D
DAM to DEAD-WORK
DAM
DAVIT
DAYS-WORK
DEAD-EYE
DEAD-LIGHTS
DEAD-RECKONING
DEAD-RISING, or RISING-LINE of the floor
DEAD-WATER
DEAD-WOOD
DEAD-WORK
DECKS to DEPTH of a sail
DETACHMENT of a fleet or squadro to DOCK-YARDS
DOG to DOWN-HAUL-TACKLE
To DOWSE to DRIVING
DROP to DUNNAGE
Search
Contact us
DEAD-EYE
DEAD-EYE, (cap de mouton, Fr.) a sort of round, flattish, wooden block., see fig. 30. plate II. It is usually encircled with the end of a rope, or with an iron band, fig. 31. b, and pierced with three holes through the flat, in order to receive the rope called a laniard c, which, corresponding with three holes in another dead-eye a, creates a purchase employed for various uses, but chiefly to extend the shrouds and stays, otherwise called the standing-rigging.In order to form this purchase, one of the dead-eyes is fastened in the lower-end of each shroud, and the opposite one in the upper-link of each chain on the ship's side, which is made round to receive and encompass the hollowed outer-edge of the dead-eye. After this the laniard is passed alternately through the holes in the upper and lower dead-eyes till it becomes six-fold; and is then drawn tight by the application of mechanical powers. The general disposition of the dead-eyes in their channels is represented in the Elevation, plate I. In merchant-Ships they are generally fitted with iron plates in the room of chains. These last are exhibited in fig. 16. plate II.
The dead-eyes used for the stays, (moques, Fr.) have only one hole, which, however, is large enough to receive ten or twelve turns of the laniard: these are generally termed hearts, and are expressed by fig. 32.
There are also dead-eyes of another form, employed for the crow-feet, (moques de trelingage, Fr.) These are long cylindrical blocks, fig. 33. with a number of small holes in them, to receive the legs or lines of which the crow-foot, fig. 28. is composed.
 |
Reference Works |  |
© Derived from Thomas Cadell's new corrected edition, London: 1780, page 95, 2003
Prepared by Paul Turnbull
http://southseas.nla.gov.au/refs/falc/0410.html