mity. (_See_ POINTING.) In soundings, _see_ HAKE'S TEETH.

HAIK. _See_ HIKE UP.

HAIL, TO. To hail "from a country," or claim it as a birthplace. A ship
is said to _hail_ from the port where she is registered, and therefore
properly belongs to. When hailed at sea it is, "From whence do you
come?" and "where bound?"--"_Pass within hail_," a special signal to
approach and receive orders or intelligence, when boats cannot be
lowered or time is precious. One vessel, the senior, lies to; the other
passes the stern under the lee.--_Hail-fellows_, messmates well matched.

HAILING. To call to another vessel; the salutation or accosting of a
ship at a distance.

HAILING-ALOFT. To call to men in the tops and at the mast-head to "look
out," too often an inconsistent bluster from the deck.

HAIL-SHOT. Small shot for cannon.

HAILSHOT-PIECE. A sort of gun supplied of old to our ships, with dice of
iron as the missile.

HAIR. The cold nipping wind called _haar_ in the north: as in Beaumont
and Fletcher,

"Here all is cold as the hairs in winter."

HAIR-BRACKET. The moulding at the back of the figure-head.

HAIR-TRIGGER. A trigger to a gun-lock, so delicately adjusted that the
slightest touch will discharge the piece.

HAKE. An old term for a hand-gun. Also, the fish _Gadus merluccius_, a
well-known gregarious and voracious fish of the cod family, often termed
sea-pike.

HAKE'S TEETH. A phrase applied to some part of the deep soundings in the
British Channel; but it is a distinct shell-fish, being the _Dentalium_,
the presence of which is a valuable guide to the Channel pilot in foggy
weather.

HALBAZ. _See_ KALBAZ.

HALBERT. A sort of spear formerly carried by sergeants of infantry, that
they, standing in the ranks behind the officers or the colours, should
afford additional defence at those important points.

HALCYON PISCATOR, OR KING-FISHER. This beautiful bird's floating nest
was fabled to calm the winds and seas while the bird sat. This occurring
in winter gave rise to the expression "halcyon days."

HALE. An old word for _haul_ (which see).

HALF AN EYE, SEEING WITH. Discerning instantly and clearly.

HALF-BEAMS. Short timbers, from the side to the hatchways, to support
the deck where there is no framing. (_See_ FORK-BEAMS.)

HALF-BREADTH OF THE RISING. A ship-builder's term for a curve in the
floor-plan, which limits the distances of the centres of the
floor-sweeps from the middle line of the body-pl