OURSE. A place where merchants congregate. An exchange.

BOUSE. _See_ BOWSE.

BOUT. A turn, trial, or round. An attack of illness; a convivial
meeting.--_'Bout ship_, the brief order for "about ship."

BOW. The fore-end of a ship or boat; being the rounding part of a vessel
forward, beginning on both sides where the planks arch inwards, and
terminating where they close, at the rabbet of the stem or prow, being
larboard or starboard from that division. A bold bow is broad and round;
a lean bow, narrow and thin.--_On the bow._ An arc of the horizon (not
exceeding 45 deg.) comprehended between some distant object and that point
of the compass which is right ahead. Four points on either bow is met by
four points before the beam.

BOW. An astronomical instrument formerly used at sea, consisting of only
one large graduated arc of 90 deg., three vanes, and a shank or staff.
Also the bow of yew, a weapon of our early fleets.

BOW. _She bows to the breeze_; when the sails belly out full, and the
ship inclines and goes ahead, pitching or bowing over the blue waves.

BOW-BYE. The situation of a ship when, in stays, she falls back off the
wind again, and gets into irons, which demands practical seamanship for
her extrication. This was deemed a lubberly act in our fleets of old.

BOW-CHASERS. Two long chase-guns placed forward in the bow-ports to fire
directly ahead, and being of small bore for their length, carry shot to
a great distance.

BOWD-EATEN. An old expression for eaten by weevils.

BOWER-ANCHORS. Those at the bows and in constant working use. They are
called best and small, not from a difference of size, but as to the bow
on which they are placed; starboard being the best bower, and port the
small bower. The appropriated cables assume the respective names. (_See
also_ SPARE ANCHOR, SHEET, STREAM, COASTING, KEDGE, &c.)

BOW-FAST. A rope or chain for securing a vessel by the bow. (_See_
FAST.)

BOWGE, OR BOUGE. An old term for bilge.

BOWGER. A name given in the Hebrides to the coulter-neb, or puffin
(_Fratercula arctica_).

BOWGRACE. A kind of frame or fender of old junk, placed round the bows
and sides of a ship to prevent her receiving injury from floating ice or
timbers. (_See_ BON GRACE.)

BOWING. An injury done to yards by too much topping, and letting their
weights hang by the lifts. The state of a top-sail yard when it arches
in the centre from hoisting it too tautly. Also of the mast when it
belli