t is,
entangled herself among our rigging. Also, to contaminate in any way.

FOUL AIR. May be generated by circumstances beyond control: decomposing
fungi, timber injected with coal tar, hatches battened down, and ashes
or coal washed about. Whole crews on the coast of Africa, and in the
West Indies, have been thus swept away, despite every precaution. But
generally it may be avoided by cleanliness.

FOUL ANCHOR. An anchor is said to be _foul_, or _fouled_, either when it
hooks some impediment under water, or when the ship, by the wind
shifting, entangles her slack cable a turn round the stock, or round the
upper fluke thereof. The last, from its being avoidable by a sharp
look-out, is termed the seaman's disgrace.

FOUL BERTH. When a ship anchors in the hawse of another she gives the
latter a foul berth; or she may anchor on one tide so near as to swing
foul on the change either of wind or tide.

FOUL BILL. _See_ BILL OF HEALTH.

FOUL BOTTOM. A ship to which sea-weed, shells, or other encumbrances
adhere. Also, the bottom of the sea if rocky, or unsafe from wrecks, and
thence a danger of fouling the anchor.

FOUL COAST. One beset with reefs and breakers, offering dangerous
impediments to navigation.

FOUL FISH. Applied to salmon in the spawning state, or such as have not
for the current year made their way to the sea for purification;
shedders.

FOUL GROUND. Synonymous with _foul bottom_.

FOUL HAWSE. When a vessel is riding with two anchors out, and the cables
are crossed round each other outside the stem by the swinging of the
ship when moored in a tide-way. (_See_ ELBOW IN THE HAWSE.)

FOUL ROPE. A rope entangled or unfit for immediate use.

FOUL WEATHER. That which reduces a ship to snug-sail.

FOUL-WEATHER BREEDER. A name given to the Gulf Stream from such a volume
of warm water occasioning great perturbations in the atmosphere while
traversing the Atlantic Ocean.

FOUL-WEATHER FLAG. Denotes danger for boats leaving the shore;
watermen's fares increase with these signals.

FOUL WIND. That which prevents a ship from laying her course.

FOUNDER. The fall of portions of cliff, as along the coasts of Hampshire
and Dorsetshire, occasioned by land-springs.

FOUNDER, TO. To fill with water and go down.

FOUR-CANT. A rope composed of four strands.

FOWAN. The Manx term for a dry scorching wind; it is also applied by the
northern fishermen to a sudden blast.

FOX. The old English broadsword. Also, a