f; called _manning it_.

STRETCHER. _See_ SHEER-POLE.

STRETCHERS. Narrow pieces of wood placed athwart the bottom of a boat,
for the rowers to place their feet against, that they may communicate
greater effort to their oars. Also, cross-pieces placed between a boat's
sides to keep them apart when hoisted up and griped. Colloquially, a
_stretcher_ means a lie exaggerated to absurdity.

STRETCH OUT! In rowing, is the order to pull strong; to bend forward to
the utmost.

STRICTLAND. An archaic term for an isthmus.

STRIKE, TO. A ship strikes when she in any way touches the bottom. Also,
to lower anything, as the ensign or top-sail in saluting, or as the
yards, topgallant-masts, and top-masts in a gale. It is also
particularly used to express the lowering of the colours in token of
surrender to a victorious enemy.

STRIKE DOWN! The order to lower casks, &c., into the hold.

STRIKERS. Men furnished with harpoons or grains to attack fish; hence
the term _dolphin-striker_ (which see), where these men place
themselves.

STRIKE SOUNDINGS, TO. To gain bottom, or the first soundings, by the
deep-sea lead, on coming in from sea.

STRING [Anglo-Saxon _straeng_]. In ship-building, a strake within side,
constituting the highest range of planks in a ship's ceiling, and it
answers to the sheer-strake outside, to the scarphs of which it gives
strength.

STRINGERS. A name sometimes applied to _shelf-pieces_ (which see). Also,
heavy timber similarly carried round a ship to fortify her for special
heavy service, as whaling, &c.

STRIPPED TO THE GIRT-LINE. All the standing-rigging and furniture having
been cleared off the masts in the course of dismantling.

STRIPPING. An inconvenient fault of many lead-coated projectiles--the
throwing off portions of their coating on discharge from the gun.

STRIP THE MASTS, TO. To clear the masts of their rigging.

STROKE. A pull or single sweep of the oars in rowing; hence the order,
"Row a long stroke," which is intended to move the boat forward more
steadily.

STROKE-OAR. The aftermost oar in a boat, from which the others take
their time.

STROKE OF THE SEA. The shock occasioned to a vessel by a heavy sea
striking her.

STROKE-SIDE OF A BOAT. That in which the after starboard rowlock is
placed, or where the after oar is rowed if single-banked.

STROKESMAN. The man who rows the aftmost oar in a boat.

STROM. An archaism of storm or tempest.

STROMBOLO. Bits of ampelite or cann