ery old
standing, is also applied to various other pleuronects or flat-fish.

FLOOR. The bottom of a vessel on each side of the kelson; but strictly
taken, it is only so much of her bottom as she rests upon when aground.
Such ships as have long and withal broad floors, lie on the ground with
most security; whereas others which are narrow in the floor, fall over
on their sides and break their timbers.

FLOOR-GUIDE. In ship-building, is a ribband placed between the floor and
the keel.

FLOOR-HEAD. This, in marine architecture, is the third diagonal,
terminating the length of the floors near the bilge of the ship, and
bevellings are taken from it both forward and abaft. The upper
extremities of a vessel's floor-timbers, plumb to the quarter-beam.

FLOOR-HOLLOW. The inflected curve of the floor, extending from the keel
to the back of the floor-sweep, which the floor does not take.

FLOOR-PLANS. In naval architecture, are longitudinal sections, whereon
are represented the water-lines and ribband-lines.

FLOOR-RIBBAND. This is an important fir-timber which runs round a little
below the floor-heads, for the support of the floors.

FLOOR-RIDERS. Knees brought in from side to side over the floor ceiling
and kelson, to support the bottom, if bilged or weak, for heavy cargo.

FLOORS, OR FLOOR-TIMBERS. Those parts of the ship's timbers which are
placed immediately across the keel, and upon which the bottom of the
ship is framed; to these the upper parts of the timbers are united,
being only a continuation of floor-timbers upwards.

FLOOR-SWEEPS. The radii that sweep the heads of the floors. The first in
the builder's draught, which is limited by a line in the body-plan,
perpendicular to the plane of elevation, a little above the keel; and
the height of this line above the keel is called the _dead-rising_.

FLOP, TO. To fall flat down: as "soused flop in the lee-scuppers."

FLORY-BOATS. A local term for boats employed in carrying passengers to
and fro from steamers which cannot get alongside of a quay at low-water.

FLOSH. A swamp overgrown with weeds.

FLOSK. The _Sepia loligo_, sea-sleeve, or anker-fish.

FLOTA. A Spanish fleet. (_See_ GALLEON.)

FLOTAGES. Things accidentally floating on seas or rivers.

FLOTA NAVIUM. An old statute term for a fleet of ships.

FLOTE. An old English term for wave: thus Ariel tells Prospero that the
dispersed ships--

"All have met again,
And are upon the Mediter