r vessels they have a ladder made of
rope with wooden thwarts, which hooks to the gangway.

SIDING OR SIDED. The dimensions or size of timber, the contrary way to
which the mould side is placed; one side sided smooth, to work from or
to fit.

SIDING DIMENSION. The breadth of any piece of timber.

SIEGE. A continued endeavour, by systematic military means, such as
batteries, trenches, mines, &c., to overpower the defences of a place
and take possession of it.

SIEGE-ARTILLERY. The ordnance (guns, mortars, howitzers, &c.) used for
overpowering the fire and destroying the defences of a fortified place;
their weight and power, limited mainly by the kind of transport at hand,
seldom exceed those of the light 100-pounder rifled gun, and are mostly
above those of _guns of position_, such as the old 18-pounder, or the
40-pounder rifle.

SIEGE-TRAIN. Properly, the whole of the material, with its transport,
required for carrying on a siege; but more frequently used for the
necessary _siege artillery_, together with its ammunition, carriages,
machines, and appliances of all kinds.

SIESTA. The hour of the afternoon in hot climates, when Spaniards,
Italians, &c., retire to repose during the heat of the day.

SIGHTING THE LAND. Running in to catch a view.

SIGHTS. The fixed marks on fire-arms, by which their direction is
regulated in aiming: generally, two small fittings of brass or iron,
that near the breech having a notched head, and that towards the muzzle
a pointed one. (_See_ DISPART.)--_Astronomical sights._ Observations
taken to determine the time or latitude, as well as for chronometer
rates.

SIGHT THE ANCHOR, TO. To heave it up in sight, in order to prove that it
is clear, when, from the ship having gone over it, there is suspicion
that it may be fouled by the slack cable.

SIGHT-VANES. _See_ VANES.

SIGNALIZE, TO. To distinguish one's self; a word also degraded to the
meaning of communicating intelligence by means of signals or telegraph.

SIGNAL-MAN. The yeoman of the signals; a first-class petty officer in
the navy.

SIGNAL OF DISTRESS. When a ship is in imminent danger, she hoists her
national flag upside down, and, if she is armed, fires minute guns; also
lets fly top-gallant sheets, &c.; indeed does anything to attract
observation.

SIGNAL-OFFICER. In a repeating frigate, a signal-midshipman; in a
flag-ship, a flag-lieutenant.

SIGNALS. Codes of signals have been used for centuries and changed
fr