el-coal found on our southern coasts,
charged with bitumen, sulphur, and salt. The name is referred to the
Island of Stromboli, but the Brighton people insist that it is from the
Flemish _strom-bollen_, meaning stream or tide balls.

STRONG-BACK. The same with _Samson's post_ (which see). Also, an
adaptation of a strong piece of wood over the windlass, to lift the
turns of a chain-cable clear of it.

STRONG BREEZE. That which reduces a ship to double-reefed top-sails,
jib, and spanker.

STRONG GALE. That strength of wind under which close-reefed top-sails
and storm-staysails are usually carried when close-hauled.

STROP, OR STRAP. A piece of rope, spliced generally into a circular
wreath, and used to surround the body of a block, so that the latter may
be hung to any particular situation about the masts, yards, or rigging.
Strops are also used occasionally to fasten upon any large rope for the
purpose of hooking a tackle to the eye or double part of the strop, in
order to extend or pull with redoubled effort upon the same rope; as in
setting up the rigging, where one hook of the tackle is fixed in a strop
applied to the particular shroud, and the other to its laniard.

STROP-BOUND BLOCK. A single block used in the clue of square-sails for
the clue-lines to lead through; it has a shoulder left on each side to
prevent the strop from chafing.--_Iron-strop_, a hoop of iron, in lieu
of rope, round the shell of a block.

STRUCK BY A SEA. Said of a ship when a high rolling wave breaks on board
of her.

STRUT. A stanchion or sustaining prop to the lower beams.

STUBB, OR DOGG. The lower part of a rainbow visible towards the horizon,
and betokening squally weather: it is fainter than the wind-gall. On the
banks of Newfoundland they are considered precursors of clearer weather,
and termed fog-dogs.

STUD, OR BAR. A small piece of cast-iron introduced across the middle of
each link of the larger chain-cables, where, acting as a strengthener,
it prevents collapse, and keeps the links endways to each other.

STUDDING-SAIL BOOM. A spar rigged out for the purpose of setting a
studding-sail, and taking its name from the sail it belongs to.

STUDDING-SAILS. Fine-weather sails set outside the square-sails; the
term "scudding-sails" was formerly used.--_Top-mast and top-gallant
studding-sails._ Those which are set outside the top-sails and
topgallant-sails. They have yards at the head, and are spread at the
foot by booms, whi