J
JACK to JIGGER
JACK
JACOBS STAFF
JAMMING
JEARS, or GEERS
JETTY-HEAD
JEWEL-BLOCKS
JIB
JIB-BOOM
JIBING
JIGGER
JIGGER TACKLE to JURY-MAST
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JEWEL-BLOCKS
JEWEL-BLOCKS, a name given to two small blocks, which are suspended at the extremity of the main and fore-top-sail-yards, by means of an eye-bolt, driven from without into the middle of the yard-arm, parallel to it's axis. The use of these blocks is to retain the upper-part of the top-mast studding-sails beyond the skirts of the top-sails, so that each of those sails may have it's full force of action, which would be diminished by the incroachment of the other over its surface. The haliards, by which those studding-sails are hoisted, are accordingly passed through the jewel-blocks; whence, communicating with a block on the top-mast-head, they lead downwards to the top or decks, where they may be conveniently hoisted. See the article SAIL.
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© Derived from Thomas Cadell's new corrected edition, London: 1780, page 161, 2003
Prepared by Paul Turnbull
http://southseas.nla.gov.au/refs/falc/0743.html