enable the ice-master to
cross over, and see ahead, and so pilot her clear of the ice. It
corresponds with the bridge in steamers.

SPIKE-TACKLE AND CANT-FALLS. The ropes and blocks used in whalers to
sling their prey to the side of the ship.

SPIKE-TUB. A vessel in which the fat of bears, seals, and minor quarry
is set aside till a "making off" gives an opportunity for adding it to
the blubber in the hold.

SPIKING A GUN. Driving a large nail or iron spike into the vent, which
will render the cannon unserviceable until removed. (_See_ CLOY.)

SPILE. A stake or piece of wood formed like the frustum of a cone. A
vent-peg in a cask of liquor. Small wooden pins which are driven into
nail-holes to prevent leaking.

SPILINGS. In carpentry and ship-building, the dimensions taken from a
straight line, a mould's edge, or rule-staff, to any given sny or curve
of a plank's edge.

SPILL, TO. Whether for safety or facility, it is advisable to shiver the
wind out of a sail before furling or reefing it. This is done either by
collecting the sail together, or by bracing it bye, so that the wind may
strike its leech and shiver it. A very effeminate captain was accustomed
to order, "Sheevar the meezen taus'le, and let the fore-topmast staysail
lie dormant in the brails!"

SPILLING LINES. Ropes contrived to keep the sails from blowing away when
they are clued up, being rove before the sails like the buntlines so as
to disarm the gale, in contradistinction to clue-lines, &c., which cause
the sails to belly full.

SPIN A TWIST OR A YARN, TO. To tell a long story; much prized in a
dreary watch, if not tedious.

SPINDLE. The vertical iron pin upon which the capstan moves. (_See_
CAPSTAN.) Also, a piece of timber forming the diameter of a made mast.
Also, the long-pin on which anything revolves. A windlass turns on
horizontal spindles at each extremity.

SPINGARD. A kind of small cannon.

SPIRE-VAPOUR. A name suggested to Captain Parry for certain little
vertical streams of vapour rising from the sea or open water in the
Arctic regions, resembling the _barber_ in North America (which see).

SPIRIT-ROOM. A place or compartment abaft the after-hold, to contain the
ship's company's spirits.

SPIRKITTING. That strake of planks which is wrought,
anchor-stock-fashion, between the water-way and the lower sill of the
gun-ports withinside of a ship of war.--_Spirkitting_ is also used to
denote the strake of ceiling between the upper-d