A small shell for throwing by hand. (_See_ GRENADE.)

HAND-GUN. An old term for small arms in the times of Henry VII. and
VIII.

HANDLASS. A west-country term for a small kind of windlass.

HANDLE. The title prefixed to a person's name.--_To handle a ship well_,
is to work her in a seamanlike manner.

HAND-LEAD. A small lead used in the channels, or chains, when
approaching land, and for sounding in rivers or harbours under 20
fathoms. (_See_ LEAD.)

HANDLES OF A GUN. The dolphins.

HAND-LINE. A line bent to the hand-lead, measured at certain intervals
with what are called _marks_ and _deeps_ from 2 and 3 fathoms to 20.

HAND MAST-PIECE. The smaller hand mast-spars.

HAND MAST-SPAR. A round mast; those from Riga are commonly over 70 feet
long by 20 inches diameter.

HANDMAID. An old denomination for a tender; thus, in Drake's expedition
to Cadiz, two of Her Majesty's pinnaces were appointed to attend his
squadron as handmaids.

HAND-OVER-HAND. Hauling rapidly upon any rope, by the men passing their
hands alternately one before the other, or one above the other if they
are hoisting. A sailor is said to go hand-over-hand if he lifts his own
weight and ascends a single rope without the help of his legs.
Hand-over-hand also implies rapidly; as, we are coming up with the chase
hand-over-hand.

HAND-PUMP. The common movable pump for obtaining fresh water, &c., from
tanks or casks.

HAND-SAW. The smallest of the saws used by shipwrights, and used by one
hand.

HAND-SCREW. A handy kind of single jack-screw.

HANDSOMELY. Signifies steadily or leisurely; as, "lower away
handsomely," when required to be done gradually and carefully. The term
"handsomely" repeated, implies "have a care; not so fast; tenderly."

HANDSPIKE. A lever made of tough ash, and used to heave round the
windlass in order to draw up the anchor from the bottom, or move any
heavy articles, particularly in merchant ships. The handle is round, but
the other end is square, conforming to the shape of the holes in the
windlass. (_See_ GUNNER'S HANDSPIKE.)

HANDS REEF TOP-SAILS! The order to reef by all hands, instead of the
watch, or watch and idlers.

HAND-TIGHT. A rope hauled as taut as it can be by hand only.

HAND-UNDER-HAND. Descending a rope by the converse of hand-over-hand
ascent.

HANDY-BILLY. A small jigger purchase, used particularly in tops or the
holds, for assisting in hoisting when weak-handed. A watch-tackle.
(_See_ JIGGER.)