y a small knot every
five. The marks are now nearly superseded by Massey's patent
sounding-machine.--_Marks and Deeps_, &c., _see_ LEAD and LINE.

DEEP-WAIST. That part of the open skids between the main and fore drifts
in men-of-war. It also relates to the remaining part of a ship's deck,
when the quarter-deck and forecastle are much elevated above the level
of the main-deck, so as to leave a vacant space, called the waist, on
the middle of the upper deck, as in many packets.

DEESE. An east-country term for a place where herrings are dried.

DEFAULTER'S BOOK. Where men's offences are registered against them, and
may be magnified without appeal.

DEFECTS. An official return of the state of a ship as to what is
required for her hull and equipment, and what repairs she stands in need
of. Upon this return a ship is ordered to sea, into harbour, into dock,
or paid out of commission.

DEFICIENCY. What is wanting of a ship's cargo at the time of delivery.

DEFILADE. In fortification, is the art of so disposing defensive works,
_on irregular or commanded sites_, that the troops within them shall be
covered from the direct fire of the enemy.

DEFILE. A narrow pass between two heights, which obliges a force
marching through to narrow its front. This may prove disastrous if
attacked, on account of the difficulty of receiving aid from the rear.

DEFILING. Filing off, marching past.

DEFINITIVE. Conclusive; decisive.

DEFLECTION. The tendency of a ship from her true course; the departure
of the magnetic needle from its true bearing, when influenced by iron or
the local attraction of the mass. In artillery, the deviation of a shot
from the direction in which it is fired. The term is usually reserved to
lateral deviations, especially those resulting from irregular
causes--those constant ones due to the regular motion of rifled
projectiles coming under either of the designations "constant
deflection," "derivation," borrowed from the French, or "drift," from
the Americans. These latter, according to the direction usually given to
the rifling in the present day, all tend away to the right, though they
include some subordinate curves not yet distinctly determined.

DEFORMED BASTION. One out of shape from the irregularity of its lines
and angles.

DEGRADATION. Debasement and disgrace. The suspension of a petty officer
from his station; and also the depriving an officer or soldier of his
arms previous to his being delivered