thin and
without. There were also very diminutive varieties of it. It has been
vaguely called by some writers _basilisk_, and by the Dutch
_donderbass_. Used to assail a town, fortress, or fleet, by the
projection of shells from mortars. It was also the name of a barrel, or
large vessel for liquids; hence, among other choice epithets, Prince
Henry calls that "tun of man," Falstaff, a "huge bombard of sack." Also,
a Mediterranean vessel, with two masts like the English ketch.

BOMB-BED BEAMS. The beams which support the bomb-bed in bomb-vessels.

BOMB-BEDS. _See_ BED OF A MORTAR.

BOMBO. Weak cold punch.

BOMB-SHELL. A large hollow ball of cast-iron, for throwing from mortars
(distinguished by having ears or lugs, by which to lift it with the
shell-hooks into the mortar), and having a hole to receive the fuze,
which communicates ignition to the charge contained in the shell. (_See_
FUZE.)

BOME-SPAR [a corruption of _boom_]. A spar of a larger kind.

BOMKIN. _See_ BUMKIN.

BONA FIDE. In good faith; without subterfuge--_Bona fides_ is a
condition necessary to entitle to the privilege of pre-emption in our
admiralty courts.

BONAVENTURE. The old outer mizen, long disused.

BONDING. _See_ WAREHOUSING SYSTEM.

BONDING-POND. An inclosed space of water where the tide flows, for
keeping timber in.

BOND-MAN. A harsh method in some ships, in keeping one man bound for the
good behaviour of another on leave.

BOND OF BOTTOMRY. An authority to borrow money, by pledging the keel or
bottom of the ship. (_See_ BOTTOMRY.)

BONE, TO. To seize, take, or apprehend. A ship is said to carry a bone
in her mouth and cut a feather, when she makes the water foam before
her.

BON GRACE. Junk-fenders; for booming off obstacles from a ship's sides
or bows. (_See_ BOWGRACE.)

BONITO. The _Thynnus pelamys_, a fish of the scomber family, commonly
about 2 feet long, with a sharp head, small mouth, full eyes, and a
regular semi-lunar tail.

BONI-VOCHIL. The Hebridean name for the great northern diver (_Colymbus
glacialis_).

BONNET. An additional part laced to the foot of the jibs, or other
fore-and-aft sails, in small vessels in moderate weather, to gather more
wind. They are commonly one-third of the depth of the sails they belong
to. Thus we say, "Lace on the bonnet," or "Shake off the bonnet."
Bonnets have lately been introduced to secure the foot of an
upper-topsail to a lower-topsail yard. The unbonnetted sail is for storm