go the fasts!" throw off the ropes from the bollards or
cleats. Also used for the bolts, &c., which hold together the different
parts of a ship.

FASTNESS. A strong post, fortified by nature and art.

FAST SAILER. A ship which, in nautical parlance, "has legs."

FAST STAYING. Quick in going about.

FAT, OR BROAD. If the tressing in or tuck of a ship's quarter under
water hangs deep, or is overfull, they say she has a _fat_ quarter.

FATHER. The dockyard name given to the person who constructs a ship of
the navy.

FATHER-LASHER. A name of the scorpius or scorpion, _Cottus scorpius_, a
fish about 9 inches long, common near rocky coasts.

FATHOM [Anglo-Saxon, _faedm_]. The space of both arms extended. A measure
of 6 feet, used in the length of cables, rigging, &c., and to divide the
lead (or sounding) lines, for showing the depth of water.--_To fathom_,
is to ascertain the depth of water by sounding. To conjecture an
intention.

FATHOM-WOOD. Slab and other offal of timber, sold at the yards, by
fathom lots: cubic measurement.

FATIGUE-PARTY. A party of soldiers told off to any labour-duty not
strictly professional.

FAULCON. A small cannon. (_See_ FALCON.)

FAUN. Anglo-Norman for a flood-gate or water-gate.

FAUSSEBRAYE. In fortification, a kind of counterguard or low rampart,
intended to protect the lower part of the main escarp behind it from
being breached, but considered in modern times to do more harm than good
to the defence.

FAVOUR, TO. To be careful of; also to be fair for.--"_Favour her_" is
purely a seaman's term; as when it blows in squalls, and the vessel is
going rap-full, with a stiff weather-helm and bow-seas, "favour her boy"
is "ease the helm, let the sails lift, and head the sea." So, in hauling
in a rope, _favour_ means to trust to the men's force and elasticity,
and not part the rope by taking a turn on a cleat, making a dead nip. A
thorough seaman "favours" his spars and rigging, and sails his ship
economically as well as expeditiously.

FAY, TO. To fit any two pieces of wood, so as to join close and fair
together; the plank is said to fay to the timbers, when it lies so close
to them that there shall be no perceptible space between them.

FAY FENA. A kind of Japanese galley, of 30 oars.

FEALTY. Loyalty and due devotion to the queen's service.

FEARN. A small windlass for a lighter.

FEAR-NOUGHT. Stout felt woollen cloth, used for port-linings, hatchway
fire-screens, &c. The sa