ompanies of a battalion have been equalized as to
strength, for one of such companies.

DJERME. _See_ JERME.

DOA. A Persian trading vessel.

DOASTA. An inferior spirit, often drugged or doctored for unwary sailors
in the pestiferous dens of filthy Calcutta and other sea-ports in India.

DOB. The animal inhabiting the razor-shell (_solen_), used as a bait by
fishermen.

DOBBER. The float of a fishing-line.

DOBBIN. A phrase on our southern coasts for sea-gravel mixed with sand.

DOCK. An artificial receptacle for shipping, in which they can discharge
or take in cargo, and refit.--A _dry dock_ is a broad and deep trench,
formed on the side of a harbour, or on the banks of a river, and
commodiously fitted either to build ships in or to receive them to be
repaired or breamed. They have strong flood-gates, to prevent the flux
of the tide from entering while the ship is under repair. There are
likewise docks where a ship can only be cleaned during the recess of the
tide, as she floats again on the return of the flood. Docks of the
latter kind are not furnished with the usual flood-gates; but the term
is also used for what is more appropriately called a _float_ (which
see). Also, in polar parlance, an opening cut out of an ice-floe, into
which a ship is warped for security.

DOCK-DUES. The charges made upon shipping for the use of docks.

DOCKERS. Inhabitants of the town which sprang up between the docks and
the town of Plymouth. Dock solicited and obtained the royal license, in
1823, to be called Devonport--a very inappropriate name, Plymouth being
wholly within the county of Devon, while Hamoaze is equally in Devon and
Cornwall.

DOCK HERSELF, TO. When a ship is on the ooze, and swaddles a bed, she is
said to dock herself.

DOCKING A SHIP. The act of drawing her into dock, and placing her
properly on blocks, in order to give her the required repair, cleanse
the bottom, and cover it anew. (_See_ BREAMING.)

DOCK UP, OR DUCK UP. To clue up a corner of a sail that hinders the
helmsman from seeing.

DOCKYARD DUTY. The attendance of a lieutenant and party in the arsenal,
for stowing, procuring stores, &c.

DOCKYARD MATIES. The artificers in a dockyard. In former times an
established declaration of war between the mates and midshipmen _versus_
the maties was hotly kept up. Many deaths and injuries never disclosed
were hushed up or patiently borne. It terminated about 1830.

DOCKYARDS. Arsenals containing all so