se by government, if not consumed, and the proceeds
are applied to purchase comforts beyond those allowed by the service.

SICK-TICKET. A document given to an officer, seaman, or marine, when
sent to an hospital, certified by the signing officer and the surgeon,
stating the entry, rank, rating, &c., together with other particulars.

SIDE. All that part of a ship which extends from stem to stern in
length, and from the upper edge of the gunwale above, to the lower edge
of the main-wale, below which the _bottom_ commences.

SIDE-BOYS, OR SIDE-MEN. Those appointed to attend the gangways when
boats come alongside, and offer the man-ropes to the officer ascending.

SIDE COUNTER-TIMBER. The stern timber which partakes of the shape of the
top-side, and heels upon the end of the wing-transom.

SIDE-KEELSONS. A name for sister-keelsons. First used in mortar-vessels
to support the bomb-beds; later they have crept in to support the
engines in steamers, and furnish a free flow beneath their flooring for
the water, as well as for ventilation.

SIDE-LADDER, OR ACCOMMODATION-LADDER. A complete staircase structure
used in harbour by most large ships.

SIDE-LEVER. A lever on each side of the cylinder of a marine
steam-engine, resembling the beam of the ordinary land-engine. (_See_
LEVER.)

SIDE OUT FOR A BEND, TO. The old well-known term to draw the bight of a
hempen cable towards the opposite side, in order to make room for the
bight being twined to coil it in the tier. The most expert and powerful
seamen were selected for this duty, now rare.

SIDE-PIECES. Parts of a made mast.

SIDEREAL ASTRONOMY. That branch of the science which relates to the
fixed stars.

SIDEREAL DAY. The interval between the departure and return of a star to
the meridian; in other words, its two successive transits.

SIDEREAL PERIOD. _See_ REVOLUTION.

SIDEREAL TIME. The time shown by a clock regulated by the fixed stars,
and compensated to accelerate upon mean time by the daily amount of 3
minutes 56.56 seconds.

SIDE-RODS. Rods hanging from each of the cross-heads, one on each side
of the cylinder of a steam-engine, and connected to the pins of the
side-levers below; their duty is to cause a simultaneous movement.

SIDE-SCALE. A simple graduation, adopted by Sir Philip Broke in the
_Shannon_, for the quick elevation or depression of the guns.

SIDE-STEPS. Pieces of wood bolted to the side of a ship for the
convenience of ascending; in smalle