the latter are termed stern-ladders.

ENTERING-PORTS. Ports cut down on the middle gun-deck of three-deckers,
to serve as door-ways for persons going in and out of the ship.

ENTERING-ROPES, OR SIDE-ROPES. Three are sometimes used to aid in
climbing the ship's side. They hang from the upper part on the right,
left, and middle of the steps. (_See_ GANGWAY.) The upper end of an
entering-rope is rove through an eye in the iron stanchion at the
gangway; it is walled, crowned, and otherwise ornamentally fitted.

ENTERPRISE. An undertaking of difficulty and danger.

ENTRANCE. A term for the bow of a vessel, or form of the _fore-body_
under the load water-line; it expresses the figure of that which
encounters the sea, and is the opposite of _run_. Also, the first
appearance of a person on board after entry on the ship's books. Also,
the fore-foot of a ship. Also, the mouth of a harbour.

ENTRANCE MONEY. Payment on entering a mess.

ENTRY. In the ship's books; first putting down the appearance or day on
which a man joins. Also, the forcing into an enemy's ship.

ENVELOPE. In astronomy, a band of light encircling the head of a comet
on the side near the sun, and passing round it, so as to form the
commencement of the tail.--In fortification, a work of single lines
thrown up to inclose a weak ground; usually a mere earth-work.

EPAULE, OR SHOULDER. In fortification, that part of a bastion adjacent
to the junction of a face with a flank. The actual meeting of these two
lines forms the "angle of the shoulder."

EPAULEMENT. In fortification, a covering mass raised to protect from the
fire of the enemy, but differing from a parapet in having no arrangement
made for the convenient firing over it by defenders. It is usually
adopted for side-passages to batteries and the like.

EPAULET. The bullion or mark of distinction worn on the shoulders by
officers, now common to many grades, but till recently worn only by
captains and commanders, whence the brackish poet--

"Hail, magic power that fills an _epaulet_,
No wonder hundreds for thee daily fret!"

the meaning of which is now pointless.

EPHEMERIS, OR NAUTICAL ALMANAC. This in its wide sense, and recognizing
its value to navigators and astronomers, must be pronounced one of the
most useful of publications. How Drake and Magellan got on is matter of
marvel, for sailors were not especially administered to till 1675, when
the _Kalendarium Nauticum_, by Henry Seaman, M