m or otherwise to a vessel to come near or
keep off.

WAY. Is sometimes the same as the ship's _rake_ or _run_, forward or
backward, but is most commonly understood of her sailing. _Way_ is often
used for _wake_. Thus when she begins her motion she is said to be
_under way_; and when that motion increases, to have _fresh-way_ through
the water. Hence, also, she is said to have _head-way_ or _stern-way_,
to _gather way_ or to _lose way_, &c. (_See_ WIND'S-WAY.)--_Gangway_,
means a clear space to pass. The gangway is the side space between the
forecastle and quarter-deck.

'WAY ALOFT! OR 'WAY UP! The command when the crew are required aloft to
loose, reef, furl sails, or man yards, &c.

WAY-GATE. The tail-race of a mill.

WAYS. Balks laid down for rolling weights along.--_Launching-ways._ Two
parallel platforms of solid timber, one on each side of the keel of a
vessel while building, and on which her cradle slides on launching.

WEAL. A wicker basket used for catching eels.

WEAR. _See_ WEIR.--_To wear._ (_See_ VEER.)

WEAR AND TEAR. The decay and deterioration of the hull, spars, sails,
ropes, and other stores of a ship in the course of a voyage.

WEATHER [from the Anglo-Saxon _waeder_, the temperature of the air]. The
state of the atmosphere with regard to the degree of wind, to heat and
cold, or to dryness and moisture, but particularly to the first. It is a
word also applied to everything lying to windward of a particular
situation, hence a ship is said to have the weather-gage of another
when further to windward. Thus also, when a ship under sail presents
either of her sides to the wind, it is then called the _weather-side_,
and all the rigging situated thereon is distinguished by the same
epithet. It is the opposite of _lee_. To weather anything is to go to
windward of it. The land to windward, is a weather shore.

WEATHER-ANCHOR. That lying to windward, by which a ship rides when
moored.

WEATHER-BEAM. A direction at right angles with the keel, on the weather
side of the ship.

WEATHER-BITT. Is that which holds the weather-cable when the ship is
moored.

WEATHER-BOARD. That side of the ship which is to windward.

WEATHER-BOARDS. Pieces of plank placed in the ports of a ship when laid
up in ordinary; they are in an inclined position, so as to turn off the
rain without preventing the circulation of air.

WEATHER-BORNE. Pressed by wind and sea.

WEATHER-BOUND. Detained by foul winds; our forefathers