of oblong passages from the
furnaces for the issue of heated air. Their object being, that the air,
before escaping, shall impart some of its heat to the water in the
boiler, thereby economizing fuel.

FLUFFIT. The movement of fishes' fins.

FLUID COMPASS. That in which the card revolves in its bowl floated by
alcohol, which prevents the needle from undue vibrations. The pin is
downwards to prevent rising, as in the suspended compass-card. The body,
or card, on which the points of the compass are marked, is constructed
of two segments of a globe, having a diameter of 7 inches to the
(double) depth of 1 inch at the poles.

FLUKES. The two parts which constitute the large triangular tail of the
whale; from the power of these the phrase obtained among whalers of
_fluking_ or _all-a-fluking_, when running with a fresh free wind.
Flukes, or palms, are also the broad triangular plates of iron on each
arm of the anchor, inside the bills or extreme points, which having
entered the ground, hold the ship. Seamen, by custom, drop the _k_, and
pronounce the word _flue_.

FLUMMERY. A dish made of oatmeal, or oats soured, &c.

FLURRY. The convulsive movements of a dying whale. Also, a light breeze
of wind shifting to different points, and causing a little ruffling on
the sea. Also, hurry and confusion.

FLUSH. An old word for even or level. Anything of fair surface, or in
continuous even lines. Colloquially the word means full of, or abounding
in pay or prize-money.

FLUSH-DECK. A continued floor laid from the stem to the stern, upon one
range, without any break.

FLUSHED. Excited by success; flushed with victory.

FLUSTERED. Performing duty in an agitated and confused manner. Also,
stupefied by drink.

FLUTE, OR FLUYT. A pink-rigged fly-boat, the after-part of which is
round-ribbed. Also, vessels only partly armed; as armed _en flute_.

FLUTTERING. Used in the same sense as _flapping_.

FLUVIAL, OR FLUVIATILE. Of or belonging to a river.

FLUVIAL LAGOONS. Contradistinguished from marine lagoons, in being
formed by river deposits.

FLUX. The flowing in of the tide.

FLY OF A FLAG. The breadth from the staff to the extreme end that
flutters loose in the wind. If an ensign, the part which extends from
the union to the outer part; the vertical height, to the head-toggle of
which the halliards are bent, or which is next to the staff, is called
the _hoist_; the lower (which is a rope rove through the canvas heading,
a