le about the bitts is called a bitter. Hence a
ship is "brought up to a bitter" when the cable is allowed to run out to
that stop.

BITTER-BUMP. A north-country name for the bittern.

BITTER-END. That part of the cable which is abaft the bitts, and
therefore within board when the ship rides at anchor. They say, "Bend to
the bitter-end" when they would have that end bent to the anchor, and
when a chain or rope is paid out to the bitter-end, no more remains to
be let go. The bitter-end is the clinching end--sometimes that end is
bent to the anchor, because it has never been used, and is more
trustworthy. The first 40 fathoms of a cable of 115 fathoms is generally
worn out when the inner end is comparatively new.

BITT-HEADS. The upright pieces of oak-timber let in and bolted to the
beams of two decks at least, and to which the cross-pieces are let on
and bolted. (_See_ BITTS.)

BITT-PINS. Similar to belaying-pins, but larger. Used to prevent the
cable from slipping off the cross-piece of the bitts, also to confine
the cable and messenger there, in heaving in the cable.

BITTS. A frame composed of two strong pieces of straight oak timber,
fixed upright in the fore-part of a ship, and bolted securely to the
beams, whereon to fasten the cables as she rides at anchor; in ships of
war there are usually two pairs of cable-bitts, and when they are both
used at once the cable is said to be double-bitted. Since the
introduction of chain-cables, bitts are coated with iron, and vary in
their shapes. There are several other smaller bitts; as, the
topsail-sheet bitts, paul-bitts, carrick-bitts, windlass-bitts,
winch-bitts, jear-bitts, riding-bitts, gallows-bitts, and fore-brace
bitts.

BITT-STOPPER. One rove through the knee of the bitts, which nips the
cable on the bight: it consists of four or five fathoms of rope tailed
out nipper fashion at one end, and clench-knotted at the other. The old
bitt-stopper, by its running loop on a standing end, bound the cable
down in a bight abaft the bitts--the tail twisted round the fore part
helped to draw it still closer. It is now disused--chain cables having
superseded hemp.

BITT THE CABLE, TO. To put it round the bitts, in order to fasten it, or
slacken it out gradually, which last is called veering away.

BIVOUAC. The resting for the night in the open-air by an armed party,
instead of encamping.

BIZE. A piercing cold wind from the frozen summits of the Pyrenees.

BLACKAMOOR. A