ots begin
from that point. (_See_ LOG-LINE.)

FORE-SAIL. The principal sail set on the fore-mast. (_See_ SAIL.)

FORE-SHEET HORSE. An iron bar fastened at its ends athwart the deck
before the mast of a sloop, for the foresail-sheet to traverse upon from
side to side.

FORE-SHEETS OF A BOAT. The inner part of the bows, opposite to
stern-sheets, fitted with gratings on which the bowman stands.

FORE-SHEET TRAVELLER. An iron ring which traverses along on the
fore-sheet horse of a fore-and-aft rigged vessel.

FORE-SHIP. An archaic form of forecastle of a ship; it means the
fore-part of a vessel.

FORE-SHROUDS. _See_ SHROUDS.

FORE-STAFF. An instrument formerly used at sea for taking the altitudes
of heavenly bodies. The fore-staff, called also _cross-staff_, takes its
name hence, that the observer in using it turns his face towards the
object, in contradistinction to the back-staff, where he turns his back
to the object. The fore or cross staff consists of a straight square
staff, graduated like a line of tangents, and four crosses or vanes
which slide thereon. The first and shortest of these vanes is called the
ten cross or vane, and belongs to that side of the instrument whereon
the divisions begin at 3 deg. and end at 10 deg. The next longer vane is
called the thirty cross, belonging to that side of the staff on which the
divisions begin at 10 deg. and end at 30 deg., called the thirty scale.
The next is called the sixty cross, and belongs to that side where the
divisions begin at 20 deg. and end at 60 deg. The last and longest,
called the ninety cross, belongs to that side whereon the divisions begin
at 30 deg. and end at 90 deg.

FORE-STAGE. The old name for forecastle.

FORE-STAY. _See_ STAY.

FORE-TACK. Weather tack of the fore-sail hauled to the fore-boomkin when
on a wind.

FORE-TACKLE. A tackle on the fore-mast, similar to the _main-tackle_
(which see). It is used for similar purposes, and also in stowing the
anchor, &c.

FORE-THWART. The seat of the bowman in a boat.

FORE-TOP. _See_ TOP.

FORETOP-GALLANT-MAST. _See_ TOPGALLANT-MAST, to which may be added its
proper sail, yard, and studding-sail.

FORETOP-MAST. _See_ TOP-MAST.

FORETOP-MEN. Men stationed in the fore-top in readiness to set or take
in the smaller sails, and to keep the upper rigging in order.

FORE-TYE. _See_ TYE.

FORE-YARD. (_See_ YARD.) For the yards, sails, rigging, &c., of the
_top-mast_ and _topgallant-mast_ see thos