g a
ship very narrowly to escape rocks, &c., or when, under sail, she rubs
against the ground with her keel, without much diminution of her
velocity.

TOUCH-AND-TAKE. An old proverb which Nelson applied to a ship about to
encounter her opponent. A Nelsonian maxim.

TOUCH-BOX. The receptacle for lighted tinder when match-locks were used.

TOUCH-HOLE. The small aperture at the end of a musket or pistol, by
which the fire of the priming was communicated to the charge. In guns,
called the vent.

TOUCHING. The state of a ship's sails when they first begin to lift or
shiver with their edges in the direction of the wind. It is occasioned
either by a change in the wind or in the ship's course. (_See_ FULL AND
BY.)--_Luff and touch her!_ is the order to the helmsman to bring the
vessel up, and see how near she will come to the wind, or to give
facility for taking in a reef when about to lower the top-sails, or for
deadening the ship's way.

TOUCHING AT. Stopping or anchoring at some intermediate port in the
course of a voyage.

TOUCH OF THE TAR-BRUSH. A nautical phrase expressive of those officers
who are seamen as well as _quarter-deckers_. Also said of a white person
in whose ancestry there has been some admixture of one of the dark
races.

TOUCH UP IN THE BUNT, TO. To mend the sail on the yard; figuratively, to
goad or remind forcibly.

TOUCH-WOOD. _See_ PUNK.

TOURNIQUET. Screw-bandages used for stopping the flow of blood. They
are distributed about the quarters before action, and a number of men
are taught to apply them. A handkerchief and toggle, or stick of any
kind, is sometimes substituted.

TOUT, TO. An old term for looking out, or keeping a prying watch; whence
the revenue cruisers and the customs officers were called touters. The
name is also given to crimps.

TOW, TO. To draw or drag a ship or boat by means of a rope attached to
another vessel or boat, which advances by steam-power, rowing, or
sailing. The Roman method, as appears by the triumphal arch at Orange,
was by a rope fastened to a pulley at the top of the mast. They also
fastened a rope to the head of a boat, and led it over men's shoulders,
as practised on our canals at the present day.

TOWAGE. The towing of a vessel through the water. Also, the money given
for being towed. Vessels thus relieved give claim for salvage service.

TOW-BLOWEN. A term on our eastern coasts for a blown herring.

TOWEL. A word very absurdly introduced into ma