t the ship's bows by the helm to the
place where the anchor lies, while the cable is being hove in.

SHEER UP ALONGSIDE, TO. To approach a ship or other object in an oblique
direction.

SHEER-WALES. Strakes of thick stuff in the top-sides of three-decked
ships, between the middle and upper deck-ports. Synonymous with
_middle-wales_.

SHEET. A rope or chain fastened to one or both the lower corners of a
sail, to extend and retain the clue down to its place. When a ship sails
with a side wind, the lower corners of the main and fore sails are
fastened by a tack and a sheet, the former being to windward, and the
latter to leeward; the tack is, however, only disused with a stern wind,
whereas the sail is never spread without the assistance of one or both
of the sheets; the staysails and studding-sails have only one tack and
one sheet each; the staysail-tacks are fastened forward, and the sheets
drawn aft; but the studding-sail tacks draw to the extremity of the
boom, while the sheet is employed to extend the inner corner.

SHEET-ANCHOR. One of four bower anchors supplied, two at the bows, and
one at either chest-tree abaft the fore-rigging; one is termed the
sheet, the other the spare anchor; usually got ready in a gale to let go
on the parting of a bower. To a sheet anchor a stout hempen cable is
generally bent, as lightening the strain at the bow, and being more
elastic.

SHEET-BEND. A sort of double hitch, made by passing the end of one rope
through the bight of another, round both parts of the other, and under
its own part.

SHEET-CABLE. A hempen cable used when riding in deep water, where the
weight of a chain cable would oppress a ship.

SHEET-COPPER. Copper rolled out into sheets, for the sheathing of ships'
bottoms, &c.

SHEET-FISH. The _Silurus glanis_, a large fish found in many European
rivers and lakes.

SHEET HOME! The order, after the sails are loosed, to extend the sheets
to the outer extremities of the yards, till the clue is close to the
sheet-block. Also, when driving anything home, as a blow, &c.

SHEET IN THE WIND. Half intoxicated; as the sail trembles and is
unsteady, so is a drunken man.

SHELDRAKE. The _Anas tadorna_, a large species of wild duck.

SHELF. A dangerous beach bounded by a ledge of flat rocks a-wash. In icy
regions, (_see_ TONGUE).

SHELF-PIECES. Strakes of plank running internally in a line with the
decks, for the purpose of receiving the ends of the beams. They are also