o place inside the doubling or sheathing of a vessel's bottom.
Employed also in covering the boilers and cylinders of steam-engines.

FELUCCA. (_See_ LUNTRA.) A little vessel with six or eight oars,
frequent in the Mediterranean; its helm may be applied in the head or
stern, as occasion requires. Also, a narrow decked galley-built vessel
in great use there, of one or two masts, and some have a small mizen;
they carry lateen sails.

FEN. Low tracts inundated by the tides, capable, when in a dry state, of
bearing the weight of cattle grazing upon them; differing therein from
bog or quagmire. When well drained, they form some of the best land in
the country.

FENCE. A palisade. Also, the arm of the hammer-spring of a gun-lock.

FENCIBLES. Bodies of men raised for limited service, and for a definite
period. In rank they are junior to the line and royal marines, but
senior to yeomanry or volunteers.

FENCING. The art of using the small-sword with skill and address.

FEND. An aphaeresis from defend; to ward off.

FEND OR FENDER BOLTS. Made with long and thick heads, struck into the
outermost bends or wales of a ship, to save her sides from hurts and
bruises.

FENDER-PILES. In a dock, &c.

FENDERS. Two pieces of oak-plank fayed edgeways against the top-sides,
abreast the main hatchway, to prevent the sides being chafed by the
hoisting of things on board. They are not wanted where the yard-tackles
are constantly used. Also, pieces of old cable, or other materials, hung
over the side to prevent it from chafing against a wharf; as also to
preserve a small vessel from being damaged by a large one. The fenders
of a boat are usually made of canvas, stuffed, and neatly painted.

FEND OFF, TO. In order to avoid violent contact, is, by the application
of a spar, junk, rattans, &c., to prevent one vessel running against
another, or against a wharf, &c. Fend off, with the boat-hook or
stretchers in a boat.--_Fend the boat_, keep her from beating against
the ship's side.

FERNAN BAG. A small ditty-bag, often worn by sailors, for holding
tobacco and other things. They have applied the term to the pouches in
monkeys' cheeks, where they carry spare food.

FERRARA. A species of broadsword, named after the famous Spanish
sword-smith, Andrea Ferrara.

FERRIAGE. An old right of the admiralty over all rivers between the sea
and the first bridges.

FERRY. A passage across a river or branch of the sea by boat.

FERRY-BOATS. Vesse