eck and the plank-sheer
of a merchantman; otherwise known as _quick-work_.

SPIT. A bank, or small sandy projection, with shallow water on it,
generally running out from a point of land. Also, meteorologically, very
slight rain.

SPITFIRE-JIB. In cutters, a small storm-jib of very heavy canvas.

SPITHEAD NIGHTINGALES. Boatswains and boatswains' mates, when winding
their calls, especially when piping to dinner.

SPLA-BOARDS. Planks fixed at an obtuse angle, to reflect light into a
magazine.

SPLICE. The joining of two ropes together. Familiarly, two persons
joined in wedlock.--_To splice._ To join the two untwisted ends of a
rope together. There are several methods of making a splice, according
to the services for which it is intended; as:--_The long rolling splice_
is chiefly used in lead-lines, log-lines, and fishing-lines, where the
short splice would be liable to separation, as being frequently loosened
by the water.--_The long splice_ occupies a great extent of rope, but by
the three joinings being fixed at a distance from each other, the
increase of bulk is divided; hence it resembles a continuous lay, and
is adapted to run through the sheave-hole of a block, &c., for which use
it is generally intended.--_The short splice_ is used upon cables,
slings, block-strops, and, in general, all ropes which are not intended
to run through blocks.--_Spliced eye_ forms a sort of eye or circle at
the end of a rope, and is used for splicing in thimbles, bull's-eyes,
&c., and generally on the end of lashing block-strops. (_See_
EYE-SPLICE.)

SPLICE THE MAIN BRACE. In nautical parlance, to serve out an extra
allowance of grog in bad weather or after severe exertion.

SPLICING FID. A tapered wooden pin for opening the strands when splicing
large ropes; it is sometimes driven by a large wooden mallet called a
_commander_.

SPLINTER-NETTING. A cross-barred net formed of half-inch rope lashed at
every rectangular crossing, and spread from rigging to rigging between
the main and mizen masts, to prevent wreck from aloft, in action, from
wounding the men at the upper-deck guns. They are frequently used at the
open hatchways to prevent accidents.

SPLITTER. A man engaged in the Newfoundland fisheries to receive the
fish from the _header_, and, with a sharp knife, dexterously to lay it
open.

SPLITTING OUT. To remove the blocks on which a vessel rests in a dock,
or at launching, when the pressure is too great for them to be dr