it has a barrel, round which the
tiller-ropes or chains wind, and a wheel with spokes to assist in moving
it.

WHEEL AND AXLE. A well-known mechanical power, to which belong all
turning or wheel machines, as cranes, capstans, windlasses, cranks, &c.

WHEEL-HOUSE. A small round-house erected in some ships over the
steering-wheel for the shelter of the helmsman.

WHEEL-LOCK. A small machine attached to the old musket for producing
sparks of fire.

WHEEL-ROPES. Ropes rove through a block on each side of the deck, and
led round the barrel of the steering-wheel. Chains are also used for
this purpose.

WHEELS. _See_ TRUCKS.

WHEFT. More commonly written _waft_ (which see). Although _wheft_ is
given in the official signal-book, bibliophilists ignore the term.

WHELK. A well-known shell-fish, _Buccinum undatum_.

WHELPS. The brackets or projecting parts which rise out of the barrel or
main body of the capstan, like buttresses, to enlarge the sweep, so that
a greater portion of the cable, or whatever rope encircles the barrel,
may be wound about it at one turn without adding much to the weight of
the capstan. The whelps reach downwards from the lower part of the
drumhead to the deck. The pieces of wood bolted on the main-piece of a
windlass, or on a winch, for firm holding, and to prevent chafing, are
also called whelps.

WHERE AWAY? In what bearing? a question to the man at the mast-head to
designate in what direction a strange sail lies.

WHERRY. A name descended from the Roman _horia_, the _oare_ of our early
writers. It is now given to a sharp, light, and shallow boat used in
rivers and harbours for passengers. The wherries allowed to ply about
London are either scullers worked by one man with two sculls, or by two
men, each pulling an oar. Also, a decked vessel used in fishing in
different parts of Great Britain and Ireland: numbers of them were
notorious smugglers.

WHETHER OR NO, TOM COLLINS. A phrase equivalent to, "Whether you will or
not, such is my determination, not to be gainsaid."

WHICH WAY DOES THE WIND LIE? What is the matter?

WHIFF. The _Rhombus cardina_, a passable fish of the pleuronect genus.
Also, a slight fitful breeze or transient puff of wind.

WHIFFING. Catching mackerel with a hook and line from a boat going
pretty fast through the water.

WHIFFLERS. The old term for fifers, preceding the body of archers who
cleared the way, but more recently applied to very trifling fellows.
Smoll