wimming.
Also, in a confined sense, to that part on each side of the stem outside
the bows proper which is appropriated to the use of the sailors for
wringing swabs, or any wet jobs, for no wet is permitted in-board after
the decks are dried. Also, hydrographically, the upper part of a gulf,
bay, or creek.--_By the head_, the state of a ship which, by her lading,
draws more water forward than aft. This may be remedied without
reference to cargo in ships-of-war, by shifting shot, guns, &c. Vessels
_by the head_ are frequently uneasy, gripe and pitch more than when _by
the stern_.

HEAD AND GUN-MONEY. An encouragement in the prize acts by which L5 a
head is given to the captors for every person on board a captured vessel
of war, or pirate.

HEAD-BOARDS. The berthing or close-boarding between the head-rails.

HEAD-CLUE OF A HAMMOCK. Where the head rests. (_See_ HAMMOCK.)

HEAD-CRINGLES. Earing-cringles at the upper clues or corners of a sail.

HEAD-EARINGS. The laniards to haul out the earings. (_See_ EARINGS.)

HEADER. The person in the Newfoundland fishing vessels who is engaged
to cut open the fish, tear out the entrails, break off the head, and
pass it over to the _splitter_, who sits opposite to him.

HEAD-FAST. A rope or chain employed to fasten the head of a ship or boat
to a wharf or buoy, or to some other vessel alongside.--_Head-fast of a
boat_, the tow-rope or painter.

HEAD-HOLES. The eyelet-holes where the rope-bands of a sail are fitted;
they are worked button-hole fashion, over grommets of twine of several
thicknesses; sometimes of cod-line.

HEADING. As to ships in company, one advancing by sail or steam faster
than another heads her.

HEADING UP THE LAND WATER. When the flood-tide is backed by a wind, so
that the ebb is retarded, causing an overflow.

HEAD-KNEES. Pieces of moulded compass timber fayed edgeways to the
cut-water and stem, to steady the former. These are also called
_cheek-knees_.

HEADLAND. Wherever the coast presents a high cliffy salient angle to the
sea, without projecting far into it, it is called a headland; but if the
point be low, it is a spit, tongue, or point. (_See_ BLUFF.)

HEADMOST. The situation of any ship or ships which are the most advanced
in a fleet, or line of battle. The opposite of _sternmost_.

HEAD-NETTING. An ornamental netting used in merchant ships instead of
the fayed planking to the _head-rails_.

HEAD OF A COMET. The brighter part of a comet, fr