very short time.

TORPEDO. A cartilaginous fish allied to the rays, furnished with
electrical organs, by means of which it is able to give powerful shocks.
Also, a contrivance for blowing up ships of war by means of a submerged
apparatus.

TORRENT. A land flood rushing from mountainous tracts, often with
destructive effect. It is produced by an accumulation of water from
rains or the melting of snows.

TORSE. A coarse kind of hemp, better known as cordilla in commerce.

TORSION OF CABLES. All ropes formed by twisting have a contrary turn,
and a disposition to kink from torsion.

TORSK. _See_ TUSK.

TORTS. Private wrongs either to persons or property afloat. They are
cognizable by the admiralty court, according to locality.

TORTUE DE MER. A turtle. Also a French gabarre, troop, or store ship,
with very high 'tween decks.

TOSHING. A cant word for stealing copper sheathing from vessels'
bottoms, or from dockyard stores.

TOSS IN YOUR OARS! The order to desist rowing, and throw the oars in out
of the rowlocks.

TOSS THE OARS UP! Throw them up out of the rowlocks, and raise them
perpendicularly an-end; the act is intended as a compliment to a
superior officer rowing by. Also, the order to a boat's crew to get the
oars ready for rowing, and to salute the officer on his entering the
boat.

TOSS UP THE BUNT, TO. In furling a sail, to make its final package at
the centre of the yard when in its skin.

TOT, OR TOTT. A drinking-cup somewhat smaller than the regulation
half-pint, by which a surplus is left in the distribution of the regular
allowance of grog, and awarded to the cook of each mess, for the day,
for his trouble.

TOTAL LOSS. A term in marine insurance, implying that the underwriters
are to pay the amount insured without salvage.

TOTE. An abbreviation of total.--_To tote._ To watch, to spy, or to
carry, whence the very singular fish on the southern coasts of America,
which carries small pebbles on its little sharp horns for making a
_nest_ is called the _stone-toter_.

TOTTY-LAND. Certain heights on the side of a hill [probably derived from
the Anglo-Saxon _totian_, to elevate].

TOUCH. In ship-building, the broadest part of a plank worked
top-and-butt. Also, the angles of the stern-timbers at the counters.
Also, _keeping touch_ is fulfilling the terms of an agreement--speaking
of the faith between seamen and their employers.

TOUCH-AND-GO. Said of anything within an ace of ruin; as in roundin