lacement in the sun's longitude, arising from the progressive motion
of light, is established at 20".45.

ABET, TO. To excite or encourage--a common word, greatly in use at
boat-racings, and other competitive acts.

ABITED. A provincial term for _mildewed_.

ABJURATION. The oath taken till lately by all officers on receiving
their commission, by which they abjured any claim of the Stuarts to the
throne, the power of the Pope, and the Romish religion.

ABLE. A term not simply expressive of strong faculties, but as
acquainted with and equal to perform the expected duty.--_Able seaman_,
a thorough or regular bred sailor. (_See_ A.B.)--_Able-bodied_, sound,
healthy, and fit for the Royal service.

ABLE-WHACKETS. A popular sea-game with cards, wherein the loser is
beaten over the palms of the hands with a handkerchief tightly twisted
like a rope. Very popular with horny-fisted salts.

ABOARD. Inside or upon a ship; the act of residing afloat; to hug the
land in approaching the shore.--_To fall aboard of_, is for one vessel
to run foul of another.--_To haul the tacks aboard_, is to bring their
weather clues down to the chess-tree, or literally, to set the
courses.--_To lay an enemy aboard_, to run into or alongside.

ABODE. Waited for; as, ship ran to the appointed place of rendezvous and
_abode_ there for her consort.

ABORD. An Anglo-Saxon term, meaning across, from shore to shore, of a
port or river.

ABOUT. Circularly; the situation of a ship after she has gone round, and
trimmed sails on the opposite tack.--_Ready about!_ and _About-ship!_
are orders to the ship's company to prepare for tacking by being at
their stations.

ABOVE-BOARD. Over the deck; a term used for open fair dealing, without
artifice or trick.

ABOX. A word used in veering for _aback_, alluding to the situation of
the head-yards in paying off. (_See_ BRACE ABACK.)--_Lay the head-yards
abox_--in former times, and even at present, many good seamen prefer to
lay the head-yards square, or abox, to heave-to. It brings the vessel
more under command for sudden evolution, wearing, or staying.

ABRAHAM-MEN. A cant term for vagabonds, who formerly begged about under
pretence of having been discharged destitute from ships and hospitals;
whence an idle malingerer wanting to enter the doctor's list is said to
"sham Abraham." From a ward in Bedlam which was appropriated for the
reception of idiots, which was named Abraham: it is a very old term, and
wa