of heavy goods, but
particularly such as pay freight according to their weight and not their
_stowage_.

DEAD WOOD. Certain blocks of timber, generally oak, fayed on the upper
side of the keel, particularly at the extremities before and abaft,
where these pieces are placed upon each other to a considerable height,
because the ship is there so narrow as not to admit of the two half
timbers, which are therefore scored into this dead wood, where the angle
of the floor-timbers gradually diminishes on approaching the stem and
stern-post. In the fore-part of the ship the dead wood generally extends
from the stemson, upon which it is scarphed, to the loof-frame; and in
the after-end, from the stern-post, where it is confined by the knee, to
the after balance frame. It is connected to the keel by strong spike
nails. The dead wood afore and abaft is equal in depth to two-thirds of
the depth of the keel, and as broad as can be procured, not exceeding
the breadth of the keel, _i.e._ continued as high as the _cutting-down_
line in both bodies, to afford a stepping for the heels of the cant
timbers.

DEAD-WOOD KNEES. The upper foremost and aftermost pieces of dead wood;
being crooked pieces of timber, the bolting of which connects the keel
with the stem and stern posts.

DEAD WORKS. All that part of the ship which is above water when she is
laden. The same as _upper work_, or _supernatant_ (which see).

DEAL BEACH. This coast consists of gravelly shingle; and a man who is
pock-marked, or in galley-cant cribbage-faced, is figuratively said to
have been rolled on Deal beach.

DEAL-ENDS. Applied to deal-planks when under 6 feet in length.

DEATH OR MONEY BOATS. So termed from the risk in such frail craft. They
were very long, very narrow, and as thin as the skiffs of our rivers.
During the war of 1800-14 they carried gold between Dover and Calais,
and defied the custom-house officers.

DEATH-WOUND. A law-term for the starting of a butt end, or springing a
fatal leak. A ship had received her death-wound, but by pumping was kept
afloat till three days after the time she was insured for: it was
determined that the risk was at an end before the loss happened, and
that the insurer was not liable.

DEBARK, TO. To land; to go on shore.

DEBENTURE. A custom-house certificate given to the exporter of goods, on
which a bounty or drawback is allowed. Also, a general term for a bill
or bond.

DEBOUCHE. The mouth of a river, outlet of