ern
munnions and elsewhere. The term also means the fall or declivity of a
deck, which is generally of several inches.

DROUD. A fish of the cod kind, frequenting the west coast of Scotland.

DROUGES. Quadrilateral pieces of board, sometimes attached to the
harpoon line, for the purpose of checking in some degree the speed of
the whale.

DROW. An old northern term for a severe gust of wind accompanied with
rain.

DROWNED LAND. Extensive marshes or other water-covered districts which
were once dry and sound land.

DROWNING. An early naval punishment; Richard I. enacted that whoever
killed a man on ship-board, "he should be bound to the corpse, and
thrown into the sea."

DROWNING-BRIDGE. A sluice-gate for overflowing meadows.

DROWNING THE MILLER. Adding too much water to wine or spirits; from the
term when too much water has been put into a bowl of flour.

DRUB. To beat. (Captain's despatch.) "We have drubbed the enemy."

DRUDGE. A name truly applied to a cabin-boy.

DRUGGERS. Small vessels which formerly exported fish from Dieppe and
other Channel ports, and brought back from the Levant spices and drugs.

DRUM. _See_ STORM-DRUM.

DRUM-CAPSTAN. A contrivance for weighing heavy anchors, invented by Sir
S. Morland, who died in 1695.

DRUMHEAD COURT-MARTIAL. Sudden court held in the field for the immediate
trial of thefts or misconduct. (_See_ PROVOST-MARSHAL.)

DRUMHEAD OF CAPSTAN. A broad cylindrical piece of elm, resembling a
millstone, and fixed immediately above the barrel and whelps. On its
circumference a number of square holes are cut parallel to the deck, to
receive the bars.

DRUMLER. An ancient transport. (_See_ DROMON.) Also, a small piratical
vessel of war.

DRUMMER. The marine who beats the drum, and whose pay is equivalent to
that of a private of fourteen years' standing. Also, a singular fish of
the corvinas kind, which has the faculty of emitting musical noises,
whence it has acquired the name of _crocros_.

DRUXY. Timber in a state of decay, the condition of which is manifested
by veins or spots in it of a whitish tint.

DRY-BULB THERMOMETER. The readings of this instrument, when compared
with those of a wet-bulb thermometer, indicate the amount of moisture in
the air, and thence the probability of rain.

DRY DOCK. An artificial receptacle for examining and repairing vessels.
(_See_ GRAVING-DOCK.)

DRY DUCKING. Suspending a person by a rope a few yards above the surface
of the wa