ls or wherries duly licensed for conveying passengers
across a river or creek.

FETCH, TO. To reach, or arrive at; as, "we shall fetch to windward of
the lighthouse this tack."

FETCH HEAD-WAY OR STERN-WAY. Said of a vessel gathering motion ahead or
astern.

FETCHING THE PUMP. Pouring water into the upper part in order to expel
the air contained between the lower box and that of the pump-spear.
(_See_ PUMP.)

FETCH OF A BAY OR GULF. The whole stretch from head to head, or point to
point.

FETCH WAY, TO. Said of a gun, or anything which escapes from its place
by the vessel's motion at sea.

FETTLE, TO. To fit, repair, or put in order. Also, a threat.

FEU-DE-JOIE. A salute fired by musketry on occasions of public
rejoicing, so that it should pass from man to man rapidly and steadily,
down one rank and up the other, giving one long continuous sound.

FEZ. A red cloth skull-cap, worn by the people of Fez and Morocco, and
in general use amongst Mediterranean sailors.

F.G. The initials on a powder cask, denote _fine grain_.

FICHANT. In fortification, said of flanking fire which impinges on the
face it defends; that is, of a line of defence where the angle of
defence is less than a right angle.

FID. A square bar of wood or iron, with a shoulder at one end, used to
support the weight of the top-mast when erected at the head of the lower
mast, by passing through a mortise or hole at the lower end of the
former, and resting its ends on the trestle-trees, which are sustained
by the head of the latter; the fid, therefore, must be withdrawn every
time the mast is lowered; the topgallant-mast is retained at the head of
the top-mast in the same manner. There is also a patent screw fid, which
can be removed after hauling taut the mast rope, without having first to
lift the mast. (_See_ MAST.) A fid is also a conical pin of hard wood,
of any size from 10 inches downwards, tapering to a point, used to open
the strands of a rope in splicing: of these some are large, for splicing
cables, and some small, for the bolt-ropes of sails, &c. Fid is
improperly applied to metal of the same shape; they are then termed
_marling-spikes_ (called _stabbers_ by sail-makers--which see). Also,
the piece of oakum with which the vent of a gun is plugged. Some call it
the _vent-plug_ (which see). Also, colloquially used for a quid or chew
of tobacco, or a small but thick piece of anything, as of meat in clumsy
carving.

FIDDED. When a mas