukes from flying off the bill-board.
Where the bill-board is not used, it bears the weight of the fluke end
of the anchor.

SHANTY. A small hut on or near a beach.

SHAPE. The lines and form of a vessel.--_To shape a course._ To assign
the route to be steered in order to prosecute a voyage.

SHARE AND SHARE ALIKE. The golden rule of all messes at sea.

SHARK. A name applied to many species of large cartilaginous fish of the
family _Squalidae_. Their ferocity and voracity are proverbial. Also,
applied to crimps, sharpers, and low attorneys.

SHARP. Prompt and attentive.--_Be sharp!_ Make haste.--_Look sharp!_
Lose no time. Also, an old term for a sword.

SHARP BOTTOM. Synonymous with a sharp floor; used in contradistinction
to a flat floor: the epithet denotes vessels intended for quick sailing.

SHARP LOOK-OUT BEFORE! The hail for the forecastle look-out men to be
extremely vigilant.

SHARP UP. Trimmed as near as possible to the wind, with the yards braced
up nearly fore and aft.

SHAVE. A close run; a narrow escape from a collision.

SHEAF. A bundle of arrows, as formerly supplied to our royal ships.

SHEAL. A northern term for a fisherman's hut, whence several of them
together became _sheals_ or _shields_.

SHEAR. An iron spear, of three or more points, for catching eels.

SHEAR-HOOKS. A kind of sickle formerly applied to the yard-arms, for
cutting the rigging of a vessel running on board.

SHEARS. _See_ SHEERS.

SHEAR-WATER. A sea-fowl, _Puffinus anglorum_.

SHEATHING. Thin boards formerly placed between the ship's body and the
sheets of copper, to protect the planks from the pernicious effects of
the worm. Tar and hair, or brown paper dipped in tar and oil, is laid
between the sheathing and the bottom. In 1613 a junk of 800 or 1000 tons
was seen in Japan all sheeted with iron; and yet it was not attempted in
Europe till more than a hundred years afterwards. But by 1783 ships of
every class were coppered.

SHEATHING-NAILS. These are used to fasten wood-sheathing, and prevent
the filling-nails from tearing it too much. Those used for
copper-sheathing are of mixed metal, cast in moulds about one inch and a
quarter long. The heads are flat