HANDY-SHIP. One that steers easily, and can be worked with the watch; or
as some seamen would express it, "work herself."

HANG. In timber, opposed to _sny_ (which see).--_To hang._ Said of a
mast that inclines; _it hangs forward_, if too much stayed; _hangs aft_,
if it requires staying.--_To hang the mast._ By some temporary means,
until the mast-rope be fleeted.--_To hang on a rope or tackle-fall_, is
to hold it fast without belaying; also to pull forcibly with the whole
weight.--_To hang aback._ To be slack on duty.

HANGER. The old word for the Persian dagger, and latterly for a short
curved sword.

HANG-FIRE. When the priming burns without igniting the cartridge, or the
charge does not rapidly ignite after pulling the trigger. Figuratively,
_to hang fire_, is to hesitate or flinch.

HANGING. A word expressive of anything declining in the middle part
below a straight line, as the hanging of a deck or a sheer. Also, when a
ship is difficult to be removed from the stocks, or in man[oe]uvre.

HANGING-BLOCKS. These are sometimes fitted with a long and short leg,
and lash over the eyes of the top-mast rigging; when under, they are
made fast to a strap. The topsail-tye reeves through these blocks, the
tye-block on the yard, and the standing part is secured to the
mast-head.

HANGING-CLAMP. A semicircular iron, with a foot at each end to receive
nails, by which it is fixed to any part of the ship to hang stages to,
&c.

HANGING-COMPASS. A compass so constructed as to hang with its face
downwards, the point which supports the card being fixed in the centre
of the glass, and the gimbals are attached to a beam over the observer's
head. There is usually one hung in the cabin, that, by looking up to it,
the ship's course may be observed at any moment; whence it is also
termed a tell-tale.

HANGING HOOK-POTS. Tin utensils fitted for hanging to the bars before
the galley-grate.

HANGING-KNEES. Those which are applied under the lodging-knees, and are
fayed vertically to the sides.

HANGING-STAGE. Any stage hung over the side, bows, or stern, for
painting, caulking, or temporary repairs.

HANGING STANDARD-KNEE. A knee fayed vertically beneath a hold-beam, with
one arm bolted on the lower side of the beam.

HANGING-STOVES. Used for ventilating or drying between decks.

HANGING THE RUDDER. So as to allow the pintles to fall into their
corresponding braces, constantly in boats, and frequently also in
whaling vesse