s near the horizon.

UNDER CANVAS. Synonymous with _under sail_.

UNDER-CURRENT. A stream which sets beneath the surface-water of the sea
whilst that is either in a quiescent state or moving in a contrary
direction. Swift rivers may run out at top whilst the flood-tide runs in
below.

UNDER DECK. The floor of a cabin, or 'tween decks.

UNDER FOOT. Under the ship's bottom; said of an anchor which is dropped
while she has head-way. An anchor is often dropped under foot when calm
prevails and the drift would be towards danger.--_To drop an anchor
under foot_, is to let it go and veer a little of the riding cable when
the coming home, or parting of the one by which she is riding, is
feared.

UNDER LEVEL. _See_ BEVELLING.

UNDER-MANNED. When a ship has an insufficient complement, or is
short-handed.

UNDER-MASTED. When the masts are either too small or too short, so that
a ship cannot spread the sail necessary to give her proper speed.

UNDER METAL. The condition of a gun when the muzzle is depressed, and
the metal, _i.e._ the breech, raised; the proper position when not in
use, to prevent moisture collecting in the chamber.

UNDER-RUN A HAWSER OR WARP, TO. To haul a boat along underneath it, in
order to clear it, if any part happens to be foul. _To under-run a
tackle_, is to separate the several parts of which it is composed, and
range them in order, so that the general effort may not be interrupted
when it is put in motion by the parts crossing, or by thorough-foots.

UNDER SAIL. The state of a ship when she is in motion from the action of
wind on her sails.

UNDER-SET. Wherever the wind impels the surface-water directly upon the
shore of a bay, the water below restores equilibrium by taking a
direction contrary to the wind. The _resaca_, or under-set, is
particularly dangerous on those beaches where heavy surf prevails.

UNDER-SHORE, TO. To support or raise a thing by putting a spar or prop
under it, as a ship is shored up in dock.

UNDER-SKINKER. Assistant to the purser's steward.

UNDER THE LEE. Sheltered from the wind by some intervening object, as a
ship under the lee of the land.

UNDER THE SEA. A ship lying-to in a heavy gale, and making bad weather
of it.

UNDER THE WIND. So situated to leeward of something as not to feel the
wind.

UNDER-TOW. An under current especially noticed at the mouths of great
rivers, or where tide and half-tides prevail, completely hampering the
sails even with a goo