or planks are united endways, they are said to
_butt_ or _abut_ against each other. (_See_ BUTT.)

ABYME. Places supposed to be the site of constant whirlpools, such as
Charybdis, the Maelstrom, and others. It means generally an abyss.

ABYSS. A deep mass of waters; in hydrography it was synonymous with
_gulf_.

ACADEMITE. An old term for an officer brought up at the Royal Navy
Academy at Portsmouth, afterwards named the Royal Naval College.

ACAIR-PHUILL. Compounded of the British _acair_ or anchor, and _phuill_,
a pill, or harbour, and means a safe anchorage.

ACALEPHAE. A class of marine animals of low organization, having a
translucent jelly-like structure, and frequently possessing the property
of stinging, whence their name ({akalephe}, a nettle). The common
jelly-fish (_Medusa_) and the Portuguese man-of-war (_Physalia_) are the
best-known examples.

ACAST. The old word for _lost_ or _cast-away_. In weighing anchor the
head-yards are generally braced _acast_, to cause the vessel to cast in
the direction. "Does she take _acast_?" is frequently the question of
the officer abaft.

ACATER. An old word for purveyor of victuals, whence _caterer_, or
superintendent and provider of a mess. Thus in Ben Jonson's "The Devil
is an Ass"--

"He is my wardrobe-man, my _acater_,
Cook, butler, and steward."

ACATES. Victuals; provisions purchased; delicious food; dainties.

ACATIUM. A word used in Roman naval affairs for a small boat, and also
the main-mast of a ship.

ACCELERATION. The increase of velocity in a moving body by the force of
gravity. A planet is said to be accelerated when its actual diurnal
motion exceeds its mean. In fixed stars the acceleration is the mean
time by which they anticipate the sun's diurnal revolution, which is 3'
56" nearly.--_Acceleration of the moon_ is the increase of her mean
motion, caused by a slow change in the excentricity of the terrestrial
orbit, and which has sensibly diminished the length of the moon's
revolution since the time of the earliest observations.

ACCESS. Means of entry on board.

ACCESSIBLE. A place which can be approached by land or sea.

ACCLIVITY. The upward slope of an inclined cliff.

ACCOIL, TO. To coil together, by folding round. (_See_ COIL.)

ACCOLADE [_ad_ and _collum_, Lat.] The ceremony of dubbing a knight, and
the consequent embrace formerly customary on the occasion.

ACCOMMODATIONS. Cabins fitted for passengers.--_Accommodation lad