uys of the jib and flying
jib-boom. To this yard the sprit-sail was formerly bent.

SPRIT-SAIL YARDING. A cruelty in which some fishermen wreak vengeance on
sharks, dog-fish, &c., that encroach on their baits, and foul their
nets. They thrust a piece of wood through the gills of the unconscious
offender, and in that condition turn it adrift upon the ocean.

SPROKET-WHEEL. That at the upper extremities of the chain-pump-tubes,
worked by crank-handles.

SPRUNG. Damaged in various ways. Also, the ship slued round by means of
guys. In ship-building, it indicates that a plank is strained so as to
crack or fly open.

SPUEING THE OAKUM. When the ship's labouring forces the caulking out of
her seams.

SPUN. The being turned back or rejected, on being examined touching
qualifications.

SPUNGE. A cylindrical block of wood covered with sheepskin, used to
clean the interior of a gun after firing, and to extinguish any sparks
that may remain behind. The _rope-sponge_, fixed on a strong rope
instead of a staff, has a rammer-head on its opposite end: it is used
for service with lower-deck guns in bad weather when the ports cannot be
opened except at moments for firing.

SPUNK. A fungus (_Polyporus fomentarius_ and others) growing on the
trunks of trees, from which tinder is made.

SPUN-YARN. A small line, formed of two, three, or more old rope-yarns
not laid, but twisted together by hand or winch. Spun-yarn is used for
various purposes, as seizing and serving ropes, weaving mats, &c.

SPUR. A projecting portion of a cliff. In fortification, spurs are walls
that cross a part of the rampart and join to the town-wall. Also, in a
sheer-hulk, the same as _sprit_ (which see).

SPURKETS, OR SPIRKETS. The spaces between the timbers along a ship's
side betwixt the upper and lower futtocks, or betwixt the rungs fore and
aft.

SPURLING-LINE. The line which formed the communication between the wheel
and the tell-tale: it went round a small barrel, abaft the barrel of the
wheel, and made the pointer show the position of the tiller. Also, a
line with thimbles as fair-leaders for running rigging. Now out of use.

SPURN-WATER. A channel left above the ends of a deck, to prevent water
from coming any further. The water-ways.

SPURS, OR SPUR-SHORES. Large pieces of timber in launching, the lower
ends of which are fixed to the bilge-ways, and the upper ends fayed and
bolted to the ship's bottom for additional security.

SPURS OF THE BE